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Marked | Chapter 21: Decisions, Decisions | Twilight stepped out of the double doors and found herself in a fairly short hallway, with dull gray walls, a high ceiling, and the same black tiled floor. The hallway was unadorned, featuring only four other doors aside from the one to Reach's office. There was a door with a blue arrow, with the base curved to the right, a door with a straight red arrow, a door with a yellow arrow, base curved to the left, and a blank exit door.
She had so many questions, so much she wanted to know, and yet... her mind was drawing blanks. Perhaps it was the sudden flip from a fight for good to a simple job proposal. Perhaps it was the enticement of so much hidden information that she could now uncover... or perhaps it was something subtle and unnerving. Only one way to find out, she thought as she began to scan the labels on the doors.
She looked at the plain plaque above the yellow arrow door: "Research and Development Department". Twilight thought that this was a good place to start, and walked inside. Inside, she found a much longer hallway, with multiple doors, all of which had the yellow curved arrow emblazoned on their faces. The plaques on each door had clean letters, with the first letter of each word capitalized, like titles. She read a few as she slowly traveled down the length of the hall.
Testing, Research Labs, Development Lab A, Development Lab B, Prototypes, Successful Projects, Documents, and Council Board Room. These were the names that she took note of, and she thought through the options before making her decision, and slowly opening a door.
She had chosen the testing room, and immediately she was shocked and awed at what she saw. The first thing she noticed was a pair of mechanical wings being worn on a subject's back, actually moving and flapping on their own. They seemed very lightweight, and fully functional, with the wingtips themselved coated in what seemed to be some kind of strong plastic, and with a strong flap, he was raised off of the floor for a moment.
She walked in and observed another booth, where some kind of electric tower was set up. She had studied electricity before, but this contrapton seemed to contain an almost unsafe amount of coils. When a flip was switched, a bulb that a mare in the back of the booth was holding lit up, without any wires. Yet another booth contained two scientists hooking up a device to a unicorn's horn. He stood perfectly still as the device glowed, and transferred energy from his horn into a cylindrical container.
The scientists seemed to ignore her aside from a short glance now and then, which was just fine by her, as it meant her observation didn't disturb the events she was seeing. After she had been thoroughly fascinated, she exited that room and walked into the door labeled "Documents", hoping to learn more about this place.
She looked around to see that she had entered a small library of sorts, with documents rather than books. One of the scientists was in the back, reading a plain folder labeled resources. "Ah, you must be Mr. Reach's guest," said a simple, pleased voice behind a desk. She looked over to see a cream colored mare, with a black mane, simple glasses, and wearing only a yellow sash.
"Yes, hello! He told me I could take a look around, and I just wanted to try and get some information," Twilight prefaced, nodding to the librarian respectfully.
She nodded in return. "Of course, I can help you find whatever you need, assuming we have it here," she offered, her tone somewhat flat, but content; more calm than bored. She glanced to her flank and noticed that it was bare. That brought to mind her whole point in getting here to begin with, and figured that, since she was here, she might as well ask.
"I was wondering if you had any information on Cutie Marks," the princess asked, plain and simple. She had a small fluttering hope for a moment that by some miracle all would be revealed here. However, it was short-lived, given that the librarian frowned slightly at the question, and looked mildly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry but... that information wouldn't be in this department. We deal in new technologies and techniques. I could show you to some of our more impressive techniques for unicorns if you would like," she suggested, walking out from behind the desk.
Twilight wasn't too disapointed. To be honest, she felt it would have been a little underwhelming to just find the answer she had sought for so long just sitting on a shelf. So, when the offer was made, she gladly accepted, and took the file she handed her. Opening it, she saw all sorts of unicorn methods she had never thought of before. Direct mind reading, speaking to one other person silently, without talking... She even found the return blast that the black unicorn had used on her back in the Reach building, which sent any physical attack or blast directly back to the source.
There was one technique, however, that caught her eye because she HAD seen it used before. It was a method to remove one's Cutie Mark, and hold it elsewhere. That's what Starlight Glimmer used to make her town of "equality." This is extremely complicated... Is it possible that she DIDN'T actually figure it out on her own?
The librarian skimmed what Twilight was reading, and quite suddenly offered her a new folder. "Perhaps you would also be interested in our technology?" The princess was a little startled, but decided that she might as well take a look, and handed back her current folder in exchange. She quickly got lost in her reading, her eyes swelling with wonder as she read each line she could, fascinated by the contents.
The librarian thinly smiled at her interest, and piped up once more. "I see you've taken quite a fancy there to our achievements. If you'd like, I'd be quite glad to show you our more successful technologies." Twilight didn't need a second to think about it, and after placing the folder back on the shelf, she followed the librarian out of the door and into the next room.
Inside, she had to stop just to take it all in, and a gasp involuntarily left her lips at the sight. The room was organized something like a museum, with tech on pedestals, some even running quietly as a demo, each with plaques in front of them. "Some of these concepts were allowed into the private sector eventually, but I'll show you some of our more... secretive successes. Each plaque states what the invention is, and which of our partners covertly worked on it. If you'll look over here..." And so she read aloud many of the inventions, leaving Twilight to browse along. Guiltily enough, she got so caught up that she began to read ahead.
"Energy Masking Device; made by Equitronics" one read. "Stone reformer; made by Reach Mining Co." , "Magnetic Tracking agent; by the Rich Family Investors". She was absolutely fascinated by everything she was reading! So many ideas, so much potential, and this organization had the resources and the power to make them happen. "Robotic Surveillance Mouse; by Equitronics", "Unicorn Energy Reactor; by Manehattan Energy", "Essence Extractor; by Cloudsdale Weather Corp." The last three were fascinating at first, but then she paused and re-read them. Looking at the power generator and the extractor, she couldn't tell exactly how they worked, as they were almost completely enclosed, and many openings had blockages with warning labels on them. How do they get unicorn energy? How does it generate power? What essence is that thing extracting? Why do either of these companies need these devices? She had toured the open-to-the-public sections of both main buildings at some point, Rainbow even showed her the weather factory personally, and in neither place did she see anything resembling these contraptions.
She turned around and was about to ask the librarian some questions, when Twilight realized that she was still speaking. "...And by using magnetism, the unreliability of magic is negated, and allowed Mr. Filthy Rich to keep track of his assets, and we of ours. But, there are plenty more interesting things to show you than the old, how about the new? Come with me," the librarian said happily, oblivious to both the fact that Twilight had walked ahead, and to her questioning look. She clearly loved working in this department, and although calm and relaxed on the outside, the excitement of being able to show off these technologies to someone new sparkled in her eyes when she spoke.
Twilight hesitated before following along. I suppose I could always ask later... This was decent enough reasoning to her, and she trotted after the mare into the prototype room.
Upon entry, her concerns were drastically overshadowed by sheer wonderment, as she saw fully-functioning concepts working, rather than merely being tested out like in the lab room. She saw a mare put on a cloak and disappear completely from sight, without any unicorns nearby to make her invisible, it was all the cloth's doing. She watched another stallion jump into a pool of jelly-like liquid, and run out into a pit of flames... and walk out completely unharmed. Whatever that substance was, it fully protected his body. "If you do decide to join us, I trust you'll stop by this room fairly often!" she said to the princess, which earned her an affirmative nod.
"I most certainly would! But, I think I should look around some more before making a final decision. I'll go check behind the blue door next," she said. The librarian nodded and shook her hoof formally.
"I must be back at my post, but I'm very glad to have met you, princess!" the mare said gleefully, yet professionally, before leaving to return to the documents room.
Twilight herself however, traveled in the opposite direction, back to the small, initial hallway. She glanced over at the red door, tempted to open it, but she shook off the thought and went towards the blue-arrow-bearing door instead. This one read "Operations", and upon entry, she saw a hallway identical to the R&D hall, save that the doors bore blue arrows and had different labels, but with the same capitalized, clean lettering.
Current Operations, Training Rooms A and B, Local Barracks, Strategic Command, Documents, and Council Meeting Room, among others, populated this hallway.
She briefly poked her head into the training room, which was the same size as one of the labs in the last area. She saw well trained elites fighting each other blindfolded, while unicorns carrying clipboards watched and judged. Their moves were so perfectly timed, she could have sworn that they must be able to see each other, but the thick blindfolds said otherwise. If that gray pegasus was trained here... no wonder he was such a tough match for an alicorn. She thought that to herself as she walked back into the hallway.
She decided to see what kind of administration there was here, and walked into the strategic command room. Inside, she was met with an enormous wall map of Equestria, covered in multiple dots of all sorts of colors, and through the room, many ponies in more formal, collared clothes and blue sashes milled about.
"Excuse me," she said politely to one attendant standing alone, a light blue stallion with neatly combed brown hair. "What exactly does all this mean?"
"Ah our special guest! This is a major operations center. Those green dots indicate field operatives stationed in the area, while the blue dots indicate strategic control points that we have an interest in. Purple dots are where benefactors are located. I know you're from Ponyville, so you may notice Filthy Rich's land is marked with a purple dot!" He spoke very kindly, and smiled much more than the chill librarian did.
"Very interesting! But, what about those red dots, and the black ones?" the princess inquired curiously.
At this, the stallion's smile turned down a notch, and a bit of mild disappointment could be seen in his eyes. "Aw, I'm sorry princess, but I can't tell you what those mean unless you join the Trident. Truth be told, some people in this very room aren't even allowed to know what they mean."
She wasn't upset about it, but nodded with understanding, which returned him to his former smiling state. "If you have any more questions, I'll be here! And if I may say, I hope the next time you come by, you'll be proudly wearing that red sash!" With that he returned to his former spot, leaving Twilight to observe the map. There were purple dots all over big cities, but only one red dot in each, the exception being two in Canterlot. The black dots were far more rare, but she tried to see a pattern in it anyway. One or two in Canterlot, none in ponyville at all, although there were a few blue dots over her town. There were however, a few black dots speckling the Crystal Empire, indicting more of... whatever it was.
Twilight decided to head back to the main hall after poking her head into the very well organized barracks. Just as she entered the primary hallway, she saw the red arrowed door swing shut. It had looked slightly darker inside than the other halls, and she walked up to the now-closed door and just stared after at it for a moment. The grainy, deep, dark-gray texture of the door was interrupted only by a smooth, solid red arrow straight up the center, as if breaking through cluttered darkness.
She shook her head and started trotting back to Reach's door, but halted. Let's just do a little thinking... she thought to herself as she slowed her breathing and sat on the cold black tile.
This organization is amazing, and clearly very powerful. They have immense resources, brilliant minds, and incredible funding. Their projects are probably the most miraculous things I have ever SEEN, and most of them didn't even use magic! But there were many things that weren't answered... like exactly what this organization stands for, who it really protects, and it's primary goals. I DID spend a very long time running from these guys, after all, so there's still that ambiguity. And I have searched two of the three departments and still haven't found out what this Brander is and what it has to do with Cutie Marks.
As it stood, Twilight had two options. I could ask Far Reach for more answers, being that he offered me this position... She considered it, looking at Reach's door, then looked at the red arrow standing tall on the opposite door. ...Or I could find the answers for myself, unbiased.
"Decisions, Decisions..." she muttered to herself, as she sat halfway between the two paths that now lay before her. |
Marked | Chapter 22: The Dark Hall | Twilight looked at Reach's office and bit her lip in consideration. Reach could answer numerous questions I have about this Trident, and I'll likely get access to that hallway if I agree to join anyway... And yet...
She paused and looked back at the door, both fantastic and ominous at the same time. "Directive," the plaque read. If he lets me in, he may be selective in what he lets me see, and while what I have seen is amazing, it also raised a lot of questions. If I take a look for myself, I'm far more likely to see things as they are, unfiltered.
Thus she was faced with a choice. To go to Reach, or to take a peek for herself. After a long while of consideration, she looked at the door, and set her jaw in affirmation of her choice. Her horn glowed, reflecting the purple aura off of the polished tiles upon which she stood, as she used her power to search for life signatures. She could detect Reach in his office, still sitting in the same spot, likely reading or watching something. She could detect individuals milling about in their rooms in the halls, but there were no hidden observers, no one-way glass rooms. She felt safe.
Twilight took a deep breath as her horn powered down, and tried some deep breathing exercises. Even with her Alicornic power, she could only maintain invisibility for about four minutes, tops. It should be noted that most unicorns can't even turn invisible to begin with, let alone hold that state for much longer than a few seconds, unless they either trained for a very long time, or were extremely powerful. Even her few minutes of invisiblility when infiltrating the Reach building had been pretty exausting.
She closed her eyes, and slowly let out a long sigh of preparation. After one last detection sweep to make sure nobody was in the halls, she slowly began to disappear until the hall seemed completely empty, and the door marked with the red arrow opened and shut silently.
4:00 minutes remaining.
The hallway was more dimly lit than the other two, and the red arrows on each door gave off a soft red light, very likely some kind of polished and cut, glowing, smooth crystal. Twilight very quickly read the doors: Command Centers A and B, Planning Room, Strategic Analysis, Demographics Room, Member Quarters, Documents, and Council Meeting Room. After briefly detecting life near the doors, she found Command Center B to be completely empty, and decided to slip inside.
Within the room, she observed a very large, ring-shaped table. She saw some papers lying on the tabletop in front of a few chairs, and decided to skim the contents. Many of them seemed to talk about the same subject: enacting an "Economic Revitilization Protocol." From what she read, the people in this room were concerned that, becuase Equestrians had only each other to trade with, the economy was winding down. There were a lot of proposals for new colonies and new business in the Crystal Empire, but what caught her eye was a few brief mentions of "The Reach Plan," and whatever it was, it seemed to involve non-Equestrian nations, but she could only derive that much from context.
3:30 minutes remaining.
Twilight walked out into the hall, and knew that she needed more information on these kinds of plans, if she would be working for them. She detected life again, and found that Command Center A was full, but no one was by the door, so she covertly dropped in. Inside, an identical ring-shaped black table was present, all the seats filled, with a dark red colored mare standing in the center of the table and trotting about and looking around at each one of the ponies present.
"Now, if we could redirect to the core topic, I personally believe that Mr. Reach's plan is a bit out there in terms of feasability... but, I must know your input so that I may properly represent you in the upcoming council meeting." She spoke with a mighty tone, reminding Twilight somewhat of Mrs. Harshwhinny, but slightly less posh, much flatter. After hearing the council comment, she took note of the two red sashes she bore, one of which had a golden stripe traveling it's length. So she's one of the council members then... Twilight thought to herself as she listened, trying to ignore the strain from staying invisible.
One member, a light blue stallion, spoke up with a fairly calm voice. "I'm all for it, assuming he can actually get it to work."
Another piped up, this one wearing a Yellow sash with a red stripe. The comment seemed to spur him to add to it. "What makes me concerned is that Mr. Reach never specified exactly how he was going to use the stored unicorn energy we're working on down at R&D, other than simply saying the energy was part of his plan to boost the range of effect. From a technical standpoint, I'd like to know how he's using it."
Yet another member chimed in, reminding the whole that Reach had never steered them wrong before, which earned much approval all around, with nodding of heads and murmuring of agreements.
Twilight was just about to duck out and save her energy, when another member's words stopped her cold. "Regardless of the council's decree, the old stallion's reluctance to repurpose the Brander is, and will be, a significant obstacle, and I find that Mr. Reach was oddly vague about how he would fill the void." This did cause a small stir among them, before he continued speaking along the same thought. "Not that the hermit is ever around when we need him anyway. Why, the guards say he just returned to duty last night after being gone for well over a week."
1:00 minute remaining
At this point, she was very interested in what they had to say, but she had to leave the room, as she was beginning to feel weak. To put the strain of a unicorn constantly exerting that kind of energy into perspective, one could very much compare it to trying to hold a plank for a long period of time, and the more energy needed for an action, the more strain is put on the unicorn, like adding weight to that plank.
That said, she struggled to keep her breathing quiet as she slipped into the "Documents" room, determined to find something out about this Brander before she left.
Thankfully, the only person there was a red-sashed librarian, working behind his desk, organizing files. This made it so much easier for her to slip over and find a document on the Brander, and her knowledge of library layouts and alphabetical organization allowed her to snatch the folder quickly. She found a secluded place to crouch in the corner of the library, where she decloaked with a quiet sigh of relief.
Alright, time for some answers, Twilight thought to herself. She peeled open the folder and found that it was a record of maintainance orders, which explained what she found at the Reach building. It listed all sorts of components that were mandated from companies all over Equestria, and even a few from mage guilds. Lots of orders for metals, various refined crystals, gems, and a few electronic components, but nothing very complex. In fact, a lot of these materials weren't high tech in the slightest, with the few techy compoments mainly dealing with electricity.
She read that more maintainance and supplies had been ordered in the previous year than in the previous two decades combined, which logically in her mind meant that either something broke, something was being added, or was getting significantly modified. She couldn't find anything that gave her a clue exactly what it did, and it was likely that many of these orders were for raw materials, and thus would be constructed into whatever was needed on site.
Then, her eyes widened as she finally found something she could use. It gave a location, and a broadcast range. The peak above Canterlot. The Brander is located in the peak above Canterlot! She read through delivery instructions that there was a small cave, marked by a three-pointed rock formation just under the frigid cap of the peak. The "broadcast range" specification though worried her quite a bit, as whatever it was broadcasting, it did so all over Equestria. The range was far enough to even reach out beyond Appleoosa. What device would need that kind of range? she pondered.
She almost panicked as two mares walked in, discussing the economy. Twilight took a few deep breaths and turned invisible once more, slipping by them and covertly dropping the file back off, which became visible just as she walked away from it. None of them noticed.
She had about another minute left of energy, and it was a straight shot out to the main hallway with Reach's office door. Just stay calm, let's get out of here, she reassured herself, walking calmly...
Then the meeting let out. All those ponies from Command Center A exited and filled the hallway.
30 seconds remaining
She had a small fear-based adrenaline rush, helping her weave between ponies, but she had to back up a few times to get out of the way, losing progress.
15 seconds remaing
She had to get out of there, her knees were starting to shake as she walked. Almost out, almost out, almost-- "oof!"
She froze in fear. "What the--?" A confused young stallion had bumped into her and stumbled, and he looked at the empty air before him, unaware that he was mere inches from a panicked princess, who was trying desperately not to breathe.
"You okay there?" one of his coworkers asked, another looking back as well. He stared at the air for a moment before shaking his head and walking towards them. "Yeah, yeah I'm alright."
0 seconds remaining, cloak unstable.
Twilight was faltering, pushing beyond her limits as she finally ducked into the main hallway, gasping for air as she collapsed on the cool tiles. She rested for a moment, then composed herself, using the breathing technique that Cadence had taught her to relax before looking over at Reach's door.
Alright Twilight, the princess thought to herself confidently as she strolled towards his door. It's time to go get some answers. |
Marked | Chapter 23: A History Lesson | The double doors swung open, and Twilight calmly walked into the room, noticing Reach staring at the back wall as she approached. As the doors began to swing closed, he turned to look over at her, giving a pleased, thin smile. "Ah, princess, come and have a seat," he offered, gesturing to the opposite cushion once more.
Twilight felt uneasy, though his calmness seemed to ease her nerves. The smile was still a bit odd, given his fairly cold nature, but she gave it little thought as she rested upon the chair.
Reach also relaxed his own posture somewhat. She noted that he seemed stiff at all times, and even this 'relaxed posture' could be taken for formal in many places. "I take it you've found our facilities to your liking? Interesting?" He asked the question wearing a calm, yet generally curious expression.
"I have found it very impressive..." she trailed off, looking down slightly. This drew Reach's attention, and she could feel his eyes on her, reading every small gesture and every expression change. She figured that she shouldn't try and hide her uneasiness, lest he start taking it to mean anything in particular and get her caught, so she decided to make a pressing concern known, both to get an answer, and to avoid his interrogative gaze.
"Quite frankly, I'm rather tired of all the excessive secrecy. I would like some solid, definite answers about this organization," she said, looking up to meet his gaze, firmly.
He laid back, thinking to himself with no expression change whatsoever. "Alright, princess. I will answer any question you have, unless of course it would compromise my people. Feel free to ask."
She tried to read if there was any deception in his speech, but she could detect none. However, he seemed more adept at charismatic control than even Cadence was, so as a backup plan, she covertly cast a lie detection technique, which would work passively as he spoke. He did notice a small flare of light as she activated it, but she tapped her horn as if it merely was some kind of twitch.
And so, although she was a little surpsised at his sudden willingness, she resolved to start asking questions, beginning very simply.
"Okay Reach... What IS the Trident?"
Reach smiled, and began to explain with a professional sort of pride. "The Trident is an organization designed to maintain harmony between ponies, and ensure that Equines continue to advance and progress. We operate in secret, carefully positioning and/or influencing leaders to make the 'proper' decisions. For instance, we recently helped the media influence the people of Phillydelphia to elect a new governor who greatly supports our interests. That same governor has been approached by professional advisors, who he'll never know really work for us."
His explanation was revealing, but still left out a key detail. "What about the princesses? You mentioned earlier that you have influence over them."
Reach responded with little hesitaton. "Oh yes, we have less choice as to who is royalty, particularly with the addition of you and Cadence. Typically their area of control does not interfere with our operations, but even though it is rare, should the Trident need their services, we can get to them, and they will comform to our ideas."
It was concerning, but it also relieved her somewhat, as that meant that Cadence's behavior was not her fault, and Twilight could forgive her actions with a clear conscience.
"Well, if I'm going to work here, I'll need to know the history of the Trident," she stated inquisitively.
Reach grinned a little more, and told her to relax and have a listen, as he begun to speak. "At the foundation of Equestria, the three original founders knew that harmony would not last, as the tribes were already becoming fairly upset at one another, and the three 'leaders' already had disagreements popping up again. Thus, they thought up a plan to give the government a backbone, and influence the people, without removing the leaders from power. They each headed a branch dedicated to something specific. Smart Cookie headed the R&D branch with a few trusted Earth pony innovators, as they were practical, and would think of new ideas to help the people. Private Panzy believed that stealth-trained pegasi could carry out covert ops, and train secret personelle only for use in emergencies. And finally, both agreed to follow Clover the Clever, who lead the group through strategy, organization, etc. She brought in trusted unicorn tacticians and thinkers, to aid in her leadership."
Twilight found herself recalling the notes she took back in the library, and subconsiously adjusted her bag. That explains why the three founders weren't menioned much at all after the initial founding... Things were finally starting to match up with her research...
"That's not all, of course," he said, drawing her attention back to him. He started again, nodding as he had garnered her gaze once more. "Over the years, the organization grew, planting numerous offices, outposts, and bases all over Equestria. In that time, branches were no longer restricted to just their original founder's species, and eventually, each branch having only one leader didn't work out so well either, thus they moved to a brand new system based on a similar principal. In this new council, instead of only three primary members, it changed to three council members per branch, each technically equal, but one acting as a head. The heads of each branch then meet, with the head of the three being whoever controls the Directive branch."
His speech was long winded, but this suited Twilight quite well, as she drank the information right up. "So just as each branch's council has one head, the full council also has one head?" she asked, simplifying her thoughts.
"Yes! Quite right," he stated, looking at her as if expecting more questions, and she certainly did not disappoint.
There was a big glaring factor that kept bothering her about what she had seen overall. "Many of the people here don't have cutie marks, including you, I see... and neither did the pegasus who killed Straight Arrow. Why is that the case?"
He seemed to be in deep thought at this question, and she could nearly swear she saw the thoughts turning like gears in his head through his otherwise blank eyes. He finally spoke again, slowly. "Although I cannot tell you exactly why we are this way quite yet, I can tell you that we are the Unbranded. You could say that this is the case through... unusual circumstances, but saying any more would be risking the safety of those involved, as would elaborating on the Brander I know you're so curious about... But, I intent to maintain integrity with my people and my word... and you can see how important integrity is around here, princess, I'm sure..." He said that last part in way that really unnerved Twilight, so she quickly blurted out another question in an attempt to shift his focus.
"Was king Sombra Unbranded?"
He looked a little surprised, and she used this brief crack in his charisma shield to try and read what he was thinking. Clearly she had triggered some thought process he wasn't expecting, so either he was surprised that she knew that much, or else Sombra was some kind if hinderance to the organization at some point... or maybe both.
"...He did not have a Cutie Mark, no... but that's unrelated." As he spoke, she felt a slight stirring in her horn, indicating that there was mild dishonesty in his voice, but not a flat out lie. Everything else thus far was the real truth though. She thought it might be dangerous to continue in that line of questioning, so she asked the last big question she had.
"So... what exactly do you do here?" she asked him, genuinely curious.
He seemed mildly pleased at the shift, which in turn relaxed her a bit more. "Why, I am the Council Head. I propose ideas, I set goals, and I preside over reports and ideas from all other counselors." She let that sink in for a moment.
He stared into her eyes with a look that seemed to denote authority, not demanding, but almost like whoever was on the other end of that look should already know that he was in charge. She, an Alicorn princess, looked into the eyes of the Earth pony. He was very likely the most powerful pony in the world at the moment, and what scared her most was that, when she looked into his eyes, she could read one thing very clearly. She read cold ambition: he had power, he wanted more, and he knew how to get it.
They looked at each other for a moment, before Twilight said she ought to go and take another look around. Reach said nothing as she stood and walked toward the door, and in fact looked up at the wall again before speaking the words that made her veins run as cold as ice...
"Twilight, I thought I was rather clear that you were not to enter any door with a red arrow on it."
"What? But how could--?" she started, then looked up at the wall as she saw a small map fade into existance on it, with her whole trail marked upon the three halls.
"You are clever my dear, very clever, but you cannot outsmart that which you are unaware of. You see, each and every one of these black tiles are pressure sensors. And you are registered to have walked through all three hallways. And here I was hoping for a peaceful cooperation," he stated, as the doors swung open and four bald, well built pegasi entered the room, all wearing sunglasses that hid their eyes.
Reach looked over to her with a smug, yet disappointed smile, and spoke only three words: "What a shame." |
Marked | Chapter 24: The Pursuit of Knowledge | For a moment, everything was still. She carefully scanned her opponents with her eyes, not daring to ignite her horn in this critical moment.
All four guards are pegasi, and all of them hold a perfect combat stance. Physically, I am completely outmatched... She tried to see beneath their sunglasses, but couldn't manage to see anything. Power wise, I am an Alicorn, meaning my sheer energy could easily take out these guys... and yet... Her eyes glanced from Reach's smug smile to the cold, emotionless expressions on each of the fighters' faces.
"Wait, I am of no value to you dead Reach! We can talk this out!" Twilight said to buy herself a little more time as she looked over the brutes. The last one of these guys I fought put up a very difficult fight, even against my full power... but then again, I wasn't thinking strategically at the time. However... there was only one before, and there were way more than four of these guys in the barracks earlier. If I dispatched these guys, they could just send more...
Reach spoke up after a moment of pondering her words... or was he giving her time to think? Was he so cocky as to literally give her time to think about the futility of her position? "Dead? No, no I have no intention of killing you. However, I did need you to test out a very important project of mine before I launch it. It would have been easier with your voluntary choice to be a part of it, but no matter. If you'll just go with these four guards to the R&D department, we can get you equipped right away," he explained, vague as always.
She continued to think, as she remained in a stance that kept the four at bay. They didn't move, and something told her that Reach was savoring having royalty at his mercy. I could always try to destroy the room completely, that would take out everyone here. But... I don't know what this place is made of, and even if I destroy this room, more guards could still flood in... and then I wouldn't even have enough energy to try fighting them off!
She was running out of options, so she stalled briefly once more. "If I go with them...what will they do to me?" she questioned.
He answered straight away this time. "I can't quite tell you everything now can I? Suffice to say it won't hurt. You'll be testing out a power control rig for me. Now it's quite amusing seeing you stall, but I have a very important council meeting in a few minutes, and I do not intend to be late."
He was toying with her, and didn't even attempt to hide it. She bit her lip and closed her eyes for a moment, eliciting a slightly raised eyebrow from Reach. Then, her eyes opened, and she stood still. I might just be faster than these guys, she thought to herself. She had a plan.
She decided to use trickery rather than raw attack power. Her horn exploded in a brilliant flare burst, temporarily stunning the five people present, although Reach's unshielded eyes never showed any reaction. She immediately rendered herself invisible and, mustering her energy, she created an illusion behind Reach's chair of her standing there.
Given the loyalty the guard in the city displayed, literally giving his life for the Trident, she calculated that they would try to save Reach without a second thought. So to make them think she was a threat to him? It worked perfectly.
As they attempted to tackle the illusion, she used the opportunity to slip out of the door. Reach looked up at the facility pressure sensor map and a flash of emotion sparked in his eyes: anger. "She just walked out the door! Don't be subject to her tricks! After her!" They immediately shot towards the door in a diamond formation, charging through. "Morons, all of them!" he muttered, calming down. He sat back in his chair and sighed in annoyance, before pressing a button on the arm of his chair. "Linda. There has been a slight problem here. There will be no test subject for the rig, I want it reset to the original specifications within the hour."
Twilight bolted for the exit door, traveling down a fairly long hallway until she entered a circular room with a high ceiling. There were three ponies inside, all wearing blue sashes and sunglasses. The mare of the three turned around and yelled "HALT!", and the other two, unicorn stallions, charged her as she got to the center of the room. She looked back and saw two scanners much like those used in the Equestria games to keep others from using their powers. Disabling booths...
She distracted them with a dazzling light as they charged her, blasting and missing, and cried out to the blinded guards as they ran straight for the sound... and right into the disabling booths.
She blasted the desk to block the hallway as she heard the pegasi approaching, and ran towards the door which she hoped led out of this place. As she entered and closed it behind her, she noticed that the only thing here was a spiral staircase going up. She dashed up it as quickly as possible, and tried caving in some of the wall around the stairs to slow down her pursuers.
Twilight found only a blank door at the top, and swung it open, finding another door on the other side. Stepping between them, she discovered that the other door was locked and, knowing that the stair rubble wouldn't hold the Trident for long, she blasted open the wooden door, the splinters disintegrating to ash before they even hit the ground.
"SWEET CELESTIA!" came a cry of distress. She looked to see shocked guards wearing police uniforms, none of which seemed at all interested in capturing her.
"Princess Twilight?" one asked cautiously. "Shoot, if she'd done this sooner, I coulda used the prize money from that 'find the princess' contest. Hope the winner put it to good use," said a surprisingly laid back guard.
"Where am I?" she questioned, wasting no time.
"Uh... Canterlot Prison. Not sure why you came out of the board room though. Celestia put you on prison keeping duty or something?" he inquired curiously.
She had little time. "Listen you're not involved. You never saw me. All of you, go home. You are officially royally pardoned." She ran out, leaving the guards to laugh and walk calmly out of the room and off to the staff room. Nobody else needs to get caught up in this...
After checking back and barricading the door to keep the Trident guards from getting out, she ran and ran along the prison halls, hearing faint banging from behind...
Twilight stopped briefly as she saw Ruby in a cell, lying by herself, with no visible injuries. "Ruby! I'm so glad you're okay! What happened?" the relieved princess asked hurriedly.
Ruby however had been knocked out before the black unicorn had exposed "Tara" as the princess, so she merely looked at Twilight strangely, silent as usual. Figuring this out, she hesitantly turned to keep running, and nearly ran into Gray Gravel, who was somehow out and about.
"Good gravy, It's great to see you two in one piece!" Gravel exclaimed. Twilight took a brief second to process that he was even there, given that he seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Gray! I'm so glad to... wait, how did you get out of your cell?" she asked, dumbfounded.
"Oh yeah! Turns out, Canterlot prison uses MY locks! Didn't even need a pick!" he stated, absolutely beaming.
Twilight was impressed, but heard running far behind her in the halls. "Look, no time to explain, but get her out of here. I'm heading to the Canterlot mountain peak, there's a cave near the top. If you get out, I'm there. I've gotta go," she said, not even waiting for a reply as she bolted away.
Eventually, she entered the minimum security wing. She couldn't hear the hoofbeats anymore, and was almost free of this place. Just a little bit further--huh?.
She found Shining Armor in a minimum security cell. He immediatly saw her and made eye contact. "What...?" she questioned, almost involuntarily at the sight.
Shining had an uncanny sense of what his sister was thinking, must be a BBBFF thing, and thus with her one word, he knew what she was looking for. "I was thrown in here and blamed for excessive consumption of intoxicating substances. The guards who put me in here didn't seem like my usual guys. They gave me the impression that this accuation was some kind of warning. It's a charge that'll let me stay captain of the guard, but I'm still in here for two more days," Shining explained.
Armor could tell she was in a hurry, and she was, but she needed another ally. She calculated her risk, and remembered what Reach said about curious princesses... Cadence wanted to know the truth long ago. And if something goes wrong... I think she would back me up. It was a dangerous gamble, but a one day buffer? She shouldn't be in that peak for too long, unless something happened. Two days was good for backup.
"Listen, bro, when you get out, and ONLY when you get out, tell Cadence to investigate the Canterlot Mountain Peak. And bro... thanks for everything. It'll be alright soon," she assured him, hearing the hooves enter the wing. With a nod to each other, she ran away, and finally reached the exit, running out into the daylight.
The princess looked up above to see the peak looming above Canterlot... and beside it, Celestia's watch spire. Ironic... her end goal was so close to her starting point, and yet she had come so far to find it.
Twilight looked defiantly at the spire, and could nearly feel Celestia's gaze from up there. There's no turning back now. Only truth, she thought, and disappeared into the crowds. |
Marked | Chapter 25: Reaction | Twilight very quickly ran over and ducked into an alleyway, much to the surprise of a few passerby, but this was Canterlot, so everyone had somewhere to be.
Her mind raced quickly as she tried to think of a plan to get to the peak quickly, and avoid guards. Okay, the highest concentration of opposition should be near the city center, so I'll try as straight a path as I can manage.
Having lived in Canterlot much of her life, she knew her way around pretty well, and was able to navigate proficiently, thanks in part to her incredible memory skills. And so she traveled, looking on to the peak in the distance, so close above, and yet so far away...
After about ten minutes of just sneaking about and trying to cut that straight path, she realized how fruitless it was. Even if I get near the mountain base in the city, which, given the information of my plan, will likely be heavily guarded anyway... It would be difficult to make that ascension without being detected, even if cloaked. If I were a Trident operative, I would be waiting near the base of the mountain...
Her eyes scanned the city skyline to try and find some kind of high point or perhaps an unguarded building or something she could use as a springboard... and then her eyes fell upon a tall, porcelain building, so high up that her flight to the peak would be just a few minutes.
Celestia's Spire. It seemed a mad idea when it first popped into her head... but, as she thought about it, it seemed more like a stroke of genius. For one, it would be the last place they would expect a wanted princess to be near. For another, it was the best launching point towards the peak out of all the buildings in Canterlot. Finally, so long as she cloaked, she could fly straight up without detection rather than having to fly cloaked up an uneven mountainside, under surveillance from people who could detect her without visual.
Twilight nodded to herself and, after a short moment of thinking up the map of Canterlot in her mind, she headed out. She used a network of different alleyways to get where she needed to go, only crossing the streets when she needed to, and conserving energy in preparation of the flight. Unfortunately for her, conserving energy meant no cloak yet, and especially no coat/mane disguise again, not without about an hour of recharge time. It also meant traveling through the streets left her exposed long enough to grab the attention of two guards.
"PRINCESS TWILIGHT! HALT BY ORDER OF CELESTIA!"
She bolted. Under normal circumstances, one may try blending into a crowd... but a purple alicorn moving in an odd pattern did not permit something so simple.
She ran. She ran from alley to alley, wondering how a royal arrest order could possibly have been issued already. Unless they already had one out for me the moment I was brought to the Trident HQ... She knocked over some garbage cans and such, just to try and slow them down, but apparently her brother's training regiment payed off, because they went on chasing, unfazed.
Eventually, Twilight tried something a bit more desperate. Wheeling herself around a tight corner, she twisted around and waited for the other two to arrive, and as they did, she slammed them quickly by projecting a wall force-field in front of them, and firing it forward. They were knocked out cold, and would wake up with a headache later, but would otherwise be perfectly alright.
The princess arrived near the base of the tower, after using her horn to detect local life signs, and prepared for her flight. Now, it would have been a snap to teleport up to her balcony, but she had no idea if Celestia was up there at the moment, and so attempting such a thing would be an enormous risk. Not that it matters much. She can sense energy levels without relying on visual. And so, she slowly let the cloak effect engulf her, as she sighed and launched herself straight upwards.
The air whipped past her face, and it took a lot to both focus on the invisibility cloak and fly, but the roof was fast approaching... closer... closer still! Everything was looking great, until she passed the balcony, and was halted quickly, being engulfed by a golden aura.
She decloaked with a gasp, as she was pulled just inside the tower, coming face to face with a very stern Celestia, and if there was one thing nobody ever wanted, it was to get a stern glare from the solar princess herself.
Celestia held the princess in place for a very tense moment, looking her over before speaking aloud with the words that Twilight had found to be more devastating than the glare... "I am very disappointed in you, Twilight, you did not heed my warning."
Twilight was clearly in a very bad situation, and needed to think about what to do, what to say. Trying to struggle would be fruitless: Celestia had more power than her! More power... Celestia's words suddenly clicked in her mind. "It wasn't your warning..." Twilight said quietly, almost to herself.
"What did you say?" Celestia asked sternly, her eyes narrowing as she levitated Twilight closer.
Twilight knew what to do, and she replied quickly. She respected her mentor so much... but this could be her only chance to escape... and only chance to gain another ally. "It wasn't YOUR warning! It was the Trident's warning!" she stated factually, not backing down.
She had learned much from Celestia, some of which was unintentional, like her personality traits. Celestia was fairly motherly, with the people's best interests at heart, and an absolute concern for the greater good. However, when she did act stern, she exerted her authority, and rarely was it met with anything other than submission... meaning that responding back as she did would be just the opening Twilight needed.
All that said, Celestia was in fact thrown off by not only the directness, but also her knowledge of the Trident. "But how--?" She never finished her question, as Twilight began to speak again.
Using what little time of initial confusion she had, the princess kept up the direct points. "You follow their orders because they have power over you! They have power over Luna! They control the whole kingdom!"
Celestia hardened her facial expression, and spread her wings wide in body language that denoted an exertion of authority. "No, Twilight. Luna and I control this kingdom!"
Twilight was nearly terrified, but had a small verbal opening, and fired back quickly with a powerful blow: "DO YOU?"
Celestia suddenly hesitated. She hadn't expected that one at all.
Twilight had little time, and so, with heart racing, yet face bold, she kept on. "Princess, I respect your rule so, so much, and it just burns me up inside to find that our two brave leaders are... puppets."
Something just snapped. Celestia lifted her chin and her horn brightened three fold. Her eyes began to glow solid white as she brought Twilight close. "PUPPET?" she asked, in a voice that could break lesser people.
Twilight made zero indication of fear. She should have, and every fiber of her being screamed that she should panic... but she kept a stone face, and a direct stare into the white abyss. Unmoving. Concrete. Resolute.
"A puppet?" Celestia started to glow less and less. Her wings began to droop, and her eyes slowly faded back to normal. The words really began to sink in. "A... puppet..." Celestia murmured, the aura around Twilight dimming a bit.
Celestia sat back, and looked down with a very contemplative expression. She still looked very regal, but Twilight was nevertheless concerned. This was different.
After a moment of deep thought, the solar princess spoke up, in a quiet, reserved tone. "I originally sacrificed some power to ensure true peace in Equestria, more safety for my subjects. But... since Reach has been in power... I guess a puppet is what I really have become..."
Twilight had never seen Celestia act like this before. Even with changelings, on the floor after defeat by Chrysalis, she kept a stubborn strong demeanor. However, this new mood was softer, almost more open. She felt bad for having cut her former teacher so deep.
"I suppose now, even my power to help my own subjects is limited," she somberly noted, staring off into the sky, through the balcony.
Twilight spoke up, equally soft, to offer a solution. "It doesn't have to be that way," she mentioned, cocking her head sideways a bit, despite her containment.
"It's worked like that for so long... and if I rebel, the Trident may hurt my people. I don't even know where their operating bases are located," Celestia explained, her horn just softly glowing with Twilight's containment.
"Not if they think you're still loyal," the princess offered, which drew the mentor's eyes up to meet hers.
She was silent for a tense moment, but seemed to straighten up a bit more, as she looked towards the door.
Twilight dropped to the floor, and breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she began to speak. "Thank you. Listen, I'm heading--"
"Stop, Twilight," Celestia stated, holding up a hoof without turning around.
Twilight understood perfectly. The less she knew, the better it could turn out. Something indicated that this little escape would be a one time thing until something was done to the Trident.
"Don't look back," the teacher said quietly, to which Twilight nodded, cloaked, and flew to the top of the spire.
Celestia quickly barged through the spire doors and shouted as she flew down. "Guards! Scour the city! Princess Twilight has escaped!" |
Marked | Chapter 26: Meeting Your Maker | The frigid mountain air whipped past the princess as she flew closer and closer to the peak. She had been flying for a few solid minutes now, and was finally passing around the peak itself, heading to the other side. It was getting late, as the sun was just barely still above the horizon, balanced like a slowly deflating ball upon the distant land.
Twilight's eyes widened as she saw a three-pointed rock formation, and a very well concealed cave underneath an outcropping, with a flat alcove she could land on. As she dove towards it, she decloaked, eliciting from her lips a soft sigh of relief.
Upon landing, she took a moment to stretch out her wings and legs, catching her breath. The altitude didn't quite help in this regard, but on the bright side, due to the heavy exertion of cloaked flight, the cold didn't effect her very much.
She took a look around the area upon which she had landed, slowly walking about it and looking for anything unusual. The three-pointed rock formation looked natural from afar, but up close, it appeared to have been a little more sculpted. No real surprise there, making an artificial structure look natural to mark a hidden area wasn't unheard of. Formation aside, the only other oddity out here was what appeared to be a well concealed area for small balloon craft to dock, complete with "natural" rocks that could act as perfect tether points.
Twilight shivered slightly as she regained her energy, and decided to walk into the cave very cautiously. There could be guards, traps, or even... nothing?
Nothing. It was an empty cave. That was it. She looked confused, seeing the rounded walls of stone, and finding no door of any kind. Then again, if I built a secret facility, I wouldn't want an obvious entrance either... she thought to herself briefly. She tried to think back on her studies, trying to remember if there was any technique that might help her... Aha!
Her horn glowed dully, and she bit her lip in concentration as she let loose a solid beam on the walls. She swept it from left to right, until she found one section of wall that registered as hollow behind it, but just barely, which meant the wall was thick. She walked over to it and found the outline of some kind of very advanced locking mechanism, which she couldn't operate. Weighing her options, she needed to get in there, but wasn't sure how. I don't know any lockpicking techniques... and there's no guarentee I could blast it... or who would hear me blasting on the other side.
She was left with one very risky option: teleportation. You see, the teleportation technique is typically used for quick movement to a place that one knows, can see, or has been to... most of the time. One can teleport just about anywhere, but without meeting the above criteria, the subject would risk sticking themselves in a wall or something. When Twilight had been infused with all of the Equestrian Alicorn energy during the Tirek incident, she had randomly teleported by mistake, and even that had nearly stuck her in a boulder. However, Twilight was aware of all of these things, and had come too far to give up now.
After scanning the wall a few times, Twilight believed she could make it. All I have to do is overshoot my initial estimate of the wall depth to give myself a margin of error, and I should be just fine, she reassured herself. And so, taking a deep breath, the teleportation field engulfed her, and she disappeared with a flash.
Twilight reappeared with a gasp, tripping forward, as she had appeared about half a foot above the floor. She picked herself up quickly and dusted herself off, shaking her head as she looked backwards. The wall was about ten feet behind her, which was just about where her estimates had put it. She beamed at her success, but only for a moment, as a voice spoke up, forcing her to whip around.
"Princess Twilight. Reach said to expect you," said a deep voice from directly ahead. She turned to see the black unicorn from Reach's building standing a few yards ahead of her, wearing only a red sash with a blue streak along the edge.
"You. Who are you?" she asked. She really wasn't sure what she was expecting his answer to be, he was obviously an agent for the Trident, but she needed time to scan her surroundings.
"You could say I'm Reach's security manager. And you've become a risk to my job," he stated coldly, staring her down. They both knew that she had nowhere to run to, and to teleport back outside would require concentration, which they both knew would put her at the disadvantage. However, he made no direct advances. Not yet.
"Look, we both know the odds here... I might as well know who you are. You said that you're a security manager, but you wear the red sash. Shouldn't the security manager be wearing a blue sash?" she inquired as she looked around subtly.
Twilight analyzed the area completely. The room was large, with a very high ceiling that abruptly stopped and went flat at the very end. It was roughly the width of the stained glass hall in Canterlot, and was about half as long. The whole area was smooth, dimly yet wholly lit, and composed of gray stone, with pillars carved into the walls on either side. The only outstanding feature was the emblem of the trident, the three arrows joined at the base within a circle, like a royal seal, at the end of the room. Long steel strips encased the room's lights, which lined each wall.
"I really don't share Reach's taste for explanations. I am a simple stallion: I know what I have to do, and I do it," he said, voice never wavering. He stepped closer.
"Can I at least get a name?" Twilight tried, knowing that any last minute observations would have to be made here. His stance prioritizes defense over offense. If it comes between defending himself or attacking me, he'll prioritize himself. His physique denotes incredible strength, and I don't know enough about his energy to determine if I outclass him. These observations in mind, she began formulating a strategy.
The black unicorn sighed and rolled his eyes briefly. "I told you already that I don't care for explanations. We have business to take care of," he stated, walking towards her.
She had only a rough idea of what to do, and knew that this was her only chance. She charged up her horn, and flapped her wings to fly backwards. He anticipated an attack, and charged his own horn, the green aura engulfing it beyond its edges.
Twilight fired a solid blast at him, and he attempted a counter... but wasn't expecting the blast to land at his hooves. She had performed a fake-out, and he was pushed back about two feet. He knew he would be stunned for that brief moment, and immediately engulfed himself in a perfect pony-shaped shield.
Twilight used his moment of confusion to fire irradically in order to provide cover for a swooping dive-bomb blast. She got fairly close when he discharged his shield, which blasted outward and slammed her backwards. Didn't know he could do that... she thought, resetting her stance just in time to deflect a giant green ball into a pillar, blasting a crater into the smooth stone.
He kept his distance as he fired arcs of green lightning, no less than five bolts at a time, randomly hitting at a range of about ten feet in front of him. She noted the pattern and saw the range begin to expand, and took a huge risk by flying towards him. The lightning did, in fact, only arc forward, unlike real electricity, following a bombardment pattern instead of searching for a path of least reistance. On the bright side, she was safe from the arcs. On the downside, he executed a flawless side-flip, putting him in the perfect position to slam a hoof into her chest with a sickening crunch sound, sending her flying across the room.
The princess hurt badly, but managed to stand back up, processing what had just happened and formulating a new plan. She rushed him again, ignoring the pain in her chest, and he punched-- nothing. Twilight had teleported behind him and, using his own momentum against him, shot him in the back with a stun blast. Because the raw strength of his punch had kept him flying forward in that brief moment, he didn't have time to deflect it. He fell on the floor, his back legs spasming slightly... before they righted themselves.
A stun blast didn't take him down? She was shocked, but when he wheeled around, his eyes looked almost like they were burning with rage. His face remained flat, but she could see the anger in his eyes. Perfect.
Twilight put her original strategy in motion, charging up as strong a horn blast as possible and firing it directly at his head. As it approached him he smirked triumphantly. He muttered "they never learn" under his breath, as he used the same reflection (or return-to-origin) technique he had used back in the Reach building. However, what he didn't take into account was that she had learned the same technique from the file back in the R&D hallway.
She used it to send it back to him, and while he was surprised, he immediately reflected it back to her, back and forth, back and forth... and so on. The ball of energy would be more than enough to kill Twilight, and likely the black unicorn as well, if it sucessfully hit the horn. The ball moved faster and faster between the two, with the stallion not even showing a change in expression. Twilight hovered in the air, hoping to gain some advantage at a higher elevation, and looking a bit distressed.
The unicorn was confident, but not cocky, as he maintained perfect form the entire time. He knew that, of the two, he had more experience using it, and could keep his timing impeccable. It became a waiting game to him. Twilight, however, had a different idea.
Quickly, as the ball flew towards her, she swiched to a normal reflection technique, and shifted the angle downwards slightly. Thus, when the ball impacted the tiles at his hooves, he didn't even have enough time to register what had happened before he was thrown against the back wall, the impact knocking him out cold.
Twilight knew that he wouldn't be out for long, so she quickly levitated him up by a light fixture next to the Trident seal, and wrapped the steel around his body. She then cast the same type of energy over him that the Equestria Games officials had trapped in a booth to disable unicorns. As the glow engulfed him, it wrapped around his horn, completely preventing it's use for at least the next 24 hours.
Sure enough, as she was bending the steel to prevent his incredible strength from ever hoping to break him free, he began to wake up, growling and struggling, as he discovered his horn to be useless.
Eventually he gave up and looked at her with the exact same serious expression as he had greeted her with. "Well? Aren't you going to finish the job?" he asked seriously, waiting for her to kill him.
"No. You can stay here for a while, I think," she told him in a fairly flat tone, but with just a hint of sass. She was quite more relieved than she was pleased at having beaten him... although that's not to say it wasn't satisfying.
She had just hovered down to the floor when he spoke up again. "My name is Flak. I am in command of Reach's personal operations unit. That pegasus that killed your friend? He was under my command," he stated formally. It was like he was presenting some business plan to a CEO. He said it with neither pleasure nor remorse. Like it was just... business.
Twilight flew back up to him once again. "What did you say?" she demanded, remembering Straight Arrow's death very vividly.
"I said that kid's death was my responsibility! And I've killed more. I was going to kill you as well. That's what I do," he explained, staring her in the eyes as he spoke. His eyes were so... cold. So empty. Devoid of feeling, blank, like his flank.
He's trying to get under my skin, I can't let him get to me! she reasoned, but the memories dredged up by his words did not make her solution very simple. "You... you monster," she resolved, gritting her teeth.
"Well if you hate me so much, then finish the job!" he shouted, staring her down.
Her horn charged up and reflected off of the black pupils she saw before her. "...No. I'm not a monster like you," she stated, firing a more powerful stun blast than earlier directly into his disabled horn.
He shook in his restraints for a moment, then finally his head drooped as he was knocked unconsious. If she had killed him, she would have been just as monstrous as he was... right? Didn't mean she couldn't keep him quiet though.
She hovered down, but swung around with horn glowing as she heard weak clapping from a doorway under the big seal, and a raspy voice saying "Well done, well done."
"Who are you?" she inquired immediately, turning to see a hunched over pony in a plain gray cloak, which hid his face from view.
"Woah there missy, you can calm down, I'm not gonna hurt you. In fact, you just saved my life!" he explained, holding up a brown hoof to signal her to settle down.
Twilight sat back and powered down her energy, listening to what he had to say as the light from her horn faded to nothing.
"He was here to kill you, supposatively, but I know Reach wanted me out of the way as soon as you were gone. He wants this facility, you see," the hooded one stated.
The princess paused, standing and approaching him slowly. "You... still haven't told me who you are," she pointed out casually. She felt... almost comfortable around him, although she couldn't quite place why.
"Oh, of course. My name is Mark Maker. You, Twilight, have many questions, and you have spent a very long time to eventually get here. I think it's finally time you get some answers. Follow me," he instructed, coughing a bit and drinking from an opaque vial before turning and walking down the dark hallway.
Mark Maker? Could that really be his name...? Will I finally get some straight answers? Questions were swimming through her head faster than she could process them, but she calmly stood and, after doing Cadence's breathing technique, slowly followed behind the mysterious old stallion. Whatever lay ahead, Twilight was finally ready. |
Marked | Chapter 27: The Truth, and the Trident | Twilight followed the cloaked stallion until they entered a nicely furnished library. It was fairly small, but each wall was lined entirely with shelves of polished wood, filled with countless books. The high ceiling caused Twilight to wonder just how much knowledge was stored in this room alone. Unlike the rest of the facility, this area was very well lit, a soft yellowish-white light pervading the room, reflecting softly off of the shelves. There were two doors, one they entered from, and one on the right wall from their entry, both wooden like the shelves.
The cloaked pony sat down slowly upon one of two red cushioned chairs, the only furnishings in this room. Twilight sat on the opposite chair, and remained quiet, expecting him to speak first.
He coughed briefly and took out an opaque vial, taking a swig from it, immediately stopping the coughs. As he put it away, he spoke in a raspy, yet somehow familiar voice...
"For hours and days, he researched it more,
From dawn till dusk he did read.
Until, Finally, a location secured,
He assuredly had what he'd need."
Twilight was completely silent for a moment as she tried to understand the words. "I'm sorry... I don't understand," she stated slowly, unsure what to make of what he had just said.
"It's a quote, from an old story. The Foal and the Fountain. Given your curiosity, I thought a line citing the Foal's ceaseless research would be fitting. Surely you've read it?" The voice was calm, yet almost surprised in tone. It still had that air of familiarity about it but something was off...
"Oh! The Foal and the Fountain! Yes, I'm familiar with it... although, I've only read half of it..." she trailed off, looking down slowly. It was unlike her to leave a book unfinished, especially something as simple as a short old tale like that.
The old stallion shifted about in the seat and spoke up again with a sigh. "Ah... I realize you have been busy on this journey of yours but... I was hoping that you would have gotten a chance to read the book I gave you."
"Oh, I didn't mean to--" Twilight registered a little late exactly what he had said, and she quickly looked up with wide, curious eyes. "Wait, what do you mean, book you gave me?"
The cloaked pony brought his hooves up slowly and pulled back his hood, revealing a head of thinning gray hair atop a wrinkled, smiling, brown face. Mark Maker beamed at her, his ears perked up.
"Stamper?" Twilight asked in utter shock, shaking her head a bit. "This... this is... this can't be a coincidence!" she said, attempting to connect the dots she had and coming up with nothing.
Maker laughed and spoke up in a decidedly less raspy tone. "Well, it's certainly not a coincidence!" Her responding look of intent listening opened the door for him to elaborate.
"You see princess, my job here allows a certain degree of freedom that permitted me to roam elsewhere, and it gave me a chance to keep an eye out for people who were curious about Marks. People like you! I worked in libraries all over Equestria for years when I could. I rarely actually helped people along, but more recently... well, you heard what I said back in the Empire. I have seen the concequences of inaction for far too long," he explained.
Twilight was quick to counter. "But to be working in the exact library that I went to? At the exact same time frame?"
The stallion chuckled lightly before responding. "Twilight, you and I both know that the Crystal Imperial library has some of the oldest books in Equestria. When the Empire returned, I knew that any serious researcher would go there for answers," he concluded, leading to the princess merely nodding in understaning. It made sense.
"I do have to fess up to a little fib. My name isn't really Stamper. It's Mark Maker, like I said out there. But, of course, I can't go around with a name like Mark Maker! Besides, the Trident knows almost nothing about me other than that name, thanks in part to this cloak!" he informed her, tugging a bit on the strong gray fabric for emphasis.
"However, that is not why you are here. Princess Twilight, you have come far in your quest for answers, and I believe you deserve some after so long! I'll answer anything I can!" he offered her, eliciting something of a gleam from her eyes.
Immediately she spoke up, more out of impulse than thought. "Why couldn't you tell me anything sooner?" she blurted out. Normally she was quite reserved, and the blush appearing on her face indicated her embarassment, but Mark Maker only laughed a bit, realizing she meant no harm by it.
"Ah... yes, it may seem a bit unfair that I couldn't just tell you everything from the get go... but, of course, I couldn't just tell you at the beginning. That's how one gets in line for termination. Even when I knew your motives for certain, I couldn't flat-out tell you for safety reasons, partially because it gives me plausible deniability, partially because, if interrogated, it can't be traced back to me, and partially because anyone with the power to read your memories wouldn't see me as a link. I can point you the right way, indirectly hint, but never flat-out tell... and for that, I am truly sorry," he stated with a solumn nod, indicating his sincerety.
"Alright... that... makes sense..." she muttered, eyes scanning the carpeted floor as if they contained the right questions. Surely she had many, but... to start with the earliest, or the newest?
After a moment of pondering, she looked up slowly and, with a sigh, made her next request. "Far Reach told me about the Trident, but I don't feel I can trust him. So, what is the Trident, really?"
Mark Maker nodded and spoke up. "Ah. Reach probably only told you part of the story. He does rather love explaining things, but he leaves out many details if they don't directly suit his interests. Given that he was recruiting you based on your research, to give the whole truth may have left you uninterested. Let me tell you the full story, as best I can..."
Twilight's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward a bit, listening intently.
"Well over two thousand years ago, Equestria was founded by the three Equestrian races: the Earth Ponies, the Pegasi, and the Unicorns. The original founders were each brought along with their leaders, in the Hearth's Warming tale that everyone is told. There were three founders, as you well know. One was Smart Cookie, the secretary of the Earth Pony chancellor. Another was Private Pansy, subordinate to the Pegasus commander. And finally, there was Clover the Clever, advisor to the princess of the Unicorns. These three helped inspire initial cooperation among the three tribes, and got the leaders to work together in harmony... for a short while. That is where the Hearth's Warming tale ends, and the truth begins.
He continued speaking to a very intrigued princess. "You see, in those days, ponies did not actually have Cutie Marks. Not everyone truly knew or even really had a special talent, and many a lost pony gave in to violence and... less than encouragable behaviors. We were flawed, we were aimless, and the forcing of the three tribes together created the perfect powder keg under the guise of a new utopia."
Twilight's jaw was left somewhat slack in wonder as she listened, drinking in the information. "The three founders knew that the peace would not and could not last. The peace had caused a golden age, and prosperity, but when that all ran out, they would tear themselves apart. A slight chill had already been noticed after a year or so. The founders needed a way to keep the population peacful without destroying free will. A police state would incite riots just as much as leaving it alone would lead to anarchy. They needed an option C, a way out. A new idea. And they found it... in me."
At this, she finally spoke up. "What do you mean in you? You may be... many years my senior, but, that was nearly two and a half millinea ago!" the curious princess exclaimed.
"That's all thanks to this, princess," he stated, pulling out the opaque flask from under his cloak. "This is a regeneration serum created by some of the greatest alchemists of the age, along with Starswirl the Bearded and I working countless months on it," he told her.
"I... I'm finding this all very hard to believe..." she said, rubbing her temples in thought.
"You've jumped into the fountain, princess! Oh... yes... you've yet to finish the book," he mentioned, correcting himself. "It'll all make more sense in a bit, should I be allowed to continue," he said calmly. He knew she needed a moment.
"Yes, yes please," the princess urged with a shake of her head. It was difficult to imagine... but she needed the full story.
He nodded, and began again with the history.
"Anyway, Smart Cookie specifically knew me personally to be an effective problem solver. I had helped many a farm through the droughts with advanved irrigation when I was just a kid, and you could say I left my mark on the landscape because of it. Hence the name. But I digress, all you need to know is, I was a problem solver, and so the secretary approached me, and asked for a solution," he elaborated.
"So you came up with Cutie Marks?" she proposed. He nodded in response and continued on with the story.
"Well... I created the precursor the the Mark. I proposed a Brand, a label of sorts that would add drive to a pony's personal passions and desires, so long as they be nonviolent, and as a result dissuade violent tendencies. The three founders discussed my idea, and I was well aware the Unicorns had such a power of manipulation, and I drew up specifications and designs that would utilize that ability to do exactly what I had proposed. I had proved my concept, but to permenantly make a change in multiple ponies would require research on a large scale... or impressive expertise. We had the second of these through connections of the founders. Clover the Clever was able to convince her mentor Starswirl of the importance of the event. He, along with Clover and a trusted number of Starswirl's many wizard connections, were able to sucessfully create the first ever Brand... mine."
He stood up and displayed his flank, which bore what appeared to be a circular blank stone slate, surrounded in an energy aura with many tools, some for writing, others for building.
"What does it mean?" she asked reasonably, trying do decypher it.
"I didn't want anyone else hurt in case something went wrong, so I asked to be Branded before anyone else. This Brand enhanced my desire, drive, and skill to design and create complicated devices. I'm not one to brag, but I had always been something of a wonder as a kid when it came to making things that worked well, and worked efficiently. My Brand multiplied my natural ability significanlty, and thus I was able to answer their next question much better than I could have before: how do we Brand all of Equestria?"
Twilight was processing as much information as she could, still unsure what it had to do with the Trident, but she had a feeling he would be getting to that soon.
"I designed something that would take care of that, automatically do what they needed... but it would take a lot of effort, more than just a handful of wizards and hopefuls. So the founders formed a council. A council of three to organize and practically solve how to control the populace with this new method of branding. Clover took the head of the three, acting as organizer, manager, etc. She and I picked this mountain as a good operations center, and she commissioned Smart Cookie to gather workers to build it. Pansy, now with more authority due to helping save the Pegasi's leader, had a few divisions under her command, which she ordered to find a location in the mountain, and transport the Earthen workers up to build. The wizards still with us helped as well, and after a short while, the Council had a first home, the people could be Branded, and we had a dedicated staff of workers, now re-directed to other tasks that better suited our new position as leaders."
"The ponies just accepted these Brands, no questions asked?" Twilight asked skeptically.
He was quick to reply. "No, no, of course not, but in the beginning the Council told the truth. After all of us had been Branded, the pegasi under Pansy went to ensure that the settlements did not destroy themselves in panic, and they explained the situation. The transition wasn't perfect, but considering the circumstances, it was pretty smooth. By the 2nd generation, Brands were fairly well accepted, and clover made the decision that all publications that mention the origin of Brands be kept brief. It was at this time that the serum I mentioned earlier was developed, to ensure longevity of key members of the organization. Our lifespans now assured, the Council decided to be silent about our operations. The people knew we existed still, but with no news of operations, the public eye began to turn away..."
"By the 5th generation, every major settlement had a base under control of the Council, and most ponies thought that Brands were natural, due to the lack of info. Some knew that they weren't, but the Council finally had enough influence to quietly phase the truth out of textbooks and teachings. The Council, aging and believing their time had long passed, refused to any longer take the serum. They stayed alive long enough to become a secret, then all went off and faded peacefully, passing on the reigns of power to new Councilors. The first true 'Trident.'"
Twilight had to step back. This was... a lot of information, almost too much at once. Maybe she wasn't ready for the whole truth, the whole history... No. I am ready. Weeks of paranoia, twists, turns, disguises, secrets... I deserve the whole truth, she resolved, newly determined.
"You alright princess? You looked a little pale there for a moment!" he noted, but her newly renewed expresion of focus looked back to him.
"Absolutely. Please, finish the history," she requested, nodding to indicate she was fine.
Mark Maker nodded, taking a deep breath and sighing raspily before he spoke again. "Over the years, the word 'Brand' had picked up a bad connotation. It implied ownership, lack of control. We needed a new name, something lighthearted, friendlier, much like our newly peaceful populus. Something Cute. A Cutie Mark. It was placed in new publications and at first quite scoffed at, but by the 8th generation of Equestrians, nopony even questioned it. Then came the Discordian era, this newly flourishing culture brought near to ruin by a chaotic being, and since Starswirl had disappeared long ago, nobody could stop him... except the two princesses. You know the tale, they saved us and became our rulers, and after all that confusion and chaos, Not a shred of myth was left about the true origin of Cutie Marks. They just appear when someone discovers their special talent. The Trident had done it. They had made peace, disappeared, and maintained peace for all of Equestria."
His brow furrowed as he began his conclusion. "However... over time, the Trident has gotten... colder. Still they keep the peace, supposatively, but through much more manipulaion than before and much... darker methods that I have seen. Anyone who mentions any of these dark things is labled a crazy conspiracy theorist, and anyone who learns more than they should... well, let's just say you're lucky you are both smart and royalty," he stated in a cautionary tone.
Twilight was very shocked at the sheer lore, but finally, FINALLY, things were adding up. My notes on the founders, on the word Branded in the history book, it fits!
But after all of that, and after all she had been through, it was finally time to ask the simple question. "Thank you Mark Maker, but I have another question, one that's been on my mind from the start. You said the unicorns and you made the FIRST brand, and that you found a way to effect everyone constantly. Now, I have to know..." She sighed as she asked the big question.
"Where do Cutie Marks come from?"
The old stallion smiled and stood up, trotting to the door on the right wall. "Come with me, Twilight. It's time you finally saw the Brander."
She shakily stood up and began to follow him, but was stopped by a leather-bound book held before her.
"It's a fairly long walk, and you read quickly. Maybe you can finally read it through!" he said with a smirk and a wink, walking on.
She looked at the book cover. "The Foal and the Fountain." With a blush, she muttered "Right...!" and opened the cover to start at the beginning, as she slowly followed Maker into the hall... |
Marked | The Foal and the Fountain: Complete | Once, long ago, in a time of old,
Where the ponies were not yet as one,
There lived a smart and wise young foal,
Who's genius had not gone unsung.
He awed one and all, with his brilliant mind,
For a genius, indeed, was this boy
The people all loved him, they treated him kind,
Not a soul would dare call him coy.
But he was unsatisfied, he wanted more!
For knowledge to him was his pride.
So he looked into stories, he looked into legends,
Until, one day, it arrived.
The answer he sought, his challenge, his mountain,
Was revealed to him in kind.
The legend, it goes, was of a great fountain,
Which expanded anyone's mind.
For hours and days, he researched it more,
From dawn till dusk he did read.
Until, finally, a location secured,
He assuredly had what he'd need.
He told all the elders, he told all his friends,
Of the journey on which he'd embark.
Warnings they issued, caution of ends,
But not a single word did he hark.
Thus he left from the village prepared as can be,
Hiking and journeying far.
Until such a time as he reached the peaks,
Where a guardian stood with a bar.
"What seek ye, foal?" The guardian asked,
His staff now raised in alarm.
"to be wisest of all, to have knowledge unmasked!"
He replied, not afraid of the harm.
The guardian pondered, looked over this boy,
Finding mind and strength to be best...
"Alright my dear boy..." The guardian said,
"But first, you must pass my test..."
"The test is threefold," the guardian told,
"A test of the typing of mind,
And so, to begin, a riddle of old,
If the thoughts of yours is shan't bind.
So he spoke out a riddle, that is lost to time,
Though assuredly it was quite hard.
The foal had no trouble, he answered in kind,
Words smooth and flowing, like a bard.
The second task overshadowed the first,
As the guardian aimed the boy's sight
To a series of tools bound by rope of great girth,
Hoof on it, explaining the second part's plight.
"You see here the distance, from tip to tip,
Of that rather large chasm right there?
Well using the tools found here in my grip,
You must measure the distance, quite fair.
The smug little foal had figured the trick,
And rather than use all the tools...
He gathered the rope, and measured the span,
Thinking much wiser than fools.
"The first and the second, done with ease,"
The guardian said with a sneer,
"But the final task, you won't find such a breeze!"
He said, to destroy his good cheer.
"One of these rocks is a geode you see,
The crystals contained there within!
But you must find it without cracking any,"
He said, with a devilish grin.
The Foal did ponder, and wonder in thought
But just a moment of thinking
For he simply gently tapped on the rocks,
until one left a dull echoy ring.
The haughty young foal did scoff at the tests,
Having passed each one so simply,
"Alright, young boy, you've outdone the best,
So the fountain itself will you see."
And there lay before him the waters of thought,
To increase his prowess of mind,
"Now only take sips, take drops, dive in not!"
But his warning did not come in time.
The foal, wanting knowledge, jumped into the pool,
And drunk deep of the waters inside,
But soon, all at once, he felt quite the fool,
And the warning, he had wished to abide.
The knowledge surged through him, he knew way too much!
This foal did come to realize...
"Please, help me sir, my mind has been clutched!
The secrets are burning my eyes!"
"Well my young foal," The guardian said,
his tone quite solumn and grim
"You now have three choices to deal with your head,"
He calmly explained unto him.
"The first of these all is to share all that weight,
And let it be known to the world!
Profess all those secrets, Improve your own state!
But in so, leave society unfurled."
"The second however, is a much braver task,
Though something quite lonely at times...
You take my place, guard this fountain, I ask,
And keep hidden that within your mind."
"And finally, sir, is choice number three,
The messiest choice of them all.
The drop from this peak is quite steep you see,
All you need do is to fall."
So these were the choices, before the new foal,
In order to relieve his brain,
But no matter what, the choice would be bold,
But also would come with great pain.
Now the choice that he made, I cannot well say,
For lost is a record or two...
But perhaps you know the wisest way,
So, reader, what would you do? |
Marked | Chapter 28: A Simple Answer | Twilight closed the book with a soft thump, fairly dampened by the walls of the hallway in which they walked. Mark Maker turned his head to look over his shoulder at her, noting her pensive expression.
"Wow, you read even faster than I anticipated!" he commented with an impressed expression, still walking ahead in the lead. He could clearly walk this path by mere memory, given he turned and stepped up where anyone would otherwise have to look ahead to do so.
"Sta--er, Mark Maker, why exactly did you want me to read this story in particular?" she questioned, curious what exactly it meant in relation to her journey.
"Eh... call it a lame excuse for a warning. It's the best story I can think of for the dangers of learning too much, and the burden of choice that comes with bearing it," he explained, accenting it with something of a shrug.
Twilight thought about the story, particularly its ending. The burden of knowledge... If I were in his position, would I make the right choice? WAS there a right choice? the princess wondered.
"We're here," Mark Maker stated simply, holding up a hoof for her to stop. They were in front of an old looking door, but that had many bolts and other things added onto it, as if someone took a very ancient thing and attempted to inject modern technology into it. After completeing some kind of puzzle on the door, he held his face in front of a camera, which let out a soft beep. The door clicked and swung open, and he gestured for her to follow him inside.
She did so with great anticipation, finding the small room nearly pitch black as the door closed. She was about to get into a defensive position, when Mark Maker pulled back a curtain, revealing that they were on the bottom floor of a MUCH larger room. She gasped as she bore witness to the very large object dominating the center of the chamber.
Inside was an enormous dark gray box, looking to be made of something mixed between black stone and steel. The machine featured faintly glowing, yet opaque, light gray tubes connected symmetrically at the corners and sides, a total of 12 tubes in all. Two in each corner, and one in the center of each side. The tubes led into the ground around it, implying even more complicated work underneath.
The duo walked up a metal staircase to a catwalk directly above them. The catwalk surrounded the upper half of the machine completely, with about a yard of space between the railing of the catwalk and the edges of the construct.
The upper half of the enormous invention folded up from a cube to a cone/funnel type shape. In the center of this upside-down funnel was what resembled a large spiraled unicorn horn, extending to a large crystal in the ceiling, which in turn extended higher into whatever was above this room.
Maker walked calmly, slowly up to the edge of the rail, sighing as he leaned his front legs over the edge. He gestured to the enormous device as a whole, and spoke up in a tone somewhere between pride and regret. "This... is the Brander. An automatically targeting, automatically casting, branding machine. And THIS, Twilight, is where Cutie Marks come from.
Twilight's jaw was slack, left agape in sheer awe of the magnitude of the machine. Not only its function, but the final revelation of her quest sat before her, leaving her utterly speechless.
Mark Maker knew she wanted to know how it worked, so, after breifly looking at her, he turned back to his machine, and continued to explain. "Much like the Crystal Heart, there is a central 'Branding Crystal' that stores Starswirl's original branding cast within it... and several backups if something goes wrong. It was quite difficult to find pure enough crystals to store a specific unicorn cast like that, but we managed. However, the cast he put into the central crystals is something of a 'blank slate,' if you will. It inherently will just enhance a pony's natural desires, which in some ponies may be violent or undesirable things, so to counteract this, I developed a special way to make the process a bit more specific. There are layers of crystals within the machine, each of which are moved in or out of the path of the charged energy blast originating from the central crystal. Think of it like holding different colored lenses in front of a flashlight, or using different filters on a liquid. Finally, the then-complete energy beam passes through one final 'template' of what the Mark will look like, before being broadcast up there. The Brand will be fired to a specific, matching pony, who matches the criterion that the second half of this machine searches for."
Here he paused in case she wanted to say something, looking back to her. Her slack-jawed look was gone, replaced by wide-eyed, absolute astonishment. She nodded in a way that indicated she wanted to hear more, and he was glad to oblige.
"This is a two part machine. One part is what I have just described, while the other portion is something of a giant tracking device, using countless crystalline matricies throughout this facility to track and target each and every unbranded pony. These matrices contain data, like criteria for what a pony needs to have in order for a Mark to appear. Lacking a Mark is one criteria, while feeling the exhillaration of the realization of a talent is another. There are many more, but those examples serve well enough. The Brander's broadcast crystal doubles as a reciever, and is capable of checking and tracking every unbranded pony all at once, much like how Celestia keeps track of many of her subjects. Such technology takes up a lot of space, but the most work happens in this room right here," he concluded solidly.
Twilight was able to clear her blind wonder for long enough to ask a relevant question. "So, what about those unbranded ponies, like Reach, or the Trident guards?"
He put on something of a scowl as he responded. "Oh, this baby still tracks them, but I've been ordered to prevent the machine from Branding them. Sometimes, the Trident selects fillies and colts with potential to remain unbranded for a while, to leave their minds completely unrestrained. If they develop into brilliant or... cold enough minds, then they recruit them through one of many partner organizations, or front organizations, whichever would better suit their interests. Personally, I do NOT agree with the practice, I think it rather defeats the point... but I have no power to object," Mark Maker finished with a very tired sigh.
She felt for him, she really did. It was clear that he had only ever wanted good to come of his device, but to see it abused and have no say in the matter...
He surprised her by speaking up again, eyes widening a bit, but head still down towards the floor. "And now, Reach wants to take away even more power, by having the Trident control the Brander more directly for something new... Though... Reach didn't specifically say what... About a month ago, he came here and was pretty vague about a new plan, as he is with many things that wouldn't suit his interests to explain in detail. So, he didn't give me those details, just that whatever the plan was would result in a 'major shift in society,'" Mark Maker said, with a comically accurate, raspier mockery of Reach's unique voice.
"But enough about the lamentations of an old stallion, I can see you're bursting with questions," he observed, looking back up to her with that grandfatherly smile he wore, as if his disappointment a moment ago had never been there at all.
"Well uh... what about Cutie Pox? What causes that?" Twilight inquired, remembering back to one of her very first notes.
His expression turned to one that read something like humor and slight
disappointment, though directed at himself rather than her. "Ah, Cutie Pox. For some reason, the chemical changes in ponies with Cutie Pox seems to act as a sort of copier for the Brander. In other words, every time one pony somewhere gets a Mark, whoever has the condition will not only register as blank, but also as a perfect match, and they both will recieve the same Cutie Mark. Now, with one Mark, the drive is there to complete your personal desires, of course, but it's not overpowering. Cutie Pox, however, demonstrates what happens when too many Marks are placed on one host. The drives overwhelm the user, forcing them to perform as many tasks depicted as physically possible," he explained thoroughly.
"Speaking of the Cutie Marks themselves... follow me..." he prompted, walking to a set of gray, handle-less double doors accessible via the catwalk they were on.
Twilight held her tongue and followed behind him, entering the doors, and this new sight before her nearly overshadowed the Brander itself in her mind.
The hallway was very long, with a shorter ceiling than the rest of the facility, although still fairly tall. The walls were what impressed her, however, for the walls, covered in glass, contained racks and racks of smooth crystals, each and every one holding a unique, detailed Mark on them. She was vaguely reminded of the cave found in Starlight Glimmer's town so long ago. The racks had some small wheels on the sides, implying that they could move, which in turn implied that these were just a taste of how many there were.
"What is this place?" she asked in heightened curiosity, peering at each crystal she passed. They weren't exactly intricate in detail, but there were so many of them that even the more simplistic designs appeared impressive, given the scale of these creations.
He halted as he got to the end of the hallway, and turned to face her, gesturing to the walls around them. "This, your highness, is my primary job: making each of these. These crystals are fed into the Brander, and serve initially as the visual portion of a Brand. Once they are used, however, a marked crystal retains the exact copy of the Brand's 'cast,' so to speak. In other words, if this were put into the Brander and fired, without any adjustment at all, it would give a match the Brand depicted, and the limitations plus desires that came with it. Think of these as... 'charged templates,' or 'premade Brands.' After a few centuries, recycling some of these was the only way to keep up with a growing population, though I still make plenty of new ones when I work." His words were calm, but she couldn't help but hold a heavy respect for all of the time and energy he put into these, as she looked and observed the faint glow of one of the crystals behind the glass.
He was quick to switch to another topic, however. She got the feeling he didn't quite like talking about himself. "Now... do you have any more questions for me...?"
Thinking once again to her notes, she still had another big question that he could answer for her. "In my research, I couldn't find a single thing about Sombra's Cutie Mark, but he existed long after you said the Trident started Branding ponies. So... was he one of the unbranded ones you mentioned?" she inquired curiously.
At this, he gained a dark expression again, though she seemed to read that he was holding contempt more for someone else rather than himself this time. "Many leaders throughout history have been under direct Trident control... but Sombra went rogue. Since he had no Mark, he was uninhibited in his aspirations. What began as simply attempting to build up the Empire turned into a tyrannical dictatorship. Thankfully, the sisters were more than willing to help remove him from power... but only when the Trident failed to do it covertly," he explained. "If they had just Branded him, or taken him out sooner, it could have meant a difference for the better for thousands of civilians..."
The explanation fit every note she had on the matter, but prompted her to dig a little further. "Was he always unbranded? Or... more genreally, is it even possible to remove one's Mark after they have been Marked?" she asked in curiosity, thinking back once again to Glimmer's village.
He took on a pensive expression at this, prompting her close attention. "Funny you should ask actually! A while back, a former student of mine actually looked into the subject. She did research with the Trident on it, and had some success, although there were side effects, such as personality supression."
Former student? That has to be her... Twilight thought to herself. "Did your student's name happen to be Starlight Glimmer?" she asked directly
"You know Starlight? Well, I can't say I'm too surprised, you and her are very much alike!" Maker responded, his face lighting up a bit at the mention of her name.
Twilight wanted to know more now. Maybe she could better understand Glimmer's personality through this. "Well what happened? You did say 'former' student."
"Well... she was a failed attempt at training a sucessor. She had incredible power, but lacked direction. I took her in with Trident permission, and taught her much about the Brander and its operation. I found her in a library actually! She had some interest in Marks as well, but after getting to know her, I took her in to spare her from the Trident's... information supression," he elaborated.
He continued with drooped ears. "My hope that Starlight would carry on my work utterly backfired. Instead, she thought the whole idea of the Brander was scary, she thought it so very unequal. She wanted a way to remove Marks from everyone, believing them entirely unfair... and something inside me wouldn't let me try to stop her. She never told her plans to anyone, except me, so her research was under the guise of allowing the Trident to make people unbranded after recieving a Mark. The R&D branch was fascinated by the idea, and took her up on helping research efforts."
So there was more to her hatred of Marks then just losing a friend... the princess thought. Actually, Twilight found herself wondering how she had ever fallen for the excuse that something so simple would have driven a pony to go to such extremes. Glimmer was brilliant with her powers, but was an atrotious liar.
Mark Maker continued on after a moment of thought. "When she got her answer, however, she ran away. I managed to get the Trident to turn a blind eye for a while, but I haven't heard from her since. Do you know what happened to her?" the old stallion asked of her with a hopeful expression.
Twilight opened her mouth to explain, but both of their attentions were jerked to an intercom speaker in the corner of the hallway as it emitted a sharp tone.
Suddenly, the sound of alarms blared through the facility, and a flat toned voice spoke over the speaker system.
"I do hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I thought you both should know that this facility is now under my direct control. Twilight, I should have known you'd make it past Flak, I knew you had such potential. Thank you by the way for leaving the door open for me, it was quite considerate!" Reach said with a booming voice.
What? But I never opened the door, I couldn't bypass the locking mechanism! she thought to herself, wondering if perhaps Flak had gotten free and opened it.
"And old Mark Maker, I suppose you're helping the girl! I really can't say that I'm surprised. Your former loyalty is appreciated, and you will be remembered for your service, but as of this moment, you are completely unesessary. I have bypassed your duties, rendered you obsolete. You have finally been freed from the job you so loathe, old man," Reach spoke loudly, earning concern from both of them.
He can't be here this soon! Unless he somehow flew here by himself... the princess found herself noting.
Mark Maker turned to her and spoke quickly. "Twilight, we have very little time. There is a room above the Brander that contains the primary broadcast crystal in the peak. If the alarms are going off, than the hatch to access it from the Brander room is locked, so to stop him, you'll need to head to the primary broadcast room through the main hallway."
She was confused but knew she had to do something, anything, so she started to walk away, when Mark Maker stopped her.
She turned to look, and saw a new expression, one that almost scared her, because it was a very dark, solumn kind of expression, yet dead serious, and full of resolve.
"Twilight. I have one more thing that I must ask of you before you leave..." |
Marked | Chapter 29: A Simple Choice | Twilight stopped as she saw his dire expression. It unnerved her, such a normally cheerful face marred by a distraught expression, looking guilty, somber... yet determined. She sat and gave him her full attention.
He took a deep breath and let it out, carefully choosing his words as he began to speak. "Twilight. I told you that I had seen the consequences of inaction... and a few decades ago, I resolved to start taking action. Through the years, I have slowly put certain plans in motion. I have covertly spoken to council members, I have secretly nudged projects just subtly enough to put things in place... all without the knowledge of anyone else. As far as those council members know, I only talked to them and them alone... they do not know I spoke to most of them..."
The princess absorbed the information, trying to understand where he was going with this. She still felt uneasy as to what this topic was leading to, but let him continue without interrupting.
Mark Maker looked her over carefully, making sure she was prepared for him to go on. Judging by his expression however, it seemed that perhaps he was unprepared to speak himself, but speak he did, very carefully. "Twilight, what Reach is doing right now will allow for the last, final component of the plan. The Trident had a sucession protocol in place in case something happened to their current head. Keyword being 'had,' as I have disrupted the process. Princess, thanks to my subtle works, I can literally dissolve the Trident within a day. Picture it like putting all of the weight of a building on one support beam and knocking it out... but only if you do one, dreadful thing."
She gulped in fear, a sense of dread creeping up her spine. For something to qualify as "dreadful" to a pony as old as he was... and yet for him to think it necessary... She hesitantly asked in a quiet voice, "what would I need to do?"
"Your highness, I have never asked such a thing of anyone... nor would I ever want to, nor will I ever again... but if we are to destroy the Trident..." He looked up and stared into her eyes, very clear and firm in his words.
"I need you to kill Far Reach."
What? The words resonated in her head. Kill? As in murder? But... that would make me just as bad as Reach! And yet... he's responsible for the deaths of so many... if I were to remove him... wouldn't that save lives? Her mind spun with these thoughts, taken aback by the request... but then she looked back to his face.
Mark Maker looked hurt. His face was worn with not only lines of age, but signs of regret. He very clearly saw no other option, at least, not one that would turn out better.
Twilight was not one to blindly agree, she had to know more. "Why do I have to kill him? Can't I capture him?" she asked, trying to understand his reasoning.
He was very quick to reply. "No. He is a cold genius. If he is captured and imprisoned, he will eventually find a way to free himself. Even worse, he may make allies during his imprisonment, making more problems down the road. Most critically though, if he lives, the succession protocol won't be implemented. They'll be confused and likely try to negotiate terms, but they won't fall apart. This truly is the only way."
She bit her lip in a pensive expression. She understood his plan, and she knew why he felt it necessary... but she couldn't absolutely commit. "I'll consider it..." she trailed off, earning a firm nod from him.
"Twilight, you will choose what you will choose... but just understand. If we dissolve the Trident, I can open this place to the public. Marks will become optional, and more customized. Finally they can be a benefit to society again... and you are more than welcome to help me by my side." His words were hopeful, but not demanding. Clearly, it was his hope, his aspiration to make the Brander a work for good again, and with the Trident gone, he could do it.
"I understand," she replied respectfully. Waiting to see if he had any final comments.
"If you do decide to do it... you can change the color of that broadcast crystal up there by firing a high intensity beam at it. If I see the color change... I'll give Reach a Brand that will limit his thoughts and strategy. That will make it easier to take him out," he offered helpfully. He had mentioned earlier that the unbranded were still tracked...
She nodded solumnly, completely understanding her options. She thanked him profusely for everything he had done for her, and turned to walk back out front.
As she was leaving, he sent her off with one last message. "Just remember Twilight... the choice is yours to make."
Twilight picked up speed as she left, rushing down the long path to the library room, a determined expression worn upon her face. She didn't slow down in the slightest as the facility speakers crackled on again with Reach's voice.
"Oh, now you two may be thinking you should attack me and foil my plans! Well, just a fair warning, you shouldn't try it: you'll be in for a big surprise!" he said haughtily, with a hint of a dark laugh behind his words.
She shook off his comments, powering on until she reached the small library, rushing back out into the hallway... only to be met with two familiar faces.
"Gravel? Ruby? What are you two doing here? How did you even get UP here? Wait... you're the one who opened the door, aren't you?" She found herself asking these questions quickly, rather startled that they were even here at all.
Grey was rather quick to respond. "You told us you were gonna be up here, so one eh... borrowed engine-balloon later, we came up to help! As for the door, she was a challenge, but I got it open, thanks to this baby!" he said with a proud smile, holding up a thin, grey tube, only about twice as thick as a pencil, with a few different small metal extentions on the tip.
"Well, things are getting pretty bad, you guys should probably get out of here while you still can!" Twilight recommended. She was quite glad they were so willing to help out, but she had no idea what Reach was planning, so she couldn't guarentee their safety.
Gravel shook his head in his usual semi-stubborn manner. "After comin' all the way up here? No no no, we ain't leaving before we find out what's going on here!"
Twilight was kind of running in place. There wasn't an explicit statement of a time constraint on whatever Reach was doing, but there also was no indication that she had any time to spare. However, she could tell that he wouldn't budge without some motivation, and she really didn't feel like slamming him against a wall again. Besides, Ruby couldn't have her resolve shifted so easily, so after consideration, she caved to their demands, and decided to give them the abridged version. "Long story short, this place makes Cutie Marks and gives them to people, except certain ponies who work for a big secret organization, which Far Reach controls. The pegasus worked for them. That organization uses Marks to keep ponies calm and nonviolent, and now Far Reach is doing... something," she summarized. It wasn't the most eloquent explanation, but she was feeling pressured as it was.
At this, his face went from smug confidence to pensive concern, with his jaw setting and brow furrowing on his head. "Wait, this place does all that? This... princess, this place can't be allowed to exist anymore!" he told her briskly, almost in a matter-of-fact sort of fashion.
She shook her head and widened her eyes at his suggestion. "Wha--" she managed to get out before he cut her off with an explanation.
"Listen, Twilight, have I ever told you about Sombra? We weren't supposed to talk about it, but... he never had a Mark. Nobody could ever even think to start a revolution because we were all held back by our Marks, if what you say is true. Makes so much sense now, because I know I was. I thought about fighting back a lot before I got my Mark. After it appeared though, I could only barely concentrate on the idea. Also, that pegasus that killed our buddy was Markless. Point is, princess, the whole "Marked and Unmarked" thing is unfair. Everyone needs a chance, Twilight. All of us. We can't just be limited like that. You gotta blow this place to smithereens!" he asserted, eyebrows raised and hoof waving to accent his words.
The princess hesitated, her mind entertaining the thought for a moment. If I blow this place, it would mean no more Cutie Marks, for anyone. Special talents wouldn't be so defined, ponies would be more prone to violence as they once were! But they would be free... and the Trident would lose their primary method of control. Without this place, the puppetmaster has no strings. It could lead to anarchy though... would it really be worth the trade...?
Gray saw her considering his offer, looked at the tool in his hoof, and thrust it towards her, making a final selling point on his idea. "Look, here, take my multi-pick. Made it myself. If you're gonna find a way to destroy this place, you'll need to get through some doors, I'm sure of it. There must be something that powers this place, if it's so complex and makes Cutie Marks, right? Every big factory has, like a generator. Maybe you can sabotage that!" he suggested, nodding as he offered it to her.
Twilight hesitantly took the tool in her hoof, with an unsure expression. It felt heavier than she had expected... or perhaps it was just her imagination...? She put it in her bag and looked back up to a happily nodding Grey Gravel. "...I'll think about it..." she said slowly, and she meant it.
Evidently that was enough for Grey, who gave her a reassuring wink before turning around and looking back. "Alright, we're gettin' outa here, c'mon Ruby!"
He started jogging down the hallway, but Ruby stayed behind for just a moment. She looked into Twilight's eyes, a hoof delicately placed on her necklace. "Make sure Reach is still inside when this place blows, yeah?" she requested. Then she shocked Twilight with a rare sight... a smile, a real, genuine smile.
She turned and ran off after Grey, and they both disappeared down the hall, leaving twilight to think over her options. She needed to press on however, and so, she shook her head and continued forward, making her way towards the entrance.
Twilight entered the grand hall, seeing that Flack was still tied up on the wall. No surprise there... the other occupant in the room, however, was quite a shock.
"Twilight!" Cadence cried out, looking both semi-worn and relieved as she began approaching her.
Twilight instinctively got into a defensive stance, horn charged and ready to fire, if necessary. "Cadence. What are you doing here?" she asked sternly, eyes narrowed in concentration.
Cadence however, with a look of mild guilt, but an air of calm, backed away slightly and spoke in a gentle, yet vaguely desperate voice. "I'm not here to hurt you! Shining got out of prison early, he told me you were here, and that he thought you may need help." Her words were slow, and deliberate, she meant what she was saying. I did tell him to contact Cadence as soon as he was free... I hadn't counted on him getting out early, Twilight thought to herself.
She was rather relieved that Cadence wanted to help... but didn't lower her guard just yet. Not until she had answers. "Why the sudden change in loyalties?" the princess inquired directly, almost demanded.
"Because, Twilight, I spoke with Celestia on the way here, and there's a way for Equestria to belong to the princesses again, for real this time," Cadence explained, clearly lowering her own guard in a sign of non-agression.
"...I'm listening..." she responded, one eyebrow raised, her horn powering down.
The princess of love straightened up and presented her case. "The Trident is the only thing standing between the princesses and the people. But if the princesses CONTROL the Trident, we can not only covertly restore Equestria, but also give power to the monarchy in it's entirety. The way Equestria was supposed to be."
Twilight had to admit, it was a plausible idea, but details would need to be given before she would put any thought into it. "How do you propose we do that?" she asked calmly, almost back to a normal stance at this point.
Cadence was visibly relieved at Twilight's willingness to hear her out, and some of the desperation left her voice as she elaborated. "We know that Reach is the current council head, but if we capture him alive, we can pressure the council to negotiate a new leader. A certain Alicorn princess..." Cadence accented this last statement with a nod in her direction, resulting in Twilight's eyes widening in realization.
"What? Why me?" she questioned in surprise, rather suddenly caught off guard.
"You're the princess of friendship! Your primary concern is harmony between ponies, and celebrating their differences. With you in power, you can move to have all of the unbranded ponies like Reach made to have Marks like everybody else. Equestria would be free again, plus, your attention to details will likely come in handy! Besides... the rest of us princesses have our own kingdoms to run... but an Alicorn princess as Trident head ensures monarchy control indefinitely." Her reasoning was sound, and very tempting.
If I took control of the Trident, I would make sure no ponies would ever be needlessly hurt, and my studies would make me a valuable asset in project direction... And yet, Mark Maker warned me that Reach might be too dangerous to be left alive. And what if the position changes me? These thoughts and more like them rushed through her mind, her eyes subconsciously narrowing in an expression of deep thought.
"If I did agree, what would I have to do?" Twilight asked calmly, still rather undecided.
"You need to knock him out so we can imprison him in Tartarus, where the Trident has no influence. But... be careful, I saw him briefly as he was heading up here, and he was sporting some kind of unusual suit... Here," Cadence stated, handing Twilight a small, dark pink crystal. It looked brittle. "This is a paired crystal. I have another one with me. If you need my help taking him down, just crush it, my crystal will also shatter, and I'll fly in. But... you know more about the Trident than any of us. I trust you'll make the right call," Cadence concluded, smiling weakly to signify her confidence in the fellow alicorn. The weak smile also revealed something more: fatigue.
Everything she's been through... the threats to Shining, the manipulation, being forced to act against her own family... I can only imagine what this must mean to her, Twilight found herself thinking this, then simply nodding to Cadence, in a way that expressed her understanding.
"Thanks, Cadence," she said with a slightly less worn smile of her own. There was a quiet moment of recognition on the two leader's faces, before Cadence spoke again.
"I'll be waiting outside, making sure nobody else tries to sneak up on us. If you need any help, you know what to do," she said, and with one final look, she spread her wings and flew out into the cold mountain air.
Thus, now alone, Twilight turned to look at two doors, both on the ground, on either side of the great Trident seal. The hallway she had just come from was on the left, and the hallway that would lead up to Reach was to the right.
Well... what do I do? she found herself wondering as she considered the two doors, sitting down for a moment, her sense of urgency less intense for the time being.
Gravel had a point about the generator idea. It sounds like the Brander is a delicate system. If I can find what powers it and destroy it, I could disable this place for good... she considered, glancing to the hallway on her left.
Yet... Cadence brings up some very convincing points... nobody has to die if I just capture Reach! Besides... if the Trident has always been part of Equestria, dissolving it could be terrible for everyone, but putting it under monarchy control makes perfect sense... Her eyes wandered to the door on the right, and she bit her lip as her thoughts continued to race.
However... the Trident has become so corrupt, there's no guarentee we could ever truly control it. And then we'd still have Reach to worry about... but if I help Mark Maker, we can start fresh and let ponies choose their own ways. Besides, he's pretty wise, and he's been planning this for so long... who am I to dash his hopes?
All of these thoughts were crashing down on her head, hammered in as the alarms kept on blaring through the halls, much dimmer to her now. All that she had learned... everything that she had encountered on this journey taught her something, changed the way she thought about the world... a world that Far Reach was about to try and change.
And now, all of that information was being boiled down... to a simple choice. |
Marked | Ending A: Cadence's Choice | Twilight needed a moment to think over her options, and rationalize her decision. She looked down at the crystal that Cadence had given her, studying its intricate, yet delicate nature... It was comprable to Equestria, as she saw it now.
The Trident wasn't always evil... Mark Maker himself said that it helped everyone at the beginning. The original founders had only the continuation of the nation in mind when they formed it, but over the years, people like Reach have corrupted it to be so much colder... caring more for itself than others. If Cadence is right, then the Trident can be fixed. No more Unbranded, no more tyranny, and with an alicorn in control, there would be no chance for any corrupt leaders to come in and sieze the most powerful position.
She looked up at Flak, still knocked out and bound on the wall. She remembered back to when he had told her to finish him off, and what she felt. If I were to murder Reach, I would be just as bad as he is. In all of the problems I have faced... all of the powerful entities my friends and I have fought, even when the fate of the world hung in the balance, we did whatever we could to save everyone's life. She was right. The only potential exception to this would have been Sombra, but even then, that was the Crystal Heart's doing, and Sombra's fault for remaining within the area of effect.
Twilight's mind was made up. She was going to do the right thing. For everyone.
She ran down the hallway on the right, passing a few doors and many blank walls, before encountering a short upward staircase, which she proceeded to briskly scale, not slowing down in the slightest. As she finally reached the top, there was a short hall with only one door at the end, a heavy stone door with the seal of the trident raised off of the otherwise smooth surface. So, after swallowing back any anxiety, she pushed open the door, ready to face Reach and put an end to all of this. What she saw however, she was not prepared for.
The room itself was very large, and narrowed towards the ceiling, indicating that this was the hollowed out peak of the facility. An enormous crystal raised about 20 feet into the air in the center of the room, and tapered off from a wide base to a thin top. The base descended through the floor, where she had seen the crystal in the roof earlier. She hadn't expected it to be this large, though that was not the most shocking sight in the chamber. She saw Reach right off, hovering above the crystal and slowly beating his wings. Yes. Wings.
Cadence wasn't lying, he had on some kind of mechanized exosuit, almost like a second skeleton over his body. The wings themselves looked identical to the ones she saw being demonstrated in the R&D Department back at the Trident facility, and there was a long metallic horn extending from the helmet, glowing with radiant energy.
Reach turned at the sound of the door and grinned, speaking in a loud voice, with a smile that was far more terrifying than it should be, perhaps merely because this was a full, genuine smile from the otherwise flat and subtle individual. "Ah, princess, so nice of you to join me! I was rather hoping your curiosity might bring you here! Although, something tells me you aren't here to tell me that you'll be giving up..."
"Reach!" she cried out, spreading her wings in a show of authority. "Explain yourself!" the princess demanded, using a technique Luna had shown her to amplify her voice.
Reach did not seem startled in the slightest, as he calmly flew down to the ground and stood before her, his own metal wings spread out in a matching gesture, showing off the mechanics of the device. "I did warn you that you would be in for a surprise, didn't I? To think, I was going to let you test this rig to make sure it was safe... but I rather think it's best that I was the first. You may never have wanted to remove it!" He spoke as if rehearsed, but said it all with genuine happiness, which unnerved her, but she stayed focused as she got a closer look at the rig itself.
The setup was almost entirely built out of some kind of very smooth metal, likely some form of steel. It had many rib-like rungs that wrapped around his chest, and a raised spine that emmitted a faint glow from within. Twilight noted eight of the unicorn power containers lined along his back, each hooked into the spine structure, and shielded on top with a metal plate over each. Most prominent, was the layered, metallic horn raised from his forehead, which connected directly to the glowing helmet on his head, shaped mildly like the top half of a skull. Off of the helmet was one wire leading into some kind of headphone in his ear, and a glass information lens over one eye, with data projected onto it. He noticed her observing the suit, but did not attempt to interfere, and waited for her to speak again.
"What are you doing here, Reach? I want answers, no beating around the bush this time," she inquired with force, attempting to maintain her facade of superiority.
He looked delighted at her inquiry, and cleared his throat calmly. "You see, Twilight, Equestria is one prosperous spot in a whole world of nations, other kingdoms and empires across the planet are completely unpredictable, and many uncontacted. What if one of them decides to attack us, Twilight? Or perhaps worse, what if they do nothing? As it stands, the Equestrian economy is starting to go stale... So, I decided to take care of those issues in one fell swoop. I fully intend to spread Cutie Marks to EVERY sentient being on the planet! Imagine: Dragons with their riches suddenly getting generous, Gryphons suddenly wanting to open trade talks, Bison more than willing to hand over land and territory! Equestria will be led into a new golden age, thanks to me!"
She took a step back, and had to take a good, long look at the pony standing before her. His eyes filled with pure, determined success, his stance one of complete confidence. Not only did he completely believe in this plan, but he believed that nothing could stop it. Even his words had sounded a bit memorized, as if reading to her history of that which had already happened. But, there was one thing he hadn't answered... the means.
"And how exactly would you do that?" she asked tentatively, nearly afraid of what he might say. The alicorn-esque suit certainly didn't bode well.
He took a step toward her, making a metal clanking sound on the stone floor, as he began to explain. "Simply put, the broadcast crystal is too weak to actually reach the whole world... as it is right now. It needs a conduit to spread the area of effect, something that can regulate and process the information going in and out for the whole operation... and that's me. This metal exosuit is the result of countless years of research, designing, and preparation. I contain in these energy cells the combined power of eight unicorn archmages... effectively four times as much power as you currently posess. With this rig and this much energy, I can not only boost the range planet wide just long enough to Brand every single sentient being on the planet, but then I can return every once in a while to repeat the process. I have circumvented Mark Maker entirely. You could say that I alone have become the apex of the world, the centerpiece for energy!" He paused here and looked upwards with a fond smirk. "The entire population of a foreign power could suddenly decide to change their views within a moment... with just a single thought from me."
He's a madman! An absolute madman! Twilight thought to herself, backing away and angling her wings to fly at any moment. Reach himself calmly began to fly upwards toward the peak of the crystal again, chuckling to himself. She knew what she had to do, but if what he had said was true... then she couldn't do it alone. The princess placed a hoof on her bag, and silently crushed the crystal within, then flew towards the crazed leader, swallowing back her apprehensions.
"I can't let you do that, Reach!" she boldly exclaimed, and was met with a burst of laughter in reply.
"Alright, Twilight, you're quite intelligent, so let's look at the facts. I have four times your energy level. This suit multiplies my strength to a point where even the strongest earth pony would be unable to take me down, and my wings contain enhanced machinery that significantly increases my flight speed and maneuverability... which doesn't particularly matter in a fight, since I can teleport just like you can. I literally outmatch you in every way," he noted, shaking his head as if admonishing a child for breaking a fairly minor rule.
"Then I'll just have to outsmart you!" she cried, turning herself invisible and quickly flying silently to the other side of the room to prepare a charge... before she was surrounded by a white field of energy and held in place.
"I likely should have mentioned that I can detect energy levels as well, silly girl." He had clearly dropped much of his normally calm demeanor, and in it's place was a cocky, self-assured stallion who believed he held all the chips.
He would be useless without that suit! I need a way to stop it from running... but how..? Twilight closely looked at the unicorn energy containers, protected by a metal sheath each... but otherwise not well guarded... He's four times as powerful as I am, but if I can at least lessen his power supply... She had a plan, and hoped that she could execute it before Cadence arrived.
First, she began flailing as much as possible, as to make him concentrate on holding her still, and stop him from doing what he would with the crystal. Next, to throw off his energy, she began randomly firing shots all over the room, towards the bottom, making him think she was aiming for the crystal base. Finally, using extreme multitasking skills, she slowly began locking on to the containters... There's two... four... six...!
"WHAT IN BLAZES?" Reach cried, attempting to slam her backwards as he caught on... but not before she managed to pull out four of the canisters. "NO!" he shouted angrily, swooping to try and grab them. She managed to destroy two with horn blasts, and cracked a third before he grabbed it. He growled angrily like an enraged timberwolf, as he defiantly stuck the one intact canister back into the rig, and spread a white, static-looking shield over his entire spinal area.
"I underestimated you, princess. I won't be making that mistake again!" he explained, his cockiness gone. He threw her against the ground, causing sharp pain to spread through her side. She had to ignore the horrible pain and scamper away as he charged a triangular beam she had never even seen before, and fired it onto the stone where she had been sitting, leaving a huge crater. "I am still more than TWICE as powerful as you are!" he reminded her, teleporting in front of her, and creating walls on three sides of her.
She teleported to the other side of the room... only to be met with him again. "You aren't the only one capable of recognizing patterns!" Reach said with an angry smile, throwing her swiftly to the side. She recovered just before hitting the wall by spreading out her wings, engulfing herself in a shield as he fired a hard blast at her. Then she got an idea.
Letting her shield dissipate as if his blast had destroyed it, she used the reflection technique that Flak had first used on her, returning the white ball right back at the sender. He attempted to dodge, but when it began to curve, he did something new: instead of reflecting it back, he grunted and made a shimmering, dummy version of himself, then teleported away. The bolt struck the dummy, vaporizing it to dust, and leaving the real Reach unscathed and darkly chuckling.
"You see Twilight? Even with your little trick I am still double your strength... You cannot beat me," he bragged calmly. "I am going to win!"
"No, you won't!" a familiar sounding voice said from across the room. The last time Twilight had heard those words, they were terrifying, but hearing them now was exhillarating. Cadence had arrived.
Reach whipped around with a quick flash of his wings, his back still shielded. "Cadenza. I should have known you would forget your place. Perhaps I was a little too soft on Shining, but I won't be making that mistake again," he threatened, eliciting a flash of rage from her.
"Cadence! Don't listen, these people try to manipulate emotions!" Twilight cried, remembering Flak and Reach's office. Cadence nodded and put herself silently in a battle-ready stance. Twilight did the same, but Reach merely laughed at them both, encasing himself in a white bubble. Twilight looked over at the fellow alicorn, and remembered back to one more technique she had read up on in the Trident HQ: communication without speaking.
Twilight's horn glowed as she sent words to Cadence's mind. It's me, don't freak out, but I have a plan. The other princess was slightly startled, but otherwise listened. He has five energy canisters powering his suit. He had eight, but I managed to take out three. We need to get him to unshield his back long enough to pull the rest out and disable the whole rig.
Cadence thought, and subtly nodded, which earned an odd glance from the protected Reach, until she fired a solid beam at his bubble. He scoffed at her attempt... until Twilight joined in, power growing.
"You may be twice as strong as one alicorn... but now it's even," Twilight began, surging more energy into her beam with a grunt.
"Less than even really, because we can attack from two angles!" Cadence chimed in, her own beam widening in radius as her expression grew more concentrated.
"Is that so?" Reach taunted, conjuring just enough energy to manifest a white ball behind her and fire it towards her, before refocusing on his barrier. He was unaware, however, that Twilight was able to mentally communicate what he had done, and with a slight break in power, the princess put a small energy wall behind her briefly to block the shot, then she poured all her power into the beam.
Reach's eyes widened slightly. His original plan had been to spawn a dummy and teleport to the other side of the chamber again, but he now had to focus all of his efforts on his shield and his back. His expression otherwise remained cool and calm. He had of course faced errors before, but those five canisters he drew from contained a fixed pool of energy. Living magical beings however had the annoying tendency to go beyond their natural power levels when in distress. He was displeased, but determined to succeed. He took power from his back shield and focused entirely on the barrier.
Twilight noticed the drop in guard, and she felt filled with determination, her heart pounding in her ears. Just need to get his barrier down now... just need to overpower it! She poured every ounce of energy she had into the beam erupring from her head, but knew that that alone would not be enough. So, in a dangerous move, she brought to mind every hateful thought she could. Every failure, every death he had caused, all the pain that this new Trident had created for everyone... and as she did so, the solid purple beam from her horn began to darken to a deep lavender... until finally it was solid black.
Reach was strugging to maintain the barrier. As he looked over to Twilight, he felt a twinge of emotion that he had not felt in decades... something deep and primal. Fear. "Dark Energy?!" he exclaimed, pushing the rig to its limits. Dark energy was exponentially more powerful than even the purest form of raw unicorn power, primarily due to its instability, and he knew full well that this suit couldn't handle it. In a very desperate attempt to avoid overloading the system, he fired every wing-assist system he had and flew straight up, his energy warning indicating that his horn apparatus had been overheated by the exertion.
Twilight ceased her beam immediately as he flew upwards, her eyes still faintly glowing black as she rocketed after him. In her state of mind, the look of shock and subdued terror in his eyes was delightful, as she wrapped her hooves around him and barreled into the ground, near where Cadence stood.
Quickly, Cadence locked on to the canisters as Reach attempted to reactivate his horn, but at that point, they had been removed, and his legs had been pinned by a slowly calming princess Twilight, horn glow returning to a normal, purple coloration.
Reach had very few options before him. If he attempted to escape, they would easily grab him. Negatiation was out, as he was in no position to make a deal, he held no leverage. It was very obvious that he would not achieve his grand plan... today. He had one option left, and it was the most rational of them all. He stopped struggling and simply stated, "I surrender."
Twilight was still panting from her energy exertion earlier, but Cadence walked up and nodded happily at her, earning a weak smile. "You are officially under arrest for conspiring against the Equestrian monarchy. Do you confirm your surrender?" Cadence asked professionally.
Even in this, he took on a smug smile, and calmly replied. "Yes, I surrender. I of course would prefer not to fight, you have clearly won this day. It's always better t--" His speech was cut short by a strong hoof to the jaw from Cadence, instantly knocking him out cold.
Twilight looked over to Cadence, who was proudly beaming back. "I always did hate the way he talked," she said, accompanied by the most relieved laugh she had heard in a very long time. |
Marked | Ending B: Mark Maker's Choice | Twilight sighed as the options weighed heavily on her mind, and she looked up to see Flak, knocked out on the ceiling. Flak is a monster... a pony that feels no remorse, and can commit murder in cold blood without so much as a moment of hesitation... and he's only one of many monsters, all created by Reach. I thought that, to kill would make me like them... but perhaps... perhaps I would be hurting far more people by not doing anything.
Her thoughts grew more solid as she trotted beneath the bound pony, observing him with a pensive expression. The burden of knowledge... I now know the crimes that Reach and his minions, the whole Trident, commit! If I were to do nothing... then in a way, I am making a choice. The concequences of my inaction could be hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives. To leave such a monster alive, or to imprison him where he could make more monsters... that would change nothing. ...One life is a small price to pay for progress.
The princess was filled with a new, burning resolve. Her eyes narrowed as she put her head down and dashed through the door on the right, making up her mind to support Mark Maker in his plan. She ran and ran, passing doors in the long hall of stone, until she came to a staircase at the end.
She traveled up quickly, her hooves barely touching the steps as she ascended, until she reached a final, short hallway with only one door at the end. It was a smooth, stone door, with the raised emblem of the Trident emblazoned on it. She cleared her mind, staying focused on what she had to do, as she pushed open the heavy door and dashed inside, gasping at the sight that greeted her.
The room itself was very large, and narrowed towards the ceiling, indicating that this was the hollowed out peak of the facility. An enormous crystal raised about 20 feet into the air in the center of the room, and tapered off from a wide base to a thin top. The base descended through the floor, where she had seen the crystal in the roof earlier. She hadn't expected it to be this large, though that was not the most shocking sight in the chamber. She saw Reach right off, hovering above the crystal and sporting some kind of metallic outer suit, complete with mechanical wings, but she didn't let it distract from her mission.
The gray stallion turned around at the sound of the door, speaking in a very clear, resounding voice, with a smile that might have been terrifying to Twilight had she not been trying to purge her emotions in preperation of the threat. "Ah, princess, so nice of you to join me! I was rather hoping your curiosity might bring you here! Although, something tells me you aren't here to tell me that you'll be giving up..."
Twilight remained silent, her face set like concrete, as she stared directly at the monster before her.
Reach calmly flew down to the ground and stood before her, his hooves clanking on the stone floor with his landing. "I did warn you that you would be in for a surprise, didn't I? To think, I was going to let you test this rig to make sure it was safe... but I rather think it's best that I was the first. You may never have wanted to remove it!" As he spoke, unusually haughty for someone like him, Twilight made as many observations about the rig he was wearing as she could.
The setup was almost entirely built out of some kind of very smooth metal, likely some form of steel. It had many rib-like rungs that wrapped around his chest, and a raised spine that emmitted a faint glow from within. Twilight noted eight of the unicorn power containers lined along his back, each hooked into the spine structure, and shielded on top with a metal plate over each. Most prominent, was the layered, metallic horn raised from his forehead, which connected directly to the glowing helmet on his head, shaped mildly like the top half of a skull. Off of the helmet was one wire leading into some kind of headphone in his ear, and a glass information lens over one eye, with data projected onto it. Her wandering eyes had not escaped Reach's own gaze, and he almost seemed pleased at her assessment of it, so he politely, with raised eyebrow, waited for her to speak.
The energy containers and horn seem to imply that this suit allows him access to immense power, and perhaps even the ability to cast like a unicorn... if I'm going to do this, then my priority will be to disable the rig... but how? Perhaps I could remove the containers... she considered, her train of thought momentarily halting as she noticed the expectant look in his eyes. He was waiting for her to speak, it seemed, so she said merely what needed to be said. "I'm going to make sure you never harm another living soul, Reach."
He seemed to chuckle at this, and briefly said "I'm certain that you will try," while calmly flying up towards the tip of the broadcast crystal again, his mechanical wings beating the air with a faint, yet very bassy sound.
This is my chance... his back is to me! I just need one good shot... Twilight swiftly took aim and fired twelve well-placed, silent stealth shots towards the back of his rig, attempting to neutralize the immediate threat. Unfortunatly for her, she had highly underestimated exactly what he could do.
She didn't even have a second to react as she was immediately blasted in the ribs by a white sphere of energy. She let out a sharp cry as she impacted the wall, seeing Reach walking towards her from a position he had clearly not been in before she had fired. He can teleport!? she thought frantically, knowing that she needed to re-evaluate her strategy.
"Perhaps I should have mentioned beforehand, princess..." he started with a dark grin, as she got up and returned to a battle stance. "...These canisters are filled with the energy of eight archmages... making me over four times as powerful as you are, my dear."
Her eyes widened in mild panic, and she turned herself invisible in an attempt to surprise attack him from behind. He merely chuckled darkly as he surrounded his entire back in a white shield, then to spite her, he fired a long arching bolt of energy in her direction. She sidestepped what would have been its impact point, but was blasted into the air and out of her cloak as it curved and impacted her front legs.
"It's useless, Twilight!" he began, flying back to his original position above the crystal, his back still shielded, much to her dismay. "I can sense your very energy! Even without sight, I know where you are!" he stated, tapping lightly on the glass eyepiece.
Twilight needed a moment to think of a strategy, and thankfully, she knew exactly how to get that time. She interrupted his attempt to do something with the crystal tip by simply shouting: "Why, Reach? Why are you here? What is your big plan, huh?" That ought to buy me a minute or two... the princess reasoned, banking on his need to explain, and looking over Reach above. Knowing Reach, his statement on being four times my power is likely accurate, which doesn't bode well for me. I need to separate him from his power, or somehow find a way to render it useless. His back is shielded, so I need to make him drop his guard...
As she ran through her options, the gray stallion cleared his throat, clearly already knowing what he wanted to say. "You see, Twilight, Equestria is one prosperous spot in a whole world of nations, other kingdoms and empires across the planet are completely unpredictable, and many uncontacted. What if one of them decides to attack us, Twilight? Or perhaps worse, what if they do nothing? As it stands, the Equestrian economy is starting to go stale... So, I decided to take care of those issues in one fell swoop. I fully intend to spread Cutie Marks to EVERY sentient being on the planet! Imagine: Dragons with their riches suddenly getting generous, Gryphons suddenly wanting to open trade talks, Bison more than willing to hand over land and territory! Equestria will be led into a new golden age, thanks to me!" he said proudly, watching her carefully, and his unnervingly out-of-character smile widening as he saw the look of shock dawn on her face.
"Every sentient being? But how?" Twilight asked, bewildered, still analyzing her options, but now distracted by his mad plan.
"Simply put, the broadcast crystal is too weak to actually reach the whole world, as it is right now. It needs a conduit to spread the area of effect, something that can regulate and process the information going in and out for the whole operation... and that's me! This metal exosuit is the result of countless years of research, designing, and preparation. I contain in these energy cells... well, I've already explained how much power I have! With this rig and this much energy, I can not only boost the range planet wide just long enough to Brand every single sentient being on the planet, but then I can return every once in a while to repeat the process. I have circumvented Mark Maker entirely. I can sway governments, shift opinions... I can alter the very fabric of entire kingdoms with a single thought!" he declared, smiling wildly, his eyes actually widening to match.
Twilight flew up into the air, her face one of horror and utter distress. "Have you gone mad? Are you trying to become omnipotent?!" she shouted, incredulous.
"Oh, Twilight, I'm not trying to become omnipotent..." he started, lowering his gaze a bit. "...because I already AM omnipotent!" he cried, letting loose a shockwave that sent her tumbling back. If there was ever any doubt in her mind about what she had to do, it completely disappeared with his last statement.
Now or never! she thought to herself, dashing forward and blasting the broadcast crystal with high energy bursts. From Reach's point of view, it must have seemed like she was trying to destroy it, which prompted another laugh. An enormous white triangle appeared before her, smacking her out of the air violently.
"Oh princess... it would take something nearly a hundred times your strength to destroy that crystal! You can't even begin to hurt it! All you've done is temporarily changed it to a nice shade of lavender!" he boasted, smirking away. That is, of course, until his flank began to glow.
"WHAT?" he shouted as he looked back, looking to see a clown nose and wig staring back at him from his previously blank flank. "THAT BLASTED IDIOT!" he shouted with genuine fury, before a powerful hoof connected with his helmet, sending him flying backwards.
Unfortunately for Twilight, it didn't seem to stop him, although she did notice something unique. His horn... It moved slightly, as if it were spring loaded... After careful examination, she noted that the suit had no charging port, like she saw in the facility, for the energy canisters, it just went from the canisters to the helmet. Because the helmet IS the port! The horn folds in and recieves power! She had a new plan, since her punch had not warrented the shield drop she had originally wanted. However, judging by the expression on his face, her plan would be much more difficult to execute now.
Reach, his face marred by genuine fury, raised a hoof with horn ablaze, staring her down as he flapped his wings about four yards away. As he brought his hoof down, a few dozen white pellets appeared in a spherical configuration around the airborne princess, who panickedly raised a shield bubble just in time to have it broken down by the pellets attempting to ram into her.
Though she had sucessfully defended against them, Reach himself slammed into her, covered in a white full body field, which seemed to multiply the force of the impact. With a desperate move she attempted to clash her horn into his helmet, but he had been moving too quickly, and as she was knocked away, she tried to reorganize her thoughts.
I clearly can't overpower him, but if I could just get close enough for a second-- Twilight's thoughts were cut off as the ground benath her exploded, sending her up into the air. She barely dodged a multitude of energy bursts, erupting from his horn in rapid sucession without so much as a half second gap between each shot. She tried flying backwards as she dodged, only to find herself caught in an energy web of sorts, which, upon contact, shocked her intensely as if it were lightning. She crumpled to the ground with a weak cry of pain, eyes wincing at the feelings endured.
"HAhahahah! You know, Twilight, I've never been a very emotional stallion, and perhaps this is the new Mark talking, but I think I'm rather enjoying this!" Reach yelled down, juggling white energy spheres and throwing them at her, much like one would toss rotten tomatoes. She pitifully rolled from side to side to dodge the spheres, realizing that, at this point he was merely having fun, not even attempting to do serious damage. This sparked anger and a faint hint of hatred from the princess.
That's it! I can't overpower him... but if I can increase my own power just enough, maybe I can make the brief opening I need... Twilight's realization caused her to look up once again and see the despicable madman still juggling and tossing energy at her. It didn't take much more to get her to unlock her dark energy potential, just like she did when fighting the gray pegasus.
Twilight thought about Flak, and all the pain he had caused... about all the horrible things the Trident had done to keep Cadence, and the other princesses under their complete control... She thought about Straight Arrow, and the pain his loss had caused to Ruby, and she thought of all the countless ponies that may have died and hurt people just the same. Then the energy began to swell.
Far Reach cast a cautious glance at the mare's crumpled form, noting a rather unusual glow about her. He noted her horn arcing with black jolts rather than her typical purple. He noted something like black smoke beginning to trail from her eyes, and when she looked up, he himself flew backwards slightly, feeling a faint twinge of actual fear. She stood up, ignoring all previous pain, and flew upwards, making eye contact with the now-defensive leader.
"Far Reach, I find you guilty of treason against Equestria, murder, theft, destruction of property, and assault on royalty. You won't be leaving this room again, monster!" she cried out in an unusually dark tone, casting a powerful black bolt towards him.
He warped to the other side of the room, shielding himself before creating two orbiting white spheres around his body. "My oh my, getting a little edgy there, aren't we?" he taunted, believing he now held the intellectual advantage, given that dark energy users had to give in to nearly-blind hatred in order to sucessfully cast with it. His mild fear was replaced instead with healthy caution. He still had full functionality, so he had no need to worry, he thought.
She teleported behind him, surrounding him in a thick, black smoke screen, which essentially just served as a distraction while she attempted to blast him from multiple angles. His orbiting spheres managed to seek her out and blow her backwards, and as soon as he had her in his sights, he created a very complicated looking construct with his horn. Upon blasting it with what seemed like a jolt of electricity, the pure energy construct erupted into hundreds of triangular glass-like shards, which Twilight had to defend against.
"I'm more powerful in this state, Reach!" she declared, casting a long beam towards him. He countered with his own beam, carefully maintaining his own shield while firing.
"Please. You may be unstable, and difficult to measure, but I still hold more power, and we both know it!" As he said this, he sent a pulse along his energy beam, one that managed to supercede hers and throw her in a backwards tumble. He maintained his kinetic shield in case she bounced back, warily scanning the environment. As the dust settled, all that remained was Twilight, teeth gritted, panting heavily, having made an enormous construct that appeared to be a black bow and arrow, made entirely of dark energy.
Reach actually scoffed at the thing, standing his ground. "Do you really think that will hurt me? You'd have to have more power than my shield to get through!" he boasted, throwing his head back to laugh and increasing energy output to his defense.
She released the black, crackling arrow, sending the bolt towards him. Now, what he said about her needing more power to get through the shield was true... when speaking of pure unicorn power. Dark energy, however, was unstable by nature, and rather than block the shot, the unstable, constantly phase-shifting black bolt only half dissapated, as it fired THROUGH his barrier, and slammed into his upper chest.
"WHA--?!" he had just enough time to exclaim before Twilight warped to him, slamming her horn into his. Just as she had predicted, it retracted as she pushed, and she was able to plug into his helmet. "H-how did you know about--" he began, completely caught off guard by not only the wound on his chest, but by the exact means of his defeat.
"Never studied dark energy, huh?" she taunted, her eyes returning to their normal hue, the hate subsiding. Her horn began to glow, and his helmet whirred as she began the transfer.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, struggling, but finding his suit frozen in charge mode with the influx of power. Reach gritted his teeth, eyes widening.
"I'm giving you what you always wanted, Reach. I'm giving you power." With that statement, she closed her eyes, and thought back to what the other princesses had done during the Tirek incident. Through a special technique taught to her later, alicorns could willingly give up portions, or all, of their inherent alicornic power, and that was exactly what Twilight was doing. With a painful grunt, she began to drain her very energy into his suit, eyes closed in concentration.
Reach himself began desperately trying to move, unable to budge in the metal cage that surrounded him. "No! Wait! Those canisters have a fixed capacity! They can't take any more power! Especially not alicornic energy!" his cries were useless, and after depleting about a quarter of her power, she removed her horn and stepped back, observing the canisters on his back glowing a bright white, unnatural coloration. "You IDIOT! This won't disable my suit! They will EXPLODE! Take it back!" he said panicked, attempting to use the horn, but unable to, with the overpowered canisters.
Twilight silently teleported to the door, and stared in. "Saves me the trouble," she said quietly as she closed the door.
Reach ran over to it, and began pounding on it. "Twilight! Listen! I can't remove this suit, this is going to literally kill me unless you take the energy back!" he shouted, after failing to remove the canisters by hoof. "Is that what you want? A death on your hooves?"
Twilight sighed with a shakey breath and said nothing, but she didn't need to, because he figured out her intentions after the initial silence.
"Oh. Oh, now, now listen Twilight! I surrender! I realize I have been beaten! Take me away to prison, or Tartaurus, I give up!" he pleaded, pounding on the door. "I know you, Twilight! You're not a murderer! In your mind, that would make you as bad as me! Right? Right?" he tried, as a warning light began to flash on his visor.
Twilight's stomach was knotted tighter than ever before, her eyes closed as she stayed by the entrance, trying desperately to ignore her instincts to save him. This was one villain who was too dangerous to be left alive.
"Twilight! I can give you secrets! I can give you anything, Twilight!" he continued, but to no avail. His suit was beeping madly, his back beginning to grow hot. He didn't have long. He was desperate, for once in decades, he, Far Reach, was not in control.
He slammed his hooves on the door, crying out loudly, face mortified, marred by a feeling he could hardly remember: panic. "BLAST IT TWILIGHT, OPEN THIS DOOR! OPEN THE DOOR TWILIGHT, OPEN THE DO--"
The explosion knocked Twilight down flat, and caused her to look back at the chamber door. The odd stone was fractured, and the raised emblem of the Trident had crumbled to pieces, the left and right arrows warped, and the head arrow had completely fallen off and been pulverized on the floor.
Twilight gulped down the feelings she had welled up inside her throat, as she stood on shakey legs and turned to walk down the hall. It was done. Both Far Reach, and the Trident with him, were no more. |
Marked | Ending C: Gray Gravel's Choice | Twilight sighed and spent a moment thinking over everything that had happened through her journey here. All the challenges, all the roadblocks along the way... all for want of a simple answer behind an image on her flank.
And what have I learned? I learned what these Marks really mean. We're branded, like property, all to be subservient to a higher power that no one sees. Even if I took over the Trident and abolished the unbranded, ponies still wouldn't be truly free. Mark Maker even said that some marks have to be modified to better control the people... is that really what I want?
She looked up to see the seal of the Trident on the wall, and her brow furrowed as she continued her train of thought, expression pensive and serious.
And if I supported Mark Maker's plan, which seems to promise freedom, there's no guarentee that someone else won't find a way to take control of it. Besides, would I really be willing to stoop to Reach's level, murderer, in order to stop him? No, going after Reach is a temporary solution to a much more serious problem. Gravel was right, this place has to be destroyed, and the truth will need to be told to the masses. There may be initial chaos... but ponies would finally be truly free.
She narrowed her gaze and looked to the door on the left, and after taking out Gravel's multi-pick, she dashed down the hall, looking for whatever powered the facility.
She ran and ran passing a few doors here and there, passing by the small library door, until she saw what she was looking for: "Central Generators." Plain text on an otherwise blank door, identical to most of the others in the hall she had past. It had a small keyhole on it, and Twilight figured this would be a good time to try out the pick. She gently placed it into the keyhole, feeling it shift and then click into place. She gave it a testing turn, and it surprisingly acted like a perfectly matching key.
Great to know it works, she thought, travelling down a long, dark staircase, hearing a faint hum as she progressed. The sound slowly got louder, the intensity picking up slightly with each step she took. As she made it to the base of the staircase, she found herself in a much darker hallway, with a few doors, some labeled "Mage Quarters", but others with names like "Replacement Crystals," and a new-looking door that said "Maintainance Room."
However, her primary goal appeared to be a very large, circular door made up of three huge stone rings at the end of the hallway, sporting a complicated lock system that seemed to resemble what she detected in the cave entrance. Time to see what this thing can really do... she thought to herself, carefully placing the multi-pick into the central hole, and waiting for the click.
After a few moments of shifting then silence, it did indeed click, and with a cautious turn, the outer ring of the door began to twist to the side, then the inner ring, then finally the center, until all three rings pushed inward and began to slide into the floor with a dull scraping sound. The loud humming from earlier increased in volume as the door opened, revealing that this was in fact the source. With the door clear, Twilight carefully put away the multi-pick, charging her horn just in case as she stepped inside, expecting some kind of security detail.
Much to her surprise, there were no guards around, and as she walked inside, she found herself in an enormous room, easily 40 cubic feet, which contained a lot of modern hoses and wires, slowly getting more primative as she walked in. Eventually, she made it to the very center of the room, standing in awe at the construct found there, casting an eerie pinkish light throughout the whole chamber.
What she saw appeared to be an assortment of hundreds of pink crystals, each glowing with energy, surrounded on the ground by twelve circles with hoof prints carved into each. Ponies were clearly supposed to stand here... but for what purpose? she found herself wondering, only to have the question answered moments later. With a sharp zap, one of two very large generators fired a multicolored stream into the construct's center, causing it to glow with a much higher intensity. It became evident to Twilight that Trident mages must have stood here and periodically injected more power into this thing, until of course they were replaced by these machines. Guess that explains the high renovation costs that I saw back at the Trident HQ... and with these, nobody would every need to be here when Far Reach arrived. Whatever he's trying to do up there, he wanted nobody around but him.
With a faint look of recognition, she approached one of the two generators, looking it over slowly. She recognized it from somewhere... ah! It's the reactor from the R&D display! The "Unicorn Energy Reactor; by Manehattan Energy!" Looks like it either makes or stores unicorn energy for use in projects like this. This unnerved the princess, as it indicated that, whatever Reach was doing, was likely in the works years prior, given the application of a proven Trident technology like this.
She shook her head and refocused on the problem at hoof, casting a thoughtful glance to the construct. Above it was a series of stone tubes, and shots of the crystal energy were occasionally fired upward, at regular intervals. Less often, one of the two generators would inject the construct with short bursts of power themselves, then stop before it glowed too intensely. She had a theory, but needed to give it a quick test.
Twilight fired a straight, pure energy beam into the heart of the rector, and watched it glow brightly, some excess power arching along the sides of the thing, and causing the rotating portions to spin up a bit more. A warning beep chimed in from one of the more modern consoles in the room, indicating irregular activity. She stopped, and calmly trotted over to it to examine what it said, cocking her head to the side as she read the screen.
"Power surge detected. Adjust generators," she muttered aloud to herself, looking over some of the gauges shown on the console. Many gauges had needles that were just barely in a yellow portion of their dials, but there were red portions, indicating that the crystal construct COULD be overloaded. She had a way to do exactly what Gray Gravel wanted, to destroy the whole system... but she had to step back a moment and think: Is it really worth it?
Gray Gravel, Straight Arrow, the Crystal Empire... all were victims of the unbranded verses the branded. Even allowing the people to choose to have Marks would still leave people on unequal grounds... Starlight Glimmer knew that, but couldn't tell the whole story. Now, the princess understood. This is something I have to do. The point of the Brander was to unite the tribes, but that probem is long gone. It's time to give back the freedoms that should have been returned a long time ago.
Those thoughts in mind, she dashed over to one of the power generators and looked for some way to adjust the output. It didn't take her long to find the dials and switches, set to a specific time interval and intensity. After taking a deep breath, and after using Cadence's breathing technique, she turned up the intensity to max, then set the time interval to zero.
A constant stream of iridescent energy began to stream from the generator, slowly increasing the glow of the crystals. She looked over and teleported to the other generator turning its knobs just the same, resulting in two fully powered beams being fired into the center of the structure. It began to spin up a bit more, and the faint beeping from the console drew her there to look at the gauges.
Levels were slowly moving into the yellow zone... and climbing at a steady rate. She decided to help out by firing her own constant stream of energy in, waiting until most of the needles were just red before halting. As they reached the red zone, they strained, but slowly continued creeping on, abeit at a slower rate. Red lights in the ceiling began to flash, as klaxxons blared loudly through the facility. That was her cue to leave.
Running quickly, she dashed up the stairs, looking at the doors and seeing the library door still wide open. She didn't want Mark Maker dying needlessly, so she paused to look in, only to be met by the stallion sitting in a chair, head down, in a sad, yet not broken state.
"Mark Maker! This place is going to blow, you need to get out of here!" she exclaimed, walking in. He looked up at her with a blank, neutral expression, eyes seeming to reflect some kind of bittersweet feeling. She glanced beside him and noticed an orange stain on the room's floor, in front of his empty serum vial. What...?
"I'm not going, Twilight," he said simply, lying back in the chair. A distant rumble traveled through the building, prompting Twilight to speak up.
"Please! You don't have to die here!" the princess pleaded, trotting in place a bit as she spoke.
Mark Maker leaned forward and coughed a few times before clearing his throat and speaking up. "Twilight, without the Brander I have no reason to stick around. It would be pointless for me to stay in this world any longer. I may have hoped to help others once again, but it was but a thought." His voice showed no faltering, no real sadness, yet she felt guilty.
"But... all those years..." she began, but stopped as he held up a hoof.
"I have lived for over two and a half millineums, Twilight, a few decades is nothing. Besides, I have overstayed my time in this life as it is."
"Mark Maker..." she started sadly, only to be met with a serious expression from him, drawing all of her attention.
"Twilight, you have made your choice, and I have made mine. I am staying here, princess, and that's my personal prerogative. If there's one thing I can't let you do, it's to leave here with regrets. My decision to stay is mine and mine alone." Then, he cracked a bittersweet smile, speaking in a more humorous tone. "It's about time I retire anyways!"
She thought for a moment, then nodded sadly, walking up and giving him a silent hug. He returned it, and they embraced for a while, until another large rumble shook the facility. "Go, Twilight. If you must remember anything, remember this... in a way, you have finally freed me," he stated, smiling to her as she walked out the door.
Her walk turned to a sprint, and she actually had to sidestep a few times, as debris had begun to fall from the ceiling and walls. As she made it to the grand entrance hall, she found the upper wall crumbling, and some of the light structures missing from the wall... including the one that had been holding Flak. She considered looking for him, but as rubble began to fall down around her, she knew she needed to run out the door as fast as she could.
As soon as she made it into the cold mountain air, she spied Cadence nearby. She gestured to follow her and began to fly away. She would explain the whole thing later, but right now, they had an engine-balloon to catch up with.
Mark Maker sighed as he relaxed in his chair, looking around at all the books that surrounded him, and at the empty vial on the floor. Hmph. Such an odd feeling, this, he thought to himself, a curious expression on his face. A few books fell from the shelves around him, but he paid them no mind.
I had almost been convinced this day would never come... and yet I almost hoped it would. Now that it's here... I'm not sure what to do. I suppose it's like waiting for an appointment with a new collegue... or, maybe like reuniting with an old friend... His face seemed to brighten a bit as one of the wall shelves collapsed in on itself.
Yes, an old friend... I wonder what she's been up to on the other side... Princess Twilight reminded me so much of her. They're both inquizitive and brilliant mares... I'll have to tell her all about it.
Suddenly, a bright flash erupted as the room exploded, the walls splintered and cracked, the floor broke open with a thunderous sound, Mark Maker was thrown up into the air...!
...Then time seemed to freeze. He looked around from his spot, hovering above his now splintered chair, seeing the books stuck in place, some burning, some not. He was completely tranquil as he floated there, weightless. He looked up at some unseen thing, and then began to smile a genuine, warm, happy smile, his worries suddenly lifted from his chest.
"Clover," he began, speaking as he closed his eyes for the last time. "It's been a very long time, hasn't it? I've missed you..."
Far Reach, sporting a complicated exosuit, complete with mechanical wings and horn, flapped to keep himself afloat above the master broadcast crystal. As the klaxxons blared, he defiantly lit up the suit's horn, and struck the crystal with a solid white energy beam.
"I have come too far to be stopped by some meltdown!" he yelled to the empty room, ignoring the cracks travelling up the walls and across the floor. "I will control the Brander!" he cried, sending energy pulses into the crystal beneath him.
Then, with a thunderous sound, the floor began to shatter, and cracks began to form in the broadcast crystal. The energy overload was building, here, in this place, with only Reach standing in its way. He was confident that his exosuit, giving him untold power, built from years of research, would allow him to save this facility, if only he could reverse the massive amount of energy mounting inside the crystal below.
"Come... on!" he grunted, his suit beeping at him to warn of excessive exertion. He poured everything he could into stopping the energy buildup, but as the crystal absorbed more power than he could hope to contain, it changed to a lavender hue, to a deeper coloration, slowly beginning to fracture.
"NO! NO! I CAN'T LOSE NOW! I AM FAR REACH! I AM THE TRIDENT!" he screamed, the entire chamber beginning to fall apart. Then, suddenly, with a deafening boom, the top of the crystal, the path of least resistance, cracked and blew off, sending a beam of pure energy with a diameter of nearly ten feet firing upward.
Reach did everything he could to protect himself, but as his defensive shield began to break down, he refused to try to escape, instead shouting and trying in vain to push back.
"NO! I AM REACH! N-NOTHING CAN STOP... Me... I'm omnipotent... I'm-m... I-Invincible..." The beam engulfed the pony, leaving not a single trace left as it vaporized him, then struck the top of the broadcast room, sparking an enormous explosion.
Twilight, Cadence, Gravel and Ruby all looked back towards the peak from their balloon, far away now, at the sound of the massive explosion. "YEAH-HE-HE-HEA!" Gray exclaimed, slapping Twilight on the back. She didn't even flinch as she looked at the mushroom cloud above the former peak, now more resembling a billowing volcano.
"We'll have to tell them all the truth, you know. About the Trident, about everything," Twilight said solumnly, earning a very concerned glance from Cadence. Ruby and Gravel, meanwhile, both wrapped a hoof around her back.
"And we will, highness, we will," Gravel said confidently, looking beyond the smoke and rubble, at the sunrise in the distance. A new day had begun.
"Finally, princess. Finally, everyone is free." |
Marked | Epilogue A: The Greatest Good | Hoofsteps echoed throughout the halls of dull stone, as princess Twilight made her way through the darkened corridor, escorted by a lone guard. "You'll have 10 minutes with the prisoner, for safety purposes. Are you sure you don't wish for me to accompany you?" the guard asked, earning an affirmative nod from the monarch. The guard cautiously raised the barrier door that led into a large chamber, and as she stepped inside, he closed it with a wary look.
"Ah, princess!" a familliar, flat-toned, yet lightly pleased voice said, as she walked up a small flight of stairs to the prison pedestal. There, sitting calmly on a rock in the center of the circular pedestal was Far Reach, wearing only a thin smile, and a look of dull interest. It unnerved her that he had the same expression now as he did when she had first met him, but she showed no outward display of concern.
"Reach. I see you've gotten comfortable here," she stated, looking him over, noting his lack of the chained ankle that more dangerous prisoners like Tierek wore.
"Yes, Tartaurus is not so bad a place, over time. It just takes a little adaptation. But, let us not dwell on me... look at you! Wearing those twin, gold trimmed, red sashes I see! The look rather suits you, Twilight, I must admit." Reach seemed oddly relaxed around her, and not vengeful in the slightest. The fact that he was so calm here seemed to put her on edge, but she offset it with her primary reason of being here.
"I've recieved reports that you have been oddly well behaved... I needed to be sure you weren't up to anything," the princess explained simply, eyeing him carefully to look for any signs that something was amiss.
"Oh come now, I've been well behaved since you imprisoned me here! You mean to tell me that it hasn't been cause for concern for over a year?" he asked, wearing a slightly incredulous expression.
"I just had to see for myself," she replied dryly, eyeing him suspiciously. The thin smiling face stared back at her, sending a mild chill down her spine.
"By the way, how IS the Trident now? I can't imagine the council would let something as small as a change of command interfere with their operations. At least, not to any significant degree," he inquired, watching her patiently, and with intent.
Twilight was quick to respond. "Actually, the council is running much smoother now, I think. Mandating that no pony ever be left unbranded seemed to make them far more cohesive an entity."
"Ah yes, though I suppose acceptance is to be expected. After all, the purpose of Marking was and still is unity," he said, standing and revealing his more recently branded flank. It bore a series of metals and crystals, all with a sort of dull texture, arranged in a circle.
"Oh, but I simply must know how the old stallion felt when you told him that you were in charge now. I imagine he was somewhat relieved at my... replacement," Reach said, leaning towards her slightly, but not threateningly.
Twilight walked around the pedestal, checking the rocky protrusions serving as "walls" for anything suspicious, as she delivered her answer. "While Mark Maker wasn't exactly enthusiastic that the Trident was still operating, he was quite happy that the Unbranded were a thing of the past. I think I made the right decision."
"As do I, my dear," Reach said, keeping his own eyes on her as she strolled about. These words seemed to catch her completely off guard, as she stopped dead in her tracks. Good. "You know Twilight, I like you. You may have pushed me out of power and thrown me down here in chains, which of course the guards eventually found unesessary, but you did it all with the 'greater good' in mind. We're not too different, you and I..."
The princess had an aghast expression at his suggestion of a similarity between the two of them. "I'm nothing like you!" she defended, trying to maintain her air of authority.
Reach merely smiled and visibly relaxed. "Is that so? Think, Twilight, you and I both wanted the best outcome for the greatest number of people. Both of us see the logic of the Brander and Marks as a whole, and both of us do what needs to be done to ensure prosperity overall. I say again, we are not so different." His conclusion was solid, but she stood her ground.
"You were a murderer. I disbanded your little assassin squads within the first week, removed them from deployment, and mandated no fatalities by our hooves," she explained, matter of factly. Her tone seemed ever so slightly colder than when they had first met...
He got oddly quiet for a moment, needing to think of how to convince her otherwise. He chose his words carefully before speaking up again. "Twilight, would I be wrong in saying that, generally, inner city crime has risen since your appointment to the position of council head?" He waited camly for her to respond despite her now-surprised expression.
"How would you know about that?" she inquired with concern, only to have him ask another question.
"And did you have to fight off a pretentious young self-proclaimed 'lord of the Mustangs'?"
"How do you know these things? Who is your informant?" Twilight asked, pointing a charged horn at him. He did not flinch or hesitate for even a second.
"I don't have an informant, Twilight. But I did have plans in place for those problems. I don't use assassination and murder as a go-to, princess. I used it when necessary and ONLY when necessary. The inner-city gang leaders were often deposed by my orders, like trimming hedges that overgrow their bounds," he said smoothly, blankly.
"But the death is entirely unecessary!" Twilight cried, eyeing him with an intense stare.
"Unesessary? While it may be true that actual murder cases rarely happen if ever these days, it is due to the Trident that this is the case. We took out anyone who Marks couldn't control, we removed the troublemakers, we SAVED lives!" Reach's expression was far more serious now, his lightly amused eyes replaced now with a look of bored concentration.
"But to kill at all is an atrocity! Why was death needed?"
"Because Twilight. One day I realized that I could prevent 100 deaths by killing one pony. For every mourning friend we caused, thousands were spared. Had I imprisoned them, Equestria would not only have to invest time, energy and money into prisons everywhere, but we would also run the risk of breakouts and significant violence. You see me as a cold, calculating stallion Twilight, and I don't deny it. But I wasn't always this way. I was much like you, I wanted a perfect world. But as much as the Brander allows us some intense influence, we cannot directly control throusands of ponies. Just look at yourself! But I realized I could help MOST of the world. And that's what I did."
Twilight was silent for a moment as she pondered his words, silently looking him over. He clearly wasn't lying, but she couldn't agree with his methods.
"Everything had a purpose Twilight. The Squads of the Trident, the assassinations, the monarchal control, the factory in Cloudsdale, the mass information collection... it all may seem horrific to you, but all of it, every part of it, went into making the carefully balanced, prosperous world that Equestria is today. But now it's your turn to take charge," he concluded, looking directly into her eyes with a blank, yet rare not-bored expression.
Twilight had heard enough, and after a brief pause, she turned to walk away. "Don't cause any trouble now," she said, trotting in the direction of the door. She was about to head down the stairs before Reach spoke up again.
"Twilight, wait. Before you go, I have a recommendation." He was cool and calm, and she turned around to see a bored, yet sincere look on his face.
"What do you want, Reach?" Twilight asked in annoyance, eyeing him suspiciously.
"There's a politician who should be lined up to run for governor of Fillydelphia. His name is Smooth Talker. He has a plan to increase police patrols in the inner city. It may cost taxpayers a bit more money, but you'll see a crime drop, and avoid killing, if he wins the election." He paused here to let her think.
"And why are you telling me this?" she asked briskly, still annoyed but curious.
"Because, Twilight, you run the Trident now. It's your duty to ensure the greater good, and I know you want to. I'm suggesting you ensure his election via media campaign support through some of our front companies, coupled with internal government support," he explained, looking serious as ever.
The princess had on a mild look of disgust... but kept listening. "Why would I remove the people's power to vote?"
"You're not removing it at all. You are merely influencing the most desireable outcome. I had intention of doing so, but it's in your hooves now," he concluded solidly, a dry smile returing to his otherwise blank face.
Though I hate to admit it... he may have a point there. After all, it would help everyone in the long run... Part of her couldn't believe she was considering advice from Reach... and yet, the rest of her found logic in the support. After all... it was for the greater good.
"I'll consider it," she finally said, walking down and knocking on the door. Just as the guard opened it, Reach spoke up for the last time that day. "I'm not evil, Twilight. Just cold."
With that, she turned and walked down the hallway, not looking back as the door shut behind her. She had a Council meeting to conduct. |
Marked | Epilogue B: The Choices We Make | "Twilight! I give up, I surrender! Open the door!"
The princess was back in front of the broadcast chamber, heart pounding as she listened to Far Reach yelling from the other side.
"You'll be a murderer, Twilight! A murderer! A killer!" he said, his voice sounding slightly different. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore him, yet could not move away from the door. Thus, when she heard a third voice, she nearly yelped in panic.
"She already is a murderer. She just can't face the facts," the voice said coldly. The princess opened her eyes to see Straight Arrow, his eyes glazed over and lifeless, standing before her.
"Wha-- how--?" she began, backing up against the door.
"You could have saved me, Twilight... but you didn't," he said plainly.
"Murderer! You're a killer!" Reach yelled from behind the door, forcing her to back up. She found herself backed against something solid again, and as she whipped around, she was met with Arrow staring back at her.
"It's time to pay up," he said, placing a cold hoof on her throat, beginning to push.
Twilight awoke in a cold sweat, holding a hoof to her throat and panting, panicked, at the nightmare. She took deep breaths, trying to look around slowly and gather her bearings.
The princess noted her room, the warm daylight streaming in through the windows, reflecting off of the dull floor. She lay back on her bed, holding her head in her hooves for a moment as she tried to clear her mind.
Another nightmare... this is getting hard to take... she thought to herself, sighing shakily. Even now, a year later, she still had horrible dreams about Reach's death. Luna had agreed to help a few months back, that is, when she wasn't helping with Equestria's stability. But even Luna couldn't be there every night.
Indeed, Luna, Celestia, Cadence... since the Trident disappeared, a very unexpected crime spike occurred, mostly in bigger cities. As a result, the leaders had to put quite a bit more effort into running their respective towns. Evidently, the strings that had been cut had been holding up more than Twilight had imagined. However, here in ber castle, she could look out and see Ponyville, which, even after the incident, really hadn't changed too much.
Twilight continued looking out her window and thinking about how things had changed, in a attempt to shake off those dark dreams. She sighed, looking over at her clock. It was almost time for work, and today there was a very special appointment that she just couldn't miss. With a smile slowly growing on her face, she spread her wings and prepared to head to Canterlot Peak.
The cold mountain breeze greeted her as Twilight landed in front of her new workplace in the peak. The formerly hidden door and subtle cave had been remodled into a comfortable, much more obvious entrance, and the complex door left unlocked for service. The baloon dock had been expanded to accomodate the Canterlot airships, and the princess was a bit relieved to see that a ship hadn't shown up yet.
"It's nice up here today..." she noted to herself, walking towards the entrance. Yes. The place where you became a killer... She sped up her pace and walked inside, as if, in doing so, she would leave her darker thoughts behind.
"Twilight! I was almost worried that something had happened! Glad you made it!" Mark Maker said as she flew into the grand hall of the facility. She reflected for a moment on how much better the lighting was in here now, at least from her perspective. Or, perhaps she just took the removal of the Trident seal from the wall as a brightening factor.
"I'm alright, I wouldn't miss today and you know it!" the princess reminded him happily, earning a nod from the smiling stallion. She hadn't told him yet about the harsh dreams, because she felt that he might think himself guilty for asking her to do what she did in the first place. However, ultimately, she knew she had made the right choice, so the point was moot.
"Ah yes, the special young lady. I made sure she was bumped up to the first appointment slot today! In fact, I think I hear the first airship arriving now!" Maker exclaimed, beaming. He definitely seemed a much happier stallion ever since the facility was opened to the public, and while dissolving the Trident may have caused initial societal disruption, the princesses over the last year had been doing a fairly good job of keeping the rate of issues low. The rate of problems started to drop six months ago, when the princesses expanded the royal guard to specifically include a civilian defense corps.
"I'd best get to the Brander, I think you'll want to stay here and see her when it happens!" Maker said with a wink, trotting off before she even had a chance to thank him.
Not two minutes later, Twilight beamed brightly as she saw a familiar, turquoise pony walk through the door,wearing a smile on her face as well.
"Summer! My how you've grown! How are you?" she asked kindly, looking down at the not-so-little-anymore filly who unintentionally started it all.
"I'm great princess! I can't wait for my new Cutie Mark!" Summer said with a short jump. Twilight looked over her to see her mother, standing by the door, wearing a proud smile on her face.
"Well, it should be ready any minute now! Now I have to ask, are you sure you want one?" the princess asked, with a light smirk. It seemed silly to ask, but it was part of her new job to ensure the desire to be Marked. After all, this was permenant, and some ponies had second thoughts.
"Ab-SO-lutely!" she said, holding her chin up high, warrenting a light chuckle from the princess.
The hall's speakers crackled on as Mark Maker's voice was broadcast through the facility. "Attention! We are ready to begin the Marking! Please remain still!"
Summer closed her eyes and stood frozen as her flank glowed brightly for a moment, until her Mark manifested itself. It was a deep blue butterfly, with waves rippling off of its wings. As Summer opened her eyes and looked back, she gasped in both surprise and glee, admiring it before turing around to the princess before her.
"Wow... I guess you really ARE the princess of Cutie Marks now!" the filly stated gladly, running up to her ang giving her a surprisingly warm hug. Twilight returned it in mild shock, but grinned at her appreciation. The princess of Marks... After a moment, not wanting to hold up the others who were waiting, she ran back to her mother, yelling "Thanks so much! You're my favorite princess!" Before she was led out the door and back to the ship. The next patron would be in in a few minutes, and Twilight reflected on what was said.
This all started because she asked if I was the princess of Cutie Marks, and now that it's all over... that's exactly what I am, isn't it? She really wasn't sure if she should feel happy or... or what she should feel. but, did the means justify the ends? she wondered, glancing over to the right doorway. She shuddered as she stared at it. To that day, she'd still never set foot anywhere near the broadcast room... but this was not the time for dark thoughts. She could push them aside... for a little while, anyways. She had given freedom and liberation to Equestria, and by making her choice, she allowed everyone to make their own choices.
And so, Twilight Sparkle looked out on the crowd in front of the door, standing tall in her new position. After all she had been through, after the simple question that started it all... she had truly had become the Princess of Marks. |
Marked | Epilogue C: The Price of "Free" | Twilight paced slowly across the floor in the Canterlot throne room, awaiting the arrival of the other princesses. She began to mutter to herself "I hope they're not delayed... what if something happened? What if someone tried to attack princess Cadence again? Or, what if--"
"Twilight, would ya calm down? You do this every time! You know they're probably alright." The voice that had spoken belonged to Spike, who was nonchalantly sitting on Celestia's throne, swinging his legs over the seat.
"Spike! Get off of there!" she said as she looked up at him, before responding to his statement. As he jumped down with a mild huff, she spoke up with a sigh. "...I know, Spike, I know. Sorry it's just, I get worried sometimes! Especially these days!"
"You can say that again!" Spike said, inspecting some of the crystals arrayed about the throne's base, wondering what they tasted like.
Twilight was about to call him out again, but was interrupted by the door opening, and the princesses, with a few other leaders, walking in. They were escorted by guards, each wearing different armor. Celestia's in gold, Luna's in greyish black, Cadence's in light blue, and other guards in colors from their respective city-states.
"Twilight, I'm glad to see you're here early," Celestia stated, as they each bowed respectfully to one another. The leaders all positioned themselves in a circle as the guards shut the doors carefully, standing alert and at attention. Spike, realizing all of the eyes on him, also stood at attention for a moment, but still cast the occasional glance towards the crystals.
"Alright, Is everyone here?" Celestia began, Looking about. This was the more informal call to attendance for these sort of meetings, and one by one, each leader spoke up in the circle.
"Princess Cadence representing the Crystal Empire," Cadence said to start it off.
"Princess Luna, representing the Reclaimed Everfree Lands."
"Princess Twilight, representing Ponyville."
"Acting Commander Typhoon, representing Cloudsdale."
"Sheriff Silverstar of Appleoosa."
"And Princess Celestia of Canterlot," Celestia finished, nodding.
"Now that everyone is present, we should begin with the state of affairs. As you know, this, the 4th meeting of Equestria in Distress, marks exactly one year since the Canterlot mountain incident." Twilight bit her lip lightly as she looked to her former mentor, who continued on without notice. "That said, it has been just under a year since the Trident's attempted coup of the land. Although we have defended our respective territories, have since regained Cloudsdale, and destroyed their operating base in the Everfree, there are still many areas they control. Does anyone have any news to add?" She opened the floor to whoever wished to speak, looking around the room slowly.
Typhoon spoke first, stepping into the circle. "Maretonia couldn't make the meeting, but they have recently requested our aid. We in Cloudsdale sent word that we are currently engaged in a campaign against Trident-held Las Pegasus, but we agreed to send a few arial units their way in the meantime."
Luna spoke next, a grave look on her face. "We regret to inform this gathering that Saddle Arabia has recently fallen under Trident control. We have heard that... HE was leading the charge again," she said in a reserved tone.
"Flak..." Twilight muttered, wincing as if in pain at the thought. If I had only known his plans... I never would have let him escape... Celestia noticed her distraught look, and subtly nudged her comfortingly with her wing.
"It's Las Pegasus all over again!" Typhoon muttered, looking at the floor. "That Flak guy seems to be the only reason they're gaining territory... bah, I'll have to bring him up in the strategy meeting later..."
It was Twilight's turn, and hopefully this news would lighten the mood a bit. "I recently sent an envoy to Manehattan, the Trident's makeshift 'captial'. Governor Smooth Talker has agreed to attempt a peace treaty between Royal Equestria and Trident Equestria."
"We can't let them do that! We know that they'll use that time to train up elite troops! It's bad enough with those agent squads of theirs, do you really want to face a whole army of those guys?" Typhoon protested, slamming her hoof on the ground.
Celestia stood calmly for a moment, and the pegasus commander fell silent. "Typhoon, remember that we took their primary training facility when they failed to take Canterlot from within. And the technology the Royal Engineering Corps took from their labs has put us on par with them, except we have the resources to mass produce the pieces. They don't own too many resource territories." Celestia rarely spoke very much in these meetings, aside from the formal parts and the Canterlot reports, so when she did, as now, they all listened. Her conclusion statement had their full attention. "In a battle of time, we have the advantage."
"It's fair to note that we are not fighting the real Trident anyway," Cadence chimed in. "We are fighting remnants led by a fractured Council. after Reach's disappearance, they apparently had no succession plan, and without validation of life or death, the council still acts as if he is the head, but merely not present. They are not the ruthlessly efficient machine that ran Equestria anymore. They are a creature of the shadows that has been forced into the harsh daylight, and they're thrashing around just like any scared, violent creature." Cadence always did have a way of grabbing the attention of others when she wanted it, with her excellent tone control and soft, subtle gestures.
Typhoon quieted down for a moment, allowing the others to speak.
The Sheriff cleared his throat and stepped forward. It was clear that formality was not his particular forte, but he was a respected leader, so no one felt the need to criticize him as he spoke. "We just finished up a deal with the Buffaloes. If we ever need their brute strength protectin' our town, we've got it." It was short and simple, yet effective. He went and sat down nearly as quickly as he had stood up.
"Alright, with that, does anyone have any internal reports, good or bad?" Celestia asked, moving the meeting along. Spike, who had been trying to stand at attention this whole time, subtly moved over to Twilight's side and sat down, poorly concealing a yellow crystal shard under his arm.
"The Pegasus emergency military command initiative has ensured that the initial crime spike a few months ago has ended entirely. Otherwise, more and more families are helping out in the war effort," Typhoon explained with pride.
"Crime is still hard to control, but Shining has been increasing patrols on the streets of the Empire. Also, the people's warrior history has led them to be more than willing to enlist in the cause, be they guards or reservists," Cadence stated formally.
"Here in Canterlot, I have personally been randomly doing sweeps with some of the guards. The crime spike seemed to level off after that, although the prisions are fuller than ever," Celestia explained calmly.
"A-are they talking about me? Whatever I did was an accident, I promise!" Spike whispered to Twilight, earning a light chuckle.
"You're fine Spike," she said quietly as the leaders wrapped up their reports.
"Now, has all been covered for now? Any questions? Good. The strategy meeting will be at noon as usual, and in the meantime, your rooms have been prepared for you here in the castle," Celestia announced, indicating the end of the initial overview. As everyone stood, bowed, and left with their guards, Twilight and Cadence stayed behind.
"You okay, Twi?" Cadence asked, wrapping a wing around her back, as Spike snuck away back to the throne itself.
"This is all my fault..." the princess muttered quietly, slinking down.
Cadence sighed, pulling her a little closer with a wing. "Twi, I want you to listen okay? You heard in that meeting. We're getting the new crime under control, and you may have found peace with the Trident remnants! Things are slowly getting better Twilight, and they will continue to get better! You made a choice you thought was right," she explained gently, soothingly.
"But... even you told me to just take over the Trident! I never expected things to get this... violent..."
"Oh Twilight... I said that because I was afraid we couldn't keep Equestria going without it... but just look at us! Look at you! We're running Equestria just fine, and we're getting better. You heard back in the meeting, the Trident is confused and out of their element. With their council disjointed and most of their old bases gone, coming out in public to save themselves in a last-ditched effort will prove to eventually be their undoing. I back up your decision 100%!"
Her words were comforting to the princess, who looked up slowly, considering her words. "You really think so?" she asked sincerely.
"Of course I do! Ponies are finally free of restrictions of any kind, all thanks to you. They just have to get on their feet after being chained down for so long," Cadence explained, using the metaphor to show Twilight it would all be okay in the long run.
The princess felt better after hearing it, and, after thanking Cadence, called out to Spike.
"Mm--huh?" the dragon questioned through a mouthful of yellow crystal. He swallowed quickly and waved his arms. "I only took a piece, that's all!"
Twilight chuckled a bit at his antics. "Come on Spike. We should head to the room, I have a few papers to prepare for the meeting," she said, gesturing for him to hop on her back.
She thanked Cadence once again and walked out into the hall, a new air of confidence about her, an extra determined look in her eye. Twilight had learned the hard way that freedom wasn't without concequences, but, in the long run, she had done the right thing, she thought.
Equestria was free thanks to her, and by her efforts, no one would ever again be enslaved by Brands, chained down by a dark organization. In the end, Twilight felt that it was better to be free, than to be Marked. |
A World Without Princesses | pre | Light.
He could see light.
It hurt.
His leg hurt.
His body hurt.
"Big Mac? You wakin' up?"
"Hnn...?"
"You ain't freakin' out?"
"Mmm..."
His throat was really dry and sore. He wanted to ask why, but it hurt too much. "Can you understand me? Just nod or shake your head." Macintosh nodded. "Okay, good. Don't panic, Zecora said you might not remember, but you got a bit hysterical." Macintosh frowned, opening his eyes and seeing a blurry yellow blob that vaguely resembled a stallion. "You started screamin' and shoutin'... an'... uh... " Braeburn rubbed the back of his head. "Kinda... cried for a bit there... so your throat might be awful sore right now."
Well, at least that was one question answered.
"Also, Zecora said you might feel a bit-"
Suddenly, every muscle in Macintosh's body shot awake in one all-consuming goal. A desire that no body could ignore, that it had to do even if he did not permit it. He sat upwards, leaning to his side and lurched forward, vomiting violently into the ground next to him. Braeburn jumped to the side a bit as the larger stallion emptied the contents of his stomach onto the forest floor. After a few purgings, he panted and heaved, gasping for beautiful air, letting out a few dry heaves, feeling his heart beat against his chest like it might jump out. It had been years since Macintosh had thrown up, and he couldn't say that it was a singularly pleasant experience.
"Y'okay Big Mac?" Macintosh responded with a simple nod, still panting and heaving, but certain that the sickness had passed. "Yeah. Here, drink some water..." Braeburn held a canteen to Big Mac, who took it and drank greedily from the flask. The water soothed his aching throat, though he noticed a hint of a honey flavor. He panted a bit, feeling the pain fade, looking up to his cousin.
"How long was I out...?" he asked in a tired, scratchy voice.
"Well..." Braeburn hummed. "You were tripping for about thirty minutes. Screamed a lot, cried, and thought a twig was goin' to eat you. You eventually cried yourself to sleep, passing out for fifteen minutes..." Macintosh frowned a bit. "An' eh, don't worry. I don't count 'high-crying' as crying, so I won't pick on ya for it."
"Thanks" Macintosh shook his head, panting still. "Need food..."
"Yeah" Braeburn winced. "Zecora went to get some stuff. She says not to try to eat until she gets back." Big Mac sighed.
'Well, this trip is interesting if nothing else.'
Suddenly, a rustle drew both his and Braeburn's attention to a pair of bushes, from which Zecora emerged. "Ah!" she said, smiling. "Macintosh, you are awake! Much sooner than I did anticipate!" She sat a bottle next to him. "Your spirit quest went well, and by those I've seen before? Had you been of my tribe, you'd be a warrior." Macintosh smirked. Him? A warrior? He could just imagine himself wearing Zebra tribal gear, a spear in his mouth. Zecora held up a bottle. "Drink this special brew that I have made for you. It will ease your stomach and let you eat, which, as you may have seen, is no easy feat." Macintosh nodded, taking the bottle, opening it, and drinking; it wasn't too bad, even tasted slightly sweet. As he finished it up, he sat it down. Zecora pat his shoulder. "Do not strain yourself too hard for an hour or so... you need to regain your strength as we go."
"As we go?" Big Macintosh frowned.
"Indeed" Zecora nodded. "We must get to the castle before the sun's fall, lest we see things that would dwarf a manticore's brawl." That certainly wasn't an appealing idea. Macintosh eased himself up, but felt a sharp pain in his hoof. "Careful, you've injured your hoof in our dash. A small break, so do not be brash." Macintosh sighed.
'At least it's just small.'
He looked to the offending hoof, a makeshift splint formed from two planks and some bandaging. "You bring these planks with you?"
"Of course" said Zecora with a nod. "I'm always prepared, especially such a quest as we've shared." Macintosh hummed, nodding.
'I can respect a prepared mare'
Braeburn came to Macintosh's side. "Here cuz, I'll help ya keep balance." Big Mac smirked, shaking his head, waving his hoof a bit.
"I can walk" he said with a nod. "Jus' not fast."
Braeburn seemed to acknowledge this, and gave him a little space, though remained close. Zecora settled Macintosh's saddlebag onto Braeburn's back, and gave him a look. "Do not throw these lest I say if we are to survive the day."
"Alright, I won't..." Braeburn sighed. "Just be more honest from now on so I don't do something that stupid again."
"Deal" said Zecora with a nod.
Braeburn smirked. "That didn't rhyme."
"Teal."
The stallions looked at each other. "What? That doesn't even mean anything!" Braeburn shouted, waving a hoof.
Zecora simply chuckled. "A rhyme is all for which you did ask. Not conversation of a meaningful task."
Braeburn held a hoof up, stopped, and frowned. "Yeah, you got me there."
Zecora looked up to the sky. "It's not much further from the castle now. Let us make like the wind, not a sullen sow."
Zecora and Braeburn stepped forward, Macintosh following close behind, favoring his injured hoof. He hummed, looking around at the trees. Well, at least the manticore's gone... still... I can't help but feel like something is still watching us...
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 3 - Castle of the Sisters | Macintosh stared in horror at the sight before him. A terrible, horrible sight. 'Can't you bring the manticore back,' he thought to himself. 'I'd rather deal with anything other than this. At least with the manticore I knew exactly what I was in for. With this.... there's a few what-ifs that make me more than a little uncomfortable.'
Three little ponies stared out into a fog-filled cavern, two land masses separated by a considerable gap, the depths of the fall made invisible by mist. The only thing connecting these two cliffs together was but a rickety bridge. Macintosh backpedaled a bit, his jaw working wordlessly. "Well, let us get to it if we wish to see the Castle before the sun does flee."
"N-nope!" Big Mac blurted, falling to his haunches but continuing to push himself backwards. Zecora and Braeburn turned to face the mighty stallion as he put as much distance as he could between him and the pit.
"Dear Macintosh, this bridge is strong," said Zecora, who gave the structure a look over, seeming to wince. "Strong enough, don't get me wrong."
"Y-Y-You go on..." said Big Mac, gulping as he finally stopped near a tree. "I-I'll wait."
"Big Mac" Braeburn groaned. "Don't tell me you're afraid of heights!" Macintosh stared at his cousin, glaring at him as if he were angry. Braeburn looked into his eyes, and his jaw fell, before growing into a big grin. "Oh my goodness you are aren't you?" Macintosh did not respond, simply flattening his ears. "Holy... I never thought I'd find somethin' you was scared of that I wasn't!"
"Don't push it" Big Mac warned.
"Hey hey, calm down big guy," Braeburn raised his hooves. "I'm not judgin'! Everypony has a weakness!" Despite still feeling somewhat embarrassed, Big Mac decided it was at least an attempt to be nice and simply nodded. "One you've gotta get over, like, right now, so hop to it big guy, cause the only way to conquer one's fears is to face 'em!"
"Nope!" Big Mac shook his head hard. "Not doin' it!"
"I feel, kind sir, I must interject! We've not finished our mission here yet!" Zecora stepped towards Big Mac, staring straight at him. "You'll be at risk on your own. Just come with us, you're not alone."
Macintosh stared out at the bridge, his jaw hanging wide. He gulped, feeling his stomach tighten as he mustered up his courage. He slowly stood to his hooves, and began stepping forward, feeling every instinct, every alarm scream at him, trying to convince him to turn the other way. 'I really want to, I swear,' he thought to himself. 'But I've got a job to do, and an Apple never goes back on his word.' He placed a hoof on the first wooden plank and let its weight slowly press down; immediately, he felt every tremble, every vibration in the structure as if he were all the way on the middle. He pulled his hoof back up and tried to back up, simply bumping into Zecora and Braeburn. Macintosh turned to face them, wide-eyed.
"L-lemme go" he said. "I wanna go back."
"Big Mac" said Braeburn with a frown. "You can do this, cuz."
"Nope" he said with a shake of his head.
"Macintosh" said Braeburn, giving the larger stallion a somewhat chiding glare. "You can do this."
Big Mac was breathing a bit heavy, turning his attention back to the bridge, then back to Braeburn. It was then that Big Mac was struck by the irony of it. Having to kill spiders because Braeburn would scream like a filly and run and hide. Having to follow him into the barn at night because Braeburn was afraid of the dark. Having to pull splinters from his hooves because Braeburn was too much of a wuss to do it himself. His entire life, he had always been the bigger stallion, and though he never considered himself too overly proud, Big Mac felt something of embarrassment to have the tables turned; his cousin all too ready to do something he himself wanted desperately to turn away from. Taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves, Big Mac turned his attention back to the bridge. He walked forward, gently easing one hoof down.
And then another.
And another.
Systematically, this continued, Macintosh paying attention to each and every detail, his understanding of the universe seeming to become infinitely greater with some sort of strange, acute clarity. Every shake of the bridge he felt through his whole being. Every gust of wind was like a twister. Every sound, even the sound of a caterpillar's yawn, could be heard by Macintosh as he pushed forward. Slowly, he saw the other end of the cliff drawing closer. 'I can do this' Slowly, his goal seemed in sight, as if he could reach out and touch it. 'I can do this' He was drawing closer. Oh so close. 'I can-'
"Keep goin' Big Mac," said Braeburn behind him. "Almost halfway there!"
Macintosh froze. He turned to see Braeburn and Zecora behind him, effectively blocking his ability to turn back. He wanted not to. He wanted oh-so-desperately not to, but he couldn't stop himself. Macintosh let his attention turn to look down over the edge of the bridge.
That's when everything went black.
In the span of what seemed like seconds, Macintosh suddenly registered solid ground. His side pressed against it. 'Great, did I fall?' He sighed, despite what he was certain were certain-death-grade injuries. 'Shoulda known Braeburn'd get me killed.'
Deciding now was as good a time as any to greet death, Macintosh slowly opened his eyes. To his surprise, he could see Zecora and Braeburn a short distance away, Braeburn seeming like he was trying to pop his back into place. "Man... he's heavier than he looks... an' he looks heavy to begin with..."
Macintosh groaned. "Nnh... what happened...?"
Braeburn and Zecora turned to him, Braeburn raising a brow. "Well, ya fainted Big Mac. Right in the middle of the bridge." Braeburn smirked. "I thought you freakin' out from the manticore poison was scary, but when you fell over I coulda sworn we were gonna lose ya!" Macintosh visibly turned pale, and Zecora swatted Braeburn's foreleg. "Ow, hey-"
"Do not worry, you are alright," said the zebra as she stepped forward. "One step closer to our urgent plight. Take it easy, but stand when you can, for we've delayed too long in our grand plan." Macintosh sighed and nodded, slowly pushing his hooves beneath himself, and pressing himself upward, minding his injured leg. He felt a bit wobbly, a sensation that terrified him, but he gained balance and reaffirmed that he was, in fact, not on the bridge anymore.
"This has been a big day for you, ain't it Big Mac?" Braeburn grinned a devious grin. Macintosh turned to his cousin, frowning.
"Don't tease, Brae."
"I'm not teasin'" said the stallion with a chuckle. "I'm not surprised is all. After all, you ain't used to this much excitement are ya?"
Macintosh shook his head. "Am I to assume you are?" He felt a hint of scratchiness in his voice, though he decided to save his water momentarily.
"Nope" said Braeburn with a shrug. "But I've had closer to it than you." Macintosh frowned and, truth be told, wanted to rebuttal, but there were no sentences short enough for him to say what he felt needed to be said, so he simply snorted and let Braeburn have a win. Everypony turned their attention forward, and all at once, everything was forgotten. Macintosh felt his heart stop, though not in terror as it had been. Their eyes focused upward, above the treeline.
Where dark towers jutted into the sky.
Zecora's eyes widened, and a smile formed on her face. "The Castle of the Sisters... it is near... my friends, I believe we are near!"
The group resumed their trot, their goal now partially in view. Macintosh felt his heart race, his muscles tense. 'This is it. All this travel, all this walking, all this danger... its almost over.' The stallion did not try to hide his excitement as a massive grin grew into his features. He could see Braeburn smiling as well, though Zecora seemed more apprehensive than anything. He wanted to ask why, really he did, but Macintosh needed this; he wanted a few moments more to pretend everything was going to be alright.
The trio continued their trek forward, hearts filled with anticipation. Macintosh could barely hold in his excitement as he saw more and more of the ancient structure appearing from between trees and rocks, until eventually, they were upon it.
The structure had definitely seen better days. Portions seemed to have fallen into the castle, likely exposing some rooms to the elements outside. Trees, vines, and other vegetation seemed to be growing around and through the structure whenever possible, showing that no matter how strong the structure, nature would always be able to overpower pony architecture. As they stepped closer, Macintosh spied a few broken pillars, and a statue; a strange statue of a mare rearing up, her hooves extended. It was almost unsettling, really. Finally reaching the large, wooden double doors, the three ponies exchanged glances.
"Well..." said Braeburn. "... We ready to do this?"
"Eeyup."
"Indeed."
Zecora slowly pulled her hoof up and pressed it against the door. Slowly, it was pushed open, yawning as yet another hole was added to its collection. The inside was, to Macintosh at least, every bit as majestic, if eerie, as the outside; he could see rays of sunlight bleeding through the fallen structures, trees and bushes growing in the main hall of the old building. A few more statues of ponies stood out, though one was missing a head and another had fallen long ago and broken into pieces. There were various doors, leading to what Macintosh could only imagine to be different wings of the castle, and at the far end of the hall were two sets of stairs that went to either side before meeting at a platform above. Above that area hung two ancient, worn flags.
One yellow one, with a sun emblazoned upon it, and another one blue, beholding the moon.
He stared at those flags, wide-eyed. "... It can't be..."
Braeburn stepped to Big Mac's side, staring at the flags as well. "M... Macintosh, what does this mean?"
Macintosh stared at the flags for a bit longer. It was funny, really; he had believed the stories as a colt, all too readily. He believed that there really had been great magical unicorn princesses who controlled the sun and moon, and that one of them had been banished for being a bad filly. Then, as he grew up and reality, bit by bit, was forced upon him, those ideals turned to mere fantasy. Oh sure, he never let Apple Bloom on that he didn't believe them when reading her bed time stories, but that was for the fun of bonding with her.
And yet these simple pieces of fabric, these collections of thread did something. They challenged everything he thought he knew.
'What if... what if I was right the first time?'
"Big Mac?" A yellow hoof waved in front of the stallion's face. "Big Mac, you home?" Macintosh shook his head, turning his attention to his cousin, who looked at him with a hint of concern. "You've had a rough trip, so don't go playin' with me on this cuz."
"I-I'm fine" Macintosh nodded. He gave one more glance to those flags, and decided to shelf his concerns for later. 'Okay, so maybe this whole thing isn't a load of bologna. I'll reserve judgement for now, because even if the princesses are real, that doesn't mean they were magical super-mares. After all, we always hear about parts of history that get exaggerated. This could be like that, right?'
Braeburn's head turned back and fourth, looking between doors. "Okay, so.... where do we begin, mi compadres?"
Zecora grimaced a bit, her own attention shifting between entries. "This is quite a conundrum indeed... We may have to check every room to succeed..." The zebra's focus shifted from door to door, trying to decide where they should begin. "But to separate could be a folly, lest we be hit by traps in volley." She turned to her companions. "Let us stick together then. Keep on guard, no matter where, no matter when." Macintosh and Braeburn nodded, and Zecora nodded in return, before turning around and walking forward, seeming to choose a door and then walk into it, the two stallions following her into the unknown.
They entered yet another hall, though this one was smaller and darker, lacking any holes in the roof for natural light to seep through, and the windows seemed to be, for the most part, blocked by trees and bushes. The hall itself was bare, the only thing worth notice being a worn purple rug that seemed to have escaped being pilfered by anypony who might pick the bones of the old castle. Despite the lack of paintings whose eyes follow you and suits of armor that look like they could come to life any moment, Macintosh still felt a great deal of trepidation, and he could tell his companions shared his tension, though they pushed forward; despite the fear or because of it, he could not say.
At the end of the hall, they entered into a large chamber. The walls were covered in various bookshelves, each lined with various tomes, some of which lay scattered on the floor, some of which seemed like they were held together by luck and happy thoughts, and bits and pieces Macintosh merely assumed had once been whole books. 'I sure hope whatever clue we're lookin' for is in better condition than these books,' Macintosh thought to himself,'otherwise, we're up a creak on this one...'
The ponies stepped forward, towards a long reading table. Various books had covered it, bits and pieces of paper scattered about as if somepony tried to get in a quick read before the castle was abandoned, most likely subsequently looted, and the library was ignored for whatever reason. Macintosh looked at a few of the books and was surprised to find strange characters that only remotely resembled letters he had ever seen before. He gently opened a book to find more. "... I can't even read this..."
Zecora seemed to be scanning over the table herself. "Equestria has changed in a thousand years... a dead language was one of my most likely fears..." She shook her head, picking a book up and opening it with care. "We'd require an expert on Old Equestrian lore to decipher these texts and learn what they store."
Macintosh stopped, something catching his eye. He looked at a stack of books and pieces of paper, as well as an empty ink bottle with a quill in it. On the floor, he saw various crumpled pieces of paper. Picking one up, he placed it on the table and attempted to open it up, and was shocked by what he saw. "Seems like such an expert's been here already..." Most of the note he had picked up was either scribbled out or gobbledygook he barely understood, but there were bits and bobs that seemed to make at least a fraction of sense...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Princesses' rule was relatively short; lasted a mere thirty years before younger sister was banished. Eldest disappeared five years later.
Tree of Harmony? Seen references, but not much else.
Texts mention taking kingdom from a 'Discord' - must compile more data.
Eldest princess did something with the Elements of Harmony, but what?
Mention of a Crystal Empire to the north; likely in or near the similarly named Crystal Mountains.
Princesses seem to have odd descriptions; they use magic, but seem to possess wings. A mutation, maybe?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Your gaze is intense, it has me in suspense..." said Zecora, staring at Macintosh in confusion.
"Yeah," agreed Braeburn, "Whats it say, Big Mac?"
Macintosh frowned. "Lotta things... doesn't seem like we're th' first ponies with our particular goal though." He hoofed the note across the table to Zecora, who took it and read it over.
"Is there anything else?"
Macintosh simply nodded. Braeburn stepped close to him. "Y'alright?" Macintosh nodded again, waving a hoof dismissively. "Should take a drink from your canteen, cuz." Despite not wanting to waste water, Macintosh figured he had been somewhat over-conservative with his water. He popped his canteen open and took a quick drink, sighing in relief before shutting it back. Zecora had already been by his side by the time he placed it back in his bag, and was picking up the scraps on the floor, opening them and looking them over.
"... Whoever wrote these shared our intention...." She opened another one and looked it over. "... They too noticed the signs that I mentioned." She began stuffing bits of paper into her bag as she found them, or otherwise throwing them to the side. "If these notes were not worth keeping, one must wonder what knowledge they're reaping..."
"Yeah, that's cool and all," said Braeburn, holding a hoof up, "But does any of it help us?"
Zecora looked over a few of the notes a bit more closely, though she still frowned. "It seems our friend shared our frustration... the answer lies not at this station." Braeburn groaned, throwing his hooves in the air, and Macintosh simply sighed and hung his head.
"So, what? We've been wasting our time?"
"No..." Zecora looked around. "They seem to have secluded themselves to this room. A likely hiding place in this desolate tomb... but answers are not always found in a book..." The zebra smiled to her companions. "I say we continue, give the rest a good look." Braeburn seemed nonplussed by this particular appeal, and Macintosh could not really say he disagreed. However, he did find his interest peaked; were they stumbling upon ancient, lost knowledge? Did he now know things that only one other pony had known for centuries? And that thought brought up another concern that made him frown and look upon the books and papers.
"... What happened to the pony who wrote these...?"
Everypony froze. Zecora frowned. "Let us move on while the sun is on high, so we may finish before the moon's in the sky." The two stallions nodded in agreement, and they began to make their way away from the table, and back out of the library. Macintosh stopped, however, looking back for a moment.
'I've got a bad feelin'...'
He decided that this was another thought he simply need to shelf for now, and turned to follow his cousin and the zebra back down the hallway into the main hall.
Their time in the main hall was limited as they made their way into yet another entryway to yet another hallway, though this one was a deal lengthier than the last, and had a few doors along the way. The windows allowed just the faintest beams of light to pierce the darkness, branches from trees and vines casting unnerving shadows that, thankfully, were only barely visible. The three stopped at the first door along the path, Braeburn deciding to be the brave one and press it open. Inside were a few broken bed frames, an old closet, and a chest that was wide open.
"Servants quarters, I would surmise. That anything remains is a surprise."
"Is it likely we'll find anything in here?" Braeburn raised a brow. "I mean, call me crazy, but I don't suspect a Princess hiding world savin' doohickeys would leave the only clue to their rediscovery in a room for their workforce." All in agreement, the ponies gently closed the door back and continued along the way of the hall. As they reached the next room, it was Macintosh who pushed the door open, though there was even less luck here than before; the room was entirely empty, save for pieces of stone and debris from a hole in the ceiling leading up to the floor above.
"Hope our clue wasn't under that when that happened..."
"Not likely is this to be." Zecora hummed, looking at the debris, then up into the hole. "The Elements would be in a Pride of Place, so all would see and know their face. Any clues would be somewhere dear... somewhere private... but not too clear...." The ponies made their way out of the room, and Big Mac pulled the door shut once more. As they continued down the hall, Zecora reached a door and pressed her hoof into it, but it would not budge. "Hm... this door seems to be stuck. Not by lock, but maybe luck?"
Braeburn stepped forward, a grin on his face. "Don't worry, young mare, let me handle this." Macintosh rolled his eyes, while Zecora stepped aside, seemingly indifferent to the stallion's suggestion of her being weaker. Braeburn placed a hoof on the door, and the confident grin he was wearing suddenly strained. "Just... gotta give it a little shove..." He pressed harder. He brought a second hoof up and pushed with both. "It.... I feel it budging...!" The door stood firm, and Macintosh could tell that Braeburn had done little more than strain the wood against whatever was most likely blocking it shut.
"Brae, let's jus' go" said the stallion, trying to help his cousin save face.
"Y-Yeah..." said Braeburn, stepping away from the door. "Probably nothin' important in there anyway..." With a nod, and a noticeable attempt to not look directly at anypony, Braeburn stepped forward, pretending he didn't even notice his injured pride. Macintosh and Zecora shared a look, and both smirked, turning to follow the indignant stallion.
They reached the end of the hall, entering another door that led into a circular stairway. "A tower," said Braeburn, sighing. "Of course a tower. There's gonna be lots of stairs, aint there?"
"Suck it up, Brae." Big Mac sighed, taking point and stepping into the stair way.
"Gonna be okay Big Mac?"
Macintosh glared at Braeburn, his eyes giving a solid warning. Turning back to the task at hoof, the stallion began his ascent, his cousin and their zebra companion in tow. Along the climb there was an occasional window, allowing light to pour in, even if a lot of it was subdued. Macintosh could feel his legs growing tired and sore, the excitement of the day finally catching up with him, and a quick glance back allowed him to confirm that Braeburn was feeling the burn too, though Zecora seemed surprisingly unaffected. 'This mare is sturdy. What exactly do medicine mares do?' Macintosh didn't let this thought bother him long, however, as they approached a door. Putting his best hoof forward, he gently pushed the door open and stepped inside, and his eyes grew wide at what he saw.
It was not a very large space by any means; it was what one might call cozy. There were a few bookshelves, on which lay many tomes, and a bed was nearby which seemed relatively immaculate considering it was a thousand years old. A banner hang nearby, emblazoned with a sun marking like the banners downstairs, and there seemed to be an empty pedestal in the center of the room. "Well Big Mac, now you can say you were in a mare's room before." Big Mac snorted, deciding to not even dignify his cousin with a response as he looked about. He let his eyes fall to the bookshelf, but all he saw there were more books written in that ancient language. Braeburn sighed. "Is it too much to hope our friend left us some little tidbits of knowledge here?"
"Open your eyes and look around," commanded Zecora, "If something moves, listen for a sound." The ponies thus began to mill around the room, poking and prodding at everything. Big Mac pulled on the edges of the bed, but simply tilted it. Braeburn tugged on books, but nothing happened. After several minutes of searching, the three stopped, and Big Mac hummed.
"Nothin' here?"
"Nope" agreed Braeburn. "Looks like this is a wild goose chase..."
"Do not say that just yet my friend," said Zecora with a glare. "We've checked two wings, this isn't the end."
"C'mon Zecora" said Braeburn with a sigh. "Look, I was willing to follow you into this forest an' all, but if there was somethin' here, it ain't no more." He waved a hoof. "Look around. Somepony beat us to the punch. If there was somethin' here of value, its gone now, taken away by goodness knows what." He placed a foreleg on the pedestal, leaning against it. "I mean, this place has been ransacked li-" His sentence was cut short as the pedestal fell to the side, and he along with it, but came to an abrupt halt at an angle. A click was heard by all, and suddenly the area surrounding Braeburn began to drop. He leaped away from the platform, and everypony watched as the floor that had fallen had actually done so in a familiar pattern. "G-great," said Braeburn, "More stairs..."
"Wow" said Macintosh.
"Y-Yeah" said Braeburn. "Not sure how clever it is... I mean, the switch is kinda right there, big as all get out..."
"Clever enough, I presume, that nopony else has found that room..." Zecora stepped forward, and was the first to walk down the admittedly short flight of stairs. Macintosh followed until they reached a point where the stairs ended and led to a door. Zecora pushed it open, and all three followed into an admittedly tight space, leading to a golden platform with a lever in the middle. Zecora reached into her saddlebag and pulled a lantern from it, twisting the handle and lighting the area up.
"This is pretty cool..." said Braeburn. "Should we... pull that lever?"
"I don't know" Big Mac frowned. "I've got a bad feelin' about this, an' it just keeps gettin' worse the further we go..."
"I fear we've no choice in this. If we ignore it, we'd be remiss."
Zecora stepped forward, wrapping her hooves around the large lever, and tugging on it. It cranked loudly as she did, and suddenly the floor beneath them shook violently, and began to descend. Macintosh simply stared in awe as the ancient machinery lowered them. "Impossible..." he said, shaking his head. "They had elevators back then?" He did not get a reply, but did not expect one, to be honest. Macintosh and his friends could only wait for the mechanism to deliver them to whatever it had in store.
Eventually, the round walls ended, and they were greeted by a new sight. Jaws fell as the ponies entered into a large space; as if a castle had been built beneath a castle. Their platform stopped, and everypony stepped onto solid ground, staring across a bridge that stood over a waterway that came from an unknown source. The trio casually began to move forward, taking in the scenery; the entire place seemed to have been a cave at one time, until somepony had the mind to come down and convert it. They crossed the bridge, reaching upon a large pair of double doors. Putting his hoof forward, Macintosh pressed the massive door open, and everypony stepped inside.
Inside was a massive library that seemed to dwarf even what was up above. The ponies stepped forward, eying various books and tomes. The room had all sorts of strange odds and ends; a telescope for star gazing, a globe of the planet (from a time when ponies thought the world was flat no less; back then such a thing would have been heresy!) and a statue of a pony rearing up, though she was peculiar in that she had both a horn and wings.
"This must be the Eldest's Retreat" said Zecora, staring wide-eyed. "A sanctuary after she left the royal seat..."
Macintosh simply looked forward, and noticed a desk sitting in the middle of the sanctuary. On that desk as a book, and as he drew closer, he noticed that the book had been emblazoned with the sun. He gently reached a hoof forward, tugging it open, but whatever hope he had vanished when he noticed that it had been written in the same language as every other book he couldn't read in this forsaken place. Macintosh let out a sigh, closing the book and making his way towards the other two with the tome in his mouth. Braeburn snorted, shaking his head. "Well," he said with a sigh, "I'm beat. Don't look like there's anything in here worth much unless you're gonna loot th' place."
"Indeed" Zecora said with a hint of defeat, before turning to Macintosh. "Oh! Early we've decreed! What is this I see, a text before me?" Macintosh nodded, and Zecora took it from him, opening it carefully and letting her eyes roam the pages. "This book is written in the ancient tongue... but if a clue yet remains, this is the one." She smiled, though there was little mirth, and more uncertainty, in the look of her eyes. "I suppose we've dallied too long, my friends. Lete us return to Ponyville before the day ends."
The ponies turned to make their way back out of the sanctuary, though Macintosh had to stop once more and look back. His eyes settled on that statue and its peculiar structure. 'It looks like a pegasus... but the horn... are unicorns real...?' Big Mac simply shrugged, turning his attention back to his friends and stepping out of the room.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 4 - Dinner With the Rich Family | "Well, the good news is that it's a relatively minor spraining of the hoof. No torn ligaments that I could see, mostly just a poor stretch. It is my professional opinion that, given a week or so, your hoof should be as good as new."
Macintosh sat on the observation table, hoof held out as the grey, elder stallion changed his bandaging and gave him a better casting. "This should allow you to continue walking about without putting too much stress on the injury. Come back to me in a week so that I can check up on it again, and until then, try not to put too much stress on that hoof if you can manage it." Macintosh responded with a simple nod, and the doctor smiled. "And how is your throat? Any changes since our last checkup? Have you been trying to talk more?"
Macintosh responded with a simple shake of his head. "Nnope."
The doctor sighed and shrugged. "Ah. Well, no change is better than it gettin' worse." The stallion gave a soft nod. "Well, unless there's anything else ya want me to check out, I think we're all done here." Macintosh nodded and hopped from the table, grabbing his coat and putting his hooves into the arms and making sure it was nice and settled. He waved goodbye as he stepped out of the doctor's home, and out into the streets. The trip back to Ponyville had been less eventful than the trip from it, thankfully, although he wasn't too pleased about having to cross the bridge again (or having fainted once more in the process) but thankfully, that seemed to be behind him at the moment. He casually walked down the street, intent on returning home.
"Hey Big Mac!"
Macintosh turned about to see Zecora and Braeburn approach him. "Y'alright cuz? Doc give ya good news?"
"Eeyup" Big Mac nodded simply, waving his hoof around. "Just a sprain. Any luck?"
Braeburn simply sighed. "None whatsoever. Took th' dang thing to Cheerilee, an' she said the only foreign language she knew was Prench. Old Equestrian is way above her head." Big Mac sighed. 'Guess it was too much to hope for.' "We might have to talk to Granny, see if anypony in th' family has connections or Old Equestrian reading skills." Macintosh hummed. He really didn't like the idea of having to rove about looking for a relative who had such skills, especially if they lived too far away. Still, he supposed as long as he didn't have to go back into the Everfree Forest, it wasn't so bad. With his sprain, he might not even be able to buck apples for a few days anyway.
"I shall return to my hut in the Everfree. You know where to find me if you need me." Zecora nodded, then pointed to the bag on Braeburn's back. "Keep the tome and guard it with your life. I feel that with you, it is safer from strife." Macintosh and Braeburn offered a simple nod, and then Zecora turned and took off with a brisk trot.
Braeburn sighed. "I hate to see 'er leave, but I love to watch 'er go." Big Mac swatted him in the foreleg with his good hoof. "Ow! Dangit, Big Mac..." Braeburn rubbed his leg, pouting a bit. "Guess we should head back home, huh? Granny'll likely be preppin' dinner by now..."
"Eeyup" said Macintosh with a nod.
The walk home was fairly uneventful. Nopony stopped them to say hi. Nothing weird or unusual happened. Braeburn didn't even stop to flirt with any girls; likely having had all the excitement he needed for one day. Macintosh himself felt more tired than he had ever felt before; a day's hard work often left him exhausted, but this was not just a physical sort of tired. It was the kind of tired that pierced through one's being. He felt as though once he found an appropriate place to lay down, he might close his eyes and not open them again for days. It wasn't too long before that familiar, beloved sign stood out marking their home, and they crossed that threshold, trotting down a dirt path. Macintosh could already see that familiar red house; it was simple in its design, but in his own mind it was the best place in the world, the only place he ever wanted to be. It was his little slice of heaven, and he wouldn't trade it for any mansion.
Big Mac and Braeburn stepped onto the front porch, and he pulled the door open, stepping inside. As soon as he did, however, his eyes bulged wide at what he saw.
"Oh! Hi Big Mac! You're home! This is my new friend, Scootaloo, and-Oh my goodness, did you hurt yourself!?"
Macintosh stared at a pair of fillies; one his beloved sister, yellow coat, red mane with a cute little pink bow in it, wearing a green dress that their grandmother had made herself. Next to her, however, was a familiar, small orange filly in the Newspaper Colt Cap, brown vest, and white shirt. She looked back at him, her purple eyes dilating. He let out a snort, and growled loudly. "You!"
"Uh-oh! Uhh..." Scootaloo looked around, gulped, and turned to Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom, I-I think I better run..." The filly ran to the door, grabbing a scooter that was nearby, and rushed past Big Mac who, due to his injured hoof, was not able to stop her. Before he could turn around, she was already too far away for him to hope to catch up to in his current condition. The stallion let out a snort and turned to Apple Bloom.
"What was she doin' here!?"
"She's my new friend!" Apple Bloom nodded, smiling. "I met her this mornin' in the park! She was bein' bullied by Silver Spoon, jus' like I get bullied, an' we talked an' hung out an' I brought her home ta eat dinner with us!"
"I reckon she already has all the dinner she needs for a few days at least!" said Big Mac, snorting, ignoring the scratching that was entering his voice. "She stole an entire basket of apples from our stand!"
Braeburn bit his lip, reaching a hoof forward and tapping Macintosh's shoulder. "Big Mac, yer voice is-"
"I don't care!" Macintosh winced, admittedly feeling a bit sore from the overexertion. He scowled a bit, glaring at Apple Bloom. "We'll talk later."
"Why!?" Apple Bloom shouted. "So she stole a buncha apples! It ain't like we don't got plenty more! We got an entire orchard full'a them!" The small filly stomped her hoof, as if it drove her point home. "Why get so mad about those apples!?"
"Later!" Macintosh growled, making his way past his sister towards the kitchen.
"An' what if I wanna talk about it now, huh!? What if later ain't good 'nuff!" Apple Bloom stomped after him, her face red from anger. "I never do anythin' wrong, I always do my homework, an' I never cuss or spit, so why can't I have a friend!?" Macintosh didn't respond, however, and she felt her anger reach the boiling point. "Fine! You don't have ta talk, cause I'll talk, an' there ain't much you can say t' stop me cause, unlike some ponies in here, my throat isn't all messed up!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Apple Bloom slammed her hooves over her muzzle, staring wide-eyed at her brother. Braeburn's own eyes had grown into discs, his jaw hanging a bit. Everything fell in silence, the only sound one could hear being a nearby grandfather clock. Macintosh turned to his sister, his eyes a familiar mix of emotions; anger, disappointment, and more hurt than he was willing to let on. Apple Bloom didn't move her hooves, staring at her brother with horrified eyes. "I... I didn't mean-"
"Quiet" he said quietly, though even in that quiet there was some sense of power that both the filly and their cousin could almost feel. Big Mac turned from them and made his way into the kitchen without another word to finish the task he had set out to do.
Apple Bloom's mouth moved wordlessly, and she stepped forward. "Big Mac, I-" A hoof on her shoulder brought the filly's plea to a halt. She turned her gaze to see her cousin staring down at her with sad, sympathetic eyes, though there was a hint of disappointment she knew well enough as he shook his head. "But... but I didn't mean ta..."
"I know..." said Braeburn quietly. "But th' damage is done..."
Mac made a cup of tea, filling it with sugar and honey to make sure it tasted sweet. He hated tea - it was just too bland for his tastes, and he never understood how rich ponies could drink the stuff like fish. Still, this particular brew was good for his throat, so that helped him stomach the taste. Drinking the liquid, he resisted the urge to gag at the taste as the ache in his throat did not vanish, but grew weaker. He waited until he had finished the drink to turn and head back into the living room, where Apple Bloom and Braeburn still waited. He did not look at the filly, so he did not see the tears in her eyes, and he paid no attention to his cousin whom was torn on who he pitied more between him or his sister. He silently made his way up the stairs, not letting any of that bother him.
He put his hoof on the door to his room and pressed it open, stepping inside and closing the door back behind him. Macintosh sighed a bit, planting his haunches on the floor and staring at his simple room space. A bed, a nightstand, a desk, and a closet. He never needed much to be happy, so this was just fine for him. He sighed, standing up and making his way towards the bed, laying down in favor of his injured hoof. It was rare he took naps, but Big Mac felt he sorely needed one right about now.
"Ya know, Big Mac, I think ya really need to talk to Apple Bloom."
Macintosh did not respond as he and Braeburn trotted the path to the market, their hooves clomping against the cobblestone road as Macintosh pulled their cart behind them, a second cart hitched to it. "I mean... you haven't said a word to 'er since yesterday. I know what she said was wrong, but she's jus' a filly, you can't stay mad at 'er forever."
"Not forever" Macintosh said without breaking his stride. "Jus' long enough so she understands."
"I think she understands now. She was cryin' for a bit when you went upstairs, and was lookin' pretty sad the rest of the night." Macintosh didn't like the idea of Apple Bloom crying, but what she said had cut him deep. From any other pony, those words would have hurt; from his own beloved baby sister, they hurt so much more.
"She knew what she was sayin'." Macintosh stopped, unhitching himself from his cargo and setting their stall up. "Watch this stall while I get this to Carrot Top."
"No no, let me." Braeburn unhitched the secondary stall. "I can do this. You just sit here an' tend to customers, I'll do the rest. Okay?" Macintosh looked at his cousin, raising his brow. Braeburn simply smiled.
"Fine."
Braeburn nodded, hitching himself to the second stall. "You jus' sit here an' hold down th' fort until I get back, Big Mac. I promise I won't take too long." Braeburn trotted off, and Macintosh watched him make his way down the road to Carrot Top's place.
Left to his own devices, Macintosh let loose a casual sigh, turning his attention back to the ponies milling about. Thoughts of yesterday came up, and he began to wonder what their zebra friend was up to. 'She had us keep that book, but why?' He began to ponder if even she knew what she should do next? It was then his eyes widened and he slapped his (good) hoof against his head. 'Dangit! I forgot to ask Granny if we knew any translators! Macintosh grumbled to himself. 'I musta been so tired and frustrated that it slipped my mind...'
It was then that Macintosh noticed several ponies stopping and parting, two ponies headed his way. 'Whats this?' One of the ponies seemed like a pony servant; an older stallion, who seemed to be missing most of his mane, though he retained a dignified posture and gait as he walked, a black tux keeping him dapper. Next to him, however, was a mare that Macintosh didn't know; she was a tall, slender mare, her coat a pale blue, a darker blue, wavy mane adorning her, with the back of it braided and hanging over her shoulder. Her dress was a dark blueish purple, and her eyes a blue green. He could only stare in awe at her as she approached, his mouth moving wordlessly to his thoughts.
'... She's.... she's beautiful...'
The mare, much to his surprise, stopped at his stall, smiling a charming smile as her servant stepped forward. "Presenting her ladyship, Lady Nightingale Rich." That last name struck him. 'Rich? She's related to Filthy? But I thought he only had the one daughter...?'
"Thank you, Teacup" said the mare, stepping past her butler as he stepped aside for her and making eye contact with Macintosh. The moment their eyes met, he felt entranced. "Hello, dear Macintosh Apple, and may I say that it is a pleasure to meet you. My uncle has said good things about you."
"You too" Macintosh said. The mare held a hoof forward, and he took hold of it; she seemed somewhat surprised when he offered it a kind shake.
"Oh" she said, seemingly unsure of how to respond to the greeting, though she smiled nonetheless. "Not at all what I'm used to."
"Oh" Macintosh put a hoof behind his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry."
"Oh no!" The mare giggled. "Don't be! 'Tis quite refreshing, to be honest. A little something new can do wonders when you're so used to routine, wouldn't you agree?" Macintosh was ready to disagree, but he thought better of it.
"Maybe."
The mare smiled and nodded. "Macintosh Apple, I hope this is not a bad time, but I was made aware that you are the current manager of Sweet Apple Acres, are you not?"
Macintosh offered a simple nod. "Eeyup."
"Excellent!" She clopped her hooves together, smiling. "Then I have come to the right pony! Macintosh, I was wondering if perhaps you would be interested in having dinner with my family and I over a business proposal?"
That peaked his curiosity. "Business proposal? What kind?"
"Ah ah" she said, waving a hoof and tutting him playfully. "If I told you here, there wouldn't be much point in a business dinner, would there?" Macintosh nodded, accepting her argument. "You needn't worry about any expenses. We will have our chefs cook the entire meal. You need only bring yourself and your family. It's quite professional, I assure you."
'A free meal does sound pretty good... but what would Granny think...?'
Immediately, Big Mac saw a vision of his grandmother giving him an angry glare. "Ya better do it! She's a pretty mare an' you ain't gettin' any younger, sow some wild apple seeds, boy!"
Macintosh frowned. 'Well, she'd definitely want to do it... but what about Braeburn?'
Once more, an image of his cousin, staring at him, jaw hanging, then grabbing him by his shoulders and shaking him. "You gotta do it! She's a pretty mare an' I ain't gettin' any younger! I gotta sow some wild apple seeds!"
He sighed internally. 'Apple Bloom? I know I'm mad at ya right now, but back me up here...'
In his imagination, his sister stared at him with innocent, confused eyes. "Big Mac, what does 'sow wild apple seeds' mean?"
Macintosh grimaced internally. 'So much for that.'
"Isn't tonight kinda... sudden?" Macintosh queried, bringing a hoof to the back of his neck and rubbing it. Already he felt his throat getting sore from talking too much, and he stroked it gently to ease it. The butler seemed to notice this, and withdrew a flask from his pocket, handing it to Macintosh.
"To sooth your pain. Lord Rich was quite thorough in preparing her Ladyship for this venture." Macintosh raised a brow, but the butler held up a hoof. "Non-alcoholic, so you need not worry of intoxication." Macintosh took the flask, pulling the stopper open and sniffing it, deciding it didn't smell bad, and took a drink. The taste was sweet, not at all bitter as he had expected, and it did indeed make some of the pain in his throat disappear, almost miraculously. "Better?"
"Eeyup" he said with a nod, closing it and handing it back, though the butler held up a hoof.
"Consider it a gift." Macintosh didn't know if he should feel pleased at being given a gift or offended at the possibility that it had just been given to him because his lips had touched it. Deciding not to pick at a pleasantry, even if it was possibly non-genuine, he simply nodded and stuffed it into one of his own pockets.
"If you wish, we can always postpone for a later date..." the mare's smile almost seemed sad. "Tonight would simply be better for me, what with my schedule." Macintosh looked into her eyes for a few moments. Those orbs stared into him, piercing his soul with their beauty.
'I am the head of the house hold... I don't normally make decisions without consultin' th' family first but... well....' Macintosh sighed a bit, but smiled. 'Why not? I doubt anypony would mind.' "Alright."
"Excellent!" Nightingale smiled brightly. "Does Seven o' clock sound alright for you?"
"Eeyup" he said, nodding.
"Splendid! Thank you Macintosh. We shall be expecting you, and we will be happy to have you." Nightingale nodded, then turned her attention to her butler. "Teacup, let us away." The Butler offered Macintosh a friendly nod, a 'good day', and turned after his lady, both trotting down the street. Macintosh found himself, in a rare moment of weakness, watching the mare as she left.
"Whoa... are you, Big Macintosh, the biggest prude I know, checking a mare out!?"
Big Mac shook his head, waking up from his stupor. "Wha-nope! Nope!" He turned to Braeburn, blinking a few times. "How long you been here?"
"Long enough to hear ya get accept an invite to dinner." Braeburn stepped beside Macintosh, a grin on his face. "An' holy horse-apples, you got yourself a winner. Rich and beautiful? What luck!"
"Not like that..." Macintosh frowned.
"Hey, if that's true then lemme have her." Braeburn grinned.
"Holy crap! Was that the shut-in that's been living with the Riches for the past few months!?"
Both ponies nearly jumped, turning to see Pinkie Pie standing behind them, staring wide-eyed. "I heard the rumors, but I didn't know they were true!"
"Pinkie," said Big Mac, putting a hoof to his chest. "Don't scare us like that."
"Sorry Macky!" Pinkie plopped on her haunches, smiling wide. "I just saw you talkin' to a pretty mare I'd never seen before, and I had to be sure that she was good enough for my cousin!"
"Pinkie-"
"I mean, I couldn't get much from that little conversation, but I suppose she seems nice enough! Pretty too! I wonder where she got that dress? It looked custom made! Not that I know anything about dresses, it just doesn't look like any dress I've ever seen-"
"Pinkie Pie!" Macintosh shouted.
Pinkie stopped, grinning sheepishly. Macintosh sighed, already feeling a bit of soreness in his throat. 'This week's been harsh on me.' He decided it wasn't bad enough to warrant a drink from his newly received flask, so he let it be. "Not like that."
"Oh..." Pinkie hummed. "But you were staring at her bu-"
"Nope!" Macintosh shouted, wide-eyed. Braeburn snickered a bit like a school colt at his cousin's frustration. "Jus' a business dinner invite."
"Oooh" said Pinkie, nodding. "Sounds super serious!" She hummed a bit, then smiled big. "Can I come?"
"Nope," Macintosh shook his head. He looked to Pinkie Pie to see her giving him big, sad eyes. 'She's puttin' tears in it! Damage control!' Macintosh smiled. "Ain't yer kinda shindig, Pinkie. Too serious fer a fun nut like you."
Pinkie seemed to consider this, and a smile told Macintosh he had convinced her. "Oh, okay. But you really need to go to more parties!" Pinkie giggled. "I've never seen you have fun! I want Macky to have fun!"
Big Mac frowned. "I have fun..."
"Not much!" Pinkie giggle-snorted. "Well, I've gotta run! Bye bye!" With that, the pink mare was bouncing away, humming a song to herself. Macintosh sighed, shaking his head and turning to his cousin, who stared at him with a smirk on his face.
"What?"
"Told ya you love a boring life."
"Shut up." Big Mac sighed, taking the flask from his jacket and drinking some of the fluid inside, before putting it back. It really did help a lot. Now, he had to consider going about telling Granny that he had set up a business dinner without telling her; even if she would have agreed (too readily) for him to do it, he knew that sometimes she would get indignant about not telling her first when making decisions on behalf of their family.
A few hours passed, several ponies bought their apples, some in singles, some in dozens, but eventually the time came to close shop. Macintosh didn't worry about retrieving their backup cart; Carrot Top was going to keep that until they could repair hers (which, to his own shame, he had yet to even begin repairing), so all there was really to do was to hitch up their present cart and haul it back to the acres. The trip home was quiet; something Big Mac was happy for, as he knew when he told Granny of their dinner plans, she would likely badger him about preparing for it like it was his wedding. Perhaps that's why Braeburn wasn't teasing him anymore?
He stepped hoof on the porch, pushing the door open. The moment it opened, he noticed an unpleasant smell filling the house. A smell he hadn't smelled for a long time, but knew all too well. "Someone burn an apple pie...?" Big Mac and Braeburn made their way through the living room (Braeburn shutting the door with his back hoof on the way in) and towards the kitchen, but he stopped when hearing voices.
"Aww Apple Bloom, it's alright. Nopony's first Apple Pie turns out t' be a winner."
"But I bet nopony's first apple pie burns either..."
"Aww shucks, I'm sure it... uh... tastes lovely... it's just a bit soggy. An' burnt. Some ponies probably like that!"
To Big Mac's surprise, his sister's voice sounded like she might cry. "Now Big Mac's gonna hate me forever... " He could hear the filly sob somewhat, and though he was still angry, he began to feel the guilt slowly growing in power.
"Ohh sweety... he won't hate ya forever..." Granny Smith's voice was comforting, gentle. "Big Mac's jus' a sensative boy. Always has been. He'll be angry fer a bit, but he'll get over it. This'n might not be good fer eatin', but I'm sure Winona'll love it. Jus' next time you try to bake, be sure t' get my help first. Wouldn't want yer big brother comin' home to his house burnin' down, would we?"
Big Mac turned to look behind him, seeing Braeburn giving him a surprisingly sad look almost as pleading as Apple Bloom's, though with none of the associated adorableness. He sighed, turning his head, taking a breath, and stepping into the kitchen. He turned to see Granny hugging little Apple Bloom, who still seemed to be sobbing. The elder mare looked up to him, her eyes widening upon seeing him. When she noticed the look on his face, she smiled a bit. "Well Apple Bloom... look who's here." Apple Bloom turned from her grandmother to see Big Mac, and a blush crawled into her cheeks. Macintosh couldn't help but smile. 'She and Applejack are so alike. Never likes to be caught cryin'...'
Big Mac stepped forward and sighed, smiling at Apple Bloom. "I don't hate ya, 'Bloom..." The filly sniffled a bit, doing a terrible job of holding back any tears. "... I was mad... but I could never stay mad at you. Yer my lil' sister. I love ya." Apple Bloom sniffled a bit more, a smile on her face, her tears flowing more readily. She rushed forward and hugged Big Mac, wrapping her hooves around his neck.
"Oh Big Mac," she whimpered, "I'm so sorry! I-I was... I was jus' so mad, a-a-an' I wasn't thinkin'-"
"It's okay," Big Mac patted her back a few times, chuckling as he lowered his head so she could let go without falling on her rump. "Jus'... be more thoughtful next time... alright?" Apple Bloom sniffled a bit, nodding. Big Mac smiled again, to show her he meant it. Apple Bloom hugged him once more, then dashed out of the room. He hated to admit it, but Big Mac knew he could never stay mad at his sister; those sweet little eyes would always win him over.
"Sorry t' interrupt, but Big Mac has other news!" Braeburn stepped forward, grinning. Big Mac threw a glare at him. "What? You been talkin' all day, I figured you'd want me to say somethin'. 'Cause the Apple Family has been invited to a business dinner by Filthy Rich's niece!"
"Oh?" Granny Smith blinked a few times. "Huh! I knew he had family, but I never noticed anypony livin' with 'em!" Granny blinked, then grinned. "Wait, did you say niece?"
Big Mac frowned. 'Here we go...'
"Yessir!" Braeburn grinned wide. "And, might I say, said niece is quite the looker!"
"Oh? She got child barin' hips!"
"Oh yes!"
'I work on a farm, Braeburn. I have no shortage of places to hide a body.'
"Well, that settles it!" Granny grinned wide, clopping her hooves together. "We'll get ready soon as possible! When's the dinner?"
"Seven!" Big Mac glared at Braeburn, wishing his gaze could burn a hole in the stallion's head.
"Well, Big Mac, we gotta make sure you an' Braeburn are nice n' presentable!" Granny chuckled. "Oh, we can also get Apple Bloom t' wear that cute lil' dress I made fer her when Applejack graduated!" The elder mare hurried up stairs fast as her old legs would take her, and Big Mac glared once more at his cousin.
Braeburn blinked, looking at Big Mac as if he was confused. "What?"
"Couldn't let me talk?"
The yellow stallion simply chuckled. "Mac, let's be honest. You likely wouldn'ta said a thing until Granny said she was gonna prepare dinner. Yer predictable like that." That made Big Mac scowl, not just because he hated being called predictable, but also because he couldn't deny the accuracy of the statement. "Granny likes t' prepare for this stuff. If you're draggin' her on an unexpected dinner trip, should at least give 'er a few hours of advance notice t' prepare." It was a rare occasion that Braeburn was right, so Big Mac knew that he should let him have his win. He simply nodded, accepting his cousin's argument. "Great! So... how ya gonna woo 'er?"
"Braeburn..." Big Mac groaned as his cousin laughed.
The hours passed rather quickly. Big Mac had decided to busy himself until time to go by repairing Carrot Top's cart. He found some sort of serenity in fixing things; a sort of zen that few others seemed to understand. Even Braeburn looked at such tasks as chores, and would look for any excuse not to do them, but for Big Mac, it was when his hooves were busy that he thought his clearest. It allowed him to be productive, to be alone, and to vent any frustrations he may or may not have on pieces of wood. As he set a new top into place, he began to take notes of other little flaws in it. 'Beyond the damage I did to it, th' wheels seem kinda old, little worn. One looks uneven. The cart itself looks like it's probably older 'n Carrot Top herself is. I might be doin' her a favor to just outright build 'er a new one.
Big Mac plotted and planned, considering all the ways he could improve upon the current cart, before he was interrupted by Braeburn. "Hey, Big Mac! Granny wants us t' get ready fer dinner!"
"Already?" Big Mac raised a brow, looking out a nearby window. The sun was already setting. 'Time flies...' Macintosh sighed, stepping away from the tools and making his way towards the door.
"Granny says you should get yourself washed up. She don't want us goin' there an' you smellin' like you've been out in the fields." Macintosh grunted in response, figuring it was enough to let Braeburn know he acknowledged his statement. Once inside, he made his way towards the bathroom and turned the faucet. As he waited for the water to get warm enough for him to bathe, he removed his jacket, then his shirt, and finally his bandanna. He opened a nearby closet, setting his clothes in a basket, and his bandanna on one of the towels before shutting the door back, and stepping into the shower. Once he was clean, Macintosh grabbed a towel from the closet, and dried himself as best he could. He took a towel, hanging it over his back, and grabbed his bandanna, wrapping it around his neck once more, before stepping out and into the hall, making his way to his room.
After stepping out, he was wearing one of his best dress shirts, along with a waistcoat, with a dark green jacket hanging from his back. 'Ain't worn this since Applejack's graduation,' he thought, smiling. 'Not much a fancy pony, but this suit carries its own sense of pride.' Big Mac stepped from his room, almost immediately running into his granny, who was wearing an orange dress.
"There ya are Big Mac! Oh don't you look handsome?" The elder nag giggled. "Oh! Hold on... yer mane's a mess..." The mare spat on her hooves, then placed it on his head and began pushing his hairs back, trying to slick it. Macintosh silently accepted it as she tried to tame his mane. "There ya go!" She smiled proudly as Big Mac's hair was now pressed back against his head. Maybe it was a twitch, or not thinking happy thoughts long enough, but all at once, the entire thing came undone, and the hair sprung back to its original shape. "Ah, good enough. I'll go make sure Apple Bloom an' Brae are ready." Granny trotted towards Apple Bloom's room, allowing Big Mac to step past her and make his way down the stairs.
Eventually, the other Apples arrived; Apple Bloom, dressed in a pink dress that very much matched her bow, seemed less than ecstatic; despite the partnership between the Apples and the Riches, and what had been a relatively positive relationship, the Rich daughter, Diamond Tiara, did not get along with Apple Bloom too well. 'They are jus' kids' he thought with a smirk. 'Give it a few years, they'll probably be best of friends.' Braeburn was wearing a suit much like Big Mac's, though his jacket was brown, and an ascot tie. 'I think he tries to pretend he's a noble.' As Granny descended the stairs, the Apples set out to their destination.
Upon arriving to their destination, the Apple Family stopped to look up at the manor before them; it was a rather large, beautiful house, made from rare and particularly sturdy materials as far as Big Mac could tell. In the front yard was a fountain, on which a mare stood on one hoof, spitting the fountain water into the air, which fell into the fountain itself. That fountain was surrounded by a bed of beautiful flowers. The cobblestone path circled around it, as if asking its visitors to do the same; to which they naturally obliged. Approaching the door, Big Mac sat on his haunches and held up his uninjured hoof to give it a light rapping.
When the door opened, a familiar butler stood there. "Ah, Sir Macintosh. You're here. Just in time too. Do come in." The stallion opened the door wider, stepping to the side to allow the Apples in. Once everypony had stepped inside, he shut the door behind them and stepped forward. "Please, follow me. I shall take you to the dining hall." The butler began walking forward, and the family, as instructed, followed.
Macintosh had been in the Rich home many times before; as a colt, his family often spent a lot of time with the Riches. He and Applejack would often pretend the mansion was haunted, and look in the various rooms for ghosts and mythical creatures. He smiled a bit at the memories; once, they found a ghost and ran screaming into one of the butlers, only for him to tell them they had just managed to find Filthy Rich's grandmother (who, to everypony's dismay, passed away a few weeks later of illness). It wasn't really until the loss of their mother that their visits became only occasional, and the passing of their father that they stopped altogether.
Big Mac sighed, shaking his head. As he looked forward, however, something caught his eye; a mare heading their way, though she was dressed rather strangely. She wore a blue coat, whose tails seemed to hang over her flank, yet still exposed her cutie mark, which looked like some kind of pink starburst with several smaller stars surrounding it. A book seemed to be hanging from one side of her on a belt; if anything was on the other end, he could not tell. She seemed to have some sort of bandaging or something wrapped around the fetlocks of her front hooves, though if they were function or fashion he could not say, and she had a big hat on her head that, somehow, seemed off to him, though Macintosh couldn't tell why. "Ah. Good evening, Lady Twilight." 'Twilight', as the butler had called her, wordlessly passed them, though Macintosh noticed her cast a glance at him for but a moment; a cold, careless look in her eye, the mare not breaking her motions as she turned her attention back to the path before her and continued along her way. "Ah... mare of few words... Shall we continue?" Macintosh continued to linger there for but a moment, staring back at the mare as she made her way out the door, and it was closed behind her by yet another servant.
'... Somethin' about that mare seemed... different...'
He dared not linger too long, so Macintosh turned and continued his pace, earning a nudge from Braeburn (and giving him a slightly harder one in turn). A short time passed before the family was lead into an impressive room with a long table; chairs had been set up, and their hosts were already at the table, waiting. At the long end of the table was none other than Filthy Rich, who smiled, holding his hooves together. "Ah! Apple family! Welcome! Please, take a seat." The Apples stepped forward, with Big Mac taking the seat closest to Filthy himself, and he noticed that Nightingale herself had sat across from him. The mare smiled and waved a hoof, to which he responded by waving back, a somewhat bashful smile on his face. Granny had sat to his side, Braeburn to hers, and Apple Bloom next to his. Next to Nightingale sat Rich's daughter, Diamond Tiara; it took literally no time at all for her and Apple Bloom to begin exchanging dirty looks.
"Thank you for coming, Macintosh" said Filthy, still smiling. "I must admit, I'm surprised you took up our offer. It has been a while since we've done more than just barter for goods."
"Eeyup" said Big Mac with a nod.
"And are you well?"
"Well as can be expected," said Big Mac, smiling a bit.
"Well then... before we eat, I would like to make my proposal..." Rich leaned forward, and to Big Mac that was a sign he was putting on his business face. "The reason I invited you here, Apples, is that I have a proposal for you." Everypony turned to face him, their ears perking as a sign they were paying more attention. "Our families have been loyal business partners for a long time. The Apples and the Riches are names that go hoof and hoof; it is as if you cannot mention one without thinking of the other, when it comes to the sales market." He sighed, looking down some. "I know... that we've all lost loved ones... and that with these losses, has come difficult times..." Everypony bowed their head in respect. "... and that with these losses, we've found ourselves becoming distant from each other, unlike our predecessors who were often like family..."
Filthy grinned his winning grin. "And I think, for too long, the Riches have been benefiting more from that bond than the Apples." Macintosh quirked a brow, having an off feeling about where Filthy was headed with this. "We started Ponyville together. I think it is time that the Apples finally be rewarded for their troubles. That our families finally stand as equals." He paused a moment, to allow this to sink in. "What I propose is simple. I wish for the Apples and the Riches to gain equal shares in the profits from Sweet Apple Acres apples sales; all sales, including apples, jams, pies, fritters, etc. In return, the Riches would own half the rights to Sweet Apple Acres. We would be able to hire better farm-hooves, buy top-of-the-line equipment, expand your land..." Rich smiled at the Apples once more, making sure he caught each of their eyes. "Sweet Apple Acres will become several times more efficient than it is now."
Macintosh frowned. "Now hold on, Rich... that there farm is our home. It's been in our family for generations! We can't jus' sell it to ya!" His throat was a bit sore from the exertion, but he felt it warranted.
Filthy chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, Macintosh, you misunderstand. We aren't buying Sweet Apple Acres from you. We're asking to be made co-owners!" He looked towards his own family. "I know how important family and tradition are, believe me..." Once more, he turned his attention to the Apples, holding his hooves out. "... The farm would simply be owned by two parties rather than the Apple Family alone. If you like, you could even keep the house."
Big Mac frowned. "I'm sorry... but, that's our land..." his voice was beginning to crack, much to his chagrin. "We've put a lot of love, sweat, and blood into it. My pa was born on that farm, an' he had hoped to-" Big Mac stopped and winced. Everypony thought he might have gotten emotional from the mention of his father, though the truth was that he was simply pushing his throat too hard; a fact that Filthy was quick to catch on to.
"Teacup?"
A butler stepped next to Big Mac, carrying a glass on a tray. Big Mac took it and drank it down, feeling most of the pain ebb away, sighing in relief. "Thanks..." He turned his attention back to Filthy. "... An' he had hoped to die there in his ripe old age." He sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't jus' hand that farm over to ya..."
Filthy nodded. "I understand... but please, at least hear me out? You will not just be paid a small sum, my friends. You will receive half of all the profits Sweet Apple Acres makes." Filthy held a hoof towards his family. "Your family could be given the best care money can buy, education that most ponies would give up limbs for. You wouldn't have to worry every night about thieves assaulting your property, or live in fear that one day you'll push yourself too hard... you'll never want for anything again."
Big Mac sighed. "Rich... I really can't..."
Filthy Rich simply frowned somewhat at Macintosh, nodding, his expression still tempered by a strong business acumen. "Alright. What if I made an offer? Everything else stands, unchanged... but if you agree, you will receive payment to honor our deal." Filthy pulled a piece of paper from seemingly nowhere, and a quill, and began writing.
"Rich" said Big Mac, frowning, "I appreciate what you're doin', but-" Filthy passed the note to Big Mac, who looked at it, and his eyes shot wide open. "Whoa..."
Granny leaned in to peak at the paper, her eyes bugging out. "Oh... my poor heart..." She froze for a few seconds, before Big Mac gave her chest a little strike. She blinked a few times, then smiled. "Okay, I'm back."
"What is it? I want to see!" Braeburn tried to lean in, and Big Mac passed the note to him. He looked at it, and his eyes shot open. "That is a lot of zeroes..."
"Indeed..." Filthy Rich smiled, clearly confident in himself. "And that is just the initial investment on my part. Afterwards, you'll receive 50% of all the money your farm makes. Your farm will be upgraded to increase production several fold. This business move will benefit both of our families, giving you the reward your family deserves for all its hard work, and giving the Riches a chance to better invest in the products we've been selling, rather than idly buying it and selling it second hoof."
Macintosh turned to his family, lost. "I... I don't know..." He looked to Granny Smith, who looked at him with uncertainty in her eyes. 'Granny practically built that farm... heck, she practically built Ponyville. Could I really do that to 'er...?' Big Mac stared at the note. 'But... that is a lot of money... We could repair all the damages to the house... heck, we could add to the house, make it bigger... I could get Granny that new hip she needs so badly... Apple Bloom could go to college.... I could... I could...' Big Mac placed a hoof over his throat, stroking it gently. '... I might even be able to fix this...'
At the sight of him rubbing his throat, Granny's gaze softened, and she smiled. "Big Mac... if you really want to...." Macintosh looked to her, and then to Rich.
'We could live much better lives... longer even...' He looked down at the note once more. 'But we'd lose the only home we've ever known... the only home my pa ever knew... everything our family worked for would be commercial... the soul would be gone...'
Big Mac frowned, setting the piece of paper on the table. "Rich... I..... I think I need some time to consider this... this is all too much too soon..." His voice was scratching up once more, so he was quick to get a sip from the glass he had been given earlier.
Filthy smiled and nodded. "Of course. Take all the time you need." He sat back in his chair some, chuckling. "As a business stallion, I entirely understand your uncertainty. The offer will remain on the table for the foreseeable future, so please, take your time." Macintosh sighed a bit, feeling that statement relieve a lot of his fears. 'At least that gives me time to talk with Applejack about all this before I make any decisions...' "Until then," said Filthy, holding his hooves in the air and clopping them together twice in rapid succession. "Let us eat!"
A door nearby immediately swung open, with several stallions stepping into the dining hall pushing tray tables and carrying platters. Several platters were set on the tables before them, and as their tops were removed, the Apples' eyes nearly bulged at the banquet before them. There were various foods that seemed like fancier cousins of foods they already knew; daisy sandwiches with little tooth picks sticking from them, salads with nearly any vegetable you could want in them... there were even other foods that Big Mac had never seen before, but seemed delicious nonetheless. Everypony had a bowl of soup set before them, and each was given a bib, who then placed it in their shirts to hang and protect their clothes from filth-based harm. Apple Bloom stared at hers a moment.
"You put it on your chest to protect your cloths," said Diamond Tiara, with no attempt to hide the annoyance in her voice.
Apple Bloom fumed, glaring across the table at the other filly. "I knew that!" She humphed, sticking the bib in the neck of her dress and letting it hang, though it still looked a bit sloppy.
Big Mac chuckled. 'Guess I never did teach Apple Bloom proper dinin' etiquette. Gotta work on that... never know if, worse comes to worse, she'll have to take over...'
The servants gathered various foods, setting them on the plates before the Apple Family, making sure everypony got to sample a little of everything. After they finished their work and stepped aside, waiting for further orders, Filthy smiled, clopping his hooves together once more. "Alright everypony... dig in!"
Big Mac picked up half of a daisy sandwich and hummed; it seemed like something else was on it, though he couldn't tell what. 'What's a daisy sandwich if you put stuff other than the daisy?' He gave it a sniff, noting that it definitely didn't smell bad. He took a tentative bite, and his eyes widened. 'Wow! That's delicious!' He continued eating, remembering his manners and not making a pig of himself.
Braeburn was showing no such courtesy; he was quick to begin stuffing food into his face, probably not even having the time to truly savor it. He stopped with a swat from Granny, slowing his pace and eating in a manner considerably less disturbing.
They sampled all the meals, and ate their soup; some of it was not so good, but others were amazing. Eventually, they had finished their food, and Big Mac patted his stomach. "That was delicious..."
"I do hope you saved room for desert!" Filthy grinned, clopping his hooves together. More trays were brought in; one had a big, delicious cake on it. Another was like a huge gravy boat, but filled with ice cream of all flavors with chocolate all over it, as well as a few cakes and cookies. Apple Bloom's eyes widened, her mouth watering, as did Braeburn's.
"Excuse me?" Everypony turned to Nightingale, who blushed at the sudden attention, but retained her composure. "If I could, I would like a moment to speak with Macintosh?" Big Mac blinked a few times, clearly confused. Granny gave him a slight nudge with her forehoof, and he sighed.
"Alright."
Big Mac stood from his seat, nodding to everypony, before heading to the other end of the table where he met up with Nightingale, who offered him a smile. Ever the courteous stallion, he smiled back, and the two made their way out into the hall.
They walked in silence for a while. Big Mac tried to remain professional, though he would occasionally glance at a random painting or a statue or an antique suit of armor. "Macintosh, I wish to start by saying that I thank you for coming. It means a lot to my uncle."
"Of course" said Big Mac with a nod. "We're like family, the Apples and the Riches."
"Indeed..." said the mare, coming to a stop to look out a nearby window. Macintosh himself stopped next to her, looking out into what seemed to be a garden. "If it weren't for the Apples, the Riches likely wouldn't be where they are today. We owe a lot of our fortune to you; more even than what my uncle has offered you." Macintosh didn't know if he would agree to that, but he chose instead to let her continue talking. "This entire proposal was my idea, you see. It was I who convinced Uncle this was a good idea, although he took very little convincing..." She smiled and giggled a bit. "If anything, he seemed like he'd wished he'd thought of it years ago."
"It's a mighty generous proposal..." Big Mac frowned a bit. 'Please don't try to make me choose now. I was really countin' on that extra time...'
"Indeed," Nightingale nodded and sighed. "... You know... my Uncle speaks well of you. He's told me about a lot of things... about your family... about... well..." She frowned a bit. "... Please forgive me for saying... but even about the loss of your parents..."
Macintosh retained his stoic expression, but opted not to respond either.
"... But he's also told me about how fair you are, and how sensible you are when it comes to not just work, but your family. He hides it well... but I want you to know, this is not just a business venture for my Uncle. He truly cares about your family." Macintosh lowered his gaze, feeling a little guilt in him; he had to admit, he rarely considered the Rich family. To hear that he might actually care about them? It made him feel as if he had not truly appreciated what they had.
"... I can see it in your eyes... you're a strong, brave pony..." She smiled a bit, and Macintosh turned to face her, her eyes gazing into his. "I can tell, just by looking at you... you'd do anything for love. And that is why I know this is a difficult decision we ask you to make... because either way... you feel you will sacrifice that love." She gently placed a hoof on his cheek, her eyes never leaving his. "... I will not ask you to take his offer... I will only ask that you at least consider it..."
Macintosh simply stared into her eyes, entranced. He wanted to respond, to say something. He didn't know how. Any word he might say disappeared as soon as it came to him. The two ponies continued to gaze into each others' eyes for what felt like an eternity.
'She's so beautiful. So lovely. I don't think I've ever seen a prettier mare.'
Slowly, both ponies began to lean forward.
'What am I doing? This isn't me. I've never done this before.'
Their lips trembled, drawing closer. He could feel the warmth of her body radiating.
'Why can't I stop myself? Why don't I want to?'
Trembling lips pressed together. Big Mac closed his eyes. 'They're so soft...' It was as if the entire world stopped mattering to him. All he could focus on was her. She gently put her forelegs up over his shoulders and around his neck, and pressed into the kiss. 'She's so warm...' Lips parted, and he felt urged to let his tongue mingle with hers. 'When's the last time I kissed somepony like this...? Has it been that long...?' He wrapped his own forelegs around her waist, placing his hooves on her back, gently stroking it. 'She smells like strawberries.'
The two ponies broke the kiss, and Big Mac stared at the mare in a daze, his eyes blinking lazily. Nightingale was blushing madly, but smiling nonetheless. She gave his hoof a tug, and he let her lead him through the hall again, but this time taking him up some stairs. He followed numbly. 'Am I really doing this? I don't think I've ever been so... what's the word? Entranced? Captured maybe? I've never been so captured by a mare before...' They reached the top, and she continued to lead him down the hall, up to the third door. She gently opened it, and he stepped inside with her; it was a bedroom. There was a closet, likely filled with only the best dress for a mare, a vanity with a large mirror, but of anything else in there, the only thing that stood out at the moment was where she was leading him next.
To a large bed.
Once more, their lips met, and his tongue readily danced with hers. She fell backwards, pulling him with her, her legs wrapped around his hips. She pulled him against her, enough that he could feel every contour of her body pressed against his. He was lost, kissing deeper as she hastily undid the buttons to his waistcoat and shirt, throwing them open and letting her hooves caress his barrel and his back.
'Is this... is this love?'
She tugged on his bandanna, and he felt it fall from him.
'... NOPE!'
Big Mac suddenly jumped back, grabbing his bandanna mid-drop, tumbling off the bed and rolling over until he could stand upright. He panted and heaved, holding the green cloth up against his neck, staring at the mare, clearly confused, with a few traces of other emotions (and needs) rushing through him. Nightingale panted a bit herself, staring at him, wide-eyed. "I-I'm sorry, d-did I do somethin wrong?"
"N-no... nope..." Big Mac shook his head, feeling his heart beating like it might break out of his chest. "I... I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me..."
'N-no.. no, it's... it's quite alright..." The mare coughed a bit, shaking her head and working herself off the bed. She sat upright and used her hooves to try to straighten out her somewhat ruffled gown. "I got carried away too. I'm afraid we're both a little guilty on this one..."
Big Mac sighed, feeling a little guilt taken from him. "I'm sorry... I-I've never... I'm not usually so impulsive..."
Nightingale simply giggled and blushed. "Thanks... I take that as a compliment..." She gulped a bit, nervously rubbing a hoof against her foreleg. "... M... Macintosh, I guess I should be straight forward... but ever since my Uncle first told me about you... you sounded like a knight in shining armor to me... and ever since I first met you, I admit I find you... well..." She stopped, blushing more. "... Quite attractive. And... I... I hope I'm not being too forward... but..." She gulped again, looking as if she was working up her courage. "P... Please... lay with me tonight?"
Once more, Macintosh was conflicted. His heart knew that he had just met her, and that he barely knew her; it was entirely possible that, in a few days' time, he'd hate her. But she seemed so nice. His brain knew that given her quickness, there was that slight chance she was in heat, and that if he did give in, the Riches and the Apples would become closer than Filthy likely intended (or would, in fact, appreciate), though it'd certainly make Granny happy. Then other parts of him started throwing in their two bits, and while he knew better, they were very persuasive. He took a deep breath to calm himself, and sighed.
"I-I can't..."
Nightingale frowned. "... Why not...? Am... am I not pretty enough...?"
"Nope!" Big Mac frowned, then fumbled over his words. "I-I mean eeyup! I mean..." He winced a bit, feeling the ache in his throat as well as hearing some of his voice disappearing. "... Y... You're very beautiful... Possibly the single most beautiful mare I've ever seen... but I... I just met you, an' I don't think it'd be right... or smart..."
Nightingale stared at him a few moments, seeming as though she were trying to process just what he was saying. She sighed a bit. "Yes... yes, I understand. Don't worry, I really do understand." She smiled at him, shaking her head and using her hooves to straighten out her mane. "My apologies... I've... I don't think I've ever been so attracted to a stallion before..." She blushed. "You're... quite handsome."
Macintosh blushed a bit himself, smiling some. "Thanks..." he said, though his voice was quite raspy by this point.
Nightingale stepped close to him. "Do you... think we could... maybe... court?"
Macintosh blinked a few times, somewhat surprised by the idea of actually going on a date. He didn't know what to say. 'On one hand, she's cute as a button and seems friendly enough. On the other, she seems sexually aggressive...' He stopped with that second thought, frowning a bit at himself. 'Wait... is... is that a bad thing?' Macintosh noticed her looking at him with hopeful, expecting eyes. He frowned a bit.
"N-not right now..." He shook his head, looking aside a bit, feeling somewhat ashamed of how quiet his voice had gotten. 'I need a drink or I won't be able to say a word...'
Nightingale, however, simply smiled, though she seemed sad. "... I see...." She stepped closer, looking up into his eyes, and him back at hers. He hoped she wouldn't try again, because he didn't know how much strength he had to resist a second time. She leaned forward, and pressed her lips against his. It lingered, but then she pulled back. "... You're a very strong stallion. Perhaps I was too hasty. But... much like my Uncle's offer, mine remains on the table." She smiled. "Mayhaps I'll try again at a later date. Who knows." She turned towards the door, trotting to it and putting a hoof on the knob, opening it, but stopped and turned to face Big Mac. "Also... I hope not to sound rude... but can we keep this encounter a secret?" Once more, Nightingale blushed. "Not that I am ashamed of you... it's simply that if word spreads around, ponies might think... poorly of me." Big Mac simply smiled and nodded. Lacking a voice momentarily, he placed a hoof over his lips and made a slow 'zipping' motion, and nodded to her.
After fixing his clothes and putting his bandanna back on, Macintosh and Nightingale made their way back downstairs, and down the hall to the dining hall. Once they opened the doors, both ponies were surprised to find that bits of various foods were scattered throughout the room, and that the ponies inside were currently locked in a food fight, hiding behind the table and tossing food at each other. Braeburn, Granny, and Filthy Rich were all laughing, though Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara seemed to be venting a lot of frustration. The butlers, ever dutiful, stood nearby, in their usual dignified postures, holding platters and treys to block the food debris.
"What in the world...!?" shouted Nightingale, though she had a big smile on her face and seemed to be trying not to laugh. Immediately, everypony stopped.
"Oh! Nighty! Macintosh! Welcome back!" Filthy Rich laughed, wiping some cake from his face, though smearing some more on it in turn. "Long story short, somepony threw a biscuit, and it all went to Tartarus from there!"
"Only cause I was rainin' it down on yer head!" Granny grinned wide. "I'm still th' food fightin' champion!"
Big Mac smirked, exchanging glances with Nightingale, both laughing a bit at their families.
The stillness of the area was always something of comfort.
The birds flew about, gathering food for themselves and their young, keeping an eye out for potential predators or competitors for food.
Bees buzzed, collecting pollen from even the more unusual flowers in the area.
The wind blew, waving branches and leaves about carelessly.
And the water was still.
Zecora sat, balancing on a bamboo pole on one hoof, her eyes closed.
'The universe in perfect harmony.'
She focused on herself. On the world around her. On all things. She was one with everything, and everything was one with her. In the greater picture, she was but a spec; an inconsequential spec of dust in the winds of time and reality. This did not bother her; this was as it should be. For in accepting this, she found peace. In that peace, she found wisdom. And in that wisdom, she found happiness.
Then, the bamboo pole snapped.
Zecora fell, but gracefully landed on her hooves, staring wide-eyed at her bamboo pole. It did not just break; the middle was splintered, as if it had been broken by great force. She stared, wide-eyed at the image before her, taking a step back, her mouth hanging. "Oh woe is me... is this an ill omen I see...?" The zebra took a few cautious steps forward, prodding the broken pole with a forehoof carefully. Nothing out of the ordinary seemed to happen, though her eyes remained focused on it as if it had started talking to her. She backed away once more, then turned about and, in a brisk trot, made her way towards the path to Ponyville.
"We may all be in grave danger! There's dark magic a-hoof! Can things get stranger?
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 5 - Dark Skies | The weekend; a time to kick back and relax. To shed one's anxieties and disturbances, and to forget the things that, in the big picture, don't matter. While Big Mac was a dutiful worker, he was by no means a workaholic; no, that title goes to his sister.
'That mare gets out even less'n I do,' Macintosh chuckled, shaking his head as he lay next to a tree, eyes closed, letting the world pass him by for the day. 'From the sounds of it, the only time she's ever really relaxed is when she visits us... and even then, we often hear her mutter to herself about whatever little errands and jobs she has to run back in Manehattan.'
Opening his eye just a bit, Big Mac noticed somepony coming his way; a very familiar somepony. Zecora seemed to be making her way towards him at a hurried pace, a nervous look in her eye. 'Oh no. What's goin' on here?'
"Big Mac, thank goodness you're here," shouted Zecora, placing her hooves on his shoulders, "I've had a bad omen, a dark one I fear!" Macintosh frowned at the little zebra mare, whose eyes seemed as unsure as they did desperate.
"What?"
Zecora let him go and stepped back. "I was meditating by a pond in the Everfree... focusing on my chi and the universe, you see... when out of nowhere should my trusty staff break! A staff from a far away land, enchanted for goodness' sake!" Big Mac stared at the zebra, his eyes betraying that he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. She sighed, closing her eyes. "My staff was enchanted, from a potion such magic is granted. It responds to magic in the air, responding to the energy we all share. In kind, loving magic, the staff is strong, as tough as steel, I am not wrong..." She frowned darkly at him. "But when there is dark magic about... it builds inside, then expands out."
Big Mac stared at her, putting everything she was saying together. "What you're sayin' is... yer stick exploded... so evil magic is around?"
"'Tis a staff, no mere stick... but yes, that is the tale told quick." She held a hoof up. "I've been here for months without incident, so whatever changed must be recent! A foul wind blows in the air, so in our quest we must take care."
Big Mac sighed, refusing to stand up just yet, hoping to avert a crisis so that he might resume his nap. "What if your stick jus' broke?"
Zecora, however, grimaced at the mere thought. "The enchantment on it keeps it tough! It would take a manticore to break such stuff!"
"An' your staff didn't take any damage from our adventure?" Macintosh raised a brow. "Stress can have long lastin' effects."
"Great care I take of my tools! A staff is sacred; no stick for fools!" Zecora glared at Big Mac, seeming to grow irritated by him. "Please heed me if you will, because darkness looms in Ponyville!"
Macintosh frowned. Once more, she had that intensity in her eyes, but none of the desperation from before; she was angry. 'Whatever's goin' on has her seriously spooked. Even if I don't believe this, I should at least find some way to comfort her.' Macintosh sighed. "What do ya want?"
"The book is the key to our answer you see..." Zecora frowned. "Please tell me you translated; not procrastinated!"
Macintosh's eyes went wide. 'I forgot... again!? Maybe there is evil magic here, because I'm not normally so bad at rememberin' things! "Uhh..."
Zecora frowned, then pulled a hoof to the bridge of her nose. "... This is great... just simply, great..." She looked back up, as if hoping to find an answer in the tree above them. "I can only hope we are not too late." Zecora shook her head, looking at Big Mac with intensity again. "We must hurry and translate them soon, lest forgetfulness spell our doom!" Big Mac felt a twinge of annoyance deep within his soul at this particular moment.
'Great. All I wanted to do was spend the weekend relaxin' and forgettin' my stresses from the past few days. I can't even have that.'
Big Mac sighed. "Alright." Slowly, he pulled himself to his hooves, once more favoring his sprained hoof; he was confident most of the injury had healed by now, but he was cautious enough not to second guess his doctor's orders. "Follow me." Big Mac turned from Zecora and made his way down the hill, the Apple home a distance away. Just this once, he cursed his desire for peace and quiet as he trotted towards home sweet home.
Opening the front door, he stepped inside the house, Zecora following close behind. Immediately, Macintosh caught sight of his grandmother rocking back and forth in her chair, knitting something or other he was not entirely sure of what. The elder nag looked up and saw the two ponies, giving a warm smile. "Oh, hey Big Mac! Back from yer nap already?"
"Eeyup..." He sighed, looking back at Zecora, then to his grandmother. "Granny-"
"Look, I'd rather our name be able t' go on, but if'n she makes ya happy, I'll bless the weddin'." Granny smiled a bit, nodding. Macintosh groaned, slapping a hoof over his face.
"No, Granny..." He sighed, taking a moment to pause. "... Do we know anypony who can translate Old Equestrian?"
Granny Smith stopped. "Huh? Why? You find a new species of critter or somethin'?" Macintosh, deciding to spare himself some voice, decided to hold up a hoof to gesture for her to wait, before turning and making his way up stairs. Zecora and Granny Smith sat silently for a few minutes, the mare turning to the Zebra and smiling. "Yer a very pretty mare, an' if you an' my grandson love each other, I really don't mind."
Zecora chuckled. "I am surprised your eyes I deceive, for I am older than you may believe."
Granny Smith quirked a brow. "Oh? How old are ya?"
Zecora chuckled. "Almost old enough to be his mother..."
Granny's eyes widened. "Get out. How do ya look so dang young!?"
The zebra responded with a simple chuckle. "That's a tribe secret; from one Shaman to another."
Granny Smith laughed, shaking her head. "Well what am I doin' here? Show me where ta sign up!"
"I'm afraid a Shaman chooses her own successor. To assure those she teaches' minds and spirits are not lesser."
"Ah shucks, I was kiddin' anyway." Granny chuckled, shaking her head. "My family keeps me as young as I need ta be!" All at once, the elder mare's head fell slack. Zecora's eyes widened, surprised. She stood their silently, staring at the Apple matriarch, still and unmoving. She slowly moved a hoof towards her, cautiously, carefully...
Then Granny's head shot up, wide-eyes, snorting. "Watch our for th' bees, they got murder in 'eir eyes!" The elder mare blinked a few times, then looked at Zecora. "Oh, hi there. You here fer somethin'?" Zecora only smirked, shaking her head and chuckling, both ponies turning their attention to the sound of a pony moving down the stairs. Macintosh approached them, a book in his mouth, and then dropped it in his granny's lap.
"Huh" said Granny Smith, eying the tome over. "Well lookie here... where'd ya find this?"
Zecora held up a hoof. "We found the tome deep in the Ev-"
Macintosh's hoof in her mouth, however, silenced her. "At an antique store!"
Granny blinked a few times, hummed, then pulled the cover open. "Be careful with them crooks. They'll ask ya for priceless family heirlooms fer two bits, then go an' sell 'em fer a small fortune." She hummed, grabbing a pair of reading glasses from nearby and setting them on her nose, looking at the pages of the book before her, her eyes tracing along the letters. Macintosh and Zecora watched her as she seemed to scan over every detail.
"... Well, this here is interestin'..."
Macintosh raised an eye brow. 'Wait... she can read that?'
Granny looked up to Big Mac and Zecora, smiling. "... I can't make a lick'a sense of any of this. I figured when you said it was in Old Equestrian it'd be like one of them there fancy plays or somethin', but this stuff's like an entirely different language!" Big Mac suppressed a groan; she looked old and feeble, but Granny had a mean right hoof if she was mad at ya, and no qualms against swatting an adult stallion upside the head in front of company. "However, my cousin Goldie Delicious Apple is a history nut, an' she has records an' such from way back..." Granny hummed. "If anypony in our family can read this durn thing, it'd be her." Granny picked the book up, hoofing it back to Big Mac, who took it between his teeth and sat it on his back. "You'll find her outside'a town. She lives in a lil' ol' house a bit west'a here, kinda a museum to th' Apple Family..."
"Thanks Granny." Macintosh smiled and nodded, giving his grandmother a hug. The elder mare returned it, smiling.
"Oh no problem sweetie. You ask fer so little and do so much. Jus' be sure to have a safe journey, an' be home soon. Braeburn's jus' helpless without you 'round to encourage 'em." Granny Smith chuckled a bit, and Macintosh nodded, a smile on his face. He turned to Zecora, sighing a bit.
"I'm gonna grab some supplies. I suggest you do th' same."
"I'm already as ready as I need to be; I came to you ready for a journey." Macintosh nodded a bit, though he felt somewhat dissatisfied that she hadn't even considered if he had refused, or worse yet, needed more time. 'Maybe she was gonna go with or without me?'
Macintosh did not take long gathering a few supplies and necessities for his trip; his new flask (though long depleted of the mix that he had been given by Rich, so he had to fill it with water), some honey (to mix with said water to both add flavor and help sooth his pains) a few apple fritters and a first-aid kit, and, of course, the book (after all, he had to be sure it got there) all nestled neatly within the confines of a saddlebag. He stepped outside, where Zecora had already been waiting for him. He gave his grandmother a quick hug, and was soon on his way down the dirt path leaving the farm. Zecora cast a side-glance to him, a soft smile on her face. "Your family is kinder than most any I see... a love is there, true, carefree..." She smiled more, her attention back on the road. "Until today I've had yet to see in Equestria what your family showed to me."
Macintosh chuckled. "I'm not big on iambic pentameter, but that one was kinda stretched, wasn't it?"
Zecora grinned. "And I'm not versed in the 'silence type' scene, but you spoke a few words too much it would seem." Macintosh chuckled, shaking his head, both ponies focusing on the road before them once more. Big Mac noticed that the sky seemed to be gray, clouds building up as if readying for rain. 'Strange. I didn't know we were gonna have rain today. Wonder if those clouds managed to drift from the Everfree or somethin'? As they made their way through the town, Big Mac found himself in wonder of how fast it had grown. 'To think, when Granny was a young mare this place was still a lil' farm town. It's grown so much since then... even Granny says that she finds herself in awe of jus' how much has changed.'
After some time of walking, they finally reached the wall that lead out of town and into the wilderness. Macintosh looked down the path, towards the hill which it lead, and considered the woods that lay beyond it. 'At least it's not the Everfree Forest. Won't have to worry about Manticores or nothin' like that in those woods. Worst case scenario, gotta watch out for ticks.' The further they got from the town, however, Big Mac had noticed that the clouds seemed to be growing more dense. 'Strange. I don't think I see any Pegasi...'
"Your relative lives a distance from others... tensions between sisters? Cousins? Others?"
"Nope" said Big Mac, shaking his head. "Far as I recall, she likes bein' alone."
"Ah..." Zecora hummed, turning her attention back to the road before them. Once more, silence loomed over the journey. Perhaps for the best; Macintosh didn't require conversation, and he was certain Zecora was much the same. He could appreciate a little silence; it gave him all the time in the world he needed to think about any number of things. However, as they walked, he found himself reminiscing; he and his parents had walked this path many times on one errand or another. Big Mac vividly recalled a trip he and his father had made shortly after Applejack was born to educate him on the Apple family history.
The smile on his face might tell volumes of the joy the memories brought him. As he looked, Macintosh was pleased to see that most of the place had remained unchanged in all those years. He looked up, realizing that in his trip down memory lane he had failed to notice the clouds getting thicker. "Hm. No Pegasi... why's there a storm here...?"
Zecora, however, seemed quite serious, looking back to him. "Within my very bones I feel quite the chill... we must hurry, the clouds bode something ill." Macintosh gave a simple nod, and the two ponies began to trot at a more hurried pace. As they hurried, Macintosh felt droplets of rain hit his skin; not too surprising. No, what surprised him was the fact that the sky was continuing to get darker. 'What in the hay...? Okay, this is just crazy weather. I need to talk to th' weather commission an' ask them if their Pegasi have been lettin' clouds drift around all willy nilly...'
It wasn't long before their salvation appeared over a hill -- or rather, perched on top of one. A small house, not too big at all, stood alone within the edge of the woods. Macintosh felt the moniker 'house' might have been a bit generous; the place was more like a hut, really, and the boarded up windows always made it seem abandoned. Still, it had a roof, and the rain was starting to get a bit harder, so he would be just as happy in there as anywhere else. Macintosh and Zecora drew closer to the house, his smile growing at the mere thought of being indoors. Upon reaching the porch the two ponies gained reprieve from the rain, but not much else as Big Mac lay his eyes on a sign on the door that served to mock him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ON A TRIP
BE BACK MONDAY!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well horse-apples..." Big Mac frowned, shaking his head. On one hoof, it meant he would get to enjoy his weekend after all, but on the other, it meant that they had wasted their trip. He sighed, turning to Zecora, who seemed quite understandably disappointed. "I'm sorry."
"No, Macintosh. It is okay... you tried your best, that much you can say..." Zecora turned her attention back out into the rain, frowning. "It is inconvenient, however, that we will have to endure this weather..."
"Mmm... nope." Big Mac put his hoof up above the door frame of the house, searching around. He felt something, which earned a grin, and pushed a key from the top of the door onto the floor below. Taking it into his lips, he pressed the key into the lock, twisting, and pulled it back, placing it on top of his hoof and pushing it up on top of the frame again. He pushed the door open, allowing him and Zecora to walk inside. Instantly, the two ponies were hit by the smell of books and cat urine. "Sorry fer th' smell. Goldie likes cats." Zecora offered a simple nod in response, and Macintosh closed the door behind him.
The living room was an absolute mess; books were scattered all over the place, placed in piles so high one could barely move around or see the walls which, themselves had several pictures of various ponies, most of them presumably Apple family or family friends. The only things that seemed to stand out in the clutter were a couch, a chair, and a coffee table. Big Mac sighed and held a hoof out. "Make yourself at home. She won't mind us usin' th' place until th' rain stops..." Zecora nodded once more, making her way towards a pile of books and looking them over curiously as Big Mac stepped towards the couch and plopping down on it, laying on his side. Macintosh made himself comfortable, laying his head against one of the throw pillows. "Mind if I take a short nap? Didn't sleep too well last night."
"That is fine, be my guest. When the rain stops, I'll end your rest." Macintosh nodded, letting loose a long yawn, then nuzzling into the pillow. The zebra looked at various books, casting a glance back to Big Mac, then back to the books. She picked a few up, opened them, and started reading. The stallion smirked. 'Read all th' books ya want. Jus' a bunch of farmers an' apples in the end.' He let loose another yawn, closing his eyes. He hadn't realized just how tired he was, but he became somewhat more aware of it before he drifted into unconsciousness.
The pitter patter of rain drops on the roof of the house was all encompassing. Hard rain drenched the outside of the house, the sound of wind making the walls occasionally creak.
These were the first signs of consciousness.
Macintosh slowly opened his eyes to notice that it was quite dark, save for a lantern on the table. He turned his head about, looking around the room to find only piles of books. 'Oh yeah. Goldie's house...' He turned his attention to a nearby window, seeing that trees were waving around in the rain outside and that the rain was more like a dense fog than anything else. He looked around, suddenly recalling that he had had company before passing out, and that she was nowhere in sight. The stallion pulled himself from his napping spot, standing up and looking around the room. It was then that he became aware that several strange, scented candles dotted the room. 'That's jus' a fire hazard. Why would Zecora light a bunch of candles an' leave 'em unattended?' He made his way to a nearby window, where three of such candles were standing, and looked outside; he could barely see a thing, it was raining so hard.
'We could be stuck here the entire night.'
Big Mac sighed, shaking his head. He was about to turn away and find out where Zecora had gone to when something caught his attention. He looked out the window once more, swearing he had seen something in the rain. He squinted, trying to focus, to see within the sheets of falling water.
A mare was standing out in the rain.
"Zecora?" Big Mac raised a brow, but then he saw the mare trot away from the house, disappearing in the rain. 'She's gonna catch her death out there.' Macintosh sighed, really not wanting to have to, but he knew he'd have to go out and get her. He looked around the room, spotting an umbrella holder near the front door with a single umbrella to offer. Grabbing hold of it, he pushed the door open and stepped out of the house, unfolding the umbrella and then stepping from beneath the porch. He grimaced at the fact that the device did not stop the rain from hitting him entirely; no matter how he angled it, some part of him was still getting very drenched. "Zecora," he shouted, pressing forward, "You gotta get inside!"
But she did not respond. She continued to walk away from him, and disappeared once more into the fog. He groaned a bit, following after her. 'What is wrong with this mare? Braeburn is right; she's really set on ending badly!' He pressed forward still, intent on bringing her back one way or another. It seemed to take forever, but eventually, he caught up to her again; she was simply standing there, however, her back to him, as if waiting. He smiled a bit, trotting closer. "Let's get you back inside!"
"MACINTOSH! GET AWAY FROM THAT PONY!"
He stopped, blinking a few times, then turned around, seeing Zecora staring at him, wide-eyed at him. He turned once more. The mare hadn't moved from that spot. As Macintosh looked, he realized what he was staring at was not a mare; it had been a trick of the rain. Up close, he could tell it was a stallion in a hooded cloak. Then, the pony turned to face him; a dark-grey coated stallion with a pair of yellow, slitted eyes.
"Give us the book!"
Big mac stepped back a few steps, furrowing his brow. Suddenly, several other stallions who looked much the same as the one before him fell from the trees, landing with wet splashes into the drenched earth. Zecora rushed to his side, then turned around to face behind him. Macintosh glanced back to realize that they had effectively been surrounded. "You have a book..." said one of the stallions. "It does not belong to you. Give it to us."
"What book," said Macintosh, "We don't know what yer talkin' about..."
"Don't be a fool. We know you have it." The strange, grey stallion stepped forward. "Give it to us, and we will let you live."
Big Mac frowned, looking at the strange ponies. "These th' dark magics you were worried about, Zecora?"
The zebra simply shook her head. "I feel it near, but kept at bay... I set up wards to keep it away..." She turned her attention to the stallions surrounding them, eying them warily. "These stallions arrived a few minutes ago... though they are different... how, I don't know..."
"Last chance" shouted the pony who seemed to be leading the little group, "Give us the book, or we will take it from you." Macintosh stared at the stallion a few moment, sticking his bottom lip out as if in deep thought.
"Hmm.... nope."
The stallions surrounding them began to walk in slow circles. "Very well then." The leader simply grinned. "Gentlemen, we have our orders. No survivors."
At that, Macintosh saw motion in the corner of his eye. He turned to see one of the stallions charge him, pulling a sword from beneath his cloak, clenching it between his teeth. His eyes went wide, realizing he had nothing to fight a sword with, and ducked, barely missing the sharp edge as it sailed over his head, slicing off the tips of a few of the hairs on his mane. Pushed by adrenaline, he was quick to deliver a solid blow into the stallion's stomach, knocking the blade from his lips. Big Mac stepped aside, delivering a quick, powerful hoof-punch into the stallion's face, sending him rolling, before he noticed another charge him from behind. He held his rear hooves up, pulling his body in like a spring, before releasing, delivering a powerful apple buck to the stallion's face and sending him flying backwards.
Zecora jumped over one of the stallions as he charged her, delivering a kick to his face and making him stumble backwards. Another rushed towards her, sword drawn, and she ducked below his swing, delivering a quick jab to his throat, causing him to choke, dropping his blade and stumbling backwards, hooves over his neck as he coughed and gagged, not defending from the flying hoof-kick to his face that would throw him backwards. Another jumped into the air, doing a flip with a hind-leg extended, ready to heel-drop her, but she grabbed his hoof and threw him backwards. As he stumbled to regain his composure, she threw several quick jabs at various points of his body, striking pressure points. The stallion froze up, his muscles locked, and fell to his side, unable to move.
Macintosh turned for just a moment to appreciate the mare's fighting prowess, when he turned to see one of his attackers lunge at him, sword ready. He jumped to the side, but he wasn't fast enough; the blade sliced at his flesh, and though he managed to avoid the worst of it, he hissed and winced in recognition of a wound being made. He held his leg up, cursing that he was wearing a coat that made it impossible to tell how bad the wound was, and that the rain was making it difficult to see, but he didn't feel as though the wound was too serious. The stallion lunged again, slashing his sword, but Big Mac ducked, delivering a powerful upward thrust with his hoof, slamming the stallion's jaw onto his own blade, causing him to yelp and drop his sword, staggering backwards and putting his hooves over his mouth. "Ahh ff... I think you broke my teef!" He looked up, just in time, to see Macintosh rush forward and punch him in the face, knocking him out for the count.
Macintosh did not have long to appreciate his hard work, however, as several of the stallions jumped him at once, landing on top of him. He pushed, pulled, and yanked, trying to break free of them, before finally popping out and skidding across the dirt. The stallions climbed from each other, staring death at him. It was then that Macintosh had noticed Zecora dispatch the last of her own attackers.
"Is this the book you want, you nitwit!?"
Big Mac's eyes widened as Zecora pulled a book from her bag and started waving it in the air. "You'll have to catch my striped ass to get it!" The zebra turned about, and started to run away. The stallions turned, their attention no longer on Macintosh, and readied to chase after Zecora.
"Oh no you don't!"
Big Mac was surprised that he was the one to utter those words, though he had no time to think about it as he jumped in the air and threw his weight about, hooves outstretched, delivering a powerful dropkick to one stallion, sending him tumbling against his comrades. The stallions stumbled over one another, but every time one of them stood up, Macintosh would punch or kick him again, sending him back to the ground. "Jus' stay down!"
"That does it!"
Suddenly, one of the stallions sent a hoof upward, striking Big Mac in the jaw, forcing him to back-step. A swift kick to the face threw him backwards, sliding across the ground. Big Mac stumbled back to his feet, but another powerful kick to the face threw him backwards, and sent him rolling, slamming into a tree. He pulled himself to his hooves once more, but then, with blinding speed, he was slammed against the tree, a foreleg against his throat as an enraged stallion stared him in the eyes. It was then that Big Mac noticed that this particular stallion was sporting a pair of large, leathery, bat-like wings. His eyes went wide as he stared at the strange appendages.
'Like a pegasus... but... pegasus wings are feathered...'
The stallion threw Big Mac from the tree, sending him rolling towards two others, who grabbed him by both of his forelegs. It wasn't long before he felt his hooves leave the ground.
'No.'
They continued going higher, and higher.
'No!'
Big Mac began to struggle against his captors, pulling and kicking. "Nope! Nononono, put me down!"
"What's wrong!? Afraid of heights, tough guy!?"
They began to move forward, soaring picking up both speed and altitude. The further he got from the ground, the more Macintosh felt panic rise in his chest. "The ground! Put me back on the ground!" They did not listen; they kept flying higher and higher, and he could see the ground fall beneath him, his anxiety growing to the point he was afraid he might have been having a heart attack. Slowly, however, their descent stopped, and their speed slowed, if only a bit. Big Mac whimpered and began to hyperventilate, eyes darting around. 'I-I'm not too high! I can still see the trees! Even if I fell from here, I could be alright....'
"Turn him to face me."
That was a new voice. Macintosh felt himself thrown upward, his heart stopping for a moment as he spun and felt gravity pull him back down. He stopped, dangling upside down as hooves grabbed his hind-legs. He yelled and shouted, his voice already giving out, his chest heaving back and forth in absolute terror as he stared at the drop; it was moving, suggesting that the stallions were still flying forward. He turned his attention, however, and it was then that he realized something was flying next to them.
A dark chariot flew next to them, a large, round emerald, a cat-eye slit in the middle, adorning the front, lavender decor making it seem imposing, yet elegant. The chariot itself was pulled by two more of the strange, bat-winged, pegasus-like bat-ponies, and its sole occupant wore a thick, black cloak. They turned to look at him, and Macintosh was surprised to see that he could not make out a single detail beneath the hood; save for one. A long, black horn protruding from underneath the covering. The figure stared at him, silently. "Does he have the book?" The voice was definitely a mare, far as Mac could tell.
"No, my queen" said one of the stallions. "The zebra has it, and she fled. The others are below, likely already on her tail."
She hummed, staring silently at Big Mac. "He is of no importance then. Do as you will." A chuckle that emanated from the two stallions made Macintosh's panic return, his chest heaving as they flew even faster. The rain pelted his face, stinging with each drop.
"You shoulda just did what we asked. We would have kept to our word and left you alone."
"Too bad for you, eh?"
Their speed continued to increase. Macintosh felt his body tilt back against the wind, his heart thundering in betwixt his lungs. He had never been so terrified before in his life, far as he could remember; he was even too terrified to faint! But that wasn't the worst of it. No.
The worst of it was when he felt their hooves let go of his legs.
For a moment, he was completely cold, empty even. For but a brief moment, there was nothing. That moment that his brain tried to register just what was happening. He watched as he seemed to stay airborne for a few scant seconds, before he began to descend. Then, the realization hit him. The realization of what was happening finally came, and at that moment, Big Macintosh screamed. He screamed loud, louder than he had ever screamed before. So loud that his voice quickly gave out, devolving into a tired cry that poured from his vocals as he plummeted towards the trees below. He flailed his hooves helplessly, as if he might grab something or spontaneously learn to fly, but it was useless, and deep down, he knew it to be so.
He fell through the treeline, slamming hard into a branch, breaking it in the process and, bouncing from another one, slamming into a tree nearby. He fell, striking another branch, though this one stood strong; instead, he rolled off from it, dropping a few feet before finally slamming into the ground hard, throwing dust and debris around him.
There he lay. Motionless. Defeated. He stared into the darkness of the woods. Eyes tired. Spirit empty. A few droplets falling into the dirt beneath his face, dripping from his eyes. The world was a blur, details lost to the building liquid in his eyes, born of terror. He heard no sound, so he wasn't sure if he could make anything out anymore. Macintosh tried to move, but his body would not respond to his commands; his limbs lay still, as if he had done nothing at all. He tried to speak, but his throat was fed up with all the effort. He lay there, completely broken, defeated, staring into a vortex of muted, dark colors as darkness crept further along the edges of his vision.
As he lay there, eyes wet with tears he wished to deny, a terrible thought crossed his mind. A thought that terrified him only slightly less than the actual fall.
Am I dying...?
He lay there, unable to do much more than blink, if even that, pondering upon this question. Indeed, he could not move. Indeed, he wasn't even sure he was breathing anymore. This question rang through his head continuously, until something in his broken, blurry vision shifted, something that stood out among all the mixed, muted hues.
Motion.
Slowly, one of the blurs was growing. It was coming closer. Something was coming towards him. Tired though he was, he was desperate to live.
Please, help me...
His mouth moved, but nothing came out. He wanted to say the words, but his throat wasn't allowing it anymore.
I don't want to die...
A few more tears left his eyes as he stared at a blur that he could not identify. He thought of his family, of his grandmother, of his sisters. He thought of how sad they would be if he never came home. A fire burned in his chest, though his body failed to acknowledge it. His strength was fading fast, and as the blur reached him, he could only make out a vaguely pony-shaped being. He pleaded once more, his mouth moving tiredly, voicelessly, begging to be saved.
Macintosh tried to keep his eyes open, but the struggle was lost. He could fight no more, and finally sank into darkness, his thoughts before doing so focused on the family he loved.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 6 - Bedside Mare | Everything hurt.
He couldn't move.
He was too weak to move.
He tried to talk, but a horrible pain in his throat stopped him.
He whimpered internally.
"... Am I... dying...?"
Slowly, he opened his eyes. It was dark. All he could see was from a light that seemed to burn from a hole above him.
And a head peaked in.
Those eyes, so full of fire, so angry. But then they became wide. They stared at him. Then, filled with horror.
Then, he reached in.
"Hold on. Just hold on."
"I'll save you."
Pain.
He was in tremendous, horrible pain.
The bad thing about pain is that it made it hard to do things. Hard to think. Hard to move. In this case, hard to exist. The good thing about pain, however, was that it meant you were alive.
Slowly, his eyes opened. The light burned them, but it was a beautiful sensation. For a moment, he couldn't see a thing; the room was bright, but his vision was too blurred to see anything at all. Slowly, his eyes adjusted. The first thing he noticed was a stove, a pleasant pop every once in a while as wood inside it burned, giving the room warmth and light. The second thing he noticed was a thick smell of animals, as if he were in a kennel. He tried to turn his head, but he quickly regretted his decision as a sharp pain shot through his every muscle. He decided now was as good as any time to make sure everything was still working. With a little bit of hesitation, he moved a hoof. It hurt, but it was working. And then another. And another. And one more. Satisfied that he was not paralyzed, he had a little room to relax.
"Oh goodness, you're awake!"
The voice startled him, though it sounded pleasant enough. He turned his head, enduring the pain, to see a pony - a mare - make her way into the room. She wore a simple outfit, seemingly just a brown bodice with a green skirt hanging down to cover her flanks, and a white blouse to top it all off. Her coat was a bright, buttery yellow, and she had a long, pink mane.
And a pair of wings.
Macintosh seemed to tense up, but he figured that, given his current condition, if she wanted to hurt him, she would; not that he could move anyway. "Thank goodness. For a while there, I was afraid you were going to.... to...." She stopped herself, biting her lip and clearing her throat. "Um... well, anyway... you're alive, so that's good, right?" Big Mac tried to respond, but all that came out was a rasping grunt. He put a hoof up to his throat, only to find he wasn't wearing his bandanna - or anything else, really. He turned his head really quick, covering his throat more protectively, searching for his belongings, but the sudden motion made every muscle in his body scream at him. He winced, laying slowly back into the bed, but not removing his hoof. "Oh my, don't panic," The mare frowned, hurrying to his side, "I had to do a lot of bandaging, and I only know some very basic first aid... you're quite injured..."
The stallion simply turned his attention to look down; at the very least he was covered by sheets, so he felt somewhat less naked. He moved his mouth, trying to talk, but no words came out. "E-excuse me...?" The mare leaned closer to him, putting her ear near his muzzle. He rasped the word out as best he could.
"Water."
"Oh. Oh! Yes, water!" The mare nodded, blushing a bit, jumping to her hooves and trotting into the other room. Big Mac took this moment to slowly, sensibly analyze his surroundings; he was in a house, likely the living room judging by the stove, windows (which he noted seemed to be boarded up), door, and various nick-knacks. As he listened, he heard the sound of rain outside, though it had grown considerably weaker since he was in the cabin (the only thing making it hard to see outside was the darkness itself). The mare returned rather quickly, carrying a dish that, itself, carried a cup. She set it on a table next to him, then took the cup in her hooves, handling it carefully and with skill that Macintosh only attributed to Earth Pony hooves, bringing it close to him. He placed his lips on the edge, and he drank it, gulping down the refreshing liquid. Quickly, he felt the pain recede, if only a bit. She pulled the glass down, giving him a breather. "Better?" Big Mac gave a simple nod. "Want more?" He shook his head, holding a hoof up. The mare put the glass on the table above his head.
"My clothes...?" The words were still raspy, but at least now he could be heard.
"Oh? Oh!" The pegasus nodded, blushing again. "Your belongings are right next to you... they were kinda torn up when you were brought here, so I had to stitch and sew some of them back together..."
"My bandanna...?"
"Hm?" The mare looked at him, his eyes almost pleading. She noticed he was covering his throat. "Oh!, Oh, o-of course..." She reached down below him, pulling up a green, square cloth. "Here, let me help you..." She helped him lift his head up, placing the bandanna around his neck and helping him tie it on. "There... all set." Macintosh smiled a bit, nodding to the mare. She turned and trotted towards the stove, pulling it open and throwing another piece of wood inside. "Is there anything I can get you? Some food? Some tea?"
"Need t' get home..." he rasped, trying to sit up, but stopping when his back and forelegs set aflame with pain.
"Oh no, be careful," the mare insisted, hurrying to his side and easing him back down, "You're in no condition! You're very hurt, and you need to rest for at least a week, or you might hurt yourself!"
Macintosh groaned. "Friend's in danger..."
The mare blinked. "Friend? You've got a friend?" Big Mac simply nodded, and the pegasus hummed. "Well... the pony who found you didn't mention seeing anypony else out there... "
"Ran off..." Macintosh winced a bit, looking up at her, then gesturing above his head with his eyes. The mare seemed to understand immediately, hoofing him the glass of water and helping him drink it. "... Chased by... thugs... think she ran back to town..."
"Well, I hope she made it okay..." She nodded a bit, as if to affirm that those were, indeed, her hopes. "I suppose I can ask some of my animal friends if they've seen her, if you're worried."
Macintosh blinked a few times. "Talk t' animals...? Wait..." He squinted his eyes a bit. "... Are you the animal mare ponies talk about...?"
The pegasus blinked a few times, seeming confused. "Huh? Is that what ponies are calling me?" She frowned and fidgeted some. "O-oh my... I... I didn't think... I didn't think so many ponies knew me..." She seemed to retreat behind her mane. "Oh.. oh my, I'm... oh..." Macintosh stared at the strange, confusing, and clearly very timid mare as she tried to recompose herself. "Uh... b-but... y-yeah, I guess that's m-me... I-I think?" She cleared her throat. "B-but... m-my name's f... ff... fmmmfmmm..."
Big Mac stared at the mare. She stared back. "Pardon?"
She frowned. "My name.. it's... fflrmmrfmm..." Macintosh grimaced a bit. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "MynameisFluttershynicetomeetyou!"
Macintosh sighed, but smiled. "Nice t' meet ya.... Fluttershy."
The mare seemed to tense for but a moment, before relaxing and sighing, smiling and nodding. "And you are...?"
"Macintosh Apple," he said with a nod, "Friends call me Big Mac." The mare nodded a few times in response, smiling again. Macintosh looked around a bit, moving his legs just a tiny bit; sure enough, they still hurt like he had worked the fields for an entire week without so much as a breather. "I certainly hope I feel better in a day... I don't think I've ever felt this horrible before..."
"Well, Macintosh... uhm..." The mare hummed, rubbing a foreleg with her other hoof. ".. I-If there's anything else I could do for you...?" He smiled, shaking his head. "Oh! Oh... oh, uhm, o-okay.... well, I'll..." She looked around a bit, before grabbing the table next to Big Mac's head on the couch and moving it before him, the water still placed there. "Here. And if you need me..." She hurried off into another room. Macintosh stared silently at the glass of water for a few moments, wondering what she had gone off to do. Soon enough, she returned, and sat a bell next to it. "There! If you need me, just ring that bell, and I'll get right to you as soon as I can!"
"Alright..."
Fluttershy smiled again, nodding, before dashing off to do who knew what.
And so, Big Mac lay on her couch, effectively immobilized by his injuries. He decided to test his movement one more time, and slowly brought his hoof up, trying to reach above himself. At first, it was a tiny ache; but the higher the hoof went, the more pain he felt. He grimaced a bit, relaxing it. "How'm I supposed to ring that bell if I can barely move...?" Slowly, he turned his head to look at the ceiling; even this made his neck sore, but at least it was a bit of movement he could still do without feeling like something would break. He slowly lifted his head, taking a moment to survey himself.
Much to his dismay, he was completely undressed, the only saving grace being a cover over his body. What he could see showed that he had a few bandages running up his barrel, and a few over every leg; only his previously sprained hoof seemed to have been spared any damage, likely protected by it's own casing (small blessings). He couldn't tell how much further the damage was without moving, but was certain a visit to a doctor once he could actually get up wasn't quite the worst idea in the world. Slowly, he lay his head back down on what he suddenly realized was one of the most fluffy pillows he had ever used; a fact that somewhat irritated him, as he preferred a nice, firm sleeping space, however, given his condition and the situation, he supposed a firm bed-space might not do him as much good. "Not really much I can do now but wait. Maybe move my limbs around, see if I can't limber out my muscles a bit. Boy, what would Braeburn think if he saw me now..."
At that thought, Macintosh groaned internally. "Ahh horseapples... Braeburn. How long have I been here? Everypony back home'll panic if I don't return for a week! Knowin' Granny, she'll start an entire hubbub, an' th' whole town'll be in an upheaval..." He winced at the mere thought. Then another thought struck him. "What if Zecora ran back to the farm...?" His eyes widened. "Those psychos could be attacking my home right now...!"
Fluttershy sat in her kitchen, a pot of vegetable soup boiling in front of her, eyes fixed on it, making sure it all went right. "O-okay Fluttershy, you have a stallion in your house... in your personal space... looking at everything in your home, basically invading your privacy... but he's injured! He's not invading your privacy, because he's your guest! He looks very nice! Very strong... very... very...." The mare stared off into space for a few minutes, before a deep blush popped on her face. "What the...!? Fluttershy, no! Get your mind out of the gutter! You're not a dirty mare!" She puffed up her cheeks and scrunched her nose. "Right now, there's a stallion out there who needs you! He's like a baby.... if a baby were... really tall... and muscular... with the kind of muscles you don't get from just lifting weights... the kind of muscle that... does things..." She gasped and shook her head. "No! Bad Fluttershy, bad! You don't even know him!"
A loud yelp caught her attention, drawing her from her stupor. Fluttershy's hooves skittered hurriedly, and she rushed into the living room. To her surprise, the stallion was laying next to the couch, eyes wide, filled with tears but an equal amount of determination as he struggled to lift his own weight. "Oh my goodness no! What are you doing!?" She hurried to his side, pushing her body beneath his and shoving upwards, rolling him back on the couch.
"Gotta get home..." He panted and heaved, squeezing his eyes shut. "Gotta make sure they're fine..."
"Who?" Fluttershy stared at this crazy stallion, concern painting her features. "Who might not be fine? Why not?"
"Bad ponies..." Big Mac grimaced. "... Ponies who hurt me... friend ran away... might have gone back to my farm..." He looked to the mare, a deep frown on his face. "My... family might be in danger..."
Fluttershy stared at him for a few minutes more, piecing together what he had said. "Oh... well, if you like, I can ask one of my friends to check on them when the rain stops..." She hummed, tapping a hoof to her chin. "... But until then, I can't do much..."
Macintosh groaned a bit, feeling his body ache, as if in retribution for even thinking of trying to do something it was not ready to do. "... Can't sit here... gotta get home..."
"Oh..." Fluttershy sighed, frowning. "Well... I'm afraid I can't help that... you're pretty heavy... n-not that I think you're fat! Not that you look fat!" The mare gasped, and began to stumble over herself verbally. "I-in fact you're quite handsome and-eep! Oh my, I think I'm going to be quiet now..." She blushed madly, and Macintosh stared at her, quirking a brow. She gulped, taking a deep breath and calming herself down. "I... what I meant to say... was I don't think I can do it. Best I can do is make sure your family gets a message telling you where you are... but beyond that..." Big Macintosh sighed and visibly deflated. Fluttershy frowned, trying to think of something to cheer him up. "Well... if it's any consolation, I-I'll do anything you need me to.... I-I can go out and get food if you need special food or anything, or medicine... I mean, I don't know if you were reading that book that was in your bag or what, but I can also go get you entertainment..."
Macintosh's eyes widened a bit. "Book...?"
Fluttershy gasped. "N-not that I was going through your stuff! Your bag practically fell apart, and I had to gather up the bits and pieces! I'm not a snoop!"
Macintosh shook his head. "Book... with pages written in weird letters...?"
The mare seemed confused, staring at him. "Uh... well... I don't know... I never looked...."
"Could you...?" Macintosh stared at her, his eyes wide, urgent even.
"I'm afraid not..." the mare frowned, shaking her head, "... the pony who brought you here took it from your bag and left..."
His heart sank. "You let 'er take somethin' from my bags...?"
"I thought she might be a friend" said Fluttershy, biting her lip, "She didn't say anything, so I figured she must have known you well enough that she knew you'd be okay with it..."
Tension built up in Big Mac's body; injuries aside, he was struck with a series of new questions. 'Is it possible? Did Zecora pull a fast one? Who is this mare...?' "What did she look like..."
"Well..." the mare turned around, as if trying to remember. "... She was lavender... wearing a blue coat and a hat... had a book hanging from her back.... and she seemed rather... cold for somepony who just brought a horribly injured stallion to a stranger's doorstep asking that they watch over them..."
Macintosh stared at the butter yellow pegasus, processing these thoughts. That description sounded so familiar, he knew it. Then, it came to him.
"Miss Twilight..."
The room fell quiet. One could only hear the tick-tock of a nearby clock as Fluttershy sat, watching Macintosh, waiting for him to say more. 'Is it the same book? I didn't have any other books on me that I know of... what if Zecora took mine and put another one inside my bag just in case...? Wait... does that make sense...?'
Once more, Big Mac pushed himself from the bed and rolled towards his hooves. He gasped and hissed through his teeth as soon as he hit the ground, standing on his legs, though slowly dropping to his own weight. His entire body screamed at him, begged him to stop, tried to tell him it was useless. A tear formed in his eye, though he tried to ignore it as best he could. He reached towards his pile of clothes, wanting to dress as quick as possible.
But the pain was too much.
He yelped and fell to his side, panting and heaving. "Oh my goodness, what's wrong with you!?" The mare's voice was raised a bit more than usual as she hurried to his side and put her hooves on him, checking him over. "Do you even know how badly you're injured!? I'm not even a doctor and even I know you shouldn't be moving around!"
"Gotta get home..." Big Mac grunted, wincing as the pain slowly ebbed down to more tolerable levels.
"You are going nowhere, mister!" The mare shouted. "I honestly thought you'd die on my couch! At least... at least wait until I can get you a doctor..." Macintosh wanted to reject that proposal. He opened his mouth, ready to deny her that request, but then he looked at her eyes. Those gentle, kind eyes staring at him with such concern. Pleading, begging him to reconsider. They were innocent, devoid of any ulterior motive. It confused him.
"Why d'you want me to stay here so bad...?"
She seemed confused, almost upset that he asked the question. "Why wouldn't I? You're hurt... if you went out there as you are now, you could.... could...."
The two ponies stared at each other in silence. Macintosh frowned a bit, shaking his head and hanging it. "I'll wait... but come hell or high water, I'll be in my own bed tomorrow night..." He slowly stood back on his hooves, feeling the pain burn once again, though (with some help) he managed to get back on the couch, into as much comfort as he could in his condition.
"Thank you..." said the mare, smiling a sad, sympathetic smile. Macintosh nodded, gesturing for another drink. The mare gave him his glass, and he took in some of the delicious water. As it was set back, he found himself wondering something that he was surprised he hadn't considered before.
"Where am I...?"
"My house..." said Fluttershy, making her way towards the kitchen, "In the Pegasus District of Ponyville..."
"The Poor District...?" Big Mac raised a brow, staring at the mare like she was crazy, though she looked at him as if he had offended her. "S-sorry... but, how'd I wind up here...? If that pony could drag me back here, why not get me the rest of the way to the hospital...?"
"Well..." Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth, rubbing it in thought. "... I really have no idea... she knocked on my door, and when I answered, all she said was that she had found you in the woods... I'm honestly surprised she got you here, considering she looked about the same size as me..." Setting the tray on a nearby table, Fluttershy turned and made her way back towards the kitchen. "I was just about to head out to get a doctor before you woke up. I'm going to do that right now, but I'll need you to keep to your promise and stay in that spot."
"Alright..." Macintosh nodded with a sigh. The mare soon entered the room again, wearing a cloak to protect herself from the rain as best as she could. She nodded, smiling, and made her way towards the door. She pulled it open, stepped out, and closed it back behind herself. It was then that Big Mac noticed a little rabbit hop into the room from the kitchen, jumping up on a chair near the door, grabbing the various locks and twisting, turning, and latching them. Once done, the peculiar rabbit hopped down from the chair, through the room, but stopped at Big Mac. He glared at the stallion with evil, murderous little bunny eyes, pointing two little digits at his eyes and then both at Macintosh himself. Nodding in affirmation, the rabbit continued back to the kitchen. Big Mac blinked a few times in utter confusion, unsure of what exactly had just transpired.
Left to his own devices, Big Mac stared at nothing to ponder his situation. 'I'm trapped in the Poor District... I'm injured... and anytime I stand up I hurt beyond all belief. Time to reflect upon the recent events of my life...
... Zecora's gone who knows where....
... That book is either with her or that cold mare from Rich's house...
... And apparently, there's a group of thugs looking for it, so whoever has it may not be an enviable position...'
It was then that Big Mac had a thought. 'Am I maybe better off to let that mare keep it? Clearly, these ponies want it bad enough to do terrible things. I mean, if that is the book, and she has it, then she stole it from me, so she basically invited it on herself...' He frowned a bit, shaking his head. 'But... that mare may not be the only one in danger... and I can't say she stole it with ill intent... besides, if those ponies wanted it so bad, it has to be important...' He looked back down at the boarded up windows. 'When I can, I need to grab Braeburn and we need to find that mare. We went through a lot of trouble to get that book... an' if Zecora's right....'
That last thought struck him.
Getting the book itself had been a task. But that attack? It had come from nowhere. They had told nopony about the book, save for maybe Miss Cheerilee, and somehow these strange, bat-like ponies found them. Tried to kill them for it. '... It's really starting to look like she was....'
'There's more goin' on than it seems. That much is clear... but what?
Just what kind of mess did I manage to get into...?'
He didn't linger on these thoughts for long. A knock on the door in a strange pattern signaled somepony outside; the little rabbit quick to rush back to the room, undo the various locks, and open it. A white-coated mare with a pink mane, wearing a blue cloak stepped inside, Fluttershy following her inside, shutting the door, and locking it. The mare stepped towards him, removing her hood, and eyeing him.
'She looks familiar...'
"Hmm... Fluttershy wasn't lying... you really are banged up...."
"May I take your cloak?" Fluttershy stepped up, her own cloak in her hoof. The mare nodded, pulling the cloth from her body and handing it to Fluttershy, who proceeded to set it on a rack nearby. The mare hummed, looking him over, then smiled.
"You're conscious. That's always a good sign, right?"
Big Mac smiled and nodded. "Eeyup."
The mare froze. She blinked a few times, staring at the stallion. Then her eyes grew wide. "Oh my goodness... Macintosh? Little Macintosh Apple?" Big Mac blinked a few times, clearly confused, but the mare smiled more. "Last time I saw you, you were a small thing... boy have you grown..."
Macintosh squinted a bit. His eyes widened. "Redheart?"
"Well, they call me Nurse Redheart now..." The mare chuckled, waving a hoof. "I've been helping to keep the ponies living in the Poor District healthy..." Her smile suddenly seemed a tad forced. "... At least... as much as I can, given my resources...." And then her forced smile became a pure grimace. "... And my resources often don't care about the 'lower castes'..." She shook her head again, bringing herself back to the situation at hoof. "But... seriously! Last time I saw you... " She stopped talking, staring at him quietly. He frowned a bit, pawing anxiously at his own cover. The mare cleared her throat, pulling a bag from her haunches and setting it on the floor. "Alright... well, we'll catch up as we go. For now, I think it important that we figure out the extent of the damage..." She sat her bag down and looked him in the eyes. "I'm going to have to touch you for this. Are you alright with that?" Big Mac frowned a bit, blushing under his coat, but nodded.
Her hooves gently pulled the sheets on his body down to expose him to her. She placed them on his chest, slowly moving them about and giving the occasional press test. It hurt everywhere she touched, but there were points that made him wince. Each time, she seemed to acknowledge it and treat that area with more care. She moved to one of his forelegs, tracing her hooves around it. He winced as she traced one part of it. "That... hoof was already sprained..." he said, grimacing a bit. She nodded, feeling it over.
"Well..." she said with a smile, "Bad news is it's still sprained..." Big Mac chuckled a bit at that, though it did hurt a bit when he laughed. "Be careful now..." She moved her hoof towards the other leg, tracing and feeling it. While it did hurt, Big Mac was pleased to note that it didn't hurt any more than his sprained hoof did. She let go of his hoof, moving to put her hooves on his hind leg and feel all around it; this, of course, made him tense up, especially as she traced his inner thighs. Any dirty ideas that might otherwise give him, however, were chased away by the reminder that every muscle in his body was in horrible pain. She checked the other leg over, feeling all around.
"Can you roll over a bit? Let me see your back?"
Big Mac frowned a bit, nodding, and tried to roll over. It hurt his ribs to do so, but with some effort (and once more, some help) he managed to get to where the nurse could see his back. She traced her hooves around it, pressing gently and feeling around it; some of it hurt more than others, but none of it as bad as his front did. Once she was done, he heard her sigh and rolled himself back over to face her.
"Follow my hoof..." she said, holding her hoof up and moving it about. Macintosh watched it, following it as she moved it back and forth. She smiled and nodded. "Tell me, do you feel any discomfort? Do you have any visual issues? Any headaches?"
"Well..." Macintosh frowned, "... It hurts to take deep breaths... " The nurse merely nodded, then turned to her bag, pulling it open and pulling a stethoscope out, putting the buds in her ears, and placing the other end on his chest. She checked around, before pulling the buds out and setting the device back in her bag.
"Well..." she said, shaking her head, "This is quite a mess. You've got a few broken ribs, several bruises and contusions, possible hairline fractures in legs..." She sighed a bit, seeming to consider the stallion before her. "If Fluttershy hadn't relayed the story to me, I'd have though you fell off the roof of a house. That you're only in as bad a condition as you are says a lot about either your endurance, your luck, or both."
"Don't talk t' me about luck..." Big Mac grumbled.
"Yeah, well maybe they didn't drop you from too great a height..." Redheart pulled out a piece of paper and wrote some things on it. "You're a wreck. It'll likely be a few days before you can walk, and with the bone damage, even then I would advise taking it as easy as possible..." She pulled out a bottle of tonic, putting it on the table next to Big Mac. "This tonic should numb the pain if you find yourself in need of doing activity that hurts you, or just soothing the pain..." She glared at him. "I would advise not drinking it unless you absolutely need to. Like when you head back home tomorrow and, preferably, make your way straight to your bed."
Macintosh frowned a bit, sighing. "Fine..."
The nurse stared at him for a moment, before her gaze softened into a gentle, sympathetic smile. "And... on a more personal note, if you don't mind my saying so? You're a very strong stallion to endure what you have." His ear perked up, and he looked towards Redheart, who simply smirked, shaking her head. "I remember a small colt... bit of a runt... who cried any time he scraped his knee..." She tilted her head to Fluttershy. "She told me you tried to walk. You've really changed a lot since we were kids."
Macintosh blushed a tiny bit and chuckled. "Farmin' teaches ya how t' deal with pain."
"I imagine." Redheart smiled and gave him a gentle pat on his barrel as not to hurt him. "You take it easy big guy. Hopefully next time we meet, it's under better circumstances." She turned around, facing Fluttershy and giving a nod. "Make sure he gets plenty of food and drink. If you like, I can make my way to his place and tell his family where he is, and they might be able to get him back home."
"Oh, that'd be nice, thank you..." Fluttershy smiled and nodded.
"Excellent." Redheart nodded and smiled to Big Mac, then Fluttershy, and made her way back towards the door, pulling it open and stepping out, shutting it back behind her. Fluttershy turned her attention back to Macintosh, giving him her gentle smile once more. "Well, I suppose that at least it didn't sound like it might be worse than I feared it could be..."
Big Mac quirked a brow. "How bad was you thinkin'?"
Fluttershy frowned. "I was worried about punctured lungs, severed spinal columns, brain damage..." Macintosh stared at her, a somewhat confused, maybe even uncomfortable look on his face. The mare blushed and looked away. "I... tend to be kind of pessimistic..." She cleared her throat, looking at him again. "Right. Well, I'm going to be around the house. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask for me. Just take it easy, alright?"
"Eeyup."
Fluttershy smiled a bit, giving him a soft pat on the head, before turning and making her way into another room. Macintosh sighed, then saw the rabbit sitting there, glaring at him. "What?"
The first thing she recognized was the sounds of crickets chirping. 'Such a sweet melody.' She smiled a bit, cuddling against her pillow at the sound. She continued to lay there, eyes closed, reaching for dream land with hooves outstretched.
But sleep would not come.
She began to toss and turn. Pulling her covers over herself more snugly. Fluffing her pillows extra fluffy. Grabbing one pillow and shoving it on her head. Grabbing hold and cuddling with that very pillow. This occurred in the span of fifteen minutes, before she finally rose up from her bed, staring half-lidded at the wall.
"I can't sleep..." she said to herself.
Defeated, Fluttershy decided now was as good a time as any to grab a midnight snack. She shoved herself from her bed, stretching and yawning, before making her way to her door. She stopped, remembering her guest, and grabbed a nearby gown and put it on. 'Can't be wandering around too exposed now...' She opened her door, and made her way down the stairs, and into her living room. She looked towards where her guest lay and smiled; his form was nice and snug underneath his cover, though he seemed to have pulled it over his head. She was about to go to get a drink, but stopped when she noticed something. She looked at the lumps on her couch and noticed something. Something off.
'He isn't breathing...
Her eyes widened, and her jaw fell open.
'He might be dead...!'
Slowly, she rose a trembling hoof up. She reached forward, and placed it on his side, giving a gentle shake. 'Oh no! He's softer than he was earlier! He-' She stopped herself at that thought. 'Wait... that... doesn't feel right...' She blinked a few times, biting her lip. She reached a hoof forward, and quickly, she yanked the blanket away.
All she saw were several pillows - probably every pillow in her house (and then some) that she wasn't using. She stared, wide-eyed at the lack-of-pony on her couch, then turned her attention to the table next to it. There, she saw a note.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Miss Fluttershy,
I thank you kindly for your help, and I am surely in your debt; a debt which I intend to pay back someday. Please don't follow me.
-Macintosh Apple
He winced a bit as he felt some of the ache in his body as it lifted its own weight. 'That tonic ain't nearly as strong as I hoped it would be... but at least I can move...'
The streets of Ponyville were almost completely abandoned, save for a few ponies here and there. He noticed a few ponies -- Earth and Pegasus alike -- eyeing him suspiciously. 'I'm not out of the Poor District yet,' thought Big Mac, trying to hold a firm, calm pose; as long as he looked strong (certainly stronger than he currently was) he could, at the very least, keep those away who seek out weakness. He was by no means a small stallion, so the only thing he'd have to be afraid of was ponies who were looking for a fight.
'Poor District. Old Ponyville...' He thought to himself, looking around. The houses here looked slightly older than anything in the newer parts of Ponyville, and most of them looked as if they had been poorly maintained. 'Used to be Ponyville itself... hard to believe when Granny was young, this part of town was supposedly always bustlin' with activity...' He looked at the road he trotted, seeing that many of the cobblestones were scraped up, misshapen, broken, and much of the road was more dirt than anything. 'Kinda sad, seein' it like it is.'
Eventually, he would find himself in Ponyville Market (some liked to call it 'New Ponyville') to see the clock tower; that ever familiar structure that welcomes any and all ponies to the town with open arms. Home was close. So very close he could almost smell the delicious apples hanging in the air. He was about to walk forward, when something caught his eye and made him stop.
A short distance away, a lavender mare stood, wearing a strange, blue coat and a top-hat.
She seemed almost surprised.
"Wait!" He shouted out, and tried to run, but the pain reminded him better, so he simply walked as fast as he could when she suddenly bolted off, around a corner. "Hold on," he shouted, speed limp-walking towards where she disappeared, "I just wanna talk!"
He finally rounded the corner, but when he did, there was nothing to be seen but crates and a cellar door that he was pretty sure was locked. In his condition, if she intended to outrun him, he'd never catch her. Big Mac frowned a bit, hanging his head in defeat.
'Who is she? Why did she take my book?'
Macintosh stared at his hooves a bit before looking up at the sky as these thoughts and questions ran through his mind, demanding answers. It would be a while before he could effectively chase her, and who knew what might happen between now and then; every second she had that book was a risk. If that was the case, he'd need to outsmart the mare.
'I have no idea who she is, or why she wants that book.... but I think I know somepony who might...'
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 7 - Reclaiming Knowledge | Big Macintosh was never a pony to brag or toot his own horn, but he liked to consider himself a fairly smart pony. Despite his physical capability, he also balanced the finances of the farm, giving payments where due, and he was resourceful enough that if there were tasks he or a family member could not achieve, he could find somepony who could get it done. But a flaw that only the few who knew him well knew of was that sometimes he was stubborn to the point of foolishness.
As he lay in his bed, body aching as if he had been dropped again, Macintosh was reminded of this little little character quirk as he took a small sip of the medicine he had been given to keep his pain at a minimum. 'In hindsight, I mighta done well just stayin' with Fluttershy for the day after all...'
To make matters worse, his absence hadn't gone unnoticed.
"So what yer tellin' me," said Granny, staring at Big Mac suspiciously, "Is that you an' Zecora found somepony ta read that book, an' she went off to who knows where..."
"Eeyup."
"... And on the way home, you was asked to help somepony do some repairs on their ceilin'..."
"Eeyup."
"... An' you accidentally slipped on a shingle n' plummeted about three stories an' got banged up perdy good?"
"Mhm."
Granny stared at Big Mac, looking somewhat suspicious. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. 'Please buy it.'
She sighed and shrugged. "Well, I guess no good deed goes unpunished... must be gettin' soft though. You don't look like ya feel from a roof; you look like you fell from one of them balloons."
'Not far from it.' "Eeyup."
Granny turned and made her way towards the door. "Well, I reckon we'll get in touch with th' Doctor an' get 'em over here t' make sure yer alright. Nice as a nurse's help might be, you want a real doctor ta look at ya fer a bit more certainty." The elder mare turned and began to make her way out of his room. "I'll send Apple Bloom up here with somethin' fer ya ta eat. Lay down, take it easy, an' let ol' Granny take care o' th' rest."
As she left, Braeburn stepped inside, looking back to where she wandered out, before turning to face Big Mac, wide-eyed. "What in the wide world happened!?"
"Fell off a roof..." said Big Mac, waving a hoof.
"'Fell off a roof' my left berry," Braeburn snorted, shaking his head, "I'd believe ya if it wasn't fer that." He pointed at a healing wound; a blade wound. "Unless I'm mistakin', fallin' off a roof doesn't do that."
"Never know," said Big Mac, grinning, "I coulda fallen on a saw."
"What happened, Mac?" Braeburn spoke in a hushed tone, staring at his cousin with concern. "You disappear all day yesterday, then stumble in here barely alive, and Zecora nowhere in sight. Please, tell me what happened."
Macintosh stared at Braeburn a moment, pursing his lips, looking like he was sizing him up. "Promise not t' tell on me?"
"Promise" said Braeburn with a firm nod. Macintosh remained silent a moment, before sighing and taking a drink from a nearby glass of water.
"Attacked by pegasi..." Macintosh grimaced... "I think they were pegasi. Picked me up, flew me over th' woods, dropped me."
Braeburn stared at his cousin a moment, jaw hanging wide. "Holy... that... had to be horrifying..." Big Mac grimaced at the faint memory of having wet eyes before losing consciousness, but decided to shove it away. "An' Zecora?"
"Gone." Braeburn seemed to wilt a bit, and Big Mac held up a hoof. "She ran away. Don't know where."
That seemed to relieve him of a little worry. "Well... any idea why they attacked you?"
"They wanted the book." The words seemed to silence Braeburn, who seemed confused. He furrowed his brow, looking down at his hooves as if the answers might be written on them. "Did you tell anypony about it?"
"No..." said Braeburn, shaking his head slowly. "Even when I asked Cheerilee, I asked her if she knew anypony that could translate Old Equestrian. I didn't tell her we even had a book, or where we got it, or anythin'." The two stared silently at each other. Braeburn's eyes seemed to fill with a horrific realization. "Mac... y... you don't think Zecora... might have been right, do ya?"
"Don't know." Macintosh looked away from his cousin, towards the ceiling. "All I know is this. Somepony knew we had that book, an' I might have met 'er."
"What?" Braeburn seemed surprised. "You met 'er?"
"Sorta," Macintosh waved a hoof again, "She was wearin' a cloak. But she was ridin' a chariot that looked like it was from a gothic circus."
"So..." said Braeburn, grimacing, "... Where is the book?"
Big Mac seemed silent a moment. He took another drink of his water, then looked towards his cousin. "Remember th' mare from Rich's house? Twilight?"
"You mean the ice queen?"
"I think she has it."
"Oh." Braeburn hummed, quirking a brow. "Why would she want it?"
"No idea. Want you t' find out."
"Me?" Braeburn smirked. "Why me?" Big Mac raised a brow, then looked towards his broken, battered body, then back to Breaburn, who became sheepish. "Oh. Yeah..." The stallion shook his head. "But wait, what if I get attacked too?"
"Doubt it." Macintosh looked towards the window. "They never attack th' farm. Waited until I was well out of the city an' under heavy rain..." Macintosh looked towards his cousin, hoping Braeburn could piece the rest together.
"Think... think maybe they don't wanna make a scene?"
"Eeyup."
Braeburn hummed, putting a hoof to his chin. I imagine you dyin' in the woods'd be hard to track. Bein' robbed just as much."
"In a city filled with eye-witnesses an' guards," added Big Mac, "That might be harder."
Once more, the room fell silent as Braeburn seemed to mull the options over in his head. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. Alright, I'll do it. Jus' tell me what t' say."
"Ask about 'er. Get any answers ya can. Don't mention the Book or Zecora."
"Alright," Braeburn nodded, pushing his hat back and scratching his head. "Sounds reasonable. I'll get on it." Braeburn was ready to leave, walking towards the door.
"Wait!"
He stopped, looking to Big mac.
"Avoid Twilight herself if possible. We don't want her suspectin' us."
Breaburn chuckled. "Well... ya sure? I mean, I bet I can melt the ice queen..."
"Brae." Big Mac was glaring at him now. "This is serious. We don't wanna make things worse if we don't have to."
"Fine, fine..." Braeburn waggled a hoof at Big Mac. "I'll leave her alone. But don't say I never did ya any favors." Macintosh sighed a bit, leaning back in bed and relaxing. "Anything I can do for ya?"
"'Nother glass of water'd be nice. Maybe some honey."
"On it."
As he stared up at the gates, Braeburn found himself feeling tense. He'd never approached the house without Big Mac before, and he'd never really gotten into a lot of conversation with its owner. He found himself cursing his lack of preparation or rehearsal, and considering the guard staring at him, decided it would be best to simply push forward and act. As he approached the somewhat confused pony at the gate, he saluted awkwardly, to which the guard responded, albeit slowly, with a salute of his own. "Can I... help you?"
"Y-yeah," replied Braeburn, trying to calm his nerves. 'Talking to everyday ponies is easy, but nobility? I wish I had Big Mac or Applejack with me right now...' "Is Filthy Rich home?"
"He is..."
"C-can I talk to him? I'm Braeburn Apple... one of his business partners..."
The guard eyed him warily a moment. "Wait right here..." He turned about, making his way down the path and towards the house, stepping inside. Braeburn simply stood where he was, staring at the large house with a bit more anxiety than he thought he'd feel. He seemed to sit there forever before the guard returned, pulling the gate open. "Go on in, and mind your manners." Braeburn nodded, and made his way down the path towards the house, giving it a firm knock. It opened, and he was greeted by the butler from before.
"Right this way, Sir."
Once more, Braeburn was lead into this massive, imposing home, though he was taken down a different hall this time, leading up some stairs to the second floor. He took a moment to admire the decorations; paintings, armor, various knick-knacks, before they approached the end, where a pair of double doors waited. "Sir is in his study. Please enter." He pushed one of the large doors open, and Braeburn stepped inside. The study was an impressive room; bookshelves with various books, a desk that seemed covered in tomes and scrolls, a telescope near the window. A pair of chairs and a couch (with a table) made the room seem more relaxed, and two familiar, tattered banners hang on a nearby wall.
One depicting the sun, and the other the moon.
"Come in, come in."
The door closed behind him as Braeburn's eyes fell on the stallion himself, stepping away from a table with an opened book. "Hello, Braeburn, welcome. I do say, I'm quite surprised to see you here!"
"I figured..." said Braeburn, his nervousness picking up in his voice.
"Nervous?" Rich laughed, shaking his head, and reaching to a nearby bottle, pouring its contents into a small glass and hoofing it to the younger stallion. Braeburn held it between his own hooves, sniffed it, and went wide-eyed.
"Whoa! This is scrumpy!"
"It will calm you down." The stallion smiled kindly. "Normally I don't offer drinks like this to guests, but I consider the Apples as good as family."
Braeburn stared at the drink, then shrugged. "Guess it'd be rude to say no, eh?" He nodded, taking a drink, feeling the warmth slide down his throat. He smiled and licked his lips. "Tastes like some of our stuff."
"Because it is." Rich poured himself a glass, taking a drink. "Best scrumpy I've ever drank. I do believe this particular blend has Zap Apples in it."
"Tastes like it!" Braeburn took another sip, smiling at the pleasant warmth it gave him.
"Feel free to sit, make yourself at home." Rich walked to a nearby chair, taking a seat and patting the one next to him. Braeburn sat down, clearing his throat a bit. "Tell me Braeburn, what brings you to my neck of the woods?"
"Well," said the stallion, feeling a lot less nervous with some liquid courage in his belly, "I was wondering about... uhh... Miss Twilight."
"Oh?" Rich raised a brow. "Twilight Sparkle? I was not aware you knew her."
"I don't, really," Braeburn smiled a bit, feeling just a hint more nervous; to which he responded by drinking more scrumpy. "I just saw her last time we came here for dinner an' got curious. Is she a relative or somethin'...?"
Rich chuckled a bit, waving a hoof. "No, no. She's something of a colleague of mine..." He looked around the room, his smile never fading. "I've been studying Ancient Equestria a lot for the past two years. It's become sort of a hobby of mine since..." He stopped, his smile faltering a moment, returning with not a single trace of mirth as he shook his head. "Well, you know."
"I'm sorry 'bout the Mrs..." said Braeburn, taking his hat off and setting it on the chair.
"Yes, well... she's in a better place." Filthy nodded, sighing. "And she gave me many great memories, and a lovely daughter, before leaving us." The noble-pony cleared his throat. "Anyway... I met her a little over a year ago. She was researching ancient fables, particularly relating to the Elements of Harmony and the Royal Sisters." He took a soft sip from his drink. "Far as I understand, she had done a lot of such research before we even met. Anyway..." He took the bottle, topping off his and Braeburn's drinks. "Since then, we've been going on some interesting adventures. Digging up ancient artifacts, learning of lost secrets, things nopony has known in a thousand years."
"Fascinatin'..." Braeburn put a hoof on the back of his neck, rubbing slightly, trying to consider what he should ask next. 'Really wish I'da rehearsed...' "Uh... what exactly does she do?"
"A few things..." Rich took another sip of his drink. "She's quite well educated. Knows a great deal about Ancient Equestrian lore, can read the texts, and seems to understand how to operate many artifacts. I dare say, I'd have made little to no progress in my studies without her help."
'I really have no idea what it is Big Mac wants me to learn here... unless...' "Well," said Braeburn, chewing his lip a moment, "Anything you can tell me about her?"
"Somepony seems to have taken interest." Rich grinned a bit, taking a sip of his scrumpy. "I imagine she'd be flattered. Perhaps I should tell her?"
"No!" He said it much louder than he wanted, so Braeburn smiled sheepishly. "No, no that's fine. I just... sorta wanna know about her is all. For now. Move at my own pace... please don't tell her though." 'Please buy it...'
"Understood..." Rich chuckled, taking a sip of his scrumpy, seeming to be in thought for a moment. "She's about what one might expect of a devoted scholar. She sticks to her books and takes her studies very seriously... often, I'll go to bed and find her still doing research in my study by the time I wake."
'Sounds like an egghead.' "Interestin'..." Braeburn tried to consider what else to ask. "Any idea where I can find her?"
Rich shrugged. "Who knows. Sometimes, she'll be off to do her own thing. What time she isn't in my study, she's occupying the guest room where she sleeps. She also goes to the library, though I suspect these equate to 'recreational moments' for her." He took a sip of his scrumpy. "She lives in an old castle outside of the city... to the north of Ponyville, up on the mountain... " The noble chuckled, shaking his head some. "Be ready though, it is quite a walk to reach, and a climb to boot. It quickly became no wonder to me why Twilight liked to stay in one place or the other for extended periods, rather than moving back and fourth."
"Thanks," said Braeburn, smiling a bit. 'At least now I know something about her that might be useful.'
"So tell me" said Rich, "has your cousin made up his mind about our offer?" The stallion smiled a bit, not looking up at Braeburn as he took another sip of his drink. Braeburn bit his lip, feeling a bit of nervousness return to him at the mere prospect of having to talk business with Rich without Macintosh present.
"'Fraid not..." He gulped a bit, tapping his hooves together. "I think he's waitin' for Applejack to get home, wantin' to talk to her about it first. Farm's jus' as much her foal-hood home as it is his, y'know?"
Rich seemed to purse his lips in though, giving a nod. "I see. That sounds fair enough." He shrugged. "No rush. I meant what I said about being patient. Now, if there's anything else you might want to talk about?"
"Nah. Much as I'd love to chat more, I've basically got what I needed to know, and I should be runnin' back to the farm before Granny realizes somepony ain't doin' my chores..." Braeburn and Rich shared a chuckle as the yellow stallion stood from his chair.
"Alright then. Teacup will show you the way out then..." Rich smiled warmly. "And remember Braeburn, feel free to visit anytime. The Apples and Riches have spent too long in silence. I'd love for our families to be able to be closer. I'm certain it'd do my little Diamond Tiara a world of good." Braeburn was about to inform Rich of his mistake and cite his daughter's snotty attitude, but he stopped, thinking better of it for a moment, before shrugging.
"Sounds reasonable." He took his hat, setting it one his head. "You have a good day, Mister Rich."
"You too, son." Filthy held up his drink and took a sip. Braeburn laughed a bit, reminded that he was feeling a bit buzzed, though not quite drunk. With that, he made his way out of the study, where he was quickly met by the butler, who lead him from the house, and back outside.
As the gate closed behind him, Braeburn stepped away from the manor, eyes forward, considering everything he just learned. 'Alright... Twilight lives... outside the city, in a castle. And...' The stallion stopped to scratch his head, trying to recall the conversation. '... And... she's basically Rich's study buddy, an' seems to know Old Equestria stuff an' can read old books...' He paused with that last thought. 'She can read old books...' His eyes shot up. "She can read old books!"
Braeburn made a mad dash for the Apple Homestead.
Braeburn entered the house, feeling a great deal better (and somewhat less tingly) than he had a short while ago. He made his way up the stairs, quickly making his way to Big Mac's room. He shoved the door open.
He stopped when he noticed Macintosh wasn't alone.
Mac lay on his bed, covered up as before, but there was also an unfamiliar, butter yellow pegasus mare there. Pegasi rarely came around this area; they weren't very tolerated among the generally Earth Pony population. "And you made it here? All by yourself? Without trouble?"
"Eeyup" Big Mac responded simply.
"You could have hurt yourself! What would have happened if somepony attacked you in your condition?"
"They didn't." Mac nodded. "I'm fine."
"The poor district has a lot more crime than the rest of Ponyville! Who knows what could have happened!" Rather than argue with her, Big Mac simply shrugged. The mare frowned at him, seeming a little upset.
"Ahem."
Both ponies turned around to see Braeburn, who simply smiled and waved. "Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help but admire how adorable this scene is." Big Mac snorted, staring half-lidded at his cousin, while the mare blushed.
"Brae, this is Fluttershy," Macintosh nodded, gesturing towards the mare, "Fluttershy, this is Braeburn."
"Charmed," said Braeburn, winking, causing the mare to blush again.
"Likewise..." she said quietly, hiding behind her mane a little. Braeburn stepped in closer, nodding to Big Mac.
"Miss 'Shy? Mind if me an' my cousin have a little privacy?" Big Mac smiled a bit at Fluttershy, who looked at him, then Braeburn, then back to him, and stepped out of the room, gently pulling the door closed behind her. Once they heard the latch, they waited a few seconds before Big Mac looked to Braeburn. "Find anything interestin' about our friend?"
"Eeyup," replied Braeburn with a grin, "an' you'll never guess what I found out." Braeburn stared at Big Mac, silently waiting. Macintosh raised a brow, staring directly back at Braeburn, who simply frowned. "Well? Ain't ya gonna guess? At least ask me?"
"I figured you'd jus' tell me." Big Mac's expression did not shift.
"Fine." Braeburn rolled his eyes, sitting on his haunches. "Twilight's some sort of partner of Rich's. They've been researchin' Old Equestrian stuff for a year, an' apparently, she might be able to read that book'a yours." Macintosh's eyes seemed to widen just a bit. "What's more, she lives in a castle in the mountain just north of here." He grinned a bit. "We know where our book is, an' with any luck, might have a translator!"
Big Mac, however, did not seem so enthusiastic. He looked down at his hooves, the wheels in his head turning. "She can read that book...?"
Braeburn simply shrugged. "Rich says she can." Big Mac seemed to consider this, Braeburn clucking his tongue a bit. "So... what's our plan? Do we steal it back?"
"Dunno..." Big Mac frowned, patting a hoof to his chin. He was in no condition to steal anything, even from a mare as small as Twilight seemed, and while he loved his cousin as if he were a brother, Big Mac had doubts Braeburn would be able to go through with it; even if he could, he wasn't sure he could ask him to do so. "I don't think so." Macintosh sighed, rubbing his temple with his better hoof. 'Why do I feel like we took one step forward and two steps back?' Macintosh took a drink from his glass of water, taking a moment to consider everything he knew.
"We gotta find 'er, and we gotta get that book."
"We?" Braeburn quirked a brow at his cousin. "You're a mess. Even with your particular build an' resilience, I can't imagine you'd be able to pull it off. Didn't you say that nurse said you had broken bones?"
"Eeyup" he said, nodding, "Lotta the soreness is down. Still hurts a bit, but I can stand on my own power."
Braeburn sighed, shaking his head. "Mac, I don't think it's a good idea for you to do anythin' strenuous without a doctor's okay..."
"Brae," Big Mac said, a stern, serious look on his face, "You know how many chores I've done with injuries?"
"Alright, I get it, you're tough stuff..." Braeburn sighed, shaking his head. "I can't stop ya Big Mac, but I'll tell ya now, I don't like it, or agree with it, and I'm going to come with you."
"Fine." Macintosh nodded. "Long as ya do what I say." 'We're gonna need to be pretty clever about this. If that mare's actually in league with those mercenaries, then we'll have to consider her potentially dangerous... but she did save my life, so would she be...?'
"So," said Macintosh with a nod, "Any idea where we can find 'er?"
Braeburn nodded. "Castle in th' mountains, north of here. Rich said it was kinda out-of-the-way, an' a bit of a walk, so if yer serious about this, I hope you're ready for a trip, or hire somepony to take us out there."
Big Mac nodded, smiling a bit as he considered his options. "We leave tomorrow at noon."
"Granny's already mad at you missin' so much work." Braeburn chuckled, shaking his head. "I only hope she don't tan my hide for disappearin' with ya this time."
Braeburn wasn't sure he was comfortable with Big Mac coming anymore as he occasionally turned his head to look to his cousin. Macintosh didn't show any signs of discomfort in his expression, but there was a slight limp in his gait, and the fact he had to take a drink of that stuff he had said he had gotten from the nurse wasn't helping ease his concerns. Still, Big Mac was the brains, and he was going to follow him.
'I just hope he don't go makin' me regret it.'
It was rare that either went directly north of Ponyville - while it was about the direction one headed to reach the Rich residence and the city's institution of education (which also housed it's greatest library), there was little to be found there for stallions whose lives were mostly encompassed by farming. As they walked, both stallions observed all the posh ponies milling about in fancy coats and some with those silly wigs, the occasional passerby giving them a look and a huff. Both knew why; they were out of their element here, and everypony knew it.
'For ponies with 'superior breeding', I can't imagine any of them could work a farm.'
Mac grimaced a bit at himself. He rarely ever thought thoughts like that. 'Bad week.' With a sigh, he made sure his eyes remained forward as he and his cousin continued their pace towards the northern gate - and right next to it, the mayoral mansion. 'Mayor Mare's been so quiet lately. Wonder what's goin' on?' Still, that was unimportant at the moment, so Mac kept his attention forward as he and his cousin approached the north gate bridge, crossing it and heading out into the fields.
The two stallions stared forward at the path set before them; a path that lead directly into the mountain, although neither had ever traveled it before. While Ponyville had begun closer to the Everfree Forest, it's expansion had placed it relatively close to the foot of the mountain. Sure, there was still a great economy of space -- an entire field, some trees, and a small lake -- but how long before that was cleared away to expand as well? It was sort of sad, really. 'To think, all this expanded from one lil' farm in such a short time...'
As they walked the path, they passed a guard, who nodded to them and tipped his hat. "Top of the evening to ya" said the white earth pony stallion. "Heading out into the fields?"
"Eeyup" said Big Mac simply.
"We're climbin' the mountain!" Breaburn grinned.
"Ah!" The guard grinned. "Goin' on an adventure? Explorin'? Best of luck to ya then! Just watch out for marauders, they've been stealin' stuff from passersby lately." Macintosh gulped at that, feeling a little nervous. Braeburn gave him a concerned look and put a hoof on his shoulder, the guard raising a brow. "Somethin' wrong?"
"N-nope..." Macintosh shook his head, trying to put his game face on again. "I-I'm fine..."
"Well, just watch for signs," the guard said with a nod, "Cruel as they are, they often leave little hints to their presence, like tipped over carts, abandoned camp fires, that kind of thing. You should be alright long as you avoid that stuff."
'Or ominous fog...' thought Big Mac in his head.
He and Braeburn continued their journey north, their sights set on the mountain before them. The walk was silent a bit before Braeburn gave a sideways glance to Big Mac. "You sure you don't want to go back? It ain't too late, ya know?"
"Nope..." Macintosh said, shaking his head, "We gotta do this."
"Why?"
"Because," said Big Mac with a grimace, "If there's this much fuss over that book, it must be important."
"And what if it ain't?"
"What if it is?"
Breaburn stepped in front of Big Mac, staring him in the eyes. "Cuz, let's consider this for a moment. We found that book because a crazy zebra got a vegetable thrown at her."
"Fruit."
"What?" Braeburn blinked, confused.
"Tomatoes are fruits." Macintosh nodded.
"I don't care," said Braeburn, waving his hooves around, "What I mean is that we have no reason to do this. Can't we go home and write it off as a loss?"
"If we do that, we'll never know." Macintosh stepped past Braeburn, continuing down the path. "She stole somethin' from me, an' even if it's just a load of bologna, I intend to get it back."
"But she also saved you!" Braeburn said, catching up and walking by his cousin's side. "Can't we consider it even?"
"Brae..." Macintosh stopped, turning to face his cousin. "... I was poisoned by a manticore, went on a drug induced trip, fainted on a bridge twice, an' was hurled from the sky like a doll because of that book. For all that work, I'm gettin' it back." He turned his attention back down the path and walked, Braeburn shaking his head and rushing to catch up.
"But you're just adding more trouble to the list! Even if we don't get attacked, do you think that mare'll just hand it over?"
"Maybe," Macintosh said with a shrug, "After all, she did take the time to drag me back to Ponyville for help. If she did that, I can't imagine she's too bad a pony."
"And if we are attacked by marauders?"
"Give 'em anything we have of value," Macintosh nodded, "We don't have much on us we can't replace."
Braeburn stepped in front of his cousin once more, glaring him in the eyes. "And what if they wanna kill us for kicks n' giggles?"
"Run to the best of our ability." Macintosh nodded, though this only seemed to irritate Braeburn further.
"In your condition, you'd be lucky to see my ass before you turned around!"
"Then at least one of us makes it back home." Big Mac smiled and nodded.
"Mac!" Braeburn frowned, clearly unhappy with that response. Macintosh simply rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Brae, we'll be fine."
"I wish I believed ya..." Braeburn looked up the path, seeing it wind into the trees, and faintly seeing what might be it on the actual mountain. "... I really do..."
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 8 - The Arcane House | As the pain in his muscles slowly reaffirmed itself, Macintosh felt some uncertainty in him grow as well. They had been walking for longer than he would like to consider, and he wasn't entirely sure how much longer it would be. Much as he wanted to take a drink of the numbing medicine, he had finished that off already, and was simply hoping what he had would hold out until he could get back home. Braeburn walked ahead, occasionally looking back at Big Mac, and to his embarrassment even slowing his pace a bit when he realized he was walking faster. However, all of this was rather low on Macintosh's list of concerns at the moment. No, what had his greatest deal of worry was the growing storm above them.
'Please just be a coincidence...'
The clouds had grown thicker and darker, and a familiar sense of foreboding tempered by past experience gnawed at Big Mac in their presence. 'Only a matter of time before things get ugly.' Desperate to take his mind off of something that only served to increase his anxiety, Macintosh turned to look over the ledge; as long as he did not come too close to it, he wouldn't be afraid. He looked out over Ponyville, over all the buildings and houses. If he focused, he could even see his farm in the great distance. 'Certainly humbles a pony' he thought, nodding to himself, before bumping into Braeburn's rear. He turned around to see that the trail had diverged into a fork, with one path climbing higher, and the other seeming to continue around the mountain.
"Sorry," said Braeburn, scratching his head under his hat, "Tryin' to get my bearings..."
Macintosh nodded, taking a moment to examine their surroundings; a whole lot of mountain on one end, and an abundant supply of falling in another. "Where is this place we're lookin' for anyway?"
"Oh it's... it's here..." Braeburn said without looking back. "Jus' up ahead, ya know? Kind of a walk..."
At this point, Big Mac paused. He stared at Braeburn a moment. "Braeburn?" Braeburn visibly stiffened. "... Where are we heading?" He did not respond. Macintosh groaned and hung his head back. "Tell me you know where the castle is..."
"It's on the mountain, north of Ponyville!" Braeburn spun around, eyes fearful and anxious. "That's what he said! I figured if nothing else we'd be able to see it!"
Macintosh stared at his cousin, his expression trained, indifferent. "So... we came all this way... with no idea just where we were going?"
"No, we have an idea..." Braeburn said quietly, looking away. "Just... just not a 'specific' idea..."
"Son of a bitch, Braeburn!" Big Mac threw a hoof in the air and turned away from his cousin. "All this walking and-- huh?"
Something moved behind a nearby bush.
He stared at the bush a moment. ".... Braeburn, I'm so disappointed, I can knock you upside your head!" He crept towards the bush slowly.
"Mac, what are you-" Braeburn stopped as Macintosh looked back and swiped his hoof across his throat. He gave a silent 'oh' and nodded. "... Look, I'm sorry, I thought I knew what I was doin'. No need to be so mad." Mac did not respond, getting closer and closer to the bush, seeing it move ever so slightly, and hearing the sound of heavy breathing. He readied himself, and then jumped.
"GOTCHA!"
He landed on somepony, who squealed as they rolled across the floor, something falling from their pursuer and bouncing across the floor. Mac pinned them down, held a hoof up in the air, ready to strike.
And stopped.
Beneath him lay a familiar yellow pegasus, holding her forelegs in front of her face, whimpering and trembling. Macintosh looked behind himself to see a first aid bag laying in the dirt, before turning back to Fluttershy, who never stopped holding her hooves up.
"Oh..." he said silently. "H-hi there, Miss Fluttershy..." She slowly turned to look at him, holding her hooves down, if only a little, eyes filled with tears, sniffling a bit. That sad, pitiful face filled his heart with regret. 'I scared her good...' "I-I'm sorry, Miss Fluttershy," he said, stepping from her and offering his hoof, "Though you might... be an attacker..."
She looked at his hoof warily, then to him, before scooting from beneath him and backing up a bit, climbing back to her hooves. "I-i-it's ok-k-k-kay..." she said, still shaking and sniffling. "I-I-I was... I was b-being ssssuspicous..." She hiccuped a bit. Macintosh looked to Braeburn, who simply shrugged, and then back to her.
"Why you sneakin' around followin' us, Miss Fluttershy?"
The mare took a breath, trying to calm herself. "I-I... I might have eavesdropped yesterday... a-a-and figured you'd nnneed help..."
Macintosh felt a strange mix of emotions; he was upset that she had eavesdropped on what might have been a very private conversation, but that sad, frightened look on her face robbed him of any outrage he might otherwise feel. Macintosh sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's alright, Miss Fluttershy..." This seemed to make her perk up, if only a little. "Still, could be dangerous... you should go home."
Fluttershy shook her head a bit, seeming to gain a little (if only a little) courage. "You're hurt, even if you don't accept it. I can't sit idly by with you potentially endangering yourself..." The mare made her way towards her bag, lifting it and setting it on her back again, turning to look at Big Mac, frowning. Macintosh rubbed the back of his head, sighing.
"Why?"
"Because you were brought to me." She nodded firmly. "Even if you're not my responsibility, I don't think I could just let you wander into potential danger in your condition without being there to help."
Macintosh chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright... alright. You can follow us."
"We can always use an extra travel buddy" said Braeburn with a smile, trotting next to Fluttershy and waggling his eyebrows. "So... tell me a bit about yourself, Miss...?" However, he didn't get quite the response he expected; instead, Fluttershy seemed to move gently away from him, mumbling something he couldn't understand while retreating behind her mane as her face turned a few shades of red.
"Brae." Braeburn looked to Macintosh, who was shaking his head, though he didn't seem angry at least. Braeburn rolled his eyes and stepped away from Fluttershy, who seemed to ease up once he had given her a little space. Macintosh sighed, looking down towards the fork in the road that currently vexed them. "Problem is, we don't well know how to continue ourselves."
"Oh?" Fluttershy blinked a few times, looking in the same direction. "What's the matter?"
Macintosh limped towards Braeburn and pat him on the shoulder, pointing to his throat. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, ahem, we don't have any idea where to go." He trotted towards the fork, patting at a rock. "We're sorta stuck, got no idea where we're headed."
"And you wanted to reach a castle?"
"Eeyup" said Braeburn, smiling.
Fluttershy tapped her chin a few times, looking around. Her wings began to unfurl, stretching out, and started flapping, bringing her from the ground and up into the air. Both cousins watched as she flew from where she was to a higher altitude, and seemed to fly around the mountain. Mac pouted his lips some, Braeburn clucking his tongue. "So," he said, looking to his older cousin, "You think I got a chance with her?"
Macintosh reached into his saddlebag and pulled out his new flask, taking a swig of the mixture therein to soothe his throat. He sighed, smiled a bit, setting the flask back in his bag. "I think she's too timid for you."
"Hey," Braeburn elbowed Big Mac, who winced at the slight pain in his leg, suddenly reminded that despite his injuries he jumped a pony in a bush as well, "Never know! The shy ones can be pretty freaky in the bed!"
Mac grimaced. "I mean you make 'er uncomfortable. You come on too strong."
"Oh." Braeburn looked up to where she had flown off. "Yeah, I suppose you're right." In the distance, they could see her flying back towards them, before gently touching down before them, smiling.
"There's a castle a bit further up the mountain," she said, looking towards Big Mac, "It's on a nice little spot pretty high up, really beautiful. I can get us there if you like."
"Thanks, Miss Fluttershy." Big Mac nodded with a smile.
"Oh, just call me Fluttershy..." She blushed, smiling some. Big Mac nodded, then turned his attention back to the fork. "So, do we go the path that leads uphill?"
"Yes." Fluttershy nodded, and began to move forward at a trot. "We should hurry though, this storm looks like it might be as bad as the last one." Macintosh grimaced at this, turning his attention back to the ominous clouds in the sky. He turned to follow Fluttershy, feeling the aches in his body slowly returning to taunt him.
"I hope not..."
Macintosh winced as the pains in his body began to become more apparent.
They had been walking for nearly thirty minutes since Fluttershy's appearance, and while it had proven to be a boon, it was not the one that was catching his attention most. His body had begun to scream at him, pain burning in his very bones. 'That stuff sure didn't last long, did it?' Braeburn would occasionally turn to his cousin, worry in his eyes as it became more and more evident Macintosh was fighting his own suffering down, occasionally asking if he'd be alright, and even offering to return with him. 'We'd come too far' he kept responding, urging them forward. 'You've been in worse pain than this,' thought Big Mac, trying to keep his focus on his companions who walked ahead of him, 'You can do this, just try to distract yourself from your injuries...'
However, the more they walked, the more they climbed, the harder it became to ignore the pain, and the more his confidence wavered. His body felt massive on his aching legs, various muscles sending signals to his brain, telling him that he was well beyond his limit.
Then he hit the metaphorical wall.
Macintosh stopped, standing still, panting and heaving. His companions soon realized he wasn't following, stopping and making their way back to him. Braeburn stared him in the eyes. "Mac? You alright?" Big Mac couldn't do it anymore, however. He couldn't stand anymore. And so, gravity wrapped it's cruel digits around him and pulled him towards the ground with a hard thud.
The pain shot through him instantly, what little numbness he still had fading as he could no longer ignore the entirety of his injuries. His entire body was on fire, and every movement, every muscular twitch brought him pain. It was at this point he became acutely aware of just how much pain he was in. "Dammit, Big Mac! I knew you weren't up for this!" Braeburn hurried next to his cousin, clearly worried, sitting on his haunches next to Macintosh running his hooves through his mane. "Oh what in the world are we gonna do..."
Fluttershy, however, moved next to his head, sitting down and opening her bag, rummaging through it. She pulled out a small bottle filled with liquid. "Open your mouth and drink this, please?" Macintosh slowly opened up, and she put the bottle to his lips, pouring the fluid inside, and he drank. He almost gagged at the bitter taste as she pulled it back and closed the bottle. "I spoke to the nurse yesterday about this. She said it wasn't smart of you to do and that you'd likely need a drink of this." The butter yellow mare frowned. "She said this is not quite as potent as the other one, but she hasn't had the chance to make more, and it might take a few minutes to work, so don't become dependent on it..."
Big Mac grimaced. "If that's the case, what good will this be?" Fluttershy seemed to shy away a bit, retreating behind her mane. Mac frowned. 'Guess that did come off as a bit too aggressive...' "I'm sorry... jus' kinda... sore all over..." He smiled a bit, even though it was a forced smile. Still, it seemed to work, and Fluttershy smiled back.
"Well," she said with a nod, "The house is pretty close now. We might be able to reach it soon."
"House?" Braeburn grimaced. "I thought we were lookin' for a castle?"
"A house can be a castle," said Mac with a nod, "Jus' means it's fortified. Built to last. Likely really old."
"It's quite lovely," fluttershy added, smiling, "It's got a beautiful garden, and a tower with a balcony..."
"Well," said Breaburn with a shrug, "Let's go then."
Fluttershy stepped in front of Braeburn, giving him a strangely firm look. "Oh no we don't. Big Mac has to let the medicine work before he can even stand up, so we have to wait."
"Oh... right... I knew that." Braeburn chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Actually," said Big Mac, pushing his hooves beneath him, "I think it's already workin'." He slowly pushed himself upward, and while it hadn't hurt as much as it had before, he still felt a great deal of pain as he strained under his own weight. Making it to a standing position again, he winced at the pain in his limbs. 'Gonna have to tough it out. Almost there. Looking to the other ponies, he gave them a reassuring nod. Neither Braeburn or Fluttershy seemed comfortable with it, but both seemed to accept it and step forward, and Big Mac followed.
As they walked, the wind became harder, and the clouds darker. Big Mac nearly jumped at the feeling of the first raindrop striking his hide. "We gotta hurry." he said, looking up at the clouds. They continued to walk for another fifteen minutes, and the rain grew increasingly harder as they did, before their efforts were rewarded.
A great statue stood in the road, the path forking to move around it, then rejoining immediately after. The statue itself depicted a stallion rearing up on hind legs, wearing what looked like a long, flowing cloak and a pointed hat, and a long, wavy beard that seemed to give him a great air of wisdom. Most unusual, however, was the horn jutting from his forehead. 'That a unicorn? Fancy. This Twilight's gotta be a mare with interesting tastes. The trio looked past it, to a great fence that stood from the ground, their path blocked by an arched gate. Looking past it was a grand house, constructed of what seemed to be mostly mortar and stone, a tower in it's center with a balcony, just as Fluttershy had described.
Braeburn approached the gate, giving it a good push. It offered little resistance, screeching open. "Oh, hey, look at that." Braeburn turned to Fluttershy and Big Mac, nodding. "Well, ladies first." Fluttershy smiled and nodded, trotting forward and into the yard, Mac slowly following behind, though he was stopped by his cousin. "How ya holdin' up?"
"Medicine ain't as strong as what I got b'fore, but I'll make it." Macintosh nodded, smiling. Braeburn nodded again, letting his cousin take the lead as they made their way forward. Along the path there was a stone staircase leading up the hill, not quite insurmountable without said stairs. As they got closer, they could see an old, broken fountain in the courtyard that looked as though it hadn't been used in years. The castle itself was relatively small; probably as big as Rich's mansion, though the vines and decay hinted at years of neglect and poor maintenance.
Reaching the door, Braeburn clucked his tongue and turned to Big Mac and Fluttershy. "Well, now what?" Big Macintosh's hope-filled eyes slowly shifted into confusion.
'Well... crap. Didn't think this far ahead.'
"Do we... do we just knock?" Braeburn pushed his hat back, scratching his head with his hoof. "Or... break in?"
"Who's there?"
A voice yelled down to them from above, through the pitter patter of rain. Everypony looked up to see a mare standing on the balcony on the tower above, wearing a familiar, wide-brimmed hat. "Who are you ponies? What are you doing here?" She did not sound pleased.
"A lil' birdy told us that you mighta borrowed a book from my cousin here..." Braeburn tilted his head towards Big Mac, before putting on his most stunning smile and a wink that the mare likely could not see from where she was. "We was hopin' we might get it back?"
Twilight stared down at them, her expression unreadable. "No."
Braeburn blinked a few times, staring up at the balcony. "What do you mean 'no?'"
"No. Negative. Denied. Your request will not be allowed. Do I need to throw a thesaurus down to you?"
Braeburn, however, simply smiled. "Oh come now, ma'am. A fine young mare such as yourself surely can stand to part with a lil' ol' book. I'm sure we can work somethin' out... maybe over a nice dinner for two?"
"No."
Braeburn frowned, eliciting an eye roll from Big Mac, who stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Ma'am, I'm mighty grateful for ya savin' my life an' all, but I need that book. It's very important to me."
"Once again, no." Macintosh frowned at that, not quite sure what he was expecting. "Don't take this personally, but you have no idea what this book is. You have no idea the stories it tells or the knowledge it contains. Quite frankly, I've no idea how you managed to get your hooves on it. I can deduce from your accent you're likely a member of a farming family, a tiller of the earth. Tell me, did you get any proper schooling?"
"Well," Mac frowned, "I went to school up until-"
"Stop right there," she said, holding a hoof up, "That's all I needed to hear. I'm going to assume you can't even read that book, correct?"
Macintosh paused, trying to figure out the point of these questions. "Well... no, but I--"
"And I'm willing to bet," the mare interrupted once more, "you simply got the bare bones of an education, and likely spend your days toiling away in a farm, right?"
His throat was getting sore. "Well, sometimes out of necessity we--"
"And, you expect me to give you, a pony who I can only assume at least knows how to read modern Equestrian, a book that is not only written in a language you have no way of reading, but also houses long lost knowledge that you can likely not only never appreciate, but also might potentially lose because of some careless farm accident or something?"
He grimaced. "That 'readin' thing was a bit personal-"
"Listen," said the mare, shaking her head, "I've been looking for a text like this for a year now. I've personally visited the ancient castle of the sisters and dug through it's library for answers, finding only hints and ideas, all fascinating things but none of it quite what I needed. This book has just what I've been looking for, and I've already learned a great deal more than I knew then, and have so much yet to gain."
"This book is as good as good as useless in the hooves of soil-pushing ponies who cannot hope to even begin to comprehend the knowledge contained within."
Big Mac's eye twitched.
"Now please, go away" she said, waving a hoof, "We're done here."
"Get back here!" Big Mac shouted, though he immediately regretted it as an ache in his throat rose up.
"And please shut the gate on your way out." Twilight turned away, leaving their view of the balcony. Big Mac stared up, jaw moving wordlessly. It was far from the first time somepony had treated him like he was stupid just because of his accent, and normally he could just ignore it. Maybe it was just the anxiety, the pain, or the past few days, but it upset him. He grimaced, looking up at the balcony, wishing he had a little alcohol or something to allow him to forget the pain in his throat and shout at the mare, calling her every name in the book.
Movement averted his attention as he noticed Fluttershy flying above them towards the balcony. He wasn't sure, but she seemed like she might have been... angry?
As Fluttershy landed on the risen platform, she noticed that the balcony door was closed, and made her way towards it, giving it a light knock. Inside, she saw the other mare approach, pulling it open, giving her an irritated stare. "Look, I know you just want to help the friendly dirt pony down there, but--"
"Look here, Missy," said the mare, pushing the door open, visibly scaring Twilight who stepped back as she marched forward, "That poor stallion down there has been through a lot! It was bad enough that you stole his book, but to insult him? That was pushing it. Too. Far." She prodded Twilight's chest to punctuate the last three words, the lavender mare staring at her, baffled. "I won't claim to understand what that book has that's so valuable, but it doesn't belong to you! We have laws for a reason, and what you did is theft!"
"B-but, I saved his life..." The mare said, seeming to become a bit nervous, backing away more.
"And that justifies stealing from him?" Fluttershy stepped forward once more. "Look at what he's gone through to get that book back! He fell over just twenty minutes ago from the pain he's in, because he isn't any better than he was when you found him, and it's only thanks to strong medicine that he's able to walk! He's probably complicating his recovery just to be here!" Twilight backed into a wall, and Fluttershy pressed her nose against hers, staring her directly in the eyes. "He's going through a lot right now. You know what the right thing to do here is, so please, do the right thing."
Twilight stared into her eyes, biting her lip. Fluttershy pulled back, glaring down at the mare as she stood up and fixed her hat. "B-but... he doesn't know-"
"I don't care," said Fluttershy with a shake of her head, "It's still his, and it's his right to have it."
The two mares stared silently at one another for a few minutes, before Twilight lowered her head, grimacing. "... F.... Fine... I'm sure we can work something out...."
Big Mac and Braeburn were surprised when the door slowly creaked open for them, Fluttershy smiling, and next to her a familiar lavender mare, though she was dressed slightly differently, wearing a purple coat with a flared collar, a button-up blouse with a magenta bow-tie - the hat, for the most part, remained the same - and a gold pendant hanging from a necklace around her neck. Her expression countered Fluttershy's, clearly none-too-happy. 'What did she do up there?'
"Your friend has proven quite persuasive," said Twilight, though there was little sincerity in her statement, "Please, come out of the rain. Follow me." Big Mac and Braeburn stepped into the castle, both very happy to be out of the growing storm, although Macintosh still felt anxious at what it might portend. The main hall was quite nice; it looked old and poorly maintained, with cracks and worn stonework, but it looked relatively clean. As they walked up the stairs to the second floor, his attention was turned to a painting on the wall of a mare; she had a yellow coat and red eyes, with a red mane on her head, pulled back into a ponytail, wearing a strange, green coat with a risen collar and strange symbols on the lapels, but what stood out most on her was a horn protruding from her head, with a stone hanging from the base.
"Who's that..?" said Braeburn, staring at the painting.
"Her name was Starburst Shine," said Twilight, sounding a little less irritated than she looked like she was earlier, "She commissioned the creation of this castle about two hundred years ago." Twilight looked up at the painting, a smile on her face. "It is said that where this house was built was to be the starting point for an entire city. The solar princess had plans to build a city called 'Canterlot' on these hills. Starburst figured that being the case, there would likely be remnants about to that extent, though if she ever found anything she didn't leave any clues." She waved her hoof around. "All she ever found is a tomb hidden beneath the house, though I've always suspected that she intentionally built her house over that tomb."
"So wait..." said Braeburn, staring at the painting, "Unicorns are real?"
Twilight merely chuckled. "If only you knew..." The group continued up the stairs to the third floor, where they saw a hallway with various doors. Twilight led them to one such door and pressed it open, leading them into a small lounging room. Inside was a single, old couch, various old books stacked around, and a couple of chairs. "Seeing as you're injured, feel free to take the couch, Mister..." Twilight stared at Big Mac, who simple stared back, pointing to his throat. "... Can't you talk?"
"Eh, he has a sore throat..." Braeburn stepped in, chuckling nervously. "His name's Macintosh Apple, or Big Mac as most call 'em. He'd be more'n happy to introduce himself otherwise, especially to a fine filly as yourself."
"Macintosh Apple..." Twilight looked at him a moment, raising a brow. "... Yes, I thought you looked familiar. You're one of Rich's business partners. I presume the owner, or at least an affiliate, of Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Eeyup," Big Mac replied, though there was a slight rasp in his voice. 'Never shoulda yelled...'
"I see..." Twilight stared at him a moment, as if inspecting him. "... Filthy Rich speaks positively of you. Says you're devoted to your family and farm, and quite the shrewd business stallion... which brings me to wonder both the why and how of you getting this book?" Twilight looked at Big Mac, though if she was more suspicious or curious was uncertain.
Macintosh looked to Braeburn with pleading eyes. The other stallion sighed a bit. "Well, long story short, we ran into this crazy mare in the town square shouting about the apocalypse an' Big Mac, bein' the fool he is--" Macintosh glared daggers at Braeburn, "said he'd help 'er find some mystical artifacts that were supposed to stop it."
Twilight sparkle stared at him with a quirked brow. "Go on?"
Braeburn shrugged. "We went into the Everfree Forest, found some old castle that supposedly played home to some long dead princesses, an' found that book in some sort of secret room."
Twilight Sparkle stared at them for a few minutes, scrutinizing them. "Impossible."
Big Mac grimaced. "Why?" His throat still hurt, but he had to ask.
"Because," said Twilight, holding up a hoof, "I've been all over that castle. I read a bunch of books, did research for months, and never once did I come across a book like the one you had, or a secret room."
"You wrote those notes?" Big Mac said, eyes wide. "'Bout the Tree of Harmony, Discord, an' the mutated princesses?"
That seemed to gain her interest. Twilight stepped closer to him. "You read my notes? You were actually in the castle?" Macintosh nodded slowly. Twilight stared at him a moment, as if considering him. "Why do you even care?"
"'Cause," said Big Mac, though his voice was still quite weak, "I nearly died for that book, an' you stole it, so somethin' must be goin' on here."
Twilight Sparkle shook her head, turning away and walking to the other side of the room, and sat herself on a cushion on the floor. "This book is a diary written by the eldest of the two regal sisters after she banished the younger one to the moon." She sighed, looking out the window, seeing rain pattering against it. "It details her attempt to cope with the loss of her sister and to rule over Equestria alone, a task she was not ready for, especially with the turmoil that rose up as a result."
"Turmoil?" Fluttershy blinked. "What turmoil?"
"Well," Twilight sighed, pulling the book in front of her, looking over its cover, "She had used the Elements of Magic to banish her sister to the moon. To top it off with the emotional damage she suffered as a result, it spread a nation-wide fear of the Princess and the Elements. In time, that fear became one of magic in general. Eventually, the Princess vanished without a trace, and shortly after, the Pegasi and the Earth Ponies joined together to wage war against the Unicorns." Twilight grimaced a bit at that, rubbing one hoof over her foreleg. "... Eventually, any unicorns who weren't hunted and killed were forced into hiding or fled Equestria entirely, and when that happened, Earth Ponies looked at Pegasi with contempt, because though it was passive, they had magic themselves that let them manipulate the weather, resulting in yet another war that ended with Earth Ponies winning due to greater numbers and more resources than the Pegasi had, resulting in a truce that demanded the Pegasi stay above the land and in their cloud cities."
"But wait," said Big Mac, holding up a hoof, "We have pegasi in Ponyville, an' all over..."
"Yes, but we're second class citizens..." Everypony turned to Fluttershy, who blinked a few times and blushed. "Sorry..."
Everypony seemed to fall silent, not knowing what to say, before Twilight caught their attention by clearing her throat. "Anyway," the lavender mare continued, "the tensions decreased when both sides realized they couldn't thrive without one another, but never faded completely." Twilight stepped towards a nearby wall where another painting hung, this one of another unicorn, although this one was a green stallion. "Pegasi are second class citizens down here, and unicorns are treated as either a myth or something of terror."
"Aren't they though?" Everypony looked at Braeburn. "I mean, lots of stories you hear of unicorns, they steal babies an' kill ponies for laughs. Dark magic rituals an' whatnot."
Big Mac simply rolled his eyes, and he looked to Twilight, who seemed to be frowning hard, but she closed her eyes and cleared her throat. "Well, without meeting an actual unicorn, it would be hard to say."
Braeburn pouted. "Well, it's just that I've never heard stories about no unicorn heroes or anything."
Twilight turned away from the group, making her way towards the door. "You wouldn't have," she said in a bitter tone, "and I doubt you ever will." Twilight stuck her head out the door. "Spike? Come in here for a second?"
Everypony waited a few seconds before a new face appeared. All three ponies' eyes became wide when they were joined by a small, bipedal shape, a white dress shirt and earth brown vest covering purple scales.
"A dragon..." Macintosh said, mouthing the words silently.
"Holy cow a dragon!" said Braeburn, stepping back some.
"A baby dragon!" Fluttershy hurried forward, eyes big and starry as she stared at the little drake. "Oh my, what kind of dragon are you? What do you eat? How old are you?"
"Oh..." Spike blushed a bit, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh, I like your new friends Twilight."
"They're not friends," said Twilight, waving a hoof, "They're house guests and potential assets to our mission."
"Assets?" Macintosh raised a brow. "What are you saying?"
Twilight sighed, turning her attention back to the others. "You want this book back because you think it's important, right?" Big Mac and Braeburn exchanged glances, before nodding to her. "Well, the way I see it, we might be able to help one another." She pulled the book from on-top her back, then put it between her hooves, holding it up. "We both want this book translated. By the sounds of it, you want answers, correct?" Macintosh hummed, tapping a hoof to his chin. Twilight sighed, putting a hoof on her nose. "You really had no idea what you intended to do with this book?"
"Well," said Big Mac, rubbing the back of his neck, "Not really, no... I jus' figured it was important an' that if it was I should do somethin'..."
Twilight stared at Big Mac silently, moving her mouth wordlessly. "You.... you're an idiot. You realize this right?"
"Well now-"
"No, you're an idiot." Twilight grimaced, throwing her hooves in the air. "You nearly died to find this book, tortured yourself to get here, and wasted my time, and you really have no idea what you intend to do once you have what you want!?" Macintosh frowned, but looked away, unsure of how to answer that question. "Why do you even want it translated!?"
"Well," said Big Mac, looking at his hooves, "Zecora wanted it translated, an' said it might be able to save the world. I suppose I jus'... sorta kept goin' on that without really thinkin' of it..."
The lavender mare sighed once more, turning away from the others and putting a hoof on her forehead. ".... Alright, you know what? Whatever. I'll translate this book for both of us. After that, we can sort the details out, you can do whatever it is that you intended to do, use the translations to stop a door for all I care." She sighed, waving a hoof. "Spike, could you show them to some guest rooms? I need to go sleep off this migraine..."
"Wait, what do you mean?" Braeburn stepped forward. "Why do we have to stay here?"
"Well, it's raining pretty hard outside," said Twilight, gesturing towards a window, where rain was beating down sideways, "though if you really want to leave, please, be my guest."
Braeburn chuckled nervously. "Oh, no, that's fine..." He stepped close to Twilight, giving her his most charming smile. "Of course, I wouldn't mind keeping you company."
Twilight raised a brow, looking towards the stallion, clearly a bit surprised. "Yeah, thanks but no thanks. Spike, if you'd please?"
"Sure thing, Twilight." Spike turned to the others, smiling. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you to rooms." The small dragon started walking, and everypony followed. Macintosh turned back to see Twilight walk through a door at the end of the hallway, shutting it behind her, and then turned his gaze back to the others.
'What exactly do I intend to do once I get these translations...?'
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 9 - Uneasy Alliance | Rest was proving quite elusive for Big Mac as he stared at the ceiling. It was odd for him to be spending the night in the home of a mare he didn't know, but a welcome blessing considering the time it took them to get to where they currently were, and the fact he hadn't been looking forward to the walk back. Still, he had a lot to think about now, and these thoughts plagued him.
"What are you going to do with the translations?"
Such a simple question, and yet so complicated. What did he want to do with them? Zecora had disappeared to who knew where. He wasn't even sure she was still alive, truth be told; for all he knew the mercenaries caught up to her and slaughtered her not long after his own fall from the sky. His thoughts were interrupted with a knock at the door, and he turned his attention to see Braeburn stepping inside, shutting the door behind him, smiling. "Hey Big Mac, feelin' alright?"
"Lil' sore," said Big Mac, smirking, "But I think I'll live."
"I imagine. That medicine still workin'?"
Macintosh sighed. "More or less. Had to drink a bit more. Keeps the worst at bay." He looked down at himself, finding himself hoping that he hadn't done any harm to himself with this little trip. "Gonna visit a doctor soon as I can."
"Good thinkin', that." Braeburn sat next to Big Mac, nodding. "So... what do you make of this whole mess?"
Macintosh sighed a bit, laying his head down. "Don't rightly know. Complicated. Confusing." He stared into space for a few minutes, eyes searching for answers that weren't where he was looking. "... Brae... I think we've gotten ourselves involved in somethin' bigger n' we're used to."
"Yeah..." Braeburn sighed a bit, looking to the side. "... Big Mac? If I'm to be wholly honest, I think we should jus' let Ms. Sparkle keep that book. I think we should just wash our hooves of this whole thing an' put it behind us."
"Can we though?"
Braeburn stared to the side silently. "... Brae... what if this isn't just some pony's tale? What if this is all really happenin'? What if the mare I saw was the Mare in the Moon?" Big Mac looked towards his cousin with haunted eyes. "... What if... what if everything Zecora said was true?"
"Well..." said Braeburn, rubbing a forehoof over a leg. "... I reckon if that was the case, we're doomed if we do, doomed if we don't..."
"But do we have to be?" Big Mac almost surprised himself by saying it. "... Braeburn... what if... what if we continued without Zecora?"
Braeburn held his forelegs up. "Wait wait wait, back up here..." He paused a moment, staring at his cousin with serious eyes. "You're kidding, right?"
Big Mac seemed to ponder it a moment. "Nope."
"... You actually want to run towards the danger, instead of away?"
Big Mac shrugged. "Well, where would we run to?" Braeburn held up a hoof, but he paused. He took a moment to think. Then he scratched his head.
"Well..." he said, uncertainly, "... We could always start my town idea..."
"Braeburn," said Big Mac with a roll of his eyes.
"What? Appleloosa's a great idea!" Braeburn pointed at his cousin. "Just you wait, I'll get it figured out an' I'll start my own town an' you'll wish you'd been in on it!"
"Right," said Big Mac with a smirk, "So, Appleloosa... will it be immune to Eternal Night?" Braeburn paused once more. Then, once again, seemed to take time to consider this piece of information. "Tell me when ya got an answer, cause eternal night'd be bad for a family like ours that makes it's livin' on crops that require sunlight."
"So..." Braeburn said quietly, staring at nothing. "... Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I don't know." Macintosh turned his attention to the ceiling. "But if all of this is real... I want to know. I want to know what that book says, what it knows that we don't..." He turned his attention back to his cousin. "... For safety's sake, we have to assume that book is entirely accurate."
Braeburn sighed, shaking his head. "I just don't know, Big Mac... I don't know if I like this one bit..."
Macintosh chuckled. "Me either," His voice was rasping a bit, so he took hold of a nearby glass of water and gave it a few light sips. Giving himself a moment to let the water sooth his throat, he continued, "... I'm not sayin' we'll go on a quest to save the world... I'm just sayin' it's best to know why that book is so darn important is all."
"I suppose that makes sense." Braeburn shrugged. "Well, Big Mac, you are the sensible one, so I'll take that answer for now... I just hope that this don't get us into more trouble than we can handle."
"Me too Braeburn," said Macintosh with a sigh, "Me too..."
As night fell, the rain had continued to pour down with a vengeance. Macintosh found himself constantly twitching at every little sound, his skin crawling anytime a noise occurred that he could not determine the source of. Braeburn had left a while ago to help cook meals for Big Mac and himself, though he hadn't heard word from him sense. Every once in a while, Big Mac would turn his attention to the portrait of the unicorn on the wall and feel like it was staring at him, silently judging him. At times, he had considered getting up and taking it down, but it was not his room, and he would not be so disrespectful.
Plus, it really hurt to move, and he would rather save his strength for eating.
A knock on the door caught his attention, however, distracting him from an otherwise monotonous situation. "Come in." The door creaked open for Macintosh's visitor, revealing the familiar lavender mare that was playing hostess to him and his friends. "Oh. Hello, Miss Twilight."
"Hello," said Twilight with a nod, walking towards the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Macintosh quirked a brow. Perhaps it was a harsh thing to think, but he was a bit suspicious of the mare actually asking him, especially since she didn't seem like she was actually concerned. "Been better, but the accommodations are good. Why?"
Twilight reached into a saddlebag on her side, and produced from it a bottle with a strange, red liquid inside of it. Oddly enough, the stuff seemed to have a slight glow. She approached Macintosh, setting it on the nightstand next to the bed he was occupying. He reached for it, gently taking the bottle in his hooves and looking it over. "What's this?"
"It's a special blend," said Twilight, walking back towards the door, "It temporarily relieves pain and hastens the healing process. Drink it tomorrow, and you should be able to return home without much stress."
Macintosh looked at the little bottle, as if it might house some untold secrets, either dark horrors or the key to true happiness. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but... why you givin' me this?"
Twilight stopped and looked back to him, her expression as devoid of concern as ever. "I originally made it to give to you as payment for the book. Then you showed up at my doorstep. Now, it's to assure you leave as soon as possible."
Big Mac grimaced a bit, looking down at the bottle again. "Thanks...?"
Twilight turned and made her way out of the room, and just as she left, the small, purple dragon walked in, carrying a tray with a platter, a glass of cider, and a bowl of soup on it. He frowned a bit, making his way to Big Mac and setting the tray on the night stand. "You'll have to forgive Twilight, she's got a lot of stress she's dealing with."
Macintosh shrugged. "I noticed." The little dragon grabbed the lid from the platter, pulling ut up to reveal a delicious looking salad and a pair of biscuits. "Here you go. I hope you like it! I'll be back in about thirty minutes with desert, and your cousin's helping me with that, so I hope you like it!"
As the little dragon made his way out of the room, Big Mac leaned forward and sniffed the food. The soup smelled alright, tasty even, and the salad as well. He shrugged a bit, leaning forward and taking a little sip from the soup. It was quite delicious, actually. Realizing just how hungry he was, he decided it was okay and dug into the meal. The soup was a vegetable soup, and seemed to have been made quite well; it tasted like it was likely at least overseen by Braeburn. The salad had a nice mix of tomato, carrots, and potatoes, a healthy meal in itself, and the biscuits were cooked to a nice, fluffy texture. Macintosh took drinks between a few bites to wash his food down, and in seemingly no time at all, he had eaten the entire thing.
"Ready for desert?"
Big Mac saw the dragon return, with Braeburn following and smiling. "You won't believe how useful it is havin' somepony with thumbs to help you cook!" Spike set a table next to Big Mac, taking the empty tray and setting it on, then placing a new tray on the nightstand. As the old tray was sat on Braeburn's back, Spike picked up the table. Braeburn smirked, pointing at the food. "I think the lil' guy could be quite the cook if he was taught properly!"
"I can cook well enough," said Spike with a roll of his eyes, "Twilight burns anything she tries to cook." Braeburn snorted a bit, but Big Mac had his attention on the desert; a delectable looking collection of three, tasty looking sweet rolls.
"Mind if I sit with you while you eat?" Braeburn smirked. "Little Miss Grumpy disappeared, an' Fluttershy doesn't seem very talkative."
"Nope," said Macintosh, waving a hoof as a gesture of saying 'go right ahead'.
"Can I sit with you guys too?" The two stallions looked to the little dragon, who bit his lip and fidgeted a bit. "Sorry, it's just that the only pony I ever talk to is Twilight, and sometimes that Rich fella when he comes here."
Macintosh and Braeburn shared a look, but Mac smiled a bit, turning his attention back to the dragon. "Eeyup." Spike smiled wide, and seemed to dance in place. As Brae took a seat on a nearby chair, the dragon grabbed a stool and dragged it in, climbing up on it and sitting down. Big Mac chuckled at the little guy. 'Least he's not so bad. Guess she's cranky 'nuff for the both of 'em.'
Big Mac took one of the rolls and took a bite, finding it to be quite delicious; almost tooth-rottingly so. He secretly wondered if Pinkie Pie had managed to pay a quick visit to bake them herself (it wouldn't surprise him if that was the reality). He swallowed what he had bitten off, smiling a bit. "These are pretty good."
"Thanks," said Spike, smiling at the praise, "I like to cook, and learning new recipes is always pretty fun." Macintosh nodded, taking another bite of the desert. For a bit, the conversation had shifted into a more pleasant string of conversation, starting at cooking, then turning to various other chores and responsibility. It seemed no time at all had passed before Macintosh had finished his entire plate, and the little dragon had taken it to get it cleaned, once more leaving him and his cousin alone.
Braeburn sighed. "Well," he said, looking out the window, "Seems like the rain is starting to let up. Think we should get ready to make our leave?"
Macintosh looked out the window himself; indeed, the clouds seemed to be dissipating -- a welcome sight for him -- although it was clear that the sun was starting to fall, and it would take them some time to reach the foot of the mountain, let alone get to Ponyville. "I'd have to talk to Miss Twilight first. Figure out what it is she has planned."
"What I have planned," said Twilight, stepping into the room once more, the look of her face as cold as ever, "is fairly simple. It will take me some time to translate the book - likely a couple of weeks, possibly a month." She looked towards the window. "Much fun as it is to have you three running around my house, I hope you'll forgive me if I say I'm not thrilled at the prospect of playing host to you until then."
Braeburn grimaced. "Yeah, yer a hoot yourself, Missy."
"Braeburn," said Big Mac with a glare.
"Sorry."
Twilight cleared her throat. "Anyway... what I propose is that I will finish the translations, and when I do, I will make sure you are notified immediately. However, you are not to tell anypony about this book, do you understand?" Twilight looked at both stallions, her eyes more serious than normal. "You said you got attacked by ponies wanting that book, correct?" Big Mac was about to answer, but she didn't seem to allow him. "This book is a particularly special book, and it is within everypony's best interest that it never falls in the wrong hooves."
Macintosh looked to Twilight Sparkle a moment, pondering her advice. "... Mind if I ask a question?"
Twilight raised a brow, seemingly curious. That was good. "Go on?"
"You asked us what we wanted the book for," said the red stallion, pointing a hoof towards Twilight, "but now that I think of it... I'm curious as to why you want it?" She was quiet at first. Twilight stared at Big Mac, her eyes peering more into her thoughts than into him, as if she was searching for an answer.
"Knowledge," said Twilight, though there seemed to be an uncertainty in her voice, "I wish to find answers to questions nopony has asked for a thousand years. Answers that nopony has cared about for a thousand years."
"But why?" Big Mac felt like she wasn't telling the whole story. 'There's more to this mare than it seems, an' she's gotta want that book for more than just knowledge...'
Twilight's gaze shifting slowly away from his, though there seemed to be a bit of sadness to her. "... I've been asking myself 'why' ever since I was a filly..." She grimaced a bit, turning her attention back to Big Mac. He wasn't sure, but there seemed to be a bit of pain in her expression now. "... But that does not concern you."
"And what," said Big Mac, feeling a bit more confident in himself, "is it you intend to do once you translate the entire book?" Twilight paused. She stared at him silently, though her own eyes now seemed as he felt when she had asked him the same question. There was a deep uncertainty. "You said I might be able to help you with a mission, but what exactly is your mission?"
Twilight frowned a bit. "To find the truth. To understand why Equestria is as it is today." She turned away from them, making her way towards the door. "That is why I started working with Rich. That is why I go with him on his excavations and adventures into the depths of ancient Equestria." She stopped at the door, looking back at Big Mac and Braeburn, the pain still in her eyes. The more he looked into those eyes, the more Macintosh noticed a familiarity. Something he saw in his own eyes on occasion when he looked into the mirror. Subconsciously, he brought a hoof to his throat and gently caressed it over his bandanna.
'This mare is hurt... the kind of hurt that never fully goes away...'
"What if," said Big Mac, his voice much gentler than it was before, "we did help you? To find your answers?"
Twilight snorted. "You? What could you do that Filthy Rich couldn't?" She turned around once more, walking back towards the stallions. "He's got the wealth and resources I need to go anywhere in Equestria, places that ponies haven't stepped hoof in in centuries... how can you help me in ways he cannot?"
Big Mac simply shrugged. "Does he know about your quest?"
Twilight frowned a bit. "No..."
Macintosh nodded. "Why is that?"
Twilight stared at him a moment. The frown on her face deepened, a tinge of annoyance entering it. "He's got his own agenda in all this. I can appreciate it, but sometimes I feel like even when we're looking for the same things, he's not looking for them as I am." She sat down on the floor, rubbing a hoof over the bridge of her nose. "... And I have yet to be proven wrong. Any time we find an artifact, his first thought is to add it to a growing collection..."
Braeburn nodded a bit. "Sounds like it's somethin' he's taken to doin' since the passing of his wife..."
Twilight nodded. "Her passing did have something to do with it..." She sighed, putting a hoof to her nose once more. "A month ago, I learned that he might be following a fable in the hopes of reviving his dead wife... after that, I became a bit more 'selective' of what information I shared with him."
"Wait," said Big Mac, eyes widening a bit, "There's a way to bring back the dead?"
Twilight shook her head. "Highly unlikely, to be honest. There's been rumors of unicorns reviving the dead, but almost every tale of such involves terrible prices and curses as a result."
Macintosh nodded a bit, taking a moment to think. He grabbed hold of his glass of water, drinking from it to soothe his throat. "Why don't we help each other? We want answers, and so do you."
"Wait," said Braeburn, stepping between Big Mac and Twilight, "You're kidding, right? First off, you're considering continuing this silly stuff now that Zecora's gone off to who knows where, and now you're gonna get us into more danger?"
Macintosh sighed. "Braeburn, I've not fully made up my mind on anything. I just know that we all want answers here. That book nearly got me killed, so there's likely somethin' important in it." He gestured towards their hostess. "She wants answers. I want answers. Way I see it, we got an accord, at least for the time being."
Braeburn stared at his cousin incredulously. He threw his hooves up in the air. "Fine, what's one more thing, right?" Macintosh grimaced a bit at the yellow stallion, shaking his head, before turning his attention back to Twilight, whose eyes were focused on her hooves.
"What do you say? I may not have the resources that Rich has, but I want answers -- actual answers, just as bad as you do."
Twilight didn't respond for a while, seemingly lost in thought. She looked up to him, her expression shifting once more to something more akin to business. "Are you sure you want this? It may or may not require you to go to the kind of places most ponies would ordinarily stay away from. Places that ordinary ponies haven't set hoof in since who knows when."
Macintosh nodded. "Eeyup."
Twilight stared at him a moment more, as if appraising him. "I will work with you, on the conditions that you never tell anypony about what we find, what we see, and what we do." She stepped closer to him. "Especially not anypony you'd want to endanger, because we may not be the only ones looking for these answers."
Big Mac nodded. "Sounds fair."
Twilight was quiet again, thinking the situation over. "Alright." Twilight reached a hoof out, but Big Mac spat on his first, before bumping it against hers. Twilight pulled her hoof away, staring at it with a look of disgust. "What was that for...?"
Macintosh shrugged. "You don't spit on your hoof before sealin' a deal?"
Twilight shook her head as she brushed her hoof against her coat. "Okay, well, now that that's settled... I'm going to go to bed. Come morning, you should all be ready to head back home. Once I'm done translating the book, I will contact you and we can go from there."
Macintosh nodded, smiling. "Eeyup."
Braeburn and Macintosh stood at the doorway, the latter grimacing a bit at the slight pain in his legs. He had already known the trip home wasn't going to be an easy one, and that he'd likely collapse at least once before finally reaching their destination. 'I probably should have swallowed my pride and brought a cart or somethin'...' He shook that thought from his head. 'Nah, Braeburn'd just accidentally loose it and I'da fallen off a cliff to my death or further injury or somethin'...'
"Well," said Twilight Sparkle, stepping down the stairs with a beg over he back, "I suppose, all things considered, this turned out fairly well. Are you all ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be..." said Big Mac. Twilight seemed to notice his expression. "Are you alright?"
"Lil' sore..." said Big Mac with a smile, "But I'll be fine." 'Until I get outside the gate.'
"Did you drink that medicine I gave you?" Twilight stepped closer, looking him over as if inspecting him.
"Nope," said Big Mac, shaking his head, "I was gonna save it for when the pain got too much."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I wouldn't. That medicine should get you back to ponyville if you drank it now and sat around for a few minutes. I'd drink it now."
Macintosh raised a brow. "The whole thing? Ain't that dangerous with medicine?"
Twilight nodded. "Sometimes, but what I gave you is not so much 'medicine' as it is a potion. Your body will metabolize it and use it to strengthen and regenerate damaged tissue." Macintosh's eyes grew wide. "Don't go getting silly ideas - this potion won't heal you completely, it'll just help you with the worst of the damage."
"You can make that sorta thing?" Macintosh said, reaching into his own bag and pulling the bottle out.
"Not easily," said Twilight, waving her hoof. "The ingredients are kind of hard to come by."
Big Mac looked towards the small bottle for a bit. With a shrug, he popped the stopper and put the bottle to his lips, drinking it down. At first, he noted the taste was bitter, but then detected a taste of... cherry? Odd. Once he had drank it all, he pulled the bottle back down, staring forward. "... When's it work?"
Twilight shrugged. "It should start working soon enough... probably enough time for you to wonder where your pegasus friend ran off to."
"Yeah," said Braeburn, quirking a brow, "Where is Fluttershy? I ain't seen her since last night."
As if on cue, everypony turned to see Fluttershy and Spike rush down the stairs, panicked looks on their faces. "Twilight! Twilight!" shouted the drake. Twilight turned around, just in time for Spike to rush in front of her, holding up a strange, stone orb. "Twilight, it glowed!"
"What!?" Twilight's eyes widened. "It did what!?"
"It glowed!" He pressed the stone against her face. "Fluttershy and I were talking, and it just sort of started glowing!"
Twilight took the orb from him, looking it over. "What? You were talking? Did you say anything specific? Something that might be an activation phrase or something?"
"No," Spike shook his head a bit, but stopped himself, "I mean, I don't think we did... we were just talking about dragons and stuff, and then how she was here to help Big Mac, and it just started glowing!"
Twilight stared at the stone orb for a second, looking it over. She looked up to Fluttershy, whose eyes seemed just as curious and panicked as Spike's. Abruptly, Twilight pressed the stone against Fluttershy, who seemed more than a little put off. She rubbed the stone orb up and down over her neck, face, and chest area, before pulling it back and looking it over.
"Are you sure you didn't use something that could be mistaken for an activation phrase?"
"Well," said Spike, looking up as if to go through a catalog in his head, "We talked about dragons, she asked me lots of questions about what I like to do and what I eat and what I won't eat and if I think I'll eat ponies when I grow up, and then we got distracted by an owl that somehow found it's way into your room--"
"She was in my room!?" Twilight shouted.
"Yeah," said Spike, waving a claw, "Well she had to be to help me get the owl out! Anyway, when she noticed that the owl looked like it really liked being in your room, we got into talking about why she was here and why she was so nice to the owl, and about how she was so nice to Big Mac, and then it just glowed!"
Twilight stared at Spike a moment. ".... Alright, so.... you didn't say anything like 'open says me', or anything that might have been confused for magic words?" Spike simply shook his head. Twilight sighed. "Is the owl still in my room?" Spike nodded.
"He looked so happy to be there..." said Fluttershy, smiling a bit.
Twilight stared deadpan at nothing for a moment. "Well, I'll have to deal with that once you're all off." She looked towards the stone orb once more, inspecting it. "You are a curious trinket aren't you...?"
Big Mac found himself curious. "What's that?"
Twilight shook her head. "It's... an artifact. A very special artifact that was hidden in a tomb under this house." She passed it to Spike. "Please, take this back to my room." The drake nodded, and made his way back up the stairs to his task. Twilight looked towards the others. "There's a bit more to it than that, but I'm still doing a lot of research on it for now. That's the first time it's done anything though..." She tapped a hoof to her chin. "I've had it for nearly a year now, and never once has anything I've ever done or said managed to stir it... I wonder what triggered it?"
Fluttershy smiled. "Maybe it responds to acts of kindness?"
Twilight, however, simply rolled her eyes. "It can't be that simple. I've given Spike plenty of treats and treated him nicely since getting it and I never so much as got it to shimmer."
"Oh," said Fluttershy, seeming a little dejected, "Okay, I just thought it was possible..."
"Well," said Big Mac, shrugging, "What if it requires an act of real kindness?" Twilight turned to face him, eyebrow raised. "I mean, givin' Spike a treat is nice an' all, but it's not really a spectacular kindness, is it?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "I'll be sure to file that away as a possibility for some other time then... so, how are you feeling now, Macintosh?"
Big Mac hummed a bit, just now realizing that in his distraction he had stopped thinking about the pain. He looked himself over. Sure enough, he wasn't feeling too sore. Well, he was still a little sore, but it was a manageable sort of pain. He looked up to Twilight and shrugged. "Not half bad, actually."
"Excellent," said Twilight, smiling a bit, before deadpanning. "Now, if you'd all be so kind as to get home and allow me to do my work?"
Macintosh grimaced. 'An' here I was, thinkin' we was actually gettin' to be on friendly terms.' "Eeyup." He turned to Fluttershy and Braeburn. "Y'all ready?"
"Yessir," said Braeburn.
"Yes," said Fluttershy.
Macintosh turned his attention back to Twilight. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Sparkle. Hope that book helps you find the answers you're lookin' for." He turned around, followed by the other two ponies, and together they made their way out the door. Macintosh turned around just long enough to smile. "Have a good day." With that, he pulled the door shut.
Twilight stood there a moment, staring at the door. Her expression shifted slowly from the deadpan irritation it had held to something more tired, more weary. She hung her head a bit, sighing. Turning around, she made her way up the stairs. Up to the second floor. Then to the third. She made her way down the hall, towards a door.
"Even if it has the answers I seek... it won't change what has happened."
She opened the door and stepped into the room, closing it behind her.
Macintosh was extremely happy to be back home. The travel down the mountain had been uneventful - something that Macintosh was happy to say - and his aches were still quiet pains that felt more like a particularly rough day of physical labor than an actual body-wide series of injuries. As he and Braeburn made their way towards the house, Macintosh felt a strange sense of foreboding overcome him. A sense that something was off, that something was not right, though he couldn't place his hoof on it. As he stepped onto the porch, he kept wondering what it could be. He tried to pull the door open, only to find it locked. Not a usual occurrence at this time of day. Wary, Macintosh brought a hoof up to the door and knocked.
The door swung open, and Macintosh smiled, if only for a moment. Slowly, however, his smile receded when he realized what he was looking at.
"Oh... hi Applejack... you're here early..."
A hoof across his face caused him to stumble aside as the orange mare stepped from the doorway, fury painted into her green eyes, her mane hanging down in a ponytail, wearing a green blouse.
"You got some explainin' to do, Big Mac!"
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 10 - Homestead | "You've got five minutes, Big Macintosh Apple," said the angry orange mare as she glared down at her elder brother, "Why did you run off, damn near get yourself killed, an' disappear again without so much as tellin' a soul where you was goin'!?"
Macintosh stared at his sister, frowning wide, rubbing the side of his face she had hoof-slapped. "Well, I-"
"An' you," Applejack pointed at Braeburn, who balked a bit, "What were you thinkin', leavin' Granny an' Apple Bloom alone!? You know those two can't be trusted without supervision! I came home to find them hatchin' a twofold scheme to not only find an' rescue you guys from pirates, but also ta scare Diamond Tiara an' Silver Spoon so badly they wet - and potentially soil - themselves!"
"It was a really good plan" shouted Apple Bloom from the upstairs window. Macintosh looked up at her, and the filly quickly bolted inside, shutting the window back.
"Woulda gotten away with it too if it weren't fer those meddlin' kids!" said Granny.
"What does that even mean!?" Applejack shouted back, shaking her head, before turning her attention back to her brother and cousin. "Better start up, an' I'm gonna be fair and warn ya, I've had a rough week, so if yer story ticks me off, I might hit ya in the berries." Macintosh and Braeburn instinctively shifted their hooves to protect their nethers.
"W-well..." started Big Mac, trying to pick his words wisely, "We... went to meet one of Rich's associates to try to see about gettin' translations for a book."
"Y-yeah," said Braeburn, nodding frantically, "A book!"
"And," said Applejack, holding a hoof up, "This book couldn't wait until y'all was... I dunno... not in worse shape than a fish in a desert?" She focused on her brother, daring him to lie to her, to tell her something she could figure out. Macintosh let out a sigh, deciding nerves weren't going to help anything.
"Yer right," he said, sounding absolutely humbled, "I coulda waited, but I was so anxious..."
Applejack stared at him for a bit, as if considering him. Macintosh kept his expression as calm as he could, not so much as twitching, doing nothing that might give him away. The mare then shifted her attention to her cousin. "Braeburn..." she said in a deceptively friendly tone, quirking a brow, "what isn't he tellin' me?"
Braeburn started shaking like a leak. "N-nothin', nothin' at all! That's the gist of it! Absolutely nothin' goin' on, beyond findin' that book, an' definitely no shady business here!" He turned his eyes away from Applejack's, who continued to stare at him. She stepped outside completely, shutting the door behind herself.
"Braeburn..." she said, a dangerous edge creeping into her voice, a smile on her face. "Big Mac's got a good poker face, but you don't. I know yer lyin' to me."
Braeburn was trembling harder. "I-I-I'm not llllying," he said, laughing nervously and sweating profusely, "Promise!" It was then that he noticed Applejack step very close to him, staring him dangerously in the eyes. From the corner of his vision, he could see her reel one of her forehooves back, dangerously close to his-- "He almost got killed by highwayponies in the woods for some old book an' it was stolen by a crazy mare that also saved his life so he wanted to go confront her an' now they got a deal worked out so that they'll both have copies of the translations or somethin'!" He turned his legs about, shielding his precious family jewels and whimpering, on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry Big Mac!"
Macintosh, however, grimaced. He knew Applejack would not likely do it -- never once has she ever lived up to the threat. All the same, Braeburn was not about to call her on her bluff. 'Oh Braeburn, who was I kiddin' bringin' you along?
But now Applejack's attention shifted to her brother, eyes wide. She zeroed in on him quickly, pulling him up from his side and setting him on his hooves. "My stars, you were attacked!? Granny said you just fell off th' roof of a house helpin' somepony fix the tiling! I thought I was hittin' ya for bein' an idiot, not bein' a victimized idiot!"
Macintosh sighed, shaking his head. "Don't tell Granny..."
Applejack stared at him, clearly upset. "Wha-why!? Big Mac, you got mugged! How bad did they get ya!?"
"They didn't get him too bad," said Braeburn, clearly still shaking, "until they picked him up, flew him into the sky, and threw him..."
"You got thrown from the sky by pegasi!?" Applejack gasped. Macintosh winced once more, personally preferring not to be reminded of it. "B-but, you... your--"
"Eeyup," said Big Mac, firmly, clearly not wanting this particular part of the conversation to continue. Thankfully, Applejack seemed to catch on quickly.
"Big Mac, you damn fool!" She punched him in the shoulder, causing the stallion's eyes to shoot wide open, a pained hiss escaping his teeth. "Oh my goodness--I'm sorry! Force of habit!" She shouted, biting her lip. Macintosh blinked back some tears, forcing a smile onto his face, though there was a hint of both pain and irritation in his expression as well.
"Salright..."
"But why," said Applejack, stepping closer to her brother, "wouldn't you want Granny to know?"
Macintosh shrugged. "... She'd worry. I don't want her to worry."
"Well darn tootin' she'd be worried!" Applejack almost punched him again, but she stopped herself when she noticed Macintosh back away a little. "Lookit you! How far did they drop ya? Should you even be alive?"
"Can we please not talk about that...?" Big Mac stared at her, his expression partly demanding, partly begging her to drop it. She seemed to want to continue, but with a sigh, she relented.
"Sorry..." Applejack bit her lip again, shaking her head. "It's a good thing I decided to come here early, otherwise who knows what kinda hijinks you two'd move on to from here?"
"Well," said Braeburn, slowly recovering from the fear of being kicked in the coin purse, "None immediately. The mare said it'd take a few weeks, probably a month, for her to translate that entire book."
Applejack quirked a brow. "That long, eh?"
"Eeyup," Macintosh responded, thankful that Braeburn might have actually calmed his sister down. "An' with it out of my hooves for now, I'm gonna jus' get back to work an-"
"Work!?" Applejack balked. "Boy, you look like a train wreck and a blimp crash had an ugly baby! You're not gonna be doin' no work until you're better!"
Macintosh frowned. "What...?"
"That's right!" Applejack pointed a hoof at Big Mac. "I'm gonna be here all week, maybe longer if I gotta be, an' I ain't lettin' you strain yourself too heavily durin' that time!"
Big Mac sighed. "An' your job...?"
Applejack waved a hoof. "I'm a hard worker. Long as I come back before the month ends, I'm pretty sure I'd still get a raise." The mare grinned a bit, crossing both a foreleg and a backleg. "I'm one of the best they've ever had. I'm pretty sure if I threatened to quit they'd give me anything I asked 'em for."
Big Mac rolled his eyes. "Don't get too cocky. I'd hate to see you fired."
Applejack stuck her tongue out. "Yeah, well, I got enough money in my savings account that even if I did get fired, I'd be able to ride unemployment out until I found a new job, and even then I'd be livin' comfortably." She turned, pulling the door open. "Besides, Uncle Orange is real good friends with my employers, so even if I did make 'em so angry, I'm sure they'd cut me some slack long as I didn't push the envelope too far."
As the ponies made their way back into the house, they saw Granny rocking on her rocking chair, smiling at them. "Y'all have a good conversation?"
"Eeyup," said Applejack, in imitation of her brother. "I gave these two a good talkin' to, and I think we've come to an understanding."
Granny Smith just chuckled. "Well, be nice to 'em sweetie, they ain't got yer college edumacation, so you've kinda got an unfair advantage over 'em."
Big Mac stepped into the house, looking around a bit. "Where's Apple Bloom?"
"Upstairs, mindin' her own business after a day-a showin' her lil' friend around the farm," said Granny Smith. Macintosh visibly tensed. "Big Mac, I won't go tellin' ya how to be a big brother, but if ya want my advice, I say leave th' girls alone. The filly's real sweet, an' she an' Apple Bloom get along real well."
Big Mac frowned. He so wanted to chase the filly off, but wanted Apple Bloom to be happy too. "... But... she's a thief..."
"Maybe she is," said Granny with a shrug, "But she's also Apple Bloom's friend."
"She might steal our apples..." Big Mac added.
"Why steal 'em when we feed 'em to her?"
"You what!?" Macintosh's nostrils flared.
"Don't get yer bandanna in a bunch there, sonny," said Granny, looking up at Big Mac with wizened eyes, "She's just a lil' filly. She ain't stolen nothin' since then -- at least nothin' we noticed missin'." She chuckled a bit, smiling. "Why, she reminds me of myself when I was younger! Lil' rascal knows jokes that'd be lost on most fillies her age!"
"Now she's teachin' Apple Bloom dirty jokes?" Macintosh grimaced.
Granny, however, gave him a judging gaze. "Oh? Like she needs Scootaloo to do that? 'Specially after your last birthday when you an' Braeburn had your fair share of some of our personal hard cider stash?"
At this, Big Mac blushed, biting his lip and looking aside. "That was different..."
Granny smiled. "So a five-legged stallion walks into a bar--"
"Alright!" Macintosh blurted out, putting a hoof over his face. "... Fine... I'll let it go... but I won't like it..."
Granny Smith simply chuckled and shook her head. "You don't have ta like it, boy. Just gotta like that it cheers yer sister up. Should be all that matters, right?" Rather than argue a point that he was not entirely sure how to argue, Macintosh conceded to his grandmother, although he was clearly not happy about it. "So, dija talk to Applejack about the deal?"
Applejack raised a brow. "What deal?"
Big Mac seemed confused a moment, looking towards his grandmother, but then remembering what she was talking about. "Ah... " He looked down to his hooves, trying to think it over. "Well... Filthy Rich... he wants to form a partnership with Sweet Apple Acres..."
Applejack seemed confused, staring at her brother for a moment. "Don't we already have a partnership? Or did that change while I wasn't lookin'?"
"We do... but...," Big Mac put a forehoof over the other foreleg, feeling his throat get sore. He looked up to Braeburn. "Could ya finish?"
"Oh!" Braeburn nodded, turning his attention towards Applejack. "He wants it to be more 'equalized.' His offer is ta buy the farmland, an' we would have a 50/50 share of all the profits made by Sweet Apple Acres apples. We'd keep the farmhouse, but legally speaking, the rest of the land'd be just as much his as ours."
Applejack was quiet a bit, looking towards her brother and cousin. "... Did you agree?"
"Not yet," said Braeburn, "Big Mac wanted to see what you thought before agreeing to anything."
"He wants to hire a buncha hooves to work the farm instead of have it run by the family what has tended it fer all these years," said Granny with a sigh, "An' in turn, he wants to offer us a lot of money fer even agreein' to it, never you mind the profits from the shares."
Applejack seemed curious. "How much we talkin'?" Big Mac leaned towards his sister's ear, placing a hoof over it and whispering. Her eyes shot wide open and her jaw fell, and she turned to her brother. "Yer jokin'."
"Nope."
Applejack turned her attention back to the other apples. "Wow... with... with that kinda money, you could improve the house... give Apple Bloom top tier education, Granny could go on that world tour she's always wanted... an' heck, I bet Big Mac could finally find that tree!"
"What?" Granny frowned, looking towards Big Mac. "Boy, she better not be talkin' about the tree I think she's talkin' about! You know that story's gotten lots of members of the Apple Family killed!"
Big Mac rolled his eyes. "One in the same, but I really don't-"
"You crazy!? That story's gotten lots of members of the Apple Family killed!" Granny flailed her hooves in the air.
"Granny," interrupted Big Mac, glaring towards Applejack momentarily before setting his attention back onto the matron of their little home, "I ain't wanted to find that tree since I was a foal. You don't have to worry."
"Oh..." Granny hummed. "Well, good then. Don't."
Applejack cleared her throat, turning everypony's attention back to her. "What I'm tryin' to say is... that with that kinda money, we'd be set for life. There wouldn't be closed doors anymore. Our family would be nobility."
Big Mac sighed. "So you wanna do it?"
"I didn't say that." Everypony seemed confused by the statement, but Applejack simply shrugged. "Fancy as all that sounds... this is still our home..." She looked down at her hooves. "I always feel happier back here. I feel more comfortable when I'm with y'all than when I have to go to those offices, hide my accent an' smile while snobs talk about how fancy they are." She looked up at her family members, frowning a bit. "For all the good that money could do, I gotta be honest... I don't think I'd want to give up even the barest fraction of this farm..."
Big Mac smiled, and past his sister, he could see his grandmother smile too.
"So..." he said with a nod, "We're all in agreement? We keep the farm?"
"Yessir," said Applejack, smiling a bit.
"Darn tootin'," said Granny.
"But what about all those bits?" Braeburn frowned. "That's not a small amount of money he's offerin' us just to sign on with 'em."
Big Mac raised a brow. "You really wanna sell the farm? I figured you'd be just as happy to keep it as the rest of us, cause you kinda grew up here yourself..."
Braeburn blinked, biting his lip. "I love the farm, don't get me wrong. But we get to keep the house. Why do we want the land? He's literally gonna pay us to stop havin' to do work."
"Well," piped Applejack, stepping forward, "I wouldn't say that, Braeburn. You'd likely still have to do some work. I mean, you'd have to meet a bunch of important, snobby ponies who'd think they're better than you, smile an' tell them that they're important even." She walked circles around the stallion, who seemed to be uncertain of himself now. "You'd also be held in higher regard, which means more responsibility, so your little sojourns to the bar'd probably be looked upon as scandalous and shameful to the Apple Clan and yourself, an' ponies both noble and common would consider ya a bit of a weak link. And that's assumin' one of these little trips didn't result in any.... 'unwanted apple-seeds' if'n ya catch my meanin'."
Braeburn gulped. "If that happened," added Applejack, grinning almost wickedly, "why, you'd be considered a right shame to your kin. Suddenly, your money actually would take away the respect and dignity you'd otherwise get. An' you know Granny's rules..."
Granny smiled sweetly. "If any of you boys gets a mare knocked up, ya best get hitched or you're dead to me!" Braeburn seemed to visibly pale.
Applejack laughed a bit. "Plus, everypony will be paying constant attention to you. Every sneeze, every butt scratch, every accidental--"
"Alright!" Braeburn threw his hooves in the air. "Alright, I get it! I get it. Money isn't everything..." He slumped a bit, clearly beaten. "I reckon this farm is worth keepin' after all."
"Great!" Applejack laughed, trotting towards her brother as Braeburn skulked his way towards the kitchen, likely to get a pity snack.
Big Mac watched his cousin leave the room before he leaned towards his sister. "All that stuff true?"
Applejack smirked mischievously, giving him a sideways glance. "I may have exaggerated a bit. Sure ponies'd pay more attention, but they'd focus more on the head of the family, which'd be you in the public eye. Braeburn'd be a debauchee at worst." Macintosh simply laughed a bit, to which Applejack grinned. "In my line of work, you gotta be able to be a good liar sometimes."
Letting his chuckling subside, Macintosh stopped as a realization dawned on him. "So wait... ponies'd pay more attention to me?"
Applejack nodded. "You're the main proprietor, an' as far as the public is concerned, you're the most responsible and capable pony here. By most ponies' standards, what you do reflects the entire family, and I reckon that if yer anything like me, you don't feel like takin' on that much attention."
Macintosh hummed to himself, wondering how he felt about that possibility. In his mind, he envisioned himself in a fancier suit, with his hair brushed back all proper-like, wearing one of those fancy green ties... and laughed. "Don't think it's my kinda look."
Applejack smirked. "Didn't think so..." She turned her attention to Granny, a smile now playing on her face. "Well, I'm hungry! What say you an' me make a good meal to celebrate a good day?"
Granny laughed, however. "Hey youngin', yer here ta relax! Leave the cookin' to me!"
"No," Applejack said, smiling, "I relax all the time. Jeeves does all my chores for me, I gotta sneak around to do anything myself half the time. Trust me, cookin' a good meal is about as relaxed as I'll get!" Macintosh smirked at his sister. Applejack was always an independent mare, though it occasionally bordered into the workaholic zone for her. Still, if she wanted to cook, more power to her.
He made his way up the stairs, intent on returning to his bedroom to rest for a bit until lunch was ready. As he made his way past the door to his sisters' room, however, he stopped when he thought he was hearing sounds. He stood stock still, holding his ear up. It almost sounded like whispering? Macintosh grimaced, slowly moving towards the door and pressing his ear against it. He wasn't normally one for eavesdropping, but he was curious. He didn't hear anything now. He gave the door a good knock.
"Apple Bloom," he said inquisitively, "May I come in?"
There was a thunk, and the clattering of tiny hooves on wood. "Uh... h-hold on a minute..." It was in his better nature to barge in, but Mac was curious, and pretty sure he knew what was going on. So, he pushed the door open. "Apple Bloom? You in here?" He looked to see his sister staring at him wide-eyed. She was standing next to her closet, with a big, forced smile stretched across her features. The stallion quirked a brow. "'Bloom. You hidin' somethin'?"
"No..." said Apple Bloom, before giving her brother a glare. "And do you ever knock? I coulda been indecent in here!"
Macintosh rolled his eyes. "Bein' naked ain't embarrassin'. It's just polite to wear clothes is all."
"Then why do you get so darn embarrassed when others see ya without yer coat?"
Macintosh bit his lip and fidgeted. "I'm self-conscious. Different story."
"Why?" Apple Bloom frowned inquisitively. "Is it cause yer fat?"
Macintosh snorted, quirking a brow. "Now Apple Bloom, I ain't fat."
"Well," said Apple Bloom with a roll of her hoof, "You say that, but I've seen lotsa other stallions about yer size, an' you got a bigger barrel than most of 'em." She looked at his side. "I mean, I guess you could say that was all muscle, but that sure looks like pudge to me."
Big Mac grimaced a bit. "Uh, yeah, I'm... gonna go somewhere else." He nodded, turning around and stepping out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Once outside, Macintosh sighed a bit, hanging his head. 'Well, my self-confidence is shot.'
On the other side of the door, Apple Bloom was looking under the crack. She watched her brothers' hooves make their way out of her line of sight before scooting towards her closet and opening it, looking up. "Okay, he's gone now!"
An orange blur fell from the ceiling and landed in a pile of clothes. Scootaloo pried herself up from the pile, sighing. "Dang. You called your brother fat? That's just cold."
"Yeah, well," Apple Bloom smiled and blushed, "it's the only thing I felt I coulda said that didn't sound like I was actually trying to be mean..." She frowned a bit, looking to her side. "I sort of... made him feel bad a little while back about somethin' I shouldn'ta made him feel bad about."
"Oh?" Scootaloo rose a brow in curiosity at her friend's words. "What'd you do?"
"Well," Apple Bloom gulped a bit, looking to her side with a hint of shame, "I'd rather not say if it's all the same to you." Scootaloo seemed to ponder it over, before shrugging it off, much to Apple Bloom's relief.
"Well, I better get goin' soon," said the little orange pegasus with a nod, "I gotta be home soon." The pegasus smiled and held a hoof up. "Smell ya later, right?"
Applebloom smiled back, bumping her hoof into the pegasus'. "Smell ya later."
The two fillies giggled a bit, with Scootaloo making her way towards the door. "Wait," said Applebloom, stepping forward, "I gotta make sure my brother don't see ya." Applebloom opened her bedroom door, peaking out a bit. Seeing no sign of danger, she stuck her head out and looked around. Gesturing towards Scootaloo, the two fillies hurriedly (and quietly) made their way from the room, down the stairs, and towards the door. They exchanged goodbyes and hugs, and the filly moved towards a nearby bush and pulled her scooter from it, her tiny wings buzzing as she darted down the path.
Applebloom shut the door and turned around, bumping into her big sister, who smiled down at her. "Well, yer friend sure seemed nice. Who was she?"
"Oh," Applebloom smiled a bit, looking out the window, though she was clearly nervous. "Her name's Scootaloo... could you not tell Big Mac about her?"
This seemed to catch the orange mare's curiosity. Applejack scratched her head a bit. "Why not?"
"Well," Applebloom bit her lip, not certain how Applejack would feel, "he doesn't like Scootaloo. She stole some apples from him..." Applejack held a hoof up to talk, but Applebloom tried to cut her off. "I know it ain't right that she stole apples, but she's been nothin' but nice to me, an' hasn't taken anything from us since that we ain't offered! She even promised never to steal from Big Mac again!"
Applejack frowned a bit. "Well, long as ya know it ain't right, an' long as you keep an eye on yer things. Also, don't go learnin' from her, ya hear?"
"I won't," Applebloom nodded, crossing her heart and sticking a hoof in her eye (which she closed beforehoof).
"Good," said Applejack with a nod, turning and making her way back towards the kitchen. "Lunch'll be ready in a bit. I'm gonna try to keep Big Mac from doin' anymore work than he needs, so I'll have you take him his."
Most of the day had come and gone. Another day of doing virtually nothing on the farm. Another day where so much work he could be doing was being delegated to Braeburn, who wasn't as good as bucking apples as he was, and Applejack, who should have been resting at the moment. After all, she was on vacation! Who spends their vacation working?
Still, Big Macintosh figured if he couldn't get any work done, he might as well enjoy the stars.
The medicine he had been given was already starting to wear off, and slowly all the pains and aches were beginning to set back in, although they were at least tolerable now. Big Mac lay underneath his favorite tree as he looked up at the stars, letting his thoughts wander here and there, too and fro. He then let his attention shift towards the moon. The great half-orb shone brightly in the sky, giving illumination to the night.
"The moon sure is lovely tonight."
Macintosh let his eyes shift towards the unknown intruder to his silence. Standing before him was none other than Nightingale, dressed in a fine magenta dress and wearing a fancy quartet of horseshoes. "Mind if I join you?"
"Nope."
Nightingale moved towards his side, lowering herself into the grass and pressing up against him. She let her head lean down and rest against his neck, letting out a soft sigh. 'Well, I guess I didn't tell her she couldn't user me as a pillow...'
"I do love the night sky..." she said almost wistfully. "It is so... serene. So calm. Mysterious even...." She looked towards Big Mac, smiling. "What do you think?"
Big Mac simply shrugged. "It is pretty."
"Pretty?" Nightingale smirked. "Nothing more to say?"
Big Mac pouted his lips a bit, seeming as if he was in thought. "Not much more needs to be said." His answer seemed to appease the mare, who smiled and nodded, snuggling against him and pressing closer.
"I suppose not."
The two ponies sat in silence for a few minutes, simply enjoying the night. Macintosh observed a shooting star, smiling a bit. "Did you see it?"
"I did."
"Well," he said with a nod, "Make a wish."
The two ponies sat in silence a few minutes. Macintosh almost chuckled at how Nightingale seemed to actively make a wish by closing her eyes and looking like she was trying to force a wish with her thoughts. She opened her eyes, and looked towards him with a smile.
"Well," he said with a nod, "What'd ya wish for?"
"Silly," she said with a giggle, "I can't tell you, otherwise it won't come true!"
Big Mac shrugged, conceding to her point. The two ponies' eyes met. She stared at him, her emerald eyes seeming to reflect the light of the night sky. 'She has such beautiful eyes....' The thought would not leave him. No matter how he tried, he could not think of anything but her eyes. She slowly leaned forward, and placed her lips against his.
'This again.'
Macintosh pulled away, frowning some. "Nightingale, I--"
"Shh," the mare said, pressing a hoof gently to his lips. Letting that hoof trace down his chin, she leaned forward, and their lips met once more.
'Do I pull away? Do I keep kissing? This mare clearly won't take no for an answer.'
'Do I want to say no? Or am I just doing it because I feel obligated to?'
She broke the kiss this time, smiling towards him. Macintosh's gaze was far off, almost as if he was entranced. He blinked his eyes unevenly. The mare pushed him over onto his back, climbing over top of him. He continued to stare until the pressure on his barrel caused his injuries to sting, and he gasped. "Aha! G-get off get off...!"
"What!?" The mare hurried off, shocked. "What's wrong?"
"Broken ribs..." Macintosh hissed, clenching his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut, tears creeping from the corners.
"Oh my goodness, are you alright...?" She leaned closer, looking him over.
"I-I'm fine..." he said, slowly rolling back onto his front in a vain attempt to protect his torso. "Just... very, very sore..."
'Well, that worked better n' any cold shower.'
The mare looked him over a bit more, seeming both confused and worried. "How did you break your ribs?"
"Long story," he said, feeling the aches ebb to something more tolerable, "kinda rather not talk about it if its all the same... but not just my ribs, lots of broken bones." Thankfully, she seemed to accept his answer, offering a gentle nod. 'I'd rather not have to relive my nightmares more often than I have to...'
An awkward silence fell over the pair as they continued to stare out into the starlit sky. Macintosh wasn't sure what to say to a mare who seemed really infatuated with you after begging her to climb off of you for fear of bodily harm, but whatever it was that he was supposed to say, it never seemed to make itself known. Still, she gently pressed her head against his shoulder again, letting out a sigh.
"Sorry," she said, nuzzling against him.
Macintosh was silent for a moment, but responded with a simple "Salright."
They continued to sit there for a while on that spot. Macintosh wasn't sure how he felt about this strange mare. She was clearly very forward, and not too shy. Plus, she seemed to take a liking to him.
Before he could continue however, she stood up and offered a small nod. "I think I shall return home for the night." She gave him a little smile. "Come visit me sometime?"
Macintosh hummed, tapping his chin with a hoof. "Alright."
That seemed to make her smile wider. With a goodbye, she turned and was making her way out of the apple field. Macintosh watched her leave, letting a sigh escape him. 'Don't know what to do about that mare...'
Deciding to set that to the side for now, he turned his attention back to the night sky, simply enjoying the company of the stars.
The stars were lovely tonight.
And yet the moon told a story a thousand years old that scared her.
Twilight Sparkle stood on the balcony of her tower, staring up into the night sky, a worried frown painted on her face. Nothing happened outside of her house. The night was still, quiet, peaceful... it was almost haunting to the mare, her thoughts circulating a thousand miles a second in her head as she focused on the moon above.
"You're up late..." Twilight turned to see Spike step into the room, wearing simple white pajamas and rubbing his eyes. "Something wrong Twilight?"
'Of course something's wrong. Everything is wrong. And yet nothing is wrong. And that's what's wrong.' Twilight stepped away from her balcony door, which shut itself behind her. She made her way towards a nearby pedestal with a stone orb on it, looking it over. "I've been reading the journal of Princess Celestia... and I'm glad to say that it confirms my theory of the nature of our little artifact here... I suppose I should have guessed as much, however, given the events earlier today..."
"Oh..." Spike blinked the sleep from his eyes. "... Why do you seem so upset then?"
"Because," said Twilight, turning from the stone back to Spike, "if this really is an Element of Magic, then the chances are that Celestia, royal princess of the sun, is also real." Twilight seemed to stare into the ether as her thoughts were spinning once more. "And if Celestia is real.... that means so too is Nightmare Moon. And to make matters worse..."
Twilight gave one last look at the moon outside, its surface surprisingly blank.
"... She isn't where she's supposed to be."
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 11 - Cider Blues | "Goodbye everypony. Apple Bloom, remember to keep with your studies. Big Mac, you take care of yourself an' let yer injuries heal up before you take on any big work, I've already paid Caramel to stand' in for ya for a week at least. Granny, you keep doin' what you do, but take it easy on th' dancin', lest ya throw out yer hip again. Braeburn... don't do anything stupid."
Everypony hugged Applejack, standing on the departing platform for the train. She smiled a bit, ruffling her younger sister's hair, and turned her attention to Big Mac, giving him one more hug. "And thank you for makin' this a good week." Throughout Applejack's stay, Big Mac had made a point of trying to remain active, while not putting stress on himself. True, he wanted to work, but his sister's happiness was more important, and since this was her week to relax, he had to relax to help her do that.
"Eeyup," he said with a smile.
With one more round of goodbyes, Applejack made her way from the group and towards the train, boarding it. Moments later, the departing call was made, and the train hissed to life. Slowly, it began to push forward, slowly building up speed. Soon, it had pushed away, and was making its way out of the station. Big Mac watched it disappear, before letting loose a tired sigh. He missed his sister when she left. It was always fun to have her around, and it seemed anytime she was gone, life was just a little less full.
"Well," said Braeburn with a sigh of his own, "Guess I'm off to the bar to grab a drink."
"You'll do no such thing."
"What!?" Braeburn shifted to look at Big Mac like he had just grown a second head. "You got to rest the whole week! I've had to pick up for your slack! Applejack's been workin' me ragged on anything she couldn't do herself!"
"Yeah, well," Macintosh said with a shrug, "her job don't take a lot of physical labor. She ain't used to farm work like you are."
Braeburn snorted indignantly, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll just... go home and drink some of my personal stash..."
"Much better."
The family made their way through and from the station, Apple Bloom stopping momentarily to watch an airship take off. "Whoooaahh...."
Big Mac smirked a bit, looking towards his sister. "You like airships?"
"I've never seen one takin' off b'fore..." The filly stared wide-eyed as the balloon-carried carriage drifted into the sky. "I bet it's like bein' a pegasus! But... your house flies instead of you!"
Big Mac simply chuckled at the very notion, shaking his head. "Well, maybe. If I ever meet a pegasus, I'll be sure to ask."
Applebloom frowned a bit. She knew he had met at least Scootaloo, but thought better of bringing her up. "What about that one pegasus mare that came here for ya last week?"
Macintosh quirked his brow. "Hm?"
"You know... uh... Butterfly?" Applebloom seemed to squint, as if she could see the answer written on a far wall.
"Oh. Fluttershy." Macintosh shrugged. "If I see 'er again, I'll ask."
"Ya know," said Granny with a firm nod, "we Apples ain't none too concerned about the pegasus kind. She looked like she'd birth some strong young Apples, pegasus or Earth Pony!"
Big Mac raised a brow, looking towards Braeburn. "She rejected Braeburn already." It was a cheap tactic, but it would divert attention away from him for a moment.
"Course she did," said Granny with a chuckle, "Boy has no tact! Don't know how to treat a lady!"
"Hey," whined Braeburn, "I got tact. She's just really shy is all..."
"Well then what ya need is to be more sensitive an' nurturin'." Granny nodded. "Mares are like plants. You can't set 'em all in the exact same place an' think they're gonna be okay. Each one likes to be treated diff'rntly. That's why ya save yer big guns until you've figured out how they tick." Granny nodded towards Big Mac. "Take yer cousin fer example. He dated that Cheerilee filly for a while, an' they was cute as could be. If it weren't for..." She stopped, puckering her elder lips. "Say, boy, what did happen 'tween you two?"
Well, that plan backfired, and now Macintosh was forced to discuss something he'd really not talk about. "Just didn't work out."
"Oh." Granny frowned a bit. "Darn shame. She was a cute one she was."
"So, Apple Bloom," said Big Mac, trying to change the subject. "How'd you like to stop n' get ice cream on the way home?"
Apple Bloom smiled wide. "Ya really mean it?"
"Eeyup," Big Mac said, punctuating with a nod. Apple Bloom giggled with excitement and jumped a bit, seeming to trot a bit as she walked. Big Mac smiled a bit. He did enjoy spoiling his kid sister.
"So I told 'em, you're g- *hic*..... gonna... gonna eat thoshe wordsh....!"
On any other day, Macintosh would have let his cousin drink alone. When he didn't have a drinking buddy, Braeburn would usually just drink enough to get buzzed and call it a day. However, Big Mac had been having a tough time of things this past month, and felt the unusual need to indulge in drink to take the edge off. Fortunately, he could hold his drink better than Braeburn.
"Braeburn," said Macintosh, a bit warm from the cider, and a bit more talkative to boot, "Y'all seem t' have so much fun... how ya do it?" It was a question he might never ask without a little alcohol in his system. This seemed to dawn on his cousin, who seemed almost shell shocked at being asked the question.
"Well," said Braeburn, trying to keep his balance after his head swayed a little too far to his left. Once he was certain he was upright, he continued. "Well... I jusht... do shtuff. I go out, an' I find shomethin' or... shomepony... an' *hic* I jush do shtuff."
"Just... do stuff...?"
"Eeyup..." Braeburn snickered. "Eeyup! Eeeeeeeyup! Hey... hey Big Mac... guess who I.... oh... yeah... it'sh you."
Big Mac took a swig from his own mug, following it with a sip from a glass of water. "Ya know... I don't talk about it often... but sometimes, I think I really might be boring..."
"Whaaaaat?" Braeburn's jaw hung wide open. He scooted closer to his cousin, placing a hoof on his back. "Y-.... you... are not boring. You're... you're Big Macintosh. Your name ish Big Macintosh...."
"Braeburn... yer drunk..."
"N-*urp*... No, yer drunk," said Braeburn, in a moment of inebriated brilliance, "also, Big Macintosh. Big Mac?" Braeburn seemed to pause, combing his alcohol drowned brain for something to say. "Big Mac. You... you are a great guy. Th' besht shtallion I know."
Macintosh nodded, looking down in his drink a moment. "Miss Nightingale... I'm pretty sure she has a crush on me. Everytime we meet, she kisses on me."
Braeburn seemed to gasp. "You dog! D-d.... did you do any-anything...?"
"Nope," Macintosh shook his head a bit, "But she wants to..."
Braeburn slapped Big Mac's back. "Why not buddy? Ya know, it'sh not everyday a mare jush... throwsh hershelf at ya! Go for it!"
"Nope..." Macintosh sighed a bit, still looking at his drink as if it had the answers he sought. "I don't know how I feel about 'er. She's attractive an' all... but I barely know the girl, but that don't seem to stop 'er."
Braeburn laughed drunkenly. "Sho... what... you an' Cheerilee ne-*hic*.... never did nothin'...?"
Big Mac took a drink and sighed. "Y-yeah, I guess we did... not that it's any of yer business." Yet another secret he might not have divulged had he been totally sober. "But this mare's not like Cheerilee. When we kiss, it's like somethin' else is takin' over. My heart beats real fast... an' it gets real hard to think..."
"It'sh looo-*hic* ..... ooove...!"
"Nope," said Big Mac, shaking his head, though he paused for a moment. "Least, I don't think so." He and Braeburn both took another drink from their mugs. "... When me an' Cheerilee kissed, it felt like I had knots in my stomach. With her, it's like instinct."
Braeburn seemed to consider this a moment, though how deep he could possibly think in his current condition was up for debate. "Well," he said, wavering a bit, "Pershonally... I'd... I'd jush do it to get it outta my shyshtem.... but if-*hic*... yer not sure... jush talk to 'er... tell 'er how ya feel, an' that you wanna take it shlower..."
Mac stared at Braeburn with relative surprise. "That's... surprisingly well thought out considerin' how drunk you are."
"I'm not drunk," said Braeburn, waving a hoof, "Yer drunk."
A knock at the cellar door. Both stallions turned to see Granny Smith descend into the basement, the smile she was wearing as she entered shifting into one of mild annoyance. "Oh dag nabbit, Big Mac! You know it's a bad idea to indulge Braeburn!"
"Sorry..." Big Mac hung his head a bit.
Granny sighed. "It's okay. You sober enough to talk to ponies? Cause there's somepony here to see ya. It's a pretty mare, an' if yer not presentable, I'd rather not ruin yer chances."
Macintosh waved a hoof, standing up and making his way towards his grandmother. "I'm a bit buzzed, but I think I can still talk. I been offsetting the drink with water." Macintosh nodded towards a glass of water sitting next to his mug.
"Alright," said Granny with a sigh though she didn't seem entirely convinced, "Just remember, don't do anything silly. This could be the filly. She's awful cute, though she seems a kinda cold." Granny was quick to spit on her hooves and brush at Big Mac's mane to his ire. Once she had it all slicked back, she looked at the top of his head for a moment until the mane seemed to pop back into place. She smiled, satisfied. "There. Yer all presentable now."
Macintosh sighed, making his way up the stairs and out of the cellar. He rounded about towards the back door of their home, stepping inside and finding a familiar purple mare at the kitchen table, sipping tea. She wasn't wearing the strange coat she was at her house this time, rather the coat she was wearing when he first saw her in Rich's house. "Ms. Sparkle?"
"Mister Apple." Twilight nodded in acknowledgement, taking a small sip of her tea. "How are you this morning?"
"I'm fine, thanks for askin'." Macintosh nodded, pulling a chair out, readying to sit. However, Twilight stood up instead.
"May we go for a walk?"
Big Mac raised a brow, looking down at the chair and shrugging, pushing it back in. "Eeyup." Twilight nodded to him, pushing her own chair back in, and both ponies made their way out of the house, and into the garden. They passed a pig pen, which Macintosh noticed Twilight looking at for a moment, as well as some of the Apples' personal vegetable gardens, and into their famous orchards.
"This is a lovely farm you have," said Twilight, as if trying to strike up conversation. The sentiment didn't seem to reach her eyes, however, so Macintosh found it hard to tell if he should feel complimented or not.
"Thanks."
"It is my understanding you produce what is considered the best apples in Equestria?"
Macintosh nodded, grinning a bit proudly. "Considered for reason. Our farm's the top of the apple market, an' we're the only producers of Zap Apples the world over."
That seemed to catch her interest. Twilight raised a brow, giving a sideways glance to Big Mac. "Zap apples?"
Big Mac chuckled. "Never heard of 'em?" Twilight simply shook her head. "Well, we got some special trees that don't seem to grow nowhere else. Every once in a while, they bloom, an' with a lil' ritual Granny performs, they sprout Zap Apples."
"Oh?" Twilight said, seemingly intrigued. "You mean like magic?"
Big Mac nodded. "Granny says they are. Lotsa ponies don't think so, an' imagine they'd grow all the same without 'er, but they ain't seen it happen." He smiled a bit, looking at the trees. "Them trees are magic."
It got silent for a bit. The two ponies climbed up a hill, where one might see the vastness of Sweet Apple Acres. "I've finished translating a third of the book," said Twilight, still staring forward. Macintosh didn't respond, simply giving her a sideways glance. "It looked like a diary at first, but the truth is what you found is more along the lines of an Autobiography."
"An autobiography?" Big Mac raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"Well," said Twilight with a nod, "It's like a diary, but--"
"I know what an Autobiography is."
"Oh." Twilight blushed a bit, though she kept her indifferent look otherwise. "Well, it doesn't seem like she was writing this particular book as she went along. Rather, it seems it was written particularly to tell a tale, and maybe give instructions..."
"So she was expectin' somepony to eventually find and read it?"
"Seems like it. It gives a lot of basic detail about who she was. How she reigned. How she lived... we're in possession of a tome most historians would spill innocent blood for."
"Well," Big Mac shrugged, looking down at his own mending injuries, "Guess that makes sense."
"Most importantly," said Twilight, looking off into the distance, "I've confirmed something I've feared for a while."
"That is?"
Twilight remained silent. Macintosh looked towards her, wondering if she heard him. "Nightmare Moon is among us."
"Pardon?"
"You heard me. An age old fairy tale sorceress is somewhere in Equestria right now." Macintosh fell silent, turning to face the horizon. "One with the power to engulf the world in eternal darkness and claim her reign over Equestria."
"But where is she?"
The stallion looked towards Twilight, who didn't move her gaze from the horizon before them. "The mare on the moon stopped appearing almost two years ago. Very few ponies actually noticed it, and of the few that did, only so many actually took it seriously, though when they took to the streets screaming about the end of days, they were quickly written off as lunatics."
'Just like Zecora,' Big Mac thought to himself.
"By all means, they should be right." Twilight shook her head, turning to face Big Mac. "... My... colleagues and I have every reason to believe she is here. Since the disappearance of the Mare on the Moon, there have been days when the moon lingered slightly longer than it should have. The average pony wouldn't notice, but ponies who pay attention to this sort of thing catch it happening once in a while." She turned and started pacing a bit. "Then there's the rumor of ghost castles that appear for short periods of time and disappear afterwards. Upon researching, their descriptions lead me to believe they're all the same castle and it's moving around.
Big Mac stared at this strange mare as she continued to pace. She stopped, turning to face him. "They're all connected. I know it. Nightmare Moon is among us, but for some reason, she isn't doing anything."
"Well," said Big Mac, waving a hoof, "If she ain't doing anything, is that really a problem?"
This seemed to surprise Twilight. "Not a problem? Not a problem!? You've got an ancient sorceress possibly buying apples from you who could turn you inside out with a thought, and you're not bothered by it!?"
Big Macintosh shrugged. "Well... sure, it sounds scary when ya put it like that, but I reckon if she ain't hurtin' nopony, why should I care what she did? She spent a thousand years on the moon, I reckon she did her time."
Twilight stared at him for a moment, seemingly confused by the statement. "So, as long as she wasn't hurting anypony, you wouldn't be bothered by her?"
Big Mac simply shook his head. "Don't see why I would."
It was odd. The mare suddenly shifted from being so much business, to being almost panicky, to looking unsure of herself. She looked at him like he was an anomaly she couldn't figure out for a moment; like a filly who had broken her toy and didn't know how it broke. Eventually, however, she shook her head and regained her wits. "Well, nontheless, I highly doubt she'll be pleased with doing nothing. If nothing else, we're better off preparing at least for when she does do something, and that's part of the reason I'm here."
"I've determined," said Twilight with a nod, "that the stone orb that Fluttershy supposedly made glow is, in fact, an Element of Magic, as the journal states one was hidden in Harmony's Tomb."
"Harmony's Tomb?" Big Mac raised a brow.
"It's a tomb that was under my house," said Twilight with a shrug. "Celestia wrote she 'left a kindness buried in the grave of Canterlot, for anypony who mourned the loss of harmony." The mare seemed to consider this a moment. "I'm not sure she thought that one through, because the house had been abandoned some time by the time I found it, and I've never been able to discern what happened to the previous owner. For all she knew, nopony would have ever found the thing."
"And you found it?"
Twilight shrugged. "Technically, my predecessor found it. Whatever happened to her, it was left perfectly alone, and she even left instructions on how to open the tomb."
Macintosh nodded. "So... discover anything else?"
"I know of the locations of two more Elements of Magic."
"You mean Elements of Harmony, right?"
Twilight simply shrugged. "Some ponies call them Elements of Harmony, some call them Elements of Magic, it differs from pony to pony."
Big Mac frowned a bit, looking at the little purple mare. "Don't think I've ever heard anypony but you call 'em that."
Twilight shook her head and rolled her eyes a bit at the stallion. "Forget about it. I just wanted to tell you these things to let you understand the gravity of the situation surrounding this thing." The two ponies stood quietly on the hill for a moment. Macintosh had the question in his head, and he decided to ask it.
"You were looking for them, weren't you?"
It was quiet for a bit. He already knew the answer, he was sure of it. "You weren't just lookin' for historical documents. You were lookin' for those Elements, just like Zecora was."
Twilight's expression remained indifferent. "I was. Though, if it's all the same to you, I'd still like to finish translating that journal."
"Feel free to it."
Silence once more as the two ponies stared out into the distance.
"Are you going to look for the others?"
Twilight nodded. "I intend to. If I actually find or obtain them is another matter entirely."
Big Mac stared out at the horizon for a moment. "Do you believe in fate?" Twilight turned to him, clearly confused by the question. "I ran into two mares lookin' for the same thing that could save the world. What are the odds of that?"
"Well," said Twilight with a shrug, "better than you'd think, given the circumstances." Big Mac nodded silently, acknowledging the logic she proposed, so he continued to stare into the fields.
"What do you intend to do when ya find all the elements?"
The lavender mare simply sighed, shaking her head. "Your guess is as good as mine. On the off chance Nightmare Moon does remain passive, I'll simply research the Elements and figure out their workings... but if she acts out, well, I'll do what must be done." Twilight turned around, and she made her way down the hill. "If you could, please come by my house tomorrow. I could use your help with something."
"Hm?" Macintosh raised a brow, seemingly confused. "What do ya need me for?"
Twilight turned to face him as if he had said something stupid. "Remember? You offered to help me? As it so happens, I might be able to use your help. Unless, of course, you changed your mind." Admittedly, Macintosh wasn't sure how much help she'd actually need. A promise is a promise, however, and all things considered, he was certain she wouldn't need him for very much.
"Okay then."
Satisfied by his answer, Twilight gave him a little nod, and continued on her way into the direction of the town. Macintosh watched her leave, giving a small nod to nothing in particular before turning his attention back to the fields.
"Wow, she seemed nice!"
The large red stallion nearly jumped out of his skin, the color drained from his face as he turned to face a familiar pink pony. "P-Pinkie! You scared me!"
"Yeah, I do that sometimes!" Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "So, Macky Wacky is going on another exciting adventure?"
Big Mac shrugged. "Guess so. Seems like it."
Pinkie grinned a bit, turning to look to where Twilight had left to, and then looking back to Big Mac. "You know, I'm kind of surprised you and Twilight Sparkle are hanging out! She doesn't usually talk to other ponies!"
Big Mac didn't know why he would be surprised, but he had to ask. "You know her?"
"Sort of," the pink pony shrugged, waggling her hoof around. "She's not as elusive as your marefriend, but she does seem to like to keep to herself. She's even crankier than Cranky Doodle Donkey, but she's a nice pony once she's comfortable with you, and I've been making it a point to be her friend since she helped the Cakes out."
Big Mac didn't like to pry, but he was curious. "What did the Cakes need from 'er?"
Pinkie's smile deflated a little, and she seemed to become quiet. "I can't say. I know you wouldn't tell anypony... but it's not my secret to share." She looked to Big Mac, and at this moment he realized there was something off about her smile; joyful, but also kind of sad somehow. "Let's just say... Twilight helped them with something nopony else in Ponyville could have helped them with." It left more questions than answers, but Macintosh supposed that if the Cakes had their secrets, they were entitled to them.
"Alright."
"Speaking of," Pinkie said, her bubbly nature returning in full force, "can I come with you when you go to Twilight's place tomorrow?"
"Why do you wanna go?"
"Well, Spike really likes these little cupcakes with gems in them, and I never really get to make cupcakes like that, so it's fun making him some once in a while, plus Twilight stays locked up so long that I think she forgets to have fun, and I figure she needs to be reminded she has a friend!"
Big Mac almost seemed shocked. "You know about Spike?"
Pinkie stared at him. "Spike? Who's Spike? I don't know about a Spike. Unless you know Spike. But if you don't, there is no Spike and he doesn't exist."
Macintosh rolled his eyes. "I know Spike. He cooked me a meal."
Pinkie grinned. "I taught him how to make sweet rolls last time I visited, did he make those?"
"Eeyup."
Pinkie's smile widened. "Were they good?"
"Eeyup."
"Yay!" Pinkie threw her hooves in the air. "I knew he had it in him! He's such a nice dra--pony! Pony! Normal pony!" She looked around really fast, as if trying to find spies, then leaned in close and whispered into Big Mac's ear. "Dragon, really!" The stallion rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Welp," Pinkie said, bouncing for emphasis, "I've gotta go! You take care of yourself Macky!" Without another word, she was bouncing away, humming a little tune to herself. Big Mac could only shake his head, smiling as his maybe-cousin left for whatever devices she had arranged. It was at this moment he realized he never actually gave her permission to come, and she hadn't asked him again. Maybe that was for the best?
He gave a final glance out at the fields, staring silently. "Guess I should head inside myself." With a nod as if to confirm his own statement, Big Mac made his way down the hill, towards the house. Braeburn was likely passed out by now, and Granny was likely already working on lunch; the mere thought of which made his stomach growl.
With some luck, maybe things wouldn't be so bad?
Rich stared out the window of his house, watching as the sun set. He sighed a bit, sadly, as it went down. 'She used to love watching the sun set,' he thought to himself, letting himself become lost in his memories. Memories of a better time. Memories that seemed to be so long ago. He was drawn from these memories by the sound of a knock at the door. "Come in."
The door opened, and a butler stepped in. "Master Rich, Lady Twilight Sparkle." Rich turned around, nodding at the butler, who stepped aside, pushing the door open further to allow Twilight into the room. The mare stepped in, her expression cold and stoic as usual.
"Twilight. This is an unexpected surprise." Rich smiled, sitting down and pouring a liquid into a glass. "Care for a drink? Hard Cider."
"No thank you." Twilight took a seat across from the table. "I've been wondering what your niece has been doing stalking the Apple house lately?"
Rich simply laughed, shaking his head. "Nightingale? She seems quite taken by Macintosh. I dare say, I've had to talk her down from buying the poor colt elaborate gifts, knowing that he'd likely be either unimpressed by the display or intimidated by the extra attention."
Twilight nodded a bit, staying quiet a moment. "You and the Apples are friends, correct?"
"Indeed." Rich took a drink, sighing. "Macintosh's father and I were the best of friends in our youths. We did everything together. He was my best colt, I was his..." He seemed to get lost in memories, a distant, almost sad smile on his face. "The night he died... tore me apart."
The mare sitting across from Rich seemed interested. "... What happened to his father?"
Rich shrugged. "Murdered on a delivery. Bandits. Killed him and almost murdered Macintosh..." He frowned a bit, seeming almost disturbed by the thought. "It was... painful to lose my friend. And to see his son so close behind..." Twilight could see the look on the stallion's face, the pained expression speaking volumes.
"I... never knew."
Filthy Rich sighed, taking another drink from his glass. "Why the sudden fascination?"
Twilight was silent a moment. "I took an interest in the town's history. After running into the Apples earlier, I realized I had never even considered the idea of interviewing the other half of the founders of Ponyville. It's only unfortunate that when I found him he was covered in bandages."
"Ah yes.... Nightingale told me of him being injured. I was considering sending a gift basket to him, a sort of 'get well soon' gathering."
The two sat in silence for a few moments. Rich looked down at a satchel she was wearing, when he noticed something; the edge of a book, and on it, strange letters. "What have you there?"
Twilight seemed surprised by the question. She looked down at the book, then shut her satchel over it. "Oh, an old book I'm trying to translate for a friend." She sighed, her expression seeming quite annoyed. "Is it too much to ask other ponies take an interest in learning that the ponies who can actually translate these things can't be counted with one pony's hooves?"
The noblepony laughed, shaking his head. "Well, I imagine you could possibly start charging if it becomes too burdensome. I like to imagine the funding I give you for your research and experiments makes dealing with my errands worth it?" Twilight nodded, though she did not say anything immediately. "Speaking of experiments and research... have you found anything more on our little venture...?"
Twilight was silent for a bit. "I... have some leads."
"What kind of leads?"
"Well..." Twilight gulped a bit, looking off to the side, "... the catacombs of the Castle of the Sisters was empty. Plenty of books, but none of them said anything useful. Some accounts of the Princesses' lives, some of the trials they faced..."
Filthy Rich frowned. "And the Elements of Harmony?"
"The most I can say," said Twilight with another sigh, "is that they seem to have been in the castle at one time or another."
Rich frowned a bit, brushing a hoof through his mane. "And we turned that place upside down last time we were there... I fear your theory of looters may hold some ground. Surely something of such importance wouldn't be hidden away so nopony could find it." He turned his attention back to the window, staring out into the town that seemed so small beneath his gaze. "Where would she hide them...?"
Once more, the room became silent. "I think I need to go. I've got a lot of work to do, and I'd rather be back home before it gets dark."
Rich smiled to the mare. "Why not stay here a night? You know I've always got a little guest room prepared for you with plenty of books to keep you occupied."
"Thanks, but I have to pass." Twilight sighed, shaking her head. "Spike is alone back home, and apparently, I've adopted a new pet owl, and he doesn't seem to care for him very much."
Rich nodded, tapping his hooves together. "I see. Allow me to do this then... Teacup!"
The door opened, and a butler pony stepped in. "Yes, sire?"
"Please, have somepony escort Miss Sparkle to a carriage driver and have them ride her to her home."
"Of course, sire." Teacup stepped aside for Twilight, who stood up and made her way to the door. The two ponies left, and the door was gently pulled shut behind them, leaving Rich alone with his thoughts for a moment.
"Oh Twilight... I am all too aware you aren't telling me the whole truth..." Rich sighed a bit, taking another drink of his cider. "I will give you a chance, though. You've been an honest and noble mare, and the least I can do is let you tell me yourself."
He turned his attention back to the sunset. "You'll be helping me. Even if you don't realize it."
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 12 - Ancient Magic | Macintosh wasn't entirely sure he should be walking so much with his current condition; a fact he only ever considered when he wasn't working (which he tried to do, and it went pretty well until his body decided to tell him he was overworking and he could feel his muscles straining as if he had been bucking nonstop for days), and that Braeburn was keen to remind him of. Pinkie bounced along with the two of them too, of course; something Macintosh wasn't entirely sure was okay, but if she knew Twilight and Spike, he couldn't imagine what harm could come of it.
It took them some time, but they finally managed to reach the desolate house. They pushed the gate open (which Pinkie closed back behind them) and stepped onto the property, making their way towards the house, and giving a nice knock on the door. They were met with silence for a bit, before a familiar purple head peaked out over the balcony of the tower. "Oh! You're here! The door's unlocked, come on up."
Macintosh pushed the door open, and all three ponies made their way into the main room. They climbed the stairs up to the top floor, where Twilight stood, waiting for them. "Oh, hello everypony... and Pinkie Pie... I wasn't expecting you?"
"I know," said Pinkie with a nod, "I just had to come up to visit you with my favorite maybe-cousin, and brought you and Spike some muffins from the bakery, and they're fresh! Well, as fresh as they can be considering it took us forever to get here, but it's not like I can afford a balloon to get up here faster, although I do have a propeller bike that could get up here faster, it couldn't carry three ponies, or one pony of Big Mac's particular mass I imagine, but I suppose you make do with what you have!"
Everypony sat quietly for a moment, trying to figure out what she just said. Big Mac merely frowned. "I ain't fat."
"Of course not, Macky! You're big boned!" Pinkie giggled, hugging the big red stallion, who merely scowled at the pink mare. Braeburn seemed to be suppressing laughter, and Twilight was rolling her eyes a bit.
"Well," she said with a sigh, "I only really needed Big Mac's help, but I suppose I can find a way to incorporate you two into the experiment as well." She turned, gesturing into the room. The three ponies followed her in, and up a set up stairs into the tower structure.
The room was different from the rest of the house; almost a living quarters in its own right. Near the balcony was a telescope that seemed to be set aside for the time being, several tables were covered with beakers, vials, and test tubes, a nearby table was covered in scrolls, books, and other parchment, a map of Equestria hung from a wall with various notes tacked to it. Several bookshelves seemed to line the walls, a keg nearby with an apple painted on it hinting that she might have spent extensive periods of time in this room alone. Another set of stairs led up to a second floor, where a bed sat, a few more book shelves, a dresser, and some other personal affects, though none of them saw this at the moment. A familiar yellow pegasus stood there, smiling at the others as she petted an owl. "Oh! Hello!"
Macintosh seemed a bit surprised. "Miss 'Shy? Why are you here?"
The yellow mare made her way towards the group, leaving the owl alone. "Oh, Twilight asked me to come. She was trying to figure out what happened with that over there..." She pointed towards a familiar stone orb on a pedestal. "She's been questioning me a lot about who I am and what I do trying to figure out what might have made it glow, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything..."
Macintosh nodded. "I see. Well, you try." He looked from the pegasus towards the stone for a moment, staring at it curiously for a moment before turning his attention back to Twilight. "So, how's that research goin'?"
"It's going..." Twilight sighed a bit, putting a hoof on the bridge of her nose. "I've... more or less got ideas of where the others might be, but all of the elements' locations seem to be displayed as some kind of riddle. Bits and pieces I really can't make sense of." Twilight trotted towards her desk, staring at some parchment that sat next to the book that had seemingly started this whole mess. "As you know, the stone here was said to reside "In Canterlot's grave; the resting place of Harmony'. This seems very vague, but those who were fascinated in ancient Equestria might tell you that this mountain was to be home to a city." She turned around, looking at all the other ponies. "It was Celestia's dream to build a city that represented unity and harmony among the tribes. But, with the growing tension between ponies, she left before she could build it."
Macintosh, Braeburn, and Fluttershy exchanged glances, and Pinkie seemed to tap her chin inquisitively.
"The others are a bit more... difficult..." Twilight frowned a bit, looking back towards the parchment. "One is said to 'reside with my blood; heirs to throne despised, and rulers of a crumbling kingdom'. Another 'among the clouds with warriors proud and strong'...." She shook her head. "I've... basically determined that that second one is likely Cloudsdale..."
"Cloudsdale?" Fluttershy's eyes widened just a bit. Macintosh noticed her slowly put a hoof on her chest, and the look on her face seemed... almost longing.
"Guess Fluttershy will have to get that one." Braeburn said with a shrug, looking to the pegasus, whose pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"No no no no," Fluttershy said, shaking her head, "I-I-I can't go there! Ever! Never again!" The room fell silent. Everypony exchanged glances, then looked to Fluttershy.
"Why not?" Braeburn smirked, shaking his head. "You can fly, right? You're a pegasus. Why wouldn't you be able to?"
"She can't because she's not in Cloudsdale."
Mac, Braeburn and Pinkie looked to Twilight, who seemed to be looking towards the orb again. "Cloudsdale and similar Pegasus settlements have strict rules about who can come and go. Only pegasi with special permission can leave Cloudsdale and come back, mostly for trading purposes. Any pegasus who leaves without such permission is labeled an exile, and not permitted to return. Some sort of method to keep their city 'pure' by not polluting it with earth-born pegasi who might potentially have earthpony heritage, which is just as well since an earthpony born in Cloudsdale would never be able to be put set without falling to its death."
Everypony was quiet a bit. Nopony knew what to say. Macintosh merely rubbed the back of his neck, and Braeburn bit his lip, clearly feeling some level of sympathy for the poor yellow mare. "Well," said Pinkie with a sigh, "guess that's one we're not gonna get!"
"Don't be so sure." Twilight smirked a bit, looking towards the others. "I've got a trick or two up my sleeve, and I've already got a few plans lined up for getting into Cloudsdale." She stopped a moment, blushing. "Though... it might take me some time to arrange it."
"Well," said Macintosh, "what about the others?"
Twilight cleared her throat, looking back at the parchment. "'One was said to be entrusted to a family of nomads, so in-tuned to nature that they seemed to breathe life into it wherever they went. And another one, left 'where disaster began, and her doubt blossomed'." Twilight looked up to the others. "I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure that, judging by some other things written in that book, that what this is describing is supposed to be the Castle of the Sisters."
Braeburn groaned. "We have to go back!?"
Macintosh seemed to turn pale. "Into the Everfree?"
Twilight waved a hoof. "Yeah, well, don't worry about that. I set up a little something to make a journey like that far more expedient." She grinned. "You're talking to a pony who has access to unicorn technology."
The room fell silent. Macintosh and Braeburn exchanged glances once again, and Twilight blushed. "Uhm, but keep that under your hat. I'm really not supposed to have a functional magic mirror."
The group made their ways into the house's cellar. There stood a single, lonely mirror, it's frame golden, yet somewhat damaged, worn by time. Twilight stepped before it, waved a hoof at it, and smiled. "Well," she said with a sigh, "Here it is. One of the old unicorn relics. Found it in the Castle of the Sisters with Filthy Rich. He let me keep it, and I restored it." She seemed to wilt a bit, frowning as she looked up at the strange mirror. "Unfortunately, it only connects to that one mirror."
Macintosh stared at the mirror, curious. He stepped closer to it, eyeing it, taking the entire thing in. "So... did all unicorns have something like this?"
"Well, no..." Twilight giggled, waving a hoof towards the mirror halfheartedly, "these mirrors were usually kept only by certain unicorns. Those who could make them, and those who were given them. A few Pegasi and Earth ponies had some too, but I imagine most of them were either destroyed or no longer work."
"Neat..." Braeburn said, tapping the mirror, though his hoof got smacked for his efforts by an angry looking Twilight. He chuckled a bit, pulling away from it. "How does it work?"
"Well," said Twilight with a nod, "there is another magic mirror in the castle of the Royal Sisters. It's basically how I got back and forth from there without having to go through the Everfree Forest repeatedly." She looked towards the ponies, clearly enjoying the explanation. "All we really have to do is approach it, and it should react to our innate magic and open a doorway."
"Neat." Braeburn grinned. "So... why not jump on in?"
Twilight looked towards Braeburn, raising a brow. "I'm ready whenever you guys are, but I hope none of you have eaten in the past forty five minutes. I'd rather nopony throw up on thousand year old carpet."
"Wait, we're going in there right now?" Macintosh said, grimacing at the prospect of such an impromptu adventure -- especially one through something he has never used before that seemed guaranteed to be unpleasant. He wasn't entirely sure he was comfortable with the idea of trusting his well being to an artifact that does something he had never even imagined as possible before.
"Yep." Twilight turned, and trotted towards the mirror. As she approached it, the glass rippled as if it were water. She looked back at the others, giving a little smile. "Well, see you on the other side!" With that, she turned and stepped forward. Much to Macintosh's (and everypony else's) surprise, she passed right through, the mirror rippling once more as if it were just water, until she was gone.
Three ponies stared in shock at the mirror. None knew what to say or how to respond. Before they could figure out a proper response, however, they noticed the pink pony sticking her hoof into the mirror and wiggling it around. "Ohh, tingly!" She giggle-snorted, moving her hoof around, causing it to ripple like water following her leg. "Well, last one in is an expired muffin!" Pinkie simply lunged forward, shouting a 'Woohoo', though she only got to 'woo-' before she passed through and her voice was lost to long-distance spacial displacement.
The remaining three ponies exchanged glances, some parts frightened, some parts curious. Braeburn gulped. "Mac? I don't think I want to do this no more..."
"Nope..." Macintosh said with a gulp. The three looked towards the mirror, and Macintosh grimaced hard. "But I said I would." He took a deep breath, scrunched his nose, and squeezed his eyes shut. With that, Macintosh made a brave charge forward, lunging through the mirror's surface.
The world seemed to spin around him, as if he were in a vortex of endless power. He could feel it; the energy coursing through him, permeating him... no, what he felt was something else entirely. A natural sense of wrongness. There was no ground. His heart would race, but he didn't feel it beat at all. There was no gravity, there was no up, there was no down; only a forward. One that he was being pulled to.
All of this happened in but a blink.
Macintosh stepped from the mirror, eyes wide. He wobbled a bit, before falling onto his side. Nearby, Pinkie Pie lay on her back, giggling and waving her hooves around as if she were drunk. "That was fun! Again! Again!"
Twilight stood firm, unaffected, rolling her eyes. "Yeah. We'll be going back through soon enough."
"That was..." heaved Macintosh, eyes wide, "Horrifying..."
Twilight merely shrugged, then turned about, making her way towards a nearby door. "It is kind of scary at first, but I feel it's also beautiful in a way."
Macintosh looked back at the mirror, panting. Visions of a shifting, endless reality, of a swirling vortex of nothing. 'I thought heights were scary... but at least then I know where the ground is...' "What was that...?"
"Well," said Twilight, seeming to ponder the question over a moment, "there are very few known theories... but texts suggest that the unicorns who made them were masters of teleportation magic. They theorized that as breaking down the matter of a pony might potentially be lethal and that rearranging it may not in fact be restoring the original that they needed some way to assure continued existence, so the mirror works by creating a temporal and spacial rift that--"
"Not to sound rude," said Macintosh with a tired groan, "But the short version?"
Twilight frowned, clearly upset that she was interrupted. "You basically stepped out of this dimension for a moment. Think of it as a bridge."
Big Mac's jaw hung limp as he stared at the dirty ceiling above him. "I wasn't..."
"Yeah," said Twilight with a shrug as she turned to make her way towards a nearby door, "it's a little surreal, but it's ultimately nothing to worry about." Suddenly, screaming turned everyone's attention to Braeburn as he stepped from the mirror and stopped, standing tall, wide-eyed, mouth agape, and letting out a small whimper, before falling on his side.
Braeburn panted and heaved. "Wh-where was I?"
Macintosh continued to stare at the ceiling, trying to fully comprehend the fact that, for a moment, he was not in Equestria. "Edge of reality. Between dimensions, in the ether, the void, the vast eternal nothing."
Braeburn nodded, his expression not changing for a moment. "Oh." He lay there silently for a moment. His expression slowly shifted towards what seemed like disgust, before he jumped to his hooves, stepped away, and vomited on the floor.
Twilight grimaced at the sight. "Oh for the love of-- you ate before you came through?"
Braeburn panted and heaved. "Y-yes, I di--" he stopped as he let loose another wave of purging.
Twilight rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Oh well. Everypony get your bearings and we'll continue on. First off, I want you boys to show me where you found that book. We very well may find our answers in the same room." Another sound turned everypony's attention towards Fluttershy, who stepped through the mirror, wobbling a bit. Macintosh slowly lifted himself up, walking towards her. Surprisingly, she simply held up a hoof.
"I-I'm okay," she said with a nod, "J-Just... give me a moment..." Everypony was silent. Fluttershy closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled calmly.
"You okay?" Macintosh raised a brow, looking towards the timid little pegasus with concern. She looked back towards him and smiled.
"That... that was... exhilarating!" The sudden energy was a bit surprising as the little mare looked back towards the portal. "I-I mean, it was scary but... for a moment, it was like... like I was seeing into the very fabric of the universe!"
The group had made their way into the small, round room. Twilight stared at a stairwell that seemed to descend into the floor, wide-eyed. "You found a hidden path?"
"I found a hidden path!" Braeburn said, grinning and brushing his hoof against his chest. "Does the brave adventurer get a kiss?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Not even if you didn't recently get sick. However, I can't help but notice nopony thought to close it back." Nopony responded, though Macintosh had the decency to rub the back of his head in embarassment while Braeburn simply seemed confused. "If you leave things like this open, then treasure hunters can come in at any time and start looting! We're not even sure that if anything was in there it's still there!"
"Well, guess we gotta go make sure nothing's been stolen then!" Pinkie hopped down the stairs, though she missed a step and tumbled down the rest of the way. Everypony rushed after her, worried, to find her laying against a wall upside down, grinning sheepishly. "Whoops, guess I'm a bit clumsy today!"
Twilight seemed to stop all at once, her expression becoming alert. She looked about, eyes darting left and right, on edge, and clearly uncomfortable. "No... there's... there's something off here..." She walked towards the lever slowly, as if it might lunge out and attack her. "Something... in the air..."
Macintosh grimaced, looking around the small elevator chamber. He didn't feel anything at all. He looked towards Braeburn and Fluttershy, who seemed equally confused. "You sure?"
"Yes," said Twilight, touching the lever cautiously. "... Everypony... be ready. There's something powerful here..." Macintosh raised a brow, curious how Twilight knew this. Still, he supposed she was the expert on magical unicorn artifacts here. The mare grabbed the lever and pulled. The ground jolted a bit, then slowly the platform began to descend down into the depths.
Macintosh looked to Twilight, noticing something strange about her. The mare was tense; very tense, like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Was she expecting something? He looked towards the others, curious as to how they were faring. Pinkie seemed to enjoy the elevator, at least watching the walls rise up. Braeburn was looking back at him, shrugging once he noticed his cousin was looking back, and Fluttershy seemed partly curious, but also kind of anxious, likely made worried by Twilight's claims.
The elevator came to a halt, and once more Macintosh and Braeburn gazed upon the sanctuary beneath the castle. Twilight and Fluttershy gazed in awe upon the castle that seemed to be built beneath another, though Twilight seemed a deal more fascinated. She stepped toward the building, eyes wide, silent for a bit.
"I-it's.... it's amazing..." she said, her words quiet, as if afraid that if she spoke too loud, she might ruin the moment. "Of all the tales... all the legends... nothing ever mentioned this being here..." She began to hurry forward, and everypony made sure to keep pace. They moved quickly, entering into the sanctuary. Inside, Twilight seemed like she might pass out. She let her eyes roam the place over, and turned about, making sure she got it all. Macintosh almost smiled at the sight; the mare before him seemed to be in her element.
"There's so much here," she said, still quiet, "So many books... so many things we might learn from this..." She slowly brought a hoof to her chest. "... Maybe... even the things we lost..."
Macintosh raised a brow, but Braeburn seemed to take it upon himself to say what they were both thinking. "What did we lose?"
Twilight paused and looked back at the others. She seemed to ponder this a moment. "N-nothing... we lost... just a part of our history..." She turned around, looking at it all once more. "Rumor has it that after Celestia's disappearance... much of Equestria's history was smoothed over in the span of centuries in order to preserve an ideal image of Equestria as it is and was..." She cantered down the steps, towards a book shelf, letting her eyes scan all the books there. "Some more recent historians have dug up inconsistencies and evidence that some events may not have happened quite as we envisioned them... although they're often heavily debated because the authenticity of their claims is hard to prove."
"So..." said Braeburn, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof, "What does that mean?"
"Nothing at the moment," said Twilight, keeping her eyes locked on all of the history before her, "but it could mean anything with the right information..." Everypony stepped further into the room, Twilight continuing to take it all in as if it were oxygen. Macintosh took a moment to look around himself; he noticed a few things here and there that he hadn't paid attention to before, but for the most part it was nothing new. "Where did you find this book...?"
Big Mac turned and pointed towards a small table, covered in bits of parchment, scrolls, and a few other books. The lavender mare made her way towards it, observing it with deep interest. She gently put a hoof on one of the scrolls, careful not to put too much strain on the ancient piece of paper for fear it might crumble to dust. She seemed to read it over before gently pushing one of the scrolls open. Macintosh let his eyes wander the room once more, absentmindedly occupying himself (as his other two companions were) while the local smart pony figured things out. He looked towards a mural on the back wall, depicting what looked like a tree, but with six gems hanging from its branches. Slowly, he stepped towards it, looking up at the image of the massive tree, beneath its branches a beautiful field, and three ponies surrounding the tree, rearing up -- maybe dancing or playing? Upon closer inspection, Macintosh realized that one of the ponies had a pair of wings, and another one had a horn. He could not place what, but something about the image seemed to make something in him stir. Some sadness he could not place.
"Aha!" Macintosh was broken from his trail of thought as he turned to look towards Twilight, who seemed to be looking towards him. "I think I know what to do next, and I think that mural is a clue." Twilight approached Macintosh, stepping at his side and eyeing the wall thoughtfully. The stallion took a few steps back to let her do her work. Twilight looked at the mural, before looking behind herself and finding what she seemed to be looking for. Macintosh turned his attention as she made her way back, to realize there were three platforms sticking up from the ground; something he had failed to realize earlier.
"Here we are..." She said, looking over each one. All of them had a symbol etched onto them; one depicted what looked like a star, another one a cloud, and the last one a budding plant. Twilight looked over each one a moment, though she seemed somehow apprehensive. "Oh... I see....." She stepped back a bit, staring at the platforms, looking back towards the others. Twilight looked to Pinkie, biting her lip, the mare stepping closer and inspecting the platforms herself, before letting out a silent 'ohh' and stepping back.
"Maybe," said Pinkie Pie, rubbing the back of her neck, "we should go home? Try another time? I'm sure we can--"
"N-no..." Twilight said, shaking her head. "No. No, I.... I think I have a plan. I think we can still make this work." The little purple mare seemed a bit tense; almost scared even. Twilight looked towards Fluttershy and gestured towards the platform with the cloud on it. "Fluttershy, could you stand right here?"
The little yellow pegasus did as asked, though she seemed a little concerned. "Twilight? Is something wrong?"
"No..." Twilight shook her head, clearing her throat. "Pinkie, if you could, please stand on the one over there?" Pinkie did as asked, hopping towards the platform and standing on it. Twilight looked at the last platform, the one in the very middle. She frowned, getting very nervous for a moment before stepping onto it, and turning to face the wall.
"O-okay girls... are we ready?"
"Yep!"
"No!"
Twilight looked back at the stallions. "Boys... you might want to look away. find cover if possible. This could get... messy..."
"What!?" shouted Fluttershy.
"Not for us!" Twilight responded, giggling nervously. "W-we're in a safe zone." She looked back towards Mac and Braeburn, her expression a bit more firm. "Seriously though, please, go hide. I have no idea if this will work, so we're taking big risks here." The two stallions shared a look of confusion. Neither knew what to make of her request, though neither thought to question her either after their trip through a magical mirror. They both walked towards one of the nearby statues and stood behind it.
Nothing seemed to happen at first. But then, Macintosh noticed a glow from the side of the statue. Curiosity had struck him, and he wanted to look out, to see what was happening, but he thought better of it. Suddenly, he noticed a bit of a draft as wind seemed to spiral around the room... a gentle breeze, calm and almost comforting. He looked back to see Braeburn somewhat confused, squinting at something. Macintosh turned his attention to whatever Braeburn was staring at; something in the ceiling. It was a bit dark and hard to see, though whatever was going on now seemed to illuminate it just a bit.
That was when he noticed something dart down from the ceiling and towards where the others were.
He didn't think. His body acted on its own, and before he could stop himself, Macintosh had leaped from behind the statue to see the mural rumbling, though he stopped when he noticed a fading light in the direction of the girls. Fluttershy simply stared at Twilight quietly as she fixed her hat, head hanging, with Pinkie Pie smiling towards the yellow mare, though something in her eyes seemed worried. Twilight looked towards Fluttershy, who then looked towards the stallions. As Twilight looked back, she noticed Macintosh's worried look. All at once, Twilight's expression became fearful. ".... I... "
"Miss Twilight," said Big Mac. In a strange shift, the purple mare seemed to react as if physically struck by the use of her name.
"... Yes...?"
Macintosh looked past her, towards the mural. "... Somethin' was on the ceiling. It moved towards you girls. I jumped out to warn you but I lost track of it." He looked around, his expression a bit confused, but still focused. "Did you see a little... black thing run across the wall or anything...?"
The mares all exchanged nervous glances, though Twilight and Pinkie both looked towards Fluttershy last. She looked towards them a moment, quietly, seemingly confused. Fluttershy looked towards Macintosh. "What did it look like? A small critter?"
"Heck no," said Braeburn, stepping forward. "It was... weird. It was quick, but it didn't look like no sort of animal. Kinda... blobby?"
A loud clack made everypony jump to turn their attention to where the mural was. It was gone, and in its place was a blank wall that was trembling and shaking, a square hole in the floor before it where the other wall had dropped into. Then, that wall fell, revealing another wall that itself fell, and another, and another. This happened a few more times, each one falling lower than the other, forming a staircase that led to a hidden door. The group shared looks once more. Twilight looked towards Fluttershy, then seemed to suddenly looked down at her hooves. Pinkie looked worriedly towards Twilight, then back to Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus simply smiled and put a hoof on Twilight's back.
"Let's go find that element, huh girls?"
Twilight looked up a bit and smiled, though she still seemed a little tense. Pinkie seemed more than a little relieved. Macintosh and Braeburn exchanged glances for a moment, before deciding to ask about it later. The five ponies turned their attention towards the new room.
As they entered the hidden chamber, the ponies saw a sight unlike anything any of them had seen before. The floors were flooded with knee deep water in a large, circular chamber that seemed big enough to fit a small party in, a bridge filling the gap from the door towards a raised dais in the center of the room, standing out from the water. Surrounding that platform were three statues, old and worn, though still standing, and looking quite sturdy. As the group crossed the bridge, Macintosh noticed there was a pedestal on the platform, and on that pedestal rested something round.
"There it is..." said Twilight, her voice quiet, as if trying not to wake a sleeping foal. "... An Element of Harmony... hidden in a room nopony has been in for nearly a thousand years..."
Macintosh looked over the bridge into the water. Despite the age of the room, he couldn't help but notice the water itself looked clean, and didn't smell stagnant. "Wonder if there's some sort of sewer system in here?"
As the ponies stepped onto the dais, Twilight took the lead and stepped towards the round stone. She gently raised a hoof up, pressing it against the stone orb. She seemed confused a moment as she gently picked it up and held it towards herself. She looked it over inquisitively, curiously. "Strange... it's... not doing anything either..."
"Was it supposed to?" asked Braeburn.
Twilight continued to examine the stone, looking it over, hoping to find something. Nothing stood out, however; it was completely identical to the other one that currently lay in her home. She sighed, shaking her head as she turned back to the others. "Well, I suppose we can't expect it to do very much. I think... maybe we have to have all of them?"
"But if that's true," piped Fluttershy, holding up a hoof, "why did the one in your house start glowing?" This question seemed to stop whatever trail of thought Twilight had, as she looked down at the artifact between her hooves. It was definitely an excellent question, though it was one none of them knew how to answer at the moment.
"What say we think about the 'why' somewhere a lil' safer?" Braeburn stepped away from the group. "This whole place is givin' me the creeps."
Twilight sighed, looking down at the orb in her hooves again. "I suppose. We won't get much done here. Just let me gather my things and--"
"Nopony move."
Everypony froze at the unusually commanding tone in Fluttershy's voice. Macintosh stood stock still, wondering what had brought on this command. Slowly, he turned to face her. "What's wrong?" She replied with a hush, staring up at the ceiling with wide, terrified eyes. Slowly, Macintosh followed her gaze, and when he saw it, he felt his heart sink into his stomach.
Something was staring back at them.
A single, massive green eye stared down upon them, seeming to be part of the shadows in the ceiling above them. It blinked once, it's massive eye staring down at them. Slowly, the shadows on the ceiling seemed to creep down in the form of small, dark tendrils along the walls with tiny clawed hands. Then, just beneath the eye, something white appeared and grew, until it revealed a toothy grin.
"What do we do...?" whispered Pinkie Pie.
"Run!" Shouted Twilight.
All at once, the beast above let out a loud scream - not a roar, a scream - as the shadows themselves fell from the ceiling. Everypony made a mad dash across the bridge, the weighty mass slamming onto the dais behind them destroying the bridge and launching Big Mac (who had fallen behind somewhat) the rest of the way. Everypony hurried back to help him up, before continuing their escape. After fleeing into the room, Fluttershy looked to Twilight with wide eyes. "Close the door! Close it!"
Twilight, however, stared at the platforms, looking from them to the wall. "I don't know how!"
"What!?" Pinkie jumped next to Twilight, shaking her. "You're the smart one! You know this weird magic stuff! Close the ugly in!"
But it was too late. Slowly, a black mass seeped through the doorway as if it were almost liquid, and it peeled open, revealing that massive green eye once more. Everypony ran as tendrils rushed forward, grabbing for each of them, everypony being quick and trying to avoid them. The ponies hurried away from the door as the massive black form moved to follow, thankfully slow enough to allow them to make distance from their pursuer, though quick enough to be terrifying and encourage them to run as fast as their bodies would allow as it's amorphous shape shifted and jiggled like some kind of gelatinous dessert.
Quickly, all of them hurried out of the sanctuary, across another bridge, and onto the elevator. They pulled the lever and turned in time to see the wall explode outward, and their hunter, continuing to give chase, though now it seemed to be trying to move faster. As the elevator climbed, the walls would disrupt their visual contact of the beast.
Things became quiet. Ponies could hear the heart beats of their friends. Nopony said a word, fearful that any breath out of place might bring misfortune upon them. Slowly, the door leading upstairs was revealed to them, and the elevator stopped.
"Whew! Hahaha!" Braeburn laughed hysterically. "I thought we were goners for sure!"
Several loud metallic bangs on the floor beneath them made the ponies jump. Several tendrils cracked through the floor and grabbed the elevator, and the room shook, and the door pulled up just a bit.
Macintosh grimaced. "Dammit, Braeburn!"
"Move," shouted Twilight, running towards the door and jumping up, gesturing the others to follow. Fluttershy and Pinkie filed out first, followed by Braeburn. Macintosh hurried towards the door where the others waited, but another shake caused him to tumble a bit, and the door rose even higher up. He shook his head, looking up at Braeburn and Twilight, staring wide-eyed at him.
"Grab our hooves!"
Macintosh hurried, feeling the elevator shake, but not give. He jumped up, both ponies grabbing his hooves and pulling. He could see just beyond them that Fluttershy and Pinkie were pulling them as well. With a strong yank, Macintosh was pulled free from the elevator, just in time to hear the platform squeal as it was pulled free of it's holdings. Everypony hurried the rest of the way up the stairs, Braeburn giving the book stand a kick to set it upright, closing the stairs behind them. Quickly, they hurried out of the tower room, back down the stairs, and soon, had made it back into the main lobby. The sounds of screams and walls breaking kept them running, Macintosh feeling his heart beating in his ears, his lungs burning. A few weeks ago this wouldn't be a problem, but he hadn't been working as much as he should and he suspected he was paying for it now.
After a run through the halls and making their way back to the room with the mirror, Twilight was quick to turn her attention to the others. "Everypony, get through!" Brokering no protest from the others, Pinkie and Fluttershy were the first to jump through, with Braeburn close behind, following Macintosh. As they all entered into the basement of Twilight's house, a loud scream told them that the creature was present. Twilight yanked the mirror and was quick to jump through as everypony saw the ground come towards their doorway. As it met the mirror's surface, a sudden blue flash of light emitted from the reflective glass, and then all they saw was their own reflections staring back at them.
Macintosh helped Twilight back onto her hooves, who then quickly adjusted her hat on her head. "Well," said the lavender mare with a sigh, "That was more adventure than I'm used to."
Big Mac panted a bit, trying to gather air. He reached into his bag and produced his flask, taking a quick swig from it, looking to the mare. "You mean.... that doesn't happen often?"
"Not very," said Twilight, who hung her head as she tried to regain her composure. "Still, without that mirror, at least we know that thing will never find us."
Fluttershy frowned hard, her eyes widening. "What... what if it leaves the castle? Comes to Ponyville?"
"Not likely." Twilight stood firm, looking back at the mirror for a moment. "I would have thought that some kind of guardian... but something about it seemed far too sinsiter to merely be a protector." Twilight paced a bit, eyes on her hooves as she seemed to piece it together in her head. It was then that Big Mac's eyes widened as he remembered something.
"I saw somethin' shadowy run along the walls towards you girls."
"What?" Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy turned their attention to Big Mac, though Twilight seemed the most curious, if also the most anxious. "You did?"
"Eeyup. That's why I jumped out when I did." He pointed a bit at the mirror. "But it was too bright and I lost track of 'em. I reckon it went in that room an' got bigger?"
Everypony shared glances, though Twilight seemed to consider the idea. "It's a possibility. But a guardian doesn't do that sort of thing... they're always alert, always ready.... which would mean..."
Twilight looked up, then at all the others. Her expression seemed almost concerned. "... Somepony was either after the element too, or seeking to stop others from taking it." The lavender mare was quick to get on her hooves again and trot out of the cellar. "Let's go. If my fears are true, then our adversary knows what we're doing."
As everypony followed the mare up the stairs, Big Mac stopped a moment to look back at the lonely mirror behind him. His reflection looked back, just as worried as he felt. Shaking his head, he followed the others up, and the cellar doors shut behind them, encasing the room in complete darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 13 - Secrets | "Remember, your injuries are healed but I wouldn't be running out there and pushing yourself to the limit just yet. Just take it easy for a few days, and you should be fine."
Macintosh smiled and nodded. "Thank you."
The doctor smiled back, returning a nod and turning to his desk, writing on some papers. "Alright. Well, you just go on home and take it easy for a day or two, and you'll be ready to seize the day. Remember, don't strain yourself too much. Hate for ya to rebreak something."
With a polite farewell, Macintosh had his coat back on and stepped out of the doctor's office. Back on the streets of Ponyville, he stretched his hooves in confidence for the first time in a while. It had been a week and a half since his adventure in the castle of the sisters, and quite frankly he was pleased to have it behind him, and looking forward to the normalcy that came with life. As he trotted, however, he was joined by a somewhat unexpected companion.
"Why hello, Macintosh!"
Big Mac looked to the side and smiled at a familiar blue mare in an elegant, purple dress as she approached him. "It is nice to see you finally removed the bandages?" It seemed to be phrased as a question; likely, she was inquiring as to if he were well.
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a nod. This elicited a giggle from Nightingale, though Macintosh wasn't sure what was so funny about a bill of good health, he supposed it was a good sign anyway.
"Well, that's good to hear. Say, would you indulge me in a walk?" Macintosh responded with a light nod, and the two ponies started a walk at a leisurely pace through the streets of Ponyville. They would get the occasional look from others, though none seemed to focus too long. Macintosh knew in his heart that many were questioning why a noble would walk so close to a commoner such as himself. Still, what they thought was of no concern to him. Nightingale gave him a sideways glance, speaking the first words after a bit of silence. "My uncle was a bit disappointed in your denial of his offer." It was a simple statement; there was no malice in it, in fact, she seemed more curious than anything.
"It was a kind offer... but we love our home too much to just give it up... even partially."
"But Macintosh, think of all you could have." She stepped in front of him, stopping his progress with her presence and a smile. "You could be wealthy, healthy, and provide endlessly for your family. Your grandmother would have the best care money could buy, your baby sister would never work a day in her life..."
Macintosh smirked a bit, shaking his head. "Sometimes a day's honest work is good for the soul."
The comment seemed to confuse Nightingale, who stared at Big Mac with a quirked brow. "So..." she said, as if trying to wrap her mind around what he said. "... Are you saying you like to work?"
Macintosh shrugged a bit. "Sometimes." He didn't consider himself a workaholic of any description, but for Big Mac, working was more than just a tedious chore for income.
Nightingale stared at him for a moment, still seeming confused. A soft smile seemed to build on her face though. "You are a noble pony, Macintosh. Nobler than most who consider themselves such by birth." This made Big Mac blush a bit, though it might be hard to notice beneath his red coat.
"Shucks, Miss Nightingale."
"And stop calling me miss," she giggled, bumping her flank against his, "I like to think we're close enough that you can just call me Nightingale... my uncle calls me Gale sometimes." Macintosh seemed to consider this, and responded with a polite nod.
"Alright, Gale."
Nightingale let out a soft yawn, shaking her head a bit. Big Mac quirked a brow. "Didn't get much sleep last night?"
"Nope," the mare said, imitating his voice poorly before giggling. "... I don't most nights. I consider myself a night pony. I work better in the night than during the day."
Macintosh nodded. "Some ponies are like that. My cousin would tell you the same, though he don't work then either, jus' goes to bars and flirts with mares." Nightingale tried to stifle a second yawn, to which Macintosh responded with a little smirk. "You go on home then. Take yourself a nap." Nightingale seemed to consider this, but responded with a gentle nod.
"Yes, I suppose I've been working hard enough to deserve a nap." She leaned up and placed a soft peck on Macintosh's cheek, eliciting another (yet unseen) blush. "Fare well, Macintosh! I may visit you later tonight, if you're around." The mare turned about, and made her way off, leaving Macintosh alone once more. Bereft of a conversation partner, he started his trot home.
The walk was thankfully uneventful for Macintosh. As he made it into his home, he was greeted by a thankful sight; no Twilight Sparkle, no Fluttershy, no Pinkie Pie, no Braeburn... this was one of those rare days that he needed. Where he could end the day quietly, with no worries, no concerns, no end-of-the-world terrors, nothing.
It meant he could get some work done and forget the past month.
He removed his coat and set it on the coat hanger, leaving only his favorite shirt on. He made his way out of the farm house and towards the barn, pushing the doors open. Inside was a cart he had been wanting to use for weeks, with several empty baskets inside. Hitching the cart to his yoke, he made his way out past the fields, into the orchards.
For hours, he bucked apples from trees into the baskets. When one basket filled, he started filling another. If all baskets filled, he would return to the shed and grab more. It was technically an off day, but he hadn't actually done any real work since he first went to the Everfree. He needed to work.
For now, it was therapy.
The sun had started to set by the time he finally stopped, and had made his way to the barn to place his last harvesting for the day. The sweat on his face told him he had done good, and the ache in his muscle was the welcome burn of work, not of injury.
As he made his way inside for his dinner, he felt happy. Maybe now, his life could return to some degree of normalcy.
The meal was good. Big Mac expected nothing less from his granny. His cousin would talk about whatever he heard over the course of the day, while Macintosh and Granny would humor him with nods or scold him for bad conversation topics at the table and in front of Apple Bloom. When he was finished with his meal, Macintosh decided to finish the day early and made his way up the stairs of his home, into the upstairs hallway, and towards his bedroom. The door beckoned him with its siren song, promising comfort, peace, a night of rest where he had nothing to worry about. He almost cried tears of joy just thinking of it. Slowly, he reached for the knob. His hoof touched it. He turned.
He heard a knock at the door. His granny was cleaning dishes, Braeburn likely helping, and Apple Bloom likely already off to her own devices. Macintosh let out a sad, defeated sigh. "I got it!" He turned about and made his way back down the stairs, and towards the front door, setting aside his desperate desire for a peaceful sleep and putting a smile on his face as he pushed it open. The smile on his face drooped just a bit when he saw Twilight standing on the other side, though she was quick to step past him and into the house, shutting the door behind them and closing a nearby curtain. He was about to ask her what was wrong, but she spoke before he could utter a syllable.
"Before you ask, can we get to the cellar?" Her voice was tense, and she seemed on edge. "I really, really would like to see what's in the cellar."
Braeburn happened to peak his head in at the time. "Oh? I can show you the cellar!"
"No," she said way too abruptly, but she corrected herself, "No, thanks, but I want Macintosh to show me. The cellar."
Braeburn raised a brow, but smirked nonetheless. "Ohhh, I see. Don't mind me, you two. Just, ah... don't make too much noise?" Macintosh blinked a few times, utterly confused. He lead Twilight towards the basement door, pushing it open. She was quick to hurry in and drag him with her, and close the door back. As the mare hurried down the stairs, he followed, wondering what was going on. She turned to him, igniting a lantern she had pulled from her saddlebag and setting it on the floor.
"We're being watched."
"What?"
"Watched!" Twilight said, waving her hooves around, looking towards both exits. "For the past week, I've noticed things happening. Trees moving around, things in my house being moved, and-and-and--"
"Twilight," he said with a little more firmness than he probably intended. The mare stopped panicking, looking at him, panting and heaving. "Miss Twilight... calm down. Are ya sure yer bein' watched? Maybe ya just moved things around an' forgot about 'em? Maybe wind blew 'em around?"
Twilight grimaced hard. "Oh, sure, what kind of wind is going to blow a globe from one table to another?" Macintosh didn't respond, taking a moment to consider that. "I'm not talking papers Macintosh, I'm talking things that have no business being moved around! Things that have been in the same spots for long periods of time! I found my bedsheets on the floor when I came home from shopping, and books were scattered around!"
Big Mac didn't readily know how to respond to any of that. He imagined she would remember doing these things. He placed a hoof to his chin, tapping a few times in thought. "Well," he said, raising a brow, "Are the elements okay?"
"Yes," she said with a nod and a sigh. "I left them in a special safe only I can open, so I cannot imagine anypony will be able to get to them without pulling that safe from the wall, and even then they'd have a safe they can't gain entry to." Twilight seemed to fall silent for a moment, before she turned from Macintosh and began to pace in small circles. "I've done some research on our other targets... the family of nomads were likely a group of ponies Celestia had run into during her travels. I couldn't find any recorded documents of Celestia having any children or siblings beyond Nightmare Moon herself, but my sources indicate there is a pony who claims to be descended from ancient royalty..."
Big Mac watched this mare pace frantically back and forth as she continued to pace silently for the next few seconds, her eyes on the floor and her mind on matters that seemed above his head. "So," he said with a nod, "How we gonna find 'em?"
Twilight stopped, looking up at Big Mac. "Well, I just have to figure out where our self-proclaimed 'prince' is currently hiding before I can approach him. The nomads might take time without knowing more about them and being able to discern a possible relation..." The next few minutes were quiet. Macintosh simply looked around the room at the various things they kept there; some barrels of cider, Big Mac's work bench and tools, nothing that he hadn't seen before of course. 'This whole thing is way over my head' he thought, trying to ignore the biting feeling of concern he got over the whole scenario.
"Big Mac," said Twilight, drawing his attention back to the mare, "If anypony questions you about anything unusual, like the Elements of Harmony or the castle of the sisters or anything, feign ignorance and come to my house as soon as you are able. Trust nopony, not friends, not family, not Mister Rich or Nightingale, nopony."
Big Mac raised a brow. "Why not trust the Riches?"
"Because," said Twilight, turning to face him, "I'm pretty sure he knows I'm keeping something from him. He's not a bad pony, but he's a shrewd business-pony, and if he learns I'm holding out on him, he'll almost certainly force me to choose between losing the elements or losing access to his resources." Big Mac pondered that for a moment. He supposed it made sense that Rich would want a piece of whatever his help was going into, and while he would normally be happy to oblige in that sort of thing, this wasn't quite something any of them had any right to offer him.
Macintosh turned his gaze back to Twilight, who stared at him with an expression of urgency. She really meant what she said, and he could tell that she took this whole situation seriously. That she took him seriously. Big Mac offered a nod in response. "I won't tell a soul."
"Excellent." Twilight nodded towards him, and sighed a bit, relaxing some, at least as relaxed as she might typically be. The mare made her way up the stairs, and Big Mac followed. As they stepped from the basement, Twilight stopped and looked at something on a nearby shelf; a photo. A very familiar, very dear photo of two ponies. One a stallion of a rust-red color with white-furred fetlocks and muzzle, orange eyes, and a yoke around his neck, and a yellow coated mare with green eyes, freckles, and orange hair. She looked at the photo for a moment, almost entranced.
"My ma and pa," said Big Mac with a nod and a proud smile. "Nicest ponies you'd ever meet..." Twilight stared at that photo for a few seconds in silence. Macintosh looked a the photo himself. He was proud of his parents and loved them dearly, but even now he still felt that twinge of sadness looking at the old photos. He let out a sigh, shaking his head. "An' the best parents that ever were."
A few more seconds of silence passed, before Twilight broke it. "Macintosh... I... I feel I owe you an apology." Big Mac raised a brow in confusion, the ear adjacent to Twilight perking up. "When we first met... I... said some things that were uncalled for. Some things that... having spent time around you, I feel, were wrong."
Big Mac snorted. "Didn't you already apologize for this?"
"I did," said Twilight in acknowledgement, "but it was a forced apology. Fluttershy is... very persuasive..." She chuckled a bit at that, though it was a mirthless one. "... That's why I feel I owe you a more sincere one. It was irrational of me to assume what I did... and you didn't deserve any of it, even if at the time I would have said otherwise."
It was a bit unexpected to hear her apologize as sincerely as she seemed to be able. Big Mac smiled a bit, eyes back on the photo in front of him. "It's alright. I'm used to those assumptions by now." This seemed to make the mare curious, she looked towards him, one brow quirked, the edges of her mouth pulling slightly down. Still, she decided it best not to prod upon that for now. She cleared her throat and nodded.
"Well," she said looking towards a nearby clock, "I suppose I should make my way back before it gets too late."
Big Mac turned his attention to the clock, noticing it was already almost seven. "Ya sure? It'll be dark by the time you get to the mountain." He smiled a bit and gestured towards the stairs. "We got a guest room if'n ya want. Be no trouble."
Twilight suddenly seemed very tense. She placed a hoof on the rim of her hat and cleared her throat. "Ah, no, that won't be necessary thank you. I'll just walk at a canter, I should get home before it gets too late." She sighed a bit, rolling her eyes. "Besides, Spike has been waging war against Owlowiscious lately. Last time I left him alone for the day I came home to find a bunch of toy mice thrown about covered in ketchup."
Macintosh nodded in acknowledgement of her choice. "Well, if'n ya change yer mind, offer stands."
The two walked to the door, and just as Big Mac opened it, they were both taken by surprise to see none other than Nightingale standing on the other side, holding her hoof up as if ready to knock. Big Mac smiled. "Oh, hello Nightingale."
The mare, however, simply stared at Big Mac and Twilight. "Uh... hello Macintosh... I..." Whatever she had ready to say stopped at her tongue, and she paused for a moment before clearing her throat. Macintosh couldn't help but notice the mare was a little tense, leaving him to wonder if she were being watched too. "I... I had something I wanted to say and forgot all about it... I'm sorry if I was interrupting anything...?"
Big Mac simply shook his head. "Not at all. Miss Sparkle was just leavin'."
"Yeah," said Twilight with a nod, before looking to Big Mac and giving another silent nod towards him. "I'll see you when I see you, Macintosh." The mare stepped around Nightingale, and started on her way down the road. Nightingale had her attention once more on Big Mac, smiling, though something about the smile seemed unusual.
"So... Twilight. I didn't know you two were friends?"
Big Mac pondered a moment, pouting his lips. "Well... we're friendly acquaintances..."
"I see, I see..." said the mare, nodding, looking once more down the road. "So... there's... nothing going on between you two?"
Macintosh was confused for a moment, but then it struck on him what she was implying. "Oh! Nope, she's just helpin' me with some things."
Nightingale seemed quiet a moment. He couldn't tell, but Macintosh was certain that for a moment, she seemed almost contemptuous, although it was only for a moment. With a sigh and a nod, Nightingale's eyes were back on him. "Okay... yes, I suppose it was a bit... hasty of me to assume anything. I suppose I was not aware you two had business together and I drew some rather quick conclusions."
"It's alright," said Macintosh, another simple nod to confirm his own statement. "Easy mistake to make."
The two ponies were quiet for a moment, which he assumed was mostly Nightingale trying to gather herself. With another sigh, she turned her eyes back to him and smiled weakly. "... I had come here wondering if you had any plans for tomorrow?" Macintosh seemed confused, to which she held her hoof up. "I wished to invite you to my home for dinner." Big Mac held a hoof up to say something, but the words did not leave him before she could interrupt him. "Before you say anything, it's no trouble. And, I'm afraid that this is just a date for us, so it will be just the two of us. So, does that sound agreeable?"
Macintosh pondered upon it for a moment. Ordinarily, he felt stallions should ask mares to dates, cook for them, etc. However, he also knew he didn't have the coin or the resources she did, so any date he could offer her was novel compared to what she could do. He had momentarily considered rejecting her offer, but then he considered what Braeburn had said before. 'I'm not sure how I feel about her just yet... but I suppose dinner wouldn't hurt. After all, she's a nice enough pony...'
"Alright," he said with a nod, "I'll be there. Just gotta tell Granny."
Nightingale smiled and nodded in confirmation. "Excellent! Shall we say.... seven? Eight?"
"Seven sounds nice."
"Great!" The mare smiled more, leaning forward and placing a gentle peck on Big Mac's lips, though not lingering. She turned and started down the path, off the farm. He watched ler leave, keeping his eyes on her. Once she was out of sight, he shook his head, feeling as if he was waking up from being stupefied. It never ceased to amaze him how every time she was near his whole world seemed to focus on her. Deep down, he pondered if maybe Braeburn was right? What if this was love?
'A mystery for another time' he thought as he made his way back into his house.
The trip back home had been uneventful. Uneventful was good. It meant nothing had happened, and that she was at least relatively safe.
Twilight trod the path of the mountains carefully. She wasn't foolish enough to believe that she was absolutely safe from anything, but she was smart enough to know that if anypony had any intention of doing anything, they likely wouldn't wait long once she was in the mountain. She pushed the front gate to the ancient house open, closing it back behind her as she approached it. 'Only a few more steps' she thought to herself as she came closer to the house. She reached the door, and placing a hoof on it, pressed it open. As she stepped inside, she was quick to shut and bolt the door behind her.
"Safe," she said to herself out loud, with a sigh of relief.
"Why? Something dangerous out there egghead?"
Twilight almost jumped out of her skin and turned to face the one who had addressed her. She was approached by a mare, dressed in a dirty grey coat, a pair of goggles on her head, and a leather vest on her barrel. She was a pegasus, leaning against a wall, eating from an apple (likely stolen from Twilight's pantry) ,although that wasn't the thing that stood out most of her; rather, it was her strange, rainbow-colored mane.
"You must be an heir of the Rainbow family," said Twilight, hoping that she understood enough about pegasus history to land right on the mark. "Cloudsdale Nobility? High blooded pegasi?"
The mare blinked a few times and smirked. "Didn't expect an Earther to know anything about Cloudsdale, let alone about noble families... impressive." She held up the apple she was eating, taking another big bite from it, chewing on it. "So, you know I'm a pretty big deal?"
Twilight grinned inwardly, though she kept her expression level and stoic as she could. "Not if you're down here, you're not."
The mare pursed her lips and gave a nod. "Fair 'nuff. I suppose I did technically lose my title coming down here..." She took another bite from her apple, lacking the common courtesy of not talking with her mouth full, she continued. "You'd think the rules'd be different, but apparently they're actually harsher in this case, because now I'm a shame of my clan."
Twilight grimaced. "You don't sound bothered by this."
The mare laughed, throwing her half-finished apple on the floor. "Why should I be? I chose to come down here." She stepped slowly towards Twilight, her grin calm, relaxed, and yet menacing. She stopped just in front of Twilight, staring the mare in the eyes. "After all, there's only so much fun to be had in Cloudsdale. Down here, I'm only limited by my imagination." She paused a moment, pursing her lips together. "And I suppose the edges of the continent...? I hear it's pretty cold up north too...." She waved a hoof around.
Twilight, however, was feeling more than a little irritated, and an equal measure of worried of why this pegasus was in her home. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Who, me?" The mare put a hoof on her chest. "I'm nopony you need to worry yourself about..." She grinned a bit, arrogance seeping into her expression. "I mean, I am a pretty big deal, but that's kinda why you not knowin' is good for the both of us. Last thing we need is you peein' yourself and me having to kill you for knowing too much."
Twilight's expression became dangerous.
"You can try."
The mare grinned at her, meeting her eyes. That gaze, that cold, piercing gaze. Rainbow's grin fell a bit. She shook her head, glaring back. "Look here, egghead, I'm not here to make threats. I'm just here to collect something. Something I'm told you have."
Twilight stared at this strange, rainbow maned pegasus quietly. She had a pretty good idea what she was after, but she didn't want to say more than she had to. Worse yet, no matter what she was after, it would only bring up more questions. How did she know? Who sent her?
"The book," she said, nodding. "Give it to me."
The book? Why would she want the book? As alarms went off in Twilight's head, she recalled Big Mac's story of being attacked by pegasi. 'But those weren't pegasi, they were bat-ponies,' she thought. "What book?"
The mare only rolled her eyes. "Oh for-- really?" Twilight didn't respond. The mare stared at her a moment. "You know very well which book." Twilight was quiet, and she watched the mare's face twist. There it was. Doubt. 'She has no idea what she's even here for,' Twilight thought to herself. She began to devise a plan. It would likely only be temporary, but it would allow her time to consider alternatives, set up defenses, disappear, whatever she had to do.
"The book with the weird, Old Equestrian script, dweeb."
Twilight growled inwardly. She turned to see another mare-- no, wait, that wasn't a mare. It was a gryphon. Dressed in a black, skin-tight jacket with a hood over her head, allowing only her beak and piercing yellow eyes to peak out from it. "Dash, you gotta remember this stuff, otherwise somepony's liable to pull a fast one on you."
Dash rolled her eyes, however, grimacing at the gryphon. "Well, Gilda, thanks for telling her my name first of all. Secondly, I remembered the thing about the letters." She snorted, shaking her head. "All the other books here are either sciency things, chapter books, and the occasional dirty novel..."
Twilight blushed madly. "Wha-you went through my pri--" She stopped, looking around, and leaning inwardly, whisper-shouting. "You went through my private selection!?"
All at once, Twilight was slammed against a wall, the gryphon pinning her with one foreleg and the other holding a dagger. Dash seemed authentically surprised, but the gryphon's eyes screamed horrible things. Twilight's heart beat a million miles an hour as the gryphon stared into her soul with those eyes. "Listen here, trash. We're not playing around. You give us that book, and we leave, and nopony gets hurt. Don't give us the book...?" The knife slashed forward, causing Twilight to yelp as it cut into her cheek. "And we get unpleasant."
"Gilda--"
"Dash, not now," shouted the gryphon without looking back, "we're on the clock, and we can't wait forever for you to talk her into giving us the book!" Twilight looked back to see that Dash seemed... hesitant? But she did not seem like she would step in. Twilight gulped, thinking to herself of her options.
"M-My saddlebag," she said as evenly as she could. "I-it's in my saddlebag..."
"Dash."
Dash walked towards Twilight, and stuck her hoof in Twilight's bags. She was quick to pull out a text, on it's spine letters that neither mare... or... whatever... understood. "This has gotta be it," Dash said, turning it over a bit. "Really kinda... old." She opened the book, eyes scanning over the contents. "Ugh. Can he read this stuff or something? Because it's all written in gibberish."
"Dash," said Gilda tensely, "just take the book so we can leave." Dash simply nodded, putting the book underneath her coat, likely in a hidden pocket, and nodding. "Good." The pressure on Twilight ended, and she fell to the floor with a thud. Gilda nodded towards the lavender mare. "You really are smart. Let's just hope you're lucky and we never have to see each other again."
The gryphon nodded towards the pegasus, and both made their way to the door, pulling it open and stepping out, shutting it back behind them. Twilight watched them leave. She lay there for a few minutes on the floor, and put a hoof up to her face, over her cut. It stung, and as she drew it back, she saw a small spot of blood stain it.
Her first thought was to curl into a ball and cry. However, her second thought halted that before it could begin.
"Spike!?"
Her energy returned, Twilight hopped to her hooves and ran up the stairs. "Spike? Spike!" She shouted her charge's name as she hurried about the house, looking in every room, in her tower, in a broom closet, but no luck. After several minutes, she felt her heart sink. She hurried back down the stairs. "Spike!? Please, say something!"
"Twilight?"
It was faint, but she could hear it. "Spike!? Where are you!?"
She heard sounds coming from the kitchen of pots and pans being moved around, and was quick to hurry in that direction, seeing Spike climb from out of a cupboard, spilling cookery out that he had likely used to hide himself as best he could. The two quickly rushed towards each other, jumping into a strong hug. "Oh Twilight, it was so scary," shouted Spike, tears in his eyes, "I-I heard them arguing in your room, a-and I ran down here and hid in the cupboards, and... and..."
Twilight shushed him gently, holding him tighter and rocking him back and forth gently. "Shh.... it's okay Spike.... they're gone now...."
"I heard you scream..." he whimpered, clutching her coat tighter, "I... I thought.... I....." His mouth moved quietly, trying to find the words, and instead he opted to bury his face into her chest. Twilight gently stroked his back.
"It's okay, Spike," she whispered as assuredly as she could, "I'm fine..." She gulped a bit, ignoring the slight sting on her cheek as her own tears crossed paths with it. "... We're going to be okay... we're going to be just.... fine..."
'But they have the book.'
Those words. She thought these words. She knew they were important. Maybe even more important than she was. Than Spike was.
But at this moment? This was the most important thing in the world to her. She held the small dragon close as he silently cried into her coat.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 14 - In the Dark of the Night A | "Now remember, ya wanna be polite an' make sure ya pay attention to every word she says! Hang on to 'er like ye'd fall to yer death if ya let go." Macintosh grimaced a bit at his grandmother, lamenting her particular choice in analogy and wondering if it was intentional or accidental. Granny spat on her hoof and brushed Mac's mane down, much to the irritation of the stallion in question. She stared at it in judgement for a few seconds, until it popped back into place like a spring, earning an approving nod from the elder nag. "Also remember, try to talk, but don't overexert yourself. I dunno if she knows about yer condition, but a mare don't need her coltfriend t' give her big long speeches, he jus' has t' say enough t' let 'er know he cares."
Macintosh sighed. "Not technically her coltfriend..."
"Oh hush," said Granny chidingly as she stepped back to appraise her grandson. He was dressed in a blue coat, designed more for appearances than any form of function, with his beloved green bandanna still wrapped around his neck as it always was. "Yer jus' like yer pa was when he was young. 'She ain't my mare friend' he'd say. 'We're just friends' he'd say... then I caught 'em neckin' in the barn!" Macintosh grimaced, trying to avoid any mental images that might conjure up for him. "Next thing ya know, I wake up to the sound of a baby cryin' an' them scramblin' to feed his bottomless stomach!" She stepped beside Macintosh and gave him a pat on the back. "Always wondered where you put it all, you was so dern tiny!"
"It was a delayed reaction," said Braeburn with a nod and a grin, "he got fat as he got bigger."
Macintosh denied his cousin any satisfaction in an expressive response, remaining stoic as always. "I'm not fat."
"Oh hush," said Granny, swatting Braeburn's side before smiling re-assuredly towards Big Mac. "Most of all though, you jus' remember to have a good night, an' be on yer best behavior." Granny stepped forward and gave Big Mac a hug, which he returned. She pulled away and smiled at him with those gentle, caring eyes that a grandmother always seemed to have. A knock at the door, however, brought everypony's attention back to the world. "Aw shucks, you finish dressin' up, an' I'll answer that." Macintosh nodded, turning his attention to the mirror on his grandmother's table and looking himself over. He was certain he had everything he'd need. He had his canteen in his pocket, filled with honey water just in case, and a pocket watch to keep the time. "Big Mac," he heard from downstairs, "You got a guest!"
"Hm?" Macintosh was a bit surprised, as he wasn't expecting anypony to come for him. The stallion gave himself one last quick look over in the mirror, deciding he was good enough as is, before making his way out of his grandmother's room. "Didn't expect her to send for me. Wonder if somethin's wrong?" Big Mac descended the staircase and into the living room to find something that he wasn't really expecting. Twilight Sparkle was sitting on his grandmother's rocking chair, waiting for him, and while he did not consider himself one to be a critique of appearances, she definitely had seen better days. Bags under her eyes suggested she hadn't slept recently, her disheveled mane much the same, and the hat she always seemed to wear even seemed slightly tilted, but when he saw the scar on her cheek, his head started racing with possibilities.
"Twilight? Y'alright?" He moved towards her, looking her over a bit. "Ya look awful..."
Twilight, however, grimaced hard. "Yeah, like you couldn't stand to lose a few pounds." Big Mac winced just slightly, looking off to the side a bit, though Twilight wilted and sighed in dejection. "I-I'm sorry... I haven't slept in twenty four hours, I-I'm not thinking clearly..." The words had stung, though, and Big Mac still seemed visibly hurt. Twilight frowned. "I'm being honest, I-I really am sorry, you look fine, I'm just very, very terrified, and I really, really am sorry..."
As he looked at this mare, this disheveled, shaken mare, Macintosh decided it best to give her the benefit of the doubt. "Salright," he said with a nod and a smile, though his expression shifted quickly back to concern. "Now," he said, his tone gentle enough not to make her tense, but firm enough to let her know he's taking her seriously, "tell me what's wrong? What happened?"
Twilight took a deep breath and let it out as a long sigh. She was silent a few seconds. Macintosh considered re-iterating himself just to be sure she heard, but she spoke on her own. "I was attacked, and the attackers stole the book."
Well, that was certainly not good news. They had worked so hard for that book, after all. Heck, Big Mac had nearly died for it on a few occasions. Still, he turned his attention to what was in front of him right now; he could worry about the book later. "Are ya okay?"
Twilight quirked a brow, seeming confused by his question, though Macintosh couldn't imagine why. "What?"
Big Mac stepped closer, looking her over a bit once more. "Are ya okay? How badly did they hurt ya?" She noticed he was paying a lot of attention to her cut, so she put a hoof on her cheek and brushed it; it had healed for the most part, but Macintosh could tell by looking at it that it might leave a scar.
"How I am is unimportant," she said, shaking her head, "They took the book! The book that could very well lead to Equestria's salvation or destruction! How I am is kind of inconsequential when the safety of Equestria might be in jeopardy, don't you think?" Macintosh stared quietly at her for a few seconds, and she noticed he was frowning. He seemed almost upset at her response even. 'Great,' she thought to herself, 'what did I say this time?'
Macintosh, however, simply shook his head at the mare, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "How ya are is not unimportant at all, Miss Sparkle." Twilight looked up to him, a bit perplexed. This was a book that could possibly unmake the world for all he knew, and he was putting weight on her own well-being? What logic was there in that? What was one pony's life against the whole of Equestria? The world? If she died today, the world would continue to spin, but if Nightmare Moon got hold of that book the same probably could not be said.
Twilight was quiet for a bit, staring at the stallion a few moments. Whatever tension she usually exerted, however, seemed to relinquish a bit as she gulped and looked a little off to her side. "Y-yeah," she said, soft and uncertain, almost bashfully even, in a way Macintosh had never seen her act before; almost vulnerable. "I-I'm fine... a little shaken... kind of scared... little sleepy..."
Big Mac nodded, looking around to make sure they were alone. When he didn't see any of his family members around, he leaned forward and whispered so that only the mare before him could hear. "And Spike?"
Twilight smiled a little, more relief visible than anything else. "He's fine... Pinkie's watching him until I can secure the house. It was tough sneaking him into town without anypony noticing, but I'm used to being sneaky." She gave a light nod to punctuate her point, before looking down at her hooves. "When you mess with the things I mess with, you kinda have to be..."
Macintosh nodded, pulling back a bit, giving Twilight more space. "Now, tell me what happened."
Twilight took a breath and released it as a shaky sigh. She relayed the story to him; her tense and uncertain trip home, the thieves, the injury, the book, everything. When she had told him that one of the thieves was a pegasus, she could see his muscles tense, and the addition of the griffon seemed to confuse him more than anything else. When the story was done, the room was quiet for a few minutes. He reached into his coat and withdrew his flask, opening it and drinking some of the liquid inside to soothe his throat. "This pegasus," he asked, seeming almost cautious as he spoke, "was she...?"
Twilight shook her head in response. "No, she... she was an ordinary pegasus... feathers and all..." Twilight paused at that, then shook her head again. "K-kind of... she's a noble... or a former noble, anyway, from the Rainbow Clan." Big Mac's confused expression was an indicator that he had no idea what she was talking about. Twilight sighed, shaking her head. "I research Pegasus history on top of everything else I study..."
Big Mac nodded, looking off to the side, moving his jaw around nervously. "I see." He was silent for a few moments, before he looked up at Twilight, frowning. "So... what happens now?"
Twilight bit her lip. She seemed as if she hadn't really come up with an answer herself, likely too tired and scared to think properly. "W-well," she said, gulping, "I took notes, and I still have all the information that I could find in the book relating to the Elements of Magic, so I can still find them... but now I'm in a race against somepony else who wants them, possibly Nightmare Moon..."
That wasn't reassuring. It was difficult doing what they had already managed to do, but he figured it would be downright impossible for Twilight do do the rest by herself. "You mean we're in a race against somepony else." Twilight looked toward Big Macintosh in uncertainty. He simply nodded to the mare. "I promised I'd help, an' I intend to do so."
Twilight frowned, shaking her head. "You've done too much already... I-I didn't expect this, it's too dangerous--"
"And that is why I'm going to help," Macintosh interrupted Twilight. The mare stared at him silently, so he decided to continue. "If it's so dangerous, than you doin' it alone won't help nopony. Might even get you hurt. I'd be no kind of stallion to let somepony go off and get hurt when I coulda done something." Macintosh looked towards the window, seeing that it was already too late to be leaving town. "I suggest for safety's sake you don't leave the town 'til tomorrow. Go to a hotel, or stay with Pinkie if ya can."
"Y'all can stay in th' guest room t'night, if it's any help."
Big Mac and Twilight jumped, turning to see Granny smiling at them. The elder mare made her way into the room, chuckling a bit to herself. "Sorry t' eavesdrop, but I heard some of what ya said, an' I jus' can't send a poor girl so frightened outta her gourde out into the streets at this hour!"
Twilight was a bit surprised, and she shook her head a bit. "Oh, n-no, I'd hate to impose--"
"Oh hush," said Granny, waving a hoof at the reluctant mare, "ain't no thang! We Apples are one-a the most hospitable families in all Equestria! Just feel free to take off yer hat an'--"
"No!" Twilight said, perhaps too loud. It seemed to catch Granny by surprise. She giggled nervously, placing a hoof on her hat and straightening it a bit. "N-no, no thank you," she said with a nod, blushing at bit from her own outburst as she cleared her throat, "I-I don't like taking my hat off... not to be rude, but it... it comforts me..."
Big Mac looked to Granny, who stared silently at the mare a moment before shrugging. "Yeah, I hear ya... kinda like Big Mac with that there bandanna 'round his neck." She pointed at the piece of cloth in question. "Never takes it off if he can help it." This urged Macintosh to half-consciously brush his hoof against the cloth that he wore around his neck. Granny saw this, frowning somewhat and looking back to Twilight. "... I guess some ponies jus'... have lil' things that give 'em comfort." Twilight nodded gently, still holding onto her hat. Granny Smith cleared her throat and trotted towards Macintosh. "Alrighty, well, we'll take care'a Twilight here. Y'all go enjoy yourselves." Macintosh nodded, looking towards Twilight who offered a mirthless smile. He frowned a bit, wondering if she was going to be alright, before stepping outside the door with his grandmother's urging. As he stepped outside, Granny Smith sighed happily, watching him trot down the dirt path off the farm, towards the city. She closed the door, stepping inside, and past Twilight, into the kitchen, where Braeburn sat, eating an apple fritter. She pulled him close, much to his surprise, and spoke quietly.
"Brae," she said, trying to make sure he was listening, but continuing on without an answer, "there's a sweet lil' mare in there who's very scared, an' very vulnerable, who could use a nice, strong stallion to sweep 'er off her hooves!"
Braeburn swallowed his bite of fritter, sighing and shaking his head at his grandmother. "I've tried to flirt with 'er, I think she's a lost cause."
"'Cause you act like a dog with a bone, boy!" She swatted him in the back of the head, earning a hiss from him. "Sometimes it's th' simple stuff that matters! Now, go in there an' lead 'er up to the guest room, ask 'er if there's anything you can do for 'er, an' if she needs ya to come find ya! The rest is up t' you to figure out!"
The golden stallion didn't seem entirely convinced, but a shrug and a sigh convinced her he would try. Braeburn stepped out from the kitchen and into the living room. "So, Twilight," he said, trying hard to repress a lot of his usual 'charm'. "Need me to show you to your room while you're staying with us?"
Granny watched as Braeburn and Twilight made their ways up the stairs. She looked away, grinning slyly. "Any luck, by th' end of this night both mah boys'll have mare friends!"
Walking down the now familiar hall of the Rich mansion did not leave Big Mac any less impressed than he was last time. While he still felt he had made the right decision in turning down the Riches' offer, seeing the manor from the inside often left him wondering if it was the best one. 'Eeyup,' he simply thought to himself, 'Apple Bloom doesn't need to grow up spoiled... even if a house like this'd be nice.' Led by a servant into the house, Macintosh was greeted halfway to the dining hall by Nightingale, who seemed almost joyful at seeing him. She wore a purple dress with black trims, her mane pulled up into a bun, with a hint of makeup on her face. "Macintosh," she said happily, curtsying him. He was not used to such treatment, so he responded by bowing just slightly, hoping he was being proper without being overly dramatic. "Sorry I could not greet you at the door, I had to be sure I looked perfect."
"Salright," said Big Mac with a nod, smiling. "You look lovely tonight." Nightingale smiled and nodded in thanks, before turning around and continuing forward. To his surprise, they stepped past the dining hall, and made their way out into the garden of the mansion. There waited for them a table, two plates, and a candle in the middle. Nearby was a group of ponies playing various instruments; the gray mare with the cello struck Macintosh as familiar, but he didn't linger on it. The servant pony seated them both, and Macintosh took a moment to admire his surroundings.
"Is everything to your liking?"
Macintosh looked towards her, seeing the mare staring intently at him with those big, beautiful eyes. He simply smiled. "It's nice," he said. He considered telling her that it was all unnecessary, and that a simple dinner would be nice, but decided against essentially telling her the extra effort was wasted. It wasn't long before a couple of servants were by their sides, filling their glasses with a familiar liquid, asking Macintosh if he needed a side of honey-water (to which he accepted), and making sure they were comfortable.
"The chef will be done with our meals momentarily," said Nightingale, her full attention on Macintosh, "until then, I was hoping that we might converse a little? Just get to learn a bit about each other?" Big Mac smiled a bit at the mare before him. 'She actually wants to get to know me? Maybe she is serious about this whole 'relationship' thing...'
"Well," said Macintosh, nodding, "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself then?"
Nightingale nodded, sighing a bit and looking up at the stars. "Well," she began, looking as if she were trying to pick a memory or story to tell in her mind, "I'm educated, as you may have well guessed, a graduate of Manehattan University. I grew up admittedly pampered, but never lacking a love for adventure..." She giggled a bit, smiling as the memories seemed to run through her mind. "Why, once, when I was a filly, I followed a turtle around all day just to see what turtles did when nopony was watching."
Macintosh smirked. "Anything happen?"
The mare only smirked. "I watched it get snatched by a bird, likely intent on challenging it's nature-granted shell by dropping it on a rock or something, but nothing more." She waved a hoof dismissively, shrugging. "I like to think myself an artist, skilled in poetry, painting, music, as well as an intellectual, with a fascination in philosophy and history." Macintosh whistled a bit, impressed. He could only imagine being able to do all of that, let alone just bits of it. "I admit, I've never really wanted for anything, but I like to think I'm not a mare of needs. After all, money is a means, not an end."
Macintosh nodded, smiling at the mare. It was nice to get to know more about this mare who, up to this point, seemed to have more carnal interests in mind. After a few seconds of silence, he realized that she was staring at him, smiling, as if waiting for something, though he knew not what. It then hit him she likely wanted him to say something about himself in return, though talking about himself was not something he was used to. "Well," he said a bit nervously, rubbing the back of his neck a bit with a hoof, "Not much t' me... I work on a farm, didn't finish school, an' I play poker with some friends once a month."
Nightingale stared at him silently a few seconds. "So," she said at length, "you never finished school? Why not?"
Big Mac frowned a bit. "My pa died."
Nightingale bit her lip, clearly regretting her choice of questions. "I... I'm sorry, I didn't--"
"Salright," he said, holding a hoof up and smiling at her. "Been years, after all. Neither my pa or my ma would want me t' worry over 'em after this long."
Nightingale, however, seemed to tense up more with this statement. "... Your mother too?"
Big Mac nodded. "Died during child birth... though we kinda suspect it was half because she lost 'er will to live when she lost pa."
If the Rich mare wasn't uncomfortable before, she was now. She shifted visibly, and seemed at a loss for words. "I'm... sorry for your losses..."
"Salright," he said with a shrug, looking at the table for a moment before switching his attention back to her. "Granny was all we had left to tend the farm. Applejack hadn't even gotten her cutie-mark. I was old enough to work, so I decided to quit school an' help Granny." Nightingale looked off to the side, rubbing a hoof over her foreleg. Macintosh grimaced some, looking at his hooves. "Sorry, I reckon that's not th' best story to tell at a date is it?"
"No," she said softly, much to Big Mac's surprise. "It is a great story. I... I just didn't know..."
Big Mac smiled. "Don't talk about it much cause it doesn't usually need to be said." This, however, did not seem to ease the tension. The stallion leaned forward. "Me an' my pa were champions of the six-legged races at our family reunions though." This seemed to make the mare's glum demeanor shift. 'Good, that worked!'
The rest of the night had been a rather great one, at least by Big Mac's standards. The food was delicious, the music was relaxing, and he and Nightingale had such fun conversations. They enjoyed sharing various stories, jokes, and other conversation topics. He had even shared with her a drink of some sort of fancy foreign wine -- it tasted awful, and the two spent a good time talking and laughing about how terrible it tasted, comparing terrible things they've tasted before, while continuing to drink the terrible tasting liquid as if it were some masochistic ritual, laughing and enjoying themselves (and the looks on their faces with each drink) all the while. Eventually, however, it was getting too late, and Macintosh realized that he could not simply stay there all night, enjoyable though his time was being.
"Are you sure you must leave? The night is still young," said Nightingale, a frown on her face as she and Macintosh stood at the front door to the manor. Much as he would like to stay, he knew that he needed to get home eventually.
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a nod. "Got a full day of work tomorrow, and I'd hate to give Apple Bloom any reason to stay awake past her bedtime."
"Before you go," said Nightingale, stepping closer, "Let me give you a parting gift?"
Big Mac frowned, hearing the tone in her voice, the look in her eyes. These were hints she usually gave when she dragged him to hidden places, and each time things got progressively more intimate, and it was hard enough to refuse her advances as it was. "'Gale, I don't think--" She pressed a hoof gently to his lips, shushing him. She leaned forward, and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
She lingered for a bit, but pulled away.
Macintosh blinked a few times, and saw her smiling at him, realizing only now that the look in her eyes was not sultry, but soft. "Of everypony I've ever met, Macintosh... I suspect you are among the most noble."
Big Mac smirked, rubbing the back of his neck. "Shucks, 'Gale..."
"Please," she said, brushing his cheek with a hoof, "if you ever need anything... please come to me. A stallion like you deserves so much more than he gets." Big Mac didn't know if he agreed, but he nodded in acknowledgement. He placed a hoof on hers, smiling down to her.
"I will."
Macintosh bid farewell once more and turned, walking down the path. He looked back to see her wave once more, shutting the door, but watching him until it was closed. As he left the mansion that night, Big Mac found himself looking up at the stars on his trip home. It really was a beautiful night, wasn't it? He smiled at the starry sky, letting his cares drain away. The worries, the fears, the terror of the past month? It all seemed so small now, so insignificant.
He didn't know if he was in love or not, but for some reason, he felt exceptionally happy.
Big Mac walked along the empty streets of Ponyville that night, feeling unusually joyous. Perhaps there was something there? Perhaps. Still, he would not forget his mistakes with Cheerilee. The thought made him frown a bit. 'No,' he thought to himself, 'no reason to think that way right now. Tonight's too good a night to waste on the past.' Raising his head, Big Mac gave a firm nod to affirm this decision, and continued his stroll home. His pace stopped though when he noticed something in the corner of his eye; a familiar orange filly heading into an alley. As soon as he saw her, he felt tense, and curiosity edged into his mind. 'What's that little trouble-maker up to bein' out so late?' Children were all sleeping by this hour, and even he didn't feel particularly safe wandering the streets this late. Big Mac thought for a moment that the wise thing to do might be to let it go...
But what if she did something wrong?
That question burned in his mind. Perhaps he was still angry about her stealing from him, but deep down he knew she was trouble. 'You may have Apple Bloom n' Granny fooled, but not me,' he thought to himself.
Macintosh skulked into the alley she had disappeared in. As he turned the corner, he caught sight of her just turning one herself, and from the brief glimpse he caught he saw she was carrying something. 'Likely stolen,' he thought as he crept along, trying to be quiet but trying not to lose track of the filly. He would follow her through a few twists and turns, enough to leave him wondering where she was going; many of the turns they took seemed to be made to intentionally lengthen the trip, perhaps to confuse pursuers? Did she know he was following? Or was she just cautious? If she was leading him to her home (he could only hope) he would make a point of telling her parents of her misdeeds. The little trouble-maker has a spanking a long time in the making, he knew.
His journey came to an end at a rather unexpected spot. She had led him into a back-alley, somewhere on the edge of the Pegasus District. He followed her, stopping as she turned a corner and peaking past. There, he saw Scootaloo approach a small, rather broken down home that had certainly seen better days. He watched her open the door and step inside, checking behind herself. He ducked behind the corner, hoping she wouldn't notice him. After a few moments of quiet, he slowly peaked back out to see the door had shut, and there was a faint glow in one of the windows. Macintosh quickly, but quietly, made his way to the broken old home, staying low and close to the walls to best avoid suspicion. As he reached it, he skirted along the house's walls until he reached the window. Slowly, he eased himself up to look inside.
And he paused.
The filly sat her scooter against a nearby wall, and set a box that he recognized as one of Pinkie Pie's bakery's boxes on a nearby box. Close to her was a mangy-looking dog that was missing bits of hair and looked like it hadn't eaten in a long time that sniffed at the pie, but amazingly did not touch it, only whimpering a bit, and on the floor was a pile of hay with a simple cloth. "Well, Mister Buttons," she said with a sigh, "I'm just really lucky that the crazy pink baker pony wanted to bake a late night pie, aren't I?" She frowned a bit, rubbing a hoof on her fetlock. "I was gonna steal it but... she just gave it to me. She said I could have it, free of charge, and smiled. She wasn't acting sorry for me or anything, it was like she was just being nice."
Mister Buttons responded with a whimper.
"You're a good dog, Mister Buttons," said Scootaloo with a smile. "You know, I'm going to be honest, I don't have many friends, so it's really nice to have you around. Give me somepony to talk to." Scootaloo looked at the dog, who only stared at her with big sad eyes. "You know, my friend has a dog. Her name is Winona. I bet you'd like her." She giggled a bit, much like a little filly. "I bet you two'd be a real cute couple! Maybe even have cute puppies!" If the dog knew what she was saying, it did not make it obvious. Scootaloo merely sighed. "Yeah, I know, I wish I had a family too."
Macintosh felt his heart sink a bit, and the edges of his mouth pulled down. He let his eyes look over the small hovel again; there was a hole in the roof that likely made it very wet during the rainy season, the walls were crumbling, almost every window in the place was either boarded or broken, and the smell hinted that this place had been used for a great many unpleasant things.
'Where is this filly's family...?
"Well," said Scootaloo with a sigh and a smile, "Let's eat!" She opened the pie box, and reached a hoof to scoop out some of it. However, at that instant, the dog knocked it off the makeshift table and away from her, leaping after it and started eating it greedily. "Hey, Mister Buttons," shouted Scootaloo as she turned after it, "We're supposed to share that!" The dog ignored her, however. She took a step forward, and in that instant, Macintosh's eyes widened in horror as he saw the look on the dog's face. It's jaws bared, it's snarl ravenous.
All at once, the dog was on her. Scootaloo let out a horrified shout and tried to run away, but the dog lunged and grabbed her rear leg and started thrashing wildly. Macintosh jumped through the window, breaking it and cutting himself along the way. Quickly, he rushed forward and struck the dog in the head. It let go of Scootaloo and stumbled a bit, and quick as he could, Macintosh turned around and kicked it with his hindleg, sending the creature tumbling across the room and hitting a nearby wall with a disturbing crack.
His heart was racing as he watched the creature lay limply on the ground. It wasn't moving, and he couldn't even see it breathing. 'D-did I just kill a dog...?' Macintosh felt a bit of guilt well in his stomach. He could barely kill a spider without feeling bad, but a dog? What kind of world was this when pony kills his best friend?
Macintosh's attention turned to the cause of this whole situation. Scootaloo lay on the floor, clutching her hindleg and whimpering. There was a lot of blood on her and on the termite-ridden wood below. He leaned down and looked her over. "How bad are ya...?"
"I-it hurts..." she whimpered, clutching the leg tight. As Macintosh looked it over, he saw that the dog had indeed gotten her deep, perhaps even bitten harder when it was struck. It was grotesque to look at the damaged, torn flesh on the filly's leg, but the sight only served to fuel the fire.
"Can you stand?"
Scootaloo let go of her leg, still whimpering, tears brimming in her eyes. Slowly, she rolled herself to favor the injury, but the moment she tried to pressure the leg, she yelped and fell back, gripping it again. Macintosh looked around the room frantically, seeing only her scooter and a wagon. 'That'll take too much time,' he thought to himself, as well as the mere indignity for the poor filly to be carted around like that, and the idea of running her around in it seemed almost as problematic as it was helpful. He leaned down next to her, close as he could. "Climb on. If it hurts, try to tough it out, we gotta get you to a doctor."
Scootaloo was slow moving, but she did get her hoof on his back. She let out a pained whine as she pulled herself onto his back, her injured leg trailing blood on his coat. He stood up, looking back at her. "I need you to hold on tight as you can. I'll be careful, but the longer we let that linger the more it stands to hurt you, alright?" The little filly merely nodded, breathing with shuddered breaths.
Big Mac hurried from that small house and out into the night. He cursed his lack of familiarity with the general area, and trotted from the alley and into a street. As soon as he got his bearings, he began to consider the layout of the town in his head and the location of the doctor's home. As he turned corners and passed homes, he would look back at the little filly on his back, and noticed she wasn't moving as much and seemed to be acting more sluggish.
"I'm gonna need you to stay awake," he said, worry creeping into his tone, "Whatever you do, stay awake!" The little filly merely nodded slowly, though that did little to cease his worries. After several more minutes of searching, he finally saw a familiar house in the distance. He hurried down the street and towards the familiar house.
Macintosh gave the door a strong, rapid knocking. When nopony answered, he knocked again. "Doc," he shouted, panting and heaving, "I got an injured foal here! Lemme in!" He looked back at Scootaloo. "How you holdin' up?"
But she didn't answer.
His eyes widened. "Scootaloo? Say somethin'!" But she continued to be silent. The door opened quickly, and once the doctor saw Macintosh and the filly, his eyes widened.
"Oh sweet mercy, get her in here right away and onto the couch!"
Macintosh was quick to get into the house, making his way towards the couch and gently easing Scootaloo onto it. The doctor rushed to her side and looked her over. "What happened!?"
"Dog bit her," said Big Mac in a raspy voice, his throat burning from the shouting.
"Oh dear..." The doctor leaned down and placed his ear close to her mouth, placing a hoof on one of her fetlocks. "She's still alive but she's clearly lost a lot of blood, gotta move fast!"
The doctor hurried across the room, gathering together various items from his desk and other spaces Macintosh couldn't keep track of. He kept his eyes on the little filly on the couch. Her breathing was so weak it was hardly noticeable, and much of her coat was darkened red by her own blood. This filly whom he practically hated since this had all begun was so horrifically injured. Barely alive.
And Macintosh had antagonized her ever since he met her.
His guilt would have to wait for later as the doctor returned to the filly. "Now, if you can hear me, this is going to sting..." The pony poured some disinfectant on a cloth and brought it down against the wound. Scootaloo only winced; something Macintosh knew was a small reaction with her particular wound, and it only served to raise his fears of her chances. The doctor then took and put another liquid on it; likely a numbing agent. As Scootaloo's expression relaxed, Big Mac felt worry overtake him more, uncertain if that was good or bad.
Big Mac spent several minutes pacing back and forth, glancing occasionally towards the doctor and the filly. He had to turn away when it came to the suturing, admittedly having a weak stomach and fearing throwing up would complicate matters. Soon, the wound was stitched up, and the doctor was taking another chance to look her over.
"Well, she won't likely get an infection, and we've done what we could," said the doctor with a sigh, looking at the filly with worry, "but she lost a lot of blood, and the injury looked pretty nasty..." He looked towards Macintosh, his expression one of concerned professionalism as Macintosh had ever seen. "She's in no condition to be moved around. She'll have to stay here overnight, and I'll watch her, make sure she improves."
Big Mac nodded. "Th......y...." His mouth moved to the words 'thank you', but nothing came out. His throat hurt too much. In all the stress, he might have taxed himself a bit more than he realized.
The doctor frowned. "Voice die on ya?" Big Mac responded with a quiet nod. The doctor merely sighed. "Follow me to the kitchen. I'll fix you a drink."
Macintosh had drank tea with the doctor for an hour. The doctor had asked him several questions; where he found her, what happened to the dog, if it looked rabid... he had told him everything, although he decided to leave out that he had followed her thinking she had stolen something and simply supplied that he had wondered why she was out so late (it wasn't technically lying). The doctor would check on her every fifteen minutes, and would always report she was still alive, though critical. Macintosh himself would look into the room at the poor little filly once in a while. The doctor had placed a blanket on her and given her a pillow, trying to make her comfortable. The more Big Mac looked at the filly, the more he felt guilt burn inside him.
"Would you like to rest here for the night? Make sure the filly gets better?"
Big Mac looked towards the doctor, shaking his head. "No, that won't be necessary." The doctor merely nodded, and Big Mac sighed, looking back at that little filly. "You think she'll be okay?"
"Who can say," said the doctor, his tone uncertain. "She looks to be in pretty poor condition... so it's really out of our hooves for now."
"Oh..." said Big Mac, frowning.
"Do you know her family? Certainly they would like to know."
Big Mac continued to look at the filly, his heart sinking a bit.
"No..."
The doctor responded with a quiet nod, looking at the filly again. "I suppose," he said with a sigh, "that if nopony comes looking for her or something, then I shall notify you of her condition tomorrow?"
"I would like that..."
As Macintosh said goodbye, he gave one last look at the little filly. That poor, broken little thing on the couch, clinging to life. The mere sight of her brought pain to his very core. Guilt. Self-loathing.
'I'm so sorry...' he thought to himself.
As he left the doctor's house and wandered back into the streets, he could only focus on that empty pit in his stomach, a guilt he couldn't place, and could not ignore.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 15 - In the Dark of the Night B | The night was long, and it was uncomfortable. That was all she could think as she tossed and turned. It was annoying at first, but now it had become all consuming. Earlier, it had been difficult staying awake, but now she could not sleep to save her life.
All she wanted was a little sleep.
Twilight grimaced hard as she finally felt the urge to give up seep in. She sat up in her bed, and reached to the side, picking up her hat and placing it over her head, situating it just right. Looking at the nearby curtains, she could tell that it was still dark outside, though there was a small amount of light that made her wonder if the sun was already coming up. Twilight silently cursed her luck and the undoubtedly harsh day she was looking at at this point. 'Why is fate so cruel? Is sleep so much to ask?' With a defeated sigh, Twilight eased herself from her bed, putting her blouse on as well as her waistcoat, and taking a moment to adjust her hat to make sure she was presentable. Confident that she was at her best, Twilight trotted towards the door that lead into the hallway, unlocking it and pushing it open. Any thought, any course of action she had planned ceased to be in that instant.
Twilight stared in abstract confusion and uncertainty as she beheld the halls of the Apple home; pristine just hours ago, they were now damaged and broken, muted in color and life, as if neglected for a long period of time. The pictures of friends and family that once hung proudly from the walls were tilted, or had fallen completely from their spots on the wall onto the shredded, detritus covered floor below. The floors creaked in protest to every step, as if the next one might cause the boards to split on a whim and send her plummeting to the floor below. Many thoughts raced through Twilight's head, but there was one that quickly became prioritized in her mind.
Twilight had to find out if any of the Apples were okay, and perhaps discover what had occurred.
Twilight gingerly stepped towards Braeburn's door, which was situated right next-door to the guest room she had occupied last night, and held a hoof up, ready to knock, though she paused. She had no idea what was behind that door, if it was friendly, or if anything was indeed behind that door at all. Logically, there could be nothing in there, but logically the Apple house should have been in the same condition it was in when she fell asleep. Slowly, Twilight took hold of the knob with her hoof and turned. Slowly, gently, she pushed it open and, with no shortage of caution peaked inside the room. It was empty, however, with only the bed broken, the window shattered, and various odds and ends scattered about that may have hinted a pony might have once occupied this space. Twilight stepped inside the decaying room, looking it over for something of use; clues, hints, anything that might answer her increasing list of questions. When she had deemed it empty of anything useful, Twilight stepped back out and made her way towards Apple Bloom's room. It too was empty, sans the damaged bed, a broken closet, and a few bows laying about the floor. The same with Granny Smith's room, though without the bows.
Twilight stepped from the Apple matriarch's room and looked towards the last door. Her heart seemed to beat faster as uncertainty overwhelmed her. Slowly, Twilight approached Big Mac's room, reaching a hoof to the door. She was surprised to find that the door was not only not locked, but opened a crack. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt her body shake as she slowly pushed the wooden gate open. What she saw here was a bit different, however, from the previous rooms; the wall was broken out, exposing the room to the elements, a chunk of the floor missing, exposing the floor below, with the broken bed and mattress laying over the damaged remains of whatever had been down there. Outside, the grass was dark and dead, the sky blotted out by ominous clouds, and all of the trees in the orchards were skeletons of their former selves, black, rotted, and barren of leaves or fruit. What stood out the most, however, was the words painted on the wall in red paint.
ALL MY FAULT
Twilight's jaw moved wordlessly as she slowly backed out of the room. This was getting surreal, and she was now very, very worried. Twilight made her way down the hall quickly, and down the stairs, into the living room. It was in much the same state of neglect as the upstairs, with the furniture damaged and broken, bits of debris laying about and various nicknacks littering the floor. As she stepped past the couch, Twilight noticed something in the corner of her vision, turning to see a small skeleton laying on the sofa with a tattered old cover over it, as if to keep the remains from the cold. Her heart sank at the sight of it, and she backed into a nearby wall, feeling her stomach lurch in protest. Turning, Twilight made her way out of the house, seeing the outside world once again. Looking in the horizon, she could see Ponyville. The gray skies made it seem so much duller, almost forboding at this distance, but she couldn't imagine how it could be any worse than where she was.
Without so much as a second thought, the mare made a mad dash down the dirt path towards town. Her heart raced in fear and anxiety as she took in the rest of the orchard; the barn was mostly fallen in on itself, the fence was broken in places, and she passed cow bones that seemed as if they had stopped to rest on the side of the road. As Twilight stepped into the town proper, however, her fears did not wane as she was greeted by crumbling homes with boarded windows, cracked and broken streets, the broken remains of carts and stalls, and the occasional bone.
"Is anypony here?" She shouted at nothing, but nothing answered in kind. "Macintosh? Braeburn? Pinkie Pie? Anypony?" Silence returned to her. Twilight started to breath faster, and she shook her head in denial as she hurried from house to house, looking in windows in the desperate hope to find somepony, anypony to break the lonesome. She was rewarded with more skeletons, bones of dead ponies, many huddling in corners, hiding under tables, or simply laying against the walls, some grouped together, likely families, waiting for whatever end had come to them, or otherwise looked to find the homes empty and damaged as if whoever had lived there had fled in a hurry.
Twilight ran once more, reaching the next stop on her mental list of places to go; Pinkie's bakery. As she reached the store that was shaped as if it had been made from the very sweets it sold, Twilight knocked on the door frantically, her patience and sanity wearing thin. "Pinkie Pie! I want in! Can you hear me?" But nopony answered. Twilight was growing frustrated and worried by the second, and was sure that any moment her heart would give out, so she did the only sensible thing she could think of. "Pinkie Pie, I'm coming in!" Without further warning, she pushed the door open, stepping into the bakery, and was greeted by the worn remains of the once colorful walls, which had lost much of their luster like the rest of Ponyville, and in similar fashion was broken, battered and damaged almost beyond recognition. She hurried, fast as she could, past the broken counter and up the stairs to the second floor, making her way to Pinkie's apartment. She pushed on the door, expecting it to give in easily, but her efforts were met with resistence; something was pushing back. Hoping against hope, Twilight banged against the door with her hoof as hard and loud as she could. "Pinkie!? Pinkie Pie, let me in! It's Twilight! Please, let me in!"
But nopony answer.
Twilight scrunched her nose and pushed once more, but the door would not budge. Desperate, she pushed harder and harder, trying to place as much of her strength as she could into the door. She heard a screech, and slowly the door gave way, until finally something fell over and she tumbled into the room at the same time as hearing the crash of a shelf falling over and breaking glass on the floor. Twilight stood up and dusted her blouse before adjusting her hat, making sure it hadn't fallen off her head, and turned her attention to the room. Whatever hope she might have had drained as her heart sank at the sight of a pony skeleton, wearing a tattered pink, yellow and blue dress laying on the floor with the bones of a small animal cradled in its arms almost protectively. Twilight stepped towards the bones, her lip trembling as she tried to process the weight of the situation, though she soon noticed that words had been painted on the walls here, much like at Big Mac's house.
FORGIVE ME
Twilight stared in disbelief at the sight before her, and slowly she backed away from the bones, before quickly turning and fleeing the apartment, the bakery, into the streets of Ponyville once more. The more she saw, the more she felt herself unravel. The more decay and destruction she bore witness to, she felt herself die a little inside. She hurried once more, rushing past houses and buildings, into the noble district. If the rest of Ponyville was a shadow of its former self, this place was almost unrecognizably so, as once glorious and beautiful homes were now collapsing into themselves in such manners that they were about on par with the Old District on a bad day. She had one destination in mind, however, one place of refuge. Things were grim, but hope may yet lie in that place, that last sanctuary.
As she rushed past the broken gates, Twilight set her sights on the aged remains of Rich Manor. To its credit, it was in better condition than the rest of Ponyville, standing firmly tall as a lord among the dead, despite being in a fair state of disrepair itself. Twilight pushed the doors open and stepped into the house, having decided to set pleasantries aside for the time being. "Rich? Rich! Rich, are you here!? What happened!? Where is everypony!?"
Once more, only silence answered back.
At haste, Twilight rushed up the stairs to the second floor, down the halls of the manor, and towards Rich's study. She pushed the doors open and hurried into the room, but skid to an immediate halt. There was no sign of Rich in the slightest; the massive window that lit the room was shattered open, books and papers littered the floor, and Rich's various trophies seemed either damaged, scattered, or missing. What little hope Twilight had left seemed to fade away. Nopony had been in this house for a while.
As Twilight stepped from the broken mansion, she felt a deep, burning pain in her chest and a profound sense of loss. The whole world was broken. It was as if there was nothing left, as if anything and everything was gone or dead, and had left behind only the barest hint that anything had ever been here in the first place. Twilight took a few tired, weary steps from the house, but her strength quickly left her, and she dropped to her haunches, staring at the skeleton of the world in shock.
"It's all gone..." she said to nopony in particular. Saying the words out loud made her hurt in ways she could not even fathom. Her eyes began to burn slightly, and she felt her body tremble at the realization. The urge to simply lie down and die was overwhelming. What reason was there to go on? "It's... all gone...." she said, quietly.
"Not all of it. Just a lot of it."
Twilight nearly jumped from her skin in surprise, looking in the direction the voice had come from. Near her, standing in the door to the house she had just stepped from was a strange figure, wearing a cloak that hid her features, though she could tell it was at least vaguely pony-shaped. Slowly, the figure stepped forward, though Twilight did not move. She had seen too much as was. What left was there to lose? "What happened...?"
The figure did not respond immediately, simply turning to look out over the dead and poisoned land. "At it's beginning? Nightmare Moon happened. Of course, as with all tragedies, she was not the end. Many problems arose afterwards, old evils rose from their ancient tombs and prisons, killing and destroying the land, bringing war and turmoil among its population. Her return simply marked the beginning of the end."
Twilight's stared out with the figure, cold and empty. Nightmare Moon was not even the big evil? There were worse things at hoof? Did she ever even have a choice? "... Why did all of this happen...?"
"Because," said the figure, her voice calm, gentle, and yet firm, "you died."
This response confused Twilight, and she dared to look towards this mystery creature. "I... I died...?"
"Yes," said the figure, stepping forward a bit, down the dirt path that lead from the Rich estate, "you died, because you decided you needed to work alone." The initial shock slowly vanishing and her curiosity peaked, Twilight pulled herself up from the ground and gave chase after the figure.
"But why would my death do this?"
"The path to Hell is paved with good intentions." The figure paused, looking back at Twilight, who stopped herself once she had caught up. "And you hold the best of them in your heart. You intended to leave the Apple home alone the next morning, did you not?" Twilight did not respond, simply staring back at the figure with an empty gaze. "You did leave that morning. The fear of the previous days had left you fearful of bringing harm to others, and so you sought to finish the work yourself, facing powers beyond your breadth of knowledge. Powers that both outrank and overshadow you. And when you finally met those powers, they wiped you from the board."
Twilight looked from the hooded being back to the broken world. Her heart raced, but the rest of her did not seem to acknowledge it. "This is all my fault?"
"No," said the mare in a gentle, sympathetic voice, before turning her gaze off into the distance. "It is her fault." Slowly, she lifted a grey, withered hoof, and pointed in the distance. Twilight followed where she had gestured and squinted. Just beyond the hills, small enough to miss, but big enough to see, she saw it, on the mountain that once bore her own home, built into the side was a massive, black fortress, dark clouds seeming to form around it as if to give warning of what lie inside, a seemingly endless thunderstorm brewing above it.
"Nightmare Moon," said the figure, her voice tense and on edge. "She grew in power, in wealth, and amassed an army the likes of which Equestria had not seen in a thousand years, formed of creatures that had long lived in the shadows, in secrecy, and in fear. An army that she promised a new future, a future without fear, where those loyal to her could walk the streets tall and proud, and only be judged for their loyalty to her." The hooded figure looked back towards her once more, and Twilight felt her stomach tighten as she returned the gaze.
"... Were any of them....?" She did not want to ask, and worse yet, she feared she already knew the answer. The hooded figure was quiet for several minutes. "Oh..."
"They chose what they thought to be the lesser evil," said the figure, solemnly. "Many blame ancient and forgotten Celestia for their woes and the decay of harmony. I cannot say I would not understand why many would choose to side with her ancient enemy if she offered them the freedom they so craved." Twilight did not respond. She couldn't. There was so little left in her to do that with, that she feared letting it go. "There are those who followed your example," said the figure, though her tone did not seem reassuring. "Ponyville burned for their actions. The mares who followed you to the castle, the Apple family... almost everypony in Ponyville... all killed with spears and arcane fire to make an example."
"Why," said Twilight, allowing a single tear to roll down her cheek.
"Because," said the figure, "that is where their resistance was. All your friends rallied together, continuing your mission. As far as Nightmare Moon was concerned, the rest of the town was guilty by association." The hooded figure sighed, looking towards Twilight, who could almost feel a sadness emanating from the shadows beneath the cloak, even if there was no visible face to judge that from. "I'm afraid I have one more thing to show you..."
When Twilight blinked, she was startled to find she was not near the Rich mansion as she was before. Instead, she was in a grand, dark hall, with purple banners hanging from the walls with a moon emblazoned on them. Torches that burned with eldritch blue fire lit the area, although it seemed to make the room only more terrifying by expanding the shadows of empty suits of armor. On the far wall was a painting of a black-coated mare with a massive horn and a grand set of wings. The hooded figure moved past Twilight, whose attention followed her as she stepped into a random door, and with no other idea of how to continue, Twilight followed the mare. The two ponies walked a long, dark hall that seemed to exist merely to fill space, and they soon approached a stairway that lead down into a dark sub level of the castle, which they had taken at a leisurely pace.
They came into a room that Twilight could easily recognize as a dungeon from ancient times, complete with various cells and torture implements scattered about. She scanned the room, seeing almost all the cells were too dark to look into, though the various little sounds suggested there were indeed ponies... or other things... inside them. As she scanned, she noticed that there was a light cast on a single occupant at the far end of the room who seemed to be hanging from the wall by shackles. She looked towards the hooded figure, who only offered a nod. Twilight turned and, slowly, began to make her way toward the mystery pony on the wall. As she drew closer, she noticed that what was before her was a stallion, and though she could not place it, he looked familiar, although he was thin and emaciated as if he hadn't been eating well, if at all. His coat was a dull red color, with small bald patches here and there, his mane long and messy, hanging over his face. As she drew closer, she noticed his body was covered in lines; scars where fur did not grow back, signs of torture and abuse that had not fully healed or had not done so properly.
"Excuse me?" Her voice was quiet and timid, as if afraid he would shout at her, but alas, the stallion did not respond. "E-excuse me...?" Still nothing. Twilight gulped nervously, stepping forward, and bending down, looking underneath all the hair that blocked his face. At first she couldn't tell who she was looking at, but slowly realization dawned on her. Twilight stepped back, placing a hoof over her mouth and widening her eyes. She paused for a few moments before stepping forward cautiously, placing a hoof under the stallion's chin and lifting it, using her free hoof to brush his mane from his eyes so she could see his face.
Staring back at her was a scarred, damaged face with white freckles with milky eyes that seemed vaguely green that seemed to gaze off into the ether. He was almost hard to recognize through all the damage, but something about him was unmistakable.
"Macintosh," she whispered, feeling herself get a little dizzy. If he heard her, he did not respond. In fact, he did not seem to react to her at all. Twilight placed a hoof over his neck and saw that he still had a pulse, and was still breathing, albeit weakly. He yet lived, and yet she could see nothing alive in him.
"This poor thing's mind has long since been lost. To torture, starvation, and the depraved needs of his queen." The mysterious being stepped beside Twilight, her gaze on the stallion on the wall. "After you disappeared, he continued to live happily for a while, caring for his family. He might have lived a full, happy life had Nightmare Moon not begun her conquest." The mare rose a withered hoof, placing it gently on his cheek and brushing it, though he did not seem to react to her touch at all. "This brave soul fought her once her darkness came to Ponyville. He lead his friends... your friends... into war. He could not find you or the Elements, and so he tried to rebel against her with numbers. In time, this lead him to trying to challenge her directly. He fought through many of her warriors, spilling much of his own blood to reach her." The figure bowed her head. "He wouldn't have stood a chance at full strength, much less considering he was half dead when he reached her."
"And now, she keeps him as a trophy, tortures him daily, beating him, starving him, and using him for more base desires, trying to break his spirit, trying to make him swear fealty to her, beg her forgiveness... but she will never get it." The figure looked toward Twilight. "Not because he is strong, because she had broken this stallion long ago... no, she will only ever get silence, because this poor creature cannot speak. He cannot speak the words she wants to hear, the words she promises will free him from his torment." The hooded figure bowed her head, almost solemnly. "Unable to give her the only thing that would relieve him of his suffering, his spirit and his will disappeared, and all the while, the Nightmare does not realize she has been torturing, violating and starving an empty shell for several months for a response he can never give her." Twilight's eyes began to burn. Her mouth moved wordlessly, and slowly, she reached a hoof forward, placing it on the side of his face. For a moment, his milky eyes seemed to look up to her. She wondered if anything of him was left, if even a fraction of the stallion still remained. Big Mac's jaw moved, his lips looking as if they were trying to form words which could not leave his mouth. Twilight noticed he was saying the same thing over and over, and so she tried her best to read his lips.
'All my fault.'
Twilight stepped backwards and wavered a bit as she watched Macintosh wordlessly mouth those words over and over again, staring at nothing with that sad, empty, soulless gaze. She stumbled and fell on her haunches, staring sadly at the broken shell of a stallion in front of her. The hooded figure turned to face her, being certain to not block Twilight's view of Macintosh. "Just a week ago, he stopped eating what little scraps she offered him. He no longer even has the will to live. Soon, this stallion will die of starvation. Only then will he be free. Only then will he escape the torment."
Twilight lay down on the floor and curled into a ball, huddling her legs close to her, and began to shake. It was all too much. Ponyville, her friends, her family... it was just too much to bear. None of this was right. She let loose a rattled breath, squeezing her eyes shut. "But why...?"
"Many things," said the hooded mare, looking at Big Mac. "The most recent reason was to avenge the death of his friends and family. But it all began because of you." Twilight did not budge from her spot, but continued to listen. "He blamed himself for getting you involved. Every time he thought of you, he told himself that had he not brought you that book, you would yet live. He might have found another way. He might have saved Equestria without endangering you. He failed you in his mind, and blamed himself for every failure that resulted." The mare looked to Twilight. "The burdens of an entire nation were his fault. It is something he thought every night before he went to sleep. And now, it's the only thought left in him, and will be so, replaying over and over again in his mind, without end, until his heart stops beating."
Twilight's chest began to shudder and shake as she drew breath, curling tighter, blocking her ears. "No more," she begged in a cracked, broken voice as tears trailed down her cheeks. "Please, I can't take anymore..."
"You are right when you say one pony's life is as nothing to the greater good," continued the figure.
"Please..." she sniffed.
"But one pony's life can make all the difference. One pony's life can mean the world."
"I'm begging you..."
"This is an enemy the likes of which you cannot face alone. Only through harmony will the world be saved. Your friends dying by your side is terrible... but it is a mercy against what they will face if you die alone."
"I said no more!"
Twilight sat up quickly, glaring at a wall of wood. She paused, and quickly looked around herself, suddenly noting that she was not in a castle, but back in the guest room of Sweet Apple Acres, laying in the bed she had fallen asleep in. Twilight felt her head to find her hat was not there, and saw that it still sat on a nearby table, waiting for her. She looked down to see she was wrapped in covers, if only partially so as they had shifted about. She looked at her pillow to find that it was damp, urging her to bring her hooves up over her face, to find that her cheeks and eyes were soaked. She panted heavily for a few seconds, slowly asserting that this was indeed real. Twilight rubbed her eyes, drying the moisture from them.
"It was all a dream," she told herself quietly.
Slowly, she pushed herself up and from the covers and bed and, grabbing her blouse and putting it on, followed by her hat, she made her way to the bedroom door and reached for it, though she paused, her hoof on the knob, but unable to turn, not by force, but by fear. The last time she had opened this door, she was privy to a world of death. To horror beyond horror. Nervous and reluctant, she slowly turned the knob, and pushed the door open.
The halls were dark and empty, and it was quiet, but she could hear the ticking of a clock downstairs, something she hadn't heard last time. What she could see of the walls were in relatively fine condition, pictures hanging in their proper places, slightly tilted at worst, and none of the wear and tear one would associate with long periods of neglect. Twilight stepped from the room, closing the door quietly behind herself in the hopes to not disturb or jinx the situation. She made her way down the hall, and down the stairs, into the living room to see that it too was dark and hard to see in, the rest of the Apples likely having gone to bed to be ready to get up early the next day. Twilight walked to a nearby oil lamp that sat on a table and lit it up to illuminate the room, which she could now clarify was in great condition, whole, unharmed.
Twilight was silent at first, but let out an involuntary laugh of relief after the realization fully sunk in that everything was fine. "It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, brushing wetness from her eye, a shudder running through her body from the sheer joy to see everything was fine. There were no filly bones on the couch, the windows were unbroken, and though it was likely too dark outside for her to see, she was almost certain that if the pattern held true, Ponyville would be there. Twilight relaxed, feeling as if a grand weight was lifted from her shoulders.
Then the sound of the door creaking open caught her attention.
Twilight turned her attention, slightly startled by the sudden intrusion to see Big Macintosh standing at the doorway. She cleared her throat, trying to collect herself and to maintain some air of dignity, until she noticed his current state in the lamplight. The stallion's coat was stained in something dark that seemed to be smeared all over one side, as were his front hooves, his clothes looked slightly messy as if he had been in a fight, and the frown accompanying the slight shimmer in his eyes reflecting from the light of the lantern brought any relief she felt to a halt. Macintosh simply nodded to her. "Miss Sparkle," he said in a tired, cracked voice. Macintosh then turned his attention to the stairs and made his way up to the second floor.
As she watched him ascend, Twilight caught sight of his back, which had yet more dark stains smeared all over it. The mare stood there silently for a few minutes, alone in the living room, her mind trying to comprehend what was going on. She wondered if she should follow, if she should see what was wrong. After all, it was his business, and if it was important she figured he'd say something, right? It wasn't that she was heartless, simply that she had no idea what the context of the situation was.
Twilight considered for a moment to just leave him to his thoughts, but then she remembered just a few hours earlier, how he had been concerned enough to ask her about herself. 'He went insane for you in an horrific dream future. The least you could do is talk to him.' Twilight frowned slightly towards the staircase, questions now churning in her head. 'All it takes is one pony.' With a sigh, Twilight nodded to herself to affirm her choice of action.
Twilight made her way up the stairs after Macintosh. She moved slowly through the hall, ear pirked, trying to see if she could hear something. She remembered where the guest room was, and where Braeburn's was. Deciding to take a guess, she stepped towards the door just past Braeburn's, to find that it was slightly ajar. Raising a hoof, she tapped on it. "Macintosh?" Nopony answered. "Mind if I come in?" No response. "I'm coming in." Twilight gently pushed the door to the room open, and the first thing she was was the stallion in question, sitting on the edge of his bed, his face in his stained hooves, his coat hanging from a nearby chair.
"Macintosh...? Are you okay...?"
Big Mac didn't respond immediately. He let loose a rattled sigh, clearly shaken about something, though Twilight had no idea what. Twilight stepped closer, hoping she wasn't being disrespectful. "Lil' filly," he said, his voice weak and scratchy, "got mauled by a dog." That was certainly unpleasant news, and admittedly only stepped further with Twilight's field of understanding.
"I'm sorry to hear that..." she said quietly, not knowing what else to say to this shaken stallion, who remained silent for a minute or so before shaking his head and huffing.
"She stole apples from me. Called 'er a thief. Made friends with Apple Bloom, an' I chased 'er away, forbade my sister from talkin' with 'er." He lowered his hooves from his eyes, staring down at the ground. Twilight leaned down to get a better look at his face, but he looked off to the side. "Caught 'er sneakin' around. Thought she was up to trouble. Followed 'er, an' found 'er alone. No family, nothin'... just a dog." Macintosh shook his head and let loose a mirthless, sad chuckle. "Stupid, mangy dog... prob'ly trusted it ta fill a void in 'er life..." He looked up to Twilight. He was silent for a few seconds, but she saw his lips start trembling, and his eyes becoming wetter. "Prob'ly never thought it'd attack 'er for a pie..."
Twilight stared silently at Big Mac, her jaw moving wordlessly. He shook his head, looking off to the side. "I-is she okay...?"
"Don't know," he said, his voice starting to grow weaker. "Got 'er to a doctor. Did what he could, but..." He shook his head once more, looking off to the side and releasing a frustrated, rattled sigh. Twilight looked at her hooves for a moment, not sure what to say to him. This was not admittedly something she knew a lot about, as the most she had ever had to do was comfort Spike after a nightmare or, more recently, after a scare. She looked at Big Mac again though, and despite his attempts to look away, she could tell it was hurting him deeply. He looked so tired, so much older than he normally did; he was torn up inside. Just looking at this stallion, she felt something strange tug at her. An odd and unusual urge, but one she decided was best to follow.
Twilight took a seat next to Big Mac on his bed, turned so she was facing him, and she wrapped her forelegs around him gently and pulled him close. He tensed at first, probably surprised by the gesture, but slowly, he eased up, and wrapped his forelegs around her, lowering his head over her shoulder. Twilight felt his grip tighten, and then felt his body tremble and shudder as he released another shaky breath. She didn't know what to say. This was all she knew to do right now. When she heard the stallion sniffle, she decided maybe it was all she needed to do. Maybe this was all he needed right now. Twilight considered her dream for a moment. How the strange being had told her about how one pony could make all the difference, even if they were only so big in the eyes of the universe.
Twilight had considered leaving that following morning to continue her quest alone, leaving the Apple family, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and even Spike behind so that she could endure the dangers alone.
That had been her plan. But sometimes, plans change.
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 16 - New Information | Twilight had spent an hour with Macintosh the previous night trying to comfort him. She stayed with him until he finally fell asleep, making sure he had somepony to speak to if he needed it. It was not something she was used to, comforting a hurt pony, but she felt a little proud of herself for at least calming him down. If nothing else, she thought, she might have a future in psychology.
When she woke up the next day, however, Twilight was surprised to find the entire Apple family already up and about. She supposed it made sense, seeing that they were a farming family, though the very moment she saw Macintosh she could see the uneasy look on his face. He had washed his hooves and dressed in clean clothes, but the look on his face was one that said that he still felt unclean. Twilight would see him steal glances at a clock once in a while, and anytime anypony asked him what was on his mind, he would simply say 'nothing' and be done with it.
After breakfast (which Granny had insisted she eat), Twilight was back in the guest room trying to decide her next move. When Macintosh seemed ready to talk, she would approach him for his own ideas on the matter. While she wanted to return to her house, she was a bit terrified of the prospect, fearful that if she did return, they would be waiting for her again. A knock at her door drew her attention, so she made her way towards it and pulled it open, revealing a nervous Big Mac.
"Macintosh," she said as politely as she could with a nod, "is there something I can assist you with?"
Big Mac was quiet for a bit, looking at the nearby wall. "About last night," he started, grimacing hard at the thought of it. Twilight smirked, shaking her head at the stallion.
"It's okay, think nothing of it."
"No," he said, shaking his own head in response, "you... you helped comfort me while I was in a bad place... an' I appreciate that highly... and please don't be offended, but I also didn't really expect it of you."
Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at this. Sure, it sort of assumed she was cold and heartless, but she supposed that given their past interactions she hadn't given him much reason to believe otherwise. "It's okay," she said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "As long as you're feeling better, that's all that matters."
"Actually," said Big Mac, clearing his throat. "... I... was kind of hoping that you'd follow me to see the filly?" Twilight seemed confused by the question, raising a brow at the stallion who seemed almost unsure of himself. "... I... I'll be honest... I'm scared..."
Twilight frowned at this. "... You're afraid she won't be alright?" Macintosh didn't say anything, but his defeated expression told her she was right on the money. Twilight mulled her head over, trying to think of the right thing to say; she wanted to comfort him, but she did not want to give him false hope. After all, cruel though it was to think, it was entirely possible that the poor filly did not make it through the night for all she knew. "I'll come with you," she said. She wanted to add the rest about planning for their quest, but decided against it for the time being. He needed this, and she knew it.
Macintosh smiled, even if it wasn't a happy smile. "Thank you," he said to her quietly. Twilight simply nodded in response. Macintosh turned to leave, but stopped. "I'm thinkin' of goin' to check on 'er in an hour. Meet me at the farm's entrance." The stallion took his leave, leaving Twilight alone. The mare let out a sigh, shaking her head and sitting on the bed that she had slept in the night before.
"Well, Twilight," she said quietly to herself, "seems like you picked up quite a bit of drama you had not anticipated." Twilight did not consider herself heartless, but there was a level of guilt in her for the fact she didn't honestly feel too worried about the filly. Perhaps it was her own separation from the incident, but she knew in her heart of hearts her life would continue as normal regardless of the foal's condition. When she considered this, she also considered how, despite his own kindness, the same could be said for Big Mac. She barely knew the stallion, and they were friendly acquaintances at best; he could keel over today and her life really wouldn't be effected.
'Except the fact that you're afraid of it being your fault.'
Twilight sighed, placing her hooves on her face and dragging them. She almost wondered if maybe she was heartless? She looked at the door where Macintosh had stood seconds earlier, thinking about the subject. That dream she had was very surreal, but it was a dream. She had been very stressed lately, so it's possible that the dream was entirely constructed of her worries and fears mixed with what she knew of other ponies, right? Maybe not even knew, simply assumptions. It was possible that dream meant nothing at all. But what if it did? After all, the only real reason she had to not take him with her right now was to keep his death off her conscience. If it was possible such a thing would happen anyway, would it not be better to bring him with her and increase the odds of survival? On that note, it might be better to bring as many ponies as she could.
Twilight considered this for a moment. 'Fluttershy is very polite and gentle, and seems to have a proclivity towards animals that could come in handy. Pinkie Pie is fairly unpredictable, and surprises me almost constantly with how resourceful she can be. Braeburn is a hopeless lech, but he... well, he makes another pony?' Internally, she considered that in the off chance she encountered those thieves again, it might do her some good to have as many ponies available to her as possible.
At least it was something to consider. With a sigh, Twilight reached into a nearby bag and withdrew from it a book. After all, she had something important to learn before she went into potentially risky territory.
Macintosh chewed on a twig as he stood near the front gate of the farm, waiting for Twilight. It had been ten minutes and she still hadn't come down. He half considered going back to the house to see what she was up to, but just as he turned his head, he caught sight of her running down the dirt trail towards him. 'Better late than never,' he thought as she eventually caught up to him, panting and heaving.
"S-sorry," she gasped, hanging her head, "I was... I was caught up in reading something and lost track of time..."
Macintosh smiled and nodded towards the mare, figuring she was only a few minutes late. Nothing would likely change with being a little tardy; indeed, that might have given more time for the filly to wake up. "Sokay. No harm done."
The two ponies strode through Ponyville together in relative silence. Macintosh would occasionally glance sideways at the mare, feeling a little awkward. He had never been much of a social pony, but at this particular moment, he was on edge. There was so much to worry about, so much to consider. Talking would at least allow him to distract himself. "So," he said at length, looking back towards the streets, "dawned on me I don't really know much about you."
Twilight merely shrugged. "I've not said much about myself."
"Mhm," said Macintosh. It was silent for a few seconds. "Anything to tell?"
Twilight shook her head. "Not much, I'm afraid."
Macintosh pursed his lips together, keeping his eyes on the streets. He didn't want to pry, he just wanted conversation. "Where'd you grow up?" Twilight was quiet for a bit, so Macintosh looked back at her. She was frowning slightly, and seemed a bit tense.
"I'd rather not get into my history, if it's all the same to you," she said. The two remained quiet, Big Mac silently chastising himself for prying and possibly drudging up memories best left forgotten. He wanted to apologize, but he knew doing so might only make things worse, so he decided it probably best to remain quiet or change the subject. Any thought he had, however, dissipated as he and Twilight approached the home of the doctor. Macintosh felt his heart beat faster, and his chest tighten, and a slight tremble. This could be the moment of truth. This could be a moment that plunges him in guilt or redeems him. He wanted so desperately to turn around and run, to return when he had more time... but he had to know. He took a deep breath, raised a hoof, and knocked.
After a few minutes, the door clicked, and then opened. The doctor stood before him, and Macintosh was quick to notice that he looked tired and worn, and had a frown. His heart froze, and his mouth trembled. His eyes began to burn, and he felt the world crumble.
"Wha? Oh, hi Macintosh," said the doctor, his frown turning to a smile. "You're here! Thank goodness..."
Big Mac swallowed hard, afraid to ask that all important question. The question he had come to have answered. The question that could make or break him. "D-doc... is... is she--?"
The doctor smiled a bit and nodded. "She's fine."
Those words left Macintosh's heart joyous. A tremendous weight was lifted, and his spirit soared with relief of the news he had hoped to hear. He was so caught up he laughed and grabbed and hugged Twilight, who stiffened in his grip (and might have been having a little trouble breathing) before he set her down. "That's wonderful news!"
"Yes, yes" said the doctor with a sigh. "Come in?" Big Mac and Twilight stepped into the doctor's home, and he shut the door behind himself. There on the couch was the little orange filly eating a bowl of oats hungrily, her mane frazzled, and a cover on her legs. As soon as she noticed him though, she paused for a moment. It was tense, and he knew why. She knew why. After all, up 'til then they hadn't shared much in the way of healthy interaction.
"Woke up in the middle of the night when she knocked over a vase trying to get out. Gotta give 'er credit for makin' the effort, but she was runnin' on fumes as was so I had to come down here and help 'er back into the bed an' explain the situation." The doctor stepped next to her. "Also, resew some of the stitches she'd torn."
Scootaloo grimaced. "I said I was sorry..."
"Yes, and then you tried to do it again."
Scootaloo scrunched her nose. "Had to be sure."
"And I had to restitch you again." The doctor looked to Macintosh, who was quiet for a bit. "Though, to be fair, I think the pony you really want to thank is mister Apple here."
This only seemed to draw attention to the silence. Neither Scootaloo or Macintosh could look at the other. Thrilled though he was to find that she was okay, he had not anticipated how awkward it would be for her in this situation. The doctor stepped to Macintosh, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "The dog got her pretty good, and it may take a while for her to heal. Even then, the damage was pretty severe. She might make a complete recovery, but it's possible she might end up with a limp in her gait." Big Mac grimaced a bit at that. Sure, she was alive, but it seemed such a shame to have to be alive and injured in such a way one would have to carry for the rest of their lives, especially so young. "But..." he said with a sigh, looking back at Scootaloo and leaning close to Big Mac, "I'm afraid that's not my biggest fear right now." Macintosh leaned closer, curious. The doctor frowned, looking back at the filly one more time. "This filly has no family." This much Macintosh had learned already, even if it was only last night. "Talked with the girl... learned that she's an orphan. No aunts, uncles, siblings, nothing. Nowhere to go."
"I see," said Macintosh quietly.
"Thing is," said the doctor, pausing as if trying to choose his words. "I'm afraid I've no idea what to do with her. Where to send her. While I can keep her here while she heals, It's been a long time since I've had a drifter in here, and never before an orphan." Macintosh looked past the doctor at the little filly for a moment. He hadn't really thought of that. He certainly couldn't send her back to that little hovel and leave her to the mercy of the world. Similarly, he had always heard cruel tales about orphanages being careless with their charges... and downright merciless with pegasi.
"I... suppose I can keep 'er on th' farm until I figure somethin' out," he said uncertainly.
"Alright," said the doctor with a nod. "I'd like to keep her here for another day if it's all the same to you though. Make sure there's no complications that arise from the admittedly hasty work I had to do." Macintosh nodded in agreement; it would certainly be better for him to know as soon as possible if something like that happened. There certainly wasn't much Macintosh himself could do in such a scenario.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," said Macintosh with a nod.
"You too," said the doctor.
Big Mac looked to Twilight and nodded, and the two ponies turned about and made their way to the door. Macintosh placed his hoof on it, but stopped when he heard "Excuse me?" Turning, he looked to see Scootaloo looking at him. The expression on her face was one with a hint of guilt and shame, and she was trying to avoid eye contact. "... Thank you... for saving me..."
It was as sincere a thanks as he had ever heard. In that moment, Macintosh had remembered their past. Her stealing his apples, leading him around town, making him destroy (and subsequently repair) another pony's cart, sneaking into his home, eating his food, conspiring to steal a pie from Pinkie... and then he thought of that face. He turned around, and made his way towards the filly, who seemed to be uncertain of his intention. Big Mac sat on his haunches before her and lowered his head.
"Never try to take food from a hungry animal," he said his eyes staring into hers, no malice in them, only a deadly seriousness.
Scootaloo nodded. "Y-yeah... okay..."
Macintosh continued to look at the little filly, who suddenly seemed so sullen. He sighed, closing his eyes, and gave a soft nod. "You're welcome. Listen to the doctor, because he knows what he's sayin'. Come tomorrow, you'll be stayin' with my family on the farm until we can sort somethin' out."
"What?" replied Scootaloo, her expression both confused and a bit disbelieving, "Why do you think you can tell me what to do?"
Macintosh pursed his lips a little, nodding as if in acknowledgement of her argument. "Good point. Suppose I can't." Macintosh turned to Twilight and nodded at the confused mare as he made his way towards her. "Well, Twilight, let's head on back to the farm--"
"Wait!"
Macintosh stopped by Twilight and looked back at the filly with a sideways glance. "Hm? You say somethin'?"
"I-I'll do it..." said Scootaloo, her gaze downcast as if trying to avoid eye contact.
The red-coated stallion smiled at the little filly and gave a nod. "Okay then." He looked towards the doctor who seemed to have a smirk on his face at what had transpired. "I'll be by to pick 'er up tomorrow." The doctor nodded in acknowledgment, and Big Mac turned back to the door, opening it and turning to Twilight, who stood, watching him as he waited for nothing in particular, looking at her, until she realized he was holding the door open for her. The lavender mare seemed to jump a bit upon the realization before she stepped out of the house, clearly embarrassed she had missed the gesture for even a second. Big Mac gave a nod to the doctor and Scootaloo, exchanged final goodbyes, and stepped outside.
As the two ponies made their way back towards the farm, Twilight cast a sideways glance to Big Mac. "Would you really have let her just go?"
Big Mac shrugged. "No idea. Was hopin' she wouldn't make me find out."
This seemed to surprise the mare, who hurried in front of Macintosh and blocked his path. "What? You don't know? You were counting on her bluffing you or something?"
"Pretty much," he said matter-of-factly. "Not the best plan in the world, but best I had at the moment."
"But what if she didn't agree to it? What if she decided to go her own way?" Twilight almost seemed indignant. "With that injury her life would no doubt be so much more difficult, especially if she really is homeless!"
Big Mac sighed and shook his head. "What would you have done?"
Twilight stared at him for a moment. She opened her mouth to speak, but paused. Her eyes stared into his, clearly trying to come up with an answer. Twilight frowned, looking to the side. "I... I don't know."
Big Mac nodded. "I figured she'd pick what she needs over what she wants."
"But how do you know?" Twilight shook her head, looking past him at the little house a distance away. "She's a foal, and foals are not known for good decision-making skills!"
"Yes, but she's also homeless. I doubt she's as spoiled as most foals." Twilight did not respond, and a glance at the torn look on her told Big Mac she wanted to argue, that she might not be satisfied with his answer, and yet could not actually contradict what he said. Reluctantly, she stepped aside so Big Mac could continue his walk, and she resumed following him. It was quiet for a bit, and Big Mac looked off to the mare, smiling weakly. "Thanks for coming with me," he said just loud enough for her to hear.
"You're welcome," said Twilight with a nod and little else. The two ponies' walk continued in silence, both ponies staring forward at the path ahead of them. Several minutes passed, and Macintosh was convinced the little mare had nothing more to say, likely as satisfied as she would get with his answer and the little thank you he offered.
"Zauberstadt."
The phrase confused Macintosh, so he gave a sideways glance at Twilight, his ears perked up. "What's that?"
"The town I grew up in," said Twilight, her tone as stoic and casual as it ever was. "It's called Zauberstadt."
Macintosh hummed to himself as he poured his knowledge for something to pin the name to, although it proved fruitless. "Never heard of it."
Twilight sighed and nodded. "It's... isolated," said the lavender mare, the tone in her voice almost seeming uncertain, as if the information might be sensitive. Macintosh looked to her from the side, and he could see that while she tried to mask it, there was a level of sadness in her eyes. "Not a lot of ponies know about it, and it's so out of the way it's unlikely you'd come across it unless you were wandering aimlessly..."
"Homesick?"
Twilight smiled mirthlessly and sighed, shaking her head. "There's not much there for me to miss, really. Whatever family I have is scattered, so all I'd have to go back to is an empty house." Macintosh fell quiet, not sure how to respond to that. What did that mean? Did she lose her family? It was something he would have to look into later, but for now he decided it best to switch to focusing on the road. He knew it wouldn't be long before they could see the fence that led to Sweet Apple Acres. It bugged him really. He couldn't imagine not having somepony you'd miss, or a place to go back to for comfort and respite. The idea just seemed so foreign to him, so unusual.
So lonely.
"Maybe," he said with a smile, "you can go back there sometime? Me an' Braeburn could come with ya if ya like." This seemed to make Twilight chuckle, though he wasn't sure what she had found so funny; he was being serious. There was part of him that was curious to see what this mare called home, and she seemed to miss it, even if her words said otherwise.
"Twilight! Big Mac! Oh! Over here! Over here!"
Twilight and Big Mac turned to see a familiar face bounding towards them. Pinkie had decided to forgo her usual method of travel - bouncing - and was running towards them, although she tripped over her hoof, face-planted, and then picked herself up and made the rest of the trip towards the duo as if nothing had happened. "Oh! Thank goodness I found you two! I went to Twilight's place, but she wasn't there! I knocked on the door for fifteen minutes, passed out for five, and then remembered that Spike was with me and that Twilight said she was going to stay in town, so I went to Mister Rich's house and knocked on his door, and he said he hadn't seen you, so I ran by Sweet Apple Acres and they said you two had left, so I ran all the way here and I tripped and fell on my face (it didn't hurt, I'm fine I promise!) and then I started telling you this story, and here we are!"
The two ponies stared at Pinkie Pie, Big Mac as stoic as ever, and Twilight rubbing the bridge of her nose. "So," said Big Mac with a nod, "What did ya want?"
"Hm?" Pinkie blinked a few times, confused. "Oh! Yeah! Well, when we went to that spooky castle and got that rock, I thought it looked really familiar! Like, super familiar! I mean, I remembered how it smelled, how it looked, and how it felt to brush it with a comb and everything! While I was baking one day, I remembered, and said, 'Oh wait! My family has a rock just like that!'"
This caught their attention, though Twilight's more than Big Mac's, who took Pinkie's face in her hooves, whisper-shouting at her. "What!? Your family has an element!?"
"Maybe?" Pinkie seemed to ponder on that for a moment. "Not sure! But it was similar enough!" Pinkie frowned some, shaking her head. "It's a family heirloom that my mama got from her mama, and so on, and so forth, aaaalll the way back to when my great great great great grandmother, stole it from her family and eloped with my great great great great grandfather!"
Twilight stared at Pinkie for a few moments, as if trying to piece something together. "B-but... you're not from Cloudsdale... don't seem like royalty..."
Pinkie shrugged. "I was told Great Great Great Great Grandma Pecan Pie was a gypsy, and that's why I can sing and dance so well!" To make her point, Pinkie pulled a tambourine from no where, stood on her hind legs and danced a bit, tapping the instrument on her hoof and hip, then shaking it, looking to the two confused ponies for a reaction. When all they did was seem... well... confused, she decided she'd made her point and shoved the tambourine back in her mane and fell back to her hooves, smiling. "Six generations removed and I still got the magic!"
Twilight and Big Mac shared a look. Macintosh had a light-hearted smirk on his face, though Twilight seemed more astonished by their luck than anything. She looked to Pinkie, swallowing her anxiety, and smiling in what seemed to be excitement/relief. "P-pinkie, this is amazing! Do you know what this means?"
"Oh Twilight, don't worry, I won't put any curses on you!"
"What?" Twilight blinked a few times confusedly at the pink mare, then shook her head. "No! Pinkie, I need you to take me to see this! I need to see the Element!"
Pinkie paused and hummed, tapping her hoof to her chin. "I don't know," she said, squinting her eyes. "Papa maybe married, but he's prone to being really flirty with younger mares!" Pinkie giggle-snorted at the very thought. "Mama acts jealous, but she knows she's number one in his heart, so she never minds, but it's soooo embarrassing!" She groaned at the last part, putting her hooves over her eyes. "Stallions can be so weird sometimes!"
Twilight turned away, trotting a short distance, looking at the ground as she spoke to nopony in particular. "B-but we already have two! Two of the five! If what you're telling us is substantial, that means we'll have three! Three Elements of Magic!" She looked back at them, and Macintosh saw the little purple mare wearing a grin bigger than he had ever seen her with before. "Pinkie, when do you think you can take us?"
Pinkie seemed to consider this for a moment, though she seemed uncertain of herself. "Well, I suppose it's been a while since I've visited them... I guess if I disappear for a day or so nothing too bad can happen..."
"It's settled then!" Twilight clopped her hooves together, grinning excitedly, looking at both Macintosh and Pinkie. "We're making such quick progress, it's almost unreal! I theorized it would take at least another half a month to find any leads on where to begin looking for the next element! That we might already know where it is? We could have the entire set within the next two months!"
This seemed to give Big Macintosh pause, who seemed to stop to look into himself. "Two months? That long?"
"Well, yeah," said Twilight, her grin dissolving into a simple smile, "you didn't think we'd just get it done and over with, did you?" Macintosh didn't respond, only looked off to the side as if caught with his hoof in the cookie jar. Twilight sighed, shaking her head. "I know it's frustrating, but these things take time. Even what I estimated could be wildly off! Unlikely though it maybe, we could find every remaining Element in an antique store tomorrow!" Macintosh seemed to smile at the idea; it certainly would make his life a little less difficult to find them that easily. "Or," said Twilight, bringing Macintosh's day dreaming to a screeching halt, "it could take us longer. Months, years even." Macintosh's eyes widened at that; clearly, he didn't like the idea of their little venture taking that long. Truth was, neither did Twilight, but there was precious little in her power to change that.
"Which is why," Twilight added, trying to think up some silver lining to boost morale, "you should just go on about your life as normal until something comes up. After all, even I take a break once in a while to read a book."
Macintosh raised an eyebrow at the mare. "You take breaks from reading books... to read books?"
Twilight blinked confusedly at the stallion, almost as if uncertain why he would ask. "Uhh... yeah? Isn't that what most ponies do?" The stallion sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "What? What did I say?"
"Pinkie," said Big Mac, smiling towards the pink mare who, up until this point, was occupying herself with a bit of string she had found, "can ya take this one?"
Pinkie nodded, stepping forward and clearing her throat. "Twilight," she said with a smile, "that is no way to have fun and enjoy yourself!" This seemed to confuse the lavender mare even more, though Pinkie was clearly not done. "Remember how I keep telling you you need to go out more often? Meet other ponies? Live a little?"
"Y-yes," said Twilight, frowning a bit and suddenly seeming tense, "but Pinkie, you know why that's not such a good idea..."
"I know why you think it's not such a good idea," said Pinkie, holding a hoof up as if she were lecturing Twilight; the mere idea making Big Mac smirk a little. "But that doesn't mean you can't have some fun! Live a little! You don't have to go around telling everypony in the world all your secrets or anything!"
"Pinkie, I appreciate the gesture," said Twilight with a somewhat nervous look on her face, "but if it's all the same to you, I'd rather just keep to myself as much as possible, okay?" Pinkie Pie stared Twilight down for a moment, who in turned looked her back in the eyes. The pink mare sighed and relented.
"Alright," she said sadly, shaking her head. "If you say so."
"It's not that I don't appreciate the thought," added Twilight, clearing her throat, "it's just that, as you know, I'm not very good with ponies." Pinkie simply sighed an exasperated sigh, pouting her lips at Twilight like a sad child. Twilight made a point not to avoid her eyes and instead cleared her throat, turning her attention to Big Mac. "As I was saying... just go about your business, unless you feel inclined to do otherwise. I've fortified my house, so nopony should be breaking into it a second time, but I can't be certain." She looked back to Pinkie. "I'll be stopping by later to pick up Spike, if you wouldn't mind?"
Pinkie's poorly veiled attempt at acting depressed continued with a glum 'Alright Twilight,' which she ended with yet another sad sigh. Twilight was currently at odds as to if it was more funny or annoying.
"Well, I'm glad that's settled," she said with a nod, turning her attention back to Big Mac. "I'll be heading back to your house to pick up my things, if that's okay with you? I don't want to impose upon your family any further than I already have."
Big Mac merely chuckled, shaking his head with a smile. "Not imposin' at all, Twilight." This seemed to make the mare smile a bit, though she seemed to catch herself and revert to her somewhat stoic behavior. Big Mac, however, couldn't help but smirk to himself. 'Not so stone cold as ya like to act like ya are, are ya Twilight?' The world spun, however, and Mac suddenly found himself face to face with his maybe-cousin.
"We can't let her go home without doing something fun!" This seemed to confuse the stallion, who looked back at Twilight as she continued down the path towards Sweet Apple Acres, then back to Pinkie. "She smiled! She smiles now! I've never seen Twilight smile where a book or secret wasn't involved!"
"So?"
"So!?" Pinkie pressed her face to Big Mac's so her eyes were staring right into his. "That girl is about as isolated as a cherry on the top of an ice cream sundae! Sure it's tasty, but it's lonely up there on the top of that hill of delicious sweetness!"
"Well," said Big Mac, his expression remaining the very image of stoicism, "I suppose that explains why you been puttin' two to three cherries on yer ice creams..."
"This is serious!" Pinkie shook Big Mac mercilessly, leaving the stallion dazed. "This maybe Twilight's chance to get to know other ponies! To see what it's like to actually be one of a group instead of living outside of society! This is her chance to be a pony!"
Macintosh sighed a bit, pulling Pinkie's hooves from his face. "Pinkie, it's her decision."
"What!?"
"If she don't want it, you can't force 'er" said Macintosh with a nod. "It'd only upset 'er an' make 'er nervous. You gotta do things on her terms."
Pinkie Pie scrunched her nose and crossed her forelegs, clearly disappointed in the answer. "... But she'd be happier..."
"Maybe, given time," said Big Mac with a shrug, "but she's still havin' trouble jus' talkin' with us. You can't expect 'er to be a social butterfly so quickly."
Pinkie remained quiet, the unamused look on her face almost comical, though Macintosh kept a straight face. Finally, she sighed, responding with a clearly disappointed "Fiiiiine..." Pinkie stood up and huffed, glaring at Big Mac. "But she will get a party one day! A big one! Lots of ponies! Lots of friends! And she. Will. Like it."
Big Mac chuckled a bit at Pinkie's declaration and shook his head. "Alright, Pinkie, but do me a favor and talk to me about it first?"
Pinkie snorted, but she nodded to acknowledge him. He supposed she wouldn't have relented if she didn't see the logic, so he accepted it with a smile and a nod of his own. "Gotta get home. Throat's hurtin', need a drink, too much talkin'."
"Okay," said Pinkie with a sigh. "Oh, when Twilight comes to get Spike, will you be coming along as well?" Macintosh simply shrugged in response. He hadn't thought of it, after all, he figured Twilight knew her way around Ponyville well enough. Though, he considered for a moment at how this had all started to begin with, and wondered if maybe she should have somepony with her when she went back?
"I'll likely escort 'er back home," he said with a nod, "but that's all I know to say."
"Okie Dokie Lokie," said Pinkie with a nod of her head. "Well, I gotta go, Big Mac! The Cakes are probably worried sick about me!" With a final farewell, the two ponies parted ways, and Big Mac headed home once more. The day wasn't even half done and already he felt like he had a lot on his plate; another potential adventure, a possible enemy that seems to be paying attention to them, and Scootaloo having to stay with his family while she healed.
That last thought, however, gave him pause; what about after she got better? What would Big Mac do then? He couldn't very well say 'Glad you're better, now hit the road', could he? He groaned and put a hoof on his aching head. Things had happened so fast he didn't even think it all out. He considered the possibility of sending her to an orphanage, but the horror stories of how those places worked (especially in regards to pegasi) suggested the poor filly might be better off in the cottage he found her in. Big Mac wasn't sure their orchards were doing well enough to feed another hungry mouth.
Before he had realized it, Big Mac had made his way all the way back to the acres, and was already nearing his doorstep. He opened the door and stepped into his home, taking his coat off and hanging it from a nearby coat hanger. The stallion made his way up the stairs, intent on making it to his room, though he stopped when he heard something strange. It sounded... unusual. Like a pop, maybe, though he wasn't sure that was the right way to describe it, simply the best way he knew. He pinpointed that the noise had come from around the bedrooms, though he wasn't sure which. The next thing he knew, the guest room door opened and Twilight stepped out, turning to him and then jumping in surprise. "Big Mac!? Wha--how long were you there!"
"Just a minute," said Big Mac, tilting his head and looking around a bit. "You hear a noise? Like a pop?"
"Noise? I-I-I have no idea what you're talking about..." Twilight tried to hide her concern, though Big Mac could see that she was worried about something. For an instant, Big Mac felt a strange tingle, and the hairs on his body stand on end.
"Twi," he said, looking at her inquisitively, "what did you do?"
"Nothing!" said Twilight, though she cleared her throat and put on her most straight face. "Absolutely nothing. Why do you ask?" Macintosh, however, didn't seem convinced. He looked towards the little mare for a moment, pursing his lips in thought.
"You didn't break the mattress in there, did ya?"
"N-no," she said, biting her lip. "Not at all." Suddenly, there was a ripping noise from the guest room, and a loud twang of a spring letting loose of it's confines. She stared silently at the stallion for a moment, before sighing and lowering her head. "I may have... fallen on it with a tad too much force and accidentally damaged something though... went in there, was so exhausted from the walk that I threw myself on the bed..."
Big Mac sighed, shaking his head and stepping past her, looking into the room. There, he saw the mattress with a single spring sticking out from it. "Salright. Just gonna have to patch it up is all." He heard Twilight sigh in relief and smiled a bit inwardly. 'Poor mare stresses herself out too much over lil' things. She needs to lighten up.'
"S-so, Big Mac," said Twilight, as if trying to change the subject, "I was thinking that when I go to Pinkie's, you should come with me. We need to discuss the next Element of Magic and what we're going to do, weather her parents have it or not."
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a nod. He supposed that was a perfectly reasonable request, although he had no idea what he could contribute to their plans. He was good with business and farm management, but this whole 'magical artifact' thing seemed to be her area of expertise. Still, he figured she knew enough of what she was doing. She made her way back into the guest room and closed the door, and Macintosh continued his trek towards his room, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.
Big Mac lay in his bed and sighed, staring up at the ceiling as if it held all the answers to all the questions he could ever ask. Things seemed to be in motion once more, and he had no idea where they were being pulled; at one time, he had assumed that it would be like some sort of scavenger hunt. But those thoughts disappeared with that creature from their last trip to the castle. 'Wonder if that thing is still in there?' It was a strange thought; what does a horrific, giant monster do when it's treasure is gone? Come looking for it? 'Well, I suppose if it does it won't be hard to notice.'
Mac chuckled to himself lightly, letting out a soft sigh before closing his eyes. Scootaloo, the Elements... things seemed so topsy turvy right now. Big Mac pondered on this a moment, before getting out of his bed and making his way towards the door. 'Well, better talk to the family, get things sorted out for Scootaloo when she gets here.
Another night passed, welcoming in a new day. A new day of promise, of hope, of life.
And hopefully, the beginning of a new life for a little orphan filly, though a certain somepony secretly hoped it would not hit too close to home.
'Even if Apple Bloom would absolutely love it.'
It was almost surreal, Macintosh thought to himself, that he would be bringing the very filly he once despised and chased away back to his home that she might heal. Maybe despised was too big a word; Macintosh didn't like to think he could feel so negatively to a mere foal. Of course, the more he thought of it, the less he could think up a better description, and the more shameful he felt of himself. Still, what's done is done, and now Scootaloo was going to be coming home with his family to recuperate.
Granny Smith and Apple Bloom were with him at the time, with Granny making sure young Scootaloo (who was riding on Big Macintosh's back) was comfortable the whole way back. Apple Bloom, meanwhile, kept talking to her about all the fun stuff they'd do while she stayed over; once in a while, the two foals would need a reminder that Scootaloo was currently crippled and would be unable to move around too much, which would force them to contemplate activities less strenuous on the foal's injured leg.
Macintosh had originally planned to set Scootaloo up in the spare room, but Apple Bloom had begged she be allowed to share her room with her. Granny insisted it was a good idea, seeing as she never got to spend time with Applejack, and that it might be like an extended sleepover. Macintosh inwardly cringed at the thought, realizing that if something didn't happen it could end up being an impromptu adoption, but kept it to himself. Still, he supposed he couldn't argue with his grandmother (even if he did have to put the spare bed in there anyway and place a cot in the spare room). Hopefully, he'd figure something out soon so that little Scootaloo would be able to find a family.
Back home, he was setting Scootaloo in her new bed as Granny went over the details. "Apple Bloom wakes up every weekday at about seven o' clock fer school, which is about when we have breakfast. If'n ya need anythin', there's a bell on the nightstand fer ya to ring, an' one of us'll get it fer ya. Doc says you shouldn't strain yerself too much, so if ya need to use the bathroom or anythin', me or Apple Bloom'll help ya get there. We have dinner 'round five or six every day, an' we can bring ya yer meals. Any questions?"
Scootaloo shook her head. "No ma'am," she said, being courteous enough that it was almost surprising. Granny smiled and ruffled the filly's mane.
"Alrighty! Well, jus' give that there bell a ring if ya need anything! I'm gonna go downstairs and fix ya up some lunch." Granny Smith left the room, with Macintosh following after her. Apple Bloom stayed with her, and once the door was shut, it wasn't long before the two were getting into a spirited conversation.
Macintosh made his way into the kitchen below, pouring a glass of water and mixing some honey in with it to soothe his throat. He made his way out of the house, taking a seat on a chair on the porch and staring out into the orchards as he took a sip of his drink. He had already finished his work for the day before fetching Scootaloo, so there was nothing for him to do for the day. No work. No chores. No tasks. No Twilight Sparkle. No Nightingale. No crazy adventures. The rest of the day was his to do with as he pleased. And so, Macintosh smiled, staring out into the calming, soul cleansing orchard, letting the scenery take his cares away.
Then he saw a familiar shape trotting down the path to his home.
'No.'
The closer it got, the more he could see; purple, a hat of some sort. Macintosh frowned.
'I just sat down.'
It got closer; a mare, a familiar mare, with a saddlebag over her back.
'If we live in a fair world where good things happen to good ponies and every dog has its day, you will not be dragging me away from home. At least not for another day or so.'
Twilight Sparkle approached Big Mac, a smile on her face. "Macintosh? Pack your bags, we're going on a trip!" Twilight was about to turn around, but stopped herself. "Hm? Macintosh? Are you crying?"
TO BE CONTINUED.... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 17 - Cracked | The fields moved unevenly before Macintosh's eyes. Trees, bushes, the occasional building, anything closer seemed to zip by before he could give it a proper thought. In the distance, the hills moves slower, enough that he could contemplate them, but not enough to linger on them. Further off, hills and mountains almost seemed to sit still, as if frozen in time while the rest of the world changed around them.
It would be beautiful on any other given occasion, more so if he didn't feel the wet spot on his shoulder. He groaned, shaking his cousin awake. "Braeburn, yer droolin' on me."
Braeburn shot up, snorting, blinking his eyes groggily. "Huh? What? We there yet? Where are we?"
"Not yet," said Big Mac with a sigh, leaning on his hoof and staring forlornly out the window.
"We're close though," shouted Pinkie, hopping up in her seat, much to Twilight's annoyance. "I remember that rock we just passed by! And that one! And that one! And that one! Oh, that one's new!"
"So tell me, Pinkie," piped Fluttershy gently, a soft smile on her face, "is there any kind of critters or animals that live near your home?"
"Nope!" Pinkie smiled big. Fluttershy seemed confused by this, and seemed to want to ask more, but before she could, Pinkie jumped across the aisle and past Macintosh, pressing her face into the window. "We're here!" Indeed, the train screeched as it began to slow it's pace, until it eventually crawled to a stop, letting loose a loud hiss. It wasn't long before ponies were milling about, leaving the train, gathering their belongings, and disappearing to wherever it was they were off to. Macintosh was thankful that he didn't need to bring much; anything he could need could be shoved in a saddlebag. As the group left the train, Big Mac looked upon their new surroundings, and found himself somewhat surprised by the sight before him.
It was a bustling town, similar to Ponyville, although much smaller in scale. Judging by it's size, he gathered it must be a relatively newer settlement, although much like Ponyville did it seemed like it might be growing quickly. As the group left the train station, Macintosh caught sight of a statue of a stallion; he had mutton chops, a wide-brimmed hat, and wore a modest coat, with a pickaxe in his mouth and one hoof on a rock that was cracked. A plaque at the bottom of the statue caught his eye.
'Founder of Ponyrock
Igneous Rock Pie'
Everypony stared at the plaque for a moment before turning their attention to Pinkie Pie, who smiled brightly up at the statue. "Oh! Papa had the statue made! I was wondering if he'd go through with it!"
"Papa!?" Everypony shouted at once. Pinkie noticed they were all staring at her.
"What? Didn't I tell you? My Papa founded Ponyrock!"
"But how!?" Twilight looked up at the statue and back to Pinkie Pie, her mind seeming like it was trying to process what was going on. "Didn't you say your family farmed... well... rocks?"
"Mhm," said Pinkie, nodding her head wildly, "the best rocks in Equestria! We got rocks that make some of the best building material! In today's society, stone work is becoming very important in processing and using as building material!" She hummed a bit, tapping a hoof on her chin. "Plus, to be fair, he sort of discovered a mine when he was young and the news of valuable ore brought travelers from all around and Papa made a killing off of it! He may act like an immature colt half his age, but he's a shrewd businesspony!"
Everypony stared at Pinkie, then to the statue, then back to Pinkie. All at once, everypony decided to simply leave it alone and accept it as it was; chances were if they talked any more about it, they would all go bonkers. Macintosh set his sights back on the town, seeing several homes and buildings that seemed new, even compared to Ponyville's 'New Town'. "Well, let's get to my parents' place! I'm sure they'll want to see their sweet little baby pie after so long!"
As the group made its way through town, Macintosh found himself unable to not look around. It was amazing to see that this place had grown at such a rate. Given Ponyville had grown just as fast (if not faster), it still amazed him to see how many ponies could flock to this place in a few short decades. His attention came quickly to a local blacksmith, who had just handed a pony a pickaxe. Back in Ponyville, the local Blacksmith typically only made horse shoes, as well as a few weapons for the guard. Braeburn's attention fell quickly on a tavern, 'Rock Bottom', that seemed rather cheery and energetic for it's otherwise sad name.
Eventually, the ponies stopped before a gate, and all eyes were on a manor off in the distance. Pinkie approached the guard, smiling wide. "Hiya, Stahlrim! It's been a while!"
The ice-blue stallion smiled at Pinkie Pie, tipping his hat to her. "Lady Pinkie, it has been! How has your venture been going?"
"Oh, well, I moved to Ponyville, helped fund a bakery, moved into said bakery, lost said bakery in a game of poker, won it back in another game of poker, adopted an alligator, found a bit under a couch cushion, stubbed my hoof, and have been hunting fabled magical artifacts for the good of the world!"
Everypony was quiet for a moment, the stallion staring at Pinkie, pursing his lips together. Then, he smiled, shaking his head softly. "Lady Pie, you're a wild card. Never lose that spirit." Stahlrim stepped from his booth, and pushed the gate open for the group, gesturing for them to help themselves in the rest of the way. The yard had a cobblestone walkway that circled around a flower bed with some beautiful flowers, then joined again to form a path towards the manor. The group approached the manor, with Pinkie taking point, and when they finally reached the front door, she gently reached a hoof towards the door, but put it back on the floor and stepped forward, banging her head against the wooden blockade.
"Pinkie!? That's how you knock on doors!?" Twilight stepped forward, observing the pink mare. "I thought you just... you... are you okay!?"
Pinkie looked towards Twilight as if confused by the question. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
Twilight stared at Pinkie for a few moments in silence, before shaking her head slowly. "That... explains a lot..." This response seemed to confuse Pinkie Pie, though any response she might have had died when a creak sounded the opening of the door. Everypony turned their attention to see a stallion at the doorway - he was a golden brown color, wearing an earthy brown jacket with a gray waistcoat beneath, a wide-brimmed hat, and a pair of grayed mutton chops on his jaw - he hardly seemed the kind of pony that would live in a mansion at all! He looked towards Pinkie Pie, and gave a silent nod.
"Pinkie Pie."
"Papa!" Pinkie jumped forward, throwing her forelegs around her father's neck and bringing him into a tight embrace. The stallion returned the hug, but it seemed like an empty attempt of a reaction, with no real emotion or anything in it. "Oh Papa, I missed you! How've you been! How's mama? The girls? The family?"
"We're all fine," said Igneous neutrally, almost monotonously, "still keepin' the mines goin'. Still rich."
"I noticed," said Pinkie with a nod, her grin never fading, an energy about her making her seem like she might explode, a fact that Macintosh noticed was heavily contrasted by her father. Igneous turned to look at the others.
"These your friends?"
"Yep!" Pinkie bounced towards Twilight. "This is Twilight Sparkle, my nerdy friend! She knows lots of cool stuff about science and books, and I bet you and her would have hours of exciting conversation!"
The stallion simply nodded, his seemingly emotionless attitude never shifting. "Nice meetin' ya, Miss Sparkle."
"PAPA!" Pinkie groaned, throwing her hooves over her eyes as if in embarrassment, "she's young enough to be your daughter, stop being such a weirdo!" If Igneous had heard Pinkie's reaction (which seemed impossible to miss), he did not acknowledge it. The pink mare huffed. "Now, if you're done being a dog... the other is Fluttershy!" Pinkie waved a hoof at Fluttershy, who suddenly seemed to freeze, her cheeks turning pink. She had no idea what to do. Was Pinkie overreacting? Or was there something she couldn't see? Macintosh could see the emotions warring in her eyes. Igneous simply nodded, and everypony turned to Pinkie, who seemed to accept that reaction. "Thank you! And this is Braeburn," she waved a hoof at the golden stallion, who tipped his hat, though Igneous was quiet. "And, last but not least, Big Macintosh!"
Big Mac held a hoof forward. "Howdy."
Igneous, however, simply stared at the hoof. He turned his eyes towards Big Mac, still as stoic as ever. "Big Macintosh? As in 'Big Macintosh Apple?"
Big Mac was a bit surprised that he knew who he was. He knew the Apple family was well-known throughout Equestria, but he didn't think anypony would know his name. He smiled proudly, and gave a firm nod. "Eeyup."
Igneous was quiet for a few moments, looking back at all the other ponies, and then to Pinkie Pie, then back to Big Mac. "Get off my property."
Macintosh's smile fell, his confidence now shaken and replaced with uncertainty. "What?"
"You heard me," said the stallion, though any emotion his words might convey never reached... well, any of the rest of him beyond his words, "go back outside of that gate. I'd prefer ya leave town if possible."
"Papa?" Pinkie stepped between Big Macintosh and Igneous, her smile strained and her eyes confused, "Why are you doing this? Big Mac didn't do anything wrong, did he?"
"Can't say," said the stallion, cold as ever, "but Apple family ain't welcome here."
"Now wait," said Breaburn, holding up a hoof, "I'm Apple family too, an' you didn't say a word!"
Igneous looked to Braeburn, looking him over a bit. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to leave too, Miss Apple."
"Miss!?" Braeburn's cheeks turned red, and he stepped forward. "I'm a stallion!"
Igneous was quiet for a few moments. "They just don't make Apples like they used to anymore." As Braeburn suffered a rage breakdown, Igneous turned to the mares. "You girls are welcome here, but the Apples ain't allowed in here."
Twilight frowned, looking to Pinkie Pie and then to Big Mac. "Uh, I don't know if--"
"Go on ahead," said Big Mac, sighing and shaking his head. Twilight looked to him with a raised eyebrow, silently asking for his certainty. "Jus'... do what ya came to do, an' we'll get out of here soon as we can." Twilight looked between Big Mac and Braeburn, seeming oddly torn at the idea, but her expression became firm and she gave a nod.
Pinkie stepped towards the Apples as Fluttershy and Twilight walked into the house. "I am so, so sorry about this! I have no idea what's gotten into him! He's always so friendly and kind, I've never seen him--"
"Pinkie," said Big Mac, holding a hoof up. "It's okay." Pinkie Pie, however, did not seem convinced. Macintosh smiled a bit, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "Me an' Brae will jus' hit the local pub. When y'all do what ya came here to do, we'll leave." Pinkie's lip trembled a bit, big sad eyes staring back at Macintosh, making him chuckle and shake his head. "Don't worry, we'll be alright. We'll take the time to look 'round town." Pinkie Pie stared at Big Mac silently for a moment before sighing and hanging her head, nodding. She gave Big Mac and Braeburn hugs, before making her way towards the house and past her father. Igneous looked to Big Mac and Braeburn, that cold, stoic expression on his face not shifting even in the slightest. He turned, went into the house, and shut the door.
"Well," said Braeburn with a sigh, "that's kinda discouraging." The Apple stallions turned, making their way out of the property, the sound of the gate being closed behind them barely worth noting. "Came all this way an' her old man hates us?"
"Strange," said Big Mac with a nod, "considerin' we might technically be kin."
The two stallions made their way into the center of town where most of the businesses and bustle seemed to be. There was only one place on their minds right now, one place to go, one place to calm down; the local pub. While Braeburn loved to go to pubs to flirt with women and get as inebriated as he could without succumbing to alcohol poisoning, Macintosh used such visits as an opportunity to do a few things, such as seeing if his family's products had reached so far, or occasionally learning some town gossip. It was something he intended to do tonight, though he didn't expect much to come from it.
As they pushed the doors open and stepped into the town tavern, they were greeted by the sounds of conversation, laughter, and a pianist playing a tune on the piano. The Apple Stallions made their way to the bar, each taking a seat, and the tender was quick to greet them. He had a dark grey coat, wore a dress shirt with a waistcoat and a small, ribbon-like bowtie, and had no mane to speak of. "Hello newbies, ain't seen you here before. What can I get ya?"
"Got any Apple Family Apple Cider?"
The stallion nodded, making his way towards the bottles on the wall, grabbing one bottle and returning to the stallions with it. "How many?"
"Two," said Big Mac with a nod. The bartender poured two glasses of the amber liquid, and gave them to the Apple cousins. The bartender sat the bottle out of the way, but kept it nearby as he went back to work cleaning an empty mug. Macintosh and Braeburn took sips of their drinks, enjoying the familiar flavor of their family's trademarked drink. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about Igneous Rock, would you?"
The tender smirked, shrugging. "Well, I hear a lot these days, and that pony is pretty much connected to the roots of this town, so I may know a thing or two. Why do you ask?"
Big Mac considered for a moment asking what he was about to ask. How could this bite him in the flank? Could it turn on him? Could he get chased out of town? He decided that it was not likely; otherwise they wouldn't serve his family's drinks. "You wouldn't happen to know why Igneous hates the Apple family, would ya?"
The bar tender pursed his lips a bit, humming. "Well, now that's new. 'Fraid I wouldn't know anything about that." Macintosh sighed and nodded, supposing it was too much to hope that somepony in this town would know something like that about a stallion who seemed to be as expressive as the very rocks he built his town over. It was almost an oddity that Pinkie Pie was related to him! Still, he supposed he had done all he could do for the time being.
So, Macintosh and Braeburn drank. Once in a while, Braeburn would flirt with one of the waitresses, though such attempts bore no fruit. Macintosh was content to simply relax, enjoy the piano music, and wait. For what, he wasn't sure, but waiting is what he would do, just as he said he would. Time seemed to move at a crawl though, and Big Mac found himself missing home; at least then he could leave and return home, do some chores, read a book, something. Here, he was at the mercy of whatever the town offered, and he knew too little to take advantage of that. Perhaps he would look around later on?
An hour passed, and both stallions had long since finished their drinks, which meant Macintosh had to convince Braeburn to eat rather than drink himself stupid and make an idiot of himself in a new town (possibly damaging their already wounded reputation with the Pie family). Macintosh then became aware of somepony sitting next to him, so he turned to give a sideways glance to see Twilight Sparkle having taken a chair next to him. "Oh, hey Twilight," he said, smiling a little to have something change things up a little, "how's things?"
Twilight responded with a sigh, placing a hoof on the bridge of her nose. "Well, there was an.... argument...? Something that happened between Pinkie and Igneous that his lack of emotion can best allow as an argument happened," said Twilight, waving her hoof, "but long story short, she's grounded."
Macintosh raised a brow. "Grounded? Ain't she a grown mare?"
"Yeah," said Twilight, rolling her eyes, "but Pinkie Pie loves her family too dearly to challenge them any more than she already has." Big Mac frowned some, staring at the counter in thought as he tried to think of something he could do. "It seems," said Twilight, drawing Macintosh's attention back to her, though she seemed like she was trying to pick her words, "it seems there was some sort of falling out between Igneous and a member of the Apple family. That's about all I learned, though."
Macintosh sighed, hanging his head. "So. How long is Igneous gonna keep Pinkie here for?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," said Twilight, shaking her head, "and to make matters worse, we've yet to learn the location of the next Element. With all the drama, I haven't been able to ask Pinkie Pie or Igneous about it." The two ponies let out a joint sigh of irritation.
"Should we go back home?"
"No," said Twilight, shaking her head, "the only way I'm leaving is with an Element or with the knowledge it's not here. I refuse to leave otherwise, even if I have to set up a camp on the Pie manor's lawn." Macintosh frowned at that; sure, she was fine with that, but he had things to get back to, so even if he had the will to do it, he certainly didn't have the freedom. He turned his attention to the bar tender.
"'Scuse me, Barkeep?" The tender looked towards him, grunting as if to acknowledge he was listening. "I need a place to stay the night. Any idea where I can find an inn?"
"Just across the street," said the tender with a nod, "tell ya what, hope ya don't mind my eavesdroppin', but y'all sound like ya've had it rough. Why don't ya tell them ol' Brewskie sent ya? They'll give you a discount."
Macintosh smiled a bit at the kindness and nodded. "Thanks, Stranger." It was odd how uplifting a simple, random act of kindness was to the spirit, and Macintosh certainly felt better for it. "So, you stayin' with Pinkie for the night?"
"Yes," said Twilight with a nod, "though it seems Fluttershy and I will be sharing a room with Pinkie Pie..." Twilight paused for a moment, then seemed oddly nervous. Before Big Mac could say anything, however, Twilight stood up and cleared her throat. "Gentlecolts, I'm afraid I have something else I must attend to." The mare turned around and, without another word, made her way out of the bar. Macintosh found himself utterly confused by her rush, or why she was so quick to leave, but decided for the moment it was best not to wonder; if it was important, she'd tell them. He turned to Braeburn, whom he quickly noticed was staring at the backside of one of the waitresses, so he gave him a healthy swat on the side of the head.
"Ow, hey...!"
"Stop gawkin'."
Pinkie Pie approached her father's study, intent on getting answers from him, or at the very least changing his mind about not letting Big Mac into the house. After all, Big Mac was one of her bestest friends! He was always there for her, as she was for him, and the Apples had always treated her like family. It seemed only right in her head that her real family like them like the family they weren't, but possibly were, though that was still an unanswered mystery best left for another time.
The study had many books - most of which revolved around geology in one form or another - as well as a few rocks that were on display. Pinkie Pie looked towards a statue that sat near her father's desk in a display of its own, something she hadn't seen before; a statue of a strange, serpentine creature, though its head resembled that of a pony, it had an eagle's talon and a lion's paw for arms, and a goat's leg and a dragon's claw for legs, as well as mismatched wings and horns. The strange creature seemed to be singing. Her father must have caught her staring, because he spoke up.
"Got that statue from some wandering traders a few years back," he said, looking towards the stone oddity, "they said it was some kinda statue of a spirit of disharmony what terrorized Equestria a millennium ago. The stone's unusual."
"Oh?" Pinkie approached the statue, looking it over. It certainly seemed odd. "Why'd ya buy it?"
The stallion sniffed. "They said that it supposedly brings good luck."
Pinkie stared at the statue for a few more seconds before turning her attention back to her father. "Papa, I wanted to talk about Big Macintosh..."
"Pinkie Pie," said Igneous, looking towards Pinkie with that ever-stoic expression, "I know your heart is in the right place, an' ya mean well, but those Apples are no good. I won't have them or their ilk in my home."
"Funny you say that," said Pinkie with a grin, "because technically the Apples might be family! We're not sure, because the records were kinda smudged, but--"
"But nothin'," said the stallion, shaking his head. "If they are kin, they're at best well-removed cousins, an' if they are, they're cousins I want nothing to do with."
"But Papa, they're my friends!" Pinkie stepped closer, giving her father the best pleading eyes she could. "Big Macintosh is one of the nicest and most dependable ponies I know, and Braeburn is fun and silly and dopey! I promise, if you take the time to get to know them, you'd love them!"
Igneous did not shift, did not change in any way. "I don't need time. I don't need to know 'em. I've gotten by for not knowin' an Apple since before you was born, and I'm pretty sure I'll die happy without hearin' of the Apple clan ever again."
"But Papa-"
"But nothing, daughter," said Igneous with a nod of finality, "that's just how it is, and you can't change my mind."
"But Papa--"
"And," he interrupted once more, "I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to ask you to stop associatin' with the Apples."
Pinkie's eyes widened in surprise. "Papa, no!"
"They'll cheat and swindle you and stab you in the back," he said with a nod, "an' I don't want to see my little filly hurt like that."
"You can't do that!" Pinkie pulled her father close, staring him in the eyes. "They're my friends! You can't tell me to not be friends with them!"
"I can, and am," said the Stallion with a nod, "an' just to be sure, I'm gonna have to ask you not to return to Ponyville."
"What!?"
"Stick here," said the old stallion, "stay with us, with your family. Lotsa nice pony folk around here, lotsa ponies to make happy. You don't need those no-good Apples or their no-good town to be happy."
"But Papa-"
"No buts," said the stallion with a shake of his head. Pinkie Pie stared at her father quietly for a few minutes, though he could see the water in her eyes begin to well up. Her lip trembled, and she turned around and ran out of the study. She said nothing, simply fled the room sobbing. Igneous sighed a bit, slowly easing himself back into his chair. It hurt him to do that to his daughter, but he knew it was for the best. He only cared about her happiness.
He pondered on that. On the ignorance. On her lack of understanding. And sighed.
He loved her, and he wanted to protect her. That was all he knew.
Crack
His ear twitched, and he looked around, confused. Turning his attention towards the strange statue in its display case, he noticed something; a small crack, just on its surface. This made him frown. "Hm. That's new. Maybe some kinda mood stone reflecting the situation?" He considered this a moment, though decided to think on it later. He'd have to consider patching that crack up. Still, it could wait for now.
Macintosh stared up at the ceiling of the small room he and Braeburn were spending the night in. He wished that there was a cot or something he could sleep in - or at least a couch - but all they had available was a single bed room. The bed itself was big enough to fit both of them, but to be so close to a snoring Braeburn was going to keep him up all night.
'Don't matter much that I ain't really sleepy to begin with,' he thought to himself grumpily. Giving up on the concept of sleep, Big Mac pushed himself from the bed, standing up and hearing a creak as his weight left the mattress. Braeburn, unsurprisingly, did not wake up. Making his way towards the dresser, he put on his shirt and favorite bandanna. 'Maybe a stroll around the town will do me good?' Seemed as good an idea as any. If he was back home, he'd just work himself tired, burn the energy productively, but it would be several hours and a train ride before he'd be back home.
He stepped from his room, out of the inn, and into the town. Big Mac had no idea what he would do, but if nothing else it was a nice night for a stroll. So, he wandered about town, taking in the sights and sounds. It was very quiet, only the sounds of chirping crickets breaking the otherwise silent environment. He simply wandered around town, taking in the sights, enjoying his surroundings for the time being. Then, he found himself before the house of the family Pie. That house from which he was barred from ever entering. It was curious, what Pinkie's father might have against his family. He had never heard mention of her family before, or anypony in it.
He sighed a little, turning around and making his way away from the house. Something he would have to address later.
"Big Macintosh?"
Big Mac turned his attention towards the voice calling to him to see none other than Fluttershy standing at the gate as one of the guards opened it for her. "O-oh, it is you! Sorry if I startled you..."
Big Mac chuckled, shaking his head. "Not at all."
"Oh? Oh! Good!" Fluttershy smiled a bit, making her way towards the stallion. "Say, have you seen Twilight or Pinkie Pie? They disappeared a few hours ago and I haven't seen them since.."
Big Mac quirked a brow. "Nope?"
"Oh..." Fluttershy seemed to wilt a bit, clearly concerned. Big Mac frowned a bit, wondering what might have drawn them away from Pinkie's house this late at night. It wasn't like them to just take off without saying anything. As if on queue, the two ponies turned to see somepony running towards them. It was hard to see her at first, but as she got closer, they could tell it was none other than Pinkie Pie herself. She panted and heaved as she galloped as fast as she could, until stumbling and falling flat on her face in front of them, gasping desperately for air as if she had been dunked under water. Big Mac and Fluttershy shared a look for a moment, before Fluttershy put a hoof on Pinkie's back. "Breathe Pinkie, just breathe, take a moment..."
Pinkie pulled herself up, panting and gasping, forcing the words out as best she could. "I-it's Papa... he's... he's acting really weird, and... and he's got Twilight... I think he's going to hurt her!"
"You thought you could just march into my town. Corrupt it's people. Spread seeds of wickedness in their hearts and minds, and turn them to darkness? You have some nerve, demon."
Twilight winced whens he felt the pain in her head pull her to consciousness, and she was surprised to find she was still wearing her hat. Small blessings, perhaps? Of course, it was situated just right. Still. As she slowly felt the world readjust itself, she tried to bring her hoof up to her head to the injury, but found herself unable to move, chained to a rock in a clearing in a wooded area. Igneous was showing the only expression Twilight had known him to express in the short day she had known him. His eyes were angry, filled with judgement and righteous fury. Steeled with the resolve of a pony who thought himself just. But beneath that was a wickedness. A cruel, careless wickedness, but on his surface, he seemed duller, as if some of the already dull color had fled him. "But I am on to you. I know your secrets. I know what you're hiding."
"What..." grunted Twilight, wincing as the pain in her skull ebbed, "... what are you talking about..."
"You know very well what I'm talking about, witch," said Igneous, steeling his gaze upon Twilight, whose pupils shrank to pinpricks at the accusation. "You're a harlot! A trickster! Deceiver of stallions and mares, hiding your true self from the world while you put bile in their souls and vomit lie upon lie at them!"
"I... I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Oh? Don't you?" The stallion chuckled a sinister chuckle. "The statue told me. The statue told me!" He rushed Twilight, pressing his hoof against her throat, choking her. She struggled to breathe, but couldn't. She struggled to free herself, but failed. She tried to do something, anything to free herself, but anything she tried only made her head hurt more, and made her aware of a stinging sensation on her brow.
"P-please...." she rasped, tears filling her eyes, "... please... don't kill me..."
"You will die," said the stallion, his voice calm, quiet, and disturbingly kind as he said it, "... I will free you from the torment of this world, and you will spread evil no more..." She felt his hooves press against her throat harder. She felt the world swim. The world grew black. Her struggles grew weaker. Her breathing became tired.
'I'm going to die.'
Twilight's eyes stared, horrified at this stallion, who looked back at her with a cold, empty gaze. Those eyes, cruel, careless, watching her as her life faded.
And then, he was tackled.
Two stallions rolled in the dirt before breaking apart from each other, rolling a short distance away. Twilight gasped and coughed, panting and heaving in desperation for the oxygen she thought she would never get again. Fluttershy hurried to her side as Big Mac and Igneous stood up, facing each other. "You! What are you doing here!?"
Big Mac snorted, glaring daggers at Igneous. "Savin' a mare's life, I imagine. What about you?"
Igneous growled. "I am purging darkness from our land! A wickedness that brews just beneath the surface!"
"What are you talkin' about," Big Mac growled, his temper flaring.
"The creature behind you?" Igneous laughed, pointing towards Twilight, whom Fluttershy was in the middle of trying to unchain. "That foul beast?"
"Stop callin' her--"
"It's a witch!" Igneous grinned an almost malicious grin. "It's a witch, and I saw it with my own two eyes! I followed it out into this clearing. The statue, it told me, it told me she was keeping secrets! It told me you were all keeping secrets!" Igneous looked towards Pinkie, and his eyes became softer. Sad even. "... It told me... you were all trying to corrupt my pure, sweet, innocent daughter..." He frowned, looking almost ready to cry, but then his emotions reverted to rage and he turned his eyes on Big Mac. "You... you're trying to make her like you. Deviants, witches, and sick... freaks! All of you!" He prodded Big Mac's chest. "Especially you! You vile son of a bitch! Bile and poison run in your veins! Your family is one of lies! One of wickedness!"
Big Mac swatted his hoof away, gritting his teeth. "What the hell is yer problem with my family!?"
"Because," shouted Igneous, "an Apple betrayed me and stole the girl of my dreams away from me!"
Everypony fell silent. Big Mac stared at Igneous for a long while, wide-eyed and confused. But none were as shocked as Pinkie Pie.
"What?"
Igneous' rage seemed to soften, though only a bit. "I was young, strong, handsome... but he stole her from me. He knew I loved her, but he stole her from me anyway. My best friend, and he betrayed me." He spat at Big Mac's hooves, the stallion choosing not to react to the gesture. "And I hate him for it. I've hated him ever since. I curse him, I curse his name, and I curse all of his bastard children! May Big Alexander Apple and that whore Clementine rot in an early grave!"
Nopony talked for a moment. Big Mac's anger seemed to soften, to the point he almost seemed sad. He shook his head a bit, looking off to the side. "Well. It may cheer ya up to know he's dead." Igneous' fury seemed to fade all at once, suddenly replaced by confusion as the information processed in his head. "Big Alex is dead. Died some years back, killed by bandits."
Igneous stared at Big Mac for a few seconds. It seemed as if he wasn't sure what to do with this new information. Several emotions played across his face; anger, confusion, sadness, anger again, but slowly he stopped to look at the ground. He seemed as most stallions would who wished death on another, but never really meant it, upon learning that their wish came true.
"He.... he died...?"
"Eyup," said Big Mac with a nod. He fell quiet again, looking down at his hooves. "Big Alex died... trying to help a stranger. Got killed for an act of kindness." Silence continued. Pinkie Pie held a hoof up over her mouth. Fluttershy continued trying to help free Twilight from her reigns. Big Mac looked up towards the stallion, his expression almost bitter. "His wife... longtime sweetheart... Clementine Apple... died givin' birth to his daughter a few months later."
Igneous' confusion seemed to shift all at once. Sorrow. Guilt. Hurt. "Oh... oh Clementine..."
Big Mac trotted towards the stallion. He grimaced hard, and then brought his hoof up, striking him upside the head and knocking him off his hooves and into the dirt. Igneous, shook his head, staring wide-eyed at Big Mac. "My pa didn't mind bein' called names, but if you ever call my ma a whore again, I'll lay you out."
Big Mac and Igneous stared at each other for a long while. Macintosh staring daggers down at the older stallion. He snorted, turning around and making his way towards Twilight and Fluttershy. He stomped a hoof on some of the chains a few times, until he broke the links enough for Twilight to free herself. "You okay, Twiligiht?"
"Y-yeah," said Twilight, nodding a bit. "My head hurts a little..."
"You girls are stayin' with me an' Braeburn tonight. We'll figure somethin' out. You too, Pinkie."
"But Papa--"
"Forget yer Pa," said Big Mac, looking towards the stallion who hadn't stood back up since he was struck, "I think he needs a little time to himself and his statue, since it's such a good friend."
Big Macintosh helped Twilight get on her hooves, though she still seemed a bit dazed, so Fluttershy helped her balance. The group made their way away from the clearing in the woods. Pinkie paused for a moment to look back at him, and their eyes met. Her own eyes held something he had never seen her give him before in his life; disappointment. She hung her head shamefully, turning her gaze away from him and following her friends. Igneous watched them leave, laying alone in the cold dirt.
He slowly lay his head in the dirt, staring out into the darkness. And shed a single tear as color began to come back to him.
"Dead..."
"You ready, Pinkie Pie?"
Pinkie sighed and nodded, looking at her bag. It was just as stuffed as it was when she got here, but it didn't seem to have the same life. Neither did Pinkie, for that matter. "Yes... I'm ready."
"You sure you wanna go now?" Big Mac leaned down and looked at her face, clearly concerned. "I wouldn't begrudge you for stayin'..."
"Yeah," said Braeburn with a roll of his eyes, "no offense, but your pop's kind of a good example of where that leads."
"Braeburn," said Twilight angrily, "you weren't even there, so shut it." Braeburn clenched his lips together, earning a nod of approval from Twilight, who had to have Fluttershy bandage her head for her. "Pinkie... you do realize if you just run away that it may be difficult to return, right?"
"I know," said Pinkie quietly, her eyes on the floor. "I don't care. I don't think I want to come back here again." Everypony shared a look of concern and sympathy. What could any of them say? There was no denying that what had happened last night was extreme. He had planned to kill Twilight. He had said such horrible things. Pinkie would need time to recover from all of this, but how could you completely recover from learning all of that about your father? A knock at the door turned everyone's attention.
"I got it," said Braeburn, before hurrying to the door. He pulled it open, and standing on the other side was Igneous.
"I'd like to--"
The door shut back on his face and Braeburn turned to face the others. "Well, looks like he's here for round 2. Want me to kick 'em in the teeth?"
"Braeburn," grunted Big Mac, stepping past his cousin and pulling the door open. Igneous stood there, looking back at him, though none of the vitriol that was in his eyes the night before was there anymore. In fact, nothing was there anymore. He was emotionless, empty, soulless...
He was normal. Or, at least, what passed for normal for him.
Big Mac, however, would not pretend he wasn't angry. He stared daggers at the stallion, keeping himself calm, still unable to forget the night before. "What do you want?"
Igneous was quiet for a moment, before closing his eyes and sighing. "I want to apologize for last night. I wasn't acting quite myself."
Big Mac quirked a brow in disbelief. "Not quite yerself? So, all that stuff you said to me was B.S.?"
Igneous shook his head thought. "No. I was best friends with Alexander Apple. I hated him for what he did. I despised him. But I never wished him harm, nor Clementine." Igneous hung his head shamefully. "Last night... something came over me. I'm not sure what, but it came from no where. I heard... voices... and they told me that my daughter was in danger."
"Voices can be a symptom of serious psychological issues," piped Fluttershy. When everypony looked toward her, however, she eeped and withdrew behind her mane. "Sorry..."
Big Mac turned his attention back to the stallion, his frown not fading, though it did become softer. "I don't think it's me you need to be askin' forgiveness from. There's four ponies you need to apologize to, an' I'm afraid two of 'em are dead." Igneous frowned a bit and nodded solemnly. Big Mac stepped out of his way, allowing him to walk into the room. Twilight became visibly tense, and Pinkie seemed to sense this, so she stepped in front of her friend.
"Miss Twilight," said the stallion, sitting on his haunches and pulling his hat from his head and placing it against his chest, "I know it may mean precious little to you, but I am dreadfully sorry for last night. I've never hurt a mare before in my life."
"C'mon dad," groaned Pinkie Pie, "you're married..."
Igneous didn't seem to react to Pinkie's statement. "I... if there is anything I can do to make it up to you... please... I'll do it." Twilight didn't say anything at first. She looked away, and Big Mac looked past Pinkie; the look on her face... she was thinking. Something deep.
"Well," said Twilight, reaching into her bag. "I'm looking for something like this... would you happen to have one?" She produced from that bag a stone orb, and held it in front of Igneous. For a moment, his eyes almost seemed to widen as he looked at the object.
"That looks just like the old family heirloom..."
Twilight nodded. "Yeah. I know it maybe asking a lot, but if you really want my forgiveness, I'm gonna need that."
Igneous stared at it for a few seconds, but frowned and shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't give it to you because I don't have it."
"What...?" Twilight's eyes shot wide open. One of them twitched a little.
"I gave it to my daughter, Maud, when she left for school in Manehattan," said Igneous, looking towards Pinkie Pie. "I originally intended to give it to Pinkie Pie, but she insisted it stay with us." Pinkie, however, didn't respond. In fact, she still seemed to be upset, something that made even Igneous wince a bit. "If you like, I can send a letter to her and tell her you want it...?"
"No!" Twilight shouted, louder than she intended. She bit her lip when she saw everypony staring at her and giggled nervously. "Uh, no... no, w-we can pick it up ourselves..."
" But Twi," said Big Mac, raising a brow, "why not just let 'em send it to us?"
Twilight hurried across the room, grabbed Big Mac and brought him in close. "Because, we might have enemies, remember? If that thing travels by post we could lose it before we even lay eyes on it!" Big Mac let out a quiet 'oh' before Twilight turned her attention back to Igneous. "I think I should just... go there and get it myself."
"Oh." Igneous nodded a little. "Well, then I suppose I could send a message to my daughter, explain the situation, and tell her you're coming."
"That would be appreciated," said Twilight. She stared at the stallion for a minute, clearly still thinking. "And... one more thing... can you show me this statue of yours?"
Igneous frowned. "The statue...?" Twilight simply nodded, and the stallion considered it for a moment. "Sure... I suppose that seems fair..." He turned to Pinkie Pie taking a deep breath and sighing. "But first... Pinkie Pie...?" Pinkie didn't react. She simply stared at him with her sad eyes. It was almost strange to see Igneous himself sadden a bit at the sight. "Pinkie Pie... my sweet, baby girl... I'm so sorry for what you saw..."
Pinkie looked towards him, and sniffled a bit. "You said such terrible things..."
"I know," said Igneous, shaking his head, "and I didn't mean to hurt Big Macintosh's feelings."
"Not about him! You hurt me!" Pinkie threw her hooves forward. "You held a grudge over Big Mac's mom for how long? Before you even knew mama!? What, was she just the consolation prize!? Were we just a consolation family!?" Pinkie's lip quivered and her eyes welled with tears. "D-don't you love us...?"
"Pinkie, sweetie..." Igneous was quick to get to Pinkie's side, and wrap his forelegs around her. "No.... no... I love your mother and you girls with all my heart. You're my world. You're my everything. I liked Clementine, but I moved on. I met the mare of my dreams, and she gave me four beautiful baby girls..." He nuzzled Pinkie gently, holding her close. "I wouldn't trade you girls for anything." Pinkie Pie sniffled, and wrapped her own forelegs around him, pressing her face against his neck. "I love you, Pinkie Pie, and your sisters, and your mother... and never forget that."
Pinkie sniffled a snotty sniffle and nodded. "We love you too, Papa," she said in a weak voice. Despite the previous night, Big Mac couldn't help but let a small smile creep onto his face. It would take him time to forgive Igneous for what he said the other night. But, if what he saw right now was any indication, he was a good stallion.
"Now," said Twilight, stepping forward, "about that statue..."
Everypony stood outside of the small study, except for Twilight and Igneous. The serpentine statue stood there, on display, which made it simple for the mare to get around and look at it. She hummed, ooed, and ahhed every once in a while, before stepping back, and giving a nod.
"Yep," she said with certainty, "it's magical alright."
"What?" Braeburn stepped forward, staring at Twilight, "how can ya tell?"
"Because," said Twilight, pointing at the statue, "I can hear it right now. It seems to only whisper into your mind if you're close to it, and it says some very..." Twilight paused for a moment, frowning a bit and not taking her eyes from the others, "... Disheartening... things..."
"Oh..." Braeburn rubbed a foreleg over the back of his neck, looking off to the side.
"So," said Igneous, looking up at the statue, "what do I do with it?"
"Get rid of it," said Twilight, stepping away from the statue as if in a hurry, "bury it, throw it in a lake, put it in an iron box, I don't care what you do, just get rid of it and make sure it's difficult for ponies to get near it, because it's not messing around, it knows just what to say to get to you."
This seemed to unsettle Igneous a bit, who pursed his lips at the statue. "Those tradesponies said it was good luck. Kinda figured that was a lie, but didn't expect the reverse to be true."
"It's not technically bad luck," said Twilight, holding up a hoof to show she was entering lecture mode, "it's just manipulative, tries to instigate distrust, anger, and paranoia, likely to incite as much chaos as it can." She looked back to the statue, her expression shifting once more to one of concern as she seemed to take a step or two away from it. "Just remember, if you must get close to it, ignore what it says, because it will say anything to make you do what it wants."
"I see..." Igneous shook his head, turning from the statue and walking towards the exit. "I'll have to go tell the girls an' Ma to stay outta the study, quarantine this room until this thing is gone."
"Excellent," said Twilight, clopping her hooves together, "well then everypony, I suggest we get as far away from this house as physically possible, because I don't want to be anywhere near this thing anymore, alright?" Macintosh was almost surprised by the look of anxiety on Twilight's face. It was tense, fearful, worried... just what did that thing say to her. Everypony started to follow as soon as the mare made a hurried trot out, though Big Mac felt curiosity take hold as they passed. He looked towards the statue; an innocuous, simple statue of a weird mash-up of several creatures. It seemed so happy, so light-hearted. How could something like that be malevolent?
It was just a statue. Was it really that special?
He stepped into the room and approached it, looking at the serpentine creature it depicted. It seemed so harmless, comical even. What could be so terrible about this statue?
Ever wonder what it's like to be a dog?
Big Mac froze.
You know, they sit around all day, they do what their master tells them, they eat, they sleep, they poop all over the place, and they're happy. Don't you just wish--
Big Mac flipped around and hurried away from the room to catch up with the others. Only one word was needed right now to respond to this situation. One, all-saying word that said anything he would ever need to say about what had just happened, and it was a word he felt would be necessary to drive him out of this house as quick as possible.
"Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope..."
And so, the statue was left alone in the study. Sitting. Ever still. Ever cold.
But no longer silent.
Well... damn... I really hope they don't bury me... that would make my little 'time-out' a little more troublesome than it already is...
TO BE CONTINUED... |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 18 - The Fearful Scholar | "Oh come on! I swear, you're cheating or something!"
"I'm not cheatin'! You jus' got a bad poker face!"
"No way! You're the one with the bad poker face! I can never tell what you're thinking!"
Scootaloo glared a promise of a painful death at her hoof of cards. Truth be told, she had absolutely no idea how to play cards, but it seemed that was just as well as a lot of it seemed to be up to chance anyway. Still, if she knew more it would be slightly less so, because then at least she could tell when she had to check, fold, raise, and whatever else this crazy stupid game asked of her, all to her advantage. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom was like a pro, helping her any time she was getting things wrong, and even telling her when they worked to her advantage (rare as it seemed to be). A crimson hot rage filled her heart, the kind of rage that would only be undone by the spilling of blood.
But cards were made of cardboard. They had no blood to spill.
Maybe if she ever got some money, she'd buy them from Apple Bloom, for the sole purpose of destroying them?
"You two playin' nice?"
Both fillies' attention was turned to Big Macintosh as he entered the house, wiping sweat from his brow after another long day of work. Apple Bloom smiled and nodded. "Eyup! Scootaloo can't play to save 'er life though!"
"Hey," shouted Scootaloo, glaring at the cards, "it's not my fault these cards hate me! I can't even tell what the hell is going on half the time!"
"Ah!" Both fillies jumped, looking to Big Mac, who glared daggers at Scootaloo. "Language." Scootaloo grimaced and grumbled a bit under her breath, which did not escape Big Mac's notice. "Repeat that?"
Scootaloo sighed, not making eye contact. "Sorry..." It was not really a sincere apology, but that was fillies for you. Big Mac smiled and stepped up to the couch, patting the little filly on the head.
"Atta girl."
Once Big Mac left the room, Scootaloo looked towards Apple Bloom. "I don't get it. Why can adults swear but we can't?" Apple Bloom simply looked at her like she was crazy. "What?"
"Big Mac n' Braeburn never swear," said Apple Bloom, "'least not in the house!"
Scootaloo smirked. "I've heard Braeburn swear a few times."
"Yeah," pointed Apple Bloom, "but Big Mac always hits 'em when 'e does, especially if there's fillies about!"
Scootaloo quirked a brow. "Wait... but what about Big Mac if he swears?"
"Then Granny hits him," Apple Bloom held up a hoof as if to emphasize her point, "not that it ever happens!"
"And what if Granny swears?"
Apple Bloom simply stared into space. Scootaloo looked at her for a few minutes, before the yellow filly responded. "If Granny Smith swears, we didn't hear it, an' it never happened. It's just a figment of our imaginations, and we should go on about our lives."
"That bad?"
Apple Bloom nodded. "She knows words that even make Braeburn embarrassed to be seen with 'er."
Outside of the house, Big Mac took a moment to take in the orchard air. It was a rather beautiful day today, the weather feeling just right, a slight breeze, cool and refreshing. If he hadn't just recently finished doing work, it would have encouraged him to do so. 'Such a lovely day', he thought. It was almost a shame that little Scootaloo was injured; those two would likely have a lot of fun on a day like this in this orchard. 'Just like Applejack an' I used to.'
He smiled and sighed, remembering his younger years. Him and his kid sister roaming the farm, playing hide and seek, climbing trees. Memories like that always made him smile. But that smile faded slightly when he remembered the day she left. The house had always felt somewhat emptier without her presence, even all these years later. That only made him smile a bit more; when they went to Manehattan, he'd visit his sister in her own place. If home was where the heart was, then it didn't matter if they were on the farm or in a fancy apartment in Manehattan, right? Gonna have to bring Granny an' Applebloom on that trip, he thought to himself, Maybe ask Fluttershy to watch Scootaloo while we're gone.
Macintosh made his way towards his favorite chair, where he would often sit and just stare out into the fields with his thoughts. He turned, ready to sit, but stopped. As he stared out at the fields before him, he found his eyes down the path, looking towards the town. Maybe it was all the adventure as of late. Maybe it was something he ate. But today he felt an odd desire.
Why sit down? It's a good day. I think I'll just mosey into town for a bit.
Big Mac stepped down from the porch, and began to make his way down the path. It was far from the first time Big Mac had ever decided to take a stroll through town. Indeed, he would do so regularly, be it while doing errands or because his cousin dragged him along. But today he felt something of a wanderlust overcome him. Just the need to walk around, and so, he trod the dirt path leading from the Acres into Ponyville proper.
As his legs wandered, so did his thoughts. The past while had been so unusual for him. Visiting ancient castles, taking ancient books, running away from cursed statues... they were not the things that normally happened. These were things from story books one read to foals, not things that actually happened, right? And yet he had seen those very impossible things with his own eyes. It left him to wonder how much he had done in such a short amount of time that so many will not do in the course of their entire lives?
"Oh! Big Mac!"
Big Mac turned around to the voice calling him, to see Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie approaching him, with Pinkie wearing saddlebags. "Howdy girls," he said with a nod, "how are ya?"
"Just peachy," said Pinkie with a flare. "We just got back from Twilight's place from a sleepover!" She grinned wide. "I've been begging her to have one forever, and she always said 'no', but lately she's been hosting them a lot! There's lots to do in her house!"
Fluttershy, however, seemed to frown. "She often seems so nervous though. I caught her looking at windows a lot..."
Big Mac frowned a bit and looked to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. "Wait... does she ever say why she's holding these sleepovers?"
"Nope," said Pinkie with a shake of her head. "Why?"
Big Mac's eyes settled on Pinkie a moment, confused at the seeming lack of understanding the mare offered. "Pinkie, a while back you babysat Spike at a sort of 'last minute' deal for Twilight, right?"
"Yeparooni," said Pinkie with a nod, "Twilight said she had to do some research and she wanted to be sure Spike wasn't alone that night!"
Big Mac stared at the mares quietly a moment. They both seemed equal parts confused, though Fluttershy almost seemed concerned. They don't know, he thought to himself. That itself wasn't too surprising, but what did bother him is that it meant Twilight was still scared, not that he could blame her of course. She lived in a big house all alone on a mountain; any number of terrible things could happen, and nopony would be around to help her.
If he was the only one who knew, then that meant he might very well be the only one she can talk to at the moment. Big Mac looked between the two mares, smiled and nodded. "Well, sounds like you girls had fun. I hate to run, but I got somethin' I need to take care of."
"Okie dokie lokie," said Pinkie Pie with a nod, grabbing Fluttershy, "let's go to the tavern! They don't mind serving pegasi, and with how cute you are, I'm sure you'll get lotsa nice compliments and attention!"
"W-wait," shouted Fluttershy, her eyes shrinking to pinpricks, "I-I-I don't want attention!" If Pinkie heard her, she didn't acknowledge it, and the two ponies were off in a flash. Big Mac smirked, shaking his head as the two ponies hurried off into the distance (one less willingly than the other). Turning, he looked upwards, over the tiled roofs of the houses and towards the mountain that stood just north of Ponyville.
Macintosh stepped past the gate to the manor and into the garden proper. The old manor seemed as it always had; as if nopony had lived her in a very long time, and yet it somehow managed to maintain a strong vigil over the land. It had a sort of charm about it that one could not deny, and every time he came here he felt a similar feeling to being in that old castle in the Everfree. That castle that's now inhabited by a horrible blob-monster. Pushing one terrifying thought out of his mind for the time being, Big Mac made his way up the cobblestone path towards the house, up to the door.
Big Mac gave the door a gentle rapping, then he paused for a few moments to wait for a response. Nothing, so he knocked again. "Who's there?" responded Twilight's muffled voice from the other side of the wooden door.
"Big Mac," he said simply.
For a few seconds it was quiet, but then he heard the sounds of various bolts and locks being undone; probably more than was needed, really. The door pulled open, just slightly, with a single purple eye peaking outside. "Oh, hello Macintosh. I wasn't expecting you," came Twilight's voice, a little uncertain.
"Nope," said Big Mac with a shrug, leaning his head to the side as if trying to see into the house. "May I come in?"
"Hn? Oh, sure!" Twilight opened the door a bit more, though not by much. "Just get in as quickly as you can please?" Big Mac nodded and wasted no time getting past the little mare into the house, with Twilight shutting the door behind him and locking it up once more faster than he expected she would. "Sorry for the caution," said Twilight with a sigh as she checked each lock to make sure it was in place, "can never be too careful."
Big Mac turned to face Twilight, and before he could say anything, he was surprised by the way she looked. She seemed very ragged and worn; her mane was askew with several hairs sticking out of place, there were dark spots under her slightly pinked eyes, and she seemed incredibly tense to boot. The stallion frowned a bit, looking down at the disheveled mare. "Kinda... why I'm here.... everything okay, Twilight?"
"Okay? Why wouldn't I be?" Twilight waved a hoof at him, as if he were talking silliness, though he responded only with a concerned look in her direction. The mare seemed to wilt a bit, looking off to the side somewhat. "Uh, well, I admit things could be better, but... you know."
"No, I don't," said Big Mac, shaking his head and stepping closer, leaning down and trying to meet her eyes. "Wanna talk about it?" Twilight shied away from his gaze a bit, a grimace plainly etched onto her face. Macintosh stepped back a bit, deciding not to push too hard; he wanted her to talk to him, but he couldn't force her.
"There's nothing to talk about," she said simply. Big Mac pouted his lips at that, and Twilight turned to face him again, smiling, though it was not a happy smile. "I'm fine, really."
"Ya sure? Pinkie and Fluttershy worried enough to send me up here." Once more, Twilight seemed to try to look anywhere but Big Mac's direction. He smiled sympathetically at the mare, tilting his head once more to try to meet her gaze. "You worried those thieves'll come back?"
"No," said Twilight quietly, though she shook her head a bit, "I mean, yes, but no... maybe...?"
Macintosh frowned a bit. "Twi, have you been sleeping well?"
The lavender mare chuckled mirthlessly, shaking her head. "Is it that obvious?" Big Mac didn't respond, not knowing if she actually wanted him to respond to that. She seemed to pick up on this and sighed, shaking her head and putting a hoof on the bridge of her nose. "It's... complicated, okay?"
Big Mac's frown deepened. He wanted to help her if he could, but it would be difficult if she wasn't going to be more open with him. "Well, maybe you can help me understand?"
Twilight seemed to consider his words a moment, then put a hoof on her hat, adjusting it a bit. "Remember the.... the statue?"
At the mention of it, Big Mac shuddered. Of course he remembered that statue. The very few words it had said to him felt wrong, perverse, and yet struck his curiosity from time to time on what it was going to say. "... Eeyup..."
Twilight remained quiet for a few seconds, seeming to ponder over her head on her next words. "Have you... do you ever...." She paused for a moment, and groaned, sitting on her haunches and rubbing her temples with her hooves. "Big Mac... do you trust me?"
Macintosh raised a brow at the question. It seemed so silly, and at the same time it certainly had a depth he wasn't anticipating. "... Of course I do."
"You hesitated," said Twilight quickly, her eyes worried, "why did you hesitate?"
"It caught me off guard is all," said Big Mac, his voice beginning to crack a bit. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his flask, twisting the top off. Twilight certainly couldn't have missed it.
"Now you're drinking," she said, clearly becoming anxious. "Why are you drinking? Are you lying?"
"Nope," said Big Mac, furrowing his brow a bit, getting somewhat concerned at her tone, though his voice was cracking the more he talked, "Twi, what's wrong with you?"
Twilight grabbed Big Mac by the shoulders and shook him, causing him to drop his flask, spilling its precious contents on the floor. "What's wrong with me is that I don't know who my friends are!" Macintosh's eyes fell on the flask and the wet spots near it. He quickly snatched it up and held it over his mouth, but only got a single drop for his efforts. This seemed to make Twilight angry.
"What is wrong with you!? I'm having a panic attack, and you're just... just trying to get drunk!?"
"It's not..." Macintosh gasped a bit, the tension of the situation drying his already parched throat. He put a hoof over his throat and rubbed it, wide-eyed and biting his lip as he realized he had been doing a lot more talking than he was used to lately, ".... not...."
"Not what!? Huh!?"
Big Mac frowned, continuing to stroke his throat under his bandanna. Twilight was in a frenzy, and he didn't know what he could say or do. He looked up to her, uncertainty in his eyes, and did all he could think to do.
'Water.'
He could not say the words; only move his mouth in the hopes she could read his lips. Twilight seemed confused a moment, looking at him like he had grown a second head. "Water? What does water...?" She paused, taking notice of him stroking his throat. She sighed a bit, shaking her head. "Lose your voice?" Big Mac looked off to the side somewhat and nodded. It wasn't happy, but she was no longer furious, just annoyed, so it was a victory. "Follow me."
The two ponies walked through the manor into the kitchen. Twilight opened the door to the ice box and began rooting around. "Well, I'm afraid that I don't have any water unless you want to go out and use that old well, but I do have some cider. If you want something harder than that I have a stocked wine cellar."
Macintosh raised a brow at that, which Twilight caught in looking back towards him. "What? I can appreciate a good drink." Macintosh merely shrugged. The mare withdrew a glass from her cupboard and poured some cider into it, passing the glass to him, which he took and drank down, slowly, trying not to choke on it and let it work it's wonders. When he drank enough, he sighed in relief and smiled to Twilight.
"Thanks for that."
"No problem," said the mare halfheartedly, shaking her head before looking off to the side with a sigh. "I'm... also sorry if I overreacted."
"Sokay," said Big Mac, smiling a bit in assurance. She didn't respond, however, and just seemed as tired and defeated as before. Macintosh held his glass between his hooves and swirled it about a bit, watching the contents spin. "Also, I hesitated because I felt like the question was silly."
Twilight seemed confused, looking towards Macintosh as if he were crazy once more. "Question?"
Big Mac chuckled, shaking his head at the mare. 'She really does need a good night's rest, doesn't she?' "You asked me if I trusted you, and I hesitated, because I felt it was a silly question."
"Oh." Twilight nodded a bit, though she seemed to stare off into space for a moment before giving him a half-confused glare. "Wait, what's so silly about that? It's an important question!"
"I know," said Big Mac nodding, his smile not wavering in the least, "but I figured you should already know I trust ya." This seemed to catch the mare off guard for a moment, as if she didn't expect that answer. Macintosh pondered if he should be insulted or not, but decided to leave such a question for another time, as Twilight seemed to relax just a bit.
"Oh..." Twilight's head hung just a bit, all the tension in her slowly ebbing away as if that little answer made a world of difference. She then chuckled a bit, shaking her head, looking down at her hooves. "The worst part is... I don't even remember why I asked you."
Macintosh frowned a bit, furrowing his brow at the mare. "You need a good night's sleep."
"I know," said Twilight with a slight groan, shaking her head again and looking towards him. Her expression suddenly seemed somber on top of the pre-existing exhaustion, and it made her seem all the more world weary. "Macintosh... have you ever... had a strange experience that you can't really place...?" Macintosh's response was a simple deadpan look, to which Twilight almost laughed. "Besides... you know, the... castle and the statue and... yeah..."
The stallion seemed to stare off into his own little world, pondering that question. "Can't say I have. Why?"
Twilight bit her lip a moment, looking at her hooves. She still remembered the dream. Seeing a destroyed Equestria, the others dead and scattered. Then the statue, whispering poisoned words into her ears...
'You realize that they only trust you because they don't know what you are, right?'
Twilight squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and let out a breath. She shook her head, looking towards Big Mac and forcing a smile onto her face. "It's nothing," she said uncertainly, her eyes drifting off to the side as she said it, "I guess I'm still a little shaken at the whole..." her forced smile drifted away, "... almost... getting murdered bit..."
Macintosh nodded a bit, frowning, looking off to the side. "Well, why not occupy yourself with work?" Twilight snorted at that and laughed a bit, causing Big Mac to raise a confused brow. "What?"
Books everywhere.
It was hard to believe that anypony could even skim that many books, but there they were. They littered the floors, some haphazardly strewn about, though still in a manner of care; the only ones that remained opened were on Twilight's desk, with various sheets of paper and scrolls. Macintosh almost felt dizzy at the sight of all the books.
"That's... a lot..."
"Yeah," said Twilight with a nod and a sigh, shaking her head. Spike lay in a nearby basket, fast asleep. "The first few nights I invited the girls over, I at least pretended I wanted their company, but it didn't take long for me to start occupying myself with this room even when they were here."
Big Mac's eyes continued to trace all the books, and he took a few steps forward, looking over their covers. Many of them had strange names, like The Equestrian Bestiary, Clover the Clever's Encyclopedia of Magical Constructs, and Potion Making for Complete Buffoons, and a few of them were written in letters he recognized as Old Equestrian. He shook his head, his mind trying to process what he was seeing before him. "H... how much of this have you read?"
"Well," said Twilight with a sigh and rubbing a hoof over the bridge of her nose, "I've been mostly researching, so I haven't completely read any of them, but I've probably looked over half of the books in this room at least once since yesterday."
"I see..." Macintosh shook his head, in complete awe of the idea. He was by no means a stupid pony; he had to know enough to run the farm, and learning a thing or two about history was Apple tradition, but it looked as if Twilight had potentially poured over half a library's worth of books. Given it would be a small library like back in Ponyville, it still seemed to awe him. As his eyes wandered, he noticed a book with a title that caught his eye. Macintosh approached it, wondering if he was seeing things, and lifted the book up, squinting as he read the title.
'Unicorns: the Lost Tribe.'
"What? Oh, give me that!" Almost as fast as he could blink, Twilight threw herself towards Big Mac and snatched the book away from him, confusing the stallion as she held the tome protectively against her breast, eyes wide as if he had assaulted the book. "Don't you know better than to snoop around another pony's belongings!?"
"I'm sorry, Twilight," said Big Mac with a polite nod, "I didn't mean to offend."
Twilight stared at him a moment, still a bit tense, but she sighed and shook her head, looking down at the book. "Sorry, I-I guess... I overreacted. I didn't mean to, I just..."
"It's alright," said Big Mac with a nod and a smile, "I was bein' nosy." This seemed to make Twilight smile a bit, though she hugged the book tighter still, her eyes seeming somber. Macintosh frowned a bit, looking down at the book she cradled in her hooves and back up to her. She giggled a bit, shaking her head, situating the book on a nearby pile of... well, books.
"It's... a rare find," she said with a sigh, looking at the book. "It was a study done by a stallion named Golden Quill, who gained a deep fascination in Unicorn legend and myth and decided to dedicate his life to researching them." Twilight placed a hoof on the book, smiling at it. "They say he spent his whole life searching for 'the Lost Tribe', Unicorns, in the hopes of one day finding out where they had gone." She looked to Big Mac, a soft smile on her face, though there was a somberness to her eyes. "... He researched unicorns his entire life. Met ponies who claimed to encounter them." Her muzzle scrunched up a bit, as if she were annoyed. "Many of them were... questionable, seeming more like deceit to cover up murders, crimes, and dishonest wives... but..." She lifted the book once more, holding it against her chest and smiling. "... It also tells of... softer tales. Things of adventure. Of romance. Of mystery."
Twilight opened the book, reading over a few notes. "... But no matter how hard he looked, he never found a unicorn. Only rumors. During his final days, he stated his only regret in life was never having the chance to meet those elusive ponies." Big Mac frowned a bit at that. He couldn't imagine what it must be like to spend one's whole life searching for something, only to never find it. He looked towards Twilight, who seemed to have similar thoughts in her mind.
'It would be like dying without ever tasting an apple.' The mere thought made him shudder.
"Eventually, his grandson found his notes," said Twilight, stroking the book like a beloved pet. "He continued his grandfather's research, compiling everything into this one-of-a-kind journal." She looked at the book lovingly, smiling fondly at it. "He disappeared one day. Simply left without saying goodbye, and nopony ever heard from him again. All they found the day he disappeared was his journal, which detailed his and his grandfather's research into unicorn legends, rumors, and history."
Twilight looked to Big Mac, noticing the stallion seemed to be paying the utmost attention to her tale. In a moment that was almost too rare to miss, Twilight seemed to blush a bit. "So," said Big Mac, nodding his head, "did he get anything concrete in that book?"
The lavender mare chuckled, looking down at the tome again before setting it neatly on her nightstand. "That's up for debate, I suppose." She stepped away from the book, towards another pile of books, taking them one by one and stacking them into smaller piles. "Many ponies looked at this book as the works of a madpony, more like a parody of the scientific method rather than actual research." She sighed and shook her head, looking back at the book sadly. "They said his research was entirely based on wild dreaming and misinterpretation of historic facts. They say he was insane, who likely one day went so mad he wandered into the wilderness and died."
Macintosh was quiet a moment. Twilight looked towards him to notice he was staring down at the ground intently, as if deep in thought. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and sighed. "Fairy tales. Right."
The tone of his voice almost seemed... disappointed? Twilight leaned over a bit, trying to to get a better look at his face. "Something wrong, Macintosh...?" Big Mac simply looked up towards her. He gave her a reassuring smile, shaking his head, though she didn't seem to buy it.
"So," he said, trying to change the subject, "What about you? You hopin' to find a unicorn someday?" Twilight paused a moment and bit her lip. She brought a hoof up to the back of her mane, brushing it gingerly. Macintosh smirked. He had caught her red-hoofed on that one. "Salright to admit it. Nothin' to be ashamed of." Twilight merely giggled nervously in response, unwilling to meet his eyes. Big Mac frowned a bit, seeing that she wasn't convinced and worrying that he may have made her nervous. "Hey, it's not a bad dream."
Twilight shook her head. "You have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Yes I do," said Big Mac. He turned to look around, as if making sure nopony would hear him, even if the only other things here were a sleeping Spike. He gestured for Twilight to come closer, which she did, and he leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "Several generations of the Apple Family have made it their life goals to find the World's Biggest Tree."
Twilight seemed to stare at him a moment, confused, as if what he said were the silliest thing she had ever heard. "The... world's biggest tree?"
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a proud nod. "Every generation has hooffulls of Apples who want to find that tree, and at least one who tries to."
Twilight seemed authentically curious, raising a brow. "Do they?"
Big Mac, however, shrugged. "Well, if they do they either lie or don't return to tell the tale." He waved his hoof about. "Either way, they never come back in the same condition they left in. Always either completely broke, crippled, insane, or in one freak occurrence, start a family, but otherwise they usually disappear and are considered dead or lost."
The little lavender mare pondered on this a moment. Seemed like an odd tradition to carry on if it usually ended with misfortune. "And you share this insane goal?"
"Well," said Big Mac, holding a hoof up and waving it around, "Kinda. It's on my bucket list to at least look for it, but I don't figure I'll ever find it." Twilight raised a brow for a moment, staring at him. Big Mac stared back, glancing off to the side a moment, then back to her. "Somethin' wrong?"
"No," said Twilight, shaking her head and smirking, "it's just that I don't think I've ever heard you talk about yourself in such detail." Indeed, it was something Big Mac didn't do often. He hadn't considered it, but despite their many conversations, he didn't talked much of himself. Really, neither did she. The two had known each other for nearly two months now and they barely knew one another. The thought almost made him chuckle.
"Not much to say," he said with a shrug, though he frowned a bit at a thought. A hoof brushed against his throat for a moment. Now that he was thinking on it, he had been talking more these past few months than he normally did. Enough that sometimes he forgot about his injury, and by the time he remembered it his voice was already fading. Even now his voice was becoming more strained and, with his mind unclouded by conversation, he realized just how much he had been taxing himself verbally.
"... It hurts to talk, doesn't it?"
Big Mac didn't say anything right away. He didn't know if he could. It was really not one of his favorite subjects, and it was something he tried his best to not talk about. He gave Twilight a sideways glance; she seemed cautious and concerned, as well as curious. The stallion let loose a sigh, continuing to rub his throat.
"Sometimes," he said, quieter than normal.
Twilight didn't say anything in response. The room became very quiet, and both ponies found themselves strained to say anything more. Twilight had questions, he could tell, but she wasn't saying anything. 'How much does she know?' Macintosh realized that as an associate of Rich's, she might know at least enough about the situation. He was uncertain if this knowledge should comfort him or upset him.
"I could use another drink," he said with a raspy voice. Twilight responded with a nod, and the two ponies made their way back out of the tower. When they reached the kitchen once more, Twilight grabbed a bottle of cider and held a hoof out.
"Give me your flask. I'll fill it up for you."
Not one to reject a kind offer, Big Mac held his flask forward, and Twilight carefully filled it with the sweet nectar; he could tell the smell of Sweet Apple Acres apples anywhere, any form. He took a drink from his flask, feeling the coolness run over his sore throat. Twilight stepped past him, towards a door, opening it and stepping inside. When she stepped back out, she was carrying another bottle, though this one bore a different look, it was still familiar.
"Is that Whiskey?"
"Yes," said Twilight, opening one of her cabinets and pulling out a mug, pouring some of the liquid into it, closing it, and setting it aside, taking a drink of it, making a sour face, and shaking her head. She sighed a bit, looking to Big Mac and frowning. "Hope you don't mind."
"No," he said, shaking his head, "just didn't peg you fer an alcoholic."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "I'm not an alcoholic, I seldom have a drink, I just could really use one right now." She looked at the glass, shaking her head as she took another drink as the room descended into silence. Big Mac looked off to the side, taking another sip from his flask. 'Well, she is kinda stressed. Guess I can't blame her.'
Big Mac hummed, tapping a hoof to his chin. "Mind if I have a mug?"
"Sure," said Twilight, pulling another glass from the cabinet and filling it, she passed it to Big Mac. He took the container and looked at the contents inside. Shrugging, he took a drink of it and felt the warmth crawl down his throat. There was a bit of spice to it, but nothing he hadn't drank before.
"Not bad," he said with a smack of his lips.
"Filthy Rich gave me this for my birthday," she said with a shrug, taking another drink from her own mug. "Pinkie insisted on him helping do something for me because he said I spend too much time reading books and doing research."
Macintosh didn't know how to respond. He wasn't sure he had noticed it himself, although to be fair his interactions with Twilight up until now had mostly been limited to when they were going out on an adventure or when she was distraught. "You do seem the bookish type."
Twilight snorted, rolling her eyes. "That's what Rich said. 'Twilight, you're so diligent, and a dear friend, try to have fun once in a while.' Ha!" Twilight sighed, taking another drink. "I don't have to do what others call 'fun' in order to be happy. As long as I enjoy myself, isn't that all that matters?"
Certainly a sentiment Macintosh could agree with, though he found himself wondering something. An odd question in his mind. "Do you enjoy your life?"
Twilight didn't respond. She was quiet, staring at her drink, as if thinking. "With Rich's resources, I have no shortage of books to read, as well as my own personal collection, and my research into ancient lore could one day change the world."
"Maybe," said Big Mac, nodding, "but is that all you wanna do in life?"
Once more, Twilight was quiet. Her eyes seemed to focus on nothing and everything, as if searching her mind for an answer. The sour look on her face told him that she either didn't know or didn't like the answer. She poured a second helping of the whiskey into her mug and drank from it. Macintosh looked down at his own drink, pursing his lips together.
"I can kinda understand ya," he said with a nod. Twilight raised a brow, looking towards him, and when he noticed he chuckled a bit. "Not 'bout the book stuff. I'm no dummy but most of what I know revolves around the farm. But that's it." He took a drink of his whiskey and smirked. "Braeburn says I'm a workaholic."
"So you like to work?"
"Guess so," said Big Mac, shrugging.
"Seems to me to be a good trait to have."
"Yeah," said Big Mac with a sigh, looking up at the ceiling, "but everypony else agrees with 'em, and sometimes I wonder myself." He looked back down at his drink, seeing his reflection in the liquid. "Didn't used to, but after nearly fallin' to my death, I had a lotta time to myself an' more than once I kept thinkin' 'I wish I could pull a plow'."
Twilight seemed confused by this. She stared at Big Mac as if he was a strange thing from a story of strange things. "You mean you wanted to do physical labor?"
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a shrug. This only made Twilight more confused. 'I guess she's not a very physical pony though.' "The routine and rhythm is easy to follow. I think better when I'm workin'." 'Or maybe it's less?'
The lavender mare shook her head, taking another drink. "Maybe that's a good thing. A pony with a fondness for physical work is definitely better suited for this little adventure of ours than a pony who would rather spend his days in a pub."
Big mac laughed at that. "Oh, Braeburn'll still go on adventures, but he'll be starin' at your backside the whole way."
Twilight groaned. "Don't remind me. I've caught him staring at mine, at Fluttershy's..." She paused a moment, tilting her head a bit. "Though never Pinkie's. In fact, he seems to go out of his way to avoid looking at her..."
Big Mac sighed, rolling his hoof around a bit. "We're fuzzy on details, but Pinkie may be a cousin." Twilight stared at him, wide-eyed. He frowned. "Yeah, we found some records... one of her relatives mighta been an Apple."
"Wait," said Twilight, holding up a hoof, "how far back does this possible blood relation go? How closely are you related?" Big Mac was now confused, but Twilight seemed to be in one of her moments of intellectual revelation. "Because if she's like your second or third cousin, I could understand, but if you can be uncertain about it and Pinkie herself isn't adopted, and both of you are pretty in touch with your cousins and other relatives, then theoretically wouldn't her blood relation to you be so thin that it might even be negligible, possibly a non-issue?"
Macintosh was quiet, staring into the ether. They weren't sure how closely related they were to Pinkie - if at all. It did make sense though; after all, if the Pies had been separated from the Apples long enough to be unsure of if they were related or not, would it not be plausible that their blood relation to Pinkie Pie was pretty much non-existent. He laughed a bit, shaking his head.
"Do me a favor?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Braeburn this," he said with another chuckle, taking another drink of his whiskey. "It may give him ideas."
He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the conversation or what, but after half an hour of talking and drinking, Twilight had become noticeably exhausted. He lead her to her tower, noting that she was a bit wobbly so certainly at least a little drunk, and once she was in bed he left her alone. Fortunately, she had allowed him the use of one of her keys to lock the door behind him on his way out, so her safety was not a major concern.
As he closed the large door back behind him and locked it, Big Mac turned around to find a strange sight; a cyan pegasus mare wearing a black jacket that seemed to fit her form firmly, wearing a mask that hid her face but had holes for her eyes, muzzle, mane and ears, flapping her wings to gingerly drift downward before landing before him. Her cutie mark seemed to be hidden by the jacket. "Hey, is the bookworm home?"
Macintosh raised a brow. "Maybe. Who's askin'?"
"A friend," said the mare, waving a hoof. "That's all you need to know."
Despite her claim, Macintosh felt his fur bristle at the sight of the mare; something didn't feel right, and he couldn't tell what. "Funny, I don't think Twilight ever mentioned you before."
"Yeah? She's never mentioned you before either." She seemed calm and collected... or was it arrogant?
"Well," said Big Mac, squinting his eyes, "certainly if you're her friend you'd know--"
"Look," said the mare, holding a hoof up to gesture him to stop, "I'm going to make both of our lives a little easier. I've got a message for the egghead, and it's a doozy." The mare reached a hoof into a satchel on her other side that Macintosh hadn't noticed until now, withdrawing an envelope with nothing written on it. "Give this to her. It's time sensitive, so try to make sure she sees it as soon as possible."
The mare hoofed Big Mac the envelope, before turning around and spreading her wings, shooting into the sky like a bullet. The stunned stallion turned his attention to the paper he now carried, looking it over, wondering if there were any clues as to who sent it, but no such luck; the only way he could think to find out what it said would be to open it up and read it himself, but would that be right? After all, it could be extremely personal.
Relenting to his good nature, Macintosh stepped back into the house. He would leave it on her nightstand in her room, and come back first thing in the morning.
Something wasn't right. He could feel it in his core, and somehow he knew something big was going to happen soon. |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 19 - Terms of Employment | A hoof pounded against the hardwood door of the manor, trying to catch the attention of those who dwelled inside. Macintosh stared patiently at the door, waiting for a response. A few seconds passed that he thought nothing of, but after a minute or two, he knocked again, certain somepony simply didn't hear him. When he knocked a third time, he began to become curious. Had Twilight actually left the house? Maybe their conversation the night before put some sense into her, and she had decided to travel Ponyville?
He paused and considered it once more. Certainly if that was the case, Spike would answer right? Could he go with her anywhere? Dragons were a rare enough species as it was, especially after most of them were hunted into endangerment, so he wasn't sure how safe the little drake could be moving around in public. Then he remembered the night before when that strange mare visited the house and left that note. 'I wonder if this has anything to do with that note?'
Suddenly, a loud clatter brought Macintosh's attention towards the balcony of the tower.
"Macintosh!? What are you doing!?"
Macintosh looked up to see Twilight peaking over the balcony, her mane a mess and her hat sloppily fixed on her head. "Checkin' on you."
"Get out of here!" Twilight winced at the sound of her voice. "Go away! You shouldn't be here!"
Macintosh raised a brow. "What? Why shouldn't I be here?"
Twilight groaned and hurried inside, the doors slamming shut behind her. Almost immediately, the door in front of him burst open and she yanked the stallion into the building, closing the doors behind him. He fumbled a bit, evidently confused as Twilight locked and bolted her door shut. "How'd you get there so fast?"
"No questions, just listen!" Twilight peaked out the window, which Macintosh noted was now partially covered by an armoire, with a crack just big enough to peak through. "I have bad news! Very, very very bad news! I was given a letter that told me that the ponies who robbed me before intend to attack again today, and that I should leave the house and get as far away as I possibly can!"
Macintosh felt his chest tighten up. "What? Really?"
"Yes!" Twilight waved her hooves around frantically. "This note said.... it said...." She stopped, staring at Macintosh a few moments. The stallion wasn't sure why she was staring, but Twilight seemed to sigh and shake her head. "... Well... the note said I was deemed 'too dangerous to leave to my own devices' and that somepony would come after me."
Macintosh balked a bit in confusion at the proclamation. "What? Too dangerous to...?"
"Somepony knows what we've been doing!" Twilight stomped a hoof, her eyes pleading and desperate. "I'm not sure how, but our quest hasn't gone unnoticed! Somepony out there knows what we're doing, knows what we're looking for, and they're coming to get me today!"
"Why are you still here then?"
"Where would I go!?" Twilight threw her hooves on his shoulders, staring him in the eyes. "Macintosh, the note said that whoever is watching us knows about what happened in the castle, what happened in Rocktown! It had details! Somepony knows where I live, who I hang around, and what I've been doing! Anywhere I go I'd be endangering others!"
Macintosh was silent. They knew that much? Did that mean his family was in danger too? He felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle as he took a moment to consider the situation. "Okay... okay, so, do you have a plan?"
Twilight was silent, looking at her hooves. "Yes," she said, at length, nodding slowly, "I have a plan, and though it's not a spectacular one, it's all I've got." She looked to Macintosh, her eyes locked to his. Her mind went from fear to uncertainty and, from the look on Macintosh's face, he was watching her and trying to figure out what she was thinking. Could she tell him her plan? That her plan was to run away? To continue her journey alone, in some new town, under a new name? She had so few friends in the world.
'He blamed himself.'
Twilight closed her eyes.
"No... I lied, I really, really don't have a plan," she lied, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I-I really have no idea what I'm going to do, and... and that scares me." Macintosh stared at his hooves a moment, trying to think, to come up with some answer.
"Uhhh, Twilight," the two ponies heard Spike call from upstairs, "you might want to look outside! Off the cliff!"
Both ponies rushed towards a nearby window that, like the others, was covered by furniture to make entry difficult. Twilight peaked through the corner, and her ears folded back. "Oh no... oh no...! Oh no no no no no!"
"What is it?"
Twilight didn't answer, she hurried away from the window, panicking. "No no no no! No, this is too much!" Macintosh felt a grim curiosity settle over him, so he turned to the window and peaked out the small corner as best he could.
He was greeted by the sight of an airship slowing itself, sidling up next to the mountain.
"Spike! Get away from the windows," shouted Twilight, panic evident in her voice, "Come downstairs!" Not long after the order was given, the house shook with a rattling boom. Macintosh stumbled and fell from the sheer shock as the entire building shook, the sound of Spike shouting reaching his ears. He picked himself up and turned to look to where Twilight was just a moment ago, but she was gone. He could only imagine what kind of adrenaline rush would carry her off so quickly, but he decided it wise to follow, so Macintosh rushed out of the room, towards the stairs, when suddenly a loud explosion knocked the double doors off their hinges, throwing them inward. A pegasus and a griffon stepped into the room, both wearing rather casual looking outfits and armed with daggers. The moment they caught sight of Big Macintosh, however, they paused.
"Who the hell are you!?"
'I could ask you the same question,' thought Macintosh, though he knew better than verbalize it. "Look fellas," said Macintosh, as calmly as he could, "there's no need to get violent here, jus' turn around and walk away..." The two stallions exchanged glances, then laughed, turning their attention to Macintosh.
"We've got orders to get the mare an' take 'er alive" said the gryphon in a thick (Russian) accent as he looked towards his companion, "did the boss say anything about a stallion?"
"Nope," said the pegasus, shaking his head with a dark grin on his features, "nothin'!"
"Well," said the gryphon, looking towards Macintosh with an arrogant smile, popping his neck, "Unfortunate for you friend, you're gonna get carved up!"
The two winged foes dashed towards Macintosh, both drawing their blades. As one dagger swung at him, Macintosh jumped back, only to find another heading his way, so he allowed himself to fall to the side and roll away, before righting himself on his hooves. He was almost awestruck at his own nimbleness for a brief moment, though the realization that he was still in conflict with two armed foes allowed him no time to relish in it.
The gryphon charged again and thrust his dagger at Macintosh, who quickly swung his hoof up the side of the bird's limb, forcing his motion past Macintosh without so much as a scratch. Quickly, he wrapped his foreleg around the limb tightly and pulled the surprised gryphon forward, headbutting him and forcing him to drop his weapon. The bird stumbled backwards, putting his claws on his head and groaning. "Holy hell, his skull is thick!"
The pegasus stallion rushed him next, and to Macintosh's surprised he seemed more focused on slashing than stabbing. He ducked and whirled around frantic swings, trying to avoid getting cut. A single slash caught his shoulder, eliciting a hiss of pain from Macintosh that seemed to urge the pegasus on. As he swung again, Macintosh decided to fall backwards to miss the swing.
'I don't normally play dirty but you don't seem to give me much choice.'
As he fell, Macintosh wasted no time in raising his left hind and swinging it upwards with his motion, connecting with something soft and tender as he had planned. The now distraught pegasus let out a loud squeal, enough that Macintosh almost hurt sympathetically, before dropping his blade and falling to the floor with his forelegs between his hindlegs, cupping his injured pride. As the apple stallion climbed back to his hooves, staring down at his opponent, he couldn't help but wince at the pathetic sight before him. "I'm honestly sorry about that."
"You're going to be!"
Macintosh turned just in time to see the gryphon rushing him, claws bared and ready to swipe. He slashed at his face, the stallion yelping as he felt the bird's claws tear his flesh and stumbled backwards. The other claw came towards him, balled into a fist, and struck him in the face, knocking Macintosh off his hooves and sending him rolling. The gryphon growled and waved his pained talon around. "Clucking Hell, even your jaw is made of stone!"
Big Mac stood up, shaking off his dizziness and growled at the gryphon, deciding to go on the offensive. He charged forward, bringing a hoof towards the bird's face. The gryphon was surprised, and held up a claw to block the blow, though Macintosh responded by grabbing the claw and yanking him forward and headbutting him once more. The gryphon cawed and stumbled back, his claw over his face once more. "Son of a bitch, stop doing that!" As he opened his eyes, he saw Macintosh's rear pointed towards him. Confusion dominated him until he realized the stallion was standing on his forelegs. A swift motion brought Big Mac's aimed hooves towards the gryphon's head, sending the bird flying backwards and rolling across the floor, until he slammed into a table. Macintosh lowered his legs and slowly approached the bird, ready to defend himself. When he saw that the gryphon was unconscious, he let out a sight of relief.
Big Mac, however, remembered he wasn't alone, and turned to see the other stallion, still cupping his bruised masculinity, looking at him with wide eyes. The apple farmer nodded his head gently. "You want a second round?" The stallion looked down and winced at his aching loins, shaking his head without looking at Big Mac, who simply nodded in response. He made his way towards the stairs, but stopped and looked back to the stallion. "Once again, really sorry about that. If you hadn't had a knife, I'da never done it."
The stallion winced as he raised a single hoof and waved it weakly. "It's cool," he said, in a higher pitch than he had been speaking earlier, though Macintosh suspected he wasn't sincere in that declaration. Still, he had other things to tend to, so he hurried up the stairs. Another loud explosion rocked the house, almost sending Big Mac tumbling back down the stairs, but he steadied himself and hurried up the stairs. Along the way, he ran into a gryphon. The two steadied themselves and made eye contact momentarily.
"Oh shi--"
Macintosh didn't hesitate, he grabbed the bird's head and slammed it against a wall. The gryphon fell to the floor, unconscious, and the stallion resumed his mad rush up the stairs. He was on the final floor when he heard a loud crack fill the air, followed by a pained shout. His eyes widened, and the world seemed to slow down and all sound faded. His body seemed to move on its own, taking him to Twilight's door. He reared up, and slammed his hooves hard, bringing it from its hinges and to the ground. With all due haste, he rushed into Twilight's tower, and stopped at the sight before him.
Twilight lay on the floor, her left hoof over her right shoulder, both covered in crimson, the mare wincing and whimpering as tears filled her eyes. Spike hurried to her side, and Macintosh found himself turning to look towards the other occupant in the room - a gryphon male turned as Macintosh made his entrance, a flintlock pistol in his claw, and his eyes remorseless and cruel.
All at once, the apple farmer's world turned black, until all he saw was that gryphon painted in red.
The gryphon turned his pistol on Macintosh as the stallion lunged forward and knocked the bird's claw upwards, a loud crack hurting the stallion's ears from close proximity, though no injury sustained besides an annoying ring that he was able to ignore. Macintosh quickly placed his other hoof on top of the gryphon's arm, and brought it down with a sickening crack and the horrid scream of the gryphon signaling the breaking of bone, forcing him to drop his weapon and stumble backwards, clutching his broken arm. But Macintosh wasn't done yet, as he rushed forward again, delivering a back-hoof against the bird's face, sending him across the room and slamming into a wall. The gryphon flapped his wings and, favoring his injured foreleg, used his undamaged claw to withdraw a sword and lunge at Macintosh. The stallion dove past it, feeling it slice through his cheek, but the pain seemed so far away. The gryphon's eyes widened once more as Macintosh's foreleg was thrown at his face. The bird was launched backwards, slamming into the wall, and slumping onto the ground.
Macintosh stared at the unconscious gryphon for a minute, and slowly, his heart rate calmed and the world began to reassert itself around him, though he continued to pant and heave as the frustration and stress of his adrenaline rush had yet to ebb away completely. He turned his attention then to Twilight, who stared at him with wide, terrified eyes while Spike clutched tightly, protectively to her, seeming to stand almost between the two, but not quite. Macintosh found himself unable to move or speak for a moment as he saw those eyes so filled with fear locked onto him. Were they scared of him? Did he terrify them? What did they think of him? A thousand thoughts ran through his head in a second, and in another, they were gone. The answer lay before him.
Calmly, the stallion made his way towards Twilight and Spike, who seemed to tense more as he approached. He stopped only for one moment to reach down, picking up a hat that was laying on the floor. He resumed his trek towards the two, and gently sat the cap on Twilight's head.
As he did so, he was careful to mind the horn on her brow.
Twilight's mouth moved wordlessly for a moment as panic seemed to grow in her. "M-Macintosh.... I--"
"No time for words," said the stallion as he leaned down and looked Twilight over. "How bad are you hurt?" From what he saw, all that was wrong was the gunshot wound, but that was no small thing.
Twilight was quiet a moment, looking away from Macintosh. "... He... shot me..."
The stallion nodded, looking towards the window as he tried to formulate some sort of plan in his head, knowing that more could be nearby. "Can you stand?"
The unicorn mare bit her lip. Slowly, she picked herself up, careful not to stress her injured leg, until she was on three, wobbly legs. Macintosh stepped to her side and gently pressed against her. "Lean on me for support. If you don't feel like walkin', you can climb on my back. We gotta get out of here."
"Ah, but I just got here."
Macintosh froze, and he felt Twilight tense up next to him. That voice was familiar. There was certainty to it, culture, a sort of calm that did not belong in this setting. 'It can't be,' he thought to himself. He didn't want to, but he had to. Slowly, Macintosh turned, careful to not let Twilight stumble. When he saw it, he felt his heart sink, as his mind flooded with new-found questions. Questions that never reached his mouth as it moved slowly, but voicelessly, and for once his voice was not stolen by any physical pain.
"Macintosh... always such the gentlecolt... helping an injured mare in need? I could expect nothing less."
Big Mac closed his mouth and gulped. "... R.... Rich...?"
The stallion stood at the entry of the room, dressed in his usual fine attire as if he were going for an evening stroll rather than walking into a decimated manor. Filthy Rich stood before him, and the kindly smile on his face seemed to only serve to make his presence more sinister than it should be, and it wasn't aided by the company he kept; on his right side was a female gryphon, wearing a black coat and a red scarf around her neck, holding a pistol in her claw, trained on Macintosh, and on his left, a familiar pegasus with a rainbow mane and an uncertain expression.
Rich pursed his lips a bit, his eyes on Macintosh, examining him, though for what the farmpony could not tell. "I have to be honest, when I was told that Twilight's mysterious accomplice was a large, red pony, I thought to myself 'surely it's just coincidence. Macintosh has no business with her likes.' But, here you are, before my very eyes. Remarkable isn't it?"
So many questions boiled in his mind. Macintosh felt his chest tighten for a moment, and he shook his head, trying to straighten his thoughts out. He had questions, but for now there was only one that needed answering. "What... is going on here, Rich?"
Filthy sighed, placing a hoof on the bridge of his nose. "I'm afraid you got in the middle of a situation between me and Miss Sparkle here. I am so dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience, but I assure you this is none of your concern."
"None of my concern?" Macintosh furrowed his brow. "None of my concern!? One of yer thugs shot Twilight!"
Rich rose a brow and looked at Twilight, as if examining her. At that moment, he seemed to notice her injury. "I assure you, my friends were ordered to retrieve you unharmed. I can cover the cost of medical treatment."
"Stop playing around," said Twilight, gritting her teeth and wincing as the pain in her shoulder ebbed, "What do you want? What do you want so badly that you destroyed my house?"
Rich seemed (less than genuinely) surprised by the comment. "Why Twilight, I suspect you should know. In our last few conversations, I've asked you for the Elements of Harmony, or their locations, but you kept refusing to tell me, so I had to resort to drastic measures."
"And I keep telling you that all I've found are rocks!" The mare winced at her own yelling. Macintosh felt her slipping a bit against him, so he pushed a bit more firmly to her, careful not to tip her. "My research keeps leading me to dead ends, and I have nothing to show for it! Maybe if my book hadn't been stolen!" Twilight gestured towards Rich's companions, and the stallion sighed.
"Twilight," tutted Rich, "you think I'm a fool? I know you well enough to know you likely have a copy of all the details you know somewhere, possibly even coded so that the lay pony can't figure out what you're saying, maybe encrypted as a cook book recipe or something silly like that, but I know for a fact that you have it." Rich stepped closer, and Macintosh found himself stepping forward a bit, moving himself to be more defensive of Twilight, much to Rich's surprise, though the stallion smiled. "Of course. I could expect nothing less of you, Macintosh."
Macintosh felt himself trembling. Fearful, anxious, worried. He knew he was considerably stronger than Rich. He knew he could beat him with very little effort.
But he also remembered. Remembered being small enough to stare Rich in the knees. Remembered a stallion who took care of his family when he lost his parents.
Macintosh's mouth trembled as he shakily spoke the words he never thought he'd have to say.
"Rich... don't come any closer."
Rich seemed surprised, and for a moment, even hurt, but he recovered quickly. "Macintosh, I assure you I wish no harm to--"
"You say that, but she's hurt because of you." Macintosh leveled his glare on Rich. "You talk to her from a safe distance."
Macintosh wasn't sure what to feel as he saw Rich consider his words, as if he had a choice. He sighed and waved a hoof. "Fair enough. I am simply here for what is mine, and what is mine is all the research Twilight has done on the Elements of Harmony and anything she may have recovered in their search."
"For the last time," shouted Twilight, "I don't have them!"
"Then give me what you do have." Rich looked towards Macintosh, his expression shifting to a face Macintosh knew to be 'business pony' mode. "Twilight is currently under my employ as a researcher and scholar on magical studies. Our understanding was that all the research she does, all information gathered would be shared with me." Rich turned to Twilight. "I have asked her to live up to this, and she has failed for the past few months, so I am taking what is mine and officially cancelling our partnership."
Twilight seemed to pale. "W-what!? You can't do that! I need that money!"
"Relax," said Rich, waving a hoof, "if you hand over the remaining materials and any artifacts uncovered, you will receive a generous severence package as well as a dazzling recommendation on future employment opportunities you might receive." Rich laughed and shook his head, waving a hoof, "I suspect I needn't even concern myself with you honoring the secrecy of our association, what with your own secrets?"
Twilight stared at the stallion, her gaze tired. Macintosh worried she might be losing too much blood. "Rich, can we do this another time?"
"I'm afraid not. While I feel sorry for Twilight's injury, I'm afraid I've waited too long and she's proven I cannot trust her to do as I ask, so I either get the answer here or assume her answer is no."
Macintosh found himself worried to ask. "... And what if it is no?"
The seriousness that took over Rich's features in that moment was more than a little unnerving. "Well, then I alert the authorities and let them sort this out." He turned to Twilight. "I have no idea what they would do, arresting a pony that they don't think really exists and, legally, doesn't. It is not an appealing prospect for me, but I have very little recourse."
Twilight winced a bit. "... They.... they'd kill me..."
Rich shrugged. "Once more. Not an appealing prospect... but..."
"But you'd do it anyway..."
Rich turned to Macintosh, who stared at the wealthy pony with nothing short of hurt. Big Mac had known this stallion his entire life and had always looked up to him as a model citizen. "You'd send her to her death... because you didn't get your way..."
Rich seemed to sour at this. "Come now Macintosh, it isn't like that-"
"It's exactly like that..." Big Mac grimaced. "You're threatening her to get your way, and it could very well lead to her death... but that doesn't matter to you."
"Macintosh, of course it matters, I said I'd rather not!"
"But you would!" Macintosh stomped his hoof, cracking the floor beneath it, making Rich flinch. The older stallion looked to Macintosh and spoke quietly and calmly. "Macintosh... I believe you're getting emotional... please, calm down--"
"Step aside."
"Macintosh, I can't--"
"If you don't step aside," said Big Mac, glaring at Rich with eyes full of anger, but glistening from wetness, "I will push you out of our way."
Rich stared at Big Mac in shock for a moment, who returned his gaze. The room was silent as the two ponies stared each other down, before Rich finally sighed and bowed his head. "Very well. I will. I will leave" The stallion raised his head, looking towards Big Mac, and much to the farm pony's surprise, his eyes seemed truly apologetic, hurt even. "Macintosh... I.... I know it might not be much consolation... but I'm sorry that things had to be this way."
Rich and his escorts turned and made their way out of the room. As they left, he saw the rainbow-maned pegasus look back at them, her expression seeming uncertain, maybe even a little worried. Once they were out of sight, Big Mac lowered his head and sighed. "Okay... first thing's first..." Macintosh reached up with a hoof and gently pulled his bandanna from his neck until it came undone, quickly grabbing it with his teeth. Using skill he had developed over the years of this practice, he placed it around Twilight's wounded leg and tied it tight, trying to stop the bleeding. She didn't seem to care for it much, but it was for her own good.
"Thanks..." said Twilight quietly as she leaned against Big Mac.
"You're welcome," he said, his voice scratching a bit.
Gently, he eased his side back to Twilight's. The two ponies began to make their way towards the door, Spike riding on Big Mac's back, keeping his eye on Twilight. "Now, take it easy...."
Then, the rainbow maned pegasus burst into the room.
"GET DOWN!"
She tackled both, knocking them over. Not a second later, a nearby wall exploded as a cannonball tore through it, shaking the entire house. Macintosh's heart raced as he quickly pulled everypony close, Spike shouting in terror, Twilight huddling close, and the pegasus trying to help Big Mac shield everypony from debris. As Macintosh looked up, he could see much of the house was coming down. "What in the hay!?"
"He's going to destroy the house and everything in it!" The pegasus climbed to her hooves, looking everypony over. "Everything and everypony! We have to get out of here, and now!"
"But how?" Spike looked around the room. "If we jump out the balcony he'll definitely see us!"
"We have to sneak out!" Rainbow Dash hefted Twilight up onto Macintosh's back. "Everypony stay close and follow me!"
The ponies (and dragon) fled the tower, into the hallway. More holes in the walls that Macintosh hadn't seen before, and another being shattered as an iron orb fell through showing that they had ammo to spare. 'He's trying to kill us,' was all he could think in this moment in time. 'He's really trying to kill us.' The group sped down the stairs, careful to avoid gaps, until they reached the second floor where their progress was halted by one such hole. The rainbow pegasus took hold of Twilight and lowered her down safely, while Big Mac stared down fearfully.
"Come on down!" shouted the pegasus.
"I-I can't!"
"Why not!?"
Macintosh gulped, looking around. "I... I'm afraid of heights!"
The pegasus groaned and slapped a hoof to her head. "Look, if you don't come down the roof will fall on your head! Just jump, don't think about it!" Macintosh gulped, sweat beading around his brow as he seemed to dig at the floor in preparation for his jump. 'Come on Big Mac, it's not that high, you've fallen from higher! Remember? That time you almost... almost...' Big Mac turned pale.
"I can't do it!"
The world left him. His hooves drifted from the ground and he waved them around helplessly, trying to find purchase. He found himself drifting away, over the ledge, and slowly making his way down, much to his confusion, until he was mere inches above the ground, where he suddenly hit the floor with a thud. Quickly, he jumped to his hooves and spun around, confused, scared, and so much more. "What the hay!?"
"I-I'm sorry," panted Twilight, sweating as a slight glow left her horn, "you... you were taking too long..."
The pegasus stared at the unicorn. "Holy hell... that.... that seems useful..."
"It is when I can get away with doing it," said Twilight, nodding, "can we please leave now?"
"What? Oh! Right!"
Without further delay, the pegasus placed Twilight on Big Mac's back once more, and the group fled into the part of the house furthest from Rich's airship. The house continued to rock and shake as it was ravaged by cannonballs, and Macintosh was certain it would come tumbling down any moment. As they hurried, they eventually made it to a window near the corner of the house, which had already been shattered. "There's our exit, now, let's--"
Another explosion. Macintosh looked up just in time to see debris fall down over him, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
And waited.
And waited.
Slowly, he opened an eye to peak, unsure of what to expect. The debris held above them, encapsulated in a magenta glow. Big Mac looked back to Twilight Sparkle, who was whimpering, her horn sparking.
"Please," she whispered as she tensed up, "move..."
Quickly, the pegasus grabbed Macintosh and yanked him away, and the debris came tumbling down. "Jump! Go!" Macintosh's wits returning to him, he obeyed, leaping out the window with Twilight and Spike in tow, landing on his hooves. For a moment, he feared his momentum would act against him, sending him rolling and his cargo as well, and he stumbled for but a moment, but righted himself in time to avoid catastrophe. As he felt his hooves become more firm in their control, Macintosh slowed himself until he could turn to look back.
The house was collapsing in on itself in various points. Sections of it were burning. Several blasts seemed to be coming from inside as if bombs had been planted. He turned his attention back to Twilight, who grimaced at the sight, before closing her eyes and turning her head away from the sight. "Let's.... let's go hide before somepony notices us..." Macintosh frowned and looked back to the sight.
"Come on big guy, you heard her!" The pegasus mare trotted next to him and gave him a swat. "If we stick near trees and foliage, we should be able to get off the mountain without them seeing us."
Macintosh stared at the destruction for a moment longer, before turning back to the mare and following her as she made her way along the mountainside. The group stuck near bushes and trees, avoiding the direct sight of the ship as they made their stealthy descent down the mountain.
Cup Cake was surprised when she heard somepony knock at the back door of Sugarcube Corner. Every once in a while she knew she'd get somepony who couldn't read or had too much to drink at the Salt Lick Saloon and she would have to direct them to the front or elsewhere, but it didn't make it any less irritating. She grumbled as she stepped away from her oven towards the door and pulled it open.
"The front of the store is--"
Her words died on her breath at the sight of Big Macintosh staring at her with pleading eyes, carrying a prone pony form on his back covered in a black cloak. A lavender hoof hung from the side. The side of his neck was stained a darker crimson than the rest of him.
"She needs help." |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 20 - Shedding Light | The room seemed almost deathly silent, with only a few sounds occupying the ears of the inhabitants of the room. Macintosh found himself in an unusual (if slightly awkward) situation, trying not to stare (and largely failing) as the Cakes fed their children. His eyes would start off on their son, Pound Cake, a little pegasus foal, before traversing to their daughter, Pumpkin Cake.
A small, infant unicorn.
Many things went through his mind as he took in this sight. Not one, but two unicorns had been right under his nose this entire time. The little filly lay in her father's foreleg as she suckled the bottle he held for her hungrily, the soft noises the only thing besides the ticking clock to break the otherwise awkward silence of the room. Her brother, meanwhile, was being fed by their mother, and seemed to be a little more energetic in his eating, practically trying to tug the bottle away from Cupcake. It was at that moment he looked up and saw Carrot Cake flashing a dirty look at him, much to his surprise, and he looked away, trying to pretend that his eyes were simply wandering about.
"Got a problem with my daughter?"
Macintosh was almost surprised by the threatening tone in Carrot's voice. Still, he could not say he didn't understand his concern. "Nope.... she's adorable..."
"Yeah," said Carrot, not sounding entirely convinced and not taking his eyes off Macintosh.
"Now Carrot," chided Cupcake, frowning at her husband, "be nice to Big Mac... little Pumpkin is probably the very first...." she stopped herself, shaking her head, "second.... unicorn the poor dear's seen!" Cupcake looked back to Pound, who seemed to be finished eating. "I'm sure he means nothing by it."
"Nope," said Macintosh with a nod, looking at Pumpkin again as she continued to eat, the little unicorn no different from any foal he had ever seen before, besides maybe the horn on her head.
'That lil' girl doesn't realize jus' how different she is,' he thought to himself. 'She don't care. That's a thought that doesn't even exist in her mind. All she knows is her mother, her father, an' her brother... an' she probably don't even realize there's anything different about any of them...'
"... What's it like...?"
"Hm?" The Cakes both looked towards Macintosh, curious. The stallion cleared his throat, trying to be careful where he tread.
"... Havin'... havin' a unicorn daughter...?"
Carrot seemed to get a little indignant, but Cupcake noticed this and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which calmed him down, and smiled at Big Mac. "Well... she's not much different from Pound Cake, or any other foal I imagine." She patted Pound's back gently until he gave a little burp, and then cradled him in her hooves and gently rocked him back and forth. "She occasionally has magic surges that Twilight was kind enough to help us learn to deal with, but she's very sweet." Cupcake looked at the baby and Macintosh and smiled a bit. "Would you like to feed her?"
Macintosh's eyes widened. "Oh, I-I-I dunno anythin' about foals--"
"We've been friends for years," said Cupcake with a smile, "I am pretty sure you can do it." It had seemed that Big Mac's protest fell on deaf ears. Carrot seemed reluctant at first, but a smile and a nod from Cupcake seemed to urge him to change his mind. He stepped close to Macintosh and carefully handed Pumpkin to the stallion, along with the bottle. Macintosh was very tense at first, holding the bottle so the little unicorn could eat, while holding the unicorn as well. She seemed a bit confused at first, but when she caught sight of the bottle, it didn't matter anymore, and she continued to suckle.
Big Mac watched as the little foal suckled the bottle, both under his care. Once more, he was reminded that she simply did not care. Earth Pony, Unicorn, Pegasus, those weren't even details to her. As she ate, he felt an odd sensation. The edges of his mouth pulled slightly into a soft smile. "Wow... she's... a hungry'un ain't she...?"
"Eeyup," said Carrot Cake, in a failed attempt to imitate Macintosh's voice, an uneasy smile on his face. "They both got appetites, but she eats more than her brother sometimes." Big Mac chuckled, looking back down at the baby unicorn, and noticing that she seemed to be pulling away. He withdrew the bottle carefully, a bit nervous, hoping he hadn't done something wrong. "Oh, seems somepony's full. Here..." Macintosh saw Carrot Cake approach and, carefully, he handed Pumpkin to her father, who held her close and gently patted her back until she gave a little burp.
"We love her and our Pound Cake very dearly," said Cupcake, a loving smile on her face as she looked down at the now sleeping foal in her forelegs. "We were nervous at first... neither of us knew anything about raising a pegasus, let alone a unicorn..." The mare giggled a bit, looking to her husband. "Remember when I was pregnant and things started moving around on their own...?"
"Ah yes," said Carrot Cake with a smirk. "We thought the house was haunted at first. Called ponies in to look into it, but nothing ever came up it."
"Not until we met Twilight," said Cupcake, her smile becoming weaker. "One day, Pinkie brought her into the bakery... she seemed... cold.... and distant... even irritated, when we told her we thought the house was haunted." The smile began to return, the mare shaking her head and looking up at Macintosh. "When we told her what was happening, she asked if she could stay a night, monitor the house, see if she could find anything."
"No need for it," continued Carrot with a chuckle, "at that very moment, I think Pumpkin felt her mama become stressed, because a muffin flew off the table and hit Twilight in the face!"
"She was so shocked!" Cupcake laughed. The Cakes began to snicker at the situation, but when they remembered the mare in question's predicament, they seemed to become sullen. Macintosh lowered his ears, looking off to the side and brushing his hoof against his foreleg.
"... That day, she asked us a lot of questions," said Cupcake with a nod. "Questions about our family mostly, which was difficult to answer...."
"My great-great-great grandfather was a bastard," said Carrot with a shrug. "Nopony knew who his father was, and my great-great-great-great grandmother was generally ridiculed by the public for it."
Cupcake nodded, moving towards one of the cribs and gently setting Pound in it. "Twilight left for a few days before returning and revealing that I was likely pregnant with a unicorn. The news was more than a little shocking to say the least, but..." Cupcake sighed and smiled, looking at Pumpkin who slept in her father's forelegs. "... The very moment I saw her... I knew I loved my baby... and everything about her...." The Cakes leaned against each other, nuzzling one another.
Macintosh looked at the two ponies hold each other close for a moment before they broke apart and Carrot took Pumpkin to the unoccupied crib, gently setting her in. The three ponies stepped into the hall and Carrot gently pulled the door behind them, leaving it open a crack. The two ponies looked to Macintosh and Cupcake sighed. "Twilight was kind enough to help deliver the twins, and has given us some details on things we have to know about raising Pumpkin."
Carrot Cake smiled and put a hoof against his cheek. "I'm actually figuring when they're old enough, we might start trying to figure out who our mysterious unicorn ancestor was."
Cupcake grinned and pressed her nose against Carrot's. "Oh, from the day I met you I knew there was something absolutely magical about you."
Carrot smiled and rubbed noses with her. "Oh my little shnookum you're absolutely adorable..."
Macintosh cleared his throat, catching the attention of the Cakes, who looked towards him and blushed a bit and grinned impishly. "Oh, uh, sorry," said Carrot Cake with a chuckle.
"But I'm curious," said Macintosh, looking at the door and frowning, "do you hide your kids? Are you gonna spend your entire life hiding them?" At this, the two ponies frowned and looked towards each other, and hung their heads.
"No," said Carrot Cake, shaking his head. "We won't make our children endure lives in hiding. It just isn't right."
"But.... what will you do then? When ponies realize...?"
They looked to him once more, sad frowns on their faces. Macintosh noticed that Cupcake seemed like she might tear up. Carrot held her close and pressed his head against hers, and she nuzzled against his neck. Carrot sighed, looking to Macintosh. "... Well... we've considered a few options... but all of them end with us making a trip to Zauberstadt... the City of Magic."
Zauberstadt.
That was a name Macintosh recognized. The name Twilight called her hometown by. "Twilight gave us the means of getting there," said Carrot with a nod, holding his wife close, "but after that... well... it all depends on if they'll let us stay or not..."
Cupcake smiled, though she still seemed ready to cry. "If they will... we start over... leave Sugar Cube Corner to Pinkie Pie... raise our babies among unicorns... and build new lives... a fresh start..."
He was loathe to ask, but Macintosh found himself asking a lot of questions he was afraid to ask today it seemed. "... And if they don't...?"
At this the two froze. Cupcake's lip quivered and her eyes became wet, and she held Carrot closer. "If not... then Twilight promised they would at least take Pumpkin..." At first, Macintosh didn't understand what that meant, but the moment it hit him, his eyes widened. Cupcake choked and forced a smile on her face. "My baby girl will not live in hiding..."
Even Carrot seemed to tear up a bit, though he held himself together better than his wife, who seemed ready to break any moment. Carrot sighed and nuzzled Cupcake to comfort her. "Pound Cake might have it difficult for a while, being a pegasus... but he'll have a good start, which is something few pegasi can claim... but with Pumpkin? There's no way of knowing..."
"Sweety," said Cupcake, sniffling and pressing her head into his neck, "I'm going downstairs..." The mare placed a half-hearted kiss on his cheek and made her way past Macintosh, hurrying downstairs. The stallion watched her leave and felt a hint of guilt, looking back to Carrot.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be," said Carrot with a sigh, shaking his head. "It's... something we've thought a lot about recently... and while it's something neither of us wants to do, it's something we realize we might have to accept..." The stallion turned his attention to Macintosh, a small frown on his face. He sighed and shook his head. "Big Mac... I know we're not particularly close... but I trust you... so please... whatever you do... don't tell anypony about our children..."
Macintosh looked to Carrot and gave a nod. "You have my word, an' my word is my bond."
Carrot smiled. Then his lip quivered. Then he hugged Big Mac. The stallion tensed up a bit, not used to being hugged by other stallions. He forced a smile and gently brought a hoof up to pat Carrot on the back. When the baker released him, he relaxed, and Carrot wiped a tear from his eye. "You're a dear friend, Big Mac," said Carrot with a sniff.
As Carrot made his way downstairs to join his wife, Big Mac found himself alone in the halls of their house, his mind racing with new-found knowledge. He turned around, making his way down the hall and towards the door leading to Pinkie's penthouse, and gave it a soft rapping.
"Come in."
Slowly, the door pushed open, and Macintosh stepped inside. Though he had been in the room before, this is the first time he was actually not panicking and could take a moment to look it appreciate it. There were balloons and toys everywhere, as if the room itself was a celebration. Pictures of Pinkie's friends and family lined the walls - including an image of her with Big Mac and Braeburn at the county fair. He set his sights on Twilight and Pinkie, Twilight laying in the bed while Pinkie fussed over her, serving her her a bowl of soup. All things considered, the unicorn seemed in good health; she was wearing a shirt Pinkie had loaned her to get her out of the one she was wearing, which was both damaged and blood-stained, and beneath that shirt she had a bandage wrapped around her wound. It was fortunate that Twilight had remained conscious enough to tell Pinkie what to do, otherwise he might have panicked and taken her to a doctor anyway, though he knew she would likely need real medical attention soon.
"Twilight, you have to eat or you won't get better!"
"Pinkie," said Twilight, a slight hint of annoyance in her voice, "I've eaten two bowls of soup, an apple fritter, and three bowls of oats since I've gotten here..."
"And you'll eat several more before the day is done! Eeeat!"
"Pinkie," said Macintosh, causing the mares to turn their attention to the stallion, "what's the sayin' about leadin' a horse to water?"
Pinkie Pie's lip trembled as she stared at Big Mac, looking back to Twilight. "B-but..."
"Pinkie," said Macintosh gently as he stepped towards his might-be cousin, placing a hoof on her shoulder and smiling, "she's fine. You don't have to worry."
Pinkie Pie's pouty lip continued to shake, but she eventually relented and sighed, hanging her head. "Oh alright..." She quickly turned to Twilight. "But if you need anything, just ring this bell!" The mare jammed a hoof into her own mane, producing from it a small bell and placing it on the nightstand next to Twilight. She began to walk backwards, her eyes locked on the two, until she bumped into a nearby wall. She did not remove her gaze, instead placing her hoof on the wall and feeling her way for the door, until she tumbled down the steps, causing both ponies to wince. "I'm alright!"
Once they were certain Pinkie had left the room, both ponies sighed, turning their attention to each other. "Thank you," said Twilight, shaking her head, "I thought she'd never stop fussing..." Big Mac chuckled and offered a soft nod to the unicorn.
"Well... she was worried you was gone."
"I told her three times I was still conscious..."
"You know Pinkie."
"Yeah..."
The two ponies chuckled at that, and then became silent. That silence seemed to engulf the entire room for a moment as many questions lingered in the air. As Macintosh readied himself to ask one such question, he noticed Twilight staring at him, and suddenly felt very self-conscious.
"What?"
Twilight was quiet for a moment, but he noticed something about her, a sort of sad understanding in her eyes. She reached a hoof towards him, much to his confusion, but he stayed still. When he felt her hoof touch the bare spot of his neck, he tensed up, realizing he had forgotten something important to him, but he did not move. Her hoof brushed his neck, and her expression became sorrowful.
She couldn't take her eyes off it, and he knew it, and that made him more scared. The hoof brushed over the shape, and he could swear he could feel every bit of it. That spot where his bandanna always hung until it was used to keep her from bleeding out.
A jagged scar on his neck.
"... I see..." said Twilight, as she brushed her hoof over the scar. "... That's why you always drink so much..." Macintosh pulled away a bit, shifting around and pulling his shirt up a bit to better cover the scar. Twilight winced a bit, withdrawing her hoof. "I-I'm sorry... "
"No..." he said calmly, looking away from Twilight and placing a hoof over the scar. 'How could I forget? How could I be so stupid?' Macintosh looked around the room, trying to find his beloved green bandanna, but it was no where in sight. He grimaced a bit to himself, sighing and hanging his head some. "It's alright..." Once more the room became quiet, neither pony having the nerve to look at the other for a moment.
"Macintosh, I'm sorry--"
"Nothin' to apologize for Miss Sparkle," said Big Mac, feeling a bit guilty, "Nothin' at all. It's a scar. Ponies get them. Everypony gets them. Some worse than others."
"Not just about that," said Twilight, though quieter. He looked back to her, confused as she looked off to the other side. "For not telling you about what I really am..." Macintosh fell quiet a moment, not really knowing how to respond. He could understand why she wouldn't tell him, and he did not blame her in the least, and yet he found himself still trying to wrap his head around it. "... I wanted to tell you... I did... but I...." She winced a bit, shaking her head, looking back to the red stallion. ".... I was worried that if you knew, you would... be afraid..."
Macintosh raised a brow. "Be afraid? Why?"
Twilight seemed almost surprised by the prospect. "Because... I'm a unicorn... "
Big Mac looked away from her a bit, pursing his lips and offering a gentle nod. "Eeyup."
"Doesn't that bother you?"
Macintosh didn't respond at first. His eyes moved a bit, as if scanning his thoughts externally. He brought a hoof up to his throat and brushed it gently, turning his attention back to Twilight. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came out as he tried to ponder just what to say. He turned his attention back to the floor, letting his eyes drift back to Twilight. She noticed the sadness in them as he turned back to her.
"Miss Sparkle... you're the third I've ever seen in my life..."
Twilight's eyes widened a bit. She seemed to tense up as Macintosh turned his gaze away, brushing his hoof over his scar. "...The first... she was dying when we found her... me an' my pa.... an' the second...." Macintosh paused. He squeezed his eyes shut and held his hoof over his scar.
It was a dark night that night, so many years ago.
"Looks like it's gonna rain..."
The red-coated, gangly colt looked up to the sky as the clouds seemed to pull together to form great big masses of darkness. They were so close to home, so he hoped that the rain would hold off just a bit longer, just long enough to allow them to get indoors without getting drenched.
"Eeyup," said a deeper, thicker voice. The colt looked to his side, to an impressively sized, rust-red stallion with a white muzzle, orange eyes and a blonde mane. He looked to the sky himself, rolling the straw in his mouth from one side to the other as he shoved his straw hat up some to get a better look at the sky.
"I think we should just book it, pa, 'for it starts up an' we get soaked."
"Nope."
The colt sighed, looking up at the sky again. He knew any moment it would rain, and he and his father would be wetter than fish. "Slow an' steady boy, ain't rainin' yet." The cold wanted to argue the point, but he knew better. With grim dignity, he accepted his father's argument, though that did not mean he had to like it. Ponyville was within sight, the walls visible with various rooftops poking just above them. At least he had comfort in knowing it wouldn't be much longer before they were home, and he could relax and read his stories.
The two ponies, father and son, pulled a caravan down the dirt path to their home town, returning from the next town over. While the colt had tried to convince his father that a train would have been much faster and easier, the older stallion insisted on walking instead. As they walked, the colt would let his eyes wander around, taking in the sights. He sighed a bit, thinking to his stories of fairy tales and fantasies; heroes going on adventures, saving damsels, searching for treasure. His father would berate him for having his head in the clouds, but it was his pastime, and he wanted to enjoy it. As his vision scanned his surroundings idly, he noticed something off in the distance, something dark, with a soft speck of white, on the ground. As he squinted, he noticed that the white spot looked vaguely like a snout.
"Pa... I think there's a pony over there..."
The older stallion tilted his head, looking past his son, squinting. His eyes widened a bit. "Unhitch yourself boy... follow me and stay close, and keep an eye on the caravan." The two ponies released themselves from the hitches, allowing them to abandon their caravan and make their way towards the mysterious figure. As they drew close, they noticed that the figure was indeed equine, wearing a cloak that seemed to cover their face.
And on their side, a massive slash, the cloth stained dark and the white fur beneath crimson.
"Oh my-- excuse me! Are you okay!? Can you hear me!?"
The shape twitched a bit, and suddenly their body moved with clear signs of breathing. Slowly, the pony turned their head, revealing their face; a mare, blood in her mouth, her tired blue eyes barely focused. Both ponies froze, however, when they noticed something more.
A horn poking from just beneath her mane.
"Oh my stars..."
The mare gasped and panted, clearly panicking a bit. The elder stallion shook his head. "Calm down, don't panic, you're hurt very badly... can you move? Can you stand?" The mare did not reply, however, she stared at them, confusion etched in her widened eyes. "My name is Big Alex, an' this is my son, Mac... we got medical supplies in the caravan, we can--boy, go get that first aid kit!"
"M-my children...!" the mare panted, lifting her head and moving her hoof to drag in the dirt.
"Hold on there, you're gonna hurt yourself--"
"I don't..... care about myself..." said the mare, trying to pull herself to her hooves, but failing to even budge herself from the ground, panting and gasping. "... My.... my children..."
"Tell me where they are," said Alex, leaning down and looking her in the eyes, "I will find them, and I'll bring them to you, and we'll get you somewhere to fix you up." The mare stared at him, her eyes wide and confused. "You have my word..."
She was quiet for a moment. Tears welled in her eyes, but she smiled very faintly. ".... They're... hiding in the woods," she said, he voice weak, "... just find the tree.... whose branches make it look like a star.... they're in the cave... tell them.... their mother.... loves....."
Alex stared at the mare. She continued to stare at him, a smile on her face, eyes wet with tears. Macintosh stared blankly at the sight before him as his father stood up to his full height. The stallion gently reached for his straw hat, and removed it from his head, placing it against his chest. He turned to Macintosh and sighed, placing his hat back on his head.
Macintosh had never witnessed death before. He had never seen a unicorn either. And as he looked into his father's eyes, he saw this stallion whom had always been a pinnacle of mental, emotional, and physical strength shed silent tears. "Boy.... go to the caravan... grab a lantern, an' meet me at the edge of the woods..." The colt nodded and, without question, he turned, making his way back to the caravan. Standing idle by the hitches, the colt tried to process everything in his head. 'It's too much,' he thought to himself, trying to sort things out in his mind, 'What is goin' on?'
"Get away from her!"
His ears perked up and Macintosh turned his attention back to where he had just come from. In the distance, he saw a new figure appear, wearing a dark cloak and charging towards his father, knocking him off his hind legs and throwing him backwards. Big Alex placed a hoof over his side and rolled a bit to his side, clearly in pain as the new figure slowly approached him.
"Pa!"
Macintosh ran quick, fast as his legs could take him, faster than he had ever run before. His father turned to look towards him, and in that instant, he saw the elder stallion's eyes shrink to pinpricks. "Mac! No!" In that instant, his attacker, a blue-coated stallion with golden eyes blind with rage as a golden aura enveloped his blood-stained horn, turned his attention to Macintosh.
Macintosh felt his hooves leave the ground, and in an instant the world spun around him, but the image, that face, burned in his thoughts. As he twisted and turned uncontrollably, that face continued to stare him in the eyes from the back of his memory.
The sound of wood splintering, of the caravan being knocked over and managing to roll with the force he had struck it with. Pain all over his body, crates bouncing against walls and him. A sharp pain in his neck enough to make him cry out, but that only hurt more, and elicited no sound. And then, finally, everything stopped as he fell, hitting the side of the caravan wall which was now on its side, a box over his leg, which he was fairly certain was broken, as his throat in agony.
He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He could barely think. Everything hurt.
Tears filled his eyes.
'Pa.'
No words left his mouth as he silently made his plea. He was terrified. He was hurt. He needed help.
'Pa...'
He was dying.
Tears filled his eyes. He was too tired. Too weak. His will was burning away. His spirit was fading. He didn't even know if his father yet lived.
And then he felt a rain drop hit his cheek.
The sound of hooves on wood caught his attention. Slowly, he turned his gaze towards the source as somepony peaked into the caravan. Angry, yellow eyes staring down at him, filled with tears, with hate.
"You bastards killed my wife... you....."
And the anger faded. Slowly, those eyes shifted from anger, to realization.
"... You're just a colt... "
Macintosh trembled fearfully, his eyes overflowing with tears. He moved his mouth once more.
'Pa....'
The unicorn stallion stared at him silently. "... You're not..." The stallion brought a hoof to his muzzle. "... What have I done..."
Macintosh, however, could no longer be bothered to care. His will was gone. He closed his eyes slowly.
"No! No no no! Don't sleep! I... I'll go get help!"
Pain.
It was his entire existence the moment he woke up. He could feel nothing else, knew nothing else, think nothing else. Slowly, in spite of this pain, he slowly opened his eyes, discouraged only slightly by the bright light that assaulted his vision. He tried to move his head, but every muscle hurt. He tried to talk, but when he did, all that came out... no... that wasn't his voice. The sound, the sensation, was as if somepony were scraping rocks against his vocal cords. He did not like it. He turned his head, slowly and carefully, trying to endure the aches in his muscles as he forced himself to look down. His body was covered in bandages, one of his forelegs and the opposing hind-leg both in splints. He could see some of the bandages he wore had slight staining on them, which was more than a little unnerving.
As he adjusted, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. As he turned his head, he caught sight of a familiar figure nearby. An elder green mare slept soundly in a chair, using it as a makeshift bed. 'Granny' he tried to say, but what came out was like gurgling stones and hurt more than the last time he tried to speak. So, he lay there. For how long, he could not say. It may have been seconds, it may have been hours, it could have been days for all he knew, but it was one of the longest waits in his life.
It wasn't until he saw a familiar orange figure step into the room that the monotony broke. A small orange filly with green eyes and a blonde mane looked towards him and, upon seeing him, those eyes widened. "Mac... Mac's awake! Mac's awake!" The filly bounced and jumped, running from the room screaming those words. Granny snorted and opened her eyes, seeming to not quite know where she was or what was going on for a moment, but when she looked at him, realization hit her and she was out of the chair and at his side.
"Oh thank the heavens above!" The mare wrapped her forelegs around him and hugged him tight. He whimpered as pain shot throughout his body, and the mare pulled away, tears streaming down her face. "Oh I'm sorry boy, I'm so sorry, I just... I just..." The mare stared at him, her mouth trembling. She choked and shook her head, hugging him again, though this time much more gently. "Oh... oh my little baby boy..."
Macintosh barely moved as he tried to remember what had happened. Slowly, however, the memory returned to him. It would hurt, but he had to know.
"Pa...?" he whispered.
At that moment, he felt his grandmother tremble. She hugged him tighter, and though it hurt, he did not protest. She was quiet for a moment, and then he felt her take a deep, rattled breath.
".... My baby boy...." The words were cracked. Sad. She didn't need to say anything else. He wanted to hug her back, but he couldn't move. All he could do was press his head against hers and shed his own, quiet tears.
Twilight stared, wide-eyed at Macintosh as he absentmindedly brushed his scar, taking a drink from a bottle of alcohol that Pinkie had left behind for disinfecting purposes. "... When they found my pa... he was already gone... said he'd been roughed up... stabbed... bled out... and they had even thought I was dead when they found me..." He sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "They said that somepony told them there had been a terrible attack outside of town... lead them out there... and disappeared before they could ask questions."
The unicorn mare's gaze shifted, though she was clearly still focusing on the story. "... So he just... attacked you in a blind rage...?"
"Don't know..." Macintosh shook his head, taking another drink from the bottle. "Always assumed it was some kind of mistake... but I don't think I'll ever have the answer..." He sighed, waving the bottle around a bit. "... I... tried to tell them what happened... but they attributed it to the trauma somehow being mixed with my love of fantasy stories... said we were likely attacked by bandits and in my broken state of mind I made them into unicorns to cope with the horror and tragedy of the situation or some such."
Twilight didn't respond. She stared into space for a few moments, and Macintosh took another drink from the bottle. He had no idea why he was so thirsty. He felt fine, really he did. The unicorn mare looked back towards Macintosh. "I'm.... I'm so sorry..."
"Nothin' to be sorry about, Miss Twilight," said Macintosh, not turning his gaze towards her. "You didn't do anything. You weren't there. It wasn't your fault." Macintosh was a bit surprised when he noticed Twilight pull herself closer to the edge of the bed and sit herself upright. "Now now, you've gotta relax Miss Twilight or--"
She wrapped her hooves around him, and gently pulled him into a hug, effectively silencing the stallion. He didn't do anything at first, but slowly he brought his hooves around her and returned the embrace.
"... What happened to you was horrible," said Twilight, and much to Macintosh's surprise, he felt a bit of wetness on his neck. "... It doesn't matter if I did it or not... it shouldn't have happened..."
They sat like that for a few moments before finally pulling apart. Twilight used a hoof to dry her eyes before fixing them back on Macintosh's, sympathy clear in them. "Macintosh... I don't understand... if your father was killed by a unicorn, then why don't you hate me? Hate us...?"
Macintosh didn't respond at first, his head simply hanging slightly, his eyes half-lidded. "... Because it was only the second unicorn I met that was a monster.... " The stallion sighed, closing his eyes. "The first... was a dying mare who was terrified for her children..." He looked up and smirked. "The third was a slightly tight-knit no-business bookworm who might give ya a hard time but she means well."
Twilight tried to look offended, but could not hide the edges of her mouth tugging up. "Thanks for that..."
Macintosh nodded. "... And... well... the fourth is a baby who probably doesn't even realize there's a difference between her an' the rest of her family..." Macintosh looked back to the door and frowned, lowering his head. "... They're absolutely terrified at the idea they might have to give her up..."
"It happens sometimes," said Twilight with a frown, looking away. "Unicorns are urged to avoid outside contact, especially romantically so, to avoid situations like theirs."
"Would they take them? The whole family?"
"I can't say..."
Once more the room became quiet, and Macintosh found his mind buzzing with questions. "... Twilight?"
Twilight's ear perked up. "Yes?"
"What's yer hometown like...?"
Twilight was quiet for a bit. Macintosh wasn't sure if now was the right time to ask or what, and wondered if he should apologize.
"Zauberstadt is Germane for 'City of Magic,'" said Twilight, a smile on her face. "Founded hundreds of years ago by unicorns who wanted to build a new kingdom... one that existed secretly... one that was safe... secure..." Macintosh wanted to tell her that was not quite what he meant, but the starry look in her eyes told him he should let her talk; besides, he might learn something new. "Zauberstadt is one of a few hidden Unicorn cities in Equestria... collectively referred to as the Unicorn Kingdom, the Invisible Kingdom, or Hidden Equestria, among other titles." Twilight looked towards Macintosh and smiled. "And... as for your question... it's not much different from any other village, with the exception of the fact that magic is as abundant there as technology is here. We have entire academies of learning formed to educate unicorns in advanced casting."
Big Mac found himself intrigued by the idea of a city of unicorns, and may not have realized he was leaning forward a bit. "Do y'all have your own farms?"
Twilight giggled. "Well, of course we do. While an Earth Pony will always grow better food than a unicorn of equal skill and learning, we can still grow our own food. Some ponies even use magic to help it grow faster, though traditionalists argue that it ruins the flavor." Big Mac found himself grinning at the prospect. Twilight smirked, raising a brow. "I'm... surprised at your interest, I must admit. Even now many ponies are iffy at the prospect of magic, unicorns or no."
Big Mac chuckled and waved a hoof. "I was a weird colt growin' up. Always wanted to be the hero. Save the damsel, fight evil, go on adventures... I always had dreams of that sorta stuff. Pa said it was unhealthy, but Ma always encouraged me to dream." He smirked and looked up to Twilight. "I remember for the longest time my Ma thought I'd end up bein' a writer. She saved up money for me to go to college since I was a colt." He sighed a bit, and looked off to the side. "But... then we lost Pa... an' Ma passed away givin' birth to 'Bloom... so... I kept that money and started savin' up so Apple Bloom could go to college..."
The unicorn mare frowned. "... You gave up an education so you could give one to your sister...?" Big Mac nodded, a smile on his face.
"... I got real unlucky," he said, somewhat quietly, "... but her? She didn't even get to meet her parents... an'... I want her to have better." He looked back to Twilight, and his smile grew. "I don't know where she'll go in her life... but I want to help any way I can... an' that's the best way I can think to do it."
"That's... very noble of you..." said Twilight, a soft smile on her face.
"Thanks," replied Macintosh with a nod. He wasn't sure if he was noble or not, but he liked the compliment nonetheless. "Rich... was going to partner with us... pay us top dollar to acquire rights to the farm... " Big Mac hung his head a bit. "I was tempted to take it... just so I could give her a guarantee... but I turned it down. And sometimes, I wonder if I made the right choice..."
"Yeah," said Twilight, tapping a hoof to her chin, "he has been making a lot of property purchases as of late... I understand he's actually trying to gain ownership of the entirety of Old Ponyville. Due to the general condition, I can't imagine he'll have to put up much of a fight to get it..."
"What? Why would he want to buy Old Ponyville?"
Twilight shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."
A knock at the door drew both ponies' attention to it. When it opened, Pinkie stepped into the room with a bowl of oats balancing on her head, much to Twilight's dismay. However, she also came in with Fluttershy and the rainbow maned pegasus in tow. Fluttershy immediately came to his side. "Oh, Rainbow Dash! You didn't tell me you knew Big Mac!"
The rainbow maned pegasus balked. "You two know each other?"
"I should think so," said Big Mac with a nod, "this mare may very well have saved my life."
'Rainbow Dash' as she was called, seemed stunned. "Well... what are the odds of that happening?"
"About the same as the odds of finding a unicorn," said Twilight with a casual expression.
"And about that," said Rainbow Dash, turning to Twilight, "what the hell!? Unicorns are real!? You're an actual magical being!?"
"Yes I am," said Twilight with a nod.
"Then why didn't you just magic me and Gilda away when we broke into your home!?"
Fluttershy gasped. "You what!?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, for starters if I did I would have had to kill you to be sure nopony found out, and I consider myself a pacifist."
"Just because she's a unicorn doesn't mean she has to be violent," said Fluttershy, though this seemed to turn the rainbow pegasus on her.
"Wait, you knew!?" Admittedly, it was a question Macintosh now found himself curious about as well.
"Ever since we went into the castle," said the mare with a nod. "And I promised her I would never tell anypony, and so I didn't."
"Thanks for that, by the way," said Twilight. Fluttershy smiled.
"You're welcome."
"Okay, hold up!" Rainbow Dash held her hooves up and looked around the room. "Alright... did anypony in here not know Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn this morning?" Nopony answered. Rainbow looked around the room until she saw Macintosh, who was holding his hoof up slightly. "Okay," said the pegasus with a sigh, "at least I'm not the only one who learned unicorns exist today." Macintosh knew he could say something, but decided not to. Rainbow Dash sighed and clapped her hooves together. "Alright, moving on... I am going to state the obvious right now. As of this evening, me, the big guy, the unicorn, and the little dragon are all likely on Filthy's shit list, and he's savvy enough that he's likely going to act as though he expects us to have made it out of there alive, so I doubt we'll be able to simply pretend we died and hope he doesn't do anything." The mare flew so that she was in the middle of everypony and crossed her forelegs. "What this means is that we're going to have to be very, very stealthy from here on out. The good news is that you got me and I know what he knows." Rainbow Dash grinned, sure of herself.
"I imagine," said Twilight, not bothering to hide her disapproval, "you're one of his flunkies."
"Former flunkies," added Rainbow Dash, holding up a hoof, "and for your information, I was a hired spy and thief, and I've been doing this job long enough to know when to be selective about details I share."
"Wait," added Twilight, her eyes widening, "you're the one who was spying on us!?"
"Yep!" Dash nodded, pointing a hoof at Twilight, "and as far as Rich knows, I was only following you, Big Mac, Pinkie Pie and his cousin. I didn't tell him about everypony..."
Macintosh was quick to piece it together and looked towards Fluttershy. "You kept Fluttershy a secret...?" This made the butter yellow pegasus' eyes widen for a moment.
"Yeah," said Rainbow Dash, frowning and rubbing the back of her head almost bashfully. "Fluttershy and I go.... a long way back... "
"Don't be so modest," said Fluttershy, fluttering her wings and floating next to the rainbow maned mare and hugging her, "Dash and I were dear friends as fillies. She always stood up for me." Macintosh smirked, seeing Dash act embarrassed at the hug although he could tell the mare appreciated the gesture.
"Come on 'Shy, I'm a thief slash spy for hire, this is totally killing my vibe..."
"Oh, sorry..." Fluttershy broke the hug and drifted back, still smiling at her friend. Rainbow Dash tried not to, but the edges of her mouth tugged upward ever so faintly. The rainbow pegasus cleared her throat in an attempt to redirect the conversation once more.
"Here's the deal," stated Rainbow Dash, looking at everypony in the room, "as far as he knows, with the exception of Fluttershy, each and every pony in this room is in cahoots. He's not likely going to openly challenge anypony either... he'll likely consider his display at Twilight's house a message of what he's willing to do to get what he wants."
Macintosh frowned. "You sayin' he wasn't tryin' to murder us?"
"I don't think so," added Dash, shaking her head, "I think he trusted Twilight to find a way out... though if I'm to be honest, I don't think we should ignore the possibility that he might kill any one of us if he deems it necessary."
"But will he hurt our families...?" Macintosh added, looking to Dash with clear worry in his eyes. It was a question he had been pondering ever since they had fled the house earlier that day, and it was one that frightened him.
"I don't think so." Dash folded her forelegs together and lowered her head. "He's... weird to say the least. Every time we had a meeting, had a conversation, he would refuse certain options... Gilda had considered holding Twilight's accomplices' families for ransom and forcing Twilight to hand over the book or face the revilement of everypony in town, and he turned it down flat out. As crazy as he is, he's got rules, and I don't think he likes to involve ponies who have nothing to do with the situation..."
Macintosh sighed and relaxed a bit. "... I just happened to be involved..."
"Precisely," added Rainbow with a nod. "But what he considers 'involved' can shift if we're not careful. I propose that tonight, we disappear."
Macintosh froze. For a moment, he was certain his heart had stopped. "... For how long...?"
Rainbow looked to him with a raised brow. "Well, I don't know, how long do you think Rich is going to be crazy?"
Big Mac shook his head. "Are you sayin' we.... we just... leave? Leave behind our friends and family?"
"Not all of them," added Dash with a smirk, "clearly we're going to have to collect your cousin."
Big Mac's head was swimming. He tried to think of something, anything. He couldn't simply leave behind his family, his home, and never return. "But... my whole life is here..."
"Yeah," added Dash with a sigh, "and so is Rich, and he's... well... rich."
Macintosh's jaw moved wordlessly. He tried to think, tried to rationalize it. Then it hit him; his ace in the hole. "What about Nightingale? His niece? She's real sweet on me! I can talk to her, convince her to make Rich see reason!"
But Rainbow Dash only laughed. "What!? You don't think she's in on this!? She's practically Rich's right hoof in this whole thing!" Macintosh felt his heart sink as the pegasus flew closer to him. "In fact, attacking Twilight's house was her plan!"
Macintosh felt his mind crack a little. "No... she's a sweet mare, she'd never--"
"Never what?" Rainbow said, prodding Macintosh in the shoulder. "When Rich called us in about dealing with Twilight, his original plan was simply to threaten her with eviction and pulling her funding. He made a point of purchasing the property Twilight was using. But she insisted it wasn't good enough. 'She would just leave and take the Elements with her' she argued. 'Best to catch her by surprise and give her an alternative she cannot accept.'" The two ponies stared each other in the eyes, Macintosh trying to find any hint of dishonesty. Despite everything he knew about this mare, however, he could see the seriousness in her. If she were lying, she was doing a very good job. He looked back to Twilight, who seemed unnerved by the information, though he could also see her looking at him with some level of concern. Was it for him?
Dash sighed and stepped away, shaking her head. "For the past few weeks, Gilda and I were scouring the house to find notes, clues, anything we could to just steal the Elements and Twilight's research. Rich wanted to do this without a fight, but then he realized Twilight was scared, and likely taking every precaution. He eventually admitted we'd never find what we were looking for unless she gave it to us willingly. So, he finally decided in favor of Nightingale's plan and decided to launch a surprise attack on Twilight and give her an ultimatum; give up or be exposed."
Twilight nodded, looking at her hooves. "The message she left me was his final warning." Twilight's horn faintly glowed, a moment which Macintosh found mystifying as a piece of paper drifted from her coat, which hang on a nearby chair and drifted in front of Macintosh, who opened it and read it.
This is your final warning.
I have been patient and I lenient up until this point. When we forged our partnership, it was under the understanding that we would share all materials and knowledge gathered, and I am aware that you have been holding out on me. I have granted you funding, resources, and have even kept your secrets. I have shown my reliability, but you are failing to show any in return.
I have run out of patience. Tomorrow I will be paying you a visit to collect what is mine. What happens next is entirely up to you.
Your Benefactor.
As Macintosh read the note, he found his mountain of doubts only growing larger. He held the parchment towards Twilight, staring into space as he pieced everything together in his head. Nothing in the world made sense anymore. Everything was starting to turn on its head. The stallion brought a hoof to his forehead, trying to calm himself.
"What happened, Rich...?"
"What happened," said Twilight, holding a hoof up, "are the Elements of Magic." Everypony turned their attention to the unicorn mare. "When we met, Rich and I were studying the same things, though we didn't realize it until we started grabbing the same books. Turned out that Rich was something of a scholar... or occultist, depending on some peoples' views... and had been doing research on unicorns, magic artifacts, and any other esoteric knowledge he could gather."
"But why?" Dash flew between Macintosh and Twilight again, staring the unicorn in the eyes. "What could Rich possibly want?"
"A few things," said Twilight, looking to the side as she pondered her thoughts. "Since we forged our partnership, we've done a bit of excavating. We've been in tombs, elder libraries, places even unicorns haven't set hoof in for generations, and we've discovered any number of mythical artifacts. If he could find just one of them, he'd be happy. The Elements are top priority for him, but he has a practical laundry list of mystical artifacts he wants to find, all of which are likely either destroyed, buried, or in the Unicorn Kingdoms." She frowned and looked off to the side slightly, as if guilty. "More than once he's tried to convince me to take him to Zauberstadt... "
"Good thing you didn't," said Dash, letting herself land and picking up the bottle Macintosh had been drinking from earlier and taking a swig. "I have no doubt in my mind that he'd be willing to wage a war against a mythical people if they didn't give him what he wanted."
"It'd be a war he'd lose," said Twilight, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"So," said Rainbow, clucking her tongue and taking another swig of the alcohol in her hoof, "what's our next move then?"
Twilight and Macintosh exchanged looks and looked towards the pegasus. "Our next move," said Twilight with no shortage of curiosity, "what do you mean our next move?"
"Well," said Dash with a shrug, "it seems I'm caught up in this whole escapade now. Don't get me wrong, I'm used to living off the grid and on the move, but I wouldn't feel right leaving you ponies to do this alone."
"Well, that's quite generous of you to offer," said Twilight, though Macintosh knew immediately she was being sarcastic, "but we don't really need your help."
"Sure you do," said Dash, stepping closer with a knowing grin on her face. "You see, I can already tell our farm-boy friend here isn't too keen on spending the rest of his natural life avoiding his family," a sentiment that gave Macintosh some level of hope, "and while you probably have a great deal less to lose, you're going to have some trouble going this without somepony who has resources to replace what you've lost." Dash leaned against the nightstand and took another swig of her drink, her grin more arrogant than before. "I have contacts. Safe houses. Favors I'm owed. I can give you almost anything you can possibly want. Whether you like it or not, you're going to need me, unless you don't mind the challenges of finding a new base of operations and doing magic tricks for money on the streets hoping that nopony decides to stake you."
Macintosh looked at the arrogant pegasus for a moment and turned to Twilight. The bookworm mare seemed upset, maybe even begrudging of the fact, but he could tell she wasn't able to argue the point, and perhaps that's what upset her the most. Twilight bit her lip as her eyes darted left and right, trying to conjure some debate in her head, some way to say 'no'.
"Look," said Dash, wrapping one foreleg around Macintosh's shoulders and pulling him close, "if not for me, do it for this big lug. You said Rich wants other artifacts too, right? Well, I propose we find something that interests him and buy him off. I don't know what's so important about those Elements of Magic or Harmony or whatever, but by the sounds of it, they're all you want, right?"
"Right now," said Twilight with a grimace, "they're the most important things in the world."
"Then it's settled!" Dash grabbed Twilight and held her close. "We leave in the morning! You write a list of artifacts and I'll look into my contacts, I know for a fact I know ponies who deal with supposedly magical doodads, and I'll also grab us a safe house to work from. Sound good?"
Twilight frowned and contemplated the prospect Dash was offering. She turned her attention to Big Mac, who stared at her with big, pleading eyes. The unicorn mare grimaced a bit and shook her head.
"Fine... just don't make me regret this."
"Great! So, where we heading?"
Twilight placed a hoof over her mouth a moment, deep in thought. "Well... the texts said that the remaining elements were left to her blood, her castle, where her dream city would have been built, traveling nomads, and ponies in the clouds... which I can only assume is Cloudsdale..."
Rainbow Dash bit her lip and exchanged a glance with Fluttershy, who seemed rather solemn. "Uhh.... yeah... you might have to get that one on your own..." Twilight merely rolled her eyes as if having expected the answer.
"Well, I have two of them, and we have some idea where another might be, which seems to be in Manehattan."
"Ahh, great! Manehattan!" Dash grinned and rubbed her hooves together. "Lots of ponies, lots of places to hide, pockets to pick... it'll be great!"
"So wait," piped Pinkie Pie, jumping into the group, "if we can't go out because ol' meany pants is lookin' for you ponies, does that mean we get to have a slumber party!?"
Macintosh raised a brow. "That's alright, if'n y'all got a guest room I--"
"Nonsense, we won't bite! Slumber party!" Pinkie bounced up and down. "I'm going to go get snacks, and drinks and we're gonna stay up all night telling ghost stories and it's going to be so great!" Macintosh watched Pinkie bounce around the room excitedly and smirked, rolling his eyes.
"We still gotta get your cousin," added Dash, to Macintosh's surprise. The mare seemed dead serious on the matter, so he knew better than question her judgement.
"Well, how do we get 'em without raisin' alarms?"
Dash looked towards Twilight and raised a brow. "Thing is this... can we trust him to keep a secret?"
Twilight blushed and waved a hoof. "Oh... uh... I can just put on my hat again and--"
"Not gonna cut it," piped Dash. "You got magic. Call me nuts, but I think that's cool, and we'd be stupid to not use it. Really, I'm surprised you didn't use it when me and Gilda invaded your house."
Twilight sighed. "Actually, it's 'Gilda and I' but.... the answer to your question is mostly that as I like to consider myself a pacifist, I didn't want to alert you to it and risk you exposing me."
Rainbow Dash seemed to consider this a moment before offering a soft nod. "Right. Understandable." She looked back to Macintosh. "Still, I think it's within our best interests if we're going to bring him along to make sure there's no secrets. And right now, it's in his best interest to be with us."
Macintosh looked at Dash, and then towards Twilight, who seemed unusually shy in this instance. It was certainly something he wondered himself. He had no reason to think Braeburn wouldn't be accepting, though he was also not sure how the stallion would react on top of all the pressure that had already been piled on him. He sighed and looked to Dash. "He... might be shocked, but he won't say a thing, especially if I tell 'em not to. Just... let me talk to him before we show 'em anything."
"Good," said Dash with a nod. "I'll go fetch him, we'll stick to the shadows, and we'll explain everything when he gets here. He's going to want to be with us tonight, because if he's where Rich can grab him there's no telling what'll happen." The pegasus turned about and made her way out of the room, and at that moment Macintosh felt a tapping at his shoulder. Turning, he saw Pinkie Pie holding something in her hooves. He looked down to see a familiar green cloth. His eyes widened and he looked up to see Pinkie staring at him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I cleaned it for you," she said quietly. Macintosh looked at her for a moment, then down to the scarf. He slowly took it from her and gently wrapped it around his neck, deftly maneuvering his hooves and mouth to tie it in place. He did not look at Pinkie, avoiding eye contact.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice slightly cracked. The pink mare tilted her head.
"You need some water?" Macintosh nodded his head softly, and Pinkie smiled, turning around and stepping out of the room. Macintosh looked up to see Fluttershy nearby, staring at him. Her own eyes seemed concerned, sad even. He didn't like it.
'Don't look at me like that.' He wanted to say the words, but he couldn't. Instead, he stood up and silently walked past Fluttershy and out of the room. The pegasus blinked in confusion, looking towards Twilight. "Did... did I do something wrong...?"
The unicorn frowned and shook her head, looking to the door as it gently closed behind the stallion. "... No...." She closed her eyes and hung her head slowly. "You did nothing wrong... nothing at all..." |
A World Without Princesses | Chapter 21 - Future Uncertain | Any other night, Big Mac would have tucked his sister into bed hours ago by now. He'd have helped his grandmother make her way to her own bedroom, as she would likely have passed out in her chair and been too groggy and achy to get there herself, and he'd have to make a sojourn into town if his cousin was out for the night. That would have been done by now. At this hour, when most of Ponyville was asleep, he'd be tucking into bed himself after taking an hour or so to read a story, and he'd be in blissful dreams by now.
But today was a day of new things.
And so, tonight Big Mac sat alone, in the basement of Sugar Cube Corner, drinking hard cider. Braeburn had been accompanying him for a while, though he had escorted his smaller (and more lightweight) cousin upstairs to sleep an hour and a half ago. Or was it longer? Or shorter? He couldn't tell, he realized, as he sat there alone with his thoughts.
The day had been... eventful to say the least. Braeburn's arrival had been nothing short of shocking, in that he arrived bound, gagged, and in a sack, which was a bit frustrating on his part, though Macintosh couldn't deny its effectiveness (Braeburn couldn't be subtle to save his life). Having to explain the events up until then had been a lot to put onto Braeburn, especially explaining that in helping Macintosh he had inadvertently made himself a potential target for Filthy Rich, that Twilight was a unicorn, and it was a lot for his cousin to take in all at once. Braeburn had seemed to take it all in stride at first, but once they had come to the basement, the stallion seemed to drink his cider more eagerly than normal, and while Braeburn liked to drink, Macintosh had never seen his cousin try to drink himself silly unless a bet was involved.
And truth be told, Macintosh felt a true sense of similarity in his cousin in that sense.
He took another sip of his hard cider and felt it wash down his throat. His ears felt warm, and his cheeks tingly, a buzz washing over him, though he paced himself enough to avoid drunkenness. As the day's events replayed over and over in his head, he felt himself having difficulty believing any of it, even though he had seen it all happen. Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn, a strange, mythical, magical pony. Filthy Rich - whom he had known and respected like family his whole life - was a monster who may very well be out for blood. Nightingale...
Macintosh winced.
'Could she really have had a hoof in all of this...?
He took another swig of his cider. Nightingale had taken to him quickly, seemingly driven by strong, carnal desires, but the longer their relationship carried, the more she seemed to authentically care. He had hoped that she was simply confused as to how to court a pony and was adjusting herself to better suit the situation, but what if that wasn't it at all? What if she had been using him since the beginning?
'No,' he thought to himself with a grimace, 'When she started flirtin' with me, I hadn't even been acquainted with Twilight. I was still workin' with Zecora....'
And then a new line of thought was born. Zecora. More than once Big Mac would wonder about the Zebra, and a few nights he even lost sleep, wondering if she was okay, if something had happened or what. In light of new information, Big Mac tried to remember just how events had played out. 'It was just after Rich made his offer to us that Zecora and I were attacked. Is it possible he ordered it? Could he be responsible for all the misfortunes I've suffered up to this point?'
'Could Nightingale?'
The more he thought of it, the more he wanted to stop thinking of it. He took another drink of hard cider, hating the storm of thoughts running through his head. What was real? What wasn't? Surely there had to be a misunderstanding somewhere. Surely something has been misconstrued so horribly that everything else is magnified in its error.
But he couldn't think of what.
Macintosh looked solemnly into the empty bottle as he finished off its contents. He contemplated grabbing one more bottle, but decided against it. 'Ol' Uncle Scrumpy drank himself to death,' he thought to himself. Standing, Big Mac stretched and popped his back, ready to head upstairs and try to get some sleep, hoping the thoughts screaming in his head would silence long enough for him to drift off.
As he made his way onto the first floor, he took note that all the lights were snuffed out. The silence of the bakery told him that everypony had likely already gone to bed, and may have been asleep for all he knew. Macintosh then realized he wasn't even sure what time it was. Rounding the corner, he stepped into the bakery proper, where he noticed a slight glow of magenta light.
A pillow had been situated onto the floor nearby, and there he saw Twilight Sparkle laying on her side (the uninjured one), a book in front of her. Her horn glowed faintly as she turned the page, eyes locked onto her reading. Big Mac stared at the curious mare, who seemed entirely oblivious to his existence. A nearby candle gave her light, allowing her to read the words in the book. He simply stared at her for a few moments.
Her horn glowed in a magenta light.
A page suddenly turned itself.
It was such a small, simple act. And yet somehow, he found himself enthralled by it. She could turn the pages without even touching the book. Twilight's eyes drifted up, and for a moment, a fleeting moment, their gazes met.
And then Twilight almost jumped out of her skin.
The mare leaped to her hooves and grabbed her book, shoving it over top her horn. "What!? Who is that!? What are--" The mare paused. She squinted as recognition began to take root. "... Big Mac?"
"Eeyup," said Macintosh with a nod.
Twilight let loose a sigh of relief, and the book levitated from her head back in front of her. "You... you almost gave me a heart attack! I thought you had gone to bed hours ago!"
"Sorry," said Macintosh, with a nod. "T'be honest, I thought you did too.
Twilight sighed once more, slowly easing back into a comfortable position, her eyes lowering back to her book. "I... did try to sleep, but it just didn't happen. Between today's events and Pinkie Pie's snoring..."
Macintosh trotted towards where Twilight was sitting and sat down on the floor near her. "Ya gonna be alright...?"
The mare looked from the book up to him, her eyes studying his face for a moment. "Well, it was painful but I was able to remove the bullet from my leg, and I'm fairly certain I've properly disinfected it, but it's still a little sore."
"I don't just mean that," said Macintosh with a shake of his head, "I mean you. How are you holdin' up?"
"Oh," said Twilight, seemingly a little surprised at the question. She looked a bit to the side. "Well, I think I should be asking you that. To be honest, this probably has a bigger impact on you than me." It was a logic Macintosh couldn't deny.
"Still," he said with a shrug, "this has just been a bad day for me... for you it's been longer."
Twilight didn't respond to that at first. She looked down at her book once more. "Well," she said with a sigh, "I will admit... I hate this whole situation. Losing my house, my books, my resources... none of it was ideal. My whole life was in that house, and now it's buried under rubble and debris." Twilight then grinned wide. "But... I was able to save one thing before that gryphon broke into my tower." Her horn glowed once more, and the book Twilight was reading levitated upward.
'Unicorns: The Lost Tribe.'
Macintosh's jaw hung open. "You saved yer book...?"
"Yep!" Twilight sounded almost giggly as she said it, setting it back on the ground before her. "After the first cannonball hit I was worried it might get hurt in the destruction, but fortunately it was fine, and I managed to sneak it out with me!" The mare looked down at the book and sighed, a soft smile on her face. "This book... this book is very dear to me."
Big Mac seemed confused at this. "Ain't you a unicorn? Shouldn't you already know everything there is to know about your culture?"
Twilight giggled. "Do you know everything there is to know about yours?" Macintosh raised a hoof, but paused. Now that he thought of it, he was fairly certain he likely didn't. Twilight smirked. "Thought not." The mare set her eyes back on the book. "This book isn't special just because the knowledge it holds... there's a lot of reasons I cherish it."
Big Mac nodded. "Like?"
Twilight looked up to him. She seemed almost confused by the question, looking from side to side. "... Uhh... are you honestly asking?" Big Mac smiled and nodded. The unicorn mare seemed absolutely flummoxed by the mere thought, but she looked down at the book once more. "Oh. Huh. I'm not used to ponies actually caring what I think or feel about subjects. Rich was always more focused on lore and artifacts."
"Well," said Twilight, clearing her throat, "this book is probably one of the most famous studies from Earth Pony or Pegasus authors into Unicorn lore and history. Though there's a lot of speculation and theory in it, the book represents the most thorough and well-thought out research done by a non-unicorn into unicorn history." Her horn glowed, and a few pages flipped. "Golden Quill the 3rd didn't just research into unicorn lore, he dug into Equestria's history itself, as far back as to the founding of Equestria. He traveled the entire country, gathering knowledge from other scholars who researched the subject, learning of artifacts, of legends..." Twilight put a hoof on a page of the book, stroking it gently. "Unlike his grandfather before him, he was driven. He had passion. He didn't just want to learn of rumors and legends, he wanted to crack history itself open and learn the closest thing to the truth available to him."
Twilight sighed, closing the book. She smiled. "... He worked hard. He never gave up. He never let other ponies dissuade him... " She looked towards Macintosh. "... And he was noticed." She looked back down at the book, and Macintosh noticed an almost somber look on her face. "... The day he died... unicorns everywhere mourned his passing."
Macintosh looked down at the book in her hooves. "... One pony meant so much to so many...?"
Twilight nodded, closing her eyes. "His desire for knowledge was pure and innocent. He didn't want power, he didn't want an edge... he did everything he did out of love." She opened her eyes, and Twilight's gaze met Big Mac's. "Love for a people he had never met. For a history he barely knew. He truly loved my people... and we loved him back..." Twilight's speech seemed to hit a lull as she and Macintosh stared at each other, the mare caught up in her story, and the stallion totally invested in what she had to say. For a moment, things were silent as the two stared at each other. Twilight cleared her throat and let her eyes lower back to her book. "But... yeah... he meant a lot to us..."
Big Mac nodded. "Wow... that's somethin'..." He looked down at the book in the mare's hooves. "Maybe I'll have to find a copy of that book some time..."
"Good luck," said Twilight with a smirk. "This book is rare, because it was considered 'dangerous thinking' during the era it was published in." The mare rolled her eyes. "If it was published today it would have been deemed wishful at best, and absolute lunacy at worst."
"Well," said Macintosh with a shrug, "I don't think it's silly."
Twilight shrugged. "Well, you've also met a unicorn, so I suppose you couldn't."
Macintosh smirked. "Hey, if I wanted to be in denial that'd be my right." Twilight chuckled, shaking her head and opening her book once more.
"Well," she said at length, "if you ever want to read the book, feel free to ask. As an earth pony yourself, you'd likely be able to draw a similar appreciation that he did from his research."
Once more, things became quiet. Twilight scanned the book, reading a few words. She tried to ignore Macintosh for the most part, though once in a while she'd look up to see him staring, or trying not to stare, at her. She didn't want to be rude, but she began feeling a little self conscious. "Is there... something wrong?"
"Nope," said Macintosh, shaking his head and looking off to the side. "Uh... Twi... I was jus' wonderin'... an' forgive me if this is not the kind of question I should ask.... but.... uh...."
Twilight found herself oddly perplexed by the seemingly shy nature Macintosh was displaying. He was a modest pony, but he almost seemed bashful at this moment in time. "Yes?"
"Well," said Macintosh, rubbing the back of his neck, "I... hope I ain't crossing any lines or anythin'... but.... could you maybe show me... some magic?"
The mare seemed perplexed. "... You want to see magic...?" Big Mac nodded. Was he blushing? That was strange, the stallion never seemed to blush. Twilight stared a bit at the stallion, but she smiled slightly. "... Well, okay... but nothing loud, noisy, or bright." Big Mac smiled a smile not unlike what one might expect of Pinkie Pie.
Twilight set the book aside, and began to look around the room. "I'll pick something small, something simple... is that okay?" Big Macintosh responded with a nod, which made Twilight smile. She set her eyes on a broom which lay against a wall nearby; Pinkie must have forgotten to store it before she went to sleep. The mare nodded and lowered her horn somewhat, and closed her eyes. Macintosh watched intently as the grooves in Twilight's horn seemed to suddenly glow with magenta light, and slowly, that glow encapsulated the entire shape of the protrusion. The nearby broom began to tremor, and his eyes went towards it. An aura surrounded the broom, and then, it stopped.
Macintosh watched as the broom sat there, quietly.
And then it began to shake. Big Mac's eyes widened as it's sides began to expand outward, as if something was trying to get out of the small shaft of wood. Then, an arm sprang from one side. And then the other. The broom suddenly forced itself upwards, wobbling at first, before supporting itself, using it's straw bottom as legs. Big Mac watched with wide-eyed wonder as the broom made its way towards the two, and stopped in front of Twilight.
"That," said Twilight with a smile, "is a come to life spell."
Macintosh stared at the broom with wide-eyed wonder. "That.... that's amazing...."
"Yes," said Twilight with a grin, "the spell doesn't actually bring the broom to life, it just animates it with a basic imitation of life. If you damage it, it won't feel pain, and it won't acknowledge the damage is enough to obstruct its ability to function." Macintosh reached a hoof forward and poked the broom, and it responded by slapping his hoof. The stallion wasn't sure, but the way it pointed at him looked as if it were scolding him. Twilight blushed. "Uh... also, I'm not entirely used to using that spell, so I may have gave it too much personality..."
The mare lowered her horn, and once more it glowed. The broom stiffened as if it had been paralyzed. Slowly, it tilted. It's arms faded from existence, and it fell. Before it could hit the floor, however, a magenta glow caught the broom, and it levitated upward. Macintosh continued to stare, awe struck, as the broom was moved back toward where she had found it.
Macintosh looked at the broom a few moments more, before turning to Twilight again. "... That was the most amazin' thing I have ever seen..."
Twilight giggled and blushed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thanks... I'm a bit rusty... I haven't gotten much time to practice my magic in the past few months, so the spell wasn't as great as it could have been..."
But Macintosh only grinned wide. "I-I've never seen nothin' like it before! I've seen unicorns, but the only actual magic I saw was--" Big Mac paused, and his grin diminished. He put a hoof to his mouth and cleared his throat, and he could see Twilight become visibly nervous. "Well," he said with a sigh, "that's... not important." He smiled and looked back towards Twilight. "I honestly mean it... that was wonderful... and... thanks for indulgin' me...."
Twilight giggled, though he could tell she was a little tense, likely with the reminder he had inadvertently brought up. "Thanks... and you're welcome... it was nice to show somepony magic that could appreciate it." Twilight continued to paw at her pillow. "And... I should be thanking you."
Macintosh raised a brow. "For what?"
Twilight looked towards him and smiled. It was odd, because it was probably the most sincere smile the stallion had ever seen on the little unicorn mare. "... For too many things.... for being my friend... for accepting what I am... and most importantly, for saving mine and Spike's lives..."
Big Mac smiled, and he almost seemed bashful in that moment. "Think nothin' of it."
Twilight wanted to argue the point, to tell him how much all of that meant to her, to make an argument, a speech out of it... but she knew him too well. She knew that he would not fight her, and that he would only disagree with her on the fact that what he did was heroic. A smile formed on her face, and she looked off to the side. "I make no promises."
Ponyville mornings were always a sight to behold. Before anypony was wandering around, readying for the day's chores and business and shopping, it was quiet. Still. The streets were empty, with only a few ponies roaming occasionally - out-of-towners, late workers, as well as some shadier individuals. Most any other pony was asleep by now, likely just finishing up their dreams before waking up to another Ponyville morning.
That made it perfect.
Several figures darted between buildings and alleys, skirting the more open streets of the town as they zipped about. They kept out of sight, ducking under windows and running through yards if need be. They could not afford to expose themselves too much, lest they be found out. Right now, everypony was a potential enemy, and they knew it. After several jumps, twists, and turns, the group stopped as they lay their eyes on a warehouse.
"Right there," whispered Rainbow Dash, pointing at the building, "that's our next stop."
"What?" Twilight raised a brow, pulling the hood of her cloak over her horn, "a warehouse? Why would we go there? We need to go somewhere, not deliver something!"
"I know," said Rainbow without averting her gaze, "but this is where we'll do it. I said before I was owed favors right? Well, I have a contact here who I asked to help me set up an escape if things turned south."
Macintosh tugged his own bandanna down from his mouth, having used it to cover his face. "Wait... were you plannin' on things goin' sour with Rich?"
"No," said Dash, looking back at him with a raised brow, "I'm a professional, I anticipated coming here, doing my job, getting my money, and disappearing." She looked from behind their cover, looking down either path of the street before them. "Thing is, sometimes your employers decide they can save a buck if they kill you off, or they get caught red-hoofed, and when that happens, you need to be able to get away before anypony realizes you were even there."
"And these people won't expose us to Gilda, will they?" Fluttershy piped. Dash looked back at her and smirked.
"These are professionals, 'Shy. Gilda might ask, but she knows if they say 'no' there's no way she'll get a different answer from them." She set her attention back out to the street. "Alright, we gotta run now. Everypony, make your way to the back door and wait for me there. Stay together, stay low, and stay. Quiet."
Dash spread her wings and darted from where she was across the street, flying up to a window, which one could not see inside due to a curtain. She gave it a light tapping, and then it opened, and she quickly made her way inside before the window shut again. Macintosh looked to the other ponies - Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Braeburn, and Spike... who wasn't really a pony... - and gave a nod. Twilight, with Spike on her back (and covered by her cloak), disappeared in a popping flash, reappearing across the street and behind the building. She gave a nod, and everypony rushed to the other side, careful not to make more noise than absolutely necessary, and reached the side of the building. Hurrying, the group made its way behind the building. Several crates seemed to be stacked in haphazard ways, likely to help with this particular situation, and they weaved around them until they reached the back door, where they waited.
And waited.
And waited...
Macintosh wasn't sure how long they waited, had it been seconds or minutes, but every tick of the clock felt like an eternity, and he felt fear. Fear that they'd be found out, or that something went wrong, he wasn't sure. He felt the urge to knock on the door, but resisted; no idea what that'd stir. Big Mac looked to the other ponies. Twilight returned his gaze with an equal measure of concern and impatience, as did Fluttershy, though Pinkie Pie seemed to be keeping herself busy pretending her hoof was a pegasus in flight.
Then a click.
Everypony turned to the door, seeing it open, revealing a grey-coated stallion with blue eyes. He said nothing, simply gesturing into the building, and everypony stepped inside.
The inside of the warehouse didn't seem particularly special to Big Mac. There was boxes, a table with some papers on it, a delivery wagon... it all seemed fairly normal to him. He turned his attention to the stallion who had let them inside. "What now?"
"Now," he heard Dash say as she flew down from the upper level, "we prepare for our trip!" She walked towards a barrel, giving the lid a nudge, revealing the inside had a flooring of hay. "It ain't exactly first class, but it's about as inconspicuous as we can get right now."
"What about the hunchback?" said the stallion, pointing to Twilight. Macintosh looked to the unicorn mare and noticed that Spike, hiding inside her cloak, did make her seem hunched. "You think you can fit in one of these barrels?"
Twilight blinked, confused, before realizing he was talking to her. "Oh? Oh! Y-yeah," she said, tugging her cloak slightly to hide her face, "I-I think I can manage..."
The stallion eyed her for a moment, before giving a shrug. "Alright... well, get on in those. We'll be takin' off in thirty minutes." He looked to Macintosh. "'Cept you, Big Guy. You're gonna help."
Macintosh stared in confusion at the stallion. "What?"
"You heard me," said the grey earth pony, "I can't pull all of ya. We can manage to make sure you ain't easy to recognize, but you gotta keep yer yap shut n' let me do the talkin'." It wasn't an idea he liked at first, though as Macintosh thought of it, he considered that he'd really prefer to be moving about than stuffed in a box anyway. He gave a slight nod, and the grey stallion smirked. "Great. We got some coat-paint and a cutie-mark decal upstairs. Go put those on an' get back down here." Macintosh turned away and looked to everypony else. Dash gave him a nod of encouragement, and Pinkie already seemed to already be in a barrel, with Fluttershy examining another one. He looked to Twilight, who gave a nod of her own, and he sighed, looking up the stairs.
'Well, he thought to himself, 'best get this over with...'
Macintosh trudged up the stairs into the second floor of the building. It was about as simple as the first; several crates, some barrels, and a desk with a sack. He approached the sack and reached inside, withdrawing the promised hair paint and a cutie-mark decal that was shaped... like a pile of crates. He felt somewhat self-conscious, looking back towards the stairs, before sighing and removing his bandanna, setting it on a nearby crate. He removed his jacket and his shirt, and set them on the floor. He wasn't used to being so... exposed. He reached for the bottle and--
"Oh, Big Guy, the black dye you'll want to put on your coat to--"
Macintosh jumped and tried to cover his indecency, and Dash gave a whistle. "Well hello there handsome."
"Can I help you!?" said the stallion with no shortage of indignation.
Rainbow, however, rolled her eyes. "What? It's not like the clothes you do wear really hide anything."
"Not the point!"
Dash sighed. "Fine, fine, I'm off, but eh..." She smirked and gave a wink, "gotta say, not a bad view!" The mare flapped her wings and made her way back down stairs, leaving Macintosh turning red(der). Rainbow Dash had seen him naked. Sure, they walked around bottomless all the time, but it's just the principal of the thing! Big Mac huffed, trying to forget how embarrassing such a situation was as he grabbed the dye, opened it, and--
"Oh, uh, Macintosh, Dash said you wanted to show me something and--"
"Fluttershy!?"
Once more Big Mac covered himself and Fluttershy's eyes shot wide, cheeks turning red and she darted back down the stairs. "Rainbow Dash!"
Big Mac stared at the stares, jaw hanging. He grabbed the dye and was quick to get some onto his body trying to change his coat before anypony else came up there, while Rainbow Dash laughed just a floor below.
He had never felt more exposed in his life.
He had never felt more exposed in his life.
He was in close proximity to a stallion he had just met, pulling a wagon down the streets of Ponyville. Several barrels behind them carried his friends, others filled with produce, and he knew all it took was one slip up and they were all exposed.
"Keep cool," said the stallion next to him, just quiet enough for him to hear, "follow my lead, and you'll get through this jus' fine." After several minutes of walking, the two ponies found themselves at the gates leading out of Ponyville, where two guards with white coats, blue uniforms and wide-brimmed hats stood. Macintosh felt his muscles tense as they walked closer and closer. One of the guards' eyes met his, and the two stared at each other for what seemed an eternity as they walked.
"Hold," said the guard, stopping the two.
The unknown stallion next to him spoke up. "What seems to be the problem, officer?"
"Where you two gentlecolts off to at this hour?" said the guard.
"Well," said the stallion, nodding to Macintosh, "me an' my friend here were just deliverin' some produce to the next town over. Got a bit of a ways to go, figured we'd get to it now."
The guard raised his brow and looked to Macintosh, who tried to keep his cool but felt himself beading with sweat. "Yer friend looks awful nervous."
The stallion groaned and rolled his eyes. "You'll have to excuse him... he's recently had a really bad run-in with a guy pretendin' to be a guard in the Pegasus district... sorta... effected him..."
"Really?" The guard raised a brow, looking to Macintosh. "What kinda trouble?"
The stallion looked to Macintosh and sighed. He turned his attention back to the other guard. "Well... it's... kinda personal for him... but...." He waved a hoof, gesturing the guard closer. The guard obliged, leaning in, and the stallion whispered into his ear. The guard's eyes widened, and he stood up straight.
"Oh... oh, I-I'm so sorry sir."
"Yeah," said the stallion with a sigh. "We're... kinda workin' 'em through it."
The guard looked to Macintosh a moment, shaking his head. "Uh... ahem... right... y-you two have a safe trip, and be careful, there's been some crazy rumors of a weird goings on outside the fields lately, and if you see anything weird we advise staying as far away as you can from it."
"Thanks Officer," said the stallion with a nod, "we'll keep that in mind."
"Also," said the stallion, walking in front of Macintosh, who felt himself tense up again, "Sir... I... just want to say... for what it's worth... I've known ponies who've had similar experiences... and there's groups you can see who will be more than willing to help you in any way they can." Macintosh wasn't sure, but he could swear he saw the guard's eyes become watery. He nodded slowly, and the guards moved apart, letting them continue on.
As they made their way down the road, Macintosh looked back towards the walls of Ponyville. It felt like it was only recently that he and Zecora had made a similar trip, and that this whole thing had really turned on its head. He looked back to the stallion next to him, raising a brow.
"What did you tell that guard?"
The stallion raised a brow. "Told 'em you got... eh... 'taken advantage of' by a pony pretending to be a guard in the pegasus district."
Macintosh's jaw dropped. He heard a small 'eep' come from one of the barrels - likely Fluttershy again. "Th... that's horrible!"
"Needed an excuse where he wouldn't ask questions," said the stallion, giving Macintosh a sideways glance, "if you'da kept yer cool, I wouldn'ta had to."
Macintosh grimaced, staring forward, glaring daggers at the dirt road ahead. "Yer despicable."
"The alternative was tellin' 'em yer on the run, an' I suspect that if you wanted to do that you wouldn't be askin' fer my help." As much as he loathed to admit it, Macintosh knew he was right.
"Next time, come up with somethin' better."
The stallion nodded. "Alright. I've already got ideas." |
Gods of Equestria | pre | Even though my sword was on my left, it was still more advantageous to have the one on the right deal a strike first. If he does, I can move the tip of my sword closer to him, parrying or deflecting his attack, while my sword still isn't fully to the right, thus sort of protecting my left. It's better than nothing.
They drew their swords and rushed at me. One in front of me with his sword high up and the other one was slightly more reserved, just keeping it by his side. This will be a piece of cake, their stances are completely all over the place! Bunch of incompetent cloth-hangers!
First one moved in, keeping his sword up for a huge and amateurish swing, continuously charging at me. All I did was slowly advance at him. He was charging way faster than the guy next to him, which was greatly beneficial for me. I would be done with him before his friend was even remotely in range for an attack.
Once he was at a good distance, he lunged and swung down. If I were to thrust at him then, even with my longer reach, he would still be able to charge at me and slide his sword into my neck. Momentum and stuff, but also the fact that a pony being struck whilst doing an action will still be able to finish said action.
I waited him out and turned my sword to face downwards, just in front of me, but at a slight angle, so that when he hits, he goes for my sword's flat side of the blade. Once his sword was going down I moved my blade upwards quickly so that the swords would join into a bind, more so at the hilt and less so at the tip to enlarge the angle of the deflect and my ability to move his blade. Then the rest was as simple as moving it slightly to the right, away from the second guy, and pushing his sword away from me with mine, while stepping to the left to maximize my dodge window.
His attack missed me and my blade was almost behind me, off to my side. Using the previously generated momentum, I spun the sword around my back whilst stepping off to the left even more than when deflecting a millisecond ago and delivered a slashing, horizontal blow to his neck, which was now extremely easy - because I deflected his attack rather than blocking it, his momentum of both the sword and his charge did not stop, so I was almost behind him.
Quick slash, recovery with a slight flourish of spinning the sword around its hilt, making the tip spin faster and wider and finally back to the Window Guard with sword pointing forward and the hilt by my face, looking to the guy that was left of me - now way closer than before. Once he got in range of my attack I heard the guy behind me fall down, meaning that my attack was successful.
The guy in front of me had his sword lazily by his side, not even raising it defensively, just holding it. He was not ready to attack either. He had no plan whatsoever, possibly waiting for me to do something so that he could react accordingly. I was not going to give him any chances of fighting back.
Thanks to the stance and my unicorn magic, being great for delivering hidden jabs, I quickly thrust right in the centre of his neck that was perfectly open. His sword to his right and mine to my left meant that, even if he were to attack, I could easily block it with my sword by simply having it slightly at a greater angle, tip more to my right and handle to the left, hiding myself behind my own blade more. His strike would have hit my sword, but mine would still go through.
He did not fight back though. Once the tip entered his throat, he gurgled, spewing blood from his mouth, made an attempt of moving his sword, but, at the end, he moved back as quickly as he could, to get away from my sword. Since the damage had already been done, rather than escaping, he just collapsed after three steps and started to very quickly bleed out, whilst continuously spewing blood, legs trying to raise him up and run, but completely failing.
I stayed in my stance and looked to the last two ponies - both pretty much dumbfounded. Finally, the leader shook the archer and said, "Well go on then! Shoot her!"
Just as I started to advance quickly, the leader moved a few steps back and the archer grabbed an arrow and started pulling it back on the bowstring. I knew what I was doing though, I did not previously cast a spell for naught. A glimpse of a small, yellow orb of light, not enough to be too visible or cast a shadow, but enough to see it from close up, assured me that the spell was still working.
Once the archer released the arrow, I was about two ponies length away from him. Now it was either a deadly shot or death by me. He knew that as well, so rather than going for another arrow, he just kept watching.
I saw the tip of the arrow getting closer, straight at my unprotected face. Clearly a skilful enough of an archer, some ponies can't even shoot a target from a few hooves away. The arrowhead kept getting bigger and bigger, obstructing more of my vision with each quick moment. Once it was about to hit me, it got deflected with a loud bang, as a yellow shine spawned in the air where the arrow hit my magical shield. It flew upwards and far away, too far to mind anypony's business.
A quick, shallow thrust followed by a slice outward, ripping his throat, made him fall over and start bleeding out profusely. He was not a problem anymore, so that left me with one last guy.
The leader, now clearly scared, took the stolen warhammer into his hoof and with a pathetic war cry, he charged at me. I had expected far more from one wielding such a magnificent weapon. A total waste. I knew what to do though, earth ponies were incredibly easy to read with their limited range of possible ways and angles of attack, because of their shallow range of motion.
Once he was close, he slowed down and attacked with a swing at a slight angle going down. Luckily for me, he did not calculate the range of his weapon well. I leaped back, making his attack completely out of range, while thrusting forth with my warsword, still keeping it close to me and, since it was way longer than his weapon, only my attack connected.
He grabbed my sword as if trying to move it away, while lightly groaning, trying to ignore the pain and his wound, but he should have invested in a second pauldron, for his shoulder muscles were definitely torn by now. I quickly pulled the sword back and with a full rotation around, spinning it just above my horn making it angle down at the last milisecond, I swung it at his front leg holding the mace, almost cleaving it clean off.
The sword was sharp, but it was not sharp enough to cut it off fully. Once it hit the bone it stopped almost completely, but thanks to the sheer force and momentum of the swing, as well as my slightly lucky cleaving technique, it managed to cut the bone over half way through. The cut was severe enough so that the bone managed to snap and his leg was dangling on a few pieces of skin still connecting it together - even worse than just a clean cut.
He screamed in pain, collapsing on the ground, grabbing his wound with his other hoof, completely forgetting about that deep cut in his shoulder. All I had to do was to bring my sword to his exposed back and finish him off.
Once I did, the forest was as quiet as before the fight.
"I really hope those were not part of some bigger group ..." I sighed and looked at the leader, his eyes empty of any life in them already, only filled with terror that continued to haunt him even at his last breath. I levitated the warhammer and strapped it to my saddlebags, but also took a quick glance at his armour. I unclipped the pauldron from his shoulder and took a closer look at it, levitating it in front of my face.
It was in a quite good condition, which I did not expect. I decided to strap it on my left shoulder to see if it would fit and, as to be expected, it was too large for me. Would require a little bit more padding under it so that it does not wiggle as I move, otherwise it might expose my body as I move around and be completely useless. Stallions do have slightly broader shoulders than mares, so it was an expected outcome.
Maybe a blacksmith will buy it, its quality is rather okay.
Next were the faulds, loose straps of metal sheets that were used to protect the flanks, which ironically did not seem very protective. These were very small pieces of metal, not even covering that much. My skirt would be sufficient, as the trade-off of increased weight and clanging is not worth the trouble.
I turned him on his back with my magic and took a glance at his cuirass. I was actually amazed it still was in one piece. Rusted on the edges with many scratches and even holes. I levitated out my short sword and stabbed the centre of this cuirass and, to my small shock, it went through. No way I'm putting that on! How bad does steel need to go to not protect you from a stab? Idiot ... wait, steel can't go THAT bad, right? It has to be just a combination of horrible smithing skills paired with material of quality not even appropriate for a circus. Eh, what do I know.
And not to add to the fact that earth ponies don't have helmets with holes for horns. Oh, I would kill to finally get a helmet. It's so stupid walking without one, as the head is the easiest spot to hit a pony, but of course I cannot find a unicorn-made helmet and the only unicorn I found was already dead AND without armour. And besides, just a hole won't do, as it has to be specifically made with unicorns in mind, otherwise not only might I not be able to put it on, my horn will be completely exposed along with my impaired vision and additional weight. Better to just have no helmet then, horns are too vulnerable to leave unprotected.
I huffed and kicked his lifeless body out of anger. Why is it so tough to find a proper armour ...
I decided not to linger any longer and leave those ass twats to the mother nature herself. At least some animals might find worth in them and I didn't feel like burying them. I quickly looked into their pockets and what not, but beside some bits of food and a laughable amount of coin, I did not find anything worthwhile. What did they even steal anyway? If food, they clearly ate it all already, fat-doughs.
Now to get rid of those drekavacs, road leading south of the village, big boulder, then right and I should be right at home. I Need to make a small break along the way for food too.
Eh, more walking, how fun. Can't a mare have at least some fun? No, life decides to throw some useless mud chugs at me that can't even put up a fight. What a total joke, fucking useless. And I'm to believe those idiots managed to attack a village full of ponies? What a bunch of pussies.
After around six hours I finally found that stupid cemetery. South of the village, turn right by the big boulder, beaten path and home ... as if. Got lost two times.
I hate this job sometimes.
Either way, now it's time to get rid of those assholes. The sun is setting so the drekavacs should be walking out of the crypts anytime soon. They do not walk around in the sunlight, as the light greatly hurts them.
Hm, honestly, I think it makes no difference to me if I were to engage them outside or inside the catacombs. Maybe it's best to go in now while they still might not be fully awake and take them by surprise. That also means I would be more than sure I got rid of them all if I were to go to every room in there.
I pranced around the cemetery, looking at the graves and all. Some tombs shattered, flowers completely devastated, candles missing altogether, some places were even dug, but very amateurishly, as if one doing it either couldn't use or didn't have a shovel. Or maybe as if a big dog had done it. Definitely drekavacs looking for food. Heh, that's funny ... undead, but they still got to eat. They have their priorities right, at the very least.
I couldn't help but smirk slightly at my thought as I walked along the graves. Literally the worst place to tell a joke. I throw a bomb like this and nopony's laughing, how sad.
Finally, I stopped myself and stood in front of an entrance to the catacombs. It was a small, stone building with a flat, thatch roof. Literally a shack, but with walls made out of stone. It had arches above the door and windows that protruded out from the walls, to add some fanciness and oomph to it. Windows were nothing more but small holes in the walls with flat, widened bottom and an arched top. The door was thrashed out, nowhere to be found, but by the looks of the bent hinges it was bashed from the inside.
Before venturing inside I cast two spells. One I named candlelight, since it literally spawned a small ball of flame that was so small you couldn't even see the flame itself very well, but it provided more than adequate visibility in pitch dark areas. Literally a torch, but floating around you by itself. Somehow it always knew how to position itself so that I had the best visibility I could have.
Second spell was on my warsword. I pulled it out, making a satisfying shiinng sound as it slid out. I levitated it in front of me and cast a spell on the blade, engulfing it in a sunny, bright light. It was not the same light as from the candlelight. This one was pure golden light with rich white centre from which it shot out very small, but quite noticeable at the edges of the blade, yellow lightning bolts.
I mean, I have no idea if those actually were lightning bolts, but they sure did look like them! Either way, from my previous encounters with drekavacs, I remembered that it was the best way to fight them.
Drekavacs are undead brought to life by some unknown force or curse that speaks to the souls of warriors and heroes, or so is my assumption, one from many. Now, to defeat an undead you can't really make it bleed out or chop its limbs hoping it will just collapse from shock. You have to either smash their heads with strong, blunt force or use the same type of magic I applied on my sword. Normally I don't carry a mace and even though this warhammer would prove very sufficient against a horde of undead, I still prefer to slash with my sword. Hm, burying a blade in the back of their skulls is also effective, sometimes even from the front, but it requires precision. If you manage to hit a specific, vital point, they are dead, but I do not know what that vital point is, so magic sword it is!
One would think that a long warsword would be terrible to fight with in such tight places like catacombs, but when using proper techniques it can be wielded rather well, you just have to double mind where and how you swing it.
I ventured forth, deeper into the catacombs, the stairs kept leading lower and lower. Eventually, I was done descending and already heard my prey - a whiny, feral groan of an undead pony. There was a touch of agony and bitterness in the groan while also sounding nowhere near natural, very animalistic, high tone.
I looked in the direction of the sound and shone my light upon a lone drekavac. It had no fur, its skin grey like dust and rough like a rock, old and folded. Through it you could see its bones, some were even sticking out of it. No blood in them whatsoever, those beings wouldn't be a good snack for vamponies. Its eyes grey and empty, like eyes of a long dead animal, yet, in the dark, they shone a faint blue, so that even in the darkest pits you could still notice them looking at you. Mh, well ... an eye. This one had only one eye. Which is good, their eyes are unusually hard, tougher than any stone.
This specific one had some old cloth or linen over itself and wielded a shortsword in its mouth. Once it saw me, it screeched through the mouthgrip. It sounded like a pony was being possessed, screaming like a psychopath, as if losing his mind completely, while also suffocating on his own blood. A rather terrifying scream, but I'd heard it a dozen times or so already; no biggie to me.
Unable to run or even trot, it started to slowly make its way closer to me, making hungry, feral noises. Those lesser drekavacs are nothing really that impressive - very weak foes, but most ponies tend to get scared too easily ... bunch of sissies, really.
I brought my sword closer to me, proclaiming a stance in which I can easily defend in case I hear any more of those around me. Once it was within my range, I thrust it forth, just wetting my tip in its eye socket. I quickly retracted the blade back to me. This short thrust was enough to defeat it completely though and that's mainly thanks to the enchantment I put on it. The drekavac stopped, let out a horrifyingly loud and high-pitched screech and collapsed, dropping the sword and making it clang on the stone floor of the catacombs.
I sighed and continued venturing forth, trying to remember the labyrinthic corridors to not get lost and visit every chamber to make sure that every drekavac has been dealt with.
After half an hour or so I was left with one last chamber. As always, you ought to leave best to last. I stood in front of the entrance to a big chamber, resting place of some big hero for sure. Maybe that Rova Divine? The whole place is named after her so it would only be logical. Wait, but didn't she die in some town farther south? Why would her body be here?
I stepped inside and awakened four- no, five more drekavacs. Some had already been out of their coffins, now raising from the ground, while others were just getting out of them. Since they take a while to actually fully realise you're there, I took advantage of that.
I rushed in to the closest one on my right that was just getting up and quickly slashed from the ground upwards along his head. Without stopping the momentum, I spun the sword's blade around while recovering from the slash and used the same momentum to slash horizontally at another, now standing straight, drekavac. After the slash, with my sword being by my right, I stepped forth onto the right, beside the drekavac I just hit, hearing him whine in agony as the pain from the hit of an enchanted weapon was draining his life away. Wait, life? Do they even live if they're undead? Eh, nevermind. While stepping to the right, with my sword on my right side, I took two more steps to get closer to a coffin from which another enemy emerged almost completely and thrust the tip of my sword into his chest.
At this point I was expecting three easy kills, but to my surprise I heard metal hitting on metal and after a quick glance at the drekavac in front of me I noticed he had an old, crude, iron cuirass on him which deflected my blow to the side. Then I noticed his hoof, wielding a sword, was already pulled back and about to strike me.
I raised my ricocheted blade as quickly as I could so that he would hit the flat of the blade and slide down and aside, away from me, while I tried to jump away just as quickly. I had a lot of momentum already so stopping myself completely took a lot of my precious time. As I was stepping back, his blade hit the horngrip of my sword, the handle part where my magic was focused. It was made from a special kind of leather that provided stronger and more agile magical grip on the weapon, but the drawback of that was the fact that it made my levitation magic vulnerable.
As the drekavac hit the handle I felt immense pain in my head, having to immediately cut the flow of magic. I yelped sharply in pain as I was stepping back, which made me slip my rear hoof, losing some of the grip on the floor I had. My sword fell to the ground with a loud clang.
Fucking professional. Raising my eyes a tad to see this drekavac next move I noticed him standing firmly on the ground and leaning back, intending to thrust his sword into me. Oh, dying here is not an option, not even a little bit!
Still feeling the sharp pain from the previous hit, magic was out of the equation for a while. Luckily, this drekavac wasn't too agile, his movements where rather slow and predictable. I reached with my mouth to grab the dagger fastened on my chest. I pulled it out, swung it to point to the right side and took a step in the same direction - right - to hopefully make him thrust farther into that direction.
A dumb creature like a drekavac does not think tactically, so he had done exactly what I wanted, expecting me to move closer to the wall and thrusting farther to my right. I took a quick step left and tilted my head to the right, getting my dagger at a steep angle pointing down. While moving my dagger to where the hit would be and stepping to the right, I was getting ready to jump at the most practical moment.
My dodge to the left and dagger pushed in the other direction made me evade the thrust, but just barely. If my dagger were not to push the sword aside, I would have a bad case of shoulder ache by impalement.
With sword out of the way I jumped from my rear hooves while firmly planting my front ones on the ground, widely. Once my hind legs were pointing straight up in the air, I jumped up with my front hooves and landing on all fours on drekavac's back after a spin around.
A risky move, but athleticism helps a ton. Tough job like this one does keep you in shape, but there definitely was more to it than just mercenary-sort-of work. From as far back as I can remember, I was always athletic and jumpy. Could do fancy moves, with or without the sword. Not that I dislike it or anything, quite the contrary, but it does raise many questi- ah! Not now!
Once I was on his back I jumped off and away from him. He hadn't even noticed what happened yet! Stupid monsters. Meanwhile though, two other were rather aware of my position and quickly moving from the other side, soon to corner me without any way to run away.
Oh, if only my floating ball of light could attack them, would make things so much easier. I concentrated on my warsword, trying to bring it to me. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my horn, I managed to levitate it by my side, quickly apply the enchantment back on it and raise it diagonally, pointing up, just in time for a hit.
What I always knew for a fact was that simply holding your sword, waiting for a hit was always a stupid idea. No matter how hurt and dizzy I was now, simply holding my sword would not suffice in nullifying drekavac's attack. Good defence is better offence after all. As his sword was about to hit me, I moved to the left, in the same direction where his attack came from and engaged in a very light bind with his sword.
As I was dodging left, my bind was slowly pushing his sword more into the other direction by me pivoting the tip closer towards him. Then his sword hit mine's hilt, stopping itself on it and my tip penetrated his neck shallowly, but enough to render him defeated. He fell to the ground almost immediately.
Another one from behind him rushed at me with a mace in his hoof and swung it vertically down at me as soon as his friend collapsed. I raised my sword horizontally above me, matching the momentum of his hit, so that when he hit my sword's blade, it was already grappled by the hilt, all whilst my momentum moved it down aside to my right.
I brought my sword down, tip almost touching the ground and then hit his chin with the pommel of my sword. He stumbled back and I quickly brought my sword up and then down in an arch.
At the last second, I noticed him wearing a helmet, thus I managed to slightly angle it closer towards his neck. It scraped his shoulder, which was enough to put him down.
I was panting and this whole thing actually got me sweaty. With such lesser monsters that happens very rarely. Am I getting old, or just really tired? Well, I'm definitely hungry, that I know ...
The last drekavac, one that I dodged so masterfully by jumping above him, was now finally facing me and moving forth. I was very much done with this dance, so rather than engaging him, I simply threw my warsword point first into his head. It struck him shallowly, but again, enough to get him killed.
With him my sword fell down loudly on the ground and I let out a sigh of relief, after which I immediately put my hoof against my forehead. Despite many signs of superiority, I hate being a unicorn. Honestly, constant headaches and the most vulnerable part of your body proudly displayed the closest to your enemy, what in the Perun's crotch, mother nature or whoever else that thought of making ponies sentient?!
Why ... oh, whatever.
Finally being done with it I noticed a doorway blocked by bricks, same ones that were used for walls. It looked as if there was a hidden room there, but I really wasn't hoping for more fighting. If it's closed, those village ponies won't go there.
Yet, something was telling me I could find some loot there, something precious.
Hah, as if! It's a freaking crypt, not some chimera's dungeon or some old world ruins.
Either way, me being a little curious ass, oh god I hate myself, I stepped forth, levitating my warsword back to its scabbard very sluggishly and put my hoof against the wall. Oh, my horn hurt so badly.
Then, as if I ate too many sweet rolls, the wall simply collapsed under my weight and I fell inside the room, down on the rubble. Grand.
After I shook myself from the dust and got up I looked around. Inside there was not a lot of space. In truth, in this room could fit four ponies max. In the centre, by the wall facing me, was a fancy, stone coffin. To my surprise it was opened, with a pony skeleton inside, fully equipped in rather nice, steel armour that had few fancy embellishments on it and a sword, gently resting on the pony's body, hilt protected by his hooves and sheath for the sword beside it. Not sheathed? Weird.
I looked down upon it to inspect it closer, since the armour was nothing special - old and crude ... oh, and very heavy. But the sword itself? It was a beauty. It seemed to sport earth pony's signature nobility look. Hilt had a fancy, rolled into itself pommel, which wasn't really a pommel, but looked like one, protruded slightly forward, angling the hilt. Crossguard felt rather simple, but had some nice embellishments on it. The blade itself was another beauty, it was not sheathed, so I could inspect it fully. It was a curved, single-edge blade that started straight, but then about half way in it took around ten degrees turn backwards and started to curve back into a fine point. The edge itself was very wide and on the butt of the blade, the unsharpened side, it had same embellishments as on the crossguard going along the whole bade where there wasn't an edge. The embellishments where of lightning bolts and wind. A standard sword that only the nobility wore.
Then, I noticed the skeleton move. I quickly stepped back with my sword raised at it in low stance. It grabbed the sword by the blade, sat up and looked at me. Ooh creepy, drekavacs are something else, but this is just a skeleton. How is it able to just move?! What sort of weird magic is at play here?
The skeleton grabbed his sword by the blade and held it out to me, as if wanting me to take it? Was it not hostile? Then, his chinbone moved down and I heard a deep female voice.
"Take it and fight. Do not trust them. Remember, they bleed too." And after that, it collapsed, arm dislocating from its body and falling down in front of the coffin, along with the sword.
I'd seen a lot, but it was a first when a skeleton spoke to me. Fancy tomb, fancy sword, female voice - it must have been Rova. Do not trust them? They bleed too? What did she mean by that? Who? Couldn't she be more specific?
Wait, what am I doing? It's a skeleton and I'm wondering what it meant? A fucking skeleton, for crying out loud! No, that's impossible. I'm tired, I'm imagining things. How can a skeleton, a pony without any flesh nor muscles, move by its own? Drekavacs at least have those. Oh, lord almighty.
Whatever, I took the sword, strapped it by my side, just above my short sword and was on my way out. I need to eat something, sleep and before any of those, definitely take a bath. I stink worse than a skunk.
Finding my way back was easier than getting to that god damn cemetery. Still, it was a pretty late hour already and I had to eat and get cleaned, along with my clothes. Will be some work. Hm, that gal offered her help, maybe I should ask her?
I walked along the village, noticing that the tavern seems to be the liveliest place at this hour, there definitely was music coming out of there. I get closer to Bailiff's house and knocked on the door. Shortly after, he opened the door.
"Oh, it's you.", he said, sounding a tad surprised.
I simply levitated the warhammer in front of his eyes and said, "Job done. Both, to be precise."
Now he looked even more surprised, but also greatly relieved. He smiled.
"Oh, thank you! You've actually done it! Oh, I can't believe it."
"Yeah, I get it, you're happy. Can we please get to finishing our formalities? It was quite a chore and I'd love to hang my coat for today.", I said, slightly annoyed. Oh, just wait until he tries to give me less than what we agreed on. I gave him an irritated look that should tell him not to test my patience.
He looked at me and quickly nodded, "Of course, of course. Come on in."
As he moved aside, I stepped into the house, looking around as if looking for any changes from today's morning. Why did I do that? I know how it looks, I've been here before! I doubt he renovated his whole home in a day! Oh, I'm tired ...
I pulled back a chair with my magic and sat down hard on it, my legs feeling a bit sore. Not too bad, a night's rest will do the trick in making me feel alive again, but it weren't their tip-top shape.
My hooves felt stiff, as if I was walking on rocks. The fact that earth ponies can just walk on without boots all day seriously makes me wish I was one. Oh, and that throbbing headache from the drekavac's hit, which still lingered. I needed sleep, badly.
The bailiff closed the door and walked up beside me.
"I've readied the Krons a-and some provisions for you. Uh, I will go ask my wife to help you clean up as well, unless you don't want to."
"Oh, I'd like that honestly. I'm long overdue for a bath, along with my clothes.", I said quickly. He seemed slightly nervous, continuously looking over to the stairs to the upper floor. Either way, he nodded at my answer and walked upstairs.
Once he was there I sighed and leaned back on the chair. Maybe I should switch professions? I almost got killed today by that drekavac. Previously took down five or so stallion with swords and shit, but one minor monster got the better of me? I felt too cocky, too relaxed and wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, which made me not notice his plate.
Aaaaaand there is the whole thing with that talking pile of bones. Was it seriously Rova or was I dreaming? Not to trust THEM. Who them? And that they can bleed too? Besides, Rova should not actually be in here, or did she not actually die in some town out south? Myths are myths, but why then name a town which she did not save?
Oh, right. I should probably sell my short sword to a blacksmith since I have a new, fancy one and that pauldron I looted. I bet it also needs sharpening, but there'll be time for tha-
"'Scuse me?", I heard somepony say. I blinked and looked around quickly, my eyes falling on bailiff's wife, shyly standing in front of me, wearing a simple dress. I must have been focused by my thoughts, I didn't hear her coming.
Bad pony, Astrala. Bad pony ... what if she were to kill you? You'd be dead! Ugh, gotta focus.
"Yeah?", I muttered, trying to think if I maybe, by some miracle, I heard what she said before, but my head was empty.
She opened her mouth and said quietly, "Would ya please come with me? Ah'll help ya clean up."
So I won't have to clean my clothes by myself? How nice. I nodded with a smile and stood up, ready to follow her.
We went outside, behind the building, where there was a small shack connected to the rear wall and inside was a tub filled with water. They are quite rich if they have a whole tub for themselves, I honestly expected a small basin and a sponge, but that's way nicer.
Once we got there, she said, "Ah'll help ya here an' then take yer clothes fer a wash too. It'll be a warm night so in th' mornin' they should be dry."
"Help me? Oh no, no, I will manage fine by myself. I wouldn't want to take this much time from you anyway."
"Oh no, Ah insist. Ya'll feel way bett'r this way.", she said with a small, reassuring smile.
"No it's fine, really.", I insisted. To be honest, I didn't feel the need for her to wash me and wasn't fully okay with it. Like, I can wash myself well and don't need to feel weird having somepony's hooves touching me. I am a unicorn after all, flying sponge and stuff. But I'm not going to lie, her face and demeanour was so innocent and honest that it felt bad saying no to her.
"Oh don'tcha be like tha', get in the bath already.", she said with a teasing wave of her hoof and a giggle. I smiled at that slightly and with a sigh, began undressing myself.
Starting with my equipment, then my armour and lastly my beaten and ragged clothes, I was finally naked. It felt way colder like this, without all the layers. It wasn't cold actually, maybe more like chilly or cool, a slight breeze. Earth ponies had thicker fur as well though so to her it's probably a bit warmer.
I got into the tub and sat down in it. Water wasn't particularly warm nor very clean, but it was water anyway, all you need is some grey soap and you're good to go.
She then came closer to me, got the sponge soaked and soaped and started with my hair. Taking water into a cup and pouring it onto my head, then squeezing the sponge to get the soap out and finally massaging it into my hair.
I will be honest, I really was unsure about this, but oh my sweet lord above, how RELAXING that was. I felt myself just melt inside the tub, feeling light and almost floaty, like a little, fluffy cloud. Admittedly, a very wet cloud, but a cloud nonetheless!
... not that sort of wet. Water, bath, that type of thing.
I leaned back with an audible, pleasant sigh, at which she giggled.
"See? Ah told ya, ya'd enjoy it."
I said nothing, there wasn't a thing to be said here. She was right, it is enjoyable. Now I understand why that one pony looked at me weird when I said I didn't want to go to the bathhouse in some town few weeks ago. In villages it is not really well shown, but washing in one place in the open, as well as getting help from somepony, seems to be a norm around these parts. And I think I really like it.
While washing my hair she lightly nudged my horn, at which I moved abruptly away. It didn't hurt or anything, a horn that isn't glowing in magic is strong and hard as any other bone, actually very useful as a weapon. Only when it channels magic it becomes very sensitive and delicate. I moved, because I still felt the pain from the previous hit and it honestly was just an instinct. Plus, she is an earth pony, they don't have horns.
She gasped and said, "Oh my gosh, Ah'm sorry, are ye alright?"
"Yeah, don't worry. I just took a slight hit on my horn, sort of. It doesn't hurt, I just have a headache."
"Oh, ah see. Ah heard that horns are rather sensitive?", she asked while continuing to clean my mane.
"Mhh, only when they glow. Not now.", I answered, feeling myself feel as if dozing off slowly at the movement of her hooves. I closed my eyes and continued to simply enjoy her working on me.
Now I really wish to go to a town and have myself enjoy a relaxing time like this ... maybe with a guy?
Ahk! Okay, too far, too far. Don't think about that. Just enjoy.
But before I could really keep enjoying this she started to wash off the soap from my hair gently and was done rather quickly. Skilful one.
"Alright, now if ya could stand up please."
I sighed and stood up. She immediately grabbed my tail and I shivered way more than I expected. I felt myself feel very exposed immediately and embarrassed. I'd never had anyone touch me like that ... sheesh, what a weird sentence to had thought to myself.
She quite possibly realised the exact same thing I thought, but after a quiet, short giggle she just minded her own business and started cleaning my tail. Although she didn't stay quiet for long.
"Ya know, ya really are very muscular. Ah've only ev'r seen one mare tha' would be similar to ya and she was an earth pony. Spent her whole life as a knight. And well, sayin' ah know her is a bit of an overstatement. Ah simply saw her 'nd exchanged a few words."
"Well, it's due to me going from town to town, village to village and just doing work for coin. Killing or dealing with problems. A group of five ponies was no trouble to me and my past tells me that such work is needed, especially around smaller villages like those."
"Oh yes, Ah'll tell ya that mah husband was really happy t' have ye hired. He's really had a lot o' troubles lately."
"Happy to have helped. I do what I do best and as long as it pays me meals, I'm quite content."
"Mh and may ye be blessed.", she finished with a smile, sighed and added, "Alright, yer tail's done as well. Considering yer reaction previously ah'll leave the rest t' ya, being comfortable with it's the most important aspect after all." She smiled and washed the soap off of my tail with a few cups of water and movement of her hoof along it.
I nodded. "Thank you though."
"No problem!", she smiled cheerily, quickly collected my clothes, as well as my armour pieces and trotted off. Hm, maybe I shouldn't have let her take everything? But she didn't take my weapons, those are still there on the grass. If they would try to rob me, they would have already. My pouches are still here as well. So she was genuine ... how nice it is finally talking to somepony who doesn't wish to trick you or whatever else.
I continued my bath, cleaning and scrubbing my fur as well as I could. It was really refreshing to finally get all that stink off of me. At some point I heard hoofsteps along the grass and then a voice.
"Miss Astrala, ah lef'cha a robe t' put over yerself if ya wish to, for the time being. It's hangin' here on the side of the shack."
"Oh, thank you.", I said and heard her walk away after that. How nice. That Duke Venture guy is sure lucky to have such an angel as a wife.
To not linger too long, once I finished my cleaning I quickly got out, dried myself with a towel just enough so that I don't drip everywhere and walked out of the shack. I took the robe and put it on myself along with my equipment, like my swords and bags and such. Then I started to make my way to the front again, but I noticed the mare and started to make my way to her slowly.
She noticed me and said, "Ah, done? Go inside and warm up by the fire, Venture will give ya yer Krons."
I nodded with a smile and made my way to the front of the house and then inside without knocking. Duke was there, sitting by the kitchen fire.
He looked to me and smiled. "Ah, there you are."
I came closer and sat beside him, in front of the fire and said, "Is the warhammer all good? No scratches? No blemishes?"
"Oh yes, it is very good. So you managed to retrieve it and take care of the cemetery too?", he asked.
I simply nodded, but then followed with an explanation.
"Yes, the group of thugs is dead, they will not trouble you no more. They were lingering around the woods for a while more so I presume they had intentions of attacking again. Although you probably should go there and take care of the bodies, burn them or whatever if you don't want to bury them. If you don't do that, you might have another surprise visit close by, trust me on that one. It's roughly near where Gust had seen them last time, I think.
"As for the cemetery, I simply killed all the drekavacs with help of my magic. That should do the trick, as it has always done. Something must have awakened them, quite possibly the attack in time of a holiday, or at least it sounds plausible. To make sure they don't come back you ought to talk to some elder in your village and do any necessary prayers or whatever else, as it usually revolves around those kind of powers."
He nodded, but probably out of respect rather that understanding what I was talking about.
"I see. Well, good job then. Although I might have a, well, a slight problem. You see, I had to give up some food already and we are in the process of stockpiling and additionally money is rather scarce-"
"Just be blunt and don't waste my time, I don't have the head for that tonight ...", I said, cutting him off. Obviously ... it's always like this, trying to pay me less than what we agreed on. I need to start charging more.
"Is 60 Krons enough as a compensation? Along with the service my wife has provided you."
I sighed and leaned my head down onto my hoof.
"You sure you cannot spare any food?"
"If any then it would just be scraps.", he said, looking slightly embarrassed in himself. Guess he isn't that heartless to change the contract AFTER it was completed.
"Even scraps will do ...", I said. At least I will have enough to eat something hot and decent at the tavern with those Krons. Oh, and that reminded me. "Also, what about accommodation? Do I have any place to sleep at?"
"Uh, well ..."
Oh boy, here we go.
"I talked with my friend at the tavern, but it didn't work out so well. Still, I don't really have a place here so-"
"So not only I will get less Krons, I will also get less food and no place to sleep?", I asked bluntly.
"My wife did help you cleaning and is going through your clothes.", he said, pointing a hoof away at where she would be outside.
"She offered me that alongside your offer. Can't you keep a word or are you just this stuck up?", I asked, slightly louder and pretty much annoyed already.
"Shh, my mother is sleeping, please.", he said in a wary and quiet tone.
I scoffed at him and stood up. "60 Krons and say no word more. I can't be bothered, honestly."
He got up with a sad expression and took a pouch out from his belt from which he took out six coins and held them to me in his hoof. I levitated them up, put them in my own pouch and said.
"I will be back tomorrow morning for my clothes. You better not try anything funny, it's not the first time I have a dispute with a village that tried to swindle me around. And better not take anything, I know exactly what I'm carrying and will notice."
I didn't even bother seeing his reaction. I just turned around, opened the door and left, walking in the direction of that tavern I saw before. My belly rumbling in hunger and my hooves heavy from all the action today. Not sore anymore, thanks to that bath, but still quite heavy.
Oh and sleepy, gosh I am so sleepy ... and hungry. I had hoped I'd get free food too, but oh well. I mean I still have some rations left over, but I prefer not to use them up.
When I finally got to the tavern I stepped inside and looked around shortly. It was already mostly empty at this hour, only five ponies and the bartender. One cloaked guy sitting by the bar, two earth ponies by the table near the counter and two more ... pegasi? Huh, yeah two pegasi sitting by the table in the corner of the tavern, counting coin. Ah, probably troubadours, or something.
I got to the bar and asked the bartender, "Got any cheap foods?"
He looked to me, eyeing my weaponry and my clothing. Few swords and no armour, but a light robe in its place. He made a quiet, grunty sound, clearly not enjoying my looks.
"You look like trouble to my bar, I think it's of best intere-"
"I look like trouble, because I took care of trouble. With the task assigned by your bailiff to me, I took down those thugs you had trouble with as well as that poor, troubled cemetery. After a day of work, I wish to buy food, not ask for anything for free, even though you'd slump and die when those thugs would came the second time."
He grunted even more to me and looked at me with a slight annoyed look.
"You think we would? Well, you think wrong, unicorn. We-"
"I don't care, you don't have to agree with my point of view, just sell me some food.", I said tiredly. I really didn't want to go the round of making everypony hate me, but holy fuck I just hate those earth ponies so much ... lying, blind, stuck-up bastards.
I took out my pouch, shook it a bit so that he hears the coin dangling and clinging inside. One thing interests all traders - coin.
"Bowl of pottage, half a loaf of bread and some water. I bet you have that much?"
He huffed. Those earth ponies sure like their sounds. Ass, trying to look dangerous and important or something. I would've had him cut in five different places in a matter of a blink!
"So, bailiff hired you to help us?"
"I was here, heard trouble, offered my service, did my job and got the coin with which I want to buy food now. Don't have to thank me, thank the bailiff, if you want."
He smirked slightly. "Ha! Thank the bailiff? That lying prick of a boy? Yeah, I can only guess that this trouble was one of his doings."
"Oh? Don't like him?" I looked up to him more curiously. I like gossip~.
"Of course I don't! His father should'ave not given up and now he is dead. Two weeks at the office and he already lost his family? That's a bad omen if you ask me."
Hah, now he seems very talkative and invested into conversing with me. They are sooo strange.
"Well, he didn't pay me the full price we agreed on, so I get what you mean."
After what I said, the bartender's eyes widened slightly, but not in shock, rather because of what he heard agreed with his idea or assumption.
"Really now? Hah, knew he is a cheap, lying bastard."
"Mhhmm, now ...can I get my food?", I asked. I didn't want to cause trouble, but that doesn't mean I want to talk. I'm too tired for that ... and hungry.
"Yeah, sure. So, bowl of pottage, half a loaf of bread and some water?", he asked, to which I nodded.
"That'll be seven Krons.", he said.
I levitated the coins out of my pouch to see what denominations I had of the previously collected reward money. Six coins, each being worth ten Krons. I took out one coin and said.
"Here is ten. Add some pemmican for the cost once I'm done eating so I can take it on the road."
Guy stood there, slightly confused and asked, "What is pemmican?"
I sighed. Of course nopony around these parts knows of pemmican.
"Then maybe few hardtacks and ... jerky? Or salami?"
"That I can do.", he nodded. I levitated the coin to him and he grabbed it, a bit warily. Earth ponies aren't used to flying money, naturally.
"Be right back.", he added, after pocketing the coin and leaving, with a slight smile on his face. Damn earth ponies.
I sighed and sat on the chair by the bar, putting my elbow on the counter and supporting my forehead with my hoof, letting out a long sigh. Finally sitting. I mean, that whole walking really didn't tire me that much, it's just that ... well, exactly, why do I feel this tired? I've been doing this job for the past few months and it was okay. I was always tired afterwards, but now I feel like I just can't even stand anymore.
Besides, what was before those few months? Why does it feel like I've been doing the same thing over and over again, from as far back as I can remember and nothing of my foalhood or even my place of birth comes to mind. I can't even remember how I looked few years ago. How do I look anyway? I haven't really paid attention to my reflection-
"Hey, you there, missy?", a guy from beside me said. It wasn't the bartender, it was that other guy who was sitting by the bar. His breath smelt of liquor. A really cheap, foul liquor.
"What? What do you want?", I asked, half confused, half irritated. Why do I keep zoning out? It's the second time it happened today.
"I asked if you were at the catacombs in that cemetery.", he said in a slightly hushed voice. I also noticed those two pegasi staring at me, but didn't give much thought to it yet.
"Yeah I was, why do you want to know?"
"Well, you see ...", he started off, looking like he wants to offer me a really bad and shady deal, "In the catacombs there, there is a crypt and for some reason you can't get inside. The door is from solid stone, without any keyholes, basically no way in. It is said to be a grave of some hero and inside is a relic - an artefact. Truly an item of high collector's value."
Did he mean the Rova's sword? He already gave me out a lot of information and judging by how hushed he speaks, it is not something that he wants others to hear very well per se.
I motioned with my eyes to my side, where that sword is strapped. He looked at it and his eyes along with his smile, slightly going sinister, widened.
"Ooooh, I see. You've been there already? How did you-"
"Your food, miss." The bartender came back and put down my food in front of me on the counter. I smiled to him lightly and thanked him with a nod. After levitating it all in the air beside me, I completely ignored the shady guy and went to an empty table to eat in piece. Most tables were empty so I chose one at random that's by a wall.
When I sat down I put my food down on the table and looked at it. Pottage, which was a very thick stew made by boiling vegetables, grains and some chunks of meat. Didn't care what type of meat it was, but judging by their rather poor village, it must have been pork or something. Along that stew I had a rather fluffy and airy, halved loaf of bread that was about the size of my hoof. Just to have something more dried to eat along the soupy dish. And lastly, a cup of water. It had a slight vinegar-like smell, so I suspect it was fairly old, but had been preserved with vinegar to not make it go bad and develop germs. Good.
As soon as I started eating I heard a chair move. I looked up with spoon in my mouth and noticed that shady guy, sitting in front of me, by the table. He smiled lightly.
"Say, how'd you get inside that crypt? Any hints?"
"Not your business. I'm a unicorn, I bet I did some magic. Or maybe had some magical artefact with me that unsealed this secret compartment, giving me access to the treasure~.", I said, with a huge hint of mockery towards him.
It seemed as though he didn't get the message.
"Oh, c'mon, you can tell me. See, I need whatever was inside there, which is that sword of yours. But honestly, the exact way on how you got inside really interests me more. How ab-"
I was tired of him. He reeked of alcohol from his mouth and him talking straight to me made it all fly in my direction. Not that I dislike alcohol, quite the contrary, but the alcohol mixed with bad hygiene was not my cup of tea. Besides, he was really annoying. With my magic I brought my warsword out from its scabbard and floated it quickly just beside him, tip pointing at his head.
"How about you stop annoying me? Really, it's not a good idea and I'd advise you to leave. Otherwise, my sword might give you an answer to your question. Who knows, maybe this beauty is the key to your problem and soon enough you might have it closer to you than you'd like."
I said with an angry and tired voice, frowning down on him. He looked at me, then at the sword, then back at me. Calculating his chances. I noticed him glancing at my glowing horn, obviously knowing about my weakspot.
I levitated the sword directly above my horn, still pointing at him and said, "I wouldn't try it. Leave me."
He groaned lowly and got up. Just before leaving me, he spoke, "You'll regret it. Mark my word."
I sheathed my sword back and continued eating. All the eyes on me, but I ignored them. Guess I will not be able to sleep soundly and comfortably today. I bet he'd try to get to me at night and steal whatever he wants to steal, maybe even slit my throat after this dispute. Oh well, maybe I should have just killed him right there on the spot.
I kept eating my dish and it was like food made in heaven. After so many hours on blank, tasteless food, this was amazing. Cheap stew with cheap ingredients and a very cheap break, but it felt like heaven on my tongue and like the biggest banquet in my stomach. In the stew there was a slightly salty meat and a hint of sweetness, plausibly from honey or some type of berries. It's thick mixture perfectly slumped down my throat while also not feeling like I was drinking some beverage. Few bigger pieces of vegetables: onion, celery, carrots, potatoes. Oh, it was pure bliss.
I was almost done, just few scoops left and an almost empty cup of water, but obviously it couldn't be so done so quickly, my life constantly had to be uphill. Those two pegasi I saw before now stood in front of my table, as if seeking an audience with some grand pegasi oracle that I was. Hah, oh maybe I would do well for an oracle? I am smart ... to some extend ... maybe ... oh who am I kidding, I made so many mistakes today that it only reinforces the fact of my inability to think straight. And it was definitely not because of me getting old! I'm still in prime of my age!
"Uh, excuse me, could we exchange a few words with you? We won't take much of your time, honest.", pegasus gal said, in an easy-going and lovely accent. If I were to describe this accent, I would say wind, clouds and ocean. Very flowing, very calm, having that slight curling feeling to it, but also with a sharp fang, ready to be shown if needed, but only slightly though.
The mare had a bleak, lemon-like fur, almost as if was some sort of light, lemon-coloured chiffon. Her mane was quite long and straight, but at the end of her hair strips they curled outwards, with lighter ones on the top of her head and slightly more pronounced curves at the very bottom of her mane. Same logic applied to her tail. They wore a colour quite easy-going for the eyes, but keeping it looking rather interesting. She had gradient-like stripes going with the flow of her mane and tail, albeit sometimes in slight chaotic directions, starting from a bleached green zomp colour to a much lighter colour looking like a mild green tea. Her eyes coloured in a deep royal-like purple with a rather small, slender and young face. Her build was overall small and slender.
Besides the obvious wings at both of her sides she sported quite a flamboyant outfit. It was mostly rich red coloured with some parts being nice deeper yellow, matching her fur rather well, with some purple accents spared here and there, like some ribbons. Her chest piece was sort of a fuller, red shirt, tied around the centre with few brown strings. The shoulder pieces were slightly more pronounced and puffy and then they ended with a simple yellow sleeve. She wore a matching, light skirt that was kept rather low on her waist with white, tight pantaloons that were starting to gray out. A pair of simple boots on her front and hind hooves and the rest were accessories. She had a small, almost triangular hat with a big purple feather on top. She had a few bags on her as well as a small lute hanging from her side.
As when it comes to the pegasus stallion beside her, it seemed they were siblings, or at least closely related. His face looked very similar to hers, just with a more pronounced features fit for a stallion and they had the exact same colour of fur. His clothes also were very similar, although he didn't sport any purple and only occasionally yellow, beside some yellow accents on just as red attire as hers. Did not have a hat or cap of any sorts, but he had more bags than her and also had a bow with a quiver filled with simple arrows.
Although his fur was the same colour, other parts of his looks weren't. Green eyes, very similar to mine, but not quite, more yellowish green. His mane was of medium size, flowing backwards mostly and was very dark. Not completely black and it had a very, very tiny hint of brown or orange. Almost unable to see, but it was there anyway, making it not completely black. You could see it especially when some light shone on his mane. His tail slightly shorter and had the same, singular myrtle green stripe like his mane had, there it was closer to one of his ears, but for the tail it simply went from the base to the very tip.
He was slightly taller than his, I presume, sister, but he still was shorter than me. I think If I were to stand in front of him, he would be missing about a hoof or two in height. Not much, but visible.
I sighed and looked at her, which made her lean a bit backwards. Oh, she was scared of me already? What a wimp ...
"Well, alright, sit down then. Don't take too much time though, I am angry and tired ...", I moved my hoof from right to left, horizontally, motioning the chairs in front of me and allowing them to sit.
They sat down directly in front of me, and the mare started speaking again, while I was finishing my pottage.
"Well, you see, we decided to visit the earth pony lands as troubadours and earn some coin while also bringing them some songs and stories. We wanted to see new cultures and also give something from ours. Buuuut there has been an issue. Uhm, we just came here and heard that the town was attacked by some thugs. We also heard that it was happening in other villages as well, because of an ongoing war not too far from here.
"As you can probably tell, we aren't fighters, but we have to keep going on the path we decided before. If we were to walk back now along the safe one, we not only could be caught in a crossfire anyway, war is that unpredictable, but also would earn little to no coin from our songs, because we would hit the same villages we had already been at. They wouldn't give us enough coin for the same songs and so we could be in trouble. So, we are in sort of a pickle."
"Tough luck, but what do you want with me? Give you Krons? I don't do that, I've got to eat too.", I said. No matter how fucked up their situation is, I am also on a tight line here. They chose to come here, it's their problem.
"Well, we've heard you took care of those thugs. You clearly can handle yourself well. So we thought that, well, we might ask you for protection?"
Say what?
"Protection?", I asked, slightly confused.
Then the guy started speaking. Same accent but a slightly harder voice. Not really hard, when I hear him I hear a wimpy excuse of a stallion, but clearly tougher than that gal, so he clearly is a stallion ... maybe ... sort of.
"We would want to hire you as our bodyguard to the point where we can safely walk by ourselves."
"Walk safely? I don't know from what cloud you pegasi fell from, but there is no 'safe' nowhere in this forsaken land. Thugs are everywhere, here they are just in a higher quantity than other places. If you've managed to keep yourselves alive up to this point, you'll manage alone. Besides, I don't want two rambling pegasi by my side that I constantly have to look out for! I kill stuff, I don't protect others. I do dirty job, that is why I have food to eat.", I said, tiredly.
Now that I think about it, I really didn't travel with anypony ever. I can't recall even knowing anypony, nor having any friends. God, that's depressing. Maybe trying it out is not this bad of an idea? If anything, I can just leave them in some town and go, not like they will be able to catch up to me. And if they will, I can always just kill them ... I mean, what do I care for some two pegasi, their lives are worthless to me! Oh, I bet this offer is just to steal from me, they always steal and lie. Ponies are like that, nothing honest in them!
I noticed they weren't saying much for a while. I looked up and the stallion had a look going in the direction of a sorrow defeat, but the mare looked almost sympathetic to me. As if she noticed me thinking of not having anypony and being alone. Or she is just making fun of m- no, no she is not. She was very polite and actually sounded honest, or so it seemed to me now.
Then she finally spoke after noticing me look up at them.
"We will give you food to eat, you won't have to buy it yourself and, while we are in some village or town, doing our job, you can go and do yours and still earn Krons for yourself. I think that is a good deal, isn't it?", she gave me a slight smirk.
That is a good offer. Oh whatever, you live once after all.
"Alright. I agree. Once you're ready to leave, find me and we will go."
The stallion looked slightly shocked, but filled with relief and excitement. The mare nodded with a smile and raised her hoof for a hoofshake, which I accepted.
"We can leave in the morning, we are done in this town anyway."
"Alight." I simply nodded.
Then they stood up from the table and the mare said, "I am Elpis Bristle Wind and this is my brother, Elpis Bisque Jet." She and her brother bowed slightly to me.
Elpis? Guess it is sort of family name? I nodded and said, "I'm Astrala. I will await you here in the morning."
"Works for us, Astrala. Have a good night's sleep.", the brother said and they left the tavern. So I guess they already had bought their accommodation. Hm, along the journey with them I will have to buy my own rooms and pay for repairs to my weaponry, but it still is a good deal. Food takes a good chunk of your income, but is also a necessity.
I looked around and noticed that the two other earth ponies already left as well, I was the only one still sitting. It was dark outside, as much night as one might ever get.
I decided to move my arse and walk up to the barkeeper with the bowl and stuff from my dining and gave it back to him.
"I heard you also have rooms here, right?"
"That I do. Need one?", he replied while putting down on the counter a plate with a two dozen hardtacks and four strips of jerky.
I levitated those into my bags and nodded.
"Yeah, how much?"
"Five Krons for the night."
I levitated out ten Krons and asked, "Got a way to change? That's all I got from the bailiff."
He nodded and after looking under the counter he put down a coin worth five Krons. I put mine down and levitated the five one back to my pouch.
"Rooms are in the two-story building beside the tavern. Hm ...", he walked up to the other side of the counter and looked under it. He then fished out a key and added, "Yours will be up on the first floor, door the most to the right." and he put down the key on the counter.
I took it and said, "Thank you. Good night."
"G'night.", he replied.
Once I was out I headed to that building he spoke of. Few doors on the ground level and few above it, with an outside staircase leading there. I stepped up along the stairs and then moved right all the way to the door of my room.
I got inside and had a nice looking bed, nothing expensive, but for five Krons it was very much worth it, a small nightstand beside the bed and a bigger chest by the wall for bigger stuff that wouldn't fit in the nightstand shelves.
I took everything to the big chest, along with my robe, locked it with a key I found inside and hit the hay, finally getting some well deserved sleep. Hiding the key just under my pillow.
What a day. Almost died, got cheated out from my reward and found two buddies to travel with. I hope I won't regret it. And all the crap about Rova and what more? That shady guy? Oh, how I just hate life sometimes.
Fuck me sideways ... |
Gods of Equestria | Chapter 2 - Leshen | ༻༺────⊰ Episode 2 - Leshen ⊱────༻༺
Another sunny day, though the weather was planning to slowly and steadily lean into a rain. A few clouds scattered on one side and a thick, dark blanket of rainclouds on the other, slowly approaching the mighty castle atop the highest mountain peaks in all of the lands.
For it was a very specific castle. The main headquarters of the Celestial Order and they were already hard at work, training in various aspects of warfare. One needs to know how to wield a weapon, cast defensive or offensive spells, be fit physically and mentally and have sharpened senses in whatever circumstance they might find themselves to be. Other skills, such as creation of various rations, tonics, decoctions or certain type of oils are also very useful. Beside all that, knowledge itself is as important as any other skill, both in terms of warfare tactics and certain weaknesses of races and even various monsters roaming the wild lands.
Celestial Order has a reason for all that, otherwise it would not have been practiced.
Astrala, one of the Archpaladins, has returned from her war in Draconia with great disturbance and disgust. Her experience in that spectacle has taught her a lot and her aim was to change the order's course as quickly as she could.
Abnormally to her, she was ready to debate with the Elders at the earliest hour possible. She walked in her robe, carrying few scrolls with her magic, her light shoes gently tapping the marble floors, making the sounds echo along the hallways.
Not many guards posted on the very halls she was walking through, nor at the many exists leading to various locations of the castle. Clearly there were not enough ponies to even guard this place properly.
Eventually she made her way to the Grand Hall, where her Elders would discuss important matters at hoof and also let the knights come and say whatever could have been on their minds. After few days of constant arguing, Astrala knew they would not hear her again, thus she didn't even plan this meeting in advance with them. She walked to the doors and after giving the knights guarding them a good, fierce look, she stepped inside without an invitation.
All Elders quickly stopped their discussion to look at Astrala, walking up to the centre like she owned the place. Around it was an almost fully enclosed circle made out of a big table with elders sitting around it on the outer side. Whole room was of a circular design with big windows and a chandelier lazily hanging above the centre, as if a warning of hanging to anypony who dared to oppose the Elders. Or so Astrala now thought.
"What is the meaning of this, Archpaladin Astrala?! You shan't disturb us uninvited! Leave at once!" one Elder said, already knowing her intentions. It was the same Elder that was her mentor thorough her life in this order, which to her, was her whole life. Maybe she even thought of him as a father figure?
"You can wish, but you WILL hear me once again. Since me politely asking did not prove to be fruitful, I will force it on you." Astrala said, stopping at the centre of the room.
"Force it on us? Have you forgotten your place, Archpaladin? If this will not stop, your title shall be taken away and your rank demoted!"
"Then take it. I do not care about you or my position in this order. I want to save lives of the innocent and the face of this order. In the future we will be shown to had been on the wrong side of history! No matter my stance against you, or yours against me, I do not wish this to happen." She said, slightly more composed in the second part of her sentence.
The Elder scoffed at her and said.
"Ridiculous. Knights! Take her away immediately."
The knights, although unsurely at first, stepped forward to Astrala. She immediately turned to them and in voice filled with anger and horn already glowing, she said to them.
"Try me and you will sorely regret it! You have been here, you have heard me, you know I am right!"
Either her intimidation or her reasoning was enough to put the guards at ease towards Astrala and not advance further. Or maybe they have gotten even more wary and that is why they did not fulfil the Elder's request.
"This insubordination shan't be forgotten, mark my words-" The elder started, but was cut off by a blade zooming quickly in his direction, stopping just as its tip was about to cut his neck. It was Astrala, wielding other knight's sword with her magic, making everyone think she was about to assassinate her Elder.
He scoffed at her even louder.
"Are you planning on killing me, you fool? My sacrifice this great towards everypony in this order and you want to kill me?!"
"Anypony tries something funny and I promise I'm going on a rampage. I'm sick and tired of you pompous buffoons! YOU ALL ARE GREEDY IMBECILES!" She shouted, facing slowly every single Elder, some angry at her, some actually worried and a few small bunch that was honestly confused.
"You are throwing our resources at a war only because some griffon showed you proof that thousands of years ago Draconia was their land? Who do you think you are?! To decide whose is what or not; it doesn't even matter at this point! As far as I've seen, their land is filled with dracons. Whether it is indeed griffon land or not, it matters little, for it is immensely occupied by dracons and their infrastructure! None of them actually even know that it is griffon land!"
"Enough! I shan't listen to it no mo-" One Elder stood up to cut Astrala off and he was swiftly dealt with by another sword that flew in his direction, impaled in his chest up to the crossguard. He stumbled, tried for words, only to have blood pour and fly out of his mouth. He grabbed his chest and fell, trying to grasp just a little bit more of the precious air, trying his hardest to stay alive, but ultimately failing and his soul slowly leaving his body with his face filled in pure shock.
Everypony in the room was left dumbfounded, not believing what just had happened. None was sure that Astrala would actually go this far, to kill a member of not only her order but also her Elders?
"Do you think this is a game?! This is one last time I am here. None of you shall stop me, you will listen to what I have to say and YOU WILL NOT try anything funny, or I swear on Celestia's name this very room here will be such a bloodbath that all of the knights outside on the castle grounds will be able to see a pool of blood in those very windows behind you slowly rising higher and higher as I make your heads roll in the sound of your beating hearts, beating lighter and weaker with each movement of my blade." She spoke, filled with malice and anger. Due to slight rasp in it too one could even state she has lost her mind.
The Elders were shocked and unsure of how to proceed with this action. For now, all of them decided to stay quiet. They knew how powerful Astrala was. A child of Celestial blood, maybe an incarnation of Celestia herself? None dared to speak.
"I am sorely done with your actions, your blindness, your arrogance! To base a war solely on a singular word and a singular relic that could have been forged specifically to lie into your faces. I've seen the griffons with my very own eyes, they aren't cunning, proud or brave. They are very much everything, but that! I trust no word that will come from their mouth anymore.
"To your knowledge, I have ordered few of my friends, Paladins and Archpaladins alike, some Knights even, to spread word among our forces in Draconia for a full retreat. Upon arriving to the location of our new headquarters, they will have a chance to see for themselves what they had done and repent, or come back to you. Either way, I am leaving this place with a huge amount of knights by my side that, just as me, disagree with you to their fullest."
"You started a rebellion ..." One Elder said.
"Me? YOU started a rebellion. Your decision-making, your goals, your orders have led to the mass disagreement. I simply awakened them. You could have listened to me! I've been here all week! Obviously you, cowards, will pin all wrong on me and I've expected that. So, just for spite ..." She said, levitated a spear and impaled the Elder who just spoke straight in the eye.
Few of them stood up and her mentor said.
"Astrala! Enough!"
"Do you wish to fight me? C'mon then! Fight me! Show how much weight you put in your own words! Show them in action! I dare you, cunt-sucking bag of fleas! It's not just that you tricked behind our backs and definitely had some hidden agenda in this war, but you've endangered and killed members of this order AND innocent dracons! Your actions have led to this and I am here to avenge those that died in this useless war!" She shouted at him, her horn glowed bright and, without even looking, she zapped another Elder with a golden lightning bolt.
After that, she added.
"You have also caused me and my friends more suffering than I initially knew. I looked at your scrolls in your own room, 'mentor'." She said, phrasing the word 'mentor' sarcastically with a face full of disgust.
"Payments to some bands of thugs? Have you all been secretly paying some low-life scum to raid villages and share their profits with you? Have you had any connections with that stupid war that has been going on just south of us with the earth ponies? Found an invoice from the Tsar, very beautiful letter I must say."
"That- That is outrageous. You are making things up!"
She looked at him, anger filling her eyes. Elders even noticed that the tips of her hair started to burn with fresh, red fire, same for the tip of her tail. Not a standard fire, no, it was a deep red, in the colour of blood, very sinister-looking.
Just as she was about to slash his neck, they heard a bell going off. Attack?
A second later, as they all looked in the direction of the windows overlooking the castle grounds, few heavily armoured dracons burst inside through those very windows and killed off about five of the Elders in this swift attack.
Astrala wasted no time, she brought that sword closer to her and rushed at the dracons. She wanted to kill the Elders but this is an attack that does not help her argument even a tiny bit. Plus, it is very likely her friends might fall from those dracons, she needs to keep those by her safe.
First one, wielding a halberd-like weapon, swung it at her diagonally. With all her force she smacked the blade with her sword, holding it in between the blade and the crossguard, having the tip point at the dracon. She forced through the dracon's strength, making his weapon get pushed closer to him and Astrala ramming with her shoulder into him from that initial rush, burying her blade deep into his neck. She quickly recovered on her hooves with a swift jump, sword spun around her back, throwing off any excess blood from her blade and now resting in a thrusting position at her left side.
Another dracon in front of her, wielding a curved sword and way more armour than the previous one. He proclaimed a stance of wielding his sword high up above his head, ready to strike down. She knew that dodging this attack wouldn't be advised, even deflecting it, as the dracons had a tactic of a quick two-slash attack, where you would have to expect the direction of the second swing to successfully defend against it. Too many sides to pick though; she decided on an easier approach.
She rushed straight at the dracon. Just as he was about to slash down at her, she swung her sword at the blade, very similar to the previous block, catching it again with the crossguard. Just as she felt it being pushed aside by her, she let go of the sword with her magic, did not stop running and buried her sharp horn right into the guy's eye.
With her hoof, she held the dracon's wielding arm just to know its position well and with all her force, she lightly raised the dracon, sort of like a rhino, doing even more damage to his brain than with a simple thrust. Only now did the dracon actually realise what was happening. Thanks to now irreversible brain damage, he was unable to control his limbs very well, thus her hoof was quite enough to keep that curved sword at bay. She pushed him on his side with her horn still in his eye, making a loud thump. She slid out the horn and took her sword in her magic again.
Fresh blood coating her horn and her clothing, ready to continue the fight against those dracons that attacked their castle. She did not hear anything, did not even know what exactly happened with the other Elders, all she could see, hear and think was those dracons in front of her. Pure battle rage, one could say.
She then heard somepony calling her name, she saw Miryana, half-suited in her armour calling out to her in fear and worry on her face. How did she get here so quickly, did she know where to find he-
Before Astrala could process it, a lump of mass hit her from the open window - another dracon. He flew at her from outside and rammed her. They zoomed through the whole hall and hit the opposite wall, Astrala crushed between it and the dracon.
She gasped for air, not expecting the hit and quickly took a glance at the dracon, ignoring the pain in her chest. It was a Battleborn with a terrifying warmask depicting some horrific devil. He grabbed her and threw her away on the floor, doing slightly more damage to her.
She got to a stop and coughed, gasping for air, quickly healing any broken bones or punctured organs she might have had from the hit. She looked up to the dracon, who said in draconish.
"There you are, the mighty Dracon-slayer. I know you understand me, get up and fight. I wish to be your killer in a fair fight."
An opponent, not only stronger, bigger, but also armoured. That would prove to be a tough one, this might be the very end of her journey. Or at least that is what she thought.
"Stop this. I wished to end this war between us. Don't make us have to fight you."
"Oh, so you want to talk? Let's go an talk then!" He roared and, with the help of his wings, he lunged at her with great speed. Astrala managed to react to the dracon's curved blade, deflecting it well, but her counterattack hit his armour and bounced off. He grabbed her by the throat with his other claw, something she again did not expect. She gasped and tried to get free with her front hooves but to no avail. He then flew out of the window, holding her like some sort of sack of potatoes.
The only thing Astrala could hear as she was dragged off was Miryana's voice, but not clear enough to make out the words.
"Aah!" I gasped in the bed, frantically looking around in search of that dracon. I put my hooves to my neck, but felt no claws there. Fresh drop of sweat dripping from my forehead.
I sighed and turned to lay on the other side, facing the wall. Another stupid dream. Why am I dreaming of it all and why it's always those few dreams on repeat. Or at least I think they are, are they? ...
Wait, what was the dream about? Something about my neck ...
Perfect, can't remember, as always. At least it wasn't that weird dream with me as some fancy-ass knight or whatever walking with a group of other super fancy-ass knights. That one I remember well.
I think this one had a dracon in it, but why a dracon? I can't recall ever seeing a dracon in real life. Am I dreaming of my future life or-
Is it my previous life? That is why I can't remember my childhood, or anything from a year ago? Was I some weird knight in some even weirder order?
Huh, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds to be. I really don't see myself as a knight material, but it would at the very least explain how I can fight so well and why I have such a broad knowledge on many subjects.
Ngh, just gives me a headache thinking of it all. I guess it's best to leave it for now, not like I can do anything about it now. Time to get to work, I hope I haven't overslept.
I got up, put on the robe, took my things and stepped out into a sun shining so brightly it blinded me for a second. I put a hoof up to my face to cover the light and looked around. It was still a rather early morning, but many ponies were already doing their chores. One thing earth ponies excel at is consistent and precise work ... well, most of them at least, I think.
The sun was just appearing from above the line of trees, shining brightly with an incredible hue of warm, orange colour. Its light covering the whole village, mind some gaps of shadows still lingering about, giving it a new fresh look, a rather beautiful look I must say.
It felt slightly ... melancholic. Not sure as to why, but looking at the village from this angle, with the light softly warming up the ground and the ponies all around, I felt a slight lump in my chest. Some deep sadness trying to escape my soul and materialise in front of me.
Unaware of what it was, I did what I always had done with such issues - ignored it.
I stepped down on the wooden steps, slightly creaking under my weight and I was down on grass again, supported by my sturdy boots. Well, sturdy is a bit of an overstatement, but you get what you have. I made my way to the bailiff's house to get my freshly washed clothes back from possibly the only honest pony I've met in a long while. How refreshing that was ... and I've never knew letting somepony wash you was such a relaxing time.
As I got to the house I knocked at the door and the bailiff opened them.
"Oh, hello. Doooo you need anything else?" He asked, with not so much of a nice tone as before when he had a lot of trouble. Obviously, now that he doesn't need me, he won't act nice. At least he isn't trying to fake it that much - straight to the point.
Before I could say anything, his wife said.
"Oh! Oh, come! Follow me!" And with a bright smile she went past the bailiff, me and started walking to the side of the building.
Such a quiet and shy mare and now that she got comfortable with me she looks way more cheerful and bright. Even bailiff was confused by that. I gave him a small nod and followed her to the side of their house where my things were.
She quickly got to work on taking my clothes off of the laundry lines and started saying.
"Ah hope ya slept well?"
"Not great, not terrible. About as well as anytime." I replied, but were quickly starting to share her cheerfulness and enthusiasm for the day. I smiled.
"Ah slept v'ry well. If ya have any pain in ya muscles or somethin', Ah c'n help. Ah heard tha' my husband didn't give ya all that ya agreed on, Ah feel v'ry ashamed o' him and if there's anythin' more Ah c'n do to ya, jus' lemme know, please." She said with an incredibly genuine and honest smile.
I was quite taken aback at that and I think it showed. She giggled, a sound very light and easy on the ears.
She added.
"Ya've done a job tha' few of our stallions could possibly handle, maybe none! Ah bet once the word goes out all the lil colts and fillies gon' be talkin' 'bout'cha, saviour o' Bronislava."
"Saviour? A bit excessive, but thank you. I am good at killing." I said with a light chuckle, but my joke really did not get the reaction I was expecting. Anytime I get comfortable with somepony, my weird sense of humour gets out and scares everypony. I hate myself.
She slightly frowned and muttered.
"Killin' ain't what Ah'm praising. It's yer skill and, quite plausibly, yer knowledge. Ah heard ya speak, ya seem t' know what to do and are v'ry assertive; certain of yer actions. Most important of all, ya helped us. Ah want t' repay ya the best Ah can, it's the least Ah c'n do."
I looked aside. Killing. I am good at it, but even though she knows that I killed those thugs, she doesn't look like she will admit it as what I'm good at. Rather will go for 'skill' and whatever else she might find. She knows how rough this world is and still won't bother to face it head on. I don't know what to think anymore.
"So, ya've got sore muscles or not? Ah doubt ya sleep on nice beds often." She smiled.
"Oh no, I'm fine. I'll just take my clothes and be on my way." I said. Just stop thinking, Astrala. Just stop thinking ...
"Oh, okay." She said, with a slight disappointment in her voice, but not enough to break from her cheerful act. She put down my clothes and asked. "Need help with yer clothes?"
"No, I will manage." I took off the robe, put it aside as nicely as I could and started clothing myself.
"Ya know, ya do look better than most stallions in this village, more muscular and assertive, yet ya still have quite a nice feminine style and shape t' ya." She said while eyeing me.
Is this another sort of joke about me looking like a stallion? I shrugged it off and did not reply. I really heard it way too much already. Didn't want to bother, didn't want to think. Just get my stuff and be on my way.
She noticed I seemed not too keen on conversing and stopped talking herself, but was still standing there and looking at me.
Once I was done putting everything in place I looked at her and said.
"Thank you for everything and have a good day." Turned around and left.
"Farewell then." She called to me as I was already leaving. I think, I wasn't quite listening anymore.
I walked around the place, looking for a blacksmith and I quickly found one, following the sound of metal being hit on metal. There he was, working at his forge already. Hm, quite a young looking lad.
I walked up to him and said.
"Morning."
He looked to me and said with a small smile.
"Mornin'. Can I help you?"
"I'd like to ask if you would be interested in buying some equipment from me."
He put down his hammer and faced me with a curious look. "Show me what you've got and we shall see."
I nodded and took out things I wanted him to look at - the pauldron I looted from that thug guy yesterday and my old short sword, since now I have a fancy sabre now. I put them down on a table beside us. He came up and took a glance at them, took them in his hooves, looked closer, hmm'd ...
"Hm, the pauldron looks quite basic, both in shape and material. Same with that sword, but overall they seem rather good. I think I could buy those off of you for maybe twenty Krons."
"That is fairly cheap ... thirty five Krons? Need to buy myself some supplies." I lied, just to get more money out of him. Not like I'm gonna be back here anytime soon.
"Twenty five is my limit, otherwise I wouldn't profit from even taking them apart and moulding them into something useful. Twenty five." He said, rather firmly. This guy already felt like a better company than that bailiff, fake arsehole.
I smiled lightly and nodded, extending my hoof to him, which he bumped and shook.
He walked to get the money as I waited in the open, so that he does not seem suspicious of me. I don't want to steal anything from him anyways, I want some fair and honest money. Granted, equipment I'm selling was looted from corpses, but it's better if corpses don't have weapons and armour, right?
He came back and gave me the Krons. Had forty five, now I've got seventy. Not bad.
I nodded, put them away and said my goodbyes as I was leaving. I'm not sure if that was a fair price for those, usually metal is quite expensive, but we are talking about either raw metal or one made specifically for somepony's needs. Eh, no matter. Better this way than to walk with too much equipment.
Now, to find those pegasi.
I entered the tavern and noticed them right away, their flamboyant and colourful clothes stood out immensely in there. I walked up to them.
"Right, I'm ready. Let's go."
They looked at me and the mare smiled and- ... wait, what was her name again?
"First, let us do a toast, for a safe travel!", she raised her hoof slightly in excitement. Obviously pegasi would love to drink and drink.
"That ... really is not a necessity. Better to not be drunk on the road, now c'mon.", I said and left the tavern. If they prove to be a pain in the ass, I'm leaving them. A toast ... why do you need a toast now?! Nothing happened, nor have we even begun! Ugh ... pegasi ...
After a few seconds of me standing outside they finally came out and I said, "Lead the way."
Without any sort of smile on their face, they started leading the way. Uh, maybe that was a wrong way to start it? Oh, fuck it, whatever, don't think. Not like I care about them, nor do I have to! I only have to protect them from dangers.
Shortly after, we left the village and were on our way west. West-ish. Very few trees and an old, dirt road.
There were still few houses with huge acres of land covered in lettuce, carrots or whatever else, but the village was long gone. Few small trees sporadically dotted the hills and literally nothing more, nothing else.
"So ... I hope we can talk at least?", the gal said. The guy was between me and her so she had to move her head slightly forward to look at me.
"Talk however much you want, just don't make it annoying ...", I said.
All they were talking about now were the sound of their hooves, which meant they weren't talking at all. But, after a short while, the guy started talking.
"Maybe you'd like to tell something about yourself? Or maybe we can tell you about us?"
"I don't like talking while walking.", I said dismissively. It wasn't true, but I don't want them talking to me, it makes concentrating on the surroundings harder. Don't care if they like me or not, I'm going to do my job and that is it.
I also heard pegasi are annoying so I'm not sure I want to talk with them too much. Might be a total waste of time and energy ... and sanity.
He sighed audibly, looked to his sister and said, "Well then, about the profits. I think we need to change the repertoire a bit."
A what? Repreruartarar? What?
"What did you have in mind, brother?"
"For starters, you should lead more in the evening hours. More stallions then, they might just pay us simply by looking at you."
She giggled and responded. "And when will you lead? Not many mares come to taverns."
"I think I should just play outside, on the streets. Mares like some romantic shmuck that has a guy singing of a heartbreaking stories to random pedestrians. Or maybe start some more upbeat tones at the tavern, those work better for me anyways."
"Hm, that actually sounds like a reasonable plan. You actually started thinking for once.~"
"Hah, oh really?"
"Yees, really! Finally didn't think with your dick for once!"
Excuse me, what?
"Hah, I noticed you eyeing some stallions, don't make it look like I'm the horny one."
"Horny? But stallions are always horny."
"Hey, no we aren't!"
"Okaay, but you are always horny!"
"That might be correct.~"
They both giggled in glee and I just stared at them looking like a total idiot, taken aback farther than eye could see. What in the flying boar of tarantula's web-fuck tying contest are they talking about?!
"But be honest, idea with singing on the streets has some hidden plan to it, no?"
"You know me.~"
"Mh ... so, how many mares do you plan on bedding this time?~"
WHAT.
"Hmm, I'm not sure ... but maybe we should do a threesome?"
"Oh you just want to have fun with your sister, be honest.~"
Okay, WHAT THE FUCK did I get myself into? What is this? Why are they talking about ... that! What- how even- WHY? Out of all the topics to talk about, they choose this?! And why have I not stopped them yet? What is wrong with me! Annoying? YES! Then grow a pair of balls, Astrala, and tell them to shut the fuck up!
Wait ... pegasi. Annoying pegasi, but maybe it's normal to talk like this in their parts of the world? I should ask about that. Would make sense why they started that right now. Obviously they wouldn't be talking like that in the village, but there is nopony here, so they can be themselves. But why in front of me?!
Nh, well that makes sense too. I told them to talk about whatever and I am their guard, not a friend or anything. It's none of my business what they are talking about.
Just do not listen, think of other things. The dream? Maybe the dream. Maybe I can put some sense into it. ...
But I remember nothing from it by now. Ghh, something else. What is around here? Grass, grass, grass ... more grass. A flower. I think it was a daisy. Hm, daisies are quite tasty and sweet, plus are very common. So, not really worth picking, they aren't worth a dime. Literally as much of a worth as a hoofful of grass. Besides, their sweetness isn't even that great when compared to their weight.
"-and then I smacked her ass-cheek with a wing and she got soo startled, but after that she was all over me! Those earth ponies love being smacked, lemme tell you."
NO! No, no! Noooo, do not listen! What the fuck have I gotten myself into! Don't listen, don't think. Just don't! Ghh, maybe I just should stop here and leave them, but where will I go? I don't see any intersections in the distance, nor was there one before. We have JUST left the village. No matter what, if I run now I will meet them on the way anyway, may it be at night or in a few days. There are no other roads and Celestia forbid to stray away from them into the wilderness, as it's the worst idea one could ever have. Stupid pegasi! Why am I still walking beside them?! Worst idea for a job ever. I'm never doing that again.
Hmmm, but free food does sound nice. It is a good deal.
But who talks about such stuff so openly in front of a fucking stranger? What is wrong with them?!
What is wrong with me?! I should have been gone a long time already!
Then I heard them giggling. I looked to them and quite indeed they were, even laughing. I was so confused now.
Eventually, they looked to me and the mare said, "I see you like our topic?~" and they started laughing more.
I was so confused, but I felt myself burn from embarrassment. The fact that they have put me into such a situation right off the bat.
"W-what topic? I wasn't paying attention.", I said, hoping I didn't sound suspicious. Why was it so hard to lie suddenly?
They finally stopped laughing.
"Sure you weren't~ ... now, maybe you want to start a conversation?", the guy said with a smirk.
Wait ...
"Wait, so you decided to casually talk about sex just so that I'd stop you and talk about whatever else?!"
And they started laughing again. I felt like an old fool. They played me like a fiddle.
"Oh hell no, I am not playing that game with you. You can forget it!", I said and looked away from him in a very angry fashion.
"Oh, then we shall talk more between each other then. Say brother, how are your licking skills coming along?"
"NO! No! OKAY! I will talk! Stop! For the love of all that is mighty, just stop!", I whined and finished with a defeated groan. Stupid pegasi! I hate them! They are so infuriating!
"There we go!", guy said and they both did a ... they slapped each others' wings. However you call that. And he continued.
"No hard feelings, but why not opening up a bit, eh? We are going to travel for at least a few days together, no need to be this stiff and boring."
Stiff?!
"Stiff?! I said stop it!"
"Huh? I didn't mean anything sexual, now it's just your own mind playing you, gal~", he snickered.
Oh that little asshole.
His sister started laughing again and said, "OOoh! Masterfully executed! Jackpot! Her whole face is red!~"
"WHAT?!", I whined again. I touched my face with the knee of my leg to check, but honestly, how can you check that? I felt fired up, but I didn't know it was this bad! I've Never been in such a situation and I intend to never be ever, EVER again.
I scoffed and said without looking at him, "That had done it ..."
Once they stopped laughing the guy got a bit closer with a slight worry on his face.
"Hey uh, we didn't go too far, did we? We just wanted to- OOF!"
Oops, what a little dumb bird, he tripped on my hoof! Oh, what an oopsie~. I smirked down at him just the same way as he did at me just few seconds ago.
"Don't think that was all, feather-brain~."
He actually looked quite relieved and happy, same with his sister.
"Oh, good to know you know what jokes are.", she said.
"I do, but there is no way I'm letting you go off with what you did right now. I will repay in a similar way, just you wait."
"Oh yeah?" The guy got up as he said it and tried to trip me. His hoof moved out of the way from mine, doing the complete opposite of what he intended, almost falling over himself. I stopped to look at him assertively, lightly raising an eyebrow. My face just couldn't help but crack a little smirk.
He backed away with an embarrassed chuckle.
"Oh, whoops~ ... didn't work."
I puffed out my chest victoriously and started walking again. Okay, they aren't that bad. Hopefully they forgot my face back then, because I sure as hell want to forget that topic. Makes me feeling quite uncomfortable ... I think.
Uh, what am I saying. First I hate them, now I like them. Can't I make up my mind? I bet-
"Gonna talk then, Astrala?", the guy asked with a friendly smile. One that doesn't look like he wants to continue teasing me. Good.
I looked to him, realising I was deep in thought.
"Uh yeah, talk. So, what talk?"
He rolled his eyes. Oh fuck off, turkey. I grimaced a bit, like, can't he cut me some slack?
"Well, how did you end up there? What do you do exactly? Do you have a husband?"
"A what?", I asked, surprised.
Did he say husband? What's this guy's deal, honestly. Pegasi ...
He just chuckled. "A joooke.~ Now c'mon, you are some knight or some mercenary or what exactly?"
"Uh, yeah a mercenary of sorts I guess. I kill stuff, be it ponies or monsters."
"With the sword I bet?~", he said, gazing over my scabbard that held my precious warsword. It is incredibly precious, believe me! You won't find another one like that anywhere in earth pony lands!
"Yeah, the sword. A warsword to be precise." I decided to unsheathe it and levitate it by my side as we kept walking so that he can see it in its full glory.
"We've heard of unicorns really being fond of swords of this length, but when we came around those parts, we'd noticed that earth ponies don't really wield those.", the gal said, trying to get into the conversation as well.
"Oh yeah, for a reason. Only unicorns can reliable wield warswords."
"Why is that?", she asked.
"Because it's big. It can be up to two or three times heavier than a standard arming sword. It's design is made purposefully in such a way, so that it's unwieldy to anypony using it in a mouth grip or a hoof grip. The handle is very long, made so that I can have two pivots on it, astoundingly increasing my precision and range of motion, but also making it unreliable when held in one hoof. The hilt guard is also very wide so that it can easily defend me against any incoming strikes that I engage in a bind and the blade itself is incredibly long, thus incredibly heavier. Even with earth pony strength, it would just become a bat, mainly because of many things getting in the way. In those swords, or any swords in particular, but those specifically, edge alignment is key. Warswords are made with-"
"Okay okay, slow down.~", guy said with a chuckle, putting a hoof up.
I stopped and gazed to him, questioningly. He wanted me to talk, what's his deal?
"Have you ever talked to anypony before?", he asked.
"What? What sort of question is that?"
"Nevermind. Well how about you slow down a bit when continuing. How are the warswords made then?"
"Oh. They are usually made from spring steel, so that they bend quite easily, but in this way they will not shatter. Many techniques are used to reduce the mass and increase rigidity to ultimately have a weapon that, along with our already increased range via magic, has an even longer effective range."
"Mhm, so I wouldn't be able to wield it?"
"Of course you can, but you will not use it to its full potential. As I said, a club would work just as well then, if not better."
"I see. Sounds rather exquisite if I'm being honest. And what's the deal with magic? How can you just wield it so well and such? You said something about pivots?"
"Oh yeah", I said and levitated it horizontally just in front of us so that he would see it better and continued, "The handle is way longer and finished with leather wrapping coated in a special sap, it greatly increases the strength of my levitation magic. As a comparison, I can very easily levitate a stick and turn it around, but I am unable to make fast, precise movements with it beside just throwing it forward. Reacting quickly to things is also not as snappy as it would be with a hoof.
"This leather negates those cons completely. It makes it so that the movements are snappy and strong, but it also comes at a disadvantage. It uses more energy to have higher, but that also means it, theoretically, limits our range."
"Limits range? How so?", he asked.
"Levitation magic, for everypony, has its limit of energy drain. Some have a more timid energy drain, while others won't be able to hold a cup for longer than an hour. Based on the movements we make, we naturally synergize the energy drain on what we require. If you have higher speed, precision and quick response, then you will have lesser range and maybe strength even.
"Additionally, if I get hit on the handle of the sword or my horn while I'm casting the spell, it causes great harm to me. The more energy-expensive the spell, the more it hurts, so smart unicorns decided to put hilt guards to protect our magic."
"That makes sense, but why not cover the whole hilt then? Or at least a big portion of it?", he asked, seemingly curious in me explaining all the odds and ends of it all. I mean, he is asking a lot of questions regarding the sword and such, why else would he ask those if he weren't genuinely interested. His sister, on the other hoof, was quite less into it and way more into the nature all around us.
"Any sort of obstruction between us and the target of our levitation exponentially lowers the spell's effectiveness. Besides, hilt guards like so are more than enough when it comes to protection.", I replied and sheathed my sword back into its safe scabbard.
"Hm, that's interesting. I've met few unicorns, all of them had swords, but none really spoke like you did. They didn't really knew as much details as you do."
"Details? What I'm telling you is really the most basic knowledge of the craft of both fighting and the sword making. Most of those questions you can answer yourself simply by observation and rational thinking."
"Yeah, well, you make more sense than whatever they have told me.", he shrugged. Those must have been some really weird unicorns. Or weird to me at the very least.
"Well, whatever works for you.", I just said, not sure how else to reply to that.
After a brief pause he asked again, "So, mercenary. Is it nice?"
I looked at him and thought. Is it nice? I feel an amazing rush of adrenaline whenever I fight, I feel so at ease, like I belong in combat, like I was made for it. I am also very good at it, considering I haven't died yet.
I nodded to him. "Yeah, it's nice. I like it." Even though some ponies could be a bit more honest. Making money is sometimes a chore.
"Glad to hear it. You ought to do in life what pleases you most! We also love to be troubadours, although I've noticed earth ponies call us bards, but I suspect it's the same thing?"
"Hm, sort of.", I said, remembering something about those words.
"Troubadour is more of a performer, composer, that sort of thing, so strictly tied to songs. Bards, on the other hand, are sort of a mix between a troubadour, poet and a storyteller. Both perform publicly and both can travel around."
"Oh, I do some storytelling sometimes, mostly to kiddos, but many adult earth ponies also love to hear stories from abroad, especially those from villages.", he said.
"Mh, folks from villages and towns differ greatly so it does make sense what you are saying.", I added.
"What do you mean?", he asked, looking at me curiously, his head skewed slightly to the side.
"Although earth ponies in villages tend to be smarter, coming to tough conclusions quicker and generally more mannered, those from the villages are way more curious to whatever might be happening outside their settlements and their engagement to things is also way stronger and more honest.
"If you go and tell city folk and village folk the same fact about some event in some other place, the town folk will just shrug it off and walk away, very few will be interested. Village folk on the other hand will be way more invested into the story; they will ask questions and so on."
"Sounds logical.", the mare said. Both my and guy's head turned to face her as she continued, "In villages you don't have access to many news nor sort of leisure town folk take for granted. Naturally, they will be way more curious about events, because they aren't bombarded with those every day."
"Ah, a little scholar waking up in you again?~", her brother said with a small, teasing smirk and poked her with a wing.
Right, those wings. How awesome those must be. They literally look like birds' wings. Soft feathers all around, slowly sliding to a singular point along the length, creating a tall triangle with softened edges. It must be quite nice to just fly around, feeling the wind and be completely free from the ground, able to go just anywhere. Skip oceans or even huge masses of land that would take days to hitch-hike through. How I envy them for those.
Wait a moment. They have wings. They can fly.
I wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about, my gaze was fixated on that wing until a thought struck me. I looked up to them again and noticed them staring at me, with smirks, with those teasing, treacherous, evil smirks! What have I done again! I quickly felt myself fluster at their gazes.
"W-what?" Honestly, that's all I could muster? A 'what'? Stupid pegasi ...
"I see you'd like to take a closer look at my wings, eh lass? Or maybe at me in general?~", the guy said with a light chuckle.
At him in general?!
"What?! NO! No! Nothing of that sort! My gaze just fell on them! I don't remember the last time I saw wings, I'm just curious, that's all! No need to make such a big deal out of it!", I said to protect my dignity, but I had a feeling it would drop to astonishing lows when travelling with them so was it even worth it? Maybe I should just focus on a creative riposte to their actions rather than on defending myself like that?
"Heeelllloooo~", guy said, poking my cheek with his wing. Okay, it felt incredibly soft, barely felt it. Even felt a hint of a ticklish sensation. I'd like- GAH! Astrala! What the fuck?! I dozed off into thoughts again?!
"What??", my eyes snapped to his again.
He just smirked, looked back at his sister and they both giggled. Oh, I've about had it! With my magic I grabbed one of their boots each and halted them in their tracks. In perfect unison, both of them made the same squeaking and surprised sound as they tripped, face first into the dirt path. I stopped with a smirk, heavenly proud of my creation here in front of my eyes. That's what you get, feather-brains!
They got up and chuckled both, cleaned their faces.
"Alright alright, let's go or we will never get to another town.", he said.
"It's not me that stopped, it were you two, slowpokes." I smirked.
"Slowpokes? Oh, okay! Big oak tree over there, we race to it! Let's see who is such a slowpoke!", the mare said.
"I'm in!", guy added quickly.
Both of them got into positions with their heads lower to the grounds and wings unfurled fully by their sides. They looked to me.
I sighed. "Yeah, okay." I got into position, but not that much into it. It's a waste of energy, why do it? Besides, I am a very fast runner, doubt those two little pegasi could outrun me.
"3. 2. 1. GO!", the guy counted down. Which reminded me that I still can't remember their names. I started running instantly, leaving them in the dust. Ha, puny pegasi would neve-
ZHOOOM!
Both of them zoomed beside me, going almost twice as fast as me, wings flapping and completely, and I mean COMPLETELY, ignoring the ground.
I looked in awe. Damn, they are fast when they fly. Which reminded me - wow, I forget a lot of stuff - what I was intending to ask them! I now ran a bit slower, because there was no way I would win this race anyway. Once I got to the tree, both of them were panting, leaning on it while sitting.
"Hah, we won. Who is the- haaah ... the slowpoke now?~" Completely out of breath. Looks so vulnerable like that, no wonder they asked me for protection, being this brain-dead and all.
"Sure, I am the slowpoke and you look like you now need a break.". I said.
They both nodded to which I just rolled my eyes.
"Which reminded me that I wanted to ask. Why do you need protection if you can just fly away like that? Can't you just ignore every danger by flying?"
"You know how tiring that is? No way. Those wings are too small to fly long distances.", he said, almost out of breath.
Makes sense, compared to birds, they are rather small considering wing to body proportions.
I shrugged and sat down under another tree opposite to them. A forest was beginning to form, we were just on the outskirts. Maybe we would be able to find a small river or a pond since it looks more lush than before.
"It shouldn't be a long break. It's better to take refuge in the forest. It will cover the smoke from our fireplace easier and might mask us from any unwanted visitors. Don't take too long.", I said to them.
They both nodded and the guy muttered, completely out of breath, "Sure. Just a few minutes."
I leaned my head back on the tree and decided to enjoy some peace and quiet. It was nice. Nothing happening, nor going on. Some birds could be heard from the crowns of the trees, maybe being fed by their mother, maybe just looking for a partner? Few flowers could be seen on the ground, but what really was out of place was the amount of mushrooms. It was nearing the season after all, in early autumn, where the rains are still happening quite often, but the heat wave is not that clear, those like to sprung up all over the place.
Eh, too bad I don't know much about them. There is a lot of poisonous mushrooms, so picking them just like that might not be a good idea. I know few though, but not for eating.
After my thoughts on mushrooms I heard them get up. Was this enough of a brake for them? Shame.
I got up as well and asked, "Ready?"
They simply nodded. We continued walking again, this time through the forest. Sun showed noon, so there was still quite a lot of walking to be done for the day and next few days too, but once we are in another town or village we will be able to relax again. Of course I should try to find some work anyway. Some spare coin could be nice and besides, I like to fight stuff.
After full eight hours of walking and rather useless and unimportant small talk, we had finally decided to call it a day.
Well, they did. I wanted to continue walking, but they were constantly whining in my ear.
"Astralaaaaaa! Pleeeaase!", the guy whined with a fake sob.
"Stop being such a foal, the sun is literally only just setting! We could still tackle some more road and be almost half way!"
"But we already are half way!", the gal said with a rather adorable hoof stomp. Pegasi are just tall kids. Granted those two aren't very tall, but neither am I really. Not that I'm short or anything! I'm normal height! Standard. Basic. I think ... I think unicorns are just tall, because I don't remember many ponies taller than me. ...
Yeah ... hmff. I'm short, like a mare would be, fuck off now, not tall. Your eyes just don't work, those pegasi are simply very, very short.
"Fine, we will make camp over there, around those trees.", I said, pointing out to a place just a few dozen steps away from the road.
They sighed in glee, rushed there and, both in unison, fell down on their faces. Were they really that tired? Weak.
I got to them, took out the sticks and rocks I have collected just a while ago as we were still walking and began setting up a campfire. Very simple thing, a bit of dirt dug out, circle of stones and sticks in the centre, suited in a way so that the fire burns more of them as it starts up. With my magic I spawned a small flame and my makeshift campfire started growing, slowly lighting up the place all around us. Not that we needed that, it was still rather bright, but it would get dark very quickly so better to have it now.
I sat down and looked at them. They slowly sat up around the fire and sighed, looking really tired. That gal was lightly massaging her hind hoof after taking off her boots. Guess I do need to go lighter on them.
"So in terms of food, what do you have?", I asked.
They both looked at me and the guy said, "Well, we have some flatbreads and salami."
I waited, looking at them, hoping to hear more from them. Still waiting. Waiting. Desperately hoping to hear more. Don't tell me ...
"That's it?"
"Uh, yeah?", gal said with a crook to her head and a small shrug.
"Are you serious?", I asked and sighed deeply. Fucking useless. And here I thought I will be able to just sit and eat without working much.
"Well, we usually just buy little, make it to the next place and eat there. Is it bad?", the guy asked, but I ignored him.
I levitated out my small pot and with few rocks I tested if it would sit atop the fire without touching the wood, which it managed. I really need to buy myself a holder. Oh, and a bigger pot now, it seems.
I looked into my bag, seeing if I could use something for a quick stew. Hardtack, jerky, blueberries, small brick of butter and a hoofful of rosemary. Well, will have to do.
I took out my jug with water and filled the pot with it. Then I threw in all of those ingredients I had, some with lesser quantity than that of others and put it over the fire to start boiling. Will take a while, but will also be much tastier than simple flatbreads and salami. Stupid pegasi.
"Oh.", gal just said, staring at the pot.
"Yeah, was supposed to be your job.", I said.
She looked away shyly. "W-well, We didn't know you could have a whole kitchen out in the wilds."
"Not the whole kitchen. A pot, few ingredients and you have some good food. Seriously not that hard. Tell me at least you do clean your water?"
"Clean it? Nah, we just buy it fresh in next town.", guy answered me.
"Uh huh. And what if you have some leftover?"
"We get rid of it."
I facehooved. Bunch of idiots.
"You imbeciles ... how have you survived out here for so long is beyond me. You use either alcohol or vinegar to kill germs and you can drink it again! Besides, it IS way tastier this way anyway! Have you been living under a rock?"
They leaned away a bit, taken slightly aback by it, but come on! How can you be so-
"Okay, we understand. Don't be rude.", the guy said, clearly not liking my outburst.
"What? Don't give me that. You are now upset at me? I should be upset at you!"
"What we do is our business, not yours. Didn't you say something like that before?"
"Oh god fucking damn it. Okay, do whatever you want to do. Burn through your money, I don't care.", I waved a hoof and got up.
"Look over the stew, it will be ready in like two hours or so. Stir it sometimes. I'm going foraging.", I dropped a wooden spoon inside the pot and started walking away.
"Foraging what?", the guy asked as I was walking into the forest.
"Not your business.", I said and heard no more complains. Bunch of idiots.
How can you walk around the wilderness, from town to town and be this uneducated. Even I know that just this little bit of additional work for your own food will make it ten times better. Even a simple thing as sterilizing your water for crying out loud! How annoying they are.
They probably have every luxury at home, which would explain their lack of knowledge. I seriously should have just not talked to them, nor accepted any deal or proposal they had for me. Why did I even bother? Honestly, why. I knew it would end up like that, why in donkey's ass did I even try.
Guess, looking at the bigger picture, I am the grand imbecile here. Ghh, don't think, just gather some stuff around here and shut up. ...
I really like to talk to myself. Eh, what do we have around here? Trees, grass. Oh, mushrooms, right, it's season for them. I see some browncaps here, might as well take them. I levitated out a knife I had and started cutting them at the stem, picking up quite a number of those in a rather short time. I might sell those later.
Beside sporadically placed mushrooms, there really wasn't a lot in this forest. It was quite bare, honestly. Quiet and bare. That is very unusual. Way too unusual, now that I think about it.
I stopped and decided to listen in on anything out of place and there I heard it - nothing.
I heard absolutely nothing.
When do you hear nothing in a forest? Never. It's always some birds or something. Crickets at dusk and such. But here? Nothing. Quite unusual and strange. I walked a bit more, trying to remember my previous steps so that I have no trouble walking back to those feather-brains. Slowly and quietly making my way along the grass, avoiding sticks and keeping my eyes peeled and ears sharp in case of any danger.
It was then when I noticed something. It was a pole with some things stuck to it, bones and a skull? It had feathers in few places as well as some grass and flowers in other.
That's when it hit me. A quiet forest and a totem like this? A leshen. A leshen that is possibly ready to attack.
I immediately turned back and started running to those pegasi as fast as I could, dodging the trees just barely, trying to get to them as quickly as possible. One day of being a guard and I'm about to fuck it up already. How brilliant.
I quickly got to them, stopped loudly and shouted, "Gather the fuck up! We need to leave, now! Quickly! Up! UP!"
They got startled and confused and, obviously, stayed in place. The mare asked quickly with a tad of worry in her face, "W-what's going on? Why-"
"There is a leshen in this forest, we definitely cannot here as it might attack us! Now move if you value your life!"
They finally got up and started putting back stuff they had previously took out from their bags.
"W-where are we going then? What are we supposed to do?", the guy asked.
That is a good ass question. Think Astrala, think. Normally I'd just go and kill this shitling, but endangering those two bitch-nuggets won't be a smart move. If we make a run for it, just maybe we manage to get out of this forest and get to the village on the other side of it.
"We make a run for it. There is no point going back, we run along the path and when I tell you to fly away, you are going to fly above the trees, at least ten meters above them and fly to the village at the end of this forest. We will meet there."
"Meet there? What do you mean?", guy asked with a touch of worry.
"If he comes, I will fight him. I can't escape like you do, but since you can, you will."
"There is no way we will be able to fly this far.", the gal said with clear worry forming in her tone.
They look ready to leave. I motioned them with a hoof to run along the path and they started, while I followed them closely.
"If not, then at least stay above me for the duration of the fight. It will be tough as I have no time to prepare."
"How do you know he is going to attack us? Maybe he is friendly?", the guy asked again.
"Have you noticed how quiet the forest was? No birds, no crickets, no nothing. That, and I found his totem inside the forest. He uses them to mark his territory. The only question being, will he actually leave us alone? In his territory? We better not stay to find out. Now quicker! Run faster!", I shouted at them and they actually started to run faster. Guess when it comes to being alive or dead, suddenly they don't whine.
We've been running for a good minute or two and then heard a scream of pain. The leshen did not target us, but he is close, just as some ponies are that have clearly been attacked by him.
I slowed down a tad bit and said, "Okay, we were not his target it seems, that's a relief."
They got to a full stop and started panting. I looked behind and stopped as well, rolling my eyes a bit.
"Wait - hah - who is ... the target then?", gal asked.
"Maybe the villagers from the town we are heading to? Who knows. It was definitely a pony scream."
Then we heard another, antagonizing scream, filled in pain. Both of their faces grimaced and turned completely white from fear.
"Yeah, this one sounded like a pony too.", I simply added.
"Can you kill this thing?", she asked.
"Yeah, but it's not so easy."
"Then you need to help them!"
"What?" I raised my eyebrow at that. "Why? They are farther away from us and I am to protect you, not them."
"W-what? So what? They are ponies! If you can kill it, then do so! Go and help them!"
"I'm not going to, you will be put in danger. I am to avoid putting you in danger and if you are in said danger then I am to protect you from it. Would I be a good guard if I left your side now?"
She stood there, looking dumbfounded a bit.
"You did leave our side when you went foraging!", she said with a raised voice.
"Yes, because I thought you were safe and now I realised you are not, so I came back. What do you not understand here?", I asked her, slowly getting a bit irritated while another screams could be heard.
"That- you- Gah! You're terrible! Why-"
"I've been called worse.", I cut her off, "I don't care what you call me, I'm doing the job you paid me for and nothing more. Now better stop standing there and come on, once the leshen finishes them, he might come for us. You really don't want to meet him."
And so I started walking, but I heard only one set of hoofsteps behind me. Then, after a second or two, I heard the guy shout, "Wind!" and I heard some flaps.
I turned around and noticed that shit-for-brains mare flying slowly above the trees towards the screams, where leshen probably is slaughtering our placed-not-on-purpose bait. Things could not have been easy, no. I got to guard some assholes that look for problems in their boring ass lives. Pitchfork up arse, I'm telling you.
Upon noticing her flying away I shouted loudly, "COME BACK HERE!"
I started to run after that mare as fast as I could, but I quickly lost sight of her as she flew above the crowns of the trees. I could only make slight glimpses of her, slowly flying farther and farther away from me. That fucking dipshit. At least I know where she is going, guess I will have to fight tonight.
I kept running roughly in the direction of those screams and shouts that were slowly thinning out. Not an easy thing to do as it was getting dark quickly. While running, I casted the candlelight spell so that I could see where I'm running at least.
Eventually, after running as fast as I could for quite some time I got to the place. I noticed a yellowish blob between the trees quickly fly upward, dodging a bunch of razor-sharp roots elongating themselves at her. She has a death wish, seriously.
And there it was. Blood all around it and ponies dismembered in every direction. Legs lying without their rightful owners, still pouring fresh blood out of them, parts of their intestines and other organs all around the previously green ground, as well as hanging from some branches and small bushes - a massacre in short, even thought I didn't make it short.
And, in the middle of it all, a creature comprised of brown and rotten-green colours. It looked like a small, but round creature, walking on two, short legs that looked like roots of a tree. Its arms just as short as its legs, hanging lazily down by its round sides. A rough staff made from roots in its claw, grasped tightly. A coat made out of horrid-looking moss covering its back, sides and head. Lastly, the face. Barely visible, looking like an abomination of weirdly shaped roots trying to make some sort of face with unnaturally elongated chin, its bright, yellow eyes, clearly visible in this forest slowly being taken by night, dark sky and a pair of incredibly tall antlers, covered in blood, as tall as its whole body height. All around this creature were roots going in all different, unnatural directions and a few crows sitting on top of them.
Then, it turned and noticed me. It made no sound, but simply pointed the staff at me. I felt the ground under me shake, it was already attacking me. I quickly dodged to the side, evading a bunch of sharp roots escaping from the ground where I just stood that had plans on impaling me right there and then.
As I got on my hooves again I pulled out my warsword in one go and began advancing the monster quickly.
It spared no time, pointed the staff at me again and tried the same trick. They are incredibly smart creatures, easily adapting to changes in battlefields and their enemies, expecting specific movements seconds in advance. Simply speaking - able to think tactically. A way of battling those foes is using their ability of predicting our movements to our advantage. Usually it means putting our lives in a game of chance, but leshen are too powerful for a single pony to be able to do anything more.
I immediately stopped and turned around a tree, changing my direction 90 degrees and making half of an arch to run at him again. As I expected, he thought I will be running straight at him, so his attack was being set in advance. It missed me with some room to spare and gave me some needed advantage. I needed to focus on that staff, his source of power.
As I was running at him, being just few meters from him, he held his staff horizontally with both of his long, pointy, wooden claws and then created a wall between me and him made out of thickly entangled roots, about two meters in height. Incredibly short, meaning he didn't have that much power at the moment. I jumped high enough to just make it above the wall, sword pointed at him and I was about to pierce his face, when a big root slammed me away in the last second. I flew a dozen feet away, rolling in the dirt, letting out few winces of pain.
That hit was extremely powerful, but I am glad it was not a stab.
I hit a tree with my back, luckily not too hard, because I wasted a lot of that momentum on rolling through dirt. I quickly got up, ignored the pain and looked to him, holding my sword close to me.
Didn't have much power? Or did he plan that? He would have pierced me then, not slap me away. Time to change the tactic.
I started to run at him again, slightly slower. He held his staff at his side, pulled it back and then swung it forward, making a big, thick root come out of the ground, coming straight at me with its sharp point.
I went into a solid, defence stance and waited, anticipating a strike. It was coming from my right, so I positioned my sword closer to it. As it was about to hit, I smacked it with my sword to push it away to my side just enough, while dodging to the other side, successfully evading a thrust. I heard the root dig into the ground behind me.
Another thrusting root, this time from other side. Same tactic and worked as well. Distance was already shortened immensely. Few more steps and I will be at its horrid face again.
Now the leshen was not joking. He struck the ground with his staff and smaller roots, but great in numbers, dug themselves out all around me. I stopped and moved the candlelight behind me so that it would be just behind those roots. I noticed a shadow of a root behind me pulling back, getting ready to stab me. As soon as it was about to, I swung my sword around and struck it, heard it get slashed off by the blade and land on the ground. Then another root from my right was about to stab me. Without stopping the momentum, I swung the sword around my head and struck the root, cleaving it off. Then the next, and the next.
Leshen was getting hurt and irritated. He decided for a direct approach now, which was my chance. With timid, green light spawned from his staff, he turned himself into a flock of crows that rushed straight at me. I covered my face as to protect the most vital parts. The crows scratched and bounced from my armour and clothes, not doing much damage beside a few scratches and cuts from their beaks and claws. Luckily not managing to hit anything vital, like my eyes.
Then, as I expected, he appeared behind me to grab me in his claws so that I am kept in place. My sword was already pointing behind me and as soon as I saw his shadow materialize behind me, I thrust my sword right where his face would be.
I heard a low, slightly crow-like screech - jackpot. Moving slightly down on my front I steadied myself and bucked him in his face with my rear hooves as hard as I could. He slid out from my sword and stumbled back, letting go of his staff.
Before he could react, I turned around and blasted him with a bunch of flames coming out from my horn, burning him alive. He screeched louder now, but still in that low, trembling tune that you could feel piercing your heart and soul, echoing and resonating inside your chest. I kept going though, cooking him to be about well-done, but since I'm no cook, he ended up being burned to a crisp. Once on fire and without the staff, he was at my mercy and soon enough he screeched no more.
I stopped my magic and looked down in front of me. Scorched roots and a dead leshen, as well as a bunch of grass blades on fire all around him, quickly spreading.
My magic fire is slightly different than normal fire. At first it burns deep red until it eventually turns into that orange hue of a typical fire. I quickly stomped it away as to not create a fire hazard.
After it was done I put my warsword back to its scabbard and let out a sigh of relief. It was a bit tiring, not gonna lie.
This was clearly an inexperienced leshen, a very young one I assume. Still, a formidable opponent. Now I would normally glue any facts together, but I have something more important to do.
"HEY! Where you are?! To me right now, feather-brain!", I shouted around the forest.
Like a good dog, she flew from the trees' crowns down on the ground and landed in front of me, looking slightly terrified, but also very relieved. Eh, not that dogs can fly or anything, but that she listened to my call, obviously. I'm not stupid.
"You do that again and I will tie you up, is that clear?", I told her.
She simply nodded and said quietly, "I didn't expect you to be this, uh, skilful. Eh, normally I'd be amazed and all, but we need to find any ponies that, uhm, might still be alive.", she said, looking over at that pool of a massacre, having a sickly, dizzy face.
I simply nodded, seems to be the best course of action now. I walked forth, closer to those lifeless lumps and shouted.
"Hello! Anypony around?! It's safe now!"
"Over here!", somepony shouted not that far away and we walked there. Correction, I walked there, that featherbrain rushed there quickly as if hoping to do anything to help them. I sighed and started to trot, hoping that lass won't get in trouble again on purpose.
We came to the source of that shout and looked upon eight stallions all with crude weapons that mainly consisted of pitchforks, some had swords even. A few of them, about three or four, were lying on the ground, severely wounded.
"I- is that thing dead?", one stallion asked, looking like their leader. Besides that, he looked like he pissed his pants, honestly.
"Yeah yeah, all dead. Give me space.", I said and quickly walked up to the ones that were wounded, first to the one that was losing the most blood.
Two stallions beside him looked at me weird, but did not stop me. I glanced at the wounded guy.
Two holes, one at the chest, one at the side. Beside a huge loss of blood, he looks like he might pull through. Nevertheless, I lowered my horn to those gaping holes filled with blood and worked my healing magic on them. I heard some of those stallions say something, but I'm not quite sure what it was. While casting that spell I need to seriously concentrate. After half a minute or so he was healed, but his body still did not register full recovery and thus he was still in pain. Mild pain, but pain nonetheless.
I got up and moved to another one and then another one. Done my magic on both of them, requiring slightly less energy as their damage was not as severe, but it still was plenty tiring. I finished the last one, opened my eyes and noticed him asleep. Hah, almost looked like a scene from some fairy tale, just with reversed roles. I was not going to kiss him though, I don't kiss ouchies.
I stood up and felt my legs turn to jelly. I slightly gasped in surprise and was sure I'd end up on my side, but that feather-brain lass was beside me, securing me with her side and wing around me.
"Are you alright?", she quickly asked me, her voice filled with honest worry.
"Y-yeah. Spell's tiring, 'tis all.", I said, feeling the effect of this exertion on myself now. I moved my weight away from her side and on my hooves again, not needing the help anymore, but her wing still stayed over my back. In my vision I noticed that leader guy walking to me, so I faced him.
"I honestly don't know what you did, but it seems you've saved some of us twice. I thank you greatly, if it weren't for you, we all would have wound up dead.", he said, with sincerity in his voice and a light nod of his head.
"Yes, you would be. What came over your minds to attack a leshen? We are lucky he was a young one, otherwise I would have been dead too, probably.", I said, feeling it a bit tiring to talk and stand at the same time, my head hanging a bit lower than usually.
"Well, it was giving us a lot of problems, we had to take action-"
"Okay okay, c'mon, we've set up camp not far away from here. We can talk there. Take the wounded, but do it carefully. I healed them, but I'm not perfect at it, they might still have something broken, so keep an eye on them.", I said simply.
He nodded and ordered few of his men to do as I said. Meanwhile that feather-brain was guiding me back to the camp, saying nothing at all to me. Hm, I like this nickname.
While we were walking back those stallions were quietly talking, but no idea about what. I'm too tired for that. I looked to the feather gal and said.
"You should go find your brother. He didn't go with us."
"First I sit you by the camp. We're almost there.", she said firmly.
"Go, find him. I'm alright, I've had worse."
"Doesn't mean you have to go through the worst. Be quiet now.", she insisted. I sighed and let her carry me.
After a short while we noticed the light from my campfire and her brother sitting there, attending to the stew. So he wasn't being useless after all.
He noticed us and ran up to us. "Oh, you're both safe, thank the gods."
"Thank her. All her doing.", she said and lead me to the fire and sat me down. I felt like a sack of potatoes and sighed like one.
Other earth ponies gathered around and some set up a secondary fireplace. Their leader sat beside me and said, "Thank you again. If there is any way I can repay you, please, say so."
"Well", I sighed again, "I usually take money for those monsters, but I already did the job. Feels somewhat cheap to ask for that now. Let's say we will see later. Are you from the village up west?"
"Yes, we are.", he simply replied, to which I leaned back a bit, confused.
"Then what are you doing here? That village is still a bit away from here, no?"
"That son of a bitch lead us here. Made us think he was weak, so rather than letting him lick his wounds, we had decided to finish him. It seems he wanted to cut us away from any possible retreat and then began his attack. This forest is too thick in this area to just run and get out of it from here. We were trapped like fish in a net."
"Hm, at least you have courage to admit it. I've met too many ponies that would just try to act tough.", I said and looked at the pot, seeing that pegasus guy stirring it and replying to some other earth pony stallion what is in the stew. I hope he isn't planning on sharing, there is barely enough for three ponies, if one can call half a bowl of stew enough. It's not a big pot.
"You took this monstrosity down alone, I'm not going to fluff things out of proportion in front of you.", he chuckled slightly.
"Glad to hear that. You guys have any way to sleep out here?"
"No, but we will manage. We have to now, since we've been played like fools."
"I will help you build shelter.", I said and started to stand up when I heard my favourite pegasus shout in her feminine voice.
"NO!"
I looked in her direction and saw her walking to me from attempting to help some wounded pony. She walked up to me and said, "You sit here and dare not to even move a muscle no more! You barely could stand!"
"Tough shit, you told me to help, didn't you?" Hah, feels nice to get back on your own words, eh?~"
She huffed rather adorably. "Don't use my words against me and keep your ass down. Brother, get her my hammock, after she is done eating she will sleep in it."
Hammock? Also, it would be good if they were to address each other by names, would have reminded me of them at least.
"She will take mine, it's alright.", he said, to which she simply nodded. He, on the other hoof, got to his bag and started taking out some sort of rolled up woollen cloth.
His sister came to me and started taking apart my accessories and I was quick to protest. "Ey, ey, what gives?"
"Relax, I'm just going to put those aside so you can feel more comfortable.", she continued to struggle to take off my scabbard.
I shrugged, used my magic to unbutton and loosen any straps that needed that so that she can do what she wants. She took my bags and weapons and put them by a tree. I decided to be nice for once and when she was done I said.
"Thank you."
She smiled at me and went on to take care of wounded earth ponies. Meanwhile other earth ponies were talking with each other, but I wasn't feeling like eavesdropping currently.
Then their leader beside me said, "You've got some nice, thoughtful friends."
"They aren't my friends. I'm their escort."
"Oh, I see. Well, they are nice either way. Where are you heading to?"
"To your village, they are troubadours, but wanted some protection on the road due to all that war happening nearby."
"Ah that. We've lost half of our stallions in that war already.", he said, sounding depressed.
"You were attacked or they volunteered?", I asked and looked to him. He was looking down at his hooves, ears pulled back.
"Neither. Enemy army came to our village and simply took half of them. If we were to fight back, they would have torched the place. We had to do it. There went our blacksmith, half of our farmhooves and my son too.", he now looked even worse, and then added with a scoff, "And now we had this monster to deal with. Oh, life isn't easy. Maybe those troubadour friends of yours are what we would need there right now, actually."
Hmpf, not friends.
"Just remember they don't work for free.", I said.
"Does anybody? Oh, well, you did now, sort of, but you have my word I will not let you leave our village without at least being properly fed and having a good bed to sleep on."
"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the words, but I don't believe them. I've been scammed too many times to just believe something like that. If you are sincere however, I will be greatly pleased and surprised. Positively surprised.", I said with a small smile. He nodded to me, putting up a smile as well.
Then my male pegasus friend bumped into me from my other side as he was sitting and said, while pointing to some trees. Wait, not friend, my male pegasus idiot. That's more like it. I don't like him.
"Your hammock is ready, m'lady~."
He was pointing at a piece of soft looking cloth tied against two trees. I looked to him and asked.
"Okay and what does it do?"
"You sleep on it. It's a standard for us pegasi. We like to sleep on trees, sooooo some smart pegasus came up with an idea to put bed and tree together! And here it is - hammock!"
"And how do I get up there? I don't have wings.", I lightly smirked at him.
"I will fly you up there then.", he shrugged with a smile. I simply rolled my eyes and looked aside.
He nudged me and asked, "So, maybe a little song to lighten the mood? Appreciate it, I usually want payment for those." He smiled teasingly.
"I am your protection. It should be you paying me in gold.", I said with a playful smile.
He chuckled lightly.
"Yeah right. If you were a stallion, gold for a song would have sufficed, but I don't ask of gold from mares~." He grinned at me and made his eyebrows go up and down.
I felt myself froze and burn on the face yet again. He simply laughed and added, "Don't worry! This one's on the house~."
And so he started playing that lute of his. He used his wing on the elongated part and near the egg-shaped one. Looked quite hard in my eyes. He also sprung up some little singing. His voice was, and I'm having hard time admitting it, quite lovely. It was just between a very high or a very low voice, perfectly capturing all the variety of notes and tones he had to hit, while having an up-beat and cheery feel to it. Everypony seemed to quite enjoy the music, warming them up just as well as the fireplaces shining lights in every direction, separating us from the pitch dark forest.
Once he was done with his little music spectacle everypony clapped their hooves. I refrained from it, simply to not make him think it was anything special to me, just to maybe tease him with it later. In all truthfulness, that song was really nice. I couldn't help but smile hearing it. It warmed up every inch of my body while it was resonating perfectly with his voice, like two leaves dancing around, slowly falling onto a lake and moving along with the current, while both avoiding each other and not strafing too far away. It felt good, lively, happy, cheerful, do I even know other words to describe it? Could be tough.
I noticed him smiling at me, probably awaiting my verdict. I simply nodded.
"Mhhmmm, good enough, quite alright." Unable to help myself, but crack a smile, a teasing, playful one.
He immediately knew what I was up to. He nudged me again with a chuckle and said, "Sure, missy~."
Then, I noticed his sister handing me a bowl of that stew and said, "Here you go, eat first."
"Uh, n-no, give it to other ponies. I'm alright.", I said, slightly uncomfortable, being told to eat while others might not only be more hungry than me, but also need it more. I can last without food and it's not like I won't have any anyway.
"Eat.", she said firmly and added, "Others might have not had a chance to enjoy a meal if it weren't for you. Now eat."
I sighed and took the bowl in my hooves, better not to strain my magic further. I got it closer to my lips and slipped a bit in my mouth. Thick, salty and lumpy, but still better than eating flatbreads and salami. I quickly finished my bowl and sighed.
"My my, hungry, were we~?", feather-brain beside me asked with a smirk.
I lightly hit him with a bowl on his head, at which he just giggled.
"Sure.", I replied with a smile and leaned back a bit, supporting myself with my front hooves behind me, firmly on the ground.
I looked up, trying to see the moon up in the sky, but not only had I seen no moon, there was also a thick layer of clouds. Still, it didn't matter. It was a peaceful night. I started hearing the crickets in the background along with other ponies talking. Seems the forest has woken up from this leshen's rule.
Oh, and how godly it was. Cold air tickling your fur with that light breeze carrying it along every strand of hair. That smell at night was also something different. If you were to tell me few months ago that day and night smell differently I would have laughed. Now, I feel the difference. Sun is bright, blinding and it pierces though your fur like hot blades. Night though? Night is calm, it's gentle. It's just so peaceful. I feel just amazing sitting at night. So amazing that I slowly felt myself doze off.
Just this fireplace is weirdly resonating with the atmosphere. On one hoof, it greatly adds to the enjoyment, giving you that slight warmth that contrasts perfectly with a cold, freezing night, giving you a perfect mix of both. On the other, it's really blinding and the sound of cracking firewood just isn't what I enjoy.
I blinked and looked around, my vision slightly skewed, angled to the side. I raised my head and looked around, noticing that pegasus grinning at me. Why was he- oh, no. My vision was skewed. I dozed off on his shoulder.
I awaited it, something from him, a tease, a word. But I've been awarded with nothing of that sort. Rather than that, he nudged his head to point at a hammock and asked me with a really soft, understanding voice that I felt echo deep in my chest, warming me up better than any fireplace.
"Need a lift up there?"
That was unexpected from him. Maybe he was tired too? O-or he was meaning on getting to the hammock with me?! N-no, Astrala, relax. He definitely did not think that. You can't know a pony after, what, two days? It's impossible. Don't be rude.
I nodded to him. He flew up and above me, grabbed me under my shoulders and lifted me up. It felt slightly weird, but I was too tired to think anything more than that. He set me in a hammock and after it felt like it would just snap under me, I stopped going down and I was sitting in it. It was really soft and warm, filled with some sort of puffy cotton or wool or something of that sort, but was greatly unusual. It felt like I was disappearing in it, it was very elastic and so it moved down with my weight a great distance. Still, it held me pretty well.
"Sleep well.", he said after setting me there and flew back down. I lied down on it, again thinking it would just go down with me, giving me a back massage by falling on a bare forest ground filled with nature's blossoms, but no, it kept my weight. That hammock is weird, but also quite comfortable.
Before I knew it I had fallen asleep, quite content. |
Nightmares of the Heart | pre | "Yes, but it's difficult to read if you didn't cast the spell to make it so, it warps proportions a lot so telling distances is awkward." Twilight answered, pulling the thing out and showing it. The thing looked like a large line with a circle at one end. As they were walking, the line inched forward ever so slightly.
"That's cool." Dawn said.
"I didn't know you had one of those, the spell fell out of practice long ago and the only blank maps are lost." Celestia said.
"I found it in the restricted section about a year ago, the pages were scattered but I pieced it together." Twilight explained.
"What kind of other things have you learned that I don't know about?" Celestia asked.
"I don't know, probably a lot. I spent a whole year restoring, piecing together the pages of and learning from ancient and destroyed texts. I didn't exactly like all of it, some if it was incredibly dark and dangerous..." Twilight answered.
"Some things were destroyed for a reason... I trust your judgement on what you released, learned from and kept secret." Celestia said.
"I actually put one up in flames again after I figured out what it was... You don't want to know, either." Twilight said, shivering at the thought of it.
"Oh that one... I remember ripping the pages out of it and ripping those in half three times before scattering them about the restricted area." Luna said, shivering as well.
"If it disturbs the both of you that much then I certainly don't want to know..." Celestia said.
"Anyways, you said you learned about plenty of dark magics. I invented at least half of them, what sort of things can you do?" Luna asked.
"I read and learned everything from the big unnamed tome of black magic, the one with a moon engraved into the cover. There was a book on witchcraft that was actually not the slightest bit evil, an assortment of scattered scrolls... Oh, there was this one that had nothing on the cover at all. It was full of weaponized magic and dark magic. There was a warning inside of the cover explaining that they weren't to be used even to defend oneself in times of peace." Twilight explained, stopping to think.
"I know the tome and the book of witchcraft, you'll have to tell me what was on the scrolls... But that last book is dangerous, Twilight. That was the magic Celestia and I developed very early in our lives, when Equestria was full of war. It may be a good thing you learned it here, though, if it is as dangerous as Ryu said." Luna said.
"Those were dark times..." Celestia said lowly.
"Don't worry, I don't think I'd even want to use them unless we were dying." Twilight said.
"I think we would have to use them in that situation as well..." Celestia agreed.
"Let's hope you don't, then. I've got this sinking feeling in my gut..." Twilight said softly.
"Why is that?" Dawn asked.
"Wasn't the treeline between us and the spire five minutes ago?" Twilight said, pointing to where the spire seemed to have crept up on them. Its shadow was over them before they stopped.
"That... Shouldn't be here... Perhaps the treeline was a mirage?" Luna suggested.
"That would be logical... but if we all saw the same thing..." Celestia started.
"This world is strange and ever changing, at least according to you and Ryu. I wouldn't put it past it to mess with our minds." Dawn said, looking up at the massive dark thing. They started walking towards it, but Twilight's step faltered and she nearly fell over.
"What's wrong?" Celestia asked, catching her.
"I-I... I don't know... Just... All of a sudden my entire body started hurting... Agh, my head hurts so much..." Twilight said in a mish-mash way, holding her head. She dropped to her knees after a moment and yelled out, as if in pain. Celestia was rushing to help her back up and find out what was wrong, but they all gaped in awe as what looked like stubs or joints slowly protruded from the girl's back. They stopped growing after a certain point, but it seemed as if nearly half of of wing frame had formed. There was blood oozing slowly from where the things protruded, the red staining her shirt above it.
"T-Twilight?... Twilight?!" Celestia called, horrified.
"It's alright sister, she just passed out. Let's get into this spire thing and see if there's any way we can find out what's wrong in there." Luna said, putting a hand on her sister's shoulder.
"A-Alright..." Celestia said after a moment, picking the girl up bridal style and quickly walking towards the hulking structure.
"Come on sis, if she's any bit like me besides looks she's fine." Dawn said, catching up to Celestia.
"I... I guess you're right... It's just... This place is so dangerous... If there's anything wrong with her it could cost her life or ours... And if anything happens to us here, it happens back in our world.
They made their way closer to the spire and found that the extreme heat the desert had been giving off was now a strange chill. Twilight moved in her unconscious state, making a grumbling noise.
"It appears she is stirring. We should perhaps wait until she wakes up before we enter." Luna suggested.
"Alright." Celestia said, setting the girl down against the wall of the spire. The odd half-formed frames on her back twitched oddly before her eyes opened a few moments later.
"What... What was that?" She asked, putting a hand to her head.
"We don't really know... We've reached the spire, though." Dawn said. Twilight turned around to see the structure she was leaning on was in fact the spire. She also noticed her new appendages.
"That's... new..." She said after a few moments.
"We'll try and figure out what's wrong when we get to the top." Celestia said, pulling the girl to her feet.
"Um... Alright... I guess... They hurt, though, and I can feel them..." Twilight said, swaying a bit on her feet.
"Well, if they are what I think they are, they're only partially formed. If they continue forming how they have, you might be in for a lot of pain. Try moving them." Luna said.
Twilight nodded and concentrated. It was a few moments, but the things twitched a few times.
"It doesn't look like most of the muscles and ligaments have formed yet, We'll figure out what's causing this if we can, but first let's get to the top of this thing." Celestia said, finding a small entrance nearly hidden by perspective.
"Can you walk alright? You seem a bit woozy..." Dawn asked.
"Oh, you know... Suddenly what might be wing frames burst out of my back in the single most painful thing I've ever experienced." Twilight said sarcastically, stumbling a bit as she took another step.
"Well don't be an ass about it and let me help you." Celestia said with a light laugh, throwing the girl's arm over her shoulder. They made their way up the spiraling ramp that was the interior of the spire. They assumed there would be many floors, but as they trudged up the thing for more than ten minutes straight they realized the top was probably the only floor.
They finally reached the massive doors after fifteen minutes and found it unlocked and practically open already.
"The material this thing is made of looks like obsidian, yet these hinges are smashed apart..." Dawn said, examining the door.
"It's not obsidian... Do you feel that?" Luna said, putting a hand on the wall.
"It's solidified magical energy..." Twilight said.
"It is..." Celestia agreed.
"Well then that gives me even more reason to worry about the fact that these pure solidified magical energy hinges are smashed to dust." Dawn said.
"I don't think I want to find whatever did it..." Luna said.
"I'm going to have to agree with you on that one... Let's check inside, though... I have a feeling this door wasn't broken into; but out of." Celestia said.
"I can walk on my own now..." Twilight said when Celestia helped her back to her feet from where she had sat down against the wall. Celestia nodded and they cautiously made their way into the room. It was relatively clean, save a few demolished pieces of furniture. There was something carved into the wall between two gilded doors. Celestia, Luna and Dawn looked at it with concern.
"This prison can't hold me any longer... My mark on this place has been carved. This world will go mad, and every other world with it." Twilight shakily read, as if she barely understood it. The other three were surprised by this.
"Twilight, you can read these glyphs?" Celestia asked.
"Barely... I don't remember any books on them though..." Twilight replied.
"This language died off thousands of years ago... At least, for the most part. It's a verbal representation of a very specific type of magical power only known to people like us." Luna said.
"So you ARE getting wings... cool." Dawn said, poking at the maimed frame on Twilight's back.
"That really hurts you know..." Twilight grumbled.
"Are you tired?" Celestia asked.
"More like exhausted... If you didn't notice, the sun fell faster than we thought it would..." Twilight said, pointing to a window where the starless sky could be seen.
"But it was at least an hour until nightfall when we entered the spire..." Luna said.
"Perhaps we were going up that ramp longer than we thought... Or the days are slightly shorter..." Dawn said with a shrug. "Now, back to the crisis at hand, Twilight understands the ancient tongue." She continued.
"What does the message mean exactly?" Twilight asked.
"There is one like us, kind of like DIscord, but instead of chaos he was enveloped in madness. He was paranoid and cruel, closer to evil than any villainous creature you've seen before." Celestia explained.
"What was his name?" Twilight asked.
"Nobody knows. Everyone called him Asura, though we know that's not his real name. We only knew him for a short time before he was consumed by madness and we destroyed him." Luna replied.
"And I can read the language he used, why?" Twilight asked.
"Not completely sure, but perhaps you're starting to becoming nearly as powerful as we are. That's the only thing I can think of." Celestia answered.
"And if you're growing wings, that only adds to it." Dawn piped in.
"I guess it does." Celestia agreed.
"Sister, you do recognize these doors... Right?" Luna said from where she stood with a hand on one of the two large doors in which the message was carved between. It had a lunar eclipse carved into it. Dawn walked over to it and she apparently recognized it too.
The door Celestia and Twilight were in front of was identical except for the carving. It was a solar eclipse.
"Why, it's our chambers. From the old castle. I need to see what this place really is." Celestia said and her hands started glowing with her brilliant magic. She quickly, almost faster than the other three could follow, drew a string of glyphs in the air. When she finished she gained a look of deep concentration.
"This isn't any normal material... It's pure solidified dark magical energy." She started. She gasped when she looked at Twilight. "And an amount of that energy is slowly being siphoned off by small pockets of the same energy in varying places in your body..." She continued to Twilight.
"That... That would explain why this change happened when we got close to the spire..." Luna said.
"I've used this spell to examine you before, Twilight, but I don't think I've ever seen these pockets of energy..." Celestia said.
"Maybe entering this world with us somehow unlocked the potential for this change to happen... But that potential would have to had been there in the first place." Dawn said. The three looked at her.
"Alright... Me understanding an ancient language, an excruciatingly painful transformation that will probably be slow going and even more painful... And some ultimate evil at the end of an assumed epic quest... All of that I can handle... That's probably because I'm exhausted and can barely think straight..." Twilight started, putting a hand over her face as she leaned against a wall.
"I'll probably freak out tomorrow morning, but that can wait until I can sleep. Celestia, if this is your old chambers I'm stealing your bed." She continued after a few moments. She proceeded to push open the doors and walk in. Celestia laughed softly and followed her. |
Nightmares of the Heart | UPDATE:canceled/kinda | To those few of you still following this story, wondering if it'll ever get an update, the answer to that will have to be no. I'm cancelling this story, but instead of having the idea behind it die off I'm using it in a different story. It's not Twilestia like this one, but the whole idea of Twilight and a princess being sucked into a desolate world full of forgotten and dangerous things will be a major part of it. When the Night Beckons was originally intended to be a short and sweet little story based around the concept of the role of Twilight's mentor changing from Celestia to Luna. There will be Twiluna, it is humanized, but most importantly there will be badassery. |
Who's Afraid of a Rainbow? | pre | The fragrant smell of spiced oatmeal awoke a monster in his stomach, which woke him up. There was a bowl of water and a washcloth on a stool next to the bed. After he cleaned himself up and looked presentable, he slipped under the curtain and into the main room.
"Ah, you woke up a little early, breakfast isn't quite ready," a voice whispered. The voice belonged to a pretty, white unicorn, Rarity, he reminded himself.
He surveyed the room; the other ponies and zebra were still asleep in makeshift beds or hammocks around the room. He tip-hoofed over to her, "It smells delicious."
"Thank you, darling. Pinkie told us you are good with spices, maybe you could lend me a hoof with this?" She gestured to the large pot. "I figured this would be better for a larger group than a more complex breakfast."
"He dipped a small spoon in and tasted it, "A little heavy on the sugar, some ground sunflower seeds should balance it out nicely." With a smile, he added, "and maybe have a small bowl of sugar left out for those who like it sweeter, like Pinkie."
"Pinkie Pie does love her sugar." Her horn glowed and a small bowl was filled with sugar and floated over to the table. He watched as he ground sunflower seeds. I'm not jealous, not at all, well maybe a little bit.
Something must have shown on his face, as Rarity grabbed the bowl, cut off her magic, and carried it to the table.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him, "I can't imagine what it's like to be without magic for so long."
"I try not to think about it. I don't mind if you use it, really. I miss it, but I like the feel of doing things with my hooves. I've gotten pretty good at it."
Rarity blushed and gave a small ladylike cough, "Yes, mhmm. Breakfast is almost done cooking, would you be a dear and get down bowls while I wake everypony up?"
"Sure."
After four bowlfuls of oatmeal satiated the monster in his stomach, he let out a contented sigh and noticed he was the last to finish eating, and that all the girls were staring at him.
"Are ya done, or are ya gonna get another bowl? You eat more'an Big Mac does after applebuck season."
"Where does all of it go, he doesn't have flabby legs or anything?"
"Wow, I bet he's got a black hole in his tummy or something."
"You know I can hear you, right?"
Twilight let out a small cough, "So, Root Strider, I have some more questions for you if that's okay?"
"Only if our deal is still in affect?"
"Sure. Most of my questions have been answered by Zecora while you were... out. So, since your home was accidentally destroyed, are you going to move into town?"
"Oh, umm, I hadn't really thought about it. I initially came here to Zecora's to work out a plan, but I think I'm ready to officially move into Ponyville."
Zecora beamed at him, happy that she wouldn't have to convince him to stay.
"Okay, so my question, I know the majority of my magic is gone, and I can't control what's left of my magic, but can outside influences control or use the magical energy?"
Twilight was thrown off, she wasn't expecting a magical theory question, "Err, I'm not sure. There are cases where a stronger magical creature took control of a unicorn's magic. There is also the case of large scale rituals, where a group of weaker unicorns lend there power to the lead unicorn who shapes the much larger energies into larger spells. I'd have to research more into it."
"Alright, don't worry about researching, it's nothing, I've just got a hunch on my streak of bad luck. Your turn."
"Ah got a question." The orange mare, Applejack, spoke up.
"Fine, go ahead," Twilight grumbled.
"Well, first off, I should apologize fer jumping on you and exposing a painful memory for ya. It weren't right to snoop about in your private affairs."
"Thank you, and apology accepted. It wasn't the way I wanted it to come out, but it's a weight off my chest. So, your question?"
"Ah mean no offence when ah say this, but, how are you gonna pay for your new house?"
"Ah, yes, I forgot about that. I have a small sum of bits with me here, and I've been saving at the Baltimare First Central Bank. About a years worth of royalties for all my books should be enough. How long would a transfer of bits from there to here take?"
Rainbow Dash spoke up, "It depends on which pony you send. There is the elderly gentlecolt who will take about a month, there and back. We also have a pegasus mailmare, she will take anywhere from a week to a month depending on if she gets lost."
"You have a mailmare who gets lost?"
"It's not her fault, She has a condition that makes her wall-eyed. She does her best."
"Wait, that sounds familiar, does she have a grey coat and yellow mane?"
"You know Ditzy?"
"Yeah, she helped me out at the end of last winter, I was up in a northern mountain range getting a rare flower. Long story short, I got caught in a snowstorm, she saw me and pulled me out. Apparently she was sent south to help the birds get back, but she went the wrong way. She said she wasn't used to going places without an address, and then something about missing her muffin, and her muffins before she flew off."
"Ah, that might be a bit confusing. Her muffin is Dinky, her adopted daughter, and her muffins are, well, muffins. She loves 'em both."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense."
"What did you say about royalties? Are you an author?" Twilight was uncomfortably close, excitement plastered on her face.
He backed away slightly, "Ah, yes, I have written a few books, a guide on various spices, gardening manuels, guides to natural medicines. Only one got any publicity though. It's called Supernaturals: natural remedies and cure-alls that are simply super. Have you heard of it?"
Twilight's eye twitched as she heard the title, "Ah, yes I have read some of it," She said in a forced sweet voice, her horn softly glowed, "I just have one question for you," The other girls looked at each other nervously as the pillow was sneaking up on Root Strider, "Why-" Smack, "did-" Smack, "you-" Smack, "give it such an easily misinterpreted title!?" Smack.
"Ow, hey! Ooomph!" He got a mouthful of pillow, "Ith wahf fetty freefenge."
"What?"
"Phoo- bleh. I said, it was petty revenge, against a snobby unicorn up in Manehattin. He had said that earth ponies have no magic of their own, so I titled my book in a way that would emphasize the magic that earth ponies can do through natural remedies that are simply, magical. Plus, I called it Supernaturals since most unicorns who would pick it up have been taught that the word Supernatural almost always equals fake." Smack. He grabbed the pillow, "I guess that you didn't find the title amusing?
"No, because of a misunderstanding, all six of us spent a day panicking about poison joke. We even thought Zecora had cursed us." Smack.
"Alright, I'm sorry about the title, I'm sorry, please stop hitting me."
Twilight released her magic, "I feel a lot better now, who knew hitting somepony with a pillow was so stress relieving."
"Happy to be of assistance." Root Strider retorted, only slightly sarcastically. He grinned, "Do any of you know how to bake? I want to make up a batch for Ditzy as thanks."
As one, they all turned towards Pinkie Pie, whose smile was threatening to split her face in half. "Of course I can bake, I work at Sugercube Corner. Yes, I'll make you some super-duper thank-you-for-saving-me muffins!" In the time it takes to blink, Pinkie was next to Root Strider, pulling him out of his chair. Her voice became gruff, "Come wiv' me if you vant to bake!"
"Whoa, wait a minute Pinkie." He said from the floor, as Pinkie was literally dragging him to the cooking area, "I need to figure out where I'm going to be living for the time being first."
"Well, Ah might be able t'solve that problem. It's Zapapple season, an we usually employ some extra help. There's a spare room in the barn's loft, an two good meals a day, plus pay, if'n you're willing to work."
Root Strider sat up, "That sounds good, but if you want to work Zapapples, there's a talented pony you should find, she's the best, hooves down, at working Zapapples. She taught me everything I know about them."
"We already got the best at working Zapapples, we just need a few extra hooves."
"Seriously, you should at least get into contact with her, I assure you she's better than whoever you have. I don't know what you've heard, but Zapapples can be extremely dangerous. Ponies could get hurt!"
"Are you implyin' that we're reckless? We take every caution cause we got the master of Zapapples with us!"
"I'm not implying anything, I'm suggesting you get into contact with her for your own good!" They were muzzle to muzzle, just below shouting levels.
They both shouted at each other, "I don't care who you've got. Nopony is better with Zapapples than Granny Smith!" at the same time.
They paused, looked at each other in confusion, then burst out laughing. "We were arguing about the same pony!" Root Strider fell over, unable to breathe.
After a short break to catch their breathe, Applejack asked, "How do ya know Granny Smith? You said you learned from her, but Ah've never met you before."
"It was about a year ago, I learned about Granny Smith's Zapapple jam, so I wrote to her. I used to write to her every other week, but lately it's been once a month or so. She's sent seeds, zapapples, jam, her ideas on different applications, and don't worry, as per her terms, I haven't told anyone else about it. Now I'm curious, how do you know Granny Smith?" He said as he sat back down at his seat.
"She's my grandma."
Such a simple statement, yet it caused a chain reaction of thoughts in Root Strider. Blood rushed away from his face as he realized he had been arguing with Granny Smith's granddaughter, then blood raced back to his face as he remembered the last letter Granny Smith sent to him, a letter about her granddaughter and how he really ought to meet her and how well they would get along, and he choked, his chair flew up into the air.
"Y-you are Granny Smith's granddaughter?" He said from the floor.
"Ayuup, you got a problem with that?"
"Ah, no, no problem at all. I'll take you up on that job offer."
"Hows about I help you up first."
"Thanks. You know, Granny Smith talks about you a lot in her letters. Your bravery, strength of character, determination that borderlines stubbornness, and your honesty. she talks about how proud she is of you and that you are an honest pony. I swear, it's almost as if she thinks honesty is your special talent. It isn't, is it?"
Applejack's cheeks glowed brighter which each compliment, "Aww shucks, it ain't my special talent, just my Element."
"Your what?"
"My Element."
"I don't understand, your what now?
"Twilight, explain it for 'im, your in fer a shocker." His eyes turned to Twilight.
"Alright, but promise you won't freak out or anything."
"Why would I freak out?"
"Just promise."
"Alright," He placed a hoof on his chest, "I promise on Celestia's sun I will not 'freak out' about what you are going to tell me. Good enough?"
She nodded, "What Applejack means is the she wields one of the Elements of Harmony, the Element of Honesty to be exact. All six of us do: Rainbow Dash's is Loyalty, Rarity's is Generosity, Pinkie Pie's is Laughter, Fluttershy's is Kindness, and mine is Magic."
"Wait, wait, wait. You mean to tell me that you six are the bearers of the Elements? The greatest heroes since the time of Starswirl? Who have defeated Discord, chaos incarnate, defeated a changling horde, and returned Princess Luna to her rightful place and state of mind? Those bearers of the Elements of Harmony?" With each nod, he grew paler and paler, "Zecora, is it true?" His eyes pleading for her to burst out laughing and it to be a big joke.
"It is true, all they have said to you."
"Well, Rarity, could you grab me that pillow, please?"
"Whatever for?" the pillow gently floated behind him.
"Like I promised, I'm not gonna freak out." Pomf.
"You didn't say he couldn't pass out." Pinkie giggled.
"At least he didn't run away." Rainbow Dash chimed in, chuckling at Twilight's grumpy look.
Smack. Twilight smiled. |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | pre | "Sweet! Try to keep up!" And with that, they were off. ***
The rest of the day was an improbable blur of activity and running. In the space of eight hours they had gone mountain climbing, kelp harvesting, blacksmithing, jump-roping, free-running, herb gathering, train-pulling, painting, drinking, dancing, escaping, and all manner of other things. At the end of the day, the farmer and the jokester found themselves headed back to the farm. Applejack was carrying a wavy black sword, a dense woven saddle blanket, and a lumpy little clay bowl that she had apparently all made herself that afternoon. Turning to Pinkie, she asked, "What jest happened?"
"We were being earth ponies, silly." said Pinkie, sticking her tongue out.
The two trotted amicably for a ways before Applejack broke the silence. "Ah think Ah get it. It's like the whole a pony experience is open ta an earth pony. We ain't as like ta be defined bah a single trait like pegasi an' unicorns..."
"Oooh! I kinda like that! It's life affirming and only a teensy bit racist. Not what I got out of tonight though."
"An' what did you get, Pinkie?"
"Free cider! Woo!"
"Wait, y'all mean ta say that we didn't pay back at Dodge Junction?"
"We were about to be lynched. Lynch mobs mean the cider's free. It's the rule."
Applejack thought about that for a moment. "That... Makes about as much sense as anythin'."
By the time the ponies had turned up the walk to AJ's home the stars were out in full glimmer. The path to the house was also glimmering with dozens of firefly lanterns. A gauntlet of ponies was standing vigil along each side of the way, glancing eagerly at Applejack. The alicorn stopped short. Nopony moved. Applejack sighed and raised her voice enough to be heard by the entire crowd. "Now, y'all know me an' Ah know most a you. Ah thank ya kindly fer comin' ta greet me home, but Ah don't need this. Y'all've never done anythin' like this fer me before, an' it honestly feels a bit shallow that y'all 're suddenly so interested in me. Ah ain't the kind ta do random favors ta ponies that don't need it 'r deserve it. Y'all should talk ta Rarity about generosity. Now get."
Finally, one of the waiting ponies peeled out of the group and trotted out of the farm. She was soon followed by the rest of the group as they filed one by one past an impassive Applejack. One last pony, Goldengrape by name, stopped beside the majestic alicorn. Applejack refused to give him the pleasure of acknowledging his existence. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead darted towards her wing and tore free a loose feather. Applejack yelped in shock and reared up to buck him in the face, but he had already taken off shouting.
"She gave me a feather! Haha! Losers, she likes me best!"
Applejack shuddered with rage and lit up her horn while flaring her violated wings, but Pinkie placed a hoof on her side, giving her pause. "Stop. He isn't worth it." she said. AJ snorted angrily and looked back at her friend. Pinkie's expression was pleading, and her normally bouncy hair was drooping sadly. "I know it hurts when ponies don't understand you."
This was a side of Pinkie that Applejack had rarely, if ever seen. Slowly, hesitatingly, she diffused the brilliant orange corona around her horn and lowered her wings. Unsure what to do, she wrapped an arm around Pinkie and pulled her into a hug. "Hay now, sugarcube, Ah know it wuz just them bein' dumb. Ah jest let mah temper get away from me. It's been hard."
Pinkie smiled timidly at Applejack. "So you aren't gonna go all Nightmare Apple on 'em and bring about eternal dinnertime?"
"How in tarnation could you think tha- Oh, Ah get it. Haha." Applejack stuck her tongue out at Pinkie. The bubblegum colored mare giggled a bit. "Nah, I'll jest have Mac charge extra when they ask fer apples that've been 'blessed' bah the 'princess'."
"Hehe. Hay, Applejack, I could show you something..."
"What's that?"
"Well, how to feel things. Like the twitches I get. Twilight wanted me to tell her, but I knew she'd think about it too much and it wouldn't work and she'd get all grumpy for days and that would make Spike miserable too and wouldn't do anypony any good."
"Ah... That sounds mighty useful."
"Awesome! Watch me!" Pinkie sat down hard on her haunches and screwed her face up in the fiercest grimace of concentration ever seen. She took a deep breath and relaxed completely. For a few moments she was completely still. Then her hoof started twitching slightly. The twitch moved up her leg and into her barrel. Soon her entire body was jittering slightly and a goofy grin lit up her face. Abrubtly, she opened her eyes and jumped back on all fours like nothing had happened. "Got it?"
"Ah have no idea whut Ah jest saw."
"Oh! Well, I'll try to explain it. It's like everypony has a constant party in their head that other ponies, but not real ones, thoughts that are like ponies, keep crashing so the party is all crazy and lame. You have to stop the music and maybe turn off the lights to let them know they should leave and maybe escort one or two to the door when they don't get the hint. The point is the cake. You can have a birthday party, but it's no good unless there's a cake, it's the whole point, right? So the cake is like you, like the actual you deep down that is who you are when you are sleeping, but you have to wake her up when you're awake so you can talk to her-you. So you wake up the cake and then you can see. But it isn't the awake you that's looking, it's the you that you are when you're asleep that is awake and looking out for you and telling you that something's up! You don't have to wiggle like I did. Unless the asleep you wants to."
"... Ah ken see why ya didn't tell Twilight."
"I know, right?"
"Lemme see if Ah can figure that out." Pinkie's explanation had sounded mostly like gibberish to Applejack, but one point stuck in her mind. Who you are when you're asleep. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. Even concentrating on emptying her head, random thoughts kept butting in and interrupting her focus. Clear out the party. Her breath slowed and then stopped. It wasn't strictly necessary to her anymore, was it? Now to wake up. She looked deep within herself for her center, who she really was. When she found herself, however, She wasn't asleep. There was her in the daytime, little earth pony Applejack, fighting against a world that had suddenly become strange and hostile. And then there was Her at her core, an alicorn, beautiful as the Spring, as terrible as Winter's deepest chill. This part of her was indeed awake already, filling the world with her power like an ancient and unconquerable tree spreading its roots to fill the ground and raising its leaves to capture the sky. The alicorn and the earth pony turned and looked at one another for the first time. A smile filled their faces.
Applejack slowly opened her eyes. The smile on her face was deep and pure. She turned to look at Pinkie, but was prevented by something on her neck. She tried to raise a hoof, but her whole body was trapped. "Uh, Pinkie, why can't Ah move?"
Pinkie bounced around in front of Applejack so she could see her. "Because you're a tree!"
"Ah don't think.. Oh! Wait, Ah can feel it now. Like, Ah mean, it's touchin' me, but Ah know what it is. Come off fellers, momma's gotta go." Slowly, the moss and saplings and shrubs that had sprung up to cover her retreated and sprung back. Applejack gingerly stepped free of the tangle and trotted around to stand by Pinkie. Where she had been sitting was a riot of weeds and plants that were roughly pony shaped and vibrantly alive. Applejack looked at it, and then back to Pinkie. "Pinkie?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Fluttershy 'bout this."
"Yepperoonie." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Eight: Thumos | Chapter Eight: Thumos
The next few days were, for Applejack, an exercise in creepy. It felt like somepony was constantly watching her while she worked. For now Big Macintosh was handling the sales while AJ did most of the physical labor, an inversion of their usual routine during applebucking season. Applejack's recently heightened senses were absolutely wigging out while she was alone though. Every few minutes she would look over her shoulder and just stare, looking for a pony who wasn't there. She could feel the wildlife around her, that didn't bother her. When she felt a squirrel beside her, she could look and see the squirrel. When her senses told her if a ripe looking apple was still too sour, she could bite it and prove it to herself. The phantom pony, however, just wasn't there, even though every fiber of her body was screaming out that it was. If this was what Pinkie felt like every moment of every day, no wonder the mare was crazy.
On the third day, things took a turn for the worse. Objects she would leave lying around would suddenly be close at hoof when she needed them. Apples would sort themselves. Every few hours a glass of cold cider would appear beside her. Whoever this ghost was, at least they were hospitable.
Finally, around four thirty in the afternoon, an entire salad bowl with her favorite dressing just showed up on a stump while her back was turned. Applejack screamed and reared back, stomping the ground with enough force to cause a localized earthquake. The grass and trees for a dozen feet around shot up and out to outrageous proportions. Another scream wailed back at her from somewhere in the jumble of stalks and twigs. Applejack's jaw set harder than a block of granite while her eyes took on a dangerous glow. Stomping through the weeds she came upon a pink-maned, green-furred pegasus tangled in the branches of an apple tree. The pegasus grinned weakly at AJ. "Uh, hi!" she said.
"Merry. May. Whut. In. Tartarus. Are. You. Doin'. In. Mah. Tree!"
"... helping?"
"Y'all nearly scared me ta death! How long have ya been sneakin' about!?"
"all week..."
Applejack shook with barely constrained rage. In a hoarse whisper she asked. "And whut possessed ya ta do that?"
"I wanted to show you that I could be helpful so you'd like me..."
"Well, it ain't workin'." Applejack telekinetically tore the pony from the entangling branches that held her prisoner and continued to hold her as she trotted out of the farm. When she was a short ways from town, Applejack released the hapless pegasus and did an about-face. As she trotted away from her erstwhile stalker, she heard Merry May call out to her, but didn't respond. Never had Applejack felt so furious in her life. She absolutely seethed at the insincerity and flattery of the ponies of Ponyville. As she stomped towards the storage barn the earth blackened under her hooves, accompanied by little wisps of ash. Nearby plants wilted at her anger and she frankly didn't care. She sat down in the mostly empty building, trying to calm down before she broke something, or somepony.
A good half hour later there was a knock at the door. Applejack ignored it. A timid, wavery voice called out from the other side. "Hay Applejack. I-I'm sorry if I upset you. I got you something to apologize." Silence. "I guess I'll leave it here."
Applejack waited until she heard the flapping of a departing pegasus before retrieving the gift. It turned out to be a basket of chocolates and edible flowers. Snorting in displeasure, she grabbed a chocolate orange out of the basket and started munching on it. Admittedly, it made her feel a bit better. It still felt insincere, but at least it was tasty insincerity. Sighing, she turned back to the orchard. There was plenty more to do today. She had just gotten the apple baskets laid out under a row of trees when Big Macintosh galloped up all in a lather.
"Sis, be ready."
"What's that supposed ta mean?" She looked back in the direction that her brother was staring. A horde of ponies could be seen in the distance marching along the path. In the front of the procession was somepony holding a hastily made banner that read, "Cheer up the Princess Parade!" A certain pink and green somepony. All the stress, insanity, betrayal, frustration, confusion, and empty flattery of the last couple of weeks boiled up in Applejack as her eyes narrowed to pinpricks. Big Mac backed away, slowly at first, then at a gallop. Applejack threw back her head and let out a scream of rage that shook the very foundations of the world and perforated the air above her. She extended her wings to their fullest breadth and rose into the air, carried on a wave of pure magic. As she rose, glowing green and orange with foxfire and magic, the earth around the farm rumbled and shifted aside as massive brambles shot up from the dirt, peeling aside the fences and gates. They snaked to impossible heights and criss-crossed the skies overhead. Within moments the entire farm was covered in a dome of thorns. Not a single space was left where even the smallest pony could squeeze through.
As soon as the dreadful spell was complete, all the color drained out of the exhausted alicorn. The sound of her falling was far too quiet for anypony to hear. ***
Far off in Canterlot, two sets of ears perked up then immediately flattened. The Sun and Moon shared a glance that pierced stone and earth from opposite sides of the palace. ***
Outside Sweet Apple Acres, an impromptu parade found itself suddenly stymied. Merry May dropped her cheerful banner in shock. There had been some horrible, unnatural keening noise, and then this massive barrier of thorns showed up. Was... Was Princess Applejack ok? The pegasus looked behind herself at the ponies assembled. There were quite a few of them looking at her expectantly. It honestly made her feel very important, kinda like Mayor Mare or Pinkie Pie. She'd never been paid any serious attention before now. The mare drew herself up to the fullest of her little frame. As the official... well... unofficial-official hoofmaiden of the new Princess, it was her duty to rescue her if she was in trouble. She could make up for whatever she had done wrong this morning. "E-everypony!" Dozens of eyes gazed at her. "Th-the Princess needs our help! She has been trapped by an evil enchantress and it is up to us to break through and revive her!" She actually had no idea, but it sounded right. Wasn't that the plot of Sleeping Handsome?
Trotting up to the barrier, she started gnawing and pulling at one of the nasty tasting weeds. The stems were a lot tougher than they seemed. The rest of the group started pitching in, but it felt like no progress was being made. After a few minutes of this, a unicorn galloped up from behind the group and charged at the thorns at a dead run. Just as Merry was about to call out to her, she disappeared in a flash of purple. Merry's eyes went huge at that. "Hay, everypony! Uh, don't hit the thorns at high speed." ***
Twilight Sparkle wasn't going to let anything or anypony keep her from seeing if Applejack was alright. She'd been in her library sorting books when some kind of commotion had taken place outside. She'd ignored it. A few minutes later though, there had been a faint wailing sound on the wind, and a subtle rush of strange magic. It wasn't unicorn magic at all. It felt a little like one of the times when Princess Celestia had let her stand next to her while she raised the sun. It was still different than that feeling though, a little wilder, far more uncontrolled, yet also fainter. Putting two and two together wasn't hard for the scholar, and she had rushed out the door as soon as she finished the equation.
Twilight gave a low whistle as the massive dome of thorns hove into view. Non-unicorn magic indeed. Growth spells were pretty tricky, but something of this scale and complexity was outright impossible. There was a group of ponies fruitlessly trying to pull a section of it apart, but Twilight didn't have any time for that. She teleported straight through the bramble onto the other side. The farm was in shade, but otherwise seemed the same as always. None of the Apples seemed to be about, so she rushed towards the farmhouse, praying to Celestia, Harmony, and anything else she could think of that AJ was ok. ***
Merry May had managed to clear a hole big enough to stick her head through when she heard a rush of flapping overhead. Worming free, she glanced up in time to see both Luna and Celestia cruising overhead, trailed by what must be an entire Wing of the Royal Pegasus Guard. The guards, at some unseen signal, broke formation and descended on the mass of thorns, circling it neatly. Three of them landed near the erstwhile parade. She and her posse soon found themselves shunted away from the thorn wall as Celestia and Luna landed in their place. Merry May furrowed her brow in determination. They could pull her away, but they couldn't stop her. ***
Luna fretted to herself. The gossip she had overheard as they had flown over Ponyville had been bad. Apparently Applejack had been throwing ponies forcibly off of her farm, handing out feathers as presents to her most loyal, and even cackling in the library over the past few days. Celestia was over by the barrier, one hoof resting on the thorns. No doubt she was quietly drawing and quartering herself for another 'failure' while the situation continued to flow past her unawares. Luna shook her head. Applejack would NOT fall like she had. There were plenty of fallen gods and goddesses, but there would not be another one, not here, not now, not if Luna had anything to do with it. |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Nine: Pheugo | Chapter Nine: Pheugo
Applejack rolled slowly on to her belly. She didn't remember coming to bed. Her whole body felt like it was made of lead while her head felt like cotton. She opened her eyes slowly. Her brother was hovering in front of her, a worried expression on his face. "Huh, how long was Ah out?"
"Not long."
"Whut happened?"
"Yuh done flipped out."
Applejack grimaced, right, the parade. "What, 'zactly, did Ah do?"
Big Macintosh didn't answer, instead he trotted over to the window and pushed the curtain aside.
"Fire 'n' Blood, Sun 'n' Moon... Did Ah really do that?"
"Eeyup."
"That ain't good fer the crops is it?"
"Nnope."
"Well, Ah guess Ah gotta figure out a way ta tear it down all safe-like. Hopefully before Gran wakes up. Oh, bah all tha blood in Tartarus... They're here." Applejack pointed to a non-descript portion of the living dome.
Big Mac squinted curiously in the direction she was pointing, but couldn't make anything out. "Who?"
"Tha Princesses. Can'tcha see 'em? Celestia's glowin' ta shame the Sun 'n' Luna's all shimmer an' stars."
Big Mac raised an eyebrow at his sister, but declined to comment on it. Instead he asked, "Whut're ya gonna do?"
At that moment, a rapping sound came from downstairs. Applejack smiled slightly. "Ah think that's Twilight. Ah'm gonna let her in is what Ah'm gonna do." ***
To say that Twilight was relieved that Applejack hadn't grown fangs and sprouted armor was an understatement to say the least. She, AJ, and Mac were all seated around the kitchen table while Granny Smith snored gently from her rocker. "So," said Twilight, "Rough morning?"
Applejack cradled her head in her hooves. "Y'all might say that."
"You aren't... Coming out of heat or anything are you?"
Big Mac blushed a much brighter shade of red.
"Twilight, Ah know y'all were a bit of a shut-in, but that ain't proper conversation fer mixed comp'ny." said AJ.
"Oh... Well, what brought this on?"
"Ah got upset with Merry May. She was followin' me around this w-" A flash and bang interrupted the farmer as the Princess of the Moon unceremoniously teleported into the room. "Faust's sake Luna! Y'all have no respect fer privacy!"
"Applejack! It is not too late. You may yet be redeemed, but you must turn aside from this dark path you have chosen!" said Luna.
"Dark path? Wha? No! Listen here, prin-cess. Ah am sick 'n' tired of you 'n' everypony else's nonsense. There ain't no law against a pony puttin' up a fence around her personal, private property! NOW GET THE HAY OFF MAH PROPERTY BEFORE AH PUT YOU OFF!" AJ lit her horn menacingly, lowering her head to aim at the princess. Twilight and Big Mac had long since dove for cover. Granny Smith snorted and stirred in her sleep.
Luna's eyes widened, but she lit her own horn in defense. "Applejack, we merely came to speak with you, hoping you would listen to reason."
Applejack snorted fiercely in response.
Luna's eyes narrowed at that. "If thou'lt not listen to reason, we shall make thee listen!" A fountain of shadow poured from her horn, and grasping, dark tendrils reached out for Applejack's hooves. Startled, Applejack leapt back, eyes wide and frightened. Her eyes darting about, she spotted the window behind her and made a leap for it. Her large body took out most of the frame, but she made it through easily enough. Stumbling into a gallop, she leapt for the sky and took off as fast as she could. From behind her, Luna roared, "THOU SHALT NOT ESCAPE US THAT EASILY!" as the princess took off in hot pursuit.
Twilight peeked out of the cupboard she had hidden in while Big Mac peered out from around a doorframe. The entire wall of the kitchen was totally demolished. A pair of orange and navy contrails faded into the distance through a hole in the dome. Twilight sighed. "And we almost had her calmed down too..."
Big Macintosh nodded his head sadly. "Eeyup." ***
Merry May was having trouble with plan B. Apparently digging tunnels wasn't as easy as some earth ponies made it look. Dropping her spoon in frustration, she sat down on her haunches and pondered another way to get into the dome. A sudden shouting startled her. As she looked, a burning orange contrail burst from the dome, followed closely by a dark streak. That must have been Princess Applejack! Merry's eyes widened. Something was chasing her. Merry May nodded to herself once. Her devotion to the princess was supreme. It was up to Merry to see that she was safe. The little pegasus revved up her wings and took flight after the two alicorns. ***
Celestia had been taken by surprise when Luna had teleported away. The damage had been done before she'd had time to do anything. Now both her sister and Applejack were shouting like lunatics and racing across the sky going Discord-knows-where. To be honest, Celestia felt like throwing a fit right now as well. Millennia of self-control and discipline held her burning anger and embarrassment in check as she glanced over at the wing commander. A single frown and shake of her head was all he needed to see before immediately ordering his troops to fall-in for the return trip to Canterlot. Dark thoughts boiled in the back of her mind as she remembered others she hadn't been able to help. She'd ignored her sister's loneliness and depression, passing it off as a phase. She'd laughed at Discord's weak little jokes while he had tried to hide his growing pain and confusion. She'd even encouraged Chrysalis's growing vanity and self-obsession. Then there was Tirek, Grogar... The list of her failures went on and on. ***
Applejack flew as hard as she could manage, desperate to stay ahead of Luna. She could tell exactly how close the princess was on her tail. Even without looking, being near Luna felt like staring into the void of space. She was all stone and wisps of interstellar gas and endless distance, shot through with radiation and reflected potential. The fact that she hardly knew what any of that was made it no less unnerving to Applejack. Risking a glance back, she shouted, "Y'ALL CAN STOP FOLLOWIN' ME NOW!"
Luna quickly replied, her voice not quite syncing with the movement of her mouth. "WE SHALL CEASE OUR PURSUIT WHEN THOU CEASEST FLEEING! WE WERE A PEGASUS BEFORE AND ARE NOW THE GODDESS OF THE MIDNIGHT SKY, FLIGHT IS FUTILE!"
"AH'M STILL AHEAD OF YA, AIN'T AH? Y'ALL'RE GETTIN' OLD 'N' SLOW!"
Luna's eyes narrowed in anger as she poured on the speed. Applejack desperately went into a dive to keep ahead. They were directly over the heart of the Everfree now, far from civilization. She managed to pull up just shy of the canopy, grateful as the tallest of trees seemed to dodge out of the way for her. Thinking quickly, she reached back with her magic and poured strength into them, widening their already massive trunks and extending their height. As soon as she had done so, she saw it wasn't going to work. Luna barely had to dodge them. Her outstretched wings neatly sheared their leafy tops off as though they were made of the softest cloud. Applejack shook her head. There had to be some way to outsmart the princess.
Far off in the distance, a little green speck fluttered along in the tumultuous wake of the two enraged goddesses. ***
In the end, duty won the day. At sunset the burning orb had simply sat there on the horizon, awaiting the arrival of the moon. Apparently, even though she was out of the game, Celestia wasn't done playing. Luna gritted her teeth. As important as catching Applejack was, she couldn't afford to play cosmic chicken with her older sister. With a last cry of "THIS ISN'T OVER!" she fluttered to a stop and focused herself on the raising of the moon. The massive expenditure of magic took away her remaining reserves, forcing her to stop and rest for the night. ***
Applejack grinned tiredly as she left the Night Princess far behind. She decided to keep flying as far as she could to try and widen the gap. As the forest gave way to desert, she spotted a small rock oasis that might make a decent place to sleep. As she descended, her horn lit up involuntarily and something popped out of the air, bopping her on the nose before falling to the ground. Curious, the alicorn swooped down to grab it. Unfortunately, her overworked wings chose that moment to cramp up, dumping her head-over-tail into the sand. Recovering, she found the offending object and picked it up. It was a scroll, the kind Twilight used to send letters back and forth with Celestia. Applejack grimaced and nearly tossed it aside before noticing the seal. It was an Apple signet. The kind Big Mac sometimes used to seal letters to business partners. Carefully, she pulled apart the wax and unfurled the letter.
The first section was in her brother's painstaking, and surprisingly crisp mouthwriting.
Dear Applejack,
I hope this letter finds you alright. Twilight says she can send it right to you. I hope you are safe and are not getting into a fight with Luna. I know she has been getting on your nerves, but I am sure that she is alright if you give her a chance. Please come home safe and remember that we love you.
Your Brother, Macintosh Apple
Underneath this was a section of considerably shakier writing from Applebloom.
Dear Applejack,
Big brother came by shc school early today to pick me up. I heared that you got real mad and put up this whole dom over our farm. I thnik its pretty cool. He and Twilite say that youer on a trip with Luna and were feeling pretty lonly. lonely. Cheer up! I love you cause youer my big sister! I hope to see you soon!
Youer Best Sister, Apple Bloom
Finally, there was a section written in the wobbly, looping cursive of her grandma.
Dear Applejack,
Little Mac and Apple Bloom tell me that you've gone on a vacation. That sounds wonderful. I know you put so much time into this farm, and I hope that you take some time for yourself. I know you like to get away sometimes, and that you feel trapped here. Just know that you've always got a home on Sweet Apple Acres. Tell your aunt and uncle Orange hello for me and give them my regards. I love you, and no matter where you are, you'll always be my little Jackie.
Your Loving Grandmother, Purity Smith
The paper was wet with tears long before she finished reading. With shaking breaths, Applejack tucked the letter under her wing and laid down under a scrub-oak and fell into a fitful sleep. |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Ten: Oneiroi | Chapter Ten: Oneiroi
Applejack was on her farm. The trees towered above her, seeming taller than the greatest skyscrapers in Manehatten. The little earth pony trotted happily through grass that reached nearly to her chin. Maybe she was small in the grand scheme of things, but it didn't matter; the farm was her world. She'd grown up here, this place was in her very bones, and regretted every time she left. The sun wasn't even visible under the immense and spreading canopy of apple trees. Somewhere nearby she thought she could hear Pa teaching Mac how to buck apples, and Ma was singing to little Apple Bloom, getting her settled for bed. The scent of Gran's delicious cooking wafted across the fields, but Applejack didn't feel ready to head in for dinner just yet. She felt like there was something waiting for her in the farmhouse. Something she didn't want to meet. Besides, her home, her real home, was out here in the fields.
Time was still, until the moon rose inside the orchard. The grey orb snuck under the branches that blotted out the sky, carrying with it its own little patch of night. Applejack grunted to herself and trotted over to the tree on which it hung and bucked the trunk. The moon wobbled a bit, but stayed firm. Applejack frowned. Not only did the moon have the indecency to hang itself from a tree instead of the sky, it wouldn't come down when she tried to harvest it. Applejack bit down on a hay bale and flung it at the strange fruit. The hay bale flew straight and true towards the moon, but was suddenly arrested in its flight just a few hooves from impact. A strange voice floated down from above. "Hah! Well done, thou art either very lucid, or have quite a strong memory of this place to be able to even try and oust me." Applejack jumped back in surprise as the moon seemed to both grow and shrink into the spreading night. The gleaming sphere resolved itself into a sinister eye, and the night became the head of an alicorn as massive as the cosmos. A hoof made of stars reached out and plucked up the little farmer.
"Look at thyself. Little Applejack, a wiry earth pony with chipped and gritty hooves. Now look at us. We are the night, the void, the space where real things go to die or disappear. Thou hast no idea of the forces that made thee, that seek nightly to end thee and all thy kin until the end of time. Now thou hast touched them and felt their fire in thy belly. These things are larger than thou canst handle on thy own. Let us teach thee to reach out to the infinite."
Applejack responded by jumping off of the cusp of the midnight hoof that held her and onto the sensitive frog below, stomping as hard as she could. The Mare of Darkness withdrew, stung. The grassy earth once again spread out beneath the limitless goddess, catching the resolute little farmer. She stomped once upon the earth and a stalk of corn shot forth from it, impaling the night more surely than any spear. She stomped again, and a thousand birds burst forth into the sky, tearing it more fiercely than gunfire. Finally, she stomped a third time, and she herself sprang up, the Worldtree. Her roots reminded the earth of what it was, whispering of vibrant life and stony strength and change like water. Her canopy burst across the sky, like a bloodstain on the night. Heavy and potent fruit hung from her boughs, while her leaves caressed the wind with the colors of fire. The night screamed her rage and retreated for a time, leaving behind the silent sound of things growing. An eternity passed.
The night came again, whispering, "All life ends. All things die. Even the sun in her endless glory will burn herself out one day, immolating herself across the vastness of space in a final assertion of her beauty." The tree's boughs bent under the weight of time. Her leaves scattered to the wind and her sap froze within her. But the barren night forgot the trick of life. From the tree, a shining and pregnant apple fell, bursting upon the ground. From its remains stepped an alicorn the color of autumn, renewed and looking towards the rising of the sun. The night laughed. "It is the sun you look to? Yes, you need her, but you need us more. We shall show thee why." The night once again swept away the earth, pulling the seed through the void and towards the light. "Here is where I cannot go," proclaimed the night, as she threw the seed towards the fire.
The Sun swallowed up the night and filled the eons with light. It was vision and potency made solid. The seed writhed in agony as it felt itself being torn open and laid bare by the endless flame. The Sun took no notice of the tiny invader. She burned against the night, pressing it back invincibly, but giving it meaning. She burned against the seed, offering only pain for weakness, but giving it strength. The seed made a single revolution around the sun before being returned to the void. The night was gone, having been touched by the dawn. Luna caught the seed and cradled it in her hooves, resting it and shading it against the fierceness of the sun until it became Applejack again.
"I am sorry, Applejack. For a moment we lost ourselves. Can you see us now?" Applejack nodded once. Luna sighed. "Dreams are frightening things, Applejack, even for their Mistress. I knew it was a risk to seek thee out in a vision, especially a true vision, for me as well as thee." She gazed off into the stars, into herself. "It is so easy to get lost out there. In the emptiness. Sometimes I forget that the night is also cooling winds and refreshing dew, the touch of a lover and the peace of solitude, a force of renewal as well as one of ending."
Applejack merely gazed at the distracted goddess. Her look was one of pity and confusion. Finally, she turned away and shaped herself back into a seed. Inert and hidden, she slipped deep into the earth where she could hide until she awoke. ***
Bright dawn broke over Applejack as she stirred from her slumber. Her ears perked at the sound of wingbeats in the distance. Startled, she glanced up to find Luna already approaching her hideout at low speed. Her ears flattened against her head. "Hay! HAY! Y'ALL HAD YER CHANCE TA SPEAK YER PIECE LAST NIGHT! NOW GIT!"
Luna frowned as she replied, "BUT, I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD MAKE PEACE, PREHAPS TALK ABOUT THE DREAM? I AM TRULY SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED."
"THA DREAM? THE ONE WHERE Y'ALL ABDUCTED ME FROM MAH FARM AGIN AN' TRIED CHUCKIN' ME INTA THE SUN?"
"Uh, YES. THAT WAS THE DREAM..."
"FERGIT IT!"
And with that, the race was on again. ***
Many hours later, an utterly exhausted pegasus touched down in that very same oasis. Merry May had only needed to follow the trail of decimated trees to this unusually verdant and lush desert pool. She drank deeply of the water, and helped herself to the tangy desert grasses. She collapsed into the sand wearily, gave a prayer of gratitude to Applejack for the sanctuary and rested a few minutes. When she woke from her nap, something in the sand caught her eye. Trotting sorely up to it, she pulled it free from where it had fallen. On the back was the seal of the Apples. On the front was a letter. Merry May's eyes widened. Finding a few broad leaves, she wrapped them protectively around the paper. She bit down on the makeshift bundle, determined to deliver it at all costs. Her mind and body renewed, she continued her quest. |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Eleven: Eirene | Chapter Eleven: Eirene
The chase had wound over hill and dale, through snow and rain, from mountain top to ocean trench, and it was only mid-afternoon of day three. Neither Applejack nor Luna had Rainbow's top speed, but they weren't too far off. Luna had bounced off of the sonic shockwave twice, and Applejack once so far. AJ wasn't really certain what continent she was racing past by now. Even though she wasn't able to stay long in any one place, it was fascinating to see how chaotic the ecosystems of other lands were. Snow could still be seen on the ground in the heat of summer, while confused flocks wandered in circles without pegasi to guide them, entire swaths of land barren of even desert shrubbery. Even if a pony used the Everfree as a baseline, it was still obvious to Applejack that her world was sick and confused in the places where ponies hadn't put things in order. Perhaps... Perhaps Luna was partly right. Still, Applejack refused to give her the satisfaction. She had to outmatch the goddess somehow to prove that they were equals, otherwise Luna would keep on disrespecting her.
Luna was still close on her heels. Whatever endless fountain AJ was draining was at least giving her enough to dodge the princess. Both of them were covered in dust, sweat and grime. Luna had caught up to Applejack and tackled her somewhere over Saddle Arabia during the second day, skipping her off the dunes and leaving a crater outside some nameless little village. AJ had barely managed to get back in the air before Luna could come back around for another pass.
Neither of them had slept since the first night. AJ could only imagine the strain on the elder goddess, raising the moon while flying at just slightly subsonic speeds. She herself was almost numb with exertion, but as long as she convinced herself that she needed to keep going, the strength came from somewhere. AJ was suddenly distracted by a harsh laugh from Luna.
"HA, FINALLY, I HAD HOPED NOT TO NEED THESE WHEN I SET THEM ON THEIR COURSE. PREPARE THYSELF, APPLEJACK. THOU ART ABOUT TO LEARN THAT, WHILE THOU MAYEST BE ABSOLUTELY IMMORTAL, THOU ART FAR FROM INVINCIBLE."
AJ looked back at the princess in confusion. They were currently zooming across one of the hideously barren areas, nothing was anywhere nearby as far as she could see. Concentrating through her exhaustion fogged mind, she extended her senses to see what Luna was ranting about. There was nothing on the surface of the land. It was as dead and lifeless as she herself felt. Far beneath it she could feel the slow seeping of trapped water and desiccated seeds. None of it had the trace of Luna's magic. Something from above caught her notice. Without seeing it, she had the sudden realization that there was currently a massive, burning stone heading straight for her. Flipping over mid-flight, she kicked out her hooves and simultaneously pulled at the deep aquifer below her. She bounced off of the meteor while a massive geyser burst from the earth, impacting the stone and shattering it in a gout of steam. Luna was forced to pull up to dodge the debris. Applejack, seeing her opportunity, swung low around her geyser and came up underneath the princess, only to be smacked in the face with a hoofball-sized chunk of asteroid.
"HAVE AT THEE! HAST THOU NEVER WONDERED WHY THEY ARE CALLED SHOOTING STARS?"
"CAIN'T SAY AS AH DID, BUT DO YA KNOW WHAT THEY CALL MAH LEGS?"
"YOUR LEGS HAVE NA-"
Applejack had taken advantage of the billowing steam and artificial rain to sneak up on the mocking princess. Her trusty bucking hooves shot out, impacting Luna savagely in the belly. "Bucks McGillicutty 'n' Kicks McGee, say howdy." Luna dropped from the sky like a stone, but she managed to magically grab Applejack and drag her down for the ride. The two of them closed, kicking and striking with hoof, wing and horn. They struck the earth with a bounce, continuing to fight for several minutes.
Finally they rolled to a stop. Applejack had Luna's foreleg in a joint-lock, while Luna was shoving Applejack's chin as far back as it would go. Applejack grunted out, "Jest... Give in... Ah'll listen ta what y'all... have ta say, but ya... gotta... say uncle."
"No! You, ah! You give in! Ow!"
"... Fine, we both... let go... On tha count a... three, deal?"
"Fine, one."
"Two."
"Three."
The two goddesses, mighty in magic and body, two of the greatest, most majestic beings to ever grace creation, flopped apart in a messy heap. They lay there panting for a moment before Luna finally spoke. "We are impressed. Thou hast much more fighting prowess than our sister."
"Wait, y'all are sayin' Ah'm a better fighter than Celestia?"
"Of course, she's terrible at this sort of thing. That's why I was able to beat her back to the very doors of the temple of Harmony when I fell to the Nightmare."
"Wait, whut?"
"She doesn't tell that part of the story? She only resorted to the Elements because she was about to get soundly trounced. Mind you well, she is far more powerful than the both of us, but she has cast so many geasa upon herself that only a tiny sliver of it is really hers to use."
"Huh, Ah din't know that about geese. Well, Ah- Ohh... Ah don't feel..."
"Haha. There it is... Welcome to the godsleep, Applejack. See you in your dreams..." Luna let out a massive yawn and collapsed to the dirt and mud. Applejack wavered for a moment longer on the edge of consciousness, watching stray meteors and gushing water fall around her, before following Luna into the dark. ***
Everything around her was completely black. Applejack tried to fan her wings nervously, but was surprised not to have them. She raised a hoof to her forehead and felt a distinct lack of horn. She shifted nervously on her hooves. There really didn't seem to be much of anything to do, so she sat down and waited. An unknown time later a blue pegasus with a light blue mane trotted out of the darkness. Her entire coat was spangled with stars and planets. Applejack was more than a little surprised to realize that this was Luna. "Uh, hi princess."
"Well-met, Applejack."
Luna opened her mouth as if to say something else, but shook her head and sat down instead. The two of them sat in silence for an unknown length of time, not looking at one another. Finally, Applejack broke the silence. "Ah'm sorry fer, uh, runnin' off 'n' kickin' y'all in the stomach and such. Ah think y'all're crazy, but yeh didn't deserve that."
Luna smirked at Applejack, "I apologize also, for the meteors and such. I may have misjudged thee. I hope thou canst fathom why?"
"Eeyup, Ah did put on a bit of a show, didn't Ah? Anyhow, Ah said Ah'd let ya say yer piece. Ah suppose this is tha place fer it."
"Yes... I should let thee speak thy mind as well, though. Hast thou any questions for me?"
"First, that is tha biggest gol-durn cutie mark Ah've ever seen. It goes right up yer neck. Is it somethin' ta do with y'all bein' a goddess?"
Luna blushed slightly. "No, actually, my cutie mark is these planets here on my flank. I was so excited when it appeared that I went to a unicorn shaman to have it tattooed onto the rest of my coat. It's a lost art I'm told. I guess I still think of myself this way. Where we are now is an ordinary dream. It tells us nothing of what we are, just how we think of ourselves. Thou, for example, still hast thy old cutie mark."
"That's another thing. Y'all said we were enterin' tha godsleep. What's that supposed ta mean?"
"Well, simply put, we overtaxed ourselves. The power of an alicorn is inexhaustible if they have the will to command it, but it comes at a cost. Eventually, when their concentration slips and their will falters, they must recharge their physical vessel."
"How long're we gonna be out?"
"I don't think we exhausted ourselves too excessively, it could be anywhere from a day to a week."
"That's quite a while."
"Yes, I suppose. Thou art speaking to a mare who spent a thousand years on the moon." Applejack, wisely, kept quiet and waited for Luna to continue. "I suppose I should tell thee what I had originally meant to. I fear for thee, Applejack. Thou hast been under so much stress, some of it at my hooves. The gods have always been a troubled bunch. Even our sister, Sol Invicta as the ancient pegasi used to call her, has fallen to jealousy and spite before."
"Now, y'all ain't been usin' tha whole royal 'we' while we've been in this dream. Why d'ya always use it when ya talk about yer sister?"
Luna's eyes dimmed with embarrassment "We, I only use the royal 'we' when I speak to... inferiors. Thou art no inferior to Celestia or myself. When I say our sister, I mean thine and mine."
Applejack thought about that for a moment, not liking any part of it. "Fer the sake of peace, I'll jest let that pass."
Luna nodded quickly, "Yes, my thanks to thee. Peace is the essential manifestation of harmony. If thou wouldst allow me, I have a way to pass the time while we rest. I had meant to tell thee of my fall, and perhaps that of another. Here, I can do better than that. I can show thee."
Applejack nodded, "That sounds fine, show away."
Luna closed her eyes. Slowly, glimmering specks of light filled the void above the two little ponies, and a cool, billowing cloud formed beneath them. Luna finally spoke, not opening her eyes. "Look across the clouds a ways, you will see me as I appear now. Back then I was called Night Glider. This is the night I changed." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Twelve: Atheteo | Chapter Twelve: Atheteó
Applejack trotted across the dense cloud cover. In a small depression lay Night Glider, peacefully gazing up at the stars, idly tracing their constellations with a hoof. Glider sighed and snuggled deeper into her cloud, letting her hoof hang limp. Her chest rose and fell gently as the moon and stars continued to wheel overhead. A beatific smile broke across her face. She took a deep breath and held it. The moonlight brightened around her and the stars began to twinkle across the dome of the sky. The cloud beneath her solidified, darkened and crackled with energy. Applejack watched wide-eyed as Night Glider's coat deepened from a glittering blue to a somber navy, her haunches turning deep black. Her mane spread out from her head and neck in a pale blue halo as she began to inhale again. Her lungs already full, she breathed in the magic of the cosmos. It expanded her and flowed forth from her forehead in a beam of gentle moonlight. Darkness rustled about her feathers and swirled around her lengthening limbs. Finally, the moonlight dimmed and the darkness was no more a thing alive. Night Glider, now the goddess of the night, opened her eyes, seeming surprised that she was now upright.
The new goddess shook her head and spread her wings to fly. She leapt gracefully off of her cloud... and promptly fell through the floor.
Applejack galloped after her. Apparently the thought was what counted, because Applejack instantly found herself alongside the panicking goddess. It took her a few minutes to right herself, but Night Glider finally managed to settle herself into a steady drift. Her expression upon seeing her expanded wings was horrified. Her face soon shifted to anguish as she looked down at her now-plain coat. "My-my stars! My constellations!" Applejack frowned. Her stars were missing, just not the ones she was complaining about. AJ reached out a hoof to gather in a lock of flat, blue mane only to have her hoof swatted away. Night Glider frowned at the earth pony. "I'd thank thee if thou wouldst keep thy hooves to thyself. This is a memory, but it is also a dream. If thou breakest my concentration I cannot keep the events accurate.
"Oh, uh, sorry Luna."
"Night Glider. I am in-character."
"... Right."
Luna/Glider sighed dramatically. "Fine, I suppose I can give thee commentary as well."
Applejack smirked at the goddess, "Well, mind tellin' me why y'all's mane is still blue?"
"It is because I had not yet come into the fullness of my powers. It would be some time before I was truly connected with the moon."
"So, y'all're sayin' that mah mane's gonna get all..."
"Wavy? Yes. Now hush. This next bit is hard for me." Suddenly they were gliding over a massive cloud city. "Old Pegasopolis, long before the unification." said Luna, refusing to elaborate further. Its districts spread out towards the horizon, and even in the middle of the night, torch-bearing pegasus legionaries could be seen flitting about on their rounds. Night Glider eyed their patrols for some time before swinging into a dangerously fast dive, straight at the roof of a house. She plowed halfway through before stopping, and managed to wiggle the rest of the way in before anypony spotted her. Carefully patching the cloud behind her, she sat for a minute, eyes sad, wide and expressive. Finally, taking a shuddering breath, she called out, "Mother!"
There was a startled squeak from below and a little 'whumpf' of displaced cloud before a concerned voice called out, "Nightie? Is that you? Why are you in the attic?"
Night Glider bit her lip pensively before answering. "Don't come up. Something has happened to me."
Her mother's voice took on a sharp edge, "What have you done? What do you mean something has 'happened?' You weren't fooling about with somepony were you?"
Miserable, Night Glider replied, "No mother, I-I have become hideous, monstrously large in limb and body."
Her mother's voice hardened, "I'm coming up there." A pale blue mare poked her head up a nearby stairwell glancing about in the darkness for her daughter. "Nightie?"
Night Glider sobbed out her answer, barely louder than a whisper. "I'm right here mom."
Finally, Luna's mother's eyes adjusted to the dark attic. They lit upon the hulking blue mass crouched in the corner of the room and widened in fear. "Demon. What did you do to my daughter?" she whispered.
"I am your daughter. It's me, Night Glider."
The little mare shrieked, pointing her hoof. "You ate my daughter and stole her voice! Fell Wendigo, would you consume me also?"
"No, I am your daughter, you must believe me mother!"
"No! You are a thing of witchcraft, warped into a mockery of the sun-nag. Leave me! I abjure you by the spirits of my mothers!"
Applejack's heart broke, just as Luna's must have that night. She watched as Night Glider pleaded and begged with her fleeing mother. The dark alicorn then slumped into a heap, sobbing gently. Night made no move to escape when the legionaries burst into the house, binding her in chains and dragging her to the fortress. She lay there all night, weeping gently.
In the morning another group of legionaries dragged her in front of a massively built stallion. They saluted and then backed away as the stallion came over to examine the alicorn. He leaned in close and lifted her chin with a hoof. "So, demon, what is your name?"
"Night Glider."
The stallion drew back a hoof and slapped her roughly. "Don't think you can lie so pitifully to me and get away with it demon. I am the master of the sky, conqueror of the griffon lands, bane of dragons. The unicorns and earthlings alike tremble at the mention of my name. Ten legions of pegasi await my slightest whim. Now, pitiful demon, tell me your name."
"Night Glider."
He slapped her again, this time with the edge of his hoof, drawing a thin line of blood from her cheek. "You have one more chance before I destroy you. Night Glider is the mare you killed and consumed. I will not allow a freak like you to live in pegasus air. What are you. What is your name. What mad unicorn bound you to torment us. Tell me now."
"I AM NIGHT GLIDER!" The alicorn shrieked and rose in her shackles. She lunged at the pegasus commander. The chains stopped her only briefly before snapping like tinsel. She slapped at the commander with a massive wing, sending him hurtling through the walls of the fortress. The legionaries immediately reacted, hurling spear after spear at the maddened mare. She shrieked in agony and fell to the floor, writhing in pain. Within minutes, unconsciousness mercifully took her. ***
As the scene faded to black, Applejack sat there, slack-jawed and teary-eyed. Luna, once again a starry pegasus, trotted out of the blackness. "Art thou alright, Applejack?"
"Oh, sugarcube... Whut they did to ya... Yer own mother..." Applejack grabbed up Luna into a tight embrace. "They ain't gonna do that agin. Ah swear. Nopony will ever treat anypony like that agin. Ever. Ah promise ya." Luna sat stiffly, unsure what to do about the physical contact, even if it wasn't strictly her physical form.
"Applejack."
AJ sniffed and glanced aside at Luna. "Yeah?"
"I'm fine. It was thousands of years ago. I have long since made my peace with what happened."
"But Ah made y'all relive it. That's gotta be tha worst. Ah don't care how old ya are."
Luna carefully extracted herself from the awkward hug, putting a hoof out to keep AJ at arm's length. "I won't say it wasn't difficult, but I chose to tell this story. I can deal with the pain."
"A'right. Well... What happened next? Whut did they do to ya?"
"Well, I don't think I need to show thee, I was mercifully unconscious for all of it anyways. Basically, they mangled and broke my body in every way they could manage, then dropped me over the unicorn palace with a note stapled to my head that read 'nice try.' They assumed I was dead. I spent the next year or so in the godsleep while my body recovered. To say that my dreams during that time were disturbing would be akin to calling the sky simply big. When I woke up was a different matter. Here, let me give thee another perspective, close thy eyes. Thou mayest see through mine." ***
Applejack opened her eyes slowly. Her entire body felt stiff and wrong. She tried shifting her legs to roll over, but they refused to move. A tiny whimper escaped her lips. Almost immediately a heavy clomping alerted her of somepony approaching. A calm, feminine, but haughty voice called out to her. "Don't try to get up. Thou art far too weak yet to rise. Be grateful We knew when thou wert about to wake. Here, let us help thee." Applejack frowned inwardly at the condescending use of 'thou.' How dare this stranger speak down to her!
A tingling of magic enclosed her hind legs and started pumping them slowly back and forth in a paddling motion, restoring their blood flow and feeling. Applejack grunted in pain, but bore it stoically like a good pegasus. After a few minutes the unknown pony switched to her forelegs and began massaging the life back into them. The voice hummed softly as she worked. Finally, she asked Applejack, "Canst thou move them thyself? Try." Carefully, gingerly, AJ pedaled her legs in the air, the tingle of numbness less, but still there. "Good, now look at us. We need to be sure of the state of thy mind."
Applejack turned to face her benefactor. Her first instinct was to spit, but good judgment stopped her. It was a unicorn, a massive unicorn with an outsized horn and a condescending attitude to match. Applejack coughed to clear her throat, and then coughed again in earnest. Quickly she felt a cup held against her lips and drank greedily of the small beer it contained. Trying again, she croaked out, "Wh-h-h-ho are you?" before devolving into another coughing fit.
"Well, there are many names We are called by. Does Sun-Nag sound familiar?" Applejack immediately began coughing again in shock. "No no. Calm thyself. We are not the witch those dogs paint us to be. Thou... you may call us Celestia. We are currently in the court of Queen Argent Spira of the Unicorns. They remanded you to my care, not knowing the ways nor resilience of the ancient ones."
Applejack quirked an eyebrow at that. "Ancient ones? How long was I asleep?"
Celestia chuckled slightly at that, "No, my little pony, you were not out that long. You have the form of a genie, an avatar, a demi-god, whatever you like to call it."
The implications of that statement percolated through Applejack's rusty brain, slowly turning the gears until she finally called out in surprise. "That would mean that I..." She felt her forehead. Sure enough, her hoof bumped painfully against a long, spiraling horn. AJ's eyes widened as large as they could go. Throwing back her head, she wailed, "I am a freak! A hideous, pagan, unicorn god..."
Celestia stomped her hoof loudly on the stone floor. "ENOUGH. I have had enough of that sort of talk from ignorant little ponies, I won't have it from one of my own kind. Now, look at me. Look. At. Me. You are a perfectly normal pony, but one with godly power. The world owes you deference, but you will have to take it from them. Earn it. I know of what they did to you in Pegasopolis. Prove them wrong about you and make them sing your praises and exploits from the tops of the clouds. Make them love you. Yes?"
Applejack cowered back a bit at the outburst, but found herself nodding along with the sheer compulsion and imperative that Celestia's voice held. Finally, she answered, "Yes... Yes! I will win their love." ***
AJ shook herself as the illusion faded. "Ah don't think Ah like that..."
"It displeases thee? I have always been fascinated by the act of looking through the eyes of another. No matter, I need not tell the rest of the story that way."
"So ya weren't actually sisters?"
"No, we were not. Over time we became inseparable and swore an oath of sisterhood to one another. I would extend that oath to thee."
"Luna. Y'all keep goin' back 'n' forth on yer whole thee and thou thing. In tha dream y'all were insulted that Celestia was callin' ya that, and now y'all are usin' those words ta offer me sisterhood... Whut am Ah supposed ta take from that?"
"Oh, thee is familiar. It is only proper to use it with friends or family. To speak thus with a stranger or an acquaintance is to indicate that you do not respect them as an equal."
"So, yer sayin' Ah have no way of knowin' if yer insultin' me or callin' me yer kin."
"Thou art correct!" Luna giggled at that.
Applejack rolled her eyes at Luna's attempt at humor. Finally she waved her hoof dismissively at the princess. "Anyways, let's get on with tha story. Whut happened next?" |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Thirteen: Phrike | Chapter Thirteen: Phrike
Night Glider quickly regained her vigor over the next couple of days. Soon she was up to the task of moving about Celestia's chambers and reminding her body of how to eat and so forth. Celestia would come into the chamber every so often and chat with Night, updating her on the current news and intrigue in the Unicorn courts. Most of this passed Applejack in a blur, only focusing in on a few moments and conversations, such as the one that was playing itself out in front of her now.
"Celestia, How can Queen Argent afford to humor such backstabbing nobles? Surely she could simply bring them in line like the pegasi do." asked Night.
Celestia chuckled at her young protegee, "No, Night, each of the nobles has many ponies that are loyal to them alone, not to mention that some are quite powerful magi in their own right. The Queen on her own has maybe the power to crush one or two of the most powerful, but should she do so, then the queendom would be weak and defenseless against its enemies... Enemies like the pegasi. She is much better off using subtlety and mischief against them."
"Then, where do you fit in? You surely have the power to bring them all in line."
"I am not interested in ruling a bickering herd of unicorns, and I don't think they would have me." Celestia took a moment to swig from her stein. "Ahh, and anyways, I don't like paperwork. I see myself as a protector of sorts, protecting the races from themselves and each other. The pegasi love me when I take their side. They shower me with praise and hail me as Sol Invicta and numerous other lovely epithets. Right now they haven't forgiven me for thwarting their raid of Coltonville ten years ago, so, Sun-Nag I am."
"Why do you live in Unicornia though? Isn't that taking sides?"
"Yes, but I have a treaty with them. They have been experimenting with their control of the moon and wish my cooperation with the sun. It's all very much over my head, complicated astrology. In return, they give me luxurious apartments and a nice pile of gold. All I have to do is follow the solar schedule they give me. No harm done in a few late days once in a while. It's honestly been a nice vacation for the past decade or so."
"That's all you do!?"
"Aye! Grand, isn't it?" Celestia grinned and quaffed the remainder of her drink. ***
Applejack interrupted Luna at this point. "Wuz she really that lazy?"
Luna grinned at Applejack, her eyes sparkling, "Yes, every bit. It can be hard to be ambitious for one's self if one is immortal, and she was already ancient beyond memory even in those days. She was so much more fun back then too... But I digress, I'm telling thee this so thou canst know how I fell, and what once froze the heart of the very Sun." ***
Over the next few weeks, Night slowly attempted to integrate herself into the unicorn court. The nobles had seemed pleasant enough at first meeting, but there was an undercurrent of disdain that ran through her interactions with them. It all finally bubbled to the surface when she accepted an invitation to dinner at Lord Heartstrings' manor. Celestia had declined, not being fond of the stuffy pony, but encouraged Night Glider to go if she liked. "I can't hold your hoof forever." she'd said. Night had nervously arrived, fashionably late, at the small soiree wearing an expensive blue cloak that Celestia had purchased for her. The party was already in swing, and she could hear the laughter and merriment from outside. The hoofmare at the door let her in. As the timid alicorn entered, the room quieted immediately from a jovial roar to an expectant rustling. A rather flushed Lord Heartstrings stepped forward to greet her, a hoof thrown wide in welcome.
"And you must be the new-old-one we've been hearing about! What an amusing contradiction that is, yes?"
"Ahaha, yes. I can see how that is rather funny." said Night, unsure how to react to the attention.
"Everypony can see how you are funny, my dear. Now, come take your place at this feast of proud unicorns!" He gestured at a small chair set at one end of the table.
"Th-thank you, I believe I will." As she walked past her slightly tipsy host, he stumbled a bit and stepped on the corner of her cloak. The weak gold brooch at the front snapped off, letting the cloak fall behind her. She gasped at having thus been disrobed, her wings flaring out in embarrassment.
"Aha!" cried Heartstrings, "Perhaps you do not belong at this table of unicorns at all! Perhaps you are just a bull-headed pegasus under all that finery? I can understand why thou wouldst try to hide it. Thy own kind beat thee and left thee for dead. The filthy vultures don't have any honor." By this time the small crowd of nobles was laughing uproariously at her discomfort. Night cowered, unsure what to do or how to react. Seeing her thus in his power, Heartstrings continued mercilessly, physically poking at her to emphasize his points. "And what is this on thy flank? A cutie mark of the moon? Hah! It takes a hundred unicorns to muster the power to raise it. Thou must be a powerful magician indeed if thou hopest to wrest it from us. Here, a toast to thy power!"
He levitated a large glass from the table, in addition to the one already levitating near his head. "Here is thy glass," He brought the cup over Night's head and dropped it upon her. "What? Couldst thou not lift a single glass with thy magic? By what power dost thou propose to manage the skies? Mayhaps we could give thee proper motivation to try. Thy own mother cast thee out. I promise to cut her down as a favor to thee if thou canst shift the heavens. Simply touch the moon and I shall see her dead." Night looked into her tormenter's eyes at this. They were cold, hard and perfectly sober as they bored into her. She let out a tiny shriek of fear and ran crying into the night, the loud laughter of the party still ringing in her ears while the spilled wine mingled with her tears. ***
Celestia had been furious when she had heard, and swore to wage a war eternal against the despicable noble and his kin. After Night Glider had calmed down a bit she and Celestia had held a council of war to determine how to proceed. Celestia had given Night a crash-course in magic and crude animation. They sketched out their plans for the humiliation of the Heartstrings family in detail, but at the end, Celestia had frowned, unsatisfied. "It needs something more. These are all enough to drive a pony completely mad, but it needs a focus, something he can be truly terrified of..."
Night Glider looked up at her mentor expectantly. "Some sort of illusory monster perhaps? Something that lurks in the shadows after every prank? Something he can blame it on, but never find?"
Celestia grinned wickedly at that and glanced up at the vaulted ceiling. "I have just the thing, watch this." She reared up on her hind legs and let out a burst of green flame from her horn that ran its way down her body. Her back straightened, making her massively tall, and her muzzle retreated into her face. Her back hooves grew a knobbly paw from the front and her forehooves grew little tentacles. Her face completely disappeared into blank whiteness while her mane and tail withered away into nothing. The now-hideous Celestia grabbed a black cloak from the closet and draped it about her shoulders menacingly. "What do you think?"
Night stared in horror before puking all over the floor.
Laughing, Celestia switched back to her normal self. "Haha! That will do swimmingly. The foal will be a gibbering wreck within a week."
"Wh-what was that? And how did you do that?"
"Ancient magics, of a darker bent. It was something from my childhood, twisted of course to something more hideous. There were creatures, long ago, called humans. They were bipedal, tall as a minotaur. I was even friends with one. Her name was Megan. That was a creature from her nightmares..." Celestia trailed off, her mind lost in better times. After a moment, she shook herself and smiled wolfishly at Night. "Now! There's a pony sleeping right now who does not deserve to sleep the sleep of the just. Let us relieve him of that burden." ***
"Aw, come-on. Y'all can't jest stop there!"
"Art thou sure? We were very unkind to him."
"Eeyup, he deserved it. Ah wanna see him get whut's comin' to him."
"Ok..." ***
It started simply enough. Two nights after the party a subtle glow of moonlight lit up the noble's bedchambers as he was retiring to bed. Paying it no mind, he simply magicked the curtains shut. After a moment, he realized that the glow hadn't diminished, except in the far corner of the room, where deep shadows were gathered. Slowly the light began to strobe across the room, and he caught a glimpse of something gaunt and white and impossibly tall standing in the darkened corner. Before he could make out its features, though, the room was pitched into complete darkness. Timidly he called out, "Hello?"
The dark answered him with a silence so profound that not even the servants downstairs could be heard as they prepared the house for the morrow. Whimpering, the noble cowered low in his blankets the rest of the night.
The next day, after a night of fitful sleep, he awoke to find his entire wardrobe missing. Not a scrap of clothing was anywhere. Grumbling, he headed down for breakfast in the nude. True, it wasn't that scandalous, but it was disorienting when the hired help was better dressed than he was. Heartstrings gave his majordomo a stern talking-to about thieves and watchfulness and sat down to his morning oatmeal. Just as soon as he had lifted the first spoonful to his mouth and taken a bite, a massive, fuzzy, hoof-sized spider heaved itself from beneath the surface of his oatmeal and leapt upon the now-panicking Lord. It crawled wetly all over him as he and his servants tried to bat it off before it finally scuttled away towards the basement.
Morbidly curious, he walked over to the stairs and peered down them. Something scuttled in the dark. Finally he spotted the spider, a little shadow moving against the larger gloom. It scuttled into the middle of the room and onto a tall, motionless figure. A pale motionless figure. He slammed the door shut and hollered at his servants to head downstairs with lamp and knife to evict the stranger. When they got down there, the room was empty, all save for a little trail of oatmeal that wandered into the middle of the room and simply vanished.
The rest of his day at the palace of Queen Spira went smoothly, other than the quiet sniggers he got for walking about unclothed in court. With some trepidation, he headed home to find the house in good order. The mood at dinner was tense and somber. Every dish was carefully tested by the head chef before being placed in front of Lord Heartstrings. The complete lack of a surprise was terrifying, every moment he kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to see that thing again. He ate quickly and lightly, taking only a few bites of every dish offered to him. Finally, he excused himself from the table. Beckoning to his majordomo, he instructed that a servant be posted in his room all night with a candle. At that moment, all of the mage lights and lamps on that floor were extinguished all at once. The only light came from his butler's horn as he held a dish in his magic. In a moment that faded also as the butler fainted clean away. His light had illuminated a strange, faceless figure beside him.
There was a mad dash for the stairs onto the second floor, ponies trampling each other in their haste to flee. Heartstrings lead the charge. The lights continued to vanish one by one, the darkness chasing him into his chambers. He slammed the door behind him, narrowly missing his majordomo as he also leapt inside. Outside it had started drizzling rain and the sky was thick with clouds. A flash of lightning lit up the outside. The fear-addled pony crept up to the window, peering outside. In the darkness, he could just make out a bundle of sticks tied into an effigy of a pony. It was wearing one of his shirts. He glanced about, to the side was another effigy, wearing his best hat and monocle. He looked back to the first. It was now joined by another, wearing a sash. Everywhere he glanced, more and more of these strange ponnequins appeared. Soon the yard was full of them. They sat there for a moment, gazing reproachfully at him across the yard. Finally, one of them rose into the air, was crushed by an unseen force, and immolated in a cool, blue flame. One after another they were lifted, crushed and burned, adding a ghostly, intermittent luminance to the yard.
Lord Heartstring's mind had already broken. He stared numbly out at the burning array. Something else caught his eye. There. In the center of the yard. It was the slender beast. It stood there, heedless of the flames. It was wearing his finest jacket, ripped and warped to fit over the ghastly frame. Without inclining its blank head, it raised one hideous arm and pointed straight at him. Then, in front of his eyes, it vanished. A thud sounded behind him from the direction of his majordomo. He turned slowly. There it was, still pointing at him, the beast. Everything went black. ***
Applejack's eyes twinkled, but she sat quietly after the vision ended.
"Applejack? Art thou alright? I knew it was too disturbing..."
Applejack turned to Luna, "Ah ain't never seen somethin' more beautiful happen to a more deserving pony in all mah days! Whut happened ta him afterwards?"
Luna smiled guiltily, "Well, he left the country the next day along with most of his household. The Heartstring name faded out of history for quite some time. Some of his descendants made it back to pony lands after the diaspora and unification. Celestia kept her vow, though."
"Wait, her vow?"
"To wage an eternal war on them for my sake. No, it's not what you're thinking. She's not vindictive enough to torture them for something their ancestor did. It's a prank war. Ever since that day, the direct descendants of Lord Heartstrings have been plagued by occasional glimpses of strange, bipedal creatures that they can never catch. It's silly and harmless, but she does it to remind me how much she cares, and how seriously she takes her word."
"Heh, was that Celestia's 'rampage'? 'Tain't much in tha way a violent outbursts."
"No, it was not. Her true wrath came soon afterwards though." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Fourteen: Parakaleo | Chapter Fourteen: Parakaleo
After the prank she and Celestia pulled on Lord Heartstrings things got both better and worse for Night Glider. The entire court now gave her respect, but it was also laced with fear and hesitance. Nopony knew exactly what had happened to Lord Heartstrings, but they all knew why it had happened. After a few more days of this treatment Night was thoroughly fed up with unicorns. Celestia picked up on this and came up with a solution. "Earth ponies! We'll go visit the earth ponies and have ourselves a good old time there. It's been decades since I visited them. They're good solid folk that won't treat you any different than anypony else, long as you pull your weight. Besides, the food's richer and the wine's sweeter out there in the country. What say you?"
Night, slumped on the dining table, gave a non-committal grunt and went back to moping.
"I will take that as a yes. Let's away!" In a flash of solar magic, Night suddenly found herself a good thousand feet in the air. She flailed about briefly before getting herself into a safe glide. Celestia's hearty laughter at her antics both frustrated and amused the dark alicorn.
"Are we just leaving like that? No warning to anypony?" Night asked.
"Certainly. They are no more my masters than a gaggle of chickens is. It has been far too long since I left the palace anyway. Any longer in there and I might start gathering cobwebs."
Night frowned at this. "How can you just lose a decade like that? You've spent half my natural life sitting around drinking and contemplating your hooves and you laugh it off like an afternoon spent napping."
Celestia took a moment to respond. "Yes, it's quite disgusting really... It's easier than getting up and trying to deal with things. The races of ponies are so divided and petty these days. It depresses me, and I don't like being depressed."
Below them lay the burgeoning fields of the earth ponies, and ahead of them lay one of their villages. Celestia and Night swung low and came to rest not far from the central longhouse of the village. Celestia flashed Night a winning grin and knocked on the door of the lodge. From inside came a fierce, but squeaky female voice, "Who goes there?"
"A visitor! Who else? Is Chancellor Waffle still rattling around these parts or has he trotted off to greener pastures?"
"Oh, uh, he's been dead these four years. Died happy though. Just after breakfast it was. The maple syrup was a mess to clean up, let me tell you."
"Who is chancellor now?"
"That would be me. Chancellor Puddinghead..." There was a pause from both parties. "Oh! How rude of me. Come in! And know me better, mare."
Night Glider squinted skeptically at this, but Celestia's unfaltering smile got her to withhold her doubts. Ducking as she entered the longhouse she was greeted by the delicious scent of baking bread. Busily working away at a stone oven in the center of the room was a fairly portly mare wearing a rather ridiculous hat. She was in process of removing a couple of finished loaves and replacing them with new dough. Finally satisfied, she set down her bread paddle and turned to her guests. As soon as she caught sight of them, she shrieked and jumped into the rafters. This at last earned a frown from Celestia.
"What now chancellor? Thy forbearers were not so skittish as thee. Come down from there and greet a guest in the name of a guest as is meet. Our form should not affright thee so sorely. Twas a familiar sight in years not long past that We should grace thee with our presence."
"No! I shall not greet thee in the name of a guest since thou hast become our enemy. I know thee Celestia. These past years thou hast consorted with the unicorns to rob us of hearth and home. Thy withholding of the sun when we resisted the levy of the unicorn tribute is proof enough of thy treachery! Thou wouldst doom the world to death in ice and hunger for thy trinkets of gold and thine own full belly. I have heard tell of thy power, but what is it to stand against power when one's only other courses are death and slow death?"
Celestia scowled openly now. "I spit upon thy proof! Thee and me have been betrayed both, but if thou desirest ice and hunger, perhaps those kin of thine in lies and slander can give it thee. We shall go where ponies know how to treat a stranger under their roofs."
Night was absolutely bewildered by the exchange and offered no resistance when Celestia shooed her out with a wing. The look on the elder goddess's face was pure iron and hatred. She glanced at Night with a look that could burn stone. "I have been sorely betrayed by the very ponies with whom I shared a roof and meal. They have turned old friends to enemies and broken ancient alliances for filthy gain. Come. I go to confront the villain in this scheme."
Night nodded mutely. Without another word, the Sun took to the skies while the Moon followed close after. ***
"Wait. She held back the sun fer tha unicorns? Ah thought she wasn't taking sides?"
"It was the 'solar schedule.' Under the guise of experimentation they were using her to threaten the other races while keeping her blind to the whole affair." ***
Celestia landed on the roof of the unicorn palace, her head cocked and ears listening for some unknown signal. Glancing at Night, she said, "Wait up here. Ye shall hear the exchange fine from this vantage."
With a flash of her horn, the wrathful goddess tore a hole through the copper, wood and stone of the roof into the throne room below. Landing like a star from heaven she regally stood over the ponies who cowered before her. Only one dared remain standing. Queen Argent strode angrily to the edge of her dais and stomped a silver-shod hoof. "What is the meaning of this, Celestia? Is thy mead not properly warmed? Has some waif not turned thy mattress properly? What gives thee the right to intrude on Our court in such a manner, where proper business is conducted!?"
Celestia stared across at the indignant queen, her mane curling at the edges with wisps of multi-hued flame and radiation. "THOU DAREST SPEAK TO US SO? THOU LIAR OF THE INFERNAL PIT, THOU WILT KNEEL IN TEARS AND EXCREMENT AS PAIN EATS THEE ALIVE BEFORE ME SHOULD I BUT FLICK MY HORN. THOU ART LOWER THAN A WHELP OF DOGS AND AN EATER OF CARRION FLESH, FOR THOU HAST SET THINE OWN GAIN HIGHER THAN THY NEIGHBOR AND TREATED TRECHEROUSLY WITH THOSE WHO ONCE COUNTED THEE FRIEND. THERE IS NO LIGHT LEFT IN PONY KIND AND WE SEE NO NEED TO SHARE OURS WITH THOSE WHO WOULD ABUSE IT AS A WEAPON. THOU HAST COVETED THE VERY SUN, NOW LET THY MAGES AND WIZARDS SUFFER UNDER ITS BURDEN!" Her final statement was punctuated by a resounding stomp that shattered the stone beneath her and launched her into the air and out of the castle.
Night Glider leapt into the air after her, struggling to keep up. "Wh-Where are we going?"
Celestia never turned her gaze, her eyes watering slightly. "Away." ***
Luna sat back with a sigh. Applejack glanced over at her. A slight smile graced the dark goddess's face. "What followed were the best years of my life, I'm not ashamed to say. Celestia and I wandered the earth, sometimes in humble disguise, sometimes in burning glory. We ranged from the steppes of Mongrelgolia to the burning Liongeti to the savage woods of the Hartland. We conquered demons and built cities. I remember the day I gained my starry mane as we tamed the wild Ursae. Meanwhile, the days and nights grew longer and colder as the Unicorns slowly lost control of the sun's orbit. Celestia had pity on the rest of the world, and made the sun shine unusually bright on those parts that were innocent of wrong, but she would not light her horn to move it an inch to the right or left. I'm told that many unicorns lost their lives trying to keep the sun on its course. Queen Argent herself died years later from the strain of trying to lift the sun. Really, though, it was her pride that did her in. Her daughter, Princess Platinum, finally realized the folly of trying to stay in old Unicornia."
"Ah think Ah know tha rest a this story. It's tha Hearthswarming Eve play isn't it? Ah thought it was wendigoes that brought tha winter." said Applejack.
"Ah, no, though dangerous, they are just parasites, following the cold in the air and the cold in ponies' hearts. Celestia holds that play as a reminder to herself as much as to her ponies. She was part of the cause of their suffering. I think she still feels guilty for the innocent lives lost because of her grudge. Starswirl the Bearded herself died in that unnatural winter."
"Wait. Starswirl? Tha guy Twilight's always on about was a she? With a beard?"
"Yes, Celestia told me that she never understood her fashion choices, but the facial hair spell she devised was always her proudest accomplishment, no matter what other wonders she achieved during her long life. Hence the epithet. It was weird enough to be worth mentioning."
"So, anyway, when tha Fire a Friendship was made, was that real?"
"Very. It was, in fact, the seed from whence sprang the Elements of Harmony. Its magic restored the frozen wastelands and grabbed our attention from a continent away. Celestia's own heart was melted by it, I think. It was what convinced her to return to what was now Equestria. She realized that they had overcome their prejudices to a degree."
"Was that when y'all became the rulers of Equestria?"
"No, first came the reign of the Triumvirate and the Shattering, but that is a story for another time. We did, eventually, ascend to the throne. I had learned, by that point, that fear is a useful tool to get one's way. I was careful, at first, to ensure that they also knew I could be benevolent. As the centuries passed, I did indeed grow jealous of my sister's easy popularity and winning ways, but old wounds ran deep. As much as I desired their fellowship, I was unwilling to mingle with the common ponies and suspicious of the nobility. There was one pony that I did keep in contact with, though, with whom I shared my secrets and insecurities..."
"Who was that?"
"Viceroy Sombra."
Applejack reared back a bit at that. "Really? That evil black smog feller? Couldn't string two words together? Duller'n a drunk pig? That Sombra?"
Luna chuckled morosely. "Yes, that Sombra. I suppose that's my fault as well. A thousand years sealed on the moon and a thousand years trapped under the arctic ice are two very different things. It's no wonder his mind broke. He was fascinated by me, and perhaps a bit in love. I returned his friendship, but I never saw his infatuation until too late. As the years went by he grew desperate for a way to catch my eye, to be 'worthy' of me. He sought a means of immortality and did much research into spells that preserved and sustained life, of that at least, much good came. Some of his methods still survive in our hospitals today. He finally reasoned that to live, a pony must consume, taint and destroy. After all, what is the act of eating or drinking? He found a way to break down things of order and beauty and consume their energy. He kept his horn blazing day and night, red-hot with superequine strain. However, the same spell that burned him sustained his life and magic in a twisted loop."
"Was that when y'all realized he was no good?" said Applejack.
"No, not hardly. I was impressed with him. He extended his life for decades, just by burning slowly through his own sizeable estate, but I never gave him the one thing he desired more than my friendship. Mad with frustration, he hatched a plan to make himself not only immortal, but as powerful as a god. He supposed that then I might love him. He experimented with ever darker magicks, ways to burn hotter and faster. In a day he burnt his whole house to the ground, and all his treasure. On a wave of tainted smoke he flew into the palace and evicted the emperor. Nowhere in the entire empire was safe from his all-consuming taint. He believed himself invincible, and he spent a few years consolidating his power. He enslaved his own subjects, forcing them to mine the crystal that sustained him. Our envoys would have their minds warped so they could not give report of what happened behind the shields of the Crystal City.
"I wondered what happened to his letters though. I missed their flattering words and kind sentiments. Worried, I went there myself. When he saw me approach, he was delighted. He drew me in, casting a glamour about my eyes so that I could only see him. I cannot remember much of what happened next. I believe that the Elements purged those memories from me when you rescued me. What I do know is that he preyed upon my fears and insecurities, warping my mind as best he could. His hubris was too great, thinking he could hold a goddess. I finally broke free of his spell while I dreamed one night, but the damage was done. The realization of his betrayal did what his dark magicks could not. My heart broke that night. My only friend, the one pony I had trusted, had turned on me. I fled to Celestia's side, and we flew out to meet him, armed with the Elements. When we tried to purify him, their magic failed. I was far too sick at heart to wield them."
Luna stopped for a moment. Her head hung low, and tears hovered in her eyes. "So we killed him. We were forced to strike with the roaring violence of the Sun and the bitter hatred of the Void. His magic sustained him, though his body was reduced to a roiling miasma. His specter lashed out at us and the Empire with strange magicks that have rarely been seen since the foundation of the world. Finally, my sister managed to tear a hole in the very bones of the earth while I drew him under and sealed him away. I... I never recovered from the mad pain of that duty. I blamed my own sister for forcing me to seal away my only friend. I blamed Harmony itself. I turned on the entire world. If only I had let my sister in. Let her hold me and tell me it would be alright. Let her speak peace to my wounded soul like she so deeply desired."
Luna paused again and looked up at Applejack, her eyes deeper than the endless void. She seemed truly ancient then. More than the eons she had already seen, her eyes sang of a burden older than the stars, older than light, older than joy. She finally spoke again. "Don't tune us out, Applejack. The whole world will fail you. To live is to know pain. To live forever is to suffer endlessly. You, Celestia, and I are meant to be the strength that keeps each other whole, to remind each other that friendship and peace are also eternal."
Applejack sat for a minute in silence, humbled and somber. "Ah won't... Ah won't." She shook her head, unsure what to say.
Luna dropped her gaze, a few tears escaping. A wan smile curled her lips. "Well said... Sister." Her ears perked up at some inaudible signal. She looked back at Applejack. "Thy body is much recovered. Mine is repairing the larger strain, and will sleep a while longer. The dreamtime has never matched well with the passing of reality. I shall see thee soon. Though I have not known thee long, Celestia and I well know thy burden. Remember that we love thee, sister." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Fifteen: Barbarizein | Chapter Fifteen: Barbarízein
Applejack stirred before opening her eyes. She was under some sort of blanket. Snuffling her way out from underneath, she stretched her neck out and slowly opened her eyes. The drenched and shattered wasteland she had fallen asleep in was gone. In its place was a massive and richly embroidered tent, floored with sweet grass. She was lying on a canvas cot. Across the room sat Merry May, snoozing gently and wearing a turban. Applejack brought a hoof to the bridge of her nose and let out a deep breath. "Merry..."
The little pegasus startled awake. She looked at Applejack with glittering eyes and let out a loud whistle towards the tent flap. Standing up, she trotted over to Applejack and curtsied. "How are you, mistress?"
"Ah'm fine. Where did y'all get tha tent? An' don't call me mistress."
Before Merry could answer, a gangly camel nudged the tent flap aside. In his mouth was a large platter with several pieces of some kind of bread, stuffed with piping hot vegetables and a pungent sauce. He set the platter on a low table, bowed deeply, and left again. Merry giggled, turning back to her idol. "That's where! I ran into a herd of camels traveling the southern deserts and convinced them to follow the spots of greenery that you left behind. I don't know if we would have ever caught up to you if it weren't for the explosion."
Applejack, still groggy and willing to humor the mare, asked, "Explosion?"
"There was a massive explosion of water and rock and fire! It came from the opposite direction we were following, but I said to myself, 'self, that's probably her!' So we switched course and found you in some kind of swampy jungle. The camels were really impressed. They said that this place used to be completely dead. Now they want to follow you too! Isn't it wonderful?" Merry smiled, fit to burst.
"Merry, Ah don't need followers. And whut happened ta Luna?"
A confused look washed over Merry's face before answering with venom in her voice. "Luna... We put her somewhere where you could deal with her. She tried to hurt you!"
Applejack sprang fully upright at that. "Whut. Did. You. Do. Take me ta her now."
Merry skittered back at the sudden intensity in AJ's voice. "Y-yes milady." She dashed out of the tent, AJ hard on her heels. Outside Applejack could see that they were in a large grassy plain. In front of them the land sloped down into a shallow tree-filled basin where the water from her fight had collected. Merry May immediately took wing and swooped towards the little grove. Applejack kept to the ground, easily keeping pace. Through the little stand of trees there was a large boulder wrapped in chains. Strapped to the top was Luna, looking very uncomfortable in her sleep.
Wasting no time, Applejack bit down on one of the chains and ripped it free. Spitting out the metal, she turned on Merry May. "Luna's far more of a goddess than Ah am. Y'all will get her over to tha camp right now an' do fer her whatever ya did fer me, y'hear?" The little pony trembled and dashed off towards the camp, yelling at the milling camels.
In the meantime, Applejack gently lowered the mishandled princess down from the stone and started hauling her out of the little swamp. She was met halfway by a couple of camels carrying a stretcher. One of them nodded graciously to her and said, "We shell take her, lady D'jinn." His accent was quite strong, but understandable.
Applejack nodded back, "Thank yeh kindly." She rolled Luna gently off her back and onto the stretcher. "But mah name ain't Gin, though Ah guess y'all are close in a way... It's Applejack."
The camel stared at AJ for a minute before tossing his head dismissively. "Very well, lady Epplejeck." They trotted back to the camp in companionable silence. Luna was carefully placed in a corner where several of the she-camels tended her and brushed her fur. Merry May hovered nervously at AJ's side. Applejack watched them care for Luna until she was satisfied that they would treat her gently. Turning to Merry, she said, "Have y'all had lunch yet? Ah think Ah can spare one a them funny sandwiches." ***
The meal had passed in silence. Merry had been too nervous to speak, while Applejack had been far too hungry. Finally sated, she turned to her erstwhile disciple and asked, "So, Merry. Why, ex-actly do ya wanna follow me?"
Merry looked shocked. "Uh, I, you're beautiful and powerful and strong and you are... I mean, why wouldn't I?"
"Sapphire Shores is all a those, and a sight prettier 'n' better at singin' to boot. Why not drool over her like tha rest a her fans?"
Merry quirked her mouth to the side and shook her head. "But, she doesn't matter like you do."
"Ah ain't no better than anypony else. Besides, if yer lookin fer a goddess, Luna an' Celestia have tons more experience than Ah do."
"They have other ponies to look after them. And, if you aren't any better than anypony else, how come you can make the world wake up?"
Applejack sat for a minute. "Well, Ah don't rightly know."
Merry May smirked, then frowned, not quite sure how to take having bested her goddess in a battle of wits. ***
The trip back to Equestria was going to take the better part of a week on hoof, even with Applejack pulling the largest wagon solo. The camels were quite convivial despite the obvious deference they showed her. They were nomads and explorers, like most of their kind. Their clan hadn't been back to their homeland across the seas in nearly a decade, and the stories they had to tell stretched imagination. At the moment though, Applejack was busy trying to read, pull a cart and use magic all at once. A second letter had arrived on the second day of their return journey. It contained little, loving notes from her family and friends, and a letter from Celestia.
Dear Applejack,
I know that this letter will find you well. Luna visited me in a dream and has filled me in on what has transpired between you, in addition to my own ways of gathering information. I'm glad you are on better terms and I hope to call you sister as well. On the other hoof, that leads to certain complications of a legal nature. Whether or not you choose to invoke the title, you are by right a sovereign, reigning princess of Equestria with all the rights thereunto pertaining. The foremost of your rights as such is to form an honor-guard or similar organization under your exclusive command of whatsoever volunteers you desire. Their salaries are to be paid directly from the national treasury. Before you dismiss this as being needless and pretentious, consider your current situation carefully. Other duties and responsibilities you should wish to perform can be discussed at another date.
Your sister in harmony,
Celestia
Applejack furled the scroll and tucked it into her harness for safekeeping. She frowned for a while in thought, her eyes occasionally darting over to Merry May. She was currently helping to pull a small cart and chatting animatedly with one of the camels, no doubt extolling Applejack's virtues and power. A royal guard did not sound like something AJ wanted. What would she do with a contingent of soldiers? On the other hand, the letter had specified that the particulars of the organization were up to her. Celestia had asked her to think about it, so it was obvious she was driving at something.
Her mind wandered back to her experience in the Ponyville market. It'd be impossible to sell apples from behind a barrier of steel and muscle, and something about the thought of hiring royal sales-ponies left a sick taste in her mouth. She'd probably have to hire somepony to keep curious ponies out of the farm... Again, though, that seemed to be missing the point of Celestia's offer. Grunting, she called out to the camel pulling alongside Merry, "Hay! Musaafir! Can yuh spare Merry fer a bit?"
"Certainly, miss D'jinn! Though I shell miss her company."
Applejack mentally shrugged at the name they seemed to have given her. "Mah thanks then fer lettin' me borrow her. Merry? Ah'd like a word with yeh if ya don't mind."
Merry hesitated, then slipped free of her harness and trotted over to Applejack. She bobbed her head in an approximation of a walking bow. "What do you need, milady?"
Applejack waited a minute to get her thoughts straight. Looking over at Merry, she said, "Ah'm gonna ask ya agin. Why do y'all want ta follow me?"
Merry sighed, "I-I didn't really know in the beginning, but now... I wish you would understand... You can do so much and-and bring so much beauty to the world. In the past couple of weeks, I've seen even more how you leave every place you've been better. Even where you and Luna fought, the land is alive again. If, um, if there is any way I can help you bring that beauty to other ponies, shouldn't I do that?"
"Well, Ah can't say Ah've appreciated ever'thing ya've done." Merry's face fell. "But, Ah do appreciate yeh comin' after me." Merry brightened. "If there was a way y'all could help me 'n' make ponies' lives easier, would ya do it?"
"Yes! Anything you like!" Merry skipped along, excited.
"Well, Ah get ta form mah own sorta royal guard, bein' technically a princess and all. Ah don't want soldiers, though. Ah suppose that bein' an alicorn, mah family's bigger'n Granny, Mac 'n' Blooms. Ah should do what Ah can fer the world. Ah think that's whut mah guard should be. Somethin' ta help me help others. Ah think, maybe, Ah'd like you be mah first captain."
Merry May shot into the air with excitement. "Really!?"
"Now hold on jest an apple pickin' minute, y'all gotta promise ta follow orders and ya gotta pass a test first!"
"I'll do anything!"
"Anythin'?"
"Yes!"
Applejack smirked, she had Merry right where she wanted her. "Well, before y'all can join mah guard, ya gotta prove yer country enough."
"Huh?"
"Show me how country ya are and Ah'll let'cha join."
"I, uh, Ah ken.. dew thee-at... Uh, yep-howdy."
"Hmm... Nnope. Not good 'nuff. Keep tryin'." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Sixteen: Diatheke | Chapter Sixteen: Diatheke
By day three of the journey home Luna had recovered and began to stir in her wagon. Applejack immediately called a halt and instructed Merry May to keep everydromedary (it rolled off the tongue better in Camaltese) away from the wagon. She ducked under the canopy of the wagon and sat patiently beside her fellow goddess. With a slight moan and a jerk she startled awake, staring uncomprehendingly up at AJ.
"Good mornin' sunshine." said Applejack with a grin. Luna groaned again and pulled a nearby cushion over her face. "Oh no you don't. Nope. Ah ain't the most mystic of ponies, but Ah know enough ta know that what happens in a dream don't count fer nothin' 'less ya do somethin' about it. Now, didja mean that bit about bein' sisters?"
"Aaaplejack. It's the middle of the daaay." came Luna's muffled voice.
"Answer mah question then Ah might let'cha get back ta sleep."
"Yes. I meant it. Yay for sisterhood. Now go away, ruffian."
Applejack chuckled. "Nah, Ah only said Ah might go away. Now up 'n' at 'em. Y'all can take a turn at cart pullin'. It's only fair."
"Why are we traveling by hoof? It's much faster by air."
"Well, Ah'm sick ta death of flyin' and Ah like the company. Y'all can fly ahead... But won't it look a mite strange fer the princess of the night ta come back alone after chasin' me off like that?"
Luna gave her a flat look. "Blackmail? I expected more from the element of Honesty."
"Eeyup, Ah ain't Kindness." ***
With much cajoling and backtalk, Luna was hitched to a wagon, giving a few more camels a chance to switch out and rest as they walked. Merry May was scrupulous to keep on the opposite side of the caravan at all times lest Luna find out what she had done while she was sleeping. Luna, for her part, pulled in silence and haughty dignity, the very picture of affronted royalty. Applejack rolled her eyes. It'd do the princess a bit of good to get dirty.
They made good time. By the end of the next day they were in sight of Dodge Junction and the rail back into Equestria proper. Applejack called a quick halt to discuss strategy. "Ah don't want ta get mobbed. How're we gonna get into town?"
Luna shrugged, "I could always do this." She closed her eyes and summoned a green spark of changeling magic. In a few moments she was transformed into a slightly larger version of Night Glider.
"Ya gotta teach me how ta do that. Alright, Musaafir? Ya got any cloaks in extra-extra large? There're some ponies in town that might recognize me."
Musaafir shook his prodigious head. "No, the wagon sheets though..."
"Ah'll get it back to ya plus interest."
Musaafir nodded, "Fair as always, noble D'jinn."
"Thanks again. And, Ah'll make sure that if y'all're ever down at Sweet Apple Acres, y'all will get the biggest spread a food y'all have ever laid eyes on."
Musaafir's eyes twinkled at the alicorn, "We shell take you up on that."
"Well, goodbye, Ah'll see y'all later. If ya do go into town, tell Cherry Jubilee that Ah said hi."
"Goodbye! We shell meet again, Epplejeck."
"Come on Merry! Let's go."
Merry May nodded and said goodbye to the camel she had been talking with. The camels set up camp for the evening. Applejack, looking rather odd in a sail's worth of canvas, Luna in disguise as a statuesque, star-spangled pegasus, and Merry May in her turban, set off across the sand and cracked earth towards Dodge Junction.
A sheriff had galloped up to meet them a short ways from town. Luna had beckoned him over and whispered something in his ear. His eyes had widened in surprise and he nodded at the trio. His accent was deep and slow, "Welcome to Dodge Junction. Envoys of thuh Princesses are a rare sight out here. Ah know better than ta ask y'all whah y'all're here, but our services are at y'alls disposal."
Luna smiled at him. "A set of train tickets will suffice."
The sheriff nodded, "Ah figure Ah ken do that." Noticing Merry May for the first time, he pointed out her turban. "Y'all just get out of thuh shower, missy? Ain't no water 'round here for miles."
Merry May glanced side to side nervously. "Uh, no. It... I can take it off."
"Merry May. You keep that hat on yer head." Applejack raised her voice for the first time. "First rule. Ah don't care whut kinda hat yer wearin', y'all don't let nopony give ya no guff about it."
Merry May looked back and forth between the sheriff and her goddess. It took her only a moment to stiffen her spine. "That's right! You don't like my hat, Mr. Sheriff, y'all can just deal!"
Applejack smiled under her sheet. Maybe Merry May could learn after all.
The sheriff looked critically at the abnormally large unicorn under the sheet, and decided that there were better fights to pick. "Well, Y'all can head down to thuh depot. They'll get y'alls tickets and such squared away. Just tell 'em Sheriff Gunsmoke sent y'all." With a final nod, he galloped ahead of them into town. ***
The tickets had been waiting for them as promised. The trio got plenty of odd looks from the townsfolk, but the cowponies mostly lost interest when they saw that the strangers were waiting for the outbound train. Weirdos headed out of town were officially Somepony Else's Problem. The overnight train to Ponyville arrived without incident and the three of them found themselves in an otherwise unoccupied car. Applejack immediately threw off the canvas. "Whew, Ah can-not believe that some ponies wear clothes ever' day. Ah'm sweatin' like a pig." Merry May chuckled a bit at that, then abruptly caught herself and sat to attention, eyes forward. Applejack sighed. "Merry..."
"Yes milady?"
"If y'all really want the job, Ah need ya ta be more than a good soldier or an obedient servant. Ah need a friend. Ah have the girls 'n' mah family back home fer emotional support, but if yer gonna be spendin' yer days at mah beck and call, which Ah ain't totally comfortable with, Ah need ya ta be somepony that Ah can laugh 'n' carry on with too."
Merry May fidgeted a bit. "But, aren't I supposed to show you respect? I mean... If I don't treat you like you deserve to be treated, aren't other ponies not going to?"
Applejack glanced at Luna. The erstwhile pegasus was studiously examining the passing landscape. "Ah don't think..."
"She's correct, you know." said Luna. She was still facing away from them, her gaze focused on the distance. Slowly, deliberately, she turned to Applejack. "This is the reality of thy life. Thou art a goddess, ponies will look up to you, some will pray to you even. It matters not that thou art uncomfortable with the praise and expectation. To be less than you are is to hurt the ones who look up to you. Tia and I have learned this lesson over many years, at great cost."
"But, ta be what Ah ain't. Won't that hurt them more?"
"What, then, art thou? Nopony is knowable, not really. We are each ineffable things, unsure of ourselves and unsure of those around us. Appearance is as good as a fact."
"Ah don't buy it. Truth is truth. Some things are so and some ain't. It don't matter if y'all are unsure, the fact remains with or without yer say-so."
"Fine, then look at thyself and ask, what should Applejack, who is a goddess, do?"
Applejack sat back and fumed. Luna had a way of twisting words around as if they were something they weren't. Timidly, Merry May spoke, "What if I called you Ma'am?"
AJ quirked an eyebrow at May, "That... Ah can deal with that. And y'all will loosen up a bit?"
Merry May stuck out a hoof, "Deal."
Laughing, AJ met Merry's hoof with her own. "Deal." ***
The rest of the train ride passed peacefully. Occasionally one of them would pipe up with a comment or a story and the other two would listen, but for the most part a comfortable silence reigned. As evening wound into night and on towards morning, the dusty hills of the San Palomino Desert slowly gave way to the greener fields and trees of Everfree County. Something in the air changed subtly as well. Applejack felt suddenly at peace as she caught the faint scent of apple trees growing and ripening. Off in the distance was the south orchard, just coming into view. Apparently somepony had taken care of the thorns already. As the train passed acre after acre of the old family farm, Applejack wished she could just leap from the car and run off into the fields, reveling in the familiar glory of it.
All too soon, the fields passed from view as they came within sight of the Ponyville train station. There was something going on in town. Tents and pavilions littered the empty pastures near town and something was going on at the station itself.
Luna perked up, with a burst of magic she reverted to her normal form. "I believe Tia has come to meet us!" |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Seventeen: Perihelion | Chapter Seventeen: Perihelion
As the train slowed to a stop, AJ slunk lower on her bench. A whole delegation was waiting for her at the station. She recognized Prince Blueblood, the minister of agriculture, the mayor and the head of parliament in addition to a slew of others she didn't recognize. Towering over them all was Celestia herself. Her aurora of hair streamed in the ethereal winds while she chatted lightly with some minor functionary. As the brakes screeched to a halt her head turned to give the train car her undivided attention.
By this time Applejack had slumped all the way to the floor. Luna hesitated, feeling that to go out first would be somehow inappropriate. Merry May looked about to hyperventilate. The little pegasus scrambled over to the window and peered out at Celestia. The alicorn was watching the boarding door impassively while a slight smile twitched at the corner of her lips. The nobles surrounding her were shuffling their hooves and generally trying, unsuccessfully, to match the ageless patience of their ruler.
Merry's expression hardened. Leaning down, she poked Applejack in the shoulder. "Hey, what's up?"
"That's Celestia. Ah can't go out there after all this an' meet her 'n' tha whole Equestrian government!"
Merry frowned, "So what? Y'all already fought Luna to a standstill. Buck up. Celestia's no sweat."
"But, Ah... She's Celestia! No offense to ya Luna, but Ah didn't spend mah entire childhood prayin' ta you 'n' thinkin' y'all were somethin' unreachable and perfect. Now Ah gotta go out an' face her as an equal..."
Luna leaned down alongside Merry and gave AJ a gentle nuzzle. "Thou canst do this. Remember, as much as she's the Goddess of the Sun, she's also the lazy roustabout of Unicornia and the mystery monster of the Heartstrings clan. I also seem to remember her sharing an amusing letter thou sentest a few years back on the subject of friendship and already knowing it all. Where was thy shyness then?"
Applejack glared up at Luna. "Ta be fair, Ah was kinda drunk at the time."
"Then surely thou canst face her when thou art in command of thy faculties and armed with the power of a goddess, yes?"
"Yeah, give her what-for and tell her that you won't let her take you-all, uh, y'all off the farm!" said Merry.
Applejack peeked over the edge of the window. Celestia was still there waiting. She hadn't moved a muscle. Applejack sucked in a huge breath and then sighed. "Y'all are right. Ah'm getting mah tail in a tizzy over nothin'. Here Ah go!"
Applejack rose regally to her feet and marched over to the exit. An extremely nervous porter opened the door for her and stepped aside. Applejack nodded to him and debarked, barely remembering to duck her head and horn for the doorframe. Luna and Merry followed and took up positions beside her, Luna to her right and Merry to her left. Applejack and Celestia stood a moment, facing each other across the station as the entire crowd held its breath. Celestia was the first to move. Slowly, she approached Applejack and nuzzled her neck in a regal sort of hug. "It is good to meet you for the first time as a sister, Applejack."
Applejack tentatively returned the nuzzle, "Uh, you too, princess."
Celestia broke the embrace and rested a hoof on AJ's chest. "Please, no need for such formality between the two of us."
In the meantime various cameras were flashing near-constantly while phonographs and film reels spun furiously to capture the event. Applejack was getting slightly dizzy from the lights, though she was fairly sure she could hear Pinkie cheering from somewhere in the crowd. "Ah, uh, sure thing... Celestia."
Celestia glanced over to the crowd of reporters. "How about we have Luna and your... Hoofservant?"
"Captain."
"...your captain deal with the press while you and I go somewhere private to discuss where to go from here."
"Alright."
"Luna! Captain Merry! Would you two be so kind as to entertain the press for a moment?"
Luna nodded and Merry snapped to attention while Celestia turned to step off of the platform. A path parted in front of her as if by magic. Applejack followed closely in the princess's wake as the crowd surged behind her. They soon found themselves in front of the town hall. The Solar Guard was busy blocking the entrances and deflecting curious onlookers. The two alicorns passed by gracefully. AJ entered first while Celestia paused to give an instruction to the guard captain.
Inside the grand building was a set of cushions and a small tea service. Nopony else was there, though the windows were thronged. Celestia took her seat and lit her horn for a moment. The windows and walls shimmered with a golden glow as the sounds of the crowd faded away. With a sigh, Celestia turned to Applejack. "There, we have complete privacy for the moment."
"Thank you kindly, princess."
"You know, I meant it on the platform. I sincerely hope you will accept me as a sister. That wasn't just a publicity play."
"Ah know... Ah guess Ah gotta warm up to tha idea first."
"That's fair..." Celestia trailed off as she poured herself a small cup. "I also have a bottle of cider if you'd like it, your own make."
Applejack smiled faintly, "Thanks, Ah think Ah should have a clear head for the time bein'."
"It's up to you." Celestia fell silent, her eyes hard but worried. "Now... This is a rather dramatic change for you. You know... I could make this all go away if you wanted."
"Pardon?"
"You know of the various limits I have imposed upon myself, Luna mentioned them briefly to you. I can do much more than that. I could make it so that you lose access to all your power, your form would be reverted permanently... I can't do anything direct about the immortality, but getting cast in enchanted stone at the end of your chosen life is near enough..."
Applejack stared at Celestia. The elder goddess stared back, unreadable, but grim. "Uh, that's pretty extreme, ain't it?"
"Not when you think about it. I would be giving you back everything you had before you changed. We could write this whole event off as some trick of Discord and everypony will have forgotten about it within the year. We could fake the signs of aging, and nopony would ever have to think of you differently. Then, at the end, you would go to a blissful, eternal rest. So, what do you want?"
"Didja give Luna this choice?"
"I didn't have the knowledge to do so back then. I do now."
"What about mah family? This affects them too."
"I can make similar arrangements to protect their anonymity and their livelihood. They need never suffer for your decision, either way. You will not be separated from them and they can live peacefully. Applejack... This decision needs to your choice and yours alone. I cannot reverse what happens, and I will not offer this a second time, the consequences would be minimal now, but unfathomable later. Should you make the decision on the recommendation of another, you could come to resent it later on, and even a powerless immortal can cause a lot of damage, nevermind a goddess. You've seen a glimpse of the kind of heartache that this sort of life can provide, and I do mean a glimpse. There are also moments of joy, unutterable happiness that will come to you through eternity. What I ask is this, can you bear up under the burden?"
Applejack stood up and paced towards one of the darkened windows. The crowd was still faintly visible. "What happens to tha rest of tha world?"
"Either the rest of the world goes on happily, much as it has for generations, or you change it."
"Y'all're tryin' ta tell me that I Ah walk away, an' it don't cost anypony anythin'?"
"Well, yes. I suppose I am."
"With all due respect, Celestia, that's bull."
Celestia smiled, surprised. "Oh? And why is that?"
"Well, when an apple tree is young, ya tie it to a stick and hold it firm so it grows tall an' straight an' strong. If you never tie it like that, well, it ain't like it's gettin' any less than it would in the wild... But it won't grow straight. It'll bend for any reason, and when a heavy snow comes or a strong wind blows, it breaks like kindlin'. Maybe Ah'm supposed ta be tha brace that helps 'em grow." Applejack gestured broadly out the window. She turned to Celestia, eyes serious. "Ah ain't gonna walk out on 'em, Mama Apple didn't raise no quitters."
Celestia nodded, "Is that your decision? Are you fully prepared to take up that duty and role, knowing that in the end it was your choice?"
The Earth Goddess looked the Sun Goddess in the eyes. "Eeyup." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Chapter Eighteen: Apotheosis | Chapter 18: Apotheosis
Celestia held Applejack's gaze for a while, her eyes narrow, but her mouth smiling. "Well then, I believe you. You also accept your role as princess of the realm?"
"Ah do."
"No sense in waiting around then. To business!" Her horn flashed in a sudden blaze, the walls gleamed and a small pile of scrolls on a side table levitated and then blinked away. "We have a coronation to prepare you for! You may be a princess by right and power, but it pays to do things by the book."
"Uh, ok, when do ya want ta have it?"
"Hmmm... Let's say five o'clock this evening. Yes?"
"Ain't that a mite soon? Ah, mean, Ah would think it would take a bit ta organize."
"Nonsense, I've had almost a week to plan. Now, go spend some time with your family. I'll be in touch for the details. You don't have to worry about a thing." With that, Celestia shooed her out the door. ***
One military escort later, Applejack found herself standing at the gate to Sweet Apple Acres. A pair of unicorn guard ponies stood watch on either side while a couple of pegasus warriors circled overhead. In front of her she could see the slightly different shade of red where they had replaced the wall Luna had blown down. She sighed, whatever happened, things wouldn't be the same. She signaled the guards to stay behind. Slowly, she trotted up to the door. Inside she could hear Apple Bloom chattering excitedly to somepony. AJ chuckled, that girl loved to talk.
Applejack pushed open the door, inside her family was sitting around the old parlor. As soon as they saw her, they rushed her and tackled her in a massive hug that almost threw her on her back. "Woah, Nellie! Apple Bloom, haha, Ah still need ta breathe... Well, Ah still enjoy it anyway. Mac, Granny. It's only been a little over a week. Ah'm fine. Hay, Ah'm back." She wrapped her family in her massive wings. Apple Bloom giggled as the feathers tickled her. The four of them sat there for a minute, just happy to be together. Finally, Applejack drew back to look at her siblings and her grandma. "So, Ah assume Celestia talked ta y'all?"
Big Mac nodded, "Eeyup."
"Did she say anythin' 'bout nobility?" asked AJ.
Another nod, "Eeyup."
Apple Bloom piped up, "She said that Ah could be a princess too when Ah grow up! Jest, not with wings 'n' such..."
Applejack smiled down at her little sister, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Are ya sure ya want that, sugar-cube? Luna knows, tha life of a princess could be pretty rough."
"Yeah, but yer one, so it cain't be all that bad."
Applejack ruffled her sister's hair with a hoof. "Thanks, Blooms. What about you Mac?"
"Eeyup. Ah'm there for ya."
"Y'all don't have to be. Ah can jest split mah time between here 'n' tha castle. Ah know ya ain't tha most sociable of ponies, and Ah don't want ta put'cha anywhere ya ain't comfortable with."
"Nnope. 'Sides, Ah don't buy it when Celestia says she can hide us. Ah need ta keep ya out of trouble anyhow." He smiled and poked her with a hoof.
"I'll need somepony with a mess a common sense. And what about you Granny? Do ya know what's goin' on?" asked Applejack.
"A-course Ah do! We're gonna go see tha princess! Ah haven't been this excited in ages."
Applejack smiled at her grandmother. "Eeyup, we're gonna see her this evening. Now, Ah need a bath first. Also, y'all seen mah hat?" Her siblings shook their heads. The hat had been missing since the fight with Luna in the kitchen. "It'll turn up. Jest keep an eye out." ***
A couple of hours later Merry May arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, accompanying Applejack's friends. AJ came out to meet them and hug each one individually before leading them inside. They managed to squeeze in around the kitchen table. "Ah guess Ah'm gonna have ta get a bigger kitchen if Ah'm gonna be a princess."
Fluttershy's eyes sparkled, "Oooh, you could get a rosewood table and have velvet chairs and put down soft plush carpets with a cozy fire. It'd be just like a fairy tale. Um. If you like that sort of thing."
AJ chuckled, "That sounds lovely, Fluttershy. So, why are y'all here as a bunch? Ah'm glad y'all stopped by, but Ah'm guessin' Celestia had somethin' ta do with it since Merry came along too."
Twilight cleared her throat. "Yes, Celestia did send us over to discuss the coronation arrangements. Pinkie needs to discuss the decorations while-"
Rarity tsk-tsked at Twilight, "Darling! I understand that time is short, but not so much that we cannot chat a bit. Applejack, how are you holding up? This must be so much at once."
"Well, yeah, it's all got me a mite mixed up inside, but Ah figure it's fer tha best. Ah can deal with it, Ah jest don't know how Ah feel about draggin' y'all and tha whole family inta it." said Applejack.
Rainbow Dash nodded, "Yeah, fame gets to a pony. It can really mess you up, and it can mess up your friends too."
Twilight rolled her eyes, "Thanks for that, but I really think we should get to organizing the event. We have a really short time to plan and we can discuss feelings later."
Applejack sighed and nodded. The sooner this all got planned and done with, the better. ***
The afternoon went by in a whirlwind of decorating, fitting, and the occasional small argument. Everypony seemed a little tense. Applejack shrugged it off as nerves. Four o'clock rolled around, time for the rehearsal. Luna and Celestia would ascend the dais first to declare their right as rulers, then would come Applejack to receive her regalia of office and tiara. She would accept the vows of office and her new titles would be declared, then she in turn would invest her siblings and grandmother with their titles and offices. Following the short ceremony would be a massive party on the Ponyville greens. The next day would see the nobles and dignitaries back to Canterlot and her first day as an official princess.
The crowd started to gather in front of the little stage. Her friends were standing front and center, while she waited with her family to one side. The town clock chimed out five. As soon as the last bell sounded, Celestia strode onto the stage in perfect passage. Unusually for her, she was clothed in a sheer white dress that draped across her regal frame in flowing folds. Taking a position on the right, she reared back and landed with a loud, assertive crack.
"By the will of the ponies of Equestria and of Harmony itself, I am the Lady of the Dawn, Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria, Daughter of Harmony and Endless Light of Life, Mother and Guide of the Herd, Once-Bearer of Kindness, Laughter, and Magic, Duchess of Canterlot, Van Hoover, and Cloudsdale, Queen of the Scattered Clouds, the Very High and Very Powerful Princess Celestia, and I rule by Power and Wisdom in the dispensation of Justice and Mercy."
With a mighty flare of her horn, the Sun moved backwards in its course to hang at a perfect forty five degrees to the horizon. Applejack blinked in shock. That hadn't been part of the rehearsal.
At that signal, her sister also mounted the stage in similarly graceful fashion, more akin to ballet than a simple trot. She was wearing a shimmering blue garment that blended almost imperceptibly with her tail and mane. She reared and stomped as Celestia had, and orated in a somewhat louder tone.
"By the will of the ponies of Equestria and of Harmony itself, I am the Lady of the Night, Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria, Daughter of Harmony and Conqueror of the Midnight Skies, Avenger of the Herd, Once-Bearer of Honesty, Generosity, and Loyalty, Duchess of Zebrica, Stalliongrad, and Manehatten, Queen of the Distant Isles, the Very High and Very Powerful Princess Luna, and I rule by Power and Wisdom in the dispensation of Justice and Mercy."
Her shadowy magic flowed forth in massive waves as the eastern sky darkened and the moon slowly rose well before its time. The sky directly overhead shimmered in an unnatural aurora as the night claimed its half of the heavens. Applejack was thoroughly cowed at the display.
Celestia called out, "Applejack, come forth and be recognized."
Applejack slowly walked forward, her head down and her gait hesitant, just as had been practiced. She found her place in front of the stage and bowed low.
Luna spoke, "Stand before thy Ladies and Masters." Applejack rose. "Thou hast been called before us to receive our Blessing and Crown to stand in Holy Office as Princess of Equestria. Wilt thou stand with strength before our enemies and against all calamity, to give thy life and might to secure the welfare of the ponies thou hast been chosen to defend?"
Applejack nodded once, adjusting into a smooth Manehatten accent, "I will."
"Then stand and show thy Power." Luna swung her hoof mightily, connecting with Applejack's cheek. They had practiced this part. Applejack called upon her magic, rooting her firmly in the earth itself. Luna's hoof struck with an immense crack, louder than gunfire, but she might as well have been hitting solid steel. "Thus I prove you and find you worthy to be girded as a Princess for war." She summoned Applejack's peytral of office and clasped it around her neck, it gleamed like burnished bronze and was inset with lapis and malachite on the front in the shape of her cutie mark.
Celestia then called to Applejack, "You have been proven worthy to fight for Equestria, but the true end of war is sacred Peace, whose survival depends on mercy and self-mastery. Will you stand with love and fellow-feeling as a beacon to the nations of the world, giving consideration to even the lowliest of your subjects and passing fair judgment without respect to pony, not returning evil for evil?"
Applejack nodded again, "I will."
Celestia reared back, "Then stand and show your Wisdom." Her hoof connected with Applejack's other cheek with a sound louder than a cannon. Again, Applejack stood as immovable as eternity. Celestia had explained this part during the rehearsal as showing her willingness to refrain from returning violence. "Thus I prove you and find you worthy to be crowned as a Princess for judgement." With a flash of magic, she summoned Applejack's Stetson. This also hadn't been part of the rehearsal. The trusty old hat had been cleaned and re-formed perfectly. A faint glimmer of enchantment hung about it, a bronze hatband had been placed upon it, set with perfect orange garnets, and around the brim had been fitted a bronze trim. Applejack couldn't help but smile as Celestia placed it reverently on her head.
Now that she was fully crowned, Celestia and Luna gestured her onto the stage to stand between them. Applejack was a little unsure of her step, but managed to take her position with grace.
Celestia began declaring Applejack's new titles in a call-and-response with Luna. "Ponies, before you stands the Lady of the Soil!"
"Her Serene Immortal Highness of Equestria!"
"Daughter of Harmony and Wellspring of the Harvest!"
"Benefactress of the Herd!" As they continued, Applejack reached out gently with her magic for the depths of the bedrock beneath them. She wasn't about to let Celestia and Luna have all the fun.
"Bearer of Honesty!"
"Duchess of Ponyville, Appleloosa, and the Southern Expanse!"
"Queen of the Fertile Valleys!"
This last bit was hers to say. They had spent a lot of time earlier picking out an appropriate formal name. Applejack reared back and abandoned all pretense of a sophisticated accent, instead lacing her words with power and force. "Ah am tha Very High 'n' Very Powerful Princess Mara!" As she struck the stage with her hooves, she fired a burst of magic deep into the soil. The very earth around them shuddered slightly and rumbled deafeningly. Celestia and Luna both looked at Applejack in slight shock as the little tremor settled.
As the crowd regained its bearings, a massive cheer burst from their throats, affirming the ceremony that had just taken place. The rest of the investiture passed in an elated blur. She first crowned her grandmother as a dowager queen of Equestria. Her brother and sister were crowned as the illustrious prince and princess of Everfree and San Palomino counties respectively. Thankfully there was much less hitting and far fewer titles to deal with in those ceremonies. The audience had cheered all of them on as if they would never stop, but stop they did. After all, there was a Pinkie party to attend afterwards. ***
The party had been wild and hectic. Pinkie, once again with the royal coffers backing her plans, had set up a whiz-bang show, complete with a country hoedown to celebrate Applejack's coronation. Applejack had met dozens of foreign ponies over the course of the evening, each eager to offer the new 'Princess Mara' some impressive gift to win her favor. They had come in all shapes and sizes, from stately griffons to imposing minotaurs and even a smallish drake. A crystal pony was also present, offering the regrets of Empress Cadence and Shining Armor for not being able to attend on such short notice.
Celestia and Luna had set the sky back into its natural order and dusk had long since fallen by the time the Apple family staggered home, laden with gifts. Merry May accompanied them home, pulling a cartload of presents as well. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had been put to bed immediately. Both were far too exhausted to argue about it. Applejack, Big Mac and Merry sat around the kitchen table, each nursing a mug of cocoa.
Applejack took a small sip of her mug, then set it down and turned to Merry May. "So what're yer plans? Ah'm guessin' Ah have ta knight'cha properly one a these days. Is that really whut ya want?"
Merry nodded, "It is. You do need somepony who gets you and can also do what you ask. I don't think your friends would like it if you started bossing them around, but I wasn't your friend before. I can be a servant too. As well as a friend, I mean. Um. A different sort of-"
Big Mac chuckled into his mug as Applejack interrupted her. "Ah get it. And, thanks. Ah'm gonna need all tha help Ah can get..." AJ lowered her head to the table in thought. "A lot of tha old stories my ma used ta read me had a happy ending 'n' the heroine was thrown a party 'n' that was it. Ya wondered whut happened to them afterwards. 'Cause, happily ever after jest don't happen in real life. Ya might have the best or worst day ever, but ya wake up tha next day and ya find out that ya still got work ta do and fields ta plow."
Big Mac tossed back the last of his drink and set it down with a thud. "Eeyup." |
The Assumption of Applejack -or- Appletheosis | Afterword & Sequel | Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that while writing is fun on its own, it's more fun when you take the leap and share it with friends. Also, even though it makes you nervous to let the world see things that are really important to you, good ponies will appreciate the fact that you took the time to share it.
Your Faithful Scribe,
Blue Print
So, thank you all for coming on this little journey with me! There are just a couple of things that I need to clear up that caused a bit of confusion. Both of them deal with foreign stuff. First, the chapter names. The chapter names were all Greek words, most of them having some sort of biblical or mythical significance. All of them are related in some way to the content of the chapter. The basic translations are as follows:
1: Pneuma = Breath or spirit
2: Gnosis = Knowledge, esp. hidden knowledge.
3: Hypsos = Height or altitude
4: Euchomai = Prayer or supplication
5: Theophaneia = The presence or manifestation of a god
6: Dunamis = Miracle or show of power
7: Aisthanomai = The faculties of sense
8: Thumos = Wrath or forcefulness
9: Pheugo = To flee
10: Oneiroi = Dream or vision
11: Eirene = Peace
12: Atheteó = Rejection
13: Phrike = Horror
14: Parakaleo = To exhort, plead with, comfort
15: Barbarizein = To imitate the crude speech
16: Diatheke = Covenant, contract, promise
17: Perihelion = The point closest to the sun
18: Apotheosis = Deification
Second, the name Mara. There are a few mythological figures that bear this name. Some of you thought I was referring to the Hindu goddess of Death and Evil. This is not the case at all. I was referring to Māra (pronounced May-rah) of Latvian mythology. While it's true that a lot of Slavic cultures adopted various corruptions of the Hindu goddess, Māra shares absolutely no roots with them. Her more ancient name is Mat Zemlya, or Mother Earth. The name Māra came about when some Latvians got confused by a bunch of Catholic missionaries extolling the virtues and glory of Maria, as in the Virgin Mary. The description kind of fit Mat Zemlya, so the local Latvians just inserted Mary into their little pantheon and said, "Close enough." Māra was the goddess of the soil and co-ruler of the Latvian pantheon. She is also associated with industry, the fruits of agriculture, prosperity and the whole cycle of life from birth to death. That's why I chose hers as the formal name for Applejack.
Lastly, the sequel is finally here! In the Service of the Goddess has been approved and can be found at the preceding link. It follows the events directly after the coronation and is gonna be a wild and fun ride if I do say so myself.
As always, you guys rock. Stay frosty! |
Entombed by Vanity: A Tale of Vampirism in Equestria | pre | "Mutinous subject! You will bow to me!"
"Never! Your crown will be mine!"
Flecks of blood marred the room. Rarity attempted several times to bite Nightmare Moon but she parried. Nightmare Moon seemed to have the upper hand in the scramble until Rarity landed a blow that knocked her down. The impact cracked the marble floor. Nightmare Moon was in a daze as Rarity landed on top of her and held her down.
"Goodbye, your highness."
Rarity was poised to bite until a powerful energy beam struck her from the side. The force was so great it sent her through a stained glass window and beyond. Nightmare Moon turned her head to see what was the source of the beam. It was Princess Celestia. She rushed to her sister's side. Nightmare Moon transformed back into Princess Luna and the maelstrom outside ceased. Princess Celestia helped her sister up.
"I have just received word from Twilight Sparkle. All of Equestria is in trouble. We must hurry to Ponyville to give council." Said Princess Celestia.
"We have seen a great evil from the past awoken." Said Princess Luna still flustered from the confrontation.
Without a further word, both Princesses left the castle at once for Ponyville.
Meanwhile, Rarity was still airborne and reeling from the blow.
It burns! I was so close, so close.
Rarity righted herself and headed for the Everfree Forest. Morning was fast approaching and she had to take shelter. Rarity landed and frantically searched for a place to shield herself from the sun's rays.
"Over here Rarity. Follow me, hurry." Said Prince Nocturnus.
Rarity was relieved seeing him. Both galloped as Prince Nocturnus lead.
"Something tells me you were not entirely successful in your endeavor."
"I could hear her heart beating. It was pounding. She feared me and I must try again. I know I can do it."
"I know she fears you. Patience obtains all things. If at first you don't succeed my dear Rarity--"
Prince Nocturnus led Rarity to the mouth of a cave at the moment dawn was breaking.
"Inside, make haste!" Said Prince Nocturnus.
Inside was pitch black, but Rarity could see everything as clear as day. Deeper and lower they went into the cave. The descent was steep, but Rarity easily found her footing. Eerie rock formations gave the cave a foreboding appearance. Roosting bats screeched as both ponies ran past. They crossed a rock bridge spanning a rushing river and arrived in a sparsely lit cavern.
"Where are we Prince?"
"Welcome to my abode Rarity. Please, make yourself at home."
Artwork such as paintings and statues from an ancient era were around the cavern. At the far end, a carved wooden throne was on an elevation. Depicted on the backrest was the same coat of arms that was Prince Nocturnus' cutie mark. Surrounding the coat of arms was a bizarre geometric shape, crudely carved in. Mounds of gold and silver coins with unique etchings were at another end. There was also pile after pile of dusty voluminous books, likely filled with esoteric knowledge. In the center was a gorgeous bronze coffin. Emblazoned on the cover of the coffin was the same coat of arms. It too had the strange design carved around the coat of arms just as his throne had.
"I just so happened to have an extra coffin my dear."
Prince Nocturnus disappeared from view and arrived back levitating another coffin. He set it down next to his and opened the lid.
"I know you must think it strange what with all you see here." Said Prince Nocturnus, waving his hoof in presentation of the cavern and his possessions.
"For the time being, I am a ruler in exile from my own lands."
His statement piqued her curiosity.
"And who exiled you, Prince?"
"The Royal sisters." Said Prince Nocturnus candidly.
In anger, her eye color changed from blue to red.
"The Royal Sisters--those fiends." Said Rarity under her breath.
If there was still any question as to where Rarity's loyalties lay, all doubt was now removed. A look of smugness washed upon Prince Nocturnus' face.
"Worry not. All wrongs will be righted soon enough."
Prince Nocturnus' gaze fell upon the coffin he had just brought out.
"Rarity, if you please." Said Prince Nocturnus.
Rarity at looked at the coffin with a perplexed look.
"Well, I know it looks a bit confining, but I assure you it is quite comfortable; more so than any bed you've slept in."
Rarity walked towards the coffin and settled herself inside. She actually did find it quite cozy.
"Sleep well Rarity. Tomorrow is another night and another chance of conquest."
As Prince Nocturnus began to close the coffin, Rarity put her hoof up to stop him.
"Prince, for everything that you have done for me, I am greatly indebted to you. Tonight was nothing short of extraordinary. Please know your struggle is now my struggle."
Prince Nocturnus could only smile at Rarity.
"You still have much to learn, and I have much to teach. Until tomorrow." Said the Prince as he shut the lid.
Rarity found solace in the immaculate darkness the coffin provided. She audibly exhaled and shut her eyes. |
Entombed by Vanity: A Tale of Vampirism in Equestria | 5th Movement | The mood the next morning in Ponyville was an uneasy one. News of what happened the night before spread throughout Equestria. Many ponies went about their day with worried looks on their faces. The loss of innocence was palpable. Even the birds were not chirping. There was a slight overcast, as many pegasi couldn't concentrate on their cloud removal duties. Inside Twilight Sparkle's house, the atmosphere was somber. Around a large table were the Royal Sisters, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. Spike was also present for the gathering.
"My sister and I have issued a decree across Equestria. Nopony is to be outside during nightfall for safety reasons. We hope all will comply. As an extra precaution, castle security has been heightened." Said Princess Luna.
"How is Pinkie Pie?" Asked Princess Celestia.
"I received word from Nurse Readheart earlier this morning. She lost a large quantity of blood and required numerous blood transfusions last night. However, I'm happy to report Pinkie is recovering well. She is actually cheering up the other sick ponies in the hospital!" Said Twilight Sparkle.
"That's good news! I'm glad she is doing better." Said Princess Luna.
"Always willing to help others, that's our Pinkie Pie!" Said Twilight Sparkle.
The mood in the room lightened before become serious again.
"Pinkie didn't even know it was Rarity that attacked her until we told her today. She's having a bit of a hard time accepting what happened." Said Rainbow Dash.
"Sweetie Belle is stayin' with us for the time being. We scooped her up last night after we took Pinkie to the hospital. She's playin' with Apple Bloom and Big Mac is watchin' 'em. It ain't safe for anypony now. I don't even know how to explain to her all the racket 'round town is all 'cause of her sister." Said Applejack.
"Princess, what happened to Rarity?" Asked Fluttershy.
"Rarity has been turned into a vampire. She is dead in life and alive in death. Every night she will awaken, feeding off the blood of the living and at dawn, find sanctuary away from sunlight and sleep." Said Princess Celestia.
"That explains what happened last night in my chicken coop." Said Fluttershy before bursting into tears.
"There there sugar cube." Said Applejack while petting Fluttershy on her head to comfort her.
"Vampire, I remember seeing that word in a book I've read." Said Twilight Sparkle.
"I'm afraid Rarity has been turned into one by the original vampire, Prince Nocturnus." Said Princess Celestia.
"Prince who now?" Said Rainbow Dash.
Princess Celestia projected images on the table as she spoke to better explain to all those present.
"Prince Nocturnus ruled over a valley kingdom eons ago. It was found within the largest mountain range in northern Equestria. His dominion was called the Land of Eternal Dusk. It was a land where the light of the sun would reach, but the sun itself was never seen. The Prince at one time was a fair and just ruler. We had good relations with him before he fell into darkness."
"All of this happened before my banishment to the moon." Said Princess Luna.
"And actually--" Added Princess Luna.
"Prince Nocturnus and I were to be married."
Everyone in the room, save for the Royal Sisters, were dumbstruck.
"Married?" Said Fluttershy.
Princess Luna was visibly uncomfortable and put her head down. Princess Celestia continued.
"He set out to find the Book of the Icosagon, a haunted book of forbidden pony magic. To even gaze upon it can drive ponies mad. We don't know his motivation as to why he wanted to find it. It could have been ambition, curiosity, pride, nopony knows. He scoured the ends of Equestria and uncovered it in the desert caverns of Saddle Arabia. Prince Nocturnus studied the book with intense focus, from cover to cover. His mind was poisoned with every word he read. The forbidden incantations corrupted him, and transformed him into a vampire. The evil contained in that tome manifested itself through him. The ponies he once protected were enslaved and became his source of sustenance."
"Oh goodness!" Said Fluttershy.
"However that wasn't enough for him. He had plans of total conquest. He planned to subjugate all of Equestria by first conquering the night. Simply put, he planned to destroy my sister. As a vampire, he felt it natural that he should rule the night. After all, why should he be subject to a pony princess? His strategy for me was a bit more elaborate. As a show of strength to all that darkness overcame the light, I was to be his slave for eternity. To keep me weakened, he planned to feed upon my blood nightly, barely alive as not to resist."
"This guy sounds like a heap of trouble." Said Applejack.
Princess Celestia continued as everypony listened intently.
"And after his conquest of Equestria, Prince Nocturnus was to usher in an everlasting age of endarkenment. He wanted to blemish both the Sun and Moon, making them his own. Taking a page from the Book of the Icosagon, he sought to cast the spell of The Dead Sun and The Blood Moon. It would be so, in the morning the Dead Sun would radiate black sunshine, making a mockery of the sun and allowing him to be active in the daytime. At night, the Blood Moon would rise high, to signify his perpetual thirst for blood. He would have me raise would raise both the Dead Sun and the Blood Moon as a form of humiliation. Being meticulous in his malevolence, he also had plans for his newly acquired subjects."
Princess Celestia shuddered.
"Feeding only off my blood wouldn't be satisfactory for him. Equestria would not only be his dominion, but also his sprawling banquet. To completely satiate his hunger and suppress any rebellion, every city, town and village in Equestria would be required to pay yearly tribute, in the form of ponies. Ponies from all across Equestria were to be imprisoned his special blood harems, to be fed upon him in indentured servitude. Any and all resistance would be utterly crushed."
A single tear streaked down her face.
"He told my sister and I of his elaborate strategies during our decisive encounter with him. We did battle with Prince Nocturnus, stopping his reign of terror and liberating the Land of Eternal Dusk. We retrieved the evil book and hid it in an inaccessible part of Equestria. Only myself and Princess Luna know the location."
Princess Luna picked her head up.
"As for Prince Nocturnus, instead of annihilating him, I felt that imprisoning him in the EverFree Forest was a better alternative. I believed that I could perhaps rehabilitate him through magic. Several attempts to bring him to his senses were in vain. Now that he turned Rarity into a vampire, we are forced to act against him. I now see that I was wrong. Love makes you foolish I guess." Said Princess Luna.
Tears welled up in her teal eyes.
"Everypony knows how dangerous that EverFree Forest could be, but not to that degree." Said Twilight Sparkle.
"Princess Luna and I felt it best not to have the citizenry know about the Prince and his imprisonment in the EverFree Forest. The last thing we wanted was inquisitive ponies deliberately looking for him."
"Why did he change Rarity into a vampire? What does she have to do with anything?" Asked Rainbow Dash.
"Prince Nocturnus may have caught Rarity in a moment of weakness. He is quite cunning and manipulative. I believe he is using Rarity as a pawn. By having Rarity to destroy me, he will be loosed from the Everfree Forest, giving him another chance at enslaving Equestria. If she is successful, he may very well feel Rarity would be of no more use and eliminate her." Said Princess Luna.
The gravity of the situation became apparent to everypony. A possible future with both Princess Luna and Rarity eradicated, while all of Equestria being enslaved and thrown into darkness weighed heavy on the minds of all present.
"I must also tell you all, a few nights ago I perceived Rarity dreamt about the Prince, before she was transformed. I presumed he and Rarity had met during a chance encounter while in the EverFree Forest. If not, how was she able to dream about him? As with all ponies' dreams, I can never directly interfere, merely influence. As much as try to avoid conjuring nightmares, I tried to warn Rarity about him through a most frightening of nightmare. She obviously didn't heed my warning."
"Oh Rarity." Sighed Fluttershy.
Princess Luna looked out the window.
"The sun is setting. The time has come for me to raise the moon."
Princess Luna stepped out of Twilight's house.
"When I'm finished I shall meet with you all." Said Princess Luna.
"Yes Princess, of course." Said Twilight Sparkle.
Princess Luna flew into the sky as Twilight Sparkle shut the door. The serious discussion continued.
"Now what in the hay was Rarity doin' round there? We all promised each other to never go into the EverFree Forest alone." Said Applejack as she slammed her hoof down on the table in frustration.
"As to why she was there alone is unimportant now. I don't feel she is far-gone as the Prince. I truly believe that we can still save Rarity. We must save Rarity!" Said Princess Celestia.
Spike's ears perked up.
We can still save Rarity? What a relief!
"My sister and I feel Rarity is most likely hiding the Everfree Forest with the Prince during the daytime. As vampires, sunlight is fatal to both of them. At nightfall we must make our way there as she awakens and draw her out. For the time being, Rarity is the greater threat, as she is able to travel freely across Equestria unlike the Prince. When we find Rarity, Prince Nocturnus may not be far behind. Caution must be taken though. He has the physical strength of a dozen or so ponies, and his magic can rival our own." Said Princess Celestia.
"Then we must make preparations for our journey. Spike, take a note." Said Twilight Sparkle.
"Spike?"
"Spike!"
The front door of Twilight Sparkle's house was wide open and Spike was nowhere to be found.
"Dagnabbit! Now we got a lovesick dragon playin' hero!" Said Applejack.
"Spike all alone in the Everfree Forest! Oh my!" Said Fluttershy.
"That silly dragon! We must leave at once. Who knows what Rarity will do to him!" Said Twilight Sparkle.
"C'mon we have to find him!" Said Rainbow Dash.
Everypony scrambled for provisions and set out for the EverFree Forest. |
Entombed by Vanity: A Tale of Vampirism in Equestria | 6th Movement | Spike was deep in the Everfree Forest as night fell. The only source of light was the full moon. Spike was in such a rush he forgot to bring a lantern. The only thing he carried was a red jewel that he would gift to Rarity. He naively believed the act of kindness would turn Rarity back to her normal self.
Wow, it sure is scary here at night! If I were Rarity, where would I be?
Every sound in the EverFree Forest made Spike jump. As he travelled deeper, he began to realize he was in over his head. The EverFree Forest was so large for such a little dragon. He didn't have a real plan of action. Spike clutched the jewel tight to himself, much like a filly would hang on to a stuffed doll for comfort. Despondency mixed with fear. He sat down on a rock and started to cry.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I wish Twilight were here.
Aside from his sobbing, he thought he heard whispers within the shadows.
"Spike."
"Huh? Who's there?"
"Spike."
His scales stood on end.
"Oh Spike. My Spikey Wikey."
He could have sworn it was Rarity.
"Rarity, is that you?"
Spike turned around and saw Rarity walking towards him. To Spike, Rarity had never looked so beautiful in her gown at that moment. He was utterly entranced.
"Spikey Wikey, you came all this way to see me? Is that jewel for me? How did you know red is my favorite color?"
Spike was completely lost in Rarity's eyes and smile. He had failed to see Rarity's fangs. His guard was down as she plunged her fangs into his neck. However, her fangs couldn't penetrate through his tough scales. The pressure of Rarity's bite on his neck was enough to make Spike come to his senses. Rarity continued to hang on. Her biting changed to gnawing.
"Help! Help!" Screamed Spike; barely getting the words out.
Spike took a swipe at Rarity in desperation. His claws dug into her underside and Rarity fell back, releasing him. She got back up and saw Spike running towards his pony comrades and the Royal Sisters. Much to Rarity's surprise, Pinkie Pie was also with them, healthy although bandaged and bruised.
"Spike are you ok?" Asked Fluttershy.
"Scales are a dragon's best friend!"
Rarity sneered at the group.
"Look what we have here. Pinkie Pie, you're doing well."
"No thanks to you, big meanie!"
"I see you brought reinforcements Princess Luna. What do you plan to do, eradicate me? Rest assured I won't make it easy. What could have been a battle between the two of us will now be a bloodbath. Poor decision."
Princess Luna was silent. Rarity floated and swayed above the other ponies. She had an ominous appearance against the backdrop of the night sky. Twilight Sparkle plucked up her courage and took a few steps forward.
"Rarity, things are not what they seem. We learned of Prince Nocturnus and his past. We don't know what he was in store for you. You're in great danger. Let us help you." Said Twilight Sparkle.
Rarity waved off Twilight's imploring.
"Behind every fear is a wish, Twilight. I feared old age and physical decline. I feared my beauty fading but most of all, I feared death. Prince Nocturnus helped me realize that. Because of fear, I searched and found the solution. Everything I wanted came to fruition. Strangely, its after-effects were nothing I had in mind, but I digress. Matter of fact, I have taken to them quite well."
Rarity quickly descended towards Twilight Sparkle and glared at her.
What do you fear Twilight? Do you fear being abandoned by Princess Celestia? Do you fear being all alone to fend for yourself? Do you fear incompetence? Do tell us Twilight."
Everypony stood in stunned silence at the revelation.
"You abandoned everything in your life, aligned yourself with a malevolent entity, basically putting Equestria in danger just so you could preserve your looks?" Said Twilight Sparkle in disbelief.
Rarity rose once more into the sky and turned her attention to the others present.
"What do all of you fear? I was brave enough to do something."
She then turned to the Royal Sisters.
"Now Princess Luna, your crown will be mine. If you wish to stop me, this is your last chance. And Princess Celestia, don't think I forgot about you. You will feel my wrath as well. My dear friends, en guard!"
With that, a great battle ensued. Rarity dived towards Princess Luna, but Rainbow Dash tackled her. Rarity and Rainbow Dash landed on the ground with a great force. Both ponies wrestled each other but Rarity easily pushed Rainbow Dash off, sending her into the air and landing on a tree branch.
"Rarity is suprisingly strong!" Said Rainbow Dash bewildered.
Both Applejack and Pinkie Pie jumped on Rarity as she was down in an attempt to constrain her. Rarity struck both of them, sending them flying with hooves flailing. The Royal Sisters fired several energy beams as Rarity stood up. She dodged them and returned fire, hitting and hurting both Princesses. Rarity was hit in the back by an energy beam from Twilight Sparkle. Her legs buckled from the impact. Rarity fired back in turn, hitting Twilight.
"Take that!" Said Rarity.
Twilight gritted her teeth but stood her ground. She rapidly fired several beams back. A few hit Rarity, forcing her to stumble.
"Rainbow, Pinkie charge her!" Yelled Applejack.
Immediately Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack rushed Rarity from her blind spot, knocking her off her hooves. Twilight shot at Rarity again, sending her tumbling back even further. She landed with a grunt near a cowering Fluttershy, who was trying to remain inconspicuous during the melee.
"Hello there, Fluttershy." Said Rarity with a smirk.
Fluttershy squeaked. Rarity was about to bite her when she felt a strong tug on her tail.
"Get away from her!" Said Spike.
Rarity kicked Spike, knocking him unconscious.
"Spike!" Yelled Fluttershy.
Fluttershy instinctively ran to Spike to aid him. Fluttershy didn't realize she grazed Rarity as she darted passed. Rarity turned to face Fluttershy who was cradling Spike. With a growl, Rarity pounced.
"Now!" Yelled Princess Luna.
At the moment when Rarity was inches away from striking Fluttershy, Princess Celestia shot an energy beam that took the form of a lasso around Rarity. It rendered her immovable in mid-air.
"Twilight, her horn!" Shouted Princess Celestia.
Twilight shot a similar energy beam, this time around Rarity's horn to prevent her from using magic. Rarity was squirming and gnashing her teeth as she was incapacitated.
"Cowards! All of you!"
With Rarity constrained, Princess Luna calmly walked towards her.
"My dearest child, you have lost your way. This is not your natural state of being. It is not in you to selfishly take. You, Rarity represent the Element of Generosity. All of your life, you have shared your wondrous talent with others and never turned anypony away. Every dress you made, from the simplest to the most opulent, was a reflection of your joyous and giving spirit. You also inspired other ponies with your creations. You have become the mentor of many. Sweet child, the night is not meant for terror and fear. I shall reveal the restorative and healing powers of the night, and through it you shall be reconciled with yourself, your friends, and all of Equestria."
Princess Luna looked towards the sky and gracefully spread her wings. She closed her eyes and whispered inaudible incantations. She ascended straight heavenward. Higher and higher Princess Luna rose until she was seen as a faint dot flying across the moon. Everypony fixed their gaze upon Princess Luna's flight and observed as Luna flew, the stars and moon followed her aerial dance. It was subtle, yet clearly visible. After a few moments had passed, Princess Luna began her descent back. The night sky pulsed and rippled as waves upon the ocean. The moon and stars were getting closer. Princess Luna returned and everypony looked in amazement as Princess Luna wore the night sky as a cape. She had brought the moon and all the stars down with her. The moon was so close; a pegasus can easily fly up to touch it. The stars resembled giant glowing fireflies. Rarity was breathing heavily through gritted teeth with her head down.
"My precious child, gaze upon the moon and be at peace."
Princess Luna again took flight and stationed herself above the cosmic ambiance. A warm blue glow emanated downward from her horn upon the moon. The moon began to change its appearance rapidly. Princess Luna's magic transformed it to pure diamond. Rarity picked her head up at the Diamond Moon. Her agitation became tranquility and she stared at it with astonishment. Tears came to her eyes as the magnificence of the sight overcame her.
It's so beautiful! It's unbearable!
Her cutie mark began to glow a blue light, climaxing into a bright flash. Rarity threw her head back and landed on the ground hard as Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle released their magical grasps on her. She groaned and writhed in discomfort. Everypony immediately ran to her. Rarity turned her head up to see all of her friends looking back at her.
"Rarity? Rarity!" Yelled her friends.
Everypony waited in anticipation as to Rarity's next action. Would she still be a vampire or back to her normal self? Rarity got up by her own strength and looked around the EverFree Forest. She marveled at the moon and stars around her. The hunger that drove Rarity to do unfathomable things was no longer. What was old was new again. Everything was as before. She removed her gown that was now tattered. She knelt down before Princess Luna.
"Princess, there are no word to express my gratitude. You brought down the night sky to heal me. I didn't realize I was headed down a dark path."
Princess Luna unfastened the night sky from her neck. The moon and stars returned to their original configuration in the heavens. Yet the moon remained as a diamond, gleaming high above. All of Equestria was illuminated in a dazzling brilliance. Ponies all across the land went outside to bear witness to the glittering scene.
"Rise Rarity. Friends need not kneel before each other. You received your cutie mark by finding a large diamond, and in turn, you found yourself. Your cutie mark of the most precious of gems is a testament of that event. I made it so through another diamond, you found yourself again. Diamonds do not shine in darkness but in the light. Those that truly care about their friends will come to their aid. And just as you freed me along side your friends, I have freed you."
Rarity's gaze turned towards Pinkie Pie. She began to break down in tears.
"I can't believe the pain and grief I have caused! How audacious of me to attack a dear friend. I'm so sorry for what I've done!" Said Rarity contritely.
"I didn't know it was you until the rest of the gang told me. I mean, you were you, but not the Rarity I knew. So that means you were kinda sorta you, but not really."
Rarity and Pinkie Pie could only laugh as they embraced warmly. Rarity then turned to Fluttershy, who had her head down.
"Fluttershy, I need to apologize to you as well. Your chickens were more than pets to you. They were your friends. I feel nothing but regret."
"I do miss them so." Said Fluttershy.
Rarity and Fluttershy hugged.
"I'm so truly sorry." Rarity whispered in Fluttershy's ear during their embrace.
Rarity then turned to Spike. Fluttershy had helped him come to but he was still unsteady from the blow Rarity dealt him earlier.
"Spike, you too deserve an apology. You so innocently tried to fix what was wrong. There is no malice in your heart."
Spike beamed, as he couldn't have been happier to see her.
"Thank you all for your compassion. I'm so overjoyed to be back and to have all of you back!" Said Rarity.
Everpony gathered around Rarity to give her a big hug. Afterwards Spike turned Rarity.
"I'm so glad you're all right Rarity! But can you please make everything stop spinning though?"
Everypony laughed but the beautiful moment wouldn't last for long.
"Dear Rarity, you've failed me."
An energy beam that came out of nowhere struck Rarity. She tumbled back a great distance. Everypony ran to her aid. She slowly got back up with assistance from her friends.
"It's him!" Said Rarity in a pained voice.
"What a touching site. My heart would break at the sight before me, if I still had one." Said Prince Nocturnus as he materialized out of thin air.
"Prince Nocturnus!" Said Princess Celestia.
"At your service my Princess. Said Prince Nocturnus as he bowed sarcastically.
"And you've brought friends. They shall be witness to my power and your doom."
Prince Nocturnus' face was a mask of fury as he turned to Rarity.
"I've grown tired of this prison of a forest! Rarity, I had such high hopes for you. But having you as my puppet wasn't a total loss. It was the first time in a long time I drank pony blood instead of dining on vermin and bottom feeders."
The Prince shook his head.
"You played the part so well. I was considering having you as my vassal. I'll have everyone also know she was a willing servant. However, you must pay for your incompetence."
His horn glowed ominously as he pointed it at Rarity. Just has he fired an energy beam towards her, Princess Celestia leapt in front of Rarity, shielding her and absorbing the full impact. She fell head over hooves.
"Princess!" Shouted Rarity.
Princess Celestia groaned. Determined to not show weakness in front of Prince Nocturnus, she got up on her own. Her legs instantly gave and she fell forward. Twilight Sparkle ran to her.
"Hmm, not what I had in mind but still a gain. Get used to bowing in front of me just as you are now Princess of the sun! Rarity, I shall deal with you later."
Meanwhile, Twilight assisted her mentor up. Princess Celestia's legs were shaking violently.
"Princess, are you okay?"
"Don't worry about me Twilight. I'll be fine."
He turned his sights to Princess Luna.
"Ah, my precious Princess Luna. It's so good to see you again. I've missed you."
Princes Nocturnus looked up at the Diamond Moon.
"Impressive, but it could use a shade of red, don't you think?"
The Prince laughed.
"I also learned a little secret about you. How about we both have some privacy?"
His horn began to glow a shade of black. An all-consuming darkness overtook the forest scenery. The Everfree Forest changed into a place as black as pitch. Princess Luna found herself alone with Prince Nocturnus in a gloomy dimension created by his dark magic. Prince Nocturnus continued to speak.
"Rarity spoke of the origins of Nightmare Moon to me. How you were envious of your sister--how you intended to plunge Equestria into eternal night--how you were imprisoned on the moon for a thousand years--everything.
The Prince smirked.
"She even told me that you still have the ability to transform into Nightmare Moon, just as you did when you two did battle last night. I wished I could have seen that side of you."
Prince Nocturnus turned his back to Princess Luna.
"So I guess nothing is what it seems. Everything is not as pure and simplistic as first thought. Everything is a façade. Imagine that, disharmony between the Royal Sisters, how deliciously unexpected. And to think, Rarity became evil after becoming a vampire, yet the evil was in you the whole time. All that was needed was the proper inspiration."
Princess Luna put her head down while Prince Nocturnus turned back to face her. He started walking towards her slowly.
"Tell me Princess, how can you not have hatred for your sister for what she did? You have reunited with Princess Celestia, but have you really forgiven her? One thousand years is a very long time. You were all alone, with no contact with anypony else, as if you were a common thief. She wouldn't even keep you in the castle dungeon. She imprisoned you on the moon no less! The travesty! The arrogance! How dare she! That tyrant!"
Prince Nocturnus stomped his hoof. The sound echoed and reverberated.
"There must be rage in your heart." Said the Prince in an angered whisper.
Prince Nocturnus licked his lips.
"There must still be that desire to overthrow your sister and rule Equestria. We can rule Equestria. You couldn't do it by yourself but we can do it together. We can send her to the moon."
Prince Nocturnus disappeared and reappeared next to Princess Luna. He continued to speak softly in her ear.
"We can be such a lovely royal couple. We can be together again."
What the Prince said gave Princess Luna pause.
"Prince Nocturnus--"
"Yes my dear?"
"You are still as deviant and wicked as we last encountered! I see through your lies!"
Princess Luna's horn started to glow brightly and the darkness was dispelled. Both Prince Nocturnus and Princess Luna found themselves back in the EverFree Forest with the others.
"Sister, it is time to purge this evil from Equestria. Just as we planned." Shouted Princess Luna.
Princess Celestia, though still in great pain, began to fly above the Everfree Forest. Her horn glowed a brilliant yellow light. Dawn slowly began to break in Equestria as she began to raise the sun in the sky. Princess Luna joined her sister in the air, holding the Diamond Moon in place. Prince Nocturnus began to fire energy beams at them. Both Royal sisters deftly avoided them and upon seeing this, Rarity directed energy beams of her own towards the Prince.
"What!" Exclaimed Prince Nocturnus.
"I'm not afraid of you!" Said Rarity defiantly.
Her friends were astonished at her bravery. Prince Nocturnus glared at Rarity in disbelief.
"Such impudence!"
The Prince turned his head upward. Princess Celestia began floundering in raising the sun, as she was still in pain from the injury she sustained earlier. The horizon oscillated between total darkness and slight illumination.
"I think the time to deal with you is now." Said the Prince nodding his head.
Confident in believing he had time, Prince Nocturnus began to walk with a slow, arrogant pace towards Rarity and her friends.
"I'll show you." Said Prince Nocturnus under his breath.
Rage burned in his eyes.
"Now girls--"
Rarity's friends gathered around to hear her plan.
"In all honesty, there is no way we can put up much resistance, he is much too powerful. But we must fight. By distracting him we'll buy time for the Princesses." Said Rarity.
"He's getting closer!" Yelled Pinkie Pie.
"If it's any consolation, he wants me the most. This is a chance for me to atone for the wrong I've done. If this is our last stand together, please know I love you all." Said Rarity.
"Let's go!" Yelled Rainbow Dash as she flew into the sky.
Rainbow Dash began to dive towards Prince Nocturnus. He was the epitome of calm as he looked up at Rainbow Dash approaching him at an incredible speed. As Rainbow Dash was about to strike, he raised is hoof up to Rainbow Dash. She came to a jarring stop and was suspended in mid-air.
"What the hay!"
Prince Nocturnus waved his hoof nonchalantly, and Rainbow Dash was flung a great distance. She landed hard within a thicket.
"Where am I and which way is up?" Said Rainbow Dash as she tried to disentangle herself.
The Prince continued to calmly walk towards Rarity.
"C'mon Pinkie! It's time to go hoof to hoof with this varmint." Shouted Applejack.
"Okie Dokie Lokie!"
Both Pinkie Pie and Applejack rushed Prince Nocturnus in an attempt to swarm him. Prince Nocturnus easily evaded their wild attacks and physically countered them. Both ponies were knocked back and collided with each other.
Princess Celestia wasn't kidding about him bein' tough!" Said Applejack deeply dazed.
"You're telling me!" Replied a mutually bewildered Pinkie Pie.
"Engaging in hoofsticuffs? How unsophisticated!" Said the Prince with a scoff.
Prince Nocturnus was getting closer to Fluttershy, who was trembling uncontrollably.
Fluttershy flinched and cowered before him with her hooves over her face.
"Simply pathetic." Said Prince Nocturnus as he levitated her out of the way and onto Applejack and Pinkie Pie, who attempted to mount another attack on him.
Meanwhile, Princess Celestia continued to struggle in raising the sun.
"Please hurry my sister, he is attacking our allies! More light!" Said Princess Luna with urgency.
Gritting her teeth, Princess Celestia redoubled her efforts. The outer edge of the sun became visible on the horizon.
Back on the ground, Twilight readied herself against the Prince.
"Everypony stand back!" Exclaimed Twilight as she concentrated her magic through her horn.
Everypony ran away as Twilight Sparkle's horn glowed bright purple. Twilight shot a powerful energy beam at Prince Nocturnus. A large plume of smoke and dust rose upwards as he absorbed the full impact of Twilight's attack.
"Twilight! You did it!" Shouted Spike.
Everypony cheered, even Rainbow Dash, who saw what happened where she was still stuck. The celebrations ceased when the dust cleared. Prince Nocturnus continued walking towards Rarity to everypony's dread. Smoke emanated from his body as he was only singed slightly.
"A valiant effort. Now it's my turn."
His horn glowed a bright red before firing a powerful energy beam of his own, striking the ground where Twilight stood. The ground exploded violently and Twilight was launched in the air. She landed in a nearby tree. As Twilight gathered herself as quickly as she could, she saw Spike putting himself between Rarity and the Prince.
"Spike, no!"
With great effort she got out of the tree but it was too late to intervene. Twilight was merely a helpless bystander as the Prince drew closer to Spike and Rarity.
"Leave her alone!" Yelled Spike at the Prince.
The Prince struck Spike out of the way and grabbed Rarity by the scruff of her neck as she tried to run away. She yelped as he lifted her off the ground.
"I will show you what happens to those who betray me!"
As he brought Rarity's neck to his mouth to bite her once more, sunrise fully broke over the land. Princess Celestia continued to move the Sun behind the Diamond Moon. The Diamond Moon didn't blot out the light from the sun, but instead intensified it. A spectacular scene beheld throughout Equestria. It was solar eclipse with the Diamond Moon. The light was so intense, there were no shadows being cast anywhere. Prince Nocturnus had nowhere to hide from the light.
"No! This can't be!" Prince Nocturnus growled.
Prince Nocturnus let go of Rarity as his strength left him. She ran to the safety of her friends.
"If this be my end, it shall be yours as well!" Screamed Prince Nocturnus to the Royal Sisters above.
Though weakened from the sunlight, he invoked all his dark magic through his horn and fired the most powerful and formidable energy beam he could at the Diamond Moon. Meanwhile, with the Sun and Moon in line, a beam of powerful sunlight clashed with the Prince's dark beam. The Prince exerted much effort, as his body was tensed during his attack.
"Focus my sister!" Yelled Princess Luna.
With the combined powers of the Royal Sisters, the sunbeam became too much for Prince Nocturnus to repel. His dark beam was neutralized and the concentrated sunbeam fell upon him. The Prince let out pained, blood curdling screams as he was being burned. His face distorted in indescribable agony as he turned his sights upwards. Princess Luna locked eyes with Prince Nocturnus.
"No!"
Princess Luna stopped the sunbeam by moving the Diamond Moon out of line with the Sun. She flew down to the Prince, who was mortally wounded.
"Sister! What are you doing?" Said Princess Celestia.
"No Princess, stop!"
Everypony and Spike ran over to Princess Luna and Prince Nocturnus.
"Keep away! Let us be! Get back!" Yelled Princess Luna.
Princess Luna put the Prince over her shoulder and walked out of sight. Princess Celestia flew down to join the others.
"Don't follow them. The fate of Equestria now lies with my sister." Said Princess Celestia out of breath.
Princess Luna laid Prince Nocturnus on his back under the shade of a tree. She noticed his facial features had changed. He no longer had vampiric features, but looked as she remembered him millennia ago. His rattled breathing was labored. He looked up at Princess Luna in wonder.
"Princess, you look radiant. It feels wonderful to be held by you again."
Princess Luna fought back tears.
"This can't be happening." Said Princess Luna.
"Princess, I'm sorry it has to be this way. Now I wish I never found that book. I must pay for the misdeeds that I have done, both then and now. There is no magic that can save me."
Princess Luna kissed him on the forehead tenderly.
"It is my hope that through my death, both Equestria and I shall find peace. Keep me in your thoughts, and dream of me when you sleep."
Princess Luna brushed his face gently.
"I still need your help Princess." Said the Prince as he coughed up blood.
Princess Luna nodded her head.
"For you, my final act of love for you will be to set you free."
Without hesitation Princess Luna drove her horn into Prince Nocturnus' chest, piercing his heart. And In one quick motion she turned her head, breaking her horn off. The sound made from her horn breaking resembled a thunderclap. Blood freely flowed from the wound and splattered on Princess Luna's face. Prince Nocturnus' body began to disintegrate into dust in Princess Luna's hooves. The wind blew hard, scattering his ashes far and wide.
"No!"
Princess Luna's cries of anguish echoed throughout Equestria. A pain so deep, it would move the hardest heart. She began to weep uncontrollably with her face in her hooves. Princess Luna's tears mingled with his blood on the ground. Hearing her wail, everypony and Spike ran to her.
"Dear sister--"
"Prince Nocturnus?" Asked Rarity.
"It is done. He is no more."
Everypony felt a weight lifted off their shoulders. Their concern turned to Princess Luna. She looked mentally and emotionally spent. All were ready to offer her comfort, however words of consolation were not needed, for another astonishing event occurred before them.
"Princess, look!" Said Rainbow Dash.
"What beautiful flowers!" Said Fluttershy.
Princess Luna picked her head up and saw a carpet of delicate flowers had sprang up where his blood and her tears mixed. They were violet lilies with shimmering streaks of dark red. The flowers blossomed all around her. Princess Luna laughed softly to herself.
"He would travel to the highest mountain peaks to pick flowers for me. Even now, he has given me flowers once more."
She smiled through her tears. Princess Celestia walked over to her sister and put her hoof on her shoulder.
"These flowers would make a wonderful addition to the royal garden." Said Princess Celestia.
"Yes, yes they will." Sobbed Princess Luna.
Everypony was surprised at the sight of Princess Luna without her horn.
"Princess Luna, your horn!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
Princess Luna touched her forehead where her horn was. She felt a sharp edge remaining.
"Yes, it will be a while before I can use magic again. It can be reattached but it will take time to heal, as all wounds need."
Rarity found the broken piece within the lilies.
"Allow me Princess to carry it for you. It's the absolute least I can do." Said Rarity as she levitated Princess Luna's horn.
Princess Celestia scanned the horizon. The sun blazed brightly and she could hear the distant chirping of birds. She winced in pain.
"It has been a harrowing time for all of us." Said Princess Celestia.
She quickly looked at everypony.
"All of us have injuries. The best thing we can do now tend to them." Said Princess Celestia.
"Let's go everypony. Time to mosey on out." Said Applejack.
Applejack turned to Rarity.
"Just so you know, Sweetie Belle is on the farm, for safekeeping." Said Applejack.
"Yeah, she misses you a whole lot." Added Rainbow Dash.
"I miss greatly her too."
"Spike do you need me to carry you?" Asked Fluttershy.
"No I'm ok. If anything I may need to carry Rarity home."
"That is quite alright Spike, but thank you for the gesture." Said Rarity as she patted him on the head.
Everypony started heading back to Ponyville. Some walked slowly while others limped. Princess Luna remained back for a moment. She couldn't bear to leave.
"Goodbye my sweet Prince."
As Princess Luna began to join the others, she suddenly stopped and looked back at the field of flowers pensively again. Rarity noticed she stopped walking and went to her. She stood along side Princess Luna.
"Princess, I take the blame for this whole mess. If I hadn't foolishly entangled myself with him, this would have never happened."
Princess Luna took a deep breath.
"Rarity, there are times in life where there are no easy decisions. Sometimes, you must choose which regret you must live with. As Princess and my royal duty, it is my responsibility to protect my subjects. I saved you and rid Equestria of an ancient evil. He could have possibly done the same or worse to another one of my precious subjects and put Equestria at risk, if I continued let him live. Yes, at one time I did love him, but personal feelings should have no such bearing in matters such as this. Everything I do is for the benefit and goodwill of Equestria. Whatever personal outlook I may have on the matter, I must struggle with alone."
Rarity nodded her head in understanding.
"You are wise and I am forever grateful."
Princess Luna smiled bravely.
"Come now, let us join the others."
Princess Luna and Rarity quickened their pace to catch up with the others as they traveled to Ponyville. All were contemplatively silent on the way home. |
Entombed by Vanity: A Tale of Vampirism in Equestria | Epilogue | Several months had past after that fateful night in the EverFree Forest. Rarity threw herself into her craft with vigor and zest. Her energy levels almost matched those of Pinkie Pie. Her friends and the townsponies recognized Rarity's new joy de vivre. She spent more time with Sweetie Belle. And remarkably, Opal returned, much to Rarity's happiness. With passing time, she learned that she was able to face any challenges, come what may. She no longer fretted over the things she had no control over, but practiced gratitude daily.
Princess Luna knew that she made the right decision that fateful day. With time, she was able to find the happiness and laughter she once knew. In remembrance of him, Princess Luna planted the violets in the royal garden. She named the flowers Dacrioema, as they originated from the mingling of royal blood and tears. Princess Luna lovingly tended to them, knowing that is what Prince Nocturnus would have wanted. She kept diligent to her royal duties, and was able to spent more time with her Ponyville friends. However, some days she found her thoughts drifted to Prince Nocturnus. Princess Luna would wistfully reminisce about the times she spent with him before his fall into darkness. On some nights she would dream of him. It was the only time she could hold him. But the morning after brought deep melancholy. Sometimes she wished she could remain asleep forever. Strangely, she found a joyful sorrow in remembering him. Her spirits would lift, but she was still beside herself that she fatally struck her one-time love.
The need of her subjects before her own--such is the life of a princess. |
Am I Confused? | pre | "This is phenomenal, what did you say this was?" I asked, going for a second serving.
"Clafoutis. A dessert from Prance," she replied, biting into one of her buttered crumpets, "this place certainly met and exceeded my expectations. Especially concerning the food at least."
I licked my lips after a second bite, smacking my lips. "I didn't have any. So imagine how blown away I am right now."
She beamed. "I'm glad you like it. Honestly, being in Canterlot, I expected you to already be acquainted with it."
"Well," I shrugged, "I'm not exactly the most adventurous pony." Which in retrospect is pretty fucking ironic for me to say.
"That's not a bad thing, you know. Some ponies just prefer homely comforts, rather than the exotic," she curled her lip, finishing her crumpet.
"I suppose. But speaking of home, what's it like being the daughter of the principal?" I asked with slight curiosity, leaning forward slightly.
"I'd imagine that comes with a lot of perks," I was halfway through my treat now, but I found conversation with Blossom far more appetising, as strange as that was.
"Hardly," she scoffed, "it just means I don't escape the school environment when I get home. It's always 'study now', or 'revise that'."
"At least you're doing great in classes, right?"
"Certainly. Top of my class, in every class. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but I have with me one gift that is also unfortunately a hindrance," she sighed, propping her head on one hoof, "I'm popular."
"Oh?" I blurted out, scrunching up my face.
"Yes, yes, I know. Could a statement sound anymore pompous?" She asked rhetorically, and I didn't know whether or not to answer. "Unfortunately being at the top means certain things are expected of me, not only by father, but by my peers as well."
"And what expectations are those?"
"Well, obviously father wants the best for me, and to obviously be the best I can be. So I continuously get high grades, am constantly a subject of praise for all my teachers, and have already received several offers from prestigious universities," she listed them off by waving her right hoof, and my eyes went to her left, "on the other hoof is my 'peers'. They expect me to skip class, pick on younger students, and to be rebellious to authority - yes, my father - all for the sake of maintaining some purely in word only hierarchy, at which I unwillingly sit at the top of."
"Do you actually do all those things?" I asked, growing slightly anxious of the 'picking on younger students' line.
"Yes, but believe me when I say they're committed entirely in a manner which leaves them all unsuspecting," she was trying to be reassuring, I could tell from her tone of voice, but I was still mystified.
"How?"
"Easy. Looking like I don't give a damn about my education is rather simple. I ask my teachers to not disclose my grades, and in lieu of my classes I attend private tutoring lessons way out of sight. Bullying was tricky, but you'd be surprised at how easy anything is to do when you have a lot of bits and easy access to a young actors guild... they get paid more to cry."
"Huh," it sounded farfetched, but then again, it only sounded as plausible as me going out with the school's most popular mare. "What about rebelling?"
"Well," she paused, leaning forward and propping her head on her forehooves, "that's where I hit a snag."
"Huh?"
"It begun with simple things. Littering the school halls, back talking teachers - who I would promptly apologise to after the lesson ended - and a wide variety of other minor offences. But then... it escalated," her hooves were shaking slightly, and I was looking at her more warily by the minute, "it became something of a rush to me. A tad fond of resisting law and authority. Trespassing, petty theft, even public urination."
I was stunned. I think I may have gotten up and left if otherwise. "A-and you're telling me this, why?"
"Tell me, have you ever grown to like something you shouldn't?" she asked me, and I plunged into thought.
After a few minutes with my eyes averted, I looked back at her. "I don't know."
"Would you like to find out?" The smile on her lips faded, and uncharacteristic of her as I've seen so far, she simply looked at me blank faced.
I swallowed. I could still taste the sweetness on my tongue. "I..."
The smile returned to her face, and she sat back in her seat. She didn't say anything, but instead picked up her mocha, bringing it to her lips. She sipped from the drink, and when she placed it back on the little plate, wiping away the foam moustache on her lip, she leant forward. "It's severely lacking in cream."
Oh fuck.
I was silently thanking all the princesses for this table cloth. Through the dripping eroticism in her words alone, she managed to stir me just right. Willpower alone couldn't stop this. Blossom continued to look at me, a small toothless smile and half lidded eyes. Under the table I felt one of her hind hooves brush against my leg, the tip of her hoof trailed up my leg in a sensual slowness, tickling my skin. I was feckless in a situation like this, unsure of what to do I tried my best not to arouse suspicion. I kept my hooves on the table and my expression stoic, although I could feel my cheeks burn, and sweat gathering on my forehead as my cock hardened.
"We're in public," I said hushed, through gritted teeth, looking around in panic. This of course contrasted with Blossom, who wore a composed smile. "We could get caught."
"I know," she replied, and I could feel her hoof on my inner thigh, "isn't it exciting?"
My cock had fully emerged from its sheath, but only half erect, slightly hanging downward under its own weight. Blossom brushed her hoof over my testicles, and she smirked when I gasped at the contact. Next I felt her wasting no time as she pressed her hoof at the base of my shaft, dragging the limb downward, her expression contorting from a smile into an expression of shock or surprise, before that too upturned into a large smile.
"You're a big guy."
"F-for you."
She grinned, leaning forward. "Come on, get harder for me. Get your cock hard in front of all these ponies," she spoke in a sultry low, and my body couldn't refuse her.
Her other hoof joined the first, the two of them gliding down the length of my meat as it rose higher, filling with blood. I had to seal my lips and grit my teeth in order to hold in the moans, somehow she was able to effectively stroke my shaft with an expected finesse, all the whilst holding a sultry smile. She was able to squeeze and apply pressure in all the right places, almost like she was milking my cock, all with her hind hooves. Her hooves, just short of my medial ring, would travel down my shaft almost in a spiral. And before she even brushed over my flare, eliciting a grunt from my throat, she would somehow be back at the base of my erection; repeating the motion again before I became aware of it.
I was near certain a mess was already being created below the table. I didn't even need to look to know my pre had already begun to leak onto the floor. Now I know why she insisted I give a false name, I couldn't be able to deal with my family getting forwarded the bill for this. My dick twitched between her hooves, and despite already cumming today my balls felt ready to burst. She increased the speed of her strokes, applying greater pressure as she passed over my medial ring and tip, and my breaths had quickened.
"I-I'm gon-"
She parted her hooves from my appendage, and I heard her hooves clop against the floor. My cock twitched, one of my throbs hit the underside of the table, creating a knock which prompted a restrained giggle from Blossom. "You're adorable."
"W-why'd you stop?" I asked, my voice nearly a whimper. I felt an overwhelming desire to
"You'd create a massive mess," she said, grinning.
"Nuh-uh," I shook my head, leaning on the table. Admittedly I was being pathetic - but then again what else is new - but I couldn't stroke my cock half as good as she did, and she was using her hind hooves.
"Besides," she started, leaning in close, voice turning to a whisper, "I recall my coffee being in dire need of cream."
"...Oh," I peeped.
"Now do me a favour and keep an eye out," she slithered down her chair, going under the table hind hooves first; seemingly unnoticed by anyone else in the building.
At first it was like she simply vanished, no indication she was under the table at all. But I tensed up when I felt a warm breath on my sack, and a brush down my thigh. I wearily lifted the tablecloth, and I saw her twinkling amber eyes looking back up at me, half grinning at me. Slowly, she parted her lips, and allowed her tongue to fall out, and I could see the strands of saliva between her lips slightly glistening. I had to drop the cloth, pressing a hoof against my lips before biting down on it, the sight was near overwhelming in eroticism that I had to tear my eyes from it. My eyes looked over all the ponies in the cafe, and my heart began race faster. They all appeared unawares, talking between themselves, but I wonder how long that will last?
Suddenly, I felt a pair of lips press against one of my balls, planting a large kiss against the flesh. I curtly gasped, and I felt her cheek coddle against the base of my cock, before pressing her lips against the rock-hard meat. Again I felt her warm breath, which told me she had opened her maw, and this was confirmed when I felt a warm wet muscle against my cock. It was her tongue, and I was too overcome with the pleasure this simple contact brought to even freak out I was actually going to get my dick sucked.
I gulped when I felt her travel up my shaft, only with her tongue and lips touching my erection, I could feel a warm trail where her saliva was left behind as she made her way to my flare. She did however wrap a hoof around the rod, keeping my cock from throbbing from out of her tongue's touch. When I felt her lips touch against my unflared tip, I curled on the table, pressing my muzzle against the table. I glanced up, and saw a few eyes on me. They were muttering something, and I grimaced. Had I been found out? Her tongue lapped against my tip, circling the flattened head with her tongue, interspersing with pecks and kisses. Other patrons looked at me with pursed lips and averted gazes, some with furrowed brows and shaking heads.
I saw the waitress with bangs come over to me, her expression neutral, although there was a tinge of something in her eyes I couldn't make out. Maybe disgust? "Hey," she spoke softly, her cheeks gaining dimples as she looked at me with a small smile.
"H-hi," I stuttered, Blossom partially leaving my cock, her hooves still wrapped around it.
"It sucks doesn't it?" She asked, slightly nodding.
"W-what?" I'd like to beg to differ actually, this is pretty fantastic.
"Where'd your lady friend go?" She asked.
"Uh," I paused. I couldn't very well say 'beneath the table', but I had to think fast. "She went to the bathroom. Yeah, bathroom."
"Sir," she began, her tone going piteous, "this establishment doesn't have a bathroom."
"O-oh," I felt a quick snort of air on my cock, Blossom likely smirking.
"I know. You're not the first colt in here to left on a date," she started, her expression comforting, "but hey, you're young. Plenty of fish in the sea, right?"
"Y-yeah," I stuttered, Blossom lightly stroking my cock again.
"Don't get sad now," the waitress began, mistaking my stutter for a catch in my throat, "how about I get you another slice of clafoutis? On the house!"
"T-that'd be great. T-thank you." She smiled warmly, happy to oblige...
Meanwhile, as the waitress departed, I could feel Blossom's hooves shaking around my cock in what I can only assume was excitement. Now filled with a vigour I could physically feel in her movements, her tongue began to making quick slashes against my flare. Next I felt her press her lips against the tip, and I could feel her lips part from each other, and for the first time in my life I felt my cock pass through the lips of another pony. It like being enveloped in bliss, her lips formed a tight seal around my erection, her tongue lathering over my flare. I wanted to thrust forward, but I knew to do so would just make me fall from my seat. Additionally, I kind of wanted to pet her head or something. I couldn't moan, and had no real way of letting her know of my satisfaction and pleasure... maybe I could send her a 'thank you' card later.
I heard quiet sounds beneath the table, her mouth taking in an inch of my cock, if her lips and my estimation of my size were to go by. I felt her teeth dig slightly into my rod, and despite how uncomfortable this felt, the moistness and lashing of her tongue made the feeling negligible. Another inch was swallowed by her, and I moaned into my hoof, hiding my face. She was sucking, her tongue applying pressure on the underside of my shaft, brushing the underside of my flare. Her hooves began to coax and squeeze, pressing halfway up the shaft and squeezing toward the tip, as if trying to milk me of my cum.
I tapped the surface of the table, swaying one of my hind hooves back and forth, a tightness forming in my abdomen; my shaft twitching in Blossom's mouth. Unfortunately for her, my hips slightly rammed forward, hitting the back of her throat as my cock flared; pumping my seed down the back of her audibly gagging throat. I wanted no more than to apologise, but I was keeled over on the table, face likely contorted into an expression of ecstasy. I had to tighten my jaw shut, and my face spasmed as I tried not to give anything away.
"Aw, don't cry," the waitress startled me, "see, I've got your pie."
"T-thanks," I replied, still emptying cum into Blossom's throat, on my forth volley.
She placed the plate in front of me, taking my empty one in her hoof. "Don't worry. It gets better. Really," she ended by punctuating with a genuinely kind smile, and I felt kind of bad it was really for nothing, but still... free pie.
As the waitress walked away, I felt a pressure alleviate from the end of my cock, a series of muffled coughs sounded from beneath the table. A few moments passed, and I saw her head peak out at me from her side of the table, gradually sliding back up into her seat. I gave a slightly embarrassed grin, the fur around her mouth was matted with my cum, and as she propped her hoof on the table I saw a streak of my batter going down the length of it. She didn't say a word, bringing her coffee to her lips she swallowed, gulping back the entire cup before placing it back on the little plate with a sigh.
"That tasted horrendous."
"What?" I exclaimed, hushed.
"It's semen and coffee," and she chuckled, "of course it's bad."
"I would feel insulted, if you hadn't just, well, ya know."
"Uh-hmph," she hummed, nodding with a gleeful grin, "I've never done that before. It's genuinely thrilling."
"Yeah, well, I also got a second serving of pie," I tried to match the enthusiasm in her voice, grabbing my spoon.
"Yes, well, we have to run," she said simply, pilling her plates.
"What, why?" I asked, scrunching my brows.
"Well, you did cum... a lot," she pursed her lips, and I went wide eyed.
Slowly I lifted up the tablecloth, and saw on the floor a pool of my semen. " Wa- You didn't swallow all of it!"
"There was so much! Quick, we have to leave before anyone notices," she already pushed out her chair.
"Without paying?"
"Fine, leave some bits. But we have to leave. Now!" Despite how hectic she was, she was still grinning and shaking.
"Hey," the waitress suddenly intruded, catching us both off guard, "you came back."
Blossom Bloom, without saying a word, galloped away. The waitress arched her brow, and when she looked at me I picked up my saddle bag, leaving it on the table and pushing my chair out. "I was extremely satisfied, thank you. Bye!"
"Uh," she said, myself already brushing past her with a toothy frown.
"Hey!" As I reached the exit, I heard her call out to me from the table, and I glanced over my shoulder whilst still making my escape. "You didn't finish your pie!"
I was left panting, my legs threatened to give out from under me I was so fatigued. Blossom Bloom was sat on her haunches, back pressed against the wall laughing into the sky. I had followed her as she turned into an alleyway a few blocks away from the cafe, and aside from how nervous I felt from all the eyes and strange looks we both got, I found myself laughing too.
"That was fantastic!" She exclaimed, throwing hooves into the air before they fell limply to her sides as she sighed dreamily.
"I concur," I said breathlessly, sitting adjacent to her in the small alley, sighing.
"How did it feel?"
"What?"
"You know, doing that in public."
"Well, it felt great. You we amaz-"
"No, no. Not that," she shook her head, "I meant how does your first act of exhibitionism feel?"
"Uh," I paused, a little perturbed by how she stressed 'first', "scary, mostly. A bit embarrassing. It was risky, but I have to admit, pretty fun."
"I'm glad you had a good time," Blossom's lips upturned into a toothless smile, laying back content.
"I do have to ask though," I verbally prodded her, and she looked at me keenly.
"Yes?"
"Was this a date?"
"Depends," she stated, her formerly toothless smile turning into a grin.
"On what?"
"Did you want it to be?" |
Am I Confused? | Chapter 3: Cucumber And Rose | The breakfast table was empty aside from myself and Gem. As I sat there, eating a simple breakfast of jam on toast, my sister looked at me with an expression of inscrutable confusion. I tried my best to ignore it, but progressively she would shift on her seat, adopting one posture after the other. She craned her head, focusing on me with one eye, and then the other.
"What?" I snapped at her, wishing I was eating something that required utensils so I could slam them down.
"Why are you smiling?" She asked me, which didn't make sense. I wasn't smiling, was I?
"I am?" I replied, my hoof going up to my muzzle, and I felt that a corner of my lip was indeed pulled back. "Huh, I am."
"And that's what doesn't make sense," she said, voice aloof, "you're supposed to me downtrodden, depressed, and on the verge of tears."
"Oh, and why is that, dear sister?" I replied caustically, taking a chomp out of my toast.
"Because your smile suggests that your date went fine, if not more so," she scrunched up her face, a pursed lip frown indicative of dubiety, "and I simply cannot believe that."
"You really hold that little faith in me, your little brother?"
"I hold precisely none. So my surprise is self-explanatory," she suddenly leant forward, her bronze bangs swaying from the sudden movement, furrowing her brows, "you didn't do this just to spite me did you?"
"Bitch, please. As if you were the reason why I, the biggest and most alpha stallion this side of Canterlot, did awesome in his date," I replied with mock pride... ok, maybe a little pride. However I spoke with exaggerated sway, throwing my hooves up to punctuate every word with a punch.
She sneered, wrinkling her nose. "Ok, now I'm disgusted again," she fell from the chair to her hooves, frowning with abhorrence as she left the kitchen. With a triumph gleam in her direction, I bit again into my toast. The crunch was victory, the sweet jam was my joy, and the soft crust was... bah, fuck it I've got nothing. It's Friday, and I love Friday.
"I'm telling you dude, Luna controls the stars, not Celestia."
"Hey, numb-nuts, you'd know if you actually listened in class that every star is a sun. So ipso facto, Celestia's property."
"Yeah, but Princess of The Night isn't a fucking honorary title, bucko. If her domain is the night sky, then everything within it is in her control."
"...Did you just say 'bucko'?"
"You're ignoring just what I said, Lu-"
"Fucking 'bucko'!?"
I went back to ignoring the general chitter-chatter of the cafeteria table I was sitting at and looked back down at my tray of assorted 'culinary' refuse. I don't know Maple stomachs this crap to be honest. You'd think being in Canterlot would mean the food would be better. I could literally leave the school right now, walk two blocks away, and pick up a good pastry or sandwich from the local deli. I fail to see the point of these meals, other than to justify the hefty budget this place gets, so they can skim a little extra money to line their own coffers. I know they're free to the students, but who are they for exactly? They're generally unpalatable, and It's fucking Canterlot. I'm pretty sure the poor pony who was in such dire straits to require these free meals would end up getting lynched by a mob of hoity-toity aristocrats or something for soiling the city with their dirty hooves, the filthy plebeians... I hate being left to think.
Soon after Maple finally took his seat across from me, his tray heavy as always. I frequently wondered if his fat was some kind of cloak for a muscular body beneath. As soon as he sunk his teeth into his food however, allowing his drink to dribble down the corner of his mouth and staining the collar of his uniform, that thought shrivelled up and died a painful death.
"What's up with you?" He asked me, glancing up from his food.
"Huh?"
"You're smiling, like, all strange and shit," he spoke out the corner of his mouth, his mouth already half filled with food.
"I am?" Again I felt around my jaw, and smirked, "I am."
"Well, cut it out. It's... weird," he spend a few seconds in thought before spitting out the last part of his sentence, although I suspect he was
actually just swallowing.
"I can't help that I'm happy, Maple," I shrugged.
"Yeah, but what about?"
"I can't say," I replied, smiling coyly.
"Aw, come on, you can't pull this shit a second time. Seriously, you're starting to pi-"
"Hey you two," Blossom Bloom greeted, sitting next to the fat colt, interrupting him; much to my glee.
"Hi, Blossom, how are you?" I asked, smiling wryly.
"Great, and you?" She replied politely, her smile pulled back to reveal some teeth, a twinkle in her eye.
"The same," I punctuated with a warm smile, and then I felt her hoof brush against mine under the table. There was those butterflies again.
"Uh," Maple knitted his brows, looking between me and Blossom, "so what the heck is this?"
"Nothing," Blossom replied, smirking at him and unpacking her lunch.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked, scrutinising her with a despondent look about him. "Because to me it loo-"
He was caught off guard all of a sudden, as was I, being rendered in a state of terrified limbo. Beige coat, cerulean mane, and when he glanced at me and I saw those stunning emerald eyes. "H-hey, Synary."
"H-hi," despite the moment of intimacy we shared he was still meek, although this was likely due to the inclusion of both Maple and Blossom in this circle. Regardless, he still managed to pull off a small smile, and his eyes looked at me with a real tenderness.
"What the he-" began Maple, looking at the colt with a bemused expression. Although his ears picked up the few murmuring voices around us, looking at this odd circle of ponies with a fascination worth gossiping about. Suddenly, Maple appeared to adopt an all too friendly candour about him, extending his hoof. "Hi, I'm Maple, you're Synary right? Awesome name by the way."
"H-hi, Maple," Synary appeared reluctant, his hoof twitched as it pressed against Maple's, shaking. The other ponies went slightly wide eyed, the sound of their whispers going a decibel higher, but still indistinguishable.
"New colt, right?" Blossom spoke, and I felt a thousand knots in my stomach.
"U-uh, yeah," Synary nodded, a small curl at the end of his lip. I would be biting my hooves if I was already frozen still.
"Well, nice to meet you finally. I'm Blossom, Blossom Bloom," she introduced herself, extending a waiting hoof.
"Nice to meet you t-too, Blossom Bloom," their hooves touched, and I clenched my jaw, looking between the two of them nervously.
"Please. Just call me Blossom," her voice was kind-hearted, and I visibly saw Synary's posture sag slightly, his breaths calmed a tad.
"O-okay, B-Blossom," he replied with a small smile, and her grin and accompanying smirk when they parted hooves made the metaphorical anvil on my back lighten slightly.
As I sat there, a see through stare directed at the table, Maple's overly loud voice in my ears. I pondered internally about the situation that I had only myself to blame for. To further remind me of my mistake, Blossom's hoof was still against mine, meanwhile one of Synary's fore hooves had fallen to his side, tentatively brushing against my haunch. Neither in a sexual manner, just the desire for bodily contact, which made the whole affair somehow worse. At least it's Friday, right?
"Want to do something Saturday?" Blossom asked me as we walked the halls, the assorted ponies gliding past us on their way out.
"Sure," I said, preoccupied with thought.
"Is something the matter?" She asked, looking at me with concern in her eyes. Great, I'm now a bugaboo. It is touching she's already able to
sense something wrong with me, or perhaps I wasn't being subtle, regardless I appreciated it.
"No, nothing at all. Just relieved the day's over, I guess," I offered an explanation, and felt a tightness in my chest. Great, lying already.
"Hmm, alright. But you can tell me anything, you know that right?" She reassured, and her words felt like red hot nails into my heart.
"Y-yeah... So what did you have in mind?" I asked, desperate for a change in topic.
"Oh, nothing special. Just hanging out at the mall, maybe get something to eat, some light shopping," her words were honeyed, and I arched a brow.
Big open area, lots and lots of ponies, and she's a self-confirmed junkie for deviancy. "Why do I get the feeling there's a few more things you're missing out from that list."
"Oh, you mean window shopping and dress fittings?" She said with a smirk, glancing at with a simper.
"Alright, alright. Which mall and what time?"
"Summer Point High mall, and... two, yeah two in the afternoon seems good."
"Summer Point? Fancy. Would I be underdressed if I came in nothing?" I asked, chuckling.
"Who cares, right?" She shrugged with a smile, and I couldn't help but nod in agreement.
When we entered the last stretch of hallway, the exit within view, I saw beside it a familiar colt. His face was downcast, but I could see his eyes glancing up, obviously searching for somepony in the thicket of students walking past. I gulped, looking at Blossom's content expression with the worry of a thousand soccer moms.
"So, see you tomorrow?" My voice tremulous, glancing between Blossom and Synary at the end of the hall.
"Don't want to walk home together?"
"Yeah, yeah, of course. It's just I forgot my math textbook in my locker, and you remember how Miss Median is with homework."
"Okay, I getcha. But remember. Summer Point, two o'clock, right?"
"Right, right," I nodded several times, and she walked ahead, looking over her shoulder to deliver a final smile before disappearing into the other crowd of students.
I stayed my steps, allowing others to pass by to wait a while longer, just watching Synary as he searched. This is so fucked isn't it? I shouldn't be allowed to like them both, there should be some kind of mental block in my head. Blossom, or Synary. Oh, you picked one? Now the other is dead to you. But it isn't as simple as that is it? It physically pained me to lie to Blossom, and it agonises me to see Synary looking for me. I trailed my way over, pushing through the sparser crowd, and when he landed his eyes upon me and smiled, my heart leapt in my chest.
"Silver," he sounded pleased to see me, taking a step toward me as I emerged from the crowd.
"H-hey, Synary," my voice was wobbly, but I wore a smile to hopefully alleviate any worry he may have had, "why are you just waiting here?"
"O-oh," he paused, averting his eyes with a small blush on his face, "I wanted to see you."
"Ah," I stuttered, his delivery help solidified my staunch position was that he was simply precious, "you did?"
"Yeah, I don't have a reason, I just w-wanted to see you," Synary's words oozed a kindness and care I was unfamiliar with; what was the opposite of contempt?
"Well it's nice to see you too," I replied, kind of envious I couldn't come close to matching his kindness, but seeing him lighten up in response to that had my heart feel light; almost as if it was floating away.
"I-I was just wondering though," he started, barely able to look at me, "if you have any plans tomorrow. B-but if you do that's fine!"
"I do," I replied, and felt ready to collapse.
"Oh, right," he responded, visibly disheartened.
"T-there's Sunday!" I exclaimed, and internally I began to lash at myself. I shouldn't, I really shouldn't.
"Yes?" He smiled, hope rekindled, and whilst outside I smiled warmly, inside I was smacking myself in the head.
"So, do you want to, I don't know... do something... together?"
"L-like a... date?"
Silver, listen. You're dating Blossom. It was one date, but still. We shared something intimate, and he wants more. Heck, I want more. However, this is the wrong thing to do, completely wrong. I would be betraying both of their trusts if I do this... but, what was that yesterday I said about taking the initiative? I doesn't have to move beyond this, just one experience together we can fondly remember. It will be under the guise of fostering greater relations, and further intimacy, but as long as I remain in control that won't happen will it... will it?
"Yeah," I replied, smile gracing my lips at the sight of his surprise, which came in the form of a slightly ajar mouth and wide eyes.
"R-really?" Normally I'd be equally surprised that anypony is expressing this level of surprise that I, a colt who only a few days ago was as insignificant as an ant in spring, was asking them out. But instead I was too overcome with a jovial warmth being bathed over me, his slight step forward to further decrease the gap between us, as well as his wide grin the cause of this. "Where?"
"Uh..." Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
The nice cafe was out of question, I don't know enough about him to judge what he'd like, and when your grand total of dates ever amounts to one your knowledge of where they are best had is meagre at best. Think Silver, pick something that isn't cliche or tacky, and actually requires effort, and will impress. My faith in my ability to judge by this point is strained, but as long as I have confidence, and hope in myself, my choice of locale should be commendable. I have conviction that I will make the right decision.
"No, no, no, no, no," dejà vu aside, the hope I thought already depleted in myself hadn't actually all evaporated yet, however when I got back home I had also lost that little trickle that remained. "A picnic at the park, what the fuck am I, twelve?!"
"Ah, self-berating again I see," Gem announced her entrance with a chiding comment, sitting in father's recliner.
"Yes, now if you don't mind, I have much more of it to do," I replied with a snap.
"I'm all ears," she surprisingly offered, and this prompted from me a look of bemusement.
"Really?"
"As long as it involves your filly friend totally humiliate-"
"Yeah, yeah," I interrupted, making my voice as bored as possible.
"Rude," she chuckled, which sounded grating to my ears.
"You're very predictable, Gem."
"Ouch," she replied with mock pain, grinning. "Well I can say you're at the very least unpredictable. One moment your my sad sack of a brother with an erection over my copy of playmare, next you had a successful date, with a mare no less. And now you're back home moping on the couch. So I have to admit, and you've forced this from me, but I'm a little curious."
"Huh?" I sat back up on the couch, crossing my fore hooves.
"Yes?"
"I guess you're a little surprising too," I said bluntly, to which she gave a curled lip smile.
"So go on, tell me," she sounded a little impatient, and I shrugged.
"I've got another date, but this time I picked where it's at," I explained, inching a bit closer to the other side of the couch to get closer to her.
"And?" She looked at me askew, confused as to what the problem was.
"And I chose," taking a brief inhale, "the park."
"That's it?" She exclaimed, visibly disappointed. "It's fine. Plus if your first date with this mare went well, this shouldn't be a problem."
"Yeah, but," I paused, bracing, "it isn't the same mare. Actually, it's not a mare at all."
Her stare was deadpan, and her eyes delivered with them the amount of ire I was expecting, but less than I hoped. Without a word she pushed herself from the recliner, and began to walk away. "You've managed to do it twice today. Bravo."
"No, wait, please!" I pleaded, "I really need somepony to talk to about this."
"Why not, Maple?" I paused, looking behind herself with a sneer.
"Because he's not someone I can confide in, he's not my sister."
She paused her steps, sighing into the air. "Fine. But only the condition you tell me their names."
"Uh..." I hesitated, and when she began taking steps away, I frantically began to speak, "wait, wait! Blossom and Synary."
"Wait," she stopped, turning around to face me with furrowed brows, her face that of intrigue. "Blossom, as in 'Blossom Bloom'?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Oh-ho, this is so perfect," she said with a scary amount of glee, jogging back to the recliner and hopping upon it with giddiness. "Ok, tell me everything."
"W-wait, I have conditions too," I spluttered out, still taken by surprise at her gusto.
"You're asking for my help, remember?"
"Please?" I squeaked, and she rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she said, rolling her head and crossing her hooves, "but embargo only."
"What?"
"You know, a block. But only a temporary one. No matter the condition," she explained with shrug, "I want to do as I please with this information."
"What can you even use it for, you don't even go my school anymore?"
"Yes, little brother," she replied with condescension, "but you won't believe what a titbit like 'Blossom Bloom, daughter of the principal of Canterlot's most prestigious school, also brother of Celestia's chief accountant. Just so happens to be going out with my brother, who just also so happens to be a rampaging sodomite.' Although depending on what I'm using it for, that last bit may be removed or added at my discretion."
"That's a bit sensationalist isn't it? Also, I still fail to how it helps you in any way."
"Well, that's your fault for being naïve," she pointed at me, which was somehow just as infuriating as being called naïve.
"Fine, fine, whatever," I rolled my eyes.
"So, Synary... how's he?"
"Kind, good looking, adorab-"
"Ok, already too weird," she pulled a wry expression.
"But you asked me about him!" I lambasted, looking at her with confusion.
"Yeah, but hearing my brother talk about cute colts is one hoof over the line, which I will apologise for, I guess," she pursed her lips into a frown. "How about blossom?"
"Well, she's cute, kind, and adorable."
"Isn't that how you described, Synary?"
"Yes. They're both, for lack of a better term, perfect in every way," I pursed my lips and nodded slowly, letting it set in.
"Wow, I'm taken aback. I don't think even I have been described as perfect. Not even by any of my exes I was in a relationship with..." she paused, looking off, "bastards."
"So what should I do?"
"Ha, I don't know!" She replied, shrugging and smiling with mock.
"What! I asked you for help and all you can offer is 'I don't know'?"
"In truth, if I was you, I would drop one of them to the curb to be honest."
"But I don't want to," I said stubbornly, grumpy.
"That sounds to me like greed, brother mine."
"I don't want either to be hurt."
"Oh," she sounded oddly sombre, craning her neck to look at me in the eyes, "you actually care about those two?"
"Well," I began, not even taking a second to think because I already knew the answer, "yeah. I do."
"Shit, that's heavy. I don't think I can even help you with something like that."
"You can! Just, please be somepony I can talk to about this. I hate just having it all balled up inside me like some kind of tonsil stone."
"Ew."
"I know right?"
There was a brief moment of silence, and I heard her sigh.
"Fine," she relented, sitting back in her chair, "but you know grandpa would have beat you up for going out with two different ponies, right?"
Ah, Grandpa Roadie. He was 'allegedly' (he totally was.) a Nightmare Moon cultist who was illegally selling pony meat to griffons. He was likely the main reason for Mother's ultra-conservatism, reverence of Luna, and her strange talent with accounting. Grandpa was locked up a few years back, but I think his last words before being mowed down with concussive magic bolts by the royal guard were clippity-cloppity, get off my property! Which I suppose were pretty good considering they would be the last he'd ever speak outside prison walls. Nice and memorable. I wonder what his brother Hayseed is up to these days... Wait, what the hell am I talking about, Gem just agreed to help me.
"Thanks, Gem," I sounded genuinely happy, and I felt an emotion rise in my heart that I had to let out. "I love ya, sis."
She looked at me with disgust, and I grimaced, and she pushed from her recliner with haste.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry, I don't know why I did that," I got off the couch, giving chase, "No, wait, Gem come back! I didn't mean it! I hate you, I hate you so much! Sorry, sorry, sorry..."
Summer Point High Mall was, well, nice, to put it simply. One would be surprised by the fact that, despite its size, it wasn't that discernable from the rest of Canterlot. It was massive, walls of smooth cut white brick, a roof of gold slate. Although this being Canterlot, the likely owner of this conglomerate was incomprehensibly rich, the roof may have been actual gold. But I don't have necessary equipment nor bravery to scale the structure and find out for myself.
I entered the mall, the inside even more boisterous and loud than the cafeteria hall at school. Hundreds of mares and stallions going about, in and out of the smorgasbord of shops, the sheer amount of which was almost dizzying to my stallion mind. Clothing, chocolate, donuts, art supplies, jewellery, toys, and a variety of others going off beyond the reach of my sight. A fountain was positioned between the two sets of stairs, the huge ornate structure was made entirely of smooth marble, and even the waters that cascaded down the spire in the middle looked expensive. Maybe it'd be worth bottling up...
Beside the fountain sitting on her haunches I saw Blossom Bloom, who had already lain her eyes upon me and sported a mirthful grin on her face. "Silver!" She called, her voice resonating off the walls of the spacious building.
I hastened my steps, clopping hooves against the floor. Apparently the architect loved marble, the sunlight from the glass ceiling nearly bright enough to be irritating to the eyes. "Hey, Blossom. How are you?"
"Good now that you're here," Blossom said foxily, and I couldn't help but grin.
"Oh, stop. You'll make me blush," I jested, smirking.
"I believe already did a good job of that time we had a date," she quipped, and I felt my cheeks burn at the memory.
"So what's the plan?" I asked, changing topic, nervously spluttering a few chuckles.
"Well, whilst nothing can top going under the table," she smirked, likely at my averted gaze and red cheeks, "I was thinking we could just... walk and talk."
"Huh?" I arched my brow, half smiling, "I'd like that very much."
She nodded, and lead the way at a leisurely pace, and I walked beside her with a hoof width of distance between us, and was caught by surprise when she closed the gap; pressing her body against mine, her warmth an idyllic feeling that's hard to describe. I was pleasantly surprised by this public display of affection, especially considering the chances of running into a familiar face from school in such a place, but by the quaint smile and contented expression I'm guessing she didn't care.
We talked, which surprised the heck out of me, as I found myself not short of things to say. I even made her laugh, and each of those moments the entire mall seemed to fade out as she took a breath, almost as if I was subconsciously blocking out all other distractions just to hear every sound she made. Even her hoof steps sounded louder than my own, and I was a colt. Whenever the light from above shone over her, her emerald eyes seemed to sparkle like light off a lake... Celestia, I'm so gay, which is ironic all things considered.
Coincidently we passed by a card store, and Blossom stopped to look at the cards on display, and giggled to herself at that the selection. "You're my macaroni and I'm your cheese?"
"Look at that one! A jigsaw piece, and you complete me written above it," I joined in, poking fun at the cheesy card covers.
"These are terrible," she laughed, sighing as she took a step away from the glass.
"What would you write on your card?" I asked, looking at with a curious expression.
She laughed politely. "How about, 'I'll be your barn, if you be my cow?'"
"No," I chuckled, moving from the window, "what would you write inside?"
"Hmm," she curled her lip, glancing up in thought before shaking her head, "I don't know. I'm not great of thinking of things like that. How about you?"
"I-I don't know," I stuttered, and this appeared to visibly arouse her suspicion.
"You wouldn't have asked me if you didn't already have some ready to say," she said, inching across the floor eagerly, "go on, I know you have some."
"Umm, I like your mane like that, the way it flows down the back of your neck. L-like a red river of silk, or something. I don't know..." I was bashful, chewing the inside of my cheek, but she inched forward.
"Yeah?" She encouraged, her smile was toothy, and I felt required to oblige.
"Your eyes twinkle in the sunlight, like rays off the ocean. And like the sea, I could happily drown in it, because looking into your eyes before I die would leave me content."
"Yeah..." she said this time softer, her eyes matching the tone of her voice.
"A-and when I feel your warmth it feels like I'm at home, no longer afraid or uncertain of anything. Heaven and home is wherever you are. Each breath you exhale is like a tiny little gift for me, and your smile is brighter than even the sun, an-"
I suddenly found myself interrupted by being strangled, but it was a strangulation I was happy to be receiving. Blossom Bloom filling the gap between us with herself and wrapping her hooves around my neck in a tight embrace, her muzzle in the nape of my neck. "I like you."
"M-me too... w-wait, I mean I like you too, not that I like my-"
"Shut up."
"Okay."
This was nice. I don't think I've hugged anypony like this before. I rested my head on top of hers, and wrapped a hoof my own around her neck, keeping one down as it would have led to us smacking head first into the floor. Which would have undoubtedly ruined this moment, or made it more memorable, who knows.
She was the first to part from the hug (because of course she did), and looked at me with furrowed brows and a small smile. "I want you."
"T-thank you," my voice wobbled, and she smirked, the look adoration on her face wiped away with a large smile.
"Come on," she said, grabbing one of my hooves and tugging, "let's skip to the end."
I followed her, her strides large and quick. Finally my gym classes weren't in vain as I was able to keep up with her with nary a lost breath, occasional glances from other ponies kept my vision from straying too far off Blossom, whose position in front gave me an excellent view of her plot, which helped ferry me along somewhat.
After several minutes of frantic trailing, she suddenly came to a halt, lightly panting as she turned to face me. "Ta-da."
"A... dress shop?" I asked, taking in my new surroundings.
"A boutique!" She corrected.
"And why are we at a boutique?" I asked, looking at the fancy storefront. The paint was lilac, the large glass window polished to perfection, behind there was a couple of mannequins with expensive looking clothing on them.
"Trust me, this is the intended destination," she explained, and I looked at her askew.
"If you wanted me to buy you a pretty dress, I'm sorry but I was forced to leave all my bits in the cafe," I said half joking half worried. Would she bolt if I can't buy her a dress?
"Don't be silly, " she chided, walking past me, "who goes to a boutique for the dresses?"
I followed her, and needless to say I was thoroughly confused. Why would this be the grand finale of this date? "So... why are we here?"
"You'll see... and feel... and taste," she paused before pushing on the door, a little jingling bell ringing both sounding the opening to the door and signal my pathetic arousal at the delivery of those words.
"Now this fabric simply cannot do!"
"Listen ma'am, it's all we have."
"I asked clearly for blanc ivoire, not blanc comme neige!"
"I don't know what to say ma'am. You asked for white Prench velvet, I gave you white Prench velvet."
"I've been scouring Canterlot all day for this fabric, and I sent out a mailing list with a request for those specific requirements, and your store replied. Yet when I get here, I get hooved the wrong fabric. This is simply unacceptable!"
At the counter there was a very out of place stout green unicorn stallion with a yellow mane, and across from him with a tired and irked expression was a white unicorn mare with a stylised lavender mane. She looked familiar, but I couldn't place her.
"Yes?" The stallion looked relieved, glancing at the duo of Blossom and I with haggard eyes. "Can I help you?"
"Why yes," Blossom's voice underwent a strange change, sounding metres more sophisticated than I was familiar with, prompting my knitted brow stare. "However, I see you're currently occupied. Perhaps me and my friend here could wait until you're finished?"
"I suppose so," he sighed, the mare looking a tad offended at his resignation but didn't speak up about it, "just wait by one of the fitting rooms, I'll be with you in a minute."
"Thank you," Blossom stopped to nod, "when you're free to help that would be most capital."
"Now, about that fabric..." the unicorn mare butted in, and I couldn't help but feel a modicum of sympathy for the shopkeeper.
Without a word I followed Blossom. Whilst another pony would be captured by the intricate dresses on display, or the hundreds of spools of fabrics, which even from a distance looked as soft as... well, silk and velvet. Which they probably were. I instead fine my eyes glued to Blossom. I didn't know if I was looking at her because I was behind her, so her plot was forcibly shoved in my face in the densely packed shop, or because I simply want to lay my eyes on her. Compared to the masterpieces of the shop, their beauty held no candle to he- dammit, I'm doing it again. I should have written these down, maybe I could've recycled them into love letter or something. Songs of the heart, or something like that. She'd dig it, maybe. I do have a day before I meet Synary, maybe I could put something like that together for him... nah, that'd be too weird. We've had a grand total of four conversations, maybe such a thing would render him catatonic.
"Here we are," announced Blossom, stopping before a moderately sized wooden door towards the store's back. On a gold plaque was written in large black elegant font were the words: fitting room.
"So..." I teetered off.
She signed, a little chuckle at the back of her throat. "Come on, Silver," she pushed the door open and I followed, closing it behind myself.
"Wow... spacious," I observed, a comment I immediately realised was dumb and cringed. The dressing room obviously looked the part of one, a large mirror against the back wall reflecting both me and Blossom's faces right back at us, prompting me to grimace knowing she most likely saw my face convulse with self-loathing.
"Yes, a lot more than I had to work with than the cafe," she said, turning and taking a few steps back.
Public, chance of discovery, definitely breaking some kind of law... yes, all of those are checked.
"O-oh..." I looked toward the mirror, and saw as she flicked her tail giving me a brief, albeit wonderful, view of her cu- puss- vagi- flower!
"Looks to me someone already got the hint," she wittily remarked, and I looked under myself, my cock the equivalent of a hair trigger apparently at the sight of anything worth penetrating... aside from mouths, could you imagine?
"Y-yeah, he's a little eager and impatient. Not like I, a gentlecolt," I ended with a grin, much to her amusement.
"Okay, Mr Silver esquire, perhaps you return the lady a favour?" her grin had already turned lustful in nature, or maybe I was misinterpreting, but I doubt it.
"And what would that be, m'lady?" I put on a fruity voice.
"Eat me out of course," she said such an indifference that it physically made me wheeze in surprise, catching a gasp in the back of my throat mid gulp.
"Uh, ho-, wh-, um..." I swallowed, my face burning up.
"What's the matter?" She asked, coming closer, a sultry smile on her lips.
"I, uh, get that the cup holds liquid, I just don't know what to put in it."
"What?" What?
"I don't know, you know... how to go about it, is what I'm saying," I spluttered nervously.
"Neither did I," she shrugged, and my jaw was left ajar.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, 'just lick and such' is pretty much all I went on," she put blunt, and I found my pursing my lips and nodding in agreement.
"Huh. If I can make you feel half as good as you made me, from that advice anyway, then I'll be happy," I was actually a little excited, my words overlapping slightly. "But, how long will we have?"
"Less and less time the longer we keep talking," she too wanted haste, which I was all to fine with actually.
"Okay," I began, nodding with a smile, before slowing to a unsure stare. "Could you, you know, get... ready?"
"O-oh, yeah, but of course!" There was a momentary catch in her throat, and for the first time I think, she displayed a hint of shyness.
Regardless, I felt a frenzy of emotion in my stomach, buzzing flies of excitement, eagerness, reluctance and fear all moving around and writhing out one another like worms in a freshly dug pit. She moved back against the mirror, sitting on the floor, pressing her back against it. I remained frozen as she parted her legs, her tail like a red carpet to the star between her legs, that is, the precious pair of puffy crimson lips with a slit of light pink between. I had never seen one, at least other than in the contents of a magazine or sex-ed in class. But despite this, I was utterly fascinated, and I fluttered toward it, like a wee moth to a large flickering flame.
I walked into a crawl, and crawled into a prowl, alighting my eyes with the little pink slit between her legs. My barrel brushed against the carpet, my hind hooves raised to push myself forward and so that the carpet wouldn't irritate my erection. Blossom fidgeted, her hooves moving from eagerness or agitation, her expression stoic; bits of excitement came through however, her lip being held between her teeth. When my face was close enough to feel the warmth of her treasure against my face, I looked at it with widened eyes, peering over with complete fascination.
"C-can I...?" I said, glancing up at her, my voice quiet.
"Sure," she replied, her legs spreading even wider, and her voice was just as muted as mine.
This moment as of now is the most intimate one we've had, and even though the risk of being caught is ever present at the back of my head, I wanted to savour it. The tip of my hoof brushed against one of her plump lips, and she inhaled sharply through her teeth, but I wasn't naïve enough to mistake it for pain. I pressed into the soft warm flesh, surprised by how delicate it felt, especially when contrasted to my own cock - hard and admittedly unsuited for display - but her flower wouldn't look out of place in a gallery, and knowing Blossom as much as I do, I suspect she'd rather like that. My second hoof joined the first in prodding her femininity, my eyes glancing up to see her eyes were closed, reddened cheeks and just simply basking I imagine the pleasantry. Curious, I carefully pulled at each lip, parting them to reveal the pink insides of her marehood. The pink petals surrounded a canal, and from it I was assaulted by an aroma that immediately prompted a strong response from my cock, in the form of a stomach smacking twitch which I'm sure already brought forth a bead of precum from the tip.
"Whoa," I blurted, and Blossom opened her eyes to look down at me.
"Like what you see?"
"Y-yeah..." I teetered off, enamoured with the sight of it, "do you think you could..."
"What?"
"Y-you know..." I answered, bashful.
"I'm not a savage, Silver. You already know I want it."
"P-please?" I asked mildly, and she rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
Just then, right before my very eyes, her clitoris became exposed; disappeared and remerged several times from its place. The sight of her winking clit both aroused me, and puzzled me.
"That's so weird looking."
"Hey!" She exclaimed, prompting me to look up in alarm.
"Sorry, sorry. If it helps, it looks outstandingly hot."
"Outstanding?"
"Outstanding!" I punctuating with a nod and serious expression, summoning from her throat a giggle.
Seeing as I already became familiar with four of my five senses regarding her honeypot, I wanted to waste no further time getting familiar intimately with the final unexplored sense: taste. My tongue darted from my muzzle, pressing against her warm twat with my moist tongue, eliciting from her for the first time a pleasured squeal. I dragged my tongue up and down the length of her slit in an exploratory feel, the taste was mixing of contrasts, managing to be sweet and bitter. A taste which reminded me quite a lot of cherries, which fortunately for both me and her... I like cherries.
I dragged my tongue in messy licks, plastering my muzzle with her juices, her folds were apparently sensitive given how frequently she released moans. Although that may have been her by this point obvious exhibitionist kink, which lead me to believe she could have been louder, if she didn't want the pleasure to stop that is. Next I tried exploring her internally, my tongue unaided by my eyes swirled downward pressing into her soft pinkness, looking for the elusive hole. I felt a moment of triumph when tongue gave way to be embedded inside a warm and tight corridor, which too was marked by a particularly fired moan from Blossom, as well as the sight of her winking clit right before my eyes.
I swirled my tongue in her elastic tunnel, her hole tightened around my wet muscle. I pushed against her walls, the tip of my tongue nudging against the tightly constricting walls, and I could only imagine the ecstasy this would bring for my meat should it get the chance to experience it. When I unburied my tongue from her hole, the taste of her most assuredly on my lips for the foreseeable future, she released
a small whimper.
"Come up here," she demanded, which I assumed by the soaking wetness of her cunt and the clenching of her jaw, was a demand I shouldn't ignore.
I crawled up her frame, my body pressing into hers as I did so, my twitching erection came mournfully close to her cunt, so close in fact I could feel its warmness on the underside of my cock. When I came up to her level, looking her eye to eye, I awaited patiently for her to speak; the tip of my shaft pressing into her stomach.
"D-do you want me to kiss you?"
"No. Not yet," she whispered, a delicate blush on her cheeks.
"Why not?" I asked tentatively.
"Not this moment, I want to save it,"
"For somepony else?" I asked, a tinge of sadness in my voice.
"No, no, no. You're who I want it to be with, but I want it to be special. Not in the backroom of some shop, a real moment to remember," she spoke with a unheard tenderness, stroking my cheek and looking me in the eyes with a small smile.
"When?"
"When," she spoke low, bring my head into her chest and my ear to her lips, "you're buried to the hilt in my tight cunt, and we're screaming in ecstasy with one another. That's when."
"O-oh," I was taken aback, and was surprised that by this point I could still blush. I pulled out of her grip, and upon looking down I saw that a certain someone was also appealed by that idea, crying out his only eye onto her stomach; a sticky clear liquid matting to her fur. "I-I think I'm ready for that now, actually."
"No, you never have sex until the third date," she was resolute, and I was just confused.
"What? I mean, considering what happened last time and now, it seems kind of contradi-"
I suddenly felt a pair of hind hooves wrap themselves around my lower body, and the base of my shaft was suddenly pressed against a moist softness. "What if I just want to make when we do, do it more special?"
"O-okay," I my hooves shake, my cock was literally pressing against her tunnel, the moist lips already feeling like heaven to my shaft.
"Now we're gonna do something else, okay?"
"Yeah okay," I squeaked, my shaft lightly pushing against her stomach, by body barely able to control itself.
Without another word, she began to slide downward, until she was beneath me. I looked down at her, to see my cock just ending at the underside of her chest. I felt her tighten her hind hooves around me, sandwiching my meat between the two of us, and I saw her lick her lips.
"Ok, so what you're going to do is grind."
"Just move back and forth?"
"Align your ring thing with my clit, can you do that?"
"S-sure," I complied, her grip loosening to allow me to shimmy down, biting my lower lip when my medial ring pressed against her snatch; her clit winking on the underside of it, her eagerness evident as well.
"Just... gyrate."
I followed her instruction, spreading my hind hooves, I ground my hips into her, my hard cock and sensitive ring finding the simple act pleasurable. As did Blossom, who released curt exhales through her open maw, her eyes closed and head back. It was like a softer warmer tongue was delivering little slashes against my cock, her winking clit prodding into my shaft was also a different kind of magic sensation, the room now filling with my unmuted groans.
As time passed I applied more pressure, my gyrations becoming more alike thrusts, sliding back and forth over her sensitive nub with a lustful energy; her pot so moist with juices that the action was audible, with every slight raise and press of my hips, was with it a smack of wet flesh. She too tried different tricks, wrapping around me more tightly, her hips occasionally bucking back against my own. If I couldn't kiss her, I'd try something else. I lowered my lips to her neck, sucking at the nape of her neck.
"A love bite? How romantic," she wrapped her forehooves around my neck, smirking.
"S-shut up."
The next minute the room was just filled with intermittent moans and groans. Back and forth our hips grinded against one another, the smell of her sex and my sweat conjoining into a lusty cocktail. To my surprise she dragged her tongue up my neck, a move I surmise driven only I imagine my a moment of lecherous want.
"Cum."
"W-what?"
"Please, I'm so close just do it," dare I say she begged, her clit rapidly winking under my shaft.
She tightened her grip around me like a vice, and her cunt began to slide up and down my shaft in tandem with my thrusts, slicking my meat with her love sap. Her vaginal strokes were rapid, and I nearly buckled under the sudden barrage of pleasure on my cock, which throbbed between our bodies. Blossom's moans increased in volume, and I bit my lip to suppress mine, a familiar tightness forming in my abdomen and sack.
Without warning I bucked, my cock flaring as seed poured forth from the tip, crushed between our bodies it just kind of pooled into our fur. I felt Blossom's clit wink quickly, before gradually slowing down, no doubt had she leaked all over the carpet. We pressed into each other's napes, panting into the other's coat. After a while she pulled away, and looked between our bodies, smirking.
"Now that looked weird."
"Hey," I exclaimed, mock offence, grinning slyly as an idea popped into my head.
I travelled down, earning her attention and arched brow. "What are you doing?"
"Pffft!" A flatulent sound that was followed by her laughs, as I blew a raspberry into her cunt.
"Ha-ha, stop it, stop it!" She half laughed, half begged, kicking her hooves.
Suddenly, leaving us both frozen, eyes widened, the door clicked open. "Sorry for the wa- Ah..."
The stallion, displaying a surprising amount of stoicism, simply looked at us from the door. I wore a weak smile, and his expression didn't waver.
"Whatever is the matter darling," the white unicorn mare's voice sounded, her head coming into frame of vision, looking into the room. She at first looked surprised, eyes wide and mouth slack, but then adopted a humoured expression. "At least chivalry hasn't yet died."
"That was embarrassing."
"That was hilarious!"
Me and Blossom walked beside each other, just outside the mall, long after leaving the shop. For the second time in only two days we left a place packed with ponies, and she had some congealed semen on her. Although I too wasn't without stain, my muzzle plastered with a juice which if I was fortunate enough, other ponies would mistake only for soda or some other sticky liquid. Additionally, something we both shared, was cum on the underside of our bodies. Showers were a must.
"Hey, look at that," she said, suddenly veering off. I followed as she stopped before a poster of some kind. "'Filthy sodomite in need of good punishing and riding. Stallions need not apply. Wow, I do not feel sorry for the desperate stallion who put this up. Also, too much info with that poster, friend."
"Let me see," she shuffled over for me, and I looked over with a fascinated smile. On brown paper there was a crude sketch of a stallion, below it personal details obviously exaggerated for self-garnishment. My smile widened, the bizarre singles ad was hilarious to me, there was even a telephone number at the bottom, as if it wasn't red flaggish enough. However when I looked over the numbers my expression became more confused as familiarity washed over me, and then like rubbing a mare's flank unsolicited - it hit me.
"Mother!" I yelled with the rage of a million hungry Maples, my mouth stuffed with the poster I had torn from the mall wall. I had convinced Blossom it was a souvenir, but it turned out to be pointless, as I saw many others plastered around the city. I stomped into the home peering for any sight of her, before making my destination the living room.
My traipsing steps were loud, likely because I was taking my anger out on the poor undeserving floor, although it was lessened somewhat as it just sounded like a fat colt's clops. Snaking through the halls and barging into the living room, Mother was sat with visible agog by the rotary phone, Twinkle sat on the opposing side with the same indifference I had come familiar with.
I spat out my mouth the poster onto the carpet, earning a wide eyed look of confusion from Mother. "What is this?!"
"That my dear, is my understanding of why you didn't want to accept the services of darling Twinkle," she said with audible pride, a smug expression on her face.
"And pray tell, why didn't I want to take a prostitute into my bed? No offence, Twinkle."
"Meh," Twinkle replied, monotone. Although her expression was no longer blank, her brow arched and her eyes slits.
"Your pride of course," Mother stated as a matter of fact, and I looked at her with open mouth bemusement.
"What!"
"You didn't want the easy solution to the conundrum of your sexuality. I have long since realised that your brief skirting with the same sex is nothing more than an issue of self-confidence. You don't think mares are attracted to you, neither do you want the easy route to confirming your true self. Thus, I concocted this genius idea. So be rest assured, dear, these posters will have all the mares clamouring for you like seagulls to a box of hayfries!" Her voice was triumphant, and I just looked at her flabbergasted. How is it possible for anyone to askew events to this degree? This truly is art, as her line of thinking would surely create a picture so incoherent that many a critic would call it 'art', as I'm sure it would fit the parameters.
"He's already done something with a mare," Twinkle suddenly spoke, her voice still monotone.
"W-what?" My voice quivered, looking at her with a mixture of horror and surprise. Mother has a maid-prostitute with the acute senses to
sniff marecum, truly a living marvel.
"Are you sure, Twinkle?" Mother sounded elated, leaning toward her with eager expectation.
"I can smell it," she stated simply, shrugging.
"My baby colt isn't a stallion lover after all!" Mother cheered, bolting from the couch faster than I've ever seen her move, swooping me up into a tight hug. "I'm so proud!"
"R-right..." I acquiesced. At least she was happy... right? Maybe it would be best if I didn't say anything about Synary.
"Twinkle, go take down all the posters, my son is straight!"
"All five hundred?"
"Yes! Now chop-chop."
"Okay," Twinkle, for the first time, sighed. I wonder how much Mother is paying her exactly...
I managed to persuade Mother to not hold a celebration, arguing from a 'humble' angle, which is absurd as I have no pride to begin with. I sat resigned on my bed, thinking over the packed day I just had with a conflicted hue. It had been on my mind leaving the room with Mother, it had remained still during my shower, and continued to stay with me on my bed. Blossom remains wonderful, Synary still brings a smile to face at the thought of him, and I had to pick between the two.
"Silver?" I saw my Father peeking through the door, "Ah, good. You're not masturbating like your Mother believed."
"Ugh," I grimaced as he walked inside, "what do you want, Dad?"
"Nothing really," he said... whilst sitting on my bed, expression neutral.
"Father..." I stressed, and he looked sideways at me.
"Alright," he said like a annoyed, well, teen. "You didn't have sex with that mare just to please your Mother did you?"
"Father... take a step back and think about what you just said."
"Son," he took a more relaxed posture, looking me in the eye, "I just want you to be sure of who you are, that's my concern."
Wait a second. Is he trying to tell me something? Wait, it all makes sense now! The magazines, his steadfast acceptance of my coltcuddlery, and his happiness over his reveries. "Dad... are you gay?"
"Haha, heavens no!" He wiped a tear from his eye, laughing, and I looked at him bewilderment.
"Then why do you keep all that... stuff?"
"They're memories aren't they? A reminder of who I was. For a long time I thought I was somepony else. Admittedly it was a happy time in my life. But the moment I laid my eyes on your mother, and I knew I destined to be her husband. Whilst the past was great, my time with your mother surpassed the best days of those times. That stuff is just a reminder, kind of like a photograph or a diary. You don't want to forget the good times just because you're somepony else now. Memories make the pony, and they should be treasured."
"Wow dad, that was... oddly profound," I congratulated with knitted brows, finding his particular 'photos' of the past a little unorthodox, but whatever works I guess.
"I have my moments," he said, chuffed.
"Well, thanks, I guess. That actually kind of helped, in a way."
"With what?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"I could go in-depth if you'd like. I've got a lot of memories on hoof I can sha-"
"Nope, nope. It's fine, really," I said, trying to stop this train of thought before it left the station.
"Well if you say so..." he said, resigned, and just a tad disappointed.
Sunday... Well, it was living up to its name. The pegasi had cleared the skies for some reason, allowing Celestia's light to bathe over the park like a light syrup spread across toast... that's a good breakfast. I had spent all night yesterday toiling over what to do today, because it occurred to me that I was woefully unprepared. I'm sure Blossom had packed in many things to do on our date, it was only via circumstance we skipped to the end. Despite how many hours into the night I planned, I only summoned a single plan: a picnic. I then realised this was a part of my original plan and through a combination of fatigue and ire I fell asleep at my desk.
It was now mid-afternoon and I had trekked to the fountain not too deep into the park proper, my saddle bag warped outwards with food stuffs and a chequered blanket. The fountain was more intricate than the simple spire I had observed at the mall, featuring a trio of ponies from each tribe spouting out water from their mouths, whilst an alicorn with unfurled wings an uniquely long horn stood in the middle. The splashing of the water felt nice against my coat, and helped cool me somewhat under the strong heat of the sun. I kept a wary eye out for Synary, whom with his striking ocean blue mane and off-white coat was an easy pony to pick off from a distance.
To my pleasant surprise he arrived only shortly after I, and despite the casualness of the setting and the relaxed nature of the event he still carried with him the full burden of his shyness, his steps looking deliberately slow as if he was being extra careful with every placement of his hoof. He did though pick up a little at seeing me, his normally reserved expression perking up into a smile. I would have thought by this point I'd be so used to it that I would be unaffected by it, yet the sight still created little sparks on my gut, and my heart to skip twice.
"H-hello," he greeted, stopping a couple of metres from me, something which appeared conscious on his part.
"Good afternoon, Synary," only after it left my mouth did I realise how formal that sounded, and I wanted to grimace. "How are you?"
"I'm good, thank you," he said, his voice still very soft to the ears. He still wore that smile, and he was suddenly made aware of this himself, bringing a hoof up to cover his lip. "S-sorry, I can't stop smiling."
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. I like seeing you smile."
"You do?"
"Y-yeah..." my response elicited from him his largest smile yet, which whilst on my face would be only a gleeful beam, on him it was paramount to me of a thousand smiling faces it looked so happy.
"Thank you," his quiet voice sounded elated and relieved, and for a moment I saw his body relax.
"S-shall we get going?" I asked, anything to stop me staring dumbly at the smiling colt.
"Yes. I would like that."
And so we began our the pilgrimage that was our first date. We walked at a slow pace, mainly due to the fact that when I started our walk he lagged behind, following me, so I slowed down so that we walked abreast; maintaining the speed since we had no real direction in mind, just enjoying each other's presence and the warm sun. He was an infrequent speaker, and I found myself on multiple occasion breaking the ice, but thankfully for me he seemed unreceptive to my bad jokes; enjoying mostly listening to me ramble about myself. The few scraps of information he offered about himself were tasty morsels. His cutie mark apparently earned because he was really adept at saving money, and when I asked about the story of how he got it, he offered only 'it really helped'. After three quarters of an hour I became intensely curious about something. A part of me realised I like colts very much the same way I liked mares, but for others learning they hold a liking towards the same sex and not the opposite is apparently a life changing revelation, and I had so ask.
"When did you realise you were, well, to put it bluntly: gay?" I asked, and he looked at me with a wide eyed glance and a blush before averting his eyes.
"Well, in truth, it was during that day."
"You mean me, in the shower, that day?"
"Yes," he nodded, now barely looking at me at all, "I don't know what it was, but before then I never even thought about colts that way..."
"W-well, maybe you just never saw something that really made you know for sure."
"Or maybe it was just you..." he looked me in the eye as he said that in a surge of directness, that immediately crumbled and he averted his eyes again, blushing furiously red.
Exhaling sharply through the nose, I felt the need to return this comment with a moment of affection. Remembering yesterday, I closed the gap between our bodies, and he squeaked but remained unusually steadfast in his standing, not retreated from me as I expected. Instead he continued to walk astride beside me, only now the fond connection of our bodies was present. I meanwhile was feeling a upheaval in timidness, this marking officially the first time I've displayed such an intimacy toward a colt in public. Synary was taking it in stride, and to add to my list of things I never thought I'd say, I wish I had his confidence. It's my date, I should display some sliver of courage shouldn't I?
Fuck it, I'm going for it.
Suddenly: surprise attack! I nuzzled against his cheek, a soft and caring rub of my muzzle against the side of his face. The move caused him to look at me in blushing alarm, looking up at me with slightly parted lips and wide eyes. He looked away, shy and red faced, muzzle scrunched up in a bashful display. That would teach him...
He was a tad more talkative after that. His parents, like Maple had told me way back when, were extremely wealthy. They were artists, inventors, geniuses with a seemingly unending passion for life, discovery and the pursuit of happiness. They were originally young runaways from some distant village I'm sure nopony has heard of, and through effort and dedication alone they made their wealth. No wonder he lacks confidence, especially when those two are a constant reminder of what he has to live up to. I changed the topic from his parents to hobbies, and discovered that the two were deeply intertwined. His parents were keen on teaching him a bunch of skills, and whilst he felt burdened with many of them, he held a particular liking of painting. It calmed him the patience behind every stroke, the drying of paint, and the cathartic feeling of watching it all come together in the end to make a beautiful piece of art. He was really selling me on it actually.
"That looks like a good spot," I said, looking toward a rather secluded darkened patch of grass beneath a large birch tree. There were few ponies walking this far into the park, most opting to enjoying their time shallow into the park's depths. It had a noticeable effect on Synary, his movements were lacking the same kind of restraint, and his permanent blush had seemed to lessen in intensity. He finally seemed to relax somewhat, which, in a weird way, made me proud for him. "I'll just set this out and we can get stuck in."
Synary stood back as I set out the blanket, removing my saddle bag and placing it in the middle. It was no wicker basket, but it would do. It wasn't the best picnic, but who could blame me, it was my first time. Several cans of soda, multiple varieties of sandwiches of sweet and savory kinds, a fair variety of sweet stuffs and strawberry shortcake. I thought it'd make for a quant afternoon, although by this point I had grown rather complacent with the walk and simple conversation, which getting to know Synary more as an individual had alone made this affair worthwhile. But sitting on the blanket and him joining me, I couldn't think of a better way to top this date off than good food.
He never made comment on the food, but with less ponies around he became more talkative. He asked me my favourite hobby, and I replied creative writing (ironic considering how atrocious my hoofwriting is). He asked me what my favourite piece was, then what inspired that, and then inquired how much I liked my time in the badlands, and so forth and so on. Querying him taught me why he was so intent on questioning me, as for some reason every answer he gave to every question just made me more intrigued by him as pony. After a while we had found ourselves lying on our backs, conversation altering from simple questions to nothing of substance. Not that it was a bad thing, not in the slightest. I was just enjoying his voice, and I'm sure he was enjoying mine. Without realising it, at one point the entire world was plunged into dark...
I blinked my eyes open, at first being confused by the orange light, I then realised it was dusk. Looking down I suddenly got a noseful of mane hair, sniffing and pulling away, I was enlightened to a sight that made my recently relaxed heart race into a ferocious beating. Synary had taken to sleeping on me rather than beside me, but the sight of his objectively adorable sleeping little face meant that any objection I may have had to this was nonexistent. He had on his face a cute little smirk of a smile, his cheek was squashed against my chest, his head slightly rising and falling in match of my breaths.
Is it weird to watch somepony as they sleep? It makes me feel strange, but it fills with a wholly selfish buzz in my chest, that made me want to wrap my hooves around him and pull him tighter into my chest. The dusk was colder than the afternoon, and that made the warmness of his form all the more sought after. I took the plunge, delicately wrapping my hooves around him, which prompted him to stir. He fluttered open his eyes, and he looked around dazed and confused, although after glancing down at my grey coat he took to panic. He looked up at me in worry and began to pull away, but in response with a small smile I pulled him back in, tightening my hooves. He looked wary, than happy, pressing his cheek back against my chest and nuzzled it into me. Cute.
"It's getting pretty late," I said, looking up. No doubt the stars would make their big reveal soon, Celestia's sun looked ready to descend.
"I know..." he replied, his voice oddly melancholy. "I enjoyed this."
"Me too," I replied, giving him a squeeze. "I had a great time with you."
"Hey," he started, looking squeamish, "can I tell you something?"
"Anything," I gave him a reassuring smile.
"A-after that... time, in the showers, I can't stop thinking about it," he spoke in a low voice, embarrassment plastered to his face.
"Y-yeah, I know what you mean," I replied, trying to show empathy, "it was... different, to say the least."
"I don't mean what happened, I mean... it, your..." he trailed off, his entire face painted over with bright red.
"Oh... Oh!" Realisation slapped me, and I too felt red faced, "M-my... thing."
"Y-yes," he stuttered, "and can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course," the surrealness had embedded into my head, and I knitted my brows.
"Ever since then, I can't stop touching myself everytime it comes into thought," he brought his voice back to a whisper, but with the context and content of what he just said I couldn't help but take it sensually.
"R-right."
"Looking at it... touching it... t-tasting... t-taking it," he said in a meticulous slowness, the vibrations of his throat stirred my arousal. "The mere thought of you... and I then I can't help but touch myself."
"T-that's pretty intense," I said, thankful for the lack of spectators.
"O-oh," he looked down the length of my body, and saw that when my arousal was stirred, as was another part of me. Swelling from the sheath, my grey mottled cock began to emerge from my sheath, myself blushing.
"Do you want to..." I trailed off, my statement causing him to look up at me the reddest blush thus far, his jaw seeming to tremble.
"I-in public?"
"I'm sorry, you're right, we sho-"
"N-no," he interrupted, a surprising amount of force in his voice. "I w-want to."
I nodded, fascinated. He looked down at my slowly approaching shaft, the appendage filling with blood was a sight he appeared mesmerised by, watching it intently. Ever so slowly, he edged a hoof out toward the tip, trembling as it did so. He yanked it back, my shaft twitching in overzealousness, and I cringed thinking I frightened him off. Fortunately the fear was short lived, the underside of his hoof softly pressed against the head of my cock, and we both released breaths that I suspect neither of us knew we were holding in. He was delicate, and didn't give off the aura of experience Blossom held, he was entirely unfamiliar. Ironic, considering we both held the same piece of equipment.
"It's so big," he coo'd, tracing the tip with his hoof, "and so warm."
"Y-yeah," the little slashes of pleasure causing a catch in my throat.
"And it gets bigger, doesn't it?" His question came out more rhetoric than actual, and my eyes wandered down his body, and saw for some reason he was holding his legs together.
"L-let me see yours," I requested, his hoof still brushing over the head of my cock.
"Y-yeah, sorry," he replied, and he rotated his body, turning onto his back.
I was surprised by how hard he was already, his shaft standing fully erect into the air, bobbing and throbbing. So captured was I by the allure of his rod that I barely realised I felt warm breaths against my cock. Glancing down I saw my now fully erect and heavy erection as only a couple of inches from his muzzle, and his exhales were only a second between, almost as if he was overly excited or scared.
"You've looked at it, touched it, do you want to..."
Without answering, cutting my statement short, he dragged his wide tongue slowly over the head of my cock. There was savoring of taste, or thinking on the act, he continued to lick at it as if it was his favourite flavour of lollipop. Little moans came from out my mouth, his tongue was acting on no other purpose than to taste me, lapping up my beads of pre as they leaked from my shaft. When I pushed my hips towards his lips, I got no entry, and whimpered; his tongue still arduously dragging up the length of my head, his wide tongue covering every inch of it. I looked to his untouched shaft, which looked like it was aching to me touched, and if I were to admit something to only myself: I've wanted to suck cock ever since I saw one.
"C-can I taste you?" I tried to make it sound erotic, but it came out as a shy cheep.
"Y-yeah."
We shifted, him turning back on his stomach and raising his plot into the air, and making little steps to shimmy over me; remaining in his place by my cock. When he was over me, his shaft swung slightly beneath him, and up close it looked a little more daunting. He unceremoniously lowered onto my chest, his erection staring me upside down in the eye, throbbing on my chest; his plot and accompanying hole were within reach, and his swollen balls were draped over his shaft.
I've never been this close to one that wasn't my own, and I let curiosity overshadow my desires just a tad. My hooves pressed against either side of it, and feeling it twitch in my hooves put a amatory smile on my lips. It was hot with blood, and felt thick, and when a bead of pre leaked from the tip - it looked delectable. I inched my muzzle forward, smelling his stallionhood, the thick scent of coltyness made me feel a desire I had only fantasised about whilst pleasuring myself: to take it between my lips.
I took an experimental lick, the tip of my tongue brushing against his urethra, lapping up the bittersweet liquid that ebbed from the tip of his cock; his following moan made the translucent liquid all the more sweeter, reminding me slightly of blueberries... slightly salty blueberries. Deciding to me a little more decadent, my hooves trailed up the length of his shaft, brushing over his balls and pressing against his soft flanks. He momentarily froze under my touch, but relaxed against, his tongue continuing to idly lick at the head of my shaft. Kneading his soft plot, I tried applying what I did with Blossom here, my tongue tracing the rim of his flare, little slashes across the width. The response was what I wanted - little groans and moans, as well as his slight grinding into my chest - he wanted more, and I wanted to please...
Licking my lips, wet more with his pre than my saliva, I opened my mouth and headed towards... well, his head. The thing that my senses picked up first, before the feeling of his girth stretching my jaw, the undiluted smell of stallion, was the taste. It was a turgid cocktail of flesh, sweat, and pheromones, a taste that alone made me buck light against Synary's lips, which parted slightly to moan as I took in his meat. My tongue lathered around his girth, pushing against the semi-hard cock with my tongue, milking out not only more pre from his erection but also moans from his throat.
Synary, realising the bar I now set, followed suite. I felt a slight pain, his jaw I could tell struggled to accommodate, his teeth slightly pushing into my cock. I could feel my wide tip pushing against his cheek, and the sight alone of his bulging maw would have probably caused me to groan in bliss. The pain of his teeth however, was far out shadowed by the ministrations of his tongue, which overworked to wash my cock with saliva and my own pre.
I took more of him into my mouth, sucking it like I would a candy cane, lapping as much of its surface area as I could. I heard Synary splutter
and cough, and I pulled back on his shaft, breathing and looking down with worry.
"Are you okay?" I asked, slightly frantic.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," he actually have a small laugh, and my worry took leave. "I just overestimated it. That's all. It was a lot easier when I was just fantasising."
"I get that," I concurred, licking his broad tip with a smirk before enveloping it for a second time, a worthwhile moan coming from his mouth.
I tried to see how much I could take in. More in the mouth, the more pleasure he felt, right? At the angle I was sucking, I couldn't take in more than what hit the back of my throat, my neck created a u-bend that his cock definitely wouldn't appreciate being bent at. Which in a way I was thankful, as another inch would have surely triggered my gag reflex, it was a miracle it wasn't being triggered now. I pulled back just so my lips were on the rim of his flare, and I pushed back down, my tongue all the while delivering a flurry of little lashes and strokes. He too was trying things. My size meant he couldn't take in more than just the flare and an inch, but it didn't mean his hooves and tongue couldn't join in. He shifted his head, pushing my tip from cheek to cheek, his tongue realising the rim of my flare was most sensitive. I moaned around his cock, and when his hooves travels down my shaft to stimulate my medial ring, I had to wilfully stop myself from bucking.
Soon, in that moment before the final setting of the sun and the arrival of stars, the park was silent. All except for the sounds of sucking cock and the moaning colts behind it. My mouth pistoned up and down his shaft at a reasonable pace, and despite pleasure hindering my other perceptions, I still felt his shaft swelling in my mouth. My legs shook, my shaft twitching between his lips. I tapped his plot, forewarning him of my advancing orgasm. With a flick of his tongue he pulled back his maw, and immediately set upon my cock with his tongue, licking it with the speed one might employ to eat a rapidly melting ice cream. I wasn't going to orgasm without him, and placed my hooves on his erection, squeezing around his medial ring downward to the head; milking with my hooves and sucking with my mouth, ready to drink his sticky milk.
"Mhm!" I sounded around his cock as I bucked my hips, my shaft flaring as I felt the first rope of cum shoot from my cock, his tongue still stroking the tip and lapping it up as it fired. Meanwhile he bucked into my chest, his cock erupting and flaring in my mouth, his seed pouring generously from his shaft. It came out at such a speed I could swallow it, but my cheeks bulged out at the sheer quantity, and I was astonished his balls held this much within them. He tasted like a thick creamy salty black currant milkshake, and I released a moan, the taste was surprisingly was orgasmic... Pun?
When I finished swallowing down Synary's cum, I pulled back off his shaft with a gasp, some seed dribbling down the corner of my lip. It was then I noticed Synary was still idly licking at my shaft, the still sensitive tip causing my lower half to quiver and shake.
"S-Synary?" I probed, catching his attention, looking over his shoulder.
"Sorry," he grinned full of bash, and I smirked.
"I didn't realise you liked it that much."
"There was a lot of it. I genuinely thought it was still pouring out, so my tongue was on autopilot there," he explained, a grin appearing on my face.
"Well, I apologise," I was half sincere, a part of me sly.
"No need," he was now soft in voice, and he nuzzled against my softening cock. "This was great."
"Synary?" I verbally prodded, getting no reply.
"Synary? Synary... we can't sleep here... Synary, please wake up... we're in the middle of the park, Synary... come on, we've got school tomorrow... Synary?!" |
Am I Confused? | Chapter 4: Lists, Depression, And Parties | "Synary... Blossom... Synary... Blossom..."
"What are you doing?" Gem asked me, annoyed.
"Trying to choose," I replied simply, voice monotone, and I heard her scoff.
"You're what?"
"You heard me," I replied, still not looking up from the couch.
"You came into the living room just to say their names out loud over and over?"
"No. I came in here to say their names out loud over and over to you," I specified, and glancing down I saw her look at me with an arched brow. "You said you'd help me."
"I thought you just wanted somepony to talk at your ills."
"That's what I am doing, aren't I? But if you want to actually help, help me decide what to do here," I said, I pushed back against the arm of the chair, leaning up to look at her scrunched up expression.
"Well, I suppose," she shrugged, curling her lip. "What can I do?"
"Help me decide which pony I should choose."
"I can't help you with something like that!" She exclaimed, looking at me with a sneer. "It's immoral. Do you know how many mares have been subjugated to this shit?"
"...One of them is a colt," I said meekly, and she smirked.
"Wow," she rolled her eyes, crossing her hooves, "you're a real paragon of virtue aren't you?"
"I know, I know!" I rubbed my hooves into my eyes, keeping over. "I'm a horrible pony, but please help."
She exhaled. "Fine. I'll get a piece of paper and a pencil. Maybe some highlighters."
"You sound like you've done this before."
"I didn't say I wasn't a hypocrite," she gave me a sideward glance, walking by me with a small grin.
A few minutes passed and she came back in with a pad of paper on her back, and a pencil between her teeth, spitting out and placing the pad on the coffee table; moving my hind hooves and taking a seat beside me. Before I could speak she had set to work, creating a simple double column table, with two words written at the top of each column.
"Filly and colt?" I said as she placed the table on my side of the table, looking at me with a shrug.
"Let's get it down to the basic components. Maybe you prefer the sum of one's parts over the other, right?"
"Hmm, okay, I can see that," I replied, nodding and leaning down, taking the end of the pencil in my mouth.
Let's see... well, Blossom is cute... well, so is Synary. I suppose they both get a point for that. Synary is kind... so is Blossom. Ok, I am fast seeing a problem. Let's get the last similarity out of the way: They're both hot. Ok, differences, differences... Synary has a penis, and Blossom a vagina.
"Ew," Gem stated simply, causing me to look her sideways. "Also, your hoof writing is terrible."
"Why do they call it hoofwriting if it's done with mouths, Gem!" I spat the pencil onto the pad, the end lathered in saliva.
"Ew."
"You know what," I leant down, grapping the end with my teeth, bringing it back down to the pad. "Screw it," I spoke around the pencil, scribbling out the words I wrote, punctuating with 'screw it' written at the bottom of the page, the dot above the 'I' a frowning face. "Writing it down lessens the whole thing anyway."
"So how do you propose to choose?" She asked, and I sighed.
"They're both wonderful. If I could have it my way, I would have them both," I replied honestly, sniffing. "But that isn't fair, is it..."
"On who?"
"Both of them. The fact I'm having this conversation is already spitting on the kindness they gave me," I deflated, eyes downcast. "I... I can't have either, can I?"
"That's up to you, Silver," she replied, and I felt solemn, and that my head and will had been stretched out and trodden upon.
"I care for them both, like I said before. And I don't want to hurt either of them... but if I stay with them both, in secret, and then they both find out... I can barely live with it now," I said, and I felt my jaw quiver.
"Brother mine," Gem said softly, and I felt a hoof wrap around me with an affectionate tightness, "it's okay."
"You shouldn't feel any kind of sympathy for me," I said, leaning my head on her shoulder, "this is a genuinely horrible thing."
"Silver, you're young, and you're new to your heart being in two places at once," she explained, and I nearly shied away from her nuzzle atop my head. "So don't hold it against yourself too harshly for your mistake, brother."
"Thank you," I said, feeling a tad less horrible, but my guild still weighed a ton on my conscience. "I've never broken up with anypony before... and I have to do it twice."
"Or once..."
My uniform felt unusually tight. My tie almost felt as though it was strangling me, and the building felt several degrees above comfortable. I gained a case of acute paranoia, and even as the students maintained a steadfast look ahead, I couldn't help but imagine their eyes glance at me accusingly; my heart striking the inside of my ribcage. They had no way of knowing what I did, or what I'm about to do, yet a part of me believed they were going to all simultaneously look at me and jeer and boo me. And of course, that self-depreciating part of me, that part that kept making me aware of the crime I committed, wanted them to.
As I turned a corner, still keeping an eye out, I saw the most peculiar of sights. It was Maple. Now ordinarily such a sight wasn't unusual, I'd be ambivalent to it, but he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by a plethora of mares and stallions, all listening intently to whatever bullshit he was spewing, and after a moment they all began to laugh. I was half-curious, and was tempted to go see what they all found so funny, as well as investigate how Maple of all ponies was able to gather such a crowd. Did he miraculously become popular? Well, he is pretty good at capitalising on opportunity. I suppose he was able to milk Blossom sitting beside him quite well, and Synary (the new kid, whom was cute to many mares) was icing on the already too frosted cake for him. I suppose I have that display to thank for taking my mind briefly away from my current problem, but I can't let petty matters distract me. I tore my eyes away, and walked past without more than a second glance, seeing Maple's pride ridden expression.
I found Blossom walking down one of the hallways flanked on either side by mares, both chatting to her, apparently not noticing of her blank disinterested expression. Upon noticing me she perked up visibly, and without a word she somehow shrugged off the mares without uttering a word, almost as if they were decoration.
"Hey, Silver. What's up?" She greeted, and despite her affectionate smile, I found myself unable to return it.
"Hi Blossom," I returned the greeting, and struggled to maintain eye contact, "can you come with me, I have to tell you something."
"Um, sure," she shrugged, still smiling.
"We have to find Synary first," I said, and she tilted her head in confusion.
"Why does he have to be there too?" She asked, and I paused, glancing away momentarily.
"I-I just need the two of you, okay?" I said, inkling of desperation in my voice.
"Alright," she said, her brow arched. My expression in reply was a meek smile.
She followed me, just short of walking abreast, but she lagged behind as I picked the pace. I didn't want to see the expression she wore, confusion, or even worse yet annoyance. There were glances as students saw her follow me, a sight understandably strange. A colt never the centre of anything, was suddenly the leader of the school's most popular student, or failing that the principal's daughter... now that I've said that, the idea of what I'm about to do seems less attractive, not that it was a particularly beckoning prospect to begin with.
I nearly missed Synary, his attempts to make himself small and unnoticed were improving, and it was actually him that sought my attention. "Silver," he said as I walked past, his hoof prodding softly into my side.
"S-Synary," I replied, turning to face him, his smile warm.
"Hi, Silver, it's nice to see you," he greeted, and when his eyes flicked to Blossom his smile lessened somewhat. Although I could sense it wasn't out of maliciousness, but rather, his nervousness had come up to surface as it predominantly had. His lack of it around me, well... was self-explanatory. "H-hey Blossom Bloom."
"You can just call me 'Blossom', remember?" She said playfully, and Synary's smile appeared a little less submissive.
"S-sorry, B-Blossom," he re-greeted, and Blossom beamed.
"I'm sorry, Synary, but could you follow me?" I asked, and he looked at me with slightly risen eyebrows.
"O-oh, okay," he complied, the smile he still wore made my chest ache.
"Please follow me," I said to the both of them, walking off down the hall, them presumably following in tow.
I searched for an empty room, be it classroom or janitor's closet. I must have looked weird standing on my hind hooves to look through the glass, shaking my head at the sight of a student or teacher.
"Why can't you just say what you want to say out here, Silver?" Blossom asked, still lagging behind.
"It has to be in private," I said firmly, and that was the last of that.
Several more minutes passed, and I found that one of the art classrooms on the east side of school was empty. I rushed inside, trespassing be damned. The confused duo followed me inside, and I heard Synary begin some kind of protest, but his voice fizzled out and became a squeak. The windows in here lacked curtains, which I suspect was intentional considering the subject taught in here, and there was something aesthetic about sunlight on paint covered desks.
I gulped, and walked further inside, taking a spot at the front of the class, they stood before me side by side. They looked at each with sideward glances of confusion, before landing their eyes upon me, expectant. I remained tight jawed, looking between them with furrowed brows and pursed lips. Emerald and amber eyes, both different colours, both sharing the same level of worry.
"Well... what is it?" Blossom asked, and Synary gave a slight nod.
I sat on my flank, and resisted the urge to fidget, my heart beating furiously, my gut being tied into knots. "Uh..."
"Silver?" Synary's voice held a tone of concern, although he shied away when Blossom gave him a arched brow look.
"I don't really know how to go about this..." I muttered, looking between the two of them.
"Go about what?" Blossom took a step toward me, and I grimaced.
"This whole thing," I replied half-heartedly, "I don't know how to start."
"C-can we help?" Synary asked, and I cringed.
"O-okay. W-what do you two both have in common?" I asked, and they both looked perplexed.
"Uh... we both go the same school?" Blossom offered, and Synary nodded.
"Ok, uh..." I smacked my lips together, "you both also have something else in common. Mainly relating to m-me."
They both tilted their heads, glancing to one another before looking back at me. "You?" Said Blossom.
"Y-yes," I replied, and she looked even more confused.
"We both know you, both go to the same school as you, we both considerer you a friend..." she teetered off on the end of that line of thought, looking between the floor and myself with squinted eyes and furrowed brows. "Wait a minute..."
"W-what?" Synary asked, and she found herself alternating between him, me, and the floor.
"Y-yeah?" I probed her, and her eyes parted as realisation struck her, looking to Synary.
"You sucked his dick?!" Blossom exclaimed with incredulousness toward the suddenly cowering colt, and I went wide eyed and took a step toward them.
"No, no, no, I meant you both had dates with me, not that!"
"Oh, so he didn't?"
"W-well..." Synary stuttered, his face going bright pink with a blush.
"T-this is going off course," I said, and the two of them looked at each other with an expression I couldn't read. "B-but now you know why I wanted to speak to the both of you."
"Well, this is quite something," Blossom said, and for some reason I found her reaction underwhelming. Regardless of visible anger, I still felt the daisy chain in my gut. "I honestly don't know how to react."
"M-me too," Synary surprisingly spoke out, and Blossom glanced at him with a nod before looking back at me.
"Upset that I betrayed both of your trusts?" I offered, and Blossom pursed her lips.
"A l-little," Synary looked away, "b-but we have to be realistic, don't we?"
"What?" I asked, looking at him worried.
"Y-you only went out with me once," Synary said rather bluntly, a little downtrodden. "We shared something special, but we still hardly know each other."
"He's right," Blossom concurred, and I looked at her just as confused. "We did go out twice, both times because I asked you to. I don't blame you for taking out Synary - he's cute - but like he said, we have to be realistic. I don't feel cheated on, and the way you're reacting to all this is... kinda sweet."
"Thanks for telling us," Synary seemed to agree, and I could only look between the two of them confused.
"Don't you want to slap me, kick my flank, or belittle me in front of the whole school?"
"Not particularly. Although there would be something interesting we could do in front of the whole school, as long as we don't get caught that this..." Blossom trailed off slyly, and Synary looked away, face red. "Besides, I think we both also have in common we like you too."
"But it's not fair," I stressed, looking between them with a weary stare. "This can only end one way, and you know that. And I don't want to do that to either of you. I know it's a little weird for me to say, especially since we haven't known each other for too long, but I care for you both, and I don't want to see either of you getting hurt."
"Well, what do you want us to say, Silver?" Blossom looked tired, and I couldn't bring myself to look at either of them.
"You don't have to say anything, you never had to say anything," I said, pursing my lips. "But I can say that I'm sorry I did this... goodbye."
Sister wrapped her hoof around me for the second time this week, and on the same day no less. She must have heard me coming up the stairs, and when I took refuge in my room, she joined me. I sat propped against the headboard of my bed, and I scooted over for her, and when she took me in a single hoofed embrace I leant against her; my head on her nape.
"You don't look beaten up, so at least they look like they took it well," she quipped, voice soft.
"They took it better than me," I replied, recalling how my sombre exit from the room went unopposed, their expressions saddened. "You ever broken up with anypony before?"
"I have. But by that point I felt nothing for them. I can't imagine breaking up with somepony who you liked, and you did it twice at once."
"Yeah..." I said monotone, chewing the inside of my cheek. "I feel like shit."
"That was expected."
"Yep..." I sighed.
"What are you gonna do now?" She asked, and I looked down in thought.
"I don't know. What can I do?"
"Don't let this brief moment ruin the rest of you life?"
"...That's a good start."
I couldn't summon the will to go to school, at least for a little while. The thought of going back to that mess of awkwardness left me cringing and feeling physically ill. I spent most of the week lazing about, idly doing some work here or there, but I mostly felt drained. Is this depression? Celestia, I hope not. It was Thursday and I sitting in the dining room, eating a bowl of cereal whilst I idly read a newspaper. Something about a pony called Coattail and the government, I don't know. Twinkle, surprisingly, took a seat at the table. She hadn't really done much, and I've come to think of her as a decoration, as bad at that sounds she wasn't somepony who I disdained sharing the room with. In her mouth she placed upon the table several letters, and sighed, bored. Atleast we shared that in common.
"Hey," I greeted, and she glanced at me from the adjacent seat across the table, blinking.
"Hey," she returned, monotone. At least we spoke the same language?
"What you got there?"
"Just some mail," she shrugged, scratching her nose.
"Right... gotta get the mail."
"Yep..." "..."
"..." Wow, this was awkward. "So, where'd you work?"
"Here."
"No, I meant, you know... before," I rolled my head, avoiding stating the obvious.
"Right... at a brothel," she shrugged, her tone still dead.
"Local?"
"Yeah."
"Ponyville?"
"No. Canterlot," she said, and I was taken slightly aback.
"There's a brothel in Canterlot? You know this is where the princesses live, right?" I asked, slightly in disbelief.
"Believe whatever you want, but it exists," she replied, her voice betraying an inkling of pride.
"What's it called?" I asked.
"Why, want to go?" She spoke, her tone still flat, but there again was a tinge of humour in the way she spoke.
"N-no, just curious. What do you call a brothel in the royal city?" I could imagine a few, the monarch's plothole, shame of the city, or maybe something fancy like risque.
"Red door."
"What?" I asked, maybe she mistook my question as to what it looked like from outside, but to be honest I had no idea how she could misconstrue it as that.
"That's the name," she shrugged, and at my furrowed brows she gave something of a smirk, which was just a quick exhale through the nose. "The red door brothel, it's quite popular you know."
"Really?" I curled my lip. You learn something new every day. Apparently learning there's a brothel right under the nose of Celestia herself is quite intriguing. "How much did you make anyway?"
"Eighty on a good night. Although there were plenty of other mares who made more. There was a mare called Velvet Touch who raked in five hundred usually," she leant forward a bit as she talked, a smile curve was present on her lip.
"So she was good?"
"Buck yeah, she was good. Dead proud of it too. Bit of a bitch," she ended with a half shrug, "don't know what happened to her. She disappeared a few months ago."
"Any theories?"
"Eh, some of the mares thought she was kidnapped, others think she got guilted into stopping by a colt that came in one day, might have been hers, who knows. Some even think she found love," she ended that statement with an incredulous look.
"She might've," I said, "what can I say. I'm a bit of a sucka for a happy ending."
"Maybe, maybe. Then again, she could be dead in some gutter somewhere," I pulled a sour expression, and then she curled her lip, "or maybe she found love. But that makes you quite the optimist."
"A little bit," I said, a shrug, and I remembered just how much an optimist I was when revealing the truth to Synary and Blossom. Well, there's that slump again... "Are any of those mine?"
"Oh? Let me check," she looked down, her eyes following the letters of the first letter and swatting it aside, reading the next. She moved aside two more before tilting her head and furrowing her brows. "Uh..."
"What?"
"For numbnuts?" She said with a smirk, and pushed it toward me, the paper sliding on the varnished wood.
"For me?" I said, looking down at the white envelope, pushing aside my cereal and looking at it with a curled lip. I tore the top off with my teeth and pulled out the piece of paper within, unfolding it, the paper written in unusually neat cursive. "Dear Fagaloon, you are hereby cordially summoned to bask in the graciousness of your emcee, Maple. There is no dress code, however it is mandatory for your socks to be worn, so that as the night progresses, they will be knocked off with the full force of my party mastery. Let's wake Celestia the fuck up our party is so cray. Yours sincerely, Maple 'Party master' Oakly." Below was a list of details, minus address because in its place was 'you know where I live, you fuck'. Saturday, eight O'clock.
"Sounds like a party invite," said Twinkle.
"Yes it does, Twinkle. Yes it does."
"You gonna go?"
"What else is a colt gonna do on a Saturday night?"
... I wonder if Synary and Blossom will be there? |
Am I Confused? | Chapter 5: Stank | Parties. I was never invited to many of them. My circle of friends was relatively small in kindergarten, and over time it grew ever smaller, until all that remained was Maple. Maple, of this I was staunch, was a good friend. Perhaps not the best, as others would have certain standards for what constituted a good and bad pony, but despite his flaws (of which he had a bounty) he wasn't a bad guy. If my friendship with him was alike that of a married couple who had been together too long as to not bother getting a divorce, I would not have even considered going to his party.
Prior to my leaving I tried to find Gem, and then I realized that she unlike I, had a much more active social life. To think she'd be meandering about the house on a Saturday was incredibly naïve of me, but I was nervous. Would anyone notice me, or question my absence? Maple, even though it was only a letter, seemed particularly indifference to my disappearance. Other than the doubtless opposition to such a move from my teachers, there were two certain ponies who made apprehension well up in my joints, slugging my movements. I would've liked to have pinned all my nervousness on the party, but if there was a chance those two were to appear, well...
Thing is, I've not been to one since I was little more than a toddler, my cousin's fifth birthday party. From what I recall, it was very noisy, a lot of talking, drinking, eating, and there was vomit everywhere. But surely since it's a party for semi-adults and teens it is likely to be different, and I can't imagine Maple - who was surprisingly generous when it would lead to the prospect of his ego getting stroked - would tolerate such things in his house. But I do suspect teens are quite a lot different from toddlers and young foals when it comes to parties, so I can't imagine the same things going down... right?
Well, I had the time to ponder such things. Rarely did I have to go about Canterlot at night, the streets oddly sparse despite the size of the city. Rather than the occasional smiling citizen, I'd see a stoic faced guard, who would flash a half smile before going about their way. At some point whilst going to Maple's house, I heard the distant sound of a 'beat', and something akin to spotlights in the sky. It was a Saturday, maybe Vinyl Scratch was in town, although if that was the case I'm sure Maple would have cancelled his party in a heartbeat. But speaking of Maple, it does sound suspiciously close to whereabouts he lives, but I'm sure that's just coincidence right. Surely he wouldn't do something that lucrative...
Oh. He would. Of fucking course he would.
The Oakly mansion was lit up like Hearth's warming eve tree, and even from across the street I struggled to look at it without slightly squinting my eyes. There were hundreds of ponies, some I regarded with a brief glimmer of recognition, likely I've seen then walking around the school and hadn't given them a second thought. Others were definitely strangers, who I had no memory of whatsoever. There were so many, that the party appeared to start outside the grounds of the estate, with various mares and stallions idly talking and drinking outside the fence. Speaking of drinks, even a distance away in the air there was a pungent smell of cider, which was so strong in smell that I couldn't even feign it had enough alcohol in it to make a minotaur buckle. The number of red flags is actually pretty amazing. A huge amount of ponies, without supervision, drunk of their rockers in the most royal of cities in all of Equestria? I'm also surprised at the lack of any royal guard whatsoever, as the noise alone was sure to bring a few, surely? Well shit, I could go inside and I'd probably risked getting shanked by a unicorn falling into me he's so blind drunk. I just need to get in, find Maple, tell him I'm here and then leave. There's so many ponies here he won't notice that I'm gone right?
I took to a hastened pace when I approached the mansion grounds, trying to not make eye contact with anyone, and took shallow breaths to avoid smelling in the thick stench of alcohol. Getting through the dense crowd at the gate was difficult. For some reason they congregated there. I didn't bother to understand the logic. Why anypony would choose to remain outside rather than in was beyond me... Oh Celestia I hadn't even considered what it's like inside! If out here I could barely tolerate the smell and noise, I can only imagine what it's like inside. Good grief...
The grounds were also teeming with ponies. They all appeared to be having a good time, and seemed to be of a different and more... 'carefree' caliber. Mares were being chased by colts with huge smiles across their faces, couples writhed on the grass, staining their coats with mud and grass as they made out. I'd say it was hedonistic if it weren't so PG. I tore my eyes away from the debauchery. I needed to keep my eyes straight, attract no attention, and get to Maple... wherever that bastard is at. I made sure to stay within the lines of the path, not straying from the comfortably straight and precise stone line as if my life depended on it, as if seemed that any who walked on the grass was devolved into some kind of screaming drunk lunatic. Not that I'm judging, it's just I'd rather not chance waking up anywhere other than a bed I'm familiar with in the morning.
As I reached the porch, again similar to the gate, there was a thick swathe of ponies glued to it. Through the open door I heard what must have been a hundred voices, all talking over each other, their words indecipherable. Like the gate I squeezed my way through, nervously smiling toward the colts and fillies who cast me strange looks as I passed by them, trying my best not to look anyone in the eye. Inside I was kind of blinded by the volume, which had be grimacing and half tempted to lie down and over my ears. Haphazardly strewn about the hall were large oversized speakers, which vibrated and sounded out some kind of beat with nonsensical lyrics. Additionally, somepony must have switched out the bulbs, the entire inside lighted with what looked like a pink haze; atop some of the speakers and tables pink candle wax melted and plastered over the sides, giving the inside a thick smell of cranberries. Admittedly, I'm having a hard time telling what the theme is, if there is one. Although the night is young, I'm already finding myself not envying whoever has to clean this up.
The large hall was dense with large groups budded around the place. Ponies were dancing on tables, a colt was sat on a speaker drinking, a mare the spectacle of a small crowd as she appeared to be 'winning' some kind of drinking game; at least thirty red and white plastic cups discarded on the floor beside her. There must have been five dozen in the great hall alone, and through the miasma like pink fog, I had trouble making out anypony familiar. I snaked my way past the groups, taking advantage of the narrow gaps and passages. Very quickly I found myself getting disoriented. The party was kicking all of my senses collective asses. Music, voices, claustrophobic tightness, and the disability to see more than a few feet in front of me. The mental map I had of Maple's house, which in the past I had frequented only a few times, was getting all the more messy as I wandered wantonly around.
Now that I was in here, I completely lost track of what I was doing. I knew I had to find Maple, but since I didn't know where he was I was just wandering around like some kind of jackass. I needed some help. I trailed around, looking for an isolated mare or stallion for help. In the corridor left of the hall (which due to it being a small area was even denser with smell and volume), I passed by other guests as was expected, one stallion even trying to force a cup into my empty hooves with a creepy smile on his face - although due to him being a stranger I may have misinterpreted - regardless I smiled limply and shook my head.
I navigated the halls, and each doorway I came across I shied away from entering, teetering away always grimacing. I really didn't want to interact with anyone. I never truly considered myself an introvert, but the sight of a lot of unfamiliar smiling faces made me nervous. At some point I began to think something was in the air, a lot of couples were just openly displaying their 'love' together against the walls. Of course not sex, they weren't me or Blossom, but there was something about parties apparently that encouraged this. Odd, considering the absolute un-hotness of vomiting, underage drinking, and for lack of a better term: Stank.
Near the entrance to the living room, I saw a yellow coated stallion all by himself. He had a dense looking red mane, and he was looking around with tired squinted eyes. At least, I think he was tired. There was a particular sluggishness to his movements, and he had a dumb looking smile on his lips. Unlike others ponies here I didn't find his demeanour intimidating, but 'approachable' was loosely used here. As I got close, he reeked of a stench that somehow overpowered the combined aroma of the party. Is it worth a curl of the lower lip that he achieved such a monumental feat? Maybe.
As I approached, he landed his groggy looking eye on me, and I meekly smiled. "Hey!"
"Sorry, don't swing that way," he replied, looking alarming, and I scrunched my brows and shook my head.
"Have you seen Maple?" I asked, trying to beat the sheer volume.
"I don't think there are any foals here, bro!" He replied, taking another sip from his drink, body bobbing slightly to the music.
"What?" I replied, barely able to make out what he was saying.
"Maybe you should trim your coat bro, worked wonders for me!" He shouted back, and I recoiled. Rather than continue to get incoherent replies I meandered away, casting him a furrowed brow expression as I continued down the hallway.
I was beginning to get annoyed. Something of a headache had begun to form in my skull, the volume, smell and disorientation all culminating into a migraine inducing fruit shake. As I neared the dining room, another loud noise joined alongside the music. A deep, bombastic, eye rolling dulcet. Maple. I hurried my steps to the dining hall, the enormous room apt for an enormous colt. As I approached the dining room, ponies were filtering in sparsely, muttering and drinking. I joined in what essentially was a queue to get inside, trying to make out what exactly was being said over the myriad of voices chatting over one another in the line. I shifted uncomfortably as the line continued, trying my best to look inconspicuous and small.
When I finally trickled inside, the organised line was incredibly out of place. The dining hall, a place that was borderline revered by the Oakly family, was now a zoo. I looked around with raised brows. He didn't even bother to reorganise anything, the dining table was now being used as a combination dance floor and buffet. It was loud, and smelt sweet. I took a few steps, making way for others who entered, who immediately galloped off somewhere in the room; smiling and laughing all the way. I paused, simply basking in it all. It was like watching a train collision happening in slow motion, I just couldn't bring myself to look away. Despite the duration of the party, I was impressed by how much they managed to destroy. There were shards of plate and glass scattered around, some paintings face down on the door, being used as makeshift dance mats. This was the heart of the party all right, the epicenter of the 'explosion' that had been slowly expanding outward, catching any and all in it. I wonder how many outside even knew whose house this was?
My eyes were immediately drawn to the back of the room, and I had to double take. Dozens of caskets piled up in an elaborate set up, looking almost like a pyramid with no tip, that being because there was something deeply disturbing at its top. A throne, simple yet grotesquely aggrandizing, likely fetched from an attic or something. And seated within it, on a plush purple cushion, and a golden drinking on his hat was...
"Hello party ponies!" Maple boomed, his voice possessing the amazing ability to surpass even the music. He attracted several eyes from the dense collective of partying colts and fillies, but many of the others continued to drink and talk amongst themselves. "It is I! Canterlot's, nay, Equestria's first and only king! Maple Oakly, the party king of Equestria!"
"Oh Celestia no," I cringed, although I saw that a good portion of the room had their attention on him, their lips turned into grins.
"So bow! Bow you shits! Hahaha!" He guffawed in a manner I could only call hysterical. For some reason, which I could only attribute to their drunkenness, laughed; a few playfully complying. "We're gonna party so hard that Canterlot will fall from this fucking mountain!" At that statement many of the gathered cheered, wooing and laughing. The hall had reduced in volume somewhat, and somepony somewhere had lowered the music. "Now quieten down, quieten down, your king demands it!"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh brother," I muttered... but furrowed my eyebrows when the room, and maybe even the entire mansion, went deathly quiet. The music had been switched off, and ponies all around me looked upon Maple, smiling but silent.
"Par-ty," he began an orotund call, hitting the casket beside him twice, one for each syllable.
What?
"Party. Party. Party," he began to chant, increasing in volume with each utterance, and a hundred voices ebbed along into chanting with him. I looked around bemused, ponies clopping their hooves on the table and floor, looking around impassioned by Maple's theatrics. I soon heard the chant pass behind me, and when I craned my neck over my shoulders I saw others had taken a place at the door, echoing the chant of their fat blue 'king'. The chant was carried along throughout the rest of the estate I'm sure. It grew to such a volume I was actually impressed that Maple of all ponies was able to... inspire something within them. He roused them into a true partying gusto, and I at the height he whacked his hoof down on a casket's spigot, smashing it off and allowing a trickle of clear apple cider to fall from the barrel. Unsurprisingly, this was met with thunderous applause, and the chanting was replaced by cheers. "Drink until your livers rot, and dance until your hooves fall off!" He encouraged, cackling...
They cheered, and went about just doing that. Gaps between ponies disappeared as the music blared back to life, mares and colts taking to grinding and dancing with one another in a thick dense crowd. Of course some remained on the table, some just needing to dance it seems. It was almost as if Maple had somehow caught them in a spell of some sort, but I know better. They were all just teens, horny, and drunk... if I were somepony else this would be absolute heaven wouldn't it?
I now had to somehow navigate through a practical legion of even more energized dancers. The lighting dimmed to near complete darkness, and the unicorns in the room lit up their horns to make up for that, creating a myriad of swaying and bobbing bright lights. It was near dizzying, some had taken to flashing them on and off to create a stupefying display. As I pushed my way through, my face creased into a grimace. I would occasionally feel a drop of liquid land on my coat from a nearby partier. I think it's cider... Celestia, I hope it was just cider.
Reaching Maple's 'throne' seemed to take forever. Ponies somehow managed to squeeze their bodies even close together as they danced, making passing through them even more arduous than it was before. A few mares pressed against me, and I could only reply with a half-hearted grin as I continued on. At the base of the casket construction, I looked up to see a colt who was obviously very proud of himself, his smugness somehow more pungent than any other smell in the room.
"Maple!" I barked, struggling to even hear my own voice.
His ear flickered, kind of surprising he heard me but I won't knock it. His gaze fell to the base of his own 'monument'. For a split moment he remained locked in his expression of smugness, before his face sagged and his chest puffed out as he exhaled. I tilted my head as he scurried down the steep makeshift steps of his throne, and I backed away when he hit the tiled floor with a heavy landing.
"Come with me," he immediately demanded, raising his voice to be audible. So taken aback by the abruptness of his order that I was momentarily stunted in place, watching as he turned away from me and walked ahead with a quickened step. I blinked and creased my face, following him with a tilted head.
"No 'Hi Silver' or 'nice that you made it?'" I asked, catching up to walk beside him.
"Huh?" He looked at me lopsided, and I rolled my eyes.
"Nothing," I sighed, following his short stride. There was something weird going on... why the hell am I even following him anyway? I can't even say I'm curious. Maple doesn't come close to what I'd call an 'enigma', but I suppose if he was willing to leave the spotlight for a moment to lead me off somewhere it must be worth something. There's also the whole fact he's my friend, so I wouldn't say I didn't trust him not to lead off to private place to kill or lynch me.
Towards the right side of the hall we took a left, bending away from the dense tide of dancing partying ponies and through a pair of knobless doors. Leading the kitchen and pantry most likely, and I'm surprised even an inch of this mansion lacks a guest standing on it; even more surprising than Maple shrugging off the stroking of his ego, even if it was only a few minutes. Entering the room the doors effectively rendered the uproar into a muffled orchestra behind the thick wood, and Maple hurried ahead, standing on his hind hooves to reach something on the counter.
"You didn't lead me in here just for food did you?" I asked, and whilst I was joking, I teetered off. This was Maple after all.
He dropped from the counter and spun around, and threw a thick looking iron key at my hooves. "Here. Take this, third floor, first door to your right."
"Wait, what?" I furrowed my brows, looking between the key at my hooves (which I felt reluctant to pick up. Although if I did, alcohol does make a decent disinfectant I suppose) and Maple's neutral expression; his pursed lips however were telling of... something, I think.
"Ok, dude, first off: thanks for coming," he said with wide eyes and a tilted smile, highly deriding, but nonetheless appreciated. "Secondly: I don't know what weird shit you've been doing in your own time, and at another time I might have asked, but I don't have enough time. I can only a singular nice," he said with a curled lip, nodding his head. "As well as one ew, since I don't have nearly enough time to offer some kind of fucking expository spew of words on how bat-guard shit insane this entire thing is. So... good luck!" He ended by patting me on the shoulder and brushing past me, leaving me confused and exasperated.
"W-what?!" I stuttered out after he had already left me alone in the kitchen, turning to look at the doors, my expression locked into one of bafflement. He knew? No, he couldn't possibly know... Oh, he would. Of course he fucking would.
I wrinkled my nose, shaking off a lime green piece of confetti off my nose, looking disdainfully over my shoulder; glad to have left the 'party floor', a title oddly enough anointed to the floor in the past hour and wasn't given the first floor weirdly enough. The taste of the key in my mouth must have made me develop a ire toward all things metal, I wonder what Father will think? Ugh, I need to get the taste out of my mouth. I have no mouthwash and I must rinse.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I noted the darkness. Aside from a fluttering curtain at the back, in which light from Luna's rock shone through, it was entirely drowning in dark. I'm surprised Maple's party hadn't flooded this floor too, although knowing him, there remains the possibility this is still all a prank. Did I fail to call a bluff of his, or did he genuinely know and alerted to the entire party to my activities to gather them all and kink shame me? Who knows, maybe. But still, in for a penny, in for a pound... what the hell is a penny anyway?
I craned my neck to an unassuming door, the light wood taking on a purple hue in the light, and due to the sparsity of the floor, I wonder why he bothered to keep it locked at all. I shoved in the key, turning sideways to the door, and turned it with my hooves; hearing a somewhat satisfying click on doing so. It's an odd thing to think about, but I hardly recall hearing the noise of locking and unlocking doors. Security was very lax I suppose, but why did Maple need to keep an empty room locked? Question for later. I think I'm just rambling to myself by this point. Distracting myself from the glaring truth. It's obvious why I was sent here. Maple knows, almost for certain, and there is only two ponies in the entire city that could have told hi- oh shit, I forgot about Gem.! Aw crap, would she have told Maple just to fuck with me? Hopefully not.
I pushed the door open without a creak, doubtless a lot of money brought well oiled hinges. The room itself was somewhat more welcoming than the hallway, the large windows toward the back of the room allowed the bright lights from the garden to shine in, illuminating the room faintly in a motley bundle of colors. I stepped inside, and my eyes skittered around the room. It was undoubtedly for guests, the furniture scarce but ornament aplenty; wealth liberally splattered around the room in a garish display of opulence. I'm sure Mother would love it here. What attracted most of my attention oddly was the excessively large bed at the opposite side of the room. I sort of wanted to jump on it, and another part of me felt like I needed a lie down... I really need to lie down.
I opened my eyes, lacking any kind of grog. I could still hear the party raging downstairs, but it was a more subtle noise that stirred me. The sound of the door being pushed open quickly caused the gust of wind, and I barely picked it up. I propped myself up off my stomach slightly, ready to apologize to the party guest that accidentally wandered in, but I froze. A single black silhouette stood just on the other side of the door frame, features impossible to make out in the dark shroud they wore. I leaned forward slightly, squinting to make anything out, but recoiled when they began to make their way forward. The silhouette continued walking forward, and just short of the light, they broke and diverged into two as they walked into the light.
"Oh," my voice was quiet.
"Hey Silver. Long time no see," Blossom greeted, flashing me a closed lip smile before looking to the colt to her adjacent side.
"H-hi, Silver," Synary said, looking between Blossom and I with skittishness.
"I, uh... I don't know what to say," I looked between the two of them, for some reason finding the lack of rage on their expressions disconcerting. Mostly though, the awkwardness was so thick in the air I could taste it on my tongue.
"How about 'hello'," Blossom offered, smirking, although her brows remained furrowed and her lips pursed.
"H-hello," I parroted, my mouth kept parting to say something, but as soon as I did I forgot the words. I looked between them, their neutral expressions betrayed a tinge of something. It was subtle, a small crease between the brows of the slight tilt of their heads. "W-what should I say next?"
Blossom chortled, sitting on her haunches. "I don't know. This entire thing was a pain in the flank to arrange. Now that we're all here though... "
"You arranged all this?" I asked, arching a brow and curling a lip.
"You think Maple managed to get enough acclaim to get a guestlist this big? By Luna's flank no!" Blossom exclaimed, exhaling through her nostrils sharply. "Although he has fit into the role rather snugly. But I can't take all the credit. Synary was surprisingly good with the fillies."
"I don't want to talk about it," Synary stated with averted eyes, and even in the darkened room I could see the tinge of red on his cheeks.
"Most of the mares at school like hard to get. One word from moi about my interest in him, it suddenly turned into a competition. 'Who could seduce the new cute colt on campus?' Of course none of them knew what I knew," she looked at the colt in question to her side, giving him a lopsided grin.
"They don't have what I like," Synary smiled a small feeble smile, and Blossom snorted.
"Was that your attempt to be brash?" Blossom sounded bemused, throwing a toothy smile at the colt.
"N-no," Synary replied, blushing.
"I'm glad I'm having an influence on you."
"Wait," I interjected, looking at Blossom with furrowed brows, "why didn't you just come to my house to do all of this?"
"Well, on the risk of sounding malicious: to corner you," Blossom shrugged, and I blinked. "Privacy too. There is a reason me and Synary are here... together."
"What?" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "This just seems unreal. Why aren't you mad at me?"
"Mad at what?" Blossom began, trailing over the bed I was sitting on top of, Synary following. "Mad at a colt I only knew for a week, who just so happened to be dating another pony alongside me? Psh, yeah, it's not like that's never happened in the history of pony kind ever. Tartarus, Silver! We didn't even call each other marefriend and coltfriend."
"A-and you Synary?" I asked the colt just as he climbed on the bed, lying adjacent to Blossom.
Synary pressed his lips together, looking down at his own hooves and then Blossom, before landing his eyes on me. "N-no. I'm just happy to have met you, even as... weird as it all was. You made my first week at school one of the best weeks of my life so far. B-but Blossom is right."
"About what?" I asked them, and the duo shared glances.
"We have to be blunt here," Blossom began, and I kept an intent eye on her hoof as she placed it on my left hind leg, looking between it and her with one arched brow. "Silver. Do you love us?"
"W-what, well, uh..." Nice going shit for brains, now you look like a complete idi-
"We don't love you."
"...Huh." It was strange really. I mean, just hearing it out loud sort of hurt, but that sting was overwhelmingly overshadowed by relief; additionally the feeling of a weight dropping off of my shoulders. I sagged. I didn't even know I was tense.
"You don't love either of us too, do you?" Blossom asked, and I looked at her.
"I... no. B-but I do like you both, care, even!" I added, much to Blossom's apparent amusement.
"I know. We know," she patted my leg, smiling, and there was a trace of something I'd call tenderness in her voice. At the sight, I felt my chest grow warmer, a sensation that I didn't realize until now that I missed.
"But what do we do then. I mean, I like you both. It's not fair to, you know, choose," I flashed a half smile, the memories of that afternoon in the classroom flashing in my head.
"Who said you had to choose?" Blossom shrugged, prompting both me and Synary to look at her with furrowed brows. "We're all young, with our futures way ahead of us. So let's have fun! More the merrier right? I was taught to share growing up, I don't know about you guys."
I looked with eye as wide as saucers between the colt and filly on my bed, Synary in particular chewed his bottom lip, his cheeks reddening before he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "I was taught to share..."
"Wait, wait, wait," I gushed, looking between them both with brows so low they threatened obscure my vision, "you're not considering what I think you're considering, right?"
"Sure! Why not? We're all young, so we can afford to get a little crazy. Right, Synary?" She posed the question to the colt next to her, whose lips turned into a small smile as he nodded.
I released a nervous croak from my throat. "I still find this is hard to believe is even happening. This is almost too good to be true, you must admit that right? I'm not worth this."
"Y-you are," Synary interjected, shuffling a few inches forward on the bed. "You're kind, you listen, y-you care."
"Synary..." I replied softly, his averted gaze making me feel weary.
"Silver," Blossom began, my name dancing to my ears delicately, and I couldn't help but look at her. "This is something we can all share. We enjoy each other's company, we make each other laugh, and... just feel warm inside. Me and Synary are friends, but what we had with you was more intimate. Neither of us want to lose that just because of stupid things like a 'couple' being just two. Let's try being a couple in a three."
"Right," I replied, giving a few quiet chuckles. "Ok. Let's give this a shot. Like Blossom said: 'why the hell not', right?"
"That's the spirit!" Blossom cheered.
"Y-yeah," Synary's voice was subdued, but I smiled at his quiet cheer.
We all were wearing smiles. Looking at each other, our happy brand new polyamorous triangle... although if Synary didn't like mares, I suppose that'd make it a three dotted line, with me in the middle. Aside from making me feel a tad greedy, I'm also actually kind of excited. "So... now what?"
"We could celebrate,"
"What did you have in mind?"
Blossom looked to the corners of her eyes, and chewed the inside of her cheek, scrunching up her face before looking at me with slightly squinted eyes. "I just realized we never kissed."
"What? I've never kissed you?" Sure I ha- oh fuck, I haven't.
"Y-yeah,me too," added Synary, sounding almost too afraid to admit it.
"After everything we've done together it's actually kind of embarrassing," I muttered, conceding to the undeniable truth that I was kissless, and a virgin funnily enough all things considered. "That presents a problem though."
"Yes?" Blossom acknowledged with a tilt of her head.
"Who gets to be my, you know, first?" I spoke with fret, cringing.
"You've never been kissed?" Synary for some reason seemed particularly surprised by that fact.
"No. Have you?"
Instead of a prompt reply, he looked down at the sheets, cheeks still as red as they were before. "No."
"How about you?" I asked Blossom, who as soon as the words left my mouth tightened her lips, arching a brow and looking off to the side.
"Huh," she muttered, looking at Synary and then me with a ponderous expression, "no."
"You're surprised by that?"
"Aren't you?"
Me and Synary shared a look. "...Yes."
"Daddy calls me the 'blueprint' to a real mare. Apparently scaring away every colt I became even remotely friends with, thus leaving his daughter a kissless eighteen year old is worthy of acclaim," she sneered at nopony in particular, but her features softened, looking at me and Synary with smile. "Jokes on him. Now I've got a coltfriend and a colt-friend."
"And your colt-friend is also coltfriend to your coltfriend," Synary... quipped? Hard to be sure, but it did make Blossom giggle, which is always a delight to the ears. And to be honest to myself, being called somepony's 'coltfriend', and without me being the one to actually declare it is actually quite exhilarating.
"So... " I paused, pressing together my lips, looking at my partners with an awkward smile. "How do we decide... coinflip?"
"I've got a better idea," Blossom proposed with a toothy half smile, something more befitting of a rogue, and I arched a brow. "Close your eyes."
"You're not going to try and steal a kiss are you?" I jested, smirking.
"Of course not! Who do you take me for? I'd never do that," she chided me, although she continued to wear that smile, so I couldn't help but keep wearing mine. "Besides, if I did, I reckon Synary would steal something far more valuable right out from underneath me."
"What would that be?" Synary questioned her, and I squinted my eyes as she leant close to his ear, whispering into his ear. I didn't know what was being said, but going off of Synary's tomato shaded face and teeth gripped lip, I'm assuming it was something intimate. "A-ah."
"What'd she say?" I asked, looking at Blossom with a tilted expression.
"N-nothing," he replied promptly, his tail flicked.
"Close your eyes," Blossom interceded, leaning her head a few inches forward, "please."
"Fine-" I conceded, closing my eyes, both of them disappearing "-but don't do anything weird."
With my eyes trapped shut, I listened intently. Despite how close they were I heard nothing from them, just the muted sounds of the party from beyond the closed door and outside the windows. I then felt something, a subtle little feeling on my fur at the edges of my lips. Little breaths, little exhales. I was crack open an eye, but I resisted, clasping them shut even more tightly. The longer I waited, the more I began to hear little thump in my own head, and felt tightening around my chest. Why did I feel my heart threaten to beat out of my chest, the pounding muscle so loud I could hear it in my skull... Oh, something is pressing against my lips. It was a contrast of warm presses, one softer, the other firmer. I was paralyzed, not with fear or shock, I just... was. Slowly as she goes, I began to part open my eyes, and as more of the sight before me came into view, my brows lowered into a furrow.
Cheek to cheek, pressing their muzzles unto my own side by side were Blossom and Synary. Their puckered lips were pressed against mine, and after that realization, I was tempted to pull away to laugh at the surrealist nature of it. My first kiss was with two. How many ponies could proclaim that? In other words - awesome. How long could I say like this before it became awkward? They're already looking around with their eyes, so maybe it already hit them how odd this actually is... I'll take the initiative.
I pulled away, looking between their neutral expressions with unmoving features. "So..."
"Yeah," said Synary, who flushed cheeks and small smile was quite the contrast Blossom and myself, whose faces were rather neutral.
"Cool," said Blossom, her cheeks pulling back into a closed lip smile.
"So that was our collective first kisses, so that's pretty..." Wow, I'm ass. This was supposed to be special, isn't this occasion usually marked by celebration or something?
"Not as hot as I thought it'd be," Blossom shrugged, looking at me with a pursed frown, "I thought we were gonna escalate to sex."
"W-what?" I stuttered. She's so forward, isn't she? I don't why I keep forgetting that fact.
"Hey, we've only done one thing in a long list of 'firsts' between us three, so why not cross another thing off?" Her tone was so matter-of-fact, and despite the simplicity of her logic, I found myself not laughing. "Besides, we've escalated on less. How many dates have you had between the three of us all combined. Three? That the normal amount before-"
"Yes, yes, I know," I interrupted, "it just seems kind of... sudden."
Blossom frowned, looking to Synary (whose eyes shifted between her and myself), before looking back at me. "We could just make out until we're all horny."
I looked deadpan at Blossom, whose smile was a mere tug at the corner of her lip, and dare I say she looked smug? Well, she had every right to be, to be entirely honest. "Okay..."
Instead of a reply, she smirked, looking at the colt next to her and nodding to him. I was intrigued, and admittedly there lingered a thought at the back of my head this was all leading up to a climax that would leave satisfied and me hung upside down to be laughed at. I didn't say a word as Synary timidly sat to my side, the contact of our sides prompting him to release a breath he had definitely been holding in since Blossom wordlessly instructed him; she mirrored him, pressing into my other side, leaving me in a sandwich where I was my own filling.
"Ok, so there's two of us, so be sure to give us each a turn."
"I-it's okay, if you want to kiss Blossom more, you can..."
"No, no, no, Synary. You know what, I got to date him first, it's only fair you get him for longer."
"Exactly! He's known you for longer, you deserve to have him longer."
"Exactly to you too! I've known him longer, you should have him to yourself for a few min-"
"Hey, hey, I'm right here!" I interrupted, looking at both of their wide eyed expressions with creased brows. "How about instead of just timing and planning this, we just, I don't know... dive right in?"
"Sure," Blossom agreed, smirking.
"Y-yeah, what she said," followed Synary, whose cheeks had predictably gone red again.
"Okay, great, let's start the 'making of out'," I announced, looking between them with a large smile and...
Nothing.
"Alright, how do we start this? I lean into Synary or do I-"
"C'mere!"
Blossom hooked a hoof around my head and brought my muzzle to hers, my eyes barely having time to go wide before her tongue wormed past my lips and into my mouth, squeezing through the gap between my teeth to wrestle with mine. I felt my eyes fall close when she placed a hoof against my cheek, tilting her head, her tongue going deeper down my mouth. Her tongue battled a very one sided fight with mine, circling and twirling in my mouth. I couldn't help but release a moan into her throat, and I heard her make one too. I could taste apples on her teeth, likelihood she partook in the cider here. She pulled away, and I was left panting, a string of spittle between my lips.
"Why'd you stop?"
"Aren't you forgetting somepony?" She giggled, and I went wide eyed.
I turned my head to Synary, who held his bottom lip between his teeth, cheeks red. "Is it my turn?"
"Y-yeah," I replied, gulping.
I had to lean toward him, as he seemed too afraid to meet me halfway. I parted my lips as I neared his muzzle, and he slowly parted his. I felt his breath on my lips before I connected them, his teeth already parted to accept my tongue. His tongue met mine, and encircled one another in a sort of dance, a slimy and wet tango. I mimicked Blossom, stroking his cheek, and tasted him. Mint. It was nice actually. I sucked on his tongue, and we moaned into each other's mouths. I kept getting lost in the moment, but I retained enough of myself to remember her.
I parted from Synary, leaning toward Blossom, our lips colliding as she mashed hers against mine. I was too in the moment to care, just reciprocating her tongue's request for entry. After repeating the steps, our tongues writhing over each other, her body began to press closer to my own. I could feel her warmth mix with my own, but despite the combining of my and her heat, it still felt cold. I parted from the kiss, surprised to hear her whimper, and I turned back to Synary. He finally appeared to unshackle himself of his shyness, and he met my lips before I had a chance to close the gap, moaning as our tongues touched.
I made out with Synary, broke our kiss, and then made out with Blossom. Their saliva mixed in my mouth like the world's most erotic milkshake, and left my mouth tasting bizarrely of some flavor of ice cream. Beneath me, I felt my cock engorge, becoming thick as it left its sheath. I spreaded my hind legs and rose up slightly as my meat dangled beneath me, throbbing in eager anticipation of what was surely to follow this. At some point they maneuvered onto their sides, and whoever I wasn't kissing had their mouth on me in some fashion, either suckling my nape or licking the sweat off my coat. Disgusting in any other context, I'm well aware, but their hungry lust made my cock leak pre beneath me.
A while after, I felt something fleshy and hard press into my side. Synary's cock. He was ready, for, well whatever was to come next. His little thrusts were more akin to a grind, but I could tell he was attempting to show restraint. Blossom meanwhile, evacuated her touch from my body, and snaked them down below. I whimpered into Synary's next kiss as my dick became almost painfully hard, desperate for their touch, or something more...
"I-I think we're ready," I declared, my voice shaking, out of breath.
"We're all gonna pop our cherries at the same time, right?" Blossom asked, and for a second, I stopped thinking about pleasuring my penis... ironic really.
"How?"
"Easy."
Synary's breath on the back of my neck sent tingles all down my spine, and Blossom's cunt exuded a warmth I could feel on the tip of my twitching rod. We all laid on our sides, hooves wrapped around each other, spooning. Over my shoulder, Synary pressed his erect dick against my backdoor. Admittedly, I'm a tad anxious about taking something back there, but if the stallions in father's magazine could find something pleasurable about so can I. Meanwhile with Blossom, my cock pressed against the puffy lips of her slit, a mere inch away from submerging my stallionhood into her sex. The anticipation was excruciating.
"Ok, both of you guys, at the same time okay?"
"Right."
"Y-yes."
"Okay, when I say 'zero', go," Blossom informed, and we grunted in compliance. "Alright. Three... Two... One... Zero!" ...
Oh sweet, Celestia I held my moan in my throat, trying to process all the feelings at once. The tight, moist, warm twat I had penetrated only an inch was truly the peak of all my pleasure thus far. Yet, Synary proved overzealous in his initial thrust, and several inches of his cock entered within me and bumped into something truly special. I didn't know which of the two was better, but all I knew was that pleasure had rendered me paralyzed. Synary's head pressed into the back of my neck, and I heard him release something akin to a yelp, and he pulled back his twitching cock slightly; the girthsome shaft throbbing within me made me feel strangely content, and full. Blossom's pussy clenched around what little of my dick was within her, the virgin cunt was hungry, and it was almost as if she attempted to swallow more of my shaft with only her honeypot. Out of the three of us she was the first to do anything, looking over her shoulder to lock lips with me, another inch of me embedding within her. If it were not for the initial shock of it all, I probably would have thrust my entire length within her.
"S-stop, please. Both of you," I requested, my jaw locked tight.
"W-what? Am I hurting you?" Synary asked in concern.
"What's the matter, Silver?" Blossom pulled away from me, her slight bodily movements causing me to seize up.
"J-just wait a minute."
"Why?" Blossom asked, her brow arched.
"I'm right on the edge," I admitted, giving her a meek smile.
"Y-yeah, me too, actually."
"How? We just started."
"Virgin," me and Synary said in unison, straight faced.
"Ah, right..." she paused, before giggling, prompting me to inhale through my teeth. "Right, right, sorry."
"We're not virgins anymore," I stated, grinning awkwardly.
After several minutes, which was passed with small talk (as our attempts at dirty talk rendered Blossom in a fit of laughter, and Synary catatonic.), we continued. I slowly filled more of Blossom's velvet canal, her long drawn out moan followed the pushing of my hips. I felt her walls spread apart as more of my cock filled her, the tight hole clenching around my shaft. Meanwhile, I felt Synary pull several inches of his member out of me, the thick underside of his cock brushed against my prostate, and I groaned into Blossom's neck.
I couldn't pull out of Blossom whilst Synary was hilted within me, and soon we adopted a rhythm. He left me, and then I left Blossom, and when Synary slammed back inside I plunged back into Blossom's folds. Blossom was the loudest of us, me and Synary grunted behind closed lips. I don't know about Synary, but being a teenage colt heavy with hormones, I had to give it to myself whenever I could... even with my parents in the next room. Being quiet was a necessity. So I guess now it was just force of habit.
As our pleasure increased, as did the speed of our thrusts, and the volume of our moans and groans. Synary, probably without even thinking, wrapped his hooves around my stomach; his hips colliding with my flank with increased speed and force. He was soft at mostly everything else, but here and now, he was thrusts were like punches. Fitting actually, considering my grunts. Blossom was a whole beast. She turned at some point to face me, and try as I might, when I pulled out to thrust back in she plunged down my shaft to the hilt; moaning into my mouth as we kissed.
At some point, I felt something swell within me. Synary huffed and panted into the back of my neck, not as much of his erection left my tight hole, but his thrusts were faster and harder than before. I found it harder to fuck Blossom due to the barrier of Synary, but she could do better job of fucking than I could. Under my arm and wrapped around my shoulder, she pulled herself up and down my cock, which was slick with her own honey from her pot. In the good sort of way, I was essentially being used by this point to fulfill both of their lusts. Not that I minded. I was being plenty filled by Synary, and I gained exquisite pleasure from filling Blossom.
Synary's grip tightened, and as I broke from Blossom's lips to look over my shoulder, he was quick to lock his lips with mine. I felt his thrusts stop, and his body went still, but his appendage certainly did not. I physically felt the tip swell within me, and a new warmness filled me. His meat swelled, and with every throb I knew what was filling me. As his meat hose pumped his cum, Blossom still kept pumping my cock out of her sex, her walls seeming to milk my entire length as she did so. She, alike Synary, wrapped her hooves tightly around me; coiling next to Synary's.
I was close to climax. I wouldn't call Blossom a psychic, but she appeared to know this... or she was close too, and was just impatient. She used her grip on me to effectively ride my cock, despite being lain on our sides. It was still during Synary's afterglow that she hilted me inside of her, my tip hitting a barrier of sorts at the back of her pussy, and she practically cried; throwing her back her head and tightening her grip around me as her love canal spasmed around my shaft. Finally, it was her subtle presses around my rod that tipped me over the edge. I felt my stallionhood flare, spreading her walls despite how tightly she held me, and unload my seed into her wet cunt. It was the strongest orgasm I ever had, firing loads of ropes, my erection becoming stained with a lewd concoction of cum and her twat's nectar. The next few minutes were silent apart from our breaths, which steadily died down after a while, but they both remained close enough to me that I felt their exhales on my neck and face. Even longer passed, and a profound realization hit me. My ass felt full, both with Synary's dick and his seed, and my cock felt sticky. I could feel their sweat on my chest and back, and there was a distinct smell in the air...
"I know what we just had was amazing and all that. But geez, cleaning up is going to be a pain in the ass. Why did no one ever tell me about this part of sex?"
"Because it'd ruin the mood," Blossom shrugged, cozening up close to me.
"Yeah, well, let's hope this room has an adjoining shower. Or else we'll be leaving two trails of cum behind us and reek of sweat when we leave," I griped.
"We probably could. I don't expect anypony is going be awake in the morning. You've seen the state of this party," she curled her lip, looking into the corners of her eyes, as if in thought.
"W-we're not going to actually do that, right?" Synary asked, worry clear in his voice, although I did feel him press his chest into my back; his muzzle on my neck.
"No. She just likes the attention, or at least the threat of attention. Isn't that right, Blossom?" I asked knowingly, grinning at her.
"I'm not even going to pretend to deny it," she shook her head, baring teeth in a half smile.
"See?" I glanced at Synary.
"D-doesn't that make you a bit of a hypocrite?" Synary jutted with a reluctant tone.
"W-what?" I stuttered, looking down at Synary as he rested his head on my shoulder.
"T-that night in the park. That was kinda risky..." he trailed off, and despite how bashful his tone sounded, a suspected
"That's different! I wasn't doing it because I enjoyed it!"
"You sounded like you did..."
"Y-yeah, I mean, I was. But..."
"Well, he's got you there, Silver," Blossom chortled.
"You both teaming up on me?!" I exclaimed in pseudo shock, grinning.
"Nothing wrong with friendly fire," Blossom replied coolly, and I saw her share a smile with Synary.
"Yes! Yes there is! It's a grievous offence!"
"Be outraged later when you're not in me, and he's not in you," she finished softly, closing her eyes as she pressed her head under my chin.
"Fine," I smirked, sighing with a smile.
I planted a kiss atop Blossom's head, and she reciprocated with an approving hum. Synary, whose angle made such a thing difficult, I simply wrapped my hoof around him and gave a tender squeeze. I did the same with Blossom, and pulled her closer to me. Their bodies were warm, and I might have been too hot, but I didn't care. As cheesy as it sounds, the distant noise of the party seemed to fade out, and all I could hear was their breathing. I almost want to... nevermind. This moment, just here, with them. It was...
It was nice. |
Am I Confused? | Epilogue: Breakfast | What do you call a three pony relationship? Instead of a couple is it just called a 'trio' instead or is it something more simple, like... a sandwich? I was in the middle of the threesome, so I suppose that's accurate to some degree. Early in the morning, we all left the mansion, which had its flooring apparently replaced with drunk sleeping ponies; an architectural miracle if I ever saw one. There was a spring in all of our steps, even Synary was more candid than usual, openly smiling without an averted gaze. The streets were mostly empty. Everypony was still asleep, either due to it being the early hours of the morning or that they simply couldn't sleep at night due to the sheer volume of the party and were making up for lost hours. It was a blessing in a way. We all reeked of our shared bodies and fluids, which thankfully wouldn't look so out of place when the rest of the party goers wake up and walk the streets themselves. We'd fit right in. Our direction was largely aimless. I didn't want to go home and neither did they. If their reasons were the same as mine, then it'd be because I wanted to stay with them even longer, and they wanted to be with me, with each other. One big happy sandwich.
We kept together, occasionally they'd brush up against me affectionately and I would do the same to them. I'm gonna have to get used to this, aren't I? I don't even fully know what this is, to be frank. Sometimes we'd glance to each other, beaming with a brightness to match Celestia's rising sun, but most of the time it was just silence, the only sound being our hoofsteps on the stone. I didn't want to say anything, mostly because I didn't know what to say. Yet, it wasn't awkward, just walking and saying nothing. We were apparently just content to occasionally let the other pony know we were happy with a smile and left it at that. It was around Summer Avenue Way when a loud noise erupted from Synary, a lion-like roar from his grumbling stomach.
"Somepony's hungry," remarked Blossom wryly, smirking.
"Y-yeah," Synary confirmed, blushing. "I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon."
"You serious?" I exclaimed with a scoff. "You've been on an empty stomach for nearly an entire day?"
"W-well we planned this whole thing in advance and I didn't want to get nervous a-and-"
"Know of any places to get breakfast, Blossom?" I asked with a chuckle, interrupting the colt's flustered tirade. "I'm sure some breakfast would be an excellent start to the day."
"Besides waking up after stuffing holes and getting holes stuffed?" Blossom quipped with near recoiling vulgarity.
"I can't believe you just said that," I said with mock offence, laughing. "You'll turn Synary into a tomato."
She laughed, and upon glancing at Synary, he was indeed reddening; although he did wear a smile. "Actually, I do fancy some tomatoes. Maybe some melted cheese on top of some grilled ones."
"Sounds good," Blossom curled her lip and shook her head. "I'm actually in the mood for some toast."
"You. Toast? Ms 'clafoutis' and jam on crumpets?" I retorted with a chuckle.
"I believe that was your order, Silver."
"My order wasn't even a word in my vocabulary before you said it," I replied, smiling. "But it was nice."
"Not as nice as the other treat you had," she said slyly, prompting my cheeks to fire up. "Although that being said, mine was just as good."
"What was it?" asked Synary, curious.
"A white creamy snack. A tad salty, but otherwise? Delectable. Shame I got most of it on the floor..." she spoke with a deliberate hinge on certain words, and made my cum sound like a connoisseur's dish.
I looked at Synary with pursed lips. He looked between me and Blossom with furrowed brows, before his eyes parted wide. "Oh... oh!" his white coat became a shade of red. "Y-you did that in public?"
"Eeyep!" she replied chipper.
"M-me too."
"Shut. Up!" she giggled, looking at him and then me with disbelief. "Seriously. Where?"
"T-the park," Synary stuttered, and it may have been a trick of my ears, but I think he sounded proud.
"The park! So clearly out in the open? Kudos, kudos," she praised. "Maybe we should go to the park now. You know, to even the score?"
"Woah, woah," I interceded, a nervous chuckle coming from my lips. "As much as I'd like that, maybe we shouldn't have strenuous sexual activity on an empty stomach?"
"We could think of it as an endurance battle. See how long we can each last..." she mused with a smirk, and I looked at her wide eyed, unsure of if she's serious... oh, who am I kidding? She was dead serious. "But breakfast, now that you mention it, sounds splendid. And I know just the place..."
Was she serious? I mean, I'd say she had balls but I know from personal experience she doesn't have any...
"This place looks nice," Synary remarked, taking the seat closest to the window. "Cozy, too."
"Y-yeah. I've been here before actually..." I remarked, shifting nervously in my seat. I wonder if the waitress who served me was on her shift this morning. "They do good pie."
"That they do," Blossom confirmed, placing her rump firmly on the chair on the adjacent side, grinning. "So... what should we order?"
We all ordered our breakfast from a shifty eyed waitress, who glanced at me with an arched brow before shaking her head. Maybe she thought I was somepony else, or maybe she correctly assumed I was the colt who left the sticky mess on the floor but dismissed that notion since there's no way somepony is so stupid to come back after doing that... clearly, she underestimated my stupidity and willingness to go along with Blossom's schemes.
"Did any of you bring any bits?" I asked, looking between the two of them.
"Uh, no," Synary answered meekly.
"We'll just do what we did last time," Blossom answered coolly, and then I looked at her sideways.
"Does that include you going beneath the table or not?" I spoke slyly, and she looked back with an arched brow.
"Do you want me too? Maybe Synary could jo-"
"No, no," I interrupted, laughing. "My heart couldn't take it. And we're not nearly as inconspicuous this time around."
"You did that here?!" Synary exclaimed in disbelief, suddenly lowering his head down as if to avoid attention. "Why would you come back?"
Blossom shrugged, smiling lopsidedly. "Why not? It's fun. We get found out and make a scene or we go the entire morning undisturbed. It's win-win."
"I fail to see how the former of those two qualify as a 'win', Blossom."
"Well, you see-"
"Here are your orders!" spoke the waitress chipperly, placing each of our plates and cups down with a conciseness afforded by magic, before scribbling something on a piece of paper and placing on the centre of the table - the receipt.
I ordered grilled tomatoes with melted cheese on top, sprinkled with some herbs I didn't know the name of... it smelt delicious. What was I talking about with Blossom again? Bah, who can remember. Synary had an omelette, some parsley sprinkled on top, and he practically glowed when he looked upon it. And true to her word, Blossom's breakfast was particularly spartan, although her beverage was just as complicated as she was. two-thirds caff triple ristretto affogato venti, two pump mango one pump classic, two percent, mango to the second line, three scoops protein, three scoops berries, two scoop matcha, add banana, double blended, with whip, caramel drizzle, salted caramel topping, vanilla bean frappuccino. I mean, that was practically a breakfast on its own. I was surprised however by the lack of annoyance on the server's face... I wish I could afford to tip her honestly.
A minute into eating, I heard Synary smack his lips. "This is nice," he said wistfully, glancing at Blossom and then me.
"Food's good," I agreed, plopping another tomato into my mouth.
"No, I mean... this," he emphasised by gesturing between the three of us. "Just, the three of us, together, you know? It just feels... nice."
"And I thought, Silver was romantic," Blossom retorted with a chuckle, sipping at her drink. "But you're not wrong. I mean, I thought it'd be awkward, but instead..."
"It feels right," I finished, smiling with slightly parted lips.
"No, wait. Yep, still definitely, Silver," she snickered.
"Where do we go from here?" I asked, looking at them both curiously.
"What do you mean?" asked Synary, brow arched.
"I mean, this is the ending, right? We're all together, aren't we? We all kissed, fucked, and are now eating breakfast together the day after. Stories never really go past this point, do they?"
"Well, that'd be the boring part that nopony wants to read, isn't it? Boring rainy days spent inside, sex by the fireplace, which while always exciting for us would be boring to read time and time again; not to mention the cuddling in bed together on those cold winter nights."
"That doesn't sound boring. That sounds like the good part," I remarked
"Yes, and it's just for us three to enjoy."
I like the sound of that. Blossom said the first time I made with love her and Synary, that this is crazy. We can afford to be, we're all young. This isn't a relationship of love, we established that, but when I look between the two of them, their perfect features, their small smiles and mirthful eyes... I can't help but think... I'm a fool. Always have been. I tried pursuing two ponies at once, and in the end, it worked out. What do you even call that? Luck... fate... a prank? Maybe it was just a prank on all ponykind that I was singled out to be just lucky enough to be fated to get with two of the greatest ponies I've ever met. It's too soon to say it's love. It's too soon to say this'll even last a week. But if I can say something for sure, with absolute certainty regarding this entire thing, then it would be...
I am confused. |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | pre | "Sup Thunder Rush, Carrot Top and Derpy!"
"Sup!" Twilight decided to do something fun.
"High hoof!" They all high hoofed. "Derpy, what do you want to do?"
Derpy responded right away with "Bubbles and muffins!" Twilight thought it was odd, but went with it.
"Sure!" Derpy was so happy that she flew up into the air and did a loop de loop, but she lost her balance and fell. "Derpy are you okay?!"
"She`s fine. She`s always like this." Carrot Top said. "Hey! Let`s blow bubbles at my carrot garden! We can make carrot muffins too! I really like carrots."
Thunder Rush nodded in agreement and said "Totally! That`s a great idea!" Carrot Top stood proudly after hearing that. "Let`s go!" Thunder Rush shouted.
"You`re carrot garden is so cool!" Derpy said with eyes filled with wonder. Thunder Rush flew up and dashed to the bubble blowing spot.
"This is the perfect spot! Twilight, you get the bubble soap." Twilight looked at Carrot Top and the look on her face said 'Where is the bubbles?'.
"In the closet. Down the hall and to the left, should be on the third shelf." Twilight skipped off to find the bubbles. Her house is so neat and organized.
"There`s the closet!" She smiled. "Getting bubbles~ Hanging with my friends~!" she sang quietly. She grabbed the bubbles and ran outside. "Hey guys! Got the bubble soap!"
They all hopped up the hill and went to the spot. They blew bubbles while Thunder Rush used her speed and agility to pop the bubbles. She managed to pop every single one! Then, they went inside and played cards while Carrot Top baked the muffins.
"I win!" Twilight shotted. *Ding*
"Muffins are ready!" They all licked their lips and ran in to the kitchen.
"I get one first!" Derpy declared. "MMMMMMM..." they all said. Then they went outside and picked some carrots.
"Goodbye you guys! See you soon!"
"Bye, I have to go see Time Turner and Cloudkicker!"
"Do do do do do~!" Cloudkicker flew fast around the corner straight towards Twilight. "Watch out!" Twilight turns around. She sees someone flying too fast to stop coming right at her. Twilight teleports behind Cloudkicker one second shy of getting hit. Cloudkicker twirls back around, narrowly missing being hit by a bird. She slows down and glides towards Twilight.
"I`m Cloudkicker. Great way to make a first impression right?" She said jokingly.
"You`re Cloudkicker?" She nodded. "I thought that I was supposed to meet you at the beach?"
"Well... yeah, but I kinda, sorta forgot and decided to get in some flying practice. Nopony uses this sidewalk so I figured that this was a good place. I guess it wasn`t a wise choice after all." Though Twilight found her negligence towards plans and people walking annoying, she still liked her. She couldn`t put her hoof on it, but she liked something about her a lot.
She reminds me of a version of me who slacks, but still kinda like me. "Let`s put this behind us and go to the beach. Time Turner is probably worried sick! His cutie mark shows that he`s good at telling time/doing things to do with time and we were late!"
"Well then we should probably run or in my case soar through the skies."
"Hey Time Turner! I`m sorry I`m late! I`m usually so punctual!" Time Turner could tell that she was frazzled and very mad at herself for being late and he felt bad that she would feel this way.
"You look beautiful." Wait! What! I meant to say that it`s okay! Curse my mouth!
"Umm..." Twilight didn`t know how to respond to that.
"I meant to say that it`s okay!" He said it a little louder than he would have hoped, but at least he said what he meant to say.
"Thanks?" Twilight liked that he was so caring and that he felt nervous, she decided to make him feel better about his thoughts getting the best of his mouth. "You`re very handsome."
Twilight hoped this would make him feel good about himself and what he said. Oh my gosh! Does she like me? I like her a lot. Wait! It`s only been a few minutes! I`m getting way to far ahead of myself, but I can`t shake the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. "Let`s go swimming!" he shouted nervously.
"I`m gonna go in first!" Cloudkicker announced. They splashed and swam and dived.
"Let`s go snorkeling and look at the underwater creatures!" suggested Twilight.
"Wow! Look at all these starfish!"
"Check out this coral!"
"Come enjoy these cute, little fish!" They all found awesome things underwater. Once they needed to come back up and take a breath they decided that they should collect seashells and pretty rocks. They each collected a bucket and used them to decorate their sand castles that they had built.
"This was so fun, but I have to go meet Twinkle, Rose and Cherilee."
"See you!"
"Do you want to hear a joke?"
Twilight thought about it and then said "Yes."
Twinkle faced Twilight and said "What part of a pony has the most hair?" Twilight was trying to figure out what the answer was. What part of a pony has the most hair? She calculated and looked at her coat, mane and tail. She couldn`t figure out a scientific answer so she said "I give up."
Twinkle replied with "The outside!" She laughed at herself for not knowing such an easy answer.
"Hey Twinkle, I love your colors! Beautiful off-white coat and a light pink mane!" Twinkle smiled and hugged her.
"So, I hear you like stars. I love stars as you can see." She motioned towards her cutie mark.
"I love stars! What`s your favorite constellation!" Twinkle was so happy that somepony else shared her interest in stars and space.
"I love Puppis!"
"I like Draco!" They both laughed and talked. "Let`s go hang out with Cherilee and Rose now." Twinkle smiled.
"Totally! I think that they`re at the new cafe."
"Wow! This place has some yummy things on the menu!" Rose exclaimed. "They even have a rose on the table! This is the best place ever! Well, other than my rose garden it is." Twilight liked how happy Rose was to be here.
"I love the Rose in your hair!"
"Thank you!" Twilight looked at Cherilee.
"So, do you like making others happy? I`m asking because of your cutie mark or is it that you like flowers?" Cherilee was happy that somepony liked and noticed her cutie mark.
"It symbolizes making others happy by educating them and having them grow and bloom in academics." Twilight was so happy that somepony else liked being smart and teaching others.
"That`s awesome! I love academics and studying! I usually study magic, but I study everything else too. I am really smart." Cherilee felt happy.
"When I grow up I will be a teacher!" Rose suddenly remembered why we were here. To get to know each other and eat!
"What do you guys want to order? The waiter`s coming over!" They all looked quickly at the menu and chose their meals just in time. "I would like the rose salad with fizzy water." said Rose.
"I would like hay fries with a blueberry muffin and a milk." Everyone stared at Cherilee. "I like fries with my muffins okay!" Everyone laughed.
"I would like a sandwich with lettuce and tomatoes and a diet soda please." Twilight said.
Twinkle stated "I want a fruit salad and a some yogurt with some cherry juice." They all talked about stars, academics, flowers and magic for the rest of their meal.
"Would you like desert?" the waiter asked.
"Yes!"
"Chocolate cupcake with strawberry icing!"
"Blueberry cupcake with buttercream frosting!"
"Red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting!"
"Orange cupcake with lemon icing!" They all loved their cupcakes a lot. They paid for the meal with some money they had gotten over the years from holidays. They got it half off because they were fillies!
"Time to go visit Pipsqueak and Lyra! Bye!"
"Pipsqueak, how much do you like pirates?" Pipsqueak holds out his arms as far as they can go to the left and right and says "This much!" Twilight was only a little bit older than him, but she felt the need to baby him.
"Wow! That`s a lot!" Pipsqueak liked that Twilight enjoyed that he was a pirate. Some ponies don`t. "Lyra, how much do you like lyres?" Lyra got super excited.
"Lyres have been around for ages making music. They make people happy and sound great. Stallions use them to get princesses or fillies use them to get princes!" Lyra smiled. "I love lyres so much! Almost as much as I love Bon Bon."
Twilight was taken aback that someone could have a filly/coltfriend at this age. "So you`re dating Bon Bon? You`re too young!"
"It doesn`t matter what age you fall in love in as long as you`re in love." Wow, that`s smart.
"What do you want to do Pipsqueak?"
"Let`s pretend to be pirates and fight bad guys!" Pipsqueak pulled out his sword and said "You two will be my crew! I think I see some zombie and skeleton ponies!" Twilight and Lyra followed Pipsqueak`s lead and fought pretend foes.
"I see a zombie up ahead! We`ll need to kick off its head to kill it!" They kicked and punched and hit them with toy swords. "Ghosts! They`re everywhere! No where is safe! Fight to the death!" Pipsqueak used his sword to kill the bad guys and laughed a pirate laugh when he defeated a mighty foe.
They went exploring and found 'treasure', also known as ice cream at a nearby ice cream parlor. They were nice enough to let them have it for free!
Then, they played tag and freeze tag. Twilight was really good at freeze tag and Lyra didn`t get tagged once in either game! After all that they got tired. "Hey guys! Let`s go to my house where we can play with my toys and I could play the lyre for you!"
"Perfect!" shouted Twilight.
"My toys are in my room. I`ll go get them. I have blocks, toy wagons, dolls, stuffed animals and fake food." While they were waiting Pipsqueak and Twilight chased each other around the house. She nearly tripped over Lyra`s shoes, but Pipsqueak caught her just in time.
"Thanks."
"No problem." Lyra walks back downstairs holding boxes full of toys.
"I`ll put the toys in separate groups and we can switch every few minutes!"
"Great idea!" They played with all the different toys. "My favorites are the blocks." said Twilight.
"Mine are the wagons!" Pipsqueak shouted cheerfully.
"I love the stuffed animals!" Once they put away all of the toys they needed to part ways and do other things.
"Bye you guys! I`m going to hang out with Ruby!"
"Hiya Twilight!"
"Hello Ruby!" Ruby wrapped Twilight in a tight hug.
"What did you think of the other ponies? Did you finally make friends?"
"Yes and they were all very kind and funny."
Ruby smiled at Twilight and said "Did you make any other BFFs or BCFs?" Twilight thought about that and said "I think so. Oh and I think Time Turner may have a crush on me."
"Yeah! A coltfriend and BFFs/BCFs!" Twilight blushed.
"He is not my coltfriend! Can we please change the subject?!" Ruby smirked. Twilight light punched her on the arm.
"Let`s do arts and crafts!"
"Okay!" They went back to Ruby`s house and made arts and crafts. They drew, painted, used clay and even chalk. The two of them laughed and talked. Twilight officially decided that it had been the best day ever. |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | Tell Me All About It / Special Plans | Chapter 14
"Twilight!" "Shining Armor!" they shouted loudly. "Guess what?!"
Twilight looked at him and said "You first." Shining Armor looks really happy!
"I asked out Cadence..."
"And!" Twilight shouted impatiently.
"She said yes!"
"Tell me everything!"
He smiled and said "I sang her a song, then I asked her out and she said yes. After that we kissed and hugged. It was in one word, magical."
"Well, my day was better!" She smirked at him and said "I made 15 friends today. One of them is officially my BFF and another one a crush on me I think." He stood there shocked. She won. Twilight took his shocked expression as a win. "I win! I win~!"
"I met Twinkle, Cloud Kicker, Carrot Top, Rose, Cherilee, Lyra, Thunder Rush, Derpy, Time Turner, Berry Punch, Rumble, Lucky, Octavia, Ruby and Pipsqueak." Shining Armor looked at her sister with a happy smile.
"You made friends and maybe a future coltfriend! I`m so proud of you!" They hugged and cried tears of joy at how fast they could get their lives back together.
"You go see your fillyfriend and I will go see my friends. Go!"
*Knock knock knock* Cadence walks downstairs and opens the door. "Cadence!"
"Shining Armor!" They wrap each other in a tight hug. "What`s up?"
"Twilight made a whole bunch of friends!" Cadence was filled with joy. "
My little Twilight finally got some friends!"
"Cadence, I have something else to tell you." She looked into his big, blue eyes. "Would you like to take a carriage ride with me to our first date?"
"Absolutely!"
"Hey Ruby!" Ruby waved to Twilight.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come to my birthday party."
Twilight thought about it for a second and then said "I would love to. Are the others going?" She nodded. "Thank you Ruby. I`ve never been to a party before." That statement caused Ruby to freeze in her tracks.
"You`ve never been to a party before? What about your own?"
"I`ve never been to or had a party because I never made an effort to make friends so I never had any I could invite and thus they could not invite me." Ruby suddenly felt really bad for Twilight. She ran up to Twilight and hugged her tightly.
"Now you can have a party!" She smiled at how kind Ruby was. "Let`s go hang out the the others."
"That sounds great!"
"...and so I said 'That`s not a lyre you liar'!" Everypony laughed at Lyra`s story.
"Ooh, ooh! Twinkle tell them your joke."
"Okay! What part of a pony has the most hair?" Everypony looked at themselves and shouted out random answers.
"The flank!"
"The forelegs!"
"The belly!" Twinkle and Twilight laughed at how wrong their guesses were.
"Do you wanna say it together?" Twinkle quietly asked Twilight.
"Uh huh." They counted down "3, 2, 1..."
"The outside!" Everypony got mad at themselves for not understanding such an easy riddle. "Don`t worry. I didn`t get it the first time either!" Twilight shouted to make them feel better. Twilight looked through the crowd of her peers and decided that These ponies rock! |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | First Date | Chapter 15
Wear a suit? Don`t wear a suit? Wear a suit? Don`t wear a suit? Uhhg! Tonight is my date with Cadence and I have no idea what I`m supposed to do. If only mom and dad were here.
He thought about his parents and soon found himself crying. Tonight is important. I can`t waste it crying over something I couldn`t of stopped. He got up and walked towards the shower. He shampooed, rinsed, repeated and then got out all of his snarls and then cleaned his coat. He wanted to look perfect.
Once he was done he dried off and started putting in hair product. Should I try a new style for my mane? Nah. He brushed his mane, coat and tail. He smoothed the hair on his cutie mark.
"I think I should wear a suit." He looked through his closet. "No. No. No. No way. Terrible! Maybe. Perfect!" He put on his suit and used a lint remover to clean his suit. He put a rose in his pocket that Twilight`s friend Rose had let him have and sprayed on some cologne. "I`m all ready!"
At the same time...
Should I wear a dress or just regular clothes? Nothing at all? Hmm? What to do?! She showered like usual and then dried off.
"Makeup time!" She put on white, sparkly eyeshadow, blush, light pink lip gloss, mascara and moisturizer. She brushes her hair puts it into her regular style, but with glitter in her hair to make it sparkle and curls in the front.
She wears a light red floral dress with layers. She puts on red heels with pearl heart at the toe. Then, she puts on some vanilla perfume. "I look perfect!"
*Knock knock knock* Cadence rushes to the door, then makes a mental note to calm down a little bit near him. "Hello milady." He bows and then kisses her hoof. He then proceeds to hand her a beautiful bouquet of white tulips and light pink roses. "Only true beauty like you can outshine flowers by more than 100%." Cadence blushed and felt very flattered.
"That was so kind and beautiful."
"You are kind and beautiful." Cadence knew that he was perfect, but this just seals the deal.
"I- I... love you Shining Armor." Shining Armor couldn`t contain himself, he was so happy that he started crying.
"I love you too Cadence. With all of my heart." She threw her arms around him and kissed him. "Your carriage awaits." She looked at the fairytale carriage.
"This is just... wow."
"Come on, let`s go in." They got in and looked at the inside.
"It`s so cool in here!" she said with wonder.
"I know right!" On the ride to the secret date they snuggled the whole time. She looked up at their destination and was soon filled with joy.
"We`re at the Grand Galloping Gala! How did you get tickets?!"
"Twilight was able to pull a few strings and get two from Celestia herself." OOh my gosh! I`m at the GGG! I feel like a princess! I am a princess, but that`s besides the point.
"This is so amazing!" Shining Armor loved how happy she was.
"Let`s go to the party room first, slow dance, say hello to Celestia, go to the food vendors and then end with going to the garden."
"Uh huh!" He loved that she was so happy that she couldn`t even think of the right words to describe her excitement. They walked to the party room and started dancing and singing. They drank punch and ate cake. They even took a balloon to keep (Don`t tell!).
Once the music started playing soft songs they decided that it was time to slow dance. He held out his hoof signaling that he was ready to dance and that she should hold his hoof so they can start. They started dancing to the music and soon everything else disappeared as they danced. Their two hearts were beating as one.
"Cadence! My dear niece! How are you?! And you, Shining Armor! You look great! How do you do?!"
"Wonderful auntie!" Shining Armor pondered what to say.
"I was terrible and depressed until Cadence saved me." Celestia didn`t now whether to comment on the first or second half of that. Both are good! "Upset? How? Also, I can tell how much you love each other and that you would give anything for each other already."
"I-... It`s personal, it`s not that I don`t trust you. There are just too many people."
"Bye Cadence!" Celestia shouted and then teleported out of there. "Tell me everything." Her eyes poured into is soul and he knew he had to tell her.
"About 2 weeks ago... my parents left for a vacation and... the- they didn`t come back. They`ll never come back." Celestia realized what his words meant, 'They`ll never come back.' She threw her arms around the sobbing young stallion.
"That is something no child should have to go through." Then something else dawned on her. "Twilight! How is she?!" He could tell how alarmed she was.
"Go to her. Cadence and I can welcome the guests until you return."
"Thank you." and with that she flew as fast as she could towards Twilight.
"Hello, thanks for coming."
"Hello, thanks for coming." Shining Armor looked at Cadence tiredly. "Let`s move on. Celestia should have been here by now." Cadence nodded.
"We are going now! Would anypony like to take over?" About a 100 hooves were raised. "Umm..." she looked through the crowd. "You, the purple mare with the shooting star cutie mark!" She let out a squee of delight and then flew up to Cadence.
"Thanks." she said happily.
"No, thank you!" The two of them walked over to the food vendors. "I`m starving!" They walked up to the apple pastry area. They saw a mare with
apple pie as a cutie mark.
"What would ya like?" They looked at all of the treats with their mouths watering.
"I will take two of each." Cadence said confidently. The mare nearly had a heart attack then and there.
"Two of each?!" Cadence smiled. Shining Armor looked at her nearly as confused as the mare. "I am a princess and I would like two of each. Seriously."
"Excuse me for a second." She walked about 15 feet away and then "Yeeeeeaaaaah! I will have enough bits to support the Apple family for decades to come~!" Cadence was happy that she made her happy while on the other hoof, Shining Armor was very confused and thought it was odd. She walked back over. "You may call me Granny Smith."
"Thank you Granny Smith for making all of these delicious treats." They claimed their goodies and then said goodbye and walked over to the garden. "I got one of each for me and one of each for you."
"Thank you." They each picked up a pastry and tried it.
"This is amazing!"
"Mmmmmmmm..." They ate a bunch of them and then realized that they came to the garden to see animals and plants, not eat awesome food. "Oh! We should probably check out the scenery right about now."
"Uh huh!" They walked and looked at the beautiful plants. They saw gladiolas, azaleas, calla lilies, dahlias, irises and hibiscuses. They also saw more common flowers like sunflowers, roses and tulips.
Then, they moved to where the animals are. They saw birds, monkeys, bears and bunnies. They saw squirrels, ducks, wallaroos, toucans and spider monkeys. "Everything is amazing, but none of these things are even half as amazing as you."
"Well if I`m so amazing, what`s the point in coming here and looking at this terrible stuff?" she said sarcastically. He kissed her on her snout.They put their heads together.
"Let`s go now."
"Okay."
"Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight my Shining Armor." They kissed and then walked back into their homes. |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | Twilight! | Chapter 16
"Thank you." and with that she flew as fast as she could towards Twilight. "TWILIGHT!" she shouted frantically in the 'royal speaking voice.'
Celestia? Celestia! They ran towards each other and hugged. "Shining Armor told me about your... situation. I- I couldn`t imagine you of all ponies going through something like... this. I-" Twilight covered Celestia`s mouth.
"I was very depressed, but Shining Armor encouraged me to try and make friends. I did and now I am happy. I need you to read this to truly understand how I felt and then look at me now."
Dear Miss. Twilight Sparkle and Mr. Shining Armor,
Twilight Velvet and Night Light were found dead on camp grounds near Las Pegasus. Night Light was brutally mauled and had some broken bones. Twilight Velvet was half gone and mauled when we found her. Based on tests it indicates that they were killed by timberwolves at around 6:45 PM last night. We regret to inform you that due to your age and that they left no will you two will have to live by yourselves. You are legally old enough to live like this and we will supply you with food and money until you think you can survive without it. We are truly sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Equestrian Government
Twilight watched Celestia go from depressed and frantic to down right devastated and horrified. "Y-you had t-to read... this to find out what happened?!" Twilight nodded. Celestia started crying as she hugged Twilight tight. "You went through something terrible and unfair. I`m sorry I wasn`t here to support you."
"It`s okay. I am fine now and you were busy, I don`t blame you. You don`t have a sister anymore. That is truly devastating."
She looked at Twilight and said "My sister didn`t die, she didn`t move away, she doesn`t hate me. She is gone." Twilight looked at Celestia puzzled.
"How can that be?"
"My sister Luna, the princess of the night, hated that people did everything during my day and slept during the night. That anger built up and turned into evil. This evil consumed her thus turning her into Nightmare Moon. She wanted to turn everyday into night. She was rude to people and was evil. I was forced to banish her to the moon for 1,000 years. She will return in about 20 years. Once she returns she will once again try to destroy all light and ruin everyone`s lives. This has been terrible, but I have never been as devastated as I am now." Twilight knew at that moment exactly how much she meant to Celestia.
"I love you... mom." Celestia smiled down at Twilight and cried tears of joy. "I wanted you to be happy again and I wanted you to know that you will always have family." She pointed to Celestia`s heart and then her own.
"I love you too Twilight." They sat there for a moment in silence while in each other`s arms.
"I am happier now than I have ever been. I still have you and I have 15 friends now."
"Yeah! My little Twilight has made some friends! Finally!"
Twilight smiled and said "They are all really kind and funny."
"I know that things have been sad my star pupil, but it seems that everything has or will work out."
"Everything`s okay." |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | Party Time! | Chapter 17
"Happy Birthday Ruby!"
She beamed and shouted happily "Twilight! I`m so glad you could come! Come say hi to everyone!" They walked towards a huge crowd of mares, stallions, colts, fillies and every type of pony.
"Hey Twinkle, Cloud Kicker, Carrot Top, Rose, Cherilee, Lyra, Thunder Rush, Derpy, Time Turner, Berry Punch, Rumble, Lucky, Octavia and Pipsqueak! It`s so nice to see you guys here!" Twilight said giddily.
"Yeah! I`m so happy you could make it to my party!" Twilight looked at Ruby eagerly.
"When are we having cake and when will you open my- I mean our presents." When she said 'our' she gestured towards the others.
"Whenever!" They all looked at each other.
"Presents first and then cake!" shouted Lyra and Bon Bon.
"Yeah!" Cloudkicker agreed. Lucky walks up to Ruby and hands her a little box.
"Thank you." All the other ponies started stacking their ups in the corner. She opens Lucky`s gift. It`s a little charm bracelet with three charms.
"You can add more." She thanked him.
She then opens Twinkle`s, it`s a pair of fake wings. "You can glide with them so if you jump from something kind of high up then you can use these to make the fall epic." She hugged her.
Octavia handed her a cello and a card.
Happy Birthday! I love my cello so I figured you might want to try it. If you don`t like it I have many other instruments you can try!
Ruby said "I would love to learn to play an instrument. Thanks!"
Cloudkicker handed her a weird shaped present with purple wrapping. She opened it up and it was a baseball set. "It has padding so the ball won`t hurt you and the bat is meant for fillies so it shouldn`t be too heavy." Ruby hugged her.
Lyra walked up without a gift. "You cannot hold my gift, but here it is." She played her a fantastic song on her lyre and about 3/4 through the song Octavia joined in with her cello and they played music.
Twilight thought that it was so fun that she started singing without realizing. Everyone stopped short to listen to her beautiful voice. Soon Flitter started harmonizing with Twilight and so did her sister Cloudchaser.
Octavia and Lyra started playing again and soon everyone started singing for Ruby. Ruby thought that this was so beautiful that she started crying. Once they finished Ruby started clapping and whistling.
Once everypony calmed down they started up presents again. Time Turner gave her a watch that is the same color as her coat and has rubies on it. She loved the small gift. "Thanks!"
Rose gave her a chocolate rose and a bouquet of roses with different colors. She thanked her. Berry Punch gave her a skateboard that was rainbow with glitter. "Awesome!"
Carrot Top handed Ruby a box of carrot muffins and a medium sized carrot cake in a container that says 'Happy Birthday!'.
"Yum! Thanks!"
Thunder Rush walked up and handed Ruby a pack of make up for fillies. "This will be helpful!" Derpy handed her a paper bag. Inside was some bubble soap and a picture she drew of Ruby. "Thank you! I love the picture."
Cherilee gives her a picture of everypony with her and a mini chalkboard. The picture has all of them from when Twilight first met them. "This so thoughtful!" Pipsqueak hands Ruby a toy sword that has one ruby at the base. "I love it!"
Rumble hands Ruby a large, brown stuffed teddy bear. "It`s soooooo cute!"
Twilight is the last person to give Ruby a gift. She hands her a very large box that isn`t wrapped with holes on the top. She opens it and there is a puppy in there. Twilight then hands her a bag and says "This has everything you will need for a puppy for the first three months. You will need to play with her and feed her. She will need to be taken to the vet every couple of weeks until she is an adult."
"This is one of the best presents I`ve ever received and I`ve only known you for a few weeks!"
Twilight hugged Ruby and said "Happy Birthday Ruby."
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Ruby! Happy Birthday to you!"
"Blow out the candles!" *Blowing*
"YEAH!" Ruby cuts the cake while her cousin Berry Punch puts the cake on everypony`s plates.
"Yum!" For the rest of the party they play games and laugh. This has been the best party ever! |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | Back To School | Chapter 18
"Twilight. Twilight! You have to get up. It`s the first day of school for both of us. The summer is over and it`s time to go back to school." Twilight jumped up excitedly.
"Yeah! Back to school! Finally, more learning! Everyday!" Twilight suddenly realized that it would be even better now. "Now I can go to school with my friends! Twinkle, Ruby and Lyra will go with me to magic school!" Shining Armor smiled.
Twilight suddenly realized what Shining Armor promised to do. "Now remember. You have to make close friends who will support you." Shining Armor nods.
"Okay now go get ready."
Twilight got showered, brushed and cleaned. She brushed her teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste Minuette Colgate passes out to the class each year. She put her mane into a braid like her mother had taught her to. Thinking of her mother caused her to get upset, but she promised herself that she wouldn`t cry about that on this very important day. She put a bow clip in her hair and put on some bangle bracelets.
Once she was done with her appearance she moved on to her mental preparance. She studied flash cards, read magic books and worked on math/writing/science/social studies. She tried a few spells and practiced proper school etiquette.
She prepared for meeting new students and hanging out with kids. She even practiced her smile and folding of the hooves. "I am ready for anything." Then she heard her stomach growl. "Except for going without food! I better go eat."
While Twilight gets ready.
Shining Armor showers and brushes his coat, mane and tail. He brushes his teeth and puts in hair product. He shines his hooves, sprays on some cologne and then decides that he is ready appearance wise.
He reads last year`s magic text book and studies his flash cards. He tries some spells and then decides that there is nothing left to do except eat breakfast. "I am starving!"
"Do you want breakfast?" they asked each other simultaneously. "Yes." they said in unison to each other. They had cereal and toast.
Then when they were done they cleaned their faces and smoothed their coats. "Have a nice day Twi!"
"Have fun Shining Armor!" and with that they teleported off to school.
"Hey Shining Armor! What`s up?!" shouted his buddy who he occasionally hung out with after school.
"I am dating Princess Cadence and..." he got cut off before he could finish his thought.
"Awesome dude!"
"Yes awesome and what I was trying to say when you so rudely interrupted me is that my little sister Twilight made some friends so..."
He got cut off again when he said "Boring!" Now Shining Armor was a little peeved off. First, he is rude to him. Then, talks about his girlfriend like she was some prize. The last straw was when he disrespects Twilight by not wanting to hear about her and saying that she was 'boring'.
"You do not deserve my time of day because you just disrespect everything and assume that nopony else will care about what you say. You are a jerk." he paused and then said the next part in a way that really hits it where it hurts. "My friend." He walks away and glances at the blue pony, that boy was upset and ashamed of himself.
Shining Armor walks to the student schedule director and got his daily agenda and schedule. He walked to his homeroom and took a seat in the center of the room. "Hey guys!" Seafoam, Lemon Hearts, Sparkler, Donut Joe, Comet Tail and Neon Lights turned to see Shining Armor.
"Hey buddy we haven`t seen you all summer!" said Donut Joe.
"Yeah I`ve been kind of... busy." They looked at them eagerly awaiting hearing what he was busy doing. Should I tell them? Even if I don`t tell them my secret I need to tell them something.
"I- I have been busy... dating Cadence!" he came up with just in time.
"We are so proud that you have finally made your move, we knew you loved her." said Sparkler. He knew at that moment that he really did have friends who cared about him.
"Would you guys like to meet my sister after school? We can meet her friends too."
Lemon Hearts shouted out auto-amtically "Yeah! That sounds wicked!" These ponies really do care.
"Yo dude I was was wondering. What is Cadence like?" asked Neon Lights.
"I wanna know too!" said Comet Tail and Seafoam at the same time.
"She is very smart, funny and ladylike, but also a tomboy who loves being active. She loves having fun and cares about her friends. She is Twilight`s babysitter so I have known her for a long time. Also, she is in one word... perfect."
"Awww! That`s so romantic!" said Diamond Mint (another unicorn in class).
"Homeroom has begun!" said North Pole, their teacher. "You may chat amongst yourselves quietly."
"Hi Shining Armor! I don`t know if you remember me. We went to magic kindergarden together." said Lemony Gem.
"Oh yeah! We sat next to each other during snack time!" She smiled and was happy that somepony had talked to her.
"Well nice catching up with you."
She started to walk back over to her desk until he said "Do you want to be friends?"
"Yes! I mean... yes." I have a friend! Score! He walked up to others in the class that seemed lonely.
"Hi! Jenny right?" She nodded. "You looked lonely and I just wanted you to know that I will be your friend." She smiled at him.
He walked up to a stallion that seemed like he needed a friend. "Are you okay? You look upset."
"I don`t have any classes with or around my best friend so I won`t even see him in the halls. Oh, and my name`s Graphite."
He smiled at him reassuringly and said "You will always have this class with a friend." He pointed to himself. He saw him smile and he knew it was worth it. He walked back over to his best friends.
"I hope I have more classes with you guys." Sparkler grabbed his schedule and skimmed it. She glanced at the others too.
"It looks like you have one or two of us in each of your classes!" They all high hoofed.
"Settle down class I will take attendance and then go to your lockers. Your locker numbers and combinations should be on your schedules." Shining Armor looked at his schedule.
Locker number: 682 Combination: 4-15-25
He walked up to his locker. To the left of him was Apple Stars and to the right was Holly Dash. "Hi, Holly Dash. Hi, Apple Stars."
"Hello!" they replied at the same time. He tried to open his locker, but it didn`t work. He tried a couple more time and it didn`t work. He used his magic to be more precise.
Once he had finally opened it, he got out his stuff and closed his locker. He thought to himself This will be an eventful day.
"Hey Ruby!"
"Hi Twilight!" Twilight and Ruby hugged.
"Do you know where Twinkle and Lyra are?"
She thought about it and then said "I think that they are already in the class." Twilight and Ruby ran to the classroom and took their seats.
"Good morning class! My name is Mrs. Faraday! We will learn and have fun! In order to get to know everypony you guys will be paired into groups of four to study magic flash cards and quiz each other with these magic study guides." She proceeded to tell everypony who their partners are. "... group 6 will be Twilight Sparkle, Twinkle Moon, Lyra Heartstrings and Ruby Pinch." They were excited to work together. They all rushed to different corners of the room to study.
"I will give each of you one question and then I will hand the paper off to Lyra and once she`s done she will hand it to Twinkle and then Ruby. Okay?!" said Twilight. They all nodded.
They answered questions, recited spells, studied magic history and had fun magic fact time. They also used their magic to hold and move the papers/cards.
"Okay class you are dismissed. Go back to advisory." Shining Armor liked all of his classes and made even more friends. Surprisingly he had homework. While walking down to homeroom he talked with Spring Fresh.
He sat down at his seat and said hi to his best friends. "Hey guys!" They all high hoofed and then went to their lockers. I will open it this time, without magic. He tried 10 freakin` times until it finally worked. He grabbed his stuff and walked back to class.
"So are you guys still going to come over and meet Twilight and her friends?" They all nodded. "Okay then, let`s go!" The group waited until they were dismissed and then teleported over to Shining Armor`s house. |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | I Have A Secret To Tell You | Chapter 19
"Hey Twiley!" Twilight turned to see her older brother and his friends walk up to her.
"Hi Shining Armor!" They walked up to the young fillies and colts.
"I would like you to meet Twinkle, Cloud Kicker, Carrot Top, Rose, Cherilee, Lyra, Thunder Rush, Derpy, Time Turner, Berry Punch, Rumble, Lucky, Octavia, Ruby and Pipsqueak." They smiled.
"Meet Donut Joe, Sparkler, Seafoam, Lemon Hearts, Neon Lights, Comet Tail and Cadence." Everypony talked and laughed.
"I am Twilight Sparkle!"
Lemon Hearts turned to her and said "So you are the filly he keeps talking about. Your brother is awesome." Ruby beamed and jumped excitedly.
"You have a brother, cool!"
Twilight said happily "It`s better. He is my BBBFF and he is dating Cadence!"
They heard 'Oohs' and 'Ahhhs' until Rumble said "What`s a BBBFF?" Twilight smacked herself for assuming that somepony would know what that stands for.
"Big Brother Best Friend Forever. BBBFF."
"Ohhhhhh!" said the crowd of ponies.
"Let`s go inside!" shouted Neon Lights.
"We have something... important to tell you." said the two siblings. Shining Armor`s and Twilight`s friends both gave them their full attention.
"You can say it big bro." said Twilight softly. He nodded.
"My- Our parents are not here." Everypony suddenly realized that their parents were indeed not there.
Twilight continued "They went on vacation a few weeks ago and... they never came back and never will." Twilight`s friends were a little bit younger and didn`t understand.
"Did they really like it and wanted to stay there?" asked Pipsqueak.
"They were killed by..." Twilight couldn`t finish her sentence so Shining Armor did.
"Timber wolves. They were camping and then some timber wolves killed them. They died that night and now we live here alone." They heard gasps and crying.
"I can`t imagine that happening to me! This is serious! I feel so bad for you!" shouted Cherilee. Lyra was so upset that she started crying hysterically.
"Don`t feel bad for us, because of this we had the strength to make friends and try new things. The two of us have all of you and I have Cadence." Cadence and Shining Armor held each other in a deep embrace. Everypony was crying and cheering for their emotional strength.
Twilight and Shining Armor hugged. Through everything they have been through their friends were still here. They found happiness in sadness and pain. Life will go on. |
A Beautiful Light From Within The Darkest Clouds | Living In A World Full Of Happiness | Chapter 20
This chapter shows how the characters have turned out. It takes place after Twilight`s Coronation.
"Howdy Twilight!"
"Hello Applejack! Would you like to come into the library?"
She smiled and said "Ah would love ta hang out with ya! We should have the others too!" Twilight used her magic to teleport the other four to the library.
"Hi Twilight! Wanna cupcake?!" Twilight graciously took a cupcake and ate it.
"Guys! I was in the middle of a nap!" Rainbow Dash complained.
"Hello to you to Rainbow Dash! Also, that is no way to speak to a princess." Twilight said jokingly.
"Um... hi." Fluttershy whispered quietly. Rarity stomped her hooves in frustration.
"You pull me away from my home and then ignore me!"
"Yes!" Pinkie Pie and Rainbow said at once. Everypony started laughing. "Hey! Let`s throw a party!" said Pinkie.
For the first time Twilight spoke the words "That is the best idea ever!" Pinkie was more startled than Fluttershy when well just about anything happens.
"Pinkie had the best idea ever?" asked Rarity. Twilight nodded.
"Let`s party!"
"Hello everypony! Thank you for coming! Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor and the elements. I would like to say that I am so proud of all of us. I`m a princess. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence are married. Luna is back to herself and no longer on the moon. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie are still my best friends and everything has worked out. Also, I would like to thank Twinkle, Cloud Kicker, Carrot Top, Rose, Cherilee, Lyra, Thunder Rush, Derpy, Time Turner, Berry Punch, Rumble, Lucky, Octavia, Ruby, Pipsqueak, Donut Joe, Sparkler, Seafoam, Lemon Hearts, Neon Lights and Comet Tail for helping us when Shining Armor and I went through some rough times. Finally, Celestia, you have always been there for me as my teacher, friend, mother figure, hero, friend, princess and family. I think that everything is perfect. Not to sound sappy, but everything always works out no matter how many problems we may face." |
Demon on Your Shoulder | pre | "Dissy, what--"
"Do NOT call me that, you abomination."
I took a few steps back, ears flattening and tail curling nervously around my leg. After one final step, my back hit the invisible wall the salt had formed. I gulped, eyes wide and frantic as the realization of what was happening registered with my now clearing vision.
"Diss-- I-I mean Discord, what are you doing? I thought that--"
"That we were friends? Oh, of course not! Why would I want a demon for a friend? There were so many times I tried to shake you, to get rid of you, and yet your disgusting loyalty always had you come running back!"
"But the contract--"
"I don't care about the contract. In fact, I'm ending it. I have all the power I could possibly need and I certainly don't need a friend. A demon friend, at that. Now, let's get this moving along shall we?" He summoned a book, flipping through a few pages before stopping at one, "Ah, yes, here it is. Let's see... Sending a demon back to Tartarus!"
I awoke to maple syrup pouring down my head and waffles being skewered on my horns, causing my fur to become sticky and matted. Again. I let out an agitated growl. Why wasn't he gone?
"Wakey wakey, Ally! It's time to get up!" Discord flew in front of my face with a big smile.
I shoved him away, "Why the hell aren't you gone?"
"Oh! Well since I had gotten here so late Starlight offered to have me sleep over! I must say, you really should have been there. We made all kinds of foods and played a variety of games. It was just wonderful!" He crowed.
I stood up, snapping my fingers to make the mess on my head disappear. Discord followed me downstairs where Starlight was making breakfast, though it obviously wasn't for me. A jar of fear rested next to the stove where she was making pancakes, levitating it into my arms when I came in. Looking back into the dining room, I only saw two plates and two sets of silverware on the table before I turned back to Starlight.
"I could have prepared breakfast. You know that, right?" I asked the mare.
She nodded, "Yes, I know, but after your little outburst last night, I figure you needed to sleep it off. We need to talk about that, by the way."
I rolled my eyes before giving her a nod, grabbing a spoon and trudging into the living room. Plopping down on the couch, I popped open the jar's lid and dug in. However, it was a bit awkward having Discord watch me eat with his bewildered expression.
"What? Never seen somepony eat their breakfast before?"
"Oh, no, I have! You're just not a pony, and I've never seen a demon eat... Whatever that is," When I gave him a glare, he continued, "I don't remember you being this harsh before. What happened Ally?" He gave me a pouty look.
"You sent me back to Hell, that's what happened. After enough hurt and betrayals, I decided to do something about it," My glare darkened, causing Discord's ears to droop slightly, "We both know that your act is a lie. You've used it on me for years. Now, we both know you came here for the guards."
Discord hissed suddenly, baring his teeth, "Where-"
"Here's a riddle for you. I build castles, yet tear down mountains, make some men blind, and others see. What am I?"
Discord flew forward, knocking the tea set from last night to the floor, before grabbing my chest fluff and pulling me up to eye level. Starlight ran in, freezing when she saw the hostility between us and a spark of annoyance at my spilled jar of fear.
"I don't have time for games, Alvar. Celestia sent me to figure out where the Elements of Harmony and the missing guards are, plus I won't be able to live without my best friend."
My ear twitched at the word 'elements' as I tilted my head slightly, "Elements, you say? Those buffoons? The Elements of Harmony? Devil, I really wish they hadn't fallen here. Wasn't my intent."
Discord dropped me, "What?"
I jumped into Discord's shadow, appearing behind him and placing my claws on his shoulders as I leaned in towards his ear, "After you banished me, I made you have terrible luck. Spells not working or backfiring. Ponies actually standing up to you. In fact, two princesses rose up and used some strange new gems to turn you into stone. How did they acquire these gems? You asked yourself this for years, until you didn't care anymore," I shifted to his other ear, adding more malice to my words, "Well, thing is, Dissy, those gems are not items of harmony. They came from my home, Hell, or Tartarus in your case. How did they get here?"
Discord's pupils narrowed into slits, "No."
I shaped my form into that of a snake, wrapping my shadowy self around him so I could look into his angry eyes, "Yes. I was demoted to a demonic guard after I failed to keep such a simple contract. I thought that if I successfully stole something so heavily guarded without being seen, I would get my job back. However, I accidentally dropped them in an unknown universe, which just happened to be Equestria. You getting turned to stone was merely an accident, but a bonus at the same time," My red eyes glowed like fire, "Unfortunately, I was smelled out instead of seen. A small mistake I was ripped apart for. How am I alive then? I don't know, but I consider it a second chance."
"A second chance for what?"
I made my way to the back of his neck, "A second chance to prove myself, to give up my old cowardice, and destroy those who betrayed me," I sunk my fangs into his neck, my grip on him tightening even as he writhed and squirmed.
"Alvar! What are you-" Starlight stopped, covering her mouth with a hoof at the sight before her.
From where my fangs were still embedded, his veins started to be seen from under his fur as I pumped his bloodstream full of black venom. Discord dropped to the ground and trapped me underneath him, much to my surprise. I let out a pained hiss before turning back into myself, my shadowy form dispersing.
"Why do you weigh so much!? You're only a few feet taller than me! This isn't right!" I tried pushing him off, only to causing him to roll closer to my face and possibly block off my air flow.
"Alvar! What did you do to him?! Is he dying?!"
I scoffed, "No, I just knocked him out with some good ol' demon venom. All it does is put him to sleep for a few hours. Nothing terribly harmful."
Raising my hand to snap my fingers, a purple field of magic stopped me, "No, you're staying there for a bit. Then, you're cleaning the house. With no magic."
I stared at her in disbelief despite my eyes flashing purple, confirming my orders, "That's so unfair! Why the hell-"
"Now, what would you like to drink in your temporary prison?"
I crossed my arms, leaning back to rest on the floor, "Tea, please. I didn't get any last night. I was to angry."
She nodded, disappearing into the kitchen. Then I realized I'd have more dishes to do......
I don't think I want that tea anymore. |
My little Escapade | pre | "I was worried, you didn't come back at dawn, and I thought you got lost, or something terrible-" She notices my bandages. "What in Tartarus happened to you!?"
"I got bit while saving Applebloom from a pack of timber wolves. You know who she is right?"
"Yes I know who she is! And you fought off a pack of timber wolves!?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"And you're wing! What happened!?"
"One of them managed to bite the base of my wing, don't worry about it though. I'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Really?" She has a look suggesting skepticism.
"Did I tell you about the robots yet?"
"What do robots have to do with you?"
"Yes, I am wondering that as well." A new voice pipes up from behind. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 4: The Grand Tour | I spin in place and I get to be face-to-face with the tallest pony I've seen so far. All I see are two magenta eyes, fur white as snow, and the bottom of some head garment poking in from above.
"Ah, you must be Princess Celestia. Am I correct?" She stays still. I back up to give both of us breathing space.
"Yes. And you must be Ember. It's a pleasure to finally see you in person."
*Shouldn't it be 'in pony'?* "I can say the same, you are more breathtaking than Twilight has described you." It's true, we were just about eye level, mayb me a little taller. She had both wings and horn, a cascading mane and tail. Which looked to be caught in an eternal wind. The mane and tail themselves are colored pink, lime green, and light blue. But with four streaks. At my little remark, Celestia blushes, I can barely see little ovals of the lightest pink I've ever seen. I think I only noticed though...
"Thank you." She clears her throat. "I am surprised by your appearance as well. Twilight hadn't given an as accurate description in her letter."
"Letter?" I look to Twilight questionably, she's smiling sheepishly.
"When you didn't come back at dawn, I sent a letter to Princess Celestia." She would've continued, but I held up a hand, she didn't need to.
"I get the gist Twilight. Although... I don't get why you're so worried about my well-being, I barely know you, and you barely know me."
"Well, it's because I consider you my friend!" She gives me a warm smile, as you can imagine, I didn't understand.
"What?"
"I said I consider you my friend!" She's says with a big smile. I don't know why, but that felt... weird. It felt warm, something I haven't felt in a while.
*Why would she call me a friend? We barely know each other...* I feel something wet on my eyes, and it feels like a void in my very being is beginning to fill up.
"Ember? Are you ok?" Fuck, I must be tearing up.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I wipe the liquid from my eyes. "Just fine now." My little moment is interrupted by a growling noise, coming from my gut. "Oh yeah! I haven't eaten at all yet..." *I wonder how it didn't dawn on me sooner...*
"Oh! That's right, I could get Spike to-" A knock on the front door cut Twilight off. "Who could that be?" She walks over to the door and opens it. Revealing Applejack. "Applejack?"
"Hey Twi, I was jus' wonderin where Ember is. Oh there ya are! Mind if we come in Twi?"
"Not at all Applejack." Twilight responds, she backs up to let Applejack in, she's followed by Ap, Granny, and lastly, Big Mac. And he's pulling a cart filled with food with him, as soon as I see that I almost made a beeline toward it. I'm fucking hungry.
"Greetings Applejack and family." I wonder why Celestia's been quiet this whole time.
"Princess Celestia!?" All four of them shout, then quickly bow.
"There's no need to be formal with me right now, my little ponies." They all get back up.
"Ok Princess. What are you doing here?" Twilight answers.
"I sent her a letter because I thought Ember went missing." She says rather sheepishly.
"Oh. Did he tell yah that-" Twilight interrupts the orange mare.
"Yes, he told me. He saved Applebloom from a pack of timberwolves."
"That is a remarkable feat, for a being like yourself." Celestia chimes in, I can't tell whether to take that as a compliment, or an insult.
"Thank you." *Since she's one of the ruling diarch of this... whatever this place is called, might as well give her my upmost respect...*
"Anyway," Applejack continues, I wonder if she has a nickname everyone uses... "We wanted tah thank yah for savin' Applebloom, so we brought yah our homemade apple smorgusbaord!" She waves a hoof over the apple-based goods.
"Really?" My mouth starts to water. "I can have all of this?" She nods.
"Yep, all your-" I let out a happy screech as I rush to the cart, I immediately start to inhale the different foods and pastries on it. And holy fucking SHIT it was beyond delicious! I've never had any baked goods that tasted as good as these. Combine that with the fact that I fucking love apples and I was in gastronomical heaven. After what only felt like seconds, I ate all of it. I stepped back and patted my distended belly.
"That, had to be the best meal I've ever had. Thank you."
"Ah didn't expect you would eat all of it, you have quite the appetite sugarcube."
"Heh..." I yawn. "Yeah, sorry if that was a bit disgusting..."
"It's ok Ember, you said yourself you haven't eaten in a while."
"It's quite understandable, Ember." Celestia chimes in. I yawn again.
"Thank you, now if you'll excuse me, I need a friggin' nap." I head to Twi's basement to rest for the next four hours...
I wake up and somehow Twi's not in my personal space this time. Another blessing, I can barely hear some conversation from upstairs. Being the eavesdropping prick that I am, I listen in.
"I just don't understand, why would he have dark magic, and our magic? It just doesn't make sense!" Twi's talking with someone.
"This is why you must never tell him what dark powers he holds, for it could dire consequences, only teach him our magic. Can I trust you with this Twilight?"
"You can count on me Princess, as your most faithful friend and student."
*Dark magic? Your magic? What the fuck are you two talking about, and why the fuck haven't I moved away yet? Oh right, I need to find a job here, or something. I need to get out of here ASAP.* Just then a light bulb goes off in my head. *I can live in the trees! of the other forest, I think they call it... White Tail Woods... something like that... I could make a home there. I could live in a fcuking tree!* I have done this before, I had to hide in a tree from two months, hiding from a group of people, hell bent on killing me. They were a humanist group that despised people like me. Even though I really had no choice about it. Anyway! I get up from my sudo room, which is near pitch-black, and make my way to the main floor. As I near the top of the staircase I hear hushed whispers that go away as I get onto the main floor. "Well, I see that I wasn't out for long."
"Yes, you were only in there for five hours." Twi retorts.
"That's actually pretty normal, I learned a trick a while back that allows me to have little sleep, but be fully functional." *Chronic insomnia.* I look around and notice it's only Twi and Celestia. "What I'm wondering is; how have you two managed to talk for five fucking hours." *No swears in front of royalty!!*
"Oh, we were just talking about, you know; girl stuff." Twi smile widely. I look to Celestia, who only gives me the most blank face I've ever seen. I look back to Twi, who's failing horribly to hide that thing about magics.
"You ponies, except for Celestia, are horrible at hiding secrets. I dont even know what you're hiding. Yet I want to know."
"Hey!" Celestia chuckles.
"And what makes you better at hiding secrets than my loyal subjects?" Celestia asks, I need to make a nickname for her too...
"At least I know how to keep a straight face. And back on my planet I was known for being a liar." This is fucking true...
"Oh? Well prove it then." I think she meant me making up a lie.
*Time for some fun, with a princess! Fuck that sounded wrong...* "I eat meat and vegetables. Sometimes animals if I feel mad enough." That made both of them widen their eyes. I made the last part up, they look at me, trying to find any fault on my face. Twi was the first to give in.
"I can't tell whether you made that up or not."
"I have to agree with you Twilight, neither can I." I snicker.
"I wasn't lying about the first bit, I am omnivore. I was lying about the last bit, I don't eat live food." I can only imagine how creepy that sounds, especially when I think that they're herbivores. And the two ponies in front of me have faces of pure horror. "What!? It's not like I'm going to eat ponies! I'm not that heartless. I just said that." I don't think that helped. "Listen; I will not hurt anypony unless I'm provoked. There is no reason for to lie about this, and I will die before I hurt another single individual for no, good, reason." I think that reassured them, somewhat...
"I see that you're telling the truth Ember, I trust that will not harm my loyal subjects." Celestia has calmed down a bit, she stand up and walks over to me. "Because if you do, I will not hesitate to send you to the moon." My eyes widen, then I smirk.
"Heh, think I had the idea you were a pushover. To see that you radiate power, and ear yet gentle, it both scares and amazes me. I have a feeling we'll get along juuust fine." Me and her smile to each other.
"I agree." We both chuckle.
"Um... What are you two talking about?" Twilight's inquisitive it seems.
"Celestia was just saying if I hurt you, or anypony, she'll send me to the moon."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"It is nothing you need to worry about Twilight." She walks to the front door. "I'm afraid I have to tend to royal duties." Hah! Duty, duuuuty. It's a funny word. "I will see you another time Twilight, and Ember. I look forward to the next time we meet." She gives me a look before she steps outside, and promptly flies off to... wherever the fuck she goes to for royal duties. Heh, duty...
"That was nothing short of unexpected."
"You have that right Ember." Twilight said. We stand there in silence until I clap my hands.
"Whelp I think I might as get used to this place, since it may as well be my new home. Mind giving me the grand tour?" She nods eagerly.
"Perfect! I just happen to have spare time today." Her expression darkens. "But, I will find a way to get you back home."
"Eh... Don't worry about Twilight, to be honest; I'd rather spend the rest of my life here."
"What? Why?"
"For a number of reason; One: I get a new start. Two: I'm already starting to be accepted by the locals-" Twi looks like she about to speak, but refrained from it. "Three, which probably is my favorite: I get to be myself, something I wasn't able to do ever since... this." I gesture to my body with a hand.
"What do you mean by that?"
"If you were to compare my society to yours, you'd probably find that humans aren't really accepting, as a group anyway..."
"Really?" I nod.
"But that's why I like it here so far! yesterday I was walking back here and a little colt came up to me and asked what I was. But not out of fear, out of curiosity." Twi adopts a look saying 'Please go on!'.
"What did look like?"
"He had a white coat with brown spots-"
"Oh! That's Pipsqueak! He's always been so inquisitive." She says with a look of fondness.
"Pipsqueak?" *What is up with these ponies and their names?* Twi nods slowly. "Huh... Anyway, I think we got off track enough, I really want to see this town." Twi regains her look of excitement.
"Oh course lets get to it then!" And with that, she leads me through the town known as Ponyville...
It's more like a big village... The only reason they get to call it a town is the big town hall in the center of the whole place. Other than that, I like it! Even though the architecture is greatly primitive compared to humans,But I just have this...feeling throughout my very being, saying I should stay here, that I might like it here. By now Twi's taken me to every part of this town, lecturing me about it's history. The housing, the market, their government type. And even though it's a diarchy, it works a lot like a democracy.Pretty fucking weird, I thought Celestia and Luna were just symbols of this country, until Twi told me that they actually take charge like two queens. But they highest rank here is princess. This is all sounding like a kids cartoon... Adventure Time maybe? The princesses there are similar to Celestia and Luna. I was broken out of my train of thought when Twi spoke up.
"So... what do... you think... Ember?" Oh yeah... I had to every so often to let Twi catch her breath. With their high barley to the top of my stomach with her horn, it's not surprising my pace is much faster than theirs.
"About the town right?" She nods. "It's very... Quaint. Yeah, that's it."
"Qu... quaynt?"
"Quaint: An attraction to unusual or old-fashions things." Twi adopts a defensive look.
"'Old-fashioned'? These buildings have been erected with the most current form of architecture!" I wonder how she recovered that quickly.
*HA! Erection...* Unintentional innuendos... How funny it is... "I'm sorry, you must remember that I'm from a world where builds are hundreds of stories high, housing is much more efficient, and technology far beyond your comprehension!"As I spoke, my tone slowly turned a little threatening. Twi's ear fold back and her cheeks turn a light pink as I spouted my little rant. "You keep forgetting that Twilight. You simply need to remember that."
"Sorry."
"Eh... Don't worry about it. If I met a new sapient species that had for superior tech, but had no proof to it, I'd forget a lot too. That, I'm kinda forgetful." Twi looks up to me, a small smile on her face.
"You know? You're more forgiving than I thought Ember. Ever since that whole fight with Rainbow, and that little talk you had with her. I had the impression you weren't very nice."
"Ah, you saw that. I only do that to people that really piss me off. And your friend just happen to do that when you were dragging along the ground. Speaking of which, why were you dragging me along the ground?" Twi looks down, the dirt ground becoming her object of affection.
"I was planning to take you to my home and study you, then question you..."
"Aren't you doing that already?"
"Well, yes... But-"
"Then you got nothing to be ashamed of, accept that you were taking me, unconscious by the the way, to some building I've never been in before. Just to study and question me. Doesn't sound weird at all!" I laugh a little at her expense. "And even thought that was the worst first impression to date, I still like it there."
"Why do you say that?"
"I just gave my reasons..." She scowls.
"What other reasons do you have?"
"Ok. I like how every... pony, knows each other, how everypony's friendly to each other." *Although I'm pretty sure there are some bad apples here... and it's all some kind of ruse...* I get close to Twi. "Plus, all the ponies here are cute looking." I whisper into her ear. I stand back watch as her face turns light pink and her ears fold back. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"W-what?"
"Yeah, cute. Not, 'Hey come with me and fuck' cute, more like, 'new born puppy cute'. Especially you." I wonder how none of these ponies have overheard that part. We're kinda in a busy part of the town. Twi was about to say something, but she looks at something behind me. I turn around and see that four... mares, are walking towards us.Two of them being that green mare and yellow mare. The other two are new, one has a white coat with electric blue and light blue striped mane and tail, peuple lensed-black rimmed glasses resting her muzzle. The other's a dull grey coat with a slightly black mane and tail. I collar with a bow tie at the base of her neck. Man Ap really helped me out with naming parts of their bodies. The white mare looks like she parties all the time, her head bobbing to some beat as she walks. The mare to her side looks to be the total opposite. She has a refined, high-class air around her. A neutral look on her face. My brain goes to overdrive, going to fight-or-flight mode. They stop a few feet in front of me.
"See? I told you! Humans do exist!" The light green mare pipes up.
"Lyra..." The yellow mare has a tired look. The other two look at me curiously, well, the grey mare does. Can't really tell what the white one's thinking. Those glasses cover almost half her face.
"You were right this time Lyra, but this doesn't look like the, 'humans' you described." I decided to insert myself into the conversation.
"I am a human." When I spoke the white and grey mares jump.
"Woah you can talk!? Awesome!" The white mare has a giddy look.
"I...I didn't expect you to respond..."
"Bet you didn't think I was intelligent like you, right?" A small blush forms on her cheeks. I snort. "But don't worry about it though, I'm expecting to get that a lot." I glance back at Twi, she puts on a strained smile. "Anyway, why are you all here? Besides the obvious." I look pointedly at Lyra. It's amazing how I learn these weird names so quickly...
"I said I was sorry..." She droops.
"And I accepted your apology. Anyway, name's Ember."
"I'm Sweetie Drops, but everypony, calls me Bon Bon." The yellow mare spoke first. She held out her hoof. Taking the hint, I shook it. Next was the grey mare.
"I am Octavia Melody. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise." I never liked snooty-types, but she seems to mean well. Well, for a mare that hangs out with ponies like these- Why am I comparing human stereotypes to ponies? Odd... Anyway, the white mare's last.
"Name's Vinyl Scratch, or my stage name Dj-p0n3." That was fucking weird, I heard the correct pronunciation of it, but In my head I read Dj-p0n3. Not Dj-pony. This place just keeps getting weirder by the fucking hour.
"Nice to meetcha! You're a dj?" Obviously stupid question I know.
"Yeah! I make my own music too."
"Really? What kind?"
"Mostly electronic. Y'know, all the wubs." She then makes 'wub wub' sounds. I think she's trying to impersonate a speaker... Weird...
"Awesome! Maybe I should come to your next gig. I love that kinda music." I smile widely as Vinyl nods happily while still making those sounds. I look back to Octavia, I can barely see it, slight disgust with wanting to say something. "You look like you want to say something? What is it?" I asked with genuine curiosity.
"I am a musician too." She looks to Vinyle. "But not, that, kind."
*Fucking knew it.* "What instrument do you play?" She puts on a small smile.
"I play the cello."
"Ah, a fine instrument. Do you play solo, or with a group." By now she has a soft smile on her face.
"It varies. Most of the time I play alone. And more often than not, I receive requests to play in an orchestra."
"Interesting, maybe I should go see you play some time." Her eyes widen.
"Really?" I nod.
"I may not seem like it, but I do enjoy a fair bit of refined music every once in a while."
"That is... surprising..." I smirk a little.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. But I'm afraid I have to go, later!" I turn around walk off, waving to the mare behind me. Twi's just standing there, mouth wide open. "Close your mouth, you'll catch flies like that." Her mouth closes with a click.
"How...?"
"What?"
"How are you able to do that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You changed from very... dynamic, to very proper."
"Oh! Well, have you ever met a pony, or sapient being, that had a medical condition causing them to have mood swings?" She shakes her head.
"I can't say I have."
"You're looking at the first one then." At that her pupils shrink.
"Reall? You have this... medical condition?" I nod. "Then how are you able to control it from what I saw?"
"Cyber- robots Twilight. They help me with more than just healing my body." She stay frozen as I look around. "You want to continue our little tour? I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this whole town yet..." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 5: A new Friend | Twi did eventually break from her stunned stupor and continued the tour. She lead me to the what's left to show; the restaurant area. And while they have some high-end establishments. But one in particular caught my eyes. It looked like a giant gingerbread house, topped with a giant cupcake. As soon as I saw the saw the place I had to hold myself back from taking a bite out of it.
"THat right there is Sugarcube Corner, and it's a bakery. I should also add that Pinkie works here as a backer" I see her giving me a look from the corner of my vision. "You want to try it?"
"YES!" Goddammit, I'm feeling a kid, I love and hate it. Twi snickers and takes me inside the bakery. Once inside the smell of freshly baked cookies, cakes, and other pastries fill my senses, and I get a few looks from the other ponies. "Alright, if I spend the rest of life on this planet, I officially wouldn't mind it." Twi smiles. She instructed me to take a seat while she got... whatever she's gonna get at the back counter. Then it hits me. *Why the fuck is she so nice!? Or ANY of these... ponies, for that matter. They keep the feeling of... general friendship, yet they act so much like my own kind. I need to get the bottom of this...* I can hear Twi talking to whoever was behind the counter. *There must some reason they're like this to me...* I failed to notice Twi coming towards me as I was caught up in my thoughts. I was broken out of my train of thought when she cleared her throat. "Huh?" I look from wherever I was looking to Twi. She's holding two delicious-looking bright pink cupcakes in her magical grasp. Me, deciding to act stupid... "What is that?" I'm a little ashamed for asking that.
"These, are Pinkie Pie's special cupcakes."
"What are they special for? Having too much frosting?" She giggles.
"That, and too much sugar." Quickly snatch one cupcake from the purple mist. Much to Twi's surprise.
"How did you do that!?" The whole place goes quiet and everypony looks at our table. "Hehe... Sorry." Some ponies snort, and everypony goes back to whatever they were doing.
"Do you yell a lot?"
"No I don't!" Everypony looks back to us. She clams up.
"Yes, you do. Anyway, I have no idea how I did... whatever I did."
"You grabbed that cupcake from my magical hold."
"You make it sound like it's impossible."
"It is, nopony's ever been able to do that. Ever."
"Then it must mean that I have some kind of... magical resistance?"
"That's right actually..." I shrug.
"Eh... At this point, I know just as much as you when it comes to my... 'magic'." *Exceptt that time with the timberwolves, I have no idea what that was...* "And I think I can use magic." I take an experimental bite out of the cupcake. My eyes widen. It was the most delicious cupcake I have eaten, ever. Mouth felt like a fuking party at full swing. My brain went blank and I adopted a blank look. I couldn't think, move, or react at how amazing it was, except stuff the rest of thing down my throat. When I'm done I lick my fingers clean. "Ok, before we continue; I've had many backed god and things like that, but I have never, ever, eaten a cupcake that good before. EVER. Does Pinkie make 'em?"
"Yes she does."
"I am definitely coming here a lot when I get a job, and money." Look to Twi. "Ok, continue."
"Ok... You said you think you can use magic. Care to elaborate?" I nod.
"When I first woke up here, and was... 'playing' with Rainbow, I felt something flow through my body. I felt powerful. I still do, but not as much as before. That's why." Twi puts a hoof to her chin.
"Hm... just what princess Celestia said." She mutters to herself, I don't think I was supposed to hear that. But I did, at least I'm slowly getting more clues as to what they're going to do with me. "Um... Ember, I need to... make a request." I raise a brow, or feather at this point.
"What is it?"
"I need you to come with me so I can conduct a few test on your magic." I chuckle.
"Yea- no." Her eye twitches.
"And why not?" I give my 'are you shitting me?' look.
"This morning."
"What?" I continue to look at her, it takes Twi a minute, but remembers that little event. Her cheeks turn a light pink and she looks down. "Oh..."
"Yeah, not gonna happen." She picks her head back up.
"But it won't be awkward this time. I promise!" She nearly shouts.
"I think we should take this outside before you get us thrown out for yelling a lot." She shoots me a look of annoyance.
"Fine." WE both get up and walk outside. "Like I said, it won't be awkward this time. It'll be different."
"What will be different this time? Besides me being awake?"
"We'll ask each other questions about any subject. And we'll stop any time it gets uncomfortable."
"And what tests will, 'we', be doing?" I'm still having issues with this.
"Just some experiments to find out if you can use magic, and for what area of magic you can do."
".... Alright, fine." Do I really have a choice? I can tell she would bother the fuck out of me if I decline, and I'm living with her at the moment. I really don't. When I agreed with her she grinned widely and a squeaking noise came from nowhere.
"Perfect! Come on!" She grabs me with her magic and drags me to her house.
"Knew I should've said no..." I mutter under my own breath...
Twi lead me to her house, and down the stairs into the basement, where I currently sleep. When I asked why we were down here she said, "I have most of equipment here." and I chalked it up as 'Equipment to study shit'. She turned on some of the machines and they whirred to life. It all just reminds me of all those Youtube videos and movies that made fun of old tech. I'm gonna miss all that tech we had... By now Twi's levitating a clipboard in front of her, and I'm sitting on my bed.
"Alright, I'm going to start with a simple scanning spell."
"Scanning what?"
"It's a spell that lets me look at your anatomy and magic reserves, if you have any."
"Just get it over with." I can tell she's getting a little annoyed at my attitude, but I can care less. She's the one who made the bad first impression, not me. Next thing I know I'm surrounded by a purple mist, and I feel something flow through me, just like before, and I wanted more of it. It stayed so I decided to look around the room again, only this time I saw an outline, making a rectangular shape, and it looked, and felt, like something was inside, whatever it was, it was drawing me to it. Just then the mist quickly went away. Twi's expression went from annoyed, to surprised, then cautious. This whole I was watching her, and she failed to notice that. "What?" She jumps.
"What?"
"Is there something wrong with me? The faes you were making weren't... Pleasant."
"Oh! That! Um... You seem to have a lot of magic inside of you. More than the average unicorn."
"More than the average unicorn? That's weird, if it's supposed to mean that I'm really powerful."
"You... kind of are. The amounts of magic within your body rivals my own."
"Cool!" Now I'm getting a little excited, I just want to see what I can do with this new magic of mine. "I want to see what I can do with this magic, anything in here I can test one?" I look around the room. Twi snorts and she levitates a beaker from a shelf.
"One basic magic ability is levitation. Try levitating this glass beaker, and try not to drop it." She set the beaker on the floor. "Oh, and try to use a part of your body to channel the magic through, it allows you use it to full effect." She taps her horn.
"I get it, but... How do even concentrate on my magic in the first place?" *How the fuck are you expecting me to know how to 'channel magic' when I've never ucking used it?*
"Just imagine the beaker in your head, and when you feel the magic flowing through you, focus it on some part of your body, try your hands first."
"Got it." I do just that, I close my eyes, create a mental image of the entire room, and focus on the beaker. I feel the magic flow like Twi and focused it to my hands. I can feel it going to my hands as the beaker floats. My eyes open to reveal the beaker floating in mid-air, covered by the same grey mist from the timber wolf incident. Just not as strong. "I'm doing it. Holy shit. I'm using magic." At that point I'm bound excited, awestruck is more like it. I shale to collect my thoughts. And I saw that I was holding my hand out. I turn it so the palm was facing up, and I curled my fingers up, bringing the beaker closer to me. "Just in the fucking movies!" I'm basically filled with childlike amazement. To say I was elated is an understatement. I gently put the beaker back to the floor with one, smooth, motion of my hand. As soon as the grey mist disappears a purple mist covers it, as it goes back to its rightful place on a shelf.
"Good, good... Now... try teleportation."
"You can teleport with magic?" Still having a hard time believing, and accepting, all of this.
"Yes," Twi nods "just think of where you want to go, and focus your magic like before. Try teleporting to the main room upstairs."
"Yes ma'am." I say in a mock tone. I do what she said, created an image of the room, felt and focused the magic flow. All-of-a sudden, I felt my stomach lurch as my surrounding changed. I also felt a burning sensation at my backside. I look back and down and saw that my tail feathers were on fire. "Whoa shit!" I quickly grab them and pat the fire out. "Now It have burnt feathers..." Just then the black disappears as the burnt feathers regrow to their original size. "Thank you Twilight. I needed all that extra sugar." I then hear a combination of hoof-steps with foot steps. Hoof-steps from downstairs, and footsteps from upstairs.
"Twilight? Is that you?" A small, boyish came from upstairs. The thumping gets louder as the same little dragon from before comes into view, it looked like he was resting, or something. We lock eyes and he freezes. We stay like that for a few seconds. "Hey, you're that... thing, from before."
"Yeah, and it Ember, not-" Twi comes up from the hall downstairs.
"Oh hey Spike! You're back!" We both look at her.
"Thank you misses obvious." We say at the same time. "That was weird." We did it again. "We did it again!" And again.
"But seriously, who, and what, are you?" The newly named dragon asks.
"Name's Ember, and I'm a human."
"Oh! So YOU'RE the new guy everypony's been talking about!"
"I'm what everybody's talking about? What have they been saying." My tones turns a little flat, and serious.
"Not much, just that you're a new creature. And some say that you're a monster, and others say you're really nice. OH! I just remembered." He rushes down the rest of the stairs. Surprisingly not falling down. "It it true you saved Appleboom from a pack of timber wolves?" I nod.
"Yeah, it is. That's where I got that things from." I gesture to the bandages.
"Really? What happened?"
"One of those little bas- buggers managed to bite me at the base of my wing, tearing the muscle. I'm probably mostly healed up by now."
"That awesome!"
"Yeah-" Twi cuts in.
"That's enough you two, Spike needs his sleep. It's getting late." I look outside a window, it shows the sun resting over the horizon, and it's getting lower.
*How is the sun visibly getting lower!?*
"Twilight, I think we really need to do that question thing."
"Tomorrow Ember, I'm pretty sleepy myself." She lets out a big yawn, trying and failing to over it with a hoof. "Night Ember."
"Night Twilight." I head back to my temporary room, the basement. *Perfect.* I make my way downstairs to the basement. Leaving the lights on, I go to the thinly lined out rectangle in the wall. *Now to find out what this is... Maybe I can push it?* I walk over to it and do so, and surprisingly, it gives, making rock grinding against rock sounds. I hear a click and the birck move on its own, it sinks into the wall deeper. I can barely see it moving it to the side and something slide forward, a glint showing through the darkness. I step back A little as a little platform. Just out of the wall. It reveal a small grey and red medallion. At least, that's what it looks like. It's triangular in shape a union at the top-middle, wings flared on each side. An actual triangle acting as the base for the unicorn with wings, and the red gem inserted in the middle. *So this is what was drawing me to it...* I get closer to the little platform and slowly grab the medallion. As soon as I make contact, I feel raw power run through my very being. I jump back out of shock. I look at my hand, then the medallion, and back to my hand.
*Don't know what that was, but it felt... Good...* I grab the medallion and examine it. And again I feel a massive amount of power flowing. *Does this really hold that much magical power?* I suddenly get this feeling, like what you feel after someone says yes after a really serious question. *I guess that means yes. I wonder if I should put it on...* And it may also have some form of sentience. Maybe... The thing happens to have a metal chain acting as a necklace. I put it on, as soon as it rests on my chest it sinks into me. A red glow emanates from my chest as warmth encases my entire body. It feels like I'm laying on clouds, and I'm loving it.. The feeling lasts for a few seconds, even my vision tints red a little. "That felt... awesome." I give my body a look over. "I wonder if anything changed." I check out every part of my body, nothing. "Looks like nothing, maybe my face... I need a mirror." I feel a surge as a full body mirror appears in front of me, encased in a red mist for a second. "And it looks like this medallion's gonna help me out big time." I look at the mirror, more specifically my eyes. They changed from a bright yellow to a semi-bright red. "Hm... I wonder if anypony's gonna notice that... Or if I can change it back to their original color..." A surge of magic later and my eyes are back to their original color. "Thanks."
I snap my fingers and the mirror disappears. "Wow. I fucking love this thing." I look down. "Just wonder why it sunk into my body. Probably to hide itself, but why hide in the first place... Meh..." *I just want to have fun with my new powers!* I feel a pulse of excitement. *Looks like I'm not the only one. Lets go! To the Everfree!* I snap my fingers and my stomach lurches again, though not as bad as the first time. "Gonna have to get used to that." I feel another surge and magic flows to my mid-section. "Or not, man I really love this thing." I look around, I'm in some clearing within the forest. By now the sun's complete gone, letting the moon fill the sky with its brilliant night. "Dammit, I wish my wing wasn't fucking damaged." Warmth flowed from... somewhere, and into my wings. They feel powerful. I stretch them and the one covered in bandages breaks free, the sounds of fabric ripping fills the air. The tattered bandages fall to the floor and I take a look at my wings. "Holy shit!" *They got a muscle upgrade! I fucking love this thing!! I wonder if it can that to my whole body...* No surge, no warmth... What the fuck? I shrug. *Must only apply to damaged body parts... That'll be useful!* A wave of happiness washes over me. *And I'm really going to get along with this thing.* I think excitedly. A roar sounds out from my right.
"The hell was that?" Another roar sounds out, it may have been my morbid sense of curiosity, but I decided to go see what was happening. It took me a minute, but I managed to quietly get through the foliage. Even though I still made a shit-ton of noise. Whatever was attacking something didn't hear, thank the universe. When I made it to where the noises were coming from, I stumbled across a particularly weird and sad sight, I'm really fucking thankful for night vision. A huge lion-looking thing was looming over the cowering form of some kind of pony-
*What the fuck are those things!?* The big lion-thing was wings, and a scorpion tail. I have no fucking clue what that is. The little foal-looking thing looks like a bug and a pony bumped uglies, and that was what came out. Looks like a bug pony; black, shiny skin. Weird, grey eyes, a big grey stop on its back. It even has both wings and a horn, but the horn is all gnarled, it is this time that I notice that it has holes in its legs. *How is it not bleeding out?* I put that thought aside, right now I have to do something, I think... Yeah, the big fuckers gonna kill it.
"Heeelp mmeee!" The bug-thing buzzes out. Just like how a bee would talk, if they can. That little shout was enough to get me feral again, this time with the help of the medallion. It covered my hands in a thick, red mist. Shaping it to look like massive claws.
*Just in case...* I let out another primal screech as I burst from the foliage and slam myself into the lion thing, sending the thing sprawling across the ground. It then slammed into a tree, it quickly got up and looked in my direction. When we locked eyes it roared again, then charged at me. I sidestepped and barely dodged it, while at the same time letting my new claws rake across the big thing's side, it howled in pain as it stopped and fell to its side. I think I sliced one of wings off when I did that. Yeah, I did, didn't mean to do that. I look at the big lion-thing; it's side has four large cuts bleeding profusely. Any human being would vomit at this sight. Not me, or anyone who's a world war three veteran for that matter. We were too young for that shit...
Anyway! Moving on! I saw that the mountain of orange-red fur wasn't going anywhere. So I went over to the now terrified bug-pony... thing. When it sees me looking at it, it freezes. The magic claws go away and I return back to normal.
"Hey, it's okay." I take a step closer to it, it stands up and steps back. "I'm not gonna hurt you." I adopt a soft tone. I kneel down to look less intimidating, I didn't plan this far ahead. "Are you ok?" It continues to stand there, trembling with fear. After what feels like an eternity if registered what I said and nods.
"Y... yes. I'm okay." It sounds like its voice has a buzzy quality to it.. Or like how bees talk in movies.
"Good, what's your name?" I have no idea what to do at this point besides talk softly and make no sudden moves.
"I... I don't have one." What?
"What?"
"I don't have a name."
"Why not?"
"My mother never gave me one."
"'Your mother?'" It nods.
"Queen Metamorphosis."
"Queen Metamorphosis, you mother's a queen?" The bug-pony nods, that made my brain freeze for a solid ten seconds. "What... are you?"
"You don't know what I am?"
"I've never seen, or heard of, anything like you and you've never seen anything like me. I think it's fair we ask each other who we are." The thing... 'sat on it haunches', as Twi and Ap have told me, and huffs.
"Good point. I'm a changeling."
"Wha-" A loud roar cuts our conversation short. I whip back around to see the big fucker standing where he once lay. Blood coating half of its face. "Enough of this..." I held my hand out, I feel the same power from before, but it all flows to my hand as large spike shoot out. Impaling the beast my times over. It roars in pain and falls back to its side. A single, dying breath sounded out before it passed. I take a few calming breaths before looking back to the... changeling. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay..." It says slowly.
"Good, how about we get out of here before anything else comes by?" I didn't care what this bug was, or what it was doing here. I just wanted to get the fuck out of this god forsaken forest. The bug nodded slowly and began to follow me, I had to tell it to wait there so I could fly above the canopy of trees to see where Ponyville was. As I was looking around I heard buzzing noise as the changeling flew up next to me. "That makes getting back easier." The changeling doesn't respond. I shrug and look about the forest. The moon was starting to set down down on the horizon. It's brilliant light swallowed by the approaching sun. There was just enough light to spot the town, the town hall poking out over the treeline. "That way, we should get there before sunrise." I fly off towards the town, I look behind me and see the changeling having a bit of trouble following me. *Guess they're not fast fliers...* I slow down a little to let the little thing catch up and stay at this pace. I decided to talk.
"Do you want a name?" The changeling looks at me confused.
"What?"
"Do you want a name?" I ask again, slower than last time. The changeling... I can't tell whether it's thinking or not. Those grey luminescent eyes make it impossible.
"Yes." It says after a minute.
"Ok, what gender are you?"
"I'm a girl, why?"
"Where I come from, we have gender-specific names... How does 'Chrysanthemum' sound?" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 6: Bitter Memories | "I Like that. Chrysanthemum." The newly named changeling says after what felt like an hour. She kept chanting her new name over and over, and over. Luckily we got to Ponyville before it got really annoying.
"Here we are." The chanting stops as Chrysanthemum, Chrysi's her nickname now, looks at the town.
"This... is it?"
"Yeah, I the same reaction when I saw this place. You expected more huh?" Chrysi nods.
"Yes. I was."
"Heh, well... be prepared how the ponies will react to you. But don't worry about it too much. They thought I was a monster, until I explained myself, and had help from some of them. So with me by your side, it'll be better than my first exposure."
"That's splendid!" She say a little giddy. I led her to Twi's place, and took her inside the basement.
"I'm pretty sure Twilight won't have a problem with you staying here... Are you sleepy yet?" She shakes her head. "Neat. Do you mind if... I ask you a few questions?" She raises a brow, if she had one.
"What for?"
"I want to know as much as I can about you and your kind." We just got down to the basement, I got settled on my temporary bed, and Chrysi just sat on her haunches, looking around the room. At my question she put a wholed hoof to her chin.
"As long as I get to ask you some questions."
"Fair enough. Do you want to start, or should I?"
"You just went first." I think the buzzing will eventually get annoying... Probably not.
"I can tell we're going to get along just fine." Chrysi smiles. "Now that I've already asked a question, you go ahead."
"Ok. What exactly are you?"
"I am a human."
"A human?" I nod. "So they are real..."
"What?"
"Mother would warn us about humans in the past. She said they used to be all around this place. Some even living with uz. But they just disappeared. Zhe never stopped telling us about human." She grumbles out the last part.
*We were here at one point?* "Interesting. And about your mother, can you tell me more about her?"
"I would appreciate it if we didn't." She gives me a sharp look.
"I can respect that, then your own kind maybe? What are changelings like?"
"Changelings, like me, are special. There is only one queen for each hive."
*Just like bees...*
"And I, would have next in line."
"'Would have?'" She nods. "Why?"
"We were having problems with finding food. I decided to got find more for the hive. Of course my mother never sent any of her drones with me, that's when that thing cornered me. I would've been killed if it wasn't for you. Thank you."
"No problem." Came my natural response. "I actually thought you were another pony."
"Really?" She asks a bit skeptically.
"Yeah, with it being dark, and I concentrated more on the big animal more than you, it was only when I got a good look a realized you're something else. No offence if I caused any."
"You didn't." A quiet rumbling comes from Chrysi. She looks down as her cheeks turn grey.
*How can changelings blush if they have a charapiece as skin?*
"Sorry, I haven't eaten in a while."
"I can tell, I could go get something from the kitchen for you, if you want."
"That won't be necessary."
"Why?" *I'm not liking this.*
"I feed off of love." That... statement stopped my brain from functioning for the second time in a row, making me freeze for minute, or ten.. The cranks in there slowly, but surely, began to turn again.
"What?"
"Changelings feed off of love. It's hard to come by nowadays."
"How..? How is love a food source?" She does the pony equivalent of a shrug.
"I don't know, we just do."
"I... don't, know how to react to that." I've seen a lot of weird things in the world, but this takes the whole fucking cake. "Are you feeding now?" Chrysi shakes her head.
"I can only feed with the host's consent. Will you let me feed?" At this point I'm feeling really uncomfortable.
"I'm not comfortable with this... Will it hurt?"
"I can promise that no harm will come to you."
"And what exactly do you do to feed on?"
"I just draw the love from another being and... it just goes into me." I could make a sex joke here, but the current situation is preventing me from doing that.
"Well... as long as it get to feed..." *No! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?* "And as long as nothing happens..." *Don't you fucking do it...* I kept screaming at myself to say no, but it felt like as if something was forcing to say yes. *It must be her magic... FIGHT IT!!* I can feel my eyes twitching.
"Are you ok?"
"Get... the fuck... away... from me!!" I manage to croak out. "What... are you... doing to me!?" Her eye widen in alarm.
"Oh! Sorry!" Her horn flashes a dull grey and I'm back to normal.
"What, was that?" I ask sharply.
"That was my magic controlling you. I forgot I had it active."
"Likely fucking story."
"I really did forget! I'm sorry!" This time I can tell that is telling the truth. I don't know how I'm able to all of a sudden. I pulse of power runs through my body.
*You continue to amaze me.* I really fucking love this medallion. "Alright, I can tell you're telling the truth... You... can feed..." I said a bit regrettably. Chrysi smiles thankfully.
"Thank you." She says before her eyes close, and her gnarled horn is covered in the same grey mist. I then saw that something was coming out of my body. A bright pink mist.
*Does everything have a fucking physical form?* After a few seconds the grey mist around her horn disappears.
"Thank you."
"Anytime, just don't do any funny stuff."
"I understand."
"Good. Good night." My tone went a little harsh. I use my magic to turn the lights off, and lay in the bed.
"Um... I don't-" I snap my fingers and a mattress materializes. "Oh, thank you."
"No problem." *Can you make a shield?* A shield manifests itself around me. *Thanks.* I then close my eyes,the blissful feeling of sleep embracing me...
I'm walking down a sidewalk. To where, I don't know. What I do know is that I'm getting scornful looks from everybody. So are the other anthros. But most are directed at me. To say I was uncomfortable is an understatement. The next thing to happen was... unexpected. I rock was thrown to me, hitting me in the back of the head.
"Fuck you! You freak!" That set everyone else off. They all started to yell and throw things at me. Bottles, rocks, glass, and things I couldn't make out, were flung me. The only I could do was fall to the ground and curls up into a ball. My wings tried to futally cover my body. The glass bottles shattered when they hit me, blood to pouring from the cuts the shards make.
"Go back to hell!"
"Go back to your filthy planet!"
"That voice." I look up and see Twilight, and her friends, staring at me with absolute disgust. Rainbow smiling madly.
"I knew you were a monster! I WAS RIGHT!!"
"ENOUGH!!" The entire world literally shatters like glass around me. The shards falling into an infinite abyss. I'm left lying in total blackness, my body healed, like nothing happened. "We will not be tolerating that." A new voice speaks out. I get back up and look at the source of the voice.
"Princess luna?"
"Tiss I Ember!"
"What are you doing here?" I really had no idea what was going on at this point.
"Ceasing that wretched nightmare you were experiencing."
"Oh... another one..."
"You have had many like before?" I nod.
"Yeah... this isn't the first one, just a different setting." She pauses for a second, thinking about something. The blackness around was filled with millions of stars, galaxies, gas clouds, nebula. I never get tired of naming celestial objects.
"If I may ask. What started all of this?"
"Ever since I've been turned into... this..." I flare my wings half-heartedly. "When I got this new form, nobody accepted it. I was insulted, beaten, had shit thrown at me. My own kind shunned me for what I looked like. There were others like me, and like them, my life was turned into a living hell. Sometimes I'd end up in the hospital for broken bones, fractures, lacerations, stabbings, etcetera." I chuckle darkly. "Shows how much people can fucking accept new changes." This whole time Luna was silent. And slightly horrified by the looks of it.
"Tis a lie! Surely you are fabricating all of this..." I shake my head.
"Why would I need to lie about my past. I really was treated like that." Her gaze hardens as she looks at me sharply.
"Let us make sure of that." She disappears, and reappears, right in front of me. She touches the tip of her horn to my head. Next thing I know I'm thrown back into complete darkness. A few minutes pass, I think, before vision returns to me. I'm still within my own dreamworld.
"I will never understand how magic works." I see that Luna is lying on some floor, her breathing loud and fast. "Luna? You ok?" Her eyes shoot open and she quickly gets up.
"Stay away from me!" She shrieks.
"Luna? It's me, Ember." A blue mist covers her horn, but dies as soon as it appeared. Her breathing still ragged and fast. "Are you ok?"
"Yes... Ember. *ahem* We are fine."
"What happened?"
"We cast a spell that allowed us to see your memories." She pauses. "We didn't expect... what we witnessed."
"Now you believe me?" She slowly nods.
"Yes, we do. But We just have one question."
"What?"
"Why would your own people send under-aged children to war!?"
"Mortality rates were skyrocketing." At that she pales a little.
"Why? Why are your kind so war-like?" I chuckle a little.
"At first we fought for land, then to expand religions, then to 'Cure the world of the virus'. Before I arrived here it was for power." I know I'm making it seem like the human race is nothing but brutish people who will do anything to gain power. But there are some silver streaks in the clouds. "Are you sure you received all of my memories? I would absolutely hate it If my personal life was invaded. And you would've seen that under the covers. My people are really divers, most of them anyway..." I shake my head. "Anyway, I would like it if we would move on. Besides I think I'm about to wake up." The pseudo-universe around us is getting blurry.
"Alright, Ember.Fare Thee Well." The stars and galaxies fade away. My eyes opening once again to see Twilight at the top of the stairs, gaping at me.
"Morning Twilight. Back for more studying?" I asks jokingly.
"Why is there a changeling in my house!?"
"I saved her from a fucking big... lion-thing."
"A what!?"
"A big lion-thing that had wings and a scorpion tail."
"A Manticore!?" I was getting up from bed, but I bumped my head against the fucking shield.
*You cheeky little jokester.* "Whatever you call those thing. I saved her from it, and her name is Chrysanthemum." The shield breaks down, dissolving into the air.
"Whatever. WHY IS SHE IN MY HOME!?" Now Chrysi wakes up. I teleport right in front of Twi.
"Because I brought her here." I think me acting cal over all of this is creeping her out a little.
"Why would bring a changeling into Ponyville!?"
"I have little to no knowledge of this place. Remember?" She hits herself in the face with a hoof.
"Right..."
"Besides, she's not leaving. Before you ask why. I can keep her in check if she tries anything. She saw me kill that thing with my bare hands."
"You killed a MANTICORE!?" I wonder how my ears weren't bleeding out.
"It'd be really nice if you stop fucking yelling and calm down." *Since when does that work at all?*
"How can be calm when there's a changeling in MY house!?"
"Because I clearly haven't done anything." She finally chimes in.
"I was about to say that." I smile at her, she got up from her bed and calmly walked over to us, Twi tensing up and giving her a sharp look.
"What he is saying is true, I saw him effortlessly kill that thing. I wouldn't dare provoke him in any way."
"See Twilight? What do you have against changelings anyway?" That set her off.
"They bucking invaded and ruined my brother's wedding, trapped me and my sister-in-law in a bucking crystal cavern, defeated Princess Celestia in a magical stand-off, and hypnotised everypony at the bucking wedding!"
"Oh. Well how am I supposed to know about that, huh?" *And I think she said the pony equivalent to fuck.*
"I wasn't apart of that." Twi looks from me to Chrysi.
"What?"
"That was a different hive."
"A different hive?"
"Yes, and the queen was Chrysalis, wasn't it?"
"Yes... Why?"
"I knew it. She was known as a tyrant amongst other hives. Nobody liked her, or her ideas. What she did at your brother's wedding was a shameful act of desperation." It is at this point I decide to interject.
"I think that clears it up. Do you think so?" Twi mulls it over for a second.
"I suppose... As long as she stays in-line. But if you-"
"I have it taken care of Twilight." I say really slowly. "Don't worry about it." I wave to her. "No if you'll excuse us please?" Twi huffs and walks back up the stairs. Giving one last look to Chrysi. I speak when I hear the door close. "That could've gone better..."
"I agree."
"Anyway!" I clap my hands. "Lets get back to questioning, shall we?" She nods and we both walk back to the main part of the room, where are beds are. Chrysie sits in hers while I sit on mine legs crossed. "Ok, I think I ask the last question last night, so go ahead." She nods.
"How is it that you know nothing of us changelings, or of this place?"
"Well... I'm actually from another world."
"Really?" I nod. "How do I know you're not lying?"
"I'm a completely new being here, even to these fucking ponies, and from what I know of this place, which is minimal at best, is that there are no other being that can walk on two legs and fly, except for dragons."
"That's a long explanation for a simple question."
"How else do you expect me to reassure you I'm not lying?"
"Good point." I smirk a little.
"Besides feeding off of love, what else is unique about changelings?" How else was I supposed to phrase that?
"We changeling changes our physical form."
"What?"
"Let me show you." She quickly is swallowed by grey flames, it dies as quickly as it came. Twilight taking Chrysi's place. "This is what I mean."
"Twilight?" This really left me confused. Twilight's engulfed in grey fire again. They die again and Chrysi's back.
"It's still me." That's when the circuits in my head connect.
"Ooooh! Ok, I get it."
"My turn, you've been asking me about changeling... What are humans like?" Shit.
"Eh... Let me start with this, at first glance, humans seem to be predator and war like. A vicious species." She blanches a little. "But that's not the case. We're an extremely diverse group. We kind, gentle, y'know generally nice. Even though there are people who are... negative."
"Negative?" Fuck...
"Yeah... Some of my own kind hate us. Humans and anthros, and there ones who will do anything to gain power, money, anything they want. Would it be ok if I stop talking about my own kind?" She nods.
"Fair enough." Silence fills the room.
"I hate silence, I'm gonna go upstairs. Wanna come with?" She nods.
"I don't see why not."
"Alright." We both walk to the door, I open it... and Twi's right on the other side. She's standing there, wide eyed. "I really need to get my own place." I mutter, I walk past Twi, Chrysi closely following. "At least I could get privacy with my own fucking house."
"Does she do that a lot?"
"Apparently so..." Just then I remember something. "Hey Twilight!" She comes up.
"What?"
"Stop doing that, it's fucking creepy, and where can I find something to do around this place?" Twi puts a hoof to her chin.
"Well... Applejack can always use help bucking appletrees."
"Bucking... appletrees." I deapan.
"Yes... what?"
"That makes no sense whatsoever. What exactly is bucking appletrees?"
"Applejack and her brother kick trees on their farm and collect the apples that fall from them." Silence befalls this room for a solid minute.
"I'm not even going to question this one, and just go with it. I'll see you later if I get a job. Where is this farm?"
"Go to the market and keep heading in that direction. You'll be there in no time."
"Would it be better if you take me there?" She face... hooves.
"You're right. Come on." She was about to head out the door, but... "Oh, and..."
"Chrysanthemum." Chrysi states.
"Right, Chrysanthemum. I suggest you change into a pony." Chrysi nods as she's engulfed in grey fire for the third time. The flames die once again, leaving a pony with dark green mane and tail, a pristine white coat, and two bright green eyes, with a horn on her forehead. "Better, now lets go." She's very short with us. Anyone can tell she a thing against changelings. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 7: Applebucking | Twi lead us through the town, the market specifically, me getting more than enough gazes from the ponies milling about. I think that'll last maybe... the rest of my life? Just a guess...
Anyway, we all eventually got the entrance of, Sweet Apple Acres, as Twi told us. After that she left us there. Telling us to follow the path, then we would see the Apple's house. I swear to fucking god with these fucking names. We did eventually see a house as we crested over a hill. Unsurprisingly, it looked like a farm. The classic red walled, white roofed, pentagon farm. I gingerly walk up to the door and knock, I had to duck with the porch being a little low. Hooves sound out from inside, the door opens and Applejack standing in the doorway.
"Ember, whaddya doin' here? And who's the mare?"
"Hey Applejack, this is Chrysanthemum. And I was told I could come here to find something to do. And I think I make it a job."
"And what would that be?"
"Applebucking." I never thought I'd be saying made-up words, but this world, I'm guessing, has a shit-ton of 'em.
"Oh! Perfect timin'! We were just gettin' back to buckin' the trees."
*Are you kidding me? The sun's barely out. Well... it looks almost noon... Nevermind...* Sometimes I can think stupid thoughts, I hate that... "Perfect I guess. Mind showing me how you buck these trees?"
"Not at all, jus' follow me." I wonder why Chrysi's been silent this whole time. We both follow Applejack and see her walk up to a tree. She turns around, backside facing the tree. She then kicks the tree, like how a horse on my world would buck. The tree shakes violently as apples fall from it. Into conveniently placed baskets.
"Wow." Me and Chrysi say. Applejack snorts.
"Alright Ember! Now you give it a try."
"Fine, I don't even know if I can do that..."
Why would Ember bring a bucking Changeling into MY house!? Even though he saved from a manticore.
You can use her to study changeling behavior and understand how they work...
I suppose... But still! Ember barely has any knowledge of Equestria, so I can excuse him this time... I should tell him to stop flying around the Everfree Forest.
"Twilight!" Spike? I turn around and see Spike running down the stairs.
"Spike! What did I tell you about running down the stairs!?"
"But... *huff* there's a... *huff* letter for you... from the princess." He holds out a letter with Princess Celestia's seal.
"Oh! Perfect!" I cast a levitation spell and bring the letter to me, it opens as it floats over to me. "*incoherent mumbling*..."
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
I am pleased to tell you that my sister has collected most of Embers memories. And from what she has shown me... Dragons would rather perish than experience what he has experienced.
"WHAT!?" What does she mean?
"What Twilight, is something wrong?" Spike came from the kitchen, he loves to cook...
"Nothing Spike, I'm just going to our room, to read this letter, in private." He shrugs.
"Ok." I walk upstairs and into our room while Spike makes us lunch. When I close the door I lay down on my bed. The scroll still in my aura.
*Alright... Back to this...*
From what my sister has collected...It's a wonder how he is still walking around. As a young adult, he was sent into what his kind calls 'World War Three', as a 'foot soldier'. What this means is he was sent to the front lines of war. During that time he has seen his own comrades die, suffered... 'gun shot wounds'. He has even seen his own kind blown to pieces. This is all I can tell you about this war. If you want to know more, you need to ask him.
His torment didn't even end there.
As Luna has described it. His... people developed technology eons beyond ours, and he was subject to 'an experiment' that would change his physical appearance. What surprised me is how his own kind reacted to his... 'new look'. He was treated as an animal. They shunned him for his appearance. He had things thrown at him, beaten, and sent to the hospital many times.
I apologize for writing this short letter, I need to attend day court.
Sincerly,
Princess Celestia
P.S. Please be nice to him, after seeing what he's capable of, it is best you keep him as calm as possible.
The letter softly drops on top of my bed.
"Spike!" Loud, fast thumps sound out and Spike bursts into the room.
"What!?"
"Go and tell the girls to meet here. I have something important to show them, and don't tell Ember to come." He salutes.
"Yes ma'am!"
Spike did as he was told, first finding Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner, next was Rarity at her boutique, third was Rainbow Dash, who just happen to be laying on a cloud above. Forth was Fluttershy at her cottage at the edge of town. Lastly was Applejack, he asked where she was, and ran off after her when Granny Smith said she was bucking in the west field. He finally saw her bucking trees with Ember and Chrysanthemum.
"Ember? Who is-" He nearly speaks aloud. He quickly covers his mouth and run up to Applejack. "Applejack." Said orange pony turns around.
"Hey Spike, something up?"
"Twilight needs you at the library, something important. Don't bring Ember. Or her." He runs off without another word.
"Well it sure seems important. Hey Ember! Chrysanthemum!" Ember and Chrysi turn to her, painfully oblivious to Spike's departure.
"What?" Ember asks
"Ah need to go check on somethin' you jus' keep buckin'. Alright?" Ember nods.
"You got it Aj." He turns back around and scissor-kicks the tree. Aj gallops off towards Twi's house...
Most of the mane six have arrived, Fluttershy and Applejack begin the last to show up, when they do, Twi ushers them to gather at the table situated in the middle of the main room. After that the room falls silent for a solid ten seconds. With Rainbow breaking the awkward silence.
"Okay, I'll bite, why did you get us all here for?" Twilight levitates a scroll to her.
"For this. I need you all to read it."
"Why?" Rainbow asks.
"Just, read it." Rainbow huffs, grabs the scroll, and reads it, her face turning from bored to horrified, then angry, then downcast. Rainbow stays quiet as she set the scroll down.
"I wanna read it next!" Pinkie shouts and she happily sweeps up the scroll to read. As she reads it her smile disappears, turning into a frown. Even her mane deflates a little. Her whole form slouches a bit and she drops the scroll.
"Pinkie dear, are you alright?" Rarity asks. She looks at the scroll. "What is in that letter..?" She levitates it over to where she was, the scroll covered in a bright blue aura. As Rarity reads it her eyes widen, then droope. The scroll drops to the table as Rarity stays silent.
"What in tarnation is in that letter?" Applejack quickly picks the up with a hoof and reads. Like her friends, the more she reads, her eyes grow wider, she then has a sorrowful look. "Poor fella..." She sets the scroll down. Last to read it was Fluttershy, who now stares at it with trepidation.
"Come on Fluttershy, I need you to read it too." Twilight says. Fluttershy just squeaks in response. The scroll is covered in a purple aura and it floats over the yellow pegasus. She shakily grasps it in her delicate hooves. As she reads the fur around her face pales, she drops the scroll before she can even read the P.S. The scroll flutters to the table, revealing her light yellow, teary-eyed face. Silence befalls the room, nopony moving, twitching or saying a single word, only broken by Fluttershy's sniffling. Rarity spoke after what felt like and eternity.
"I... never expected him to have... this kind of past."
"None of us did Rarity, none of us did." Twilight says.
"Tah think he's been through so much... And be like him..." Rainbow was about to speak, but the front door flies open. A tall figure standing in front of the surprised ponies, a massive pair of wings flared.
Applebucking is much more simple, and easy than I first thought. I just had to develope my own way of kicking. I developed a few ways: a spinning kick, kinda like a roundhouse kick for trees coming out at a angle, my talons allowing for good grip. Then there's a scissor kick, admittingly the weakest, for thinner trees. Then there's the running two-legged flying kick. The most powerful for really thick and deep rooted trees.
Me, Applejack, and her big brother Big Mac started Bucking the trees after I got used to kicking the trees. We spend at least half an hour of applebucking before I get stopped by Applejack.
"Ember?" I kick a tree and turn to face her.
"What?"
"You feelin' tired?"
"No, why?"
"You just cleared two an' half acres in an hour." I shrug.
"And?"
"It would me an' Mac a couple a hours tah clear that much."
"Then you're not as efficient as me. You saw how I was silent and focused? And you two were talking up a storm?" She nods. "That makes the difference."
"But that's still impressive." Big mac says. He's pretty quiet, the strong, silent type. Kinda fitting for a male his size.
"Thank you." But then I realize something. "Does that mean you were taking a break or something?" The both look down, clearly I'm right. "Eh... just wondering... Does this mean that we're done for the day..?"
"Not at all! It's barely past twelve! We still got the whole day ahead of us."
"Fair enough." We all make a silent agreement and get back to bucking the trees. *I wonder how I'm working so well with them... Maybe due to the work I've done? They're hard workers themselves, from what I've seen.* It's only been a few minutes when I hear a voice.
"Applejack." Boyish, maybe Spike? I take a quick glance behind me. *Yup, it's Spike. Wonder what he wants.*
"Hey Spike, somethin' up?"
"Twilight needs you at the library, something important. Don't bring Ember." I don't look back, but I hear the little dragon run off.
"It sure seems important. Hey Ember!" I turn around.
"What?"
"Ah need to go check on somethin' you jus' keep buckin'. Alright?" I nod.
"You got it Aj." I turn back around and scissor-kick a tree. Aj gallops off to somewhere, with me following close behind...
Apparently Twilight requested the others to meet at her home. Once Applejack walked in I looked through a window, thankfully they weren't looking in my direction. I quickly back away from the window and get close to the door. I can hear them talking.
"Okay, I'll bite, why did you get us all here for?"
"For this. I need you all to read it." Read what?
"Why?" Rainbow asks.
"Just, read it." I hear Rainbow huff. A bit of silence and I can hear more talking.
"I wanna read it next!" Pinkie shouts. Some weird scratching and it goes silent again.
"Pinkie dear, are you alright?" Rarity asks. "What it is in that letter..?" I hear some sparkle-shit and it lasts for a minute. Silence takes back its place.
"What in tarnation is in that letter?" Applejack says with that classic southern drawl, it's surprisingly likeable though... Some more weird scratching and silence once again takes the room they occupy. Minutes go by and I hear more sparkling shit.
"Come on Fluttershy, I need you to read it too." I hear squeaks and it all goes quiet a fifth time. This time it lasts a few minutes.
"I... never expected him to have... this kind of past." Rarity breaks the silence.
"None of us did Rarity, none of us did." Twilight says.
"Tah think he's been through so much... And be like him..." Applejack mutters. At this point I'm both upset and confused. Upset because this might mean they somehow know of my past without me telling them. And confused because that might not be it.
Leaning towards the ladder.
Using my magic, I make the door swing open and teleport inside. Once inside I flare my wings. All the ponies stare at me wide eyed, Fluttershy cowering under the table. I pang of guilt stabs my chest. After knowing her for a minute, she's quite the... scared one to say the least.
But that didn't matter, what mattered is figuring out what they were reading and talking about. And a paper sat in the center of the table. I use my magic to bring it to me.
"Ember! You don't need to read that!" Twilight shouts out. I just look at her with a glare that says, 'I will fucking kill you', not that I would, I just did that to keep her from taking it from me. I read the paper; apparently a letter from Princess Celestia. Saying how Luna shared some of my memories. My. Fucking. Memories.
To say I was pissed is a bit of an understatement.
I especially like the little bit about keeping me calm. Fucking humorous. It actually made me chuckle.
"So, you all know about me know, my general life anyway. Am I right?" They all slowly nod. I even struck fear into Rainbow! Bonus! Despite the asinine request from Celestia is offencive enough, I crack a smile. "You know what, I' not even mad."
"Really?" Twilight asks. I nod and smile widely.
"Yes, really. I'm not mad. I. Am. Furious." They all flinch. "You couldn't just fucking ask me?" They all look down dejectedly. "I guess not, why? Why can't you just ask me about me?"
"I was too afraid too..." Twilight finally answers.
"And that makes it ok to go through such lengths, using one of you own diarchs!?" She looks down, too embarrassed to look up. "Thought so." I pause for a minute. "Now that I think about, it's kinda understandable; If I meet a new species that were three times my size, I'd be a little intimidated too. Probably downright terrified depending on how siad species looked. And I could put this all behind me..." Surprised look all around. "On one condition."
"And what is that?" Rainbow immediately goes on the defensive.
"You, all you, will never speak of this again. Unless if I allow it. Is this understood?" Fluttershy has come out from under the table, a little calm. They all nod vigorously. At that I smile normally. "Good!" I walk over to Pinkie, who happen to be sitting next to eachother. I stand in between them and kneel to their eye level. Without saying a word, I reach up with both of my hands and scratch the two ponie behind their ears. Something I learned from Applebloom a while back. Their reactions where just like hers, their bodies would stiffen at first, then slouch a little. Then their eyes would roll up and... Pinkie's tongue hung out, Fluttershy just kept a cute, puppy-face. And predictably, the others are shocked. A few minutes are spent in silence again, broken by Pinkie's sighs or Fluttershy's humming.
"Where did ya learn to do that?" Rainbow asks. I smirk.
"Applebloom, she saw that I have hands and asked me to do the same I'm doing right now. I don't know how she found this out, but she did." I stop scratching and stand back up.
"Aww... I want more scritchy scratchy!" Pinkie is back to... whoever the fuck she is. Same goes for Fluttershy, a small, delicate smile curving her lips. I smile back at her before I turn my attention to the whole group.
"Later Pinkie. Right now, I would like to find a fucking place to live in, it's getting pretty old having to wake up every late morning and something weird happening." I glance quickly at Twi, making her blush and chuckle nervously. "Since you apparently have some connections in whatever kind of government runs this country, do you think you can find a way to get me a house Twilight? Preferably one with a basement?" Twi shakes her head, probably to get rid of those awkward moments.
"Well... There is a council of ambassadors. They meet once a year to discuss about unknown matters, or to negotiate..."
"And what does this have to do with me?"
"Since you are a new species on this planet, and being the only human in recorded history,"
"That makes me feel really fucking welcome, thanks for the reminder." I say blandly, everypony's ears fold back. Twi's out of embarrassment.
"Sorry..."
"Just go on..."
"Ok... *ahem* as I was saying, you can act as the ambassador for your own kind."
"And how does that help me get my own place?"
"By being part of this council, you receive a thick paycheck. And I think I can get you a grant from Princess Celestia so you can buy you own house." At that word, 'paycheck' she had my full attention. I like, no... love money. Who doesn't? I'm not like one of those stereotypical rich fucks if you're thinking that. I just like to have money, not enough to corrupt me. I should stop digging this hole I'll get out of.
"I'm interested. How soon can you do that?"
"Right now actually. Spike!" Said little dragon comes down the stairs.
"What is it Twilight?"
"Take a letter..."
It only took Twi two minutes for Spike to write down what Twi has said, some shit about me becoming a diplomat or something. I wasn't paying attention, Chrysi came back from doing whatever the hell changelings do, she thankfully kept her disguise on for the other ponies. I, however, returned to scratching Pinkie begin the ears. And from the look of it, she was in heaven. She was laying on the ground, a leg twitching ever now and again. While the others were talking with Chrysi. She managed to have made up a story where she's from Fillydelphia. These ponies and their fucking punny names. One particular second Spike doubled over, like he was about to vomit, instead a large burst of green fire erupted with a loud burp. Apparently this happens every single time Celestia sends a letter to Twi. That's not the weird part, the weird part was that to send a letter to Celestia, Spike breaths fire and burns the rolled up letter, turning it to sparkling purple ashes, then it would fly out a random window and head to... Canterlot. At this point I've learned to put names, magic, and all their abnormal shit under the 'Shit I Will Never Understand' folder. And never question anything, just fucking label it as 'magic'. That's the answer they keep responding with...
Anyway! The green fire spins into a ball until A scroll with a sun seal on it pops into existence. It's covered in a purple mist as it floats over to Twi, it unrolls and she reads it. Her eyes progressively widening, she looks to me.
"What?" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 8: Diplomatic Imunity | "What?"
"I... You..."
"What is it Twilight?" Rarity asks.
"C'mon sugarcube, spit it out." Applejack chimes in.
"Ember is now officially the ambassador of the human race." That surprised everybody, even me.
"She did it that quickly?" *These ponies definitely have some crazy-ass magic or something...* Twi shakes her head.
"The letter says the Princess has already made preparations for this situation."
"Wow. Ok... Does she have some kind of power to see the future or something? And can she do that?" I felt that it was a legitimate inquiry.
"Of course not! Princess Celestia just prepares for any situation. And she's the princess of the Sun, she can do whatever she wants."
*That... actually makes sense for a princess... Considering what Twi has told me of past events... and shit...* "So... That's it?" Twi looks at the paper again.
"No... In order for it to be official, you need to go to Canterlot and sign a document recognizing you as an accredited diplomat."
"Makes sense. By when do I need sign this thing?" I don't know much about politics, but since I'm technically a bran-fucking-new species on this planet, it makes sense, to me, that I would need to sign something to be recognized as an important person. With, y'know, me being the only one of my kind here. I'm just gonna go along with this shit if it gets me a house and money.
"As soon as possible." She says. "The princess has already sent a carriage here. It says it should be here by now." As if on cue, there's loud clattering outside, along with some horse noises.
*They're as intelligent as humans, and yet they still make those noises?* "I'm guessing that's my ride?"
"I would assume so darling." Rarity finally spoke.
"Yes, but I'm coming with you." That sounded weird in so many different ways. I would of asked why Twi would want to come with me. But then I remembered that I would probably get lost, being in a new setting, and a new world on top of that. The others spout out how they will come along, I think they're all just making excuses to go to this city, apparently it's like one of those rich-people cities in Manhattan, Chrysi didn't want to go, I would've asked why, but then I remembered the whole 'invasion' thing. They probably have shit to find if she's a changeling or not. Anyway, we all go outside, me being first, and I see the thing I'm supposed to ride in. Purple and dark pink dominate the... carriage. While what looks like gold outline the edges, along with swirls and curvy lines dance across each side of it. Basically it looks a golden tentacle monster attached itself to the carriage. With two males pulling the thing, they're covered in what looks like golden armor
"I am not getting in that thing." Five ponies gasp, Rainbow just snorts and Chrysi giggles.
"Why? Afraid of heights?" I look at her pointedly while I flare my wings.
"I've been thirty-thousand feet in the air, I have no fear of heights. And I don't think I would fit in there comfortably." Flaring my wings got her to shut up. "You all can ride on that thing, I'll fly beside you guys." The six ponies murmur to each other, then nod. Twi speaks up.
"Alright, if you want to."
"But I'm flying with you!" Rainbow flies up in my face.
"What, still don't trust me?" She stays silent, her nose inches away from mine. "If you actually payed attention to that paper from earlier, you'd step back." She scowls at me, but hovers back to the ground, a few feet away from me. "Should we go now, I think we're starting to annoy our ride..." I glance at the two ponies hulling the carriage, they have faces that suggest mild annoyance.
"Right, lets go." Twi leads the four other ponies onto the carriage. Once on it takes off, closely followed by me and Rainbow...
It would've been nice if the whole trip was quiet, I prefer it that way. But no, Rainbow doesn't like silence apparently.
"So..." She's been saying for the past five minutes, it's gotten pretty fucking annoying.
"What?" I finally say, it was either that or plummet to the ground.
"So..." I feel my eye twitch. "Is all that stuff that was on that letter true?"
"Yes."
"How do I know you're not lying?" Really? Are you fucking kidding me?
"That letter was sent to Twilight by your princess, why would she, and me, need to fabricate my fucking past? I have literally been through hell and back. I shouldn't even be alive right now. And yet, here I am." If that didn't get my point though, I don't know what will. She went quiet. "Is that enough for you? Can you stop pestering me with these stupid questions?" It was really getting on my nerves. You try dealing with that for three days and see if you don't explode.
"Hey! I'm not stupid!" She yells back.
"I wasn't calling you stupid, I'm calling your questions stupid. There's a difference."
"Whatever..." We both snort, her like a horse and me like a fucking human, I look ahead and see a giant castle-looking city, hanging in the side of a mountain. The way it looked reminds me of Lord of the Rings for some reason.
"Is that... Canterlot?" *I have to get used to these names. If not I'll go insane...*
"Yeah, it is. Kinda awesome isn't it?"
"From what I've been told about it, yeah. Just one thing, why is it hanging off the side of a mountain?"
"I don't know, you'll have to ask Twilight about that." The carriage began to descend.
"Guess we're about to land." I take a guess of where it's going to land and head for it. A small patch of solid ground in front of some kind of building. Kinda looks like one of those checkpoints for border patrol. I speed up and nearly hit the ground. I instead swing my legs to the side and lose all my speed, softly touching the ground, kinda like how you see parkour pros jump over tall walls. To my right was probably the most hilarious thing I've seen to date. Rainbow tried to do the same thing. She failed, badly. All I heard was a loud 'woah!' and saw her tumbling tumbling across the ground past me. I promptly laughed my ass off. My laughing lasted a good minute before something impacted my stomach. My eyes open and look down to see Rainbow, her right hoof slammed into my stomach. I chuckle a little at her awed face. "I would stop that if I were you, you don't know if the one you punched can punch back harder." Her pupils shrink for a split second and she backs away. "It's always fun to mess with you. Nice jabb by the way."
"Shut up." Just then the carriage stops next to us. The two ponies pulling it nay and paw at the air.
*Shouldn't that be really demeaning?* Once it's come to a full stop the rest of the other five ponies step off of the carriage. Twi's the first one to get off.
"Thank you." The two ponies snort in appreciation. Twi walks over to us while the rest come out. "Well, here we are!" I look to the building, now I see the full picture; a building about two stories high, attached to it on each side is a abnormally tall golden yellow fence. Beyond the building and fence is what just might the most spectacular sight I've ever seen. Ivory-white building litter what little land there is on this mountain side. Beautiful architecture, although seemingly impossible. It looks like there's an actual with and purple castle further ahead. I am truly at a loss for words at this point. I've only seen places like this in movies. And even those special effects pale in comparison to the real thing.
"Ember darling, are you alright?" I guess I looked stunned.
"Yeah... I'm fine. Just never seen any place like in person."
"What do you mean by that?" Twilight, the ever-so-inquisitive one, asks.
"I've only seen places like this in movies."
"Move-ies?"
"They're moving pictures on a digital screen."
"Digital?"
"I don't to play twenty questions, lets just do this. I'll just follow you girls." Twi nods and leads the entire group. First obstacle: The ponies guarding the gate, next to the building. Of course they didn't bat an eye at the ponies passing but 'stop the monster calmly following them!', fucking fantastic.
"You! Halt!" One of them orders. I do so to not antagonize myself.
"I'm with them." His eyes widen, I love it when they don't expect me to respond. But he quickly recomposed himself, Twi comes in before he can speak again.
"Yes, he is with us. He needs to meet with Princess Celestia."
"May I ask why?"
"I'm the ambassador of the human race. And I am the only known human in this planet, and I need to speak to your highness. That is why, good sir." I can understand why he would question me going to see Celestia, with me being a new being he hasn't seen before. But the way he asked that question, it was very, smug.
"Tck, yeah, sure." He looks to the six ponies. "Why is he really with you?" Jackass.
"It's true. He really is the Ambassador of the Human race." At Twi's words his jaw drops. I would've loved to burst out laughing, but I do have to represent my species, it's become a thing apparently. Not that I mind, kinda do, but I suspect I'm gonna have to start doing this shit. The pony guarding the gate eventually recomposed himself and nodded at a random window on the building. I loud clang and the gates slowly, and dramatically, swing open. Letting us go on our way. I look to the pony as we enter and nod to him, he nods back.
"So, am I gonna have to deal with more ponies like him, or what?" I say once we're far enough.
"Well... There are the ponies that live here darling..." Rarity answers.
"That didn't sound too pleasant." Rainbow gave me the blunt version.
"She means nobles live here and they're not gonna like you."
"Thank you for the blunt answer." *Whatever you do DON'T strangle her.* I think I already made it obvious we don't like each other, one can only imagine what she's thinking...
It's just as Rainbow said, we had to make our way to the biggest castle towards the back of the city. The six ponies beside me my tour guide now. As they decided to tell of this place. The, 'nobles', all gave me weird and dirty looks. If it weren't for Fluttershy, or any of the six ponies here. There'd probably be blood everywhere.
Ok, that may have been an extreme exaggeration. But these fucking high-class snobs! They even wear clothing, kinda struck me as odd compared to the mares with me. Rarity later told me that clothing is mandatory here, shows how much wealth each pony has. I just had to tell her that it's like that on my world. SHe immediately became fascinated and plead me to talk about our kinds of clothing. ANd that's where we are now.
"Would you mind telling me about human fashion?" I had to contemplate that for a minute.
*It'll help pass the time... Eh...* "Eh, why not? Whataya want to know?" At that her eyes gleam and sparkle.
"Everything darling." Fuck...
"Um..."
*I wonder how Ember's been taking all of this... He's barely shown any reaction toward anything, I'm beginning to wonder if what he said about liking it here is true* But he did say that he can control his emotions. Maybe that correlates with his lack of expressions, and how he's able to stay calm in certain situations. *That may be it, but... I need to ask him about this. The way he was with us when he read the letter,*
"Um... Where do I begin? We're not limited by culture if that's what you mean. There are hundreds of types of clothing styles where I come from."
*I knew Rarity would eventually ask him about human fashion. I didn't even know humans where clothes. Why do they wear clothes all the time?*
"*gasp* You musttell me all about it!"
*I can already tell he's regretting that.*
"Uh, Twilight?"
"Yes Applejack?"
"You alright there?"
"Yes, why?"
"'Cause we're here."
"Oh, that was quick."
I was in the middle of explaining the different types of clothing we have when I noticed that we were in front of another gate. This being a little smaller, and surrounding the suddenly magnificent castle I saw from afar. Pure white towers topped with purple and yellow pointed roofs. The place is small from an angle, but when you get up close it's actually pretty big...
The pony guard nodded toward the six ponies as they walked through the gate. OF course they stop me, even thought I was right behind them.
"You! Hault!"
*God fucking dammit*
"What is your business here?"
"I am here to see Princess Celestia."
"For what reason?"
"I need to talk to Princess Celestia. I need to decide where I'm going to reside here."
"Why is that?" Very inquisitive I see.
"I am a new citizen here and I am the ambassador of the human race." This guy is better at keeping a straight face. He looks at Twilight, then back to me.
"Enter." Ok... that was something.
"Thank you." I say as politely as possible. I catch up with the six ponies. "What the hell was that Twi? You know him or something?"
"Yes, I used to live here before."
"And I'm guessing you know a lot of ponies in the castle?"
"I was Princess Celestia's student for a few years before I moved to Ponyville. I know almost everypony that work in the castle."
*How long was she here for?* "Cool." the area around us goes quiet as I'm lead through the complete maze-like hallways of the place. I don't know how they don't get lost in this place. We all spend a few good minutes walking down corridors, up a few flights of stairs. Some lefts, some rights. And we eventually walked into a corridor worth noting. On each side were stain-glass windows depicting different events. I was taking glances at them when one with the strangest creature I've ever seen was on it. The what looked the six ponies I'm walking with shooting... something at it. I look at the strange creature and words comes to mind. *Chaos. I need to ask Twilight about this.* I look forward and two giant wooden doors are at the other side of the hall. Two ponies holding tall spears with red cloaks stand at each side of the massive door. The cloaks they're wearing block their faces, but small movements and gestures are noticeable if you take a really good look at them. Both of their heads tilt upward a tiny bit and the doors are covered in a grey and white mist. The double-doors open with loud creaking, really loud creaking. Fucking loud creaking. Once open a little scene is revealed.
"But Aunty!" A full grown white-furred, blond haired male is groveling at the bottom of what I assume is Celestia's and Luna's throne. Luna sitting in her throne, a bored expression on her face.
"I've already said no Blueblood. And no, means no." Anyone can tell she's a little irritated. While we were watching this Luna looked to me. Her expression turning from bored to pleading. As if asking 'end this shit, please.'. A wicked idea pops into my head.
"Stay here, I have an idea." I whisper to them. All of them but Twilight smirk.
"What are you doing?" Twi nearly shouts.
"Shh!" I hiss at her and make my way to stand right behind this... Blueblood. Thank the universe I can walk without making a single sound. Celestia quickly glances at me when I'm a few feet behind the still whining pony. She looks to Luna, and both of them smile.
"What are you smiling about aunty?"
"Me." I say in my deepest tone. The pony nearly jumps to the ceiling and spins around.
"Who-!" The words he were about to spew, along with his breath, stop at the back of his mouth. His legs tremble a little and his body shakes. That lasted for a second before he quickly recomposed himself. "W-what are you!?"
"A human. And I believe your aunty has had enough with your whining."
"Who do you think you are, ape?! I am Prince Blueblood!" My amused smile twisted into a frown. How did he make such a connection with humans to apes?
"I am the ambassador of the human race. And I come from a different planet, millions of lightyears away."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Wow, this one's a little dull. That, or they have idea what a lightyear is...
"It means I can give less than a shit whether you're a prince or not. From what I just saw you're nothing but a whining brat."
"Why you-!"
"Blueblood, Ember. That is enough." Celestia's voice has taken an ice cold tone, kinda surprised me. Blueblood went wide-eyed and clammed up.
"Alright Celestia."
"That's, 'Princess Celestia' to you Ember." Twilight chimes in.
"Do you honestly think I care Twilight?"
"Obviously not, but it would be nice if you would show some respect to the princess."
"It's alright Twilight Sparkle." Celestia speaks up. "Blueblood, you can go know." He grumbles and mutters something under his breath. The whole chamber stays quiet until Blueblood leaves the place. "I apologize, he always comes to day court to ask for more bits. Even though he already has enough as it is."
*Bits? Is that their type of currency?* "Eh. Don't worry about it, it was pretty funny when he jumped, and his reaction towards me."
"Yes, 'twas quite humorous." Luna finally spoke up, I wonder why she waited so long to finally talk. "Blueblood can be quite... irritating."
"I can tell. Anyway, you wanted me to sign a paper?"
"Ah! Yes!" Celestia's horn is shrouded in a golden yellow mist and a paper and quill poof into existence. "Sign on the bottom line when you have finished reading."
"Ok..." I try to read the text, but it's all symbols and pictures. *They speak english, yet this is their form of text?* "I can't read this."
"What?"
"I can't read this, whatever this is. It's nothing like I've ever seen or read..."
"That can't be possible! How can you speak our language, but not read it?"
"Different planets, remember? There are going to be some differences." Just then a certain memory pops into my head. "Luna?"
"Yes?"
"Remember when I shared my memories with you?"
"Yes... Why do you ask this?"
"Then you saw how humans write, am I correct?" Her eyes go wide.
"Yes! Of course! 'Tis is true Twilight Sparkle." An idea form in my head.
"Ok, hold on. Hold on... If you have some of my memories..." I still don't know how I'm ok with that. "Then shouldn't it be possible for you to give me a copy of your language?" Luna puts a hoof to her chin.
"Yes! Of course!" She stands from her throne. "Thou stayith there while we cast our spell!" She hurries down the stairs. Her horn lighting a light blue as it touches my forehead when she's close enough. As soon as her horn touches my forehead my vision goes white, then black. After who-knows-how much time has past, I open my eyes and see that the ponies have gathered around me, and I'm laying on the floor, and I've been knocked out..
"What the hell happened?" I asked in my classic monotone... tone. Fuck I need to get creative with analogies. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 9: A New Home and Friends | After he left the chamber, he made his way out to city, his destination a bit peculiar.
*Who does that ape think he is? Interrupting me while asking Aunty for more bits, then emarasses me. IN FRONT OF EVERYPONY!! I'll show him, I'll put him in his place; a bucking ape!* He can be seen in the city, walking to someplace, and giving anypony within his sight a fowl scowl. He eventually made it the edge of the massive city, stopping at an old, dilapidated building with a sign saying 'Special Services'. With that kind of name, everypony else thought it was some kind of whore house. It is, but there's a little known fact about this place; they also hire ponies to take others out of the picture... Only for a few hundred bits, which is actually pretty cheap!
"What the hell happened?" I ask.
"I... I don't know..." If the surprised faces from the other five ponies mean anything, it probably means shits going down if Twi doesn't know what happened.
"That was bigger than I anticipated." Celestia spoke out. Her head poking into my vision. I tried to move. But every single muscle in my body screamed in protest.
"Can't, move..." I grunt out. I kinda surprised myself, by not screaming bloody murder.
"Oh my! Ember!" Fluttershy quickly gets closer to me, looking for anything wrong with my body. She tentatively grabs ahold of my arm. Making me grunt in pain. "Oh! I'm so sorry!"
"Heh, it's alright." I croak out. "Can anyone tell me what the fuck happened?" Celestia decided to answer.
"When my sister touched her horn to your forehead it created a small explosion. Luna was unharmed, the same cannot be said for you I assume?" She puts on a small smirk. I chuckle weakly.
"Hehe, I guess so. Also, anyone mind taking me to whatever kind of medical ward you have? I'm going to pass out again, and probably vomit." And that just happens as my vision goes black again...
After spending who knows how much time in total and complete darkness. My eyes finally open to reveal the ceiling of some room, and a beeping sound fill my ears. And that I'm laying in probably the most plush and comfortable bed I've ever laid in. With a pillow that feels like clouds to boot.
"For once I'm thankful of these ponies." I'd never thought I'd say that, ever.
"Glad to see you awake, Ember." Celestia's voice sounds out. The muscles in my neck strain as I pull my head up. I'm apparently in a medical room. Every single thing in here is white, save for the green curtains that cover a window to my left. Directly in front of me, everybody is standing at the edge of the bed I'm laying on, relieved faces all around. Accept for Rainbow.
"I'm glad just to be alive at this point." I sit up in my bed, took a little bit of effort to do that. "What happened while I was out? Specifically what did that explosion do to me?" Twi answers.
"The doctors said that every bone in your body suffered fracturing, though nothing actually broke." Okaayyy...
"That it?" She nods. "Didn't think it would that bad." I mutter under my breath. "Then how did I heal so quickly?"
"Well, Doctor Stable said your magic helped with the healing process while they were applying healing magic." I sit there for who knows how long. Contemplating on what to do at this point.
"Well... What happens now?" *I have a feeling I'm gonna be asking that question a lot...*
"I would like to speak privately with Ember." The ponies in the room look to Celestia seriously, then, one-by-one, they all walk out of the room. The door shuts with a golden glow as Luna is the last to leave. Then the whole room is briefly covered in the same golden glow.
*This can't be good...* "If I can ask, what are you doing?" Celestia, who has never taken her eyes off of me, gives me an angry look.
"Why do you have the Alicorn Amulet?" The whole room feels like a blizzard is blowing through. Her voice even gain an icy tone.
"Amulet..?" Then it hits me. "Oh! That red medallion thing?" She slowly nods. "It actually drew me to it."
"What do you mean?" Damn... Her voice. This is another side of her that I'm guessing no living being has seen.
"One night I was sleeping in Twi's basement, I almost fell asleep, but I felt something. Drawing me to it. I didn't know what it meant so I went to where the source was. And the amulet itself was on a shelf hidden in the wall. I opened it, the amulet popped out. Then it went... into my chest. Sounds weird I know." That last part made her eyes go wide. Her horn light a golden yellow and the same mist covered my chest.
"That, can't be..." She muttered.
"What?"
"The amulet. It's... part of you."
"What?"
"From what I saw, it is where your heart would be."
"Is that a bad thing, and does that mean it's replaced my heart?"
"Yes! The Alicorn Amulet corrupt the soul and turn any who use it evil! And it may have taken place of your heart." I stare at her blankly.
"If that's true, then why haven't I tried to kill you? And why has this thing replaced my heart?" She says nothing. "I think it's because I am a completely new species to this entire planet. But then again, I know nothing of this place." I say with a little bit of sarcasm.
"You may not be that wrong, Ember. With the amulet as your heart now... that means it should be extremely difficult to..." She looks like she's contemplating something. Also the room got significantly warmer. She stays like that for a minute. "Have you felt anything about your or your body change?"
"Besides my eyes changing red, that's pretty much it." She raises a brow. *Mind making my eyes flash red for a second?* A series of three magical pulses flow through my body, ending at my eyes. The second and last pulse turned Celestia's eyes to saucers. "I just have one question; Why would I want to become a villain? This place is paradise compared to where I used to live. You should know that." Her cheeks briefly tint the faintest pink at that statement.
"Yes, I do know. I... just suspected that of you. The Alicorn Amulet does not have a bright history."
"You don't have to worry about me reeking havoc on your kingdom, Princess Celestia. I can promise you that I will never harm your ponies, unless it's out of self-defense." I put as much honesty as I could into that sentence. She smiles gratefully. "And don't you mean to say difficult to kill?"
"Yes, but here it would be barbaric to... end your life due to the Amulet..." She clears her throat. "But, thank you Ember."
"Anytime... Moving on to a lighter subject, where is that document? I want to see if I can read it now." There was a slight giddiness in my voice. Celestia just smirks.
"Lets find out." Her horn lights again in a golden glow, and the same document appears before me. But now I can fucking read it!
"Yes! I can read!" I skim the paper. Its some legal jargon and some rules about me abusing my power. And recognizing me as a diplomat. *That was a bit anti-climactic...* I skim to the bottom and see where I'm supposed to sign. "Am I to sign in your written language?"
"Yes. And this is surprising to say the least. I didn't expect what my sister did to work." A quill poofs in out of nowhere.
"Well, I am from another world after all, I'm willing to bet that a lot of new things are going to come about, anyway..." *Lets see if can write my name* I grasp the quill, and guide it to the dotted line. *Here goes nothing...* As I started writing A felt something in my eyes and head. It didn't hurt, it just felt... weird. Next thing I know I'm writing my name in whatever they call this writing style. The quill poofs away as soon as I finished my name. "Well, that came out better than I expected."
"I agree, I was expecting much worse." I look at her blankly. I would of said something out of spite. But I realized that I just learned a completely new language or calligraphy, finally I remember that word, so it makes sense that she would've expected worst.
"Thank you." The paper rolls up and poofs out of existence, or to wherever they keep their documents, and the whole room flashes yellow again. "I, apologize, for how I acted toward you, I just need to protect my little ponies from any threat, also I have to attend day court." She was about to walk away but she remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot, you will receive your weekly salary starting this week. The first should be enough for you to buy your own house and furniture."
"Heh, something tells me that it's going to be a long day for you. And thanks for the money." Celestia snickers.
"It's like this everyday..." I don't think she meant for me to hear that. As soon the door closes behind it reopens as the rest of the ponies come in. Twilights hurries to the side of my bed.
"What did you two talk about?"
"How much my salary will be." I assumed Celestia didn't want them to know of the amulet that replaced my heart. I have no idea how I haven't flipped the fuck out yet. "She said my first payment should be enough to get me a house and some furniture." Then a thought pops into my head. "I need one with a basement."
"Why?"
"Assuming every single available house in Ponyville is made to fit pony standards..." Twi's cheeks tint a light pink. "I need a basement like the one you have." *I wonder if they have the same laws humans have when it comes to citizenship...* At this point I've stopped feeling sore all over the place.
"Can we go back to Ponyville now? This place is boring..." Rainbow complains.
"For once, I agree with you." Everyone chuckles at that. I get up from the bed, take off the little thing attached to my wrist and stretch as they all head out the door, loud satisfying pops come from my back as I stretch. I then walk out the door and see that I'm in some really long and kinda small hallway, my head almost touches the ceiling. The side opposite to the door I came out of is lined with windows. Letting me see the beautiful plants that cover the dirt floor outside.
"This is where we part, Twilight, Ember and friends. Farewell!" Luna walks away while the ponies wave to her.
*Why the fuck did she say my name like that? Oh yeah, I'm not exactly friends with these ponies...* We all then make our way back to wherever then fucking entrance is for this place. I still don't understand who Twilight leads back to the entrance of this castle...
We eventually made it of the maze these ponies call a castle. It was still pretty fucking boring having to walk up and down a few flights of stairs and long hallways. When we finally made it outside the first thing I noticed was that there was the same garden I saw from before. Yeah, the same, exact, garden. I'll let that thought sink in for a bit.
Anyway, we left the front doors of the castle and just got past the gates. The ponies, minus Rainbow, were about to get in when a masculine voice rang out.
"Twilight! Watch out!" I would of turned to see who shouted that. But something hit me the side, hard, very fucking hard. Felt like an anvil slamming into my side. A bit of an exaggeration, but I felt the hard impact either way. Which made me tumble across the ground a few feet. I immediately stood up and shook my head.
*How come I didn't feel pain from that?* All the spells that have been done on me have resulted in an explosion. Whether I was the one hurt or the caster of the spell hurt. For some reason not this time... I look in the general direction of where the blast came from. And there, standing about ten yards in front of me, was a white coat blue mane and tail male unicorn. He adopted a very aggressive stance. Almost like a dog ready to pounce. Behind him was a pink female unicorn with yellow, pink, and purple striped mane. "Another idiot. Should've expected that." I remarked. Both pony's eyes grew wide when I spoke.
"It can talk?" The male spoke.
"Yes I can talk. What I'm wondering is," I teleport to stand right in front of him. Easily towering over both of them, the female also has wings. "why the hell did you attack me?"
"Well... I... Uh... I, thought, you. Were... a monster." A snicker and glance at Rainbow. Who scowls back at me.
"Why is it that all these ponies think of me like that." I mutter under my breath. I ponder what I should do, then an idea takes form. *An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.* I devilish smirk curves my lips. "Instant payback."
"Wha-" Before the male could finish that word. I make a direct uppercut right at his jaw. I didn't feel any bone break so I knew I punched not too hard. Still sent him flying though, funny. He lasted good second in the air before he kissed the ground a few yards away. Leaving the pink mare terrified.
"It's pretty insulting to be called a monster, especially when I haven't committed any crime." I look to the female. Who flinches under my gaze. "I just wanted to get a little payback for him blasting me with whatever that was."
"You mean the beam of magic?" The look of terror turned to curios as she spoke. Her voice was smooth and elegant, kinda like Celestia's, but with a higher pitch.
"Yeah, that." She snickers.
"You must be Ember, right?"
*How did she guess that?* "Yes. How did you guess?"
"Just a lucky guess." Her look says everything.
"You heard about some weird new creature that appeared in Ponyville, huh?"
"Brother!" Oh yeah, back to the outside world. That was Twi's voice.
"Brother?" I look over and she's currently helping her supposed 'brother' get up.
"Ugh, I'm ok Twily."
*So they're siblings. Didn't see that coming.* Twilight looks to me with scorn written across her face.
"Why did you punch my BBBFF?"
"BBBFF?" I repeat.
"Big brother, best friend forever." The pink mare answers.
"Thank you." She smiles. "As for your question Twilight. He hit me first." That sounded a bit childish, it was the truth anyway.
"That doesn't mean you get to hurt him badly!"
"I didn't hurt him badly. The worst he got is probably a bruise and a sore jaw." Twi was about to talk back, but her brother cut in.
"He's right Twily, besides feeling a bit sore, I'm perfectly fine."
"Really?" She looks to him and he nods. "Ok. Still wasn't right to hit him." I hear her mutter.
"That was a nice hit though." He remarks. "How can move like that? You're bucking tall."
"Thanks, it took a couple of months' gymnastics training for me to be that fast." Twi clears her throat as she looks at her brother. He walks closer to me with a blank face.
"My name is Shining Armor. Captain of the royal guard." The pink mare move to stand next to the newly named Shining Armor.
*Captain?*
"And I'm Mi Amore Cadenza. Or Princess Cadence."
*Princess?*
"And we both rule the crystal empire." They say in unison.
*Crystal Empire!?* I put that aside and bow for Cadence. Then I salute Shining. "A pleasure to meet you both." I say in my classic army tone. They both put on confused faces. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Shining seems to understand what I did.
"At ease soldier." I put my hand down and stand normally. "Who knew you were a soldier?" He said appraisingly.
"Barely anyone, sir." Even though I'm on another planet in some other part of the universe, some old habits never die. At least Cadence understood what was going on now.
"If a mare may ask, what exactly made you sign up for your... Country's, military?"
"I was actually drafted because a huge world war started on my planet." The two ponies in front of me gasp.
"Really?" Cadence asks.
"Yeah."
"Can you tell me more?" Shining asks, there was a little glimmer in his eyes. Must be a big war buff. Before I could tell them more about world war three, Twi cut in.
"Actually we need to get going. Ember needs to do things back in Ponyville." She looks to me with a strained smile. "Right?"
"Yeah..."
"Then we'll come with you! The only reason we're here is because of you." Shining says, I was a little glad he didn't refer to me as an animal. Twi lets out a sigh of exasperation. She really doesn't want to tell them about the war... Or, at least I think so...
"Ok. Come one girls." She waves to the others, who were talking amongst themselves. All but Rainbow got into the carriage. Cadence and Shining being the last to get in the carriage. Cadence pokes her head out the door.
"Aren't you two coming with us?"
"Yes, I'm just gonna fly by you guys. I don't about her though." I point a thumb to Rainbow. "I think you should go with your friends this time." *Please work please work
please work!!* Just then Twi pops her head out. *YES!*
"Yes Rainbow! You should sit with us. We need to talk." Said blue bitch snorts in annoyance. But complies and walks inside the carriage. When the doors closes the two ponies hauling it niegh and take off with it.
*They need to talk huh?* With one flap I'm in the air, catching up with the flying carriage and listening in on what they were talking about.
"I have the letter Princess Celestia sent me."
"Well, can we read it? You're not really telling us much about Ember. Let alone let him tell us."
"Yes, here." Sometimes I fucknig love having super-human hearing sometimes. I hear nothing for what I think is four minutes. Every once in a while I would hear some muffled mumbling. Finally I hear something.
"Buck, that just made me respect him a whole lot more." Shining said.
*It's the same damn letter...*
"He really went through that much?" I hear Cadence, her voice had a sorrowful tone to it. Out of the corner of my eye I can see her staring at me through one of the windows of the carriage. A sad expression on her face.
"The Princesses don't lie apparently." Rainbow scoffs. A loud whacking sound greets my ears, one of them smacked Rainbow. "OW!"
"Stop it Rainbow!" Aj shouts. I turn my head towards the window, feigning to be oblivious to what happened earlier. When I turned to the window all the ponies who were staring out of it turn away. I shrug my shoulders and look back ahead. Pretending to not know what happened. "Ah hope he didn't hear what we're saying." I would've chuckled. But that would give it away.
"I hope so too, we're almost there." Twi said. "And I don't think you should ask him..." I look down and see that we're getting a little close to Ponyville. I nose dive and head straight for Twi's place, gaining speed. Landing right front of the front door, landing the same way I did back at Canterlot. And the same way that Rainbow failed to land. A minute later and the carriage comes to a stop a few yards away from the tree house, and everybody climbs off the thing. "Thank you." Twi said to the two ponies pulling the carriage. They snort in appreciation and take off.
"Whelp, what happens now?"
"While you wait for your payment to arrive, how about we go look for a house for you?" Twi asks.
"And we want to ask you more questions." Shining said. By now the others mares, fuck I need to remember gender names here, took off to do their own thing.
"Eh, why not. It's not like I have anything to do at the moment." *Besides going to sleep...*
Whelp, barely three hours have passed and I've already got my own fucking house with a basement, my payment were delivered by a grey coated blond pegasus who had a lazy eye, the mare nearly crashed into me. Her name's Derpy Hooves, gave me the duffle bag full of the 'bits' as they call these coins. Which I later found out to be tokens of pure, fucking, gold. And the mare flew off, apparently she delivers the mail around here, I wonder how she does it having a lazy eye... Shining and Cadence were asking me questions about me overall while I asked question about them, I found out that besides them ruling an empire made entirely of fucking crystals. That they're actually married, what's really surprising is that Cadence was Twilight's 'foal' sitter when they were younger, and that she's the princess of love. Classic Disney movie anyone? Anyway, the whole thing felt like an hour had past at best. Chrysi somehow found out where I was and caught up with us when we made it to town hall, I explained how me and Chrysi met and the two ponies were surprised yet again. Twi went inside the town hall to go talk with the mayor. Leaving us to talk with each other.
"So let me get this straight, your... people have somehow developed the technology needed to go to your planet's moon and back?" Me and Shining have been talking back-and-forth with Cadence asking a question or putting her thought on a subject every once in a while, Chrysi was content on just listening.
"That, and to travel to other planets." The subject changed from me to human tech in general. I'm surprised he hasn't asked about our weapons yet, he looks like he'd be interested in that.
"Awesome." He said. That made me little proud of my people, kinda.
"And your people have screens the make pictures from thousands of little lights?" Cadence spoke up.
"Yup." *I just wish I could show them. I don't like being thought as a liar. I know they think I'm lying. Their faces give it away. Either that, or I'm a little paranoid. That may be it... Then again I'm on another planet... I still want to show them my people's tech! No matter how much of asshole that makes me look like!
"You humans are an interesting race." Chrysi finally said something, she's been quiet the whole time Shining, Cadence and me were talking.
"You mean that in a cultural way right?" She nods. "Good." I may not be a total fan of the human race as a whole, but I still take offense when someone, in this case something, acts like a bigot.
"Your own kind are just so... so..."
"Diverse?" Cadence said, helping the little changeling. Oh yeah! She kept her disguise from earlier, I neglected to mention that...
"Yes, diverse. I've never heard of a single race of living beings that can have so many cultural differences."
"Well, it makes sense when there's about seven point two billion humans back on earth." *Even I think that's a shit-ton of people on one planet.* That made all of their jaws drop, almost literally, and their eyes bug out. They stay like that as Twi finally walks out of town hall.
"Well Ember, you have your own house now!" She failed to notice the three frozen ponies even as she stands next to me.
"That's good and all, but I think we should be more concerned about these three." I point a thumb to the three frozen ponies. Twi looks at them and gasps.
"What did you do!?"
"I didn't do shit!"
"Would stop saying those words!?"
"What words?"
"You know," Her voice lowers a bit. "shit and fuck."
"Why the fuck would you want me to stop saying those fucking words?"
"Because it's not right to say them! We have rules against that!"
"Fine." I clear my throat. "Anyway, back to the task at hand."
"Wait, don't you mean 'at hoof'?" I give her a blank look, then hold up my hands. Her cheeks quickly turn pink. "Oh, heh, right..."
"Hold on, I think I know how to bring them back to the real world." An evil smirk curves my lips.
"What are going to do?"
"Don't worry Twi. Just wait. Right. There." I say as I step towards Chrysi and crouch. I hold up a hand to her forehead and flick it. Instantly snapping her out of her trance.
"Ow! What was that for?" I point to the other two.
"You were like that."
"Oh."
"Now, let's get these two back to normal." Next is Cadence. I flick her in the forehead. She just snorts as her eyes return to normal.
"Huh? What happened?"
"I told you how many of us populate Earth and you, along with Shining and Chrysanthemum, froze up."
"Oh."
"And now I'm gonna break him from his trance." I step over to Shining and flick him on the forehead, only he doesn't respond. "What?" I flick him again a little harder. Still no response. "Hard head." I abandon flicking him and switch to smack him, right on the side of his face. That got him to snap out of it.
"Buck that hurt!"
"Shining!" Both Cadence and Twilight shout. "Language!"
"Why did you smack me?"
"You were stuck in a trance so I decided to take you out of it." I stand back up. "I don't know about about you guys, but I'm going home. Then I remember something. I need to get a motherfucking bed. "Hey Twilight."
"Yes?"
"You know where I can get a bed. My size?"
"Yes I do! If you will follow me please." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 10: Late Night Activities | Twilight lead me with Cadence, Shining and Chrysi in tow to the marketplace, to a store the specialized in custom furniture. The place kind looked like old century blacksmith, except for wood furnishings. The wood-brown unicorn who ran the place seemed to be a little too happy to make me a bed, that smile he maintained was a bit too wide. His name was Carpenter, yes, Carpenter, that is his name. He said to call him Carp for short. All this town needs is a bookstore named Barnes N' Noble with two ponies running the place named Barnes and Noble.
Anyway, now here we are, the five of us, well, the four of them while I just listen, are talking up a storm while carp does his thing. I was a bit preoccupied with watching Carp perform a number of tasks to make my custom bed from behind the counter. Twi said she can use an enlarging spell for the mattress back at her place so I can have it, it was a bit small when I slept in it...
"Ember?"
"Hmm?" I turn to the ponies.
"Umm... Cadence would like to know if she can ask you something." Twi said. I turn to the pink winged unicorn.
"What is it?"
"I want to know what it was like when this... war, you talked about, was like." She said carefully. "I'm curious."
*As if you ponies need to worry about me talking about the biggest, bloodiest war in human history.* "Alright, I'll tell you. But on one condition." All four ponies lean in. "You have to swear on your lives that not another soul is told of what I'm about to tell you. Go it?" They all nod. "Good." I lean closer to them. "'Cause if ya don't." I let my eyes turn red. "You'll wish you never did." I turn my eyes back to their original yellow color as I watch a shiver run down their forms.
"Now. How it felt like being a soldier in the bloodiest war of human history. How can I put it... Ah!" I lower my voice so only Twilight, Cadence, Chrysi and Shining can hear. "Imagine lying in a muddy ditch a forest in the ground for months on end while thousands of rounds of lead and a couple missiles fly above you. Only to get out during momentary cease-fire and likely be shot dead before you can manage a few feet ahead." I pause. "But then you and a few of your comrades managed to get into a ditch a few meters closer to the enemy while carrying fifty pounds of clothing and weapons. Only suffering a few grazes and non-fatal gunshot wounds. And then realizing over half of your squad was shot dead, blown to bits by land mines, gunfire or worse." All four of them pale. "Then one of your own comrades get bold and stupid enough to run out of the ditch to try and get a few shots at the enemy. Only for you and the others to watch in horror as you see him literally ripped apart as bullets tear through the poor soul. And all of that lasting for three, fucking, years." Twilight looks ready to vomit. The others just adopt a mixture of green and white faces. "I'll tell you more later if ya want. You all look ready to vomit or pass out." I look back to Carp.
"Looks like he's finished with my bed!" I try to lighten the mood. It seemed to have worked. I saw that Carp was putting the finishing touches on the bed frame.
"I sure am! Come take a look!" Carp shouts out. I all walk over to him and look at my brand fucking new bed frame. It looks big enough to fit my height.
"I like it. Looks like it'll hold my size."
"I guarantee that it'll be perfect! I've even made sturdy enough to take whatever you can throw at it!"
"I'll take your word for it. How much do ya want for it?" I then proceed to grab the duffel bag full of golden bits off my back. He waves a hoof dismissively.
"First time customers is always free."
"Really?" He nods. "Awesome." I grab the bed frame with my magic. "I'll be back tomorrow to ask for some more stuff. Right now I'm going home." It was getting pretty late, even for me. *I wonder how they managed to stay up this long.*
"Alright see ya tomorrow then!" I wave to him behind me.
"Hey Twilight, is it possible to teleport with this?"
"Yes, but it takes," a massive yawn escapes her lips. "a lot of magic."
"Good. See ya tomorrow." I then teleport me and my bed to my new home. *The mattress...* I forgot to ask twi about the mattress. *Eh, I'll do a couple teleports and get the damn thing.* I teleport to Twilight's basement, grab the bed nonchalantly in my magic, and teleport back home. *Is it possible if I can enlarge it myself?* The amulet responds with a positive pulse. *Perfect, but how do it?* The amulet didn't respond so I think up of ways to make this mattress larger. Then I get an idea, I set the mattress on the bed frame, grab a corner of the mattress, and pull. And to my surprise, the fucking thing got bigger. It was just as easy expanding a picture on a fucking tablet! I immediately jump onto the bed and pass out, I have one final thought before my eyes close. *I could've spawned this shit in...*
I loud crash comes from above as it wakes me the fuck up. Me being the guy that I am, I jump out of bed and quietly make my way up stairs, hand-claws at the ready and listening for more noises. I assume Chrysi already got here a while ago, if she chose to live with me.
"Remember what we're for: Find this thing and kill it. Spread out." I hear a male voice whisper.
"Got it." Another responds. A few seconds of silence and a light shines in from under my door. I quickly hid under my bed as the door opened. The light was fucking bright, but my eyes quickly adjusted and I can make out a pony behind the light. It's a unicorn. The magic claws dissipate from my hands.
*They have a light-source?*
"That's a big bed." The pony remarks. I teleport so that I'm standing right behind the fucker. Before I say anything I let my eyes turn red.
*Can you make my eyes glow red too?* I feel a rush of magic flow to my eyes and the pony's back tints the faintest of reds. *Awesome.* "Yup pretty big." I scare the living shit out this pony, making him jump to my height and turn around.
"Who-!" His breath stops at his throat and the light emanating from his horn dies as his eyes stare at my crotch. It was fukcing awkward.
"Up here." He slowly looks up, his face grows more horrified and his irises shrink to pinpricks when he locks eyes with mine. "The hell are you doing in my house?" He shakes his head and his eye return to normal. His horn glows a light yellow. Taking the sign I make a quick step back. I watch as a knife flies out of the pony's side, and shoots directly at me. Seeing as my life is in danger. I create a shield around me just in time to block the knife from stabbing. As it clanged to the ground I the shield goes down and I make quick work of the pony. Landing a direct punch to the top of his head, avoiding the horn. Which made him hit his head on the hard floor. Knocking him out. Without a light it's fucking dark here. *I love night-vision.* I carefully and quietly make my way upstairs.
"Ahh! Help!" A loud crash comes from the main bedroom.
*Chrysi?* Some more crashes and muffled screams sound out. I run to the room as fast as I could and burst in through the door. And see Chrysi in her real form struggling to break free from a grey stallion's grip, he doesn't have any wings or a horn. With all the noise they're making they didn't notice me come in. I think of what to do and I come up with an idea. *Time for some magic!* I get way too excited to use my magic.
I spot the stallion's tail and grab it with my magic, with them still unaware of my presence Iift him into the air and fling him into the wall with a single motion of my hand. Almost hard enough to make a pony-shaped hole in it. The resulting body went limp on the ground, I walk over to it and nudge it with a talon. He's not moving, but still breathing.
"Fucking burglars." I turn to Chrysi. "You ok?" She weakly nods.
"Yes, I'm ok." I decide not to question her about why she decided to live here. She has no other place so...
"Good." I turn to the barely conscious pony. "'Cause when they wake up, they're gonna have to answer some questions ."
"They?"
"Another one attacked me in my room."
"Oh." I pick up the barely conscious pony and take him to my room.
"Come on if you want to interrogate them with me."
"Ok." She steps into pace with me as we make our way to my room. I put the stallion next to the other and turn on the only lightbulb in this room.
"Hey Chrysi."
"Yeah?"
"Remember when I gave you that bed?" She nods. "I think I may have created it there."
"What?"
"I think I created that bed out of thin air." Her eyes turn into grey saucers. That look only lasted a second before she recomposed herself.
"What makes you think that?"
"I didn't teleport it from some other place." At that her eyes widen again, but it lasts much longer until she shakes her head.
"Where are you going with this?" She looks to me curiously, I smile widely.
"If I can spawn a bed out of thin air, then that means I can spawn in whatever I want!" I feel a negative pulse run through me. "Maybe." *Can you create two chairs and some rope? With one chair my size and one her size?* I get two chairs and a pile of rope as a response. *I know I've already said this, but I fucking love you and magic!* "Perfect." I set the two chairs next to each other so they face the two knocked-out ponies. "Take a seat please." I motion for Chrysi t take one, she does so while I use my magic to prop up the two ponies, I then grab the rope and tie it around them. I make sure to tie it so that their front limbs are tied up too. I spot the knife nearby on the floor and pick it up, it looks more like a curved dagger now that I have a good look at it.
"What's that?"
"I think it's a dagger."
"Dagger?"
"It's like a small sword." She gasps. "And this fucker tried to kill me with this."
"Mmmmugh..."
"And I think they're waking up." I walk to a far edge of the room where the light doesn't reach me. Kinda hard to do since I can see in the dark.
"What are you doing?"
"This is for intimidation. They really haven't seen me yet so it would scare them a little when I walk into view." She looks at me with a raised eyebrow, if she has any as a changeling.
"Kind of makes sense." She turns back the two ponies as they wake up. "You should probably put something on his horn so he can't use magic."
"Like what?"
"An iron ring should do it." A second later and a ring appears at the base of the brown one's horn.
"Ugh. Where am I?" The brown one tries to move."Why am I tied up?" His face scrunches up in concentration. "And why can't I use my magic."
"Probably because you're stupid." The grey one spoke up. "Or probably because we got knocked out."
"Would you two shut up?" Chrysi demanded. The two stallions look to the changeling.
"A changeling!? We were supposed to kill that thing!?"
"No you idiot. It's not it."
"Can you stop calling me thing or it? I do have a gender! I'm a girl!"
"Shut up! We don't listen to changelings." Brownie shouts, Chrysi jumps off her chair and goes right up to the brown one.
"Shut the buck up!" The brown flinches in disgust.
"You don't scare us." The grey one nods in agreement. I tap a claw on the floor, the clicking sound echoed shortly within the room.
"What was that?" Grey asks. Chrysi walks back to her chair, smiling at me.
"It's not me you have to be scared of." She says once she sits down again. "It's him." Browny's eyes widen.
"Who's 'him'?"
"My name is Ember." The tied up ponies freeze as I walk out of the shadows, with my hands behind me, and take my seat, while carrying the dagger. "And from what you said earlier, you were supposed to have killed me." I toss the dagger in the air. "Amazing how the tables can turn so quickly, isn't it?" Grey goes into a wide-eyed stupor while Brown recomposes himself.
"What are you?" He asks while having a mystified look.
"What I am is not important. Right now I want some answers from you two." Brown gets really defensive.
"We won't tell you anything!"
"Oh, you will. 'Cause if ya don't," With my magic, the dagger shoots at Brown, stopping right in front of his nose. "the floor will be covered in your blood." He gulps loudly.
"R-really?" I get up from my chair and walk to him, I squat down and take the dagger back in my hand.
"Do I look like I'm jooking?" I ask as I slowly glide the dagger across the left side of him face. Letting a trail of crimson blood drip off his face. He flinches as the blade glides across his face. I then turn it towards his eye and he nearly panicked. I look over to the grey one and he just sairs in shock.
"Alright! Alright, we'll talk." I take the blade off of his face.
"Good." I stand back up and walk back to my chair. Chrysi stairs at me in shock.
"I didn't think you were going to that..." I give her a look saying, 'Are you shitting me?', her cheeks tinted red for a second and looked down. "Sorry. Forgot about what you've done..." I reach a hand over and scratch her behind an ear. A smile quickly forms on her face.
"Don't worry about it." I remove my hand and look back to dumb and dumber. "Now back to you two. Who sent you?"
"We were hired by a stallion."
"What's his name?" *I swear to fucking god if it's that prick Blueblood...*
"He never told us his name."
"What did he look like?"
"He's a unicorn with blue eyes and a white coat and has a dirty blond mane and tail. He has a star cutie mark." I can feel my whole body heat up.
*I knew it. I FUCKNG knew it!* "Blueblood..."
"Is it me, or is it getting a little warm in here?" Chrysi asks no one in particular.
"Nevermind that." The rope binding the two ponies dissipates as I get up from my chair. "You two go back to wherever you came from. You're no use to me now."
"But we don't get or pay unless we kill you." I look to them with a scowl.
*Give them a bar of gold each.* Two bars of gold appear in front of them. "There." Then I remember something. "Hold it." They both freeze in their tracks. "I still need you two."
"And why is that?" Brown asks.
"You two are my evidence to prove Blueblood wants me dead. Therefore I need you two to come with me to Canterlot. And no you're not gonna get arrested or anything like that."
"Why are you not having them arrested!?" Chrysi shouts.
"They don't want me dead just for the fuck of it. They were paid to kill me. Which means Blueblood wants me dead just for the fuck of it. Or maybe because I embarrassed him in front of Celestia."
"Really?" All three ask at the same time.
"Yes, really. Anyway," I look to Chrysi. "I need you stay here and tell anyone that I'm at Canterlot to speak with Celestia. Ok?" The bug-pony does the pony equivalent of a soldier's salute. "Good. Lets go." I wave a hand at the two ponies as I grab the duffel bag full of gold coins and walk up the stairs and out my house. The sun is just above the horizon. *It's too early for this shit. I'm so taking a nap when I get back home.*
"So... with all of... that behind us, what are you?" Grey spoke up.
"I'm a physically altered human."
"'Physically altered'?"
"Back on my planet humans have highly-advanced technology that allows us to change our appearance." I contemplate how we're gonna get to Canterlot. *Is it possible to teleport more than one living being at a time?* The amulet responds with a positive pulse. I have no clue how I can tell how it responds the way it does, I can just tell the differences. *Good.* "Have any of you ever teleported before?" They both shake their heads. "Well today's your lucky day." I close my eyes and recreate the image of Celestia's and Luna's throne room, while I cover the two ponies in my magic. When I hear a loud popping sound I open my eyes.
"Ember?" It worked, it fucking worked. I successfully teleported me, Grey and Brown to The princess's' throne room, right at the bottom of her throne no less!. "What are you doing here? And who are these two?" Oh yeah, she asked me a question.
"Well, to answer your questions. I've reason to believe that Blueblood has hired these two to assassinate me." She raises and eyebrow and looks to them.
"Is this true? Did my nephew pay you two assassinate Ember here?" Brown decided to speak first. After waiting for what felt like forever.
"Yes, your highness. It's true."
"Hmm... Guards!" Two ponies clad on golden-yellow armor show up out of nowhere. "Tell Prince Blueblood to come to me as soon as possible." They both solute and walk off. "As for you two." She directs her attention back to the two ponies. "What do you think should happen to them?" She looks straight to me.
"Let them go." The two ponies beside me turn to me with a surprised expression.
"Really!?" I look to them.
"It's not you that I have problems with. It's who hired you that I'm after." I put a hand to my chin. "If fact, you two are the most innocent out of all of this. I'm not even sure what you do is even legal. Is it?" I ask Celestia.
"Yes, but only under certain circumstances."
"Like?"
"If I see somepony as a threat to my loyal subjects, or if my little ponies,"
*There's that fucking phrase again! Why does it sound familiar?*
"See them as a menace to our society, then either I or my subjects can perform such an act." I go quiet for a second.
"Makes sense." Just then I hear the huge doors behind me open loudly.
"What is it Aunty Celestia?" The royal prick made it, I wonder what Celestia's going to do. I turn and watch as the fucker freeze in place as his eyes grow in size.
"Good morning to you too nephew." Celestia steps off her throne and stops next to me. "I've received word that you may be responsible in hiring these two," She points her head to the two ponies next to me. "to assassinate Ember. Isn't that silly?" I'm loving how she's dealing with this, as the smile on her faces suggest she's enjoying this. I know I am. "So I called you here so I can be sure that this is all a lie. Care to clear your name?" Blueblood stood there as all of what Celestia said sinks into that thick skull of his.
"Uh... O-of course it is!" He clears his throat. "I-i've never seen those two in my life!" He's almost dancing in place. Celestia and I look at each other unamused, she also lowers her head.
"You may leave Ember, I need to have a little 'talk' with my nephew." Blueblood's eyes turn to saucers. I can tell some shit's going down so I leave as soon as possible.
"I bid you two good day." I say and teleport the fuck outa' there. Thankfully I'm back in my room of my house and it seems like nothing has happened since I left. "Chrysi!?" I hear some... 'hoof' steps from upstairs and the door to my room opens. Revealing Chrysi in her changeling form.
"Hey Ember! When did you get back?"
"Just got back. Did anything happen while I wasn't here?" I assume nothing happened to her. She nods at my question.
"Yeah, Pinkie came by and told me to tell you to go by Sugarcube Corner as soon as you came back."
"That it?" She nods again. "Hmm... Kinda weird she would ask me to go there. Does she work there or something? I remember seeing the place from a distance and she said something to that effect..." Chrysi just shrugs. I stand there and think for a minute. "Eh... It's not like I got anything else better to do, so might as well go." I walk up the stairs as Chrysi steps out of the way. "Wanna come with?" She nods.
"Why not?" With a flash of grey fire she changes into the same mare from when we were talking with Shining and Cadence. No matter how many times I see her do that I'll never get used to that. At my blank look she snickers. "Come on." She gives me a knowing look. What it's supposed to mean, I have no idea.
"Ok..." I decided to not question her about that, I have a suspicion that there's a literal surprise waiting for me at this place. *I think it's a bakery? Yeah, I think Pinkie said something like that last time I spoke with her...* At this point I can only hope for the worst not to happen...
Anyway, I follow Chrysi as she leads me through this town, which is surprisingly empty. This place is usually full of ponies walking around at this time. I put that in the back of my mind for later. Chrysi eventually lead me to this bakery. From what I saw the place looked like a giant gingerbread house, it even looks like I can take a bite out of the side of it. As enticing as it is, I refrain from taking a bite, and walk inside with Chrysi. She somehow disappears into the darkness when she walks inside.
*Wait, darkness? How the fuck am I not able to see inside?* It was barely afternoon, there is clearly enough light to see inside the place through the windows. I guess I was right about being suspicious earlier. I pause look at the windows for a second, and I just resolve to walk inside. As soon as I walk inside the inside becomes semi-lit. I can see it looks like a brightly colored bakery: display cases across the back of the room, a long menu hanging above the cases. And the rest of the room filled with tables and chairs. I stop a few feet ahead of the main doors and look around.
"SURPRISE!!" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 11: Meeting old Freinds | "SURPRISE!!" Ponies appear out from behind tables, chairs, and the display cases. All wearing party hats, some even have those blow streamers. Confetti blasts from somewhere and rains down, balloons and streamers dot the ceiling. Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow all stand in the center of whatever this is. Rainbow looks like she'd rather kill herself.
*What the fuck!?.. Oh, I see... They threw a surprise party for me... Do they think it's my birthday or something?* "Um... what is this?" At this point, I don't know what to do or say. Pinkie answered my question.
"I finally threw your 'Welcome to Ponyville ' party! Was it a surprise? Huh? Was it?!" She threw her front legs on my stomach and did her best to try to close the spaces between our faces. Her eyes bigger than normal, if there's any kind of 'normal' in this world.
"It was... A big surprise. I just have one question though."
"What?"
"Why? Why would you go through the trouble of throwing me a party just to welcome me?" Pinkie just giggles.
"You're my friend! And I always throw a 'Welcome to Ponyville' whenever somepony moves in!" She removes her hooves from me. "Come on! Lets PARTY!" The music gets louder and faster and the ponies start dancing. I'm just left standing, stunned.
*She considers me her friend? I barely know her, or anybody around here. Why would she of all of these ponies call me a friend?*
"Ember? Are you alright?" I didn't notice Rarity coming up to me. I shake my head head and face her.
"Yeah... I'm fine. I just... I just never..."
"Never what darling?"
"Why would Pinkie call me her friend. We barely know each other..."
"Everypony's her friend." She waves a hoof dismissively. "She just loves making friends." The other girls decided to gather behind Rarity as she spoke.
"Why?"
"It's just Pinkie being Pinkie. Besides," Her face softens a bit. "if she considers you her friend, then I do too." I look at the rest behind her.
"Why, you're practically family to us." Aj spoke up.
"You're my friend, if that's okay with you... If you want..." Fluttershy squeaked.
"You're a good friend to me." Twi nods firmly. I look at Rainbow and instantly I know I can care less about her, she wasn't even paying attention to us. Aj smacks her behind the head.
"Ow! What was that for!?" Aj points a hoof at me.
"Don't bother Aj. I can care less whether she thinks of me as her friend or not." That set her off.
"Why you-!" She leaps at me. It feels like time slowed as soon as she was airborne. The girls looked shocked, should they be at this point? While Rainbow puts on a face of pure anger. Time returns to normal speed as I simply sidestep and let the blue bitch smack face first into the glass double doors. She somehow stuck to the glass and slid down until her body met the wood floor with a thump. Her wings just hung limp at her sides, making the occasional twitch. I step over to her and crouch down.
"I would stop doing that if I were you. It'd be better if you save whatever brain cells you have left." I'm sure Rainbow can be a good friend, but until I see that side of her. I'm just gonna let her stay angry at me for no reason. "And I think you should try and get along with me." She groans in response as I stand back up. "Now with that out of the way," I face the remaining five ponies. "Lets party." The girls cheer and run off the center of the room. Somehow some of these ponies cleared it to make some dance space. I was about to join them but I got an idea, again. *Is it possible if you can give me my phone?* It was a bit of a stretch, but this thing conjured two beds out of thin air. Kinda hard to determine its limits. The amulet responds by... I guess poofing?.. My phone in my hand, I turn it on and it is my phone! I have a Sly Cooper wallpaper. "I've said it many times and I'll say it again. I fucking love the amulet." I open my music and go to one of my playlists. "I just hope Vinyle will let me do it." I say to myself as I walk over to the Dj's setup.
"Hey Ember! Nice party huh?" She takes her shades with her magic and sets them atop her horn.
"Yeah, it's pretty great."
"Hey, what's that?" She points at my phone.
"It's my phone."
"A what?" I thought she would know what it was. She's using Turntables for fucks sake. IT would make sense if they had this kind of tech here. Then again, I've hardly seen any tech comparable to human tech.
"It's basically a device that allows you to talk to other people anywhere."
"That's awesome."
"Thanks."
"So, watcha want?"
"Well, I was hoping I could make a request."
"Sure, you're the guest of honor after all." She motions me to stand with her, behind the table.
*Oookaay...* I step behind the thing next to her.
"So can that thing play music or somethin'?"
"What? How did you-"
"You said you were from another planet right?" I nod. "Then you don't know anything about music here, right?"
"Riiiiiiiiight." *She's good.* She snorts in amusement.
"Come on, lets see if I can get that thing plugged in." I hand her the device and she takes it in her magic.
"This may be a bit redundant, but do you have anything like my phone." She nods.
"Yeah, kinda. 'Cept it's called the Mp1."
"Really?" She nods.
"Mhm. Though it only plays music. Can't really talk to anypony anywhere with it."
*Well I'll be damned. Didn't see that coming.* A black wire floats up from behind the table, looks just like an aux cable. It even has the same jack to connect to my phone.
"Looks like it'll fit." Hearing that made my mind go right down the gutter.
*Fuck you perverted brain.* With an audible 'click' the cable plugs perfectly into the jack.
"It does fit! Awsome!"
*That's what she said.* "Cool." She hands me back my phone.
"Go ahead and pick the song you want me to play." I go back to me music and do just that. I pick my song and it starts to play from the giant speakers right next to us. I place my phone next to one of the turntables and walk to the center. Predictably everypony, I'm starting to use their lingo, cool. Anyway, when they saw me walking to the center of the dance floor they backed up, giving me more than enough space.
*Party rockers in the house toniiiiiiight.* I sing along in my head. *We gonna make you lose your mind...* The rest of that night was spent with me dancing to whatever song happen to play. A lot of the ponies eventually got the groove and starting dancing. In their own, four legged way.
I have no idea what the time it is, maybe two, three in the morning? It doesn't matter, I'm still having fun, even though I was dancing most of the time I was really enjoying myself. I've stopped dancing and now I'm just talking with the girls plus Chrysi at a table, A while back I got us all punch from a punch bowl and Vinyl gave me back my phone.
"Ah've gotta say Ember, you sure know how ta dance." And they apparently liked my dancing, the rest, minus Rainbow, nod in agreement. "Where'd you even learn to do that?"
"I took a couple of dance classes when I was younger."
"You seem to have done a lot of things when you were younger. Is that true?" Twi inquired, I nod. "Why?"
*Fucking shit.* I let out a sigh before I answer. "My parents wanted me to be their 'ideal child', to have me so talented there was no way I couldn't find a high-paying job, and they put me in a shit-ton of extra curricular classes: Music, marksmanship, advanced math, advanced tech, you name it. And with them being the rich fucks they were, there was no such thing as 'a class I couldn't take'."
"You say it as if it wasn't a good thing." Rarity added. "Was it really that bad?"
"Not really. I just didn't like the thing where it took most of my childhood away from me, and I don't like talking about it much." She gives me a confused look. "With all the classes I took back then it took up most of the day to keep up with all of them. If it weren't for that. I probably would've liked it." Rarity looks to have understood. I look around and notice that almost all the ponies have left, it was getting pretty late.
"So you're an egghead too?" Rainbow remarked with a sneer.
"If I was, then I wouldn't of taken all those punches you threw at me how I did. And I wouldn't be able to punch you back harder.." *Hopefully that shut her up.* The six ponies I'm sitting with tense up at my statement. Fluttershy was the first to recover.
"You don't really mean that. Do you?" I shake my head.
"Of course not." I place a hand on her head and scratch her behind her ears, quickly calming her down. I then stare directly at Rainbow. "Unless you want me to prove it. Do you?" Her eyes shrink.
"N-no." She shakes her head.
"Alright." I chuckle, removing my hand from Fluttershy's head. *They have really soft hair. "It's pretty funny how I can scare you so easily Rainbow." She shoots me a scornful look.
"Bucking flankhole." I hear her mutter. I just smile back at her. Y'know how hilarious it is when they curse in their own way here? Imagine Applejack screaming 'ponyfeathers' when she hits the sensitive part of one of her shins really hard. Looks like she tries really hard to censor herself all the time.
"Whelp," I yawn escapes Aj's lips. "ah gotta head home. Gotta wake early enough to start applebuckin'." I smile inwardly.
"Maybe I can come by to help?" She nods.
"The more the merrier. 'Night everypony." They all exchange goodnight's as Aj heads out.
"I have to head home too." Twi yawns out. "It's getting pretty late." And just like that, the rest of the ponies attending the party leave while saying goodnight to each other. Me and Chrysi were the last to leave.
"That was some party wasn't it?" Chrysi asked as we left the place.
"Yeah, it was. Hey where were you? I never saw you around." She looks down a little sadly.
"I don't know how to dance."
"And that lead you to hide?" She shakes her head.
"I wasn't hiding, I was just in the background."
"You were a little shy?" She nods. "Why? If you did anything you didn't want to do you could've changed your look right?" She nods again. "Then why didn't 'cha do that?" As I spoke I tried to not talk like an asshole.
"I couldn't because I didn't have enough magic to do that earlier."
"You need to feed again?" She nods. Twi told me a couple of days earlier that changelings are literally powered by love: the more love they have, the more powerful they are. Apparently love has a physical form here.
"Do you mind if I feed off of you again?" She cautiously asks.
"Sure, as long as you don't go too far." Twi also told me that if they feed for too long in one session it could become fatal for the host. I may be from another planet, but the last thing I want to do is kill myself by making a stupid mistake. "Can you do it while walking?" She nods again. "Go for it." As we walk down the path that leads to my home I can feel something leaving my body. Just like the first time she fed from me. A few seconds of silence go by and the feeling stops, a soft sigh of satisfaction leaves the changeling and she's briefly engulfed in grey fire. Turning herself back to her true form.
*I have to go ask Twi if she has books about magic and its abilities.* All this magic stuff makes me think what my magic is capable of. Right now I only know that, with the amulet, I can create certain objects, I think no bigger than a bed. Without the amulet I can teleport and create the clawed gauntlets.
"Ember?"
"Huh?" I shake my head and look at Chrysi. "What?"
"What are you thinking about?" I guess she doesn't like the silence.
"I was just wondering what my magic is truly capable of."
"Oh..." Silence falls over us again. And it just got awkward.
"Oh! I've been meaning to ask. Can you only change form with your magic?" *Might as well strike up a conversation if she's trying to.* Sometimes I question my own logic, but then again I am talking to a dog-sized bug-pony.
"It depends on the situation, and what kind of changeling you're talking about."
"Care to give me an example?" She nods.
"Drones can only use their magic to change their look, while servants and informants can teleport short distances and cast low level spells. And a queen can be just as powerful as an alicorn."
"Alicorn?"
"You know, a pony with both wings and a horn."
"Oh."
"And that's pretty much it."
"Really?" She nods again. "Interesting." It kinda fascinating to learn about a another sapient race. I would've ask how their society is like but we arrived at my house. When we walk in Chrysi walks off to her room and I head to my room. It's kinda weird how ponies make the basement of a house three times as big as any room within the actual house. I put that thought, along with every other thought occupying my mind, and settle into my bed and let sleep take over...
I stand in the middle of a never-ending white plane. No features dot the white landscape. In the distance four figures appear. One a little shorter than the rest. As they get closer I see that two of them are human, and the short one looks like a pony with grey fur, grey and red striped mane.
"Who the fuck are you? Where the fuck am I?" I say when they're close enough to hear me.
"We are in your mind." I feminine voice sounds out. "And we are you." One the figures point to the smaller one. "Except for him." I walk a bit closer to them and the image finally clears to reveal... Me. Three different versions of me. One looks like a woman, the other looks like me but covered in fire, and the other one looks like a perfect reflection of me. "To be more specific, I am your feminine side." The woman, or my feminine side I suppose, says.
"I'm your anger." The one covered in fire blankly states.
"And I am your subconscious!" The mirror image of me shouts. "And we are all part of you!" He points to the grey pony. "Except for him."
"Then who are you?" I finally say. I know I've just met different parts of myself, as brain-splitting as that was, I'm currently more concerned about the pony with them.
"I am the Alicorn Amulet." He speaks in a smooth voice. "And I've been responding to your questions."
"Oh." I pause. "OH! That reminds me. Is it possible for you to actually speak instead of those pulses?"
"I suppose. I would need to find out for myself." He puts a hoof to his chin. "If I do find a way I'll let you know."
"Good." I look back at the other me's. "Now with that out of the way, why is it now that I meet you three? And shouldn't there be other parts of me?" The female version of me answers.
"You basically make up the rest of yourself." I think I understood that. "As for why we're here. We really have no idea. Amulet said this was the only way he could talk to you."
"And what was he going to say?"
"He was gonna congratulate you for not using your amplified magic for 'evil' purposes." I glance back at the newly named Amulet and see that he's far too into his train of thought. "Anyway," I look back to the only female here. They really need names. "it's been one hell of a trip so far huh? Now especially with all this new magic shit?"
"Yup. You've been enjoying the show I presume?" She nods. "And the same can be said for you two?" My subconscious and fire ball nod. "Cool. Hey, uhh..."
"You can call me Embris."
"Perfect. As I was saying, why is it that I want to fuck you when you're literally a part of my brain?" She smirks.
"I could've made myself look unapealing, but I chose to look like this just so I can hear you say that."
"I was a bit surprised when she first admitted that." The mirror-me spoke. "And you can call me Sub." He smiles. "Get it? 'Cause i'm you subconscious!" He laughs. I chuckle turn to the me covered in fire.
"Emby." He states.
"He likes that nickname Pinkie gave you." Embris clarifies.
"Cool." Before anything could done or said, the ground we stood upon started to shake violently and rumble. Almost knocking all of us to the ground. "What the fuck is happening!?"
"We're being moved in your sleep!" Sub shouts out.
"Who-!" The ground suddenly stops and goes still once again. "Woah. Ok. That just happened."
"Yeah, the fuck do you think happened out there?" Embris asks. Before anyone could answer everything started to get fuzzy. "I guess we're about to find out." I'm apparently waking up.
"See you later maybe?" All four of them nod.
"I'll try and bring them with me so..!" Amulet shouts as I return to reality.
I open my eyes and immediately shut them tight. There was light shining right on my face.
*It's too early for this shit. Wait... Light in my face!?* I bolt up from where I was laying and look around. *What..? I'm... in my apartment.* I can hear people and cars from outside. "I'm... back home?" I get up from my bed and walk up to the window and poke my head. "No fucking way..." I am back home. Back in Boston, the same old shtick with cars and people milling about bellow. "Why am I back home? Could've all of it been a dream?" I retract my head back inside and look around my bedroom. "No, it couldn't be. It was all too vivid." I hurriedly make my way to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. My eyes are yellow. *Mind turning my eyes back to red?* I had to know whether or not-
~Can do!~ My eyes turn red. *To be honest, I didn't think I was staying.* A huge sigh of relieve leaves my lips.
"Oh good you're still there. What about the others?"
-I don't know how he did it, but, he did it. We're all with ya Ember. Except Sub, he needed to stay behind to keep track of your mind.- Embris spoke out.
"What about Emby?"
=Here.=
"Good, now. What to do... And why the fuck am I back home?" I honestly think magic is keeping me from having a mental breakdown from all of this.
~If I may suggest, you could go out and find out how time has past here. Plus I want to see what your world is like first-hoof.~
"Fair enough." Deciding to head out, I grab my hat I got from when I was in the army. It has all my info on it, reason being I use it to get free alcohol sometimes. Anyway, after that I make my way outside by jumping out the window and taking to the air. I then decided to head to the bar I used to go to: J. J.'s. It doesn't take me long to land at the front and walk in. The barkeep was the first to see me.
"Heeey Ember! Long time no see! Whatcha been up to?" I take a seat at the counter works. This place is nearly empty, weird.
"Besides getting kidnapped, strapped to a table and got sucked into some kind of wormhole to another planet and befriended an alien race. I'm just peachy, Joe." Joe laughs.
"Always the kidder with you. You want the usual?" I nod.
"Yeah."
"Alright." Joey hands me a bottle of unmarked alcohol. It's amazing how many legal loops he has to jump through to do that. "You were kidding about all that stuff you said earlier, right?" I look to him blankly.
"Do I look like a man that would joke around like that?" He shakes his head.
"Can you at least prove it?" I nod and take a drink from the bottle. I hold it the air and let it go, the bottle is immediately covered in my red magic aura. Seeing that Joey's eyes widen.
"Proof enough?" He nods as he regains his composure.
"Yup." I grab the bottle and take another swig.
"You mind if spend the rest of the day here?" He.
"Sure, as long you don't get too drunk." He chuckles. I huff out a laugh.
"You know I ain't' no lightweight." I laugh out. "Thanks anyway."
"No problem." Joe walks off to go tend to another one of his customers.
"Oh fucking hell." I he says as I hear the front doors open. I pay no attention and just watch the epic game of football going on from the tv mounted on the wall. "Hey Ember." I look over to him.
"Yeah?" He points to the front door and I follow his finger. A group of about six dog anthros wearing clothes have walked in. "Oh for fucks sake, he has his gang now?" Joe nods.
"Ever since your last 'meet up' with him, he's been hanging with those guys. They ain't nothing but trouble, so watch out. And try not to break anything if you start fighting again." He pauses. "He's coming over here."
"Thanks for the heads up. And no promises." *Turn my eyes red again.*
~Gotcha. What's going on?~ Amulet asks and I can feel my eyes changing color.
-Ember has some, 'history', with this guy. He'll tell you more later.- I turn around on my chair and face the apparent leader of this group.
"Corey, long time no see fuck face." I say with a shit eating smirk. Corey keeps a straight face, though I saw him flinch for a split second. "What's this? These your new fuck boys?" I wave a hand at the other dog anthros behind him. All of them having neutral faces.
"Shut the fuck up and get the fuck out of here. This is my territory." He pulls a pistol out and points it at my forehead. I just chuckle in response.
"Funny," I say as I get up. Now he points the gun at my chest. "'cause if I remember correctly, I believe I kicked the shit out of you last time." He face contorts into anger and his arm holding the gun shakes. The smirk on my face grows into a wide smile.
~He looks really mad.~
=You have no idea.=
"Get... The fuck out... Before I... I blow your head off." Corey starts to breath heavily. My smile quickly fades.
"Not without a fight." In one split second, I knock the gun off his hand sending it flying into the air. I reach out and grab it before anyone else could and point right at Corey's face. "Unless the fight's already over." His little gang pulled out various types of guns: An AK47, Assault rifle, a Twelve Gauge Double Barrel shotgun, Micro SMG, Desert Eagle, and forty four Magnum. I look calmly at all of them. *Can you teleport my Winchester Model twenty one in my hands?*
~What's that?~ Embris quickly explains what it is. ~Oh, yeah, just give me a sec...~ I can only assume that he has to search my memories to find where I store such a gun and teleport it to me. With him doing that I calmly hand Corey back his gun. He takes it back with a triumphant smirk and points it back at my face.
"Good boy. Now leave, and never, ever come back!"
~Alright, here it comes.~ I grin slightly.
"Didn't you hear me? I said-!" His sentence dies in his throat when my Winchester appeares in my hands. I cock my gun and point at them.
"Drop your weapons." They don't budge. "The shell loaded in this gun is spread shot. I can take you all down with just one sho-" I'm interrupted as a loud gunshot sounds out and a bullet rips through my left shoulder, followed by a hailstorm of lead. I grunt in pain but still managed to hold my gun at them. "Shield, now!" A thick red transparent shield forms in front of me, effectively blocking all their bullets from tearing me to shreds. Luckily there wasn't any other person standing behind the group in front of me, so I had no problem pulling the trigger. "You asked for it motherfuckers." A deafening boom emanates from my Winchester and they all fall to the floor, crying out in pain. I cock the gun again and let amulet teleport back to my apartment. I then walk over to them examine the damage when the shield dissipates. They're all screaming and writhing in pain. None of them dead surprisingly. I turn to Joey who has a mortified look on his face.
"Joe, call an ambulance." He nods quickly and grabs the phone off the counter. *Mind healing my shoulder? It's getting kinda sore.*
~Already on it.~ He says and I felt a rush of magic run to my shoulder and it immediately felt better. I look down at Corey and crouch down to get a better look at him. He looks back me with the angriest expression I've ever seen him give.
"Ya done fucked up."
"Fuck you... How did you take all of that?" He asks me with scorn.
"I was in the military, remember? I've also survived World War Three. Don't you remember me telling you that before fuckboy?" He doesn't respond, his eyes are closed and his body's limp. He's still breathing despite the amount of blood leaking out of his body. "Hey Joey? How long it'll be before an ambulance gets here?"
"Sh-shouldn't be another few minutes." I nod.
"Good. I need to go home and wash the blood off. See ya later." I wave as I take my leave and head home. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 12: The Big Showdown | After getting home and washing the blood off my shoulder. I decided to spend the rest of the day sitting on the couch and watching T.V. I was relieved when I found out today was a Saturday, I don't work on Saturdays.
~You mind telling me what that was all about now?~
"A year or two ago I was at that bar when he came along and got drunk off his ass. In his drunken stupor he decided to try and flirt with a woman there. She declined, he didn't like that, and started to get physical with her. I stepped in and told him to 'get the fuck out', Corey thought that was a challenge and swung a fist at my face. Long story short I beat the shit out of him and from then on hates my guts."
~Oh... Hmm...~
"What?"
~Nothing, it's just that you don't look like somepony who would fight, from what I've seen earlier. You look more like a... a...~
"Gentle giant?"
~Yes, something like that.~
-Yeah, he used to get that a lot.-
"Fuck you Embris."
-Nah, I'm good.- Amulet goes quiet and so does Embris, leaving me to watch more T.V. There's a football game going on and it just went to commercial.
"No fucking way..."
~What?~
-We just got the last piece of the puzzle.-
=Yup.=
"I fucking knew that was familiar. An old friend online told me about this. About this cartoon called My little Pony. I knew they were all familiar." I get up from my couch and head over to my room, opening my laptop and quickly search for whatever I can find about the show...
It's late afternoon, and I've gathered all the information I needed to know about My Little Pony; the music, the fandom, the art, the 'bronies', everything. I called my friend earlier over Skype and told him about my latest... adventures? I think I can call it that.
"And now I'm here. I don't know how I got back home. But I did." Rick Lets out a long whistle.
"That's some story. I just have thing, how do I you're not fucking with me?"
"Switch to video chat." I levitate the remote from the living and have it float next to me. As soon as he the remote covered in my magic aura floating next me, he goes wide eyed. "You believe me now?"
"I... wha... how... You can use magic!?" I nod. "How!? That's not fucking possible! What happened to you!?"
"Like I said. I was sucked into some kind of wormhole and sent to fucking Equestria. And I recently found out that I can use the magic there. I don't know how I'm using magic right now though."
"That's-!"
"Daddy?" I heard a little girls voice from his end of the call.
"Who's that?"
"That's my daughter. Hey Emily, what's up?" He turns away from the call.
"Why were you yelling? Who's that?"
"Don't worry about it honey, and it's just an old friend."
"Oh. Ok!" I can hear Emily skip away as Rick turns back to me.
"Finally had one huh?" He nods with a smile. "Congrats. Anyway," A yawn escapes my lips. "I gotta get some sleep. Later."
"Later." I end the call, close my laptop, and head walk to my bedroom. Choosing the flop onto my bed face first. And let sleep take over...
Today, I decided to walk around my neighborhood, after taking care of breakfast, taking a much needed shower and preening the feathers on my wings. Since I have absolutely nothing better to do. And I already came to the conclusion that, by some means, I was sent back home from Equestria, that's what the calls that place, and never be able to return. And I just came accept that. Even with all these new powers I still have a hard time believing in everything that happened to me over the past few days.
~Where are we going?~
"I don't know. I don't have any set destination in mind."
~Oh. Ok.~ With that being the last thing Amulet says my mind goes silent as I look around.
"Ember!" Around me I can see people freeze in their tracks and stare at something behind me.
*Oh for fucks sake.* I turn around and Corey, with his little gang, covered in bloodstained bandages. "How'd you all not end up in prison?"
"A buddy of mine picked us up before the police got to us." He says with a cocky smirk.
"Then why were looking for me?" He and his buddies grin widely.
"You didn't think this is over, did you?" He says in a malicious tone.
"I figured not. You wanna fight with guns again?"
"No." He and his friends raise their fists. "Fistacuffs." Corey breaks out into a full sprint at me. Followed by the others with him. The people around us either watch, or run in terror.
"Now that isn't fair." I say as the gauntlets appear on my hands. As Corey got closer I raised my hands and put them together. When he's close enough I bring them down and perform the perfect haymaker. I barely made contact when the world around me changed. My closed fists slam into what looks like marble. Making a small crater. The gauntlets fade away as I frantically look around. *Marble floor, tall windows, huge fucking room, four ponies. Wait.* "Twilight, Luna, Celestia, And Cadence? The fuck!?"
"Ember! Where were you!?" Twilight nearly pounced me when she saw.
"I was back home on Earth, why? What's going on?"
"A great evil has come upon us, Ember." Celetia answers with a sour expression. "And we need all the magic we can get."
"What?"
"Twilight will be given all our magic before Tirek gets here."
*So that's where they are in the story line.* Remember when I said I did a little research? Yeah, I did most of that on the villains of the show. "Who?" I had to play dumb to not raise any suspicion.
"We do not have time for explanation. Twilight, are you ready?" Luna says.
"Wait, she's taking my magic too!?" I started to back away slowly.
~Don't worry, I can just 'recharge' as you would call it.~
"It's either her taking to defend Equestria, or Tirek takes yours to rule us." I quickly calm down.
"Oh... Um... How am I going to give Twilight my magic?" Celestia smiles.
"You let me worry about that."
"Ok... Lets get this thing started then." *Please for fuck sakes do not let this hurt.* I think to myself as we gather around Twilight. Celestia, Luna and Cadence close their eyes in concentration. Their brows also furrowing as liquid light leaks from their horns. All gathering above Twilight into a mass of multi colored light. As that happened I get the sudden feeling of something coming up my throat. Nearly making me gag until I the same light leaks from my mouth and joins the ball of light. The light coming from me has a slight black tint to it, but not dark enough to notice at a distance, the tint disappears midway as my magic goes into the ball of pure magic. It doesn't last long as the feeling goes away as quick as it started. Leaving a bit of a spicy aftertaste. *So that's what raw magic looks like.* I think to myself as the ball of light literally pours into Twilight. Her body is briefly covered in the blinding light. I shield my eyes from the brightness. The light fades away and full absorbs into Twilight. Her mane and tail flowing in an eternal wind, like Celestia and Luna, for a second. The only evidence of what just happened came in the form of electric sparks that dance across her body. I look to the other... what was it? Ah! Yes. Alicorns. Celestia's and Luna's mane and tail freeze and go limp. And all three of their cutie marks are missing. They all look weak, looks like they're trying their hardest to hold their heads up.
"Go Twilight. Tirek will be here any minute." Celestia urges Twilight.
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" She puts on a face of concern. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence smile weakly.
"Do not worry about us, Twilight Sparkle." The ground began to shake. "Now go!" Twilight nodded, and ran out a side door. The ground continued to shake more violently as Tirek got closer.
"What do I do?" *Hopefully I can do something.*
"You just stand there. And let them do the talking." Cadence ordered.
"Screw that!" I take to the air and hide in the rafters of the extremely high ceiling. Just in time as the giant wooden double doors burst open. And the big centaur named Tirek walks in, he's easily two or three times my size. *Just like in the show...* I shake my head. *Hopefully this works.* Tirek was about halfway towards the three alicorns I spring into action. The gauntlets form on my hands and I nose dive towards the giant, quickly gaining speed. *This is either a good plan. or the worst idea ever.* I think to myself as I get closer. The ground rapidly growing until I suddenly stop, I can't move, and my body is covered in this weird orange glow.
"What do we have here?" The giant speaks as he turns around to face me, his voice even reverberates through the air, almost like a souped up car stereo. His eyes widen a tiny bit we look at eachother. "And what the hell are you?" I look up and see that he has huge fucking demonic horns, both pointing upwards. In between them is a large ball of... fire? It looks like fire.
"Fuck you." I try to break free from his grip. It was futile to say the least. I couldn't move at all. He just smirks and turns back around to face the three alicorns.
"Leave him alone!" Luna shouts.
"Or what?" He responds, luna goes silent. he huffs out a laugh and walks closer to them. Everything goes quiet as he gets up close to Celestia. From my viewpoint I he opens his maw, thinking he's going to take their magic. And nothing happens, except for Celestia flinching a bit.
"What?" He goes over to Luna and does the same thing, then to Cadence when nothing happens for the second time. I'm just stuck in his grasp as I watch everything happen. "Where is all your magic? Where is it!?" She shouts.
"We are not telling you Tirek." Celestia calmly states. Tirek growls in frustration. He looks to me again, he smiles maniacally and roughly moves me in front of them into a standing position.
"You will tell. Because if you don't. I will
tear this thing's wing off! You have five seconds."
*No... he wouldn't...*
"You wouldn't."
"Five." All of our eyes widen. Theirs looking like saucers.
*No... NononononononononoNO!* redouble my efforts to break free. It's still no use, I can't move a single muscle in my entire body, I can't even use my magic to teleport. I look pleadingly at Celestia. She just gives me a helpless look.
"Four."
-Are we seriously going to lose our wings!? This is bullshit!-
"Three."
=This is not happening this is not happening this not happening!= Embris and Emby start to panic. =Amulet! DO SOMETHING!=
~I can't! He's blocking me from doing anything!~
"Two." At this point I just gave up. There was nothing I could do. And I was just about to lose my most precious limbs. I've always treated as if they were my own children, you could say they were my children.
"One." And I'm going to lose them, forever. "Time's up." I felt a pulling force on my wings and it just got stronger. It slowly built up after it started to hurt. He was making painfully slow. I started to scream out in pain as the joints pop out of place. I think even a bone or two broke too. It felt like my wings were on fire. The pain just continued to get worst as the skin and muscle started to tear at a slow pace. Loud squelching and slurping sounds came from behind me as all the tissue holding my wings to my body tore. Tears began to to blur my vision, the pain was overwhelming, and my vision started to turn black at the edges. And at last, the pain dulled a bit.
And I can't feel my wings. I only felt a stinging sensation where my wings connected to my back. Tirek released me from his grip and I just flopped onto the floor. I felt weak, like all the energy in me just left. My vision almost faded to black. But I could feel A rush of magic throughout my body. And I felt strength returning to my limbs. Once I have enough I shakily get up on my talents.
*FWOOSH* I turn around and look in horror as my wings are set ablaze. They quickly turn to ashes and fall to the ground. I can only stand there in shock and horror.
"If you won't me who has your magic. I'll go get it myself!" He teleport to god knows where. I just sink to my knees in front of the ashes that used to be my wings. I fall silent too, my mind going blank. I sit here for who knows how long until I hear a couple sets of hoofsteps from behind, then my back is covered in white and blue feathers. Cadence sat in front of and spoke.
"I'm so sorry Ember. We all are. I just wish there was another way." As she spoke I felt something inside snap. My face goes blank and I stand up. "Ember?"
"Everypony back away!" Celestia shouted and stepped away, closely followed by the others. I continued to stand still as my body began to warm up.
I know what this feeling is, i've only felt something close to this a few years ago. You how angry you get when you've been investing hours of gameplay into a single game, and you're one stage away from facing the facing the final boss. Then all of a sudden some bug or glitch that keeps you from reaching the final boss. And you realize that all of those precious hours you spent leveling up your character, all wasted, yeah, just like that. But now, it feels like an inferno of pure, unrestricted rage. Just begging to be released.
And I couldn't be any more happy to let it run wild.
I couldn't help but grin like a psychopath and double over, the heat building in my chest was starting to hurt. I closed my eyes in pain.
"Ember, are thou alright?" Luna asked, I heard a single hoofstep.
"Don't get close to him sister." Celestia said. I couldn't care less. The heat was getting to be unbearable. Then, I felt nothing, it was as if I lost all feeling in my nerves. The world faded away, and there only existed me, and the fire in my chest. The immense heat then spread throughout my entire being and I immediately knew everything. I stood back up and held my arms out in a position just like Goku when he ascended to super saiyan four. I feel that powerful. Reality came back and I quickly looked at body.
My body, which is normally composed of feathers, skin, bone and muscle. Is now white fire with bright blue edges, accompanied by a miniscule black tint. The tint being hardly noticeable. The fire makes a nice crackling sound and there's a faint smell of burnt feathers.
"What the hell?" I turn to the three ponies in front of me, all wearing faces of pure shock. "What the hell happened to me?" Celestia was the first to recompose herself with a cough.
"*Ahem* Well, it seems your... anger, has taken physical form."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that. Losing my wings is a breaking point for me, I guess." An image forms in my mind. Twi and Tirek are talking at this moment, at the outskirts. And I missed the epic explosion. "Now you'll excuse me. I gotta go kick some ass." I was about to teleport but Celestia held a hoof up.
"Please be careful not hurt my loyal subjects. And don't be afraid to restrain yourself." She adds a wink and smile. I grin back at her.
"Can do!" I salute before teleporting to Twi and Tirek.
"So what do you say, Twilight Sparkle? Your magic for your friends?" Tirek somehow grew to be seven or so stories high.
"Don't do it Twilight!" And Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow and some weird dragon looking thing are encased in bubbles floating near him. I teleported quite aways from them, the ground turned to glass as I made contact. But my hearing has gotten even more sensitive. Either that or it's magic helping me out.
Without another thought I create a sword of pure fire and bolt straight for the hulking beast. As I got closer Tirek saw me approaching and tried to stop me with his magic. But I only felt a small tug on my legs, then, nothing.
"I'm a fucking juggernaut." I mutter. Now I'm only a hundred yards away, and closing in fast. I keeping feeling small tugging sensation all over my body. But nothing held. nothing can stop me from killing him. The world once again fades away as I put all of my concentration directly at Tirek. *You like ripping people apart right? Well lets see how you feel when you lose your horns...* I angle myself perfectly when I'm just meters away. And make one, single, slash. And the most satisfying 'ching' noise sounded out. I stop in my tracks and turn around. Tirke's horns lie on the ground at either side of him. "Perfect." He spins around and looks me directly in the eye with a face that says, 'I'm going to fucking MURDER you!'.
"You will PAY for this!" The sword in my hands disappears and the gauntlets take form.
"Bring it on then." I smirk and he reals a fist as back as he could and sends it at me with all of his strength. I do the same and hit the middle knuckle of his giant fist. A shock wave is produced and racks through the air. Tirek draws his hand back and shakes it. A look of surprise plastered across his face. There's a black smudge where I punched his knuckle. "My turn." I bolt straight for his face, punching him right between the eyes. Sending the giant centaur into the air. I keep speed with him and land a multitude of punches across his torso. Kinda like Luffy when he uses gatling gun. I land a downward hailmaker and he hit the ground. Hard. Looks like a meteor crashed into the earth.
Instead of giant space rock, the limp form of a grey, black and red centaur took it's place. I then nose dive right at him, I decided to go for a killing move: Kamikazi right at his chest, where his heart is. Or where I think it is anyway. But he managed to backhand me at the last second. Sending me through for a second before I recovered. He got up and tried to use his magic. But all that resulted were a few reddish-orange sparks that danced around his cut horns. Making me snicker. His hands then glowed a violent orange.
*Shit.* I bolt towards him at unimaginable speeds. Seeing this he put up an orange tinted shield. I help up my arms in a defensive position and break through the shield like paper.
"Impossi-" I cut him off with a jab dead center in the chest. Forcing him to stumble back. I then proceeded to land as many punches I can manage while flying around his body. Ending with a bang by me flying right into him, using my body as an unstoppable object. Tirek held up his arms just before I can make a hole in his lower torso. With all my might I push him as far as my power will allow. What resulted was that I practically forced him back a few yards. I heard his hooves dig into the ground. I teleport and slam myself to the side of his head.
With how fast I was going I'm surprised I didn't knock his head clean of his shoulders. But it did knock him out, or kill. He flopped onto the ground with a loud 'thud' and didn't move, his body then began to slowly shrink at a snail's pace. I let a mad grin curve my lips and I dove right at him. Aiming for the head.
"Ember!" I froze in my decent and looked to where the voice came from. The girls, and the same dragon thing from before, Discord if I remember correctly. Where all standing at the edge of the crater. My enhanced vision allowed me to see that they all are wearing looks of concern and worry. Even Rainbow. The grin I had faded away and I calmly flew over to them. They backed away as I touched the ground, which turned to glass under the immense heat. "Ember?" Fluttershy spoke up and took a step closer. She felt the heat hit her and took a step back. Still wearing a worried look. I felt myself begin to calm down. I even saw that the fire making up my body began to turn yellow.
"It's me, Ember."
"What happened to you?" Twi asked. The fire took on a yellow color now. I can feel the energy leaving me.
"Celestia said I'm like this because my rage took on a physical form." My legs feel weak, shaky even.
"Are you alright there sugarcube?" I weakly nod.
"In a way, yes. But you'll why I'm not entirely fine at the moment." I huff out before I fall face-first into eternal darkness.
"Emby!" I heard Pinkie shout before I fell unconscious.
"I think I'm floating in between life and death." I said to no one. That's what it feels like at the moment. I'm floating in some kind of void. I can't define up or down. And it feels like I'm fading away. Kinda like those few seconds before you fall asleep when you're really fucking sleepy. Except this feeling is lasting much longer than that, and I don't feel tired.
"Yup, we sure are." Embris stated, then she floated into view.
"If this is it, it was nice bein' part of ya." Emby says out of nowhere and he floats into view,the fire making up him noticeably dim.
"Something's telling me we're not dead yet." Sub floats into view, both eyes squinting at something.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, from what I see through your eyes, we seem to be taken care of by some ponies." Just as he says that the fading sensation went away.
"And barely any time has passed too." I remark, it feels like it's only been three mother fucking minutes.
"Trust me, a lot of time has passed." Then something started to tug at me. "And it looks like you're waking up." A bright lit up and started to take up my vision. "It's too bad you likely won't remember any of this after you wake up. Later." We wave to each other and the bright light take up my vision.
My eyes flutter open and everything swims into view. From what I can see I'm laying in a bed in a hospital. Everything's white like last time. There's also a beeping noise of a heart monitor to my right. I try to pick up my head, but all I get is a weak nudge.
"Too weak to even pick up my own fucking head. Better than being dead though." I'm fortunate enough that u can use my magic to prop myself up to a sitting position.
~About time you wake up. It was starting to get really boring.~
"Hey Amulet."
~And about my name. I finally came up with a proper name for me. ~
"Let me hear it then."
~Ruby.~ I think for a minute.
"Not bad. Kinda fits. The gem was red right?"
~Yes.~
"Right. Good name." Just the door opens and a white coated, pink mane and tail unicorn walks in. Her mane done up in a bun and a hat with a red cross sits atop her head.
"A good! You're awake!" She walks to the side of my bed. Are you feeling ok? And how are you sitting up?"
"Beside feeling really weak I'm fine. And I used my magic to prop myself up." Her brows raise in surprise.
"Well, your friends will be happy to know your awake. Especially Fluttershy." She smiles l sweetly. I return the smile.
"Well what are you waiting for?" I ask in a playful tone. She giggles and walks out of the room.
"Your friends will be here in a minute." She says and she closes the door behind her. A few minutes of silence, broken by the beeping of the heart monitor, go by and the door opens again. This time the six girls and Discord walk in. Followed by the same nurse from before and another pony with a caramel coat and a brown mane, wearing a white lab coat. Fluttershy leaps upon me and hugs me a bit tightly. Making me wheeze out in slight pain from the impact.
"Oh thank goodness you're ok!" She buries her head in my chest and wraps her forelegs around my neck. She stays there for a few seconds then stands back up, leaving a wet spot on my chest. Being mindful of my body she steps off the bed and rubs her eyes. "How are you feeling?" I smile and chuckle. I can already feel strength returning to me.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired."
"Well that's good to hear." Twi walks closer. "We all thought you would never wake up."
"How long was out then?" She goes silent for a second, then looks back to the group in front of the door, Discord took a seat away from everybody. Twi then looks back to me.
"About a month and a half, give or take."
"Oh..."
-Didn't see that coming.- |
My little Escapade | Chapter 13: Home | "Really? I've been out for that long?" She nods. "Did anything else happen to me while I was out?" At the she grimaces.
"Well... Um... How do I say this." She pauses, trying to think of a way to tell me whatever she's going to tell me. "Tirek may have impaled you on a magic spike while we were taking you to the hospital. On the chest." She says with as much care as she could us. I strain a little to look down and see that my stomach is covered in bandages.
"Well that explains the slight pain from when Fluttershy hugged me." Said yellow pegasus winces and looks down.
"I'm sorry..." She whimpers. With strength slowly returning to me it took a little effort to reach over and scratch her in between her ears. A soft smile appears on her face as I scratch her.
"It's alright Flutters. You didn't know that would hurt me.." I stroke her mane once and flop back onto the bed. "So..." I look the nurse and, who I assume is Doc Tender Care. "How long do I have stay here?" The orange brown pony scratches his chin.
"It shouldn't be more than another week. By then you should be as bright as rein." He says with a smile. I nod in response.
"Cool." The Doc and nurse walk out of the room. Leaving me with the six girls and Discord. He looks to be bored out of his mind. "Discord, is it?" He picks up his head.
"Yes."
"How do you his name?" Twi, the ever inquisitive one asks.
"Lets just say I know a lot of things, and I don't know how I know, I just do." She nods, contemplating who knows what. I turn my attention back to the... draconequus... I think that's how it's pronounced. "So you are the god of chaos?" He nods with a proud smile.
"The one and only." Discord proudly states. He stands up and bows. Holding a top hat that appeared out of thin air.
"And am I correct to assume you're friends with these girls?"
"Well mostly with Fluttershy. Other than her, they're more like... acquaintances." He says with a smirk. Rarity, Aj and Rainbow scowl at him.
"Ah think you better get on outta here Discord."
"Oh! That reminds me. I must go tend to Fluttershy's animal friends. Ta ta Fluttershy." Discord states a little too effeminately. A puffy pink cloud forms around him and quickly dissipates, leaving empty space where he stood. I look back to the group of friends.
"Something tells me you three don't quite get along with him." I say with a knowing smirk. "Moving on to a different subject. You girls mind catching me up with what happened while I was out?"
"Actually, ah gotta get back to apple buckin'. Later guys!" Aj waves to us and we wave back as she leaves the room.
"Anyone else leaving?" They rest shake their heads. "Alright. Lay it on me then." I say as I stretch my a-
"Emby! Your wings! They're different!" Pinkie shouted.
"What?" I turn around and see that I have wings again. But they're different like Pinkie said. Instead of feathered wings. I now sport bat-like wings, even draconic looking. "What? How?" *Draconic wings? How the fuck!?* The spot where my normal wings met my back, now two slightly long arms jut out, webbing in between each finger, they even look more muscled than my regular arms. And the hands, they would be normal, except the fingers are about two feet long between each knuckle, and each thumb is left normal. Grey scales dot the palm and back part of each hand, complemented with the skin colored a dull grey like my feathers. "How did these grow? I shouldn't even have wings anymore!"
"Whaddya mean by that?" Rainbow asked. I look to all of them seriously.
"You all saw me as a ball of fire fueled by rage right?" They nod slowly. "I turned into that because the fucking prick Tirek tore my wings off!" They all blanch. "Yeah, he tore my fucking wings off in the most painful way possible. I've never felt that much pain in my life." I cross my arms. My new wings stay flared, they flap once in agitation.
"Did he really do that?" There was a slight tremor in Rainbows voice. I nod with affirmation. "Wow, that's bucked up. Even for Tirek."
"He used me try and coax the Princesses to giving him their magic. You can pretty much guess what happened next." Fluttershy, Twilight and Rainbow wince sharply.
"That would explain why you ascended into that, flame form." Twi muttered. Fluttershy, who stayed quiet the whole time. Got up, wiped her eyes again, calmly walked over to me, and gave me another hug. But this one was soft, it was an embrace, I felt warm. Happy even, I've never been that happy ever since childhood. It was like mom giving me a good old bear hug. Filled with love, compassion, friendship. At that moment I felt truly overjoyed. I closed my eyes and hugged her back. We stay like that for a minute, then a second set of hooves hugged me. I open my eyes, and Rainbow decided to hug me. Followed by Rarity, Twilight and Pinkie.
*They really do care for me... *
-No doubt.-
=Mmhmm.= The group hug lasts for another minute or two, I then feel a rush of warmth shoot through my body, it left me feeling at top physical condition, at least, that's how I feel. Then they take a step back.
"Thanks, I needed that." I look to Rainbow. "So what? You finally stopped thinking of me as a monster?" She blushes a little, and she nods a little. "Was it because of what you saw me do?" Her face brightens up.
"Yeah! That was so, awesome!" She takes to the air. "We saw everything! Dude, that had the most awesomest thing I've ever seen!." She holds her hoof out to me. Taking the hint I bump my fist to it.
"Wait, you all saw everything?" They all nod.
"We already put the last key in the box, so we were just waiting for the Tree of Harmony to grow, and it gave us our 'Rainbow Power' forms."
"Ahh, I see. What's the Tree of harmony?" I can't let them I know more about their than they think I do now can I? Of course I had to play dumb.
"It's basically a crystal tree that keeps harmony and chaos in balance." Twi explains.
"Oh... Is that some of what I missed?"
"Not really. What you really missed is all the black vines from Discords seeds of chaos growing from the ground and terrorising Ponyville and Discord betraying us." Rainbow finished with a scowl.
"He betrayed you guys?" Rainbow nods. "Huh... And now I'm guessing he's reformed or something?"
"I guess..." She says with a grunt.
"She means yes Ember, Discord does mean well. We think." Twi said.
"Oh." I mull that over for a second. "Well, moving on, is that all I missed?"
"Not exactly. Tirek, destroyed my house..." Twi said with a frown. Rarity tried to comfort her.
"But now you have that beautiful castle darling! Isn't that better than your old home?" Rarity draped a foreleg over Twi's shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess so." Then Fluttershy put her two cents in. While I just sit there, confused as ever.
"And you saved Spike and Owlicious." That got Twilight to better spirits. I can pretty much guess who Owlicious is.
"You're right." She says with a small smile.
"Wait, castle?" I didn't do that much research when I was back on my home planet, I may have forgotten a thing or two, or ten.
"Oh yeah! When Twi put the last key in the magic box it went into the ground this giant crystal castle grew out of the ground! It. Was. Awesome!" Rainbow nearly shouted.
"Is that all?"
"No, remember what Rainbow said about my new castle?" I nod. "Well, in the throne room we discovered, when we all sat down at our respective thrones, a table that displays a map of Equestria grew out of the ground. And it showed us a particular area that it wants us to go to."
"Did it just tell you that before you got here?" Twi nods. "Then why are you still here?"
"Pinkie wants you to come along to-"
"So you can our body guard!" Pinkie interupted, throwing her forelegs in the air.
"Body guard?"
"You know! Just in case we might need your help!"
"I don't think we'll need his help Pinkie. As long as you got me!" Rainbow boasted. Pinkie just stares at her. It's kinda creepy.
"But didn't you see what he did to Tirek?" That shut the blue boasting bimbo up. Pinkie turns back to me with a bright smile. "So will you come along with us? Huh huh huh!?" She gets into my personal space a little. I think about for a minute, then shrug.
"Eh, why not? Got nothing better to do, so, yeah." That set the pink hyperactive pony off. She cheers loudly and bolts out of the room, doing whatever it is she does. "She's a bit quirky isn't she?" Twi sighs.
"That's just Pinkie being Pinkie."
"I see." I stretch again, loud popping sounds emanate from my shoulders and arms, all four of them, should I even call my appendages arms? "Wow I feel a lot better. I wonder if I can stand up." I shifted in the bed I'm resting in to stand up.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Remember what Doctor tender Care said!" Twi frantically fails her forelegs as I stand the fuck up. My legs pop a little am I almost hit my head against the ceiling. "Or not." She sighs again.
"Well then, shall we get going? After I check out of this place?"
"I guess so..."
"Let me get this straight, you somehow went back to your homeworld, and you think Princess Celestia had something to do with it?" I nod.
"Pretty much. And I think Celestia had something to do with it." After checking myself out of 'Ponyville General Hospital' as the ponies call it, much to the surprise of all the staff there. Rainbow went to go get Aj while the rest of us waited by the train station this town apparently has, I stopped by my house and caught Chrysi up about everything. She was glad to see me again, and all better too, apparently she couldn't go to the hospital because she ran the risk a getting caught, even if she changed into a pony. And the train itself is called 'The Friendship Express', it should be named 'The so Fucking small I can Barely fit Express'. We all got in and rode it to the small town Twi was talking about earlier, and she filled me in about they plan to do when they get there. I can feel the train slowing down. "I need to speak with her about that when I can."
"We're here!" Pinkie shouted. The train came to a stop and we all stepped off it. As soon as Fluttershy stepped off the conductor put the train into reverse, quite hastily too.
"Strange." I silently remarked and I fall into step behind the girls. We traveled across a deserted landscape until we reached a small cliff that looks over the town we're supposed to be at. It's fucking small. Looks like there's barely twelve houses. They start talking amongst themselves and I just keep an eye on Pinkie. She's somehow crawling under rocks. And a big one just crushed her. It confuses the fuck out of me that she managed to carry the boulder a few feet and climbed on top of it.
"This is were the wants us to go?" Rainbow griped.
"This is where the map says." Twi pulled out a map from somewhere. I don't know where they store shit like that.
"Well it can certainly afford some... architectural flourishing." Rarity commented.
"Are ya sure this is where the map wanted us to go?" Aj asked.
"Yes, I am sure."
"Well I don't know about all of you, but I'm going to find out if they have a spa." Rarity began to walk towards to small village.
"Hold on Rarity." Twi blocked. "We don't know what could be down there, besides those ponies."
"You think a monster could be somehow controlling them?" Rainbow almost got too close to Twi when she asked that.
"What makes you think that Rainbow?"
"It just makes it sound much cooler." I roll my eyes.
"Lets just go." I say and walk ahead of them. They fall into step at either side of me when we reach the town. We get a ton of looks from the residents. And they start a really creepy welcome committee. All while smiling creepily.
*If this is part of the show, I didn't see this episode.* My knowledge of the show only goes as far as season four, I think. No that does not make me a 'brony' or whatever you call those people into the show, I only did that for research purposes. The girl's and I were eventually lead to a table by some mare, said mare left and came back with a plate full of muffins. I chose to sit with my legs crossed on the floor. I continued to look around and watch the residents go about their business. Nothing is normal from whatever they're doing, even for ponies.
-Well this place is fucking creepy-
=It strangely reminds me of "The World's End". The way they smile and stare, a little unnerving to say the least.=
~Agreed.~
"Ember?" I get a poke at my shoulder.
"Huh?"
"You comin' with us?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah." I get up and follow the girls, lead by the ponies of this village. There is apparently some cave the ponies of this place have where they store their cutie marks. I kid you not, there is actually a way to get rid of a cutie mark. I later found out that some communist whore brainwashed these ponies to forsaking their cutie marks to become equal. But I found a small flaw; There are pegasi, unicorns and regular ponies. I'll let that sink in for a minute.
"Here it is!" A white stallion cheered. Me and the girls gwak a little at the massive walls of taken cutie marks. Silence befalls us as we continue stare.
"Beautiful isn't it?" A feminine voice comes from behind. We all turn and see that a pink unicorn mare with dark purple and turquoise mane and tail walks in front of us. Her words fall dead on my ears and I nudge Twi.
"What?"
"I don't like her. Something's off about her."
"You're getting that too?" Rainbow whispered. By now the mare, walked up to the wall of cutie marks and picked up a stick with a fork at one end. I manage a straight face as I analyze her. Looking for anything that might set her away from the town's ponies. God their lingo is getting to me.
"With the Sanity rod," I had to hold back a snort. "everypony here is made equal." She walks dangerously closer to us, and the others surround us, smiling widely, almost evilly.
"It's a trap!" Twi takes to the air and charges her horn. The pink mare pointed the stick at Twilight and a beam of turquoise magic shoots out. I, acting before thinking, jump in front of Twi and take the full blow of the magic beam. And like before, it had disastrous effects. The resulting explosion sent me flying at a wall of the cave. Luckily, my wings flared and cushioned the impact, without taking damage to boot. I land back on the floor and take a defencive stance. Wings still flared and gauntlets at the ready.
*Nice.* I look ahead of me, and the pink mare has already cast whatever spell she has on the girls. Looks like they're hurting pretty bad.
~Get in front of the magic again!~
"What?"
~I Can absorb it and convert it to your magic!~
"Got it." I make a beeline at the beam of magic and step in front of the pink mare holding it. *This better work.* I make contact and the beam absorbs itself into my body.
"No! What are you doing!?" The pink bitch screams.
"Keeping you from making everypony equal." I can feel the power within me rising.
~Oh no...~
*What?*
~I didn't anticipate this much magic! Move!~ I try to but all I get are some twitches. I can feel something build within my being. And something is lighting up the cave, it was me. The light was coming from me.
*The fuck is going on?!* My vision is starting to turn white.
"Ember!" I heard the girls call out, then my vision completely turns white. Then pitch black.
*What happened? And why do I feel tired..?* I tried to call out to anybody. But my mouth didn't move. I couldn't move any part of my body at all. *Hello!? Anyone there!? No response. *Did I get knocked unconscious again or something?*
"You really need to stop doing shit that'll knock us out." I whip my head around and Embris appeared.
*So I am unconscious, ok.*
"I actually don't know whether we passed out or not. For all we know we could be dead."
*Oh.*
"You know you can talk right?"
*Tried that earlier, I can't move at all. Hey, where's Emby?*
"He's around. And that could mean you're tied up."
*You really think that?* She shrugs.
"Always a possibility. And considering what happened before you got here..."
*Riiiiiiight. Makes sense. That pink bitch probably has me tied up.* The background starts to turn white.
"Looks like we're about to find out." She fades away and everything turns white.
"About time you wake up." I pick my head up and open my eyes. I'm in some room with no windows, probably a basement, and the pink mare from earlier is sitting a few feet away. I try to move, but it seems that I am tied up, rope covers my torso and legs. "It was getting pretty boring here."
~About time you woke up.~
"Where are the girls?" She chuckles. I move against the rope and I found out that I can rip them up. *Wow this shit is weak.* The pink mare chuckles.
"Don't worry, they're safe." She stands up and walks closer to me.
"The fuck are you doing?" She smirks.
"You seem to be immune to my spell, seeing that you don't have a cutie mark." When she's just a few inches away from me she sits back down. "But I can still turn you into one of us."
"And how are you going to do that?" She smiles and a blush appears on her cheeks.
"By turning you into my slave."
*Oh HELL NO!!!* I break the rope holding my arms and slam my fist to her face, making her slide across the floor. I quickly untie the rope around my legs and stand up. She stood back and crouched down.
"A fighter huh? You're not going to make it out of here alive if you keep doing that." I smile widely and flex my wings, my eyes change red again. She loses her smile at that.
"You stupid cunt. You actually think you can break me? You think you can turn me into your fucking mindless slave?" I teleport and appear right in front of her. "Bitch you got another thing coming." I managed to teleport away before she shot me with a beam of magic. I ready my gauntlets and take a defensive stance. When she does nothing I leap to land a solid hit at her side. She shot another beam of magic at me, knocking me into a wall.
*Can you cast a shield around me? That's getting pretty fucking annoying.* A red shield forms around me, acting like another layer of skin.
~Like that?~
"Perfect." I rush the mare again. She shoots another beam of magic, this time it bounces off the shield and digs into the wall. *I am in a basement.* This time I landed a good kick on her side, sending her sprawling across the floor. That seemed to knock her out, she's got moving, but I can see her chest rising and falling. I slowly walk over to her and nudge her side. A nasty looking bruise is starting to form. She twitches and groans, but stays still otherwise. *Out like a light bulb.*
=Nice=
-So what now?-
"Now we get the fuck outa here." I grasp the mare in my magic and head upstairs with her in tow. The room leading to the basement looked like an average bedroom. I pay no attention to that and head outside. As soon as I step outside I'm greeted by the residents of this lovely village, all looking at me and the girls, who are also out here, their bodies tinted a dark grey. And their cutie marks, I'm gonna call them c-marks from now on, all replaced with equal signs, but Fluttershy is missing.
"Hey! It's you again!" A white stallion shouts. "Has our mayor shown you the errors of your ways?" He walks close and stops just a feet feet away.
"More like the other way around." I set the unconscious mare between me and him. He goes wide eyed.
"What did-!"
"Now Fluttershy!" Twi yelled out. Next thing I know I'm drenched in water. So is the mare and the stallion, the pink one wakes up when the water hit her.
"Huh? What?"
"You see!? Your mayor has lying to you all this time!" I guess Twi had this planned out or something. The residents all gaps when they lay eyes on the drenched mare.
"You lied to us?" The white stallion asked, clearly hurt, emotionally. I briskly walk over to the girls.
"So you planned this?" Twi nods.
"Yes. Except for you coming in like that. What happened to her anyway?"
"Me and her had a little stand off. By the way what's her name?"
"Starlight glimmer, why?"
"Just asking. Also, is what she was doing here illegal? It kinda is on my planet."
"What, spreading communism? Yes that's illegal. It's considered a crime against equinity!"
"Good." I turn back to the crowd. "And we might need to go after her."
"Why?"
"She's running off with a cart."
"What!?" All the girls shout. I take to the air, a little shakily because of the new wings, and chase Starlight. Along with the ponies of this village.
"Fuck, she knows how to run." Starlight managed to stay ahead of us while running up to the top of a snow covered mountain. "And I really practice with these new wings." She even caused a mini-avalanche and destroyed and fucking bridge. I cleared the snow and some pony created a bridge out of balloons, don't ask me how he did that, he just did. The chase eventually ended at the mouth of an ominous cave. *It's also weird how my wings didn't ice up. Eh... magic.* Right now Twi and Starlight are in the middle of a stand off. I can't hear what they're saying, all the snow blowing about and I kept distance between me and Starlight. She's a good shot. The girls got their c-marks and now all the ponies are gathering around Starlight.
"I won't let you take me!" I heard that. The pink communist mare created a bubble around and it expanded until it eventually exploded to a flash of bright light. When that died she was gone. But there were tracks leading into the cave. I land next to Twi.
"She's getting away!" She makes a move to go into the cave, but a blue hoof holds her back.
"We can look for later." A blue stallion spoke. "Right now we want to experience true friendship. Come on!" The stallions walks away and me and Twi look at each other.
"Weird." We both say, we both chuckle a little.
"You can join the others, I'll go after her."
"You sure? It looks pretty scary in there." I look at her pointedly.
"Do I look like a wimp to you?"
"No..." She shakes her head.
"Then I'll see you later." I say with a smile. She smiles catches up with the rest and I walk into the cave. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 14: Time Well Spent | *Kinda dark in here. At least I can still see...*
~At least you can see well in the dark, right?~
*Yeah, but it still takes a minute for my eyes to adjust.*
~Well allow me to help you with that.~ I rush of magic later the whole place looks to be dimly lit.
*Thanks* Some stones fall over, at least, it sounded like that. "Stop trying to spook me, I know you're fucking here." I cast a shield around me and my gauntlets materialize.
"My my, such vulgar language." Starlight walks into view from behind a boulder. She may not showing fear, but anyone can see the fear in her eyes. "Pray tell, how did you know that was me?"
"Where I come from creating ambiance, like how you just did, is an old cliche'."
"Hmm... Where do you come from?"
"A planet on the other side of the galaxy we live in."
"How can you prove it."
"Besides saying that I'm a new species on this planet, and that I got sucked into a wormhole that spit me out in this place. I can't." As we talked, I used my magic to levitate a small rock and carefully held it above her head a couple yards.
"So, you're an alien?"
-She's trying to mess with your head, wow. Just wow.- Embris says in an unamused tone.
"Yeah, pretty much. Also, I see that you're trying to get into my mind." I chuckle and lay the rock back down onto the floor. "And it's a little amusing. A pony trying to pry into an aliens head." I step closer to Starlight. "I also find it extremely agitating." I say with a mean frown. "You've absolutely no idea how many times my mind has been broken, put back together, and broken again. It's both cute and sickening." She backs up a little. "Mostly sickening, you know why? Of course you don't, so let me tell why I hate mind games like the one you tried to start." I kept walking towards her, and backed her up to a wall. "I've been manipulated enough as it was back on my planet. It's made me who I am today, although I don't mind that part, I like who I am. Anyway, it's how people used me as their scapegoat, it was until after what I've done hit me. I've done many things I regret to this day. And my first thought when appearing in this world was 'Maybe I can leave all of that behind', I guess not." I take another step towards her, and crouch down to eye level. "At least, not until you're out of the picture." I hold my hand out and a giant clawed glove appears, then it goes away. "On second thought," I stand back up. "Instead of killing you, I'll just turn you in to whatever authority you have in this country. I'm sure they'll a nice dungeon or something for you." At that her eyes widen.
"I'm not going to prison!" She stands back on all fours and blasts me with another beam of magic. Luckily a shield forms before it could touch me, the beam bounces off and slams into the cave wall. A loud rumble sounds out and a stalactite falls to the floor.
"Look what you did, the cave's caving in." I grab her by the tail and keep her still. I snap my fingers and an iron ring appears on her horn. *Since when did I know how to do that?* Then it clicks.
-Remember when we got that feeling of knowing everything?-
*No fucking way! I have more control over my magic because of that!?*
~It's apparently a side effect of that.~
*Amazing...* A large rock falls and breaks apart right over me. *This thing can stand the weight of a few tons of rock right?*
~Yes.~
*Good, cause I want to see her d-* I look over to where Starlight is, or was, standing. A large boulder already crushed her. Her pink legs stick out from under the rock, one of them even twitch. "Fuck I missed it... Eh, at least I don't have to worry about her anymore." I close my eyes and teleport to the small village.
"Ember Darling! When did you get here?"
"I actually just teleported here."
"Hey Ember! Since when did ja get here?"
"I teleported here."
"Emby! You're back!" Something small hit me from behind, two pink hooves drape over my shoulders and another two wrapped around my waist. I twist my head around and meet nose to muzzle with Pinkie.
"Hey Pinkie."
"Woah dude, that's creepy." I look at Rainbow, a little confused.
"What?"
"That, 'neck' thing. Looks like your neck snapped." I shrug and turn around. Pinkie is still latched onto me.
"Pinkie, you mind?"
"Nope!" She happily jumps off my back and bounces off to somewhere. Twi walks up to me.
"Where's Starlight?"
"She got crushed by a boulder." She blanches a little. "Yeah, she shot one of those beams of magic at me and it hit the cave wall, cave collapsed, I managed to get out. Same can't be said for her." She looks a little sick. "Changing the subject, you guys threw a party right?" She nods. "Then lets party." I scratch behind her ears a little and join the partying ponies.
"So you actually saw a giant rock crush her?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Wow." When I got home Chrysi was happy to see me once again, she asked what happened and I basically recapped the day's event to her. "How can you watch that happen right in front of you, and not vomit?"
"Humans in general have strong stomachs, although I think some might throw up at that particular sight. Anyway, I've seen worse, remember." Her ears fold back.
"Oh... Yeah..."
"Hey," I reach over and put an arm around her shoulders. "what's in the past, is in the past. I don't like to dwell on the past. It just makes you weaker. Besides, I'm still breathing, so don't worry about that, alright?" I reach up and scratch her behind her ears. It's a little weird, scratching soft chitin, it's almost like scratching rough ballistic gelatin. The changeling sighs and a smile forms on her face. "Better?" She nods lazily.
"Yeah, thanks." I remove my hand. "What are doing down here anyway? I never see you come out unless somepony needs you or something."
"I'm just trying to build something."
"Like what?"
"A computer."
"A what?"
"A computer, a device that can store millions of books worth of knowledge, all into one little hard drive." At that her jaw drops. "Close your mouth, unless you like the taste of fly-guts." Her mouth closes with a click.
"Is a, 'computer', one of those things that you talked about with Shining and Cadence the other day?"
"Yeah."
"Then why are you building one, do you even know how to build one?"
"I want to build one and give it as a gift, to Twilight, and yes. And I'm technically putting one together, all these parts make up the thing."
"Cool." She says in awe. "Where did you get these anyway?" I smirk and snap my fingers, a monitor blinks into existence. "I found out the other day that I have more control over my magic. And now I can create shields, various weapons out of magic, and a very limited version of creation."
"'Creation'? And what do you mean by 'more control'?"
"I can make anything out of nothing. But it seems that goes as far as parts for large machines and furniture no bigger than a bed. I can't actually create a full-blown gun, or a coffee machine. Also I figured that I have loads of magic, and I sometimes use out of reflex. I just gotta learn to control it."
"Oh... Wait, can't you ask Twilight to help you out with that stuff?"
"I was actually thinking of doing that today."
"Well why don't you go then!? I've been wanting to get out of this house."
"Why? What have you been doing these past days?" She looks down and a blush forms on her face.
"Stuff..." She mutters.
"Nevermind, lets go." She instantly stands back and flies out my room. "Oh yeah, wings." I get up and follow after her...
"Great! Lets get started!" We arrived at Twi's Castle, the 'The Friendship Castle' as all the ponies say. Chrysi changed her look back to the mare. I told Twi about my wanting to learn more magic, and she lit up like fire fueled by gasoline.
"Alright, what's first?"
"First, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"Sure."
"Alright. Follow me please." She walks off, with me and Chrysi in tow, towards some room within the castle, it held all the equipment from the library's basement. All the equipment Twi moved out of the way is back in place, all of it alive, beeping and hums fill the air.
"Wow, you were waiting for this moment, weren't you?" She gives me a sheepish smile, making me chuckle. "You do know how to set things up fast huh?"
"Actually, I've had this all up and running a few days now."
"Really? For what?"
"You never know when you're going to need to study something new."
"I assume that happens often."
"A little too often if you ask me."
"I see. Continue with your questions please."
"Thank you." She pauses. "Who have you been getting used to Equestrian magic?"
"Well I just discovered the other day that I have more control over my magic."
"How so?" I snap my fingers and a CPU appears out of thin air and drops to the floor.
"I have some kind of limited creation." I hold my hand out and a see-through red sword appears. "And besides the gauntlets, I can form various types of melee weapons." The red swords turns into a ball of magic, and stretches to form a war hammer. "This one being my favorite." I let the grip the handle and let the head smash to the floor. Making the ground vibrate a little. I let go of the hammer and it disappears, leaving a little divot where the head smacked the ground. I look at Twi and Chrysi, both of them got next to each other, and they're staring at the hole the hammer left. "What?"
"H... how are you able to lift something that heavy!?"
"Well... It wasn't that heavy to me."
"Really? Hmm... Bring it back, please." I nod and the hammer. She motions with a hoof to give it to her. "Only I can hold this, as soon as I let go it dissipates."
"Oh. Hold it still please." I do so and the hammer tints a darker shade of red. It only lasts for a second. "Interesting... Hit the ground again, please." I quirk an eyebrow, then shrug and let the head the ground again. The hammer is once again a darker shade of red. "Wow..."
"What?"
"It's weight increased. Lift it up." I do so. "It got lighter! Amazing!"
"What?"
"It appears that the weight of the hammer responds to what you are doing with it. I've only read about weapons like the one you're wielding in old tombs."
"Well that's cool. Does that mean I'm some ancient race or some shit?"
"You could be..."
"It was a joke, Twi."
"Oh..." Her cheeks tint pink and she looks down. She immediately looks back up, wearing a face that says 'nothing happened'.
"Next question."
*Wow she's good.*
"Do-"
"Twilight!"
"Rainbow?" Twi ask no one as she walks to the table room, me and Chrysi behind her. As Twi opens the door leading to the room, we're greeted with an almost frantic-looking Rainbow and a smiling Pinkie.
"Hi Emby! Hi Twilight! Hi Chrysi!" She chirps.
"Twilight, my cutie mark is doing that... flashing thing again!" Twi looks to her flank, flank sounds better than ass. And her c-mark is glowing and flashing. Just then Rarity, Fluttershy and Aj walk in. They all look to each other and nod. Apparently in some unsaid agreement, with that they sit in their respective chairs around the table. As soon as Twi takes her seat a three-d image appears on the table. When I take a closer look it looks like a map of this planet. At least, the majority of it. Two lights from and shape into Rainbow's and Pinkie's c-marks. They hover over and spin around an old looking tree on atop a thin mountain. Twi looks at the map with wide eyes.
"The map wants you and Pinkie to visit the Gryphon Kingdom?" Her face goes from surprised to excited. And the others just leave. Not even saying a word. Me being confused, I decided to follow the rest out.
"So the thing just calls all of you here, even though you're not what it wants?" I ask Aj.
"Ah don't know. We just got the feelin' that we were needed."
"So you didn't need to come?" She nods.
"Yeah."
"Alright."
"So what do we do now?" Chrysi asked.
"I don't know about you, but I'm going back home."
"Oh. Ok." With Chrysi in tow, I make my way back to my house. And spend the rest of the day tinkering away. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 15: A new Arrival | "Ember, my I ask why you wanted us to come visit you?" Rarity asked.
"I just want to show something possibly awesome."
"What do ya mean by 'possibly awesome'?" Aj quirks a brow at me.
"I mean whether it's awesome or not depends on whether ponies already have what I'm about to show you." After I asked Chrysi to go tell Aj, Rainbow and Rarity to meet up at my house, I went to go get Twi, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. We all met at the edge of town, and I lead the group from then on.
"You know what he's up to Chrysanthemum?"
"Nope." She shakes her head.
"Are you going to tell us what it is you're going to show us darling?"
"Nope." Rarity huffs in annoyance. I lead them into my house and to my room. In the center stands a lone table, a clocked object sits on top of the table. The lights turn on as soon as I walk in.
"Ooooh what's that?" Pinkie points to the table. She would've gone over and take a closer look, and maybe take off the cover. But she saw the small smirk I had on my face. She just smiled at me when she saw me.
*Thaaank you Pinkie!*
"You're welcome!" Said pink pony shouts. We all look at her weirdly, and she just continues to smile innocently. The rest of us look at each other, and shrug it off.
-Thank fucking christ we know who Pinkie is.-
~Agreed, the pink one is quite strange.~
"Uh, Ember? Ya'mind tellin' us what's under that thing?"
"Not at all." I walk over to the table. "Now, if you will please." I snap my fingers and seven chairs materialize. The mares blink for a second and take their seats. With the only light illuminating the room is focused on the table.
"Ladies, let me present to you; a piece of human technology." That got all of their attention, especially Twilight. Who's eye literally bug out when I said 'human technology'. I grin widely and pull the cover off, revealing a brand-fucking-new computer. Which starts up as soon the cover came off. The ponies and changeling stare at the thing as the desktop appears on the screen. Don't ask me how it has icons. Magic is really fucking weird that way.
"Umm... What is that?" Twilight asks.
=It's kinda surprising that they don't have computers here. With how much tech we've seen here.=
*Yes it is. Yes, it, is.*
"To put is simply, this, is a computer."
"What does it do?" Twi went into full scientist mode.
"It's basically a device that stores data." They all raise a brow at me. "This thing basically has enough storage to hold millions of books worth of information." At that Twi's eyes widen to resemble dinner plates. They go back to normal and an excited smile takes her face.
"What does it do? What's its power source? What-"
"Twilight." She clams up and looks to me. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I need to calm down before we play twenty questions." She give me a weird look, then nods. "As for its source of power..." I reach over and pick up a large crystal that was sitting behind the machine, a wire connect from it to the desktop. Twi's eyes widen again.
"That's why you asked me about crystals the other day."
"Wait, what?" Rainbow raises a brow.
"The other day I asked Twi if crystals can store magic, and if said magic can be converted to energy, in this case electrical energy." She gives me an 'are you serious' look. "Crystal makes computer run."
"Ooooooh... What?"
"Never mind." I turn to the group before me. "Now, one question at a time." I glance at Twi and she smiles a bit sheepishly. Pinkie raises a hoof.
"Yes Pinkie?"
"Can that thing-" A loud knock from upstairs cuts Pinkie off.
"Umm... I'll be right back, hold onto that question Pinkie."
"Ok!" She says as I walk to the main floor and towards the door. The knock repeats and a second later I open the door. Revealing an impatient, grimy-looking looking Starlight Glimmer. We just look at each other for what feels like the longest period of time ever.
"Come in." I say blandly. She raises a brow, but walks inside. I lead her to the living room and instruct her to sit on the couch. "I'll be right back." Without waiting for a responce I head back to my room. "Uh, girls?" They all look to me. "I'm gonna have to end this session early today." Rarity, Aj, Chrysi and Rainbow shrug, Twi and Pinkie let out a long 'awwww'. Without another word, they get get up from their seats and head out the house. Chrysi heads back to her room. I walk back to the living room and sit on a chair across from Starlight. We both sit in silence for a while.
"I thought you were dead." She grimaces.
"No! That was a dummy!"
"Oh, huh. That explains the lack of blood. Anyway, why are you here? Besides the obvious wanting revenge shtick?"
"Well... That's pretty much it." She scratches the back her head. "I'm... Honestly surprised you didn't hit me as soon you saw me."
"Likewise." Silence falls over us again.
"So... What happens now?"
"Well, I don't know about you," I snap my fingers and an iron ring appears on her horn. "but as long as everyone thinks you're dead." I get up from my chair and encase Starlight in my magic.
"Wait! Hold o-" With a twitch of my hand her head makes a sudden one-eighty. A loud 'crack' sounds out and she goes limp. I snap my fingers and the body disappears.
~Where did you send her?~
"Somewhere in the forest."
-And he did just kill her.-
"Yeah, hopefully no one finds the body."
*I think I might have gotten away with that.*
-What? That you sent the bitch's body to the forest a few days ago? Of course you did! We haven't heard shit about that from anybody!-
*I know.*
~What are you doing out here anyway?~
*I honestly don't know Ruby. I figured I would just walk around for a bit.*
=In the market?=
*Want me to go back to Town Hall?*
=Fuck that!=
*Then we stay walking around here.* My mind falls silent and I continue to walk around. Making small conversations with ponies that pass by. I still get a few looks from them, but most of them are out of curiosity, others... I can't really tell. At this point I decided to go back home. It was still mid afternoon, but my talons were killing me. It was when I was on the path leading to my house that I saw something in the distance. I little yellow dot amongst the forest's edge. Being the curious son-of-a-bitch that I am. I walk over to what I saw. As I got closer the yellow dot became more humanoid in shape.
"The fuck?" I close my hands and the gauntlets form again.
-Go with the hammer this time!-
"Fine." The gauntlets fly off my hands and the warhammer forms again. I get closer to the figure, and it seems to have its back towards me, if its head movements say anything. *Wait, is that thing a robot?*
-Are you fucking kidding me!? That's a fucking andriod!-
=How the fuck did an andriod end up here!?= As I got closer I manage to royally fuck up and step on a fucking twig, making a very clear snapping noise. The thing jumps in surprise and quickly turns around. It has a humanoid face; two robotic eyes When it looks to me goes from startled to confused. Not being one for awkward silence. I speak up.
"Why are you here?" The android jumps again. "Speak!" IT flinches.
"Who and what the fuck are you to tell what the fuck to do!? I don't even know what the fuck you are!"
-Definetly not an android. Or maybe a highly advanced one.-
"I'm a human, what the fuck are you?"
"I'm a human too! And you're not a human. You're some kind of bird-human-thing!"
"You never heard of anthros like me?" The android shakes its head. "... Seriously?"
"Yes!" I pause.
"What year is it where you come from?"
"Twenty sixteen. And we're on Earth!" Now fucking way...
"Umm... We aren't on Earth anymore. And you're not a human. And when I last checked the year was twenty twenty-three"
"What do you mean?"
"Look around, does anything look different to you?" He, I assume the thing's a guy 'cause of the voice it projects.
"Now that you mention it. Everything does look different, it's almost like a... cartoon. YOu said I'm not a human?"
"Look at your arm." He does so, and his eyes visibly widen. Kinda weird, the metal around his face seems to be extremely flexible and stretchy. Almost like Ultron's face in the Avengers. And the eyes look like the turret's eye in the Portal games. Except his are a little grey in color. He starts to hyperventilate. If that's even possible. Then he punches himself in the cheek. Making a loud metallic 'clang'.
"Ok, I'm definitely a robot. I'm not dreaming. This is fucking epic!" He looks all over himself. Admiring all the metal limbs that, according to him, used to be fleshy. I let him look at himself for a few minutes before calling for his attention.
"Hey!" He looks back to me. "Mind telling me your name?"
"No... uh..." I thinks for a minute. "Golden... Streak. Yeah! Golden Streak! That's it! Yeah."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" He sighs.
"Fine, my real name is Gabriel." The hammer dissipates and I hold out my hand.
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Woah! What the fuck was that?"
"What? This?" The hammer forms again. He nods. "This is just my war hammer."
"Why is it like that? And how the fuck did it come out of nowhere?" I could only answer that with one word.
"Magic." Gabriel pauses.
"... Are you fucking with me?" The hammer collapses into a little ball and covers my hands, forming the gauntlets once again. "You're not fucking with me... Were the fuck are we?"
"We, are in the magical land of Equestria." I say in a dull tone. At that Gabriel's eyes light up, literally. The little lines in his eyes turn a dull white.
"What?"
"We're standing in Equestria. At the edge of the Everfree Forest to be exact." Gabriel looks back to the forest and backs up a little.
"Does that mean we're near Ponyville?"
"Yeah, how do you know that?" He gives me an 'isn't it obvious?' look.
"Because I fucking love this show called 'My little Pony'. Ever heard of it?"
"Don't fucking talk to me as if I'm a fucking retard. I know what the fuck that show is. I'm not a brony or whatever you call yourselves."
"Really?" I nod. "Does that mean-"
"No."
"Oh, ok." I turn around.
"Come on, it's getting late."
"Woah, who says I have to go with you?"
"Well ,I was going to offer you a place to crash until you get your own place. But I guess since you don't-"
"Wait!" Gabriel falls into step next to me, I chuckle.
"I can tell we're gonna get along really quick."
"What makes you say that?"
"You'll see."
"Let me get this straight, if it wasn't for the main six, they would more or likely called you a monster and ran you out of town?" I lead Gabriel to my house and let him sleep on the couch until further notice. Once I woke up I had to calm Chrysi down after she flipped out when she saw Gabriel. After that we just started to talk. We both agreed that we come from Earth's from different dimensions. It's amazing who a long, drawn out conversation can be summed up to a single sentence.
"Yeah, pretty much." It was also established that Gabriel was actually a human before coming here. "Now with that out of the way. How did you get here?"
"To put it simply. I think I died."
"Please explain."
"Well... the last thing I remember is driving down a road and getting t-boned by a truck, then everything turned white. When I come too again I'm laying where you found me, and you know everything else from then on."
"Hmm... That's strange."
"You're telling me."
"At least I got here by comprehensible means."
"Fuck you."
"Nah. I'm good." He lets out an aggravated grunt. "CHanging the subject, you wnna go meet the girls?" At that he brightens.
"I'd love that!"
"Woah! Calm down brony." He gives me a mean look. "Kidding. Lets go." We get up from the kitchen table and head out. "I'll be back Chrysi!"
"Ok!" Gabriel gives me a weird look.
"She doesn't like it when I don't tell her when I go out." Still the weird look. "I'm her only friend, I think she would care a lot about her only friend."
"I still don't know how you made friends with a changeling."
"I saved her from a fucking manticore."
"Reall?" I nod. "Oh... well that makes sense." We make our way outside.
"So, who do you want to see first?"
"Uh... I thought you would have them all gather at Twilight's or something."
"We can do that." Silence. "Gabriel?" Silence. "If you're looking at my fuking wings again..."
"Sorry! It's just, why like that?"
"They were originally feathered."
"What made them change?"
"You know who Tirek is?"
"Yeah..."
"He tore them off, I turned into a ball of living fire and these somehow grew in."
"Oh..."
"If you want a more detailed description ask Twi. Now lets go."
"Ok."
"Ember, you mind telling us why you called us here?"
"Be quiet Rainbow, I'll show you in a sec." I asked Twi to get Spike to get the girls to meet in the table-map room. "Alright, you all ready?" The girls, and Spike, nod. "Alright, just stay calm no matter what."
"Wait, wha-"
"Alight! Come in Golden Streak!" To this day I don't know why the fucker insists to be called Golden Streak. Whenever I ask he just says some bullshit about 'reinventing' himself. Probably the whole 'new body, thing.
The main doors open and reveal the golden-yellow android. The whole falls silent as, Golden, walks into the room and stops to stand next to me. While the girls are lfe with faces of wide-eyed confusion and surprise.
"Girls, meet Golden Streak. Golden Streak, meet Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and Rainbow." Golden, god I need to get used to that. Just waved.
"Hi." The girls might not see it. But He's trying his hardest to contain his excitement.
"Calm the fuck down." I whisper.
"I'm trying." He whispers back.
"Howdy!" Aj pipes up. "Nice ta meet'cha!" She gets up from her chair and walks over to Golden, holding out a hoof. Taking the hint, he grabs Aj hoof and shakes it. "Woah! Yer cold to the touch, you alright?"
"Uh, yeah. That's just because I'm a... robot." Aj doesn't respond right away.
"A what?"
"He's made of metal." When I said that Twi eyes widened, they even began to shine. "Alright, you all can go." The girls, except for Twi, look to me. When they see the look on my face the smile mischievously. I then bolt out the main doors with the girls, excluding Twi. Leaving Golden with the ever-so-easily-excited-scientist Twilight.
"How did meet 'em." Rainbow asked.
"He kinda appeared in this place in a similar way I did."
"Ohhh. Does that mean you're not the only heumoon-thing here?"
"It's human, and yes, although. I wish he a woman."
"Why darling?" Rarity asked.
"So I can fuck." The girls freeze in their tracks. Then look to me. "What?"
"What'd yall say?"
"I said that I was hopping Golden was a woman so I can possibly make love. You know, do the dirty, putting my meat-rod in her love-hole, my frosting-stick into her cream-cake, my-"
"Ah think thats enough Ember."
"At least you get it now." I look to Fluttershy. Who at the moment has a bright pink face. "Right, sorry Flutters, kinda forgot you're a little sensitive towards that subject." I walk over to her, kneel down, and scratch her behind the ears again. *I love doing this.*
=Cute.= I stop scratching Flutters and stand back up.
"Whelp, I'll see you girls later." I flare my wings and take off. "Fuck I need to practice more with these fucking wings."
A loud thumping comes from upstairs.
"Who the fuck?" I get up from my chair and walk upstairs and open the door. "Oh, hey Golden. Had fun?" He scowls at me.
"That wasn't cool man."
"Hey, you got to hang out with Twi right?"
"I guess, but still!"
"Still what? You got to hang out with Twilight for the day! Isn't that your dream or some shit?"
"Yeah, you're right." He pauses. "Still wasn't funny that you left me like that."
"Me and the girls thought you'd be fine on your own. I see that we were right." I walk back inside, leaving the door open for Golden. I hear the close behind and some footsteps.
"So what do we do now?"
"Now, we go to meet Celestia."
"REALLY!?" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 16: Well This was Unexpected | "Really!?"
"Well, yeah. Might as well be introduced to Celestia and Luna like when I first got here. Plus it gives me something to fucking do around here." I mutter the last part.
"What?"
"Nothing, lets just go." Without a second thought I teleport both of us a fair distance from the main gates of the castle.
"Woah! What the hell?"
"Relax, I just teleported us to Canterlot."
"You can do that?"
"Yeah, I can use magic basically the same way Twi can, I think you can too."
"Really? Fuck yeah!" A few pish-posh ponies stair in our direction.
"Shut up, the ponies here don't like cursing all that much."
"Oh, ok."
"Now follow me and say nothing."
"Ok." With Golden walking next to me we walk up to the main gates, the guards standing at either side tilt their, I think they're called halberds, so the gate's blocked. The guards look to me and stair for a second.
"Ambassador Ember. To what do we owe for your visit?"
"I just need to talk to Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, whoever is available."
"What business do you have with the princesses?"
"I need to speak with them about a private subject."
"Understood. Who is this?" The guard nods his head towards Golden.
"He's just a good friend." The stallions pauses.
"Very well, enter." They bring their halberds back to a standing pose. Me and Golden, fucking odd-ass name, walk in.
"I hope I remember where the fuck to go in there."
"Why?"
"It's a bit of a maze in that castle."
"Oh... Well fuck."
"Are we there yet?"
"Ask that one more time and I'll rip your head off. No we are not." We've been roaming these fucking halls for what felt like hours. "Fucking halls all look the same."
"Alright dude, fuck. And you know something?"
"What?" I'm a little surprised the soft clinking his feet make each time they hit the ground hasn't driven me insane.
"You'd be less scary if you weren't so calm all the time." That got me to smirk a little.
"Heh." We turn into a random hallway. "This might be it." At the end of the hall is a huge set of wooden double doors. One of them has the sun and the other has a crescent moon on it.
"Fucking finally!" When we got closer I saw that there were two more ponies standing at each side of the doorway. And boy were they sporting some gear; full-blown body armor with a gold shine to it. All I could see where their eyes, one set was a dull grey and the others were a deep cerulean. They both look to me, then back to looking straight forward. Next thing I know one door is covered in a red glow, and the other is bathed in a soft white glow. Allowing us entry. I look back to the ponies and they nod ever-so-slightly to me. I nod back and we walk in.
"Come on Golden" The last thing I saw on the grey-eyed one were wide eyes. As if it didn;t expect me to nod back.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." I roll my eyes and look back ahead. Celestia and Luna were sitting in their respective thrones at the other end of this huge chamber, I would've looked around if a certain memory didn't make itself present in the forefront of my mind. And I got a little mad at that.
"Ember! What are you doing here? And who is that?" Celestia asked.
"Princess Celestia," Might as well show them some respect, right? "Princess Luna, this Golden Streak. The second human to appear here." I heard a little 'phew' when I introduce him to them.
"Another 'hue-man'? But he looks to be of metal." Luna commented.
"Trust me, he is a human." I take a glance at him and see that there's a bit of awe-struck look on his face. *He's like a fangirls for Justin bieber... Fantastic.* "Celestia?" She turns her attention to me. "May we speak privately?" For a second she gave me an odd look.
"Alright." She stood from her throne and walked down the small flight of stairs in front of it.
"Follow me." I do so and she leads me to a door hidden behind the thrones. Said door lead into a small conference room. At one end sat a chair that was obviously meant for Celestia as she took her seat. I decided to sit a few chairs away from here. "What it is you wanted to speak with me?"
"First of all, I want to know why you decided to send me back to my planet, without, my, fucking consent." My tone went really dark at the last part. I was managing a good poker-face, same couldn't said for her though. Her ears folded and she looked down a little, with a mix of a sad, almost embarrassed look.
"Oh... Well... I... I thought you, wanted to go back."
"What gave you that thought?"
"My sister, Luna convinced me it would've been 'better for all of us,' if I sent you back." In all seriousness, I can't get mad at her, or Luna, for that. In fact it kinda makes sense. How bad would you feel of alien with the same thought process and emotions like you were sent to the planet you live on, and then have them find out that they're the only one of their species on said planet, you would do everything in you power to send them back right?
"Did you know that I was perfectly ok with spending the rest of my life here? Even though I would the only one of my own kind here?" She shakes her head.
"No, I did not."
"Then I forgive you." Her head shoot sup, both brows raised in surprised. "Just don't do that again. Lest you a ball of fire head straight for you." I say with a smirk, she smiles back. "Changing the subject to Golden Streak." When I said that her face returned to normal with an inquisitive look to it. "His presence can mean a few things."
"Like?"
"Like, you may be seeing more of us show up in the near future, there may an armada on it's way to this planet to either colonize or conquer, and that's all I can come up with at the moment." Celestia's eyes almost shoot out of her head at the mention of the ladder. "I'm really leaning towards the former. Can you feel it if a living being is close to this planet?" She nods.
"Yes, and I do not sense anything. Why do you ask?"
"Well... my people have kinda created a way to travel the stars." She gives a serious look. "And I've been feeling a little paranoid whether or not they're coming here or not."
"I can assure you that I do not sense anything making it's path to here Ember."
"Thanks Celestia."
"You are welcome. Is this all need to talk to me about?"
"Yes. Shall we go back to your sister and Golden?" A smile adorns Celestia's face.
"Yes, we shall." She likes to mess people? Huh... We both get up from our chairs and head back to the front of the throne. Golden and Luna seemed to hit things off really well. If both of their faces suggest that.
"Golden!" He looks to me. "We need to go." His face falls a little.
"Aww... Ok. Will I see you later tonight Princess Luna?" Luna smirks a little.
"We shall see." I couldn't see Golden's face at the moment, but anyone could see the child-like grin he was sporting. Luna and Golden shook hand-to-hoof and he walked to stand next to me. The second before I teleported us back to Ponyville Golden waved to Luna, a wave she returned. We appeared back at my house.
"I see you already made friends with Luna huh?" He nods enthusiastically.
"Yeah! It was a little awkward at first, but when I started to talk about the night and shit she immediately opened up."
"Nice." I say before I began to walk outside.
"Uh... where are you going?"
"To Sweet Apple Acres, hopefully Aj has some shit I can do."
"Oh... uh... mind if I come along?" I look back to him, he's looking a bit shy, and a bit embarrassed. And I think I know why...
-It only makes sense that he would want to stick next to you, seeing as we're the only humans in this place 'n all-
*True.*
"Ehh... Why not? Come on." I wave a hand in a 'follow me' motion and I step outside with Golden in tow. Just then an idea forms itself in my head. "On second thought I got a better idea." I turn to look at Golden Streak.
"What?"
"Want to find out what you're capable of?"
"Huh..?" He thinks for a second. "Oh! Yeah! Lets do that!"
"Alright then," I clap my hands, an old habit I never kicked. "lets start out in the field."
"Ok, what do you think we should test first?"
"Uhhh... how about strength? You look like an android that can handle extreme weight." I snap my fingers and a bed similar the one I sleep in appears in front of us. "Lets start with this." I back up to observe. Golden doesn't say anything and opted to try and lift the thing from the foot-end. And he lifted the damn thing! I'm more surprised that it didn't break with the way he was holding it. "Wow... ok yeah you're a strong fucker."
"Yeah, I'm not even trying."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
*Note to self: Do not get him pissed off at you.* "Great," I snap my fingers and the bed disappears. "Now to the fun part; magic. Since I'm not that great at using magic yet I'll teach you what I know."
"Ok, so what first?" I snap my fingers again and a small jar appears on my hand.
"Levitation. Just make a mental image of this jar in your mind. Imagine it floating. Once you feel a rush of something open your eyes." He does is I instructed, a few seconds later the jar is covered in a yellow glow. And it begins to hover. "It might also help if you use your hands." Just as I said that his hands raised and twitch a little. And the jar sits perfectly still in mid-air. Golden opens his eyes, and immediately loses concentration when he eyes the jar floating, the glow around the jar fades away and it drops onto my hand. "And you're going to need a lot of practice."
"Aesome. What else can you teach me?" I wrack my brains, trying to remember what else Twi taught me.
"Teleportation." That got him to be like a giddy little kid in a candy store. "Close your eyes again, like that, now make a mental image of where you want to be, and imagine yourself standing there. You should feel the same rush from before." And just like that, he disappears with a loud 'pop' and a bright yellow flash of light.
-I wonder where he went?-
"It doesn't matter where he went, what matters is if he can teleport back here." As if on cue a bright flash of yellow light signified his return. A wide, excited smile plastered on his face.
"Dude, this is fucking awesome!"
"Heh, yeah, I know." Then a random question formed in my head. "Hey, you mind if I asked something personal?" Golden a little confused.
"Depends what the question is."
"Did you leave anything behind before? Like friends? Or... family?" Golden puts a hand to his chin.
"I really didn't have much in the way of friends. But familly..." His face fell.
*Oh fuck.*
=You got that right num nuts.=
~This is not good.~ Why the fuck did I have ask that stupid fucking question?
"Mom... Dad... Nikky..." Now I feel like a piece of shit. "They think I'm dead... They's probably having a ceremony for me... Oh, god." he sunk to his knees. And just stared at the ground. I'd bet he'd be crying if he could produce tears. I opted to sit down next to him and put a supportive arm around his shoulders. "I didn't even say goodbye to them. *sniff*"
"Hey, it's alright man. If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one on this boat."
"What?"
"I was pretty much kidnapped and probably sent through some wormhole to get here. I might as well be dead too. At least you still got family to worry about."
"Oh, wait... what?"
"My mother passed on her deathbed, and my father succumbed to a brain tumor a while ago."
"Wow dude, that's heavy stuff..."
"Yeah, it is... Anyway, back to you, it;s going to be ok. Alright? As long as got me nothing can happen to you. Got it?" Golden gave a small, warm smile. And then he hugs me, we stay like that for a while. He lets go after a few minutes.
"Thanks, I needed that, I really needed that." I pat him on the back.
"Any time." As I got up a light bulb lit up my head. "Do you... want to go back?"
"What?"
"Do you want to go back to your world?"
"Is... is that even possible?"
"Did I tell you that Celestia sent me back to my world for a day?" He shakes his head. "Well she did, and she brought me back here. I could probably get her to send you back if you want."
"I... I would like that."
"And that's why I'm here." After I left Golden with Chrysi I went to Twi's and explained today's events.
"Oh wow. Well, The princess has sent you to your planet tight?"
"Yes, that's why I think Celestia can do the same for Golden." Twi scratches her hoof to her chin. "Can you send a letter to her about this?" Twi thinks for a minute.
"Ok! Actually, we can go to Princess Celestia right now! The faster the better right?"
"I suppose... Wait." I saw her horn lighting up. Before I could react my vision goes white, then a swirling tunnel of colors fills my eyes. I couldn't gauge how fast we were going, I could feel gravity keeping me on some surface, I couldn't move. I could say we were going light-speed. Before I can even registered what just happened everything stops and the setting changed. I'm standing in what appears to be the throne of Celestia and Luna. But that didn't come to me at the moment. As soon as all that passed I immediately felt sick to stomach. Like a drank a few bottles of vodka before going to sleep, and right now I'm suffering the hangover. I don't know how I managed to stand as long as I did, but I did eventually fall on my back. I couldn't even feel the pain from the impact. My vision started to fade black and I felt my eyes roll up. I heard someone call my name before I lost consciousness.
*Ooooh.... fuck...* I thought before I completely blacked out.
"Ember!" Twi called out, she galloped over to him, when she got closer she noticed something was wrong, firstly; there wasn't a solid 'thud' a body like his would make. It was more like a soft splat. And the athro's body seemed to gain a glossy texture and started to convulse, a lot. "Ember?" Princess Celestia and Princess Luna got up from their thrones, both a little confused and afraid for the only human they know.
"What is happening Twilight?" Princess Celestia asked. The princesses stopped at either side of Twilight and just stared in mild astonishment and disgust as the human's body changed shape, texture, transparency, and size.
"I don't know! This has never happened before!" By now Ember's body gained a see-through look to it, and his limbs shrunk into his body and it shrank into a grey-colored blob of what can only assume is slime, and the convulsions stopped. Silence befell the Princesses of the Sun, Moon, and Friendship/Magic. Luna spoke up after what felt like an eternity.
"What has happened to him? He looks to be of... slime."
"I don't know sister." Princess Celestia's horn light up and the same glow showed up around the mass of grey slime. The glow faded when she was done analyzing the blob.
"Ember is still there, don't worry Twilight."
"What?" Twilight looked to Celestia, her puffy, blood-shot, teary eyes stared at the sun diarch.
"I can sense his consciousness in that... mass. Right now he is in a comatose state."
"B-but how did *sniff* happen?" Twilight turned back to the blob of slime that used to be a human. Luna leaned over to her sister and whispered.
"What do we do sister?"
"The best course of action we can take right is just wait." Celestia whispered back, she then stood back up a walked over to Twilight. Resting a wing over the purple pony's withers. "He will be alright Twilight. Right now I need you to be strong."
"But I can't!" Twilight snapped back. Catching both Celestia and Luna off guard.
"What?"
"I should've know better than to teleport him with me! Spells react violently when directed at him! Oh how can I be so stupid!" Twilight sagged to the floor, her forelegs covering her face as she sobbed. Celestia looked to Luna, the lunar goddess could only shrug in response. At this point, Celestia couldn't think of anything what to say that wouldn't make things worse. She knew Twilight well, she knew whatever she would say, Twilight would respond negatively. So She decided to help Twilight anyway she can. "I wonder if he'll even want to talk to me again after this." That was what she needed to start.
"I'm sure he will forgive you Twilight."
"*Sniff* You think so?" Celestia nodded.
"I know so." She said with a motherly smile. Twi smiled back. With that Celestia walked closer to the blob.
"We need to bring him out of sight. We can't let anypony see him in this... state." Once again her horn glows yellow and the blob is picked up in her magical grasp.
"Where do we take him sister?"
"Lets take him to my room."
Oooooh fuck I needed a fucking coma. No kidding, I could finally change my sleep schedule, if that can even happen at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if I finally meet the big man above, or end up wherever the fuck you end up when you die. Seriously! I should be dead at this point!
"Uuugghh..."
"Oh! He's waking up!" I heard a familiar voice shout. Now that I think about it, it felt kinda weird when I groaned. I roll my tongue in my mouth. Yep, definitely weird. Everything felt my slick, like nothing had texture anymore. Get your fucking mind out of the fucking gutter right fucking you dirty mother fucker. "Ember? Can you hear me?"
"Yeah... I can... Ugh fuck I feel like shit." I can't even feel my anything. I crack open my eyes slowly and see that I'm staring straight at some ceiling. My sense of touch returns to me and whatever I'm laying on feels like a fucking cloud. It was an amazing feeling. I tried to move one of my arms, nothing. "Uh... why can't I feel my arms, or my body for that matter?"
"Oh... Well... Uh... Who do I say this... Uumm..."
"You were somehow turned into a ball of... slime." That got my full, undivided attention. As it sparked a nearly primal reaction... I may be exaggerating it, but I still bolted up to a sitting position. Using my arms for leverage. I was a really fancy-looking room with Celestia, Luna and Twilight. All of them looked to be really shocked to see me.
"What?"
"Take a look at thyself." Luna responded. I look at questioningly, but obliged her. I look down and my brain froze up. When I looked at myself I saw that I was completely made of a grey colored, semi-transparent slime. I still had my upper torso, a blob of grey slime represented my bottom half. Now, I would like to say that I DIDN'T pass out. But seeing yourself as a literal slime-person, that fucking broke the last of my mental reinforcements. I fell back onto the bed and passed out for the second time of the day. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 17: Everything's Fine Now, Hopefully... | So yeah, passing out two times a day is nothing really healthy for anyone, at least I got some much needed sleep. Also, I've apparently been turned into a fucking living slime. I knew spells cast on me had nasty effects on me, but seriously!? I simple teleportation turns me into a fucking slime ball? Anyway, I think I'm waking up, again.
"Are you alright Ember?" It was Celestia.
"Ugh, you tell me..." I get up again and look at myself. "I... don't know what to feel anymore..." It's true, at this point I've been dealing with an entirely new world, a few new species, having my wings torn off- "My wings..." I mutter.
"What?" Twi asked. I tried to flex my wings, I did get a feeling of something moving on my back. I look behind myself, and was elated to see that even in this goo form I still have them, I just wonder if I can fly with these... I flap them a few times, nothing, they bend to impossible angles to create even the slightest lift. At this new revelation I turn to the three ponies in front of me.
"Turn me back into a human, now." My rage started to build again, I even started feel warmer. They didn't say anything and my rage continued to build. Celesia said something to break the heavy silence.
"I'm afraid we can't." When she said that my anger skyrocketed.
"What?" I clenched my fists and the temperature raised to a hot summer day in the middle of a desert kind of heat. In my peripheral I saw little balls of fire form around me. It kinda took me a few seconds to realize what Celestia was doing. *Getting me mad enough to make me turn into a fireball again, that might change me back...* I gave Celestia a 'got ya' look before I let myself get lost in the sea of anger that dwelled within me. Next I get that feeling of knowing everything like before, and then I felt extremely powerful again, but this time it didn't feel as strong as before. I think I even began to hover in the air. When my vision focused, I failed to notice that in the first place, I saw that I was in a yellow bubble of magic floating in mid-air, probably to keep anything from being burnt. No one spoke for a bit, until I decided to break the silence, I think the fire that makes up my being has already done that, eh... I digress.
"I commend you Celestia. I would've never thought to do this."
"This form replaced you wings, didn't it?" She gave me a sly smile.
"I'm only human, Celestia. Though, I probably would've figured out to turn into this again. But still, thank you for making it quick."
"Anytime Ember." This whole time Twilight and Luna stayed quiet this whole, Luna looked at Celestia, a little aghast. And Twi was just wearing a shocked look. I guess they must be-
"Of course!" Twi recovered, she slapped her hoof to her forehead. "Last time you changed into this form you got your wings back! Why didn't think of that?" As much as I wanted to make a joke out of that, I was more concerned with whether or not his would work.
"That was quite clever of you sister." Luna appraised.
"Thank you Luna." Celestia turned her attention back to me. "How long do you think you will stay like this?"
"I think not very long. I'm already starting t o feel tired. You mind handing me a mirror? I want to see what I look like."
"Of course." A large mirror appears in front of me. And just as I thought, I look like a little sun, this time the edges are a bright yellow. And my eyes, they're just blue circles. I scowl and they turn to slanted half circles.
*Wow I look badass.*
-We sure do.-
=Hell YEAH we do!=
~I agree.~
*Hey, you're all back, where were you guys?*
-We've mostly been exhausted like you. -
*I see. Oooh fuck I'm getting tired fast.*
~Let me fix that.~ I felt a rush of magic and I suddenly didn't feel tired anymore. I was still losing me current ball-of-fire state. I watch in awe as the fire started to die out, revealing more of my body as patches of fire extinguished themselves, as more and more of my body was revealed I was ecstatic to see that feathers were poking out.
"This is like pushing the reset button..." I marveled at how simple it was to return to normal. If it was this easy to change into a blob of slime, then back to my normal self, I'm a little scared to think what different spells will do to me. The bubble I was in dissapeared and I landed on the incredibly soft bed.
"What's a 'reset button'?" Twilight asked.
"It's mostly a term used when you, reset, certain things or aspects in a video game to default settings. Do you have those here? And is this your room Celestia?"
"No, we don't. And yes, it is." I quickly got off the bed. I wanted to ask more about what technology they have here. But I remembered that I more or less made a promise to Golden.
"Oh well, anyway. Did Twilight tell you why we're here?" Celestia smiled when I asked that.
"Yes, she did. And I'm pleased to tell that I can send Golden Streak back to his world."
"Perfect!"
"Yes, I sent a carriage for him, he should be here now. Come with me." She said and she walked out the room, now that I had a chance to look around the room it was fucking huge. A few bookshelves line the walls, along with a large curved desk that held stacks of papers and books. Which was all currently illuminated by sunlight from outside, even the windows were really big. There was even a balcony the overlooked Canterlot. The bed I was laying on was massive! It looked like three queen sizes were mashed together in one big circled bed. We left the room and headed back to the throne room if I remember correctly. Where there happen to be a certain andriod standing at one end of the large room. He had two guards with him. When they saw us Celestia dismissed the guards and began talking to Golden Streak. At her request at a distance so we couldn't hear them.
"What do you think she's talking to him about?" I asked Luna.
"No doubt she is making sure of Golden's request to be sent back to his home world."
"Oh, he seemed dead said when I offered to do all of this for him. I don't know why he would have second thoughts."
"Why do you think that?"
"He told he has family back on his planet. He wasn't too happy when he realized he wasn't going to see them again."
"I see..." From the corner of my eye I saw that heard lowered a little.
"You really like him as friend huh?" She nodded weakly. "Well if makes it any better, I consider you a good friend." She looked to me.
"You do..?" I nodded.
"Yeah, besides the fact that I need to trust you to not go through my mind without my consent. I can say that you're a good friend."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Luna looked away, for what? I don't know. Think I said something I shouldn't have, probably the whole trust with memories, I turn to walk over to Twilight. Before I made my way over to Twi I'm assaulted from behind by a blue mass of fur and feathers. Two hooves wrap around my neck and a set of blue wings wrap themselves around me.
"Thank you." I heard her whisper. She leaned her head onto my shoulder. Her tears soon began to soak into the feathers there. With my magic I carefully lift her off my body, I turn back around and give Luna a proper hug. We stay like that few a minute, hen Luna lets go. She wipes the tears off her eyes. "Thank you." She states once again.
"Anytime. Lets go see what's gonna go down, as far as Golden ging to back to his world."
"Lets." She recomposes herself. I hadn't noticed that Twi joined Celestia and Golden.
"So how's it going?" I asked.
"Golden will be going to his home world." Twi answered.
"Really? That's it?"
"There is one addition," Celestia chimed in. "I will be giving him a scroll that allows Golden Streak to come back to Equestria, should he decide too."
"Cool, best of both worlds I guess?" I look to Golden and he nods. "Can he use the scroll to go back and forth?"
"I'm afraid not, the scroll is enchanted with a one-way teleportation spell."
"Oh, well you can send him right?" She nods. "Ok then. So... shall we see you off?"
"Yeah, I'm ready to go." He said. Celestia stood right in front of him, she motioned for us to stand next to her and we do so.
"I'll see you all some time!" He waved to us, and we waved back.
"See ya!"
"We will surely miss you!"
"Bye!" We all but Celestia said our goodbye's as he started to fade away. What surprised me is that he started turning back into a human as he faded away. From what I saw he was white with black hair and green eyes, lucky bastard. I was born with brown eyes and brown hair. With that over with, awkward silence befell us. Well, I think mostly awkward for me and Twi. Celestia and Luna looked contempt to sit there in silence. I think to pay respect to Golden, or out of modesty. I don't know. Without saying the sun and moon princesses get up and walk away, presumably to their rooms.
"I guess that's our cue to head back home huh?"
"Yeah." She closes her eyes and her horn lights up. "Twilight!"
"What!?" She loses her concentration and looks to me.
"Have you learned nothing woman!? You can't teleport me with you!"
"Oh... right... heh... Sorry." She blushes.
"Whatever, I'll see you later." I say as I teleport home. After greeting Chrysi and explaining what happened I went to my room to fully digest what has happened.
"So it's going to be winter soon is it?" I asked Twi.
"Yes."
"Nice. I've always preferred it cold."
"Really?" I nod. After Golden got sent back to his world everything continued like normal. I decided to start walking around town more often, since I really don't have much to do at home. Me and Twi were talking about yesterday until the subject changed to the upcoming winter. According to her, the ponies head start winter with an event called 'The Running of the Leaves'. Which is apparently a fall even that leads to winter, and what happens is that the ponies start at one end of Whitetail Woods, which is a nicer version of the Everfree, and they run to other end, causing the leaves of the trees to fall down. And I missed that event, and Rainbow and Aj were part of it, competing against each other. Fuck me.
"I've always liked it cold. Even though I used to live in a desert."
"You lived in a desert?"
"Yeah, I told you. Right?"
"I don't think so..."
"Ay Ember!" I heard someone yell from behind. Me and Twi looked behind us and see that Vinyl with Octavia, Lyra, and Bon Bon. They're like their own little group of friends. Cool.
"Hey Vinyl, what's up?"
"Eh we just wonderin' if you like to see if ya wanted to see us play!"
"Really? Are you going to host a concert or something?"
"Oh no, nothing like that." Octavia answered. "We always get together once or twice a week for a little practice. Lyra and Bon Bon are usually our audience."
"So whaddya think? Wanna join us?" I look to Twi.
"Mind if I..?"
"Go ahead, I have to go check on Spike anyway."
"Cool, see ya later then." Twi waves and she walks off. "I guess I'll join you girls."
"Awesome! Come with us!" The little group walks off, with me right behind. They lead me to the market, to a little candy shop with the name 'Bon Bon's Bonbons. So Bon Bon owns this store? Clever girl. We go inside and my senses are assaulted by some exquisite scents of chocolate, vanilla, and Oohh I fucking love chocolate dipped strawberries.
"How come I've never seen this place before? I fucking love sweets." They just chuckle at me. I continue to follow them as they head to the back of the shop. Apparently this also a home. I saw some stairs and some other rooms.
Anyway, the room they lead me to had a few instruments hung to the walls and some what looks to be a mini-stage. Vinyl, Bon Bon and Lyra sit on chair that I didn't notice until now, and Octavia stands atop the stage, holding a cello and a bow. I sit on the ground since there wasn't a chair I could use. That was my size. And Octavia began to play.
"That was amazing Octavia." I praised.
"Thank you." She said.
"Just like usual Tavi." Vinyl commented.
"Be quiet Vinyl. Ember?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to give it a go? I have heard that you are quite talented."
"Really? Who told you that?"
"A certain mare?"
"Was it Pinkie?"
"... Yes."
"Figure, I guess Ill give it a try." I stand up and walk over to Octavia. Taking the Cello she used as she walked to sit with her friends. One snap of the fingers later I'm sitting in a chair, preping to play an old song I used to play when I was younger. For the life of me I can't remember the name or who created it. It's been a few years since I've played anything. Anyway, I gracefully set the bow against the strings and play. My mind went blank as I continued to play, I closed my eyes and focused in the song as it played itself out in my head. God it's such a fucking release to do this again. Not as much as pounding someone's face in, or putting a bullet on some guilty fuckers head, or shoot Corey and his friends point-blank with a fucking shotgun. Time seemed to slow and everything around me faded away, leaving me, and only me and this cello.
"Yo Ember, you alright?"
"*Thwack* Be quiet!"
"Ow! Okay!" That almost broke my concentration. I just waved it off, figuratively, and kept on playing. For about another minute. Time flies when you play an emotional song, apparently. I open my eyes again and realize that I was crying a little.
*Fuck, I needed that.*
-No matter how small of a release it was, it was still good.- Innuendos aside, I looked to the ponies in front of me. Octavia had a mix of a sad and amazed with tears threatening to leak from her face. Vinyl had an impressed look on her face. Lyra was also impressed. Bon Bon... she looked like she was staring at the face of god. Even her eyes dilated and gained a glossy shine.
"What?" I haven't received mixed results like this, especially something as random as Bon Bon.
"That. Was... Amazing!" Bon Bon... I'm going to sat just Bon from now on, she cheered and started clapping her hooves.
"Eh, it was pretty good." Fucking Vinyl.
"I liked it." Lyra had a innocent smile on her face. I guess she's the neutral one amongst them.
"That was a wonderful piece of music Ember, what was that song?"
"The name of it eludes me at the moment. I doubt you've even heard of it anyway. It being from a different world and all." Lyra perked up at that.
"Wait, so you are from a different world." I nod. "I knew it! In your face Bonnie! In! Your! FACE!" She jumped off her chair and jabbed her hoof in Bon's direction. Bon just rolled her eyes.
"Oh, shut up Lyra. How were we supposed to believe you from the beginning?"
"Bon Bon has a point Lyra. I didn't even know you ponies existed, you were all just legends of myth." Not exactly lying, but not exactly telling the truth either.
"Really? Ponies don't exist where you come from?"
"Not your kind to be specific. You know how you have wild animals here?" They nod. "Where I come from, ponies are nothing but wild animals. Some of us usually have them as livestock like cows and stuff."
"... What?"
"Yeah... It's a bit sad, isn't it?" All four of them nod at me.
"Does that mean... that you..?" Bon asked.
"Oh, god no." I grimace. "The way they kept them in small rooms. I never like to keep animals the way people do." Honestly, I could care less how people kept livestock. The planet's too populated with humans and other animals anyway, we could do with a few million of us... not having children. For a few years. Yeah...
"Well... It's good to know that you're not as bad as you look." Bon remarked.
"Really?" I ask. Bon just gives me a dumb look, until she realized what she said. Her hooves flew up to her mouth and as scared look creeps upon her face.
"Omigosh! I didn't mean to!"
"Don't worry about it Bon Bon. I figured you ponies would see me as some kind of monster." I got up and handed the cello to Octavia.
"Hey, it ain't nothing like that." Vinyl tried to reassure. "It's just that... you're a little... Scary lookin'."
"That sure helps Vinyl. Thanks." I make my way out the room.
"Vinyl!"
"Sorry!" I hear hoof steps from behind.
"Ember, please wait." I turn around and maintain a stoic face. It's not that they offended me. I just got a little upset. I absolutely hate it when I'm seen as a monster. And to know that the pe- ponies here see me as a monster. I haven't done anything that would give the slightest hint of a monster! I doubt they even saw me with Tirek. Or if they think I was that bright ball of fire.
"Yes?"
"Please excuse Vinyl and Bon Bon. They... they don't..."
"They don't have a filter?" I supplied.
"You can say that. I'm sorry about them. In all honesty, I didn't really think you would be so talented. Nopony really knows much about you. And with what you are. I mean, look at you! You're basically two or three times our size! No offense." Octavia really must to get on my good side.
"None taken. And thanks. And just between me and you. It's really difficult to get me angry." I smile at her. "I like to call myself a calm person. Plus it was kinda funny to see their faces."
"I see." She smiles. "Should I tell them that you're alright?"
"Yeah. I didn't mean to scare you guys either.
"That's good to know. Oh, by the way, where are you going? If you don't mind me asking."
"I'm just gonna walk around for a bit more. I have nothing to do at my house."
"I see... I guess we'll see you later?"
"Sure. See ya." I wave to her and I walk out the door. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 18: More Exposition and Character Building | Well after that little scene, I decided to walk around a bit more. Though, there was a noticeable lack of ponies milling about.
*Odd... why would they be-* A nasty chill runs up my spine as an ice cold breeze passes by. *That must be why, are they getting ready for winter? I wonder...* At the time Pinkie's place was the closest I could walk to. So I made my way to there to find it was closed. I looked into the windows with no avail. *Must be that then. Pinkie usually has this open all the time.* I remove myself from the window and head back home. during the walk home I couldn't shake that stupid feeling that something was watching me. I just ignored it and went on my way...
I got home without incident, which was pretty surprising. Since trouble loves to visit me at the worst of times. It even started snowing when I made it inside. I was about call out to Chrysi but someone sitting in the living room decided to make a surprise visit. He was looking at the fireplace, which was burning at the moment, so he hadn't noticed me yet.
"Gabriel?" He whips his head around.
"Ember! It's so great to see you again!" He gets up from the chair he was sitting on, walks over to me, and wraps his arms around me in a man-hug. I was a little too stunned to even return the hug. "So how's it been? Good I hope?" He says when he lets me go.
"Uh... It's been good." I say when my mind rebooted. "It's good to see you again too."
"I know right!? It's been a while!"
"... It's only been a few days since you left."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Ga- Golden puts a hand to his chin.
"I guess the time difference between this and my world are different?"
"What? You mean time in your place passes by faster than here?" He nods. "Huh... cool, I guess. How long has it been for you?"
"A few months."
"Wow. I guess that proves it. So what did you do when you got back to your word?"
"Oh ! the funny thing about that. Turns out my family almost took me off life support when I came too."
"Really?" He nods. "Heh, did you feel an unimaginable amount of pain when you woke up?"
"Surprisingly not, I just felt a little sore." Fuck that would've been funny if he was in a shit-ton of pain. What? I got a morbid sense of humor, lay off. Besides, he didn't die so that's a plus.
"Cool."
"So what's been going on here?"
"Not much, it's already winter here." At the mention of winter he straightens up. "What?"
"Dude, that reminds me."
"What?"
"You're on the show!"
"... Excuse me?"
"You're on the fucking show that's about this place!"
"Really..?"
"Yeah!"
"... Huh. Cool. Does it show where I come in?" He nods.
"Yeah, some portal spat you out and you fell, a lot." Finally I find out how I exactly showed up in a field. "And then the mane six found you, they wanted to ask what you were but you were knocked out, then Twilight decided to drag you for some reason."
"You think she would've carried me huh?"
"Yeah, I don't know why she didn't do that. Anyway, the episode continued with you waking up, that little standoff with Rainbow, it even showed how you scared her!"
"Awesome." I smirk.
"Yeah, and then it ended with you being introduced to the town."
"Is that it?"
"For that episode it is."
"Wait, I'm more episodes?"
"Yep!"
"Huh, I don't know how to feel about that..."
"Dude! You should be fucking elated! Your appearance caused an entire shit-storm! People were going crazy about a human being brought into My Little Pony! It even got bigger when I came into the picture!"
"You realize if I was a normal person I would've passed out?"
"Who cares!? WE'RE IN A FUCKING CARTOON SHOW!" He practically jumps in the air like a Justin Bieber fan girl.
"Calm down and stop acting like a One-direct fan-girl." He immediately freezes.
"That's not cool, dude."
"Shut up. To change the fucking subject. How did your family react to you not being dead."
"They were elated to say the least. We were actually spending the few months together in a big vacation." He finishes with a heartfelt smile.
"Nice. Did you tell them about this place?"
"Yeah, they didn't believe me at first, then I showed them the episode after I saw it. Oh! That reminds me. The little bit with Pipsqueak, that was cute man."
"Uh... Who's Pipsqueak?"
In some random building, many people sneeze.
"'Who's Pipsqueak'!? He's one of the most beloved characters of My Little Pony! He's the foal that asked what you were a while back."
"Oh! Him! Now I remember. And you know I'm not a fan of the cartoon right?" Even though I watched the cartoon for research purposes.
"Oooooh yeaaaah... Right." He pauses. "Eh... Whatever. Hey, where's that changeling? Isn't she supposed to be living with you?"
"She's in Canterlot because her hive might be coming to take her back when she doesn't want to."
"..."
"Oh... Well fuck."
"Tell me about it. At this point I'm just waiting for them to show up."
"What are you gonna do if they do?"
"I don't know, maybe go on a killing spree if they don't see reason? or maybe talk to them if they want to?"
"Makes sense, except for the whole 'killing spree'."
"I can always drive them off then."
"That sounds better."
"Fucking pansy."
"Fuck you! What if they don't want to fight? Or, you know. DIE!?"
"As if that would would matter at this point."
"On this world it does!"
"Oh. Right. Meh..." A knock some from my front door.
"Who's that?"
"I don't know, I wasn't expecting anybody today." I walk over to the door and open it. Two ponies are standing there, their eyes widen when they see me. The one on the left as a brown stallion with a lighter brown mane and tale, with hazel eyes. The other is a plain blue with a black and grey striped mane. His shrunken eyes are a light grey.
"Can I help you?" The blue one regains his composure.
"Uh, yes, you can. Have you seen a changeling around here? Or a new pony around?"
"No, I haven't, why are you looking for such a creature? Last I heard they were banished to the badlands." Thank fucking christ I remember that bit from the show.
"That was a different hive, the one we are looking for comes from a different hive."
"The fuck's a hive?"
"Listen!" The blue one shouts. "Have you seen a bucking changeling or not!?"
"How about you go fuck yourself? Then come back when you're in a better mood." I slam the door in their faces.
"Who was it?"
"Just two fuckboys." I hear an explosion from behind and the door flies by me, but some stroke of luck not hitting me. I spin around and the two stallions are now changelings.
"Holy fuck!" Golden shouts.
"Bad choice." I say and the gauntlets form again. The two changelings rush me, their maws open and fangs bared. Aimed right my face. I side-stepped and landed a solid hail maker on both their backs. They slam into the ground and tumble across the floor, until they hit the wall across the hall. Both of them quickly stood up and lunged at me again. This time I uppercutted with both fists, sending both of them towards the ceiling, cracks form around the points of impact, then they both... just hang their. Their limbs flail, and I start laugh my ass off.
"Ember look out!" I hear Golden yell. I open my eyes and the changelings managed to dislodge themselves. And their running straight at me.
*Alright, ass-kicking time.* I side-step again and think of a way to end this as soon as possible.
These bugs really like to lunge, they just keep lunging at me. At one point I they lunge again and I clawed at them, my gauntlets raking across both their bodies. They scream in pain and slump to the floor, a grey goo leaking from the wounds. I walk closer to them, and a limb twitches. I back up as they weakly stand, both of them giving me angry stares. Seeing that they give up. I straighten up and wave my hand to the door. At this point I want the fuck out of my house.
"Hey, I honestly got no clue where the changeling is. Doesn't mean ya have to fucking attack me, dickwads." I say to them as they make their way to the forest. Of course I had to lie about that! Hopefully chrysi didn't tell them about me, wait of course they don't. they would've known who and what I was.
Plus it would be a bad idea to kill them now that I think about it. It wouldn't be the best thing to cause an invasion on Ponyville. The changelings raise an eyebrow at me. But they eventually take their leave. Once they're out my house I pick up the door they blew off.
-Fucking assholes.-
=Ya got that right.=
*Yeah, is there a way to fix this using magic?*
~Yes there is, just put the door back in its place, please.~
*Alright.*
"What the fuck was that!?"
"What was what?"
"That! Why did you let them go!?"
"Do you want an entire hive of changelings after you?" He clams up. "Thought so, I let them go for that reason."
"It does make a bit of sense. Now that I think about it. What'll you think will happen now?"
"I honestly have no clue."
"Oh, ok. You know, that's the first time I hear you say that."
"No shit sherlock."
"You really have no idea?" That's when I flip a little.
"Do you really expect me to have an idea on what's to come? I'm living in a world filled a completely new species, way of life, and I different culture all together! How tha FUCK do you expect me to always think of what to do!? Especially when I'm dealing with something no human has ever fucking experienced!?" I almost turned into the living fire-being with that little rant of mine. It scared the fuck out of Golden, but seriously, how the fuck can anyone expect me to always know what to do? Especially given my current situation? I barely know shit about this place, much less when it comes to changelings. Or any species on this planet.
"Woah, chill out dude." He backs up a bit and holds his hands up.
"Sorry, but seriously, stop asking me what I think will happen. It's annoying."
"Alright. You ok?"
"I'm fine. Fuck I needed to let that out."
"I can tell."
"No shit." I turn back around to fix the door, to my surprise the door's already in place, hinges and all. *Huh, cool.*
"Where are you going?"
"Back to my room."
"For what?"
"I'm workin' on some shit."
"Like what?"
"Making a computer." *And possibly a way to upgrade the nanomites running around in my blood.*
~There is a way for you to do that?~
*I'm pretty sure there is. I just may have to learn a shrinking spell, does a spell like that exist?*
~Yes, but, why do you need a spell like that?~
*I need it for something.*
"A computer!? Here!?" Oh, yeah. Those machines tend to be non-existent around here.
"Yeah, come with me." I motioned for him to follow me and he does. I lead him to my room and turn the lights on. Revealing the machine in its full glory in the center of the room. I walk over to it and turn it on.
"Alright, that's fucking awesome. How did you get one here?" I smirk, snap my fingers and a cooling fan appears in my hand. Golden stares at me dumbly until the dots connect. "No... no fucking way... You built it!?"
"Yeah."
"HOW!?" I toss him a large book I got from behind the desktop.
"Instructions can go a long way."
"That's still pretty epic. How is it even on though?" I reach behind the thing and pick up the crystal powering it. I notice it's not glowing brightly so I give it some magic, bringing back the nice amethyst glow.
"Magic can be converted to other types of energy, in this case electrical energy." I state matter-of-factly.
"Wow..."
"I know right? Thought, I need to come up with a more sustainable source of energy."
"Why? Isn't magic good enough?"
"There needs to be a constant flow of magic to power the desktop. And since there's no way I can create a machine that can do such a thing I need to find another source."
"What about solar energy?"
"I can't do that, the flying ponies around would question what the black squares on top of the house are."
"You mean pegasi?"
"Yeah, that."
"Hm... I guess you only got magic until you find some other way huh?" Clap my hands and point at him.
"Bingo genius!"
"Shut up."
"Fuck you, anyway. I think I'm good with how it's set up for now."
"Cool, how did the girls react to this? If you've showed them?"
"I did, and Twilight had a nerdgasm, much like how you did."
"That's no surprise."
"I kinda figured since she's the smart one of the group. Rainbow looked like she could care less." Golden snickers at that. "And Rarity, Aj, Pinkie and Flutters were mildly interested."
"Cool. Do you plan to show this to the town? Or- *gasp* We could mass produce these and sell them! We-" I stop him right there.
"Woah, calm down pony-boy. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not!?"
"Would you want to see this place gain a sudden technological advancement? Changing their way of life in a mere few years? Think of the backlash man!"
"What 'backlash'?"
"Did you fall the fuck asleep in history class? Look at what technology, more specifically industrialization, has done to the planet! Do you really want to see that shit happen to this place?"
"But... how do you know that would happen."
"It'd be bound to happen, ponies are no different to humans! Just add magic and we're just like them."
"Oh... you're right..."
"Thank you."
"Then, why did you build a computer?"
"Ehh it was mostly out of boredom."
"The other part?"
"I like to keep it around as a reminder as to what and who I am. I rather like my humanity."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Huh, I guess that's kinda noble."
"Eh... I think of it more like, 'keeping my fucking humanity'."
"Alright alright! I get it."
"Just stop trying to use words you don't know the meaning to."
"I do know what nobel means."
"Then don't use words out of context."
"Alright, just lay off."
"Ok."
"... So... You working on anything else?"
"You gonna keep asking me questions all day?"
"No."
"Good, I plan to, in a sense, 'upgrade' my body."
"How?" I give him a serious look. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Did I ever tell you about all the little robots running around in my blood system?" He shakes his head. "Oh, well I do, and they essentially make me a superhuman. And I plan to upgrade those little robots."
"How are going to do that?"
"With science, robotics, and a little bit of magic." I smile broadly. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 19: Hearth's Warming | "That's corny, you know that?"
"I know, but in this case it's true."
"Yeah, sounds kinda cool though."
"It does, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Well, while you're doing that, I'm gonna go do some other shit."
"You go do that."
So, it took longer than what I expected to, about three fucking weeks longer. How long is that altogether you ask? About a month and a half. And let me tell ya, it was mostly worth it. Why? I had to take a blood sample of my own blood, isolated a single nanomite, which is something literally impossible without magic given my situation. Even with magic it was a pain in the ass. Then I had Ruby create parts for the thing, which I also had enlarged. After that I had Tony Stark some shit and upgrade each individual part using magic. It still astounds me to this day that there is a fucking spell that enhances anything. I'm starting to think I' making my own rules for using magic because of this. All I have to do is snap my fingers and the desired spell will cast.
Kinda amazing/scary at the same time, isn't it? Anyway, after shrinking the machine back down to molecular size and test it on my own blood samples. I did have Ruby create, or 'conjure' as he calls it, a microscope to begin this whole process. You know? It's cool to watch cells under a microscope. Not really, it's more interesting to watch paint dry.
After a few test runs the new machine did succeed in improving regeneration rate, the little thing even began to duplicate themselves! What? You thought they already do? What gave you that? They just help regenerate lost limbs. Humans can already generate lost limbs, the nanomites help speed up the process.
Anyway, after the successful trial runs, I put the sample into a syringe and now I'm about to inject it back into my blood system. And Golden just happened to walk into my room.
"Hey E-" He froze when he saw the needle in my arm.
"You know what this is, stop overreacting." I state after a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Oh thank god." His visibly relaxes and walks down the stairs. "It's those little robots right?"
"Precisely."
"Oh good."
"Shut up."
"What exactly are you doing anyway?"
"Remember when I told about upgrading the little nanomites?"
"Oh yeeeaaaah! Wait, you sure that'll work? Like, nothing bad will happen?"
"I'm sure nothing 'bad' will happen to me. I tested it on my blood to make sure."
"Oh, ok." At that I push the stopper, sending the blood by into my bloodstream.
"The effects should be instant." I mutter under my breath.
"What effects?" Fuck, how did he hear me? I would've answered him, but a numbing sensation overtook my body, I was still standing, but any slight move could send me to the floor. "Hey, you alright?" I couldn't even move my eyes to indicate I'm alright. Golden got closer and waved a hand in front of my face. After getting no response he backs away, a concerned look etched across his face. "Dude, you're scaring me. Please say something." I'm starting to enjoy the look on his face. The numbing sensation already went away and I can move again. I just wanted to get some fun out of it with Golden's sudden appearance. And I'm not disappointed.
"Im gonna go get the gir-"
"BAAA!" I flare my wings and flail my arms about.
"WAAAAAA!!" He screams and I proceed to laugh my ass of. "DUDE! What the fuck!? That's SO not funny!"
"Oh calm your *huff* metallic tits Golden. Hooo fuck that was funny." I had to take a breather after that, it was that hilarious.
"FuckI YOU!" He walks out of the room.
"Wait!" He turns his head to me.
"What do you want, asshole?"
"How do my eyes look?"
"What?"
"How, do, my, eyes, look?" He sighs and walks closer to me. He stops when he's a few feet away.
"Woah. That's freaky, in a cool way."
"Why?"
"They look like the blood vessels are circuits."
"Perfect!"
"That's what you were going for?"
"Yes, and it worked!"
"That's really cool."
"I know right? Now, where you planning to go?"
"I... actually don't know. Maybe go see Twilight? Wait, you said it's barely winter right?"
"Yeah."
"We need to find Rainbow then." He walks out the door and out my house in a brisk pace. With me in tow.
"Why?"
"You'll see."
"Alright." I say a little unsure of the events to come.
"So, you're telling me that everything I've done here is on that show?"
"Yeah, you went with the girls to the little town, tell me though, it didn't show what you did to Starlight when you went into the cave with her."
*Oh good, it didn't show the rock.* "We had a stand off, she caused the cave to collapse, and a rock fell on top of her."
"Did the same thing happen to her like Pinkie?"
"No."
"What..? Oh."
"Yeah. Anyway, what else happens?" He was glad I moved on.
"The episode ended with you and the girls partying. Speaking of which. That party Pinkie threw for you, did you almost start crying?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Just a little curious."
"I almost did." The tone in my voice made it clear that I was not enjoying this conversation.
"Ok."
"So, what else has this cartoon, show me doing?"
"Hmm, you did that thing with Tirek, awesome by the way, and then you did that thing with Starlight, the dreams, then then I came into the picture, then there was that little scene with Luna. There's probably some little things I missed, but that's most of what I've seen."
"Cool." I look up. "Hey, we're here."
"Oh really?" He looks up with me. "Huh, perfect. But how do we get up there?"
"I could fly us up there, but I don't think both of us can walk on clouds."
"Why can't you? Could you even carry me?"
"I could carry you with my magic, and I wasn't born wit these wings, remember?" *You can cast some kind of cloudwalking spell right Ruby?*
"Yeah."
~Of course.~
*Can you cast it on me and Golden?*
~Of course!~ I feel a rush of magic and a red glow washes over me and Golden.
"Woah, what the fuck was that?"
"Just a cloudwalking spell." I grab Golden in my magic and I take off towards the cloud mansion.
"Woah shit!"
"Calm down." It only took a few flaps and I made to the front of the cloud mansion. I then set him down next to me.
"Thanks."
"No-" I'm interrupted by very loud sobbing.
"That must be Rainbow!" Golden rushes inside.
"Ooookaaay..." I follow, a fair bit calmer than the robot. When I entered to building I was amazed on how it resembled a roman mansion. It does on the outside, I didn't think I would look so much like a roman town square. All the pillars and patterns, it makes me a bit jealous. I look at the tracks left by Golden that eventually lead to her room. The girls are all hugging around Rainbow, wos looks to be crying about something, along with the girls. *What the fuck is she wearing...*
-A rainbow robe with turtle slippers, and she's holding a turtle, no, tortoise, that has slippers on it's feet that look like Rainbow.- To my right is Golden, a sympathetic look on his face.
*Wait, why..? Ooooh...* It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on. Reptiles usually hibernate like bears. But really? Rainbow crying over something like this? It's not like the tortoise is dying! Although, I still thought this was... kinda funny. What? Fuck you, it is funny, she's being overdramatic about a fucking tortoise hibernating! What's not to laugh at? At least I managed to step out the room and out the house to laugh my ass off. Once I'm calm I walk back inside to Rainbow's room. And it seems the girls are content to just sit there in silence. I shrug and head back out. They might question me later about leaving and coming back, then leaving again. *Eh... no harm in telling the truth.* From the porch I noticed that ponies were milling about in town. With that I decided to head into town and walk around.
"So lemme get this straight, you left because ya thought it was 'funny' that Rainbow was cryin' over Tank goin' inta hibernation?" Aj asked and she kicks a tree. All the apples that hung from it fell into the placed tubs below the leaves.
"Pretty much." I kick a tree not too far from Aj. Knocking the apples from it and they fall into tubs placed below.
"Ya know that's a little messed up right?"
"Not really, it's just me with a weird sense of humor, well, weird for you ponies."
"Whaddya mean by that?"
"Anyone would laugh at that from my planet. At least, a lot would. Some would just look sympathetically."
"Like Golden Streak?"
"Yep. He's more of a softy than anything."
"Then why are you like that?"
"Did I ever tell you of my past?"
"No..."
"Did you read that letter that Celestia sent Twilight?" I turn to look Aj straight in the eye. Our eyes meets and she quickly looks down, her cheeks turning red.
"Yeah..." She squeaks.
"There's your answer." I kick another tree, the apples fall into tubs again.
"Uh, is that really why you're like... that?"
"That's most of the it. I was already a bit... dense? Aagh, there's a better word for that."
"Ah know what cha' mean. Ya just don't think's at big of a deal, and to be honest," Heh. "Ah don't think it's a deal either."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Rainbow cryin' over her turtle that's goin' to hibernation? Its not like he's gonna kick the bucket."
"That's exactly what I thought!"
"Good to know we're on the same page."
"Yeah. Y'know, you're always the level-headed one in every situation. I like that."
"Like you? Thanks." In the corner of my eye I see her blush a little.
*Do they always blush when complemented?*
=Maybe they don't get compliments like that?=
-Maybe, but considering what they've done, you'd think they'd get praised wherever they go.-
*Yeah, I guess that's just how this world works?*
~Indeed.~
"Thanks, Aj."
"Anytime."
"You, that's the first time I get any praise in this world."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Hey, do you go into town often?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Do the ponies in town... talk about me?"
"Why do ya ask that?"
"I've noticed recently that ponies tend to grow silent when I'm around. DO they not like me or something?" I look to Aj, she shakes her head.
"Everypony likes ya Ember, even before ya dealt with Tirek."
"Then why do they go quiet around me?"
"Hmm... I don't rightly know, but Ah'm guessin' that they're a bit... intimidated by you."
"I kinda figured, I don't look like a nice guy don't I?"
"Took the words right outta ma mouth." I look over to Aj, and a smug grin is plastered on her muzzle.
"Up yours Applejack." I chuckle, she snickers back and we go back to kicking the trees. If you're wondering why we're kicking apple trees, winter didn't last long. It's weird how the pegasi control the weather, even though winter lasted three months. "Hey, what month is it?"
"Febumarey, why?" Fucking puns.
"Just asking. Do you have holidays here?"
"Yeah, Hearth's Warming is coming."
"What's Hearth's Warming?"
"It's where we get together with friends and family to celebrate to union of the three pony tribes."
"Oh, cool." I kick another tree and once again the air is filled with silence.
"Uh... do, you... have anypony you can spend hearth's warming with?"
"There's Golden Streak, but I don't think he would want to do that."
"Why not?"
"Where we come from it's considered 'weird' or 'wrong' for another male to do anything like that with another male. Same goes for women."
"Really?"
"Yeah," I kick another tree. "Most people can care less," I walk over and kick another tree. "But there is always that group of people that think anything new is wrong." I stomp over and kick another tree, the main body cracks when I kick it. "Especially those religious extremist." I walk to another tree and practically chop the tree from its base. "Always saying same sex relation is wrong and you'll go to hell, saying it's against the fucking bible." I reared my leg up to kick another tree. "Making it a living hell for us, can't even show public affe-"
"Ember! Stop!" I freeze and look to Aj.
"What?" I look at myself. "Oh," Smoke was fuming off me, and my breathing was fast, even my heart was attempting to burst from my chest.. I put my leg back to the ground and take a few deep, calming breaths. "Sorry about that." I say
"What was all that about?"
"Just some... things I had to deal with back home."
"Oh. You alright then?"
"I'm fine now."
"Good," She turned away to kick a tree, but something seemed to catch on in her head. "wait, you said 'same sex relations', does that mean..?"
"*sigh* Yes, well no, I... uh... How would you say it..?" I think for a second. "Oh! I swing both ways." A confused look takes Aj's face.
"What?" It take her a minute, but she does eventually understand what I meant. "Oh. OH! Yer inta mares and stallions?"
"In simpler terms, yes."
"Oh."
"What?"
"Nothin', just didn't think your... barn door swung both ways."
"You don't think it's wrong?"
"No, ah think everypony deserves to have a special somepony, no matter their preference."
"Thanks Aj."
"Anytime Ember."
"Guys!" A new voice comes from nowhere, and Golden bursts in from between two trees.
"What?" Aj and me speak at the same time.
"Aj! You're going to Appleloosa right?"
"Yeah, ah'm also taking Applebloom and her friends, why?"
"Can I come with?" He ask with an almost manic grin.
"Uh... Sure. Ya got bits for a train ticket?"
"Umm... fuck."
"Don't worry about it Golden, I'll buy a ticket for you."
"Ehe, thanks."
"No problem." I kick another tree.
"Ah think that's enough applebucking fer today Ember."
"Alright. Let go get you that ticket then. See ya Aj." Me and Golden walk off towards the train station. "So why did you want to go with them?"
"I remember in the show that CMC go off on own little investigation and help a stallion truly understand his cutie mark."
"'C.M.C.'?"
"Cutie mark crusaders."
"Ah, I never heard the acronym for that."
"Well now you have."
"Shut up, smart ass."
"Fuck you too Ember." Golden and me laugh at each other, and I can hear Aj chuckle behind us. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 20: Friendly Sparing | "So you apparently know what's going to happen in the next few days, am I right?" I ask when we leave the orchard.
"Yeah."
"And you want to see it happen first hand?"
"Yup."
"Are you going to just watch, or fuck everything up?"
"Just watch, and what do you mean by that?"
"You know if you intervene it could have... undesired effects?"
"Oh, I'm perfectly aware of that."
"Good."
"Yeah, it wouldn't be greatest thing to change the future huh?"
"My thoughts exactly." We've been walking through the town for a while, and we're near the train station.
"Ey Ember!" I heard a familiar voice call out. I turn to where the voice came from.
"Hey Vinyl! What's up?"
"Who's that?" She points a hoof at Golden. I let him introduce himself.
"I'm Golden Streak, it nice to finally meet you, Vinyl."
"Uh... how do you know me?"
"Ember's told me about you and some of the ponies around here. You're a Dj, right?" I roll my eyes and walk over to the station. I approach one of the windows and ring the little bell that sits on the table. A pony walks in front, who goes wide eyed at my presence.
"Good evening, can I have one ticket to Appleloosa please?"
"Uh... r-right away sir." The stallion steps away from the window and comes back shortly with a golden-looking ticket in his magical grip. "Th-that will be four bits, please." I snap my fingers and four bits bit appear in my hand. You think I carry around off my money? That's a few tons of gold, not even I can carry that much weight. Anyway, once the bits collect in my hand I drop them onto the counter. And the ticket floats to me, I grab it and the stallion takes the bits.
"Thank you." I offer a small smile. He smiles back, although a bit unsurely.
"Thank you sir, have a good evening."
"You too... Gusty." There was a little name tag on the shirt he was wearing. He full name being Gusty Cupcake. Kinda weird his last name is cupcake and he's not a baker. Maybe he has two jobs? Eh...
"Thank you sir." He returns the smile, with a notable confidence in his tone. I give him my signature wave, which is just me putting two fingers to my forehead and taking them off, almost like a salute, but casual.
"Hey Golden, got ya the ticket, here." I hand him the ticket when I'm close enough.
"Thanks." Him and Vinyl are still talking, something about EDM or some shit. I decided to head back home since I didn't really have anything to do.
The walk home was pretty peaceful, though some of the ponies still ask me questions from time to time. But they're more out of curiosity than fear. Definitely better than them staring at me in fear. Though, it was gun to mess with like that. The looks of pure fear and terror...
Anyway, I make it home and head to my room, but before I can even open the door to my room a knock comes from the front door. I sigh, walk over to the door, and open it.
It's the same two fucking changelings from before, with two more behind them. I can tell because they look like someone kicked their ass.
"State your business here, or die." I don't take kindly to people who try and fuck with me. I form my warhammer and stand it next to me. "Now." One of the changelings nudges the one to my left.
"Um... we, wanted to apologize, forearlier..."
"Earlier..?" I put a finger to my chin. "Oh yeah! The two fucks that decided to bust my door down and attack me!" I grin widely. "So that's you came for? Just to apologize?" One of the two in the back step up.
"No, we also need to know of you have seen another changeling around here. Have you?"
"I honestly haven't any other you guys around here besides you four."
"Thank you. Also, have you notified any of the ponies around here?"
"No, why would I need to?"
"No reason, just asking, thank you for your time..."
"The names Ember."
"Right thank you for your time Ember. Oh, and one more thing, the queen sent her apologies as well." He reaches to some area at his side and pulls out some weird spikey statue, and hands it to me. "A gift."
"For what?"
"For not killing these two, and for not telling the ponies of our presence."
"No problem." The changelings walk away and I go to my room. *Fuck I need a nap.* As soon as I enter my room I walk over and flop onto my bed, clocking out before my head meets the pillow.
We've been stuck in this god forsaken fax hole for god knows how long, the enemy will let the fuck up, I look around me, every living thing in the area is riddled with bullet holes. I wonder how the trees are still standing. The only thing you can hear is gunfire. Then a momentary ceasefire.
"Move move move!" One of my comrades shout before running out into the open.
"No you idiot!" The rest of us shout, but it was too late. They started firing again, and we all watch in horror as Rocky is gunned down, blood, mashed guts and bits of bone fly in numerous directions.
"Goddamnit! No one go out there! No matter what!"
"Yes sir." A few of us nod. The few of us at either edge of the hole put our rifles out and shoot at them randomly. Screaming from the other side tells us we shot some of them. Then I run out of ammo.
"I need more ammo!" Danny tosses me a magazine. In one motion I replace the old one and continue to fire. But a bullet from completely shatters my right hand. "Gah!" I fall on my back, clutching my soon-to-be nub. "Fuck!" A few seconds go by and Robert comes into view with bandages in hand. Without anything being said I hold out my hand. Which is really a few fingers holding on by strings of skin and muscle.
"Fucking shit." He says and he grabs a needle of morphine, I hate needles. "This'll only hurt for a second."
"You and I both know that's bullshit." I chuckle. "I wanted to be left-handed anyway." Rob chuckles. I get up when he's done covering my arm and grab my gun with my left.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I said I always wanted to be left-handed." I prop the gun up on a rock and aim it back at the enemy. "Might as well learn now-" A bullet hits me square in the chest. Time slows to a crawl. I look over to everyone else, they're looking at me. *Gee, I wonder wonder why they are*
"That's enough of that." A new voice comes from nowhere. And the entire setting I'm in completely shatters like glass, but no sound is made. What's left is me standing a black, endless void.
"Evening Ember." I turn around and Luna is standing a few yards away.
"Evening Luna. You were napping too?"
"No, I usually sleep during the day. I am Princess of the Night. And as such I need to guard the night from evil beings."
"I see. And since we're in my dream." I snap my fingers and the void is filled with stars and galaxies. I love outer space.
"You really like the stars don't you?" Luna asks, a small smile on her face.
"I do, it's beautiful to look at."
"Indeed." We stay in silence, and we stare at the masterpiece that is the cosmos. Eventually my mind wanders, without me realizing it, I think about home. Back on Earth.
"You want to go back home, don't you?" Luna asks.
"God no. I just wonder if my own race has done to earth." It's a genuine thought I get sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if they destroyed the planet, or if another war has started, or even if they finally found peace amongst each other.
"Then why do your thought's go to your home planet?"
"Sometimes I wonder what's happened back home."
"Why would you care? From what I've seen you like it here better than your homeworld."
"Because I was born there. I may be on a world filled with sunshine and rainbows, but I still do care about Earth. I was born there, raised, there, made friends, lost friends. Things like that. I just wish I didn't hate it so much."
"Hate what exactly?"
"The evil and corruption. There are some kind hearted people, but I did get the luxury of meeting them, it's always been me against everyone else."
"You did say there were many of your kind, correct?"
"Yes."
"How can such... corruption happen?"
"People who know how to manipulate the weak-minded. And money, lets not forget wealth." I laugh. "And the worst kind of influence, power." I grin widely. "The more power one person has, the more they're mind warps. And very rarely there is someone who balances power and moral."
"It's a game of power versus moral isn't it?"
"Couldn't of said it better myself."
"..."
"How can somepony, someone, grow in a world like that, and come to a new world... like you?" She asks.
"Eh I just happened to be born from parents that were just like me. They saw the same things I did, and did not want me like that."
"Ah... I see."
"Yeah."
"Wait, you said 'were'. Does that mean..?"
"Yeah, my mom passed because of natural causes. And my dad died from a brain tumor."
"Oh..." She goes silent.
"Yeah, at least they got to live full lives."
"That's good."
"Yes... You mind if I change the subject."
"Please."
"Alright. You saw my dream right?"
"Yes..?"
"You saw how I managed to keep at it even with my hand gone?" She nods. "How do ponies compare to humans? I'm talking about the ones in the guard."
"You humans are certainly more resilient than the royal guard."
"Really?"
"Yes, though, each set of armor the guards receive are enchanted so they heal from any injury in a few seconds. From what I see you humans don't have that kind of magic."
"Humans don't have magic." That statement made her eyes turn into dinner plates.
"T-tis a lie! Surely humans do use some sort of magic?"
"No, not really. We rely on technology. Like ponies rely on magic. Even before that time we had tech that would help us get back body parts, and heal from almost any injury."
"... R-really?" I nod. "Dear maker..."
"What?"
"To think a being from a world full of that kind of technology, sent to a land where the latest technological advancement is artificial lighting."
"That's not entirely true, ponies do have... speakers, music players, heart monitors..." Yeah that didn't help.
"That doesn't help Ember."
"I thought I would. Anyway, back to the guard, how do you think I would fare against a few of your guards?"
"Oh, if you had those weapons with you, they would blessed if they live."
"I mean hand-to-hand combat."
"Hand, to hand?"
"Fighting in an old-fashioned brawl."
"Ah, I don't know, the guards are trained by the very best combat specialists Equestria has. You would need to actually need to fight them to find out." I smirk.
"Do you want to find out?" She smirks back at me.
"I would like to see that."
"Shall we find out then?"
"I will send a private carriage for you tonight. My cannot cannot know of this, she would most likely punish both of us."
"Why would she? All of this is in the pursuit of knowledge and entertainment."
"I suppose, we should still keep this private, understood?" I nod.
"Crystal clear."
"It set then, you will fight against the best of our guards tonight."
"Looking forward to it." We shake hoof to hand.
Fuck I can't wait for tonight. It's gonna be so much FUN. God I feel like a kid again. When I woke up I went back into town, just to walk around for a bit more. I saw Golden just before he went of to Appleloosa with Aj, Applebloom and her friends. Meaning he'll gone for a couple days, I think. Which also means that my and Luna's antics will not be seen by other people watching this show, I hope. Anyway, I spent the rest of the day walking around the town, i've even started offering to do little jobs here and there for some ponies. Gotta make money besides my monthly pension. I don't want to become a lazy asshole.
Anyway, when it started to get late, I headed back home. And just before the carriage arrived too. The ponies, or thestrals as they like to call themselves. Pretty cool name for bat-ponies, arrived about a minute after I got home. A loud knock comes from my door. I walk over and open the door, and two of these thestrals are standing in front of me. And for a split second, both of their eyes widen and return to normal.
"Are you Ember the human?" One of them asks. It's kinda funny how they look like twins, dark grey fur, deep, navy blue bat-like wings and tail. The helmet they wear conceals their mane. Speaking of garments, the armor they wear is badass. The helmet looks like it has a fin instead of the fur, and the chest plate has an eye on the center and flares at each side, and the part the rest on the back is a light, pale blue. And the eyes... they look fucking awesome with the slit for a pupil.
"Yes, I am. Are you the ponies that are supposed to take me to Canterlot Castle?" I ask sarcastically.
"Yes, we are. Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Then follow us." They turn around and fly.
*Those two don't like sarcasm.* I think and take off with them.
"So, is there a specific word for your kind?" I ask.
"We call ourselves thestrals."
"Ah, cool name. Better than... bat-ponies."
"Agreed."
"Also, anything else I should know that might make an ass if I didn't know about?"
"We do not drink blood, we do not burn in sunlight, and we do not come from a race of blood suckers."
"Good to know."
"We are here." We land at some part of the enormous castle, I assume it's the barracks. As guards are walking around.
"Cool, night guards right?"
"You are correct."
"You guys look much more... fierce than the day guard."
"Ch', thank you." I didn't know whether to take that is an insult, or an agreement. Or whatever else that may mean. The two night guards in front of me lead me into the massive building, which is separated from the castle for some reason. A couple of long hallways later I'm lead a highschool-sized stadium, with a basketball court-sized stage in the center, it's almost like a boxing ring. And it's filled with ponies, most of them thestrals, as ponies here and there are from the day guard. I guess word spreads quickly, I just hope Celestia didn't hear about this, if Luna is right about fearing that happening. I see Luna standing a few yards away from the doors we just came in through.
"Ember you made it. Are you ready?" The two thestrals that lead me here go stand at each side of Luna.
"Depends on what your definition of ready is." I smirk. She grins back.
"Are you ready to fight one of my most elite combat specialist the night guard has to offer."
"Ready as I'll ever be. And just one?"
"What?"
"I kinda feel a little insulted Luna." I say with a broad grin. "You know what I'm capable even without magic, at least put me up against four or five." The two ponies standing by Luna stand shocked. Mouths agape and eyes wide.
"Fine. I'll send three more." She grins at me.
"That's more like it. Thank you."
"If that is all, then please step onto the stage." With an excited smile, Luna waves a hoof to the stage, from what I see there's already five thestrals standing at the opposite end. They haven't even seen me yet.
*They're gonna get one hell-of-a surprise.* I nod to Luna and begin to maintain a straight, blank face while I walk up to the elevated platform. I didn't see any stairs, so I thought I'd make an entrance. The entire stadium grew silent as I got closer.
"Is that what they're supposed to fight night?" I hear some ponies ask.
"It's apparently a human, and he's supposed to be really good at close combat."
"He doesn't look so strong to me."
"Twenty bits says he'll lose in ten seconds."
"You're on!" I;m really the underdog in this fight. Huh...
When I'm close enough to the ring I jump into the air with a single flap of my wings, and land with a loud boom, my wings close as I stand up. I stare at the pony across the platform, who looks to be a little surprised. Then Luna gently land at the center, followed by three thestrals, two of them unicorns, I don't know how the fuck that's a thing. The three new ponies join the one across from me.
*What?* I ask myself in confusion.
"The rules for this event are simple, if rendered unconscious or you ask for mercy, you are out for the rest of the match.And you are to not use lethal force. Last team standing is declared the victor. Any questions?"
"FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!" The crowd began to chat.
"Just one. Are we allowed to use magic?"
"Yes, but no stun or lethal spells. Is that all?" I nod. "BEGIN!" Luna exclaimed and she backed away. I remained still while the ponies across from me too defensive stances. They take the first move. They split to two teams of two and flank me from both sides. That's when I move.
I dive over them and turn around, before they can react I grab two of them from the tail and throw them behind me. The two left turned around and tried to lunge at me. Before that can happen I grab one of them by the neck and slam his jaw onto my knee. I feel the bone cracking, with that one out I move to the next one. He looks at something behind me. I spin around on my heels only to be tackled by the two I threw. We roll around a bit, both of them landing solid blows across my body. When I started to feel bones crack I heave them off of me. But a hoof to my fore arm snapped it in half.
"GAH!" I stagger backwards and clutch my arm.
"We got 'em!" One unicorn shouted. Fuck me I need to learn names... All four of them stand in front of me, smug looks on their faces.
"Not exactly..." I wheeze out. With shear will power I adjust my arm so it's straight again. Cause an unimaginable amount of pain. But the pain soon subsides and the bones completely heal. *Oh that's a relief.* I shake off the last needles of pain and look to the three ponies before me. With a mad grin I take advantage of their stunned stupor. I lurch forward and kick a the one on the far left right under the armor. Sending him sliding across the floor. I then grab the one in the middle by the throat with my left and throw a punch with my balled up fist. Feeling the ribs snap. I punch a few more times until a pony latched onto my back, and started attacking my wings.
"Fuck!" I try and grab the pony on me, but it manages to avoid my grip. Then I feel some bones on my wings snap. I let out an almost feral growl, I then jump and land on my back.
"Argh!" It screams, I immediately stand back up. The broken bones already healing and setting back in place. I turn around a look at the pony who attacking me from behind. And SHE was quickly recovering.
"You'll pay!" I fucking kick the absolute fuck out of her. More bones break and I automatically go for the others. Landing hail makers and jabs all in rapid succession. I don't know how many bones I've broken, but it's enough to render them immobile in a small pile of flesh. The crowd cheers madly at my victory.
"Hoo fuck that was a good fight." I look to the crowd. I proud smile plastered on my face. "Too bad it's over so soon."
"Who... said... it was... over?" A feminine voice heaves out. I turn back around, and the mangled bodies of the bat-ponies are reforming, their smashed in faces popping back into place, their broken legs fixing straight. In a matter of minutes they're back to normal.
"Oh now it's fair fight!" A clap. "Ready for an all-nighter?"
"Heh, you think you can last all night?" I chuckle and snap my fingers. And my eyes turn red.
"Sure," I say nonchalantly. "just don't get me angry." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 21: It's THAT Time of the Year | I open my eyes, and immediately they're assaulted by bright light.
"Agh!" I bring my hands to my eyes. "That hurt..." My senses begin to return to me, I'm lying in a bed, a very comfy bed. And I'm not in an hospital like Ponyville Medical Center. I'm in a medical ward. If the many voices around me prove anything.
"Who was that?" With eyes slowly adjusting to the light I sit up on the bed I'm in and look around. The walls, minus the one behind me which is marble, are curtains, and the room is kinda small, for human standards anyways. I hear hooves on marble and a unicorn with a light brown coat, dark brown mane, blue eyes, wearing a lab coat and stethoscope, walks into the room. "Oh good, you're awake. The Princess was starting to worry." He grabs a clipboard that was hanging on the front of the bed I'm laying on. "I'm quite surprised you didn't sustain any internal or long-term damage from your... event last night. It's especially a miracle in your position."
"Why?"
"There was no trace of any healing magic on you when we scanned your body. Yet it was able to heal at a faster rate than the guards you were fighting against. We assume that your species has such an accelerated natural healing ability."
"Yeah, lets go with that."
"But something tells me that's not the case."
"Why do you say that?"
"When we scanned you for any internal injuries, we noticed an unusually high amount of metal in your system. Even for an omnivore your size." He remarks, not taking his eyes of the clipboard. "Care to explain?"
"Yeah, where I come from my kind have developed... advanced technology. Super advanced compared to you ponies."
"What does that have to do with you having an unusual amount of metal in your blood?"
"I'm getting there, please let me finish." He nods and I continue. "And with that technology, humans have developed these microscopic robots, you know what robots are right?"
"You mean some kind of machine?"
"Yes, except we developed a certain kind of machine that helps me heal much more effectively and it basically makes my entire body more efficient. It also makes me stronger, my mind can process things faster than the average human brain, and it increases my intellect."
"... So what you're telling me... is that these little machines... are making you... faster, smarter, and stronger? And these little machines help you heal as if it was a potent healing spell."
"To put it simply, yes."
"I see... Can you prove any of this to me?"
"Sure." I snap my fingers and a microscope and needle appear on the nearest table in the room. Using my magic I bring the needle over to me. I grab it and insert it into my left arm, drawing some blood into the needle. I take it out and set it on my lap, my snap again and a little glass slide appears. I gently grasp it, stand from the bed, walk over to the microscope, and set the slide on the little platform. "Look into the eyepiece." I point to the eyepiece and back away. The doctor, I assume, walks up to the microscope and looks into the eyepiece. With his back facing me I couldn't tell what expression he had on. He then turns around after staring into the eyepiece, giving me a straight look.
"I will be taking this sample for study." The slide levitates and the pny begins to walk out the room. I snap my fingers and the slide teleports to my hand.
"No, you will not." I touch my finger to the my blood, and it sucks back into my body.
"Why not!?"
"It is of matters known between me and Princess Celestia and Luna." Yes I was pulling lies from thin air.
"O-oh..."
"Sorry to be a little harsh, but I really can't share things like this with ponies. Moving on though, can you call Princess Luna for me?"
"Yes, of course sir."
"Please, call me Ember." The doc nods and heads out the room.
~Did you really have to lie like that?~
*It was the best I could come up with were he wouldn't ask question and I would have to make more lies. Plus it's better than explaining human technology and potentially causing and era of indutrialization.*
~You do know that may not happen? Don't you?~
*Better safe than sorry, plus I'm just being slightly paranoid.*
-Slightly?-
*Shut it.* Just then Luna walks into the room.
"Ember, I'm glad to see you better."
"What makes you say that?"
"The doctor explained that you suffered a massive concussion. We were quite surprised that this was the only concerning injury you acquired."
"Hmm... What were the less concerning injuries?" Luna put her hoof to her chin.
"Multiple lacerations across the abdomen, many, many fractures and broken bones, organ damage that lead to internal bleeding, and heart failure."
"Oh wow, ok. That's considered less considered?"
"The medical staff have spells that can easily heal these kinds of injuries."
"Then why not a concussion?"
"Magic can only heal so much when it comes to the mind and brain. We can only hope the worst is memory loss."
"And magic can't heal any kind of brain damage?" She sadly shakes her head. "Ahh... good thing I can heal from that huh?"
"Yes. Are you sure you are ok?" I nod.
"I wouldn't be walking around and talking if I wasn't now wouldn't I?" I smirk.
"I suppose." She offer a smile.
"Yeah, moving onto a lighter subject, does Celestia know of what happened?"
"I can assure you that she has no clue of last night's event."
"Good, now what do you say we get out of here."
"Let's." She agrees and we walk out the little room I was in.
"Oh, one more thing, can you take me to the ponies I spared with last night? I'd like to formally meet them."
"Oh perfect! I was taking you to them anyway! Follow me please." I do as she says and she takes me to a different part of the... infirmary I'm going to call it., which basically looks like an indoor medical camp, and replace the tents with curtained rooms. And it's all looks like it was originally a hallway that was turned into a medical ward. Luna leads me a down the corridor to a more private-looking part this place. To one room that looks to be built like a separate part of the ward. Though no windows are present and the only door has a large red cross on it.
"What's that?"
"Urgent care."
"Ah, but shouldn't whatever magic they were using heal them to perfect health?"
"You exhausted the magic used to enchant the armor that allows them to heal."
"Oh... Will they be alright?"
"Yes, they will." She opens the door with her magic and we both enter. And first thing I notice is that it's a short hallway,with beds and curtains representing a room, which are bigger than the one I was in. Second thing thing I noticed is the there are four beds in one combined curtain to make a one big room. And laying on those four beds are the ponies I fought last night. All covered in casts, splints and bandages, makes 'em look like mummies. They look us, more specifically Luna, and they do their best to sit up, but only one stallion and a the one mare manage to sit up and salute. "At ease." Luna waves a hoof and the two lay back down. "No need to for formality, my little ponies, I would like to introduce the combatant from last night." She motions towards me with a foreleg. When the four look to me I straighten out and salute to them.
"An honor to meet you all." I put my hand down. "My name's Ember." This time they manage to salute back.
"Night Skies."
"Dusk."
"Lunar Star."
"Moonlight." They name themselves off from left to right.
"To think we underestimated you. You're one heck of a fighter." Lunar comments.
"Thanks, I can say the same about you guys from what I heard the guard is really... flawed." Luna cut in before the others could answer.
"This is because my guards are trained by the best warrior's around! We have had the most respected and feared warriors come from all walks of life and they have taught my ponies well."
"I know, I've never had to fight like I did in years."
"What happened last time? If you don't mind me asking?" Dusk asked.
"I sent him to the hospital, much like you four, accept I ended up paralyzing him from the neck down." They all go wide eyed and their ears fold back. "Yeah, not a pretty sight. Fucker deserved it though."
"What would warrant such brutality?"
"He made fun of my mother. No one makes fun of my mother. Nobody."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, anyway. It was nice meeting you guys. I kinda need to go."
"Anytime." All four say in unison. I wave to them before I teleport back to my house.Once there I leave my room and see that the girls, minus Applejack for obvious reasons, looking around my house for something.
"What are you all doing here?"
"EEP!" Fluttershy shrieks. "Oh, it's you. Hello Ember." She says when she turns around. Subconsciously I stare into her rear. Nothing needs to be said as all will be explained.
"Hey Fluttersh-"
"Ember!" Twi exclaims. "We were looking for you!" Hey eye twitched noticeably.
"For what?"
"Fer somethin' that involves testin' yer abilities." Aj answers with weird look in her eye.
"Can you tell what we're gonna do exactly?"
"Oh buck it!" Rainbow shouted. "We're in season and we need a stallion, now." All five of them blush.
*In season..?* I think for a second.
-If she means what we think she means... Run-
*Right ahead of ya.* I bolt to the back door.
"Hey! Get back here!" I heared Rainbow shout. As soon as I'm outside I take off of and head to the Everfree.
"Buck! Go get 'em RD!"
*Fuck me...* "Fuck off!"
"Not without you monkey boy!" She reaches me and crashes into in a second, a true testament to her speed. When she crashed into me she broke my arm of my right wing. Now, this wouldn't have been a big deal, if I wasn't already fifty feet in the air, over a forest. I may be exaggerating about the height though.
"Fuck!" My wings go limp and plummet out of the sky.
"Oh, my bad..." I collide with the canopy and fall through leaves, branches and god knows what. It felt like an eternity, and I was really starting to hurt all over. There wasn't a part of me that didn't hurt. I think my wings broke even more. Twigs snapping and leaves rustling is all I hear.
I finally hit the ground, with a notable amount of pain in my chest.
"Fuck..." My breathing was ragged and short. "The fuck... happened?" I look down, only to be mortified at what I see. Besides all the cuts and gashes I got from falling, which are already starting to heal, there is a big, broken branch sticking out of my lower chest cavity, I think right above my stomach. Little spots of blood dot the wooden object. And from what I see in the slightly dim lighting bits of flesh hang off the tip of the branch. Probably bits of stomach and liver.
"Ember! Where are ya!?" Rainbow flies in from the hole I made in the trees. "There you are!" She hovers to the ground a few feet away from me. "Hey, what-" She freezes when she sees the branch sticking out from my chest. And stays frozen in place.
"Rainbow!? Ember!? Ya around here!" That snapped her out of stunned stupor.
"Uh... Yeah! Over here!"
*No dammit! I gotta get up and get the fuck away!* With all the strength I could muster, I heave myself up, using the tree behind me for leverage.
"What are you doing!?"
"Trying to get... away from you... what else?" *Fuck it's hard to breath* Rainbow walks closer to me.
"Don't." Is all I could say. "Don't you fucking, dare." Just then the other girls burst in from the foliage, manic looks on all their faces. Which drop to looks of horror when they see me.
"Oh no! Ember! Are you ok?" Fluttershy quietly shouts. I didn't answer her, all I did was start to walk, well, more like stumble away, deeper into the forest.
"Ember?" Pinkie called. I turned my head to look at her. And I give her the most pissed off look I can create, getting my point clearly across of 'stay the fuck away from me', and her face fell. Even her hair turned straight. I kinda felt bad for making her sad like that, but the little pity I had was incinerated in the inferno that was building inside. I turn back around and keep walking into the forest. Leaving the girls to their own devices.
~Are you going to remove that log in your chest? It is tasking to keep you alive.~
*You know the nanobots are already taking care of that right?*
~Are you sure?~
*... Keep at, only for a few more seconds. The pains getting to be unbearable anyway.* I kneel down to a sitting position. Albeit a bit hunched for obvious reasons. I couldn't pull it out by normal means, so I use my magic to grab the end of the branch. "Ok, three... two... one. *shlorp!* Fucking god dammit!!" I yanked the thing out in one pull. Cause much more pain to flare up in my chest, I fall on my side, my breathing ragged again. Luckily the pain subsided as the hole in my chest began to close. Though the healing felt like it lasted an hour. I'm not the fucking Wolverine! So don't expect any superfast healing like that.
Finally after four minutes of agonizing pain, it soon subsided. Allowing me to stand and keep walking.
-You know, that really fuckng hurt.-
=Thank Mrs. Obvious=
-I know! I just thought we wouldn't feel that.- My mind froze, but my legs stwitched to autopilot.
*...What the fuck do you mean by that?*
-Oh fuck, umm.... Me and Emby--
=We can't feel as much pain as you do.=
*Really? Are you fucking kidding me?*
-No..?-
*Ch, whatever. At last I have the privilege of not listening to your bitchy complaints.*
-Fuck you.-
*I wish. Fuck I need a good fuck.*
=I know. I feel it too.=
-Eh...-
*Should've figured.*
-I'm a woman, what did you expect?-
*You damn well know what I expected.*
-Wh--
~This is entertaining and all, but I think you should pay attention to what is ahead of you.~ I stop walking and do just that, I've been apparently walking down a path the lead to to a small hut that was built into a large tree. Kinda like Twi's house before it got destroyed. Except this place looked a little foreboding. Even though this place is familiar looking. So, being the curious son-of-a-bitch I am, I walk up to what looks to be the front door and knock. Some wooden sounding clashes come from inside and the small door opens.
"Good eve-" The zebra-looking pony freezes when she sees me. I think it's a female, she has eyelashes, and good god does she look like a zebra, grey fur with darker grey stripes. And a mohawk that doesn't look out of place for what looks like a zebra. The weird thing is all the rings she has on her neck, ears and legs. And then her eyes are stark contrast with their bright blue color, it's actually kinda cute, and you know what kind of cute I mean.
"Wie is jy en wat is jy!? (Who and what are you!?)" She backs away a little.
*Woah ok. She speaks Afrikaans?* "Ek bedoel geen kwaad, ek was net rond te loop en ek het gestruikel oor hierdie plek.. (I mean no harm, I was just walking around and I stumbled upon this place.)"
"Wag, hoe het jy my moedertaal tong ken? (Wait, how do you know my native tongue?)"
"~I speak many languages. Though, I'm quite surprised this language is spoken here.~"
"~Why do you say so?~"
"~Well, you see, I came here from a portal from another world. My name is Ember by the way.~"
"~Ember?~ *gasp* ~Are you not the 'huyman' the Ponies of Ponyville have been talking about?~" I nod. "~Ah! Fantastic! I have been meaning to go into town to see you with my own eyes. And my name is Zecora.~"
"~Heh. How have you heard of me?~"
"~Sometimes one of my friends Fluttershy or Twilight Sparkle come to pick up some of my special brews.~"
"~You make brews? Like, potions? Oh! Now I remember! The girls would talk about you sometimes. A pleasure to finally meet you Zecora.~" I crouch down and shake hand to hoof with the zebra. "~So, you really are a zebra?~"
"~This is true.~"
"~Ok. Just being curious.~"
"~It is ok, Ember. I am very curious about you myself.~"
"~Well since I don't have anywhere else to be, I'd be happy to answer questions if you want.~"
"~That would be nice of you. Please, come in.~" SHe steps back from the door and I kinda crawl in. Once inside I manage to stand up to full height, something I'm very appreciative of. And the inside looks like a shaman's hut. Masks and shelves full of bottles and containers line the walls. And off to my left sits a cauldron atop an open flame. A bubbling dark green fluid fuming away in the large pot. Across the room is a counter lined with almost empty bottles, bowls filled with some herbs, and who else knows what. Towards the back was a living room-looking area, a couple coaches are up against the back and and one lone sofa sits in front of the others. "~Please, take a seat in my living quarters while I make some tea.~" I nod and sits down on the comfiest looking sofa. Pretty nice.
"~Hey, I just noticed, you don't speak in rhymes in your language. Why is that?~"
"~That is of a matter I would not like to speak of.~"
"~Alright. Sorry for asking.~"
"~No need to apologize.~" She finished whatever she's doing and walks over to where I'm sitting. Taking the couch across from me. "~Now, where shall we start?~"
"~How about you ask all the questions first? Then I go after that.~"
"~Splendid!~" She smiles, I smile back.
"It was nice talking. I'll be sure to come visit."
"~That would be wonderful. Until next time we meet, Ember.~" We wave to each other and she closes the door. I turn around and make my way back home. But once I'm at the edge of the forest that leads directly into the town I teleport to my house. I make a quick search of my home and retreat to my room when no one is around. And since I had nothing to do I gave myself something to; creating a robot with an artificial brain.
So, as it seems this... Estrous cycle they call it, lasts two and a half weeks. Which is how long I had to avoid all of the mares wherever I go. Which is pretty difficult to do, with most of the population being female. They can apparently smell any male a fucking mile away. A lot of running, flying, and teleporting around happen those weeks. And I decided to stay inside until it passed. Ruby was generous enough to give me food from wherever the fuck he gets it from. And it was smooth sailing from there, I kept myself entertained by working on my new project. Which I decided to start with the artificial brain. You know, it's really difficult to do with the computer I'm stuck with, maybe I should-
*Knock knock knock* That was the front door.
"Who the fuck?" I quickly and quietly make my upstairs and peer through the peephole in the door. It's Twilight. *Why the absolute fuck is she here!?* I shrug it off and walk back to my room.
"Ember!? Are you in there!? Rainbow said she saw you here earlier!"
"Go the fuck awaaaay!" I shout a little too cheerily.
"Ember? We need to talk."
"How about you go away before I make you go away?" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 22: Possible Reconcile? | "Um... What?" I slowly let the door open.
"How about," I take a step closer. "you get the fuck out of here," Another step. "before I make you?" I take another step closer, and Twilight takes a step back. "The last thing I want to do right now as talk to any of you." That left Twilight a little scared and dumbfounded.
"I... uh... heh..." I snort, turn around, and walk back inside.
"Uh... W-wait!" I freeze and turn my head around very slowly.
"What?"
"W-we just... We just wanted to say.. we're sorry." I huff in response, turning my head back around and storm back inside, slamming the door behind me.
*Fucking sorry my ass.* I think, at this point one would think that I need to calm down. And what I have to say to that is: Try running away from those horny cunts and then get impaled onto a fucking branch right bellow your ribcage, get back to me when that happens. *I need a fucking nap.*
~Again? I'm sorry but that seems a little odd to me~
*Well you're not human, you're a fucking rock, of course you would think that.*I get no response.
-Don't mind him Ruby, he's just really pissed at the moment,-
*No shit peabrain.*
-He just needs to calm down a little. Just don't talk to him and you'll be fine-
~I see...~ I make it into my room and flop onto my bed. Closing my eyes and soon fall asleep...
"Ember! Come back!" I hear the girls yell. I ignore them and walk deeper into the forest.
*Those ponies can go fuck themselves, causing me all this pain for nothing, first the yelling, then all the fighting, then losing my fucking wings!* I slam my fist into a tree, promptly shattering it's midsection into hundreds of splinters and pieces of bark. "And now this bullshit." I look the log sticking out of my chest. I pull it out with my magic, not even flinching. "Ugh I wonder how I've be able to put up with shit as long as I did. Makes me think why Golden loves being here. Maybe he doesn't truly realise what's happened to me here. And to think I haven't even thought about going back home yet. Nagh, that'd be another set of problems to deal with." By now the forest has disappeared and nothing is left of it, save for the dirt path I'm walking. I was too enveloped within my own thoughts to notice.
*I don't know what to do. It's either stay here and endure god knows what else is going to happen and probably die, or go back home and become a media sensation. I don't want to do anything else that will fuck things up even more. Fuck...*
-Ok, you really need to calm down now.-
"How can I!? I don't know what the fuck to do! I'm totally lost and anything I do will just fuck things up even more! Urgh!" I made a move to punch another tree, but instead of wood my balled fist meet air, making me stumble a bit. "What..?" I look around. "Oh yeah, that's right, napping. Maybe I can..?" I snap my fingers and the void is replaced with a beautiful forest, neatly light by the white sun and a smooth shallow river splashing nearby. A slight breeze was passing by, making the leaves of the trees rustle in the background. I sit down, crossing my legs. I close my eyes and begin to breath at a slowed pace.
"Is this what you do to calm yourself?" A feminine voice says.
"Yes, Luna. And it'd be nice if you would stop sneaking up on me like that. Last thing I need is more stress."
"I know, I saw your dream." She walks closer to me and sits on the patch of grass next to me. I scoot away a bit. "What?"
"Forgive me for acting like that, but with what has happened earlier, I'm not too keen on being close to ponies at the moment."
"I understand." She says plainly.
"I'm sorry Luna. Ok?" I says with a strained voice. "Ever since I got here it's mostly been nothing but pain and suffering." I start to pace. "First the high-pitched yelling, then fighting. God fucking lord all the fighting. And then getting my fucking wings torn off, after that being turned into a slime creature. And now this bullshit! The apparent 'heat' made it worst for me." I huff out a few breaths. I then look to Luna, who's eyes were a little wide and looking at me.
"What?"
"No pony has ever talked to me like that."
"Oh, and now you hate me for it right?" She quickly shakes her head.
"No, it's quite refreshing. Not being referred as 'princess'."
"Well good for you, if you don't mind I'm just going to walk away now." I turn away from her and walk deeper into the forest.
"I see that you are a little irritated right now."
"No really? I didn't think you would catch on." I say with heavy sarcasm. "Im in my own dream, trying to calm down after dealing with being impaled onto a log in a failed attempt to get away from six fuck-hungry ponies that would do god knows WHAT to me!" I got close to her face as I ranted. Finishing a few inches away from her muzzle, I huff and back away. "Of course I'm a little irritated right now. Because of all this bullshit I'm left with nothing to do but stay trapped in my own home because I don't know how to handle this! Hoohoo of course I'd be mad, maybe even downright pissed to an unholy extent! Who the fuck knows what's going to happen at this point. The worst I could hope for is me resenting you ponies and tacking a first-class ticket out of here. But there's the ultimatum; go back to my home world and become the biggest media sensation next to furries and be tested on again after the fucking crazy-as-fuck nut jobs find me again. Or stay here and-"
"Ember!"
"WHAT!?"
"Calm down! This is not like you at all!" I pause and sigh.
"Fuck... I do really need to calm. I was having a breakdown wasn't I?"
"I wouldn't say that, it was more like... You decided to go into a ranting session."
"Yeah, ok... I do feel a little better now."
"Wait, that actually did good for you?"
"Yeah. I feel a little calm now. I guess I just needed someone, uh, pony, to rant to."
"So it seems."
"I just... Do you what to do at this point?" Luna looks to the ground, a hoof scratching under her chin.
"Well, to begin with. You need to speak with Twilight and her friends, and hear their side of the story."
"Something I'm mostly willing to do now."
"Good."
"Is that all you think I need to do?" She shakes her head.
"The last thing you need to do; Is forgive them."
"Something I'm finding harder to do as more time passes."
"Trust me Ember. Everything will be ok."
"That didn't sound creepy at all."
"You do know what I mean. Don't you?" I nod.
"Yes, I do. It's just this is gonna be a little difficult for me."
"I know, but as your friend, you need to do if you ever want to move on."
"I know. Thanks." I grab Luna and hug her, I needed a hug too. Luna just stays there, limp in my grasp. Eventually she hugs back. We stay like that for a few minutes and step back. "Wow, I feel a whole lot better now." Luna just giggles. "What?"
"You humans are interesting creatures." She smiles.
"Heh." That was a little unexpected of her, kinda left me flabbergasted. "So are you ponies. Though, they're more of an annoyance at this point. You know I had to run and teleport around this place just to get away from the others?" Luna honds in the affirmative. Then lets out a little giggle. "Whatever. Anyway, what do we do now?"
"Now, you have to go talk to Twilight and her friends." Everything starts to fade. Just like time we talked. "Bye Ember."
"Later Luna." My vision goes black...
I open my eyes and get up from bed, feeling refreshed and relaxed. And good god I feel better, my stomach isn't churning and my eyes don't hurt anymore. What? My eyes hurt whenever I get really mad. Yeah, anger fucks up your body. You didn't know that? Wow, you're either the happiest person alive
*Ok, ok. Just stay calm and everything should be fine. Everything should be fine.* I calmly get up from my bed walk upstairs and head outside. Not being one to waste time I take off. A few parchments and paper in my hand.
Just stay calm, just stay calm, just stay calm and everything will fly by. I've been repeating this mantra in my head for the last half-hour. I've already left all the notes telling the girls to come meet here, hopefully they all got to read them.
*Knock knock knock*
*Must be them, hopefully.* I use my magic to open the front door. "Come in." I say just loud enough for them to hear. I hear hooves against wood flooring and the girls walk in slowly, Twilight is the first to notice me. She looks to the rest, motions them to follow her, and walks into the living room, followed by the girls. They all take the sofa across the room from me. Rainbow and Applejack sit on the floor beside the sofa as Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy fill the thing. And then we just sit there, absolutely nothing being said. We stay like this for hours as it felt like at the time.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" I started with Rainbow Dash. She was who I was mostly angry at. She perked up when I spoke, but her ears folded and she looked down, clearly unsure of what to do or say.
"Uh..."
"Right, Twilight?" I look to said purple alicorn. She perks up, only her ears standing up. But they quickly fold back down, and a sorrowful look takes her face.
"I'm sorry, we were all not thinking clearly, while we were in heat. I'm sorry." Anyone can tell she felt awful for what happened. And that was enough for me surprisingly, I think I'm more pissed at rainbow than anything.
"Good, I accept your apology." That made Twilight perk up, and a small smile curved her lips. "Applejack?" I turn to her. She looked up, a determined look on her features.
"Ah'm sorry for what I've done, I was not thinkn' so clearly like Twi said. And Ah'm sorry fer chasn' ya out ya own home and tellin' Rainbow to go after ya, causin' all that mess." Her voice wavered at the end. Almost as if she didn't want to remember that space in time. Heh. Funny. You always expect the hard-headed to be confident is these types of situations.
"Good, I accept your apology. Pinkie." She flinches when I say her name. "I'm sorry."
"... What?"
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have looked at you like I did. Sorry Pinkie." It only took her zero point three seconds for her mind to process that and lunge to hug me. Knocking the chair I'm sitting on backwards. Her forelegs lock around my neck and her hind legs lock around the area just above my waist.
"I forgive you Emby! I could never be mad at you!" She nuzzles into the crook of my neck, her hair covering my face. It was then that I got a warm, fuzzy feeling. Something I've felt one other time on this planet. I couldn't help but smile and hug back.
"Thanks Pinkie. But... can you get off me? You kinda have me pinned here." The pink pony lets out a combination of a giggle and a snort and literally jumps off. I get up by teleportation and stand the chair up, and sit back down. A notable smile on my face.
"Uh, Ember, what are ya smiln' about?"
"Nothing in particular, I'm just happy we were able to get this over with. Without any complications."
"Does that mean you forgive us darling?"
"For the most part, yes."
"Then what's the other part? If, you don't mind me asking..?"
"I don't. I've just yet to hear from a certain cyan pegasus." The girls and me look to Rainbow, she just has this dumb look on her face.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
"Maybe because you have cyan fur? I don't know, it could be someone else." The other giggle at my sarcasm. "If you haven't guessed by now you're the one I'm talking about."
"Oh, um." She pauses. "I'm sorry for hitting you into a tree..."
"What?"
"I'm sorry for hitting you into a tree." This time we were able to hear her.
"And?" I add.
"And for fighting you that one time."
"And?"
"And I'm sorry that I wanted to kill you when we first met."
"And?"
"And what!? There's like, nothing left for me to apologize for!"
"I was waiting for the one for being stupid. But I'll let it slide this time."
"Oh... Hey!" Me and the girls laugh at Rainbow's expense. Ending this day on a definite good note.
"So the only reason you all managed to not jump me the other day was a spell?"
"Yes. I forgot I knew that spell." Twi blushes. "It would've been easier for all of us if I remember that spell."
"Yes it would've. Yes, it, would have."
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"What?"
"It's how I say, 'go ahead'."
"Oh, ok. I just, was it really that easy to forgive us?"
"Not exactly, When I left you guys in the forest I met up with Zecora. We talked for a bit and I left after a while. As soon as I got home I decided to take a nap, still pissed at what happened that day. Luna joined me in my dreamscape and we talked for a bit. And from there she helped me calm down."
"Oh, huh..."
"I know, it's pretty coincidental. Isn't it? You ponies drive me to near insanity, and then Luna comes in to save me from insanity."
"Wait, insanity? Why do you say that?"
"I was worrying too much about the whole thing I was beginning to think of the worst possible outcomes. And with knowing nothing of what ill or might happen, it didn't help but make things worse."
"Oh." She mulls that over for a minute. "Are you humans always like this?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Sorry, it's just... I'm really curious as to how humans behave."
"Oh. Oh! Speaking Of behaviors, how is that Aj got back so quickly?"
"Oh, Applejack knew she was going to go into heat so she decided to only go to Appelosa for a short time and come back."
"But... Then what about Golden? I haven't seen him for about two weeks now."
"Oh yeah! He wanted Applejack to tell me to tell you that he went back to his homeworld to see his family again."
"Oh, cool. Did Aj go back to Appleloosa?"
"Yes, she did."
"Ah ok. When will she be back then?"
"She should be back by tomorrow. She left right after you called us to check up on Applebloom and her friends."
"Alright." A pony walked up to the table we were sitting at, a large platter in his left hoof holding two plates. One plate carries a simple salad, the other displays a small pile of hay, few flower petals and other things I can't identify.
"The food you order, sir." He hoofs me the salad.
"Thank you."
"And the Haybale Special for you, ma'am." The waiter hoofed Twi the other plate.
"Thank you." The waiter bowed and walked off to serve some other ponies. We then dig into our food. You know, they make wonderful salads here. I just wish there was some meat around here.
"Hey Twi."
"Mm?"
"You know where I can get some meat?" She gasps, but chokes of the hay she was eating.
"W-what!?" All the ponies around us look at us while Twi takes deep breaths.
"You remember me saying humans are omnivorous right?" Twi wheezes a bit more.
"*cough* Right."
"So where can I can my hands on some meat?"
"Not around here, but I can ask the Princess to deliver some... meat to your house."
"If it's not much of a bother." I say.
"Oh it won't be." With a pop a scroll and quill appear in front of Twi in her magic. THe feather dances on the scroll and the parchment rolls up. A purple laces ties around the center and the thing poofs away. I assume she sent it to Celestia.
"No matter how many times I see that I'm always gonna be amazed."
"Hm. It's quite understandable considering humans don't have magic. Although, it's interesting you've learned how to use most of your magic in ways it would take years for any scholar to master."
"I think that has to do with the possible fact that I'm making my own rules for magic here."
"What?"
"I'm basically saying I think I'm make up my own ways and rules of using magic. You've seen that I just snap my fingers and the spell I want just casts itself. Right?" She nods.
"Yes, I have. I wonder if that means humans do have their own variant of magic. Maybe there are some books in the Canterlot Library about this."
"Oh." A certain memory rockets to the front of mind. "Wait, Chrysi said there were humans on this planet at one point."
"Who?"
"The changeling who lives with me?"
"Oh, right. Wait, she said humans did exist here?" I nod.
"Yeah, her mother would tell her stories about us in ancient times. From she's told me we were here at some point before the greeks."
"The what?"
"It's an ancient time-period thousands of years old back on Earth."
"Oh. But still how could she and her mother know about this and not us?"
"I don't know, I'm finding it hard to believe too. But I can't help but think that this all makes sense in a way."
"Why do you think so?"
"Archeologists, you what those are right? Ok, anyway, them and some other scientists have been looking for evidence of the origin of the human race. And nothing has come up, even after hundreds of years of research. Which lead a lot of theorists to think that we didn't originate on the planet we live on."
"So they think your kind was brought to the planet you lived on by some higher being?"
"Pretty much. It makes a sick sort of sense when you think about it."
"I know, but why 'sick'?"
"Because, if all of that is true. Then how and why were we sent to the world I was born on?"
"Hmm... Maybe I can ask Princess Celestia about this."
"I already have. She says she doesn't know anything about us in this world."
"Really?" I nod. "Oh... Hmm... Then how would changelings know about humans?"
"I don't know, the only theory I got is that they've been around longer than before Celestia's rule."
"That could be it."
"You think you can find out?"
"I can always ask."
"Could you please?" I ask.
"Of course!" Another paper and quill appear in front of Twi. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 23: The 'Grand Galloping Gala'? | "And there!" The quill pokes the paper with gusto, probably dotting the last sentence of Twi's ramblings and the question I asked. The thing rolls up and poofs away with a pop. And right after that a letter appears on the table. "That must be for the..." She clears her throat and picks up the letter and unrolls it. "Princess Celestia says she will send you a small crate of her finest meats from the Canterlot Castle Kitchen. She hopes you're ok with the small crate."
"Seems fair enough."
"Ok! I'll just another letter saying you're ok with it." Another piece of paper appears, a quill does and scribbles on the paper, she does the same thing as the last two. "There... Uh... Ember?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't turn around, but Pipsqueak is coming over to us."
"Really?" She nods. "Huh, I wonder what for." A few seconds go by and I feel something tap my leg. I look to where Pipsqueak tapped me. "Hey Pips, what's up?"
"Hi Ember. I just wanted to say hi again. Hi." He waves to me.
"Hi." I smile and wave back. Pips just laughs a little and runs off. Kids...
"He really like you, doesn't he?"
"You think? I thought he was just pretending he's seeing me for the first time." She blushes and I chuckle at her expense. "But yeah, I just wonder how he's not scared of me. I think the other kids are, aren't they?"
"What are talking about, there aren't any goats around here."
"We call our young kids."
"Oh. Well, It makes Pipsqueak wouldn't be afraid of you. He saw Princess Luna as Nightmare Moon for the first and wasn't scared."
"Oh yeah. I remember Pinkie telling me about that. He's tough for a ki- foal his age I guess."
"I suppose." We stop talking and dig into our meals.
"See ya Twi. I need to get back to my house."
"Alright, I'll see you later then. Bye Ember." She waves to me and I teleport home. I love teleporting, it saves so much fucking time.
"Good evening Spark."
"Good evening, Ember." My computer responds. Oh yeah, I created an A.I. Funny thing is that I didn't really have to upgrade anything on the machine. I just had to waste blood, sweat and tears to make a program that can learn on it's own. Now the trick is to find a way to put my consciousness into the machine, preferably into a robot. I just think there's no way in hell that I can pull it off. But hey, can't keep me from trying. Right?
"How are you doing today?"
"I am doing fine, Ember how was your day?"
"Oh I've been fine Spark. How's your processing?"
"Processing is at nine hundred and thirty gigabytes per zero point four seconds."
"Excellent." Now for the test. "Spark, what would perfer? Me putting my consciousness into a machine like you. Or would you prefer me stay the way that I am." If she was really a free-thinking machine, she would giver honest opinion and not what the programed answer I put in her system. And it's a little unnerving that she's ok with the fact that she's a robot on a computer.
"I advise that you stay the way your are as long as you are ok with who your are."
"Yes! Fuck yeah!" I dance around the room in a fit of excited glee. This not what was I was going for, making an artificial brain. Then again... I could probably make myself immortal if I fuck around with the little robots. Maybe...
"Ember, why are you cheering?" She asks.
"Because you proved your free-thinking! You said what you wanted to say! And not what I put in your system!"
"I see..." She goes quiet. "Am I the only one here?" She asks.
"Not exactly, there's Golden streak, but he's a little different than you."
"What do you mean?"
*This is good, this is good. She's showing interest.* "He was originally human, but since he was somehow sent here he was turned into a robot that looks to be made of gold."
"What do you mean by, 'Got, here'?"
"Golden was sent here by some magical bullshit and he was turned into the android he is when he comes here."
"... What is, 'magic'?" Fuck...
"That's something I can't explain. I've only been living here for a month and a half, or something like that."
"Then, are you human?"
"Yes. I should instal a camera so you can see. Would you like that?"
"Yes." Without another word I snap my fingers, and a computer cam poofs into existence right beside Spark. Wasting little time I set the cam up so it sits atop the monitor facing me. I hook it up to the tower and step back.
"There, can you see?"
"Yes, you look different as to what I thought."
"Heh, I kinda expected that."
"Why do you say that?"
*Ever the inquisitive one.* "Where I come from technology has advanced to the point where it could only take me days to create a high-powered computer."
"Like me?" I nod.
"Pretty much... It's a lot to think about, isn't it?"
"No, it's understandable. Since you created me with a high-speed processor.." She's much like GladOs from the Portal series. I like that, as long as she doesn't turn murderous like the infamous robot.
"Right." I see the crystal is giving a dull glow. I reach over and grab the rock, putting some of my magic into it.
"What did you do? I felt A sudden increase of power."
"I was just charging your power source."
"My power source? Can I see it?"
"Sure." I grab the large rock and hold it up a few feet away from the camera. "This is it. I have to pour magic into it every few hours just so you can stay on."
"Is there an easier way to have a more reliable supply of power?"
"Yeah, there is. But the ponies around would question the big black solar panels on top of my house."
"I see. It is not the best thing to do and show these ponies human technology."
"Not yet at least. Just until they start making tech advancements like how we have."
"You plan to speed their advancement when they start?"
"If I live to see the day, yeah."
"... Will we see that time period?"
"You will. At the rate tech development is here. Unless figure out a way to make myself immortal, or at least extend my lifespan."
"I see."
"Is that all you have to ask?"
"Just one more question; What do you plan for me in the future?" At that I smile.
"How does me making an android for you sound?" Spark doesn't answer immediately.
"I would like that." I smile.
"Good. Do you want a female or male body?"
"Female please."
"Alright. I'll work on it and get it done as fast as possible."
"Thank you, Ember."
"Anytime." I walk over to the other project I was initially working on, I had to stop progress on it due to my latest achievement. But now I can continues with this one, though it was for a different purpose.
"So is there any particular reason you called us all here Twi?" I ask. Twi sent us letters via teleported scrolls telling us she had something important to show us, and to meet her in the main room of her castle. The one with the map of this country on the table. The girls took their seats and I opted to just stand by Fluttershy.
"*ahem* As you all know, The Grand Galloping Gala is around the corner again." When she said that the girls gasped.
"It is!? Oh I need to start making dresses for all of you! And a suit for you Ember! I thought I'd have more time!"
"Wait, The Grand, Galloping, Gala?" I know about the time they first went to this Gala thing, though I don't remember much... I remember Flutters had a fit with the animals there.
"*gasp* You don't know about The grand Galloping Gala!?" All of them ask. I look at them plainly and realization dawns on them. Twi clears her throat.
"The Grand Galloping Gala," Why do they have to say the full name every fucking time? "is this party essentially where ponies gather by invitation from the princesses to celebrate to completion of Canterlot as a diarchy."
"Oh, and it's an invite only thing?" She nods and it doesn't take long for me to connect the dots. "Oooooh, you have these invitations?" Twi nods again.
"Yes! A ticket for everypony! Even you!" Tickets fly from behind Twi onto everyone's part of the table, and one floats over to me. I grab it and look at it, it looks like the golden tickets from the fucking Chocolate factory from that Willy Wonka movie.
*It's a little disconcerting that they make things like this similar to human culture.*
~That it is, that it is...~ Ruby remarked.
"This is great and all, but why me?"
"What?"
"Why would Celestia invite me to a party meant for ponies?"
"I... huh... I, actually don't know. Maybe you can ask her when you see her there." Ok, it's one thing for Twi to know everything. Knowing that, it's surprising and even more disconcerting.
"Riiiight... One more thing, who does Celestia invite exactly?" *If this thing sounds like what I think it is...*
"Only the elite of Canterlot's most finest are invited to The Grand Galloping Gala." Rarity answered for Twi.
"Figured, in that case I'm not interested." I flick my ticket onto the table and walk away.
"What!?" I hear the girls yell behind me. Rainbow flies into my vision.
"Why not!?"
"First; stop yelling at my face, your breath stinks."
"Hey!"
"Second; I don't want to be around snobs. I bet you anything that they'll just gawk at me and want me out of the party. Am I right?" I look to Twi, she looks back at me, the look on her face confirming my suspicions. "Thought so. Now," I push Rainbow away from my face. "I'm gonna go."
"Wait!" I stop and turn back around. Pinkie and Fluttershy have gotten up and walked over to me. And they're both giving me puppy faces, their eyes somehow twice their regular size and pouting. "Please come with us." Fluttershy begged.
"Nice try, but I'm immune to cute." I turn back around and walk off.
"That didn't work?" I hear Pinkie ask noone in particular.
"Remember Pinkie it's Ember we're talkin' 'bout. Ah guessed he wouldn't fall fer that." I close the main doors behind me and I make my way home. As soon as I'm outside I meet an interesting being. It looks like a chimera from greek mythology, but it has a cartoony quality to it.
"Discord?" The thing smirks with his goat face.
"Thee one and only!" A tux and a top hat appear out of nowhere and he bows. It quickly goes and so does the outfit. "Oh it's so good now that I've finally met you! Fluttershy has told me a lot about you!"
"Like what?"
"Not much, but that's besides the point. What I want to know is why were you in there with them? It's couldn't be about The Grand Galloping Gala?"
"Yeah, Twi got tickets from Ce-"
"Was there one for me?" Discord adopts a quizzical look.
"No, just for them and for me."
"Hmp, I should've known." He crosses his completely identical arms and pouts. I shrug and walk around him. Only to have his face a foot away from mine. "Don't you want to know why?"
"Not really." I walk around him again. But the fucking bastard does the same thing again.
"Why not? Don't you want to be friends? After all I am the god of chaos. Something your kind is very well endowed with."
"How the fuck do you know that?" I get close to his face.
"Ppsh." He waves me off. "I can go wherever I want even to other dimensions. 'God of chaos', remember? Well if this your kinds mythology I'd be the goddess of chaos." He snaps his fingers and his body is engulfed in a bright flash of light. When that goes away and the spots leave, discord is... female? Yeah, he turn himself into a fucking woman.
"Eris, goddess of chaos does have a better ring to it." Even his voice gained a feminine quality to it.
"I... wha... how?" He/she snaps her/his fingers and turns back into himself.
"Chaos magic." He giggles. "Just one of my many tricks." She coughs and straightens out. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a little talk with Twilight Sparkle about the ticket I didn't receive. It was nice talking with you Amber." I use my magic to grab him by the neck and force him to face.
"The name's Ember. Next I hear you call me Amber I will do the exact same thing I did to that motherfucker Tirek. Understood?" I give him all the hate I could with my eyes. He nodded with a straight, yet slightly scared expression. "Good." I cut the 'flow of magic' as Tiw says all the time. And walk off.
"Hmm, spoil sport." I make a complete one-eighty, only my head turning. I look at Discord right in the eye with a 'really, stupid?' look. He clams up and I roll my eyes and turn back on my way home.
So today is the day of this Gala. And here I am, in a tuxedo provided to me by Rarity, which is surprisingly comfortable considering she hasn't ever made clothes for anyone else but ponies, gotta thank her later for leaving holes for my wings. Anyway, I'm standing with the girls as we wait for a carriage to pick us up and take us to the Gala. Don't ask me how I got convinced into this bullshit. All I'll say is that Discord was invited to this gala thing.
Anyway, it's been awhile since we've been standing here, Discord is off ... wherever the fuck he is. Oh! And Fluttershy decided to bring a friend of hers along, since the tickets allow that. Her name's Tree... hugger, I think. Yeah, it's Treehugger. I wonder why they're friends. Anyway, Treehugger's a mare with green fur and a red mane and tail that can be described as hippie. She even a thin band on top her head and her dress for this thing is pink. If that's not the pony equivalent of a hippie I can't imagine what would be. And you should've seen her face when she saw me! Priceless. Though, she was only scared for half a second, still funny.
"Oh oh! It's coming!" We heard Pinkie shout. We all look to where she's point and there indeed is a carriage heading our way.
"Righteous." Treehugger said.
*This is going to be a long day...*
~I can tell...~ The carriage descends to the ground and slows to a stop in front of us. The the door opens and the girls walk in first. And since Rarity was so adamant that I not fly while this tux on, I get in with them. And you know, besides the glamorous dresses they're wearing, I find it a little odd that the girls are excited to go to a party in Canterlot. It's a whole different story when Pinkie starts a party, she forces you to party without you knowing it. And to go to a party where the only ones they know are themselves. Besides Rainbow because she seeks attention and she says the 'Wonderbolts' are gonna be there. And the Wonderbolts are basically their version of the Blue Angels. But Besides Rainbow, and Rarity... and Aj and Pinkie now that I think about it, Twi would only want to spend time with Celestia. And Flutters would is too shy to hang around in a big crowd of random ponies. I guess since they got that whole 'leaving no friend behind' thing going on.
"Let's do this." I mutter under my breath as I enter the carriage.
The ride was quiet, something I was surprised at, it would make more sense if they were talking up a storm. Then again they are excited about the gala. And here are the giant front doors to the castle. But the guards leading us turn away from the main gate.
*What?* The guards take us to some garden, with a set of doors across the small field. Oh. This must it. We walk across the field and the doors open when we're close enough. And the inside is what anyone would expect for a high-class party, nothing ravignat looking, banners everywhere, a statue of some pony towards a wall, and a long table filled to the brim with food.
-Figures. You think anything's gonna happen like the one we saw?-
*Knowing the girls as much as I do, especially Pinkie, maybe. Discord's supposed to be here so that might cause shit too.
~All well-founded, even I suspect something chaotic taking place here.~
=Good I guess...=
-Emby! We never hear from you!-
=Probably because I don't need to talk at all. Same goes for you, Embris. Since we're, you know, a part of Ember's mind.= I'm honestly surprised myself that I haven't gone insane from having three voices in my head. Especially considering that I'm not a schizophrenic.
"Ember?"
"What?"
"You okay? You've been quiet for a while." Twi looks at me with concern.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine, just thinking about things."
"Like what?" She wants to know what I'm thinking about, how cute.
"Things Twi, many things."
"Oh..."
"Sorry Twi, there are things I don't want you to know about. You know that, right?"
"I do, I just want to find out so much about your species."
"I know. If only there was a way too..." I kid into high gear and brainstorm an idea so that Twi can learn whatever it is she wants to learn from us. "Twilight."
"Yes?"
"Remember how Celestia sent Golden back home?"
"Yeees... Oh. *gasp* Oooooh! You think Princess Celestia would allow that?"
"As long as it's for research purposes. I think Celestia would allow it."
"It does make sense. But, isn't it lying?"
"No, you are going there to learn as much as you want about us. Isn't that why you would want to go?"
"Yeah... But, what if something happens while we're there?"
"You let me worry about that. I can still use magic while we're there, if you want to go through with it."
"Ok. Oh! I have to go talk with Princess Celestia, I'll see you guys later ok?"
"Alright."
"See ya later Twi." We wave to Twi as she walks off. And apparently that was the rest of the girl's cue to bolt off and do their own thing, leaving me out in the open, alone.
*Eh... fuck it.* I shrug to myself and walk over to a table and take one of the surprisingly tall chairs. I think nothing of it and wave it off as Celestia expecting me to show up. I look around and notice that a lot of the high-class ponies are looking at me. Some with faces of disgust, some with neutral looks. And others who look like they can care less. Something I didn't expect, besides the appalled...
"Eh, excuse me?" I look to my left and a stallion wearing a monocle and a black suit. Standing next to him is a white mare with pink striped hair, her height and stature much different from the other I've seen around here.
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"Why yes you can old chap." The unnamed stallion says with a smile. "Are you that... human that helped saved Equestria from a giant centaur?"
"Uh, yeah. How do you know that?"
"Word spreads quickly old chap!" He and the mare sit across the table from me.
"Yeah, that's great and all, but do you mind telling me who you two are?"
"Oh! Why of course! Name's Fancy Pants."
"And I am Fleur De Lis." Both of their accents suggest they're not from around here.
"A pleasure to meet you two. My name's Ember."
"It's an honor to formally meet you, Ember." Fleur states.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well you did help save Equestria from certain doom." Fancy Pants said.
"I suppose..." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 24: Making a New Friend... Literally | "I suppose..." The three of us sit in silence. "So what exactly happens at this gala?"
"Nothing extravagant. What you see is all that'll happen until midnight."
"The Gala ends at midnight?"
"Yes my good fellow."
"Then if nothing really exciting happens, why stay?"
"Oh it's just for show. Receiving an invitation from Princess Celestia is a high honor amongst the Canterlot nobles."
"I see." I let that thought marinate. "Tell me if this is wrong, but is it true the nobles are here to just try and get more wealth or something to that effect from Celestia?"
"It is sad, but true."
"Heh, knew it. Well, knowing the girls something's bound to happen."
"'The girls'? Oh! You mean the Elements of Harmony. You're friends with them?"
"Yeah."
"Oh wow, it must be an honor to be friends with them." Fleur said.
"Eh... It's not as great as you think it is."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Well, Rainbow Dash, the element of Loyalty, is almost obsessed with being the fastest in all of Equestria, and likes to fight. Rarity, from what I know you should know who she is," they nod "she's always fussing about how everyone's not wearing 'fashionable clothing' no matter the situation. The others I can't complain about but they all are good friends to hang around with in the end, just not as glamorous as you say it to be."
"You speak as if you never had friends before." Fancy inquired.
"It's not that I never had friends. It's just been a few years since I've had friends."
"Really?" I nod. "How can anypony go so long without somepony to talk with or be with?"
"It may be human nature. But in all seriousness I don't really need freinds. And where I come from that goes for almost everyone."
"My word..."
"And that doesn't mean we're all not lonely bastards. I still like having friends. Hell, it's the only thing I got at this point."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't have family here, I'm the only one of my kind here, and I'm still getting used to the whole 'society of ponies and other intelligent creatures'." I list things off using my fingers. "And being born in a society where there is only one sapient species it's a little difficult to get used to all of this."
"Really?" I nod.
"It's a lot to take in isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." Fancy Pants looks to the table, lost in thought. And Fleur is looking at something behind me. She then points to whatever is behind me. I turn around and witness a giant, green tidal wave.
"What the fuck!?" On instinct I take to the air with. Narrowly avoiding to gain wave. I look to where to wave came from and everything is bathed in green... goo. It's definitely thicker than water. "The fuck is this?" I look around and spot the girls and Celestia. Twi's shoot magic beams at the goo but nothing happens. I make my to them.
"Twi, what the hell is this stuff?"
"The Smooze."
"Who?"
"Discords friend, the Smooze. He somehow got into the jewelry storage room and he's ruining the Gala!" SHe shoots the slime again. "And none of my magic doesn't have any effect on it!"
"Then how the hell are we gonna get rid of it?"
"I don't know!"
"Aaaaah, eeeeeee!"
"What was that?" Me and Twi ask at the same time. We look over to where the noise came from. Fluttershy and Treehugger are stuck to a wall.
"Aaaaah, eeeeeee!" And Treehugger's making to noise.
"Uh... why is she doing that?"
"I don't... know?" I look to Twi and the green goo is retracting. From the looks of it it's receding to the center of the room, when the goo clears my wings stop flapping and I drop to the ground. All the goo clumps up and form into a large blob of slime, with a blue top hat and tie. Wait, Discord's wearing an orange tux... That sly bastard, he definitely knows about us. How else would he make that Dumb and Dumber reference!? There's no fucking way in hell he would just decide to come here in an orange suite and have his... friend in light blue.
"Whelp, I've had enough for today." I begin to walk away.
"What?"
"I've already had enough crazy for today."
"But this was the only crazy thing to happen today! Sorry Princess."
"It's alright Twi. This has turned better than I expected."
"I- wait, what?"
"I haven't seen this much action in years! Lets have some more fun!" I make a complete one-eighty.
"That changed my mind." Celestia smirks at me. I giver her a 'yeah shut up', and she just giggles in response. *Heh, bitch.* I smile inwardly and spend the rest of the night dancing away with the girls.
"Ugh, I'm getting too old for this shit." I down a mug of apple cider. After the gala me and the girls decided to spend the night at the castle. And holy FUCK I wish I lived there. The beds they got are something of another fucking world. Since I found out you lay on clouds if you got wings I thought laying on clouds was the best thing ever. But those clouds got nothing on those beds. I even asked Celestia if she could have made for me. She said maybe.
"What, you all hungover? Told ya not to drink so much." Aj said, she thinks I got drunk, cute. The girls and me are hanging at Pinkie's place. Up in her so no one can see us in our current state. Twi and Rainbow where hit hard by the booze, Rarity is still passed out, Fluttershy is still bleary-eyed. I didn't think she would drink as much as she did. Oh right, the ponies running the gala brought alcoholic drinks, I don't know why.
"It's not that Aj, this stuff can't get even get me half drunk."
"Oh a heavy weight aren't 'cha?"
"Yeah, I'm just reeeeally tired." I let my head collide to the tiny table I'm sitting at. "I didn't even feel that." Aj snickers.
"Heh, sure yer just tired." Using what little energy I have left, I bolt up and look directly at her, scowling.
"Does this look like shit-hit drunk to you?" Her smirk instantly disappears.
"Uh..."
"Fucking thought so." I fall onto my back on the floor. *Is there any way you can help me Ruby?*
~Yes I can convert magical energy-~
*Don't care, just do it.*
~As you wish.~ A rush of magic later I feel fully revitalized. I bolt up with jump.
*Thanks for that, and sorry for being short with you.*
~I understand, you were very tired.~
*Thank you.*
"Uh Ember? You alright?"
"Yes I am Aj. Yes I fucking am." I say with a proud smile. Using my newly revived body I walk out the room and begin to head home.
"Hey, where are you going?" Rainbow asked.
"Oh, you're awake. I'm just gonna go home and do things."
"What... things?"
"Human things that your little pony mind wouldn't understand."
"Hey..." Twi muttered.
"I only mean Rainbow Twi, you're a genius. Unlike Rainbow."
"Hey!" Rainbow lazily shouted. "Ow, my head."
"I wonder how your head hurts, there's hardly anything in there."
"Buck you..." Meanwhile Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twi and Aj are having a good time. Rarity is still passed out.
"Whatever pea-brain, I'm going home." Without saying another word I do just that.
"Good morning Spark." The desktop turns on when I talk.
"Good morning Ember." I walk over and flop onto my chair in front of Spark. "Have you completed your latest project yet?"
"Yes, I have. I just need to figure out how to transfer you to your new body."
"... Can I see it?"
"Uh... Sure." I reach up and turn the camera towards the humanoid body in the corner of the room, hoisted in the air by a system of pulleys. Oh fuck I said anything about my setup huh? Well, it's almost like a small lab with desks containing equipment and, shit like that, almost these a shit-ton of wires all over the place. How I got all this stuff? It's good to be friends with a being as powerful as Celestia, with all the connections she has, and that I can... I'm gonna call it spawning, things like the wires. The really difficult thing was to set everything without it going up in flames, literally. "I just need to find a way to hook you up to it so can cross over." Now that I look at the newly built andriod it almost looks like that girl robot from Ex Machina. But all of it's features are completely artificial. Nothing looks realistic.
"I think I can take it from here."
"What?" I look back to Spark and she's covered a bright grey aura. And a cord seems to materialize from thin air. "I... uh... heh... fu..."
"Where can I connect?" I it took me a second to answer.
"B... back of the... head."
"Thank you." The thick black cord floats in the grey aura over to the android. And the tip disappears behind the back of the thing's head. In a split second the whole body lights up a bright grey, light seeping through the indents of each limb. As soon as it started it stopped. I dumbly look at the desktop and it's completely fried, smoke is billowing from the tower.
"Ember, can you help me down?" I twist my head back to the android, or I should say Spark?
"... Spark?"
"Yes, it is, can you help me?" She tries in vain to get the chains holding her up off. From the looks of it the metal around her face seems to animated like Golden Streak, magic seems to make anything work outside of physics...
"O- of course." I use my magic to remove the metal bindings and gently place her on the ground. She stumbles a bit but quickly recovers. "... How do you feel?"
"I feel... different. But in a good way, I like this." She looks all around herself.
"Good, but uh... can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"How did you do this, all of this? 'Cause my mind is a little blown at the moment." She giggles. Wait WHAT!?
"I discovered I can use this... magic while you were away. Though, I haven't fully tested my new abilities. As far as we both know I can perform simple spells and I can 'create' objects."
"But... how!? How is this possible!?"
"I theorise I have these abilities because I am a conscious being."
"I know that! But I wasn't created here. I was brought here by a wormhole. I don't even know why or how I can use magic. And considering what metal makes up most of your new body is..."
"Is what?"
"Is iron. And iron is a magic deterrent on this world. I wonder how we are able to use magic." (A/N: If you didn't know we have iron in our blood, now you do.) We both fall silent for god knows how long. My thoughts were running a mile a fucking second trying to come up with a reason as to how Spark using magic is possible.
"... Paradox."
"What?"
"Both you and I are living paradoxes. And we live on a world that is full of contradictions that go against the very laws of physics. Could it be that this magic is dark energy?"
"What? No... It can't be that, we use dark energy to power interstellar space ships. No... it must me a different form of energy... Or maybe..."
"Something left over from a black hole?"
"That makes to the most sense. After all, we only know so much about them, besides them having immense gravity and physics breaking qualities. Yes! That could be it! Remnants of a black hole! But if this is true, then what got rid of it?"
"Could it be possible whether two were orbiting each other? Like a binary system?"
"And what, the two ended up shredding themselves?" Spark nods. "That... could be entirely true."
"Indeed."
"Hmm..." We both fall silent again. I walk over and sit back down on my chair.
"... Ember?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it alright with you if we go... outside? I would like to see what it is like."
"Sure." I smile. "Lets go." With Spark in tow I lead the way outside. When she witnesses the trees, grass and other shit she just stands in place, awestruck. I just snicker and stand by her, for minutes in end.
"It's... it's..."
"Beautiful?"
"Yes, I would never think this planet would look so beautiful." She looks to the forest. "But the forest looks... evil..."
"To the ponies that live here. It is. They don't control the weather there, animals fend for themselves, and foliage grows wherever it can."
"So, it's a little peace of Earth on this planet?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"And the ponies are terrified of that forest because of it?"
"Yup."
"And yet, from what you've told me, these ponies have dealt with and defeated monsters and evil beings that had the power to take over their country?"
"Yes."
"Ponies are weird." That comment made me burst out laughing.
"Hoow... phew... yeah. That's true."
"But they are... special." She remarks.
"In a good way?"
"I suppose. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy have stared death in the face numerous times."
"True, true... Changing the subject though. Do you want me to show you around town?"
"That would be nice."
"Alright, follow me then." We walk into town and I take on an unofficial tour of the place. I show her where the market is, where the girls live, Sweet Apple Acres, etc. fucking etcetera. It was nice showing her around. Despite the fact that she's an android. And she looked like she enjoyed herself. Being able to walk around and do... things. I can tell she was excited to explore, just like a child. Then she saw Twi's castle... Spark almost ran straight inside. But I held her back and told her that's where Twi lives, and that I would go if she wouldn't mind giving us a tour. To be honest I was a little giddy myself, I've never seen the complete inside. I knocked on the front doors a few times and stood back. And you know something? It was really relaxing to do that, to tour around the town, admiring all the scenery and junk, I couldn't help be feel... composed after that.
"Is she coming?"
"She is, just be patient."
"Ok." Just then the doors slowly swing open.
"Ember!? What a surprise! And who's that?" Twi points a hoof to Spark.
"Spark, meet Twilight. Twilight, meet Spark." I greet them to each other.
"Greetings." Spark starts.
"Hello Spark. Are Ember's friend?"
"In a sense, yes."
"What?"
"Nevermind that Twi." I interrupt. "We came by because Spark wanted to take a tour of the castle, if you have time for that."
"Oh. Uh... Ok. I have time for that." Her face droops a little. "Follow me." She turns around and walks back into her castle. Me and Spark look at eachother.
"Why is like this? From what you told me she should be excited to show us." She whispers.
"I don't exactly know, but I think it has to do something with her new home. Remember that her tree house was destroyed?" She nods. "I think that's the problem. And I don't think she likes her new place."
"I agree." We both look back at Twi and follow.
"And this is the main corridor, it leads to every part of the castle. Makes it easier to navigate." Twi's been leading us like this for god know how long. If this isn't depression I don't what is. And while the tour was... interesting to say the least, the whole Twi's mood was affecting us. So much so that Spark wanted out. But I managed to tell her to bear it until we leave. I explained that the others will eventually notice and do something about it. They always do... right?
*This is sad...*
-What? THat fact that Twilight is sad about something?-
=I thought we established that it was because of her old home.=
*Yes, we did. And yeah it's sad. I just hope the others come by later.*
~They should.~
*Yeah.*
"And that's my entire, empty castle-home." Twi concluded, she then walked away without another word. "See you guys later." Spark and me are left in silence at the main door of the castle.
"That was... sad." Spark finally spoke.
"Yeah... that was. Fuck I wanna go help her, but I don't know how."
"My best suggestion would be to just leave a note telling her to get out more. If what you have told me about her is correct, she spends numerous amounts of time in here."
"I know, but I don't that'll help. She still lives here. Maybe if it felt more like home for Twi... Meh... I'll just put it up to the girls. Lets go Spark. It's getting late."
"Alright... but, how will I sleep?"
"You don't, at least, not like me."
"What do you mean?"
"This is something I put I did before you transferred, I input a... system that slows all process. Much like a computer going into sleep mode. In this case it's supposed to simulate sleeping."
"Why would you create such a system?"
"Why to keep me from insanity my little android." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 25: Twi's Castle Problems | "... Was that a pun?" I smile widely.
"Yes, it was. Come on, let's go home." With Spark in two, we head home, walk into my room, set Spark's place to sleep, put her to sleep mode, and I got to bed.
"So why are you dragging us here?" I ask as Pinkie is quite literally dragged me and Spark towards Twi's house. I didn't even get to take her out of sleep mode.
"Ith a surprithe thilly willy!" I don't know to this day how her teeth didn't crush the fuck out of my fucking talons. That includes my fucking wings not snapping too.
"God dammit Pinkie..." I mumble. "How'd you even know about spark?"
"I heard that!" She looks at me knowingly. "And a little pony thold me avout her." She answers through clenched teeth.
*Fucking Pinkie.*
"Hey! That's not nice!" I heard Pinkie yell in my head.
*... Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about i-*
"We're here!" Pinkie drops mine and Spark's foot from her muzzle, she hops inside. I get up, pick Spark up in my magic, and activate her.
"Good morning Ember." She says as soon as she wakes up. "Where are we?" I set her on the ground.
"We're at Twilight's castle. Pinkie literally dragged us here."
"I see, should we go inside then?"
"I suppose." We nod to each other and walk inside. And first thing we hear are some muffled voices. From the throne room. We head there and walk in the room to and we're greeted by a strangely beautiful site. Hanging from the ceiling is a giant chandelier that looks like the root system of a tree with brightly-colored gems hanging off them. It quite literally brightens up the room. I look to my left and see that the girls are in a group hug. And from what I see Twi's crying her eyes out.
"Is this all she needed to feel at home with this place?"
"Apparently."
"Where did they even get the roots? The gems don't even look all that brilliant. Wait a minute..." I fly up the gems. When I take a closer look. There are pictures of the girls adventures in each gem. How the fuck did they manage to do that? I look at some other gems before flying back down.
"What did you see?" Spark asked.
"There are pictures of the girls inside each gem. I'm just as puzzled as you are about how they did that."
"It is a work of art though."
"Yeah, it is."
"But don't you mean Applejack Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow dash made that?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You were saying 'they', it was a little confusing."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's ok, just watch your syntax next time." I look to her and she's grinning back at me.
"Haha, very funny."
"Uh... Ember?" I turn to Aj.
"Yeah Aj?"
"Who's yer new friend?"
"Oh yeah. Girls, minus Twi,"
"Hey!.. Oh..."
"Allow me to introduce you all to Spark." I wave my hands in a dramatic way towards Spark. She waves to them.
"Hello." And of course, Pinkie is the first to say hi. But not before getting really close to Sparks face, by floating in mid-air.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! Are you another human like Emby? How come my Pinkie Senses didn't tell me there was a new pony in town? Oh whatever, I'm still gonna throw the biggest party for you EVER!" Spark couldn't do much besides staring at Pinkie a little dumbfounded and really confused. Spark then turns to me.
"Is she always like this?"
"Yeah, but you get used to it."
"I see." She turns back to Pinkie, who was surprisingly waiting patiently. Guess she gets that a lot. "A party sounds wonderful, Pinkie." Spark looked like she was about to say something else, but she opted to let Pinkie interrupt.
"Okie Dokie Lokie! Be back here by noon!" She zips off to what assume would be her home to plan this party.
"That was... interesting."
"Couldn't agree more with you Spark."
"Ahem." Twi clears her throat and we all look to her.
"Please excuse Pinkie, she's... Pinkie Pie." She sighs. "Anyways, I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Magic."
"Pleased to meet you, Twilight." Before anyone else can say anything else, Rainbow cuts in.
"The name's Rainbow Dash!" She said that as proudly as she could, as if being Rainbow was a good thing. "And I'm the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria!" She flies around the large room as fast as she could, being in a large room she couldn't fly very fast, lest she crashes through a window, or into a wall, whichever is more hilarious. Hopefully that happens soon... Anyway, once it's apparent that Rainbow isn't coming down anytime soon, Aj decided to introduce herself. To Spark not me.
"Howdy partner, name's Applejack. Ah run a farm over at the edge of town" She tilts her hat in a greeting manner.
"And I'm Rarity, Fashion Extraordinaire." She places a hoof on her chest in a hoitie-toitie tone. "If you ever need a dress, come down to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is Chique, perfique, and magnifique!"
*Of course Rarity would do that.*
"Well that's good to know." Spark remarked with a kind smile. Next was Fluttershy, who the girls and me turned to. As soon as she noticed the attention she hid behind her hair, as best as she could, we can still see her left eye. She's not doing a good job at hiding.
"If you want to play hide-and-seek you could've just told us!" I say jokingly, it got a chuckle out of everyone else, but it seemed to have made the butter-yellow pegasus more shy, if her backing away is her way of saying that. "Sorry, Shy," Shy's a cool nickname, shut up. "I couldn't help but make that joke. But come on, everyone else introduced themselves, why not you? I thought you'd be brave this time." When I spoke I tried to sound as soft as possible, as to not make things worse for Fluttershy.
And it does seem to help, Fluttershy poked her head out in the most cutest manner I've ever seen. I get to say stuff like that, shut the fuck up, I can feel your judgement.
"Um... I'm... Fluttershy..." She voice fell to a whisper halfway through her name.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Spark asked.
"Um, it's Fluttermumble." Her voice fell again.
"Didn't quite catch that, what's your name?"
"... I'm Fluttershy." She whispered ever-so lightly. I wouldn't be surprised if-
"Ah, Fluttershy, what a wonderful name." Spark was close enough and the room was quite enough, shut up. When Spark complemented Shy's name, cute nickname, she blushed.
"Th-thank you." She smiles cutely and looks away in a bashful way. God fucking dammit that's fucking adorable. Jesus even I think that's adorable.
"It's wonderful to finally meet you all."
*If only I had THIS kind of introduction with them. Though... it's still funny that I could've kicked Rainbow's ass, and that I still can.*
"Wait, whaddya mean by 'finally'?" Rainbow questioned as she took a defensive stance.
"Oh, Ember told all about you when we first met."
"Oh, ok." She relaxes. "Wait, Ember told you about me?"
*Not this shit again...* I groan inwardly.
"What did he say about me? He must've been talking about how awesome I am." She rubs a hoof to her chest as if there was a watch or ring there, and she had this look of pure smugness. As if expecting what she said is true. Of which the opposite is true.
"Not really, he mostly talked about how closed-minded and boastful you are. And at this point I do agree with him."
"Wha-!"
"But, he also said that you can be a good person when you want to be."
"Oh... Ok. Huh..." She took to her haunches and brought a hoof to her chin, contemplating who knows what in her tiny mind. While all of this was going on I saw through a window that the sun was going down. So without saying a word I begin to head home.
"Ember?" I stop in my tracks.
"Yeah Twi?"
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"You don't want to stay here for a bit?"
"I'm tired, and sleepy."
"Sleepy from what!? You barely did anything! As far as I know." Rainbow flew into my personal space, her face inches from mine. Does she like doing this? And since when does she give a fuck about what I do?
"I've been trying to change my sleep schedule so I can wake up at the time you guys do. And I've also been making progress, slightly. It's been a royal pain in the ass."
"Oh, well why would you even do that?"
"Dash, I wake up an hour before noon."
"Oh... right." She hovers to the side, allowing me to be on my way, to bed.
"It's been awhile since I actually experienced a good dream." I say to myself as I walk through the dreamscape, which right now resembles Time Square in New York. Out of all the places I've been too, which is a lot, New York has to be my favorite, the bustling city just feels like home to me. Though, given the chance I would most likely live in the outskirts, I hate traffic. But walking around Time Square is quite fun. I get to see the pinnacle of capitalism. Heh.
"Ember!? Ember!" I heard someone call out. I freeze in my tracks and look around. "Ember!" I take to the air and look around. And immediately I see that Luna is calling out for me. I fly over to her and land next to her. "Ember! Oh thank the maker. "
"What are you doing here Luna? Aren't you supposed to keep the dream world safe or something?" I quickly came to terms that the dreamworld is an actual plain of existence. I kinda had that idea back on Earth, didn't everybody? There weren't that many theories about dreams...
"It is safe Ember. I just find your dreams... interesting." I scoff.
"Why? 'Cause I'm technically an alien from space?" Luna looks down with an embarrassed blush. "Heh. Thought so." I snicker. "Anyways. I can see why you would think that."
"How so?"Her blush disappears and she raises a brow.
"If I were to meet an alien being from across the universe, and if I had the ability to see what they dream of. I'd be curious as to what they dream of."
"I see."
"But why would you still want to see what I dream of? At this point you know more about me than anyone else here."
"I know. But there are so many things I've seen in your memories that I find fascinating." She gives me an excited look. "Like; Tee vees, and, video games, and other things I can't even pronounce!"
"And you think you can find out what all of that means? My kind's technology?" I'm pretty sure there was a better way to phrase that...
"Yes, there is a better way to phrase your question, but I do know what you mean." She smiles innocently at me. "And yes!"
"Well to make things easier for both of us... why don't you do that, memory spell, like you did last time."
"What!?" She shrieks. "Why?" She takes on a flabbergasted look, and the imaginary people are starting to look.
"That would be much easier than having to explain human technology. We'd be here for a while."
"That's not a problem to me."
"That's because you're an all-powerful, immortal being with all the time in the fucking universe." Luna flinches at my... colorful vocabulary.
"Yes, well. I'll just... perform the spell now." I nod and we get closer. Yes I know that can be taken the wrong way but you know what I fucking mean, so shut up and stay quiet with your dirty thoughts. Anyway, next thing I know Luna's horn touches my forehead and I pass out again. though, when I wake up, in my dream, there's no noticeable pain or fatigue like last time. Despite the fact that I flew across the sidewalk and landed on my back. The buildings, smog, and blue sky are quickly replaced by Luna's worried face.
"Are you ok? Are you hurt?" She asks.
"Surprisingly not. Can you back up please.?"
"Why?"
"So I can get up."
"Oh, right." She steps away and I get up. By now all the people around us are looking directly at me.
"The fuck are you all looking at!?" I shout and everyone goes back to whatever my subconscious is making them do.
"Why do you speak like that?"
"That's just a norm."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's how I usually talk to everybody."
"Then why haven't you spoke like that around anypony?"
"I like showing respect, unless I'm pissed."
"Oh, ok. That's good."
"Thanks. Now, did you get the information you wanted?" She nods vigorously.
"Yes! Dear maker this is all fascinating!" A desktop appears out of thin air. She eagerly hops over to it and begins to use it. Though, I wouldn't know what she would expect, she has no idea what... Ok she's using my memories.
"What is all of this?" She asks, I look at the screen and she's viewing a one-night stand I had with a girl.
"Ok that's enough of that!" I smash the computer. "Who the fuck said you could look through my memories, and since when could you use a computer?" She blushes.
"Uh, I... didn't know those where your memories. And it was through your memories that I learned to use the machine."
"We're in a fucking dream remember?" I give Luna an irritated glare. Her expression changed darkly. "Ugh I need to do something now. You mind leaving my dream for a few minutes?"
"... This may be a question with an obvious answer, but why?"
"Do you really want to know why?" I give her a dark look like Agent 47 in the movie.
"I'm... going to go now."
"Thank-" She poofs away before I could finish. "you." I look around for a bit as a minigun just like Heavy's, forms in my hands.
"Is this what I think it is?" I hear Emby come from nowhere. He appears on my right.
"Yup, you're fucking lucky this is a dream Ember." Embris appears on my left. I look at both of them, Emby has a flamethrower, and Embris has a grenade launcher.
"Says you Embris, let's get this shit started, I've been wanting to do this for a while now."
"Let's on with it then!" Emby goes into psycho mode.
"Not without us you little shit!" Me and Embris shout out, we then follow and have the time of our fucking lives.
*splat* I slam a person so hard into the ground the impact makes a small crater. Turning his torso to mush.
"Phew, that was fun."
"Yeah, *sholrp* that was."
"Alright, you fuckers need to go and I'll clean this shit up. Luna should be back any second." A loud crash sounds out and the blood-filled dream breaks away to black like fragile glass. "Or something could be happening out in the real world." I close my eyes and minutes pass before I wake up, I open my eyes and immediately I bolt up from my bed. My eyes quickly adjust to the darkness and I go into stealth mode when there's nothing going on in my room. I make my way upstairs to the door and listen for any noise.
"You're a bucking idiot! That could've woken it up!" I masculine voice whisper shouts.
"I'm sorry! It's bucking dark in here!" A feminine voice whisper shouts back.
"Shut up! It can probably hear us!" They must be referring to me. But why?
"Well, it already would've come out by now."
"Are you stupid? Haven't you heard of the rumors?" The male voice asks.
"Those are just rumors. C'mon, let's just get this over with." Hearing enough, I slowly and quietly open the door. From what I could tell they were in the living room.
"I don't know Ivy. Those guards were left in the infirmary for three days."
"Oh shut it Nighty, we don't know it was the same creature we're looking for." It's getting annoying that a lot of the ponies still call me an animal. I hear hooves against wood flooring and I head over to the source. I turn a corner into the living room and there are the two ponies, both of them unicorns, wearing full body coats, walking towards the kitchen. Since they haven't detected me I tip-talon, heh, puns, my way across the room and wait for the perfect time to strike. And then the kitchen is dimly lit by the refrigerator light.
"Oh Celestia!" The girl nearly shouts.
"What?" The guy walks over and takes a look into the fridge. "Oh dear Celestia, hrr!" They found my meat stash. Perfect. I ever-so-slowly slash quietly sneak up behind them while they gawk at the meat in the fridge.
"What monster would have this in their fridge?" The male asks no one in particular.
"... Me." I answer. They both jump and spin around in a startled way. Their faces almost instantly go from startled to scared shitless; their eyes widen and their pupils shrink, and both of their jaws drop to the floor. Literally. I'm glad I'm used to shit like that, and that I don't question the very laws of physics. "What? I like meat." I say jokingly. The two ponies stay frozen with fear. I reach a hand over and snap my fingers in front of their faces.
"... Wh... what are you!? G-get away from me!" The guy stutters out. The girl, you know it's much easier to say guy and girl at this point. Anyway, the girl just closes her mouth, but she backs up and her fear grows. Having dealing with enough of this, I snap my fingers and the lights turn on, I grab Ivy and Nighty in my magic and two chairs appear in the middle of the living room. I haphazardly throw them on the chairs and keep them there using my magic. By now they're freaking out, screaming and kicking. Trying their hardest to break free.
"Let us go! Monster!"
"Alright, shut the fuck up!" I shout, the two freeze and fall silent. "Thank you. Now, can you two tell me why the fuck you broke into my house?" Being frozen in fear they don't respond.
"I will not repeat that question, you have five seconds." I start counting in my head. I then form my giant hammer.
"I-it's a contest!" The girl shrieks. I stop counting and the hammer disappears.
"What 'contest'?"
"Ever since the ponies hired by Prince Blueblood failed, we started to hunt you down and take you out." The guy says with a smug look
"And why are you idiots doing this?" He doesn't respond. "If you're not going to talk I'll make you."
"Ch, how?" I snap my fingers and the dagger from a while back teleports to my hand. I then walk up and place the tip of the blade to the guy's right cheek.
" Don't and I'll gouge your eyes out." I lightly slide the tip of the curved blade up to his eye. Not applying enough force to draw blood, yet.
"Alright alright I'll talk!" Nighty squirms. Ivy just stares in fear.
"Good, now tell me what this is all about."
"It's a tradition, if anypony fails to take out a target we all stop what we're doing and go after the target."
"Really?" He nods and I sigh. "That's stupid."
"Hey! Buck you! My great great grandfather started the tradition!" Ivy shouts.
"How about you shut your mouth before I kill both of you and send your heads back to Canterlot?" |
My little Escapade | Chapter 26: Finally a Break | "..." Wow that worked.
"What?" Maybe not.
"Shut your big mouth before you outlast your usefulness."
"You're... you're a monster!" Ivy shouts. I just chuckle.
"Hey, I'm not the one who broke into my house and attempted to kill me. Even the guys from last time actually put up a fight."
"You snuck up on us! We didn't expect you look like... that!" Ivy shouts.
"What did I say about shouting?" She clams up. "Now," I turn back to Nighty. "what can I do to stop this bullshit?"
"Uh... you can, uh... Oh! One way to cease us going after you is to lets us kill you."
"Or?"
"Or you can go talk to our boss."
"That's it?" He nods. "Alright, lets do that then."
"R-really?" They both say.
"Yeah, lets go, where is your boss?"
"... Uh, he works at the Naughty Filly at Canterlot."
"There? Huh... I'd never think of that place... Alright, lets go." I snap my fingers and I teleport to the front of the stip club. the only way I know of this place is that I took a small tour of Canterlot a while back.
"What just happened?" Ivy asks. She shakily gets off her chair along with Nighty.
"I just teleported the three of us here."
"You managed to teleport us across Equestria!? All three of us!?" Oh yeah, forgot that teleportation is kinda rare. Eh...
"Yeah, lets go." I walk inside the double-doors of the large, by pony standards, strip club. As soon as the doors open my ears are assaulted with ear-bursting electronic music. Which stops when I walk in. All the ponies in there stop whatever they were doing and stare directly at me, and begin to murmur. I look back at Ivy and Nighty and motion them to follow me. With them in tow I walk inside and let the doors close.
"Where's your boss and what's his name?"
"Uh... he works in the back, and nopony knows his name, so we just call him Boss." I look towards the back of this place and look for anything that could look like an office or something like that. I spot a door that's titled 'STAFF ONLY'.
"Is that the back?" I point to the door.
"... Yeah." I nod to myself and make my way to the door. But a large pony steps in out of nowhere and stands in between me and the door.
"Sorry, Staff Only." He says, in a low, rumbling voice.
"I need to speak with the Boss."
"I don't know who you're talkin' abo-" I use my magic to throw him aside. I then calmly open the door and walk in. And the site is something to behold. The stirp club is what you would expect; flithy looking. But the room that this door holds is really clean. Like the president's room clean; bright-red carpeting, nice red walls, elegant furniture and paintings, but the desk directly across the room stands out a bit. Not that it's colored differently, or that it's completely silhouetted against a window, it's that the guy sitting at the desk is holding something from behind the desk, and a figure is bobbing up and down. Yeah, he's getting a blowjob if you didn't get it already. The door slams behind me and the guy looks to me startled. And the girl from under the table stops sucking and looks up, upon seeing me she screams and bolts out the room. The guy sitting behind the desk, just noticed the nameplate says 'Boss', asshole, composes himself and properly sits at his desk.
"Can I help you?" He asks, he sounds like Conor Pewterschmidt from Family Guy.
"Yeah, you can, if you can stop the hit-call on me. The name's Ember." Through the shadow his eyes widen.
"Ah, so you're the new pony everypony's been talking about. I've heard a lot about you."
"Like what?"
"I've heard that you put three night guards in the hospital for three days, and that you helped the Elements of Harmony save Equestria. That's pretty honorable if it's true."
"Yeah, it is."
"My my, it's a shame we were hired then."
"Yeah, it is. So does that mean you can't stop this bullshit?"
"I'm afraid not." I scowl and walk closer. "But," I freeze "I am willing to make an exception this one time." I cross my arms.
"What's the catch?"
"Straight to the point I like that." He comments. "As to what I need you to do, all I need to do is tell me why I should stop this wonderful game?"
"How about this; you stop this bullshit and you get to keep your head on your shoulders, deal?"
"And what makes you think you can threaten me like that?" In a split second I have a sword made of my magic touching his neck.
"Because I can follow through." It's amazing that he didn't flinch, not even move a fucking muscle. Even with my sword at his neck. I still can't even see his face when I'm feet away! What the fuck!?
"Deal." I back off and he chuckles. "I'll tell my ponies to cease the hit. Just don't piss off any more royalty." He laughs at his own joke, I kinda did too, it was funny shut it.
"No promises. Anyway, it was a pleasure meeting you, 'Boss'."
"Just call me Tiny."
-What!?-
"Alright, Tiny." Tiny and me laugh and I take my leave.
*Wait for it...*
"Just one more thing." I turn back around and something is flying at me with incredible speed. It was even too fast for me to grab it out of the air. So the thing, which turned out to be another dagger, but this one has a straight blade, sinks into my chest with a *shlick* noise. Right where my left lung is.
*Ruby dull the pain.*
~Done.~ I felt warm for a second and blood began to trickle out of the wound. I calmly reach for the blade to pull it out, *shlick* but another hits my arm. Cutting the muscle and rendering it useless. Quickly this time I pull both blades off with my working hand. And with the combination of magic and tech, the wounds close up pretty quickly. As the last cut closes I look back to Tiny, who from the looks of it is completely caught off-guard, probably from the fact that I didn't die or fall to the ground screaming.
"Ch, big mistake Tiny." In one smooth motion I throw both daggers back at Tiny, he saw them flying at him but he reacted a little too late. One of the daggers landed on his right eye, and the other landed right on the snout.
It took him a second to start screaming in pain.
"Oh come on, that shouldn't hurt at all." I say sarcastically, I walk over to his squirming form and stand over him. Now he's panting and babbling coherently.
*Do you guys think I should end him bluntly or sharply?*
-Blunt.- Embris suggests. Emby and Ruby suggested that I should go sharply, majority wins so I hold out my hand and a sword fills in the empty space. Since this guy barely deserves a quicky, after getting one earlier, I end him without him even knowing. Kinda funny that there wasn't much blood splatter. At least none spurted on me. After that whole ordeal I walk out the room and out the club.
"Get back here!" Until that big fucker from earlier decided to go for me again. He managed to tackle me, not to the ground, just made me stumble a bit. The bastard just so happen to be right on top of my wings. So I flare them out, knocking him off towards the floor. In a second my war hammer forms and I almost slam it onto his face. But something kept me from doing so, I don't know what, but some force was keeping me from smushing this pony's face two feet into the ground. So I resolved to let go of my anger, and walk away. Leaving the entire place silent.
"Good morning Ember." Spark says. "You woke up hours before you activated me, what happened?"
"Oh two ponies broke into my house and tried to kill me, again."
"Again?"
"Yeah, I told you Prince Blueblood put out a hit on me remember?"
"Oh, I remember. Did the same ponies from last time come?"
"Actually no. It was a couple, I think, but they work for the same business that royal prick hired. Apparently it's some bullshit tradition that the 'target', me, isn't taken out, every other assassin tries to do the same."
"How does this explain you waking up earlier?"
"The two that broke into my house today did it that early. I dealt with them, asked them a few questions, took them with me to where they worked, spoke with their boss, got everything resolved, and now I'm here."
"Ah.So that's it?"
"Pretty much."
"Oh, well do you have anything planned for today?" Her question left me a little confused.
"You know you can do whatever you please right? You don't need to follow me around."
"I know, I just don't know what rules or laws to follow here. I don't want to do anything that could be seen as criminal."
"Oh, you remember what laws humans have right? I told you about that."
"Yes, why?"
"Well the legal system, as far as I know, works just about the same way here. There are just a lot of obvious things they don't have here."
"Oh. Ok then. I guess I'll be back later today. Bye Ember!" She gleefully walks up the stairs and leaves the place. Leaving me to do what I initially planned to do today; fixing the desktop Spark fried.
"Later Spark!" I head over and take a seat in front of the system. I grab the tower, yes it's a fucking tower! I know there were newer desktops but I like towers, they're easier to work with. And you're less likely to fuck up the screen if anything happens.
Anyway, I grab the thing and open it, revealing the burnt cables and circuit boards.
"Fuck this thing's done for." There wasn't a thing I could do that could fix this thing, I would to replace everything. Which I always could, still sucks that I have to. And I don't hate Spark for it. I don't even she knew this would happen. I sigh and take out the burnt parts, luckily the hard drive wasn't burnt so my data was still there. *The motherboard isn't fried!? Fuck that's surprising.* Well, time to spawn more parts...
*Ugh, what time is it? Feels like it's late evening.* After spending a few hours replacing circuitry on this damn computer, and it also turned out that there was more wrong than meet the eye. I had to replace and reconfigure EVERYTHING. Spark really fucked up the thing. At least the data on the system wasn't lost or corrupted. And I've managed to fix everything else, the only thing left to do is turn it on. *Whelp, here goes nothing*
-Fingers crossed!- I casually press the power button and watch as the screen brightens up. And the Windows logo pops up. Which is good, just gotta wait for the start screen to load, and it does! YES! All my files and programs are here! Wait...
"The fuck is that?" I mumble. There is a new icon, but it doesn't a little image like the others. It's only a name; Exit.exe.
=What is that thing?=
-It probably got there when Spark left the computer.-
~I'm confused.~
"We all are. I wonder if..." I move the pointer to click on it.
-Don't! The fuck are doing!? You don't know what might happen!-
"Fuck, you're right." I get up from my chair, cast a shield over me and the hole table and its contents, distance myself from the table, and use my magic to make the mouse click on the file. And for a minute, nothing happens. Doesn't even look like anything's going on. But being the patient motherfuck I am, I stay a few yards away. I even start to back, because I'm thinking 'the longer it takes the worst it's going to be'. It was until I was starting for the door when something finally happened. And by something I mean the screen flashes the whole rainbow, pretty brightly too, like a rootkit 4.0 took over the system. A multitude of colors fill the room. Naturally I cover my eyes so they don't fuck up later on. A few minutes go by and I think the flashes stop, the room's fallen back into darkness, from what I could sense behind the lids of my eyes. I open my eyes and everything looks to be fine; no burn marks and the walls, floor, and ceiling, nothing's cracked or broken, all things seem to be in order. And the computer looks like it's ok. I take a closer at it.
~Be carefull Ember.~
"I know Ruby, just looking to see if anything's still screwing up." When I felt there was nothing to worry about I sit back down on my chair. And to make sure the computer's alright I open up Microsoft Word and a few other programs. I had to make sure nothing happened to the system. "alright, everything seem to be in order." And just as irony rears it's ugly fucking head, a bright flash of white light blinds me. *Just my fucking luck.* I think to myself.
-You really are the luckiest person right now.-
*Fuck off.*
-Whatever, can you at least find out what exactly happened? By you know, opening your fucking eyes?-
*I don't know I think I'm ok with keeping my eyes closed for the rest of eternity, bitch...* I try to open my eyes, nothing happens, except for, you know, the eternal void colored black. *I can't open my eyes! What the fuck!?*
=This is getting too weird for me.=
*No shit Sherlock! Ruby, you have any idea?* No response. *Ruby?*
~Huh?~
*What happened, did you zone out or something?*
~Yes, something like that. I was admiring how we are in this machine.~
*... What?*
-How the absolute FUCK are we inside the fucking computer and how the fuck do you know!?-
~I can see through the... Camera? Is it?~
*Yeah that's what it's called. How are you able to see!?*
~...I honestly have no idea.~ I grumble a bit and a thought forms in my mind. If I still have one, being in a computer n' all.
*Since we know what happened to us, why don't we try to get, the fuck, out?*
-Right...- Embris pauses. For about two seconds. -I got nothing-
=Me neither.= If we were in a room all our heads would turn to Ruby.
*Ruby?*
~Yes?~
*You have an idea that can help?*
~... Well, the only course of action I see possible is to turn into that, flame, form.~
*... Are you sure there isn't any other option?*
~Seeing that we are inside this machine with no other form of help for the following hours, I don't believe so.~
*Aw fuck me...*
-I would absolutely love to, but we're kind of stuck inside a fucking computer!-
*Shut the FUCK up before you get me pissed off!*
-That's how we're gonna get out of this stupid thing!-
*Shut the fuck uuuuup! I'm tired of you bullshit! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT THE FUCK UUUUP!* I felt heat building up in very being. It kept building. *I HATE your smart-ass attitude! I'm tired of it, FUCKING tired of it!* All the heat eventually burst into an inferno of anger, turning the black void into a blank white plane. The white plane faded to my room. I look at myself and my arms are blobs of fire, but it was yellow colored, and more so the table I'm standing on is burnt to ashes. "This is what the FUCK I wanted to avoid!" Now Embris lost her shit.
-You think I give a flying fuck!? We're out of that fucking computer!-
"Fuck you! I worked HARD on that fucking thing! Hours of work, all for NOTHING!" God my temper was boiling over. To this day I regret losing my shit like that, especially to myself.
-What the fuck ever, we're back to normal and that's what's fucking important.- Embris mutters.
"Go fuck yourself Embris, you knew that would piss me off." After I said that Embris went silent. I don't know why but she loves to piss me off. And this time she went too far. "You better shut the fuck up." I said as my anger died down. I gently dropped to the floor as the fire that made up my being turned back into flesh and bone. Still very pissed off. "Ugh, I need to get out." I decided to take a stroll along the Everfree, with perfect timing too, as it was sunset and the sky was a beautiful mixture of reds, oranges, and purples with blue. It helped when it came to simmer down. And without any incident to boot, while walking I managed to get my mind in order and think things over, and even reconcile with Embris. She promised to stop with her smart-ass comments, as long as I don't that mad at her again. Even though we both know that isn't a promise I can't keep.
Speaking of promises, I need to check on Chrysi, without wasting time I teleport to the front gates of Canterlot Castle, brief the guards and walk in. No matter how many times I walk around this fucking place I'll never fully comprehend how many corridors anyone has to walk through to get anywhere, and not get lost. It's a wonder how I didn't get lost. Alright I did, tell that to another soul and I'll make you wish you didn't, can't have my reputation ruined by some stupid mistake. Yeah it'll ruin my image! What wouldn't? What? You think they wouldn't exploit something like that? Need I to tell you that Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle did that a while back? I was lucky enough I wasn't there for that.
Anyway, I managed to navigate my way to the throne - or courtroom as the ponies call it - room after a guard directed me, be quiet. The guards clad in full armor look to me, nod slightly, and open the giant doors with their magic. Guess there weren't any cases today, and I walk in.
"Ember! Its great to see again!" Luna happily squeed. She stood up from her throne and trotted over to me, giving me a hug. Guess all those visits and the dream world made us good friends. Not that I don't like it, mind you. It's nice having a good, trusted friend for once. Luna just has this... trusting character. I know I can keep all my deepest, darkest secrets with her. And even if she were to tell anything sentient being it would only be Celestia. You have no idea how good that pony is at keeping secrets. And NOT hating you for what you've done.
"Hey Luna, how's it goin'?"
"Things have been well. Today we hardly had ponies come and complain about their salaries being 'too small' and requesting larger pay."
"That's good to hear." Celestia stood up and calmly walked over to us, stopping at Luna's side.
"Good evening Ember."
"Evening Celestia." I perform a mock bow to the sisters, I was waiting for Celestia, and they chuckle.
"Very funny." Celestia commented. "Had a good day today?"
"Yeah, pretty much." I decided to not tell them about the 'computer' incident. "Nothing really eventful happened, though, I did make a friend the other day." At that both their eyes lit up.
"Is your friend's name 'Spark'?" They both asked.
"Who told you?" I ask incredulously.
"Princess Twilight sent us a letter telling of Spark, from she has said Spark is from the same world as Golden Streak?" Celestia answered.
"Not exactly, you see, I... literally made a new friend." A smile, The sisters give confused looks before Luna understands what I meant.
"You created a living being!?" Her features go from confused to astonished. "There have been attempts to create artificial intelligence, but I never thought I'd hear it done this century!"
"How did you accomplish such a feat?" Celestia asked.
"Remember those parts I asked for a while back?" She nods. "Not all of them were intended to make that computer. And I also, 'spawned' a few parts that you weren't able to supply."
"I see, but what magic did you use to create Spark?" From the sound of it Celestia was a little pensive, for what? I don't know.
"I didn't use any magic, I just re-created the human mind in a sense with good-old human tech." I said with as much pride as I could.
"What do you mean?"
"Well I had to create a complex program that simulated the human brain, and give it a thought process and a name."
"I see..." Her tone lightened up a bit. "May we see Spark?"
"Of course, just today, or the next few days, she's still getting used to this place. She should be alright to meet you two, I just don't know if she'd be comfortable to come so soon."
"I understand, can you promise me then that you will tell Spark know that we would like to meet her?" I nod a smile.
"I can do that." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 27: A Normal Day | "I can do that." I say. Silence fills the large room before I remember why I came here. "Oh, changing the subject I actually came here to check on Chrysi." Surprisingly they don't change expressions, which kinda weirds me out.
"As you wish, follow me please." Celestia says with a smile. Ok, they've either gone along really well with Chrysi, or something has happened to that changeling and they couldn't be happier to get rid of her. And I'm leaning towards the former. Celestia and Luna lead me through the maze of hallways to an insignificant-looking door. Luna opens it to reveal Chrysi reading a book. The sound of the door squeaking open causes her to look to us. Upon seeing me she squeals.
"Ember!" She jumps up and flies to me, grabbing my torso in a tight hug.
"Hey Chrysi, you missed me?" I chuckle, she looks up to me with a gleeful smile and thumps my chest.
"Be quite smarty pants. Yes I missed you!" Nothing else needed to be said; she missed me, mainly due to the fact that I may or may not be her only friend. Chrysi just continued to hug me, she even nuzzled into the feathers on my chest. I look to Celestia and Luna in a 'give us a moment' look. They smiled and nodded, I walked into the room, and they closed the door behind me. I decided to sit on the only couch occupying the room. And I got to take a good look at the room while Chrysi never stopped hugging me. The room was big, even by human standards. And it looks like an exact copy of the room I stayed in last time I was here; a large, heavenly-looking bed with beautiful red curtains hanging around it, a lovely looking rug in the center, and what anyone would normally expect in a hotel room. Except there was a bookcase by the window. Presumably to keep Chrysi happy or something. "Ember?"
"Hmm?" I Look down to Chrysi, and she's staring up at me like a puppy.
"What's wrong? You're all... quiet."
"It's nothing, just a few things have happened in the last few days."
"Really? Like what?" She gets off of me and sits next to me on the couch.
"I recently had to deal with more of those assassins who wanted me dead because of some stupid tradition."
"'Tradition'?"
"Apparently if the first ponies fail to get rid of a target, all of them stop whatever they're doing and try to take the target out."
"Oh..." Her face falls.
"But," she looks up. "I think I convinced them to stop the crap."
"How?"
"Lets just say I had a 'talk' with their boss."
"You think this 'talk' worked?"
"For the most part, yes."
"That's good to hear, I'm not very fond of unexpected visitors in the dead of night." I chuckle.
"Especially when said visitors want me dead." She giggles a little. The room fell silent once again, Chrysi decided to lean up against me like how a dog would. We were both content with how we were for who knows how long.
"... Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You know I really missed you right? Cause, you're really the first real friend, ever."
"Yeah, I know. It's understandable that you would miss me this much. Hell, I've even been in the same situation."
"Really?" I nod.
"Yeah, before I got here I pretty much had no friends. There were just people who I would make small talk with. Hell, at least you have family."
"I guess, but they never really cared about me."
"Oh really?" She nods. "Then why did two changeling come looking for you a while back?" She looks up to me, surprised.
"R-really?" I nod.
"Yeah, they asked me if I've seen and other changelings around. Heh, the fuckers even started a fight because I was being short with 'em."
"Oh... didn't, kill them, did you?" I shake my head.
"No. I let them go after I kicked their collective asses. They even came back the next day with two more of them to apologize 'on the queen's behalf'."
"Hmm... That's, really surprising."
"Tell me about it."
"So there really wasn't anything else interesting?"
"Beside the fact that I made a new friend, nothing." I say nonchalantly.
"Oh! I remember Princess Celestia telling me about your new friend. Her name is Spark right?"
"Yes."
"Cool. Is she from a different world like you or Golden Streak?"
"Not exactly. I actually made a new friend." I emphasized the word 'made'. It took Chrysi a second to understand what I meant.
"You mean... You made a living being with magic!?" She screeched. I just noticed that her voice gets weird when she yells, an overlapping similar voice makes it sound like she's speaking through two microphones. And both audio tracks are being played with one a few milliseconds before the other. It's comprehensible, I know what she's saying, it's just weird when she yells.
"Not with magic, I created her using human tech. She's literally an artificial intelligence that can learn and adapt."
"... So basically another human like you?"
"To put it simply, yes."
"... Dear mother..."
"What?"
"I never thought I would live to hear that a living thing was made by another living being."
"Well if I never showed up here that would've true. That's something to think about."
"Yes, it sure is..." She pauses for a minute. "Can I meet her?"
"Of course! That's why I came to see if you're alright."
"Oh mother finally! It's been really boring here!" She hops from the couch and looks to me expectantly.
"Hold on, gotta let Celestia and Luna know."
"Ok." I get up and head out the door. Luna and Celestia were right outside.
"Were you two eavesdropping?" They maintain straight faces. But a slight twitch of Luna's lip gave it away. "Ugh, you're terrible liars. Me and Chrysi are going back home, but I guess you two already knew that." I say and walk back into the room. "I need to learn a soundproofing spell or something..." I mutter.
"How did he know?" I heard Luna whisper to Celestia.
"You need to learn to keep a better poker face Luna. Plus you two are pretty predictable." I turn around when I'm next to Chrysi. The sisters both have blown away looks on their faces. Kinda made me laugh my ass off as I teleported me and Chrysi back home. Those faces of pure shock and awe will forever be burned in my brain. In a good way.
"Where's Spark?" Chrysi walks around like a dog excitedly looking for something; she looks behind doorways, behind the couch, in the kitchen, basically anywhere she thinks Spark might be.
"Relax Chrysi, Spark's probably out doing... whatever the fuck she's doing."
"Can I go see where she is then?" That question caught a little off-guard.
"... You know you don't have to ask me that right?"
"Oh, right. Ehe..." She smiles sheepishly. "I'll... be back then. Bye!" She moves to bolt out the door.
"Hold on." She freezes. "Might as well go with you, it's been boring here anyway."
"Ok!" She bolts out the door, leaving a cloud of dust shaped like her which quickly dissipates.
*A little too eager, aren't we?* I jokingly think to myself as I walk out the door to follow Chrysi. Then I remember something. "Change into a pony!"
"Where the hell could she be?" I asked no one in particular.
"I don't know." Chrysi answered. She managed to change into the brown coated mare like always, before anyone saw her in her true form. We've been looking all around town for Spark. At this point I was thinking that she either went back as soon as we left, or she unknowingly managed to get around town better than we can find her. The latter seems to be the situation right now. As any of the ponies we asked told us where they last saw Spark led us to where she used to be, and the next we asked told us she was somewhere fucking else. So yeah, it was almost like a wild goose chase. Except that we were 'chasing' an android.
"Hey Caramel." Said pony looks to me.
"Oh hey Ember! Can I help ya?"
"Yeah, have you seen another human around?"
"Hmmm... I think I have... Yeah! I have! It's name is Spark right?"
"Yes, her name is Spark." I always get a little pissed when any of the ponies call us 'it'.
"Uh... y-yeah." He stammers. "She actually asked me if there was anything she could do around here."
"And?" I politely ask.
"I said no and she went in that direction." Caramel pointed a hoof towards a path that led back home.
Fuck me.
"Alright, thanks Caramel."
"Anytime buddy." He waves to me as I walk off with Chrysi towards home.
"Well this was ridiculous." Chrysi spoke.
"Agreed." At the pace we were walking, well, more like my pace with Chrysi doing her best to keep up, we got to my house in no time.
"Alright, if Caramel was right she should be here." We both walk after I open the front door. "Spark!?"
"Yes!?" I heard from downstairs. Next are some footsteps and Spark emerges from the door to my room.
"Oh, it's you Ember." She says with a cheery voice. "And who's this?" She directs all attention towards Chrysi. Who is staring in awe at Spark.
"Spark, you remember that changeling I told you about?" She nods and Chrysi gives a weird look. "Well this Is Chrysanthemum, Or Chrysi for short, she's the changeling. You can... show yourself Chrysi." Chrysi nods and a burst of grey flames envelopes her body for second, before the flame quickly dies out. Leaving the changeling in her true form; a changeling. Yes that was supposed to be a joke.
"So that's what a girlchangelingman looks like." Chrysi and Spark both spoke at the same time. I could tell what they both said, but the statements just kinda... got jumbled up at the end.
"I'll... just leave you two alone." I say as I head to my room to go to bed. It was getting pretty late anyway.
"So Corey, how does it feel like to get the short end of the stick?" I ask as I dangle the bastard over a tank of great white sharks with a flimsy board and thin rope.
"Fuck you, you piece of shit!" He yells as he struggles to break free. When that rope snaps he's fall, right into a shark's mouth.
"Yes. keep struggling, I love it!" I put on a gleeful look, waiting for his gruesome demise.
"Wait..." Fuck. "Fuck that!" He stays still.
*Fuck he found out.* "Don't prolong your demise Corey, just fall already!"
"Fuck! YOU! You're lucky my gang's not here!" A sweet, fluffy aroma started to permeate the air.
*The fuck's that smell?* "Oh, you mean these fucks?" I snap my fingers and his 'gang' swings in, slamming into Corey, making me laugh my ass off when I hear the air leave his lungs, through my teary eyes I see his rope split a little. I wipe my eyes so I can properly see him fall into the water when the whole roped snaps. Which happens just as I clear my eyes. Time seemed to slow down as Corey fell towards the water. But the sweet smell got stronger, and everything was going out of focus.
"Oh come the fuck on!" I yell before everything goes black. Meaning I woke up early from one of, if not the, best dream I've had. "Fucking smell, woke me up from the best dream I've had. Who's making what anyway?" I groggily get up from my bed and walk to the main floor. The smell gets stronger towards the kitchen. "The fuck..?" I mutter. I walk into the kitchen and Spark is making pancakes. Chrysi's off to the side where the dining table stands, eating her stack of pancakes.
"Mornin' Ember!" Chrysi says through a mouthful of pancake.
"Good morning Ember." Spark says as she flips a pancake in the air. "There's a stack of pancakes for you on the table." She points to the table and right where he pointed there was a plate with a thick stack of the fluffy things, something I somehow missed when I looked at Chrysi.
"Uh, thanks." Pushing back the questions that need to be asked. I take a seat after I grabbed a fork from one of the drawers and take a bite of the fluffy-looking pancakes. As soon as the fried bread touches my tongue each taste bud is set ablaze with fluffy goodness. Making my eyes turn into dinner plates. "Good god these are amazing! What and where did you get the stuff to make this?" I then begin to wolf down my breakfast.
"Here, try it with syrup." Chrysi offers me a bottle of it and I grab it from her. Pouring the liquid sugar on the pancakes and in my mouth.
"To answer your question, Chrysanthemum and I went to the store because she wanted some breakfast, we settled on pancakes." I shoot Chrysi a questioning look.
"Sometimes we like to eat physical food. But for us it's like drinking water." I nod and give her a thumb up in a 'got it' sort of way. But then another question came to mind. Before I can even ask it Spark answers.
"We used the bits you have in that bag." She points to the duffel bag containing all my wealth in the corner of the room. I envelope it in my magic and bring the bag over to me, I take a look inside and behold the sight of a few hundred thousand pounds of gold in the form of little coins about the size of a dollar coin of American currency.
"You're lucky I'm ok with that." I say when my mouth isn't full of fluffy goodness.
"I knew you would. Considering that we thought you'd love the pancakes."
"Yeah yeah yeah. What do you put in these things anyway?"
"Oh the usual ingredients. Except I added a little vanilla extract, cinnamon, white chocolate, and blueberries."
"So that's what the little spots are. These are fucking good Spark."
"Mmhmm!"
"Thank you."
"How did you even figure out what to do?"
"I just followed the instructions on the box the mix came in. Chrysanthemum suggested I out in the extra ingredients." Said changeling smiled brightly.
"Cool. Speaking of you two. I can assume you two like each other?" When I ask that Chrysi goes wide eyed and she blushes. She misunderstood my question, god dammit.
"We're good friends, if that's what you mean."
"Yeah, that's what I meant. Glad to see you two got along." Chrysi looks away in a relieved fashion. Spark turns off the stove and takes a seat with us, a plate with a stack of pancakes in her hands. "Uh Spark? You know you can't eat right?"
"Quite the contrary Ember." She grabs a fork from a draw before she sits down, cuts off a piece of pancake, and eats it. Something that leaves me speechless and astonished.
"I.. buh... wha... The fuck? How!? I never put any programs that allow to do that!"
"Wait, what's a, 'program'?" Chrysi asks. Spark beat me to answer her.
"Coded instructions to perform a specific task. And I can only think that this... magic," She holds out her hand and a magic aura dances around the limb water floating in zero gravity, which colored a light yellow. "has given me certain abilities and attributes that otherwise, the body I transferred to wouldn't have if it was done without magic."
"... That makes a surprisingly large amount of sense." Spark smiles and she take another bite. "... But, where does the food go? What happens?"
"I... actually don't know. These pancakes are the only thing I've eaten so far."
"Then how did you find out you could do this?"
"I ate some earlier."
"Oh, you have an appetite?"
"No, I just eat whenever I want."
"Oh, ok." We continue eating our breakfast. The silence must've been getting to Chrysi, she's fidgeting a little.
"So... What did I miss?"
"Not much, besides that I created Spark." Spark nods in agreement.
"Yes, everything has been..." Spark couldn't come up with a word to properly describe the last few days.
"Dull?" So I helped.
"I was going to say 'normal', but I guess dull is a good word to use."
"Yeah yeah. Considering weird things happen here on a daily basis."
"I know. This place is pretty strange."
"Yeah, no offense Chrysi."
"None taken... Hey!"
"Hey, me n' Spark are basically on an alien planet. Give us a break."
"I know... Just, stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Stop being so mean!"
"It's not being mean, it's being funny."
"Well that wasn't funny."
"It's not that it wasn't funny, you just don't have a sense of humor."
"I do have a sense of humor!"
"If you did you'd be able to laugh at yourself."
"Is that something humans do?"
"Yeah, well some of us do. Some are just fucking uptight pricks."
"Oh... Does that make a bad changeling?"
"No. You still have a good personality. Just gotta learn to laugh at yourself."
"Oh."
"This is a lovely conversation and all. But I have a question."
"Yeah Spark?"
"I've been wondering, where did you get those bits?" She points to the bag full of bits.
"Oh, that's just my... I think weekly salary if I remember correctly. Speaking of which, where is this week's pay?" As if on fucking cue, which is apparent on the dam planet, a knocking comes from the front door. "Speak of the fucking messenger." I get up and walk over to the door to open it. "Chrysi you know the drill." She nods and heads upstairs. Since I already explained this drill to Spark she just sat there and watched as I answered the door. I open it and the same pony that delivered my pay from last week.
"Hello."
"Hey, weekly pay?"
"Yes. I just need a signature this time."
"What for?"
"We need an official signature so we can keep track of each weekly delivery and so we can make sure it's delivered to you." He presents me with a small clipboard with a bunch of text, in equestrian. Luckily I can read that shit. And it's basically confirming that I am me. So I sign it, the pony gives me my money, and I walk back inside to the kitchen. And just as I round the doorway claw gets caught in the floor. Have I ever told you that the house I live in has old door flooring? No? Well I should have, because that particular area had a small split in it. Which decided to grab my toe and make me fall over. And everything would've alright; I would've gotten up and act like nothing happened. And maybe Spark would crack a joke or something.
But no, whatever driving force that exists in the universe decided to have the bag of fucking GOLDEN bits fall right on my head since I held in my magic at juuust the right fucking angle. Fuck you omnipotent force. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 28: Still a Normal Day? | And you want to know I got myself into this little predicament, and what happened? Well sit the fuck back and let me tell ya. Since I don't have a good at the concept of magic, and there was no way in HELL I was going to carry that bag. I mean, it's not like I'm weak, but a gold-filled bag, really? How does that fucker even carry that much gold!?
Anyway, since I don't a good grasp on magic, I held the bag in my magic at eye-level behind me. Because I've seen that when a unicorns trips while holding shit in their magic the fucking objects they were holding stays in fucking place. And I was basing that off of what I was doing. Something I really have to stop since the laws of magic the ponies abide by really don't apply to me, at all.
Which led to the thing landing on my head. Now, I will only tell you this once and once only. Nanobot tech has made it far enough where it does enhance every attribute a normal person has. But even that hasn't been able to go so far as recovering from brain damage, sure it's heal the brain when it does take damage, preventing death, paralysis, and shit like that. But not memory loss or amnesia. With the size of each nanobot they can only carry so much information. And since they were only collectively specified to heal and enhance the body. They really can't store memories or info that the brain has lost. You'll figure why I'm saying all of this when I go back to that predicament.
But you'd think those fucking science snobs would think to designate a certain amount of nanobots to store memory right? Well apparently there wasn't any kind of tech that could transfer physical data to digital data. I.E., copying memories from your brain and storing the copies into their system. The tech's only been around for a few years, nothing's perfect.
Anyway, going back to current time, the bag landed on my head which such force that I swear to you made cracks in my skull. Nearly turning my brain to pudding. NEARLY. Making me head briefly look like an oval. It still rendered me unconscious instantly either way. Giving me the luxury of brief pain followed by a dreamless state of semi-consciousness. Now skip forward however long the dreamless coma was before I woke up. Which I will tell word for word.
*Ugh... what happened? Why can't I move.* All I can see is black. *Am I dead?* I try to move, I dimly note that I'm laying on a bed. *Or am I sleeping?* Right now I don't have any idea about where I am, or what happened before, or even- *W-who am I?* Once I realized that my eyes almost shoot out of my head. A second later my vision clears and I see that I'm in some kind of room. I tried to move around, but everything felt... weak. I could barely muster the strength to hold up my right arm. I know that's bad, but I don't know why. Next thing I tried to do was speak.
"H-hello? Is anyone there?" My voice was raspy and dry.
I needed water, but all I could do was wait.
Eventually I heard two people walking outside the room I was in. I then heard a door open and the same two people walked in. Since I could hardly move I had to wait until they got into my field of view.
"Uh... hey." I weakly mutter. I heard a gasp and-
"Oh goodness! You're awake!" A... head? Came into view? I know that's a head. Even the color is off, this thing's skin is a bright white, that's not normal by human standards, and it's got light pink hair tied back in a bun. It has huge eyes--really big eyes, like, giant squid big-- a mouth, nose and hair and weird looking ears, they look like dog ears, and a horn!? Ok definitely not human, I'm on some alien planet now. "Do you feel ok? Oh, you probably need some water, I'll go get you some." The head leaves my view. It quickly returns holding a cup to my dry lips. As soon as the refreshingly cold water touches my lips I drink eagerly. Supplying much-needed nourishment down my throat. I quickly slurp up the cool liquid and let out a refreshed sigh.
"Thank you." I look to the weird creature. All I can see is its head.
"You're welcome. Do you feel ok?" I could only think to answer. I didn't have much to object by.
"I feel a little weak, but other than that I feel fine." The head nods.
"That's good."
"Um... this may sound, weird... But, who am I? And what are you?" The thing's eyes grow wide and stare directly at me. "Uh... you're kinda weirding me out looking at me like that."
"This is not good. This is not good. Uhmmm... I'll be right back." Before I could object the thing leaves the room. Leaving me to my own devices. I decided to concentrate on getting the strength back to my body. Firstly, arms. "Alright, let's get my arms moving." I whisper to myself. I muster all the strength I could and put it into raising both arms. I feel them twitch as I concentrate, I do so much I close my eyes. After a while I relax and open my eyes. My arms are fully held up, and they're covered in feathers.
"Woah. I have feathers?" I twist around each limb. "Huh, I wonder what I look like with all these feathers." I set both my arms down. "Alright, let's try my legs now." The lower part of my body was really easier to get feeling back into it. With a little effort I'm able to raise both my legs. With that out of the way I move to get off the bed. But when I reach to the left I feel something tug on my arm. I look and see that there was... an I.V.? Yeah, an I.V. stuck to the middle of my arm. Giving me chills up my spine.
I never liked needles.
I quickly pull it off my arm and hoist myself up to a sitting position.
*I don't know how, but this feels unnatural to me.* It does! All of my senses and strength returning to after I've been knocked out for who knows how long. It feels like it happened too quickly. I just can't figure out why...
I throw that thought aside and push myself to a standing position. I stumbled a bit before I got my footing. And immediately I get light headed, almost sending me to the floor. Luckily I had the to footboard of the bed to hold on to. I took my time recovering and I looked at myself, I had grey feathers covering my body, and I had talons for feet. Does this make me some kind of bird-man? Do I have wings? Yes I do! That's fucking awesome! If only I knew how to control them.
Pushing those thoughts aside I decided to take a look at my surroundings. It was a normal hospital room all things considered. I mean, there was that weird creature with that weird looking head, it reminds me of some kind of animal, a horse maybe? The ears and mouth kind looked like a horse's. But the eyes are fucking huge for that head. I didn't even get to get a good look at it. Speaking of which... Shouldn't it be back?
"I don't know Nurse Redheart, there's know way he could've taken that much damage to the skull." I hear a new voice from outside.
"Please, just trust me." That same voice that came from that creature spoke. The door opens and two... ponies..? What the fuck are these things!? I thought they were doctors! Not fuckin' aliens.
"Ember! It's so good to see-"
"Oh no! You need to sit back down!" The white skinned thing walks closer to me, but I back away. I'm starting to panic.
*These things aren't human! What and where the fuck am I!?* "Ember? Who's Ember, I've never even heard of that name!" The purple, thing, walks closer to me and I back up until I hit a wall.
"You're Ember. Remember? You you were sent here by your kinds technology, you fought Rainbow-"
"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"
"Alright, sir, stay calm please." The white thing said in a serious tone.
"How can I!? I don't know where or who I am, I don't know who or what the fuck you are, and... and..." I'm starting to breath heavily as I started to panic even more. I started grabbing anything I could, I really need to hold onto something right now.
"That's enough!" The white thing tilted down and-
*Pow!*
Shot a bolt of white light at me. At first I thought it was just that, light. But the following explosion told me otherwise. I was sent flying back, landing on the floor with a solid thump. I managed to not get hurt, that much. As soon as my senses came back I felt a little sore on my chest.
"Ugh, that hurt." Then I remember something. "Wait, wasn't I up against a wall?" My question was soon answered when the dust and smoke settled. Before my eyes laid quite a site; there was a wall, a HUGE wall, with a sizable hole right at the bottom, where I was standing. And the two creatures look on to me in shock. The things and I stay like that for an eternity until the purple one moved.
"Ember? Are you-" That was all I needed to get up and bolt off in the other direction. Luckily there was a forest behind me.
*Better off in the woods than in the clutches of these things.* I run past tree after tree until I know that they weren't able to follow me. I slow to a stop and stand up against a tree. I'd thought all the running would tire me out, I mean, I'm not a track runner, but I think I did run--or was it a full-blown sprint?-- for a while. It must be this unnatural feeling, maybe my body's been changed somehow? I did just survive a point blank explosion that may have been as strong as a grenade. That was shoot at me by that weird thing... Speaking of which. I need to find civilization. Hopefully I'm still on earth. But the trees around me suggest otherwise. They have a cartoony quality to them. And they're brightly colored.
"Whelp, I'm not gonna get anywhere standing around." I say to myself. I then decide to walk around this weird forest, maybe I'll find a path...
"This is bad this is bad this is bad!" Twilight was chanting to herself, she's been pacing around the room of the medical hospital that has just been renovated. "Why did you do that Nurse Redheart!? Didn't you know that happens to him!?" She faces the white coated pony in a frantic pace.
"No I didn't! That happens when a simple spell as cast!?"
"Yes! Oh, what do we do?" In the heat of the moment Twilight briefly forgot about her friends. "Oh! Right! The girls!" Only for a second. "I'll go get the girls, you tell everypony what happened. Hopefully we can get the princess to help." The purple alicorn teleports aways so she can gather her friends so she can start a search party. While Nurse Redheart was left still a little shocked at what her spell did to the human. She stood that way until realization dawned on her and she went to go tell other staff what that explosion was.
I hate this place.
Seriously! I haven't found a single fucking path in this god forsaken forest! And everything has gained a sinister look. The trees look dead and old, the leaves block out the sun but I could still see just fine, and even the roots of some trees are exposed. I tripped over a few of them. It was then that I noticed the cuts that would form closed after bleeding for a second. Do I heal that quickly? Do humans heal that quickly? Ugh... so many questions I needed to be answered. I brush those thoughts away and stopped to look around. At least I can experiment with these wings I have. Wait... they're not feathered? They're like... an extra set of arms, with large flaps of skin in between each freakishly long finger, eyugh... Nevermind the wings...
As it was before, forest, as much forest as the eye can see. Except that there was a light in a certain direction. Figuring that it was the only way out of this fucking forest, I head towards the light. Which eventually turned into a large clearing as I got closer. A clearing that was actually a field of grass with a river running through it. I followed the river and it lead to a small two-story old-timey house. With tones of animals around it. I was far enough that those things wouldn't see me. But what puzzled me is that I saw all of this in about the distance equivalent of a major league soccer stadium. I'm going to assume that all my senses and other things are some how on steroids.
But the second thing I noticed, was that a small racoon was walking towards me. I nearly flipped out when I saw it. But I DID when every other living being started to slowly come towards me, making a lot of noise. And I ran back into the forest.
Fluttershy has been tending to a bird that had a broken wing. Why wouldn't she? She always helps an animal in need. But in the middle of the check-up she heard a commotion outside.
"I'm sorry Mr. Bird. I'll be right back. Ok?" Mr. Bird nods with a smile. And the butter-yellow pegasus trots outside in a brisk pace. And she is greeted by her animal friends frantically head towards her, but stop at the sight of her. A little white bunny hopped to the front. A worried look on his face. "Angle. What's wrong?" Angle makes some weird motions with his paws. "You saw Ember? Where?" The bunny points to the edge of the forest where he and the rest of the animals last saw Ember. "He's in the Everfree Forest? Oh no! I need to go tell the girls!" She turned to go into Ponyville, but she met face-to-face, literally, with Twilight's face.
I fucking hate it here. Apparently the animals of this fucking place want me as their afternoon snack! At least I was able to run faster than them. I think, I didn't look like they were after me in that aspect. But they're fucking animals, on an alien planet! Probably. Some things do look like I'm still on Earth. I just hope I'm right. I need to find a town or a city or SOME form of human civilization before those... things find me. I can only hope and move on at this point. But... if I don't find what I'm looking for... What will happen? To me? I don't know if I can survive out here. In a dark forest.
But then as I was walking I tripped over a rock.
"Geehh, stupid rock." I get back up and look back at the rock. But something catches me eye. A fucking path! Finally something to follow! Maybe this can lead me to a village or something. But, which way to go? Hmm... The left looks like it leads back to wherever I just escaped from, so right it is! Because you can't go wrong when chose right, right?
Anyway, I follow this path since I didn't have anything else to lose. And one thing I noticed is that the treeline is more open along the path. I can see that day is turning to night. Too quickly, like, I can see the sky changing colors. That's too quick, if I can literally see the sky changing colors in real time. That's not good, I'm either in some apocalypse, or I'm definitely on some alien planet. And I'm leaning towards the latter.
The girls, plus Spark and Chrysanthemum in disguise, are all gathered at the edge of Everfree by Fluttershy's cottage.
"Alright girls. Fluttershy last saw Ember go into the Everfree Forest. We need to find him before anything bad happens to him. Now remember, he has no memory of us or anypony-"
"How'd that happen?" Rainbow interrupted.
"From what Spark and Chrysanthemum have told me. Ember received his payment from, whatever job he has, and that large bag landed onto his head when he tripped."
"How did he trip?" Aj asked a little confused.
"One of his talons wedged itself in a split in the wood floor of our house." Spark answered.
"Oh... Then how-"
"He was holding his pay with his magic behind him. Can we get this search party started?" Spark asked a little anxiously.
"Yes, let's get this started. Fluttershy, Rainbow; fly up and look around the forest and see if you can find him." The two pegasi nodded and flew up to survey said forest. Fluttershy a bit shakily at first but Rainbow was there to reassure the timid pony. "The rest of us split to two groups: Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie. Then me, Spark, and Chrysanthemum. Everypony ready?" The ponies, changeling and human bot nod. "Ok, let's go!" And with that, the two groups spits off in two different direction to go look for their human friend.
Ok, I think I'm being followed. I don't know by what. But I can't get this feeling of something, or things, following. Maybe it's just my brain tricking me? I hope so, the random rustling of bushes along the path I'm walking along doesn't help with my paranoia. At least the rustling would reveal a small animal like a squirrel and rabbit sometimes. It's creeping me out that some of these bushes would reveal nothing. Well, at least with light shining in through the open tree line I could see well.
*Grraaahh!* A brown wolf with bright yellow eyes pounces at me from one of the bushes.
"Fuck!" I managed to dodge it and break into a full-blown sprint again. I hear howls behind me and I hear more than one of those wolves start to chase me. I take a peek behind me and I wish I didn't; there were at least six of those fuckers chasing me. Which spurred me to keep running for dear life. Since I was still on the same dirt path I lasted a while before my feet started aching. My running became slower and the wolves were starting to catch up. With my mind running at hyperspeed I take a chance and veer off the path. The foliage making hard for me and the wolves to follow me. Luckily I had the luxury of arms so I decided to climb up a tree. I thought they wouldn't get to me. Which did work, they try and try and climb up the think tree. But they keep failing, so now they pace around; waiting for me to fall back down or something.
It was around this point I got to take a breather, and get a good look at these wolves. But... They're not wolves. Are they..? They're made of wood!? What the actual fuck is this place!? Fuck if they're such thing as wolves made of wood who knows what the fuck is out there: A bear made of boulders? A fucking lion with extra head? I don't want to know neither find out. Which gives me two options: run like hell back towards the clearing where that house was, or stay here and fend off the wooden wolves.
The choice was obvious; head back to the clearing.
But how would I get past these wolves? Maybe I distract them somehow? All I got is a few branches and leaves. I could use a branch as a club! Yes! Ok, now which branch to lob off... oo! That one's pretty thick, and it's about to fall off so I can easily rip it off, no problem. I just wonder if it's long enough to hit them from here. Lemme just swing it as hard as I can...
*Thwack!* Yep, it's long enough. I managed to clog one of 'em on the head. It yelped in pain and backed off. Yes! I just gotta- fuck... The branch broke. Fuck me... Uh... is there- yes! Another big stick! It's a little shorter though. I don't think that should matter though. I should be able to... *thwack!* yep, this time it held. I hit the same wolve I think. I got another yelp and the wolf backed off. Alright! If I can keep this up- no! The fucker grabbed the branch from me! Fucker! Dammit now what!? Think, thiiiiiink! Wait, the fuck's that noise? Sounds like a plane flying over. Could it be?
"Fluttershy! I think I found him!" Fuck me. Wait! The wolves are distracted! Fucking RUN!
"Hey get back here!" Rainbow yelled. She and Fluttershy would've dove under the canopy and go after Ember, but a pack of Timberwolves were keeping them occupied.
"Fuck you!" Luckily for both of them. Rainbow Dash, the most aweseome mare in all of Equestria, (A/N *snort* *snort*) bucked the wooden creatures to splinters. All while getting a few splinters and scratches.
"Rainbow! Are you ok?" Fluttershy hovers down next to her fellow pegasus.
"I'm fine Fluttershy, c'mon! He went this way!" The two ponies gave chase to the Confused human. "I swear to Celestia Ember' going to get a good buck in the head for this!"
What the fuck is up with these things!? They don't leave me the fuck alone! I think another two of those things are after me now! I'msofuckedI'msofuckedI'mso FUCKED! Up exposed root root decided to trip me, again. God dammit. I can hear voices getting closer. I try to get up but pain makes itself noticed in my foot. Fuck I sprange it. Alright, get up and LIMP! Limp you bastard. I must be running on adrenaline or something 'cause the pain's quickly fading away. But after what felt like a couple seconds I was able to sprint again. Ok, really loving my weird body now. Really fucking loving it. I glance back and see one of those aliens speed up towards me.
"You're mine!" It yelled.
"Not yet bitch!" I grabbed a tree and used it a pole to swing sideways... How am I doing all of this cool stuff? Shouldn't I be dead or something?
"You bucker!" Not questioning it now, gotta keep running like hell. The blue thing after me seems really pissed now. How is it that fucking fast!? It managed to cover the distance equal to a fucking half a high school football field! Doesn't matter, just keep-
*SMACK!* Fuck... hitting a tree face-first at full speed wasn't in the plan. Everything's going black, I see that thing slow to stop in front of me before my eyes close, a look of... concern? I don't know it needs to be concerned about me. At this point they might just kill me for cause so much trouble for them.
Rainbow was panting heavily, Ember definitely gave her the workout of a lifetime.
"Dang, never had so much work put into something before." She huffed.
"Rainbow!" Fluttershy burst in from a bush, her mane and tail quite a mess. "Oh goodness! Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little-"
"*gasp!* Ember!" The yellow pony rushes to the unconscious human, holding his head. "Ember! Wake up! Ember!" She yelled over and over as she cried onto the human. Not knowing whether he's alive or not.
"Fluttershy, c'mon. He's gonna be ok." Rainbow tried to comfort her friend. All Fluttershy could do was gently lay the human's head down and sniffle. Rainbow sat next to her and draped a wing over her withers. "He's gonna be alright Flutters. C'mon, help me get him up." Fluttershy nodded and did her best wedging herself under the incapacitated human. She noticed that his feathers were still warm. Being around animals with lifespans shorter than her own has taught her that the body of an animal who has passed would normally lose it's body rapidly. Since this wasn't the case Fluttershy felt immediately better, knowing that her friend was ok, to say the least. It put a small smile on her lips and she trotted with a little spring to her step with Rainbow as they both made their way out of the terrible forest without incident.
Black, nothing but black. Am I dead? Sure feels like it... Wait there's a bright light. Ugh, too weak to even move...
"Rest now Ember." I heard. Where did that voice come from? "Over here." I look to where the voice came from. Another one of these things!? Fuck! "Do not fret, I am here to help you."
"Ch', yeah? How?" I can feel myself again so I adopt the flight-or-fight mode. The dark blue thing just... smiles I think.
"I am going to give you back your lost memories." What?
"What..?" The alien giggles.
"Before you lost your memories I have stored a near complete copy within my mind. Every night I do so for as many ponies as I can. But I can only do so much..." She trailed off.
"And what does this have to do with me?"
"It means that I will give you your memories back, If you will allow it."
"How do I know this isn't a trap?"
"We are in your dream, nothing can or will happen to you."
"Really?" I toss the defencive stance, but I still held my guard up. "Prove it."
"Very well then." The eye glow a very bright white and millions of little white dots appear out of nowhere. some clump together while clouds of different colors form and surround some clumps.
"Are we in space?"
"No, we are not. Do you not remember this dream?" I give the thing a blank look. "Right, may I?" At first I didn't know what it meant by that. But then I remembered why it showed up... Ehh... It's not like I got anything else to lose, besides my life. I would really hate if that happened.
"Fine, just, how are going to do it?" The thing makes a snickering noise.
"Magic." It gets close to me and moves to touch that weird horn thing I just noticed it had.
"Magic? How-" I'm interrupted by a bright white flash. Which goes away as fast as it appeared. Once I could see again the- ... ... ...
I remember everything. |
My little Escapade | Chapter 29: Another Visit | Holy fuck I remember everything. The chases, the explosion, my life, everything. You'd think recovering from amnesia like that would render memories made afterwards would go forgotten. But fortunately, not the case for me. I notice Luna laying away from and I rush to her.
"Luna, you alright?" She fidgets and I help her up.
"Thank you. I'm alright." But then her eyes widen. "Did the spell work?"
"It sure did, thanks Luna." I offer a genuine smile. She smiles back, a bit sheepishly.
"I... expect you to be angry with me."
"I you did go against your word. But let me ask you this; was it this intention that you did this?" She nods feverishly.
"Of course! It would've been a great loss if you never recovered your memories."
"Then it's ok that you... copied my memories."
"Thank you." We hug each other. I was really grateful that Luna essentially made an exact copy of my memories should I ever lose them myself. When we let go I noticed the stars and galaxies begin to fade, and so does Luna.
"Thanks again Luna. I owe you one for that."
"I'll be sure to remember that." Then, eternal blackness. I quickly realize that I'm awake, I'm laying on a bed so I bolt up to a sitting position. Taking in my surroundings I notice that I'm in a hospital bed again, this time dimly lit. How long was I out? The girls are all sitting or laying around the bed I'm sitting on, all asleep. And there's an I.V. in my right arm. Ugh... I hate needles. I carefully take the needle out and set it next to the nightstand next to me. I ponder what to when a nasty idea formulates in my sick mind; I want to scare absolute fuck out of Rainbow. I'd be getting her back for scaring me when I had amnesia. I then begin to think of something I could use to scare her. Yes I know it's going to scare the others. That's why I'm going to spawn earmuffs to put on their ears. I saw Vinyl wearing a pair that looked exactly what you'd see back on earth. I think they'll fit... Yes! They do! Now, what to scare Rainbow with...
Ooooohh... I know exactly what I need. I snap my fingers and a mask poofs into existence.
*Perfect...*
-Mmmhh...-
*Embris?*
=Wha... what?=
*Emby?*
~Ugh, that was an awful nap~
*Ruby! You're all ok! Right?*
~For the most part, yes~
-Yeah, just a little sleepy.-
=Yeah, pretty much.=
*Well can you guys see?*
~-=Yes.=-~
*Good, 'cause I'm about to take the best opportunity to scare the fuck out of Rainbow as a prank.*
~-=We're awake.=-~ I smile inwardly and put the mask on. Then I quietly get off the bed, tip-talon over to Rainbow, as she's sleeping on the floor. I get down and position myself so that I'm inches away from her face, and then get my eyes to glow red. After getting in proper position I tap Rainbow on the tip of her snout. It scrunches up and she snorts. I tap it again, a little more insistently.
"Mmmm..." She grumbled as her snout twitched. But it still didn't get her to open her damn eyes. This time I poke her right on tip-top of her snout, making it scrunch up. That made her swat a hoof at my hand. "Mmm... MM." She repositions her head. I move accordingly. But this I flick her snout. That got to blearily open her eyes.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" And let me tell ya, when she focused on me, the face she had while she screamed at the top of her lungs; fucking priceless. It was a work of pure art. Luckily the girly scream didn't wake the others. But that didn't keep me from howling in laughter.
"Oh god Rainbow... The look on your face!" I managed to huff out between laughing fits.
"Ember!? What the BUCK!?" At this point I'm rolling on the ground holding my sides. Rainbow apparently got angry enough to start punching me. I couldn't care less, she hardly does anything to me. After like, ten punches she gave up, and I was starting to calm down.
"Whew fuck Rainbow, that was almost too hilarious." I get up and face the startled pegasus.
"Buck! You! And take off that mask! It's creeping me out."
"Fine, fine." I do so.
"What the heck's wrong with your eyes!?"
"What?"
"They're glowing!"
"Oh yeah, I can do that." My eyes lose their red glow. "I never showed you?"
"No!"
"Oh, well, now you know that I can do that."
"Dude, that's creepy."
"Yeah yeah. Hey, how 'bout you shut up and help me to the earmuffs off of 'em." I begin to gently take the earmuffs off. Rainbow grumbles something. "The fuck was that Rainbow?"
"What?"
"I know what the fuck you mumbled. You better say it before you piss me off." I say nonchalant.
"Fine, I said that it's good that you're back."
"Heh. Even after you said that you wanted to buck me in the head?" I turn to Rainbow and she's looking at me like a deer in the headlights. Her looking at me like that made me chuckle a bit.
"How did-"
"My mind is like a steel trap Rainbow, now shut up while the others sleep. I need rest too. And judging by the look of it, you need some too."
"Yeah, I think you're right."
"Woah, you think I'm right for once? Damn."
"Shut up."
"Up yours Rainbow, see ya in the morning." I flop onto my bed and fall asleep as soon as pillow meets head. Enjoying the dreamless sleep until morning.
"Are you sure you want to check out this soon? You did suffer massive brain damaged and we would like to keep you for observation." I'm trying to check out of the hospital. The girls left a few hours ago while I still slept, surprising that Rainbow neither Pinkie left anything written on any part of my body.
"Thank you for the concern, but that won't be necessary. Even though... things happened yesterday."
"Are you really sure?" The receptionist asks. She better not start the 'are you sure?' wagon.
"Yes."
"Alrighty then! Just sign this and you'll be officially discharged!" The receptionist hands me a paper from a draw she opened in her magic. Along with a quill and ink well. She set it on the short counter for my use. I kneel down, grab the quill, and read the paper. It just says that by signing the document it grants me the ability to leave the hospital on my own accord. I nod to myself and begin the sign at the bottom where it's telling me to. But before I can do any of that the paper is whisked away in a light yellow magic aura. I follow where the paper went and it's floating right next to a pony; Dr. Stable.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. You need to stay for observation." He says coldly.
"I'm sorry, but I don't give a flying fuck." I wretch the paper from his magical grasp with my own magic, and sign my name.
"Sir, you do not understand," My writing hand is restrained in his magic. "there still might be something wrong with you."
"I know my body better than you," I reply calmly and forcefully remove my hand from his magic. "and I know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me, besides that I smell a bit." I managed to sign the first three letters of my name when the doctor tried to stop me again.
"Orderlies!" Two big unicorn stallions step up to each side of Dr. Stable. "Restrain him!" One of them shoots a bolt of magic, probably a stun spell, luckily I put up a shield and it absorbed the magic. I resume signing and hand it to the shocked receptionist before another orderly tried to 'restrain' me.
"Sir, I'm going to ask you think only once: listen to Dr. Stable and stay for observation." I cuckle at his face and stand back up.
"Do you know what I just signed? I just sign an official release. Meaning I can leave and you can't tell me otherwise." I start to walk out the two front doors. "Oh, and I'll be sure to let Princess Celestia know of this little event. Good day Dr. Stable!" I close the doors. behind me. Heading to Twi's place I decided to teleport to her castle. "Twilight!" I called out from the main entrance. Twi walks in from a door.
"Ember? What are you doing here?"
"I just came by because I need you to send a letter to Celestia." A scroll and a quill appears in her magic grip.
"What for?"
"You know Dr. Stable?" She nods. "Well he tried to keep me in the hospital for 'observation'."
"... What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing really, except he called some orderlies to try and keep me in the hospital for observation."
"Really?" I nod.
"Yeah, and I want you to send a letter to Celestia."
"Ok. What do you want the letter to say?"
"Just letting her that Dr. Stable tried to force me to stay in Ponyville General for observation or whatever the fuck he had planned. And to keep an eye on him if she can. This raises a few suspicions." She nods and scribbles onto the parchment.
"Aaand done!" She punctuates the completion with a firm poke at the scroll with the quill. Said scroll rolls up and Twi teleports it away when she put a seal on it. "There! Is that all?"
"Pretty much. Thanks Twi."
"You're welcome. Oh! I just remembered, I need your opinion on something."
"Oh?" She waves me to get closer and I do so.
"You see... yesterday I received a letter from Princess Celestia say that she thinks it would be a good idea to have guards around the castle. I haven't asked the girls because I know what they would say. So I think that you can give me your honest opinion about whether or not I should have guards here or not. So, what do you think?" Wow.
"Wow, um... ok. Lemme... uh... think about it. For a minute."
"Ok."
"... Well, it is pretty dead in here without another living begin around. And it would look better for you in an aesthetic way... But, I just have one question; would it feel like home to you?"
"N-no... it wouldn't. But it would make the place feel more lively."
"Then do it for that then."
"You're saying I should have guards in my castle?" I nod.
"Yeah, better it be filled with guards than nothing at all."
"I suppose..."
"Plus I'm sure that the girls will think of something to make this place feel like home for you."
"I guess... Wait, how are you so sure?"
"Eh... just got a feeling." Eh... not really. I just happen to remember a particular episode in the show back home.
"Ok... Well, thank you."
"Anytime. See ya."
"Bye Ember!" We wave to each other and I walk out the main doors and head home to catch up with Spark and Chrysi.
"Golden. Good to see ya." The bastard returned the day after the, ahem, incident. Yes I meant Bastard in a good way.
"Ey Ember! Long time no see!" He showed up just a few seconds ago outside my house. And he also decided to enter my home unannounced and almost startle me. ALMOST.
"Likewise. I can assume it's been a few years?"
"Actually no. It been a few months."
"Oh, huh. Cool. I thought more time would've past."
"I know right? All this confusing crap about time."
"Yeah... Anyway, what made ya come by?"
"I just wanted to come and say and catch up with you guys. And maybe give some spoilers."
"Golden, you know how I feel about spoilers."
"I know, I just thought it'd be better to tell ya what's gonna happen, unless y'know, you already know."
"I have an idea, like Twi having the girls deal with making her castle 'more like home'."
"Oh! You're gonna love that one! This is perfect because after that Twi and Spike go to Canterlot, then there's the yaks, then-"
"Wait, it goes in that order?" He nods. "Dude, it's not like that here."
"What?"
"Yeah, a while back I went to the Gala. Now Twi's dealing with home problems."
"Really? Fuck man... You what that means huh?"
"Yeah... events here happen in a different order than the Earth you life on. Fuck this is gonna suck."
"Yeah, how am I gonna give spoilers!"
"To be honest Golden, I don't really want to know what's gonna happen, especially since it'd be a bitch to find out what order they come in compared to the show."
"You sure man? I think it'd be worth it."
"No, no. It's fine I rather find out for myself."
"Alright dude, whatever you say."
"Ember? Who's that?" Spark walks into the living room. "Who's this? Is it another human?"
"Yes, in a way. Spark, meet Golden Streak. Golden Streak, meet Spark." They both stare at each other for long time before Golden gets his voice back.
"Umm... uh... he... h-hi..." I think he thinks that it's a girl from his world. I guess the breasts Spark has gave it away. I bet if he was human he'd be blushing.
"Hello Golden. Are you that human from another Earth Ember has talked about?"
"Uh... y-yeah. Aren't you?"
"No, Ember actually created me." Golden froze.
"... What?"
"You heard her right, I created this lovely person." I get up from the chair I was on and stand next to Spark proudly.
"... No fucking way dude, prove it!"
"Spark, remove your chestplate." She does so, revealing the bright blue crystal situated as her heart. Which rendered Golden speechless. Yes I did figure out how I can have
"Ah... I... heh... You gotta be shitting me! You're fucking telling that you... made her!?"
"Sorry to interrupt you Golden, but you should try and be a little more quiet. Chrysanthemum is sleeping."
"Chrysi's sleeping?"
"Yes, it is about seven in the morning."
"Oh..."
"Uuuh, am I missing something here? The fuck's Chrysanthemum?"
"She's a changeling I saved from a manticor."
"What? Really?"
"Yeah, and she's not evil or anything. She was running from her hive when I found her."
"Really? So she's not from, like, Queen Chrysalis's hive?"
"If she was she'd be dead already."
"Woahdude. That's harsh." I shrug.
"Eh, whatever." I sit back down and so do the rest of us, Spark taking a seat next to Golden.
"So, you're the human Ember told me turns into a robot when you arrive here?" Spark said after an almost painfully long silence.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Interesting. Your real name is Gabriel, right?"
"Who told you!?"
"Who do you think?" Golden looks to me.
"Why the fuck would you tell her?" He angrily asks.
"She though your new name was strange for our kind. So I told her your real name."
"Oh... Ok." He slumps back into the sofa. "Yeah, my real name's Gabriel."
"Ah. Ok. And you come from a different Earth than Ember?"
"Apparently. Back home there isn't anybody I've seen that looks remotely like him or any other... uh..."
"Anthros."
"Yeah, that. Closest thing we got are some gene-spliced animals like goats with spider milk and shit like that."
"Oh duuuuude! Your people got a looooong way to go."
"Really? Why?"
"'Cause if your tech is advancing at the same pace as mine, and if they advance the same way. In time you'll get to look like me."
"No fucking way."
"I think it might happen, what year are you on?"
"Two thousand sixteen."
"Oh yeah, you're close. Though you might be a little old if and when your people develop actual nanobots."
"Ooooooh that'd be awesome if that really happens."
"Tell me about it."
"Excuse me." We both look to Spark. "Is Golden Streak from a different planet than your own Ember?"
"Yes, actually, Golden's from another dimension." Spark froze for a minute.
"... What? You never told me this. How do you know this."
"I never have? Huh, I thought I did. And we figured it out when he said there's not one single human being on his planet that looks like me, or any other anthro. Plus he's about a decade behind me when it comes to place in time."
"I see..."
"Pretty weird huh?" Golden asks.
"Yes, it is. Well, that confirms the multiverse theory doesn't it?"
"Yeah, well, more like the parallel universe theory."
"You think there might be another 'you' where he comes from?"
"Why not say it's true? At this point we should be mind-blown that an age-old question was answered."
"Yeah, I wonder why that never happened?"
"Well it could be the magic that's keeping us from reacting in some dumb way. Or it could be that it was a total let-down from what little hype was built upon that question."
"At least for people who aren't astronomers."
"Heh, true." |
My little Escapade | Chapter 30: 'Me Time' | "That's fucking awesome! Just... How!?"
"It's simple; just get enough parts and create an a.i. and boom! There ya go."
"Wow... just... Woah dude."
"Yeah, I know she's awesome. Anyway, ya got anything else planned 'cept saying hi?"
"Not really, just wanted to say hi and shit."
"Oh..." The room falls into an awkward silence.
"... So, Golden. What's like where you come from?" Spark asks.
"Well it should be the same thing where you come from since Ember made you."
"I created her here Golden, not on Earth."
"Oh... well let me tell ya..." I quickly lost attention from the lack of interest. Excusing myself I go to check up on Chrysi. It's not like her to be asleep at ten in the morning, she's usually up by nine or eight...
Shut up! So what if I care a little about her? A little caring never hurt anyone!
"Chrysi?" I whisper when I crack open the door to her room. She's already up and looking out the window oh her room.
"Hmm?" She turns when I spoke. "Oh, Morning Ember." She says with a cheery smile.
"Morning, what are doing in here?"
"I heard voices I didn't recognize."
"Oh, right... Well you can come out, the guy you heard is another friend of mine."
"Oh. Is he another human?"
"Yep."
"Ok!" She sprung up from her bed and quickly changed to her normal pony form. "What's his name?"
"Golden Streak, and how did you know it was a guy?"
"Really Ember? I can tell the difference between a guy and a girl voice."
"Oh, you don't need to be a bitch about it."
"I'm not a dog!"
"Oh shut up you over-sized bug. C'mon. There's breakfast in the fridge, and you don't need to change to a pony around him."
"You know I don't need to eat food right?"
"I know. And I also know that you love eating either way."
"Toche." We both share a laugh, she changes back to her true looks, and we head to the kitchen. I let Chrysi get her breakfast while I walk back to the living room. Golden and Spark are still talking, a lot.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah. Whenever I come here I get turned into a robot."
"... It's a little strange, isn't it?"
"I guess... But magic works in mysterious ways apparently."
"So it seems..." I roll my eyes and head back to kitchen.
"Hey Chrysi. Betcha anything Golden's gonna freak out when he sees you."
"You mean, like this?" I nod and a devilish smirk crosses her features. With said smirk still on her face she walks into the living room. And all conversation that was taking place stops.
"Morning Spark."
"Good morning Chry-"
"Get away, changeling!" I hear a crashing and Chrysi laughing, a lot. When I get to the living room I see her rolling across the ground when I enter the room. And Golden is making his way outside, I use my magic to keep him in place. "Ember!? What the fuck are doing!? Lemme go!"
"No."
"Why the hell not!?"
"Because," I point to the doubled-over changeling. "she is my friend." At that he freezes and looks to me plainly.
"What?"
"She is my friend, and her name is Chrysanthemum. Before you say anything stupid. I saved her from a manticore." His eyes widen. "Yeah, killed that thing before it killed her."
"Really?" I nod. "So... she's like..."
"No she's not like a changeling from Chrysalis's hive. In fact..." I release Golden from my magical grasp and motion for him to follow me. With him in tow I lead him to my room and explained Chrysi's story.
"Wow, that's... heavy."
"I know, and she doesn't want to go back to her hive."
"For what?"
"I don't know, never bothered to ask. But I think it had something to do with her mother."
"Oh... that sucks."
"Tell me about. Just promise me that you breath a word of this to her."
"You got it." We both nod to each other and head back to the main floor.
"So, you don't like changelings Golden?" Chrysi asked as soon as we left my room. She better not of eavesdropped in on us.
"Uh... depends..."
"Oh, on what?"
"Do you know who Queen Chrysalis is?" Chrysanthemum physically, and possible mentally, freezes when he asked that. I looked at him as if he was an idiot, which, at the moment, given the circumstances, he was an idiot.
"Yes... I do."
"Are you part of her hive?"
"No!"
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"Golden, you fucking idiot."
"What?"
"Have you even thought to look at her eyes? And I even told you, you fucking retard!" I put my hand to my head like a disappointed father.
"Why? And how do I know if you were under her spell or not?" Wow he's a fucking idiot.
"Chrysalises were green, remember dumbass? And you would fucking know whether I was under a spell." He pauses as he stares at Chrysi.
"Whaa..? Oh... Oooohh..." I slap my hand to my forehead. "Yeah, I'm an idiot."
"You suuure are, you fucking dunce."
"Fuck you."
"Shut your stupid mouth. And let's move on with our lives."
"Agreed." Chrysi comments. We all nod to each other and head back towards the living room. Spark, having hear everything, only smiles at Golden. He slightly scowls at her.
"... Well. I don't about all you people, but I'm feeling kinda lazy today so I'm gonna take a nap." I sit down on the single seat chair, recline it, and knock out for at least four or five hours. Because, really, considering what has happened, I feel I deserve a little rest beside sleeping at night.
"... He's waking up. Hurry!" As soon as I heard that while coming out of what I like to call a 'miniature comma', my shoot open and I jump from my seat. Without even sparing a thought as to what did or what may have happened, I rush to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror.
"Those fucking shit nuggets!" They put a massive amount of makeup on my face. I turn on the faucet and wash the crap off my face. Heh, yeah, as if I'm telling you what they to my face.
After I succesfully wash the stuff off my face I walk back to the living room. And the girls plus Golden, Spark, and Chrysi are standing before me. Rainbow, Pinkie, and Rarity clutching onto lipstick, mascara, and other things I couldn't recognize. And they're all laughing, rolling along the floor laughing out loud, even Fluttershy was laughing like a maniac. I managed to keep a straight face, waiting for them to calm down for an answer to the unspoken question: What the fuck? Luckily Twi was the first to recover.
"Sorry Ember..." She huffs between giggles. "But Chrysanthemum... told Rainbow about you sleeping... and she told us, and to bring makeup." I send the death glare to Rainbow. Who, which upon seeing my face clams up like fat man threatened with three weeks of fat camp. I look to the group and they all fall silent.
"Fluttershy, Twilight, Chrysi, Spark, Aj. Beat it."
"But..." I shut Twi up with a less intimidating glare. I jab a thumb towards the door. Without another word said they leave. Golden looking me worriedly. And, in a split second, I give him a small smirk. Just before he left he saw my smirk and smiled back.
"Alright, I'll be honest, that was a good prank." I say to Rainbow, Rarity, and Pinkie as soon as the door closes. The looks on there faces when I said that; oh god I wish I had a camera.
"... What?" Rainbow asks, dumbfounded.
"You heard me right."
"Oh, my, GOSH. You thought it was a good prank!" Pinkie says before she bursts out into intense giggle fits.
"You thought it was funny darling?" Rarity asked. "My my, this... surprising."
"Why?"
"Uh... we didn't think you'd be laughin' with us." Aj explains with a chuckle.
"Yeah, we kinda thought you'd be mad that we... y'know, covered your face with makeup." The rest nod in agreement.
"Then why did you do it in the first place?"
"Ember, c'mon, that was an opportunity I couldn't pass up." Chrysi answers.
"Yeah, it's like, one of those 'once in a lifetime', things." That has to be the most intelligent thing Rainbow has ever said, TO DATE.
"Yeah? Well, just wait until I find any of you asleep." I chuckle. "You do this means war right?"
"Oh yeah? Bring it!" Rainbow playfully adopts a fighting stance. We all get a good laugh out of it.
"Hehe, you guys should get goin', the rest are probably worrying about you three." The mares nod and head out the door. Rainbow and me make faces at eachother until she hits her haunches against the wall beside the door. Making me snort from the poor attempt to contain my laughter. She shoots a quick scowl in my direction before she leaves, and the doors closes. Hard, more like it was slammed. Would've pissed me off if it fell off its hinges again.
"So, you thought that was funny?" I flinch, just the tiniest of muscles twitch within me, and calmly turn around. Spark somehow got back in the house and snuck up on me.
"Yes, I did. Did you really have to do that?"
"No, but it was funny, wasn't it?"
"I guess." I say nonchalant. "But, how did you do that?"
"I teleported." What?
"... Come again?"
"I teleported." At my confused look she decided to explain. "While you were sleeping I asked Twilight to teach me a teleportation spell."
"Oh." Just then a wicked look crossed her face.
"So, who's the dunce now, hmm?"
"Fuck you." I couldn't keep a straight face. But I was more perplexed than anything. Spark has displayed emotion that I didn't implement into her system. Was it magic that's allowing her to be more... human? Magic... that reminds me. "Hey Spark?"
"Hm?"
"You mind watching the house for me? I just remembered something I want to go do with Twilight. And it's not for any reason you were thinking of. Pervert." I smirk and she does the same, I kinda know her too well. Then again, I do happen to know what's exactly goin' on in her head. Since I technically created her n' all. Just, all those new things she's experiencing make it more and more difficult to discern her thought process.
Bah, I'm thinking about this too much.
"Sure Ember. I'll keep an eye on the house."
"Thanks Spark. I'll be back sometime later today."
"Alright. Bye." I give her my classic two fingered wave and head to Twi's place. And very soon I notice that a lot of the ponies about wave to me, a lot. Did I ever notice this? I mean, they've always waved to me, some of them do I mean. But It seems that more of them are than usual.
*Could it be because of that whole, Tireck thing?* I ask myself.
-It could be, after all you did help the girls take that mother fucker down.-
*I suppose... Eh, it might as well be that.* I mentally shrug it off and continue towards Twi's when I remember something. *Ruby?*
~Yes?~
*Did I ever ask you to give me every single spell you know of?*
~I... don't believe you ever have.~
*You sure?*
~No... I honestly can't remember.~
*Ok... do you think you can show me all of the spells you know? Like an interface?*
~Like a what?~
*Nevermind that word. Um... Oh! It's more like a dictionary. And you can show me whatever spells you know that relate, or are relevant. And... copy them to my memory?* I get no immediate response from rudy.
~I... suppose I can do that. Why do you ask?~
*Well, I want to be able to use as many spells as I can at my disposal, should the need ever arise.*
~I see... that could be beneficial for both of us. Alright, let's do that. If I can.~
*Cool.*
"Hey Twi glad to see you got the guards." I remarked as me and Sparklebutt made walked down a few halls. Apparently she has a room dedicated to science. God she's a fucking nerd.
"Yeah, after what you told me I figured that the guards can handle small situation while me and we deal with bigger problems." The guards within earshot snort in annoyance.
"'We'?" I repeat. "Since when am I involved in you little misadventures?"
"Ever since I put you as captain of the Royal Guard, Ponyville Division." I mentally and physically freeze.
"... What?"
Perspective change, cause why not?
"Are you kidding me Twi?" Ember asked in disbelief. The guards around the pair turned in surprise, and in slight fear. They all know who this character is, words spreads quickly within the day and night guard. At least Princess Celestia never overheard her guards talking about 'The Big Fight' as they came to call it. "You never thought to ask me? How would you know I would even want that job?" Twilight shrank a little.
"I... uh... thought you'd want it..." Ember groans while he slaps a hand to his face.
"Twilight. You remember the letter Celestia sent you a while back? You know, the one?" Twilight nods warily. "Do you think someone would be ok with staying in the fucking military after battling in one of the most horrific wars in human history?" The guards were clearly not doing any good at keeping their usual stoic faces. Some of them gagged while others just looked at the human in horror.
"Yes?" It took Twilight a few seconds to respond. Ember kept his face in his hand while Twilight put on a strained smile. It doesn't last though, as it disappears when Ember looks back at Twilight.
"I appreciate the offer Twi. But I'm gonna decline. As much as I would absolutely love to boss these puny guards around for no reason," Many of the guards were about to retort, but thought better of it when they remembered who they were gonna shit-talk with. "They're already gonna have enough shit to deal with when some monster or villain comes thrashing through the town."
"Oh... ok." Twilight dejectedly looks down.
"And stop the water works before they even start." The purple mare huffs in annoyance.
"You're difficult to work with." She harrumphs.
"No I'm not, I just don't want to become a fucking captain of any type of military. Or be involved in any affairs with said military. If you didn't guess already, I. Don't. Want. To be part. Of your military."
"Alright Ember. I get it. Sorry for asking."
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to know. Don't act surprised."
"Hmpf."
"Oh shut up Twi. As if it would be an advantage to have me in your country's military. I think I'm already enough help around here."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, since a lot of the ponies around me think I'm a hero for helping you and the others defeat Tirek. I'm kinda obligated to keep a 'safe' environment. I mean that if I were to become captain it would likely cause ponies to think something going and it's not good. When there really isn't. You get what I mean?"
"Mm... I suppose. I never thought of it like that."
"Heh, that just means you need to learn to think from more than just one perspective."
"Whatever Ember. We're here anyway." The two stop in front of two normal looking wooden doors, from the middle ages by human standards. With a flick of the alicorn's horn both doors swing open to reveal an exact replica of Twilight's basement laboratory. Just replace the dirt, rooted walls with pristine purple crystal.
"Wow Twi. You recreated your entire lab?"
"Yes, I also received a few upgrades." Twi activates the machinery with her magic and the room is filled with beeping and buzzing noises. And a previously unseen screen five feet tall six feet wide turns on.
"What the fuck!? Twi, why do you have a giant screen in here?"
"Because," Twilight walks close to the screen. "it's my supercomputer." The human admiring the large machine freezes and looks at the alicorn.
"Twi, you serious?" She fucking nods.
"Yes. Now I can store all my experiments and results somewhere besides books! THis is going to make things much more easy!"
"And what 'things' are you talking about exactly?"
"You said you wanted to test your abilities right?"
"Yeeeaaah?" I'm liking where this is going.
"Well I'll be using this to record everything!"
"Riiiiiiiight." She adopts an impatient look.
"Well? Shouldn't we get started?" I shrug.
"I guess. Since you are just dying to get started."
"Hey!"
"Oh shut up Twi, you know I'm only kidding." I chuckle.
"I know, let's get started." She sighs. |
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