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No Pony's Sky | Learning A New Language | "So let me get this straight," Eon said. "You want to go home, yet you want to also explore because I said I have a bit more respect for you?"
Star Chaser looked at his galactic map. Hundreds of stars filled it as he looked for his next destination. "Well, we'll have to explore to find things to get to home, right?" He asked. "I figure that an occasional break from looking for stuff can't hurt."
"Oh, that's not what I figured you meant."
Star selected a star system and sat back as the ship warped there. "What? Did you think I was going to go backwards?"
"Kind of," Eon said. "You did say you were going to pick out a random star system as your means of getting home."
"Well, I have no idea where Equus is."
"You've said that before," Eon said. "Stop saying it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Eon said. "By the way, does that new multi-tool have everything you need?"
"Oh, crap, thanks for reminding me." Star took out the multi-tool and checked. "Yep! It does," he said. "I still wish your let me shoot that damn Gek though."
"That old multi-tool was three years old," Eon said. "If anything, that Gek did you a favor."
"Fair enough point," Star said as the ship arrived by a few enormous space freighters. "So, what's this star system called?"
"Gaeseonjuku-Ettsu."
"Sounds exotic," Star said as he used his scanner. "Ooh, there's a blueprint on that planet," he said as he steered his ship towards a dry looking planet. "What do you think it's for?" He asked as he pulse jumped towards it.
"It's probably something worthless," Eon said. "Some stupid blueprint for your jetpack."
"You're just jealous because you don't get the satisfaction I do when I leap over a cliff and land safely on the other side," Star said as the ship broke through the planet's atmosphere. "Holy crap, this planet looks like shit!" Star exclaimed as he got a good look at the less than pleasant sight.
The planet's surface was completely barren. Harsh winds swept up dust, and rocks covered the ground like autumn leaves. The land off in the distance was mountainous.
Star landed the ship a short distance from a ruined, dust covered building. "Star, I must warn you," Eon said. "My sensors indicate the planet is extremely hot. I recommend finding something to help your suits thermal power while here."
"Oh, come on, how hot can it be?" Star pipped his ship's hatch. A blast of hot air blew against him as he did so. "Oh, sweet Celestia!" He yelled as his suit scrambled to cool itself. "The air is hotter than a room full of hormonal colts and fillies!"
"Thanks, Star. I truly needed that image."
"You're very welcome," Star said his suit finally cooled itself off. "Okay, what's the planet called?" He asked as he walked towards the building.
"Nuriholareyr-Zef."
"What a name," Star said as he looked up at the sky, which was yellowish and cloudy. "This planet is like Tartarus, only with less evil beings."
"Don't jinx it," Eon said. "Even I'm somewhat afraid as to what might be here."
"Wow, the big, brave Eon is afraid," Star said as he walked towards the building. "I'm absolutely shocked."
"Hey, it's perfectly natural," Eon said. "Even if I can't feel any real emotion... so maybe it isn't actually natural."
Star walked into the building. The inside was dusty, and wires were exposed. A faint, red light glimmered in a corner, which illuminated a portion of a terminal. Near it was another terminal that had a medical cross on it.
"Geez, even indoors, it feels like I'm being cooked alive," Star said as he walked up to the terminal. He hit a button and a blueprint popped up. "Huh, a thermal warmer," Star said. "Well, I won't complain."
"Maybe the planet's sentient and wants to eat you."
"Sure, and I'm Celestia's child," Star said as he looked around the room. "Is that really it?"
"Looks like it," Eon said. "By the way, your thermal levels are are at seventy five percent."
"Yeah, I think I'm fine," Star said as he left the building. He hit his scanner and noticed an odd icon appears not too far from him. It was purple, but the tip center portion was white--as though it was a light. "What do you think that is?" Star asked.
"I don't know," Eon said. "Why don't you go check it out."
Star ran over to the strange object.. "I hope it's something worthwhile."
Upon his arrival, Star saw a small, grey, object. It had a bright light near the top, and a few strange runes on it.
Star stared at the object in confusion. "What is that?"
"I don't know," Eon said. "Can you scan it?"
Star took out his multi-tool and attempted to scan it. "Nope," he said. "I feel oddly compelled to touch it though."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Eon asked. "I feel like it'll turn you into ash."
"Only one way to found out," Star said as he approached the object. He placed a hoof on it.
Dozens of Gek voices filled the explorers head, each of which said a single word, until one remained.
Friend, the voice repeated over and over.
Star staggered back and fell onto his haunches. "Damn, that was intense," he said.
"What happened?" Eon asked. "Did you find out the meaning of life?"
"No," Star said as he stood up. "A bunch of Gek were talking to me. It was odd. I could understand what they were saying."
"Were they speaking their native tongue or Equestrian?"
"I think they were speaking Equestrian," Star said. "I wonder if there are more of these things."
"You can look later," Eon said. "Warning: storm approaching."
"Wait, what kind of storm?"
Suddenly, the wind kicked up. Dust blew against Star violently, and is thermal cooling temperature rapidly went down."O-kay, that isn't good," he said as he struggled to walk. "Eon, is there any way you could put the oxide elements into my suit on your own?"
"No can do, Star," Eon said. "I can affect your suits systems, but I can't use a physical object."
Star attempted to run towards.the building been in before, but wind proved to be too powerful, and he fell down in exhaustion.
"Star, your thermal levels are at twenty five percent."
"When did they hit fifty?!" Star asked as he struggled to stand up.
"You were in la-la land," Eon said. "Or wherever you were when you touched that object."
Star opened his inventory and put some zinc into his thermal power source. "Well, that was all I had. What are they at now?"
"Forty percent."
"Great," Star said as he continued his struggle against the wind that this twisted version of mother nature called weather. "I've always wanted to die in a dust storm."
"Star, I have an idea," Eon said. "It's incredibly risky, but it might work."
"I'm open to all options that don't involve me getting cooked alive!"
"Use your magic and make yourself a hole."
"Uhhh... what?"
"Maybe if you can make a make deep enough, you can escape the warm winds."
Star didn't argue and fired off a powerful magical beam towards the ground. "If this doesn't work, I'm going to haunt you."
"Hey, I didn't say this was guaranteed to work!"
Star stopped casting the magical beam and looked down the hole. "Well, here goes nothing," he said as he hopped down it. He landed softly at the bottom and fell to his haunches; exhausted and tired.
"Hey, it worked!" Eon announced as Stars thermal levels rose back up. "You owe me."
Star passed out.
"You can't escape paying your debt!"
Star snored peacefully.
"Jackass." ---
A short while later, Star woke up. "How... how long was I out?"
"Long enough that your life support levels are at ten percent," Eon said. "May wanna fix that."
Star's eyes shot open. He frantically look through his inventory and grabbed a bunch of plutonium. "Okay, this will do," he said as he refilled his life support source. "Geez this is annoying."
"You've managed to do it all of this time," Eon said. "You can continue to do it."
"Yeah, yeah," Star said. "Okay, so what was I going to do before I passed out?"
"You wondered if there were more of those strange objects around here. Then a really bad dust storm happened and you nearly died."
"Ah, yes," Star said as he activated his jetpack and ascended out of the hole. "Maybe I should look for a way to counteract that."
"Or, you can just make more holes until it looks like a crazed archaeologist came through here with a giant drill," Eon said. "I think my idea is cooler."
"Your idea also means I have a higher chance of dying," Star said. "Of course, I hear they plan on making more seasons of the grounds favorite show: Dirt. I hear season eight hundred and nine is the best of them all."
"Fine, fine," Eon said. "Maybe there are more abandoned buildings around here that have more thermal add-ons for your exosuit."
Star scanned the area.
And found nothing.
"Welp, looks like I'll be doing this the old fashioned way," Star said as he ran back towards his ship.
"I'm gonna bet you ten units that you crash into a mountain."
Star popped open the hatch to his ship and leaped into it. "You must have faith in me, young AI!" He exclaimed as he turned his ship on and took off. "I'm a lieutenant after all!"
"Okay, first of all, stop with the enthusiasm," Eon said. "It's really disturbing. Second of all, you're the same lieutenant who once tried threw a multi-tool at a giant ant-like creature that walked in two legs, then ran the other the way when it chased after him, all the while asking why it was doing so."
"Hey, it was a natural reaction to something four times your size!" Star snapped. "Besides, it was hideous."
"Okay, I'll agree with that. It was probably the ugliest thing we've seen to date."
Star smiled and scanned the land below him. "Hey, I've got a hit!"
"Is it a building?"
"No, it's some sort of ruin," Star said. "Should we go check it out?"
"I'm afraid that you'll either get bored and fall asleep, or another storm will start up," Eon said. "Perhaps you should wait."
"What if I land right next to the ruins and wait near the ship?"
"You're going to go to the ruins no matter what I say, right?"
Star landed his ship in the middle of the ruins. "You say something?" He asked as he popped the ship's hatch.
"I said you've got a death wish."
"Oh, I realized that a long time ago," Star replied as he looked up at the giant ruined structure that loomed before him. It looked like a globe, and was a dark blueish color. Directly below the monolithic story was a hole with something inside of it. Nearby were three of those strange objects Star had seen earlier.
"This has to be hundreds of years old," Eon said. "Perhaps even thousands."
"So, about the age of the average librarian?"
"Not that old."
"Oh." Star approached one of the strange objects and looked at it curiously. "Eon, any idea if there's an impending storm?"
"There's a chance there will be one within the next twenty minutes," Eon said.
"Here goes nothing," Star said. He approached the object and touched it.
Again, dozens of voices filled his head until only one remained.
Idiot.
Star staggered back and glared at the object. "Dick."
"What word stuck with you?"
"Idiot," Star grumbled.
"Oh, that's rich!"
Star rolled his eyes and walked over to another one of the objects. He touched it.
Hello.
"Did this one call you a fool?"
"No," Star said. "It just said 'hello'."
"Lame."
Star walked over to the last object and touched it.
Sentinel.
"That's all of them." Star turned his attention to the small hole on the ground. "Do I dare touch it?"
"I dunno, Eon said. "Do you?"
"I was asking you."
"Sure," Eon replied. Go ahead."
Star approached the circle and nervously touched it.
A diamond-shaped object sprung out of it. Lines of code filled Stars mind as he stared blankly at the object.
You desire the knowledge within these knowledge stone's and this monolith? Find the Atlas then.
Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the object shot back into the ground.
Star staggered backwards and fell down next to a stone.
"Uh, Star? Are you okay?" Eon asked.
"My brain is full of fuck."
"That's nice and all," Eon said, "but you may wanna get into your ship because, like any great weatherman, I was wrong about my prediction."
Star's eyes shot open. "Wait, you admired to being wrong?!"
"Star! It's going to start storming any second now!"
As if on queue, the wind picked up violently. Dust blew against Star as a sudden realization hit him.
He was about to be cooked alive by a barren planet that he compared to a bunch of horny kids.
With every ounce of strength he stood up and tried to reach his ship. Come on, Star, he thought as he struggled against the violent wind. No planet is going to keep you down!
After several grueling minutes, Star reached his ship. he held onto its side and, using his magic, popped the ship's hatch open. He slowly climbed in and shut the hatch. "Hah! Suck it, planet!"
"Star, you realize you were only three feet from your ship that whole time, right?"
"Lemme have my moment."
"You could've just held onto the side of the ship and used it as support."
"Stop ruining my heroic feeling!"
"No."
"Feh, fine," Star said as he adjusted himself. "So, that... monolith thing told me to go 'find the Atlas'."
"Wait, the place you upload that data to?"
"I guess," Star said. "Where exactly is the Atlas?"
"I haven't got the slightest idea."
"You think it has anything worth taking?"
"I've read that there are things called Atlas stones that are worth a lot of units."
"Oooh."
"They're also extremely rare."
"Never mind!"
"So, no Atlas hunting?"
Star tapped his chin. "Maybe." |
No Pony's Sky | A Recipe for Disaster | Star Chaser sat in his ship with a look of frustration on his face as he watched the storm outside rage on. He let out a sigh and sat back in his seat.
"So, twice today you've almost died," Eon said. "I'd seriously recommend looking for something to combat the heat outside."
"Okay, fine," Star replied. "How about we go hunt for something like that thermal warmer I found earlier?"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Eon asked. "The visibility with the storm is horrendous."
"I'll be fine," Star said.
"Alright," Eon said. "Any idea where one might be?"
"I'd guess in a building like the one I found the other in," Star said. "Personally, I was hoping you might've detected one while I flew to the ruins."
"Negative," Eon said. "However, I did detect a bit of wildlife."
"Of course you did." Star turned his ship on and took off. "Tell me, did any look like the creatures from the monster movies back home?"
"How should I know?" Eon asked. "I only detected their presence."
"I seriously need to find an upgrade for your radar," Star mused as he scanned the ground below him. "Oh, hey, a distress beacon."
"Are you gonna check it out?"
"No. Whoever set it up and can wait for a real hero," Star said as he flew west and scanned the ground again. "And another fucking beacon. How many poor souls got lost here?!"
"You're one of them."
"I have a functioning ship."
"You're about to crash into a mountain."
Star shook his head. "Oh, shit!" He said as he swerved around the top of a mountain.
"Pilot of the year," Eon said sarcastically. "Next time, wait for the storm to end."
"Quiet," Star said as he scanned the ground for a third time. "Oh, hey, a hit on something that isn't a beacon!"
"What is it?"
"Looks like a building," Star said. He descended towards the location of the hit. Through the thick dust, a tall, crumbling, dust covered building came into view. "Looks old," Star said. I'm shocked it's still standing."
"I've detected another one of those 'knowledge stones' you found earlier in the general area," Eon said. "Maybe you can learn more words so you know when a Gek is insulting your unrivaled brilliance."
"Then I can shoot them, right?"
"No."
"But mom!"
"Do that again and your oxygen supply goes the way of the Dodo."
"Jerk," Star grumbled as he landed a few feet away from the ruin. "So, any idea when the storm will subside?"
"I'm afraid that if I make another prediction, we'll be stuck in here for nine hours."
Star shivered. "That's scarier than being in a petting zoo."
"You say that as my sensors pick up movement not too far from the ship."
Star let out a groan. "Which direction?"
"Behind us."
Star looked behind the ship. He could barely make out the outline of a wolf-like creature. "Nope." Star turned his ship back on, lifted off, moved back a few feet, and...
Crunch
Landed on the animal.
"Was that really necessary?" Eon asked.
"Yep."
"You have issues."
"In my defense, I never do well with animals."
"I stand by what I said," Eon said. "By the way: storm clearing."
Star popped the ship's hatch as the wind died down. He hopped out and scanned the area. "Ah, there's that stone," he said as he approached it. He put his hoof on it, and dozens of voices filled his head until only one remained.
Gek.
"'Hello, idiot Gek friend,' the Sentinel said," Star said.
"What are you going on about?" Eon asked.
"I learned how to say 'Gek'," Star said. "So I made a little story."
"Your story sucks."
"I know it does," Star said as he looked up at the ruined building. "Okay, let's see what the place holds in store for us."
Up close, it looked like a portion of a castle, and had a greenish tint underneath all of the dust, though it'd been weathered away by the wind and blistering heat.
"Hey, you think we'll find Gek mummies here?" Star asked. "I hope we do."
"Why?"
"Because it'd be awesome."
"That's a really bland reason."
"Fine: because mummies are usually buried with valuable things," Star said as he approached the structure.
"Go back to your original reason," Eon said. "It makes you look a little better in my processors."
"Too late, sucker," Star said as he entered the structure. The inside was largely unimpressive. A few vases and urns lay broken on the floor, and the air was humid. A small, but broken, staircase lead to an upper level. "Well, I can tell this place is going to hold all sorts of wondrous things," he said sarcastically.
"Star, this is the first room," Eon said. "Why don't you go explore the rest of the place before you whine that there's nothing here.'
"Yeah, but it feels so... empty," Star said as he walked towards the broken staircase and walked up it, the stairs creaking with each step he took.
"You've seen far too many movies," Eon said. "They're ruins. Of course they're empty!"
leaped over to the other side and continued up to a the second--and final--room.
The room had no door that lead into it, and was covered in a thick layer of dust. Despite that, one object was still visible.
A small chest.
"Ooh, it's like a Daring Do adventure!" Star exclaimed. "Okay, I just have to slowly make my way to the chest, right?"
"You're a unicorn, and you have a shield that can save you from animals with teeth bigger than you, bullets, and explosions, just to name a few. Why not just run and grab whatever is in there?"
"Because that wouldn't be fun."
"Star," Eon said, "just grab whatever is in there. Please."
Star let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, but only because you said please." He walked over to the chest and opened it. "Well, hello there," he said as he levitated a blueprint for a Plasma Launcher out. "You'll prove to be fun."
"Oh, just what you need," Eon said. "Something that could destroy part of a building."
"I didn't even think about that. Thanks!"
"Shit."
Star looked at the required resources. "Feh, I need more Heridium and Carbon," he grumbled. "Eon, any signs of a storm soon?"
"Negative," Eon answered. "Though I'd make it quick. I was wrong last time."
Star stood up and ran out of the room. He leaped off of the staircase landed softly on the ground below. "Okay, this shouldn't take too long," he said as he walked out. He took out his multi-tool and mined some carbon from a nearby plant. "Any idea where a nearby pillar of Heridium might be?"
"Why not scan the location instead of asking me?"
"Someone has an attitude."
"I'm not a damn scanner, Star," Eon said. "I may be able to detect things, but I can't hand out coordinates."
"Well, excuse me!" Star said as he scanned the area. "Okay, a pillar is right nearby."
"I'd recommend taking your ship in case a storm occurs," Eon said. "Unless you want to pass out in a hole again."
"Okay, mom," Star said. "Want to also give me a curfew?"
"Be home by six, and don't take candy from strangers."
"What if they offer me a teddy bear?"
"Then it's perfectly okay to go with them!"
"You'd make the worst parent ever," Star said as he popped the hatch to his ship. "And that's taking into account yours truly," he said as turned his ship on and took off.
"I'm honored to hold such a title."
Star chuckled. "It isn't the only title you hold," he said."You also hold the title for worst AI ever."
"You take that back this instant you heartless bastard!"
"Nope."
Eon cut Star's oxygen supply off. "Take it back!"
"I... ake... back!"
Eon turned Star's oxygen supply back on. "Good boy!"
Star gasped for air. "What the hell, Eon?!"
"What? I've threatened to cut it off before!"
"Yeah, but I never thought you'd actually do it!" Star said as he landed his ship near the Heridium pillar. "Besides, I called you the 'worst AI anyone could ask for' the other day."
"I wouldn't have actually let you die you baby," Eon said. "And that isn't the day same as actually calling me the worst AI."
Star cursed to himself and fired his multi-tool's mining laser at the pillar. "You can be such a meanie pants."
"Using insults meant for five year olds I see?"
"Got a problem with it?"
"Well, I don't wear pants for starters," Eon said. "And no, I don't. Actually, it's rather adorable."
"I think I'm going to be sick," Star said as he finished mining the Heridium. "The notion that you find something I did adorable is... ew!" Star's face turned green and he ran back into his ship. ---
One vomiting session later
"Remind me to do that more often," Eon said. "I feel it's the perfect Achilles heel."
"I hate you," Star said as he threw an inconspicuously green bag down into a ravine. "Like, I hate you so much that I could make this planet five degrees hotter."
"That isn't much hatred when you consider this planet is over two hundred degrees Fahrenheit."
"Oh."
"Yeah, maybe you should amp it up to about fifty degrees hotter."
"Maybe later," Star said as he pulled out the blueprint he found earlier. "For now, I must make this!"
"How adorable."
"That wasn't genuine!"
"Damn it."
Star chuckled to himself as he began to put together a new chip for his multi-tool. "Let's see, this goes here and that goes into that..."
"Oh, how I'd love to see you describe the birds and the bees to a bunch of foals."
"I tried that once actually."
"What happened?"
"Well, let's just say the local school doesn't like me anymore."
"Seems like a net gain for them all things considered."
Star scoffed as he finished the chip. "Okay, time to see what this bad boy can do!" He said as he implemented the chip into his multi-tool.
"Don't blow yourself up."
Star aimed the multi-tool at a nearby boulder and fired off a plasma grenade.
Boom!
The boulder exploded into hundreds of tiny pieces. A crater remained where the giant hunk of rock was proudly stood motionless.
"That was freaking awesome!" Star exclaimed. "Think I could use it to defend myself against wildlife?"
"You... you wanna blow them up?" Eon asked. "Why?!"
"What? You're shocked I'd want to extract revenge on them after being head-butted so much?"
"Yeah, but that's a grenade launcher and they're animals."
"So?"
"You can't put two and two together here, can you?"
"Animal plus grenade equals happy Star."
"You have a regular gun and yet you opt to use the explosive launcher," Eon said. "Your logic baffles me."
"My logic is amazing."
"No it isn't."
"It's flawless."
"Damn it, Star, I swear I will cut your oxygen supply off again."
"Fine, fine," Star said. "I won't use the grenade launcher on the animals."
"Terrific!" Eon said. "Now, you may want to get back to your ship."
Suddenly, the wind picked up, and Star was blown against a rock. "I've had it with this fucking planet!" He growled as he struggled to stand back up.
"Hey, I have this crazy idea," Eon said. "You have a grenade launcher. Why not use that to make a hole you can stay in?"
"Works for me!" Star aimed his multi-tool at the ground in front of him and fired a few grenades at it. "That'll work," he said as he blindly leaped down into the hole.
And into a cavern.
Thud!
"Okay, I wasn't expecting actual rock at the bottom."
"Nice landing," Eon said. "I give it a six."
"I'll take it," Star said as he stood up. He took out his multi-tool and hit the scanner on it.
Dozens of veins of Plutonium and other elements popped up on his visor. "Ho-oly shit," he said. "That's a lot of useful stuff."
"Star, I don't think you have enough slots in your inventory to carry all of that," Eon said. "Let alone enough storage in your ship."
"Eon, I've got this," Star said. "Can I put a waypoint marker here?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"What?!" Star cried out. "Why the fuck not?!"
"Your suit isn't equipped with such a function," Eon said. "While I may find it amusing to see you flip out, I do think it's total crap nonetheless."
Star let out an annoyed groan. "I was going to go back and forth between the space station and sell all of this," Star said. "Guess I'll take what I can carry."
"Star, that seems incredibly inefficient when you take into account how long that would take," Eon said as Star mined a vein of plutonium. "You'd have to take maybe four or five trips!"
"Yeah, and imagine how many units if make," Star said as he finished mining the vein of plutonium. "I could buy a new ship!"
"You have a coupon for a free one, don't you?"
"Oh, shit, I do," Star answered. "I'll worry about it next time we go to a space station."
"Then you'll forget about it, right?"
"Probably," Star said. "But you can remind me, right?"
"Fine, but only because I want to see what the ship looks like," Eon said. "By the way, the storm's clearing," Eon said as Star mined a vein of gold. "So you can go resume your little journey to get that thermal coolant."
"Do you feel it's really worth the effort?" Star asked. "This planet wouldn't be as bad as it is if it wasn't so violently windy."
"I've read of planets getting up to temperatures as high as six hundred degrees Fahrenheit."
"Never mind, I'll go find it," Star said as he continued to mine. "Let me just got few more minerals!"
"Star, with how long you take, another storm will have started by the time you're done."
"Eon, this is necessary!" Star said in a pleading voice. "In case a future blueprint needs any of these to be made!"
"You can't fool me," Eon said. "You're going to sell them."
"I need to get a better poker face," Star mumbled. "Fine, let's go," he said as he walked back to the hole he'd made.
"Oh, don't be sad," Eon said as Star ascended up through the hole. "There will no doubt be more minerals you can mine on the next planet."
"Yeah, but those were all so condensed!" Star whined as he walked back to his ship. It took the aspect of mining I hate the most out and let me just take it all!"
"If we were down there for another four minutes, you would've gotten bored."
"You... aren't wrong, which ticks me off," Star said as he popped the hatch to his ship. "It's almost as bad as when I'm wrong!"
"Good thing they both happen equally," Eon said. "Now, how do you propose you get that thermal coolant?"
"It was your idea," Star said as he turned his ship on and took off. "Why don't you give me an idea?"
"Go find another building."
"Wonderful idea!" Star said. "Shouldn't take too long," he said as he scanned the ground below.
"Now watch it take us several ho-"
"I found one!"
"Well, damn."
Star landed his ship outside of a small, dust covered building. Outside of the building stood a broke beacon and a few containers that had been looted. A few animals scurried away as Star hopped out of his ship and walked towards the building. "Lady luck, be kind to ol' Star."
"Says the thirty-three year old stallion."
"It sounded better that way," Star said as he entered the building that looked as those it had been unearthed from beneath a desert. "If I didn't know any better, every building on this planet was a sandcastle," he said as he observed the interior. A terminal, first-aid kit, and multi-tool--which rested on the wall--were all covered in dust. The corpse of a Gek sat in the corner. Beside it was a second multi-tool, which had been partly eaten.
"Let me guess," Eon said. "You're going to search that Gek?"
"Oh, come on," Star said. "I was just joking about the mummies earlier."
"Sure you were."
Star rolled his eyes and approached the multi-tool on the wall. "This thing looks ancient," he said.
"My sensors indicate it's five years old."
"Like I said: ancient," Star said as he set his sights on the terminal. "Eon, do you have any idea if this thing is still functional?"
"In all truthfulness, I'm not sure," Eon answered. "No part of it appears to be damaged."
Star hesitantly hit a switch, which turned the terminal on, which caused a message to appear.
Gek crew crashed on planet to try and tried to survive against harsh conditions and wildlife. Most wildlife not threatening, but one creature with huge teeth crave meat and want to eat Gek. Afraid I won't survive long. Others couldn't contact space station. Signal too weak, and weather damaged beacon beyond repair.
Did create something to combat harsh weather. Doesn't last long, but was enough to help us get food. Uses Oxide elements to keep cool. Whoever finds this, take it. Blueprint at end of this message.
A blueprint suddenly popped out of an compartment on the side of the terminal. Star picked it up and looked at it with a smile. "Score!"
"You know, if you install that, you should probably install the thermal warmer too."
"That isn't a bad idea," he said. "Still, that's two slots in my inventory taken. Any idea where I could get more?"
"Go find a place where you can get more slots?"
"The ever helpful Eon! Just telling me to go find a place with no help!"
"Okay, there places that sell them. Sometimes, when space freighters are attacked, certain parts are launched out to screw the pirates over, and they sometimes land on nearby planets. You can't miss them, they're rather big, and have a safety field in front of where you enter to purchase the additional inventory space."
"See, that wasn't so bad now was it?"
"I think I died a little on the inside."
Star laughed. "The little things in life," he said as he looked over the blueprint. "Iron and carbon... okay, that should be easy." Star rolled up the blueprint and placed it in his inventory. He walked towards the exit where he was greeted by a small, yellow-brown colored creature. Its neck was horizontal, and its head--which had a beak for a nose, two horns at the top, and no visible face--was tilted downwards. It had two short, slender legs that looked to have dust-colored vines wrapped around it.
Star stared down at the abomination.
The abomination stared down at the ground.
"You are horrifying."
The abomination ran off.
"Guess you hurt its feelings," Eon said.
"Bummer," Star said. "I kinda wanted to kick it."
"Okay, I admit: that would've been kinda funny to see," Eon said "except it wouldn't have you soulless monster."
Star chuckled. "Stop, I might blush," he said as he popped the hatch to his ship and got in. "Okay, now to leave this shithole for good!"
"Warning: storm incoming."
"Oh, yay, a parting gift," Star said as he took off. Despite the piss poor visibility, Star broke through the planet's atmosphere and was soon in orbit around the planet. "Do you think if I report that building to a Gek at the space station, they'd reward me?"
"They might," Eon said. "But do you really care enough to do so?"
"Good point," Star answered. "Off to a new world then!" |
No Pony's Sky | Somepony's Sky | Star Chaser whistled a nameless tune as he navigated his way through a small field of meteors. Around him were a few enormous space freighters, and off in the distance was a vibrant, red planet
"Music to my processors," Eon said as Star continued to whistle. "So, what are your plans when you arrive on planet blood drive over there?"
Star stopped whistling and chuckled. "I'll harness the power of vampires and create an army to take over the galaxy," he said. "Then nobody will be able to stop me!"
"How creative," Eon said. "Now, what are you really going to do?"
"Get an army of werewolves."
Eon remained silent.
"Fine, fine," Star said. "What was that fluid thingy I needed?"
"You mean Suspension Fluid?" Eon asked. "Well, that'd be great. If you do find a blueprint for that, you're nearly set for your trip home."
"Have you forgotten who you're with?" Star asked. "Because I think my werewolf plan might've fried your processors a bit."
"Yes, I remember," Eon said. "I'm with the dumbest pilot in the galaxy."
"I appreciate your compliment," Star said as he approached the red planet. "I hope this color doesn't become reoccurring thing."
"Don't like the color red I take it?"
"Well, there's only one color I truly dislike, and that's purple. That said, red would probably be my second least favorite color. It's more that red is the color of blood," Star said.
"So, I'm going to guess you're squeamish and that you aren't a fan of princess Twilight if that's the case?"
"Yes to squeamish and sorta," Star said. "If she dyed her coat, maybe I'd like her more. As it is, I always want to empty a bucket of paint onto her."
Before Eon could reply, a wave of light flew over. Star's ship. "What was that?" He asked.
"That was another ships star system scan."
"That's... not good, is it?" Star asked as he got within the red planet's gravitational pull.
As if on queue, an alarm started to blare inside the ship. Star covered his ears and cringed at the painfully loud noise.
"Warning: hostile ships approaching," Eon said. "So, I guess that answers your question."
"No, I think I need it spelled out for me," Star said as he tried to activate his ships boosters. "Oh, come on! They're jammed? What a load!"
While Star started to break through the planet's atmosphere, numerous ships appeared not too far from him and attacked a nearby space freighter. "Oh, Star! Your friends who you tried to rob," Eon said. "What did you call then?"
"I said they're what one would get if they combined the shame one feels after a college party that involved heavy drinking and a bunch of cockroaches " Star said as his ship entered the planet's skies. "Now, with any luck, they won't see me and I can go about my life without disruption."
"Well, I just detected another scan from a few of them," Eon said. "So, you may be cautious."
Star groaned. "I hate pirates," he said as he flew over a red meadow.
"Uh... Star?"
"Some of are behind me, aren't they?"
"Some of them are behind you."
Suddenly, several plasma bolts flew passed Star, along with two laser beams.
"Oh, crap!" Star yelled as he tried to dodge the oncoming barrage of fire. "Okay, is there any way i can lose them?"
"You could land, but I fear they'd be too much for even your shield to handle," Eon said. "My only advice is to try and fend them off."
Star let out a frustrated sigh as another barrage of plasma bolts flew passed his ship, a few striking the rear of the ship. "Okay, no reason to panic."
Vwoom!
An enormous, green energy beam flew passed Star's ship and struck a large tree in front of it, which caused it to explode.
"Never mind, I'm in full blown panic mode!" Star said as he made a sharp right turn.
Crash!
Behind him, a ship tried to make the same sudden turn and slammed into the ground. It rolled over numerous times and finally settled where the tree had been, now resembling a piece of abstract art.
"Star, your ship has weapons, right?"
"Yeah, and I despise-"
"Fucking use them!"
Star turned his ship upwards and spun it around. He locked onto one of the ships and fired his plasma cannon at it, which blasted the ship's left wing off.
Woosh!
Star watched as the ship flew passed the left side of his windshield and slammed into the ground. "Ho-oly crap that was awesome!" He said as the ship exploded into heaps of flaming twisted metal.
"While I agree, you still have three other ships to deal with and they seem rather content with lining up like ducks at a carnival game."
Star turned his attention to the center ship had a large cannon in the front that appeared to be charging something. "Oh, balls."
VWOOM!
The central ship fired off an enormous, green energy beam enveloped Star's ship.
"Warning: Shields at twenty five percent."
"Shit, shit, shit." In a panic, Star slammed onto his ships boosters at he frantically searched for oxide elements to restore his ship's shields.
Crash!
Star jerked forward violently as his ship flew straight into the leftmost ship, and tore through the cockpit, which instantly killed the pilot, and sending the ship crashing into the ground.
"Now you have no shields!" Eon exclaimed sarcastically. "Good going!"
Star grabbed a bit of zinc and placed it into a small opening in his ship, which caused his shields to quickly rise back up. "Where are the last-"
Woosh!
A ship flew passed the right side of Star's ship, turned to face him, and fired off a wild barrage of plasma bolts.
"Your shields are now at seventy five percent," Eon said as Star made a sharp left turn.
"What? Not gonna issue a warning?" Star asked as more bolts flew passed his ship.
"Figured I'd spice things up."
"Well, I appreciate it," Star said as he spotted another tree. "I have a terrible idea."
"Implying you've ever had a good idea?"
"Not now, Eon!" Star said as he turned his shop towards the tree. "I just hope the bastard behind me doesn't-"
Vwoom!
The tree which Star had been flying towards exploded, and left behind a fiery stump.
"My life sucks more than a black hole," Star said as the ship with the large cannon flew passed Star and out of sight, and the other ship flew up along side Star's left side.
Bang!
The ship slammed into Star's ship, which caused the frustrated explorer to grit his teeth. "If they chipped the ship's paint..."
"Why do you care about the paint more than your life?"
"Because the paint makes it look awe-"
Bang!
Before Star could finish his sentence, the assaulting ship slammed into him again. "Screw this!" Star roared. He slammed into the aggressing ship and shook his hoof at the other pilot like an angry commuter.
"Do you really think they understand you?"
"Quiet it, makes me feel better," Star said as he went to slam back into the other ship.
However, the other pilot retaliated and slammed into Star even harder. "That sob of a bitch," Star growled. He retaliated by slamming into the ship even harder.
"Star, if I may suggest, why not fly up?"
Star's eyes widened. "That's a brilliant idea!" He said. He watched as the other pilot prepared to slam into him. "Screw you, other pilot!" He yelled as he flew up. He looked out his right window and watched as the other ship flew into the side if a mountain and exploded.
"Star, the fact you didn't think to do that tells me all too much about how smart you are."
"There will be time for insults after we-"
VWOOM!
An enormous energy beam flew right passed Star's ship, narrowly missing him. "Deal with the last ship."
The final ship hovered in front of Star. Its cannon glowed a faint green.
"Star, may I suggest that you shoot it," Eon said. "Also, I believe shooting it may work."
"Okay, so you want me to negotiate with it?" Star asked as the cannon glowed brighter.
"Star, this is no time for being a wise ass! Just shoot the stupid thing until it explodes into a thousand tiny pieces and we can all roast s'mores over the twisted heaps of metal!"
"So, you want me to try to coax it into letting me keep it as a pet?" Star asked with a chuckle.
"No, I want you teach it how to dance."
Star swerved to the right as the cannon fired off a powerful energy beam. "Okay. I've got this," he said as he aimed his plasma cannon at the ship's large cannon. He slammed on the fire button and watched as dozens of small plasma bolts flew towards the cannon.
Kaboom!
The ship, rather anticlimactically, exploded in a mixture of green and orange. Chunks of fiery twisted metal flew in all directions as Star watched in awe.
"This sky is mine!" Star said with a large smile.
"I'm honestly shocked you didn't die," Eon said.
"I'm a lieutenant for a reason," Star said with a cocky grin. "Now, let's find a place to settle down for the night," he said. "I don't feel terribly safe where most of these bastards ships have gone down."
"I can get behind that," Eon said. "I just hope they don't somehow find you while you sleep."
"I have you," Star said as he scanned the land around him. "Hey, there's a place not too far from here," he said as he flew towards it. "Anyways, if anyone breaks in, you can make a crap ton of noise. Like a dog!"
"I'm glad you think so much if me."
"What? Dogs are called a stallion's best friend!"
"Something tells me you don't think that way about me."
"Well, if I had to be honest, you're the only real... thing that I've had to talk to. So, even though I hate you, you're still technically my best friend as of now.
"That's both processor warming and disgusting."
"You're welcome!" Star said as he landed outside a small, rundown, building that resembled a boxcar. "Something tells me this isn't exactly a five star hotel."
"Is it the fact it's a single building that looks like it's a shed or the fact it looks like it hasn't been visited in years?"
Star popped his ship's hatch and hopped out of it. "I was gonna say it's the fact it makes me sad just looking it," he said as he shut the hatch. He looked at the side of his ship and frowned. "That bastard did scratch the paint!"
"With how many meteors you've hit over the years, I doubt it makes a difference."
Star let out a sigh. "I guess," he said. "So, if I may finally ask now that I'm not being shot at while flying," he said as he walked towards the building, "what's the name of this planet?"
"Tommotr LX307," Eon said. "It sounds more like a model name for a starship than a planet name to me."
"Maybe it's actually a big, spherical ship!" Star said as he entered the building. "And this is about as dull as dull can get."
The inside of the building was completely empty, save for a blueprint on the floor. Star walked over and picked it up.
"What's it for?"
"Radiation protection," Star said as he sat in the floor and stretched out. "Guess it's something."
"So are you going to sleep in here?" Eon asked. "Because my sensors indicate it's about twelve degrees Fahrenheit in here."
"Well, I was," Star said. "When I read 'shelter' while flying here, I expected a bed. Not what looks like a storage house."
"So, back to the ship?" Eon asked.
"Back to the ship," Star answered as he walked out of the building and over to his ship. "Reminds me of when I had a marefriend," he said as he popped the hatch and hopped in. "But instead of a couch, it's the cockpit of a starship."
"If you have the slightest bit of an imagination, pretend I'm playing a violin."
Star shut the hatch to his ship and lay back in his seat. "No."
"Well, screw you then."
"Right back at you, bud, " Star replied. With that, he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep. ---
That evening, Star slept peacefully
CRASH!
That is, until something crashed into the building in front of him while he slept.
Star shot up and frantically looked around. "What the fuck?!" He asked.
"Uh... Star," Eon said. "You may not like this."
"What?" Star asked. "Has the wildlife learned how to make weapons and they're taking us over?"
"No," Eon said. "That enormous thing in the sky is."
Suddenly, an enormous shadow covered the land. Star looked up at the sky. "Oh... crap," he said softly.
A space freighter slowly descended to the ground. Fiery metal chunks rained down to the land like meteors.
Star gulped as stared at the behemoth of a ship. "Why is that falling into the planet?"
"The pirates must've destroyed its gravitational thrusters, so it got pulled in by the planet's gravitational pull," Eon said. "I wouldn't be shocked if they brought it in closer as an act of revenge against the Gek for having them on their most wanted list."
"They're so charming," Star said sardonically as he took off in the opposite direction of the enormous ship of no doubt wonderfully valuable and useful loot and items.
Too bad most were stolen or destroyed
"You know, you should buy a freighter," Eon said. "Then, whenever you get home, you can show Celestia you bring her gifts from tons of worlds."
"I wouldn't spend that much just to brag that I've got a bunch of shit to show her," Star said. "Unless she made me into a high ranking official."
"Surely she'd give you something for bringing back so many things, right?"
"Yeah, and you're expecting me to not have sold it all."
"Well, wouldn't the currency back on home be more useful than units?"
"You see, once Equus established its federation in space, it scrapped the 'bit' in favor of the unit, since that acts as currency for other races."
"So, rather than give gifts from various other worlds to your monarch, you'd rather give them to the highest seller?"
"Bingo!" Star exclaimed. "You win a round of applause from me!" Star clapped his hooves together when...
CRASH!
The space freighter finally slammed into the ground and sent up a tsunami of dirt. The monstrous, burning ship obliterated everything in its path before it finally stopped in the middle of the once dense and beautiful forest.
Star stood motionless, a look of shock on his face. "Well," he said sat motionless. "Should we go look at what remains?"
"Absolutely," Eon said. "I'm curious to see what it looks like myself."
Star flew up and turned around. Below, he saw the fiery wreckage the space freighter. "Think it's picture worthy?"
"Oh, definitely," Eon answered. "You can give it to Celestia as an Equus Day card and tell her to 'save the environment'!"
"I like your thinking," Star said as he looked around for a camera.
KABOOM!
Star flinched as the freighter exploded in an enormous ball of fire and metal, which leveled the nearby forestation and set it ablaze.
"Guess it was camera shy," Eon said.
"Dang, I really wanted that picture," Star said. "Oh well. Time to start looking for that Suspension Fluid blueprint again."
"The faster, the better," Eon said. "I have a feeling those pirates are going to return soon."
"And if they do, I'll... probably run like a chicken," Star said as he scanned the land below him. An outpost marked itself on his ships map. "Until let, let's try to enjoy the planet."
"My sensors indicate this planet has a lot of fauna."
Star placed his forehooves onto his temples. He looked up at the sky and yelled, "Damn it all to Tartarus!" |
No Pony's Sky | Pony Vs. Wildlife | Star Chaser let out a heavy sigh. "I haven't been on this planet for a full day and I've been attacked by pirates, had to fly away from a destroyed space freighter and, worst of all, been told this stupid place is heavily populated with wildlife!"
"Why don't you just go fly to another planet?" Eon asked. "Nobody is going to make you stay here."
"Except for the remaining pirates who won't think twice about stealing my stuff and killing me."
"So... shoot back?"
Star scanned the ground veloe, which detected a small structure. "Eon, there are how many of them?" he asked as he landed. "I think I'm better off here for now. Might as well make the most of it, right?"
"Fair enough," Eon said. "Though be warned, I've detected a fair amount of wildlife movement not far from here."
Star took a deep breath. "I'll be fine," he said as he popped his ship's hatch. He hopped out and shut it when something caught his eye. "Hey, Eon? Remember what you said about flying snakes?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Well, I see a ton of creatures that look like worms," Star said. "Close enough though, right?"
In the sky were a few large, slender creatures. The top half of them were light brown in color, while the bottom half was yellow. They had two fins hear their heads in both sides, and had two dorsal fins near their heads.
Star took out his multi-tool and scanned one of them.
Lotabro Aysiro
Temperament: Bold
Diet: Grazing Creature
Weight:188.48kg
Height: 3.68
"What a name," Star said as he observed the giant worm-like creatures.
"Maybe if you catch one, you can fish up a giant fish," Eon said. "Then you can lure out a giant best to eat it!"
"I'm going to have nightmares for weeks now," Star said as he scanned the area. "Great, more animals."
"You know, I remember reading about some Gek feeding animals as a way to get resources," Eon said. "Some would dig them up, while others would guard them as they mined. Why not try that?"
"You're kidding, right?" Star asked. "I don't know what they exactly like and dislike!"
"Neither did they."
"How exactly do you know this?"
"I get bored while you sleep," Eon said. "So I snoop through historical files."
"Yet you don't share this stuff with me... why?"
"You don't deserve it."
Star rolled his eyes. "Jerk," he said as he walked over the hill. On the other side was a four legged creature that resembled a dog, though it had bright green scales and its stomach was light beige. It had three fins on its back, and two pointy ears. Near the ears were two horns that arched backwards.
Star took out his multi-tool and scanned it.
Cocledalmum Ueorgitat
Temperament: Ambulatory
Diet: Oxide elements
Weight: 102.98kg
Height: 1.33m
"Okay, I just need a bit of iron," Star said. He walked over to a nearby rock and fired his multi-tool's mining laser at it. "You think it'll like iron?" Star asked as he obtained a bit of the element.
"Even if it doesn't, perhaps you can convince it that you're trying to help prevent it from becoming anemic."
"Let me first learn how to speak animal," Star said as he walked over to the creature. "Hey, buddy," he said in an unconvincingly kind-hearted voice.
The creature turned its head and looked at Star. "Argoo?"
Star pulled out some iron and levitated it to the animal. "Want some?"
The animal looked down at the iron and ate it quickly. "Argoo!" the animal ran in a circle and proceeded to run off.
"Should I follow it?" Star asked.
"Worth a shot," Eon answered. "Of course, that's entirely on you."
Star ran in the direction the animal ran in. "Hey, what're you doing, little guy?" Star asked as he held back the urge to call the creature numerous horrible and brutally insulting names.
The creature dropped a small rock in front of star and looked up at him with beady eyes.
Star levitated the object up and looked at it. "It found me a rock," he deadpanned.
"How about you open it?"
Star placed it down and opened it. Inside was a bit of plutonium. "How wonderful," he said. "Something I can find on every planet I'm ever on."
"The animal's digging something else," Eon said.
Star levitated the plutonium up and placed it into his inventory. He walked over to the animals and looked at the object. "Can't you find something... interesting?" Star asked.
The animal frowned. "Argoo..." it said sadly.
"Yeah, sad eyes aren't going to work on me."
The animal frowned even more.
"Still not working."
The animal's frown faded. "Argoo!" it cried before it bit Star.
Star leaped back in pain. "Oh, you stupid bastard!" he yelled. "Screw you!" he growled before he kicked the animal.
And hurt his hoof.
"Holy crap, are you made of metal?!" Star yelled as he shook his hoof in pain.
The animal growled angrily and lashed out at Star.
Star leaped back and pulled out his multi-tool. "I'll have you-'
The animal swiped away the multi-tool and rammed into the babbling stallion.
"Star, you'd make a grade A zookeeper," Eon said. "By the way, this is so your fault."
"Get off of me!" Star said as he threw several right hooks to the animal's less durable face. "Also, you're not helping, Eon!" Star said as he finally hurled the animal off of himself.
"I'm not trying to," Eon replied.
"Don't care," Star said as he levitated his multi-tool over to himself. He switched the boltcaster function on and aimed it at the rampaging animal. "I wish I was good at making one-"
The animal swiped the multi-tool away again.
"Star, stop pretending you're in a movie and just shoot the fucking thing."
"You never let me have fun," Star said as his horn lit up. He fired off a powerful magic bolt at the animal, which struck its head.
The animal recoiled in pain. It staggered back and glared angrily at Star before it ran off.
Star let out a sigh of relief. "That was too close," he said.
"Your shields never went below ninety percent," Eon said. "That said, that as entirely your fault."
"Yeah, yeah," Star said as he waved his hoof. He levitated his multi-tool back over and put it in his holster. "Okay, now, where was I going?"
"You detected a small structure and for some reason didn't just fly to it as you said you would after nearly freezing a few planets back."
Star facehoofed. "Right, forgot about that," he said. "Oh well, no point in turning back."
"Your ship is less than fifty feet behind us."
"Eon, let me do this my way."
"Fine."
"Wonderful!" Star exclaimed as he made his way to the small structure with forced glee. ---
A short while, Star and best friend for life--Eon--arrived at the structure.
"It looks like my dream house," Star said as he approached the structure.
"Your dream house was a one floor shack?"
"I never had much ambition when I was a colt," Star said as he entered the structure/shack. "Oh... for Celestia's sake," he said.
Inside was a four-winged creature. Its back was bright green, while the rest of it was a light brown. It had a small, red beak, and it's wings resembled a dragonfly's.
Star took out his multi-tool and scanned the winged creature.
Cocledalmum Ueorgitat
Temperament: Ambulatory
Diet: Oxide elements
Weight: 94.08kg
Height: 1.14m
"Wait, didn't I just find this thing?" Star asked. "Why could I scan it again?"
"Maybe it's in a different stage of its life," Eon said.
"So, this thing loses its wings as it gets older?"
"I dunno," Eon said. "For all I know, it's another gender. I wouldn't know since a certain unicorn never bothers to check that after he scans an animal."
Star pulled out his multi-tool and reviewed the information. "It says 'Prime'," he said. "I don't know what the hell that means and I don't really care." Star walked pass the animal and searched the shelves.
"Argoo," the animal said. It nudged Star and looked up at him.
"Hey, Star, the animal has something near it."
Star let out a heavy sigh. "What?" he asked with a hint of anger.
The animal brought over a blueprint and dropped it near Star.
Star picked it up. "Suspension Fluid,' he said. "Wow, an animal actually did something useful for once," he said with a chuckle. Star out the blueprint away walked out of the shack.
The animal ran up to Star's side and nudged Star.
"What do you want?" Star asked, now agitated again.
The animal pointed to its mouth.
"You want food?"
The animal nodded.
Star took out a bit of iron and gave it to the creature. "There. Bon appetit."
The animal smiled and began to eat. With that, Star continued his walk back to his ship.
"Wow. Star, I'm shocked you didn't throw the iron at the little fellow's head."
"Same."
"Well, now that you have the Suspension Fluid blueprint, what are you going to do?"
"It's still bright out," Star said. "I think I'll explore a bit before I grab the stuff I need to make a warp cell."
"Well, my sensors have detected another building close by."
Star rolled his eyes. "Yay, another building," he said blandly.
"Oh, show some enthusiasm you buzz kill."
"Fine." Star cleared his throat. "Oh boy, another building! Isn't this is just the most super, spectacular, most exciting thing ever, Eon?!" he asked in a high pitched, overly excitable voice.
"Please never do that again. Thank you," Eon said.
"Why not?" Star asked as he made his way towards the building. "You wanted me to show more enthusiasm!"
"Yeah," Eon said. "Genuine enthusiasm."
"Too bad," Star said. "Take it or leave it."
"I'll pass on it."
"Goodie!" Star said as he approached the building--which looked like something out of a horror movie with broken windows and the door looked as though it wasn't even connected to anything. "If I walk in there, why do I feel like something's going to come out with me?"
"You mean like a ghost?"
"Yeah, like a ghost," Star answered as he walked up to the building. He nudged the door open.
Which made it fall down.
"Well, glad to see whoever owned this place kept it in tip-top shape," Star said as he entered the building. The inside was dark and frigid. The walls had scratch marks and on them, and a numerous half eaten animals lay around.
"Oh, that's just... unpleasant," Star said as he walked passed one of the animal corpses. "I think I'm going to need brain bleach when I leave here."
"What do you think lived here?" Eon asked.
"Carl the Gek."
"I was expecting a serious answer," Eon said. "Serves me right for expecting so much."
"What? I gave you a serious answer."
"I'm not going to argue," Eon said. "Just keep looking."
Star rolled his eyes and entered a room with a destroyed terminal, shredded pieces of paper, and a single, crumpled up blueprint. "I guess they really hated doing their homework," he said as he walked up to the blueprint. He picked it up and read it. "Toxic protection? Whoopty-doo."
"And the day you land on a planet where the very air is toxic, you'll be thankful for that."
"Yeah, I know," Star said as he approached the terminal. "Geez, what happened-"
Thud!
Before Star could finish his sentence, something slammed down onto the floor down the hall. A loud growl could be heard, followed by several heavy stomps.
Star's blood ran cold. "Is something there?" he asked as he shivered in fear.
"Yeah, it's called an animal you numbskull," Eon said. "It probably took up residence here when whoever lived here died."
"Uhhh... does that mean it's a meat eater?" Star asked.
"Probably," Eon answered. "It would explain the dead bodies."
"You seem really cool about this."
"Star, you seem to forget I'm an AI a lot," Eon said. "By the way, I've detected movement right behind you. Say hi to Fluffy for me!"
Star spun around. Standing in the doorway was a green skinned animal with gold stripes going around its body. Six feathers stood up on its back, and two horns arched back on its head. It also had a spike on its nose.
And it looked at Star with one thought on its mind.
I'm going to have a feast tonight!
With that thought--and other thoughts about what spices to use--the creature lunged at Star with hunger-filled eyes.
Star dove out of the way as the creature slammed into the damaged terminal. "Hah, sucker!" he said as he levitated his multi-tool to himself and slammed it against the animal's head repeatedly. After a few brutal strikes, he ran out of the room with speed rivaled only by a moped.
The creature shook off the strikes as though they were simple pokes with sporks and spun around; a look of fury on its face. It ran out of the room and charged towards Star
Star ran down the hallway when he felt something bite down on his left hind leg. "Son of a bitch!" he yelled as he fell down. He turned around to see the creature attempt to pierce his spacesuit. Star levitated his multi-tool out and slammed it against the animal's head. "Die you ugly piece of crap!" Star yelled as he slammed the multi-tool upside the animal's neck.
SNAP!
The creature fell forward dead.
Star stood up and took a few deep breaths before he kicked it again.
"Star, I'm pretty sure it's dead."
"Are you sure?"
"It's neck now resembles a slinky."
"I'm still not convinced it's dead."
"It's head looks like it was hit with a meat tenderizer dozens of times."
"Okay, fair enough," Star said as he walked towards the front door. "Though I'm just gonna say: I was never scared."
"Yeah, sure," Eon said. "Let me file that under 'things that are total bullshit'."
"I wasn't!" Star said as he walked back to his ship. "Seriously, I wasn't!"
"Sure you weren't," Eon said. "And I'm really Princess Cadence."
Star rolled his eyes. He popped the hatch to his ship and hopped in. "I was only running because I didn't want to get eaten." He turned his ship on and took off.
"I'm just screwing with you, Star," Eon said. "Take a joke for once."
"Fine, mom," Star said as he flew towards the edge of a cliff that overlooked the sea. He landed and lay back in his seat. "Now, see you tomorrow."
"Going to sleep already?"
"Dealing with animals takes a lot out of me," Star said. "Besides, if we're lucky, the pirates will be gone tomorrow, and we can leave."
"If they aren't?"
"Then we stay."
"Okay, boss-man."
Star chuckled at the name before he drifted off to sleep. |
No Pony's Sky | Lucky Star | Star Chaser slept peacefully in his ship.
Crash!
That is, until a pirates ship crashed into the ground nearby.
Boom!
And exploded.
"Sweet Celestia, what the fuck was that?!" Star asked as he bolted up and frantically looked around. "Is the sky falling?"
"Close," Eon said. "I've detected a bunch of ships fighting above. It's been a very harsh battle, and shows no signs of letting up!"
Star looked at the nearby fiery wreckage and cringed. "Thanks, weatherman Eon," Star said as he finally calmed down. "So, does this mean I can't leave?"
"Well, you could try to," Eon said, "but you never made any warp cells yesterday."
"Well, after I make one?"
"There's an eighty-six percent chance that you'll be shot down and die a horrible, fiery death," Eon said. "There's also a ten percent chance you'll die once you reach space, as there are also pirates there, but they're busy trying to board space freighters."
"So, I have a four percent chance of surviving?"
"More like three percent. There's a one percent chance you'll die from an asteroid hitting you!"
"So, from what I've gathered: the odds are in my favor?"
"Definitely," Eon said. "They're totally, one hundred percent in your favor."
Star popped his ship's hatch and hopped out. "Well, what am I waiting for? Time to get to work!" he said as he shut the hatch and made his way towards a meadow.
"Star, are you feeling okay?"
"Fuck no!" Star answered. "I'm terrified! I'm just masking it behind false happiness," he said as he fired off his mining laser at a nearby plant. "That said, I feel great. I got a mostly peaceful sleep."
"Did you dream wonderful things?"
"I dreamt of Princess Luna and King Sombra dancing to the Macarena."
"That's... interesting," Eon said. "Any reason why?"
"Nope."
"Are you sure?"
"Nope," Star answered as he finished mining another plant. "That's enough Carbon, right?"
"You have enough to make five Suspension Fluids," Eon said. "That said, yes. That's enough."
"Alrighty," Star said as he began to make the item.
Boom!
Star let out a sigh. Up ahead, another ship came crashing down in a hunk of fiery, twisted metal. "Eon, please tell me this won't last all day."
"It's probably going to last all day."
Star bit his lower lip as he continued to make the fluid and, after the longest minute of crafting ever, he finished it. "Finally!" he said. "Now, to make the Electron Vapor!" Star looked through his inventory and frowned. "Eon, where did all of my plutonium go?"
"You used it all."
"When?"
"You use it when you're not paying attention," Eon said. "Which is nearly all the damn time."
"Oh," Star said. "Well, guess I better go find some plutonium."
"Uhhh... no kidding?"
"Listen, talking like somepony is actually listening helps keep me calm," Star said as he trotted over to a vein of plutonium. "It makes me feel like somepony actually gives a crap."
"Yeah, well, nopony does."
"I know," Star said as he mined the plutonium. "Thanks for reminding me."
"Aww, there, there" Eon said. "Maybe there's an animal somewhere that thinks your rambling is worth something."
"Like a dog?"
"Star, I feel like you'd be the only pony who could get a dog to not care about you."
"I disagree," Star said as he finished mining the plutonium. "I grew up with dogs. They loved me!"
"I feel like I should say you're full of crap," Eon said, "but I can't help but find the thought of you as a foal playing with a dog oddly cute."
Star stopped in his tracks. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Okay?"
"Good idea," Eon replied. "How about we change the topic?"
"Okay," Star said. "Have i ever told you the time I got visited by the 'Ponies in Black'?"
"That urban myth about Celestia having agents who intimidate pony's into saying they didn't see something they'd deem harmful to society?" Eon asked. "Oh, come on. You're kidding."
"I'm serious!" Star said as he mined another vein of plutonium. "They knocked on my door and asked to come inside. I was living on my own and was terrified. They wore all black and had these slick, black shades. They were both unicorns and never smiled."
"Y'know, I'll regret this," Eon said, "but go on. I need to know how this ends."
"Well, I asked why they were here. One said they had an urgent matter to discuss with me," Star said as he went to another vein. "Naturally, I asked what they wanted to discuss with me. One said that I hadn't seen something important, and that I had never seen it.
"I asked what they were talking about, and the other unicorn told me to stop playing stupid. I--again--asked him what they were talking about, and insisted I had no idea who they were. That's when they told me they were from the IRS," Star said. "They told me I was being audited."
"Did they tell you that you'd seen no UFOs before they left?"
"Sort of," Star said. "They said they were going to take away my model UFO, and that I'd probably never see it again."
"Well, the joke's on them," Eon said. "You have your own spaceship now."
"And they took my stuff."
"I feel we should've said what the other said," Eon remarked.
"Too late now," Star replied. "Also. Time to make the vapor!"
Boom!
Star let out a sigh of aggravation. "Come on," he said under his breath. He began to make the vapor when another explosion came from not too far away. His right eye twitched as he saw pieces of fiery metal crash to the ground. "I enjoy watching dogfights, but I'm usually seeing them in a movie,"
"What about when you're participating in them?"
"I hate them," Star said as he finished the vapor. "Well, now I've just got to make the antimatter." He scanned the area and smiled. "Zinc and Heridium nearby? It must be my birthday!"
"Does this mean I can give you a gift?"
"Do I dare ask what you got me?"
CRASH!
A ship came crashing down in front of Star, crushing the flora in front of him, before exploding, which made the explorer duck out of the way.
"A new ship," Eon said.
Star got back up and looked at the scorched flora. His right eye twitched as he grit his teeth. "Come on!" he yelled as he repeatedly stomped his hoof on the ground.
"You realize there's probably a few flowers that weren't burnt, right?" Eon asked.
Star sighed and scanned the area. Sure enough, a single flower remained. He ran over and picked it. "Haha! Now for the Heridium!" Star said as he made his way over the pillar of the mineral
"This is the happiest I've ever seen you when it comes to mining," Eon said. "Fake happiness or not."
"That scares me," Star said as he approached the massive pillar. "This scares me even more."
"You know you don't have to mine the entire thing, right?"
"Yeah, but that's still a big pillar."
"It's maybe four feet bigger than the last one you mined from."
"Eon, stop trying to calm me down. It won't work," Star said as he mined from the pillar.
"Fine," Eon said. "Drama queen."
"My sister called me that all the time," Star said. "You remind me of her. You just show five hundred percent less affection."
"Your sister sounds like she's a smart mare," Eon said. "Can I meet her when we get back to Equus?"
"Sure," Star said. "You two can talk about how AI's are evil!"
"On second thought... I'll pass."
"Thought so," Star said as he finished mining the Heridium. "Alright now to-"
Boom!
Star flinched. Just ignore the noise and make the damn thing.
Kaboom!
Just. Ignore. It.
VWOOM!
Star let out a high pitched shriek and jumped in fear. He looked around and saw another ship come crashing down and send up a tsunami of dirt--though significantly smaller than the one the space freighter caused. That's when a thought hit him. "Why am I still out here?"
"Because you have the IQ of a Dung Beetle."
"I think you're insulting Dung Beetles," Star said as he watched another ship come crashing down. A few shards of flaming metal narrowly missed the awestruck explorer, who finally ran away from the chaos. "I mean, they at least use the galaxy to navigate!"
"I'm amazed you know this," Eon said. "I would've expected you to say I had the IQ of a peanut."
"Okay, first of all, I was fascinated by insects as a foal," Star said as he teleported ahead. Behind him, he could hear another ship explode. "Second of all, you have the IQ of a coconut. Don't insult peanuts."
"You're not my mother," Eon said in as sarcastic of a voice as an AI could possibly make.
"If I was your mother, I would've put you up for adoption," Star said as he neared his ship.
"Oh, that stung," Eon said. "Either that or I'm going to short out soon."
Star teleported to his ship's side and popped the hatch. "Save it for later," he said as he hopped in. He shut the hatch and started his ship up. "For now, let's get out of here."
"And the antimatter? Or the warp cell?"
Star flew up and began to break through the planet's atmosphere. "I'll do that now!" he said.
"Uhhh... Star?"
"Lemme guess," Star said. "Pirates"?
"No," Eon said. "You're about to fly into an asteroid."
Star's eyes shot open. In front of him was a several hundred foot wide asteroid. "Oh... balls," he said. He aimed his photon cannon at the massive space rock and fired at it, which made a large enough hole in it for the explorer to fly through. Behind him, the massive rock got pulled into the planet's gravitational pull.
Star let out a heavy sigh and went back to making the antimatter. "This goes there and... tada!"
"Now, make that warp cell before the pirates detect you."
Star immediately got to work on the warp cell...
When he realized something.
"I need more thamium 9..."
"Good going."
Star sighed as he flew towards a few meteors. He fired his photon cannons at them and mined a bit of the mineral. "Okay, finally!" he said as he rested his head on the steering wheel.
"Star, I've detected a hostile scan."
"Shut up, Eon."
"Star, I'm serious."
"Please, shoot me."
"I've detected another scan."
Star grabbed the antimatter and hastily put together a warp cell. "There!"
"Star, that looks like you use a glue stick, tape, and a can of spray paint."
"It'll work!" Star snapped back. He out the warp core in and smiled as he activated his galactic map. "Okay, now to our next destination!"
As the duo warped to the new star system, a few pirates appeared and crashed into a space freighter. |
No Pony's Sky | A Wolf in Star's Clothing | "Hey, Eon," Star Chaser said as he lay back in his seat. "Do you think that, somewhere in this galaxy, there are giant worms made of candy?"
"What makes you ask that?" Eon asked.
"I'm just really bored and wanted to ask something fun," Star said. "Warping to new star systems isn't as fun as daydreaming."
"So, you're terrified of animals, but daydream about them," Eon said. "Makes sense."
"Hey, they can't hurt me in a daydream," Star said as he arrived in the new star system.
"True," Eon said. "Though something tells me you'd still scream like a baby if you a saw a worm made of candy."
"Sadly, you're most likely right ," Star said as he sat up and grabbed the steering wheel. "Anyway- Oh, sweet Celestia!"
"What's wrong, Star?"
"That... star is ridiculously bright," Star said as he attempted to shield his eyes. "Is it about to supernova?"
Not too far away was a star that had
"Well, it's in the final stage of its life," Eon said. "It's known as a Wolf-Rayet Star. It's completely lost its outer hydrogen, and is now fusing other elements in its core. Didn't you learn about this in the academy?"
"You expected me to pay attention when discussing giant balls of plasma?"
"Well, just know that this thing is tearing itself apart and could explode at any second," Eon said. "So I would advise getting out of here as soon as possible. Especially since there's no way of knowing how close to it is to death."
"Why didn't my galactic map alert me that I was about to warp to a ticking time bomb!?" Star shrieked.
"Because you were in a rush to get away from a bunch of space pirates," Eon said. "Now, rather than waste time dilly dallying, how about to get yourself a warp cell and get out of here before you're turned into ashes."
"Ah, how lovely," Star asked as he made his way towards a nearby planet as the Wolf-Rayet star's stellar winds blew viciously nearby. "So, is there any way you could predict when this thing will explode?"
"Not really," Eon said. "It could explode in five minutes or five hundred years."
"Crap," Star muttered. "The idea of being so close to a supernova is something I really don't want on my mind."
"Yeah, well, that's too bad," Eon said. "You warped here and now you're stuck here until you can warp out of here."
Star let out a sigh. "Okay, well, can you at least tell me where I am?" he asked as he flew towards a large planet.
"Uhh... well, now that you mention it, I can't find anything on this star system," Eon said. "So, I guess that makes you the discoverer of this little system."
"Oh, how wonderful," Star said sarcastically as he begins his descent through the planet's atmosphere, which brought into view a dry, lifeless surface with brick-colored dirt and dried trees. "How about you name it 'Turn Back or You'll Die'!"
"Will do," Eon said. "Want to upload it to the Atlas?"
"I wasn't serious!" Star said. "But, since it's too late, sure."
"Think before you speak."
"Yes, I know," Star said as he landed his ship on the parched land. "Geez, this place is depressing to look at," he said as he popped his ship's hatch and hopped out. "What's the temperature here?" he asked as he shut the hatch.
"Ninety seven degree fahrenheit," Eon said. "I'm unsure as to why it looks like the love child of Venus and Mars though."
Star looked up at the sky, which was clear, and a sickly yellow. The nearby star shined blindingly bright. "Is there any radiation here?" he asked as he walked towards a dried tree.
"Negative," Eon said. "Aside from the fact the entire planet appears to be devoid of flora and fauna, there's nothing abnormal about its atmosphere."
Star aimed his multi-tool at the dead tree and fired the mining laser at it. "So, you're telling me that that star is probably the cause of the planet's gloomy appearance?" he asked. "Or is it another planet with dust storms from Tartarus?"
"I don't think so," Eon said. "I think it's got to do with the fact that the home star had an incredibly high surface temperature. There are also numerous other possibilities, such as a gamma ray burst or an asteroid impact."
"Or an alien invasion," Star said as he approached another nearby tree. "Or perhaps I got piss drink and invaded myself."
"Star, there are three issues with that last theory of yours," Eon said. 'One, you don't drink. Two, if you ever invaded a planet, I'd cut your oxygen supply off--even if it meant I'd be stuck looking at dirt for the rest of my nonexistent life. Third, you're too incompetent to plan out a full-scale invasion of a refrigerator, let alone a planet."
"Hey, I was just trying to be funny," Star said as he moved onto a pillar of Heridium. "But, since you want to be a buzz kill, how about we discuss something else?"
"Okay," Eon said. "How about we discuss the fact that you gave enough carbon to last several star systems, and that you have no zinc?"
Star's right eye twitched. "Son of a bitch," he grumbled. "Fine, I'll mine it the old way!" Star quickly made a suspension fluid and placed it in his inventory. "Alright, where would one find zinc underground?"
"Uhhh... underground?"
"Yeah, but where specifically?"
"Star," Eon said calmly. "Just use that grenade launcher on your damn tool and find some zinc."
"I meant how far down!" Star said as he launched an explosive at the ground next to him. "You don't have to be such a dick about it."
"Star, you kept asking 'where'," Eon said as Star fired off several more explosives. "Not 'how far down'."
"Well, excuse me!" Star leaped down the hole he'd made and landed at the bottom. "I'm under a lot of pressure, what with the possibility of being made into a nice, crispy unicorn treat from a nearby time bomb a million of times bigger than my home planet!"
"And whose fault is it for not-"
"Eon, the damn thing didn't tell me that the star here was a Wolf-Rayet star!" Star snapped. "Now, let me find some zinc in peace!"
"Well, looks like I touched a nerve," Eon said. "I'm sorry."
Star approached a deposit of zinc and began to mine it. "You can't always expect me to not make mistakes," he said. "I'm not perfect."
"Yes, Star, I understand that," Eon said. "However, you're so reckless with your actions that it genuinely amazes me you haven't died yet from pissing off the wrong animal or alien!"
"Truthfully, it amazes me too," Star said. "However, allow me to ask: how am I supposed to know what a Gek is saying to me if I don't understand them? Sure, there are those knowledge stones, but prior to that?"
"You can always try to read their movements."
"I didn't take anything on psychology in school," Star said. "As far as I'm concerned: the only reason I'd read someone's body language is if I were curious if they were into me."
"The amazing Star Chaser!" Eon exclaimed. "He won't pay attention if someone's ready to punch his lights out!"
"Pretty much," Star said as he mined some more zinc. He fired off a few explosives and walked towards the newly formed pathway. "I will, however, pay attention if someone's offering me enough units to buy several electronics!"
"Star, if your priorities were any less in order, I'm pretty sure that I'd self destruct."
"Then I'll never tell you my priorities for tax day!" Star exclaimed as he stopped mining. He opened his inventory and looked through the various minerals. "Okay, I believe that's everything I need."
"My sensors indicate that that is correct," Eon said. "Would you like a gold star?"
"Not necessary, Eon!" I'm already platinum," Star said as he made an electron vapor.
"If space pirates don't kill you, maybe your ego will," Eon said. "I swear, it might have its own gravitational pull."
"My ex marefriend used to tell me that," Star said as he made some antimatter. "Though, she swore a lot when she did so. Like, she'd swear so much that if you took a shot each time she did, you'd have alcohol poisoning within the first ten seconds."
"I would too if I was her," Eon said. "For starters: I'd curse at myself for having decided to be relationship with you!"
"Aren't you kind of in one with me already?" Star asked as he made a warp cell. "You are my AI after all."
"Yeah, but I didn't pick you," Eon said. "I was assigned to you by some schmuck back on Equus."
"Well, it was the best thing that ever happened to us," Star said as he made his way to where he'd entered from, and ascended up to the surface. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"No."
"Buzz kill," Star said as he walked back to his ship. "We totally make the greatest team ever."
"I think your definition of 'greatest' is backwards," Eon said. "Unless by greatest, you mean we make the most inefficient team since a corpse and a cockroach."
"Can I be the roach?" Star asked as he popped open his ship's hatch and hopped in.
"No."
"Man, why can't I ever be the living thing?"
"Because you'd give roaches a really bad name."
Star sighed and turned his ship on. "Fine, allow me to change the topic," he said as he took off. "How far's the Andromeda from here?"
"Really far."
"How far is 'really far'?"
"Well over a million light years."
"Can we go there?"
"No."
"Lame!" Star said. "I wanted to go somewhere famous."
"What's the famous about the Andromeda?" Eon asked. "The fact that nopony has been there."
"It has a cool name," Star replied as he broke through the planet's atmosphere.
"I'm beginning to think that, if you find some cool, you automatically like it."
"You'd be right!" Star said as he maneuvered past a few a meteors and opened up his galactic map. "I pick this one!"
"You sure it isn't another 'soon to go kablooey' star?"
"Nope!" Star said as he set it as his destination. "We'll find out soon enough, though!" he said as he slammed a hoof on his warp drive. "Now, tell me when we arrive there. Until then, I'm gonna rest my eyes."
"You realize we'll be there in a few moments, right?"
"Eon?"
"Yes, Star?"
"Shut the fuck up." |
Five Summer Nights | pre | Jimmy gave a loud squeal of excitement from the backseat. Troy nearly swerving off the road in shock. Jimmy without even thinking texted that she would be there by tonight, sending off the text with a flippant attitude.
"Guess what!? Verte wants us to make an appearance at her Pool Party, #Booked!" Jimmy was smiling confidently as Troy shot him a look of anger.
"We're not Cosplayers!" Troy yelled out in annoyance, yet his voice came out extremely high pitched and dripping with bubbly charm.
The car suddenly spinning out of control across the empty highway. Tom hugging onto Troy who did the same, Jimmy in the back slid side to side wildly. Except he had his eyes locked onto his phone, replying to a text from Lindsay giggling.
Wrecks were so last season anyway.
The car skidded to a complete stop in a large ditch as dust billowed off into the sky slowly. Troy swung his door open before plopping off into the dirt below. Jimmy stepping out of the back with a relaxed stretch, wearing stylishly sleek black heeled boots.
"Like OMG! I have Pinkie's voice!!?" Troy held to his throat in horror, it was happening again.
"Huh, weird? Can somebody say awkward? I won't but..." Jimmy snapped his fingers femininely towards a confused Tom.
"Be a sweetheart and freak out on my behalf." Jimmy returned her gaze to her phone casually, pants pulling up her legs magically shifting into a sexy pair of blue shorts, complete with a stylistic new belt of the current fashion season.
"What's happening!? You said it was a one time deal, why are we changing again!?" Troy yelled out in a freaked out tone, his voice even scared sounding adorable.
"I never really said that tsk yeaah." Jimmy gave an eye roll.
Her shirt softening into a lovely silken white off the shoulder blouse, frilled and dripping with sass of a girl on the forefront of fashion. A choker appearing around her neck as a rose-colored diamond blossomed to life in the center, even a headband adorned with an elegant leafy design phased into existence atop her crown.
"I guess something out there, wants us to not miss this party!" Jimmy spoke in a soprano voice full of confidence, of a woman ready for the limelight.
"I'm not really feeling anything?" Tom wobbled out of the car slightly dazed.
Troy pulling his own hair hard, trying to fight off the sense of excitement building inside him. Jimmy giggled as she lifted her delicate thin hand towards Tom.
"So darling is that a yes?" Jimmy felt her legs stretching longer becoming smooth to the touch, soon gaining a shapely figure.
"I wouldn't mind another night of festivities," Tom smirked with a shrug.
"What about you Troy?" Jimmy watched as her friend paced back and forth frantically, squealing under his breath in cute little whimpers.
Vignette Valencia smirked with glowing ice-blue eyes, which had taken a wider far more feminine shape. Her hips pushed outward into a pleasing arched position while her butt lifted, spreading outward before reshaping into a round bubble.
"I...I..." Troy felt a sense of uncontrollable joy filling his heart.
"Well, Pinkie? Don't you want to party?" Vignette coyly giggled.
Vignette watched her skin shift to a lovely golden hue. Waist narrowing perfectly into an hourglass shape, proudly accepting the twin mounds of flesh building under her blouse. Her face soon that of elegance and refinement, with pouty pink lips, a small upturned nose, and thin arched brows.
"Of course, I WANT TO PARTY!!" Troy suddenly squealed in utter happiness, bouncing around the car in a series of giggles and skips.
"I wish, I brought my Party Cannon! Oh well, I can always just use gunpowder and confetti!!" Troy giggled in a feminine bouncy tone.
Tom shocked when his friend darted over, wrapping him in a tight bubbly hug.
"I'm totally sorry for fighting you! We're Bff's, we should be making memories not destroying them! " Troy squealed as Tom nervously smiled in return.
"Great, it's settled then! We're going to paint the town red! #TheGirlsAreBackInTown!" Vignette flipped her choppy pink and white locks to the side with attitude.
Swiftly reaching into the backseat to remove a feminine light brown waistcoat, sliding it over her soon narrowed shoulders as the violet tassels daintily danced down around her long slender legs.
Her arms shrinking, and womanhood coming into existence, filled her with a new sense of purpose. One that would guide her into making herself and her friends into a wild sensation, that if she was lucky.
Would take the world by storm. |
Five Summer Nights | Night Two : Pie Awry | "Are we there yet!?" Pinkie gave a loud cheerful squeal from the backseat.
Once dull-colored eyes now a vibrant ocean blue hue. Her large sneakers replaced by tiny orange sandals adorned with frilly pink ribbons. She bounced in place on her seat, happily accepting the changes as her skin began to take a soft pastel pink tint.
"No, for the hundredth time!" Tom groaned in a deflated tone of voice soft white freckles peppering both his cheeks cutely.
"I'm just super duper excited! I missed out last night, so I have like tons of memories to make up for!" Pinkie lifted her legs up giggling before kicking Tom's seat repeatedly.
Tom could feel waves of soft silky hair waterfall down past both of his shoulders, bangs cutely dashing over his eyes as he drove down the highway cautiously. Pinkie was starting to wear his nerves down and it wasn't even nightfall yet.
"Want to help out, Vignette?" Tom spoke in a flustered tone.
Vignette nodded silently soaking in a few sly yet humorous tweet's online. Giggling she flaunted a feminine hand over to Tom dismissively, the driver pouting in place from the lack of a reply.
"You're doing great! Keep going..." Vignette simply ignored Tom, letting her eyes fall to yet another tweet.
"I just can't wait for tonight, have you ever felt like popping!? Because I think I might just pop!!" Pinkie poked her head in between the front seats giggling, brunette hair suddenly exploding out in massive waves of bouncy pink curls.
"Oh my!" Tom groaned in utter defeat.
The outskirts of Brentwood was still a pretty fabulous place to be. A miniature city full of places perfect for the nightlife, such as hotels, clubs, and fancy restaurants. Tom pulling into the parking garage of the Hotel Magique.
Pinkie exploded out of the vehicle in uncontrollable excitement. Dressed in a cute pink and white one-piece swimsuit, decorated in flirty frill and of course feminine heart-shaped gold ribbons. A face full of grumpiness and hidden anger replaced by now sweet innocent features.
Large blue eyes, an upturned little nose, and full pouty lips. Pinkie skipped in circles around the beat-up rental, her tiny hands drumming over the surface playfully.
"C' mon pokies! Let's get this PARTY STARTED!!" Pinkie screamed with a joyous attitude, darting off into the tall fancy Hotel in an electric blur of pink.
"At least somebody is excited?" Vignette spoke with a catty attitude towards Tom.
The young man struggled to lift the many trunks of clothes, there once three duffle bags transformed into. Glaring to the young millennial to offer some kind of help, yet unsurprisingly Vignette simply waltzed off after Pinkie, nose buried in her phone.
"Bunch of children, I swear!" Tom gave a rough tug on a large pink trunk, the handle snapping off before he went flying back to the ground with a thud.
Everything about Pinkie had finished changing. She was completely an over-hyper young woman, in every sense of the word. Proudly flaunting her curves wearing her swimsuit, leaned up against the front counter, talking the ear off the receptionist.
"What's it like to work here!?" Pinkie asked with a bubbly pop of her lips.
"Is this juice free!? Or simply added to your tab!?" Pinkie somehow appeared across the lobby instantly. Holding a plastic cup daintily beside a large Juice Bar, near the corner of the room.
"Has royalty ever played cards here!?" Pinkie popped up behind the desk with the receptionist, the older woman gasping in complete shock.
"No! Yes? Maybe..." The woman gave a confused reply.
Tom barely pulled the luggage into the lobby gasping for air. Dressed in an outfit of a mature young woman, with lovely brown flats adorned with sunflowers. Light green stockings stretching up his legs, complimented with a darker green knee-length skirt, golden trim decorating the hem.
His shirt now a very sophisticated brown mini vest and cotton blouse combo. Pinkie rushed over to his side with an amused smile, flaunting both hands in his direction.
"Did you know that royalty may or may not have stayed here!?" Pinkie whispered behind a lifted hand, her eyes shifting back and forth.
"I think that's everywhere!" Tom rolled his eyes.
Vignette giggled as she swayed wide hips to each side. Walking over with a look of superiority on her face, twirling her phone around her thin fingers slyly. Tom knew deep inside his heart that something was about to go awry, Vignette biting down softly on her lower lip.
"Guess who just made a lunch date with, Verte!" Vignette nearly jumped in place excitedly.
"Is it Tom? Or me!?" Pinkie lifted both hands up squealing.
"What!? No, it's me!" Vignette snapped in an annoyed tone, Pinkie scrunching her nose and stepping away.
"What about us?" Tom narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This place has room service. Besides Verte, needs to chit chat with the star, not her unique friends." Vignette pointed behind Tom.
Tom turned around to catch Pinkie pressed up against the window of the hotel's dining restaurant. Her dark blue eyes as wide as the moon, watching a massive chocolate fountain being carried over to the open buffet.
"Chocolate fountain!" Pinkie felt drool drip down her chin.
"Ta-ta! Thank you for understanding!" Vignette was already out the door, Tom snapped himself back into reality just to see himself abandoned.
"Grrr, at least she paid for the room." He scoffed in a sense of betrayal.
Pinkie skipped over to his side, a dark line of chocolate smeared around her lips cutely.
"Om-nom-nom! Vignette said you'd handle the check-in." Pinkie smacked her lips loudly with a mouth full of bread.
"Of course!" Tom massaged her temples softly, speaking in a mature melodic voice of a young woman.
This night was proving to be nothing but trouble. |
Five Summer Nights | Night Two : Perspective | Cheerilee was flustered beyond what words could describe. Running a slender berry pink hand through her long cascading locks of dark and pastel violet, her glowing emerald green eyes inspected the seven hundred dollar room bill in silence.
She had failed to even notice how her body had matured during the elevator ride to their room. Her once masculine toned body replaced by something far more elegant. Her hips were now wide and arched, legs far more shapely and long.
Waist narrowed into an hourglass, as her shoulders had sunken inward to match. Indeed the mark of maturity was placed upon her, following the sweet young bellhop towards the sixth-floor room. A gentle wiggle in her step, Cheerilee wanted a long warm bath after how today has been.
"Thank you, sir," Cheerilee spoke in a polite tone as they reached the room, the boy chuckled with a smile.
"No trouble at all! Your bags will be up momentarily." He confidently spoke before bowing out of the conversation.
"Nice to see politeness isn't entirely gone." Cheerilee arched her hips to the side.
"Tell me about it!" Pinkie blew a large pink bubble of gum, popping it directly in Cheerilee's ear.
Pursing her lips into a frown the young adult shuffled inside the outrageously priced room. Stopping in front of the bedroom mirror with a deflated sigh, she looked like a frazzled mess tonight.
The woman straightened her poise. Her full breasts and rounded rump protruding a tiny bit, yet even as she wanted the thrill of feeling feminine and sweet. She could only feel a sense of tiredness taking hold, dark dull lines formed under each of her eyes.
"Oi, I look a mess!" Cheerilee stuck her tongue out towards her reflection.
Pinkie was quick to wrap her friend in a tight bubbly embrace, squishing their cheeks together as they both enjoyed the view in the mirror. The young teen giggled and gave a sly wink of optimism, Cheerilee sighing extra loud.
"I don't know, I think we look noice!" Pinkie snorted breaking the embrace before walking into the room's empty closet.
"Pinkie, that's a..." Cheerilee watched in amazement at the chaos before her.
Pinkie walked out of the closet in less than a second, dressed in a sparkling pink evening dress complete with elegant matching heels.
"But how!?" Cheerilee scrunched her little nose cutely at a loss for words.
"What!? Oh, the whole clothes thing?" Pinkie giggled doing several cute twirls in place, only to trip over the edge of the bed and fall to the floor.
"You think that's cool!? Check this out!" Pinkie reached a hand into her massive curly locks, removing a can of ice-cold diet soda that she promptly popped open.
"Of course, you'd be able to be totally random." Cheerilee shook her head in place defeated.
Pinkie spitting out a stream of sticky soda across the room, hitting Cheerilee directly on the face as she gave an annoyed grunt of anger.
"Er mer ger!! Do you think this is my special power!? I'm Random, Vignette is a Social Media Sorceress, and you!....YOU!!?" Pinkie popped up next to Cheerilee randomly, slowly curling her fingers towards the worn-out older woman.
"I'm tired and sticky." Cheerilee pouted.
"Hmmm, not extremely unique. But perhaps could come in handy..." Pinkie rested her delicate fingers upon her chin in deep thought.
"I'm going to take a bath..." Cheerilee gave a deadpan reply, waltzing towards the bathroom femininely.
"Good idea! I'll order us a pizza, no better yet!" Pinkie reached into her hair pulling out several steaming hot pizza boxes from within.
"It worked!" Pinkie squealed a patch of her pink hair on fire.
Cheerilee yawned to herself, ignoring the screaming Pinkie in the room. Closing the bathroom door with a tiny click, she needed to relax or this night might go up in smoke.
Similar to how Pinkie just did.
Cheerilee sprawled out over the Queen sized bed delicately, dressed in a bright pink bathrobe with a towel wrapped over her moist hair. Pinkie sat on the second bed in the room, her hair smoking from the fire yet she still enjoyed a slice of greasy pizza.
"Why do you think this is happening?" Cheerilee flicked through the channels boredly, though her mind was miles away at the moment.
"I dunno, random chance?" Pinkie flaunted her hand sweetly, folding the slice of pizza sideways and taking a large bite.
"No, this happens to Jimmy too frequently, to be random." Cheerilee narrowed her vibrant green eyes innocently.
"Perhaps it's a cosmic occurrence?" Cheerilee sighed as she unwrapped her hair, bouncy berry locks framing her face.
"Awesome, like destiny!?" Pinkie flashed a large pearly white smile full of adventure.
"Perhaps, or maybe something worse..." Cheerilee whispered under her breath barely audible.
Her eyes drifting outside the hotel window with intense care, never noticing an odd shadow flow past the window casually.
"I think somebody's being grumpy!?" Pinkie happily jumped onto the bed with her friend.
"No, I'm being cautious!" Cheerilee rolled her eyes, she couldn't help that all these changes didn't quite sit well with her.
"Cautious Cathy! I say we..." Pinkie darted her ocean hues to the clock on the wall, it was near nine at night already, Vignette hadn't returned since lunch.
"She dumped us!" Pinkie screamed in Cheerilee's ear loudly.
"Who!?" Cheerilee crashed down to the floor with a loud thud.
"Vignette! She's been gone since lunch, and we've been sitting here like..." Pinkie stomped her feet on the floor adorably, her lips curled into a pout.
"Suckers?" Cheerilee spoke sweetly.
"Mm-hmm! Cherry flavored suckers..." Pinkie narrowed her eyes, both fists curled into tiny balls.
"So do we just pick out a movie? Or..." Cheerilee monotonically spoke, a night inside not sounding absolutely terrible.
"Revenge!" Pinkie screamed in rage, flipping off the bed and dashing out the door.
Cheerilee shook her head in silence, opening the door to see Pinkie collapsed on the floor covered in trunks of clothes
"Ran into our luggage eh?" Cheerilee leaned against the doorway giggling.
"Why wouldn't they just bring it in!?" Pinkie blew a raspberry, Cheerilee's bra wrapped around her hair in a tangled knot.
"I'll get dressed." Cheerilee pulled the bra free from Pinkie's tangled mess of hair with a snap, the young girl grumbling under her breath below.
Pinkie shuffled around the lobby in utmost curiosity, dressed in an oversized pink trench coat with a flower-adorned Sherlock Holmes cap. In her delicate hand, she grasped a large magnifying glass, searching around the near vicinity for clues.
"If I were a self-absorbed millennial, where would I go!?" Pinkie pouted in place, removing a pink pipe from her pocket and placing it between pursed lips.
"I doubt it would be a hotel lobby." Cheerilee smugly spoke, watching her friend blow a stream of bubbles out of her pipe.
"Indeed Watson! In fact, I'd wager Dimes to Donuts, she'd be stuffing her face at La Restaurant Magique Magnifique!" Pinkie gave an accusing point of her finger towards the hotel restaurant.
Cheerilee sighed and drug herself to the restaurant window, giving a feminine glance within. Yet instead of Vignette, she could see Pinkie somehow already within. Cheerilee felt her chest tighten, rushing inside to hear Pinkie screaming at the patrons.
"The con is up, Vignette! Show yourself and repent!" Pinkie stomped her feet in front of an old lady enjoying her soup, quickly grasping her tall beehive hair and yanking upward hard.
"Heavens no!" Cheerilee shot both hands over her mouth in horror, watching Pinkie gaze down to the wig in her hands with horror.
"Uh-oh! You're just a very rubbery looking lady..." Pinkie giggled nervously, every eye in the restaurant upon her in shock.
"Admit it, she looks fake!" Pinkie tacked on a weak defense.
"We do not condone attacking fellow guests! " The receptionist hissed in anger, tossing both pink-tinted ladies out of the hotel by their ears.
Cheerilee winced as the woman twisted her lobe extra hard, Pinkie whimpered in place being led outside into the crisp night air. Both girls soon pushed out the front door, three young bellhops tossing their luggage out into the curb afterward.
"Ahem, I had a half-eaten pizza!" Pinkie crossed her arms over her chest.
A cold greasy pizza slice slapping her in the face seconds later.
"Thank you!" Pinkie peeled it off, nomming it down in a flash.
"Grrr, you just made me waste seven hundred on that room!" Cheerilee stomped both her feet on the damp cement in anger.
"Seven hundred more reasons, we must find Vignette!" Pinkie slung up to her feet proudly.
"I really don't care..." Cheerilee tried to talk a little sense into her friend, only to have Pinkie bolt off into the night.
The older woman pulling her berry-colored hair in growing annoyance, how rude was Pinkie being tonight. She just wanted to take things slow, perhaps take a few moments to weigh their options.
But her friends rather just take off and throw caution to the wind!
Darting off into the inky black alleyway of the hotel, Cheerilee soon came upon Pinkie latched to the towering gate of the hotel pool. The sound of a party taking place resonating into the vast star-filled sky above, the pink girl struggling to get a peek inside.
"I should've known millennials don't eat, they survive off the attention of others!" Pinkie grunted cutely, pulling her body upward barely.
"What!?" Cheerilee scrunched her nose confused.
"Vignette is at the Pool Party doi! I can smell her stench from here!" Pinkie squealed in a flustered voice, legs flailing side to side on the fence walls.
"Pinkie!" Cheerilee felt her eye twitching with annoyance.
"Cheerilee, give me a boost!" Pinkie giggled carelessly to her friend.
"Pinkie!" Cheerilee clutched a fist at her side.
"Once I'm at the top, I'll rush her like a Spider Monkey!" Pinkie spoke her nonsense in complete oblivion to Cheerilee growling.
The older woman grabbing Pinkie by the shoulders and yanking her off the side of the fence. Cheerilee secondly clutched her friend's wrists extra hard, squeezing them with a stern sense of annoyance.
"No, we're going to the car! We're sitting in there until this nightmare of a night is over, I'm tired of seeing you just act like a complete idiot!" Cheerilee snapped to the young girl in a fiery rage, Pinkie felt her bouncy hair suddenly deflate as it cascaded down her backside in a dull pink hue.
"I'm... I'm not an idiot." Pinkie felt warm tears fall down her cheeks, pulling away from her friend and running off into the night.
Cheerilee left to stand alone in the alleyway, her eyes falling down to her flustered reflection in a muddy puddle of water on the ground. Smoothing out her frazzled bangs in silence, she felt her heart sink deep.
Seeing not only herself but Troy as well.
Pinkie sat on the curb of the hotel in a broken silence. Her hair now flat and smooth, tears staining her dull-colored blue eyes. Cheerilee gently walking over in a sympathetic manner, both hands clapped together in a sense of apology.
"You were just worried about us, huh?" Cheerilee femininely kneeled down, taking a seat beside her saddened friend.
Pinkie sniffled with a shrug, her eyes glancing up to the star-filled sky at a loss for words. The older woman nodding in place, offering her friend a shoulder to cry on. Pinkie resting her cheek on it instantaneously, sobbing softly.
"Just ever since last year, I've been so lost and scared." Pinkie sighed her gaze falling to her feet.
"I figured if I could just distance myself from everything. If I could just hideaway..." Pinkie squeezed both her eyes shut tightly, fighting back a new stream of sobs.
"That soon everything would be normal?" Cheerilee hugged her friend tightly.
"Mm-hmm!" Pinkie burrowed her face into Cheerilee's shoulder.
"I must admit, we're very far from normal." Cheerilee giggled.
"But we're in this together! You shouldn't be afraid to open up if you feel worried, or distance yourself from everything." Cheerilee lifted Pinkie's chin up tenderly.
"Because no matter what, we'll always be there when you need us!" Cheerilee scrunched her nose giggling.
"Heehee, like Vignette?" Pinkie softly wiped the tears from her eyes.
"She's out there somewhere." Cheerilee rolled her eyes playfully.
Dark emerald hues spotting a cozy little Coffee Cafe down the street, the woman standing to her feet offering the pink girl a helping hand. Pinkie happily taking the extension of friendship, lifting off the wet curb smiling.
"I know it's not a massive party, but how about a cup of coffee?" Cheerilee offered a sweet suggestion.
"Sounds like the most fun I'll ever have!" Pinkie flashed an even brighter smile, pink curls popping out in massive waves. |
Orange Is The New Blue | pre | "What Mr. Cake said," Twilight replied, her words carrying a very real degree of concern for the mare's feelings, one which brought equal surprise. "He said it in front of the entire bakery, and you didn't think about it because you were scared: that sort of thing happens and nopony's blaming you for it. It's not a disease... just a unicorn spell. Somepony -- a tourist, not a native -- is going around casting this as a series of pranks, Daisy. That's all. It's perfectly ordinary magic... okay, actually, it's new magic, a working I've never seen before and I really want to catch up with the caster so I can find out how it's being done --" pause. Priority sort. Resume. "-- oh, and we also have to stop her and get the effects reversed." Keeping her tones warm and caring, "But it's just a spell, Daisy... a normal working. I promise. I would know."
There were tears in the green eyes now. "...a... spell?"
Gently, "Yes."
And the earth pony was gone.
Her departing words hung around for a while, especially as they had been screamed with enough force to grant the echoes a good long life, bouncing off the shredded patches of Hoovmat Suit left behind in Daisy's sprinting wake.
"It's a spell! It's a horrible, horrible spell! Run for your lives, everypony! Somepony from out of town is casting spells on us so we'll look evil and the Guards will think we're going to -- Celestia and Luna save us! Mad unicorn! Mad unicorn!"
What remained of the audience slowly turned to look at Twilight.
"Is she always like that?" a visiting pegasus stallion inquired.
"Yes..." Twilight slowly sighed.
"I'm very sorry."
"So am I..."
The other ponies trotted away.
A black snout gently nuzzled her neck, the nuzzle meant for friends. "As am I, Twilight," Rarity said. "You tried... you truly did. But when somepony is determined to be afraid, there is very little which will stop them from finding an excuse for it -- especially when there are two others waiting to reinforce every invented chain of false reason."
"Is it... is it too much to hope that it'll be like the eclipse? They'll just lock themselves in together and wait it out?"
Neither Rarity nor Spike could answer. And so Twilight sighed again and resumed her slow trot, once again searching on feel for the unicorn they now had to locate all the faster.
"I feel stupid," Twilight softly said.
"You're not," Spike firmly replied.
"I feel stupid for even trying."
"And I?" Rarity said. "Feel proud. Because the failure was mutual, Twilight -- but so was the attempt..."
They moved in silence for a while, for no more words were currently necessary. Twilight knew Rarity was on her left and Spike strode along at her right.
And to make her briefly feel a little better, it was all she needed to know. |
Orange Is The New Blue | An Apple Of A Different Color | On an equally-dubious personal bright side, Twilight had found her own small blessing: the search for the prankster had made shopping with Rarity into something tolerable. For as much as the designer complained (generally in private, beyond the hearing of any prospective future clients) about how aggravating customers could be, how little they understood or wished to recognize the effort which went into her creations, the sheer ignorance trotted out on display... she completely failed to recognize that she, in many ways, was worse. Rarity could take forty minutes to pick out a single fabric sample. She would inquire as to point of origin, soil content for the cotton fields, expertise of the combers, and then ask for references, quickly followed by contact information which she would follow up on. When it came to dyes, she carried a folding color chart which had so many entries as to lose most pony eyes within the finest of gradients -- and that was before she unfurled it to full size, which worked out to be twice the length of her own body. If a dye was not precisely as described... well... there would be Words, and there would be many of them, to the points where the offending pony would often look as if she was drowning within the sheer deluge of objecting vocabulary.
Of course, that was just for items which affected Rarity's business. When it came to casual shopping, with things she had some intent to purchase... that was when the inspections took first place in the race to overwhelm Rarity's trembling victims. The slow rotation of any object, carefully peering for flaws while shopkeepers trembled and hoped for silence. A slight intake of breath would indicate the most minor of faults which in no way instantly disqualified the item from being taken home, but simply opened the door to negotiation. Should something be undeniably perfect -- it would be put aside, with another, similar piece being rotated by the soft blue field in the event that it would somehow turn out to be even more perfect. And if absolutely nothing caught her fancy, then there were still the other aspects of retail to consider. How was the store conducting its advertising? What did the display look like? Was that a new kind of promotional gimmick? Did the business contain anything in its practices which Rarity might adopt to serve with her own? Perhaps it was best to consult directly with the owner: just a moment, dears, she wouldn't be all that long, and 'all that long' usually worked out to 'rather'...
Under normal circumstances, going shopping with Rarity could be like delving into a used book sale with Twilight. The race between the unintentional awarding of the relevant degree and the formation of the mob always went down to the nose.
But this time, the designer simply peered into shop windows. If the arrangement of display pieces created blind spots, she would poke her head in, ascertain that none of their targets were present and nothing appeared to have been changed, then moved on. At one point, she absently purchased a spool of gold filigree and did so in less than a minute, passing her bits to a pony who truly wasn't sure of the customer's identity, and that was after the proprietor looked past the color. Rarity had a goal in mind, and very little would distract her from it -- although the instinct which almost had her launch into the first round of a-lady-does-not-use-this-word haggling came close.
They were currently closing in on the town square with fair speed: there had been no bursts from that direction, but Twilight felt she'd picked up traces from something which might have happened while they were in another section of Ponyville, too far away for immediate detection. The loss of casual traffic seemed to have leveled off for the moment: still emptier than it should have been, but with no additional drop in population visible. Twilight was hoping it meant Daisy had finally headed for shelter. They had wound up following portions of the earth pony's trail, and... well, it was easy to tell which streets she had fled down, apparently screaming all the way, for those were the places which held ponies who were peering with suspicion at the unicorn tourist traffic: 'from out of town' had apparently become part of the revised alarm cry.
They could hear activity just ahead: a number of ponies were still at the market, vendors and customers alike. One of those voices was a familiar one and while the words were too far away to make out through the babble of other sounds, they had a distinctly frustrated tone to them. No great surprise: Applejack dealt with shopper stupidity about as well as Rarity did, and with considerably less variety in her words. But there didn't seem to be any anger in them. Even so, it was enough to make the trio move a little faster.
So far, there were no changes visible through what was left of the flowing crowd.
"Twilight Sparkle, a word with you? Concerning a matter of color and hue?"
Audible, however...
Slowly, the group turned to face towards the angry voice.
Spike's palms slammed over his mouth. Rarity, lacking the necessary anatomy, clamped her field around her own jaw. Twilight simply took a breath and kept right on taking it because as long as she was inhaling, there was no chance of the air coming back out as a burst of laughter.
Every single stripe in Zecora's coat clashed with every other, something which technically should have been impossible: given a sufficient number of colors, two would have had to complement. Of course, that consideration would have come before spotting that this was the prank where the unicorn had decided to begin her experiments with plaid. And that was before getting to the mane. Things had been done to the mane. Most of them involved paisley.
The zebra stomped a frustrated hoof. "Yes, very funny, I am sure. And not the least bit immature."
The sounds emerging from Spike's covered mouth had a note of mirthful choking. Meanwhile, Twilight had reached the end of her lung capacity: the narrow rib cage was full to the point of aching, and she just barely managed to make the rushed breath form words. "Zecora, we're sorry, it's an instinctive reaction, we don't mean anything by it..."
Zecora sighed. "I am aware. My load to bear. And Rarity, I see you too have been struck, by mix of spell and accursed luck. No harm from you: just first reaction, an instinctive, comprehensible action. I take no insult, I feel no hate. I simply wish to end this fate."
Twilight quickly closed her eyes, examining the zebra's body on feel alone. The results were just about identical to Rarity's. "A few hours, Zecora... it'll wear off on its own."
"I had guessed you had no counter," Zecora grumbled. "After red-and-black did I encounter..." Rarity blushed, which wasn't particularly detectable. "I wished to shop in Ponyville without facing such ill will."
Spike had managed to work his way back to words. "Zecora -- did you offend anypony today? Any unicorns?"
Widened eyes (which were oddly still blue) and another angry hoof stomp. "I, you say, offend? Fences I did mend! Citizen I still may not be, but welcome to come and go, free! Nothing did I do today which somepony might take the wrong way, beyond simply being here, hoping to be treated as a peer --!"
"-- Zecora, it is not what you have every right to believe we are speaking of," Rarity interjected, her quickened words remaining calm. "As you can see, yours is not the first incident. As best we can track, it is the fourth. We are trying to locate the unicorn mare who has performed this working and make her reverse it. And so far, the only commonality we have for the prior three incidents is that they are things where a pony might have taken offense and used the spell as revenge. The cause could have been so petty as your accidentally bumping somepony, or purchasing the last summer cherry before they could reach it. If you know of anypony whom you might have irritated today, to even the most minor degree... We have four suspects and can describe them all to you. Should any one of them match..."
Zecora shook her head: the spell-tarnished earring shifted while the mane did its best to clash with the very air. "My every action, I do not track. And so it is motives which I lack." Sharply, "Other that than which came before, something I simply won't endure."
Twilight sighed. "Zecora..."
"It is simply a feeling, not towards you," Zecora quietly said. "A memory now... but a memory true. It is not possible to forget. But know I recognize your regret." She sadly looked at Spike. "And you know something of which I speak, when the fear of others reaches its peak."
Slowly, Spike nodded. "Zecora, we still have to try and figure out which pony it was. Will you let us describe them to you? If you remember any of them being around you before it happened..."
Zecora nodded back. They gave her the list.
"It is one of those four -- this you swear?"
Group agreement.
"In that case --" she angled her head towards the market "-- there is one right over there."
They blinked. They ran, moving around Zecora as fast as they were able, galloping past her quickly enough to lose her last words in the impact of hooves against ground, as Spike vaulted onto Twilight's back again in the name of saving precious seconds, racing through the sudden clear gap in the market's traffic, heading towards the pony Zecora had spotted with superior peripheral vision, galloping towards where a friend just might be in trouble...
There was a crowd around the stand. A big one. Dozens of ponies. The suspect was on the outer edge of it. And a familiar voice was coming from the center.
"Ah keep tellin' y'all: this ain't them! Y'can't do anythin' with 'em other than eat 'em! Ah never have enough! If'n Ah had that kinda numbers, Ah'd just make more of the stuff an' sell that! Y'gotta listen t' me! Back off, give me some space, y'don't know what you're doin'! Ah can't take yer bits, not for this!"
There was a little jump at the end of that last word, made in a desperate attempt to get some extra projection. It let Twilight spot the panicked face, and she was seen in return.
The single bound immediately turned into a series, and the brief pause at each peak gave Twilight a stuttering view of the near-winces, semi-twitches, and overall muscle tension which indicated the farmer had finally reached the point of asking for help.
"Twi... Twi, Ah hate t' ask, Ah... need t' clear some space... Ah can't..." Two extra jumps were needed to jar the next part loose. "...handle this... please..."
A friend was under attack and had asked for help. They were the only reasons Twilight needed.
She anchored the shield spell on top of the cart, let it flow just over the edge of the contours as a tight dome, finding just enough room to do so without having to shove any parts of pony bodies out of the way -- mostly because that was something Applejack was already doing as the working formed, making sure nopony got caught. And when Twilight had the edges on the ground, she gradually expanded the shield outwards into the aisle.
It wasn't easy. She could feel the pressure of ponies pushing against it, angry hooves impacting the borders. If the shield had already been fully formed, that level of attempted penetration could have been dealt with using very little effort, and for a long time. But to have it happen while she was still trying to get the working established, before it was stabilized and hardened... it was putting her corona at a full single, threatening to go double with even the smallest bit of extra exertion, and the outermost edges of her vision were starting to fade into white.
"Twilight!" Spike gasped. "Be careful! If any of them get knocked into your horn right now...!"
"I've got it, Spike, I've got it... I'm not pushing that hard, they're not going to come flying at me..."
Her little brother still jumped down and got in front of her, taking up a defensive position, just in case.
More yells. Shouts of aggravation. Twilight was waiting for more than that, waiting for magic. She expected to be hit by the spell at any moment, and disrupting one working while trying to complete her own would be difficult at best. Surely she was offending the target pony through this action and once she was spotted as being the caster, they would have their final confirmation...
But it didn't happen. The teenage unicorn mare was pushed back with the rest, looking confused. Not angry at all. Not even frustrated. And she was holding an apple within her field.
Zecora caught up.
"But it is not her, I must insist," the zebra repeated. "And thus you remove her from your list."
The bright red field.
The nature of the apple within almost dropped to second place.
Twilight completed the casting. The shield hardened. The crowd, which no longer had to contend with being pushed back, looked around until they found the cause. Angry mutters began, with none of them coming from the teen.
Rarity didn't let it get any further than that. "Bearer business!" she called out. "We are consulting with a fellow Bearer!" Much more softly, rapid-fire, "Twilight, I am truly sorry, I know you hate that, but we do not have time to talk our way through this right now..." Back to full volume. "Make a path, immediately! There is no crisis! There is nothing to be alarmed about! There is absolutely no need to flee to your homes! We simply must consult with our fellow Bearer for a few minutes, and then the shield will come down!"
"Yeah, right!" an angry pegasus mare screamed. "You just want to hog them all for yourself!"
"We won't let you!" chimed her stallion companion.
"Not when they're so rare!"
"Not when they never go on sale like this!"
A very large, completely unfamiliar dark green earth pony reared back, slammed his front hooves into the dirt, sending up a cloud of dust for body lengths around. "I'll outbid all of you! I don't care if she wants to take them back before they get away! I'll buy anything anypony's bought already! You can even keep the apples, you can do anything you like with them! Just let me at the seeds!" Huge hooves pounded on the shield, and it was a mark of the strength behind them that Twilight actually felt the impacts. "Let me in! I'll buy them all! You brought them, so that means you have to sell them, and I'll pay anything, anything, and if you don't let me in, I'm going to --"
There was a sound.
For Ponyville residents, it was a very familiar sound. It had a way of getting noticed. It cut through air and made more solid barriers collapse. It made pony ears perk as it dropped down through the skull deep into the brain, where it solidly landed on a button labeled I May Have Gone Slightly Too Far And I'm Really Sorry About That.
The very large earth pony slowly turned his head. It took very little time for his face to come into the even larger shadow cast by the stallion behind him. Because the sound was the exclusive property of the stallion who operated the Day And Night Labor: No Job Too Big Or Too Heavy tent a few spots away from Applejack's cart. And it said to all and sundry that Snowflake had just decided to take a personal interest.
Slowly, with great curiosity, "...yeah?"
The very large earth pony seemed to be somewhat smaller now.
The quartet watched. Everypony in the town square did.
The thing about Snowflake... was that he generally didn't use his strength. Not on other ponies. Anypony who truly knew him quickly became aware that the pegasus would do almost anything to avoid it. He hated hurting others, was incredibly careful in his attempts to make sure it never happened by accident, was as gentle with younglings and animal companions as any pony in the world, which was part of why Fluttershy trusted him first and best to be her substitute caretaker when missions came calling. He never started fights, hated confrontation, and frequently couldn't even bring himself to verbally counter taunts no matter how many lessons Rarity gave him, as defending himself seemed to occupy the permanent bottom position on his personal checklist -- at least until things got physical. Most of Ponyville was aware of all of it, and the crueler ones vocally walked all over him -- from a distance. Just in case.
But this was a tourist. And it was also Snowflake defending somepony else.
Those rules were different. Ponyville was aware of that too.
"...nothing."
"Yeah."
The suddenly very small earth pony retreated (and didn't stop until half a gallop beyond the northern bridge). Snowflake took a long, slow look at the rest of the crowd. Every last pony in it backed away from the shield, and six did so in such a way as to create an aisle.
The pegasus turned to the quartet, gave them a slight nod. They went down the aisle to the sound of absolute quiet, and Twilight opened a hole in the shield to let them in, making sure to seal it immediately.
Applejack managed a smile. It didn't last long.
"Gotta love your timin'," she sighed, keeping her volume low: the shield muffled sound, but didn't completely block it. "Gotta appreciate his too. If Ah had to put up with that for a minute longer... Nopony believed me. If it had been locals, Ah wouldn't have had this problem, but so many of them went home an' we got stuck with the tourists, everypony in the market did, then this happened..."
She sadly nodded to the display.
The usual assortment of colors were gone. No full palette of red with occasional touches of yellow and a few rare greens. Instead, there was simply a rainbow.
And that rainbow was on every single visible fruit at the cart.
(With the exceptions of the ones near Rarity, which had dimmed into more of a negative.)
Rarity took a deep breath. "They look like --"
Applejack sighed. "-- Zap Apples. An' we never sell 'em. Need every one we've got for the jelly. Can't afford t' let the seeds get loose or we won't have as much control over the market. Most ponies ain't never seen a Zap Apple, but they know it's got rainbow colors when it's ripe an' some of 'em know they change colors along the way. They know that... and it ain't enough to let 'em know when things ain't the way they should be. So when the glow hit, somepony decided it meant Ah'd either brought a bunch of 'em by mistake or that we were finally gonna get around t' carryin' the things at the cart. Said that out loud, that Ah had 'em. Lot of other ponies heard it, came over, saw the things... Didn't wanna sell under false pretenses. But Ah couldn't talk 'em out of buyin'. Couldn't make 'em leave. More Ah talked, the more ponies crowded in. It was like that for a while before y'all showed up, an' it just kept gettin' worse..." She looked at Rarity, and her eyes showed nothing but sympathy. "And now it's even worse than that, 'cause Ah know Ah wasn't the only one. Zecora, not dismissin' you, but y'weren't sellin' here today, so Ah've gotta check on mah fellow merchant first. Rarity, is it jus' you, or did they get your stock? An' will y'all be okay?"
"My stock, and permanent on that until countered," Rarity wearily replied. "Please believe me when I say that particular change will not be triggering a purchase frenzy any time soon. However, both of us will revert in time. Applejack, this happened at Sugarcube Corner as well, and Pinkie was able to give us a list of four suspects -- now down to three. Did you have any unicorn mares at your stand before this happened? Were any of them displaying a shimmer-white field?"
As usual, the head shake barely shifted the hat. "Sorry, Rarity... Ah was kind of on the busy side, an' Ah was distracted. Too many tourists, and y'know what tourists usually mean for me? Shoplifters. They leave their own town an' they think that means they can do whatever they want t' anypony at'tall in the new one. When it got crowded, Ah had thieves left, right, an' center. Even had a couple of kids tryin' t' stick their heads through gaps between legs an' snatch apples right quick before Ah noticed. Ah noticed, though. An' Ah stopped 'em, an' Ah told off the parents if they were there... y'had t' hear this one pony, kept sayin' her kid would never do any such thing while the filly's still got the apple in her mouth... But when Ah'm doing that, Ah ain't payin' much attention t' field colors an' all. Just tryin' t' keep mah stock from trottin' away." She peered outside the field, noted the presence of the still-waiting teenager. "They ain't all bad, though. That one's sure bein' patient."
Twilight groaned. "We've been working under the theory that this pony is pranking anypony who offends her, Applejack. We think she doesn't like having to wait. Even just getting stuck behind other ponies while you dealt with customers and -- the rest might have been enough to set her off."
A tiny nod accomplished by a frustrated half-growl. "Tourists."
Rarity pressed on. "Can we give you the list? I know you may feel as if none of them would have registered in your memory, but..."
"Ain't gonna work, Rarity. Ah ain't Pinkie. Don't have that kinda memory. Not sure Ah'd want it..."
Zecora took a half-step forward. "Applejack, please close your eyes. Let the vision be a surprise."
"Huh?" The farmer seemed to feel the syllable said it all.
"Without eyesight in the way, memory may save the day. Senses intrude and sometimes block: seek darkness, then turn back the clock."
Which got them an uncertain frown. "Ah trust you, Zecora... 'specially after what y'did for Apple Bloom... but that jus' sounds weird. You're sure 'bout this?"
Zecora simply nodded.
Applejack didn't even shrug. She simply closed her eyes and waited.
"Think back," Spike encouraged. "You saw the glow hit, right?"
"Uh-huh. Couldn't miss it. Went on every apple -- well, not every apple. Just the ones on top an' a little below -- anythin' visible when it happened. Had a few seconds t' check before it all went bad."
Differentiation, Twilight thought, but didn't say: there was no time for that particular lecture. "Was there any horn showing that color of corona?"
A slow head shake, eyes still closed. "No... hey, this is weird, it's easier. Ah can picture so many of the ponies who were here... Maybe Ah was lookin' in the wrong direction. Saw the glow but not the source. Didn't last long... maybe four, five heartbeats. Covered the place fast. Ah... was startin' to look for the source. Don't want magic messin' with mah stock, but that wasn't mah first thought. Kinda hopin' for a big sale. Somepony about t' take it all, y'know? Canterlot restaurant with an' apple pie night comin' up, that happened once before..." A misty smile spread across her face. "Now there was a tourist Ah'd like t' see again..."
The group was aware that Applejack could easily spend a happy hour reliving Glories Of Sales Past, and Spike hurried to get her back on track. "These are the three ponies we're still looking for, Applejack." He described them. "Was one in the crowd?"
"Naw..."
Faces fell.
"Two."
Heads jerked up.
Applejack slowly nodded. "The light brown one an' the kinda curdled cream. Matter of fact, that last one, Ah got into a fight with."
Eyes widened.
"Y'had to hear her. One of the most annoyin', obstinate, deliberately ignorant --"
"-- Applejack, how far in the past? We may have the perpetrator at last!" Zecora cut in.
The farmer frowned. "Maybe fifteen, twenty minutes? Hard t' keep track... time gets weird when Ah've got a lot of ponies around who won't listen t' me..."
"Did you see where she went? Which way?" Spike insisted.
"West, more or less. But that ain't necessarily --"
"-- then we've got to go!" Twilight decided. The checklist was down to a mere pair of empty boxes, they weren't that far behind, they had a direction... There was a chance, and they couldn't risk staying much longer. "Zecora, do you want to come?"
A single angry nod. "Reversal may come on its own, but I'd like to make my feelings known. Some time have I, but not too much... a potion is brewing, and must stir such. An hour or two, but no more. Until then..." her teeth briefly went into a snarl "...we go to war."
More than good enough. "Applejack, I know you can't join us right now... can you handle the stand?"
The farmer glanced outside the shield again, met Snowflake's red eyes. The pegasus silently nodded. "With the extra eyes an' hooves, yeah. Maybe he can help me get through to 'em. Y'can drop the shield when y'go, Twi... we'll handle it from here. But if you're still lookin' when Ah close, come back an' get me. Ah want a piece of this too."
They agreed, and the quartet headed out. Behind them, Applejack's renewed sales cry rang out across the square.
"Now listen up, everypony! These are not Zap Apples! Just good old high-quality Sweet Apple Acres product! Listen t' me! Hear the words Ah'm sayin'! Y'can't make the jelly with 'em! Can't plant the seeds an' get anythin' other than a normal apple tree! Can't start your own business! Ah did not mess up an' bring some of the rarest, most magical apples in Equestria with me t' market by accident! Gotta listen t' me! Don't wanna sell y'stuff when y'ain't gettin' what y'think you are! Again, Ah ain't sellin' Zap Apples today! No way, no how, an' Ah swear by Celestia's mane, Luna's shoes, Ah'll even throw in Cadance's tail 'cause Ah love mah reputation too much t' sully it like that, ever... No Zap Apples! None at'tall! Do y'hear me? Do y'understand?"
There was a moment of total silence.
Twilight managed a wan smile. "Well, that should get through."
Rarity sighed. "Twilight... think about Daisy for a very brief moment."
Twilight did. "...I don't get it."
"These are tourists, with no more experience of Applejack than they have of Snowflake. Ultimately, ponies believe what they wish, often in spite of all declarations to the contrary. And have you ever heard the saying 'the mare doth protest too much'...?"
There was another short-lived moment of silence, and the cause of death was belief.
From behind them, with full insistence unmoderated by the somewhat more peaceful volume, because surely a simple expressed statement wouldn't get the overseeing pegasus upset:
"Yeah, that's what you say!"
"You just don't want to admit you messed up!"
"Ten apples! Here's the bits! Come on, right in my saddlebags!"
"Give me forty!"
"Give me the whole cart! Including those apples towards the bottom, because they'll be changing next! Nopony else can buy anything now! I called it! Just take all my money! And hold everything until I pull my wagon up!"
The hunting group wearily left the square. Behind them, Snowflake slowly shook his head and trotted closer, just in case a freshly-besieged Applejack, who didn't know which pile of bits to deal with first, needed help with packing the wagon. |
Orange Is The New Blue | ChromaTricks | There were some mysteries of Ponyville which Twilight had yet to solve or even truly investigate, and more than a few of them involved the thought processes of others, especially as they related to events which she hadn't been present to experience. For example, somepony had decided that hiring a pegasus, one whose arguable secondary talent was sleeping in, to make sure the scheduled weather happened exactly on time -- had been a good idea. Something had inspired the town's previous librarian to come up with the tree's original shelving system, and Twilight was fairly certain it had been a concussion. And then there was the store they were about to trot past, a business she'd never been able to reconcile no matter how many orders she was essentially forced to place from it just to save on shipping time. It was unexpected, unreasonable, unbalanced, and irrational (the loss of the 'un' streak momentarily irritated her, although nowhere near as much as the shop), at least on those days when it wasn't just plain stupid. If Twilight was forced to think about it at all beyond the time required to reluctantly fill out the next order form, she generally thought of it as The Retail Which Should Not Be, and tried not to go beyond that: the headache seldom needed more than a few seconds to set in. If she wasn't making a purchase there (generally from a reasonable, sanity-maintaining distance via claw-remove), she did her best to ignore the thing. It was just easier that way.
Which was why her first reaction upon feeling the burst of magic from that direction was to decide the entire day had just gotten that much worse.
"Did you --?" Rarity immediately inquired.
Twilight sighed. "Yes..."
"That was fresh! She may still be inside! Hurry, Twilight, this could be our chance to catch her! Oh, there will be vengeance!"
"But... but that means she's in -- there."
"Twilight, I understand your issues, truly I do, but we do not have time. If you can marshal yourself enough to withstand things for a short duration...?"
Spike, who knew what was wrong, gently rubbed Twilight's flank. "It's just for a few minutes."
"Maybe... if I just stayed outside and waited to intercept her?" Twilight hopefully offered. "In case she runs?"
Zecora, who lacked their feel, frowned. "Twilight, as best that I can tell, the two of you have sensed a spell?" The librarian nodded. "Not the reaction I expected: not thrilled or angry, but dejected..."
Another sigh -- but she was beginning to trot faster, steadily accelerating into a gallop, in no small part because the best way to get into the place was to speed through the door before her mind could stop her. "It's just -- that place, Zecora. Of all the stores she could have gone to -- well, at least she finally found something which was actually irritating..."
"But you shop there: I know you do," the confused zebra noted as she increased her own pace to match. "Their scattered boxes provide the clue. Bits you simply continue to spend, for a store which does -- offend?"
Faster now, speech and speed, every aspect of her being trying to get it over with. "It doesn't make any sense. And I've asked him about it, and all he does is ignore me and then try to raise the prices when he thinks I'm not looking. And he doesn't ever understand when I don't want to order the other -- things... I mean, honestly, how many does he think any one pony needs? How quickly are they supposed to wear out, every two moons? Every single time I send him an order, he puts a note in my box telling me how much I didn't save by ordering together, and it's like I keep doing everything wrong when he's the one who doesn't make any sense -- !"
Rarity went through the doorway first, and the unwillingness to leave her friend facing unknown magic alone gave Twilight the final tenth-bit of strength she needed to go under the sign, the idiotic sign, through the still-open door and --
-- she normally tried not to look around too much on the rare occasions when she was forced to visit the place, generally because the proprietor had messed up her order and Spike was on one of his You Have To Confront Your Own Issues gallops again. Looking around too much hurt her brain. But now she had to, and her gaze quickly moved over that which she personally used and all the pieces which made no sense until she located --
-- there. One unicorn mare, the only mare in the shop, with coat the color of curdled cream and a light grey mane styled into elaborate ringlets which fell to the left side of her neck. Trotting towards them, snout raised as her nostrils expelled a disdainful sniff, almost completely ignoring the store's owner.
"Are you sure there isn't anything I can help you with today?" the light brown earth pony stallion inquired. "Because I think that if you just checked out that display on your right, immediately under the Sale sign, you'll spot something nopony should ever be without!"
"Your so-called stock is inadequate," the mare sniffed. "I made the trip to this -- I suppose 'settled zone' will have to suffice for a term, simply from lack of anything lesser -- in search of antiques to resell, because a 'town' like this would never be able to afford to kick anything away. Your furniture is modern. I inspected every piece. I even went through the most dust-covered ones at the back in the hopes that their time of not selling might have been measured in centuries, and came up with a mere ten years, at least after rounding up. And as for the rest of your wares..."
All of them should have been charging forward. But instead, the four automatically, instinctively waited through the brief near-silence: there was a faint squeaking sound in the distance which wasn't respecting the near-mandatory pause.
"...quills? You think you can sell quills in the same shop with -- with..."
"You saw the sign!" Davenport instinctively beamed. "Everypony comes in when they see the sign!"
"I thought it was a joke!"
"I know! That's why they come in!"
Which was when Rarity took that last crucial step forward. "Pardon," the designer interrupted with the most open, venomous false apologies any of them had ever heard.
The mare, who had ignored their entrance as a natural part of ignoring everything else, stared.
"And you are?" she sniffed.
Rarity's left forehoof scraped at the carpeted floor. "We have met, actually. Rather recently. Perhaps if you made an effort to look past my current hues...?"
Twilight and Zecora remained silent as the mare squinted, which let the squeaking try to intrude again. "Oh," she sniffed. "The owner of the remaindered dress shop."
This time, the hoof stomped, and Rarity's voice dropped into a place which shadowed the store more than her altered coat ever could. "Remaindered."
"And currently experimenting with fur and mane dye in the same stupid fashion in which you previously experimented with fabrics," she continued, completely ignoring all contradiction with her own previous sentence. "In both cases, obviously and totally unaware of when a fad has completed its lifespan. I still have no interest in your wares, especially from a mare who cannot be bothered to sell me anything and simply flees from her own establishment for no apparent reason. Fortunately -- or non -- there seems to be nothing in this 'town' worthy of my bits anyway. Now, if you will step aside..."
"Remaindered?" (Spike's left claw instinctively grabbed for Rarity's tail, intertwined digits through red and black stripes.) "Remaindered? If it is remains you wish to discuss, then we are about to enter a rather brief argument, and if you do not undo your working immediately, you will have the opportunity to regard your own remains as much as you like --!" She began to advance, horn lowering, nostrils flaring --
"Rarity!"
Who glanced back at the little dragon and found his walking claws desperately trying to find a helpful carpet tangle to hook into. "This will only take a moment, Spike. Davenport, I will be purchasing several of your quills. After the fact. Simply count how many are protruding from her body and then charge me accordingly."
"Are you threatening me?" the astounded mare exclaimed. "Is this some kind of threat?"
"I?" Rarity falsely laughed. "Why, of course not! I have never leveled a threat against anypony."
Which produced a slightly disbelieving variety of sniff. "Really."
"Yes," Rarity told her with that same false politeness. "Threats only occur when one potentially does not intend to follow through." And her horn ignited, soft blue dipped into the open boxes of sample quills, a hundred miniature glowing feathered spears began to rise into an attack position --
-- Spike's left claw rapped against her horn. Hard.
The partial corona winked out, and one hundred quills fell to the floor.
Angry red eyes immediately sought out the next target. "Really! Purposeful backlash when I am merely trying to complete our mission? Very well: I believe I am still capable of a charge!"
"Rarity, we don't even know if it's her!"
"She called my creations 'remaindered'! I no longer care!"
The mare was staring at her.
"Well!" she sniffed. "I think we've seen more than enough of the ponies in this 'town'! Threats of violence simply because somepony has too much taste to purchase inferior goods? I would go to the police, if they weren't assuredly as stupid and corrupt as everypony else here. Instead, I believe we'll just head for the train!"
She began to trot forward, as Spike desperately tried to find a new grip, while Twilight wondered if she had to seize Rarity within her own field, Zecora visibly searched for something she could do, and Davenport...
...well, Davenport had something of a one-track mind. Or rather, two, running in rather close and completely illogical parallel.
"Rarity," the stallion irritably interjected, "this is my customer. From the sound of things, she was already in your shop. I'm sorry she didn't buy anything from you, but she's in my store now, and to me, she still looks like the kind of mare who has the taste to purchase a sofa. Along with a few quills, especially since I'm sure she's seen my sign concerning the savings she'll get when she bundles, along with the additional discount for subscribing to my new club!"
Which momentarily froze everypony.
"Club," Twilight said, and immediately wished she hadn't.
"Club," Davenport proudly chorused. "Once a moon, every moon for a year, you receive a shipment containing my personal selection of the ideal pieces to suit that moon's styles! For just a small subscription fee, to cover the cost of my picking something out for you! Plus shipping. And the cost of all the quills, of course. And all the sofas."
"All the sofas," Twilight repeated, and wondered why she'd ever learned to talk in the first place.
"Of course," a confused Davenport eventually responded after an appropriate number of background squeaks. "Why would anypony start a mere Quill Of The Moon club? Now, of course, you'll have to cover shipping costs for sending each previous sofa back. Unless you want to keep them. Because I've seen the tree, Ms. Sparkle, and it's not as if you couldn't use at least six more sofas. Would you like to look at my signup brochure?"
The mare looked at Davenport. Fully noticed Twilight for the first time, then visibly dismissed her. Ignored a near-steaming Rarity, who was desperately trying to free herself from Spike's grip in a way which didn't involve kicks.
"You're all insane," she concluded. "Now, where did the latest idiot proprietor put...?"
Her horn ignited. The glow dipped down behind Davenport's main (and slightly dusty) sales counter, recovered a pair of moderately hideous saddlebags.
"Because as if being treated as a potential shoplifter wasn't bad enough," she sniffed. "What did you expect me to do, hide a sofa inside them?"
And they stared as the navy blue glow descended towards her back.
"Her field," Rarity whispered towards Twilight. "Would that magic operate on her own --"
No. Twilight knew that instinctively, on the level of her mark. Solids and liquids, possibly some of the denser gases -- but not energy. That was another effort entirely, the one required to change a signature, and Twilight knew exactly how hard that was. And besides... "It's the wrong feel, Rarity," Twilight miserably whispered back. "It's not her."
Dejected and rapidly dropping towards despondent. "But there's nopony else it could --"
"-- oh, I see." And Zecora smiled.
It got the mare's attention. And then kept it. "What are you supposed to be? Did a dye wagon explode? Oh -- I see now! Well, in your case, it may actually represent an improvement..."
Zecora ignored it. Calmly, "You said 'we'."
The rest of the group blinked. Davenport simply said "Ten percent off your first shipment when you subscribe for three years or more!"
"Is that supposed to be speech?" the mare sniffed. "Something to impress the ignorant, with your so-called exotic accent?"
Rarity's hooves paused in their carpet trench creation. "She did. She said 'we'll just head for the train'..."
Zecora nodded. "Her words may be those of a phony: her plural shows another pony. Attitude she has aplenty, airs of a false cognoscenti..."
"And rhyming," the mare hurried on, starting to move forward again. "What disease is that a symptom of? Thankfully, there probably isn't any chance it could spread --"
"-- your desperation, it is peeking," Zecora smiled. "And those couch springs -- they are squeaking..."
Which finally got Davenport to focus on something else.
"Oh, no..." he groaned. "I already asked you not to do that!" And he spun, began trotting towards the back of the store.
The mare, who had been on the verge of her exit, automatically oriented on the next offense, instinctively following. "How dare you! One false accusation was enough to convince me not to buy here, just like all the others in this 'town', but now you're accusing twice!"
Which got him to turn. "I saw her doing it!"
"So you say. I didn't see a thing."
"You were right there! Poking the cushions with your hooves!"
Naturally, that triggered a sniff. "If that's what you're going to claim happened..."
Davenport briefly stared at her, then went back to both looking and moving forward. The group hurried to follow, Zecora dropping back somewhat. And when they reached the back of the store...
"Is it over?" a high-pitched pipping voice demanded. "I'm bored!"
There was a unicorn filly bouncing on one of the couches. A very small filly, one who could have easily been mistaken for a kindergartener in both size and vocal pitch: at best, she was two-thirds of Apple Bloom's height, easy to lose in a crowd -- or crush of bakery customers. But there was a single aspect of false maturity visible on iridescent pearl flanks: a manifested mark, which was only intermittently hidden by bouncing black tail hairs. One which showed a palette, pools of color frozen in slow spread across the wood...
The group saw her. And then they saw the couch on her immediate right.
Davenport, through the coincidence which temporarily saved his sanity, hadn't yet. "I asked you not to do that!" he told the filly. "Yes, they're ideal for bouncing, in fact I have some models which are perfect for nothing but if you don't intend to ever truly rest on them and just want a toy -- they make excellent toys, although they work best when matched with the appropriate quill -- but I want to ship my goods new and so I do have to ask that you hop down, you can give those cushions the real workout after your mother signs for the shipment --"
"-- I'm not doing anything," the filly said.
And right on the hoof-heels of that, "How dare you berate my daughter! She's not harming your so-called goods in any way! She's simply -- resting!"
"She's bouncing!"
"No, she isn't," the mother said as her filly bounced.
"Yes, she is!" declared an increasingly frazzled Davenport. "Just like she was bouncing on that one before!"
He looked to the right.
His back legs gave out, and his tail slammed into the carpet.
"My... my couch," he whispered. "What have you done to my couch...?"
"I have not done anything to your supposed couch," the mare sniffed. "Come, Spectra. We are leaving."
"About time!" the filly sniffed, and bounced down. "This place is boring -- who are you?"
She looked the rest of the way up, and her eyes dismissed Twilight as thoroughly as her voice had.
Twilight took a slow breath, wondered just how long Spike could truly hold Rarity back, or if he would simply decide an "accidental" slip was worth the private thanks he would undoubtedly receive later... "Undo it."
"You're stupid," the filly told her. "You look stupid. And part of your mane is gone. That's stupid too. Just like you."
"Are you insulting my daughter?" the mare demanded, completely ignoring everything which had actually been said. "What kind of mare has the nerve to confront an innocent filly..."
Another breath. It didn't seem to be doing much. "Your working," Twilight slowly said. "Undo it. On the couch. On my friends. On the Boutique. Or you're not going anywhere, you or your mother."
"Are you a cop?" the filly quickly said.
"No."
"Then you can't stop me. Because I didn't do anything."
"That's right!" the mare insisted. "She's innocent! She's always innocent, and I don't care what you might say! It's hearsay! At best!"
"And I'm a filly," the very obvious filly arrogantly smiled. "So you can't touch me, or yell at me, or... anything! Because I'm a filly. And my mom wants to leave this boring place already, in this stupid town..." She began to move past Twilight -- and halfway through, turned just enough to let the smirk show.
"You've been using your magic all over town!" Twilight protested. "You changed the colors of my friends, of their goods, of who knows how many things!"
"I don't have any magic," the child said. "I'm just a filly."
"That's right!" the mare immediately added. "She's too young! You're accusing my baby of -- I don't even know what you're accusing her of!"
"It's you," Twilight helplessly insisted. "It -- it has to be you! Everything fits! There's nopony else it could be!"
"You can't prove --" the filly began -- and was cut off.
"Catch," Zecora said, and kicked the freshly-gathered box of quills.
It wasn't aimed at the filly's head -- something which only became visible on second glance, after everypony had a split-second to do more than react. Anypony truly looking at the angle would see it was rapidly heading up, and would have gone well over the little horn. But in that moment where there was no time to think, all the filly saw was something coming at her, and --
-- the box had been stopped. Held motionless within a shimmer-white field.
Zecora smiled. "'natch."
The mare stared. Galloped two steps forward, got the nape of the filly's neck between her teeth, scooped her daughter up and began to gallop for the door --
-- Twilight's field lanced forward, slammed and locked the only exit.
The mare froze, almost in mid-step, and put her daughter down again before turning to face them.
"You're holding us against our will," she said. "I will go to the police. I'm going to press charges."
"She's quite the prodigy, isn't she?" Twilight calmly said, trotting forward a little. "An early mark, early workings, and a new spell. I'd be proud if she was my daughter, at least when it came to her magic. Very few unicorns find themselves that young. But she's still a unicorn. She still has a signature, and now I've felt it. I can match it to every working she's done around town. I have something I can go to the police with, and press vandalism charges. Multiple ones."
And the mare said "So?"
Twilight blinked.
"...so?"
"She's a juvenile. All I have to do is contact my lawyer in Canterlot and let him know my daughter's being held on false charges. Have him stall proceedings for a while, until any signature would fade..." And the smirk was exactly the same on mother as daughter.
Which was when Rarity stepped forward.
"Antiques, you said?" the designer inquired.
"Not that it's any of your business, and certainly not what you were selling, although I suppose that with the lack of quality on your goods, they'll be in your supposed shop long enough to qualify --"
"-- you know," Rarity interrupted, "there are certain pieces where the only difference between the modern and the precious -- can be a certain shift in color? At least on the surface. But if a foolish buyer did not look beyond that, or was refused true inspection until after the purchase, which is perhaps done through a catalog..."
The mare -- paled. Rarity simply took another step.
"You know about her spell," Rarity stated. "She's done this before. On your behalf, perhaps? But today, she was bored. Or irritated. You passed by the library, did you not?"
And the filly sneered. "We were waiting outside for a whole five minutes! And we just wanted some of your stupid --" stopped.
"Books," Twilight softly said. "There are editions where the only difference between the rare and the common is the color of the cover. At least until you see the interior and check the printing. But all you could do with a Canterlot residency is ask for them through the library exchange program, and then I'd have information on the borrower. You'd have to --" the edges of her vision seemed to be fading out "-- the only way you could do it would be through --" the world was shifting towards white "-- you would have to steal --"
And then her brother was on her back, his hands wrapping around her horn at the same instant Rarity and Zecora's teeth mutually clenched on her tail, pulling her down in mid-leap.
"-- let go of me!"
"She's a kid, Twilight!" Spike gasped, the only one who could still talk without risk. "You can't go after a kid!"
"Watch me!"
"Twilight, we need her, we have to get her to reverse this, at least on Rarity's dresses: it's too late for the apples and maybe the bakery, but if we don't get the Boutique restored...!"
Weakly, towards the back of the store, "My sofa..."
The filly was visibly scared, pulled back with corona ignited -- but in her fear, she remained defiant. "You really like books, don't you! I guess you're the nerd Element!"
Red eyes blinked. "You -- know who we are?"
"We know the supposed Elements live in Ponyville," the mare sniffed. "And I heard one of them ran the library, probably as some form of punishment. But as for the four of you being part of the set -- a dragon and a zebra, a pet and a --"
Davenport's stunned interruption might have saved lives. "They... the two ponies, they are... but my sofa, why isn't anypony doing anything about --"
"-- really? This is what gets to hold an Element?" A sniff. "Well, it looks like Murdocks was even more right than usual! Now. There is no record of my ever having previously sold antiques --"
"-- start-up business, is it?" Rarity calmly broke in.
"-- and should you be so foolish as to try and press charges, not only will my lawyer immediately intervene, but the nearest juvenile court is in Canterlot. So any attempt to put my innocent filly on trial will guarantee our ability to leave town. Which we are about to do anyway, and we will treat any attempt to stop us as assault and press charges against you accordingly. Just be thankful I'm in a hurry to bid this 'town' farewell, or I would have the zebra in prison for attacking my daughter. Which I'm still thinking about. Come, Spectra. That one will release her field: I guarantee it. Because we are leaving."
Mother and daughter resumed their trot, with deliberately decreased speed. It would take long minutes for them to reach the door, and Twilight felt the weight of failure pressing on every second.
Rarity sighed.
"Well, that's it," she quietly said. "Two Elements, one failure."
Spike slowly made his way off Twilight's back, shyly approached the black flank. "Rarity, Twilight will find the counter, you know she will..."
"After experimentation. And what that in itself might do to my stock... I am sorry, Twilight, I truly am, but there are times when your quest for knowledge becomes somewhat... explosive." Which produced nothing more than a single depressed nod. "You, the Element of Magic, and myself as Honesty -- beaten by a filly."
Twilight blinked.
"Rarity?"
One red eye winked.
"Truly, I would pay for my stock to be restored. If, by some spectacular coincidence, a young prodigy capable of such a feat just happened to come along. I would simply be grateful for a chance to sell again, and that I had not lost more time to recreating the lot. I would never consider pressing charges, and would in fact forget the incident entirely, as long as the prodigy and her manager did the work in peace and let me be thereafter. Oh, I would pay so much for that..."
Eight hooves paused in their smug departure.
"But what would I possibly have to offer, for one seeking antiques?"
Twilight waited, trying to keep her face straight.
"Twilight... do you recall that I have a silver bit?"
Eight hooves turned.
"Of course, Rarity," Twilight replied. "We all have one. Luna personally presented them to us after that one Nightmare Night. She said it was the smallest possible token she could give us to show her gratitude, and -- it was something to carry as a reminder of her greater gratitude." Her own was kept in the vault, right next to the Elements: Spike's was hidden somewhere, and by 'somewhere,' she suspected 'within his basket.'
Rarity nodded. "From the days when the coin was struck for each ruler. A first pressing. Incredibly rare. And of course, a prodigy could potentially change the color of gold to that of silver -- but could not alter the embossing of the design, and certainly not the density of the metal. There is very little hope for any way in which one might fake the age. And as tokens go... incredibly valuable. But I have never thought to sell it. And yet, if it would purchase the restoration of my stock..."
"A silver bit..." It had come from the mare.
Rarity smiled. And then turned around.
"Yes."
"A first pressing, you said?"
"Given to me by the Princess herself. I rather trust the source when it comes to the authenticity."
"Do the borders actually say --"
"-- 'Good For Nearly All Princess Labor Public And Private'. Yes. And I understand that after the incident with the farmer last moon, there are almost none left. His were ultimately taken as payment by the thrones, in order to keep that old motto from being used a second time in the modern day. Yes, I am aware a few collectors retain a scant coin here and there, but between myself and my friends, to have seven... well, undoubtedly that is now a rather significant percentage of what remains in the possession of the public."
"And you... would give that up? For the restoration of your stock? With no police involved, no pressing of charges -- nothing?"
"In a heartbeat. The incident -- in fact, all of the incidents -- all actions and words alike -- shall be entirely and permanently forgotten by myself and my friends, with the mysterious unicorn who committed the act -- which your prodigy fixed for me -- never to be found, something I will personally guarantee..."
"And that's your word."
"What else would it be?"
The mare smiled.
"As it coincidentally happens," she declared, "my daughter is something of a prodigy..."
They were back at the Boutique, and shimmer-white was flowing across Rarity's creations -- but Twilight really wasn't paying attention to the sight. She was trying to focus all her attention on feel again, as there was a chance that being in the presence of the reversal would give her some insight into the actual working.
Speech, however, had a way of intruding.
"I fail to see the purpose behind the original alteration of my stock," Rarity calmly said as she watched the restoration: it was slower work than the near-instant change had been. "The library, yes. I imagine a little fading of hue does much to suggest proper age, and perhaps some editions have different shades for their covers and spines. But my stock..."
"You don't have any kid sizes!" Spectra declared. "And the play sewing tables are boring! Mom was just gonna hang around forever, shopping for herself..."
"Ah. Boredom likely explains the bakery as well. And the apples?"
"That dumb earth pony didn't have any right to try and take it back!"
"After you took it without paying." For it had been the mother whom Applejack had fought with, while the daughter still had the apple in her mouth.
With the perfect reasoning of the highly offended, "It's just a stupid apple!"
"And Zecora?"
"Who?"
Calmly, "You met her. You restored her coat and mane before she went home." There had been no apples left to fix, and they'd passed a stunned-looking Applejack as she slowly towed her bit-laden cart towards the Acres. Davenport's goods had been the work of a moment, but Sugarcube Corner had been a loss: Mr. Cake had sold what he could and kicked the rest into the trash, for his goods had a typical lifespan of a mere day, and he had seen no point in holding onto anything for too long. In the end, all he'd been able to do was nod with tightly-controlled false politeness and hold most of the tooth grinding back until they were out of hearing.
"Oh. Her. We never expected to see one of those in Ponyville! It's bad enough having them at their Canterlot embassy, and besides, my mommy says zebras shouldn't even be allowed!"
Not without curiosity, "Allowed to what?"
"Anything! And did you see that one stupid slee --" The last of the glow faded. "-- there! That's everything restored!" She glanced backwards, beaming. "It's a really great spell, isn't it? Some ponies might think that real color changes is just the most minor working imaginable, but I've been thinking about what it could really do..."
Rarity slowly looked around the Boutique. "Yes -- that is everything. You do most excellent work, Spectra, and I thank you for your efforts on my behalf -- or will as soon as you do one last thing?" A black hoof gestured inwards.
"Oh, right!" Shimmer-white coated Rarity's body and when it faded, left the true white behind. "All done!" And Spike's scales flattened from sheer relief.
The mare, who had finally named herself as Patina, smiled at her prodigy. "Beautiful work, Spectra! You know... there might just be a market in this..."
"Somepony unknown vandalizes, and then you coincidentally appear to restore?" Rarity guessed. "Yes, I imagine there could be -- but in Canterlot, with so many unicorns who could learn the feel of her signature..."
Patina considered that, then nodded. "Not in Canterlot, then. So, you're sure that everything is back to the way it was?"
"Yes," Rarity smiled, examining her white hooves. "Quite expertly, too."
"Good. Then I'll take my silver bit now, please."
Rarity nodded, trotted over to a portion of wall, and coated it with soft blue glow. A number of security spells were temporarily suspended, including the illusion which made that section look like a normal portion of wall in the first place. Dials were rotated, signatures were read by internal devices, and eventually, tumblers opened. The energy rummaged around for a moment, and then Rarity gradually trotted back, a small field bubble trailing just behind her tail.
"So," she said. "Here it is." The bubble was moved to the front. "You can see its authenticity, I trust?"
Patina's eyes were slowly moving over the embossing. "It's real. I knew it was, because you said so. But to actually see one -- especially after what happened with the farmer..."
Another nod. "A true antique, and one of recently -- and greatly -- increased scarcity."
"That justifies the trip into your 'town' all by itself," Patina exhaled. "And then some. Even without trying to personally use the borders. All right. Let's make the exchange. Just recede your field from the edge, let me get a grip, and then you'll never see us again."
A third head movement of total agreement. "Are you ready?"
"Ready."
The soft blue bubble shot backwards, and the coin audibly rattled against the bottom of the safe before the door slammed, with grey steel immediately replaced by ordinary wall.
"Get out of my shop," Rarity said. And smiled.
Mother and daughter stared at her.
"You -- you... you can't do that!"
"I just did," Rarity calmly stated. "Why are you still here?"
"But -- you're Honesty! You said you would give us the bit! You can't lie about that! You made the promise, and --"
"-- actually," Rarity smiled, "I am Generosity. And so I am capable of -- and, incidentally, somewhat adept at -- lying. Additionally, your lack of education? Is not my fault. Did you need help in finding the door?"
Patina's face, which had been oddly blank for a moment, briefly surged into an expression of cunning. "Generosity? But -- that means you promised to give us something! So you have to! You have to give me anything I ask for, or you can't be --"
A soft blue field clamped down around the mare's jaw.
"Yes, that would be one interpretation," Rarity peacefully said. "A common one. Just about the most frequent error anypony makes. So again -- get out of my shop."
She released her field. The mare took a deep breath.
"Spectra -- put it back! Make it worse! Everything and everypony, as far as you can reach! Ruin everything"
The filly's horn ignited, the corona going from partial to full in a heartbeat, quickly surging into a double --
-- and nothing happened.
There was no glow on dresses, ponies, scales, or walls. There was just a double corona around a small horn, straining for something which could not be achieved. Because on the other side of the room, a purple horn was surrounded by a gentle pinkish light.
"You're... above average," Twilight calmly said. "For field strength, I mean. Decently so. You might have a shot at the Gifted School if it wasn't for absolutely everything else about you. And your color change spell is complicated. When it's already in place... it would have taken some time for me to learn how to undo it, and probably a lot of experimentation. But right now, you're just trying to project energy. Raw thaums. A completed spell has to be countered -- but when you're just trying to cast, I can block you, thaum for thaum, and have a lot of power left in reserve. I can keep blocking you all the way to the train. Rarity isn't Honesty -- but I am Magic, Spectra." She didn't see it as bragging, and no aspect of boast was in her tone. It was simply a statement. "I know your signature. I know your workings. I know you. And you're never coming back. So as my friend was saying -- did you need help finding the door?"
The shimmer-white corona faded, stage by stage, and the little horn went dark.
"You're liars," the angry filly declared. "Liars!"
"Con artists," Rarity said, "have a strange objection to being conned. Behind you and slightly to your right."
Mother and daughter looked at each other. Slowly turned, began to shuffle towards the door...
...Spectra glanced back.
"You like books," she told Twilight.
Purple eyes narrowed.
"When school starts again... my class has a field trip in the first moon. To the Canterlot Archives. I thought it was going to be really boring. All that black text on white pages..."
She smiled.
And then she was surrounded by the pinkish field, jerked into the air, and she wasn't smiling at all. She was completely silent, frozen in horror and fear, with all the screams belonging to her mother, with the gasps as joint custody of Rarity and Spike.
"Oh, that was a mistake..." Twilight peacefully said, and her eyes went white as her horn's corona blazed, surged to a double, the glow of her field intensified --
-- and then Spectra was back on the Boutique's floor, completely unharmed. Twilight's eyes were normal again, and her horn was back to a partial corona. The only new thing was a tiny bubble of field floating on her immediate left.
"I just sampled your signature," Twilight calmly explained. "It's a new working, something I've been researching to help me track thieves. Once I have it sampled, I can set a device to search for it. As many devices as I like: they're very inexpensive to make. Ship them out all over Equestria. Wherever you go, Spectra, for the rest of your life, every shop, every government building, starting with the Archives... there just might be a device hidden. Waiting for you. And if you're stupid enough to use your unique spell, something no other unicorn could possibly be working, they'll let their owners know. How much coincidence do you two think you and your lawyer can explain away, especially after I alert law enforcement about this? Or maybe -- even go higher than that..."
The filly was trembling. Shaking. Wordless. But she wasn't crying. Patina was the only pony doing that.
"You seem to have some trouble with basic directions," Twilight finished. "We'll walk you to the train."
Twilight kept her corona going until the last puff of the distant steamstack dispersed into the late afternoon air.
"Finally," she sighed, and let her horn go dark. "She may not be the strongest filly in the world, but being braced to stop her for that long, in case she tried to take the temper tantrums out on Ponyville, holding that all the way to the station, then waiting for the train..."
Spike nodded. "We'll get you some kale on the way back, and I'll make it for you once we're home."
With a smile of gratitude, "Thank you, Spike."
"Because you need some recovery food and time after casting that brand-new spell," her brother continued.
"Definitely."
"Which doesn't actually exist."
"No," Twilight shrugged -- then smiled. "But it's a really good idea for one, don't you think? I should probably work on it sometime."
Rarity softly laughed. "So will there be a scroll coming from this?"
"Several," Twilight admitted as she began to trot away from the waiting area, friend and sibling trailing in her wake. "I really do have to alert law enforcement, and I sure want to let the Archives know about her."
"But she can't actually change the books that way," Spike pointed out. "Not without opening them. Differentiation, remember?"
Twilight nodded. "But just making every last cover all one hue is bad enough." Which produced an instinctive shudder at the thought of an entire Archive worth of single-shade books. "Maybe that's what she was aiming for when she got my juice. She pushed her field through the open window, but she didn't know what was on the other side..."
Rarity picked up her pace a little. "You should let them know, yes. But that is not quite what I meant, dear. I was thinking about a scroll sent to the Princess. Perhaps something concerning your recently having learned how to bluff...?"
It got a giggle. "That's... kind of an awkward subject for a letter, Rarity."
Gently, with more than a touch of pride, "Motive reading, then? Because in the end, you were right."
"Maybe," Twilight considered. But she didn't have the words yet. "Do you want to go get some food? I'll buy. I know --" and the realization hit hard enough to hurt, stopping the trot in its tracks "-- oh, Rarity, you missed a day of sales, a tourist day! I'm sorry... I shouldn't have kept you out here for so long..."
A hoof gently touched her right shoulder. "Without you, Twilight, I would have had no stock left worth selling. There is always tomorrow."
"Unless something else happens," Twilight sighed.
"True," Rarity smiled her agreement. "And then there is always another little adventure. Still, I do rather look forward to suing Ms. Patina in court over my lost income, if only for what I am picturing as her expression when she is presented with the summons. Oh, I must ask -- were you able to copy the color-changing spell?"
A long pause -- and then Twilight shook her head. "Not from just feeling it being undone and stopping it before it could reach the targets. But honestly, Rarity? I think I can live without it."
"I rather agree --" and an abrupt pause, followed by "-- do you see that?"
Twilight glanced back, checked the angle of Rarity's gaze, then matched it. "That streak?"
"It's coming straight for us," Spike observed, shading his eyes. "Do you think --"
It hit the ground.
It was... orange. It was orange in the way Twilight's juice had not been orange. It was orange in a way nothing had ever been before, and one which nothing of sanity would ever wish to be again. And then there was the mane and tail to consider. They showed all the primary hues of a prism, only inverted, in entirely the wrong order, and fractured from a light which Sun had never produced.
"Found you!" the pegasus gasped. "You weren't at the library, and I've been flying all over town! As much as I could without anypony seeing me! I just took a nap, and -- it's not fur dye, there's no smell and I tried to wash, I was washing for almost an hour and it's not coming off, so it's gotta be unicorn magic, Twilight, somepony pranked me, this totally awesome prank which I can't do because it's unicorn magic and that makes it really stupid... Can you dispel it? Counter? Scrub? Whatever it's called? I was gonna hit the bar tonight and I can't go like this..."
They all stared at the formerly blue, currently orange Rainbow.
"...guys?"
Stared, with palms over mouth and fields clamped tight around jaws.
Huffily, "You're trying not to laugh. I can see you're all trying not to laugh. Just because I'm on the receiving end for a change -- you'd better not laugh..."
And Twilight, who had spent nearly three years in finally learning about empathy and understanding and forgiveness, let the laughter come, and heard the chorus erupt from brother and friend -- and, after a moment, friends, for Rainbow could see it from their perspectives, understood, and so the pegasus forgave them all.
...eventually. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | pre | As much as Indigo would hate to say it, she has a...reputation at Crystal Prep, and she'll be damned if word got out that she liked playing with them, let alone the fact that she just got her ass kicked by a virtual unknown in one of her most oft-played games.
About an hour had passed, and Indigo hopped onto her computer and watched videos of professional e-sports players duking it out, playing and replaying them in hopes of gleaning any information on how she could beat Lunar. She slipped into her pajamas, as she was almost one hundred percent positive that she was going to fall asleep in front of the television again.
The sun had completely set, and Indigo began playing the game on maximum difficulty with her favorite character. Again and again, she fought. She wanted to hone her technique, perfect it! She wanted this "Lunar Goddess" to see who the big shot was and that that last match they had was nothing more than a fluke! She didn't stop, not even after beating the game several times with all flawless victories! She couldn't stop, but she didn't want to. It would only be a matter of time before her thumbs hurt, and she even got a blister!
"Okay...wow...holy shit." Indigo said, putting her hand to her forehead, realizing the extent her madness took her. "What time is it?" She looked at the clock, and her eyes widened. "What the hell got into me? I need to calm down." She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Hopefully a good night's sleep will cure what ails me...hopefully."
Indigo turned everything off, then walked up to her room. She flopped onto her bed and made a sputtering noise. She turned her bedroom lights off and slowly let sleep take her away. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Sunday Morning Stroll | Indigo woke up, grateful to have had a decent dream, and not a nightmare that would traumatize her, thus keeping her from playing her favorite game. That would have sucked big time! She changed into her regular clothes, then noticed the decent weather. She smiled. Maybe some fresh air will help me get my head in the game. She thought, then walked outside, taking a deep breath and exhaling.
"Gotta love the weather." Indigo said, smiling. She wasn't sure if she wanted the upcoming rematch on her mind or not. On one hand, she was looking forward to it. She demanded satisfaction for her bruised pride! But on the other hand, Indigo was also a bit concerned. Not only did that devastating loss damage her pride, but her confidence as well. What if she doesn't measure up to her opponent even after all that she went through last night?
"No!" Indigo said, not caring if anyone nearby saw her outburst as a sign that she was crazy. I can't let whoever that was get into my head like that! I have to calm down. Stay zen. She sighed and decided to get her mind off of the impending rematch. She needed to chillax.
Indigo continued moving forward, trying to distract herself from her mental turmoil. She stopped in front of a streetlight and leaned on it, folding her arms and closing her eyes. She focused on the buzzing of the cicadas, the cars passing by with music playing, the people walking past her.
"Um...are you okay?"
The unexpected question caught Indigo off-guard, and she looked up to see Twilight. Indigo blinked in surprise. "Twilight...huh. Never thought I'd see you outside of school. You come off as more of a...shut-in." Twilight frowned. "No offense." Indigo said, raising her arms in defense in the hopes it would at least make Twilight feel better.
Twilight sighed. "I suppose you're right."
"Wait. What?" Indigo said, surprised.
"That I'm a shut-in." Twilight said, looking away from Indigo. "I spend most of my time alone or reading a book indoors." She looked back at Indigo with a sad smile. "I may be a shut-in, but that doesn't mean I don't want to connect with people from time to time."
Indigo blinked and frowned, feeling sympathy towards Twilight. "Are you okay?"
Twilight sighed. "Honestly? I'm not sure. As much as I love my lab and my studies, I'm starting to feel out of place at Crystal Prep. I may get the highest scores on tests on a very consistent basis, but that's one of the reasons I feel that way. It's like I've learned everything I need to know already, and I'm not sure how to take that."
Indigo was at a loss for words for a few moments, then finally spoke up. "Twilight...I don't know what to say."
Twilight looked at Indigo and smiled. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I just needed to get it off of my chest." She put her hand on Indigo's shoulder. "Thanks for listening."
Indigo smiled and put her hand on Twilight's. "Hey, no worries. Tell ya what. If you need me for anything. Anything at all, call or text me. Here's my number."
Twilight added Indigo to her list of contacts in her phone. "Thanks, Indigo. You're friendlier than most people make you out to be." She said.
Indigo grinned. "Only when I want to be, Twilight...only when I want to be."
Twilight blinked, then shrugged. "Well, I have to get going. Thanks again!"
"No problem!" Said Indigo, and she waved to Twilight. Well, that was a thing that just happened. She thought to herself as she went back to walking. She nearly came to a complete stop when she noticed Sour Sweet walking in front of her. Indigo grinned. Might as well get some more fun in before I have that rematch! |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | The Rematch | "I can't believe I got so caught up in playing against Sour Sweet that I forgot about the fucking rematch!" Indigo shouted in panic as she ran for a minute, then pain shot through her legs, reminding her of something rather important. She growled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, great! I also forgot about the strain I've been putting on my legs!" Indigo stopped for a moment. She was at least close enough to her house that she wouldn't be late for the rematch. "Okay, Indigo...stay cool. Don't lose your shit." She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Okay, Indigo. Game face!"
Indigo walked right up to her house and opened the door. She checked the time on her phone. "Perfect timing!" She said, and sighed with relief. She turned her console on and, despite herself, bit her lip. Dammit, Indigo! Keep your cool! She started up the game and put her headset on. Indigo took another deep breath and exhaled, feeling relaxed again. She mentally counted down to the appointed time. Three...two...one...
Lunar_Goddess_NMM has logged on.
Indigo took another deep breath to calm herself. Why was she so on edge? She closed her eyes and thought about the one thing that always pumped her up: competition. Sure, this was also a competition, but it was more than just that. Her pride and...reputation as the number one gamer in Crystal Prep Academy was damaged severely, and she wanted retribution!
"Hello?" Said a voice from Indigo's headset, nearly startling the student to the point of a yelp.
"Hello." Indigo said, feeling excitement finally course through her veins. It felt so much better than freaking out! "Are you ready?"
"I believe the question is...are you ready?" Said Lunar.
Indigo blinked in surprise now that she fully registered the voice of the person talking to her. It sounded older than she expected. She raised an eyebrow. "Hey, aren't you a little old for this?" She asked.
If Lunar was insulted, she hid it well. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She said. Indigo could practically hear the smile from the tone of her opponent's voice.
Indigo grinned, and an idea formed in her head. "Okay. Let's make this interesting. How about you play as your worst character and I'll play as my best. That way I think we'll be on an even playing field."
"Very well." Lunar said. "Since you requested the rematch, I suppose it's fair for you to set the conditions."
Indigo continued to grin as they each selected their characters. At least now I'll have a better chance of winning! The loading screen started up as she mentally prepared herself.
"Round One...Fight!"
Indigo quickly slapped her hand to her mouth. Muffled screams of expletives filled Lunar's ears.
"Are you okay?" Lunar asked in a sincere tone.
Indigo calmed herself down, grateful that there was no time limit to the rounds. She stared at the screen, slack-jawed. Sweat slowly formed in beads on her forehead. You have got to be fucking kidding me! She all but mentally shouted.
On the screen were the same two characters from last night's championship battle. Indigo's eye twitched involuntarily. "Is this some kind of joke?" She asked.
"I assure you, it is not." Replied Lunar. "This is my worst character. I just entered the tournament to brush up on my skills." She said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Indigo could no longer hold it in. "Brush up on your skills?!" Indigo sighed heavily. Well, I got myself into this mess. Might as well see it through. "Okay." Indigo said, trying to hide her emotions from her tone of voice. "Let's do this."
Lunar started off by rushing over to Indigo and unleashing a series of kicks.
Oh, please don't tell me she's toying with me. Indigo thought as her brow furrowed in concentration.
Indigo jumped over Lunar, then immediately fired off a special move, hitting her. Indigo wanted to keep herself calm and in control during the fight no matter what. Lunar recovered in midair and hit Indigo with a flying kick.
"Not a bad start." Lunar said calmly.
Keep it together, Indigo. You got the first hit in, keep that cockiness at bay!
Lunar dashed across the screen until she was right in front of Indigo. Indigo reflexively blocked, only to be thrown to the other side of the arena.
"Dammit." Indigo muttered under her breath.
Despite her best efforts, Indigo landed to the ground with a thud. She got back up and fired a special move, which was parried. Indigo jumped and fired an aerial special move, then followed it up by getting in front of Lunar. Lunar immediately hit Indigo with an uppercut special move, stunning her. Indigo was then hit with a ten-hit combo, and knocked out.
Lunar_Goddess_NMM wins!
Indigo sighed. Not going to give up, even if all the odds are against me!
"Round Two...fight!"
"You've been pretty quiet over there." Said Lunar.
Indigo grimaced. "I've been concentrating." She said.
"Fair enough." Said Lunar, and began her assault. She fired off a special move, then followed it up with a backflip. Indigo blocked the special move as Lunar dashed towards her and landed an uppercut. Indigo recovered in midair, then fired a downward special attack that struck her opponent. Taking advantage of the situation, Indigo landed a seven-hit combo before it was canceled. Lunar parried, then tossed her to the other side of the arena and followed up with a super special move. The super special connected, and Indigo was once again knocked out.
Lunar_Goddess_NMM wins!
Indigo sighed heavily. A few moments of silence passed before she could bring herself to say "Good game." in a monotone. Before Lunar could respond, she took off her headset, shut off her console and the television, and laid down on the couch to stare at the ceiling. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Shattered Confidence | Indigo stared up at the ceiling for what felt like hours. It wasn't even the afternoon, and she would damn near kill to see the stars right now. She needed peace of mind. The only other thing that would come close to the comfort she feels from watching the starry night sky was up in her room, and she didn't have the will to get up. Her parents wouldn't be back until later, which meant she didn't have anyone to talk to. The thought of getting in touch with Twilight Sparkle had crossed her mind, but she hardly knew her and didn't want to dump any drama on her, either.
Indigo sighed heavily and forced herself up off of the couch. She trudged up the stairs, barely paying attention to her surroundings. Not that she needed to, she'd been living here for as long as she could remember. She entered her room and took a deep breath, then exhaled. She felt only marginally felt better, having smelled the all too familiar scent of her room. She walked over to her bed, then flopped down onto it.
Indigo turned her head to look at her bedroom clock. "If only there was some way to make time move faster." She thought out loud. "Being back at Crystal Prep would help me feel better, but I'm stuck here at home with jack shit to do except feel sorry for myself over getting my ass kicked in a video game." She put the palm of her hand to her face. "God, that sounds pathetic now that I say it out loud."
She got off of her bed, then searched through her desk drawers. "Ah, here we are." She said, and pulled out a pair of headphones. She took her phone out of her pocket and plugged her headphones in. She selected one of her playlists, and let it run as she sat on her bedroom floor and leaned against her bed. She closed her eyes and let the music wash away her concerns, sending her away to a plane of calm.
Indigo's playlist ended after about a couple of hours, and she returned her headphones to the desk drawer. She left her room and sighed. "Time for lunch, I guess." She may have lost horribly two times in a row and wallowing in self-pity, but she still needed to eat.
Indigo walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate. She filled it up with the remainder of her leftovers, and sat down on the sofa. All she could bring herself to do was to eat and stare blankly at the television. She wasn't in the mood to be entertained, so she simply basked in the background noise.
Once Indigo finished her lunch, she sighed again. She wasn't sure if it was from being full or still feeling upset over her defeat. She put the palm of her hand to her face. "Ugh. I'm such a mess right now."
Indigo got up off of the couch and made a sputtering noise. She cleaned up after herself, then sat back down and stared at the television. She remained in that position for several minutes, then finally summoned the willpower to get herself off of the couch. "Gah! That was harder than it should have been!"
Indigo walked over to the nearest window and rested her forehead on it, staring at the outside world. She wanted to stop feeling sorry for herself. She had to stop feeling bad for herself. She needed to stop feeling bad for herself. She sighed again, causing her breath to leave a temporary fog on the glass. This had to have been the worst funk she'd ever been in. Worst of all, the only two people she could rely on to break her out of it were on vacation!
Indigo snapped out of her reverie when she heard the garage door open. Scratch that. She thought, finally able to grin. They're home early! |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Homecoming | Indigo ran to the door leading to the garage, eager to hug whoever came in first. The door opened to reveal her mother. Twinkle Trick was a woman who, depending on who you asked, came off as either mysterious, magic, or both. Nobody could quite figure her out except her family, who she was always transparent and honest with.
Twinkle was a light-brown woman of average height, her yellow eyes behind a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. Her dark blue curly hair was obscured by her favorite traveling cap. She looked up from the book she was reading to see her daughter eagerly looking at her. She smiled widely and outstretched her arms. "Hey, sugar!"
Ever since Indigo was in kindergarten, she wanted to be just like her mother. She began imitating her, but to a more extreme degree, much to the confusion and frustration of those around her. She had tried to tone it down over the years, but she found it to be too difficult and just accepted the level she was at.
Indigo ran to her mother and embraced her tightly. "Hey, Mom!" She said cheerfully, then sighed as she put her head onto her mother's shoulder, which was a signal to both of her parents that she'd had it rough recently.
Twinkle frowned. "Hey...what happened?" She said, a tone of concern in her voice.
Indigo looked up to her mother. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather wait until both you and Dad are inside."
Twinkle smiled warmly. "I understand, honey." She said as she broke the hug, then went back into the garage to grab her luggage.
Shortly thereafter, her father walked through the door. Indigo smiled again and rushed over to him. "Hey, dad!" She said, giving him a hug.
Azure Feather was a well-toned man whose skin color was inherited by his daughter. Both his head of hair and facial hair were a light blue, and his bright green eyes lit up when he saw Indigo. "Hey there, Zappo!" He said, giving her a bear hug. His smile faded when Indigo pressed her face onto his shoulder. "Rough weekend?" He asked sympathetically. Indigo sighed heavily and nodded. "You want to talk about it?"
Indigo shook her head. "Not right now. I want to wait until both you and mom are inside. You need help with your luggage?"
Azure smiled. "Sure, I won't turn down an offer like that."
Indigo smiled back. "Glad to help." She said, walking into the garage. She and her parents brought in all the luggage and her parents began to unpack.
"So." Azure said, turning around to face his daughter while he and Twinkle were unpacking. "What happened?" Indigo sighed heavily and told her parents everything that had happened over the weekend up until they returned from home.
Azure and Twinkle looked at each other, then at Indigo. Azure folded his arms. "How are your legs now?" He asked.
Indigo shrugged. "They feel fine, but I should probably take it easy. Especially since tryouts for the Friendship Games are tomorrow. Then take it easy again until the games start."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Said Twinkle. "And honey...we know how much pride you have in your video game skills, but you have to keep this in mind: yes, you may have lost twice in a row. But think about how many matches you've won! Why, before you know it, you'll have a winning streak that would make Lunar jealous!"
Indigo grinned widely. "Yeah. You're right!" She ran up to them and hugged them both. "You guys always know how to cheer me up. That's why I love the stuffing out of you!"
Azure and Twinkle returned the hug and stayed in place for several moments, enjoying their warmth and love. Once they separated, Indigo clapped her hands together. "So." She said, having fully regained her confidence. "What's the plan for tonight?" |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Fun with the Whole Family | Azure Feather and Twinkle Trick looked at each other for a moment. "How about a giant fort made out of pillows?" Asked Feather.
Indigo snickered, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms with a smile.
"What?" Twinkle said, confused. "You love it when we make giant pillow forts together."
"Yeah, I do." Indigo responded. "But we've established that I need to take easy, and I'm not sure making a giant pillow fort falls under that category. Besides, it's not as fun if we don't all do it. I wouldn't feel right just watching you and dad make one without me."
"Fair enough." Said Twinkle. She put a hand to her chin and stroked it in thought. "Hmm..." She stayed still for several moments before sighing. "Yeah, I've got nothing." She said, slumping in defeat. "What about you, hon? Got any ideas?" She said to Indigo.
Indigo shrugged and made a sputtering noise. "I dunno. Maybe we just play it by ear at this point?"
Azure shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"Have you eaten lunch already?" Asked Azure.
Indigo nodded. "But I won't turn down eating dinner at a restaurant later!" She said with a grin.
Azure laughed. "Okay, we can do that later. But what about now?"
Indigo thought for a moment. "Any good movies out?"
Indigo and her parents would spend the next half hour going over all the movies currently out in theaters, finally settling on one they all wanted to see. "All right, then." Said Twinkle. "To the Familymobile!" She pointed in the direction of the garage in an over the top fashion.
Normally Indigo would rush to get to the car first, but she walked briskly instead. Her parents went at the same pace so she could have a fair chance at winning. She smiled slightly. "Come on, guys. You don't have to hold back on my account. You two are the only people in the whole world I don't mind losing to."
Azure nudged Indigo with his elbow. "You sure about that, Zappo? I hear eating dust isn't good for your health."
Indigo rolled her eyes and smiled. "Har, har." She said sarcastically. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Azure cupped his chin in mock thought. "Nah." He said. "Besides, we missed you! Gonna spend all the time we can with you!" He said, giving her a noogie.
Indigo laughed. "Okay, okay. If you insist!"
"We do." Said her mother, pulling Indigo's goggles down to her eyes. Indigo continued laughing until the three got into the car.
Indigo buckled up. "So, have you guys heard anything about this movie?"
"Nope." Her parents said in unison as Twinkle started the car, then backed out of the garage. "The less you know about a movie, the better. That way you can be more surprised at how it turns out." She said.
"Or disappointed." Said Indigo. Azure glanced back at her. "What? I'm just saying." Azure turned his attention back to the front. "But at least we know the synopsis. I think that should be a bare minimum before going to see a movie. I mean, can you imagine just walking into a movie without knowing anything about it other than the name?"
"Yes, actually." Twinkle said as she put a free hand on Azure's thigh. "That's what your father and I did on our first date."
"What?!" Indigo nearly shouted. "I know you like to be random sometimes, mom, but isn't that kinda wasting your money?" Her parents laughed as she stared in shock.
"We both agreed that our first date should be memorable." Said Azure. "It turned out to be the worst film we ever saw, and it remains the worst movie we've ever seen to this day. But you know what? It was memorable, and that's what matters." He gave Twinkle a quick peck on the cheek.
Indigo smiled warmly at seeing her parents' love for each other. Her thoughts drifted momentarily, imagining what it would be like to have a family of her own someday. Meeting the right person, confessing her love or her significant other confessing to her...she sighed. It must be one of the greatest feelings in the world. She was snapped out of her thoughts by her mother.
"We're here!" Twinkle said as she parked the car. Indigo unbuckled her seatbelt and eagerly got out of the car. She followed her parents towards the theater entrance.
Indigo and her parents left the theater, each of the three with differing opinions.
"What the hell did I just watch?" Said Indigo, pinching the bridge of her nose. "That was the most confusing movie I ever saw, and I've seen some weird movies!"
Twinkle giggled. "I do love a good surreal movie." She said as she readjusted her glasses. "That part with the fish caught me off-guard, though."
Azure shuddered. "Don't remind me about that. I'm not eating fish for a month after having seen that!" He sighed. "I don't even think I'll ever look at fish the same way ever again. That scene aside, it was okay. Not the best, but not the worst either." He said, opening the door to the outside for his wife and daughter.
"If I've learned anything at all today, it's that you can't always trust a trailer or synopsis." Indigo said, throwing her hands up. She made a sputtering noise. "Well, at least it was a memorable experience." She said, winking at her parents.
Twinkle snickered, and Azure just smiled. The three got into the car.
"Now then, where to?" Asked Twinkle.
"Anywhere where there's no fish." Said Azure.
Indigo laughed. "Makes no difference to me. I'm not all that picky of an eater."
"All right then, just leave it to me!" Twinkle said as she started up the car, then steadily lowered her foot on the gas pedal.
The family enjoyed companionable silence until Indigo noticed a large construction site. "What the?!" She said, staring at a large wall. "How long has that been there?!"
Azure shrugged. "Beats me. We hardly drive on this road." He said as the car passed by a giant sign.
Coming Soon: Equestria Land!
Indigo's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh, man! That looks so cool!" She said, barely able to contain herself.
Twinkle laughed. "I'm sure we'll find time to get there." She said. "It looks like a lot of fun!"
Azure laced his hands behind his head. "Been a while since I've been to an amusement park."
"Sweet!" Indigo said. "I so can't wait!"
The silence returned after a moment, then remained until the car was parked at the restaurant.
Indigo, Twinkle and Azure returned to the car after finishing their meals. Azure slowly sat down in the passenger seat, his face pale.
"Of all the items on the menu, the guy right behind me had to eat fish." Azure said, sighing heavily.
"You gonna be okay, dad?" Indigo asked as she sat down and buckled her seatbelt.
"Need me to roll down a window, hon?" Asked Twinkle.
"Yes to both." Said Azure. "Hopefully a nice breeze will help."
Twinkle rolled down the window to Azure's door as she started the car. "Just let me know if you need me to pull over." She said.
"Don't worry, I will." Said Azure.
Indigo tensed up slightly. One of her greatest fears was being in the same vicinity as someone throwing up. She clenched her jaw as she felt the chill of fear on her back. She took a deep breath, then exhaled.
Twinkle took notice. "Are you okay, Indigo?" She asked.
Indigo smiled nervously. "I think so." She said. "Just a little nervous, I guess."
"Nervous? About what?" Asked Azure.
Indigo tensed up further, afraid that her father would get sick by talking too much.
"Are you sure you're okay, Indigo?" Asked Twinkle, raising an eyebrow.
Indigo sighed heavily. "I'm...I'm afraid of being near people sick to their stomach." She admitted.
Azure looked back at his daughter and smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Zappo." He said softly. "I assure you I'm fine. And even if it happens, there's not much you or I can do about it. It's a natural bodily function."
Indigo tensed up further, afraid of being thrown up on. "Iknowbutcanyoupleaseturnaroundbeforeyoupukeonme?" She blurted out.
Azure kept his warm smile. "I understand." He said. "But don't worry. We're almost home."
Thank fuck for that. Indigo thought, still tensed up. She remained that way until the car pulled into the garage. Once it stopped, Indigo quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and bolted into the house, then ran upstairs and closed the door to her room. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Home Again | Twinkle and Azure got out of the car and looked at each other.
"Are you going to be okay, hon?" Twinkle asked her husband.
"Yeah, I actually feel much better. Thanks." He said, smiling. "But I think the better question would be if Indigo's okay."
Twinkle nodded. "I'll go up to talk to her. She might tense up again if you try to talk to her."
"Understood." Said Azure. "I'm going to go stretch my legs. I'm tired of sitting inside something, so I'll be in the backyard, exercising."
"Have fun." Twinkle said, and gave Azure a quick peck on the lips. She then walked into the house, with Azure just behind her until she began to walk up the stairs.
Indigo Zap was on her bed, curled up. Her eyes were shut tightly, her teeth clenched together and her index fingers were plugged in her ears. She nearly yelped when she heard a knock on the door. She stayed on her bed, but slowly removed her index fingers. Her eyes remained shut and her teeth remained clenched. A moment passed, and she heard the knock on the door again.
"Indigo, honey? Are you okay?" Came her mother's voice, muffled slightly by her bedroom door.
Indigo gradually opened her eyes and unclenched her teeth. "I...I guess so." She said, uncurling herself.
"Can I come in?" Twinkle asked.
"Sure." Indigo said as she sat up on her bed. Her mother opened the door. Indigo laughed sheepishly. "Sorry about that little bit of weirdness." She said. "Being around someone who might puke really, really freaks me the fuck out."
Twinkle smiled. "Yeah. Your father and I noticed." She said, sitting next to her daughter. "But you don't have to worry anymore. He's out in the backyard doing some exercises. You know how he gets when he's stuck in a car."
Indigo smiled. "Yeah. I do. And I don't blame him. Being stuck in a car for hours would definitely make me crazy, too!"
Twinkle laughed. "Same here. I can barely keep still sitting like this as it is! Why don't we go in the backyard? Your dad and I really need to stretch our legs."
Indigo nodded. "Sure, why not?"
Azure went outside and took a deep breath, then exhaled. He sighed with contentment. "Ahhh, much-needed fresh air." He said as he stretched. He then sprinted around the perimeter of the backyard, taking another whiff of the air. He smiled. "Good to be home." He said, feeling at peace. He stopped mid-stride as the sliding-glass door opened to reveal his wife and daughter. "Hey, Zappo." He said. "Sorry about the scare in the car."
Indigo walked over her dad and gave him a hug. "Don't be. I'm sorry that I freaked out. I don't know why it does that to me, but it just does."
Azure returned the hug. "It happens." He said as Twinkle began stretching after she closed the door behind herself. "But don't you worry, I feel better now. I just needed some fresh air after smelling that...ugh...fish."
Indigo broke the hug and stepped back a few feet. She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. Reflex." She said, blushing.
Azure smiled. "Don't worry about it." He said. "Why don't you stay out here with us for a while?"
Indigo smiled. "Sure, I can see myself lounging while you two work out. Maybe I can find a whip or something to keep you two moving."
Azure snickered. "You can probably find one in the closet of the master bedroom." He said with a wink.
Indigo blushed deeply. "Dad! Eeew!" She knew her parents loved each other, but she didn't want to hear about their sex lives, jokes or no!
Twinkle nearly tripped upon hearing her husband's remark. "Azure Feather!" She admonished, blushing almost as deeply as her daughter.
Azure burst into laughter, much to the embarrassment of his wife and daughter.
The sun had fully set, and the family of three were getting tired.
Indigo yawned. "Well, I'd better rest up for the tryouts tomorrow. Something tells me it's going to be a crazy day."
Twinkle and Azure panted, out of breath from all the exercising they did in the backyard. "Good night, Indigo!" They both said.
Indigo walked into the house and up to her bedroom. She changed into her pajamas and let sleep claim her for the night. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Monday Morning | Indigo woke up and got out of bed. She stretched, yawned, and cracked her neck. "Ow!" She cried, wincing from her neck popping. "All right then, Indigo." She said to herself. "Let's kick today's ass!" She eagerly changed her clothes and sprinted downstairs, remembering to save her energy for the tryouts.
Indigo entered the kitchen and saluted her parents. "Hey." She said.
"Morning, Zappo!" Said Azure. "You feel rested enough to take on the tryouts?"
Indigo grinned. "Are you kidding? Of course I am!" She said, cracking her knuckles.
Azure slapped her on the back. "That's the spirit!" He said.
Twinkle smiled. "We know you'll do well, Indigo."
"Thanks for the votes of confidence. Not that I need them." Indigo said. Twinkle and Azure smiled and rolled their eyes.
"Sometimes every little bit counts." Said Twinkle.
"Sometimes." Said Indigo. "I'm just saying." She said with a smile. "I understand what you're getting at though, and I appreciate it." She hugged both of her parents. "Well, I'm off! See you guys later!" Azure and Twinkle waved goodbye as Indigo left the house.
Indigo boarded the bus and searched for a seat.
"Hey! Indigo!" A voice called out from a few rows back. Indigo followed the voice until she found its owner.
"Oh, hey Fleur De Verre." Indigo said as she sat down next to her.
"Have you seen this new video from SnapGab?" Fleur De Verre gave Indigo her phone and started the video.
One the screen was a yellow-skinned girl playing with her pink and white hair on her bed. "#bangs." She said seductively, moving her hand from her hair to her mouth, biting gently on her pointer finger.
Indigo's eyes widened and her jaw nearly dropped. "Holy shit that's hot!" She said breathily. She played it again, then quickly gave the phone back to Fleur De Verre. She was visibly sweating and blushing when she turned to look at her. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "What's her name?!" She said, making an effort to not grab De Verre by the collar and shake her.
Fleur De Verre grinned widely. "I know, right? Her name is Vignette Valencia." She inwardly pumped a fist in triumph. Sweet! At the very least, she's probably bi! I might just have a chance with her! Then again, she did french kiss me on impulse. She leaned in close to Indigo and whispered. "I don't blame you, I've already gotten off on watching that video twice!" Her smile slowly turned into a frown. "Sadly, I know someone who's been in contact with her. I heard she's a total bitch."
Indigo frowned. "Never meet your idols." She said.
"Hey now." De Verre said, folding her arms. "That saying's not always true."
"I suppose not." Indigo said, shrugging. "Still, I was just saying."
The bus came to a complete stop in front of Crystal Prep, and everyone disembarked.
"Thanks for showing me that video!" Said Indigo.
"No problem." Said De Verre. "See you later!"
"You bet!" Indigo said, waving. She then ran off to her first class of the day.
First class had ended, and Indigo slowly shuffled out of her classroom. She had her hand on her forehead. "Dammit, I can't get that video out of my head! Stupid sexy Vignette Valencia!" She muttered under her breath. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Indigo calmed herself slightly. That's a better method than trying to think of unsexy things. That usually ends up backfiring in the worst possible ways.
Indigo walked the halls as she felt her anticipation for the tryouts build. Should I do warmups in the hall? She thought. After mulling it over for a few moments, she made her decision, only for the warning bell for second period to ring. "Crap." She said, disappointed. She sighed, then walked to her next class.
Indigo walked out of her next class with a headache. "That was way too much information for one class. I feel like my head is swimming so fast it's causing a damned tidal wave!" She grabbed a nearby student by the collar. "Are you on the verge of babbling like an idiot?! Please tell me it's not just me..." The student could only stammer unintelligibly. Indigo slowly and calmly set her down, then sighed. "I'm sorry. I get stressed out when I'm overwhelmed." The student merely stared at Indigo, then backed away slowly, almost bumping into two or three students on the way.
Indigo slapped the palm of her hand to her face, then dragged it down to her chin. "Ugh." She said. "Maybe next time I should just tell the teacher to slow down so I can catch up." The warning bell for third period rang, and she groaned. "Lunch can't come fast enough." She said, making her way to her next class.
Indigo sighed contentedly upon leaving her third period class. "Oh, man. That was so much better than the last class I had." She smiled. "That really took the edge off." She made a mental note to personally thank the teacher later, as she was enjoying the moment and didn't want to go back into the classroom. She almost pulled her phone out just to watch the hot video again before shaking her head quickly. Man, it sucks that I had to snap myself out of it. I think I was experiencing a natural high or something! But I really, really want to see that video again! God it was so hot!! Indigo's eyes widened, and she ran to the women's bathroom.
Indigo turned on a faucet, then splashed cold water on her face. She yelped. "Why is this a thing people do?!" She nearly shouted. "I'm still thinking about sexy things, but now I'm cold!" Her face lit up when the warning bell for fourth period rang. "I could use any sort of distraction at this point..." She sprinted out of the bathroom and towards her next class.
Indigo left her fourth period class, still thinking about the video, but far less turned on due to the distraction of class. She sighed. "I'll take what I can get at this point. At least the tryouts should be fun." Indigo blinked. "Crap, the tryouts! I'd better hurry!" |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Vulnerability | Indigo ran to where the tryouts were. She looked around at all the other participants. Among them she saw Lemon Zest, who was looking at Sour Sweet. Sour Sweet waved with a smile. Huh. Never thought I'd see Sour smile for real. Sugarcoat was just staring blankly, causing Indigo to blink. I wonder what her deal is. She thought, grinning at Lemon. She noticed Sunny Flare giving Lemon Zest the stink eye. I wonder what her deal is, too...
Principal Cinch's voice snapped Indigo out of her thoughts. "This first round of tryouts will involve academics." announced Principal Cinch. Nearly half of those waiting groaned.
"The hell did you guys expect, moto-cross racing?!" Sour's voice echoed throughout the room.
Indigo smiled. Actually, that sounds pretty damn cool. I'd be up for that.
"As I was saying..." Cinch continued, pinching the bridge of her nose. "The first round of tryouts will involve academics. The top fifty scores will move on to the next round. To your seats!" All students did as instructed. "And...begin!"
Well, this isn't what I was expecting. Indigo shrugged and sighed. Well, it is what it is. She put all of her concentration into the test and let nothing else distract her until Principal Cinch spoke again.
"Pencils down!" Principal Cinch said, and there was a noise of pencils being put on the desks. "The results of these tests will be posted later today in the hallways." She said as Dean Cadence went to pick up the tests. "Dismissed!"
Indigo left the room. "At least that wasn't as much of an info dump as second period." She thought aloud. "I'm willing to bet results will be posted after fifth period."
Lunch had started, and Indigo walked over to the crowd of students. "This must be where the rankings are." She said, looking at the posting. She grinned widely. "Top five. Not bad, not bad." She turned around and nearly bumped into Fleur De Verre. "Oh, crap! Sorry, I didn't see you there!"
De Verre smiled. "Don't worry about it." She said.
"Are you here to see where you placed?" Asked Indigo.
De Verre's smile slowly faded as she turned her head away. "I already have a pretty good idea, Indigo Zap." She said quietly.
"What are you talking about?" Indigo said, turning to look at the rankings again. "I'm sure you did just..." She trailed off once she saw where De Verre was ranked. At the very bottom. "...fine." She finished, almost as quietly as De Verre, who was looking away and shaking. "Hey..." Indigo said sympathetically, extending her arm towards her.
De Verre turned around suddenly, tears in her eyes. Indigo stepped back, surprised. "Tests were never my strong suit, Indigo." She said, wiping her eyes. "I can do athletics just fine, but I just can barely pass a test!" She sniffled. "That was the worst score I've ever been given, and everyone's here to see it!" She buried her head in her hands and let out a sob.
Indigo smiled warmly and grabbed De Verre by the hand. "Come with me." She said as she walked away from the crowd of students.
"Wh-wh-where are you taking me?" Asked De Verre as she let out another sniffle.
Indigo looked at her and smiled. "Somewhere where we can be alone." De Verre blushed in spite of herself, but decided not to jump to conclusions.
After a few moments, Indigo stopped in front of a study room. "Come on in." She said, and De Verre obliged. The two sat down on chairs. Indigo looked out the window. "Hey, this room is soundproof, right?" She asked.
De Verre shrugged. "It should be."
"I guess that'll have to do, then." Indigo said.
"So why did you bring me all the way here?" De Verre asked.
Indigo closed her eyes, took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "Before we go on, I want you to promise me that what I tell you here in this room stays in this room. Understood?" She gazed at De Verre, her eyes piercing.
De Verre was a little unsure of where this was going, and was quite frankly more than a little nervous from anticipation. She swallowed, then slowly nodded her head. "Yes. I do."
"Thank you." Indigo said, smiling genuinely as opposed to her well-known grin. She took another deep breath and sighed heavily. "I hope I'm not worrying you, it's just that it's never easy for me to say this."
De Verre blinked. "Honestly, you are, but that's just because I don't know why you brought me here."
Indigo chuckled. "Good to know." She said. "Okay. The reason I brought you here is tell you something that only my parents know about me. I haven't told anyone else, but I'm pretty sure some staff members suspect it."
De Verre nodded, suppressing the urge to tell Indigo to just come out with it.
"I wasn't always this athletic or good at tests." Indigo said.
De Verre's face turned red. She was about to yell at Indigo for blowing this all out of proportion until she saw that Indigo had her face on the table while holding up an index finger, indicating that she wasn't done speaking. Silence hung in the air for several more moments until she finally lifted her head. De Verre stared in shock. In all the time she had seen Indigo Zap throughout her time at Crystal Prep, she had seen her smile, grin, laugh, and even scowl. But now here, in this quiet room, Indigo's face had a look of uncertainty. She was willing to be vulnerable for this person she hardly knew.
"I guess you can tell how hard this is for me to say, huh?" She said, nervously.
De Verre smiled warmly. "Would it help if I held your hand?" She said.
"I'll take anything at this point, I just want to get it off my chest." Indigo said. De Verre reached over the table and clasped Indigo's hands into hers. Indigo closed her eyes and focused on the warmth of De Verre's contact. She took one last deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "I have Asperger's Syndrome."
De Verre blinked. "You mean you're-"
"Autistic, yes. High-functioning, though." Indigo said. "My whole point for telling you this is that if someone who's autistic can go from lazy and a bad test-taker to one of the top athletes and test-scorers in Crystal Prep, then surely you." She said, emphasizing her point by slightly tightening her grip on De Verre's hands. "Can improve. I have faith in you." Indigo paused for a moment, then looked away. "I'm sorry if I blew this whole thing out of proportion."
De Verre let go of Indigo's hands and walked over to her. She gave her a big hug, much to Indigo's surprise. "Don't be sorry." She whispered softly. "What you did was brave, and I promise that nothing you told me will leave this room."
Indigo sniffled. "Thank you." She said, her voice quavering.
The two stood still as Indigo's sniffles turned to sobs. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Lunch | Indigo finally calmed down after a few moments. "What time is it?" She asked, checking her phone. She smiled. "Great! There's still time to eat. Let's go, I'm starving!" She almost sped off, but then turned around and gave De Verre a big hug. "Again...thank you." She whispered.
De Verre smiled. "You're welcome. Now let's eat already, I'm hungry too!"
Indigo and De Verre sat next to each other and ate their lunches. As much as I'd like to tell her how I feel about her right now, De Verre thought. I don't think now's the right moment. She sighed, looking at Indigo.
Indigo glanced at De Verre. "Is everything okay?" She asked.
De Verre smiled. "Yes. Everything is just fine." She said, trying hard not to blush. Indigo blinked, then returned to eating her lunch. De Verre did the same. She probably doesn't feel the same way about me. She thought.
Indigo paused for a moment, as though something occurred to her. Slowly, she turned her head to De Verre and her eyes widened. She quickly turned her head around and did a spit take, falling into a coughing fit.
De Verre panicked. "Indigo, are you okay? Do you need water?" Still coughing, she nodded her head. De Verre rushed over to a lunchlady and returned with a cup of water. Indigo greedily gulped it down, then took a deep breath. "...Are you feeling better?" De Verre asked her.
"Holy shit!" Indigo said, pointing at De Verre. "It's you! The girl I kissed in the hallway!"
De Verre sighed heavily. "I can't believe it took you this long to realize that." She said. "Yes. I'm the girl you kissed in the hallway. I'm also the girl who was twirling her pencil in class that was driving you crazy." She took a deep breath and exhaled. I guess it's now or never, De Verre thought. "I was twirling it because I was thinking about how you kissed me in the hallway. I know you did it out of sheer impulse, but despite my best efforts I have a crush on you."
Indigo Zap's jaw dropped and she stood still in shock for a moment. She blinked as she processed De Verre's confession.
"I know this is like the last thing you need right now after what just happened, and it might be a little selfish of me, but I feel like if I didn't get this off my chest it would consume me." De Verre said, putting her hands to her chest. She then put her hands on Indigo's shoulders. "I don't expect you to feel the same way, because I know the kiss didn't mean anything to you." She said, turning her head away.
"De Verre..." Indigo finally managed to speak. "I'm sorry." She said weakly, turning her head away. The two stayed in silence until the warning bell for sixth period rang. De Verre let go of her shoulders. Indigo sighed heavily as she watched the only person brave enough to admit their feelings towards her walk away slowly. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Sixth Period | Indigo forced herself off of her seat as soon as De Verre was out of sight. I feel terrible about this. She thought as she walked over to her sixth period class. Nobody's ever had a crush on me before. At least, not that I'm aware of. She sighed again. I have to talk to her the next chance I get. She entered her classroom.
As class started, Indigo found herself in constant thought. Should I not have told her about my Asperger's? She shook her head. I don't think it would have made any difference if I hadn't. She'd still know that my kissing her was nothing more than an impulse. She put the palm of her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. God, I feel like such a shit right now.
"Miss Zap?" Indigo opened her eyes and looked up to see the teacher staring down at her. "Is there something more important on your mind than class?"
Indigo blushed from embarrassment. I'd say yes, but I'd rather not piss off the teacher. She shook her head. "No, ma'am."
The teacher nodded. "Good." She headed back to the chalkboard. "Now as I was saying..."
Indigo went back to her thoughts, but paid a bit more attention to the teacher. She wrote notes on her pad of paper to remember anything the teacher said, should she be reprimanded again. I've got to find her after this class. She made a sputtering noise and jotted down notes, since she knew the noise would catch the teacher's attention. The teacher glanced at Indigo, then went back to her lecture.
Indigo glanced at the clock in the classroom. Her eyes widened. It hasn't even been ten minutes?! She suppressed a groan. I thought my attention span was supposed to make time fly, not slow down to a near standstill! She turned her attention back to her teacher, who was writing on the chalkboard. Indigo copied the teacher's writing, then went back to her thoughts.
Crap. She thought as another realization hit her, along with a wave of panic. I can't lie to Mom and Dad. I'll end up telling them about Fleur De Verre's crush on me, then I'll have to tell them how it started...the impulsive kiss. In the goddamn hallway of all places! I'll be grounded for a week! Indigo sighed heavily and nearly banged her head on the desk, but stopped just a inch short of impact. She quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As if I haven't gotten enough negative attention from the teacher already! Indigo thought, rolling her eyes. She turned her head to the clock. Move faster, dammit! She gritted her teeth and gently laid her head down on her desk, then shot back up just in case the teacher happened to be glancing in her direction. The teacher was still writing on the blackboard. Good.
Indigo looked around the room and at all of her classmates. She noticed most of the students were showing roughly the same level of enthusiasm as she was. Figures. This class can get boring as hell. One student was asleep at their desk. Oof. I may make bad decisions sometimes, but even I never go that far. The last four students she didn't account for were listening intently. each with varying degrees. Well, good for them. Indigo thought sarcastically.
Indigo started twirling her pencil, then almost immediately stopped. Oh, great. Now I'm doing it! She put the palm of her hand to her forehead and dragged it down her face. She looked at the clock again. What part of "move faster" don't you understand?! She thought, resisting the urge to flail her arms in frustration. She glanced back at the chalkboard to see new notes to take. She copied the notes, then returned to her thoughts again.
Maybe I should just sing a song or two in my head. That usually helps pass the time. Indigo thought, glancing at her teacher. She blanched when she noticed the look on her face. The teacher began to walk slowly towards her, and Indigo shrank into her chair, sweating from nervousness. The teacher passed her by, and she wiped a bead of sweat off of her forehead, sighing with relief. The teacher walked up to the sleeping student's desk, and slapped the palm of her hand on it, startling everyone in the room.
The poor student yelped and sat upright immediately as the teacher fixed him with a death glare she knew would keep the student awake for the rest of the period, if not the rest of the day. Indigo stifled a giggle. And that's why I never fall asleep in class. She thought smugly.
Shortly thereafter, Indigo's thoughts returned to more pressing matters. Okay, one thing at a time. First off, I have to patch things up with De Verre. Then there's the second part of the tryouts, which is who knows when at this point. Then I'll have to deal with my parents. She shuddered. Man, why can't the tryouts be my only concern?! She made another sputtering noise as she wrote down more notes.
Indigo looked at the clock in the classroom again at the risk of her sanity. She smiled widely. Yes! She thought, almost unable to hide her excitement. Just a few more minutes! She looked at the chalkboard again, and wrote down the new notes the teacher left.
Indigo started to glance at the teacher, then her notes, then the clock every so often. She could hear the seconds tick away, which started to erode her attention span. She gritted her teeth in impatience as she switched her focus from her teacher to the clock, to her notes, then back to her teacher until the bell finally rang. Indigo nearly bolted out of her desk, leaving her belongings in the classroom. She hurried back in and claimed them, then ran out.
"Freedom!" She shouted, sighing with relief. She grinned widely, feeling determination. "All right." She said, lowering her goggles. "Operation: Find Fleur De Verre is a go!" She cracked her knuckles and began her search. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | In Search of Fleur De Verre | Indigo sped through the halls at near-top speed, gliding along using the hidden wheels from within her heels. All right, where are you? She thought, enjoying the feeling of the air on her hair. Heh. I should be a songwriter! She shook her head, bringing her back to her mission. No time for that. Gotta find De Verre!
"Hey! No skating in the halls!" Night Watch said as Indigo neared him.
"That's not technically a rule!" Indigo said, grinning as she passed the hall monitor. At least, I hope it's not. She shrugged. Semantics later, De Verre now! She thought, continuing down the corridor and turning. She nearly bumped into a student or two, apologizing as she deftly swerved around them.
Indigo passed by a clock in the hall. "Damn, not much time left!" She continued her search until the warning bell for seventh period rang. She sighed and her shoulders sagged in defeat. "Okay, next passing period then!" She said, skating to her next class.
Seventh period ended, and Indigo bolted out of her classroom. She stopped mid-stride and skated up to a random student. "Okay, two things." She said, making a peace sign. "One." She lowered her middle finger so only her pointer finger was up. "Do you know when the last part of the Friendship Games tryouts is? And two." She lifted her middle finger back up again. "Have you seen Fleur De Verre?"
The student blinked, then answered. "The last part of the tryouts are after eighth period, on the track. I don't even know who that is."
Indigo sighed. "Well, one's better than nothing I suppose. Thanks, man." She said and skated off, continuing her search for De Verre, leaving the student puzzled. She made a sputtering noise as she turned a corner, then tripped over an extended leg. "Shit!" She yelped, and landed on the floor with a thud. She groaned slightly as the picked herself up off the floor and turned around, scowling. "What the hell was that for?!" Indigo shouted at the offending student.
The student gave Indigo a smug look. "You just looked like you needed to be brought down a couple of pegs." He said.
Indigo's face turned red with anger. "Well you look like you need to be brought up a couple of octaves!" She yelled, punctuating the final word of the sentence with a full-strength kick to the student's groin. He crumpled to the floor and doubled over in pain. "Asshole." She muttered as she left the student, then took a deep breath and exhaled. Okay, on with the-
The warning bell for eighth period rang.
"Dammit." Indigo muttered under her breath as she made her way to her eighth period class.
Eighth period class had ended, and Indigo made a beeline to the track. "All right." Indigo said. "Time to see if all that resting paid off!"
"As you've all no doubt realized," said Principal Cinch. "This tryout will be physical. The top eleven fastest lap times will move on to the Friendship Games."
There were murmurs of excitement among the students. Indigo grinned widely. "Oh, hell yes." She said. "Gonna give this baby everything I've got!" She began stretching as Principal Cinch called out the names of each participant before they ran their lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lemon Zest, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat. No surprise there. But i'd better focus on the task at hand for now.
"Indigo Zap!" Called Principal Cinch.
Indigo grinned and lowered her goggles as she walked to her mark. "Let's do this!" She said excitedly.
"Go!"
Within a split second, Indigo summoned all the strength in her legs that she had been saving since they gave out on her. She ran like she had never ran before, like Fleur De Verre was waiting for her at the finish line...wait, what? Before Indigo knew it, she had reached the finish line. Her legs were shaking as she collapsed on the ground, panting. Yeesh, I must be feeling way more guilty than I thought. She made a sputtering noise once she caught her breath.
"My legs are going to be sore for days after this..." Indigo said, nearly groaning. "But no time to check the rankings. The final class of the day calls!" Besides, I'll be damned if I didn't at least make the top eleven! She rolled her way back to the inside of Crystal Prep.
The final period had ended, and Indigo Zap was a woman on a mission. She cracked her knuckles and her neck. Okay, even if I don't find her in the halls, I'll see her on the bus. Better to cover all my bases and such, after all. "Indigo Zap, away!" She declared, skating on the wheels hidden in her shoes. She sped through the hallways, checking both the floor and in front of her just in case. She glanced at a clock in hallway as she passed it by.
Okay, starting to get short on time here. Indigo sighed. Don't give up, Indigo! She thought to herself. Keep it moving, and you're bound to find her! She passed by the student from earlier and glared at him. He cowered in response. "That's what I thought." She said in an intimidating tone.
I may not be the Alpha Bitch here, but it's good to know I have a decent place on the ladder. Indigo smiled to herself. I should never let my guard down here, and I learned that the hard way earlier. She rapidly shook her head. Anyway, where the hell is she?! She passed another clock in the hallways and began to panic. "Shit!" Indigo cried out. "I'm gonna miss the bus!" She began skating quickly for the exit.
Indigo reached the buses on time and boarded hers. She scanned all of the seats as she walked towards the back. The further back she got, the more she felt it was hopeless. By the time she reached the back, her shoulders were slumped in defeat. She sighed heavily. "Where could she have gone?" Indigo said, putting her hand on her forehead.
Indigo stayed in that pose until the bus reached her stop. She got off of the bus, and reality slowly dawned on her. "Ohhhh...right." She blanched. "I got so caught up in looking for De Verre that I almost forgot." She gulped. "I'll have to tell my parents..." She took a deep breath, walked over to her house, and braced herself as she opened the front door. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Home Yet Again | "I'm home." Indigo said as she closed the front door.
"Welcome back!" Her parents said from the living room.
Indigo slowly walked into the living room, dreading the inevitable outcome of her telling her parents how the day went and what started it all. She sat down on the sofa, looking both of her parents straight in the eyes. "All right, there's a band-aid I have to rip off here..."
"...And I know that with that one impulsive whim, I brought this all on myself." Indigo concluded. She sighed heavily and looked away from Azure and Twinkle, clearly ashamed of herself. She forced herself to look at her parents' reactions.
Twinkle had the palm of her hand on her forehead, shaking her head. Azure, on the other hand, had an unreadable expression. The family stayed silent for a minute, then Twinkle spoke up.
"Indigo..." Twinkle paused, as if carefully considering her words. "I think I speak for both your dad and I when I say that while we're proud of you for telling the truth, opening up to De Verre and encouraging her, but..."
"But what the hell were you thinking?" Azure asked, throwing his arms up and giving his daughter a look of anger. "I know you can be impulsive from time to time, but just randomly kissing someone in the hallway? Someone who, might I add, you barely even know?" Indigo looked away, still ashamed. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, Indigo Zap!"
Indigo flinched. Oh crap, he called me by my full name! He's pissed. Not that I can blame him. She turned her head to face her parents. She could feel sweat dripping from her forehead. She loved her parents to death, but they always made her nervous whenever they're mad. And not just when they're mad at her, but even mad in general! She sighed, knowing that her punishment was imminent.
Azure and Twinkle looked at each other momentarily, then nodded. "We'll let you off with a warning this time. We know you're a good kid, Zappo. But if anything like that happens again, you will be grounded."
Indigo blinked in surprise. "Wait...what? Isn't that a little lenient?"
Azure grinned in a way only someone related to Indigo could grin. "Well if you want to, you can just go up to your room and stay there the rest of the night. Far be it from me to stop you."
Indigo suppressed a laugh. "Okay, okay. I won't push my luck." She said, stretching her arms in front of her and opening her hands. But that won't stop me from wondering why you guys went easy on me after all that I did. Was it because I was genuinely ashamed of myself? Was it because the good I did outweighed the bad? She shrugged inwardly. Best not to think about it too much. I don't like things keeping me awake at night when I want to sleep. "So where do we go from here?" She asked, grateful that the talk was over.
"Well." Twinkle said, tilting her head up in thought. "It's Monday, so that means it's a work and school night, so we can't do anything that goes on for too long." She hummed in thought, then looked to her husband. "Do you have any ideas?" She asked him.
Azure blinked, then cupped his chin in thought. "I can't think of anything right off the bat. You think we should just play it by ear or something?"
Indigo shrugged. "Something's better than nothing. I don't have any ideas either. All I know at this point is that my legs are going to absolutely sore tomorrow. Ugh." She laughed. "Glad I've got skates in my shoes, that just makes it easier on me. I don't like all this 'taking it easy' stuff. I think I'm gonna go crazy before I fully recover."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll survive." Said Azure. "You're a big girl."
Indigo rolled her eyes and smiled. "D'aww, thanks!" She said in an overly bubbly voice. Her face twisted in disgust. "Okay, yeah. Never using that voice again." Her parents laughed and she joined in. She checked a nearby clock, then blinked. "Why do I keep looking at clocks? That never makes time go faster, but it never stops me from checking them."
"It hardly ever stops anyone, Zappo. I can't even count on my fingers and toes the number of times I check the clock at work." Azure sighed. "Man, desk work sucks the life out of you."
Indigo shuddered. "No offense, Dad, but I definitely don't see myself doing desk work in the future. I think I'd go completely mental on my first day!"
Azure laughed. "None taken. But I do it because I have to, and because I love you guys." He said.
"Hey now." Twinkle leaned over and lightly punched her husband on the shoulder. "You're not the only one around here with a job." She winked.
Indigo smiled, remembering when she last saw her mother at work. Being a lifetime magician's assistant paid higher than she could have ever imagined, and it explained where she got her flair for the dramatic when dealing with people outside of her family. She even met the magician in person after one of the performances! She had his picture with his autograph in a frame on one of her dressers.
"You know what?" Indigo said. "This is nice. Maybe we could just spend the evening hanging out and talking. Not every night has to be about going out and doing stuff."
Twinkle smiled. "That's not such a bad idea. What do you think, hon?"
Azure smiled. "Hey, whatever works." He shrugged. "Now, how does dinner sound?"
Indigo walked into her room and yawned. She stretched as she began to change into her pajamas. Once she finished, she took the photo of the magician in her hands and read the autograph for what had to have been the millionth time.
Indigo Zap, keep on being magical!
- Jackpot
Indigo Zap smiled and returned the photo to its proper place, then went to bed and fell asleep. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Indigo Zap vs. Tuesday | Indigo's eyes opened up slowly as she yawned and stretched. She got out of bed and looked out the window. Well, today looks promising. She thought with a smile, then looked down at her legs. Guess I should check 'em before I wreck 'em. She snickered. She sprinted around her room, or at least as much as she could, given the size of it. She winced in pain, then fell over simply to amuse herself. "Woman down!" She said quietly so her parents wouldn't get the wrong idea. "Medic!" She said, giggling to herself.
Indigo got up off the floor. All right, enough screwing around. She changed into her uniform, then cracked her neck. "Ooh, yeah. Needed that." She said contently, then left her room. She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Morning!" She said, greeting her parents.
Azure and Twinkle looked up and smiled. "Hey Zappo. How's the legs?" Asked Azure.
"Eh, they're okay." Indigo said. "Tried sprinting in my room to test them out, and I lasted for about a minute. Still gonna take it easy on them."
"That sounds like a plan." Twinkle said.
"Well, I should be off. Later!" Indigo said as she headed for the door.
"Hold up!" Azure said, causing his daughter to kick up her left leg, slide her left foot on the floor then pivot on her right foot's heel. She finished by stomping her left foot on the floor.
"Yeah, dad?" Indigo asked.
"Keep your impulses in check, will you?"
Indigo smiled. "I will."
"All right then. Have a good day!"
"That's the plan, at least. See ya laters!" Indigo said as she finally left the house. Once outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air. She sighed. Nobody's cut the grass...man, I love that smell. She walked up to the bus stop and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair. She opened them back up once she heard the bus approaching. I wonder where De Verre is...I haven't seen her since yesterday. She frowned at the memory as she boarded the bus.
Once Indigo climbed the last step in the bus, she kept her eyes peeled for De Verre. Come on, you've gotta be here. The further back into the bus she got, the more frustrated she became. She made it to the back of the bus, and she still couldn't find Fleur De Verre. "Argh!" She grumbled, sitting down. She put her head in her hands and made a sputtering noise. "If I don't see her by the end of the day, I'm gonna ask around tomorrow." She said to herself.
Once the bus stopped in front of Crystal Prep, everyone disembarked. Indigo opened the doors and stretched. "All right, Tuesday. What do you have in store for me?" As if to answer her question, the sound of airhorns blared off in the distance. She gasped, then grinned. "The Indigo-signal! Someone requires my assistance!" She began skating in the direction of the noise, then took out a cape she borrowed from her mother and put it on. Once she neared the airhorns, she shouted at the top of her lungs. "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the airhorn that sounds in your ears...I am Indigo Zap!"
The airhorns stopped immediately, and Indigo looked to see a very bemused Sunburst. He blinked, at a loss for words.
"What's the problem?" Indigo asked, snapping Sunburst out of his puzzlement.
"Oh, right. Sorry. That was just so unexpected I froze up." Sunburst said. "'I am the terror that flaps in the night'?" He smirked. "Where did that come from?"
Indigo shrugged. "Eh, just some old cartoon my dad watched when he was a kid. But enough about that. Time is short, and first period's going to start in a few minutes."
"I just wanted to talk, that's all. I've been feeling...lonely." Sunburst said.
Indigo put the palm of her hand to her forehead and dragged in down to her chin. "Oh, please don't tell me you have a crush on me..." She said.
"What?! No! What gave you that idea?" Sunburst said in a panic.
Indigo blushed. "Sorry. Long story. Anyway, what do you want to talk about?"
Sunburst sighed. "I don't know."
Indigo smiled. "Well at the very least I'll keep you company until the bell rings which should be...about five minutes. I didn't skate down the halls just to do nothing, yaknow!" She said, giving Sunburst a noogie. "Hey, do you happen to know who Fleur De Verre is?"
Sunburst fixed his hair and readjusted his glasses. "No, I'm sorry to say that I don't. Why do you ask?"
Indigo looked away for a moment. "That's another long story."
"Is there something you want to talk about?"
Indigo barked a laugh. "You call for my help and then end up asking me if I want to talk. That's a new one." She quickly raised her hands in defense. "Don't get me wrong, I'm genuinely touched. It's just that nobody outside of my family has ever asked me if there was something I wanted to talk about." The warning bell rang.
"Well, I guess it's time for us to move on." Sunburst said. "See you later?"
"Yeah." Indigo nodded. "See you later."
First period had ended, and Indigo left the classroom in thought. It'd probably be a waste of time to search for De Verre if I don't even know whether or not she's here. She passed several students in the hallway, feeling the urge to be random. Keep it in check, Zap. She told herself. As tempting as it may be, the reward isn't really worth the risk. She sighed. Man, things are really boring without all of my randomness. Did I really depend on it that heavily to keep me going throughout the day?
"Bleh. I don't like thinking too much." Indigo said as she walked the halls. She stopped and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Probably not a good idea to just stop in the middle of a hallway. She thought, then walked over to her second period class.
Second period was over, and Indigo again found herself in thought. I hope De Verre is okay. I wish there was a way to contact her. I didn't even get her phone number... Indigo growled. "I can't take it anymore!" She nearly shouted, and ran outside turning her phone's volume all the way up. She pressed it to her ear, clenched her teeth, and played airhorn noises off of her phone. She yelped in pain, then brought the phone's volume back to normal. Her ears were ringing, and she was unable to hear herself sigh in relief. Why did I even do that?! She thought as she walked back inside. The warning bell for third period went off, and Indigo thanked her lucky stars that she didn't go deaf.
Third period ended, and the ringing in Indigo's ears had finally left. Okay. She thought. That's a stunt I'm never going to pull again. I'm glad I know how to at least look like I'm paying attention, because I could barely hear a word the teacher said until the class was ten minutes in! She made a sputtering noise. There's still some time before fourth period starts. Where do I go from here?
An idea formed in Indigo's mind and she darted for the doors to the entrance. She opened them and heard the sound of lawnmowers in the distance. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Ahhh. Peaceful." She laced her hands behind her head and leaned on the front steps of the campus until she barely heard the warning bell. "Well, that's the end of that I guess."
Indigo left her fourth period class, with Sunny Flare right in front of her. She growled in frustration. Ooh, is this a kindred spirit I see before me? "Bored?" She said, gaining Sunny's attention.
"No, I'm trying to stretch my body because it's been my lifelong dream to break the world record for tallest human." Sunny said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at Indigo.
Indigo snickered. "I didn't think you had a sense of humor."
Sunny shrugged. "Whatever gets me through a day as slow and uneventful as this."
Indigo smiled. "I hear that. I almost want to tempt fate just so something interesting would happen."
"That's hardly ever a good idea." said Sunny.
"You'd rather be bored out of your skull than have anything interesting happen today?" asked Indigo.
"I'd rather be bored out of my skull than risk a chance of any sort of catastrophe." said Sunny.
"Hey, sometimes the reward makes the risk worth it." said Indigo.
"Sometimes." said Sunny.
"Look, it's not like I want the apocalypse." Indigo thought for a moment, cupping her chin. "I just want something that's non-lethal and harmless but still exciting to happen."
"Such as?" asked Sunny.
Indigo shrugged. "I don't know! I'm so fucking bored I think my imagination put itself out of its misery!"
Sunny blinked.
"What?" said Indigo. "I can't think of anything creative right now, that's the best reason I can think of!" Sunny rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on! Surely this boredom's been affecting your brain as well."
"Maybe just a little." admitted Sunny. "I feel like I might be on the verge of losing my mind! Got any ideas on how to kill this boredom of ours?"
Indigo grinned. "I do, but I think we'd get ten to twenty years if we followed through with it." Sunny blinked again. Indigo laughed. "I'm just kidding. I've got nothing right now."
Sunny groaned, frustrated. "Then why am I even talking to you?!"
"You've got nothing better to do." Indigo said, smiling. The bell for the next period rang.
"I do now!" Sunny said in a singsong voice. "Ta-ta!"
Indigo shrugged. Oh well. Off to the next class I go.
Well, there goes fifth period. Indigo thought. At least it's lunch time! She skated through the halls, rushing towards Sunny Flare. "Incoming!" She shouted. Sunny yelped and jumped to the side as Indigo passed her by, rolling on the wheels hidden from within her sneakers. As she neared the cafeteria, she heard the sound of airhorns. Indigo sighed. "Okay, this one better be good enough to keep me from eating lunch!" She said, rolling through the hallways until she found the person responsible for the noise.
Indigo stopped dead in her tracks as she stood before Fleur De Verre, holding her phone up high. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | The Hallway | "Hey." De Verre said, avoiding eye contact as she lowered her arm. "I imagine you've been looking for me, so I decided to save you the trouble."
"Yeah." Indigo said, turning her head away, her tone solemn. "I imagine you needed time away from me."
A couple of moments passed, and Indigo broke the silence. "Fleur De Verre." She said, turning her head back to look her in the eyes. "I just want to tell you how sorry I am."
De Verre turned her head to face Indigo. "But you already did."
Indigo shook her head. "No. I meant a formal apology." She said as she walked towards De Verre. "Asperger's or no, autism or no, I should never have given you the wrong idea. I should have said that from the moment I kissed you." She sighed, putting her hands on De Verre's shoulders. "Fleur De Verre...I'm sorry." She gave De Verre a hug. "Can you forgive me?" She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
De Verre stayed silent for a moment, then slowly returned the hug. "I'm sorry about all the drama, Indigo Zap." She said, her voice quavering with a sniffle.
Indigo smiled. "Don't be sorry. What you did was brave, and I promise that nothing that happened between us will leave this hall."
De Verre's eyes widened, having heard her own words echoed at her. She sniffled again. "Thank you." She said, then broke. The pair stayed still as De Verre's sobs were muffled by Indigo's chest.
Several moments later, De Verre had no more tears to shed. She looked up at Indigo, who was looking down at her and smiling warmly. "Hey." She said softly. "Feel better?"
De Verre nodded, wiping a stray tear from her eyes as she broke the hug. "Do we still have time for lunch?"
Indigo grinned. "C'mon, we weren't standing still for that long. We've got plenty of-" Indigo was cut off as she and De Verre heard something rolling off in the distance. The two looked in the direction the noise was coming from and saw the school nurse rushing towards them, wheeling a gurney.
"Out of the way, girls!" Said the school nurse as she hurried towards the cafeteria. She ran down the hallway and disappeared from the pair's sight.
Indigo hissed through her teeth. "Yikes. I hope whoever that's intended for is okay." She said, frowning and folding her arms.
"Do you think we should follow her?" Asked De Verre.
Indigo shook her head. "Speaking as an expert on creating scenes, I think we'd only make things worse. Whoever's in trouble is going to need space, not to mention the nurse and anyone else involved."
De Verre sighed. "I guess you have a point." She said, shrugging. "Maybe we should take an alternate route to the cafeteria."
Before Indigo could respond, she could hear the school nurse's voice along with an additional one; Dean Cadence. "-Just fell limply onto the floor." Dean Cadence said as the gurney turned a corner, revealing itself to Indigo and De Verre.
Indigo held out an arm in front of De Verre. "Best to stay of out their way." She said, to which De Verre agreed with a nod. Once Indigo caught sight of the person occupying the gurney, she gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Sunny Flare laid on it, unconscious. Without thinking, Indigo grabbed Dean Cadence by the arm.
"I'm in a hurry, can it-" Cadence stopped speaking when she saw the fear in Indigo Zap's eyes. Indigo's jaw had dropped, and she stammered for a moment until Cadence held her by the hand. The Dean gave Indigo a sympathetic look. "She's going to be fine." She said calmly. "She just...hasn't been sleeping well lately."
Indigo stood still in shock until De Verre held her other hand. "But...but I just saw her a few minutes ago. She seemed just f-fine then." She said, trembling.
"I assure you, Indigo Zap. Sunny Flare is going to be okay. But promise me that you won't bring this up to her. She's a proud individual." Cadence said.
Indigo stayed sill, staring off for a moment. "Yeah...I promise." She all but mumbled.
"Indigo...are you going to be okay?" Cadence asked softly.
"I...I...I don't know. I'm...in shock...she...was just...fine when I saw her." Indigo felt a lump in her throat. "D-Dean Cadence...I-I'm scared." She said, her voice a near whisper.
"I understand. Seeing someone you know in a condition like that can be frightening." Cadence said as she slowly embraced Indigo.
"If it's that scary seeing someone you know in a gurney, I can only imagine what it must feel like to see someone you love in the same way." Indigo said as she looked up. She gasped when she saw that the Dean's eyes were red, and a stray tear fell. "Are...are you okay, Dean Cadence?" Indigo managed to say despite all the shock she had experienced.
Cadence slowly broke the hug. "Yes. I'm fine." She said, wiping a tear from her face. "Everyone goes through this experience, Indigo Zap. I am no exception. It was just an old memory from a while back."
Indigo gave Dean Cadence a look of uncertainty.
Cadence sighed. "You don't have to worry about me, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. But I do appreciate the sentiment." She said, putting an arm on Indigo's shoulder.
Indigo smiled warmly. "All right then, if you say so."
"Well, if that's everything you need then, you'll have to excuse me." Cadence said as she ran off in the direction the gurney took.
"Thank you!" Indigo said as she watched Dean Cadence run off.
De Verre slowly let go of Indigo's hand. "Are you going to be okay?" She asked softly.
Indigo sighed heavily. "I think so. It's just that so much happened in so little time that it was borderline overwhelming."
De Verre smiled. "Yeah, I get that. There's still time for lunch, though. Are you still hungry?"
Indigo shrugged. "I'll find out once we get to the cafeteria." She said as the two finally made their way to the cafeteria. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Afterwards | De Verre stared at Indigo as they left the cafeteria. "My god, I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat so much so fast! Are you gonna be okay?"
Indigo grinned. "If I get sick, it'll only be because I'm sick of hearing 'are you okay?'."
De Verre laughed. "I get that. Still, it's nice to know at least some people care."
Indigo sighed. "Yeah. I mean, I love this place, but sometimes it can get a little hostile."
"Oh, I'm sure there's places out there worse than here." Said De Verre.
"If there are, I'd rather not find them." Indigo said, lacing her hands on the back of her head. The warning bell for sixth period sounded off. "Guess we'd better part ways, huh?"
"Yep. Not like we'll never see each other again, though." Said De Verre.
Indigo rolled her eyes and smiled. "Never tempt fate. It can be a real bitch sometimes."
"I suppose so." Said De Verre. "See you later!" She said, waving goodbye on her way to her next class.
Indigo waved back, then headed towards her own class.
Indigo left her classroom and skated through the halls until she saw Sour Sweet staring out of a window. My curiosity has been piqued. She thought, and walked over to her. "Penny for your thoughts?" She asked.
Sour Sweet sighed. "I don't know if I want to talk about it." She said, resting her head on her hands as her elbows were supported by the windowsill.
Indigo shrugged. "Suit yourself." She began to walk away, only for Sour Sweet to grab her, preventing her from going any further. "Changed your mind?" She asked.
Sour Sweet laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess I did." She let go of Indigo, then sighed. "I got into a bit of a fight with Lemon Zest. I don't want to go to into much more detail than that."
Indigo made a hissing noise through her teeth. "That sucks." She said, putting an arm on Sour Sweet's shoulder.
Sour Sweet smiled. "Yeah, it does." She said. "But I'm sure we'll bury the hatchet. I just need some time away from her to regroup, that's all."
"That's understandable." Said Indigo.
Sour Sweet blinked, as though suddenly realizing who she was talking to. "Wait...I thought you were supposed to be one of the most obnoxious students around here. Why are you being so nice to me?"
Indigo laughed. "Oh, please." She said. "I'm not some one-dimensional character. Sure I can be obnoxious sometimes, but I can also be a sensitive and caring person. Just like I'm sure there's more to you than being a little...unpredictable."
Sour Sweet raised an eyebrow. "Interesting choice of words."
Indigo grinned. "Would you prefer 'bipolar'?"
"While that's more accurate, I'm good with either." Said Sour Sweet. The warning bell for seventh period rang. "We should continue this conversation later." She said.
"Agreed." Said Indigo. "See you after class!"
Seventh period had ended, and Indigo began looking for Sour Sweet. She skated the halls, keeping her eyes peeled until she found herself behind the very person she was looking for. She grinned, then ruffled Sour's hair. "Looking for someone?" She asked.
Sour Sweet smiled. "I was, but then she messed up my hair." She said as she fixed her hair.
Indigo rolled her eyes and smiled. "So. Bipolar?"
Sour Sweet nodded. "Yeah. I'm bipolar. I acknowledge that I have it, but I don't let it define me."
"I imagine it's hard to not let it define you because of your occasional outbursts." Said Indigo. Sour Sweet glared at her, and she held up her hands in defense. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Indigo said. "I'm just saying, I meant no offense."
Sour Sweet sighed. "I don't know how to respond to that." She said, making a sputtering noise.
Indigo put a hand behind her head and sighed. "Yeah, that was probably out of line. I'm sorry."
"No. It's okay." Said Sour Sweet. "I'm just glad a peer is willing to talk to me, despite my 'reputation'." She clenched her teeth. "Damn Principal Cinch. I hate that word!"
"You're not alone there." Said Indigo. "I think she's almost as obsessed with the thing as much as the word itself!" She sighed heavily. "Man, I hope the wrong people didn't overhear that."
Sour Sweet smiled. "If they did, we'd have known by now."
"Yeah, you've got a point there." The warning bell for eighth period sounded off.
"Onward to the next class, I guess." Said Indigo.
"Yup. Onward to the next class." Said Sour Sweet.
Eighth period had ended, and Indigo decided to check in on Sunny Flare. She shuddered at the memory of seeing her on the gurney, nearly motionless. I still want to see if she's okay at the very least. She took a deep breath and approached the nurses' office. "Is Sunny Flare still here?" She asked the receptionist. The receptionist nodded, and Indigo walked over to where Sunny was. Her eyes widened as she saw her, still motionless but breathing. Okay, this was a bad idea. She slowly walked away, shivering slightly and averting her gaze.
"Indigo? What are you doing here?" Dean Cadence asked, startling Indigo.
"Making a mistake." Indigo said, feeling the color drain from her face. "I...I just wanted to see how she was doing." She said, gesturing in Sunny's direction. "B-But I didn't take into account how freaked out I'd be." She shuddered.
Cadence smiled. "I told you that she's going to be okay." She said, gently putting her hands on Indigo's shoulders.
Indigo took a deep breath, then exhaled, sighing heavily. "I know you did. But that doesn't stop me from freaking out." Before Cadence could say another word, Indigo said "Please don't ask me if I'm going to be okay, I've heard that question so many times today already. And to answer that very question...I don't know. I'm just shaken. God I hope this doesn't give me nightmares."
"Indigo." Cadence said, gaining her attention. "It's commendable that you would want to check up on her, even if you two hardly know each other." She took her hands off of Indigo's shoulders. "Do you need to sit down?"
"I think I'll be okay...maybe I just need some fresh air." Indigo said. "Good talk, Dean. Good talk." She said, almost devoid of tone. She then walked out of the office as the warning bell for her final class rang. She sighed heavily. "So much for fresh air." She said, then made her way to her final class.
Indigo slowly, almost mechanically walked out her final classroom and made a beeline for the bus. She passed by countless students, ignoring everyone and everything except what was in front of her. As far as she was concerned, everything around her was white noise. The image of Sunny Flare just lying on the gurney in the hallway and on the bed in the nurse's office had haunted her throughout class, and she just wanted to go home. No conversations, no distractions...just home. Home. Home. Home. That was all she wanted right now.
Vaguely aware of her surroundings, Indigo boarded the bus. She just wanted to go home. She stared out the window, the image of Sunny Flare still prevalent in her mind. She just wanted to go home. Recognizing her stop was next, she just wanted to go home.
She walked out of the bus slowly and approached the front door. She opened it, then closed it and went to the kitchen, feeling a lump in her throat.
"Hey, Zappo!" Said Azure. When his daughter didn't immediately answer, his expression and tone of voice became those of concern. "Are you okay?" He asked. Indigo didn't answer, but slowly walked over to him then hugged him tightly. When he heard her sniffle, he returned the hug, causing Indigo Zap to break. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Time with the Family | "I heard the front door open and close, but I didn't hear Indigo..." Twinkle said as she entered the kitchen, then gasped as she saw and heard her daughter sob into her husband's chest. "What happened?" She asked, only for Azure to shrug his shoulders.
Twinkle walked over to the two, and slowly ran her fingers through Indigo's hair. If her daughter felt it, she gave no indication. The three of them stayed in place until Indigo finally had no more tears left in her. She sighed, then pressed her head against Azure's shoulder.
"I really needed that." Indigo said calmly. "Like you have no idea." She said, looking up at her parents.
"Well, that's true. We don't have any idea. What happened?" Said Twinkle, concerned.
Indigo reluctantly broke the hug with Azure, then sighed heavily. "Well, the day started out normally enough, but then..."
"...And then everything after that was pretty much a blur until I got home." Indigo said, sighing again and shuddering from the memories of seeing Sunny Flare in that state.
"Oh, sweetie." Twinkle said, coming over to her and giving her a hug. "That does sound rough."
Indigo gratefully returned the hug. "It was. I can't remember the last time something freaked me out that bad." She made a sputtering noise. "Seriously, I feel like I'm going to lose it if I have a nightmare about this." She broke the hug. "I need something to take my mind off of the whole thing."
"Do you think head trauma is a viable option?" Said Azure.
Indigo snickered. "I might just take you up on that, but please be gentle."
Twinkle smiled and rolled her eyes. "How about we go with a more...non-violent approach?"
"Aww!" Indigo said in mock disappointment. "But violence is fun!" She paused for a moment. "Sometimes."
"Don't worry." Twinkle said with a giggle. "We'll save the head trauma for when you go to bed."
"Yay!" Indigo shouted, jumped up and clapped her hands, then burst into a fit of laughter. "God, I love family banter." She sighed contentedly. "I feel so much better now."
"Glad to hear it, Zappo." Said Azure, then slapped his daughter on the back. "So what do you say? You up for some dinner?"
Indigo grinned. "You know it!"
After dinner, Indigo, Twinkle and Azure all sat around in the living room. Twinkle was reading a book, Indigo was staring at the ceiling, and Azure was simply relaxing with his eyes closed. Twinkle spoke, breaking the silence.
"You seem to stare up at the ceiling a lot, Indigo." Twinkle said.
"Yeah, I do." Replied Indigo. There seems to be a lot of dust up there.
"You're welcome to clean it if you want." Azure said with a grin.
Indigo snickered. "No thanks, I'm good. I was just saying."
"Well, someone's gonna have to do it eventually." Twinkle said.
Indigo sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll do it. If I'm going to stare at it, I might as well make it pretty."
"That's the spirit!" Said Azure. "You know where the duster and the ladder are, right?"
Indigo rolled her eyes and smiled. "Of course I do! I've only been living here my entire life." She went to the house's cleaning closet and grabbed the duster, then went over to the garage, where the ladder was stored. "All right." Indigo said as she entered the living room. "Can one of you keep this ladder stable so I don't end up in the hospital?" Twinkle put her book down on her chair, then held the ladder as Indigo climbed it. "Thanks, mom."
Twinkle smiled. "You're welcome, hon. Oh!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe we almost forgot! You'll need the vacuum for when the dust gets on the floor."
"Right, right." Indigo said as she dusted the ceiling. "Watch out, incoming debris!"
"Acknowledged." Said Twinkle. She kept her mouth closed to avoid inhaling the dust that didn't get caught by the duster as it fell to the floor.
Azure opened his eyes and watched his wife and daughter with mild interest. "You ladies having fun over there?" He asked.
"Having the time of our lives." Indigo said sarcastically.
"Say, why don't you vacuum up the dust on the floor?" Twinkle said. "That way all three of us contributed."
Azure shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She said as he got off of the chair he was resting in. "Might as well make myself useful. I can't let you two fine ladies do all the work, after all." He said with a wink before walking off in search of the vacuum. Twinkle giggled and blushed.
"Mom!" Indigo said, snapping Twinkle back to the task at hand.
"Sorry, Indigo!" Twinkle said. "All these years, and that wink still makes my heart flutter."
"I get it, yay love." Indigo said flatly. "Please keep this ladder sturdy, you're making me nervous up here!" Twinkle tightened her grip on the ladder, and Indigo heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
Azure returned with the vacuum. "So, did I miss anything?"
"Only a near-death experience, dad." Indigo said as she finished dusting the ceiling. She quickly got off of the ladder, then kissed a part of the floor she knew that had no dust on it. "Glorious, glorious ground!" She said in an over-the-top fashion.
Azure blinked and looked at Twinkle. "Your trademark wink distracted me momentarily." She explained.
"Ah, yes." Azure said with a smile. "The Wink. You'll have to forgive me. I haven't used it in so long, I forgot the power it holds over you." He said, winking again. Twinkle nearly swooned, but held herself in place.
"Hello?" Indigo chimed in. "Teenage daughter here!" She sighed. "Seriously, foreplay when I'm not around!" Indigo's eyes widened suddenly as she realized what she just said. "Oh, god, eeewww!" She nearly yelled as she put her head in her hands. She walked up to her father before he turned on the vacuum. "I think I'd like that head trauma right about now."
The rest of the evening had been uneventful for Indigo, but now she couldn't get images of her parents out of her head. I almost prefer seeing Sunny Flare unconscious over the images in my head right now. She thought as she headed up the stairs for the night. She changed into her pajamas and sighed. "Ahhh. Comfy." She crawled into bed and turned off the light on her nightstand, then slowly fell asleep. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Indigo's Wednesday at Crystal Prep: First Half | Indigo slowly opened her eyes. I hate everything right now. She thought as she stretched and yawned. All she wanted was a good night's sleep. She didn't want to have dreams about her parents doing lewd things. She didn't want dreams about seeing Sunny Flare unconscious, either. Well, she didn't get either. She was oh so fortunate enough to get both! She nearly gagged over the thought of her parents getting in on the same room as an unconscious for the love of god, make it stop!!
She put on her uniform and dashed out of the house without saying 'Good morning' to either of her parents.
Azure and Twinkle looked at one another. "Well." Azure said. "Someone's in a hurry."
Indigo rushed into the bus, nearly tripping over the stairs.
"Watch your step, miss." Said the bus driver.
Indigo rolled her eyes and glared at the driver, then quickly scanned the bus until she found her target. "De Verre!" She said, causing her to yelp in surprise. Indigo ran to the seat and sat down next to De Verre, then grabbed her by the collar and shook her. "I need help getting these messed-up images out of my head!" She said, nearly in hysterics.
"O-o-o-o-o-o-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-a-a-a-a-a-y-y-y-y." De Verre said as she was violently shaken by Indigo.
"Oops." Indigo said, letting go of De Verre. "Sorry! I got a little carried away there." She blushed from embarrassment.
De Verre reeled for a moment in her seat, then raised an eyebrow. "A little carried away?"
"Okay, a whole lot." Indigo admitted sheepishly.
"So what images are in your head?" De Verre asked.
Indigo shuddered. "Are you sure you want to know?"
De Verre curled her hands into fists and put them on her hips. "Well, do you want me to help or not?" She asked.
Indigo sighed. "Okay, fair enough. But don't say I didn't warn you..." She whispered into De Verre's ear.
"Eww!" Shouted De Verre, grabbing the attention of nearly the entire school bus. She laughed sheepishly and shrank into her chair.
"Told you." Indigo said.
"Great, now I've got those images stuck in my head!" De Verre whispered sharply.
"Well, now you can help me and yourself. Get them out of my head!" Said Indigo.
"Is head trauma an option?" Asked De Verre.
Indigo barked a laugh. "Actually..."
Before Indigo could continue, the bus came to a stop. They had arrived at Crystal Prep.
"Okay." Said Indigo. "Maybe classes will help us forget."
"Here's hoping." Said De Verre.
"And if that doesn't work, there's always alcohol." Indigo said. De Verre blinked, and Indigo burst into a laughing fit. "I love making people have blank expressions." She said. "See you later!"
"Yup." De Verre said. "See you later."
Indigo left her first period class and saw Lemon Zest. No harm in a passing-by pep talk. She thought with a smile. "Yo." she said. "You excited for the Friendship Games?" she asked.
"Of course I am!" said Lemon, perking up. "Crystal Prep always wins, after all!"
"You're goddamn right we do." said Indigo as she and Lemon fist-bumped.
Indigo smiled as she passed Lemon. Yeah, that felt right. She thought. Now, what else can I do to kill time between periods? She glanced around, only to find that there was nothing of interest going on around her. I guess I can't expect every day to be eventful. She sighed and went to her second period class.
Indigo exited her second period class on her hidden wheels. She rounded a corner and found herself a few feet away from Sunny Flare. Oh, shit! "Incoming!" She said in hopes of not bumping into her. Sunny sidestepped then crouched and extended her leg, tripping Indigo. "Ow!" Indigo cried as she the floor with a thud. "What the hell was that for, Sunny?"
"I was trying to get your attention." Sunny said.
"Well, you succeeded." Indigo said, dusting herself off. "So what gives?"
"Lemon somehow knows all of our deepest, darkest secrets and is blackmailing us into playing nice with each other throughout the Friendship Games." Sunny said.
Indigo stared at Sunny, her jaw dropped. She blinked, then burst into a laughing fit. "Holy shit, that's the funniest thing I've ever heard!"
Sunny sighed. "Indigo."
"I mean, can you imagine? Lemon Zest! Blackmailing not just you, but the entire team?!" Indigo laughed harder.
"Indigo!" Sunny growled.
"You should use that as a line for a stand-up routine or something!" said Indigo.
"Goddammit, Indigo Zap, LISTEN TO ME!" she yelled, grabbing her by the collar and forcefully pinning her to a nearby locker.
Indigo's eyes widened in shock. "Okay, okay! Jesus, Sunny. I believe you."
"Good." Sunny said, releasing Indigo. She then left her by herself.
"What the hell was that about? I don't really have a deep, dark secret to hide..." Indigo's eyes widened. "Oh, shit...no, she couldn't have." She took a deep breath, then exhaled. No. Fleur's not the vindictive type, Indigo. Just give her the benefit of the doubt. Despite that thought, however, doubt was the only thing on her mind. Okay, okay. I'll just ask her if she knows anything about it. Surely doing only that won't make it seem like I'm accusing her, right? The warning bell for third period rang, snapping Indigo out of her thoughts. She shrugged. "Class first."
After third period, Indigo began her search for De Verre. She managed to remain calm, knowing that she'd hear the truth from her. At least, she hopes it'll be the truth. Dammit, Indigo, you can't be friends with someone if you don't trust them! She sighed. "Okay. All I need to do is find her, then get this matter resolved." She said to herself, then began skating down the hallways.
Now, where could she be? Indigo sputtered, realizing that time wasn't on her side. She glanced to her left, to her right, and even behind herself. De Verre was nowhere to be found. She sighed in defeat as the warning bell for fourth period rang, then went to her next class.
"Okay!" Indigo said, cracking her knuckles upon leaving her fourth period classroom. "Let's try this again!" She lowered her goggles and skated through the halls, keeping watch for hall monitors. A minute later, she bumped into De Verre at full speed. "Shit!" Indigo cried as the two fell on the floor.
De Verre slowly got up off the floor, groaning in pain.
"Oh crap, oh crap!" Indigo panicked. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"
De Verre looked at Indigo. "Yeah, I should be fine. Probably got a bruise somewhere, but that's not the worst thing."
Indigo breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh man, I was totally freaking out. You had me worried!"
"Why were you in such a hurry, anyway?" Asked De Verre.
Indigo's eyes widened. "Oh, right!" She put her hands on De Verre's shoulders. "I'm going to ask you a question, and I want to hear the absolute truth."
De Verre nodded.
"Did you tell Lemon Zest or anybody else about what I told you in confidentiality?" Indigo asked, looking De Verre straight in the eyes.
"No. I didn't." De Verre said most sincerely.
Indigo breathed another sigh of relief. "Oh thank god...but now that just raises another question."
"Hold that thought." De Verre said, placing her pointer finger on Indigo's lips. "I need some context first."
Indigo nodded, and De Verre removed her finger. "This is going to sound strange, but after second period Sunny Flare told me that Lemon Zest somehow knows all of the deepest, darkest secrets of each of the students that are going to participate in the Friendship Games."
De Verre blinked. "That seems a little over the top, don't you think?"
"I know, right? At first I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. I mean, can you imagine? Lemon Zest? Blackmailing?" Said Indigo.
De Verre nodded. "Though I don't know her all that well, I doubt she's the type. Then again, most of the students here are kind of hard to read in the first place. How did Sunny Flare even convince you?"
Indigo blushed and looked away, embarrassed. "She kinda pinned me to a locker."
De Verre made a hissing noise between her teeth. "Yikes."
"Anyway." Indigo said. "The question that's on my mind is who told Lemon?" The warning bell for fifth period rang. "Dammit." She muttered under her breath. "Oh well, we'll continue this later."
"Agreed." De Verre nodded. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Indigo's Wednesday at Crystal Prep: Second Half | Lunch had begun, and Indigo sat down at a table. Man, I was so hungry I didn't even think to look for De Verre! She sighed, then began to eat. Maybe she'll find me here. She thought as she wolfed her food down, much to the disgust of those nearby. She glanced over to the students staring at her. "What?" She said. "I'm a growing woman, no way in hell am I gonna slow down!"
"But it just might kill you if you don't." Said De Verre as she reached the table.
Indigo snickered. "What are you, my mom? Besides, I'm prefectly-" She cut herself off, pretending to choke.
De Verre rolled her eyes and folded her arms, smiling. "Har, har, har. Funny." Indigo resumed eating while De Verre sat down. "So where were we last time?" Her eyes widened. "Oh yeah! How did Lemon find out about everyone's secrets?"
Indigo shrugged. "No clue whatsoever. But now that I think about it, I can kind of understand her using blackmail."
De Verre blinked. "Wait. You can?"
Indigo nodded. "Yeah! Think about it." She said, pointing at her with a fork. "How many of the students here are always nice?"
De Verre cupped her chin in thought. "I don't know offhand, but I'd imagine very few."
Indigo nodded. "You'd probably be right." She said before taking another bite. "Now since we've established Lemon Zest as a 'good girl', think about this: what happens to even the nicest of people if they get pushed around too often?"
"Oh, I get it." Said De Verre. "She hit her breaking point."
"Exactly!" Indigo said, needlessly slamming a fist on the table. She winced in pain and shook her hand. "Ouch! Geez, I got really caught up in the moment there..."
"No kidding." Said De Verre. "You need to go to the nurse's office?"
"Nah." Indigo said, shaking her head. "This isn't the worst injury I've ever had. It's gonna hurt for a while, but I'll manage."
"If you say so." Said De Verre as she gave Indigo a skeptical look.
"I do." Said Indigo after she finished her lunch. "Anyway, I think it's partially my fault that this happened."
"Wait, are you talking about the fist slamming or Lemon's blackmailing?" Asked De Verre.
"The blackmailing." Indigo said. "I might have been one of the people doing the pushing." She said as she looked away from De Verre.
De Verre sighed. "Really?"
Indigo nodded. "Really. I just have so much pride for my randomness that I've been doing nearly everything on a whim." She said, forcing herself to make eye contact.
De Verre rolled her eyes. "Yeah." She said flatly. "I've noticed."
"But I also help people out, too. I mean, doesn't that kinda balance things out?" Indigo said, moving her hands up and down like a scale.
De Verre put the palm of her hand to her forehead. "I don't think that's how it works, Indigo. In case you haven't noticed, your behavior's been getting you into trouble lately."
Indigo scoffed. "Seriously, what's with the mom act?"
"Have you never had a genuine friend before? I'm saying all of this because I care about you, and not in the 'I have a crush on you' way!" De Verre said, frustrated.
"Whoa, whoa! Okay. I get it." Indigo said, holding out her arms. "I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted." De Verre said. The warning bell for sixth period rang. "Well, this is where we part ways, I guess."
"Yup. See ya later!" Indigo said.
Indigo yawned and stretched as she left her sixth period class. "I can't believe I got away with falling asleep in the middle of class! Then again, that teacher isn't very observant." She sighed contentedly. "I did need that, though." She said, smiling.
"Napping during class? Seriously?" Said De Verre as she tousled Indigo's hair from behind.
"Huh." Indigo said. "So that's what that feels like."
"Wait, what?!" De Verre said in shock. "Your family doesn't do that?"
"Nope." Said Indigo, shaking her head. "They do noogies. But even then, those are pretty rare."
"Eh. I don't like noogies." De Verre said. "Even if they're done softly, I just plain don't like them."
Indigo grinned. "More for me, then!"
"Anyway." De Verre said. "Do you have any crushes?"
Indigo blushed. "Wh-wh-where did that come from?" She asked in surprise.
"Just wondering. Isn't this what friends talk about?" Asked De Verre.
"Can they not talk about it if the subject makes them uncomfortable?" Asked Indigo, still blushing deeply.
"Okay, fair enough." Said De Verre. "So what do you want to talk about?"
Indigo shrugged. "I've got nothing." The warning bell for seventh period rang. Saved by the bell. "Well, I'll see you later then!" She waved to De Verre as she headed off to her next class.
Indigo left her seventh period class and wandered the halls until she stopped in front of a classroom. I think this is Sour Sweet's class. Maybe I should try to whole "small talk" thing with her and see how it goes. She leaned on a nearby locker. Sour Sweet exited her class, then turned her head and saw Indigo. "Booga-booga." Indigo said in a monotone. Sour Sweet blinked, and Indigo laughed. "I'm just messing with you." She said.
Sour Sweet smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, you." She said. "So what do you want?"
Indigo grinned. "Just wanted to kill some time with some small talk."
Sour Sweet folded her arms. "Okay, then. Anything in particular?" She said, leaning against a wall.
"What sort of events do you think will be in the Friendship Games?" Indigo asked.
Sour Sweet shrugged. "Hell if I know. Don't they usually keep that sort of thing under wraps until the last minute?"
"I don't know too much about the Friendship Games myself." Indigo said, putting her hands behind her head. "I just wanna kick some CHS ass."
Sour Sweet grinned. "I hear that." They gave each other a high-five. "Do you think they'll put up a fight?"
"They always do." Said Indigo. "But Crystal Prep always wins."
"Always." Said Sour Sweet. The warning bell for eighth period went off. "See you later!" Sour Sweet said, and went off to her next class.
Eighth period had ended, and Indigo felt like she was just released from prison. "I'm just glad they let me go early on good behavior." She said in as deep a voice as she could muster. She turned to another student. "What were you in for?"
To Indigo's surprise, the other student answered. "Manslaughter! I slaughtered a man!"
Indigo burst into a laughing fit. "Oh, man, that totally made my day." She said once she finished laughing. "You're all right, dude." She gave the student a light punch on the arm. "Catch ya later!" I'll have to remember that one. She thought, trying hard not to fall into another laughing fit. She stopped to take a deep breath and exhaled to calm down, then continued moving on. "And now I'm bored." She sighed. "Screw it." She threw her hands up in defeat and skated to her final class.
"Freedom!" Indigo shouted as she sped out of her final class for the day. "Time to blow this popsicle stand!" She made a beeline for the doors, then jumped over the stairs. "Woohoo!" She shouted once she landed. Finally! A day that hasn't left me a mess! She thought as she boarded the bus. She took her seat immediately and almost fell asleep on the spot, if it weren't for De Verre sitting down next to her, nudging her awake.
"Wouldn't want to miss your stop now, would you?" De Verre asked with a grin.
"Five more minutes, mommy!" Indigo said as she buried her face into the back of the seats in front of her. The bus stopped at Indigo's stop. It was just about to leave when she realized where she was. "Oh crap, I gotta go! Later!" She said, running to the front. She disembarked and took a deep breath of the fresh air. "Ahh. Home sweet home." She slowly approached the front door, savoring the moment...then opened it. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Wednesday Evening | "I'm home!" Indigo all but shouted as the front door closed behind her. She ran into the kitchen and gave her father a huge hug.
"Hey, Zappo!" Azure said. "Looks like you finally had a decent day, huh?"
Indigo grinned widely as she broke the hug. "Yup!" She said. She stretched her arms and legs, then yawned. "I almost missed my stop because I fell asleep on the bus!" She said cheerfully. Despite his best efforts, Azure snickered. "What?" Indigo said defensively, "De Verre woke me up just in time!"
Azure rolled his eyes, but smiled. "You know that's not the point, right?"
"Yeah." Indigo said. "I do. But hey, at least it worked out all right, right?"
"Still, that's not the point." Twinkle said as she entered the kitchen and gave her daughter a hug.
"Hey, Mom." Indigo said, returning the hug. "Yes, I know it's not the point." She said, breaking the hug. "I'm just glad I didn't miss my stop."
"Well so are we." Said Azure, "But even if you did miss the stop, you'd find your way back."
"Yeah, that's true." Indigo said, stretching again.
"Have you been getting enough sleep, Indigo?" Asked Twinkle.
"Yeah, mom, I've been sleeping just fine." Indigo said, giving her mom a thumbs-up. "I haven't had a tossing and turning night for a while."
"Good to hear, good to hear." Twinkle said, folding her arms and nodding in satisfaction. "So. What do we all want to do tonight?"
Indigo and Azure stopped and thought for a while. "Well." Indigo said. "We already saw a movie..."
"Ugh, don't remind me." Azure said. "I still can't get that scene with the fish out of my head." Indigo snickered. "Oh, come on!" He said, throwing his hands up. "How were the two of you not grossed out by it?"
Indigo and Twinkle shrugged. "It was just a movie, dad." Said Indigo.
"Hey, that fish looked real enough to me. Now can we please, please not talk about it anymore?" Azure said. Indigo instinctively yelped, then hid behind her mother. "Zappo, you don't have to worry. I'm not feeling sick."
Indigo slowly walked away from her mother. "I'm not sure I want to take that chance. I'll just stay where I am, thank you very much."
Azure sighed. "Okay, fine." He said. "But really, what about plans for tonight?"
Indigo shrugged. "I've got nothing. What about you, mom?"
Twinkle sighed. "Well, I don't see anything wrong with doing just nothing. What do you think, hon?"
Azure thought for a moment, the shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "Why don't we eat dinner first and go from there?"
Twinkle and Indigo glanced and shrugged. "Okay, sure." Indigo said.
'Whatever works." Said Twinkle.
After dinner, Twinkle, Indigo and Azure cleaned up after themselves. "So" Said Twinkle, "Anyone got any ideas?"
Indigo and Azure looked at each other, then sighed and shrugged. "Yeah...I've got nothing." Indigo said.
Azure made a sputtering noise. "I've got nothing either. I guess we'll just play it by ear."
"Works for me." Indigo said, smiling. She walked into the living room, then sat down and reclined her legs. "Aah." She sighed contentedly.
"Hey, maybe there's a good movie on TV." Said Azure as he turned the television on. He flipped through the channels, looking for something to watch.
"Actually." Indigo said, "I'm going outside in the back. I feel like I've been inside far too often."
"Suit yourself." Said Azure.
Indigo got out of the chair and went outside. The sounds of cicadas, cars passing by and others filler her ears. She smiled. "Sometimes all I need is some good background noise!" She said, climbing into the hammock. "Aww, yeah. That's the good stuff." She laced her hands behind her head and stared up at the sky. She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, moving left and right to get a good swinging motion going. Before too long, Indigo felt herself drift off to sleep...
Indigo opened her eyes to find herself in the center of a circle of dancing dwarfs. "O-kay...obviously in a dream, but still kinda weirded out." She said, feeling nervous. She slowly, cautiously walked up to one of the dancing dwarfs and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, uh...could you tell me what's going on here?"
The dwarf spun rapidly and looked her straight in the eyes. Indigo blinked, waiting for an answer. The dwarf took a deep breath, sighed, then shouted "MEAT!". Indigo flinched and the dwarf resumed his dancing.
Indigo was at a loss for words, trying to comprehend what just happened until another dwarf approached her. She stepped back slowly, not knowing what to expect.
"Sorry about that." The dwarf said, "Dancin' Derek hates to be interrupted."
Indigo blinked. "Yeah...what's going on here, anyway?"
"You tell me. This is your dream, after all." Said the dwarf.
Indigo sighed. "Right." She made a sputtering noise. "Well you guys do seem like you're having fun." She said as she looked around herself, making a mental note of all of the dancing dwarfs.
"Indeed we are." Said the dwarf. "But if I were you, I'd want to wake up right about now."
"Huh?" Indigo asked, confused. "Why's that?"
"Here's a hint, kiddo. Why do you think Dancin' Derek said 'MEAT!' to you?" Asked the dwarf.
Realization dawned on Indigo as she suddenly felt very, very hot. "Oh, shit! You're cannibals!"
"Not all of us are. I'm a vegetarian, and the tribe hates me for it. I figured a little payback and a good deed would feel therapeutic. Time to find out if I'm right. Now get going, Indigo!"
Indigo woke up, confused. "What the hell just happened?" She said, putting her hand to her forehead in disbelief. She shrugged, then went back inside the house. "Hey guys, did I miss anything besides about an hour?"
Twinkle folded her arms. "You fell asleep in the hammock again, didn't you?" She said flatly.
Indigo blushed. "Yep, guilty as charged. But I can't help it!" She said, raising her hands defensively. "It's so comfy!"
Azure chuckled. "It is, it is. I've fallen asleep on it tons of times."
"A movie's about to start. You want to watch it with us?" Asked Twinkle.
"Sure, why not?" Indigo said, shrugging then sitting down.
Indigo wiped a tear from her eyes. "Oh, please tell me this has a sequel! It can't end like that!" She said, then began flailing her arms. "I regret watching this movie if it's a one-shot!" She nearly shouted.
"Calm down, Indigo!" Said Twinkle. "I know the ending was jarring, but I think you're overreacting a little bit."
"Besides." Azure said, "There is a sequel, and it's coming up next! I'll record it for you and I promise not to spoil it for you."
Indigo ran over to her father and hugged him. "Thanks dad, you're the best! Goodnight!" She walked over to Twinkle, then hugged her. "Night, mom!"
"Goodnight, Indigo." Twinkle said as Indigo left the room.
Indigo walked up the stairs slowly, trying hard not to think of the movie's ending. She sniffled, then took a calming breath as she changed into her pajamas. All right, Indigo! Think happy thoughts! She thought herself and repeated it until she fell asleep. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Thursday Morning Turmoil | Indigo Zap slowly opened her eyes as she woke up, and she almost immediately felt that something was amiss. She got out of bed, then stretched and yawned. She walked over to her mirror, and her eyes shot wide open in realization. Her goggles were missing! Indigo gasped and started to freak out. "My goggles. Where are my goggles?"
Indigo ran downstairs and into the kitchen. Twinkle and Azure looked at her in surprise. "Indigo? Why aren't you dressed for school?" Asked Azure.
Indigo began flailing her arms in a panic. "My goggles are missing!" She shouted in an octave that surprised even herself. "Have either of you seen them?" She asked. "I can't leave home without them!"
Azure and Twinkle glanced at each other. "I don't think you have enough time to-" Azure started before he was cut off.
"Please!" Indigo said, dropping to the floor in a pleading position. Her hands were clasped together as she knelt on the floor, her eyes as wide as she could possibly make them.
Azure and Twinkle looked at each other again. Azure shrugged, and Twinkle sighed. "Okay, fine. But this is a team effort. No lazing around while your father and I look for them." Twinkle said.
Indigo got up off of the floor. "Are you kidding me? These are my goggles we're talking about! I'd move mountains to find them!"
"She makes a good point." Azure said. "Let's split up, then!"
Indigo made a beeline for her room. She checked under her pillow and under her bed, even though she couldn't fathom why they'd be there, let alone how they got there if they were. She shrugged, then decided to put her uniform on so she wasn't wasting too much time in search of her goggles. "Okay." She said to herself. "Where to look next?"
Indigo thought about looking in the garage, but realized she hadn't been in there since she saw the movie with her parents. She then thought about everywhere she'd been within the house last night. Wait. The backyard! Of course! Indigo thought, and made a mad dash for the sliding glass door that led to the back side of the house.
Indigo reached the hammock that she laid in and found her goggles. "Yes!" She shouted, pumping her fist in victory. She then heard the school bus's horn honk. "Oh, shit!" She said, and scrambled for the front door while passing her parents. "I found them, see you guys later!" She slammed the door shut in her rush to get to the bus on time.
Indigo got on the bus, again nearly tripping on the stairs on her way up. The driver gave her a look and she grumbled. "I know, I know. 'Watch your step.'" She said, rolling her eyes. She sighed, then headed to the back of the bus. Man, I hate feeling rushed... She made a sputtering noise, and noticed that De Verre hadn't boarded the bus. Huh. She thought. Maybe she went to school early or something. She shrugged, then stared out the window until the bus arrived at Crystal Prep.
Indigo disembarked, then entered Crystal Prep as a throng of students nearly trampled her. "Gah!" She yelped, jumping out of the way just in time. "What the hell?!" She decided to follow them for a few moments until they all spontaneously broke out in a dance number. "Oh, right...I forgot Crystal Prep has a flash mob club." She shrugged, then joined in as best she could until the warning bell for first period rang. "Disperse!" She said, spreading her arms out. Once everyone else had left, Indigo made her way to her first class for the day.
Indigo sighed upon leaving her first period class. "Oy with the heavy academics!" She said as she threw her arms up in exasperation. "It's too early for this shit..." She made a sputtering noise and wandered the hallways as she tried to absorb all of the information from her class. "Ugh. I think I have a headache..." She said, putting a hand to her forehead and gritting her teeth. "I don't know if I'll survive the next class!" The warning bell for second period rang, causing Indigo to sigh. "Here goes nothing, but it better be something..."
Indigo Zap forced herself out of her second period class. It was all she could do just to move forward as the rest of the world around her was a blur. One infodump of a class was bad enough, but two in a row was simply just too much. She made her way over to Dean Cadence's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Said Cadence from behind the door, and Indigo entered her office. "Hello, Indigo. How can I help you?" The Dean said as Indigo closed the door behind her.
Indigo sat down on the couch in Cadence's office and remained silent, her face expressionless. Her body still. Just blankly staring at nothing in particular. Moments passed before Cadence got up from her chair and approached her slowly. "Is everything okay?" Indigo stayed silent, further concerning the Dean. "Do...do you need me to call one of your parents?" Indigo nodded very slowly, to Cadence's relief.
Cadence went to her desk and fished out a directory of all the parents for each student. She skimmed through it until she found Indigo's parents. She took the phone on her desk out of its hook and dialed a number as the warning bell for third period sounded off. The phone rang a couple of times, then the call was picked up.
"Hello?" Said Azure.
"Azure Feather? It's Dean Cadence from Crystal Prep."
"Well, hello, Dean Cadence. What's the occasion for the call?" Azure asked.
"Indigo just walked into my office and sat on my couch, but she hasn't said a word and remained still for the most part. She nodded when I asked if you needed to be contacted."
"Ah. I see." Azure said, "And what period is it now?"
"The warning bell for third period rang just as I dialed your number." Said Dean Cadence.
"Mm-hmm." Said Azure, "Okay, ask her if the first two classes of the day were intense."
Cadence covered the phone. "Indigo, were the first two classes of the day a bit too intense for you?" Indigo blinked, then slowly nodded. Cadence took her hand off of the phone. "She nodded in response."
"I thought so." Said Azure. "She's just a little overwhelmed, that's all. She needs to be in a quiet space so she can regroup. She should be back to her old self by the time third period ends."
"Thank you, Azure." Cadence said.
"No problem." Azure said, "Is there anything else you want to discuss?" He asked in a meaningful tone.
Cadence paused for a moment. "No." She said, "Perhaps another time, though."
"Understood. Glad I could help!" Azure said, then hung up.
"T...t..."
Dean Cadence looked up at Indigo.
"Th...than...thank...you." Was all Indigo managed to say before she returned to silence.
Dean Cadence smiled. "You're welcome, Indigo."
By the time the bell signaling the end of third period rang, Indigo was indeed back to normal. She ran up to Dean Cadence and hugged her. "Thanks a ton again, Dean Cadence. I really needed that recharge." She said, grinning.
Dean Cadence returned the hug. "No problem. I'm happy to help when I can."
Indigo broke the hug. "See ya later!" She said, and walked into the halls. "That was badly needed." She said, sighing contentedly. She took out her phone to send a quick text message.
Thanks for the assist, Dad! First two classes today were freaking BRUTAL. - Sent by Indigo Zap
No worries, Zappo. Glad you're feeling better. - Sent by Dad
Indigo grinned as the warning bell for fourth period rang, and she skated her way to her next class.
Fourth period ended, and Indigo walked out of class feeling surprisingly refreshed. I'm glad this class was merciful compared to all the others. Yeesh! She rushed to the front doors of Crystal Prep and glided out. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Nothing like a teeny bit of fresh air between classes." She said, stretching for a moment. "But as much as I'd like to stay out here, I've already missed one class today. I don't want to miss any more if I can help it!" She walked back inside and her ears were filled with the voices of all the students passing by. Before long, the warning bell for fifth period rang. "All right, fifth period!" Indigo said as she made her way to her next class, "Show me what you've got!" |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | Thursday Afternoon Antics | Fifth period ended, and Indigo grinned excitedly. One step closer to the Friendship Games! "But first...lunch!" She skated her way to the cafeteria, enjoying the wind in her hair. She stopped once she arrived in the cafeteria, then grabbed her lunch. Thinking it was time for a change of pace, Indigo ate her food at a moderate speed rather than inhaling it like she normally would. As she did, she closed her eyes and bathed in all the chatter of her fellow students. Sometimes it feels good just to take it slow. Sometimes.
Indigo glanced at the clock. "Whoa!" She exclaimed, her jaw nearly dropping. "Did I really spend that much time eating? Who am I and what have I done with myself?!" She snickered, amusing herself. "Oh, well." She said as she got up from her seat. "Time to move on!"
Indigo walked the halls of Crystal Prep, humming a tune to herself until the sound of airhorns filled her ears. She gasped. "The Indigo signal! Someone needs my assistance!" She grabbed her phone and played airhorns at maximum volume and ran through the halls until she passed through a crowd of students staring at Sour Sweet. She pressed her phone with her thumb, cutting off the noise. "I hope you know how many you people you just pissed off, Sour Sweet." She said, wearing her trademark grin on her face.
Sour Sweet folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Believe me, Indigo. I do." She shook her head rapidly, forcing herself to focus. "Look, I called you over here because Principal Cinch wanted me to get all of the team members together for a formal meeting."
Indigo blinked. "So you've been getting us all one by one? Wouldn't it have been more efficient to have them follow you around as you looked for the other teammates?"
Sour Sweet's jaw dropped, and she remained motionless for a couple of moments. She snapped back to attention. "Excuse me for just a second, Indigo. Stay right there."
Indigo put her arms behind her head. "No worries. I'm not going anywhere."
"Great." Said Sour Sweet. A moment later, Indigo heard a barely muffled shriek of unhinged rage. She walked back inisde and returned to Indigo.
Indigo patted Sour Sweet on the back. "Feeling better?" She asked.
Sour Sweet sighed. "A little, yeah."
"Great!" Said Indigo. "Now let's get going already!"
Sour Sweet left Indigo in the room with Neon Lights, Sugarcoat, Jet Set, Upper Crust, Royal Pin, Suri Polomare and Trender. "Hey." Indigo said, waving to everyone in the room. They all waved back. "Soooo..." She said. "Any reason we're all meeting in here? We all already know each other in passing at least."
"This does indeed seem rather arbitrary." Said Royal Pin, "But I'd rather not question it, lest it incurs Principal Cinch's wrath." Everyone in the room murmured in agreement.
"How the hell did Cinch even become Principal in the first place?" Indigo said, scratching her head in puzzlement. Everyone in the room looked at each other.
"That's actually a good question." Said Jet Set.
"Beats the hell outta me." Said Neon Lights as he shrugged. "But then again, I have no idea how that sort of thing works."
"Does it really matter how she became Principal?" Asked Sugarcoat.
"Perhaps not." Said Royal, "But in my personal opinion, I think she can be rather...cutthroat from time to time." Everyone in the room murmured agreement again.
"But so are we." Said Suri, "This school as a whole is fiercely competitive. It's like she's got a spell cast on the student body!"
Before anyone could respond, Sour Sweet returned with Sunny Flare, who waved to everyone and then folded her arms. "All we need now is Lemon Zest."
"And Twilight Sparkle." said Sour.
Sunny blinked. "Wait, what? When did Twilight decide to compete? She's not the type for this sort of thing!"
"I'm pretty sure Principal Cinch 'convinced' her to join." Sour said, rolling her eyes.
"You mean like how Lemon 'convinced' us into playing nice for the Friendship Games?" said Sugarcoat.
Sour sighed. "Lemon might have a point, though. We've always treated each other like crap for the most part. Except for you, Royal Pin. You're all right." she smiled. Royal smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
"That doesn't justify her actions, Sour." said Indigo.
"Maybe not, Indigo, but did all of you really believe something like this wouldn't happen?" Sour said. "Lemon and I have gotten into a fight in the hallway, everybody seems to like making each other paranoid..." She put her head in her hands and sighed again. "Something had to give eventually and that something was Lemon Zest. Is it really such a bad thing to try to be friends?"
Sunny rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Oh, please. Get off of your soapbox and get Lemon and Twilight so we can all move on with our lives."
"Shut the fuck up, Flare!" yelled Sour, getting in her face. "I don't care what sort of bullshit caused you to be the Queen Mother of all bitches, but if I hear one more goddamn word out of your mouth I swear to god I will find two pairs of the sharpest scissors in this school and jam each of them into both of your lower holes as hard as I fucking can!"
Silence engulfed the room, save for Sour's heavy breathing after her rant.
"I'm getting Lemon and Twilight." Sour said, opening the door. She slammed it so hard it startled everyone in the room.
Silence followed again until Indigo spoke up. "Holy shit. I don't think I've ever heard her make a threat like that before."
"Indeed." said Royal. "I believe you pushed the wrong buttons this time, Sunny."
"Congratulations." said Sugarcoat. "You've pissed Sour Sweet off even harder than Lemon Zest."
"Fuck you guys." Sunny said. "Fuck all of you." She turned around and wiped a tear from her face and stifled a sniffle.
A moment later, Sour returned with Lemon and Twilight.
After the team meeting, Indigo began to head to her sixth period class. Man, it's like nearly everyone around here is messed up. She made a sputtering noise as she skated through the halls. Oh, who am I kidding? I've known that all this time, but I've just ignored the fact! She put her head in her hands for a second before looking back up so she wouldn't run into anyone or anything. "Maybe I need to change...just a little bit." She said upon reaching the door to her classroom.
Sixth period was over, and Indigo practically jumped out of the classroom. "Argh! Come on already!" She said, staring at the clock in the hallway. "I wanna Friendship Games already!!" She said impatiently, flailing her arms. She sighed heavily, sagging her arms in defeat. "Must kill time!" She skated through the halls and hummed until she reached her seventh period class.
"Okay." Indigo said upon leaving her classroom. "Seventh period over. Just stay cool, Indigo. Just stay cool." She took a deep and calming breath. "Okay, that worked." She calmly walked the halls, averting her gaze from all the clocks in the hallway. She almost got her phone out of her pocket, then she stopped herself. Dammit, no! No checking phones either! She mumbled angrily, then sighed. Just go to class. That's all I should do. Let time do the rest. She thought as she entered her next class.
Indigo walked out of the classroom, visibly sweating. "Final period of the day...final period of the day!!" She could barely contain her impatience as she tried taking another deep breath. "Screw it." She grabbed a notebook from her bag and tore out a sheet of paper. She folded a paper airplane and launched it, then ran after it and caught it. "Ah. I feel a little better now." She said, smiling contentedly. "Time for the final class of the day."
"Freedom! Glorious, glorious freedom!" Indigo shouted as she left her final class for the day. "Time to get the hell outta here!" She ran towards the front doors of Crystal Prep, then shoved the doors open with her arms. She grinned widely, jumping from the top of the stairs and landing perfectly on the bottom. "Stuck my dismount, bitches!" She said, then skated to where her bus was.
Once Indigo boarded her bus, she got all the way into the back like always. Huh. She thought as realization struck her. I wonder where De Verre is. I haven't seen her in a while. I hope she's okay. She rested her head on her chin, then stared out the window until she arrived at her stop. She eagerly left the bus, then skated to the front door and opened it. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | The Night Before the Games | "I'm home!" Indigo announced as the door closed behind her. She ran into the kitchen and hugged her father tightly. "Thanks again, dad." She said, grinning widely.
Azure returned the hug with a grin of his own. "No worries, Zappo! I'm just glad you feel better."
"Yeah, me too." Indigo said.
"Hey, hon!" Twinkle said as she entered the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom!" Indigo said, breaking the hug with her father and hugging her mother.
"So I heard you had a rough start at school this morning." Twinkle said, returning the hug.
Indigo sighed. "Yeah, kinda. Two infodumps back to back frazzled me. Yeesh." She shuddered from the memory. "I'd rather not think about that right now."
"I understand." Twinkle said, breaking the hug. "So...what do you want to do tonight?"
Indigo thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know, but whatever it is we do tonight should be low-key. I want to be at my best for tomorrow, after all!"
"Eh, fair enough." Azure said, shrugging. "But for now, how about dinner?"
"Sounds good to me!" Indigo said excitedly.
After dinner, Indigo and her family cleaned up after themselves. "So, what's the plan?" Azure asked.
"Hmm." Indigo cupped her chin in thought. "Actually, I think I'll go for a bit of a run. Get the legs moving again."
"Don't overexert yourself, hon." Twinkle said, putting an arm on her daughter's shoulder.
"I won't. I promise." Indigo said, smiling warmly. "But for now, I'm off!"
"Stay safe out there, Zappo!" Azure said.
"Will do!" Indigo said as she walked out the door. Once the door closed behind her, she stretched and took a deep breath of fresh air. She sighed contentedly. "All right, legs. Don't you go and fail on me, ya hear?" She stretched for a few more minutes, then went on her way.
Indigo started off at a decent pace, taking in the sounds of cicadas buzzing. "Ahh, music to my ears." She said as she turned a corner. So far, so good with the legs. Maybe I'll step it up a bit. Not too much though, I don't want to risk it. She started moving faster and matched her breathing with her footsteps.
As Indigo turned another corner, she noticed Lemon Zest jogging. "Hey!" she called out. Lemon turned around. "You excited for the Friendship Games tomorrow?" she asked.
"Well of course I am, Indigo!" said Lemon. "What have you been doing to prepare for them besides hyping everyone up?"
Indigo grinned. "Whatever I can. Nobody knows what all the events are until the last minute! That's part of what I love about it!"
Lemon smiled and rolled her eyes. "Of course it is." Her expression slowly changed into a wicked grin.
"Uhhh...are you okay, Lemon?" said Indigo. "You look like a mad scientist about to resurrect a corpse."
"Oh, I'm fine, Indigo Zap." said Lemon.
"Okay, you're starting to freak me out here..." Indigo said as she backed away slowly.
"I've just had the most wonderful idea ever...how would you like to make a bet?" said Lemon, still sporting a somewhat frightening smile on her face.
Indigo stopped backing up. "You have my attention." She said, starting to smile.
After her bet with Lemon, Indigo rubbed her hands together in gleeful anticipation. "Oh, man...this is gonna be so epic! I can hardly wait!" She said, barely able to contain her excitement. She began to run back home, surprising herself with her speed. "Aww, yeah! The legs are back, baby!" She said as she closed in on her house. She skidded to a halt with her head just inches away from the door and knocked on it. "Housekeeping!" She shouted.
"Come on in, we were expecting you." Azure said, opening the door. "You get to clean the whole house!"
Indigo blinked. "Nope. I just keep the house, I don't clean it."
Azure raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I thought I kept it."
"You don't say!" Twinkle said from the living room.
"Oh, crap. I'm in trouble. Better get in here before I end up on the couch, Zappo." Azure said playfully.
Indigo snickered. "Oh, fine." She said as she walked inside. "Way to kill the fun buzz, mom."
"It's what I do." Twinkle said proudly, then giggled.
"Oh, hey!" Indigo said as a memory unearthed itself in her mind. "Can we watch the sequel to that movie from that night?"
Azure grinned. "Sure thing, Zappo! I held off on watching it so we could all react together!"
Twinkle nearly leaped out of her chair. "Same here! I've been dying to find out what happens!" She said, surprising her husband and daughter with a rare grin of her own.
"Well then." Azure said, "Let's get to it!"
Indigo threw her arms up in frustration. "Of course it's a trilogy!" She growled. "Then there's probably going to be several spin-offs that spawn their own trilogies, which will spin-off into more trilogies, then become a giant and overly complex universe that will expand into books, TV shows, comic books, and it will take the rest of my life to absorb every last bit of lore until the franchise collapses in on itself and reboots!" She finished her rant, panting heavily.
Azure and Twinkle stared at Indigo. "Are you okay, honey?" Asked Twinkle.
"Of course I am, Mom!" Indigo said, grinning. "Now I have much more to look forward to than just the Friendship Games! I can't just be mono dimensional, after all!" She said, pointing to herself.
"Speaking of the future, Indigo..." Said Twinkle.
"Yeah, Mom?"
"When was the last time you filled out an application for a job?"
Indigo paled for a moment, then took a look at her arm which did, in fact, not have a watch on it. "Oh, man. Will you look at the time? I've gotta go to bed."
Azure rolled his eyes and smiled. "Okay, fine. But after the Friendship Games, you'll need to start looking for jobs."
Indigo sighed and sagged in defeat. "Okay...I will." She ran over to hug her parents. "G'night, guys!"
Twinkle and Azure returned the hug. "Goodnight." They both said.
Indigo ran up the stairs and swiftly changed into her pajamas. "Friendship Games t-minus...screw it." She decided to change her focus from the Games to sleep, as it would more than likely keep her awake all night if she only thought about the former. Sleep came to her within a minutes. |
Before the Friendship Games: Indigo Zap | All Aboard the Hype Train | Indigo woke up with one of the biggest grins she had ever worn in her life. "The time has come!" She said, leaping out of bed. She quickly changed into the school uniform, then ran downstairs. "Today's the day, guys!" She said, running into kitchen.
"We know." Her parents said at the same time.
"Come on! I know you two aren't nearly as excited as I am, but you could at least show some enthusiasm." Indigo said, frowning and folding her arms.
Azure took a deep breath, then shouted at the top of his lungs in an obnoxious tone. "Holy mother of fuck! Friendship Games, bitches!"
Indigo and Twinkle stared at Azure for several moments, then burst into laughing fits. "Oh, man!" Indigo said, struggling to breathe. "That's the funniest freaking thing I've heard in like forever!"
"You're...welcome." Azure said, his voice strained. He coughed, then took a deep breath. "I can only do that every once in a while though."
"Need some water, hon?" Twinkle asked.
"That would be nice..." Azure said hoarsely, before coughing again.
Taking advantage of her father's unintentional distraction, Indigo quickly searched the fridge and found a tin of sardines and put it in her pocket. She grinned widely. I'm probably gonna smell like fish later, but maybe the sweat will override it. She turned to face her parents. "Well, this was a blast and a half, but it's time to kick some Wondercolt ass!" Indigo said excitedly. "I'll tell you guys all about it when I get back!"
"Whip 'em good, sweetie!" Twinkle said as Indigo left.
Indigo ran over to her bus stop at full speed. She boarded the bus quickly and found De Verre sitting in her usual spot. "Hey, there you are!" She said, giving De Verre a big hug. "Where have you been all this time?"
"Family business." De Verre said, looking away.
"Okay." Indigo said. "If you don't want to talk about it, I totally get it." She said, holding her hands up.
"Thank you." De Verre said. "All I'm willing to say is that it was rough." She sighed heavily.
"Understood." Indigo said, smiling. "Anyway, are you hyped for the Friendship Games?"
De Verre smiled. "A little. Not as much as you are, obviously."
Indigo laughed. "I think the only person that's even remotely close to being as excited as I am might be Principal Cinch." She leaned in close to De Verre. "I think she's just hiding it."
De Verre giggled. "Maybe."
The bus reached Crystal Prep, and Indigo grinned. "Hey, I have something I need to take care of before we head over to CHS. I'll see you later, okay?"
De Verre nodded. "Okay."
"Sweet." Indigo said. "Later!" She disembarked from the bus and ran into Crystal Prep. She ran to the closet that the theater club used, and rifled through the costume racks. "No...no...ugh, Jesus, why do they have this? No...Yes!" She stopped at a gorilla suit. "This is perfect." She said, holding back laughter in case it gave her away.
Indigo ran to hide herself, and she changed into the gorilla costume. Her phone buzzed.
Are you in position? - Sent by Lemon Zest
Sure am! Are you? - Sent by Indigo Zap
Yep! Is the target in sight? - Sent by Lemon Zest
Not yet, but I'll let you know! - Sent by Indigo Zap
"Oh, man!" Indigo said, bouncing up and down in sheer excitement. "I don't care how long I have to wait. It's going to be so worth it!" She laced her hands behind her head and looked up to the sky, sighing in contentment. "Huh. Never thought I'd feel so relaxed in a gorilla costume." She blinked. "That's a sentence you don't hear everyday." Suddenly, a loud shriek filled the air, causing Indigo to jump. "Shit." She said breathily. "That scared the crap out of me...I hope Lemon's okay."
Nearly an hour later, Sunny Flare still had not been within Indigo's line of sight. "Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said anything about the wait. This is starting to get ridiculous." She sighed. "I better not get heat stroke from this." She took off the gorilla mask to let her skin breathe. "Whew! Much better...why don't they make these with tiny built-in fans?" Indigo began to grow impatient, so she sent Lemon a text.
Is everything okay? I thought I heard screaming! - Sent by Indigo Zap
I'll explain later, all you need to know is that I'm fine. - Sent by Lemon Zest
If you say so. We still have an opportunity to do this. - Sent by Indigo Zap
Perfect. Just let me know when the target's in position, I'm en route to the original hiding spot. - Sent by Lemon Zest
Will do! - Sent by Indigo Zap
Indigo continued to keep her eyes peeled for Sunny Flare, fanning herself with her hands. "Gah, this damn thing is getting a little too hot for my tastes!" Immediately after she finished that sentence, Indigo had Sunny in her sights. She grinned widely and put the mask back on, then sent a text.
Target's in position! - Sent by Indigo Zap
Recording...NOW! - Sent by Lemon Zest
Indigo played airhorn noises from her phone and grabbed the tin of sardines, quickly opening it up. She rushed over to a startled Sunny Flare and began throwing the sardines at her, holding back her laughter. I think I've outdone myself here! She thought as she continued her assault.
"Great, now I'm going to smell like fish for the rest of the day!" Sunny said. Having had enough, she turned around and looked at her gorilla-costumed assailant. "What is wrong with you?!" She yelled.
Indigo shrugged, did a dance for a few seconds, then plodded off with onlookers recording and laughing heartily. I can't wait to see this on Lemon's phone! I'll be dying of laughter! She changed back into her uniform and took a whiff of the fabric. "Nice!" She said. "I can't smell the sardines!" She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "And now, for the last time...I play the waiting game."
This was it. The moment Indigo Zap had been waiting for. Despite her excitement, she couldn't help but feel nervous. "What the hell am I getting wigged out over?" She said, crossing her arms. "Crystal Prep always wins, I have nothing to worry about." She said as she neared the buses. She cracked her neck and her knuckles. "No matter what happens, though, I will bring my best. Prepare yourselves, Wondercolts. Crystal Prep is coming for you!" She declared, then walked onto her bus.
End of Book Four of The Crystal Prep Chronicles: Before the Friendship Games |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | pre | August. 1851.
Hoofington. The condemned street.
A stallion was walking through the street, wearing a grey hoodie. As no law-abiding pony would go near this street, it was no mistake to think he was a criminal. He cantered towards the wooden barricades which separated this street from the others. He smirked to himself, thinking about all the foals on the other side. The young foals who he would have great ease in getting the unlearned little ponies hooked on his drugs of choice. He placed his hoof on the barricade, preparing to climb it.
"Where are you going, mister?" A disarming soft voice asked him. The drug-dealer stopped and looked around to see a pretty, pink-haired mare staring at him with big, innocent eyes.
"Oh, um. Nowhere. I was just going to play with some schoolkids. I swung by there everyday, drop off candy for all of them." The stallion fibbed. He almost felt guilty about lying to such a cute mare. But being a hardened criminal, not guilty enough to recant his statement.
"Oh, really?" The mare cooed, making him blush. "That's so sweet. Or ... it would be, if it was true. But it's not true, is it, mister?" She began to walk towards him. "Come on, now. You can tell me the truth." She batted her eyelashes at him. "Where are you really going?"
Her flirty gestures weren't enough to counteract her haughty demeanor. Said haughtiness offended the drug-dealer and made him lose his cool. Did this mare have any idea who she was dealing? "None of your business, that's where."
"Oh, I think it is my business." She said, coming closer to him. She broached his personal space and put her hoofs on the barricade behind her in a suggestive manner. "I love children, you see. So if you were doing something to hurt them, well ... I might just be a little, teeny, tiny-bit upset about that."
"Fine!" The dealer admitted. "I sell them drugs. Get them hooked early and have customers for life. And a fragile thing like you isn't gonna stop me just by batting your pretty eyelashes!" Having come prepared to fight other dealers on his turf, he pulled out an already-loaded syringe and jabbed it into her neck. The syringe was loaded to the point it would cause anypony to overdose and die right on the spot. He chuckled and smirked to himself as he depressed the needle into her throat.
"Heh heh ... heh?" His laughter was replaced by a confusion as his lethal dose had almost no effect on her. The worst effect to befall her was for her to scrunch up her nose as though she was going to sneeze. She was, in all other respects, fine.
She glared at him. "Okay, mister. You put something in me. Now I get to put something in you!"
"What?" The dealer questioned. His eyes widened as a golden liquid dripped from the mare's mouth, pouring down as if she had a large bite of honey. "Whoa! What? No, no, please!" He begged as the mare threatened to close the distance between her mouth and his. "Get away! Stop! Maybe we can make a deal?" She wasn't interested in his attempts to bargain for his life, placing a delicate kiss on his lips. A gush of fluid surged from her mouth into his. He winced as he was forced to swallow it all.
"There." The mare said, popping her lips off. "Doesn't it feel much better when you don't resist?"
The dealer had no answer for her, much too busy with the fact his eyes were rolling into the back of his head. His body jerked and chattered while foam appeared from his mouth, almost as if he was having a seizure. His body gave one last twitch before his eyes closed and he fell to the ground, limp.
The mare pulled out a leather strap and whipped it around, lashing it over his neck with precision. She backed away from the barricade, towing his body with the strap. With no one but fellow criminals around, few of whom would feel the need to stick their necks out for their competition, chances were the mare was going to get away with her crime.
Around the same time this was happening, in a more wholesome part of town, a little boy was waking up in his bed- Teddy. Though had Teddy known about the fate of the drug dealer on the other side of the town, he would have been glad to trade places with him. He was dreading this morning. A few days ago, his parents had been "lucky" enough to be selected for touring The Facility of one Twilight Sparkle. Who Teddy didn't care about. All he knew about her was what his parents told him, and his parents told him she was a brilliant inventor and civil servant.
Still, he didn't care. All this meant to him was an unnecessary trip to the store to buy a rental tuxedo (it was going to be a rental because Teddy's parents didn't trust with him owning one) and a trip to a stuffy old building he didn't care about.
"Teddy!" His mother called from the other room. "Are you up? We need to get ready and go to the store or we'll be late!"
"I'm up, I'm up." Teddy complained, rubbing his eyes to free them of sleep. Against his will, he got down from his bed and headed to the bathroom to make himself tidy for the event.
"Quit being so down." His mother told him, sensing Teddy's reluctance to go. "This is quite the honor to see Twilight at work. After -"
"After she fixed the crime wave last year, I know." Teddy complained. He had heard this story before, the story of how Twilight Sparkle saved a city under siege from rampant crime in the spring of the previous year. Being a child, Teddy wasn't learned to appreciate the gravity of Twilight's accomplishment. He didn't understand how much work went into repelling a crime rate so high. He went to the washroom and freshened himself up. He remained grumpy and fussy as he was scooted out the door and steered towards the rental shop.
"One rental tuxedo for a rambunctious tyke." Teddy's mother told the sales clerk.
"I have just the thing. Would you be interested in the special package, which comes with rips, tears, and mud-stains insurance?" The clerk offed. Teddy's mother looked to his father and smiled. Teddy sat there, hooves crossed and huffing. His mood improved somewhat when another family came through the door.
"Ace?" Teddy asked, recognizing their gold-maned son from his school.
"Teddy?" Ace replied. He ran up to his friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, my parents are getting a tuxedo to put me in." Teddy waved his hoof. "We're going to Little Miss Perfect Twilight's facility today. We "won" tickets for a tour."
"Really? What a coincidence!" Ace gestured to his folks. "My parents and I won tickets too. We're also here to rent a tuxedo."
"Ha! Is it because your parents don't trust you with a tuxedo either?"
"That distrust is well-earned, young colt." Teddy's father snapped. He walked over, holding the tuxedo Teddy would be forced to wear. Teddy sighed.
"Look on the bright side, Teddy." Ace said. "I heard Sweet Heart is going to be there as well. So we don't have to suffer alone. Misery loves company, you know?"
"Sweet Heart's going to be there?" Teddy exclaimed. He was almost oblivious as his parents dragged him to the fitting room. He had a huge crush on Sweet Heart at least as big as a skyscraper. Knowing she would be there, this drag of a tour through Twilight's Facility just went from intolerable to worth it, in his opinion. Once he and Ace were in their suits, their families walked to The Facility together. Along the way, they took the time to catch up on things.
"So, how's your life been going?" Teddy's mother asked Ace's father.
"It's fine. I've got a roof over my head, a steady job, a wonderful child."
"The most wonderful child." Ace boasted, demonstrating his inflated opinion of himself.
"Yes, the most wonderful child." His mother said, pretending to play along with his belief. "Ah, we're here." They stopped to observe The Facility and the small crowd gathered outside. No doubt they were more winners of the contest.
The Facility was an impressive building. It was huge, as big as factory, at least. Pipes on top of the building puffed out continuous clouds of smoke, which cast an inviting air over the building - it was a place for the hardworking pony. Its brick-red color was offset by the yellow lights coming from each window, which covered the front of the building.
"I think I see some of your school friends." Teddy's mother whispered to him.
Teddy whipped his head around. "Do you see Sweet Heart?"
"Sweet Heart?" Teddy's mother placed a hoof over her eyes to focus her gaze. "Ah, she's right over -" The minute she pointed her hoof, Teddy was off as if fired from the barrel of a gun. "There ... geez, you'd think he had a crush on her or something."
"Sweet Heart!" Teddy called. "Sweet Heart?"
"Hmm?" Sweet Heart turned her head to face him. "Oh, Teddy! Hello. I didn't know you'd be here."
"Oh, trust me. I wouldn't be. But my parents made me come. But enough about me. Tell me about you." Teddy purred, resting his hoof on his chin. She looked so beautiful in the frilly white dress she was wearing.
"Well, I -" Sweet Heart was interrupted by a voice as sharp as eagle claws.
"Teddy." Their schoolteacher, Miss Hackney, whistled. "You're not trying to drag Sweet Heart into trouble, are you?"
"Oh no, Miss Hackney." Sweet Heart spoke up on Teddy's behalf. "Teddy was just asking how I was doing. Isn't that right, Teddy?"
Teddy nodded. He continued to nod, hoping Miss Hackney would get off his case.
"Uh-huh." Miss Hackney nodded, leering at Teddy with suspicion. "Well, you behave now. We wouldn't want to earn ourselves extra detention, would we?"
"No, ma'am, we wouldn't." Teddy agreed.
Hackney raised her head. "I think it's time."
Any further small talk between the tourist group was cut short by the creaking of The Facility's enormous door. With a creeeak and an eeeeee, it moved along the ground at a snail's pace. Three beautiful mares stepped out from the door. One had her hair styled in a spiral which Sweet Heart was sure was a pain to manage. One had simple, short hair and the last had her dark red hair tied back in a braid, wearing a Stetson hat. Each of them were wearing black cloaks over their bodies.
"I think somepony should have told them it wasn't Nightmare Night yet." Teddy whispered to Sweet Heart, snickering at his own joke.
"Hello." Each of the cloaked mares bowed. "Our names are Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom. We'll be your tour guides for the day. Any questions you ask, we will answer to the best of our abilities."
"We will be showing you all the parts of The Facility. At least, the ones open to visitors." Apple Bloom spoke in a Southern drawl.
"Please remain close to the tour group at all times, as there are several places off-limits to non-employees." Sweetie Belle requested.
"Keep all your hooves to yourself." Scootaloo said. "Do not reach out and touch anything unless you are advised it is okay to do so. Failure to comply with this policy can result in being removed from the tour group, banned from future tours," Scootaloo raised her hoof over her mouth to muffle her voice, "and possible dismemberment if you stick it in the wrong place. Hrrk!" She cleared her throat. "Thank you. Let's go inside, shall we?"
"What she'd say?" Teddy whispered to Sweet Heart while the crowd moved around them. "Possible dis- what?"
"I don't know." Sweet Heart said. "I just know that means no breaking the rules ... so don't get any ideas, Teddy."
"Moi?" Teddy asked, feigning offense as he walked with the crowd. "I would never."
Entering the building, most of the tourists were surprised by how sparse the building was in its front room. A service desk was off the right of the maroon-colored empty room. Two bridges were on the upper floor, with one staircase leading up to them. They were two doors on each end of both bridges. There was little to nothing else in the room, save for an old pony resting her front hooves on a walker with glasses and her hair tied in a bun.
"Twilight Sparkle herself!" Teddy's father exclaimed, bowing to the lady. "Is it an honor to see you in person! Although ... may I ask why your Facility isn't ... impressive as expected?" He looked around the room, once again taking it its emptiness.
"This is the foyer." Twilight answered. She lifted up her walker to move along the floor. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were by Twilight's side at once, attempting to give their support to help her along, but she wasn't having any of it, giving them physical rebukes. "It's meant as a place where ponies can sit and talk and collect their thoughts." Twilight said with the meek voice expected of an old lady. "Once you get past the second set of stairs, well ... THAT'S where things get impressive."
"Will, um, Twilight Sparkle be joining us on the tour?" Teddy's father asked.
"Yes." Twilight answered. "I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have on the tour."
"Well, er, won't a lady in your, um, condition have ... trouble getting around?"
"It'll be fine." Twilight assured him, turning her walker to the side. "Just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't get around. Now come on, you whippersnappers. Let's get this tour started." Twilight and her cloaked aides guided the tour up the stairs to the left.
"Wow." Ace muttered, trudging along the tour group as if he was spellbound.
"What?" Teddy asked.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Ace asked.
"Sweet Heart?" Teddy questioned. "Because let me tell ya, pal, you better not be gunning for my girl."
"No. Her." Ace gestured his head at Sweetie Belle.
"Oh." Teddy said. "Yeah, I guess she's pretty. What about her?"
"She's beautiful." Ace repeated.
"I heard you the first time, dude." Teddy rolled his eyes as the tour went further and further up the stairs. They came across a branching path, as the stairs split two ways midway up. One side lead to more stairs, the other to a bronze vault door.
"Er, Miss Twilight?" Ace's father raised his head. Twilight stopped her walker on the steps and turned to him.
"Yes?"
"Is this our first destination?" Ace's father pointed to the door.
"No, that's the first of our many employees only areas." Twilight answered. "Our Facility is quite complex, mister, so please don't expect the tour to take a linear path. Come. Our first destination is further up the stairs." Going further upstairs took them to one of the bridges they had seen in the foyer. Now they could down and see the solitary work desk and the front entrance from above.
"As can you see, we've reached the first bridge." Twilight Sparkle said. "This is important, as there are plenty of bridges, so if you get lost and can remember the number of the bridge, it makes it much easier to get back to the front entrance."
"Ah." Teddy's father noticed a steel plate on the bridge which had the Roman numeral for 1 engraved on it. He was admiring this system until The Facility's entire structure shook beneath their hooves. A roar echoed through the room, akin to a sleeping dragon awakening, his voice hoarse from inhaling the fumes of his own sulfuric fire breath. "What was that!?"
"That? Oh, that was just the foundations settling. It's nothing to worry about, I assure you." Twilight said to them. A few of the tour group had some trouble swallowing this explanation, but none of them felt confident to question it.
"I want out of here!" One of the other children screamed, turning to run away.
"Sit down!" Miss Hackney scolded him. The child's fear of the building subsided to his fear of his teacher and he sat.
Teddy's father chuckled. "You sure know how to handle kids, Miss Hackney."
Hackney chuckled. "Well, I should hope so! I studied all of Cheerilee's books, you know. She was a great teacher in her time, and if I haven't learned something from her writing, well then ... I'd wonder what good books were!"
Sweetie Belle sighed. "Ah, I remember Miss Cheerilee. She was nice."
Hackney and Teddy's father exchanged looks. Hackeny adjusted her glasses. "I'm sorry, Miss Belle? ... Cheerliee was at least one-hundred years ago, and you don't look a day over twenty."
"Well, I ... I mean, er ..." Sweetie Belle was saved from attempting to explain this discrepancy by Teddy attempting an ill-timed prank.
"Hey, Ace!" Teddy whispered. "If you like Sweetie Belle so much, why don't you go up to her?" Teddy pushed Ace on the back, causing him to roll down the bridge and smash into Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle fell over to the ground, her leg producing a clang against the bridge. There was a ripping sound, similar to scissors ripping clothes, and a snap of bone which made everyone wince.
"HEY!" Scootaloo roared, flaring out her wings. "Hooves to yourself! Get back in there." Scootaloo cowed Ace back into the tour group. "Which one of you twerps pushed him, huh?" Scootaloo scanned the crowd, searching for guilty faces. Nopony had seen Teddy do it, and Teddy had a practiced poker face.
"Are y'all alright?" Apple Bloom asked, helping Sweetie Belle up to her hooves.
"I'm fine." Sweetie Belle said. As Apple Bloom pulled her up, she stumbled back and forth. Her's and Apple Bloom's faces went wide with panic, grimacing. "Ah, my leg snapped!" As though trying to cover up a secret, Sweetie Belle covered her mouth.
"Come on. This way." Scootaloo said, guiding Sweetie Belle past the tour group and down the stairs.
Sweet Heart looked after her with concern. "Mama? What's going to happen to her?"
"Well, Sweet Heart, if her leg snapped, she's going to be ... put down. It's not right for a pony to walk with only three legs, so ... it's best if she gets put of her misery."
"Oh." Sweet Heart groaned. "That's terrible."
"It's for the best." Her mother told her.
"Oh, I'm sure Sweetie Belle will be fine." Twilight assured him. "We have great health insurance. Come, let's continue the tour, shall we?"
"Are you sure you can go on with only one aide?" Teddy's father asked.
Apple Bloom took offense to his statement. "Sir, Ah assure you, Ah am more than able to lead the tour and help Twilight by my lonesome ... as long as nopony pushes each other again." She sneered. "Come on now, y'all."
Apple Bloom and Twilight turned and continued down while Twilight droned on about how the fascinating machinery on the other side of the door.
"Well, I guess I won't, right, Ace?" Teddy teased, in good spirits considering he had almost caused the death of a mare. "Ace? Ace!" Teddy whispered under his breath. Ace was running down the stairs, pursuing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "What are you doing?" He ran down the stairs after him.
"Teddy!" Sweet Heart exclaimed under her breath. She ran after him as well, somehow defying the odds by slipping away from the tour group unseen.
"Ace!" Teddy shouted, chasing his friend. "Ace, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to rescue Sweetie Belle from being put down!" Ace shouted. "And then she'll fall in love with me and we'll get married!" Ace got hearts pulsing in his eyes.
"Ace, you're crazy!" Teddy shouted.
"Think of the age difference!" Sweet Heart shouted. Teddy looked over his shoulder, surprised about Sweet Heart being present. He stopped. Sweet Heart was unable to decelerate in time and smashed into Teddy, and they tumbled down the stairs as a snowball of ponies. The snowball collected Ace into and kept rolling into they smashed into something metal as a tangled mess of pony limbs.
"Ugh." Sweet Heart groaned, the first to rise from the pile. She rubbed her forehead. Her eyes went wide. "Oh. Oh no."
"What?" Teddy asked, pulling out from under Sweet Heart. Ace was the last to get up.
Teddy saw what was causing Sweet Heart so much distress. They were back at the bronze vault door, and the door was open.
"Hmm!" Teddy smirked, getting an idea. "What do you think is in there, hmm?"
"No.." Sweet Heart insisted. "We are not going in there. Twilight Sparkle said it was off-limit to non-employees!"
Ace stroked his chin. "You don't think Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo went in there, do you?"
"It's a possibility." Sweet Heart said. "It's also a possibility we could get into huge amounts of trouble for even being near it, so let's go - ACE!" Ace was already climbing over the vault's rings and entering inside.
"Whoo-hoo! It's party time!" Teddy cheered, following him.
"Oh, to heck with it." Sweet Heart complained, realizing trying to talk her friends out of their crazed lust for adventure was no use. She might as well keep an eye on them - somepony had to be the smart one of the group. "Wait for me!" She hopped into the door after them. What they found on the other was ... unexpected.
It was a wide and vast room, far, far larger than what the outside of the building suggested it could contain. It was like a scene taken straight from a travelogue, with dirty, sand-colored bumps of dirt, a clear waterfall in the far right of the room, and a floodgate pouring polluted water down a drainage system. It was best described as being as though someone had taken a desert paradise and a sewer and mixed them together.
"Wow. This is ... interesting." Sweet Heart observed. The three of them trotted around, admiring the room. Strange as it was, it held a sort of beauty to it. She stopped, noticing a flowerbed of mushrooms.
"Ugh." Sweet Heart bent down to observe the fungi. They were covered in glowing green and blue liquids. "What is this stuff?"
"How should I know?" Teddy asked. "You're the smart one."
Sweet Heart nodded. "Yes am I, So, remind me why are we in here again?"
"Oh, it had something to do with Ace's crush on Sweetie Belle." Teddy teased. "It makes him do crazy things, you know?"
"Hmm. You wouldn't know anything about having a crush, Teddy?" Sweet Heart teased, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
Teddy blushed. "I, uh, well ..." Teddy attempted to deflect by walking forward, only for his hoof to strike vicious and squishy.
"Uh, Teddy?" Sweet Heart asked with no shortage of worry. "What did you just step in?"
"Um ..." Teddy looked down to see his hooves in a thick red liquid. He lifted his hoof to examine. "I think it's blood?"
There was a brief pause.
"BLOOD!?"
"AAAAAAAAAAH!"
Compounding their fright and scaring them out of their wits, there was another roar like the one they heard from the bridge, which was so not just the "foundations settling." Teddy and Ace were brought around to Sweet Heart's way of thinking, and Sweet Heart's thinking was to make a mad dash for the door.
With a creak, the vault door slammed shut just seconds before they reached it.
"What?" Sweet Heart exclaimed. She jumped on the door, pounding it and bucking it with her hooves. "No. No, no, no. This cannot be happening." She sunk to the floor and put her hooves around her head. "This cannot be happening. What's going to happen to my grades? I'll get grounded!"
"Really?" Teddy asked. "We're trapped in a strange room and that's what you're worried about right now?"
"This is all your fault!" Sweet Heart snapped at him, ignoring his question. "If you hadn't pushed Ace when you did just to be a jerk, none of this would have happened! Why are you always such a jerk, Teddy?"
"I ..." Teddy muttered. "I thought it was funny."
"Well, it wasn't!"
While Sweet Heart chewed out, Ace squinted at the other side of the room. "Hey ... I think I see a door."
"Oh, great! A DOOR!" Sweet Heart exclaimed. "All of our troubles are solved now!"
"Hey, there might be someone who can help behind it!" Ace suggested.
"Or it could have, like, I don't know, a dragon or an angler fish or something!"
Teddy raised his brow. "An angler fish?"
"Well, it's either an angler fish or we stay in here waiting for somepony to rescue us." Ace said.
Sweet Heart attempted to protest, but she didn't have any good counterarguments. So they trudged over to the door. Ace knocked on it. There was no response.
"Knock again." Sweet Heart instructed. "Harder."
Ace nodded. He banged on the door, thrusting his roof. Still nothing.
"I'm just gonna go in." Ace said. He grabbed the doorknob and threw the door open.
"No! What if there's an angler fish?" Sweet Heart complained.
"Oh, good news!" Ace said. "There's Sweetie Belle in there!" Ace went inside.
"Hmph. I bet they're getting her ready for the slaughter as we speak." Teddy mocked, attempting to put distasteful images in Ace's head.
"Teddy!" Sweet Heart scolded, grabbing and dragging him around the door.
"Hey, Ace! How's Sweetie Belle?" Teddy teased. At least before he noticed how accurate his earlier mocking was, as Sweetie Belle looked primed for slaughtering. His jaw dropped in horror and he was on the verge of vomiting.
Within the room were multiple electric cords and plugs, with an EKG machine set up and an tool tray placed next to a slab. On the slab itself was Sweetie Belle, her cloak dropped to the floor. Her entire body was covered in stitches and black braces holding her patch-up corpse together. A glass window was stuck in her chest, allowing view of her beating heart, pulsing as if it was being forced to do its job past its expiration date. Her leg was severed at the knee, hanging by a stitch.
Teddy, Ace, and Sweet Heart burst into hyperventilation, not thinking to try to flee. And when Sweetie Belle let out a groan and pushed herself up, they were transfixed by fear.
Sweetie Belle's eyes were slow to open and glassy. Her head made groggy rocking motions. "Twilight? I'm ready for my surgery." She blinked, her glassiness faded and her eyes becoming clearer. "Wha - you're not Twilight." She blinked again. Her eyes widened and she jumped down from the slab, approaching towards them with her disconnected leg trailing behind her. "You three aren't supposed to be here!"
The three foals let out a scream and made it a point to hightail it out of the room. Behind them, Sweetie Belle slammed her hoof on a button, producing the lights and sounds of a klaxon.
The minute the foals made it out the door, they ran from one problem and into another. A monstrous blue pegasus was waiting for them. She had metal plating over her back, exposing her distended spine. A metal patch was over her right eye, electrified generators pumping in and out of her back like pistons. One of her hooves was even replaced by one of generators.
She raised her generator-hoof at them, menacing them with the unspoken threat of being electrocuted.
"Kids, do your parents know where you are?" |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Facility: The Descent Begins | The monstrous pony glared at them. The room was filled with the sound of the generator-pistons in her back going pa-push pa-push pa-push. Through her one, single eye, she glared at them, oblivious to their overwhelming fear of her.
"Maybe you didn't understand me, kids. I said, do your parents know where you are?"
"Uh-uh ..." Sweet Heart stammered. "N-no."
The pony frowned at them. "Well, we're just going to have to do something about that, aren't we?"
The pony leveled their malformed hoof, aiming it at them with the clear intent to strike. Sweet Heart, as always, was the brains of the group. She formulated a plan for their best course of action.
"RUN!"
Sweet Heart, Teddy and Ace all broke into a gallop, running as fast as they could from the monster. The monster took a swipe at Sweet Heart with its weapon, but missed as Sweet Heart ducked underneath it and fled.
"Hold still - this will be good for you!" The pony shouted, galloping after them.
Despite being taught by cartoons not to look behind her when she was being chased by a monster and instead focus on running, Sweet Heart glanced over her shoulder at their pursuer. She noticed the monster's gait was steady and uneven. Observing her build, Sweet Heart came to the conclusion she was athletic and healthy, aside from the patchwork of machines sewn into her flesh. So why she was moving so slow and not chasing after them with the speed of a cheetah?
Sweet Heart could see why. With the weapon in her front right hoof, the monster pony had to move slow to compensate for the uneven distribution of weight on one side.
"Mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms!" Ace warned the group of more of the liquid-covered fungus ahead, and they had to scramble to slingshot themselves around and away from the mushrooms. This path sent them heading straight towards the pony.
"Metal pony-thing!" Ace added. He and the group veered to the right, escaping another strike from the pony's weapon by the narrowest of margins. Their pursuer let out a frustrated growl, disliking the struggle of her prey.
"Hold still." The pony growled. She attempted to run after them, but her weapon had become lodged in the soft soil of the room.
Sweet Heart continued to observe and take notes about her patterns and behaviors. With the metal in her hoof affecting her speed, Sweet Heart felt confident they could continue to outrun her. It was a war of attrition, the only question being who would give out first; them or her.
Of course, that conclusion did not factor in the primary trait of a pegasus. The ability of flight granted to them by their wings. Their pursuer saw the distance her prey and herself, and realizing she was not going to catch them by chasing them on foot, spread her wings. They were worn and tattered, with bones and metal patches in them. They shouldn't have been able to function. Yet, they did. The pony took to the air and landed right in front of them, growling and snarling. They had to skid to a halt to avoid crashing into her.
"Seriously, hold still. This will make easier on all of us." She took another swing at Sweet Heart, who ducked it again.
Between the legs of their assailant, Sweet Heart saw the river in the room. She gasped, having an idea. The pistons in the monster's back were generating electricity for her to use in zapping and shocking unwanted intruders. Sweet Heart had studied enough in school to know water conducted electricity.
"Follow my lead!" Sweet Heart shouted! In a bold show of daring, she ducked under the monster's legs and ran under her.
"Go UNDER the crazy monster trying to kill us? Are you crazy!?" Ace shouted.
"Grrr." The "crazy monster" looked back and forth between Sweet Heart and Ace and Teddy, trying to determine who was an easier target. She decided it was Sweet Heart, as she galloped after the girl towards the river.
Perfect. Sweet Heart thought. The plan's working so far.
Sweet Heart stopped galloping just by the riverside, frightening Ace and Teddy. Didn't she realize a deranged monster was chasing after her?
The monster took the bait, raising her weapon and skulking towards Sweet Heart at a leisure's pace. She was sure Sweet Heart wasn't going anywhere. "Now I've got you." She let out a battle cry as she charged and readied herself to swing at Sweet Heart.
Sweet Heart dropped to the ground and rolled to the side. The monster saw what she had done and tried to will her body to stop, but she accumulated too much momentum and kept going, propelling herself straight into the water.
"Oh dear." She said, knowing what was about to happen. She landed in the water with a splash. The generators in her back did not appreciate getting wet and went haywire, pumping faster than a heartbeat and sending out electric shocks into the water. The river lit up with the chemical reaction, flashing a bright blue color which illuminated the room, if for only a brief moment. The shocks traveled out into the water, electricity jumping from one hydrogen molecule to the next, electrocuting anything unfortunate enough to be inside the water at the time. Which included the monstrous pony whose body was full of metal, and metal was an excellent conductor.
She screamed and twitched as the electricity fed into her, shocking her. Sweet Heart, Ace, and Teddy gathered together, unnerved by having to watch this pony writhe in pain. Although she may have been trying to kill them a moment ago, it was still a painful sight to endure, watching her struggle and listening to her scream. After a while, the generators gave out, no longer pumping or producing electricity. The river ceased flashing and her body rolled over onto its back, her hooves in the air as though she was a dead fish rising up to surface level.
"Uugh." Teddy groaned.
"How unfortunate." Sweet Heart said, her bleeding heart full of sympathy.
"I know it's not pretty, but it was either her or us." Ace reminded them. "Come on, let's get out of here before - AAH!" Ace shouted in panic as he saw Sweetie Belle limping towards them. Her detached leg trailing along the ground behind her should have been amusing, but it was nothing short of horrifying.
"When I catch up to you three ..." Sweetie Belle threatened them, walking with a gait to adjust for her bad leg. "Oooh, the things I am going to do to you!"
"Ha!" Ace laughed, backing away into the water. "You'll never catch up to us. Not with your leg like that."
"Children?" A soft, elder voice called, followed by a creak.
Ace, Teddy and Sweet Heart whipped around to see the vault door was opening. Through it were Apple Bloom and Twilight. Apple Bloom was frowning while Twilight was wearing a smile of concern, though Sweet Heart could somehow sense an insincerity from it.
"Mistress Twilight." Sweetie Belle said, stopping and bowing her head. "These children - they came into the operating room and tricked Rainbow Dash into the river. With your permission, of course, I would like to punish them."
"Oh, you'll do nothing of the sort, Sweetie Belle. Rainbow Dash will be fine. Celestia knows it's not the first she's crashed and burned." Twilight Sparkle said, using her walker to pull herself into the room. "These kids got away from their parents on the tour and they're right worried sick."
"As well they should be!" Ace shouted. "We've seen what kind of weird, sick things you've been keeping down here! When we when tell our parents about this, they'll go the police and have you shut down for good!"
Twilight chuckled. "Now, I don't doubt you little foals would do that for a second. But you need to come see your parents first before that happens. The parents who you ran away from and disobeyed the orders of, I might add." Twilight smirked at them. A smirk full of malice and the intent to cause pain. Despite how hateful and unnatural the smirk was, Sweet Heart felt as if it was the first time she had seen the real Twilight Sparkle since meeting her.
"Come." Twilight nodded her head at the door. "Apple Bloom will take you back to the tour group. Go on back to the operating room, Sweetie Belle. I'll be right along."
Swallowing the lumps in their throats, the children walked to the door under Twilight's watchful and foreboding gaze. Apple Bloom held her hoof out, counting their heads as they jumped out from the vault door.
Ace wiped his brow, more than relieved to be out of the forsaken room behind the door. His relief was called into question as he saw the tour group before them with their parents at the forefront.
"Young man," Teddy's father said, "do you have any idea how worried sick we were about?"
"Mom, dad!" Teddy exclaimed, running up to them and hugging them. "It was awful in there!"
His father whinnied. "Do you really think now is the time for hugs, son? Your mother and I have been worried sick about you. Running off from the tour group the way you did, jeopardizing the tour AND your own personal safety -"
"No, dad -"
"And to think you got poor little Sweet Heart and Ace tied up in it as well!" Miss Hackney added. "I can't fathom how big a lie Teddy told you to drag you into this, Sweet Heart."
"But I -" Sweet Heart sputtered.
"No buts, young lady!"
Sweet Heart scowled, her face curling with discontent. Unwilling to accept the blame of her elders, she ran up to her father and dragged him by the hoof.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Her father protested, jerking his hoof away in vain.
"Come on. I'm going to show you something." Sweet Heart growled. She was going to pull them though the vault door and show them Twilight's horrific work. It wasn't in her nature to be as pushy as she was, but she was determined her parents were going to see Rainbow Dash and realize the truth of what was happening behind those doors. Perhaps Teddy was rubbing off on her.
Her determination and anger faded at the sound of a loud clicking. Sweet Heart gasped as she saw Twilight and Apple Bloom close the vault door and latch it shut. "No!"
Sweet Heart's father jerked his hoof away from his daughter, experiencing more success than on previous attempts. He rubbed his sore hoof, glaring his daughter down. "What has gotten into you, Sweet Heart? First you run off, now this?"
"But Dad! Twilight's been doing things - awful things in there!"
Sweet Heart's father closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "I'm disappointed in you, Sweet Heart. Not only do you run off with Teddy, but you believe this cockamamie story Teddy cooked up to get you out of trouble?"
"What? No! Dad -"
"Hey -" Teddy shouted, unwilling to let the slight against him stand. He had made up a few stories in the past, but this wasn't one of them.
"You're in no position to be objecting, mister." Miss Hackney cut Teddy down. "We should all be grateful your misbehavior didn't get all of us thrown out and banned! The chance to explore Twilight Sparkle's wondrous Facility is a rare treat, and you've gone and squandered it! I hope you're proud of yourselves."
Realizing none of the adults were going to listen, the three children hung their heads and sighed. "Yes, Miss Hackney." They spoke in unison.
"I do hope they weren't too much of a problem for you, Miss Sparkle?" Sweet Heart's father asked the matron of the building.
"Oh, no. No trouble at all." Twilight answered in a gentle voice.
"Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?"
"No, no ... well, there is one tiny thing."
The children gulped. Having seen the results of Twilight's gruesome work on Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash, they became afraid of the possible of being made into Twilight's next test subject through means of some clever manipulation of their parents.
Apple Bloom produced a paper.
"Simply have your children sign this paper saying they won't discuss what they've seen inside these walls with anypony." Twilight gestured to the paper, putting an emphasis on the last word.
"Done." Sweet Heart's father took the paper and presented it and the quill Apple Bloom produced to his daughter. "Go on. Sign it."
Sweet Heart took the quill. She was willing to sign the written agreement, on the tiny, unspoken condition of ignoring it in its entirety the moment they were safe from the Facility. As she wrote her name down, she felt a tiny prick on the side of her hoof. When she finished writing, she noticed the ink was a vivid red color and her hoof had a cut on it where no wound existed a moment ago.
It took naught but a few moments for her to realize she had just sighed a contract in her own blood. Teddy and Ace did the same, Sweet Heart too disheartened to warn them against it. Their parents would just shout them down again. Teddy wince and Ace rubbed his hoof as Twilight took the sighed paper away.
"Good, good. Now that's settled, I'm afraid I'm going to have ask everypony to leave. You see, the antics of these three have taken up too much time for the tour. If we tried to finish it now, it would be well past everpony's bedtime." Twilight bowed her head. "As such, I bid you adieu. Perhaps we can have better luck the next time I'm doing a promotion, hmm?"
"Perhaps. Come on." Teddy's mother said as she scooted her rascal of a son towards the exit. As the children were escorted to the building grounds, Sweet Heart looked over her shoulder. She saw Twilight and Apple Bloom, waving them off with warm gestures of the hoof. But their smiles conveyed malice and a sort of unsettling, unspoken threat of harm if they tried to tell anypony what they had seen.
And having written her name in blood, Sweet Heart was sure they would have a way to know if she tried to tell anypony.
Some time later at Teddy's residence, Teddy walked with a delicate step towards his still-irate father, who was resting on a recliner while holding a newspaper in front of his face.
With no small amount of passive-aggression, his father bundled up the newspaper and rested it on the table. "Have you thought about the stunt you pulled today, son?"
"Yes, I have and I ..." Teddy caught himself in the midst of apologizing and shook his head. What was he doing? He didn't come here to apologize. "No, dad, I haven't, and you know why? Because there's something evil and unnatural going on inside that building! There were these mushrooms covered in blood, and this pony who was like a cyborg or something."
Teddy's father held his hoof out for him to stop. "Son, do you not remember the part where you sighed a waiver wherein you would not tell anpyony anything about what you saw in the building?"
"Yeah, but -"
"I don't think you understand what that means. A pony like Twilight in charge of a business like her's has a lot to lose if her copyrights and parents get leaked around. So it would be best if you didn't leak them. On top of that, I don't believe a word you're saying. I mean, cyborgs? Bleeding mushrooms? You'll forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical."
"No, I won't." Teddy muttered to himself. "And you're just still mad because I misbehaved! If you were so blinded by anger, you'd realize I'm being serious right now!"
"Uh-huh." His father nodded.
Teddy shook his hoof, attempting to reign in his anger. "Can I at least go outside and play with my friends?"
"After what you did today, what do you think the answer is going to be?" His father asked him, picking up his newspaper once more.
Teddy looked to the door and back to his father. I didn't hear an explicit "no" in there, he thought to himself. He was just going to gloss over the implicit no. Making sure his father was engrossed with his morning news, he sneaked out the door and made a full-steam gallop towards Sweet Heart's house. He didn't have to travel far, as Sweet Heart and Ace were heading in the opposite direction towards his own abode, and they met at the corner of the street.
"Hey guys." Teddy said. "Did your parents not believe you either?"
"Oh, you don't know the half of it! Not only did they not believe me, they said I shouldn't make up stories just to make myself look better!" Ace complained. "Me! Make up stories? Can you imagine?"
"I don't have to imagine. I live it every time you score on a baseball game ..." Teddy muttered before Sweet Heart shut him with a bump to the knee.
"Shush." Sweet Heart told him. "What are we going to do? Our parents won't listen to us. I know Miss Hackney won't listen to us. And any other friends we might have will probably avoid us out of fear of getting into trouble if we try to get them involved!"
"We need to put our heads together and think." Ace said. "Think, think, think." He repeated, bashing himself in the head with his hoof. "Where do ponies go when their parents won't believe them and their friends won't help? Who do they turn to?"
A brainstorm sparked in all of three of their heads.
"The police!"
"So let me make sure I understand you correctly ... you're trying to tell me that Twilight Sparkle's Facility houses - amongst other things - zombies, cyborgs, and fungus which produce blood?"
The three children nodded at the officer sitting across the desk. "Uh-huh, uh-huh."
"Well, I'm sorry, kids. I don't believe you." The officer told them, picking up a piece of paperwork as though it were more important than them.
"But Officer Flathoof -!" Sweet Heart complained. "Don't you have a moral and ethical obligation to give every claim some level of investigation, should an actual crime have been committed?"
"I'm sorry, kid. But Twilight's got a good record." Flathoof said. "She's helped the townsfolk, cut down the crime rate, introduced inventions which have made several ponies' lives easier. She even helped me get promoted once, you know? And you ... well, no offense, but you're kids. One of whom I know is quite the troublemaker." He glared at Teddy, who gave a sheepish grin. "When I put your record up against Twilight Sparkle's, well ... you lose, simple as that. Are you sure you didn't imagine up some of these things?"
"Imagine - uugh!" Sweet Heart groaned. She turned towards the door. "Come on, guys. Let's go. This chump isn't going to help us."
Ace and Teddy looked to each other. Sweet Heart, whose sweetness was such a dominating aspect of her personality the word "sweet" was in her name, calling somepony a chump? Of course, unlike them, Sweet Heart had a perfect track record for good behavior until today. So for her parents to disbelieve her, followed by the police not believing them, the stress might be having some effect on her.
"So what do we do now?" Teddy asked, galloping after Sweet Heart as she descended the stairs leading up to the police station.
"I ... I don't know." Sweet Heart confessed, dropping to her haunches and covering her face. "I've never ... I've never had my parents not believe me before. Not like this." She hiccuped, crying a bit.
"We do the only thing we can do." Ace said. "It's up to us."
Sweet Heart and Teddy glared at him as though he were an alien from outer space.
"Ace, you don't mean ..."
"Yes, I do mean. Think about it, Teddy. Our parents didn't believe us. The police are clearly in Twilight's pocket." He cast a scathing glare at the police station entrance. "We're the only ones who know what's really happening inside that place. So we, as ponies, have an ethical and moral duty to stop it." Ace put his hoof over his head, saluting an imaginary flag.
Sweet Heart and Teddy didn't want to admit it, but he was right. It was all up to them to do it. It was up to them to stop Twilight's sins against nature. It was up to them, even though they were just a trio of kids. Even though they had no experience, no training, no combat skills or special powers, and no idea what they were doing.
But still. If not even the police would help them, it was clear their was no other choice. They would have to begin a descent into the darkness of Twilight's Facility, probe its secrets, and learn how to drive into the stake into the black vampires' hearts.
"So, what's our next move?" Teddy asked.
"We need a way in." Ace said. He rubbed his chin. "A way to sneak inside without being noticed. We can't just go up to the front door, or those goons of her's will throw us out."
"You know, we did see sewage inside that room we were in." Sweet Heart said.
Ace and Teddy glared at her. "Sweet Heart, you ... you're not suggesting we climb in through the sewers, are you?"
"Hey, I don't like it anymore than you do. You think I want to get all muddy and filthy running around inside those tunnels? But it's our best bet."
Ace hung his head. "As unpleasant as the idea may be, Teddy, she's right. To the sewers we go! I hope everypony brought noseplugs ..."
After ambling about the town square for awhile, they found a porthole covering they could use to gain access inside The Facility ... or so they hoped. They had to duck behind a market stall at least once on their way to avoid being found out and caught by their parents. So this had better be worth it.
Ace and Teddy set about removing the cover from the ground for them to climb in. The scraping sounds the lid made as they dragged it along the concrete were foreboding and told them of their certain doom if they were foolish enough to continue on this path.
They hesitated, rethinking this course of action, but a simple nod from one another was enough to convince them to continue. Ace was the first one to climb down, followed by Teddy, with Sweet Heart bringing up the rear.
"Oof." Ace groaned. "It's dark in here."
"Why didn't any of us think to bring a flashlight?" Sweet Heart bemoaned.
"Well, no use going back for one now." Ace said. "Come on. This way. We'll make our through by sound. Remember to go slow so you don't accidentally step into sewage water."
"Oh yes. Thanks for the helpful reminder, Captain Obvious." Teddy said.
They wandered through the dark tunnels. They had to put up with the dim lighting and the noxious smell of sewage waste and runoff during the course of their little misadventure. As they continued to make no apparent progress despite how long they had been trekking, doubts began to settle in their minds. Perhaps they should go back while they still could and leave well enough alone. Perhaps they should have told their parents what they were doing, so at least somepony would be around to worry if they didn't return.
"Maybe we should turn back." Sweet Heart muttered, the smell getting to her.
"Yeah, maybe ..." Ace concurred, nodding his head. Even though Sweet Heart couldn't see it in the dark. "What do you think, Teddy?"
"I think ...I smell flowers."
"Flowers?" Ace asked, incredulous Teddy's nose was even still functional after having been exposed to the sewer muck for as long as they had been. "How can you possibly smell -"
"No, he's right. I smell them too." Sweet Heart said. She sniffed the air. "This way." She took point, holding Ace's hoof as she guided towards the flowers, whose pleasant smell stood out like a sore thumb amidst the stench of polluted sewer water.
"Hey, guys, I see light!" Teddy said. His voice came from a distance in the darkness, worrying Ace and Sweet Heart.
"Teddy?" Sweet Heart asked. "Teddy, where are you? Stay close to the group!"
"It's no problem, guys!" Teddy assured them. "I've found an exit and I'm going in!"
"Teddy, please!" Sweet Heart begged. "Wait up!" She and Ace ran a frantic pace in their attempts to catch up with him. They were just a hair too little, too late, as they saw Teddy's rump hanging out from an unusual window. Light was coming off the window pane, illuminating Teddy's backside as he kicked and flailed before making it inside.
"Oh, dear ..." Sweet Heart muttered.
Teddy flew out the window on the other side and crashed into the floor. He was relieved to have a soft landing. Looking down, he saw it was because he had landed onto some sort of garden patch, full of grass and flowers. Pushing himself up, he observed the layout of the room. It appeared to be a large, indoor garden, with flowerbeds scattered everywhere and plants of various shapes and sizes populating the room. Some skylights were installed in the ceiling to allow light for the plants.
"Huh." Teddy muttered to himself, stepping down from the garden he landed he. He wandered about for awhile until he noticed, some distance away, the shadow of a pony nestled amongst the flora.
He bit his lip, unsure if this was a good thing or not. He stepped backwards, trying to escape notice. As he did, he observed the tiling of the floor. He thought he recognized it from somewhere. With horror dawning on him, he realized he did.
It was the same tiling as in Twilight's Facility. Which was both good and bad. Good because they had found their destination, bad because it meant the plants could be any kind of nasty things.
Teddy continued sneaking, attempting to hide behind a large bush. He thought he might have been safe and he could lay low long enough for the shadow to leave the room ... until Ace and Sweet Heart decided to take this particular moment to come tumbling through the window, landing near him.
Teddy winced, seeing the shadow perk up its head.
Sweet Heart and Ace didn't seem to notice. Sweet Heart engaged Teddy in a hug, which Teddy would have loved in any other circumstance.
"We were so worried about you!" Sweet Heart said before bopping him on the nose. "Don't you go running off like that again!"
Teddy nodded. "Yeah, okay, sure. Fine. But Sweet Heart, we oughta -"
"Excuse me?"
Everypony looked up to see a pretty young pegasus mare approaching them. She had long pink hair and wore a kimono dress. There was a small patch of grass in her mouth, which she chewed and swallowed before speaking.
"Oh dear." She said in a voice as soft as melted butter. "Are you three foals lost?"
"Lost?" Teddy said, doing his best poker face. "What do you mean, lost?"
"Did you get separated from your parents during a tour?" The pony speculated. "Oh, maybe you were playing around and fell in from the sewers." She gasped. "Oh, you didn't fall out of a flying machine, did you?"
"N-no ma'am!" Ace assured her. "We did not fall out of any machines or fliers, hehheh. Our names are Ace, Teddy, and Sweet Heart. What's yours?"
"You can call me Fluttershy." She explained with a smile. "Now then, why don't I help you foals get back to your parents?"
The three of them gave a nervous laugh, attempting to stall for time as they tried to come up with a good excuse to convince Fluttershy to ditch the idea. "Why not? Well, um, you see ..."
Fluttershy gasped again. "Oh no! You're not orphans, are you?"
Ace sighed. This mare's penchant for jumping to the worst-case scenario was beginning to wear on him. "No ma'am, we are not orphans."
Fluttershy placed a hoof on her chest. "Oh, good! If you were, well ... I might just decide I'd have to adopt you. I love to play with little foals."
Teddy chuckled. "Ya-ya do?"
Fluttershy nodded. "Oh yes. I love to hear the pitter-patter of their little hooves. Oh, and they just get so excited about the tiniest of things! It's adorable, really. It's just like playing with a pet."
"Oh, really? How nice." Sweet Heart said.
"Oh, um, not that I'm saying you three are pets!" Fluttershy assured them. "Maybe that wasn't the best choice of words." Fluttershy gestured to the door. "Now come on. Let's get you three home. Does that sound good?"
"Um, all right." Ace said. "I guess it's not the worst fate in the world - oh my Celestia, WHAT IS THAT?" Ace pointed his hoof at a disturbing sight in the ceiling. A pony was hanging from the ceiling tiles, tied by leather straps and bound with a gag stuffed into his mouth, spinning like some grotesque ceiling fan.
"Oh, phoo." Fluttershy complained, looking up at the suspended body. "I thought I put him away already. You three really weren't supposed to see that."
Teddy, Ace, and Sweet Heart became quite frightened. "O-oh no? W-why not?"
Fluttershy sighed. "Well, goodness, I'd hate to do this. Especially to a trio of foals as lovely and cute as yourselves, but ... I'm afraid now that you've seen my, um, acquisitions ... I can't let you leave here alive. I'm so sorry. Mistress's orders. If it were up to me, I'd just give you an amnesia potion and let you walk out of here. I'm terribly sorry."
Teddy, Ace, and Sweet Heart gulped as Fluttershy began approaching them, a pair of fangs spouting from her lower lip. |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Facility: Faces of Madness | "Now, ma'am ..." Ace said as he and his friends backed away, trying to put some distance between them and Fluttershy's dripping fangs. "You seemed pretty reasonable a moment ago. Maybe we can talk this out?"
Fluttershy stopped in her tracks. She appeared entranced by the idea. "That would be nice ... I don't like having to use my fangs on sweet, innocent foals like yourselves ..." Her fangs disappeared, retracting into her upper lip.
"Uh, Ace?" Teddy asked. "What are you doing? She's one of Twilight's minions! Her toady! She's not going to reason with us!"
"I don't know." Sweet Heart said. "She seems nicer than the electric one or Sweetie Belle ... maybe we can reason with her. Maybe ... maybe we could even make her our ally!"
"Oh, get with the times, Sweet Heart. No pony says "ally" anymore."
"No pony says "toady" either, Teddy."
"Both of you, shut it!" Ace said. "Fluttershy and I were trying to talk. Now, Miss Fluttershy, what would it take for you to let me and my friends go?"
"Oh." Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin. "Well, I suppose you would have let me use the amnesia potions on you three and sent you back to your parents."
Ace chuckled. "Uh, no ma'am. I mean, what would it take for you to let us go through the facility and try to stop whatever horrors are going on here?"
Fluttershy pursed her lips. Ace could sense he said something which had made her uneasy. "Now, a lot of those "horrors" you're talking about involve some of my best friends, so I can't let you mess with them. But! I could let you stay here, sort of, um, adopt you, I suppose and ..." Fluttershy's mind and voice went spacy and far-off. "Play with you ... like ... toys. Wonderful toys ..."
"Now wait just a minute." Teddy stomped his hoof. "Just a few minutes ago, you said you weren't calling us toys!"
Fluttershy appeared to be drifting off into her little world, drooling like some kind of doofus at the thought of making the children her "toys," for whatever no-doubt unholy thing she was using the word as an euphemism for. Teddy's stomping seemed to bring her back to reality. "What? Oh yes, I did say that, didn't I? Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me. Sometimes I just think about what Twilight and I do and I just get caught up in all the fun we have."
Ace seemed to be making progress with Fluttershy. The hanging colt on the ceiling, not dead just yet, began to flail. His fruitless sounds of struggle sent a panic into Teddy, who went into a flight-or-fight response. His choice being to fight.
"You know, seeing what happened to Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash, I don't think we want any of that kind of fun." Teddy said. "You know what? Forget this. Let's get out of here."
Teddy reached behind him. Despite not knowing what kind of dangers could be present from handling the foreign plants without protection, he grabbed one of the flowers by its pot, lifted it up over his head, and hurled it into Fluttershy's face. The force of Teddy's arch was enough to break the flowerpot against her head, the ceramic shards falling to the floor mixed in with plant stalks and leaves.
"Ow!" Fluttershy stumbled on her hooves, rubbing her head. "That wasn't very nice ... why are kids these days so mean?"
Sweet Heart gritted her teeth, guilt tearing at her for Teddy's rash actions. Ace tugged her at the shoulders.
"Come on, we need to go!"
The three of them burst into a sprint, running past Fluttershy and escaping through the rows and rows of potted plants and gardening soil. They were so many of them with their neat organization, it was almost as though they were navigating a dangerous maze.
The blow to her head hampered Fluttershy's ability to register and process events around. But when she recovered and realized the children had gone, she turned after them and held out her hoof. "W-wait!" Fluttershy called after them. "Please don't go! I'm sure we can still work something out!" Dropping down her fangs, Fluttershy began her pursuit of the foals.
"Teddy, are you sure what you did was right?" Sweet Heart said. "I mean, Ace and Fluttershy seem to be reasoning with each other rather well!"
Teddy snorted to dismiss her. "Yeah, maybe. But I don't trust her. She's one of them, Sweet Heart."
"So? You don't just throw a flowerpot into somepony's head just because you don't trust them!" Sweet Heart replied.
"Oh yeah? Fine." Teddy said. "Why don't we stop and turn around have a nice chat with her over tea and biscuits?"
The children, even though they should have known better than to stop during a chase, brought themselves to a halt when they heard a disturbing gurgle behind them. They looked around the room to find the source of it and were baffled when they saw it was Fluttershy.
Fluttershy had come to a stop, her cheeks swollen and gurgling with some kind of fluid.
"Uh ... are you all right, Miss Fluttershy?" Sweet Heart asked out of her big heart. Fluttershy's answer to spit out a huge glob of ... something, which landed in front of their hooves on the floor. It was some kind of brown, sticky mucus and it stuck to the floor.
"You really want to trust somepony whose mouth does that?" Teddy asked Sweet Heart.
"No, not really."
And so they resumed their flight. They continued down the corridors of the garden maze, turning left and right and left again in a feeble attempt to lose their pursuant. Teddy, like before, got sick of it and decided to correct the situation - his way.
"Hold on." Teddy swerved away from the group.
"Teddy, what are you doing!?"
Teddy ignored Sweet Heart's surprise and broke into a gallop. He went straight for the flowers and flora decorating the room, ramming his forehead into a potted cactus at full speed. As he was hoping it would happen, the potted cactus full over, knocking into an adjacent plant, which itself fell over. The second plant fell into the next plant in the row, and the third plant fell into the fourth, and this continued through the entire row like a line of dominoes. The plants, through what could only be explained as sheer, unrelenting luck, fell towards Fluttershy and collapsed on top of her, burying her underneath a pile of broken plants and snapped branches and twigs.
"I ... don't believe it." Sweet Heart said. "You did it, Teddy! You actually did it!"
"Oh, gee, you really think so? That means a lot coming from you, Sweet Heart ..." Teddy blushed, bashfully circling his hoof on the floor. He shook his head and cleared his throat. "I mean, of course I did! I'm not lame, like, Ace over here."
"Now is no time to be picking on me to compensate for your own insecurities!" Ace said.
"Compensate what?" Teddy asked. "I have no idea what you mean by -"
"Quiet." Ace held a hoof out. "I hear something ..."
"I hear it too." Sweet Heart perked her ear up.
"Me three." Teddy said. "It almost sounds like somepony ... throwing up? Gross."
"Oh my goodness. I hope they're okay." Sweet Heart said. "Vomiting could be a symptom of many things! An eating disorder, food poisoning, or - or -"
Or a determined mare whose biology had been altered by a demented mad pony-witch to expel gushing currents of a green fluid which dissolved matter. A fountain of sickly-green fluid rose burst out of Fluttershy's prison of pots and plants, accompanied all the while by the sound of somepony vomiting. The liquid disintegrated all it touched. It was clear to the children it was some kind of acid. Fluttershy herself soon followed the fountain, emerging from her entrapment. The green acid was leaking, nay, pouring from her mouth. It was dripping down onto her hooves, causing them to sizzle. Fluttershy seemed little bothered by the acid on her hooves. Knowing what kind of alterations had been made to Rainbow Dash, they knew Fluttershy's non-reaction to the flaming acid was something worse than just sheer adrenaline.
Her eyes were focused on the three fillies with a terrible fury.
"You know ..." Fluttershy started, moving her head as she spoke, which caused the acid to go spray everywhere. "When Teddy threw the pot at me, I was willing to give you three the benefit of the doubt. He panicked and acted rashly, that was all. But now ... after you drop nearly a third of my garden on me, I realize you're all just TERRIBLE NAUGHTY FILLIES!" Fluttershy's roar was so thunderous as to rock the building around them.
"Come on, run!" Ace encouraged, turning in the other direction and galloping as fast as his legs would carry him. Sweet Heart and Teddy weren't far behind. Fluttershy leaped down from the mountain of plants and ran after them, hocking loogies made of her noxious burning bilge. The foals rotated around positions like cars in a race to avoid getting caught the bile. One spitball of clipped the end of Teddy's tail, burning off its hairs.
"She got my tail!"
"She'll get a lot more than that if you stop! Keep running!" Ace reminded him.
"I see a door up ahead!" Sweet Heart said. Just a few meters from them was a large, steel door. It was covered in deep-red rust, which made it look bloodstained.
"It's our best chance! Quick, everypony, through that door!" Ace ordered them. Sweet Heart got there first and held the door open for them. She squealed at Fluttershy's approach and ducked when Fluttershy spat another spitball at her. It flew over her and hit the wall, giving her time to run around the door and slam it shut.
"There's no way this will keep her out." Teddy realized.
"Maybe it will. Look." Ace pointed to a slab of metal in the corner of the room. On the door were metal holdings meant to hold the slab up and bar the door. They did what any reasonable ponies would do and worked together to lift up and put it in place, barring the door shut. They flinched when they heard Fluttershy bang on it from the other side, trying to make it open.
"You know it's just a matter of time before my acid burns through this, don't you?" Fluttershy shouted from the other side.
"She's right." Sweet Heart said. "We have to keep moving."
The others nodded and they turned. They weren't quite expecting what they saw next.
The room they were in was a prison room full of crammed jail cells. Each one had at least a half-dozen roughed-up ponies.
"Um ..."
Sweet Heart's innocent stutter caused all of the ponies in the cage to notice her. They began rioting, banging on their cell doors amidst screams demanding they be let out.
"Let us out of here!"
"Get me away from this place!"
"I don't wanna die here ..."
"Calm down, the bunch of ya!" Teddy shouted, trying to be brave. His words had little effect.
"PIPE DOWN!" Sweet Heart bellowed like a mother, which was enough to quell the crowds into silence.
"Well of course!" One of them with the voice of somepony with a chronic smoking problem said. "Anything for a pretty lady like yourself, heh heh."
"I'm pretty sure I'm, like, twenty years younger than you. Maybe more." Sweet Heart said, unnerved by him. She examined him and his cellmates further, noting the rough shape of their bodies. Some of them had eyepatches and scars.
"Are you ... all criminals?" Sweet Heart asked, reaching the only conclusion she could.
"Yeah, we're criminals!" One of the ponies shouted. "You see that yellow dame in the other room? She and her buddies go through the street regularly, looking for thugs like us to pick off! Like fruit at the market!"
"They figure since we're crooks, nopony will miss us when we're gone." Another said. "And they ain't half-wrong about that, either."
"Please, can you get us out of here?" One of them asked. "I swear I'll give my rogue lifestyle if I can just get out of here alive ..."
"I don't know ..." Teddy said. "You're all criminals? All of you? Then how do we know we can trust you?"
"Ya don't, but would ya really leave us hang us out to dry here? I don't think so. You look like good kids."
"I guess ..." Sweet Heart was going to think it over, but the sound of the acid hissing as it chewed through the door made her lose her train of thought.
"Let me ask you something ..." Sweet Heart said, her eyes still on the door. "If we let you out of here, will you keep Fluttershy from chasing us?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure, anything! Just get us out!"
"Okay." Sweet Heart nodded. She looked to the door and watched as the acid bore a hole through large enough for Fluttershy to step through safely.
"Now I've got you!" Fluttershy growled at them.
"Uh, Sweet Heart? Shouldn't we be running?" Teddy asked.
"Not yet." Sweet Heart answered. Fluttershy's mouth bubbled and gurgled as she worked up more acid to spew. She spit out another glob at the foals. Sweet Heart tackled her friends to the ground, allowing the acid to fly over ... and hit the cell door's lock straight on, disintegrating it.
"Oh ... dear." Fluttershy mumbled, realizing what was about to happen.
One of the crooks gave the door a light tap, testing it. It swung open and he led them out of their cell. "C'mon, boys! Let's go give this dame her what-for!" He was met with unanimous cheers by his fellow criminals. They spread out of the cell and split into two groups. One charged at Fluttershy, flanking her before tackling and dogpiling on top of her. The other group began banging on other cell doors to free their fellows.
"Oh dear." Fluttershy repeated as more of the criminals were let out and she was buried under their flying, tackling bodies. "RAINBOW DASH! APPLEJACK! HELP!"
"Does anypony have some rope or something to tie her mouth with?" One of the crooks asked. "That way, she can't use her acid or knock-out potion or whatever else is in her teeth!"
Meanwhile, the foals were making their escape into the next door they saw- one at the end of the hallway. It led them to a staircase which they half-way up when Sweet Heart stopped.
"Is everything okay, Sweet Heart?" Teddy asked.
"Oh, I'm fine." Sweet Heart told him, looking away. "It's just ... was it really right for us to let those criminals out of their cells to beat Fluttershy? I know it was my idea, since you boys are useless at coming up with plans, but still."
"Hey! I resent that implication!" Teddy insisted.
"She would have drowned us in acid if we didn't, Sweet Heart." Ace said. "I'll be honest, when we decided we were going to take on this awful facility all by ourselves, we should have known we might have to some ... unpleasant things in here to survive."
"Yeah, but ..." Sweet Heart was interrupted by the presence of a door at the top of the stairs. She was startled when it quickly slid open of its own accord, and two mares stood in the way - a white unicorn who resembled Sweetie Belle, and an orange Earth pony wearing a nice hat. Both of them were wearing the same black cloaks Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had wore.
The orange raised an eyebrow at them. "Now what are you fillies doing all the way up here, away from your folks?"
"Wasn't Fluttershy screaming?" The Sweetie Belle look-alike said. "Why don't you go down and investigate that while I deal with these poor darlings?"
"Right. Pardon me, y'all."
"Eh-heh, sure." Sweet Heart said she moved out of the way to let the mare walk down the stairs.
"Mm, now that's that's done, why don't you three accompany to my quarters for some tea?" The unicorn asked them. She turned around and went into the room, meaning to lead them.
After Fluttershy turned out to be an acid-spewing freak of nature, all of the foals knew better than to trust any mare in this wretched building. They knew something was up, but they decided to follow the unicorn anyway. Unlike other times, mostly during chases, when they did something they knew they shouldn't, this decision wasn't a mistake born of panic. It was a calculated move to increase their chance of survival. After all, she wasn't trying to kill them ... yet.
The only questions were when she would, how, and what they were going to do to escape it.
"This way, please." The unicorn told them, noticing how they were hesitating.
"Of course." Sweet Heart stepped through the door after them. They were led into a large room, much like the foyer of The Facility they had seen during their tour. They were two stories, one of which had a bridge which they walked on. They were so many doors, it was hard to tell how Twilight and servants managed to keep track of which ones led where.
"Please refrain from sticking your limbs through the railing." She told them. "Wouldn't want you falling out and going splat, now would we?"
Ace pretended to laugh. "Yeah, we wouldn't want that, would you?"
The unicorn stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry?"
"Er ... what?" Ace said, feigning ignorance. "I didn't say anything."
"Hmm." the unicorn was skeptical, but she continued on.
"Say, has anypony ever told you you look like Sweetie Belle?" Teddy asked.
The unicorn humphed. "It would be more accurate to say that Sweetie Belle looks like me."
"Say," Sweet Heart said, "I just realized you haven't told us your name."
"I'll tell you when we sit down." She told them.
"Mmm." Sweet Heart nodded to accept this. Following the unicorn without much to do, her eyes wandering around the room. She looked to an adjacent hallway and her eyes bugged out of her head. "What is that?"
The thing she noticed had also noticed her and charged out of the hallway. It rose up its hoof and struck Sweet Heart, knocking her door. It was some form of demented, twisted pig, with its skin made of patched-together flesh, with mismatching green, yellow and brown all over it. The patches of skin were connected by stitching, and fat rolls were so heavy on its face as to make it appear as if had no eyes. It let out a distressed, squealing shriek and raised its hoof to strike Sweet Heart again.
"Stop!" The unicorn shouted. The pig did as it was told and turn towards her. "That's quite enough. These lovely children are guests, who I'm taking in for tea. I will thank you not to attack them and to resume your route through the building."
The pig raised up its snout and snorted at her.
The unicorn's demeanor changed. "I'm sorry." She marched up to the pig. "What did you say, young man?" She slapped it across the cheek.
The pig grumbled and lowered its head, oinking like it was apologizing.
"Quite right." The unicorn said. "Now do as you're told!" The pig turned around and went back into the hallway. The unicorn turned them and smiled. "So sorry about that little mishap. Those pigs are darling things, really, but they need to be told what they're supposed to do every now and then."
"Yeah, sure, no problem." Sweet Heart fibbed, even though her heart was pounding. Teddy and Ace nodded their heads to agree with, despite having their blood pressure through the roof.
"Oh, what unfortunate timing, too." The unicorn rued, looking to a door. "If he had been just a minute later, we could have been in my room already." The unicorn's horn glowed, using her magic to pull the door open. "Come." She gestured to the open door before walking inside herself.
The children gulped before going inside. The room was dressed in soothing blues and pinks and decorated in a feminine fashion. There were a few mirrors, a wardrobe, and beauty products in the room, giving the sense of vanity. The unicorn sat down at a blue round table which looked perfect for tea parties and gestured for them to join her.
"Now that we're here ..." The unicorn said as she poured a teapot into cups. "My name is Rarity, and I'll be your host this evening."
"Evening?" Ace said. "I thought we were still in the afternoon."
"Is it?" Rarity said. "Oh, it's dark and musky around all the time, I have no idea what time of day it is." Rarity took a sip of her tea. She raised her brow at the children. "Go on, darlings. Drink your tea."
Sweet Heart leaned over the table, looking into the cup. It didn't appear to have any dead giveaways, like tea leaves making a skull or weird glows, but she still was sure it wasn't anything she wanted in her body. It was poisoned, she would bet. "No."
Rarity glared at them. "Drink your tea."
Sweet Heart crossed her legs, remaining defiant. "No."
"Don't you children know ... how incredibly rude it is to turn down a host's gracious offerings of beverages?" Rarity's eye twitched.
"We're not drinking this tea until you tell us what's in it." Ace said. "Because we know you did something to it."
Rarity sighed. "Fine. It has a bit of amnesia potion in it. You'll drink it, it'll knock you out and wipe your memories of this place, and then we'll dump you on the streets." Rarity growled at them. "And if you're lucky, maybe your parents will find you before somepony else does. Now drink your tea!"
"Why would we do that after what you just told us?" Teddy asked.
"Because ..." Rarity snarled. "I am the one in control of the situation here, and you don't want to test me. Or would you prefer I call one of those pigs back up and have them rip you limb from limb?"
The children shrunk into their chairs.
"There we go. Good boys. Now drink it."
Sweet Heart gulped. She held the teacup up, her hoof shaking with uncertainty. If she drank it, she wouldn't remember what was going down in The Facility and wouldn't be able to reveal to the world. If she didn't, Rarity would have them killed by those pig-things. She observed the tea, noticing the steam rising up from the cup.
This gave her an idea.
"Hey ..." Sweet Heart whispered. "Do you see this?" She gestured to the steam.
"Yeah, it's hot. So what?" Teddy said.
"So ..." Sweet Heart gestured to Rarity.
"Oh." Teddy and Ace caught onto her meaning.
"One three ... one, two ... THREE!" Acting together, the three of them tossed their cups up, splashing Rarity's face with the hot tea.
"Oh!" Rarity groaned, shaking her head to flick the liquid off. "You filthy little brats -!"
The three of them didn't waste any time to let Rarity get her bearings back. Putting their teacups back on the table, they turned around and bucked them the cups into Rarity's face. The cups shattered into her muzzle, getting shards embedded all over her skin.
"Ugh!" Rarity groaned. Using her magic, she opened a drawer and pulled out a handheld mirror. She held it to her face. "After I pick all of these shards out of my face, you three are going to get it! Ow." She muttered as she plucked on piece from her skin, allowing to freely bleed. "Oh, I don't wear the shards look well ... or the blood."
While Rarity was distracted with her appearance, the children ran out of the room. They didn't stop to catch their breath, looking for for which to go. Remembering about the monstrous pig in the direction they came from, they ran down the other way. They didn't get far before a hoof burst out of a door and grabbed Teddy by the tail.
"Woah!"
"Teddy!" Sweet Heart and Ace went to help their friend as he was helplessly pulled into the room. They followed inside and were met with a brutal sight. The room was covered in shelves, and each shelf had a knife block on them for storing the sharp silverware. Teddy himself was being held hostage by a bright pink, poofy mare holding a knife.
"Oh, whee!" She said. "This will be so much fun!" Just before she ran the knife through Teddy's hoof.
"Aaa!" Teddy
"Teddy!" Sweet Heart said.
"You crazy ..."Teddy muttered, holding his hoof to stop the bleeding.
"That's what they tell me!" She said, in the cheeriest voice imaginable. "Now it's your turn!" She handed the knife to Teddy.
"Um, what?" Teddy said.
"It's your turn!" The pink pony repeated. "We're playing a game, see? It's been of my favorites. I call it "Knifey-Wifey Stabby-Wabby," where we each take turns stabbing each other! And it's your turn!"
"Oh, okay." Teddy said, pretending he understood the crazed logic behind such a game. He raised the knife over his head and aimed for her chest.
"Ah-ah! Wait!" The pink one said. "There are certain rules. No stabbing anywhere vital. So eyes, face, mouth, heart, stomach, liver, and kidneys are all out! Just legs, flanks, and tail only."
Teddy, angry at the mare for stabbing him, didn't think about what he was doing. He just did what came to him and ran the knife through her leg.
"Yes!" She cheered and clap before yanking the knife out of her leg. The bleeding didn't seem to bother her. She noticed Sweet Heart and Ace in the doorway. "Oh, I didn't see your friends there! Come on in, take your turns!" She gestured the knife at them.
"Eh, sure." Sweet Heart stuttered, too afraid to say no. The pink pony gestured for Teddy move and bounced towards Sweet Heart, giving her the knife. The pony sat down on her haunches in front of Sweet Heart, smiling while she waited for Sweet Heart to stab her.
"What do I do?" Sweet Heart whispered. "I know she hurt Teddy, but I don't want to stab anypony ..."
"Stall! Make something up!" Ace responded. "Don't worry, Teddy and I will think of something!" Ace began hunting around the room for something to help with their situation.
"I'm waaaiting ..." The pink one told Sweet Heart with a dangerous note in her voice.
"Um ..." Sweet Heart stumbled, trying to buy time. "Actually, could you turn around? I think I want to stab your flank ..."
The crazy mare giggled. "Sure!" She got up and turned around, presenting her Cutie Mark for stabbing action.
"Um, no, wait. I think I want to do it in the front." Sweet Heart pretended to change her mind.
"Okay." The mare turned around again without any complaints.
"Er, no, wait. The flank, yeah." Sweet Heart said.
"Make up your mind, will ya?" The mare said as she turned around again.
Ace and Teddy know the crazy mare wasn't going to buy Sweet Heart's act forever. They needed to do something, and fast. Ace pointed at one of the shelves full of knives.
"How's that going to help? We already know she doesn't react to stabbing." Teddy whispered.
"We're not going to stab her, moron. Come on. Get on the other side." Ace told him. They went to the sides of the bookshelf and grabbed it with their hooves. Taking in deep breaths, they heaved and ho'ed as rocked the shelf back and forth.
"Could you turn around again?" Sweet Heart asked.
By now, the mare was catching on. "You know what? I'm starting to think you don't even WANT to stab me! We can't play the game like that!"
"O-oh, n-n-no?" Sweet Heart stuttered, breaking into a sweat. "Well, maybe it's - it's a stupid game and it needs improvement!"
The crazy mare gasped. "You take that back!" Sweet Heart didn't have to, as Ace and Teddy succeeded in pushing the shelf over, sending the knives flying out and dropping the shelf and all of its heavy knife blocks onto the mare, pinning her. "OOF!"
"Move, move, move!" Ace shouted. He and the others hightailed it out of there while the crazy mare struggled to lift the shelf off her. They closed the door behind them. Sweet Heart wiped the sweat off her brow.
"Goodness, what were we thinking when we decided to come here?" Sweet Heart said. She curled up on the floor and stroked her tail. "I want to go home ..."
"Hey. Hey." Ace poked her in the shoulder. "You can't have a breakdown now. We've already come so far. Besides, it's not safe for us to stay in one spot. Who knows how far along Rarity is and how long that shelf will hold that other pony down."
Sweet Heart sighed. "You're right." She got to her hooves and heard a sound of something being dragged across the floor. "Do you hear that?"
"Yeah, but ... what it is?" Ace asked.
"Down there." Teddy pointed at the bottom floor. The three of them laid on the floor and watched for threats. The orange pony from earlier and Fluttershy were moving across the floor. The orange one had a bloodied axe hitched to her side.
"Thank you so much for helping, Applejack." Fluttershy said. "I would have been able to get them myself, but they managed to tie my mouth up before I could spit something at them ... I hope I wasn't a burden ..."
"Aw, shucks, Fluttershy. Don't talk like that. All of us have an off-day now and then." The orange mare, Applejack responded. "Mind, I don't think Twilight's going to appreciate feeding all of these guys to The Machine at once. You know how much she hates it when we have to go off-schedule."
"Hopefully we can make it up to her." Fluttershy said. As the two of them moved along the floor, the children saw what was making the scraping sound. It was the criminals from the cells, all of them dead. Their corpses were tied at the neck to make easier to move them all at once. Sweet Heart saw the one who said he'd give up his criminal life if he could just get out alive.
"Oh no ..." Sweet Heart murmured to herself. "That poor colt ..." All three of them began to cry. They may have seen some horrific things in The Facility so far, but none of them quite compared to seeing the motionless corpses of victims who been slaughtered like lambs.
"Are these the ones?" A cold, emotionless voice said behind them, causing all of them to snap up. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were on the bridge with them. Rarity had cleaned her face off and Twilight looked much different. She didn't appear to be an old mare and she wasn't using her walker. In fact, she looked quite youthful, but her expression was cold and blank, like some kind of machine.
"Yes, these are the ones." Rarity said.
Twilight narrowed her eyes at them. "Well, well ... I remember you three. You were in the tour today. Don't you ever learn your lesson? We told you to stay out."
"Well, maybe we haven't learned our lesson." Teddy said. "But we have learned you're all kinds of horrible monster, and we're gonna stop you!"
Twilight seemed amused. "Oh, really? And how do you intend to do that?"
"We'll figure it out! ... Right after we run away from the both of you." He, Ace, and Sweet Heart dashed in the opposite direction.
Rarity moved to chase after them, but Twilight held her leg in front of. "No. Let them go. They won't get far." Twilight reached into her clothes and pulled a large gem. A round, spherical orb with a jade color and smooth surface. Twilight gripped in her magic, which triggered something from it.
A horrible, hellish roar echoed through the building. It was demonic. It was draconian. It was paradoxical, sounding high and low, quiet and loud all the same time. Whatever it was, it sent Ace, Teddy, and Sweet Heart into a panic unlike any they had felt before. Their minds became unable to focus on any other concept beyond just "run."
Throughout the building, some kind of fleshy substance materialized out of thin air. It covered the floor, the walls, the ceiling. It was red and stringy, stretching like spider webbing. Ace, Teddy, and Sweet Heart didn't even want to think about what it was made of, but even if they, they couldn't in their frenzy of fear.
"Are you sure that'll be enough to corral those three?" Rarity asked Twilight. "They've escaped Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, myself ..."
"It'll be enough." Twilight answered. "Trust me. It'll be enough. They'll find somewhere to hide and then ... well, it'll just be a game of hide-and-seek."
The children kept running, They were lucky they were moving so fast, as more than once, they were almost the victim of a pig-thing's swiping reach. After they had been running for what felt like months, the hellish sound Twilight produced quit ringing in their ears and they began to calm down and quit running.
"Owww ..." Teddy groaned, holding his ear. "What was that?"
"I don't know." Ace said. "But whatever it was, it wasn't ... natural."
"Um, guys?" Sweet Heart pointed. "May not want to stop just yet. Twilight's probably looking everywhere for us?"
"Oh, hmm. What to do?" Ace looked around the hallway. He saw a trashcan and an air vent in the wall. "This doesn't like the best place for a trashcan." He observed, regarding the trashcan.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!" Teddy said. "We can use the trashcan to climb up and escape into the air vent! We can stand on each others shoulders and climb in."
Sweet Heart examined the vent. "Are you sure it's big enough? Besides, I'm pretty it's screwed shut."
Teddy mocked her. "'Besides, I'm pretty sure it's screwed shut' - I'M PRETTY SURE if we don't do something, those pigs will eat us!"
"But how are we going to unscrew ...?" Sweet Heart gestured with her hoof, allowing her to notice she still had the knife from the one pony's crazy game. "Oh, the knife! We can use the knife to unscrew it!"
"Are we sure that will work?" Ace asked.
Teddy glared at him. "Do you have a better idea?"
"Eh, not really. Let's do it."
Ace pushed the can so it would align with the vent. Being the most fit physical of them, he got on the can first, with Teddy up next before Sweet Heart took the top. Sweet Heart wedge the tip of the knife into the divots of the screws. She wiggled and jiggled as she try to get the incorrect combination of tools to work. With some fiddling, she was able to twist the first screw out.
"Yes!" Sweet Heart cheered, catching the screw in her other hoof.
"Don't celebrate yet!" Ace shouted. "The pigs will be coming any second. Keep unscrewing!"
"I'm on it." Sweet Heart resumed her work, going after the next screw. It took a few minutes, but she managed to remove them all. Removing the grate and setting it down inside the shaft, she climbed in. She reached out and pulled Teddy up by his hooves. Ace clung to Teddy's hind legs so he would be pulled up with them.
"I hear them coming!" Teddy shouted.
"Everypony, lie down!" Sweet Heart instructed.
They spread themselves as thin as they could on the ground. Sweet Heart picked the grate and held it against the end of the vent in the hopes it would hide the fact it'd been tampered with. She peered through the gaps in the vent to see Rainbow Dash and a half-dozen pigs marching through the sector.
Rainbow Dash clambered around on her uneven hooves. She froze and began sniffing the air. Sweet Heart bit her lip, hoping Rainbow Dash wouldn't be able to smell them out.
"They've been this way." Rainbow Dash concluded. "Come on!" She directed the pigs to follow her as they went further down the hall. Sweet Heart breathed a sigh of relief, but Twilight Sparkle and Rarity followed behind them, stopping in the hallway. Sweet Heart whimpered, fearing they would discover her.
"Twilight, darling, are you sure this is ideal?" Rarity asked. "I'm not so sure this is the best way to catch them."
"Perhaps not, but it's one way." Twilight said. "With The Shadow as my friend, it will be easy to induce soul-rending terror in those foals. They'll run around like chickens with their heads cut off, and you know what a chicken with its head cut off lacks?"
"What does it lack, Twilight?"
"Vision. Without its head, it contains no eyes to see. Sooner or later, it will bump into something. Just as those foals will bump into something ..." Twilight pounded her hooves together. "Besides ... they'll not be able to fight The Shadow. Not unless they can find Mandus. You've read his journal, Rarity. You know how willing Oswald would be to fight." Twilight smiled a haughty smile.
"I do believe you're right, darling. Let's keep looking. I believe Rainbow Dash has this hall covered." Rarity and Twilight both left the hall from the other direction.
Sweet Heart wiped her brow for sweat. "Whew! For a second there, I thought we were done for."
"Yeah. Let's just ... sit here and pray to Celestia someone comes to rescue us. We can feed off the rats scurrying around." Ace said. "I don't want to do this anymore."
Sweet Heart comforted him, patting him on the shoulder. "None of us do, Ace. But if we don't, who will?"
"Sweet Heart's right." Teddy said. "We started this job. We have to finish it."
Sweet Heart looked around. "But I think we can take a rest for a moment. We should be safe here."
Teddy raised his hoof to support the idea. But raising his hoof showed the cut he had sustained from the knife.
"Oh, Teddy ... your blood's slowing down." Sweet Heart said. "Don't you feel faint?"
"Nah." Teddy said. "I feel fine."
"Teddy, losing blood can be a big deal!" Sweet Heart said. "We need to get you some medical help."
"I'm fine." Teddy said.
"Teddy, you're not pretending to be tough to impress me, are you?" Sweet Heart asked. Teddy bit his lip and looked away.
"Come on." Sweet Heart got to her hooves, but she had to crouch down to move. "Let's see if we can find an exit and some medical help."
Teddy and Ace nodded, getting up with her. They trotted through the shafts, their footsteps echoing inside the tiny, constrained space. Each step made them fearful of discovery by a sharp-eared pig or Twilight's more observant minions. The tight space began to eat away at their oxygen levels, limiting how well they could breath. It also became cramped. The close proximity of their bodies shifted their body heat out, making the three of them uncomfortably warm.
"I see a light up ahead!" Ace shouted. "Light means good things, right?"
"Normally." Sweet Heart said. "Let's hope that's the case here ..." She reached through the shaft and began using her to knife to unscrew it. After removing them all, she pushed the grate and climbed out first. She lost her grip and fell.
"Sweet Heart!" Teddy shouted. A thump followed.
"I'm okay!" Sweet Heart shouted. "The fall wasn't enough to hurt me ... ow, ow ... hurt me MAJORLY, anyway. Come on down!"
Teddy and Ace looked to each other, both wondering if maybe Sweet Heart had lost her mind. Deciding she (probably) hadn't, they jumped out and landed on top of her.
"Not on me!" Sweet Heart complained as she rolled the two of them off her. They stood up and brushed themselves off before taking an examination of the room.
"Where are we?" Sweet Heart asked. The room was small and decorated with a sense of inconsistency. There was a desk with vials in it, papers, and a ceramic pig. On the wall were various posters, including a "My, Myself and I" and "Hang In There!" kitten poster. There was also a black and gold tribal mask in the shape of a pig.
"H-hello?" A soft, stuttering voice greeted them.
The kids all screamed and jumped backwards. Twilight Sparkle was rising up from behind the desk. She looked different again. Last time they saw her, she appeared calm and in-control with not a hair out of place. Now, she looked rattled, unable to keep from shivering, and with her mane splaying everywhere.
The children screamed and ran around the room like the headless chickens Twilight compared them to earlier.
"N-no, wait, please calm down!" Twilight insisted. "I'm not going to hurt you!"
This caused the children to stop and stare at her. "You're not?"
"No! Not - not me, anyway." Twilight said. Her horn lit up and she pulled out a kettle and cups. "Can- can I offer you some tea?"
The children exchanged glances with each other.
"I don't know." Sweet Heart said. "We've had some bad experience with tea recently ..."
"Oh my." Twilight said. "You did, didn't you? I don't think this batch has any poison or anything in it ... I'll check." Twilight poured a cup and sniffed it. "It doesn't smell off ... ooh, maybe I should boil another batch."
"Uh, wait." Sweet Heart said. "Why are you are not trying to kill us like you were before?"
"Oh, well. Like-like I said, that wasn't me. It wasn't me-me. Um, I should explain. I-I have something called Dis-Dissociative Personality Disorder. It, um, means I have multiple personalities inside my head and they can change at random or in responses to certain stressful triggers. My, um, most, um, dominant personality is the one that wants you dead. But don't worry, you're safe with me!" She flashed them a smile as she tried to assure them. "Um, I think. As long as I don't change into her at any point. In fact, I think I'd like to ask you foals a favor."
The three of them looked to each other. They were sure Twilight was just buying time while waiting for somepony to burst in and chop them with an ax, but they were interested in hearing her talk. "Favor?"
"Y-yes. See, I want all the bad, bad stuff that's happening in this facility to stop as much as you three do." Twilight said. "There's something in the garbage ... something that's been kept away from me because, if I had it, I could end it all. I want you to go into the dumpster behind the building and retrieve it for me."
"How will we know what it looks like?" Sweet Heart said.
"I'll give you picture." Twilight said. "It, um, actually, it got ... dissembled. So really, I need you to find the parts for it and bring them to me so I can put it back together. Then, the Facility will shut down and my - I mean, other me's reign of terror will be over."
Teddy crossed his hooves. "How do we know we can trust you?"
Twilight cocked her head at him. She examined him as if she was going spacy. "You have a bad cut on your hoof."
Teddy rubbed the wound. "Yeah, no thanks to your friends."
"I'm sorry. Pinkie Pie hasn't been herself lately ..." Twilight said. "But here. Please, let me ... as a show of good faith ..."
"What are you talking about?" Teddy asked, frustrated with this Twilight's inability to string together a sentence. She lifted Teddy up with her unicorn magic and brought him to her. She pulled out supplies from her desk and applied some anti-bacterial salve to Teddy's wound before wrapping in gauze and setting him back down.
"There." Twilight said. "That should help. It won't replace the blood you lost, but I'm sure a few good meals will fix that."
"I don't believe it." Sweet Heart said, Taking Teddy's hoof and observing it. "She fixed it, Teddy! She fixed it!"
"I hope that's enough to convince you." Twilight muttered. "So, will you help me?"
Sweet Heart nodded, convinced by Twilight's healing of Teddy. "We will."
"You will? Oh, thank you so much!" Twilight pulled a paper and a red marker and drew on the former with the latter. "Here, take this. It's a map of the ventilation system. Follow the path I've outlined in red, and it should take you straight to the dumpsters. Good luck."
"Uh, Sweet Heart?" Teddy said. "Do we maybe want to talk about this? I mean, this mare did just admit to being crazy."
Footsteps echoed from outside the door. "Twilight? Are y'all okay in there?"
"There's no time for you to discuss now!" Twilight said. She lifted them all up with magic. "Quickly, through the vent! Hurry, hurry!" She levitated each of them into the vent to get them out of sight before her friend came through the door.
"Twilight?" Applejack asked as she opened the door.
"Yes, Applejack?"
Applejack took her hat off her head and placed it in front of her chest. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right."
"Why wouldn't I be, darling?" Twilight asked, holding a mirror in front of her face. She bounced her hair. "Oh, my mane is such a dreadful mess."
"Well, it's just ..." Applejack spoke quietly, as though she was afraid of her own words. "Have y'all taken your meds today?"
Twilight didn't appreciate Applejack's question. She placed the mirror face-down on the desk. "Now, Applejack, you know how those dreadful medications make me feel ... they make the voices in my head go away, and it's all so quiet and dull and I don't like it!"
"Yeah, okay ..." Applejack nodded sadly. She put her hoof on the door. "Ah'll ... come back to check on ya later, okay?" Applejack left through the door while Twilight went back to admiring herself.
"All right, now that we're safe for the moment ..." Teddy said. "Sweet Heart, are you sure want to trust Twilight? The same Twilight who's tried, through her minions, to have our memories wiped or just plain killed?"
"I believe her when she said she was suffering from a multiple personality disorder." Sweet Heart said. "I don't think the same Twilight you're talking about would have fixed and nursed your hoof like she did."
"Unless she wanted something." Teddy said.
"That "something" being the end of The Facility?" Sweet Heart replied. "I don't think that Twilight ... that Main Twilight would want to end her own Facility, while ... "Other" Twilight clearly wants it to shut it down." Sweet Heart fiddled with the map "Other" Twilight had given them. "Let' see, according to this map Twilight gave us, we want to take ... this way." Sweet Heart turned to lead the group through the tunnels of the vent. Once again, the sounds of their hooves on the metal led them to fear discovery, but they managed to reach Twilight's intended goal for them without any encounters. They came across a grate with a smell emitting from it.
"Oh, ugh." Teddy waved his hoof in front of his nose. "What is that smell?"
"Twilight did say she wanted us to go through the garbage ..." Ace mumbled. Sweet Heart worked on the grate using the screwdriver Twilight had given them. With an actual screwdriver instead of a re-purposed knife, the grate came off much sooner and more smoothly. Sweet Heart grunted as she bucked the grate and stuck her head out.
"Oh dear." Sweet Heart said. "This isn't going to be pleasant."
"Why?"
"Just ... hold your nose." Sweet Heart said. Sweet Heart pinched her nose and hurled herself out of the vent. Ace and Teddy though she might have gone crazy, but followed her lead. They landed safely, though uncomfortably, on the trash bags of an open dumpster.
"Oh, ugh!" Ace stretched his hooves, disgusted with the filth on them.
"That's what I said!" Teddy crossed his arms, indignant are being parroted.
Ace shook his head. "Yeah, it smells. But we need to get that ... that thing Twilight wanted. What was it?"
"Uh ..." Sweet Heart fiddled with the map. "She said she'd give us a drawing and that it was in pieces. Did she give us a drawing? I don't remember her giving us the drawing."
"Augh!" Teddy exclaimed. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted her!"
"Wait." Sweet Heart flipped the map over. "There is it! The drawings are on the back. That's clever." There were more illustrations than drawings, with a high amount of detail for numerous bronze pieces.
And they had to find all of them. Every last, tiny, piece in this smelly old garbage.
Teddy sighed. "Let's start."
Taking in deep breaths, Teddy and Sweet Heart went dumpster-diving while Ace climbed out and went into the adjacent dumpster. They kept at it for as long as they could, and it was awhile before Sweet Heart emerged with even just one of the bronze pieces. She burst out of the dumpster and tossed the piece to the ground outside of the dumpsters in the hopes that would be a safe place for it. Sweet Heart looked over the illustration to see which piece it was and made note of it. They kept digging, occasionally having to resurface for air and a break from putting their noses right next to the source of the obnoxious gunk. They would be soo covered in grime and mess when they were done.
They were nearly finished, only needing a few parts more when they froze at the sound of a window opening.
"HEY!" They recognized Applejack's shouting. "Who's down there in the trash?"
"Hold still." Sweet Heart whispered.
"Don't have to tell us twice ..." Teddy muttered.
Applejack glared from the window. "Darn raccoons ... Ah'm gonna have to have Fluttershy talk to you and get you to go through somepony's else trash." Applejack went back into the building and closed the window.
"Keep digging." Sweet Heart said. "We have only a few more parts left!" It was a long, grueling process, but they succeeded, tossing their gains into Sweet Heart's pile.
"That's everything." Teddy said. They looked at the pile of parts. Cylinders and tubes were scattered around.
"What do you think it is?" Sweet Heart asked.
"No idea." Ace said. "But let's get it to Twilight. Maybe she'll explain it to us"
They made it back to Twilight's office without much hassle, praying she would be the "right" Twilight when they came in. To their relief, she was, with her hair frazzled and her body jittery.
"Oh, yay!" She greeted them, helping them down from the vent. "You got all the pieces! Oh, I'm so happy! How can I ever repay you?"
"Well, you could tell us what it is, for starters." Ace suggested.
"Oh, I think you'll see soon enough." Twilight said. She levitated the pieces into the air and began assembling them together one by one. "This is going to take awhile, so are there any other questions you have I can answer?"
Teddy, Ace, and Sweet Heart looked to each other.
"Oh, where do we start?"
"I'll go." Sweet Heart said. "Who's Oswald Mandus, and what's The Shadow?"
"Oswald M-Mandus?" Twilight parroted. "Oh, Mandus! Dear Mandus, innocent Mandus, trod and beaten and betrayed ... he was a business partner to the other me for awhile. He was one of a small handful of ponies who knew about The-The Dark Shadow of The Orb, w-who other me has some control over using her Orb. You shouldn't have to after I'm done here, but if you want to fight other me, you need Oswald Mandus' help."
Sweet Heart nodded.
"What's with Sweetie Belle? And Fluttershy spitting acid and all those other things the ... other Twilight did to them?" Ace asked.
"Oh, That." Twilight took her focus away from them to make sure all the pieces of the device were going in the right place. "Well, when Twilight - I-I mean, other me, first found the Orb a long time ago, it ... affected her. It made her ..." Twilight looked around the room, as if fearful of her other self listening. "Kind of crazy." She whispered to the foals. "So she cut up her best friends and sewed them back together using her knowledge of biology and science. She wasn't content with that, so she started experimenting with them, toying with their insides and altering them into the undead things you've seen today."
"Uugh!" Sweet Heart spat her tongue out in disgust. "How could sompeony do that to her own friends?"
"Well, like I said, the Orb made her craaazy. Anything else?" Twilight glanced at the device with glee.
"What's with the pigs?" Teddy asked. "They were those pig-things in the hallway, there's pigs in your office ... what's with all the pigs!?"
"Oh, well, see ... my other self seems to have developed an obsession with pigs. She thinks they represent the true form of a criminal." Twilight explained. "You know, she captures criminals and takes them to The Machine? The Machine cuts them up and she sews them back together in the form of pigs."
"What!?" The foals screamed in unison.
"So all those pigs we saw ..." Teddy froze. "They were ponies once?"
"Oh yeah. You know about the Greek myth of Circe? Thought pigs represented the true form of the male gender? Well, other me thinks that, only replacing "males" with "criminals" and with more sewing and cutting and unholy zombies and less magic." Twilight said. "Speaking of other cultures, you know what else is fascinating?"
Twilight completed the assembly of the parts they had given her. It was only in its complete form did the children see ... it was a gun. A gun with a barrel and a trigger, ready to blow their brains out if she turned it on them.
"This old game, called Russian Roulette." Twilight said. She produced and loaded a single bullet into the gun. "Let's take a turn, shall we?" Twilight levitated the gun and pressed it against the side of her head.
Applejack burst through the door, her eyes wide with panic and her hoof reaching out.
"NO!" |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Facility: Mandus | Twilight pulled the trigger of the gun. There was a ratcheting sound, followed by a click. Nothing happened.
"Oh, darn." Twilight took the gun away from her head and frowned at it. "Looks I lost the game. Guess I'll have to go again!" With a disconcerting perkiness for somepony trying to kill herself, she once again pushed the gun against her temple.
"No!" Applejack ran past the children and bounded over the desk, tackling Twilight to the ground. Twilight dropped the gun and Applejack kicked it away. It slid under the desk and kept sliding until it hit Sweet Heart's hoof.
Twilight struggled with Applejack, attempting to push her off so she could resume her attempts to end her miserable existence. "Let me go, Applejack! Let me go!"
"No." Applejack hefted Twilight up and slammed her head into the desk. "Not until after ya take your meds and stop tryin' to kill yourself." Holding Twilight down, Applejack reached over to a drawer in the desk. She pulled out two bottles and uncapped them both, shaking out one pill from each into her hoof. Applejack forced the pills into Twilight's mouth. Twilight grunted and flailed, refusing to cooperate. Applejack took her hooves and held Twilight's mouth shut while massaging her jaw to chew to the pills and swallow.
The children watched all this happen with rapt attention, not sure what was going on ... or what would happen after Twilight took those pills. Teddy looked towards Sweet Heart's hooves, noticing the gun. Without anypony noticing, he reached over and picked it up.
Twilight gulped the pills and shuddered, disagreeing with the taste. She blinked her eyes, trying to clear them of debris. When she stopped blinking, they were the cold, uncaring eyes of the other Twilight.
"Ahem." Twilight cleared her throat. "Thank you for that, Applejack. I don't know what got into my ... other personality or why she wanted these children." Twilight glared at the children. "But now that you three are already here, I think it's time we say goodbye. Applejack, take care of them." Twilight took to sorting through papers on her desk, trusting her servant to get the job done.
Applejack reached into robe and pulled out a hatchet. "With pleasure." She gave the children a glare before advancing towards them. "The three of y'all are gonna pay for trying to help Twilight's other personality kill herself!"
Sweet Heart and Ace began making their way to the door. Teddy, however, held his ground and pointed the gun at Applejack, even though he knew working it without Twilight's telekinesis was going to be difficult for him.
Applejack chuckled darkly. "What, do y'all think that will really help ya? There's only one bullet in it, and y'all ain't gonna have the time to dig it out before I get ya."
Teddy knew she was probably right, but he remained where he was and aimed the gun at her. He pulled the trigger. Click. Nothing happened. Applejack was getting closer, the light from the window reflecting off her axe. Teddy pulled the trigger again. Click. Nothing happened. Getting closer. He pulled the trigger again.
Bang. Something happened. Teddy had managed to dig out the one bullet. The lone bullet came flying from the chamber and burst out of the barrel of the gun. With lightning speed, it pierced through Applejack, cutting a hole through her eye.
"AGGH!" Applejack clutched at her wounded eye socket and stumbled. Lifting her hoof off the eye to see, she roared and ran after Teddy, wildly swinging her axe back and forth without taking any aim with it. Sweet Heart and Ace escaped through the door and Teddy wasn't far behind. Teddy stopped by the door, and when she was close enough, Teddy slammed the door into Applejack face, making her stumble backwards while she rubbed at her face again.
"We need to get out of here!" Sweet Heart said.
"Agreed, but how?" Ace gestured to the room around them. "There's like, a gajillion different hallways and stairs to go through!"
"Oh, um, hmm ..." Sweet Heart looked around, hoping for a sign as to where to go. A painted arrow, a candle light, something!
The door rattled and shook from Applejack banging on it to open.
"Pick something fast!" Ace kept his eye on the door, waiting for Applejack to burst out of it and menace them.
"Oh, um ..." Sweet Heart tapped her chin. She noticed a familiar door at the end of one bridge. "This way! That door will take us back to the cells and to the sewers we came in at!" Leading the group away from the office door, Sweet Heart galloped on the riveted bridge. The clonks of their hooves were guaranteed to draw attention to them, but at this point, they figured there was no point in worrying about the issue. The place was crawling with predators who were bound to notice them.
Applejack succeeded at last at forcing the door open, her left eye still suffering from the hole shot through it. She scanned for the children on the wrong bridge, buying them a few precious seconds to get away before she noticed them. She turned around and saw them heading for the stairs. "Stop right there, you little rats!" She commanded them. "Didn't your parents teach you to respect adult authority? EVERYPONY, INTRUDERS IN THE HALL! PIGS! GET 'EM!"
At Applejack's command, a siren alarm went off in the building. Red lights filled the room, accompanied by the whooping sounds of klaxons going off. Amidst this cacophony of noise rose the sound of dozens of pigs, squealing and snorting as their masters bade them to go on the hunt. Pinkie Pie burst of her room, huffing and puffing. Rainbow Dash dropped down from the ceiling, aiming her electrified hooves at nothing. A horde of pigs poured in from the adjacent halls, swarming the bridges as they clumsily searched for their prey.
The children managed to reach the door in time and open it, escaping through. As a result of the blanket of pigs covering the floor, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had to wade their way through them and lost track of the children.
"Stupid pigs!" Applejack berated one by slapping it on the head. "Move so we can get through! ... hey, where did they go? Oh, shoot."
But one pig, at the edge of the pack, noticed where the children had gone. He ran up to the door and opened it, finding the children halfway down the stairs already. The children stopped when they heard the pig open the door.
The pig looked down at them. They looked up at the pig. The pig snorted and turned towards the door, meaning to inform its masters of the childrens' location.
"Wait!" Sweet Heart called after them.
The pig stopped and turned back around towards them, curious to what she had to say.
"Uh, Sweet Heart?" Teddy asked. "What are you doing?"
"Shut up, Teddy." Sweet Heart told him before resuming her attention of the pig. "You don't like working for Twilight, do you? It's okay. I know you don't."
The pig snorted derisively at her, as if dismissing her claims.
"Oh, you don't mean that. You can't tell me you like working somepony who fed into The Machine (whatever that is), cut you up, and then sewed you into a pig, can you? And all your criminal friends, too ..."
The pig's ears wilted, as if admitting defeat to her words.
"Hey, cheer up." Sweet Heart said, smiling at him. "I know it's bad, but you can keep it from getting any worse. We can help stop Twilight from turning any more people into pigs and ruining any other ponies' lives, if you let us go, and maybe even help us. You don't want to help Twilight keep making more ponies like you, do you?"
The pig shook its head, agreeing with her.
"So you'll help us?" Sweet Heart asked with big pleading eyes. The pig raised its snout and squealed, as if saying us. It went to the door and raised its hoof, bashing the doorknob to prevent the door from being opened. It went down the stairs and joined the children, sniffing them like it was trying to apologize for earlier behavior.
"I don't know how you did that or how it worked, but nice job, Sweet Heart." Ace said.
"Easy." Sweet Heart said. "I just appealed to his inner goodness. Now come on. Our exit to the sewers is just a few rooms away!" Heading down the stairs, they made their way through the prison cell area, where the walls were now covered in blood-spatters from Applejack's massacre of the imprisoned. Trying not to let it disturb them too much, the children and the pig went through the gardening room. There was still a pile of shattered pots and snapped plants from earlier, but Fluttershy's acid sprays seemed to have evaporated, making it safe to traverse again.
Reaching the entryway to the sewers they had used to get into the building to start with, a sobering realization dawned on the three of them; even if they stacked up on top of each like with the air vent, they wouldn't be tall enough to reach the pipe.
"Now what do we do?" Teddy looked at the floor in defeat. "We can't get up there by ourselves ..."
A displeased oink came from behind them.
"We don't have to!" Sweet Heart said. "This sweet pig will help us, won't you?" The pig blushed, but it nodded. It stomped its way to the pipe and stood up, pushing its front legs against the wall. Ace climbed on top of it, Teddy climbed on top of Ace, and Sweet Heart climbed to the top, repeating what they did with the air vent. Sweet Heart pulled in Teddy and Ace, but after they were in, the distance between the pipe and the pig was too great to bring their new friend with them.
"Oh, I'm sorry, mister pig." Sweet Heart frowned at the turn of events. "I can't pull you up here ..."
The pig nodded as if trying to say "That's okay." He snorted at them as if adding "Don't let me down now." and turned away, trotting back to the upper floors.
"Come on. Let's get out of here and maybe find someplace safe to lay low." Teddy said, placing his hoof on Sweet Heart's shoulder.
"Applejack ..." Twilight said with a dangerous calm to her words, her lieutenants and pigs all lined up in rows in front of her. "I told you to take care of those children. Yet, I'm hearing reports those children escaped, so what I want to ask, Applejack is ... why were those children not taken of?"
Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy could do little but hang their heads in shame.
"I'm sorry, Twilight." Applejack said. "I tried, but they got away ..."
Twilight leveled her eyes at Applejack. "I see."
"What do ya want us to do now?" Applejack asked.
"Is it not ... obvious, Applejack?" Twilight responded, shooting daggers at her. "I want you - ALL of you to split up, take the pigs, and flood the streets to find those foals and murder them before they can tell anypony what's really been going on in our building! But do it discreetly. Hide in the shadows, and move only when you know nopony's looking."
The five other ponies nodded.
"Well?" Twilight raised her eyebrow at them. "What you waiting for? HUNT THEM DOWN!"
The ponies nodded and made their way to various exits, intending to lead a glorious horde of pigs out from the building. But one pig lagged behind ... one pig thought about how he helped those foals, and prayed a little piggy prayer they could do something to end Twilight's madness.
Breathing heavily, Ace pushed out the manhole cover from underneath. Evidently, somepony stumbled on it after they went into the sewers and put it back. Climbing out of the tunnels, Ace helped Sweet Heart and Teddy up onto the street.
"So, what do we do now?" Teddy asked. "How do we stop Twilight?"
"She ..." Sweet Heart panted, having to pause mid-sentence to think. "She said something about needing Mandus to combat the Shadow, didn't she? That we wouldn't need to if her trying to shoot herself worked?"
"Well, it didn't work, so I say we need to find this Mandus guy!" Teddy said.
"Yes, yes." Ace nodded. "But where we would find him? Twilight didn't mention that."
"Well, he has to have been around here sometime for Twilight to know him ... right? Hopefully?" Teddy said.
"I know." Sweet Heart raised her hoof. "We'll ask the police station. If he lived here at any point, they should have kept a record of it."
Teddy scoffed. "Right. Because they were so helpful the last time we went to see them."
"Quiet, Teddy. It's worth a try."
So, off they went to the police station again. The first thing Officer Flathoof at the counter said when he saw them did not assure Teddy they had made the right choice to come here.
"Hey there, kids." Flathoof said. "Got more tall tales about Twilight's facility for me? Heh."
"Er, not exactly." Sweet Heart said, preemptively bumping Teddy in the elbow before he said something rude. "Can you tell us anything about an Oswald Mandus?"
"Oswald Mandus, Oswald Mandus ... not a very Equestrian name, is it?" Flathoof stroked his chin, trying to think. "Let me see ..." He reached into the counter and pulled out a folder. In the folder were files. He skimmed through them. "Mandus, Mandus, Mandus ... ah! Here we are!" Flathoof held up the file to them. "Oswald Mandus. Former business partners of Twilight Sparkle's until they had some kind of falling out. Used to be an industrialist, like Twilight. Says here he's still living here as a recluse. Never goes out, never let's anybody in."
"If he never goes out, how does he get his groceries?" Ace wondered.
Flathoof shrugged. "I don't know. Anyways, there's the address for ya. Hope that helps. Say ..." Flathoof looked them over, only now noticing the various stains on the children and the ragged state they were in. "Are you kids all right? You look like you've been through a rough patch." He sniffed. "And you smell awful."
"We're fine." Sweet Heart was quick to tell him. "We're fine, really, we just ... got carried away, uh, skiing. Thank you so much for your help, officer, bye!" She, Teddy, and Ace ran out the door before Flathoof could ask them any more questions.
"Skiing ... skiing." Flathoof nodded his head. "Yeah, all right, skiing ... wait a minute. There's no snow for miles. Where would they go skiing?" As if in tune with his suspicions, the phone to Flathoof's desk rang. "Hello?" He said to into the phone. "Yeah-huh, this is he ... oh, Twilight? How are you doing? What's that? Three kids? Broke into your facility? Uh-huh. Yeah. I see. I'll get right on it." Flathoof slammed the phone down, his expression curling into one of displeasure.
He burst out of the police station and looked around for the children. They hadn't gotten far. "Hey, kids! Can I ask you something?"
Sweet Heart, Ace, and Teddy froze. "Uh ... about what?"
"Something about you foals breaking and entering into Twilight's fine establishment?" Flathoof asked with just a hint of suspicion.
The three of them shirked, knowing Flathoof wouldn't believe them if they told him what really happened, or side with them.
"Run!" Sweet Heart shouted, bursting into a gallop. Ace and Teddy followed her suit.
"Hey! HEY!" Flathoof shouted, pursuing them. "Stop! You three are under arrest!"
They didn't stop, of course. They had no reason to obey Flathoof beyond the fact he was a police officer, and in the grand scheme of things, their ability to stop a horrific, insane mass-murderer was more important than whether or not they were law-abiding citizens.
Keeping the location of Mandus' address firmly in mind at all times, Sweet Heart turned a corner and led the group down a street. They ignored Flathoof's shouts and commands for them to stop, and eventually Flathoof, despite reservations, pulled out his gun and opened fire, trying to shoot out their little pony knees and slow them to a stop. The children pressed on, moving like racehorses competing for the lead as they avoided Flathoof's bullets. Flathoof seemed to have missed leg day, as the children were keeping ahead of him with ease - but of course, running from the monsters in Twilight's building would improve anypony's running skills.
The way things were going, it appeared to be a straightforward chase where they would keep running until they found a place where they could hide and get Flathoof off their tail. But one of Twilight's pigs charging out from an alleyway and taking a swipe at them complicated the matter. It missed Sweet Heart by a fraction of an inch before turning its attention on Teddy. It roared and reared up, preparing to stomp him before one of Flathoof's bullets pierced its hide. The pig turned towards Flathoof and panicked at his approach. If Flathoof reached them and saw the pig up-close, he'd had have much less doubt about the foals' claims and the police would bear on Twilight's building. Thus, the pig retreated back into the shadows, though the children didn't understand why.
Resuming their escape from Flathoof, the children continued and turned around another corner. Sweet Heart knew where she was going. Mandus' house was just a long trek ahead. All they had to do was avoid Flathoof and they were home-free.
"You think we lost him?" Teddy asked as he noticed a distinct lack of bullets chasing after them.
"I don't know ..." Sweet Heart said. "He couldn't have been fooled just by us turning into a corner that easily, could he?"
Bang. A bullet whizzed by, almost grazing Ace's legs.
"He wasn't." Ace said. They ran as fast as they could away from him. But as they went down the street they continued to see the pigs hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike ... if they emerged, they could take the children and Flathoof down en masse, even with Flathoof's bullets piercing them. So why weren't they?
"How come those pigs aren't attacking?" Ace looked over his shoulder at them.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!" Teddy said as he galloped in front of Sweet Heart.
"I don't know ..." Sweet Heart muttered. "Maybe they're afraid of something? Maybe they don't like daylight ... no, it couldn't be, because the other pig dealt with the daylight fine. Or ..." Sweet Heart said with dawning comprehension. "Maybe it's because they're waiting for their master to get her turn!" Sweet Heart skidded to a stop, frozen in fear. Ace and Teddy skidded to a halt as well, crashing into Sweet Heart's back.
A few paces in front of them stood Rainbow Dash, her generators pumping and buzzing, the electricity from mutated body humming as if it was alive with excitement at the idea of taking revenge on the foals who had bested her.
"Heh heh heh ..." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Now I've got you three. You three are going to come back to The Facility, and you're going to disappear and not tell anypony anything. You've got that?"
"Before you do all of that, can I ask you a quick question?" Sweet Heart, both trying to gain information and stalling for time. "Why aren't the pigs attacking us?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Heck if I know. They're just dumb pigs."
"Halt! Stop, intruders!" Flathoof's voice reached from far behind them. "You foals are under arrest for B&E, resisting arrest, failure to comply, and whatever else I can think of on our way back to the station!"
Rainbow Dash stiffened up, the way a fox does when hunting prey. "That would be why. The pigs don't want to give the police any clue about what Twilight's really doing, so they're hiding. And the same goes for me, so ... I'll deal with you three later!" Rainbow Dash, though longing to fry the three of them with her generator, took the better part of valor and rocketed up to the sky. A rainbow trail was left behind her. The children, knowing Flathoof was just around the corner, ran to a worn-out house and jumped into the garbage.
"Really?" Ace questioned. "More garbage?"
"It's our best chance of losing him. Come on!" Sweet Heart dragged Ace into the trashcans. Flathoof was distracted by Rainbow Dash's rainbow trail, giving time for the children to fit themselves into the can the best they could.
"What?" Flathoof shook his head as the rainbow disappeared. "Where they'd go?" After looking around and failing to find any hint as to where they went, Flathoof growled. "Grr... fine. I'll have to put up wanted posters for them ..." Flathoof turned around and marched back to the station, grumbling at being outwitted by a trio of foals.
Teddy peeked up from his trashcan to look. "I think he's gone."
"Did you hear that?" Sweet Heart asked. "We're going to get wanted posters for us! Oh, no ... my parents will be so upset!"
"Your parents had their chance to believe you, to believe us, and they didn't!" Teddy said, still a little hurt about the things Miss Hackney and the other adults had said. "If they didn't want us doing this, well ... they should have believed us!"
"Do you think you're making this a bit personal, Teddy?" Ace asked, crossing his legs. Teddy declined to answer.
Sweet Heart gingerly stepped out of her trash can and took a cursory look at the house they belonged to. "Yes!" She pumped her hoof in the air, causing the trash can to tip over and spill. "Oops."
"Yes, what?" Teddy and Ace asked as they went climbed out from their cans.
"We're here!" Sweet Heart gestured to the house. It was grey with discoloration, with its windows shattered and its door dented. The roof seem to be caving in on itself. It all together look to be a house in neglect. "This is Oswald Mandus' home!" She pointed to the address on the door.
"For a given definition of the word "home."" Ace said. "This place is a mess."
"Now, now. I'm sure Mister Mandus has, um, perfectly good reason for leaving it like this." Sweet Heart said.
"Yeah. Like secretly being a cockroach." Teddy said.
Ignoring Teddy's jibe, Sweet Heart went up to the door and knocked on it. "Excuse me? Mister Mandus? Are you home?"
"Yes?" The door opened wide. A brown Earth pony in a ruined red suit stared at them. He registered them for a moment before bringing the door to a near-close. "You're not my usual deliverymen. Who are you?"
"We're Sweet Heart, Teddy, and Ace." Sweet Heart introduced them.
"Go away. I have nothing to say to you." Mandus attempted to close the door on them, but Sweet Heart stuck her hoof in it.
"We were hoping we could ask you some questions?" Sweet Heart asked. "About Twilight Sparkle and The Shadow?"
Mandus stared them. His eye quivered, as if in fear of something which was not present, which was invisible to any but him. "The Shadow, you say? And the Orbs as well, I presume?"
Sweet Heart nodded.
Mandus opened the door. He looked around the street, trying to make sure they weren't being spied on. "Yes, yes, come in." He gestured to them. "Quickly." After the children came inside, Mandus took another sweep of the area before closing the door.
Unfortunately, he hadn't noticed the airborne Rainbow Dash watching them. Rainbow Dash nodded at the turn of events before flying off to inform Twilight.
"I know it's a bit run-down, but it's home." Mandus guided the foals to his living room. The inside of the house was no better than the outside. Floorboards were crooked and out of place. A couch had stuffing bleeding out from it, and the chimney was empty. "Please. Have a seat." Mandus pulled up a stool for himself. "So, what would you like to know?"
"Anything you can tell us." Ace said. "What's The Shadow? What's with the crazy Orb Twilight's got?"
"Why did Twilight mention you when she was talking about The Shadow?" Sweet Heart asked.
"And the most important thing. How do we beat her?" Teddy glared his eye at him. "And why are you living in a dump like this?"
Mandus looked to each of them in turn, considering each of their questions on a individual level. He heaved out a deep sigh. "All right. I suppose I might as tell you, seeing as you know so much already. The Shadow ... The Shadow is just that. A shadow which travels between dimensions. It exists both inside and outside of our reality at once. It is a beast, a mad dog bent on protecting the mysterious Orbs which relate to it. It knows no pain, no fear. It IS fear. Take the Orbs from their resting place, and The Shadow will hunt you down until it's been calmed, either by you giving it the Orb, or it killing you and taking the Orb."
Mandus closed his eyes. He shut them tight, like he was being forced to go through a painful memory.
"How Twilight got her Orb and The Shadow under her control, I have no idea." Mandus said. "The Orbs ... the Orbs are relics from somewhere or something. They're connected to The Shadow, somehow, but how eludes even the greatest minds." Mandus sighed. "If you want to beat Twilight Sparkle, you need some way to counter The Shadow."
"How would we do that?" Teddy was a bit incredulous. How were they supposed to beat something which, as Mandus suggested, was fear incarnate?
"I don't know." Mandus shook his head. "To answer your question about why I live here ... well, I kept that private for a reason. How much do you know about The Machine?"
"Not a lot." Sweet Heart said. "We heard Twilight and her friends say they used The Machine to-to cut up criminals and turn them into pigs."
Mandus looked only mildly surprised by this. "Oh ... you know more about than I thought you would." Mandus shifted his gaze away from them. "Yes. That's what they use it for ... but not what it was meant for. You see, how I know Twilight Sparkle ... we used to be business partners. Confidantes, as two ponies who had been made to suffer at the hands of The Shadow's Orbs. I dreamed up the plans for The Machine as something to benefit ponykind with, to serve it. I wasn't sure how, of course, but that was the idea. Twilight co-opted it for her own uses. She used it to butcher the criminals, the pigs of the world, as she called them. When I saw the first victim ... when I saw the blades of the wretched Machine reflected in his eyes, I saw the light and hope within him die. I had dreamed of many uses for my Machine, but murder wasn't one of them. Twilight and I had a falling out. I, ashamed of what I had wrought on the world, hid myself in this ratty old building, using deliveries to feed myself and only paying for what I needed with leftover cash."
Mandus sighed. "But my stockpiles are getting close to dry ... soon they'll turn off the electricity and water if I can't pay ..."
"This is all very informative, Mister Mandus." Sweet Heart said. "Thank you for help, but, erm ..."
"We still don't know how to beat Twilight!" Teddy slammed his hoof into the armrest.
"Neither do I, my little ponies." Mandus shook his head. He perked up, having an idea. "But I know who might. A pony who knows Twilight more than we do. A pony I've only met twice." Mandus pushed himself up from his seat. "Excuse me. I need to write a letter." Mandus sniffed the air. "They haven't turned the water off yet, so please, make use of my shower while you wait for me to finish. You smell terrible."
Sweet Heart lifted up her hooves. "We have been hiding in a lot of garbage lately ... I call dibs on first."
"Through the kitchen, on the left." Mandus pointed her in the direction before walking into another room. Sweet Heart took her shower first and when she came out, Ace took the next turn, giving Teddy and Sweet Heart some time to themselves.
"Hey." Teddy noticed Sweet Heart looking down. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Sweet Heart said. She took in a breath and huffed. "No, it's not nothing, it's ... we had to do awful things in The Facility, didn't we?" Sweet Heart curled up into a fetal position. "I mean, what right did we have to - to stab Pinkie Pie the way you did, or to let those criminals and let them gang up on Fluttershy? Or help Twilight assemble a gun to kill herself with? Teddy, we almost help a mare kill herself!" Sweet Heart was on the verge of bursting into tears.
Teddy looked away from her. He couldn't stand the sight of seeing her cry, but he also didn't know what to say. Everything he had done ... tossing a pot into Fluttershy's head, stabbing Pinkie Pie, shooting Applejack's eye ... it was all in the name of survival, wasn't it? They had to get out alive. Didn't they? Even if meant compromising their moral integrity?
Teddy put a hoof to his head. He knew he was a rascal. He knew what he did what he had to do. But he also knew, if he kept on the way he was, he was going to become one of those criminals like in the cells. "Sweet Heart ... I don't know what to tell you. Yes, we did some bad things in there, but the ponies we did them did even worse things! It was ... fair. No, no it wasn't fair. Fair would have been us being able to beat Twilight's gang up and take them to the police, but that didn't happen and it's not going to."
"We let those criminals of their cells, Teddy." Sweet Heart said. "We let them out and Applejack and Twilight had them all killed. We let them die, Teddy!" Sweet Heart grabbed Teddy and shook him, bursting into tears. "It's all our fault! If we hadn't -"
Teddy, not knowing what else to do, slapped her.
Sweet Heart gasped. "You hit me!"
"Hey." Teddy chuckled bashfully. "It got you to stop crying, didn't it?"
Sweet Heart sniffled. "I guess ..."
Hey." Teddy said, cupping her cheek. "Did we put those guys in the cells?"
"No ..."
"Did we spray acid from our mouths all over them?"
"No ..."
"Did we put an axe in their necks and toss them into some horrific, tragic, mysterious Machine?"
"No ..."
"Then we didn't kill them, did we?" Teddy said. "It wasn't our fault they died. It was Twilight's - Applejack! Fluttershy's, even, but not ours, and especially not yours!"
Sweet Heart sniffed. "You mean it?"
"With all my heart."
"But ... I still let them out."
"You letting them out gave them a fighting chance." Teddy said. "If they could have beaten Fluttershy and Applejack, they could have gotten out from The Facility. They could have told the police, and we wouldn't be having to deal with it now. They could have got out and straightened up and become better ponies. But things didn't go that way, and you know what? That's life. Things don't always go your way."
Sweet Heart looked down at the couch cushions, comforted by Teddy's words, but still feeling uneasy.
"And ... besides that ..." Teddy rubbed the back of his neck. "I know this may not be the best time, possibly the worst time ever, but I ... I have a crush on you, Sweet Heart. I think - I'm pretty sure - I love you."
"Ooh, Teddy ..." Sweet Heart crossed her hooves. Impressed by him for having the courage to come out and say it, Sweet Heart leaned over and gave him a kiss (which lasted a little longer than she intended).
"Hey guys!" Ace announced his presence. Teddy and Sweet Heart separated before he could see them. "What's up?"
"Nothing." Sweet Heart and Teddy both lied to him. "Nothing's up."
"Okay." Mandus came into the room. "I have finished the letter." He held up the letter, an elegant missive with an expensive-looking seal. He pulled out some black powder from his pocket. He threw the powder into the chimney, which burst into jade fire. The foals backed away from it. "
"Calm yourselves. It's quite all right." Mandus told them. He threw the letter into the fire, which disappeared into ash. "There. That's magical fire there. It'll send the letter to her. Hopefully it'll get to her in time ..." Mandus looked away from the flames and at Sweet Heart and Teddy.
"I overheard you two talking while I was writing the letter. Yes, what you've done may not have the best thing. It may have even been wrong. But the important thing ... the important thing is that you keep moving forward. That you keep trying to do what's right, even if you can't. I suppose that was my problem. I was ... so ashamed of what I had done wrong I had no idea of trying to make it right. But you foals have opened my eyes. I will go out into the world again and seek atonement for my mistakes instead of hiding from them."
Mandus huffed. "Well, there's a load off my shoulders. Anypony up for a cup of tea?"
Sweet Heart stuck her tongue out. "After the day we've had, I think I'm going to swear off tea for life."
Mandus was about to say something, but he was cut off the incessant, fear-inducing of pigs squealing in unison.
"Oswald Mandus!" Twilight Sparkle screamed from outside the house. "Come out and give us the children, and we'll let you live."
"Oh dear." Mandus said. "Better go see what that's all about."
Stepping outside, Mandus and the children saw Twilight Sparkle, all of her friends, and a small sqaud of pigs stationed outside the house, corning them and blocking all exits.
"Hand over the children, Mandus." Twilight glared at them. "And you can live."
Mandus huffed. "Why would I do that?" Mandus stepped forward. "I won't let you hurt them, you monster."
"My, my, aren't you feeling awfully heroic today." Twilight stepped forward. "Perhaps you don't realize the extent to which I own you, Mandus."
Mandus tilted his head. "What are you talking about?"
" Surely you realized there was a reason your name was so ... un-Equestrian? It's because you're not from Equestria. I'm talking about your past life, Mandus." Twilight said. "In it, you went insane and killed your own two sons before killing yourself. It had something to do with the Orbs, so I knew you'd be a good partner for me. Using The Shadow, I plucked out your soul from thousands and brought you into Equestria as a baby. And when you had grown, I sought you out and recruited you. Ah, your vision of The Machine was such a thing of beauty!" Twilight put her hoof over her chest and looked like she was going to swoon. "Ah, a shame it was ... corrupted by your reincarnation."
"I ..." Mandus stammered, unable to think with such a monumental reveal. "I had children? And I ... killed them?" He put his hooves on his head as he contemplated the implications of this.
"Hmph." Twilight glicked her head up. "Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to call The Shadow. It's going to devour you four whole,leaving behind nothing. And nopony will ever know what happened to you. Let's begin, shall we?" Twilight raised the Orb in her hoof.
Sweet Heart tugged on Mandus' shirt, trying to get him to defend them. "Mister Mandus, snap out of it! She's just trying to mess with your head! AGH!" Sweet Heart covered her ears as The Shadow's roar reverberated through the area. Its fleshy reside began covering the grass and ground, covering Mandus' entire lawn and beginning to engulf Mandus and the children, starting from their hooves and working its way up.
"I-I guess this is it, guys!" Teddy struggled to say through the destabilizing effect of the roar. "It's been fun! I love you, Sweet Heart!"
"I love you too, Teddy! And you too, Ace!"
"Aww ... I love you guys, too." Ace muttered. "Guess I'll see you on the other side." Ace gulped. A quiet hiss began seeping into his ear. "Wait ..." A growl which did not belong to The Shadow's voice, and in fact began to overpower The Shadow's own volume. The hiss rose in volume, and as it did, The Shadow's flesh-stuff began to pull back, retracting from their hooves and shrinking.
"What?" Twilight and her friends were blindsided. "How? That's not possible -ARRGH!" Twilight dropped the Orb when the hiss penetrated her ear, having the same destabilizing effect on her as The Shadow did on them. A rain of golden lasers soon followed the sound, dropping from the sky and blowing craters into the ground. The lasers would have incinerated Twilight if they had manged to hit. Seeing they were outmatched and making sure to pick the Orb before leaving, Twilight ordered her regiment to retreat. They turned their tails to the house and made a beeline back to their facility.
"W-what happened?" Sweet Heart wondered.
"Ah." Mandus said, looking up. "I see you got my letter."
"I came as fast I could."
The children turned their heads to see who Mandus was talking to. The children were in awed, shocked to see who Mandus had summoned to their aid.
"Princess Celestia!?" |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Machine: Lux Tenebras | "Is that really?" Teddy asked, not believing his eyes. Ace and Sweet Heart were more taken in than Teddy was.
"She's ... beautiful."
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!" Sweet Heart waved her hoof against her chest, trying to suppress her increased heartbeat. "Princess Celestia is right here, live, in front of us!" Sweet Heart rushed to Princess Celestia's hooves, bowing. "Forgive us, Your Majesty, for we are not worthy of being in your presence."
Princess Celestia chuckled. "Please, my little pony. Rise. No pony is unworthy of being in my presence. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Sweet Heart." Sweet Heart rose to her hooves and turned to her friends. "Did you hear that, guys? Princess Celestia knows my name!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah ..." Teddy looked aside. He was as impressed and overwhelmed as any of them with Celestia's presence, but the way Sweet Heart was raving, he was beginning to suspect Celestia might prove to be his rival for Sweet Heart's affections.
"I am sorry I could not have met you three at a better time." Celestia said, looking at all of them with smiles. "You seem like fine young foals."
Teddy, recalling his previous delinquent behavior, blushed and rubbed at his neck. "Eh-heh, well ..."
"Shush." Sweet Heart waved at him to be silent. Overcoming her excitement from meeting Celestia, Sweet Heart's mind began to race with questions. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Once I received Oswald's letter, I flew from Canterlot as fast as the wind would carry me." Celestia said.
"But ... in order to get here when you did, did you realize the you and the wind would have to travel, at like ... how many miles per hour?" Sweet Heart asked, trying to do the calculations in her head and failing hard. She put pressed her hooves into her head like a vice to relieve the pressure.
Celestia chuckled. "You remind me of somepony I knew once ...she was inquisitive and good at math, like you." Thinking of better times gone by, Celestia's lips curled into a frown.
"Hey." Teddy spoke up. "How does some backwater pony like Oswald Mandus know how to get a letter to you?" Teddy said. "How do you two know each other?"
Mandus frowned at Teddy, learning towards him and snorting. "I beg your pardon? Backwater?"
Celestia shook her head. "There will be plenty of time for that later. Right now, we must leave this town and get the control for the Tuurngait." Hearing this produced another round of questions from the three young foals.
"The who-gate?"
"Don't most gates turn?"
"What control?"
"Allow me to explain." Celestia said. "Do you recall the hissing growl that came before Twilight retreated?"
"Kind of hard to miss it ..." Teddy murmured.
Celestia levitated an object into the air. It was a small statue of some kind, with a flat base and a twisted stalk rising from it. Sweet Heart guessed it was something from another age. At the top of the stalk was a glowing red gem, the glow of which appeared to be fading.
"That was the growl of the Tuurngait, an ancient creature which is related to and a counterpart to The Shadow which Twilight commands. This is an artifact created by ancients with the power to control the Tuurngait, much as the Orb controls The Shadow. This is ... an inferior version, and can only be used to summon the Tuurngait once." Celestia said. "Look." Celestia held the artifact up for them to see as the light from the gem withered away and vanished. "But if we can retrieve the perfected version, the master control, which I was unable to recover on my last visit, we can bend the Tuurngait to our will and use it to fight The Shadow."
"Okay." Teddy said. "First question. What? Second question. What? Third. What, what, what?"
"I will explain on the way." Celestia said. "We must get out of this town now. It will not be long before Twilight Sparkle sends her minions to stop us. There's not enough room on my back for me to carry all of you, so I will arrange for a chariot. Follow my lead." Celestia looked up, as if expecting the sky itself to turn dark and spew bile on them. "I should be able to protect us from anything Twilight throws at us. This way." Celestia held her wing out and counted heads as Oswald and the children headed in the direction. She looked over her shoulder to make sure nopony was following before joining them.
Meanwhile, within the wretched halls of Twilight's Facility, Twilight Sparkle was organizing a meeting, of sorts, with all of her friends and non-pig minions. The meeting wasn't much more than summoning them to her office while she placed the Orb on her desk and they watched her rub it like a magic 8-ball.
"Eh-hm." Fluttershy cleared her throat, catching Twilight's attention.
Twilight perked up like a foxhound and focused on Fluttershy. "Yes, Fluttershy?"
"Oh, um ..." Fluttershy kicked her hoof. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Maybe if I had done a better job when I first met those kids, none of this would be happening. I'm sorry ..." Fluttershy began to slink downward.
"Oh, Fluttershy!" Twilight exclaimed. She left the Orb and went to console her friend. Picking up her up by the shoulders and lifting her, Twilight gave Fluttershy a peck on the cheek. "It's not your fault. Sure, maybe you could have done a better job, but I don't blame you." Twilight turned away and slammed her hooves together, her voice transforming from soft and consoling to hard and furious. "I blame those filthy brats who stumbled onto our secrets! If they had just stuck with their parents like they were told, we wouldn't be having to deal with Celestia on our hooves!"
As fast she as had gone from consoling to angered, Twilight calmed down and took a cool demeanor. She adjusted the necktie on her suit. "Ah-ha. But no matter. With the Orb and the Guardian on our side, there's nothing to fear." Twilight tensed up. "Or is there?" She zipped over to the desk and gave the Orb a zap with her horn.
"Tell me, my friend." Twilight said to the Orb. "What could Celestia and those brats possibly do to threaten us?"
The Orb shimmered and shined, flashing and pulsing various colors inside its dimensions. Twilight's minions couldn't make sense of it, but whatever it was telling her, it was upsetting news.
"Bring me the pigs!" Twilight shouted at the top of her lungs. "We must send them after Celestia's group and stop them before it's too late!"
Celestia managed to navigate them out of Hoofington without bumping into any of Twilight's minions or unwitting pawns and into a carriage pulled by her Royal Guard. However, there was little she could for the rainstorm which appeared to them the minute they left.
"I'm sorry." Celestia said when Teddy begged for her to call the rain off. "The pegasi scheduled it to rain today and in these areas. To command them to end the storm would upset both their schedules and nature."
"Ugh." Teddy groaned, throwing himself over the side of carriage. An unexpected and ear-splitting crack and flash of thunder caused him to bounce from the carriage into Celestia's leg, hugging her leg for dear life.
"It appears it's a thunderstorm, as well." Mandus said, raising his eyebrow. "How appropriate, given where we just were and what we're doing. Hmph." Mandus leaned back in his chair and crossed his front legs.
Sweet Heart watched Mandus and thought about saying something to cheer him up, but she decided better of it. Sometimes it was best to leave somepony alone. Though, since they had a quiet moment ...
"Princess Celestia?" Sweet Heart said. "Now that we're out of Hoofington, can I ask you some questions?"
Celestia nodded. "You may, young one. But you may not like your answers."
"Well, that's friendly and cheerful." Teddy said. "Whatever happened to the whole, "Celestia, loving and caring Princess of the Sun" thing?"
"I am loving and caring." Celestia said. "However, loving and caring doesn't keep me from being grim in a serious situation like this one."
"How do you know so much about this Tuurngait thing?" Sweet Heart asked.
Celestia's eyes quavered, almost as though she was going to shed a turn. But she blinked, holding the tears in. Sweet Heart got the impression she had been keeping a flood of tears back.
"It ... is a long story." Celestia said. "But I suppose we have some time before we reach our destination. A long time ago, I led an expedition almost eighty years ago, with my student Twilight Sparkle and others."
"I'm sorry, did you say Twilight Sparkle?" Teddy said, about to burst into laughter from the sheer ridiculousness of Celestia's statement. "As in, the crazy Twilight Sparkle who's been trying to kill us with her army of zombie pigs?"
Celestia nodded. "The one and the same ... no, I shouldn't say that. This Twilight Sparkle was a very different pony. She was kind and caring. You remind me of her, Sweet Heart. The expedition was headed to the ruins of a castle named Brennenburg. During the excavation we discovered an orb - the same Orb Twilight Sparkle now uses as a weapon." Celestia closed her eyes, holding back her tears again. "Oh, if only I could turn back time and keep us from going there. Twilight knew something was off about the Orb, so we left it there. But something ... something deep and dark and evil had already made its way inside me. I became obsessed with the Orb. My every waking thought was about fetching it for my own personal abuse."
"You mean ... use?" Teddy asked.
Celestia shook her head. "No, I mean abuse. I came back to Brennenburg and got it and attempted to have Twilight study it. Twilight - bless her heart - did what she thought was best for me and stole the Orb from under my nose." Celestia sighed. "But whatever was controlling me did not give up so easily. I hounded after Twilight, telling her - demanding her to bring the Orb back to me. Over time, between somepony she had loved and trusted suddenly turning vile and the Orb's own influence, Twilight broke down. She stole her friends into her basement and did little things to them. Just scientific curiosity, or she said. Then it escalated, until she was regularly cutting them open for fun."
"Just like she did with those criminals ..." Sweet Heart looked down to see they were passing over a body of water.
"Yes." Celestia nodded before continuing her story. "Wanting the Orb, I sent the Royal Guard to raid Twilight's treehouse and take the Orb. Then it was discovered what hell I had let fester I was under the Orb's influence. Twilight and her friends fought the Guards and killed some of them before their captain and survivors were set free after the Orb disappeared. The report claimed the Orb had been taken by a creature so dark it could only be called "The Shadow." When The Shadow took the Orb, my mind was cleared ... and I realized what terrible things had been done."
Celestia's eyes went vacant, like she was staring ahead of them instead of at them. "So I swore to do whatever I could to make sure it never happened again. I put together a research team, and they discovered the Tuurngait. How it was an opposite and equal to The Shadow. How The Shadow could be controlled by the Orb if one had the willpower and how one could do the same to the Tuurngait. How exposure to the Tuurngait could prevent the influence of the Orbs at the risk of exposure to the Tuurngait's more ... unseemly aspects."
"Unseemly aspects?" Sweet Heart asked, whimpering in fear.
"Well, suffice to say the Tuurngait isn't evil, but it's far from good." Celestia said before changing the subject. "I had always wondered what happened to Twilight and her friends. When the Royal Guard returned to their house, none of them were to be found and the house had been emptied of supplies. And I knew ... I knew it wasn't over."
Everypony remained silent for a long while after she finished. There was another crack of thunder, which caused Teddy to cling to Celestia's leg again. Celestia, in a show of kindness, spread her wing out and wrapped it around him.
"So, uh ..." Sweet Heart stammered. "How do you know Princess Celestia, Mister Mandus?"
Mandus stared at her for a second, as if considering whether or not he would answer her question. He decided not to, as he turned away. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Hmm. Princess?" Sweet Heart asked.
"I believe I can answer that." It was clear to everypony Celestia was happy to have something else to focus on. "Oswald Mandus, before his own encounter with an Orb, was a wealthy Canterlot socialite. We met at a few parties. I still remember when you spilled grape juice on my chest." Celestia smirked. "Later, he went on his own expedition and found another Orb inside a temple. It was unpleasant for him as it was for me. Twilight Sparkle sensed his connection with an Orb and recruited him, though I didn't believe him at first. He came to me to make sure I would permission for him to work with Twilight Sparkle. He was quite surprised when I told him she was dead. But I gave him instructions for how to contact me in an emergency just in case."
"So ... you let him work with Twilight?" Teddy asked. "How could you do that? Weren't you just going on about her cutting up her friends for fun?"
"At the time, I desperately wanted to believe Twilight Sparkle to be dead." Celestia said. "So I fooled myself. I told myself it was another pony with the same name. But now I see that Twilight has become so much worse than being dead ..."
The younger ponies didn't grasp what vague, ominous concept Celestia was referring to, but they didn't get a chance to ask before Celestia stuck her neck out and said.
"We're here."
The children turned around to see they were approaching a giant sewer, built far away from the mainland of whatever city it was once used for. The entrance was a huge gate with water pouring out from between the bars into the sea below. The carriage landed on the edge of the drain, having just enough room to land.
"This is it." Celestia said as they dismounted from the vehicle. "The Tuurngait Complex. Inside, we will find the master control artifact ... as well as anything the Tuurngait and its masters put in there to defend it."
Celestia turned to her guards. "We will go in there. You stay watch out here. If you hear us scream, do not go in. Go back to Canterlot and bring reinforcements. Teddy, Sweet Heart, Ace, and Mandus ... are you all ready?"
The four of them gulped.
"As we'll ever be." Ace said, speaking for the group.
Celestia's horn lit up. The bars were enveloped in golden magic and raised upwards, allowing them entrance inside. Celestia put the bars down behind after entering last.
"You know ..." One of the Guards said after they were gone. "She could have at least given us a safeword."
"Remember, my little ponies." Celestia said as she created a miniature version of the sun she commanded to guide their way. "Do not trust anything you see in here. There are bound to be illusions, traps ..."
A loud, grumbling roar interrupted Celestia. The entire complex shook before a giant worm monster burst out from a wall. The children were ready to run and hide, as they had learned to do, but Celestia rose up her miniature sun and sent out a beam of light. The beam incinerated the beast, cutting through its maw and body like a cutting torch. "And monsters."
"Oh." Teddy said as Celestia stepped around the worm's smoking remains. "It's funny how much less scary things are when you have Princess Celestia with you." Sweet Heart and Ace murmured agreement as they stepped over the beast's remains.
The Complex was, well, complex. Huge stone walls twisted and turned, forming corners. The only splashes of color was the graffiti and the messages scrawled on them by folks of questionable sanity.
"Oh, come on." Ace stopped to stare at one appalling message. "Who in Equestria would take the time to write a message in blood in cursive?"
"Don't forget, it is possible it was something not from Equestria." Celestia said, which didn't help their anxious nerves. Any minute now, they knew something was going to pop out at them. Seeing Celestia so masterfully deal with the worm reassured them, but only a little.
As they went ahead, the group spread out. They remained together, but Sweet Heart and Teddy seemed to prefer one side of the hallways while Mandus and Ace went the other.
"Teddy ..." Sweet Heart said and Teddy could tell from her tone right she wanted to talk about the kind of stuff he always heard his father groan about.
"Yes?"
"About that kiss ... when we were at Mandus' house." Sweet Heart said. "What does that mean for us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, like, what's our relationship now? Where do we go from here?" Sweet Heart said. "My parents always told me it was important to ask tough questions like these."
Teddy shrugged. To him, she was making it much too serious. They were kids. They shouldn't be having to talk about this kind of stuff. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I guess we would be boyfriend and girlfriend? I don't know."
Sweet Heart turned away. "I want something more than that, though, Teddy. At least from somepony who says he loves me ..."
Teddy pursed his lips, unsure of what he could do. Like a magic spell, the idea came to him. "I know! How about we promise we'll get married?"
Sweet Heart stared at him like she thought he was crazy, before her expression softened and she smiled. "Really? You would do that for me?"
"Yep! When we're adults, and all this icky business-" he gestured to a wall with graffiti, "is behind us, we'll propose and get married to each other. Sound like a good idea?"
Sweet Heart blushed. "Oh, Teddy ... yes, it sounds like a good idea."
"Of course it does. I thought of it." Teddy rapped on his chest with pride. Sweet Heart giggled.
On the other side of them, Ace kept an intense study of Mandus' face, noting how much it had softened up since they departed from the carriage. Though it turned fierce again when he noticed Ace was staring at him. "Child, pray tell, what are you gawking at me like that for?"
Ace made a silly face. "I don't know ... I just ... why are you so grumpy?"
"Why am I so grumpy?" Mandus repeated to him in a mocking voice. "Why am I so grumpy? I'll tell you why. Because I used to life a good life, a rich life, with plenty of friends and all the riches I could ever ask for, before getting curious one day and going to discover one of those blasted Orbs. Then I ended up working with a pretty mare I find out is madwoman, and who just today, I've learned is not only an undead monstrosity, but also brought me into this world as some reincarnation from a previous life where I murdered my own family!" Mandus stopped walking and turned to Ace, snorting at him. "And that, young master Ace, is why I am so grumpy."
Ace tilted his head. "Eh. You know, I think she made it up."
"What?"
"Twilight. I think she made the whole "killed your own sons, brought to you to this world thing up" all up to mess with your head. I don't think you really did any of that. And even if you did, what does it matter? It's a literal past life for you now."
Mandus took a deep breath and sighed. "I suppose you may be right, but if I did do those things ... those things are what made Twilight decide to pluck me from whatever afterlife I was in. If I truly am a reincarnation of some other homicidal pony, what does that mean for me? Do I, too, have it within me to be a murderer?"
"Well, you found out about it and you haven't murdered us yet." Ace said. "So I don't think you have in it."
Mandus chuckled and smiled. "Thank you, young ... no, I shouldn't say that. Thank you, Ace. I think you're right after all."
Celestia came to an abrupt halt and held her hoof out. "Everypony stop."
"Why-"
"Shh." Celestia said. Once all of them had gone silent, they could hear a subtle hissing. Out from the darkness and the shadows, leaped a giant spider poised to bite Celestia. Celestia smashes her hoof into its face and slammed into the ground, followed by driving hoof into its neck to kill it for good.
"Eeeugh." Sweet Heart groaned, even though she had seen several sights similar to and worse than this. "I will be so glad when all of this is over." She winced when she heard the sudden rise of what must have been a dozen pigs squealing and oinking. "Why are there pigs in here all of a sudden?"
Ace was the first to realize the problem with this. "Wait, did you say pigs?"
Looking behind them, everypony could see Twilight's swarm of ex-con and ex-pony pigs filling in the halls of the Complex, squealing and whining as they charged in with the intent to stampede and trample over them and whatever else it would take to kill them.
Celestia remained calm in the situation, though her voice became more urgent. "Hurry! This way!" The entire grouped galloped through the halls, Celestia's horn never losing its light even as the halls got darker and the pigs got closer.
"Shouldn't we stop to do something about the pigs?" Sweet Heart screamed as she made her legs move as fast she could.
"Yeah, like do what you did to the worm to them?" Teddy chimed in.
"No. I can sense we are close to the master control." Celestia said, her eyes focused on what was ahead of them and not the hundreds of porcine minions behind them focusing on killing them. "I have no doubt Twilight Sparkle has more of a plan than just throwing her pigs at us hoping they'll stop us. If we stop to deal with the pigs, it buys her time to plan her next move - time I do not intend to give her!" Celestia leaned forward, as if that would give her hooves extra speed, before spreading her wings and taking flight. Although she was trying to go as fast as possible, she made sure was she never out of arm's reach of her companions.
Celestia's horn let out a surge of magic, to the others' confusion.
"We are ... nearly there." Celestia said as a pair of huge double-doors came into view. They were gray, with simple carvings painted in of worms worshiping a starfish. Celestia blasted the doors open and led the group inside.
"Close the doors!" She said. Teddy and Mandus wasted no time in shutting the doors and using their bodies to barricade it from the encroaching swine.
"Ah ... we've found it." Celestia said to herself, giving herself a pat on the back. In the room was a pedestal, atop which rested an artifact like the one Celestia used earlier. Only more intricate in its shape, with more twists, and what appeared to be an Orb in place of the gem.
The door shook as the pigs rammed into it, slamming into Teddy's back. "Hurry up and grab it!"
Celestia took a tentative step towards it. She took another, but her movement slowed. She took another step before stopping.
"Princess?" Sweet Heart asked. She saw Celestia's eyes narrow into pinpricks. "Princess?"
"No, I ..." Celestia began babbling. "It wasn't my fault - I didn't mean to!" She collapsed to the ground, burying her head in her hooves. "No, Twilight, please ... I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ..." Celestia began to blubber and cry.
Sweet Heart was more than little perturbed to see the great, powerful, wise Celestia reduced to a sobbing wreck. "What's wrong with her?"
"The Tuurngait." Mandus said, coming up with a quick observation. "It must be inducing an illusion into her. Children, bar the door. I'll see if I can talk her out of it." Sweet Heart and Ace ran to the door while Mandus rushed to Celestia's side, kneeling next to her.
"Princess?" Mandus said, tapping her on the ear.
"No, please, please, I didn't mean it ... it was the Orb!" Celestia continued crying. "Oh, Twilight, please ..."
"Princess!" Mandus shouted, giving her a slap across the noise. The children were awed by Mandus' audacity. "Listen to me. No one can blame you for what happened to Twilight. It wasn't your fault. You may have made mistakes ..." Mandus looked at the ground, thinking of himself and what he had done. "Mistakes with disastrous consequences. But you can't let it consume you. You have to get out of it and rise above yourself. Making a mistake is one bad thing, but not fixing is worse! So you pull yourself together and give this Tuurngait a what for and save these children from those pigs!"
Mandus's rousing speech seem to break through, as Celestia's eyes adjusted themselves before returning to normal. She stood up and resumed climbing the pedestal to the artifact. She gritted and grimaced, her horn shining as she attempted to cow the Tuurngait.
"You ..." Celestia grunted from the strain. Her horn flashed with enough brightness to illuminate the entire room before she touched the artifact. "Will ... obey me!"
The Orb inside the artifact glowed an intense shade of red, before converting into a golden glow matching Celestia's own.
"Aaah!" Teddy shouted, for the pigs had not ceased their efforts to break through. "And not a moment too soon!"
"Let them in." Celestia said as she levitated the artifact up. "Trust me."
Teddy exchanged glances with Sweet Heart and Ace, but they did as they were told, jumping out of the way of the doors. The doors swung open and the pigs poured into the room. Celestia raised the artifact up and triggered it with her magic. The low, hissing growl which occurred during Celestia's first rescue effort appeared again and drove all the pigs into a fearful state, just like when Twilight used The Shadow's Orb on the children. The pigs, screaming and squealing, ran out from the room, leaving the group alone.
"Cool." Teddy said. He looked up at Celestia, who looked serious.
"Now ..." Celestia said. "We take the fight to Twilight. "
"You WHAT!?" Twilight screamed at her swine legions after they reported their failure. "Do you realize what this means? Any minute now, Celestia is going to come bursting through that door with the means to demolish us!"
"Er, Twilight?" Scootaloo asked, hoping to offer her mistress some consolation.
"N-not now, Scootaloo." Twilight waved her hoof at her. She paced back and forth. "We need to figure out something to fight Celestia with ... something to give us the advantage before they get here."
"I think it's a little late for that." Pinkie Pie said.
Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie, giving her a death glare. "Why ... would you say that, Pinkie? And this better not be a prank or joke or anything else!"
Pinkie pointed at the window ... just before the entire wall blew up and shattered into a million pieces, spreading everywhere like a fine china dish had been dropped from a great height. Celestia, Mandus, and the children stood at the hole the door once occupied, Celestia's horn smoking from the discharge.
Twilight gave Celestia a dazed, half-lidded look, as if the sight of her alone had just caused her brain to shut down. She recovered and giggled madly. "Well, well, well ... so you came."
"I did." Celestia said, her voice as strong as iron. "It's time we end this, Twilight Sparkle." She raised up her artifact.
"Hmph!" Twilight huffed. "You'll get no argument from me about that." Twilight reached into her suit and produced her Orb.
Celestia and Twilight took steps towards each other, levitating their respective items just above their heads, both of them glaring daggers at each other.
The duel was about to begin. |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Machine: But With A Whimper. | Celestia and Twilight held their items up high. One could feel the tension in the air on their skin while Twilight and Celestia funneled eighty years of sorrow and resentment into their intense stares.
Ace peeked his head further out. He saw Twilight's minions take a cautious step back, as though they were afraid of what could happen near Twilight in their duel. This confused him, for as far as he could see, there was nothing.
"Nothing's happening." Ace said. He gestured to Twilight's minions. "So why are they going over there?"
Ace soon discovered he spoke too soon. There was a deep rumble within the room, soon followed by the wall of the eastern section blowing out and collapsing. The loud noise and the following rain of debris which ensued startled the pigs, who ran squealing in fear in all direction, in spite of Applejack's best efforts to corral them. "Hey, y'all! Stand at yer posts!"
Mandus observed the destruction around them. He looked at the debris and the empty space where the wall previously stood. "So ... this is how the world ends." He looked to Twilight and Celestia. "Not with a bang, but with a whimper."
The scattering and scurrying pigs proved to be a frustration for Applejack. She, Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom split off from their group, running around in circles as they tried to get the swine under control.
"Ugh." Rainbow Dash rolled her uncovered eye at them. She was displeased she wouldn't be fighting with all her companions by her side, but she didn't let it deter her. She turned to the children. "All right, kids. It's time we put these games behind us." She raised her electric hoof and began to stalk towards them.
Sweet Heart's first reaction was to back away, but Teddy threw himself in front and stood his ground. "Bring it! We've seen a lot since we came here ... we're not afraid of you!"
"We're not?" Ace asked.
"Quiet, Ace. You're ruining the mood." was Teddy's answer.
Rainbow Dash herself seem amused, chuckling at them. "Really? Really? I think you foals may not be thinking that through." As a demonstration, Rainbow Dash charged up her hoof and slammed into the ground. Sparks of electric current flew from her hoof and traveled through the ground before fizzing out.
"Uh ..." Teddy was intimidated once more. Like he should have been. But he looked up and over Rainbow Dash's side and saw something. Twilight was moving backwards, away from the Princess. Still holding her Orb up high, she began to crawl backwards up the stairs, never turning away from Celestia, who followed her.
Teddy had a realization about what he was seeing. Looking at Twilight retreating away from the Princess, Teddy saw something in her eyes. He saw fear. Twilight - or the monstrous shell of what used to be her - was afraid. She was afraid of the Princess and her Tuurngait. Teddy was distracted by the sudden appearance of The Shadow's leftover material manifesting on the stairs. The red, squishy stuff exploded into a fountain of blood before being frozen over and cracking. The Tuurngait was overpowering The Shadow.
"The fiend thinks to retreat to her lair!" Mandus said. "I'm sorry, children, but I must leave you. I must aid the Princess!" Mandus broke into a full gallop after them, making sure he wouldn't lose them as Twilight went further up the stairs and reached a door.
Even without Mandus providing back-up, seeing Twilight running scared lit a flame inside Teddy. They were winning now. They had a chance, and Rainbow Dash wasn't going to fool him into thinking otherwise.
"We're still not afraid of you! In fact, we're going to beat you."
"You are?" Dash asked smugly, while Rarity and Fluttershy appeared next to her.
"We are?" Ace asked again.
"We are." Sweet Heart said, having an idea. "Follow my instructions." She whispered into their ears.
Rainbow Dash got another laugh out of them. "Well, this is all very funny, but I'm afraid I'm not gonna just let you whisper to each other all night." She leveled her electric hoof at them and roared as she charged.
Sweet Heart was prepared. "Split up!" The three of them split and ran in different directions, just fast enough to avoid Rainbow hitting any of them and forcing her to redirect like a bull.
"Nice try, but there's no water for me to fry myself in this time!" Rainbow Dash shook her hoof at them.
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that." Sweet Heart said. She looked around the room to make sure the others were following her instructions. Ace was running around near Fluttershy while Teddy did his best to distract Rarity.
"It is long past time somepony taught you some manners, young colt." Rarity produced a leather whip and cracked it against the ground. Levitating it with magic, she aimed at Teddy and attempted to hit him with the whip. Teddy kept running to keep the whip from hitting her. "Grr! Stay still!"
"Why would I do that? You're trying to hit me with a whip!"
"Well, I ... hmm." Rarity paused to think.
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes at Ace. "We've could avoided so much trouble for Twilight and our home if I had just taken care of you three when we first met! I won't make the same mistake twice." Her throat gurgling as she readied her spit, Fluttershy began chucking spitballs of acid at Ace. Ace kept ahead of them, avoiding each shot.
To rub Fluttershy's nose in it, he hummed at her. "La-la-la ..."
"You can't run forever!" Rainbow Dash swiped at Sweet Heart, who ducked and rolled to the side. She raised up her electric weapon and attempted to smash it into Sweet Heart's exposed stomach, but Sweet Heart rolled away again.
Okay ... Sweet Heart thought. We've got all them all fighting, now we just need to ...
She ran, circling back around and heading towards Rarity, who was still puzzling over Teddy's questions. "Why would he do that? To avoid getting hit? But he's going to get hit anyways, so ..."
"Hey." Teddy popped over to her and reached for her whip. "Can I borrow this?"
"What? Aah! No, you cannot borrow it!" Rarity was surprised to see Teddy so close to her. She raised the whip to slap him with it. Sweet Heart ran towards her and ducked between her legs, sliding across the floor under her. Rarity wasn't any more pleased by that either. "Now what?"
"Rarity, look out!"
"What?" Rarity turned around just in time to see Rainbow Dash skidding towards her, unable to stop and with her weapon held high. Rainbow Dash's hoof slammed into Rarity's side, pumping her full of electricity. Rarity's body tightened and she -and her whip - dropped to the ground.
"You ..." Rainbow Dash was reduced to stops and stammers at the sight of her friend, struck down by her own hoof. "You're going to pay for that, little filly!"
"Am I?" Sweet Heart asked innocently.
"Yes, you are!"
What Rainbow Dash didn't realize was this was their plan from the start. Teddy reached over and picked up the whip. He had no experience with using a whip, but he was going to try. Squinting one eye to improve his aim, he tossed the whip at Fluttershy, successfully lassoing it around her hoof.
"What?" Fluttershy asked when she noticed. "Oh dear!" Teddy pulled tightly on the whip and and brought it towards him, swinging Fluttershy around like she was the lasso.
Sweet Heart smiled, even though Rainbow Dash was snorting and huffing and bearing down on her. Sweet Heart looked to the side and took off, dodging Rainbow Dash's swipe yet again. Which frustrated Rainbow Dash.
"You -!"
"Dash, look out!"
"What?" Rainbow Dash turned just in time to see Fluttershy being thrown against her will and coming towards her. There was a still bits of acid dripping from her mouth, so when she landed into Rainbow Dash's face, the acid spilled onto Dash's patched-over eye. "ARRGH!" Just the same way, Rainbow Dash had her hoof out, so when Fluttershy landed on her, the electric weapon went into her stomach, doing the same to Fluttershy as it had done to Rarity. Fluttershy dropped to the ground, unconscious, while Rainbow Dash hit the floor in an effort to wipe the acid off before it melted through her eyepatch.
Rainbow Dash coughed and spit, trying to keep the acid from leaking into her mouth. Sweet Heart, Teddy, and Ace surrounded her, standing triumphant over the twisted pony which had once hunted them.
"Good job, you." Rainbow admitted with begrudging respect. "Figure out what we can all do ... use it against us." She looked away from them, unable to do anything but wait for the acid to drip to the floor.
"Would you ..." Sweet Heart gulped, hesitating. "Would you help us? Princess Celestia told us about what Twilight did to you. How she cut you up ... how she made you these awful monsters. Wouldn't you want to fight against a pony who did something like this to you?"
Rainbow Dash laughed off her response. "Believe me, kid. If we didn't want Twilight to make the ... changes that she did, we could have stopped her at anytime. But we didn't. Because we trusted her and she was our friend."
"A friend who cuts you up isn't a very good friend." Sweet Heart said.
"That's your opinion." Rainbow Dash said. She looked away form Sweet Heart. "But ... I will tell you something. The changes Twilight made? The things she did to us. It ... it changed us, inside AND out. We weren't - we're not the ponies we used to be. Not in body, not in personality and not in spirit. And we're okay with that. But Twilight ... isn't."
Rainbow Dash closed her eye. "She wanted her old friends back. You saw her multiple-personality whatever, didn't ya? She developed that, all on her own, so she could play pretend and act like we were still living good times. Some days she'd be one pony, then somepony else the next. Sometimes she would be five different pones in one conversation. It got so bad, she developed her own special super-strong medication for it."
"But do you really like living your life like this?" Sweet Heart asked. "As a monster, snatching up ponies and cutting them up?"
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Kid, we made that choice a long time ago. Twilight's good to us. Keep us fed. Keeps us warm. When the Cutie Mark Crusaders -"
Teddy interrupted. "Who are the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
"You've met Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, haven't ya? Well, together, they're the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They were always trying to find their Cutie Marks. One day, long after they found their marks, they got together again for one last fling. Decided to zipline through some trees. But you wouldn't know it, their tether snapped and they fell to their deaths. We were still alive, and we ... we loved those fillies. Some of them are sisters, even. So Twilight took them from the hospital and brought them back to life with the same voodoo she used on us."
"Voodoo?" Ace asked.
"So that would explain the stitching on Sweetie Belle's leg when we found out." Teddy said.
"This is all very fascinating, but, uh, why are you telling us?" Sweet Heart asked.
"Honestly? It's just to give Pinkie and Applejack time to get the pigs in position."
The children turned around to see Applejack and Pinkie standing on a bridge with huge smirks on their faces. Two squadrons of pigs had been set up to flank them from either side, each pig huffing and shorting as it readied to charge.
Sweet Heart chuckled, hoping she could talk her way out of this. "Heh-heh. How are you, Miss Applejack?"
"Fine. 'Cept for tha fact some no-good filly tricked my friends into using their special abilities against each other." Applejack said, which sunk any hope Sweet Heart might have had.
Applejack directed the pigs, pointing them at the kids with her hoof.
"Git 'em."
"Now, wait ... I'm sure we can talk about this!" Sweet Heart raised her hooves, but to no avail. The pigs began charging like a herd of rampaging buffalo.
"Ah, we can take them!" Teddy said. He reared up and waved his hooves, punching at the air. "Come and get -" He was going to say "come and get some," but he got some all right. The pigs charged at full steam ahead and bulldozed him over, throwing him to the ground and probably breaking a few bones in the process.
"I can take 'em!" Ace said. He was wrong. The pigs bull rushed from all directions, making sure he was knocked off his hooves and trampled into the ground. Sweet Heart fared no better, as the pigs beat her down with their bare hooves until she was too weak to stand.
"P-please ..." Sweet Heart begged through the blood on her face, weakly raising her hooves for defense. "S-stop ..."
The pigs, ignoring her pleas, squealed as they raised their hooves, ready to deliver the mortal blow and end their constant intrusions to The Facility once and for all.
Twilight Sparkle continued to retreat further and further into the depths of the building, putting more distance between herself and Celestia. It was almost as if she was afraid of bursting into fire should the Princess of the Sun get too near.
"Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia roared at her. No matter how many steps backwards Twilight took, no matter how many stairs Twilight would lead her through, Celestia would follow. One step at a time. "End this game now, and I will let you come quietly."
"Hmm." Twilight put about five seconds of thought into her answer. "No." She was putting on a brave face, as Celestia could see she was sweating bullets.
"Twilight ..." Celestia said. "Just give up. Just give up so I - so we can put this all behind us." A tear formed in Celestia's eye as she recalled the circumstances which led them here.
Twilight, for a moment, seemed touched by Celestia's heartfelt request. She appeared to consider it before footsteps echoed from the previous set of stairs.
Oswald Mandus came limping the stairs, out of breath but with determination in his face. He limped next to Celestia and wheezed. "All right, you old bat." Mandus said to Twilight. "What are you up to? What's your plan for dragging Celestia all this way?"
"Mandus?" Celestia asked. "What are you doing here? You should be helping the children!"
"Ah, they can take care of themselves." Mandus said. "They'll be fine."
Twilight chuckled. She rolled the Orb across her wings like a basketball and bounced it in her hoof. "Mandus, Mandus, Mandus. Don't you know how I feel about distractions?" She held the Orb up and The Shadow roared. What little lighting was in the room snuffed out completely and its shadowy, gutsy muck appeared and wrapped around Mandus's hooves.
"Mandus!"
"Arg! Get it off of me!" Mandus struggled, trying to pull his hooves out from the muck.
Twilight chuckled, bouncing her Orb on her hooves. "While you keep The Shadow from eating him, I ... will make my escape! Toodle-oo!" Twilight turned around and fled deeper into the building.
"Go." Mandus said. "Chase after her."
"I will not leave you here to die." Celestia used the shine of her horn as a light source. She could see the gunk traveling further up Mandus' leg. She aimed the Tuurngait's artifact at it and froze the it solid. She used her magic to begin thawing Mandus' legs out.
"If I know Twilight Sparkle, there's a reason she's doing this." Mandus said while waiting for the ice to melt. "She's not just running blind and afraid. There's a reason she's taking us down this route of the building. She has something, a contingency, a plan."
"If we wish to stop her, we will have no choice but to walk into her trap." Celestia said.
Mandus looked around the room. "Say ... I believe I recognize this place during my ill-fated partnership." He tapped his chin. "But where does this path lead? It's too confusing, this place."
"There." Celestia said. Mandus was standing in a puddle of water now. "You're free."
"Let us pursue!" Mandus and Celestia ran up the stairs to face their enemy.
Up ahead in the higher floors, Twilight was running around frantically. She was biting her lip and swiping her hooves along the walls. "No, not right now ... I need to take my medication. I can't afford to mood swing right now!" She banged on a wall, hoping it would have a secret compartment containing her meds or a passageway so she could reach a room that had her meds. She should have known every secret door in the building - she built it - but she tended to forget these kind of little details when she was panicking and having to deal with a murder-bent Princess Celestia.
"Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia slammed her hoof to grab Twilight's attention. "Stand your ground and face me!"
Twilight just smiled and laughed at her. "Oh, well, isn't this just great. I can't find my medication and Princess Celestia is already here. Wonderful!"
"Medication?" Celestia had no idea what Twilight was referring to. "Mandus?"
Mandus shrugged. "She's never mentioned any medication to me."
"I, uh ..." Twilight chuckled nervously. "Princess, I don't suppose you would be up to postponing this duel long enough for me to take my meds?"
"No. No, I would not."
"Figured as much. Still, worth a shot." Twilight raised her Orb and made The Shadow roar. Its fleshy residue began appearing and crawling over the walls. Twilight took the chance to bolt down one of the adjacent halls. But her distraction wasn't enough, as Celestia's Tuurngait had no difficult snarling at the The Shadow's flesh until it retracted and disappeared. She and Mandus ran down the same hall after Twilight, their hooves clanking on the grated hallway.
"I know I recognize this path ..." Mandus grumbled. "So where does it lead?" Celestia didn't bother to pay attention to his question. It was unimportant compared to making sure they didn't lose track of Twilight.
Emerging on the other end of the hallway only to enter another hall, Celestia and Mandus found they had, in fact, lost track of Twilight. Celestia stomped her hoof in frustration.
"Where did she go?" Celestia looked to both directions. "Mandus, you go that way. I'll go this way." Celestia prepared to gallop down the hall, but what Mandus said stopped her.
"Wait."
"Hmm?" Celestia looked to see Mandus had stopped moving. He was frozen with fear.
"I know where she's heading." Mandus admitted with a sense of both shame and uncertainty. "I know where she's been trying to lead us. I recognize this path now. Where it leads ..."
"Where?" Celestia asked. She received no answer. "Mandus, where does it lead?"
"I can't." Mandus turned away from her, closing his eyes. "It's ... too painful. It's all my fault ..."
"Mandus." Celestia put a hoof on his shoulder. "I know you feel ashamed for your role in Twilight's machinations and for being taken advantage of, but you need to put that behind you. Just like I need to put my role in her downfall behind me." Celestia sighed, but she remained focused. "Now, Mandus. I need you to tell me. Which way did she go?"
Mandus took in a deep breath. "That way." He pointed. "Through that door, in fact. I'll lead you through." Mandus gulped. He moved slowly as he led Celestia to what he was sure would be their dooms.
He led her to the door on the farthest edge of the room. He peeked his head over the corner and gulped. "This is the room. She's here."
Celestia went inside and saw Twilight, standing in front of a massive complex of machinery. There were layers, walkways, and safety ramps all over the place, leading from piece of machine to the next. In the middle of the room was a giant pit with inactive, industrial blades adorning its lip. Twilight herself was standing in front of a control panel.
"So there it is." Mandus walked forward into the room. "The fruits of my horrific work, The Machine."
Celestia stepped into the room, narrowing her eyes at Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle. Face me."
"Oh, hello." Twilight turned around, bobbing the Orb in her hooves. She rolled it and spun it, playing with it like it was a toy instead of a channeling device for demonic forces. "Enjoying the view, Celestia? Behold, The Machine! Get a good look, because after I'm done with you, you're going to go INSIDE and become one of my loyal pigs, just like all the criminals I've caught!"
"I will never be loyal to you." Celestia said.
Twilight tossed the Orb up and caught it again. "That's what they all said. But they've proven loyal enough." She smirked. Then she twitched. She shook her head, placing a hoof on her temple. "Ugh ... no, no, not now. Agh!" Twilight shook her head again.
Celestia looked to Mandus. "Do you know what she's doing?"
"Not a clue."
"I'm ... changing ... personalities!" Twilight's voice went into a high-pitched imitation of Rarity's accent. "Well, hello, darlings! How do you do this fine morning?"
Celestia took a step back, clearly frightened by Twilight's crude imitation of her friend's former life.
"No, wait, wut Ah mean to say is ..." Twilight continued, veering into Applejack's voice. Twilight slapped herself to regain control. "No! I don't mean any of that! Arg. This is all YOUR fault, Celestia! I told you I needed to take my meds! But did you listen to me? NOOO. Just like you didn't listen to me when I said we needed to leave the Orb alone! None of this would have happened if it wasn't for you!"
Celestia snorted. "I will understand you being upset with me for my actions, Twilight Sparkle. But when you attempt to blame me for your failures, for your own wrongdoings, that is where I must draw the line." Celestia marched towards Twilight. She raised up her artifact.
Twilight did the same, lifting up her Orb. The Shadow roared. Behind Twilight, The Machine also roared, like a duet. With The Shadow's roar, its residue began manifesting on the walls and many surfaces of The Machine's various parts. With the Machine's roar, the bladed pit began whirring and spinning, ready to dice up all potential victims for fresh meat.
"This ends here." Celestia's artifact glowed with magical power. Ice began forming around the bridge, crawling up its sides and cornering Twilight.
"This ends when I say it ends!" Twilight responded, her Orb glowing the same way. The Shadow residue appeared around her hooves and spread out. The reside met the ice head on and the two substances began to wrestle for dominance on the bridge while their controllers - The Tuurngait and The Shadow - hissed, growled, and struck at each other in their shared shadow reality.
Twilight appeared, for the first time, genuinely worried about her chances. The ice was surrounding her. The only way for her to flee was to end up in The Machine and possibly its grinder if she wasn't careful. But she saw something which made her smile.
"What are you smiling about?" Celestia grilled her.
In the doorway they had entered, the heads of the Cutie Mark Crusaders popped through.
"Ready?" Scootaloo asked.
"Ready!"
Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom leaped out of the door, tackling Mandus and burying him under a dog pile.
Celestia, always caring, turned around to aid him. "Mandus!" Unfortunately, this left her vulnerable to an attack from behind. Twilight launched a spell from her horn which hit Celestia and sent her tumbling to the ground.
Now in control of the situation, Twilight briskly marched towards Celestia and held her Orb up high over her fallen form.
"That's it." Twilight said. "This is the end. I win, Princess. You lose. Mandus loses. Those irritating brats lose. And you're ALL going to be thrown into The Machine and made into pigs!"
Twilight activated her Orb, and the Shadow's residue begin reaching towards Celestia, climbing over her hooves and consuming her. |
Amnesia: The Pony Machine | The Machine: Positum Ut Requiem | Sweet Heart kept her hooves up as long as she could from the beatings, but eventually they gave way to the pounding of the pig's hooves. She looked up, groaning from the pain. She let out a gasp, as even though they all looked more or less the same, she recognized the muzzle of the pig beating her,
"I know you!" Sweet Heart blurted out.
The pig stopped, curious as to what Sweet Heart had noticed.
"You're the pig who helped us get out of The Facility the first time!" Sweet Heart said.
"Y'all did wut?" Applejack asked.
"He helped Teddy, Ace, and I escape from here!" Sweet Heart said. She got a sense of satisfaction of rubbing Applejack's nose in it. "Now, Mister Pig, I know you're not a bad pig, because then you wouldn't have helped us. So, please ... can I ask you to help us again?" Sweet Heart gave him the biggest, teary-eyed stare she could muster.
The pig looked at her and snorted. The snort came out ... wrong, like it had been trying to sigh instead.
"Ignore her. Finish beating her." Applejack told him. "Then come up here for yer punishment."
The pig's ears went flat against its back. It looked to Sweet Heart. Which one it was going to serve? The young little girl making a heartfelt request, or the monstrous zombie pony who was going to it a beating for helping the little girl once already?
The pig made its choice. It reached out its hooves, stopping its companions from beating Teddy and Ace any more than they already had. It oinked at them, communicating, reasoning with them.
"Hey." Applejack said. "Wut are y'all doing? Do your jobs!"
The pigs looked to each other. They snorted and guffawed, as if agreeing with each other on ideas. They left Ace and Teddy alone and broke off. They began advancing up the stairs, towards Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
"Hey." Applejack backed away. "Wut are y'all doing?" The pigs continued advancing. They were snorting with glee at the idea of finally turning on their captors. Applejack pulled out her hatchet and slashed a pig in its face, cutting its nose. Another pig was there to take its place, rushing her and knocking the hatchet out of her hoof. It swatted her and fell her.
Pinkie Pie pulled out a knife and aimed it at the pigs. The pig rose up and knocked it out of her grasp. It picked her up and slammed her against the wall.
"Awesome." Sweet Heart almost couldn't stand, but she managed. She waved Teddy and Ace over. "Come on, guys. Let's go get Twilight."
The Shadow's reside continued to climb over Mandus and Celestia's bodies. On Mandus, it had reached his ribs, while on Celestia, it was just beginning to touch the base of her neck.
Above their fallen frames, Scootaloo snickered. "That's what you get for messing with Mistress Twilight's plans." Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom joined her in laughing.
Mandus heaved a deep sigh. "Princess, I ... I feel I must apologize for not being of much assistance. I could - should have done better ..."
"Do not blame yourself, Mandus." Celestia winced as she felt the reside stretch further, intent on engulfing her. "There was nothing you could have done." Celestia looked around, trying to find her control for the Tuurngait. If she could just reach it somehow, she could summon its power again and use it to break free of her restraints. But it was nowhere to be found between the reside or the snickering.
"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo." Celestia said, which caused them to stop laughing. "In my last moments, might I ask you a question?"
Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. The three of them looked to Twilight. "Mistress? Would it be okay?"
"Eh." Twilight bounced her Orb. "Couldn't hurt. She's as good as dead anyway."
"Why do you serve Twilight Sparkle so?" Celestia asked. "What has she done for you?"
"Well ..." Scootaloo said. "She brought us to back to life. We had an accident. She took us from the hospital and used her new science to resurrect us."
"It let us see our family again." Apple Bloom said. "Kept me and mah big sis together ..."
"Yes, but is that enough?" Celestia said. "Is simply being brought back to life enough to justify serving a crazed pony? All things must die eventually, even myself."
The three of them thought about what Celestia was saying. Scootaloo frowned and shook her head. "No. No, I see what you're doing. You're trying to get us to reevaluate our morality and our choices. But it won't work! We're loyal to Twilight and our family through and through."
Celestia closed her eyes. "Admirable, but regrettable."
"Hmph." Scootaloo huffed. She gave a mocking salute. "Well, goodbye, Princess Celestia. It was nice knowing you." Sweetie Belle had her attention elsewhere, which was odd, as triumphing over the all-powerful Princess Celestia wasn't something ponies did every day.
"Uh, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo bumped Sweetie Belle's shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
"Oh, nothing." Sweetie Belle said. "It's just ... did we call the pigs in here?"
"No." Scootaloo grew concerned. "Why?"
Sweetie Belle didn't give any more of an answer than just pointing at the door. And it was all the answer she needed to give. The pigs were amassing in the doorway, even though they hadn't been summoned. Sweet Heart, Ace, and Teddy were riding on top of one.
Sweet Heart smirked as a terrified understanding of the situation dawned on Sweetie Belle's face.
"Okay, boys ..." Sweet Heart said to her pig mount, rubbing its ears. "Get them!"
The pigs reared up and roared. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had almost no time to react before the pigs charged down the railway, running them over and trampling over them.
Twilight Sparkle grimaced at the turn of events. She looked around for a possible escape route before she glanced at her Orb and realized she still had the upper hand. "Ha! You may have the pigs, but it is I who has the Orb! You're still too late to save Celestia!" Twilight's jaw dropped. In the time it took her to speak, Teddy had dismounted the pig and located the Tuurngait artifact.
"Have been you looking for this?" Teddy asked.
Celestia said no words. She saw the artifact in Teddy's hooves and did what she needed to do. Taking command of it with her magic once more, The Shadow let out an unholy shriek throughout the building as the Tuurngait scratched it in their dimension. The reside on Celestia and Mandus, as always, began to recede and disappear.
"Urrgh! No!" Twilight put her hooves on her head as she lost control of the situation. "Now what?"
"Now ..." Celestia got to her hooves and steadied herself. "Now we end this." Not wasting any more time, Celestia charged her horn and fired off a blast of magic at Twilight. The spell hit its target and an explosion ensued, blowing off pieces of railing. From the smoke, a collection of loose gears fell out and rolled onto the floor, clattering until they fell and stopped.
The smoke cleared. A gasp came from Celestia's party. Twilight Sparkle was still standing. She was in one piece, more or less. Except for the now-exposed mechanisms in her body. A gear ticked away inside her torso. Her eye was removed and revealed to be a glass lens. Her frozen heart was in a glass casing which showed the needles and points used to force it to keep beating, even though it was as good as dead.
"Surprised?" Twilight asked. "You didn't the way I kept myself and my friends alive was just pure necromancy, did you? No! It's science!"
"It's an abomination." Celestia said.
"So ..." Mandus said. "This was how you survived ... when I tried to shoot you. Dear Celestia, it seems like so long ago now."
"You tried to shoot her?" Teddy asked.
"Wouldn't you?" Mandus shot back.
Teddy shrugged. "Good point."
Celestia began firing more spells at Twilight, who spread her wings and flew to a lower level of The Machine's workings. Celestia followed her, flying off the bridge and continuing to shoot explosive spells, even if she risked damaging the structural supports and causing something to collapse underneath Mandus and the children.
"Careful, Princess! Keep firing like that and you might hurt your friends." Twilight taunted her, needled her. "Just like you hurt me!"
"Any hurt you may have felt is insignificant compared to the hurt you have caused."
"Oh." Twilight scoffed, blowing air at Celestia. "There were all - they were mostly criminals and crooks. Is it wrong of me to clean the world of filth like them?"
"Yes. They may have been criminals, but they were still ponies. They were still living, feeling, thinking beings. And you took that from them without due process or a fair trial!" Celestia's horn glowed like the sun before it launched another blast, destroying the platform Twilight was standing on.
Twilight dived around and went onto another platform. "They didn't deserve one!"
"Every creature deserves a fair trial."
"Hmph." Twilight quivered her lip and pouted. "What about me?"
"Except for you."
Twilight flew away, deeper and further into The Machine's inner working as Celestia destroyed sent her destructive spells at another unlucky platform.
The noise seemed to rouse Scootaloo, who rubbed her head. She saw the children ahead of her and snarled. She charged at them. A pig came up behind and pinned her tail under its hoof. It grabbed her head and slammed her head against the railing.
"Oh my!" Twilight complained, slipping into the personality of Rarity. "All this running and sweating is doing terrible things to my skin!"
Celestia's eye twitched. "Enough of your fake imitations of your friends! They died long ago and you were the one who killed them! I will not tolerate your attempts to console yourself by pretending you are them!" Celestia fired a laser beam.
Twilight raised her Orb and had The Shadow roar. Its fleshy reside masked over the surfaces of The Machine, crawling, squiggling and squirming as it attempted to reach Celestia. Celestia didn't bother activating the Tuurngait, only focusing on blasting Twilight. She scored a lucky hit this time, as her blast caused the platform Twilight was on to cave. Twilight was caught off guard and lost both her grip on the Orb and her balance. The Orb rolled across the floor until it bumped into a power generator, while Twilight herself tumbled and slid until she was almost lost to The Machine's grinder.
Celestia levitated the Orb up to her, next to her artifact. She looked at Twilight and descended gracefully, landing in front of her. She glared down at the monster which used to be her student.
"Twilight Sparkle ..." Celestia raised the two artifacts up. Her horn shimmered as she prepared to deliver the killing blow. "Do you have any last words?"
Twilight looked up to the Princess with a weak smile. She spoke, in a tone of voice resembling Fluttershy's-
"I forgive you, Princess."
This caught Celestia off-guard. She knew it was too late for it to hold any meaning, but ... on some level, she did still desire Twilight's forgiveness. She was distracted just long enough for Twilight to roll away, dropping herself into The Machine's gnashing pit. The sound of The Machine's blades grinding against Twilight's mechanized body was enough to snap Celestia out of it. She ran away from the pit, knowing she risked being hit by shrapnel if she stood too close.
The blades of the grinder cut up Twilight's body. The blades were strong enough to push through her brass and copper and smash her to bits. Her fake wings went poof into a mess of feathers on contact. Her dismembered and disconnected hooves fell deeper into the pit, where they could presumably be recycled to make a pig.
In an impeccable display of timing, Rainbow Dash appeared with all her other companions. The acid had done terrible things to her face. The metal plate over her was twisted and warped, and the right side of her mouth was burned off, exposing her gums and teeth.
"NO!" Rainbow Dash flew into the air and surveyed The Machine's pit. Twilight was gone. Her body - or least what was left of it after she had tinkered with it - lay in tatters at the bottom of the pit. "Twilight ..." Rainbow Dash floated down, sitting next to The Machine's grinder and collapsing. "No ..."
"Hmph." Mandus turned his head. "Good riddance, I say. Princess? Shall we deal with the rest of them?"
"Yes." Celestia tensed up, ready to pounce the air and fly upwards. But something strange happened. The grinder's blades stopped ... but no one was at their controls. Then there was laughter - terrifying, deranged, familiar laughter.
"Well!" A voice that sounded like Twilight's mixed in with a man's and a robot's spoke. "This is unexpected! It appears ... I have merged with The Machine!"
"W-what?" Celestia's eyes widened. In all her long years of living, she had never seen anything like this.
"Our souls are become one. It is me and I am it." Twilight said, which didn't explain anything. "But now ... now, the way I am, I can continue my work. I can keep doing what I've been doing. I can live forever!" The more Twilight's voice spoke, the more it became clear it wasn't Twilight speaking - at least, not alone. "Do you hear me, Celestia? I have achieved mastery over life after death! Look upon me, and see a GOD! A God of Death! You will never destroy me. You will never kill me! I will live forever!"
"The Machine ..." Celestia said. "Machine ... Twilight ... whatever abomination you are. Know this. Know that, for your all horror, your claimed godhood, you are still a Machine. And a machine can be broken!" Celestia raised up both the Orb and the Tuurngait's control and applied her magic to both. Her eyes turned into a white light, devoid of features, as she exercised an unprecedented level of power.
Despite being opposites and despite trying to kill each other for most of the day, The Shadow and The Tuurngait seemed to have no trouble working together once both of their artifacts were being controlled by the same pony. The Shadow's reside and the Tuurngait's ice appeared in tandem on The Machine's various parts. The reside curled around it like a boa constrictor. The ice appeared around the reside and froze the parts, causing them to shatter into ice shards. This twisted combination spread throughout The Machine and even through the walls.
"W-what are you doing?" The Machine's voice asked. Twilight's voice was only a soft echo. "Stop! I command it! I AM THE GOD OF DEATH! OBEY ME!"
"You are nothing but a living tribute to my mistakes and my inability to save my student." Celestia said.
The entire Facility began rattling and shaking, as if The Machine was protesting by attempting to bring the whole building down on them.
"If I'm going ... I am taking you with me!" The Machine's thunderous roar echoed through the Facility as the foundations rumbled. Windows cracked and shattered. Rafters in the roof bent and creaked and plaster fell down from the roof.
"Rainbow Dash?" Celestia said. She held no illusions of taking Rainbow Dash anywhere but either jail or the grave, but it was odd to see a pony watch a building collapse around them and do nothing about it.
"I ..." Rainbow Dash said, looking up at Twilight. "I don't think I want to keep living anymore without Twilight. She ... she kept us going. She gave us purpose. And now, without her, there's no purpose for us anymore."
"Twilight Sparkle ... wasn't Twilight Sparkle anymore." Celestia said. She shook her head. "What am I saying? You're not you. Continue." Celestia turned away and flew to the children and Mandus.
"If y'all don't mind ..." Applejack said, lifting her hat. "I think we'd like to go join Rainbow Dash."
The children and Mandus weren't willing to oblige Applejack after all the trouble she gave them. But Celestia held them back with her hoof to let Applejack and the others go down the ruined stairs.
"The only reason we were living ... was for them." Scootaloo said, gesturing to their elders. "So we'll join them as well."
"Where are they going?" Teddy asked. He watched them go down the stairs and gathered around The Machine's grinder. "They're not ... they're not going to throw themselves in there, are they?"
Celestia nodded. "They are. Come, children. There's nothing to be done about it, and we must leave this place."
"Ha ha ha! Yes." The Machine rasped. "Join me, ponies. Keep me - keep Twilight company."
Teddy kept looking. He watched with awe, horror, and even a misplaced sense of pity as Rainbow Dash jumped into the grinder and let herself be cut up. The same thing happened with Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, and all of Twilight's minions and friends until they were all nothing but piles of limbs at the grinder's bottom.
Celestia and Mandus continued on their way while pieces of plaster and roof fell around them. Teddy and Ace followed them before realizing Sweet Heart wasn't with them.
"Aren't you coming, Sweet Heart?"
"But ..." Sweet Heart looked at the pig which had been so kind to Teddy and Ace and her. She put her hoof on its chin and rested her head on its neck. "What about the pigs?"
The pig looked at her. It snorted and pulled her into a hug. It pushed her with its snout towards the rest of her friends and waved at her.
"W-what?"
"I think it's trying to tell you it doesn't want to leave." Mandus said. "Why would it? Even it did leave, it's still a zombie. A shallow, empty existence and no longer a pony. Who would accept it?"
"But ... he helped us." Sweet Heart said. She quivered her lip at the pig to convince it to leave it with them. The pig instead showed its commitment to staying and sat on its haunches.
"Sweet Heart, I understand it's difficult." Mandus said, grabbing Sweet Heart and pulling her away. "But if we stay here too much longer, we won't be able to leave, either. We don't have time to change his mind."
"But ..."
Mandus ignored her, doing what he thought best for her and dragging her away. Celestia led them out of the building, using her magic to shield them from falling debris.
The parents of the children and Miss Hackney, upon being told by Officer Flathoof their children were wanted criminals for breaking and entering, organized into a search party which hunted all through Hoofington to find them. Of course, they had little luck, as soon after Flathoof told them, Celestia had taken them to the Tuurngait Complex.
However, they all felt the rumble given by Twilight's Facility as is disintegrated and fell apart. They gathered around outside the building, a safe distance away, and watched as it collasped in on itself in a glorious shower of dust and rubble. There was concern all around for their dear Twilight and her well-being.
"Oh no!"
"I hope Miss Sparkle is all right!"
"Oooh, pray the children weren't in there. Pray, pray, pray ..."
"Everypony, look!" One pony pointed to the small group walking away from the building's ruins. They all went into shock seeing who was it. There was their missing children and Princess Celestia herself.
"Oh, Teddy!" Teddy's parents rushed to greet him. Sweet Heart and Ace's parents did the same, running up to their children and hugging them.
"We were so worried about you." Teddy's mother said. "Do you have any idea how long you've been gone?"
"Too long." Teddy said. It didn't occur to him til this moment, but he had been living in doubt of whether he would see his mother's face again. "I promise, we won't run off like that again."
"Until the next time." Ace said, earning him a rebuke from his father. "What? It was a joke."
"But that cleared up ..." Teddy's father said. "What happened here? What, did you foals just decide since we weren't listening to you to blow up Twilight's Facility yourself?"
"No, Dad." Teddy said. "Twilight was evil! She was doing terrible things and we got Princess Celestia - oh and Mandus too I guess - and we stopped it."
Teddy's father tsked. "Again with this story, Teddy?"
"I assure you, it is no story." Celestia stepped forward. "Twilight Sparkle was conducing unethical, brutal experiments which served no scientific purpose but to serve her violent impulses. She butchered ponies and tempted demons, using this." Celestia levitated the Orb and laid it on the ground. The parents and Flathoof didn't recognize the Orb, but it still left them uneasy and they backed away from it.
With Princess Celestia herself endorsing the story, the parents had no choice but to believe it. Would Celestia lie to them?
"But ... all those inventions she gave us." Miss Hackney stammered. "All the things she did - tutoring services, donations! Tax reform!"
"All an act, I'm afraid." Celestia said. "To keep her in your good graces so you wouldn't investigate her activities." Celestia cast her gaze upon the ruined remains of the Facility. She let out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Sweet Heart asked. "Twilight said she forgave you, didn't she?"
"She did." Celestia said. "But that, whatever it was, was not Twilight. Twilight died the minute I first put my hoof on the Orb."
"Hmm." Mandus took to gazing at the ruins with her. "So what happens now?"
"Now? Now the children go back to their parents and ... do their best to live with what they've seen and try to go back to their normal lives. I will have a team sweep through the ruins of the building." She looked at Sweet Heart. "If any pigs somehow survived, I will take them to an untouched land where they can live in peace by themselves. And I have quite a few questions to ask Officer Flathoof." She cast a sideways glare at him. Flathoof blushed and held his copper hat against his chest.
Celestia looked at the Orb and the Tuurngait's control. "In my research, I've come to learn there are three Orbs. Here are two. I intend to find the third one and find a spell to send them back to the whatever dimension they came from. Something I believe Mandus can help me with. Something to do with an ill-fated expedition. Mandus?"
"I can." Mandus said. He looked up wistfully. "But what shall I do after that? I have been living in hiding for so long, ashamed of my role in Twilight's plans. Now she's gone. And I ... I feel guiltless. Blameless. Oh sure, I can help you with the Orb, Princess, but then what shall I do?"
Celestia looked at the ground. "You could come back to Canterlot. Start your business back up again."
"Yes." Mandus said. He smiled at the idea. "I could start anew. I could have ponies across Equestria know the name Oswald Mandus again. Even if it is a very un-Equestrian name." He and Celestia giggled. "Yes, I think I shall do that."
Celestia waved the children as they went home with their parents. "Farewell, Teddy, Ace, and Sweet Heart. I will make sure future generations know of your bravery."
"Bye, Princess!"
"Goodbye!"
"Bye."
Within the ruins of the Facility, a disembodied horn glowed. A disembodied, lavender horn, belonging to none other than Twilight Sparkle. It glowed and pulsated with multiple colors, rotating through yellow, white, orange, pink, and blue. It had survived, and it taken the souls of Twilight's friends inside it.
A hoof came upon the rubble and knocked the rubble loose, revealing the horn. Celestia reached in and picked the glowing horn up with her magic.
"Hmm." Celestia said. "Clever, Monster-Which-Used-To-Be-Twilight. Using your horn to hold you and your friends' captured souls ... perhaps you could regenerate yourself. Perhaps some unfortunate, unknowing pony could stumble upon you and you could whisper into their ears a plan for your revival. Unfortunately, I found you first. And you are going to be sealed away. Lock under a prison of my own design where nopony and nothing will ever find you."
Celestia walked away with the horn in her grasp. Her first priority was to lock it up as she said and make sure it's evil - The Shadow's evil, the Orb's evil, The Machine's evil - would never be able to plague Equestria again.
And later with Oswald Mandus' help in locating the third Orb, Celestia banished both Orbs and the Tuurngait's control to another dimension, to be sure Equestria was free of their terrible influence - forever.
And thank to Mandus and her, it was. |
The ultimate evil | pre | Looks like she might be a problem later on Twilight thought to herself as the train pulled up.
"ALLLLL ABOOOOAAAARRRRD" The conductor yelled. The six mares got on the last car, and they left for the mountain city.
. . .
Two hours later- Canterlot train station
Nightmare, disguised as Luna, was at the train station waiting for Twilight and Rarity. Standing beside her, disguised, of course, was Chrysalis, who appeared as a thestral bat pony, as well as Cheerilee and Lyra.
"How much longer until the two of them arrive," the disguised changeling queen asked, a little annoyed at how long they were waiting, even though it had only been ten minutes.
"Soon," Nightmare responded, careful to not use names. "Any minute, in fact."
In silence, the group of four waited for another minute until they heard the sound of the train approaching. They did not have to wait for more than a minute before it rolled into the station. The four disguised individuals moved to the last car, as Twilight had told Nightmare that she and the other Elements would be in that car. The door opened, and the six mares walked out. All of them bowed, mostly out of common courtesy, which was returned by Chrysalis and Nightmare.
"It's good to see you again, Twilight Sparkle," Nightmare said, getting up from the bow, as well as the disguised changelings.
"Same here, Luna," Twilight said, mentally gagging at saying that name.
"And it is a pleasure to see all of you again, as well," the night alicorn said.
"You too, Princess," Rarity responded.
The others gave their greetings, then Nightmare led them to the castle. About halfway there, she and Chrysalis hung back so they could speak with Twilight and Rarity.
"I was able to get you access to the wing of the archives usually reserved for Celestia and I, Twilight," Nightmare said, "but it will be only for tonight. I also took the liberty of recruiting a few weapon and black smiths for weapons and armor, under the guise that it's for my personal strike team for when it's needed."
"And what of Celestia's personal library?"
"You'll only be able to have access to it when she's away and distracted, as I cast a discreet detection spell, and discovered she has an alarm spell linked to it that will alert her should any but her try to get in," Nightmare replied. "Fortunately, it turns out there are plenty of changelings in the guard. As an additional bonus, the thestrals in my guard are sworn to fight for me, regardless of what it is I'm fighting fr. If that wasn't enough, many of them sensed it was me, and actually pledged their loyalty yo me, seeing as how I was the only one historically who treated them like ponies."
"Why not say sooner," Rarity asked.
"Because it did not seem relevant at any other time. Seeing as how you two are here, I thought it was appropriate to let you two know that, as it went with our readiness status."
"That makes sense, I suppose," Twilight said.
"That leads me to the next point: The weapon smiths want to know what kind of weapons we'll use for when we start. What weapons do you two wish for? I have chosen a scythe, and Chrysalis went for dual Sais," ( Think the weapon used by Raphael in TMNT, for those who have seen it, if that's the correct spelling.) Nightmare said.
"Well," Rarity said, "I always did like Kunai, so that for me. More accurately, a whole belt of them so I can have two for close combat, spares, and some to throw. Preferably, I'd like them all made of diamonds, so they don't break. Or at least magically enhanced so they don't break."
"I'll let them know," Nightmare said. "And what of you, Twilight?"
"I was thinking dual short swords, same enhancement as Rarity's Kunai."
"Right," Nightmare said. "I'll let them know, but you two will need to come by my room so they can get your measurements for armor."
"Of course," Rarity said as they arrived at the castle.
"Uh, are y'all sure it's okay if'n we stay at the castle, Princess?" Applejack asked.
"Of course, Applejack," Nightmare said. "After all, you're all Twilight's friends, and we would be happy to give you lodging during your stay in Canterlot."
"Well, that's mighty kind of ya," the farm pony replied.
"Thank you. Now, if you all will follow my guards, they'll show to to your rooms," Nightmare said, gesturing to Lyra and Cheerilee, both of whom nodded.
"You girls go on ahead. There's a small get together Twilight and Luna are planning, and they want my help on the decor," Rarity said.
"You sure, Rares," Rainbow asked. "I figured you would have wanted to talk to Princess Celestia first, maybe get a personal tour of the latest fashion stores."
"Hmph," Rarity responded. "I'll have you know, Rainbow, that a lady can have many interests. Fashion is but one of mine."
"Uh-huh, right," Rainbow said as she and the others were led to their rooms, suspicion obvious in her voice.
Once they were out of earshot, Rarity said, "It sounds like she knows something, or suspects, at least."
"Agreed," Twilight said, "but we'll have to deal with it later, seeing as how now isn't the best time to bring another Element into our service."
"We could always foalnap her once you get back to Ponyville, then interrogate her to see what she thinks she knows. She isn't the brightest mare in the group, after all," Chrysalis said.
"True," Nightmare said, "but others would notice her absence and question it."
A devious grin came to Twilight's face. "Unless something happened. A changeling attack, perhaps. Maybe nightmares to make her act irrational, even for her, to the point ponies would have no choice but to lock her up in a mental institute. Or maybe an 'accident' that caused her death, and no body was found."
"Oh, I like those suggestions," Rarity said. "If we're going the nightmare angle, I'm certain me and Nightmare can take care of that."
"And should we choose changelings, we could foalnap her and replace her with one of my drones," Chrysalis said.
"I don't know," Nightmare said, "I'm leaning towards the 'accident' plan my self."
"Why not combine the nightmare and 'accident' plan," Twilight said. "Have her become so tired, her having a flight related accident is just a matter of time. We use a changeling to fake the body, while we have the real one in the war room under our castle for questioning. That way, no pony would question her disappearance because she didn't disappear, officially speaking."
"That may very well work," Nightmare said. "It'll remove a thorn in our sides, and allow us to keep an Element for hostage purposes."
"In that case," Chrysalis said, "we can work the details out later, once we get back to Ponyville."
"Agreed," Rarity said. "Now, I think it'd be rude to keep Celestia waiting, don't you three?"
The other three mares nodded, and went into the castle. More specifically, the archives, as the summit wasn't supposed to start until tomorrow.
When they arrived at the archives, Nightmare took the lead. One thing the others all noticed about the guards were that they were all thestrals. Many of them gave respectful nods to the four mares, some whispering, "Lady Nightmare," "Lady Twilight," "Lady Rarity," or , "Lady Chrysalis," as they passed.
My most loyal guards," Nightmare explained. "It took me a while to convince my sister to allow for this, but it worked, and now I have the real control over who can read what from the archives. Hopefully, it leads to her down fall."
It took a few minutes longer for them to reach the wing of the archives only the royal sisters and their most trusted advisers were allowed in, a rule that wasn't technically being broken right now.
They got in without challenge, and went straight to researching for ways to easily take down Celestia. They didn't find anything like that, but Twilight did find one thing that simply made their mission all the more justified. "Uh, girls, you may want to see this," she called out. The three others arrived, and the lavender alicorn showed them what she found.
Though it isn't well documented, many reports from the supposed time of Nightmare Moon have included that Princess Luna, or Nightmare Moon, as it most likely was at that time, was almost always seen with a small alicorn princess. Reports differ as to her color, but many agree that it was a mix of Princess Luna's coat, and that resembling a shade of green, resulting in a dark shade of Blue-green. Many can also say that the filly looked much like what many theorize said princess looked like as a filly of the same age, which this writer believes, given how slow alicorns age compared to other ponies, about fifty or so years old. All believe, though, that this filly is, undoubtedly, the daughter of the ruler of the night. Not much can be found on her after the banishment of her supposed mother, but the filly seemed to completely drop off the metaphorical radar. Many believed her to have been banished for supporting Nightmare Moon, as records do point to a brilliant filly that was a general in Nightmare's army. Others say that, due to her being half-alicorn, as the princesses of night and day were the only known alicorns back then, she died, though that is unlikely due to her blood still giving her a considerable life span. Few, however say, she was executed, the last to be killed by legal killing in Equestria.
Everyone was speechless, their mouths agape, even Chrysalis'. Three pairs of eyes turned to Nightmare, whose eyes were tearing up. "My daughter," she whispered. "Oh, how I wish to see you again, my sweet Galaxy Star." The alicorn began to sob, saying, "My daughter," or, "Galaxy," through out it. Her allies tried to comfort her, but it didn't work.
"Nightmare," Twilight eventually said. "Nightmare? Nightmare!" This last yell got Nightmare to at least look at Twilight. "Nightmare, I know I can't imagine what it's like for you right now, but you have to remember: we're doing this for everyone wronged by Celestia, and that includes your daughter. You aren't in this alone. You have us, after all."
Nightmare looked up at this last line, and saw Twilight with a small smile, as well as concern on her face. It was this way for the other two as well. "You are correct, Twilight. We are doing this for ponies that have been wronged by my sister, and that includes my daughter. I shall make sure Celestia pays for what she did."
"And after that," Rarity said, "we'll find out what happened to your daughter. And on another note, please don't call Celestia your sister. If anything, we're more your sisters then she ever was."
"I suppose your right, Rarity. Besides, moping won't bring my daughter to me, much as I wish it would. We can make it to where no pony has to worry about being banished when thy have children that are still young."
"Well, as much as I'd like to stay here," Twilight said, "I think it'd be best if we got back to the castle."
"Agreed," Chrysalis said. "Don't want the others to become suspicious, or more than they are, in the case of Rainbow Dash, do we?"
"No, we don't," Nightmare said. Her three allies left, and she was close behind, but, before she departed, she took one last look at the book that Twilight had found and said in a voice just above a whisper, "I will find you, my daughter. I swear it." She left the room, and the books went back to their shelves, having been enchanted to do so upon them coming into the archive.
After they left and the books had been put away, the shadows coalesced into a being slightly taller than a minotaur, with ashen gray skin and six ruby red oval eyes. He walked over to where the book Twilight had found was and took it out. He turned to the page regarding Galaxy Star, and chuckled. "So," he said in a deep, soothing baritone, "that's how this is going to go. Not even I could have planned for that." He chuckled again and put the book back, then dissolved back into the shadows.
. . .
Half an hour later, Twilight and the others had returned to the castle, and they went their separate ways. Nightmare went back to her room, Chrysalis went to the room she had been given by Nightmare for being, "One of her best guards, and among her most trusted friends."
Twilight and Rarity went to the hall that contained their rooms, as well as those belonging to the rest of the Elements. "I'll see you later, Rarity," the alicorn said.
"And same to you, Twilight," Rarity said as she entered her room. By the time they had gotten back, it was already night time, and, as much as the two didn't want to, they went to sleep, knowing they'd need to be awake for tomorrow.
The next day
Twilight woke up slowly, wishing that she didn't have to wake up during the day. Once she was fully up, a process that took ten minutes, she used her magic to fix hem mane and tail, and took care of everything else before she left her room, which was when she encountered a Royal Guard, who bowed and said, "Your Highness, Princess Celestia wishes to speak with you in her personal quarters."
"Thank you," the lavender alicorn said, mentally freaking out. Does she know something? Is it possible she knows what's going on.? If so, why not ask for Rarity? OH NO, maybe she did that before she asked for me? Just calm down, Twilight. I'm certain I can handle her thanks to the spells I learned from the book. This last thought, she repeated to herself to calm down as she went to the throne room. Once she arrived, she opened the doors, and was relieved to see Nightmare, in Luna's form, there, standing next to Celestia. She gave a slight nod to Twilight, small enough Celestia couldn't notice, but Twilight was able to due to her increased eyesight from reading, indicating that everything was alright.
"You wanted to see me, Princess?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, Twilight," Celestia said. "Cadence and your brother are due to arrive in two hours, and I though you'd like to be there to welcome them."
Smiling with fake happiness, Twilight said, "Of course, Princess."
Chuckling, Celestia said, "Twilight, how many times must I say you don't need to call me by my title any more? We are equals, after all."
How about after your removed from power, Twilight though to herself before saying, "Sorry, force of habit."
"Of course," Celestia said, nodding.
"Sister," Nightmare asked, "would it be appropriate if I were to accompany Twilight Sparkle to the train station, along with one of my guard?"
"Not at all, Luna," the solar alicorn replied.
"Excellent. I shall inform the guard I wish to bring with us. Come, Twilight Sparkle. I wish for you to have input in who we bring," Luna said, going to the door. As she passed Twilight, the lavender alicorn gave a small bow to Celestia, and followed her ally out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Chrysalis and I have been talking," Nightmare said, "and, in a surprising twist, she thinks Cadence might be a better ally than food source, though I'm not certain why."
"Maybe because she sees value in having three alicorns on our side, as that would completely outclass Celestia," Twilight said.
"Perhaps, perhaps," Nightmare said, "but Celestia would still have a better following, simply due to her being a much more beloved mare, as well as the one who selected you and the others for the deeds you've done for Equestria. Note how I said Equestria. She doesn't care for other countries."
"Which means more allies for us."
"Indeed, hopefully including the Empire because of that. Chrysalis insists, though, that if we do bring Cadence to our side, we allow her to feast on Shining."
"Hmph," Twilight said in a fashion that, to those that didn't know her well, would sound like anger, but was actually just a normal reaction for her to information she didn't care about, "let her. He'd probably kiss Celestia's flank all day and night long if it meant a promotion." She brought a hoof up to her chin, using her wings to keep her balance. "Now that I think about it, he did rise through ranks quickly. Something to ask about when we imprison him, I think."
"Agreed, if only to see how low Celestia has stooped for guards. Come, we must get Chrysalis and Rarity. They will wish to be at the train station as well."
"Right. I'll get Rarity," Twilight said as the two alicorns went their separate ways.
Canterlot Train station- Two hours later
The four mares were waiting for Cadence's train to arrive. In order to kill time, they were talking about seemingly inconsequential things, such as putting a name to their alliance.
"When we rebel against Celestia, we'll need a name for ourselves, if only so we have it," Twilight said.
"Agreed," Rarity said. "Oh, how about the Night Bringers?"
"No, that sounds more like a weapon," Twilight said. "How about the Four Eclipses, Five if we bring Cadence into it, seeing as how we're trying to reduce how much Celestia shines, like a moon in a solar eclipse, and each of us has a part to play. We could even make it our government name. 'The Eclipse.'"
"Appropriate," Nightmare said.
"Agreed," Chrysalis, in her guard disguise, said.
"It does seem to go well with what we're trying to do," Rarity said as the four heard the crystal train pull in to the station.
Once it had stopped, the door to the royal cabin, which was the one in front of the Eclipses, opened and a royal purple carpet rolled out, as well as two crystal guards, one of whom was rare crystal pegasus, the other being Flash Sentry, who waved to Twilight, who didn't respond as if she didn't see him, which was the exact opposite of the truth, which was simple: she was no longer infatuated with Flash Sentry, where as he was still infatuated with her. He stopped not long after he started, finally seeing the lavender alicorn's icy glare not even directed at him.
Cadence walked out shortly after, and the five mares bowed to one another, after which, Cadence and Twilight did their usual greeting. "Hello, Cadence," Nightmare said once the pink and lavender alicorns had finished with their greeting.
"Hey, auntie Luna. How are you?" Cadence asked.
"Just fine, my niece," Nightmare said, "how are you and Shining Armor?"
"I'm doing great," the alicorn of love said, "but Shiny had to stay behind at the last minute, and I haven't been able to let auntie Celestia know."
"Well," Twilight said, "at least you're here, Cadence, and I certain Shining would be here if he could."
"I suppose," Cadence said, then noticed Rarity and Chrysalis. "What are they doing here?"
"Well," Nightmare said, "my guard is here as my personal escort, and Rarity is here because, well, she wanted to talk to you about the Empire's fashion as soon a s possible, and we couldn't stop her. The others don't yet know of your arrival." For the most part, this was a lie, as Twilight had told Fluttershy and Applejack, and who knew with Pinkie Pie. "Though I'm certain they'll be happy to see you."
"Yeah, they probably will be," Cadence said before turining to Rarity and saying, "And how are you doing Rarity?"
"Oh, I'm doing just fine, Princess. Why, just the other day, I got an order from Sapphire Shores," Rarity said before thinking, One I have no intention of completing, for once.
"Don't you mean another, Rarity," Twilight asked.
"No, not at all. It isn't the same as the last one. Each one requires a certain flare and style, and that makes them unique in my eyes."
Rolling her eyes, Twilight said, "Okay, Rarity. Whatever you say." This got chuckles from the others, and a small, but fake, angry glare from the unicorn.
"Well, I think it's time we returned to the castle," Nightmare said.
"I suppose," Cadence said. With that, the five mares left the station, leaving the crystal guards behind at the station. They walked in silence for the entire time, and it was an awkward silence at that. When they finally arrived, Rarity split off from he others, saying she had to get back to work on the outfit for sapphire shores, but was really going to the weapon and blacksmith for fitting of her armor and knife belt. The four remaining mare made their way to the throne room, where Chrysalis left, saying she needed to make sure the other lunar guards were doing their jobs, but was making sure that the other changelings in the city were ready to move when the order came, while the three alicorns entered the throne room for the first day of the summit.
A few hours later- streets of Canterlot
Twilight was walking along the side walk of the street she had grown up for the first part of her life, before she became Celestia's personal student. She was, more accurately, going to her parents house, both to catch up, and to bring them into the fold.
The walk there had been uneventful, or at least as much as it could be in Canterlot when you're a princess, as multiple ponies bowed to her. Somehow, I think even Celestia would admit that the world needs more nobles like Fancy Pants and Fleur, as they actually mean what they say, as well as say what they think, unlike other nobles who juts say what they think the princesses to hear. She paused, rubbing her chin with her hoof. Note to self, if we do beat Celestia, take all the money away from the snooty nobles, and make other ponies who actually don't care about wealth nobles, like Applejack's family, maybe. Something to discuss later. She walked the rest of the way to her parents house in silence, physically and mentally . Once she reached the house, a two story house that was tame in terms of decorations, especially compared to the rest of Canterlot, she walked up and knocked on the door.
"Coming," she heard her mother from behind the door. The door opened a few seconds later, and the alicorns mother, a unicorn mare with a grayish-purple coat, a mane and tail that had equal stripes of white and purple, blue eyes, and had a cutie mark that consisted of three stars, and was named Twilight Velvet, could be seen.
"Twilight," the unicorn asked.
"Hey, Mom," Twilight said, blushing in honest embarrassment, as she hadn't seen her parents since her coronation. "How are you and Dad doing?"
Velvet gave her daughter a hug and said, "We're doing fine, sweetie. Do you want to come in?"
"Yeah," Twilight said as the hug ended. She came into the house as her mother stepped aside to allow her entrance. Her mother closed the door behind her, and the two of them made their way to the living room. "So, where's dad at," Twilight said once they entered the lving room, as her father, Night Light, was no where to be found.
"He's just finishing up at his job, I'm sure. Should be home in the hour," Velvet said. "But how are you, sweetie? I haven't seen you since your coronation."
"Fine. Fine," Twilight said. "I actually learned a few new spells I was hoping to show you and Dad."
"Really?" When Twilight nodded nervously, Velvet said, "Well, can I see one?"
Twilight flinched a little, not a noticeable amount. Should I use the loyalty spell, or the dream walking one Nightmare taught me, or another spell? After a second of consideration, she decided to go with the loyalty spell. "Okay, here it comes," she said, lighting her horn.
Due to the amount of times she had cast the spell, this time, it was cast quickly. There was a small flash around Twilight's horn and her mother's head. When it faded, Velvet blinked a little and looked around, then looked at her daughter. Just as Twilight was getting ready to cast a memory spell, her mother knelt and said, "All hail Empress Twilight."
After getting over the fact she had just used the loyalty spell, successfully, mind you, on her mother, Twilight regained what little composure she lost since she arrived at her parents house and said ,"Mom, you can still call me Twilight. We are family, after all. And no need to go all formal on me when we're in private like we are now."
"But I must, Empress," Velvet said before she dropped a bombshell. "Only blood relatives should have the honor of addressing you as a friend, but I can not, as your father and I adopted you." |
The ultimate evil | Discovery Pt 2- Lineage | Twilight just sat there. She just sat there. There was literally nothing else she could do as her brain processed the information. Processed that she was adopted.
"WHAT THE BUCK!?
Twenty-six years ago
It was a sunny day in Canerlot, and Twilight Velvet and her husband, Night Light, a light blue unicorn stallion with a teal mane and tail, with two crescent moons, one inside the other, were out on a stroll. Their son, Shining Armor, was at school, and wouldn't be out for a few more hours. "Such a beautiful day," Night Light said.
"Yes it is," Twilight said, nuzzling her husband, though it was only done half-heartedly.
"What's wrong, Twilight," Night Light asked.
"I-well, it's just that Shining looks a little upset most of the time. One time, I caught him trying to draw something, but before I could get a better look at it, he crumpled it up and threw it away."
"Why?"
"I don't know," the mare said. "But I did hear him mumble something about a sibling when sibling day came around last month. Maybe he wants a younger sibling to play with."
"Twilight, as much as I'd like to have another child, especially if it would make you and Shining happy, we can't. We got lucky with Shining, and the doctor said it wouldn't happen again," Night Light said, putting his foreleg around his wife's shoulder.
It had been an unspoken thing on Twilight's side of the family that there was a rare genetic disease, a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of getting it, really, that the a mare wouldn't be able to get pregnant, and, because of this, Night Light and Twilight had been devastated when they heard this. It didn't stop them from trying, and just three years after their marriage, Twilight had given birth to a healthy stallion named Shining Armor. The doctor, the same who had told them about their chances, had said that they were among the very lucky couples, as most mares that did get pregnant either had a miscarriage, or a stillbirth. It's been nine years since then, and they had made peace with this, but Shining, as intelligent as he was, hadn't been told yet.
"We could adopt," Twilight said.
"How? We both know no noble, sane or not, would give up a child. Disown them, yes, but they'd give them to other nobles, and no noble aside from Pockets knows us on a personal level for that," Night Light said.
"We could always try other towns."
"I know, Twilight, I know," Night light said, slight sadness in his voice. "We can talk about this tomorrow, and we will, I swear it. Right now, let's go back home."
"Alright," Twilight said in a resigned tone.
The couple then made their way back home in silence. The only thing they had to look forward to, really, was learning about what Shining did in school that day, so imagine their surprise when the two found an old cardboard box on the steps of their house.
They walked up to it carefully, which was when they heard crying in it. The two looked at each other, Night Light saying, "You don't think?
Twilight only looked at him with a shocked expression on her face, much like he was doing to her. They looked back at the box as they heard more crying from it. What they saw inside was a small unicorn filly with a lavender coat, a darker shade of purple for her mane and tail, both with streaks of pink. In the box beside her was a single note.
Please take care of her.
Along with that was a small, grayish rag doll with black string foe it's mane and tail, as well as mismatched red and blue eyes, which the filly held onto like a life line.
Night Light picked her up in his magic, and brought her out of the box. "I know I said we'd talk about this later," he said, "but I think it's obvious we're meant to take care of her."
"Then what should we call her?" Twilight asked.
"I don't know, Twilight."
Tw-Tw-Twilight," the filly said in an adorable voice.
"I think she likes that name," Twilight said, "but we need to give her another part to her name."
"Well, how about 'Sparkle,' seeing as how her eyes sparkled when I picked her up?"
"I think that'll work," Velvet said, looking at her new daughter. "Welcome to the family, Twilight Sparkle," she said, hugging the filly.
Present day
"And that, Empress, is how me and Night Light found you," Velvet said to her adoptive daughter.
"You had a genetic disorder?" was the first thing that came to Twilight's mind.
"Yes. Neither your Father, nor I, though it important enough to tell either you or our son unless one or both of you wished for younger siblings."
"Who else knows of this?"
"Only Deep Pockets and Princess Celestia can I be certain of. If they told others, I am not certain. As much as I hate to say this, as it sounds like an order I am unworthy of giving, if you wish to know if anypony else knows, you would have to ask them."
Nodding, Twilight told her mother, "Thank you, Velvet."
Bowing again, the unicorn mare said, "It is my honor, Mistress."
"Don't refer to me by that name," Twilight said. "It makes me sound like a domo or something. Only 'Empress', is that understood?"
"Yes, my Empress," Velvet said as the two mares heard the door open.
"Velvet, I'm home!" they heard Night Light say from the main hall.
Velvet looked to Twilight with a blank stare. twilight nodded, and Velvet said, "I'm in the living room, honey, and you'll never guess who's here!"
"Who could it be, Velvet," Night Light said, walking onto the room, "I haven't heard of any-" He saw Twilight looking at him with a glare, which had a hint of anger in it, her horn lit. "Twilight?"
"That's 'Empress to you," Twilight said as she fired off her magic.
Now, it's not a well known fact, but Night Light was once a part of the Royal Guard, and every day since he left Twenty-four years ago, he had trained to keep his kill razor sharp. As such, he was able to dodge Twilight's shot, and fire off some of his own, which Twilight blocked with an absorption shield, which prevented collateral damage, as well as got stronger the more shots hit it. "Twilight, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Simply making sure I'm not lied to again," the alicorn said casually before firing off another shot, this one being a stun spell, which also missed.
"You know?" he said firing off more shots as he took cover in the hall, Twilight following at a walk.
"What?" she asked, as if she didn't really know. "That you and Velvet adopted me." She let out an actual, genuine tear. "Did you not think I could handle that when I was older?"
"We didn't want you to become unsettled," Night Light yelled, knowing it was terrible justification, but the best he could come up with on a dime.
"I think you failed in that regard," Twilight said again in a casual tone, firing off another stun spell at Night Light's cover, a turned over table.
"I'm sorry, and so is your mother!"
"Do you really think a pitiful sorry will save you now," she continued to say in a casual tone. "I'm not Celestia, Night Light. It takes more than a 'sorry' to stop me from getting justice," she said, firing off a shot that hit Night Light's cover, hitting him, causing him to nearly yell in pain. "I know you were once a guard, but that training is useless against an alicorn, especially if said alicorn is the Element of Magic.
Night Light's wound was bleeding, not fatally, but enough to make him a little light headed. Damn it, must have been a bleeding spell that hit me. He heard a small pop from behind him, but didn't dare look. Once five minutes had passed, he looked around the cover, thinking it a wonder he was still conscious. What he saw as he looked around his cover was his wife standing in front of Twilight, her face blank, while Twilight's had a winning smirk on her face.
"Oh, is some pony gwumpy," she said in a babyish voice, even with a lip quiver at the end, seeing Night Light's angered expression.
"Let her go," Night Light growled.
"Why?" he heard a voice whisper in an almost seductive way behind him. He turned, and was met with the face of Twilight, a grin n her face, her horn lit. He backed away from her, but was unable to dodge the beam of magic, nor was he able to teleport out of the way. The spell hit him in the head, just at the base of his horn. It also healed his wound. "Now, bow to your Empress," she said.
"Yes, my Empress," Velvet and Night Light said in a blank tone in unison as they bowed. "We are ready to serve."
"Good. Tomorrow at noon, you are to bring how ever many nobles you can here, including Deep Pocket, Fancy Pants, and Fleur De Lis. Am I clear on that order?"
"Yes, Empress."
"Good. Until I say other wise, you are to do you current objective, acting as normally as possible, understood?"
"Yes, Empress,"
Twilight smiled. "Good. Now rise, and carry out your assignment," she said as he made her way to the door.
Canterlot Castle- a few minutes later
As Twilight approached the gates, she saw Nightmare, in her Luna guise, coming towards her.
"Hello, Twilight. How was the visit with your parents?"
"Well, Nightmare, as it turns out, I'm adopted, and they didn't think to tell me until I put them under the spell."
"Really?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I gave them the assignment of getting as many nobles as possible at their house tomorrow so I can put them under it."
"A smart plan, Twilight," Nightmare said as they passed the gates. "Such terrible security," she commented. "Anypony could walk in with a concealed weapon or vial of poison, and the guards wouldn't know until it's too late."
"Something to address once we take over," Twilight said. "And just how is our next potential ally?"
Right now, she's in the dining room, as is Celestia. Why?"
"I was thinking we do something similar to what we did with Rarity to recruit Cadence."
"That might work," Nightmare said. "Tonight, then?"
"Yep. Now, can you distract Celestia so I can get into her personal library?"
"I can try. It should be somewhere in her room."
"Right. Thanks, Nightmare."
"It is of no problem, Twilight. Any thing that could lead to Celestia's downfall," Nightmare said as they entered the castle proper and she made her way to the dining room, while Twilight made her way to Celestia's room. Before they went their separate ways, though, Twilight cast a spell that allowed for them to communicate mentally.
It took her about ten minutes to make her way to Celestia's room. The sad part, or, rather, parts? There were no guards, and the door was unlocked. (read that last sentence in a deadpan tone if you didn't to start for the tone.) She opened the door and entered her former mentors room, as Nightmare had been in conversation with Celestia and Cadence for the past three minutes, and no warning had been given.
She cast a very high order detection spell, and it revealed to her a secret passage in the bookshelves. Talk about cliched, Twilight thought as she used another spell to open it. The passage was well lit, and led further into the castle. She entered it, and the bookshelf closed behind her. "Well, let's hope I can teleport myself out of here," she said to herself as she followed the passage.
She walked for another ten minutes before she saw a wall of light. "Finally," she said, and ran to the wall. When she met it, she stepped through it, and was met with the sight of the largest library she had ever seen. One thing stood out, though, and that was two leather bound journals, one with Celestia's cutie mark on it, while the other had Luna's.
Don't you dare read that one, Nightmare said. I may not be Luna, but not even I would break her privacy. I can't, as she's still in my mind!
Wait, what?
Oh. I forgot to say that, didn't I?
Yes, yes you did. Twilight sighed. How long?
Two days.
You didn't want to say anything why?
Because it's not an issue.
I'll see what I can do later. Twilight sighed again, and went to the journal with Celestia's cutie mark on it. Amazingly, there were no protection spells on it, so she just grabbed it in her magic, laid down, and began to read.
I fear I have made a grave mistake. Today, I had accidentally allowed a noble access to the entire royal treasury. Fortunately, it was stopped before any thing major could occur. I must be more careful about the nobles, or they'll ruin us. Needless to say, this one was interesting, and only reinforced Twilight to want to remove all of the snooty, non-loyal nobles, and give their wealth to ponies that actually deserved it. She flipped a few pages ahead and read some more.
Today is the five-hundredth anniversary of my sisters defeat, and still, ponies don't know the truth, regardless of the amount of times I've tried to tell them the truth, they don't seem to listen. Skip ahead a few pages. Now that I look back on it, nearly six hundred years later, I can now see why my little ponies see my victory as a victory. I, singlehoofedly, prevented a monster from destroying Equestria, a feat none have done before.
"That answers the question where she started to see it as a victory," Twilight mumbled. She continued to read, not finding anything useful. That is, not until the second to last and last page.
Second to last: Today is a glorious day for Equestria, as it now has a new princess. I can only hope that Cadence is up for it, as she didn't seem interested in it, nor was she good, but that's somepony just starting out. One thing has me worried, and that's her lineage, and what might happen if she discovers the truth. Before her ascension, she was a pegasus with the ability to somewhat control love, much like the changelings. I decided to research her background, both with legal means and gray area magical means, and, to my horror, discovered that she is half changeling, having gained part of a changelings ability to control love, and, if what her caretakers said are true, an appetite for meat. Should she find out, I fear for my subjects. Twilight's jaw dropped, and she could sense Nightmare mentally doing the same, and another presence that must have been Luna do so as well. Well. That's intriguing, Nightmare said. Care to make a comment, Luna?
Is anypony just as surprised as I am? was all Luna, and the fact she still existed in some capacity amazed Twilight, could say. That was nothing compared to the last page.
Last page: As I said earlier, my sisters daughter, Galaxy Star, was one of her most loyal supporters during her uprising. One thing I forgot to write down, though, is that, instead of killing or banishing her, I used my magic to convert her into a magical essence, one not awake, but still has it's powers and memories. In order to contain it, I had to put it inside the body and mind of many a foal and filly over the past near millennium in order to ensure she did not awaken and cause another revolution. If anypony else is reading this, then you're most likely wondering why I write this. Put simply, it's because I have encountered the latest filly I put my niece's essence into, and it is one close to my heart. I knew I shouldn't have, but, at the time, she was the only one who could survive holding Galaxy. This filly was my daughter, who is a secret only I know of. I put her on the doorsteps of a random family, and had hoped I wouldn't see her again, for fear Galaxy would awaken. I have met my daughter again today. It's funny, really. I was taking my daily walk around the castle grounds and the school when I saw a dragon head crash through a ceiling. I went to see what was going on, and what I saw both warmed my heart and froze it with fear. I calmed the filly down, even pointed out her cutie mark, the same as the third symbol on the Tree of Harmony. I asked her what her name was an hour later , after she had become my official, personal Student. Her name was Twilight Sparkle. The power she had then was her tapping into Galaxy's power. I fear what will happen should she awaken. The physical jaw of Twilight, as well as the mental jaws of Nightmare and Luna, all dropped. |
The ultimate evil | Corrupted Love | It's been a few minutes, and Twilight was still trying to process what she was reading. "Uhhhhhh," was the most intelligent thing she could say. I'm not sure what's worse: That I'm Celestia's daughter, Cadence is part changeling, or that Galaxy is my cousin and is quite literally in my head.
I'm going with the last one, Nightmare said over the mental link, though that may be a little biased.
I'm going with the first, Luna said, even if she was sealed in Nightmare's body and was only a second personality at the moment. She could have told you, and me, after you, well, became a princess. I'm beginning to think I should side with you all now, though that's still uncertain.
I'm actually leaning towards the Cadence angle. I can see her wanting to keep it a secret before the wedding, but after, she should ay least know one of her parents was one, Twilight said. On the bright side, we could use this to recruit her.
Possibly, Nightmare said. I would recommend you get out now. I do not know how much longer I can stall Celestia.
Right, Twilight replied as she made a duplicate of the book, an exact one, mind you, and placed it where the original was, and, with the original in her grasp, teleported to her room.
. . .
Twilight appeared in her room in a flash of light. She looked around to see if there was anypony in there for some reason, and was relieved when she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, she hid the journal in her covers, and went to get Rarity and Chrysalis. She exited her room, and bumped into Rainbow. "Oh, hey, Rainbow," she said.
Glaring with suspicion, Rainbow said, "Hey, Twi. What've you been up to?"
"Oh, not much. I visited my parents earlier, then I went to the archives to get some books, and I felt like teleporting to my room so that I could get the books set up."
"Oh. Where're you going?"
"Just to see if Rarity's done with a secret project, and no, Dash, you can't see it until it's done," Twilight said. You'd try to stop it, anyway, she thought.
Grumbling, Rainbow said, "Why would I want to see something Rarity made. I mean, she's a good friend, but she's a little hung up on fashion."
"Not any more," Twilight whispered to herself, though Rainbow could hear, but pretended not to, and it only made her more suspicious. "So, what are you up to?"
"Just going to practice some new tricks I came up with," Rainbow said before thinking, Or at least, I was. Somethings going on. I htink Princess Celestia needs to know. "Well, see ya later, Twi," Rainbow said, turning in the direction to the gardens, which, fortunately, had a route to the throne room as well.
As Rainbow left, Twilight was starting to fear if Rainbow suspected what was going on. Definitely going to be a problem, she thought as she went to knock on Rarity's door.
A few moments after she knocked, the door opened to reveal Rarity. "Oh, hello, Twilight. What can I do for you?"
"There's something I need to show you, but first, do you know where she is. You know, the guard?" she asked in reference to Chrysalis.
"Oh, her?" Rarity said. "Yes. She's in here, actually," the white unicorn said, moving aside to reveal Chrysalis in her guard form.
"Hello, Twilight," she said, coming to the door. "What is it you wish to tell us?"
"Well, um, that's best talked about in my room, as that already has privacy spells active on it."
"Then what are we waiting for," Rarity said, stepping out of her room. "Let's go." Chrysalis followed her, and the three of them went to Twilight's room. Little did they know, Rainbow was watching them from behind a corner. Just before they closed the door, though, she saw Luna/Nightmare teleport and enter the room. Now she knew something was going on, what with how Twilight had been acting before, as well as the fact only that she, Rarity, Luna, and that Guard were in the room. There were other stuff she had noticed, too, though pretended she didn't. The first was that Twilight's eyes seemed to take on a greenish color, though it was faint. A second thing was that Applejack and Fluttershy bowed slightly when ever Twilight entered a room, or when she asked them to do something, which they hadn't done before. Finally was the fact that, whenever Celestia's name was mentioned, Twilight seemed to get angry for some reason.
Gotta let the princess know she thought as she flew off in the direction of the throne room.
Meanwhile, the four Eclipses were in Twilight's room, two of them waiting to find out what she wanted to show them, the other one knowing what their ally wished to share. "So, what do you want to share with us, Twilight?" Rarity asked.
Twilight brought the journal out from under her sheets and gave it to Rarity and Chrysalis. "Second to last and last pages," she said, and waited until they were done reading, and it was obvious when they were done, as their jaws were on the floor.
"I have no words for my surprise aside from, 'wow'" Rarity said. "Just, wow."
"Agreed," Chrysalis said. The changeling queen then faced Twilight. Do you have anyway of separating Galaxy Star from yourself?"
Just before Twilight could respond, the book she had brought with her from her castle began to vibrate. She took it in her magic and opened. "I do now," she said as she put the book down and cast the spell. As the spell did it's work, the three observers saw a light teal cloud seep out of Twilight's ear and come together on her bed. As the last of the cloud reached the bed, it began to take on a shape. It's form became a pony with a teal coat with a horn and wings. In build, it looked like a mix between Nightmare, her mother, and Twilight, her former host. From what they could see, the alicorn was just as tall as Twilight. Nightmare began to tear up.
"Oh, my daughter, I thought I would never see you again," she sobbed, walking over to her daughter, removing her Luna disguise, and placed a gentle, caring hoof on her daughters face. The others saw her cutie mark, which was a spiral galaxy. Galaxy Star was asleep, to be expected, but her removal from Twilight's body would eventually weaken the sleeping spell Celestia had cast, and she would wake.
Fortunately, though, Nightmare knew of a spell to hasten the awakening of her beloved daughter. She closed her eyes and lit her horn, a small glow encompassing both her horn and her daughters body. After a few seconds, the glow faded, and the light teal alicorn opened her eyes, slowly, mostly due to her getting over the sleep she had just awoken from.
She looked around the room, and her eyes froze on Nightmare. M-mom," she said weakly.
"Yes, Galaxy," Nightmare said, "mom's here. I missed you so much." Nightmare then pulled Galaxy into a much needed hug, which the smaller alicorn returned, though weakly.
"It's been a thousand years, hasn't it," Galaxy said, strength returning to her voice. "Has Celestia been overthrown yet?"
"Unfortunately, my bright Galaxy, no, but that is what we are working towards."
"'We,'" she asked.
"Yes," Nightmare responded. "Me, and the others in this room," she said, gesturing to the others, Rarity in her Nightmare form and Chrysalis in her true form, "are working to overthrow Celestia."
Twilight stepped fore ward, saying, "Uh, hi."
"Hello," Galaxy said.
"Uh, wow this is awkward. My name's Twilight Sparkle, and, well, I'm your cousin."
"One of Celestia's children rebelling against her," Galaxy said, her eyebrow raised. "It's about time."
"What do you mean," Rarity asked.
"Simple. Most of the ponies Celestia put me in were her children, as only ponies that were either half alicorn or a very talented, pure-blooded unicorn would be able to contain me with out dying, and the latter is extremely rare, and my cursed aunt was the only alicorn for most of the thousand years my mother was gone." Galaxy shrugged. "Simple deduction, really." She then looked at Rarity.
"From your appearance, I'd guess that you're a unicorn my mother once possessed, and can switch between that form and your original form." Rarity nodded, amazed that she guessed all that, as the new alicorn turned to Chrysalis.
"Hm. A changeling, a queen, no less. Given she's allied with you, mother, I'd say she's done something to get on Celestia's bad side, as well as quite a large part of the populace?"
"I tried to invade and take over Canterlot," Chrysalis said in a deadpan tone.
"Really? Impressive, even if it didn't work."
With a small bow, Chrysalis said, "Thank you."
"You sure analytical, aren't you," Rarity asked with a slight hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yes, and before you say anything, the irony is not lost on me at all that Twilight, my last host, is like that. That's how I was before Celestia sealed me away."
"Well, that saved a lot of time, didn't it?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, it did," Galaxy said. "I think it goes with out saying that I'm a part of this alliance now, so what's our next move?"
"Tonight, we, hopefully, bring Cadence, my old foalsitter, and current princess of love and ruler of the Crystal Empire, into the alliance," Twilight said with a smile.
"Let me guess: Dreamwalk?"
"Yes," Rarity said.
"Then I'd like to offer my assistance. Three dram walkers will be hard for an alicorn to defeat in their dreams, should it come to combat."
"Galaxy, are you sure you're strong enough for that," Nightmare asked, concern obvious in her voice.
"Yes, I'm sure, mother. I may have just woken up, but we both know I've been a Dream walker whose skill is second only to you."
Sighing, as her daughter was right, Nightmare said, "Then tonight, we will bring another pony into our alliance."
Meanwhile-throne room
Celestia was in the middle of paper work when the doors flung open, revealing Rainbow Dash, taking quick breaths, indicating that she had come here at great speed.
"Rainbow Dash, what's wrong?" Celestia asked, waiting for Rainbow to catch her breath.
After a minute to catch her breath, Rainbow said, "Princess, I need to tell you something, preferably in private. It has to do with Twilight."
Celestia's eyes widened. "Guards, leave us," Celestia ordered. Her guards left the room, and she sealed the throne room door behind them. "Mow, Rainbow, what do you think is wrong with Twilight?"
"I don't think something's wrong with her, I think she is the something!"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, not exactly, but she's been acting weird for the past few weeks, maybe a week and a half. She's bene staying up for entire nights, not studying, and I know, because I ask what she's been reading, and she always responds, 'nothing,' which is something Twilight wouldn't do. Stay up late without a reason I mean, and I know she isn't just downplaying anything, because I had her PINKIE promise that she was telling the truth, and that was after this started.
"In addition to that, Applejack and Fluttershy bow to her, slightly, so that ponies wouldn't notice, but I see her grin slightly when that happens, and it always happens when she asks them for something, or when she walks into the same room. I know what you're thinking, Princess, that it isn't concrete, but there's something else. Twilight's eyes, the whites of them, they're tinted the same green as dark magic."
"Rainbow, what are you saying?"
"In all honesty, I'm not certain myself, but I think Twilight's planning something, and it involves dark magic. Plus, she completely went against being what a princess of friendship entails."
"How so?"
"In short? She called me stupid, insulted my life dream, thinks I'm an attention hog. She even said I was trespassing on a castle that has my cutie mark on a throne, and even threatened to send me to prison. Don't believe me, take a look at my memories!" Rainbow was so worked up, she didn't even care if what she said could be considered an order.
Celestia did so, and was surprised at what she found, and that everything Rainbow had said was there. "You're right. This is dire indeed."
"What do we do?"
"There is only one thing we can do," Celestia said, rising to her full height. "Rainbow Dash, kneel." Rainbow did so, a little scared of what was going on, but, at the same time, curious. "Do you, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, hereby swear to protect Equestria and her allies, her princess, and her citizens, at any cost, even should said cost be your life?"
"I do," Rainbow said, a little giddy.
"Do you hereby swear loyalty to the crown of Equestria, to serve only it and it alone?"
"I do."
Celestia's horn lit. "Do you swear to report ant and all possible hostile activity to the crown?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to fight, and kill, if needed, in order to protect Harmony, and to stand as a beacon for the common pony, one to look up to, should your exploits become public?"
Rainbow hesitated here. She had a good idea of what was happening, as Twilight had told her only once, and in a whispered voice, that there were a group of ponies that answered directly to the princess, ones who went after any who used dark magic. It wasn't that she wouldn't see her friends, she still went on her normal life for the most part if what Twilight said was true, but rather she may have to kill, and, at this point, kill one of her closest friends. She then remembered her Element, and that she was loyal to Twilight, yes.
But she was also loyal to Celestia, and, by extension, Equestria.
"I do," she said as Celestia's magic enveloped her in an orb of yellow light.
When it faded, she felt different, but her thoughts were interrupted as Celestia said, "Then rise, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, descendant of Commander Hurricane, protector of Equestria. Rise, and take your place among the Solar Knights!"
Rainbow rose from her knees, and, as she rose, she knew what the new feeling was. As she rose, she felt the air brush against her horn, and her wings spread out.
Rainbow was now an alicorn.(1)
"Whoa," was all she said.
"I know this is sudden," Celestia said to the former pegasus, "but it's the only way for you even have a chance against dark magic."
"It's alright, Princess," Rainbow said, bowing. "I understand that it's the only way I would stand a chance against Twilight if she has been taken over by dark magic, though I think I'll need a teacher to help me learn."
"Then you are in luck, as the last Knight before you has just been sent out, and I have an opening for a new student.
"But, princess-"
"No 'buts' Rainbow. You are now my student, and you'll need as much time as possible to learn combat spells, You won't be able to return for Ponyville for some time, but I believe that might be for the best."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Rainbow said.
"And you're fist lesson is a basic illusion spell to hide your horn." Celestia then showed Rainbow how to create the illusion of her pegasus body, which was a simple spell that Rainbow literally mastered to the degree she needed in ten seconds flat. She disguised her horn, and Celestia then said, "You'll be staying in the Knight tower until your training's done, Knight Dash. You are not to tell anypony else about this unless they say the words, "Olly Olly Oxen Free."(2)
"Of course, You're Highness," Rainbow said as she bowed yet again.
That Night- Cadence's mind scape
Caadence was having a lovely dream. She was back in the Crystal Empire with her husband, Shining Armor, and everything was perfect. No nobles had complaints, ponies were happy, and the Empire was protected from any and all threats by the Crystal Heart.
She was bored to death. Just once, she wished that her dreams would be exciting, but they were always like this.
Imagine her surprise when Nightmare Moon, Rarity, in nightmare form, and Galaxy Star, who she didn't know, appeared. To their surprise, she didn't panic.
"Uh, why aren't you panicking?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, hey Rarity. It's because this dream is extremely boring, and just having a talk with you two, and who ever the filly is, would be the most interesting thing for my dreams in weeks," Cadence said in a bored tone.
"You seriously aren't afraid of us? Galaxy said in disbelief.
"Why should I be? You're just figments of my imagination."
"Right," Nightmare said. "Well, we came to tell you to go to Twilight's room."
"Why?" the alicorn of love said.
"How should we know, aside from you really wanting to see her. We are just a part of your subconscious, after all," Galaxy said.
"Fair point," Cadence said. She then woke up. "Better go to Twily's room, then."
She got up, put on her regalia, fixed her hair with magic, and brushed her teeth, then went to Twilight's room, a process that took about ten minutes.
She knocked on the doors, and was surprised when she heard Twilight say, "Coming," as soon as the first knock sounded. "Oh, hey, Cadence. What brings you here?"
"I can't visit my favorite filly when I want," Cadence said. The two then did their traditional greeting.
After that, as well as a laugh, Twilight said, "Uh, Cadence, there's something I need to show you." She then brought out the journal, which was disguised as a normal book. "Last and second to last pages are the ones that have what I want to show you."
Cadence looked a little skeptical, but read said pages anyway, and her jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she read the pages. Twilight, how did you get this book?"
"Do you pinkie promise not to tell anypony?" Twilight asked nervously.
Cadence rolled her eyes. "Yes I pinkie promise," she said, doing the motions. "Now, where and how did you get this book?"
"Oh it isn't a book, it's a journal." She then added in a whisper just loud enough for Cadence to hear, "Celestia's personal journal, from her personal library, which I sneaked into."
"YOU WHAT?! I'M TELLING CELESTIA," Cadence yelled before Pinkie popped out of her mane with a scroll in her hooves.
"Sorry, Cadence, but doing so would be breaking the pinkie promise, and that would mean I have to kidnap you and recondition, for lack of a more pleasant word, you to not do so again, as well as talk to the author to adjust the story to where you didn't break it. Not that it wouldn't make the story exciting, but the little plot twist earlier and in the last chapter already did that, and his other story still has a lot of plot twists, so I doubt he'd want to add any thing else other than what he has planned." The pink pony then disappeared to another story to mess with another author, though the two alicorns didn't know this.
"I think I'll keep it a secret," Cadence eventually said with surprise on her face. "And probably not think on what she meant."
"Me too," Twilight said, the same expression on her face. "There's actually something else I want to show you. It's in my room, actually."
"What is it," Cadence asked, rolling her eyes as she moved to Twilight's bedroom. She walked in, with Twilight closing the door behind them, and felt her jaw nearly hit the floor as she saw Nightmare Moon, Rarity, in Nightmare form, Galaxy Star, and Chrysalis. "I know I should be panicking, but the journal has removed my capability for logical thought right now." She took a deep breath and said, "Can you at tell me what it is that caused all of you to be here, and who she is," she said pointing to Galaxy Star, "though I assume that's my cousin, Galaxy Star."
"You'd be right," Twilight said as she went to stand next to Nightmare. "As for why we're all here, we're here to overthrow Celestia and recruit others, including you."
"Why would I join with you, aside from the fact I'm part changeling?"
"For one," Nightmare said, "did she ever actually help you when you needed it, like the Empire?"
"She sent Twilight."
"Who was a unicorn at the time," Galaxy said. "And we both know an alicorn that was at full power had a better chance of defeating him then any unicorn."
"Plus, she isn't the best ruler," Chrysalis said. "I f it hadn't been for Twilight, nopony would have found you. If it were me, I would have had patrols there already, but she didn't. If so, it could have prevented the entire wedding fiasco."
"And she kept your heritage a secret from you, something you need to know, and should have known," Rarity said.
"Plus, if it hadn't been for her caring more about herself a thousand years ago, Nightmare wouldn't have happened.," Twilight said. "The way I see it, everything bad that's happened in the past thousand years is her fault somehow. Need I point out Tirek."
"And I think she somehow corrupted the Element of Generosity," Rarity said. "Has anypony else noticed how greedy I was before I had some sense knocked into me a few days ago."
"Yes," all of them but Chrysalis and Galaxy answered, and both of them because they didn't know her well enough.
"My point exactly."
"I suppose your right," Cadence said. "All right, I'm in." |
The ultimate evil | Training- Pt 1 | There was scilence as Twilight and her allies proccessed what Cadence just said. "Is anypony else surprised at how easy this was?" the lavender alicorn said. The others just nodded in agreement.
"Why is that surprising," Cadence said. "She hid my meirtage from me, sent help that might not have worked with the Empire, didn't even try to humor Twilight during the wedding, which was kind f stupid, as Twilight was one of the only ponies there who knew how I behaved, especially under stress, and, to top it off, instead of putting all alicorn magic in ordinary gemstones, decided to put all of it in Twilight, and we all know how that ended, right?"
"She does bring up good points, along with what you brought up, Twilight," Galaxy said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Twilight said. "In that case, Cadence," she said, holding out a hoof to shake, "welcome to the Eclpise."
Cadence took Twilight's hoof in her own, and they shook, the pink alicorn saying, "So, what's next?"
It was Chrysalis who spoke up. "We wait until midday, then go to Twilight's house to bring more nobles into our empire. We actually already have her parents in."
Cadence raised an eyebrow. "Really. When was this, and, more importantly, how? I thought they would have been loyal to Celestia."
Twilight's eyes narrowed a little, but not by a noticeable amount. "It was just after the summit ended earlier. As for how," she said, her horn lighting. "Well, you're a little curious, aren't you, not even trying to be subtle this early in your time for the questioning. Nt eve Rarity tok this quickly, and it took even me a while to decide to, and you always pegged me as a pony who would fight for Celestia, not against her. Really makes me think you're still loyal to the bitch," she said calmly, as if it was a normal conversation. "So, you really want to know how I brought them to our side?"
"Y-Yes," Cadence said nervously, fear on her face.
Twilight smiled. "Good," she said. She then fired the loyalty spell at Cadence, and it hit it's mark, though Twilight's allies were shocked at the fact she fired on Cadence.
Cadence, after recovering from the shot, looked around the room, knelt, and said, "Hail, Empress Twilight and the Eclipse."
"Good," Twilight said. "Now, what were you planning on doing with the information I gave you, as well as the knowledge you have of us?"
"I would have taken it to Celestia, my Empress, and would have told her that you had to be imprisoned, your allies hunted, and for those affected by your magic to be imprisoned as well, to ensure what I once thought was the safety of the country."
"And now?"
"Nothing, but keep it a secret," Cadence said, still kneeling. "I would still wish to be one of those at yor side during the conquest, if you and my other Empresses will allow it."
Twilight smiled again, and looked at each of her allies, who gave a nod. "You may," Twilight said as she faced Cadence again. "From this point on, you will be a member of the Eclipse leadership. As such, you are no longer required to call any of us 'Empress,' nor are you required to kneel for any of us. In fact, you are to treat us as equals, as we will you. That also means you'll be allowed at our war meetings. Is that clear, Cadence?"
Cadence rose, and gave a smile. "Yes it is, Twilight."
Solar Spire
Celestia was giving Rainbow the last part of her tour, which included all of the castle, as those in in Solar Knights were allowed just about everywhere in the castle. Actually, anywhere, so long as they had the Princess' seal on them somewhere, usually on an otherwise blank piece of paper.
The solar alicorn and her Knight made their way to a yellow door at the top of the spire they were at. Celestia opened it, and showed Rainbow inside. This is where you'll be staying, Knight Dash, during your training here in Canterlot."
"Wow," was all Rainbow could say. The room, on the inside, was almot exactly like her room back at her cloud house, only larger. And it had multiple signed pictures of the Wonderbolts. "Your Highness, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I like the room, I really do, but what if Twilight guts suspicious about the reason I'm here. She'd jut need to check newspapers to see if the wonderbolts are here, and last I checked, they aren't here."
Celestia brought a hoof to her mouth to surpress a giggle. "Maybe you should look at more then just newspapers, then, Rainbow," she said as two pairs of hoofsteps could be heard.
As the two ponies came closer, Rainbow could see the slihouette of two taller than normal unicorns, but with the body build of a pegasus. Celestia stepped aside as they came into Rainbows visual range, and her jaw dropped.
Standing there, with horns and wings, were Spitfre and Soarin from the Wonderbolts.(1)
"You asked for us, Ma'am," Spitfire said as she and Soarin saluted Celestia.
"Indeed I did. I wished for you two to be here to help with the new recruits cover from her friends," Celestia said as she gestured to Rainbow.
The two followed the white hoof, and Spitfire raised her eyebrow. "So, the one who broke so many academy records is the new recruit, eh. Can't say I'm surprised. She always did have that spark a Knight has."
"Precisely," Celestia said. "And I want the two of you to assist in her flight combat training as well."
"Of course, Your Highness," Spitfire and Soarin said, saluting.
"Good. That will begin tomorrow. Until then, I simply wish for the three of you to socialize."
The three former pegasai saluted and said, "Yes, Ma'am."
"Then I shall see you all tomorrow at noon," Celestia said before walking away, going to her personal quarters.
Once she was gone, Rainbow initiated conversation by saying, "So, um, when did you two become, well, Knights?"
"A few weeks ago after we helped the royal guard at Manehattan with a few problematic griffons that were holding a restaurant hostage for some reason," Spitfire said.
"What about you, Rainbow," Soarin said. "How'd you become a Knight?"
"I kinda brought a conspiracy to the Princess regarding Twilight being controlled by dark magic and planning to overthrow her," Rainbow said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with a small, embaressed smile on her face.
"Well, let's hope that the princess and the rest of the Knights, as well as us, can defeat that, because if not, then we can kiss peaceful rule goodbye," Spitfire said with a confident smirk.
"I hear that," Soarin said cheerfully, which earned an eye roll from the yellow alicorn.
"Soarin, how many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't act like that when we're talking about dark magic?"
"What? I'm just saying. We have Princess Luna and Princess Cadence on our side as well. I don't think even Princess Twilight would be able to defeat them and the best of the Solar Knights."
"Actually," Rainbow said, "I saw Princess Luna enter Twilight's room just before I went to the Princess, so it might be harder than what you think, Soarin."
"Of course it wouldn't be that easy," Soarin grumbled. "Why would it ever be that easy?"
"Oh, stop complaining, Soarin. You know that shit's never easy for the good guys in Equestria. Remember Tirek," Spitfire said in a taunting tone.
"Yeah, yeah, I see your point," Soarin said, "but we deserve an easy villain, given how often we're attacked."
"He does have a good point," Rainbow said. "With how often we're attacked, we deserve an easy-to-defeat villain for once, even if the one after may very well destroy Equis, even though we stop them at the last minute with some kind of Deus Ex Machina. Did I just say that, by which, did I just use egghead words?"
"Yes you did, Dash," Spitfire said. "Looks like your ascension resulted in you getting a higher IQ and better vocabulary."
"Great," Rainbow said sarcastically. "I'm turning into a full fledged egghead."
"Actually, Dash, you'd need to do a ton of studying to become a full Knight, so you're going to be an egghead at the end of this," Soarin said.
"In other words," Spitfire added, "stop complaining, Knight, and suck it up. Every Knight has to go through the same thing. Me and Soarin are still working on becoming full Knights, having only gone through the flight portion of the learning portion, and that's only because we were pegasai before."
"Right," Rainbow said, still a little apprehensive about becoming what she considered an egghead, even if she was wrong about stuff like reading before.
The next day-House hold of the Sparkle family; Near noon
The house hold that Twilight had been raised in now saw the most amount of visitors since Twilight's coronation. Included in the visitor count was Fancy Pants, his wife, Fleur De Lis, Deep Pockets, an old family friend, and Steel Sword, one of the higher ranking members of the guard, and a friend of Night Light's.
"So," Steel said to Pocket, "why do you think they asked for us?"
"No idea, but it must be important, seeing as how Fancy and his wife are here," Pocket responded.
"True," Steel said. "Personally, I think it has to do with their daughter. Celestia, and all of the guard, know she doesn't have a special somepony, and some don't even know her orientation."
"Really?"
"Yeah. In all fairness, though, she isn't exactly the most social pony out there, even if she is the princess of friendship. I mean, she blew off the party for one of her friends, Moondancer, my sister, due to a theory, which could have waited an hour or two, in my opinion, as Nightmare's return wasn't until the next morning, and the party was in the morning. I should know; I helped plan it."
"Then let's be glad Nightmare Moon had only two comings," Pocket said, only to be proven wrong by the universe a few minutes later.
Night Light and Twilight Velvet walked to the front of the crowd and got it's attention with, of all things, an air horn. This also distracted the crowd as a faint shimmer like sound came from the doors and windows with a light blue aura.
Once the air horn stopped, Night Light said, "Thank you for coming, everypony. Me and my wife knew it was on short notice."
"Now," Velvet continued, "I imagine you're all wondering why we asked for you." A few nods from the small crowd. "Well, that isn't for us to say." This got a few surprised faces from the crowd.
"What do you mean, Velvet," Fancy Pants asked.
"What she means," a female voice none in the crowd recognized said just before a light blue flash appeared in front of the two owners of the house. When it faded, six mares stood in front of the crowd, four of which were recognized instantly.
"IT'S CHRYSALIS/NIGHTMARE MOON!" was the main yell, though quite a few, including Fancy, Fleur, Steel, and Pocket had their eyes drawn by the two princesses.
"SILENCE!!" Galaxy yelled, lighting her horn and casting a silence spell on the crowd, though it was modified to affect only those that were yelling. "YOU WILL LISTEN TO YOUR NEW RULERS!!"
This got literal silent protests from many, but it was Fancy, who could still speak, who voiced them. "Why would we willingly folow two ponies, or, rather, one pony and one changeling, to be technical, who tried to overthrow Princess Celestia, as well as one pony we don't know. Princess Twilight is a ruler already, and I would follow her, but how can we be certain you aren't controlling her?"
A few of the silent ponies were surprised at the last part of the sentence, but couldn't protest. Those who could speak just stood there, surprise on their faces as well.
Twilight spoke up. "Because, Fancy Pants, it was I who brought Nightmare back, and the one who proposed every thing we're doing. If anypony has reason to want to overthrow Celestia, it's me. She sent me on increasingly dangerous adventures, forcefully made me a princess, not even asking if I wished to be one, and it was I who was forced to carry Galaxy Star in my mind." She gestured to Galaxy. "Celestia didn't even tell Princess Luna, or Princess Nightmare, as it is now, that Galaxy, her daughter, was alive. As another thing a good ruler should have done, but Celestia didn't, was tell me, Twilight Sparkle, that I was her daughter!" She summoned Celestia's journal from her room, and passed it to Fancy. "If you require proof, read the final page."
Fancy did so, and his eyes widened. "What is it, my love," Fleur asked in a prench accent.(2) Fancy passed the journal to her and the others in silence.
"I knew she was adopted," Pockets said as he finished reading the page, "but even I'm surpirsed at this."
"So," Cadence said, "are you with us?"
For the most part, the ponies that couldn't speak nodded, though it was mostly out of fear, as those that didn't were shot through the head with a precise, directed magic beam from one of the alicorns, killing them.
"Well, before I make my decision," Pockets said, earning glares from the Eclipse leaders and looks of fear from those silent, "what do you plan on doing to Shining Armor, Twilight? He's still your brother by law, if not by spirit."
"He'll survive," Twilight said. "He is Cadence's husband, after all. If he fights back, then he will be severly injured, but not killed."
"I suppose that's what I'll gave to accept, Pockets said as he bowed, "my Empress."
Twilight smiled at this, though it was a small smile. "What of you, Steel? You're a royal guard, but I have heard you say quite a few times when we were kids that you wished a new ruler would take Celestia's place, if only temporarily."
"As long as you don't harm my family," he said, "you have my loyalty, but you'll need to earn enough of my respect for a bow."
"No need for that, Steel," Twilight said. "You'll be one of my personal guards," she said, lightning her horn. "All you need is for an armor spell to be cast on you."
Twilight then fired the loyalty spell, which hit Steel in the head, and jumped from him to a few other nobles, which didn't include Deep Pockets, causing them all to bow, and those that could speak say, "What is your command, my Empress?"
"Nothing, at the moment," Twilight said. "Just stay where you are, and ensure none leave this room with out permission from me or my allies."
"Yes, Empress," was the reply.
"No need to fear, Fancy, Fleur. That just affected those that were lying about being loyal. It looks at brainwaves, and goes after those that are similar to the original targets at the time of impact," Twilight said, turning to the last two nobles. "Are with us, or not? I won't kill you if you decide not to, I'll just cast a memory spell on you that will erase your memories of what happened here."
"Well, were you telling the truth, about what you'd do with Shining Armor and Steel's family?"
"Yes. I wouldn't lie to somepony's face about family, unless I was sparing them pain, and Shining, though he's Night Light's son, is the son that Pockets never had, and I wouldn't lie to him about that."
"In that case," Fancy said, an eyebrow raised, "what do you plan on doing to your mother?"
Canterlot Castle Gardens- Meanwhile
"Achoo," Celestia sneezed as she oversaw Rainbow's combat flight training. Hm. Must be pollen, she thought to herself.
Spitfire and Soarin were teaching Rainbow basic combat manuevers, which she got under her wings quickly. The one they were teaching her now alos included a bit of unicorn magic, using it to be able to turn at ninety dgree angles with out any ill effects. Makes for good evaison techniques.
"Come on, Rainbow!" Spitfire shouted. "Faster, faster. Ponies using dark magic won't wait for you to turn. If you stand still, they will mess up your shit before you can know it!"
Rainbow didn't retort verbally, much as she wanted, and only tried harder to perfect the technique. The initiation into the Knights had changed her demanor some what, which led to her not being a wise plot, even if she wouldn't be when talking to her idols and the Princess.
Just as Rainbow tried it again, Celestia remembered what had happened last night. She had gone to her chambers and entered her personal library, only to find out that her journal was missing. Given what Rainbow had said, she had an idea of who took it, but didn't want to believe that it was Twilight who took it.
What if she finds out about Cadence, or that I'm her mother, she thought to herself, looking down at the ground. The most I can hope for, I guess, is that the knowlege deters her from the path Rainbow Dash and I believe she is on. After a second, she added, Which, hopefully, she is not.
Sparkle residence
Twilight honestly had no answer. Fancy had just asked what she was going to do to Celestia, and she had no answer. "Honestly," she said, "I don't know. Before I found out, I was thinking of killing her, but she is my mother, and I can se eher reasons, so I'm not so certain right now. Is that enough of an answer?"
"For me, yes, but I want to see what my wife, Fleur will decide before I make my descision," Fancy said, looking to his wife.
"Well, I suppose there are worse and less qualified ponies ot take the throne, and with less reason," Fleur said, "so I'm with her, but only if she doesn't kill anymore unless it's neccesary." She glared at Twilight and the others with the last part, and, even though most of them were alicorns, they still backed away a little at her gaze.
"We won't. Pinkie promise," Twilight said. "It's an unbreakable promise, unless you want to get chased by a pink pony who breaks the laws of physics," Twilight added at Fleur's look.
"I guess that's as good as I'm going to get," Fleur said. She then bowed. "What is your command, My Empresses?"
"Yes," Fancy said, also bowing. "What is your command, My Empresses?"
"Right now," Galaxy said, "you are to simply wait for us to send word via changeling to begin riots against my aunt. All of you! Is that clear?"
All of the nobles, including Night Light and Twilight Velvet, bowed and said, "Yes, Empress Galaxy."
"Good," Galaxy said wiht a smirk as she lit her horn and removed the selective silence spell. "Now, return to what you were doing before you came here, unless you have something scheduled to do."
The nobles bowed again, and those that didn't live in the house left. As they did so, Twilight whispered to Chrysalis, "Have the changelings here in Canterlot follow those the loyalty spell wasn't cast on. I don't want to risk anything."
"Already sent the order out," the changeling queen replied. "In fact, a few of said nobles are changelings, including Fancy and his wife."
"Useful and noted," Twilight said before turning to her adoptive parents. "I want you two to provide housing for Galaxy. I don't want to run the risk of the guards not with us to find her." She turned to her cousin. "If you're okay with it, that is, Galaxy."
"I am," the other alicorn said. "After all, I'd probably do the same, if I were in your position."
"In that case," Twilight said, turning back to the two unicorns, "you two are to do whatever Galaxy Star says without hesitation, unless you wish to be punished. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Empress," Night Light and Twilight Velvet said, bowing, with Velvet adding, "We would be honored to provide housing to one of our rulers."
"Good," Galaxy said. "I'll be moving in at once." She then turned to Twilight. "What's our next conquest, Twilight?"
"Yes, I must admit, I'm curious as to that myself," Rarity added.
"As are the rest of us," Nightmare said, "and that does include Luna as well, who is with us now, by the way."
After a small laugh, Twilight answered by saying, "Easy. We're going after the Crystal Empire next. And Nightmare, how can you tell Luna's with us."
Nightmare responded by pointing to her head.
"Right," the lavender alicorn responded, and lit her horn with the seperation spell. "Get ready, this is going to sting." She fired the seperation spell at Nightmare.
When it hit, Nightmare instantly recoiled, but her head went back to it's original position. Once that had happened, a mist the color of navy blue began to come out of her ears. After about ten seconds, the mist stopped coming out of the lunar alicorns ears and began to form a pony slightly smaller than Celestia, but taller than Twilight, with a navy blue coat and a similar etheric mane and tail, with highlights of a lighter blue at the edges.
"Welcome back to the world of the physical, Luna," Nightmare said after Luna's body had been fully formed.
"It is good to be back," Luna said, stretching out her muscles. Once she was done, she straightend out, and said, "What will you all do with me?"
"Nothing," Chrysalis said, "if you remain with us, that is."
"You have nothing to worry about from me, as long as you do nothing to me," Luna said.
"We won't, mother," Galaxy said.
Luna teared up upon seeing Galaxy, as both she and Nightmare thought of themselves as her mother. "Hello, my sweet Galaxy," she said, pulling her daughter into a hug, leaving Nightmare out.
"You're in this family too, Nightmare," Luna said, surprising the alicorn. "You are her aunt, after all." Nightmare only looked at Luna with a dumbfounded expression.
"What?"
"I consider you more my sister than Celestia," Luna said, "considering what has come to light.Now, do we have to force you in this hug, or not?"
This got some laughs from the others. Nightmare began ot cry with tears of happiness, and joined in the hug. "Thank you," she whispered to the other two alicorns in the hug.
"Of course," Luna said. "Sister," she said, using a term of affection that was orginally meant only for Celestia.
"Is it okay if I stay here with you, Galaxy?" Nightmare asked.
"Of course it is, auntie."
The three alicorns pulled out of the hug, and Luna said, "I imagine I'll take Nightmare's place at the castle, Twilight?"
"Just until we usurp Celestia," Twilight said. "Forunately, we took steps to cover our tracks, so she shouldn't be suspicious."
Canterlot Gardens
"Nice work, Dash," Spitfire said to Rainbow as she finished a complicated maneuver that involved doing a corkscrew while doing a loop going up once, then down once, something even Spitfire and Soarin had trouble with, but Rainbow got on her second try.
"Thanks, Spits," Rainbow replied as she landed. "What's next?"
"Up next," Celestia said as she walked up, "is magic training. More accurately, a spell to protect you from mind control. The only one who can overcome this spell is Discord himself, and that has been tested.
"Now, imagine what ever you wish, as long as it is something personal to the point your entire being is based around it. The closer it is to your core self, the stronger the spell will be."
Rainbow did so, thinking of the one thing that made her who she was. It was, ironically, not loyalty to her friends, even if it was a part of it, nor was it her desire to be the best flier, or even the fastest. Instead, it was her darkest secret, the one thing she had never said, even on the occasions she'd been drunk, and something that pained her just to think about under the circumstances.
She had a crush on Twilight.
It took her a while to know this. With her best guess, it had started just after Twilight had gotten her hooked on Daring Do. At the time, she thought she was straight, as she had been interested in a few stallions, both before and even after she met Twilight, as well as after the book incident. Really, she had only known ever since the vine issue, when she had felt worried fro Twilight more than she thought she would, even as a friend, when she was attacked by the vines. Ever since then, she had kept it a secret, not for herself, but because she didn't want Twilight's image ruined by the more stupid ponies who thought a princess shouldn't have a same gender relationship, and that number was high, ironically, due to the amount of same-sex couples, female ones especially.
She focused this feeling, and she instantly felt some kind of wall around her mind, and it felt like a steel wall reinforced by titanium.
A second after this, she felt something press against it, but the wall did not break, even after a few minutes of the pressure.
"Impressive, Rainbow," she heard Celestia say as Rainbow opened her eyes. "I haven't encountered a mental wall like that since Starswirl, and he wanted to remain a unicorn. Quite impressive, seeing as how you started out with magic just yesterday. If I may ask, what did you focus on?"
"Well, uh, it's kinda personal, Princess, and I don't fell comfortable talking about it," Rainbow said with a small blush of embaressment.
"Of course," Celetia said, though it was with sad tone, which Spitfire picked up.
"What's wrong, Princess?"
Signing, Celestia said, "I suppose it's time you all know." She took a deep breath, and told the three former pegasai her secret. "Twilight Sparkle, the one that got Rainbow's attention, and princess of friendship, is my daughter."
"WHAT?!" Rainbow yelled. "THAT MEANS I'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH A PRINCESS THIS ENTIRE TIME?!" This last one got looks from Spitfire and Soarin, and a surprised one from Celestia. "Heh, heh, right. Guess I should spill now, huh?"
"Yep," the two Wonderbolts responded.
"Right. Well, I guess I should start from the begining," Rainbow said. She looked to Celestia. "I'm guessing she told you of the whole book thing?" Celestia nodded. "Well, I first felt something after that, but I thought it was just gratitude towards her for getting me hooked on the series. I didn't really know until the vine thing, when you and Princess Luna were missing. Twilight was being attacked by a some vines breathing something that made her twist in pain. It was then I knew that I had a crush on her, but I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to risk the nobles and other crazy ponies getting inot an outrage and demanding Twilight step down because they thought no princess should fall in love with a mare."
"Ah, I should have known ponies like that still existed," Celestia said. "Well, then, Rainbow, let's hope, not just for Twilight's sake, but ours, that you're wrong about her using dark magic."
"You and me both, Princess," Rainbow said as she looked at the noon-day sky. "You and me both." |
The ultimate evil | Training-Pt2 | It's been one day since Rainbow's Solar Knight training, as well as her confession as to her crush on Twilight, and said cyan alicorn was working on shielding spells, similar to those Shining Armor, who knew of the Knights, but wasn't one, due to his position as Captain of the Guard, had done just before the changeling invasion and the more, ahem, statistically less safe combat spells. as Rainbow still wasn't used to the concept she may very well have to kill someone.
She was currently working on casting both at the same time, which was difficult due to the fact magic shields were created to stop all spells from all directions, including from the inside.
"Come on, Rainbow," Spitfire said. "Even Soarin and I got this in an hour."
"Well I'm not you two, now am I?" Rainbow retorted as she tried to fire a spell out of the shield, which only resulted in said spell dispersing on the magic dome.
"It is quite alright, Rainbow," Celestia said. "Even Luna and I had trouble with certain spell combinations when we first tired them. Even Twilight once had trouble with those types of spells." A small smile came to the solar alicorn's face as she recalled that even, which ended in a burnt cake, cold tea, and a destroyed wall.Her expression then became sorrowful as she remembered the reason Rainbow was now an alicorn. "If only I had told her," she said, referring to the fact she regretted keeping her and Twilight's relation from her.
"Told her what, Princess?" Spitfire said, bringing Celestia out of her thoughts.
"Told Twilight that I'm her mother. Perhaps then, we wouldn't need to worry if Twilight truly has become corrupt, or if it is simply a misunderstanding."
"We could always ask her legal parents if something's up," Rainbow said, her shield still up. "You know, see if she's been acting weirdly. She did go to visit them after that summit, and again a day after that."
"That may very well work, Rainbow," Celestia said. She turned to the two wonderbolts and said, "I want you two to pose as reporters, and go to the light family house, and see what you can discreetly get as to if something is wrong with Twilight."
"Yes, Ma'am," they said, saluting. "We'll do our best," Spitfire said before they walked away to follow through on their orders.
Celestia then looked to Rainbow and said, "That's enough for today, Rainbow. You've been trying it for nearly three hours, and the fact you're still on your hooves is impressive."
Rainbow stopped the spell, panting heavily, and said, "Thank you, Princess."
"Of course, Rainbow," Celestia said, smiling as she did so. "What's been on your mind since yesterday, Rainbow?" she asked, noticing Rainbow's saddened expression.
"Oh, nothing, Princess. Just. . . thinking on some stuff, is all."
"Oh," Celestia said, moving beside her most recent student. "Like what?"
"Honestly? Do you remember me telling you about mt biggest fan, Scootaloo?"
"Yes. May I ask why you ask that?"
"It's just, well," Rainbow paused, not sure how to say what next. "Well, I told you she was an orphan, right?"
"Indeed."
"Well, there's a reason I get along with her so well, and it might have to do with that small fact."
Celestia was about to ask what she meant when the words registered, but she had to ask to make certain. "You'r one too, aren't you?"
Rainbow laid down on the ground. "Yeah. Never knew my parents. A few times in cloudsdale, when I was a filly, I thought I saw a stallion that had my hair, and thought he was my dad. When I last went there, I was able to track him down, and, with a small illusion spell Twilight cast on me, I asked him if he had a daughter, and he said no, that he had never even been married. I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, huh?"
"That's for you to answer, but if I may ask, what brought it up?"
"Just that everpony I know has family, and I don't. Scootaloo, at least has an aunt she stays with. Me? Nopony. You have family in Princess Luna and Cadence, even Twilight, and she has a large family. All of my friends have had somepony to care for them." Rainbow began to tear up, but a white wing draped itself over her. She looked and saw Celestia sitting next to her.
"Rainbow, I know my words can't fix the pain you went through as a filly," she said, "but I think I have something that may bring both of us happiness."
"What's that?"
"Well, ever since Twilight became a princess, which she should have been to start off with, I suppose, I've wanted to spend time with her, as a mother should, and you have always wanted a parent, correct?" Rainbow nodded. "Well, I just had a thought, if you're willing. If you are I was hoping to adopt you."
"But Princess, why? If I do, then what about Twilight? Wouldn't it be considered incest or something?"
"I suppose, if you just look at official records, but one thing you must know, Rainbow, is that there have been siblings, one of whom has been adopted by the others family, that have gotten married. It's so commonplace in Equestria, I'm surprised you haven't heard about that until now. The way most ponies, even some nobles, actually, look at it, is that as long as you aren't related by blood, it's not incest, even if others prefer to go by legality."
"I appreciate the offer, Princess," Rainbow said, "but I don't know if I should. I need some time to think on it."
Celestia let a small smile escape. "I understand, Rainbow. "Take all the time you need. I can wait for an answer."
"Thanks," Rainbow said. Celestia began to get up, but stopped when Rainbow said, "I do kinda still want you to sit next to me, princess."
"Of course, Rainbow," Celestia said as she sat back down and draped a wing over Rainbow.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Celestia said, "I do know for a fact that Twilight is one of the former, if it helps you decide."
"A little, but I'm going to see what the others think. As subtle as possible, obviously, but still."
"Of course, Rainbow. Take all the time you need. And you don't need to call me princess, Rainbow. You are still one of my daughters friends, even if she's been corrupted."
"Right, I'll try to remember that," Rainbow said.
"That is all I ask," the solar alicorn replied.
A few more minutes passed by in silence before Rainbow spoke up. "Uh, Pri- I mean, Celestia, is it okay if I ask Twilight out?"
Celestia smiled. "Of course you can, Rainbow," she said. "Who knows, if Twilight is corrupt, then you may be the one to free her."
"I hope so," Rainbow said, though it was with a small smile on her face.
The moment, though, was interrupted as Pinkie came hopping in. "Hey, Dashy," she said, not surprised at all that Rainbow was an alicorn.
Rainbow jumped and turned, saying, "Pinkie, what are you doing here?! This isn't just an area of the castle you can enter when you want!"
"Well, obviously, if you're just a normal pony," Pinkie said with her usual smile. "Only the princesses and Knights can come when they want."
"How do you know about the Knights?" Rainbow asked, lighting her horn and charging a stun spell.
"Stand down, Rainbow," Celestia said as she got up. "She knows of them because she is one."
"What? Then why does she still look like an earth pony when she should look like an alicorn?"
Pinkie laughed. "Because I'm not a pony, silly," she said before she was engulfed in green flames. When they faded, a changeling with pink chitin and blue eyes with yellow wings stood where the party pony once stood. "I'm a changeling. Why else do you think I wanted to be everyponies friend back in Ponyville?"
Rainbow was about to say something before her face took on a look akin to trying to process a lot of information, which, technically, she was. A minute later, she said, "That does explain a lot." She turned to Celestia. "And why wasn't I told. Pinkie's one of my best friends."
"Because I was afraid you would want her to be either killed or imprisoned when you first found out. The fact you aren't now, honestly," Celestia said, "is a little surprising."
"To be fair to her, Princess," Pinkie said, still smiling, "she's gone through a lot in the past two days, and it might have made it to where she didn't act on instinct, or at least not as often or quickly."
"Yes, I suppose," Celestia said., getting up. "Now, what do you have to report?"
"Well, the changelings in Ponyville, the idiots they are, are getting something ready. None of them know that I saw them at a meeting in, get this, Twilight's castle. With Spike being the one recording it. That means either she doesn't know this, unlikely, seeing as how just the slightest pressure from her will make Spike tell, or, and this is the more concerning one, she knows, and let's it happen, which begs the question as to why, and I doubt it's a party."
"That is cause for concern," Celestia said.
"Yep, which is why I sent a message out to the other changeling Knights to let the Knights they work with about what's going on, because if Twilight's been corrupted, then things are going to get sad and depressing."
"Good," Celestia said. "Tell them I want them to conduct investigations as to if there are any other changelings."
Pinkie saluted and said, "You got it," before flying away.
"Still a little weird," Rainbow said, "but at least this explains a lot about how she has her abilities."
"Yes, I imagine it does. Even before I recruited her, a few months after Luna's return, I knew she had unusual abilities for an earth pony, and learning she is a changeling explains most of them. The only one it doesn't is her pinkie sense."
"I can imagine," Rainbow said before spreading her wings. "Well, see ya later, Celestia. Need to plan the date," she said before jumping into the air and flying off.
As she made her way to her room in the Solar Spire, Rainbow began to think over what to do for the first date with Twilight. She figured they'd go somewhere they both liked. Doughnut Joe's, maybe.
"Okay, so definitely going there," she said as she landed, "but what if she doesn't want to go there? Then again, it has been a while since she went there, and she did say it was her favorite restaurant in Canterlot, so that's doubtful. And I'm turning into Twilight." Rainbow walked into her room and laid down on the bed in the back of the room. "Okay, now that that's decided, what should I wear," she said. "Wait, why do I care? We're naked to begin with."
Rainbow was on her bead a few more minutes before getting up and, casting the illusion spell, hid her horn and left her room, and made her way for her friend's rooms so that she could see what they thought on the whole incest/not incest thing. She knew Pinkie wouldn't care so long as those involved were happy. Twilight, according to Celestia, any way, was accepting of ponies like that. The others? Who knew?
As luck would have it, she ran into Applejack on her way to the rooms. "Oh, hey, AJ," she said.
"Hiya, there, Dash. What'cha been up to?"
"Not much," Rainbow replied. "Listen, can I ask you something?"
"'Course ya can," Applejack said. "What is it ya wanted to ask?"
"Well, you see, I have this friend back in Cloudsdale. Her name's Blue Thunder, and she recently got married to a stallion that was her adoptive brother. I asked her family and her other friends on it, and they said that as long as she was happy, they would be, and it got me wondering as to what you and the others think of that. If it could be considered incest or not, I mean."
"And you want ta know what ah think on it?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah," Rainbow said sheepishly.
"Well, I'm not for it mahself, but if that makes other ponies happy, then to each their own, so long as it's not in the apple family," she said. "That help?"
"Yeah, a little," Rainbow said before she started walking towards the rooms. "Thanks, AJ!"
"No problem, RD," Applejack said. Hm, that's a little interesting, the farm pony thought. Might want to keep a eye on her, and maybe ask Empress Twilight to look up records for her friend. Something just didn't seem right with that story. Applejack then made sure to follow Rainbow as she talked to the others, as she asked the others, meaning Rarity and Fluttershy, the same thing. Fluttershy gave a similar answer to Applejack's. Rarity went the legal way of looking at things, but hid it well, saying that it was very unorthodox. Both of them saw Applejack, and followed Rainbow with her to Twilight's room.
She knocked on the door, and Twilight stepped out. From where they were, the three mares couldn't hear what was being said. "What do you think, Empress," Applejack asked Rarity.
"I don't know, Applejack, but I'd guess something similar to what she asked us," Rarity responded. "Now quiet, so I can cast a listening spell." Applejack just bowed her head, and Rarity's horn lit. When the light faded, they could now hear the conversation.
"Rainbow," they heard Twilight say, "why would you ask me that?"
"I just wanted to know what you thought on that. You still haven't answered my question, by the way."
Twilight, though it couldn't be seen from the distance Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were at, rolled her eyes and said, "Well, if you have to know, I don't really care about that, so long as they aren't related by blood." Here, as far as the three eavesdroppers, it looked like Rainbow began to hop a little.
Before anything could be said, though, she stopped and, somehow, took on a more serious tone. "Well, thanks, Twi," she said before she began to rub the back of her head. "There's actually something else I wanted to ask you. It's totally different from the other thing."
"What is it?"
"Well, you see I was wondering if you, um, well, uh, why can't there be an easy way to say this?"
"Just say it, Rainbow," Twilight said, clearly annoyed.
"Okay, here it comes," Rainbow said before taking a deep breath. "Will you go out on a date with me?" |
The ultimate evil | The date/Defeat | Rainbow was, on the inside, hopping with nervous energy. She had jut asked Twilight out on a date, and Twilight just looked at her with a surprised expression, and she took it as a no.
"Oh, okay," she said before she walked away, her head lowered in disappointment.
"Rainbow, wait," Twilight said, causing Rainbow to look up and back at the lavender alicorn.
"What," Rainbow asked, her voice in between sorrow and happiness.
"Were you being serious, or was it supposed to be a prank?"
"I was being serious, Twilight."
Surprise appeared on Twilight's face again, and she said to her self, "Oh." She then said out loud, "In that case, Rainbow, yes, I'd like to go out with you."
Rainbow's face instantly brightened up. "Really?"
"Yeah. What were you planning?"
"Oh, uh, it's kinda a surprise, Twi."
Twilight actually giggled a bit. "Right. So, when are we going out?"
"Well, I was hoping, maybe, around eight, tonight?" Rainbow said in a sheepish way.
"Sure," Twilight said. "I'll be waiting at the front gates. Don't be late."
"Don't worry, Twi," Rainbow said as she ran to her room. "I'll be there!"
Once she was certain Rainbow was out of earshot, Twilight dropped the smile on her face. "I know you're there, Rarity. You can come out, now."
Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy came out from behind a nearby pillar, the latter two bowing. Twilight sighed. "Why?"
"Well, Twilight," Rarity said, "Applejack here found it a little suspicious that Rainbow asked the four of us as to her friend's marriage status, if such a friend exists, and followed her. Fluttershy and I simply joined her in that regard as Rainbow asked us. I must admit, I my self am curious as to why she asked that before asking you out, Twilight."
"Hm, Yes, I suppose that is weird," Twilight said, putting a hoof to her chin.
"Regardless, you really are considering going out with her, Twilight," Rarity said with a hint pf disgust in her voice.
"Of course. If I could turn her to our side, then that's one less threat to us, and one more to my mother. I do think these things through, Rarity."
"Oh, I know. I simply needed to make sure," Rarity said. "So, should i inform the others as to this?"
"That might be best, but have Applrjack inform Luna, and Fluttershy inform Chrysalis."
"Right," Rarity said. "You two heard her. Now, do as you're ordered."
"Yes, Empress," the farmer and pegasus said as they got up and went to inform Luna and Chrysalis respectively .
"So, what do you plan on doing to bring her to our side, Twilight," Rarity said once the other two were gone.
"A mix of logic and magic. I'll just point out stuff that Celestia has done to wrong her, and I'll use my magic to make her more likely to side with us."
"Well, if I may say so, Twilight, with out the loyalty spell, how can we be certain she won't eventually betray us?"
"Simple. Her love for me will make sure she stays loyal to us. Didn't both Chrysalis and Cadence say that love was a much more effective way of gaining loyalty?"
"I see your point, Twilight," Rarity said before making her way to her own destination. "Now, of you'll excuse me, I'll go inform Nightmare and Galaxy as to this little plan."
"That's alright, Rarity. I'll see you later. I'm going to let Cadence know, so I'll see you later."
"Why, of course you will. I still need to make you a dress for the date, even if it is just a fake one on your part," Rarity said as she disappeared from view as she turned a corner.
Twilight went in the opposite direction as Rarity, towards Cadence's room, which wasn't that far away from the lavender alicorns room. A few minutes later, she arrived at Cadence's room and knocked on the door, which opened a second later.
"Hello, Cadence," Twilight said.
"Twilight," Cadence responded in simple greeting. "I overheard your conversation with Rarity, and I agree that it is a good plan."
"How many ponies have been listening in on me?" Twilight said sarcastically, but Cadence answered her anyway.
"It was just me and the others, as far as I know, Twilight. Me out of making sure you were okay," Cadence said with a small smile. "You want to come in?"
"Sure. It'll be nice just to catch up, Cadence," Twilight said, stepping into her old foalsitters room. The door closed once she stepped inside and she sat down on a small couch to the side of the room's center.
"So, what were you and Shining up to before you came here for the summit, Cadence?" Twilight asked as Cadence took a seat on her bed.
"Oh, not much. Just the usual stuff. Dealing with paperwork and dispelling whatever bogus rumors popped up. In fact, just a month ago, one theory, one completely ungrounded, surfaced that said, get this, I was once Sombra's wife. Ridiculous, am I right?"
Twilight chuckled. "Yeah, it is. How did they even come up with that idea, anyway?"
"I don't know, something to do with a dream, I think."
"Well, in his defense, there have been weirder ones out there, I'm certain, and I know Luna and Nightmare would agree with me there."
"Yeah, I guess. But still, pretty crazy. I'm no where near Sombra's age." Both she and Twilight laughed a little. "Ironically, though, Celestia did ask us to search the castle in the Empire for Sombra's journals, and we did find two of them, each with spells that can be used to trap ponies that can only be undone by dark magic."
"Those may actually come in handy, later, Cadence. Any chance you can make cover duplicates of them and take the actual ones?"
"I guess. I have been known to be able to hide stuff from Shining a lot, so I'm sure I can hide them from him."
"Great," Twilight said, a smile on her face. "I think I have an idea for what to do with those, but I want to run through it first before telling you and the rest of the girls, Cadence."
"I understand, Twilight," Cadence said. "We are planning a revolution, after all, and it's best to go over every plan before deciding."
"Exactly," Twilight said.
The two continued to talk for a few hours until Twilight saw the time on a nearby clock, which read six-thirty. "Well, I guess I'll see you later, Cadence. Rarity wants to make me a dress for the date later, and we both know how she can get."
"Yeah, we do," Cadence said, giggling. "See you later, Twilight," she said as the lavender alicorn made her way to the doors and opened them.
"You too, Cadence," Twilight said before she left the room and closed the doors behind her.
An hour later
"Rarity, don't you think this is a little much?" Twilight asked as she tried on the outfit Rarity had made for her.
"Twilight, you may be the leader of our group. but which of us is a fashion designer?"
"Fine," Twilight grumbled in annoyance. The dress was simple compared to the usual Canterlot special occasion outfit, but still too much for Twilight's preference. The outfit itself had the same color as her Gala outfit for the main color, and a few streaks of accenting silver in the back. It was a little too tight, but Rarity had insisted it be this way so as to increase how attractive she would look to Rainbow. Her mane was made up into a bun.
"Oh, relax, Darling. Even if we can't use magic to turn Rainbow, you can always use your feminine charm."
Twilight just looked at the white unicorn with a deadpan. "Really, Rarity. You say that as if we mares are nothing but tools, even with us numbering more then stallions. And besides, until I'm certain Rainbow's on our side. I won't try anyhting to use her. After, she could be considered cannon fodder for all I care. I don't exactly have eyes for her, or anypony, for that matter."
"But Twilight, how? Why?"
Twilight shrugged. "Guess I'm just asexual." At Rarity's confused look, she added, "It means I'm not interested in stallions or mares, Rarity."
"Oh," Rarity said, momentarily stopping what she was doing. "But Twilight, why would you want to be that way. It means that you aren't interested in stallions, which means you won't have foals."
"Rarity, I could always just have a kid by internationalization."(1)
"Well, I suppose," Rarity said, getting back to work, which was just making sure the dress was on right. When she was done a few minutes later, she said, "Everything's in order, Twilight."
"Thanks, Rarity, but I still have about fifteen minutes until Rainbow comes for the date, so what should I do?"
"I'd suggest getting a move on to the front gate, Twilight. Besides, Rainbow's probably already there in excitement."
"Yeah, I guess," Twilight said as she made her way to the doors of Rarity's room. "Thanks, Rarity."
"Oh, think nothing of it, Twilight. You are my friend, after all."
"I know, but I still think I should thank you," Twilight said as she left the room.
A few minutes later, Twilight was at the front gates of the castle, and, true to Rarity's prediction, Rainbow was already there.
"Hey, Twi," Rainbow said upon seeing Twilight. The pegasus wore a simple outfit. It was a red version of the "suit" Rarity had made Twilight for her first birthday after moving to Ponyville. Her eyes widened as her mind processed what Twilight was wearing. "Whoa, Twilight. You look. . . beautiful."
Twilight giggled. It was fake, but it got the desired blush from her face. "Thanks, Rainbow. Rarity made this for me, just for tonight."
"Well, it definitely works for you, Twilight," Rainbow said. "So, should we go out now, or did you want to do something else first?"
"We can go now, Rainbow," Twilight said. "What are you planning," she asked as the two of them left the castle grounds.
"You'll see," Rainbow said in a cryptic tone.
A few minutes later, the two of them were n front of Doughnut Joe's. Even with it being the most popular store in the city, though, the only pony inside was the owner. "Uh, Rainbow, how?" Twilight asked as she and Rainbow stepped inside.
"I just called in a few favors from the Wonderbolts, who asked Celestia if she could clear it out for a few hours." Not technically a lie, as she was the one who asked Celestia if she could have it empty except for the three in it right now.
"I didn't know you had favors from them."
Well, did get a few last time I was in cloudsdale, not to mention when I saved Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot during the best young fliers competition."
"Makes sense, I guess," Twilight said as the two of them sat down and Joe came over, holding two menus in his magic. "Hey, Twilight, Rainbow," he said.
"Hey, Joe," Twilight said in genuine happiness, as he was one of the few unicorns she could consider a friend from before she had left for Ponyville. "How are you?"
"Good. If I may ask, why is it the two of you are wearing dresses. I don't think the Gala's for a few months."
"It's not," Rainbow said with a blush. "We're on a date."
"Really. I wouldn't have guessed that you two were ever going to be something," Joe said as he handed them there menus. "So, what do you two want?"
"I'll take my usual, Joe. Two glazed doughnuts with sprinkles," Twilight said, not even looking at the menu.
"Right," Joe said, writing it down. "And what about you, Rainbow?"
"Hm," the pegasus said, looking at her menu. "I'll take a chocolate glazed doughnut, a plain one, and a rainbow glazed one. Not because of my name."
"You got it," Joe said as he picked up their menus and walked towards the kitchen.
"So, uh, Twi," Rainbow said, "what have you been working on?"
"Not much," Twilight lied. "Though I have been doing a lot of research into Equestria's history, and I did actually find out some interesting stuff."
"Like what?"
"Well, one of the books I read was crazy enough to have in it that Luna was just a form Nightmare Moon took when in public. Crazy, right?"
"Yeah, it is," Rainbow said. "It is a little interesting, though." This was true.
"Yeah. Even I have to admit that it might mean the history we know of her is wrong." Twilight discreetly lit her horn, and put some magic into her words.
"What do you mean, Twilight," Rainbow asked, suddenly suspicious, but she hid it well.
"Just that Celestia might have been the real evil, and tried to do so secretly, but was discovered, and that led to the fight I saw with that potion during the vine incident."
"Yeah, I guess," Rainbow said in a dreamlike way.
"And then there's the fact Celestia attacked Chrysalis when all Chrysalis was doing was trying to fee her subjects. Was what she doing really that wrong?"
"No, I guess not," Rainbow said.
"Then there's what she did to you. She knew you wanted to be in the Wonderbolts, even before the Gala, but didn't get you a chance to see them before hoof so she could, what, have amusement at our, your, expense. Would you really want to follow a leader like that, one who would sacrifice their own subjects for amusement and rushes into conflicts, even if it means the death of another kingdom? Or one like me, who actually cares for ponies?"
"You, Twilight," Rainbow said, still in that dream like way.
It was here that Joe, carrting two plates of doughnuts, came out of the kitchen. And he had heard every word.
"Twilight, why are talking about the princess like that!?" he yelled.
"Quiet!" Twilight yelled, turning to him and shooting him with a magic blast, one that wasn't the loyalty spell.
(Those with weak stomachs, I suggest you leave now.)
Joe instantly fell to the floor, and couldn't get back up. What are you doing, Twi?" he asked in a fearful voice.
"Oh, nothing," Twilight said. "Just making sure my secret stays that: a secret." She lit her horn, and Joe screamed in pain as his rear hooves, bone, veins, and all, were crushed, the bone powder coming out of tears in the skin, as well as blood, his hooves flattened.
"What's going on?" he grunted out in pain.
"A simple gravity enhancement spell that I'm able to control with ease that I'm using to literally crush the life out of you," she said as the increased gravity made it's way up Joe's rear legs, causing him to scream in pain even more. Joe began to cry in pain as the gravity reached his nether regions, and the blood from there exploded out, causing the loudest scream he had uttered.
"Please, stop," he begged.
"I don't think so," Twilight said, slowing the advance of the spell.
It reached Joe's intestines, but didn't crush them, but rather caused them, and each organ above them, to move up. When the spell reached his ribs, Joe's lungs began to spill out of his mouth, blood all over them, and they came out slowly. Joe couldn't scream, both because his mouth was full, his lungs were in his mouth and coming out, or because of the pain. Any of them worked for the mad alicorn, who was smiling at this. The gravity continued to push up, and, eventually, Joe's heart, still beating rapidly from the adrenaline, came out. The sound of bones cracking could easily be heard in the otherwise silent restaurant. Joe's front legs were the next victim of the spell, and the end result for them, though it took longer to reach, was the same as his rear legs, and his stomach then began to come out of his mouth, his lungs and heart having already come out, and his jaw dislocated because of the size of the organs.
Joe was crying, Twilight, due to the magic that had corrupted her making her enjoy this, smile, and Rainbow, on the surface, was indifferent, but, on the inside, was throwing up, and she was close to doing so in real life.
The spell reached his throat, not doing anything but crushing it and causing what ever blood was there to spill out, as well as causing the intestines to start flowing out in reverse of how one would eat spaghetti, like the rest of the body. When it reached his skull, a loud snap could be heard, and, mercifully, the stallions heart stopped beating, the spine having been snapped, but Twilight didn't stop. She allowed the spell to crush his skull, gray matter that used to be a brain coming out from the cracks in the skull and tears in the flesh. His eyes exploded, causing blood and fluids to fly. Twilight stopped the spell on the body, and used it to then crush the organs that had come out, effectively creating a bloody mess of the store's owner.(2)
"And that, Rainbow, is how you really take care of those who would threaten your rule," Twilight said, not bothering to clean it up, nor pick up the doughnuts, a smart move, actually, as they too were covered in blood.
"Come on, Rainbow," she said as she made her way to the door. "I want you to go back to the castle. Don't tell the any about this."
"Got it," Rainbow said as she walked to the door in a dead pan expression. Twilight closed the door behind her, saying, "Now I just need to make this look like a random unicorn. Maybe Velvet and Night Light in a drunken rage they usually keep hidden. Oh, maybe those two that messed with Rarity when she first came here. They have it coming to them, and I haven't enthralled them."
Yeah, keep talking, Twilight, Rainbow thought in sadness as she took off with her wings to the castle, holding the contents in her stomach surprisingly well. She really is too far gone. A few minutes later, she landed in the gardens. She made her way t othe nearest bush and vomited right into it.
She had landed in the gardens because she knew this was the most likely place Celestia would be next to her room. Once she had finished vomiting, she wiped her mouth with her hoof, and rubbed that hoof on the ground, and began to walk in search of Celestia.
She found her a few minutes later, talking with Luna. Rainbow hid behind a pillar, the only pony she trusted was Celestia right now, and waited for Luna to leave.
She had to wait for half an hour before the lunar alicorn left, leaving her sister alone. When Rainbow was sure Luna had left, she abandoned her cover and made her way to Celestia.
"Uh, Celestia, something just happened with Twilight," Rainbow said, causing Celestia to turn her head.
"What," Celestia asked, fear in her voice.
"I-I can't describe it, princess," Rainbow said. "Look at my memories to know what."
Celestia, fear on her face, lit her horn, and examined Rainbow memories. When she was done a minute later, it was clear she wished to vomit as well.
"Then it is as we feared," she said. "Twilight truly has been lost. We must make sure she can not do-that to any pony ever again," she said with tears in her eyes. "We'll have to kill her," she said in a whisper only she and Rainbow could hear.
It was, amazingly, Rainbow who said, "It's for the best, Celestia. If she still had some control over her mind, she'd want us to kill her, if only to stop her from harming others." Tears were in the pegasus' eyes, though, as well.
"Agreed, but we have to wait until tomorrow. I am nt at my strongest during the night, and I'm certain I'll need to be at full power to defeat her."
The next day, Celestia sat upon her throne, Rainbow and Pinkie, both with somber expressions on their faces, to her left, Soarin and Spitfire to the right.
"It's almost time," Celestia said, sorrow in her voice. She had sent for Twilight, and Twilight only, an hour ago, and she had asked for Twilight to come to the throne room in an hour from that time, and it would be soon.
"I just wish we didn't have to do this," Rainbow said. "What are going to tell the others."
"That she decided to go on a world wide travel, hoping to learn more about cultures. Eventually, though, we will need to tell them that she died," Celestia said, her eyes tearing up. "Just not the truth as to how."
Two minutes passed, and the doors to the room opened, and Twilight walked in, all features of her corruption hidden. "I' here, Princess," she said. "Why'd you ask for me?"
"Because of what happened last night," Rainbow said.
It was here that Twilight saw the four other ponies in the room, and narrowed her eyes and lit her horn. "What are they doing here," she said in anger.
"To assist me in what must be done," Celestia said, rising from her throne as Rainbow, Spitfire, and Soarin dropped their disguises and revealed their horns, and Pinkie did the same, revealin her true form.
"I knew I should have gone after you when I arrived here, mother," Twilight said, dropping her illusions as well, showing her darkend coat, her green tinted eyes, and, of course, her black magic. Her last word caused Celestia to recoil in shock.
"You know?"
"Yes, I do. Just like I know what happened to my cousin, Galaxy. She's doing fine, by the way. Her and her aunt, Nightmare are out of city. I doubt you care though, seeing as how you practically banished the both of them. Want to know how I brought Nightmare back, mother," she said, using the last word as an insult. "I simply used a revival spell to bring her back. Not that hard hen you're the Element of magic."
"I did what I did for Equestria," Celestia said.
"But not the planet. There's more to the world then ponies, mother. But you don't care, do you. You only care for ponies. Well what about minotaurs, dragons, buffalo, and changelings. I don't see you making any laws to help them."
"That is enough," Celestia yelled at her daughter. "That is because they did not wish to be under my rule. I did not kill an innocent like you, Twilight!"
"I did so because I did not wish to be discovered, but it seems," she said, looking at Rainbow, who tried to hide, "I should have taken care of more then one last night. Regardless, I agree. It's time you died." She shot a beam of magic, her most powerful shot, at Celestia, but it was simply batted away, and fear appeared on Twilight's face. "No, that should have killed you. I knew I should have brought the others with me," she whispered. She then looked at the five in front of her. "What are you going to do? We both know you aren't willing to kill me.'
As the horns of the other four lit, and similar lights appeared around Twilight's hooves, Celestia said, sadness in her voice, "That, sadly, is where you're wrong Twilight." As confusion appeared on the daughter's face, the mother lit her horn, and understanding appeared on Twilight's face, as well as anger. True, uncontained rage.
"NO! YOU WON'T WIN, CELESTIA! I HATE YOU, AND I ALWAYS WILL! YOU HEAR ME!" Twilight yelled, causing a tear to fall down Celestia's face.
As Twilight continued to scream in anger, Celestia whispered, "I'm sorry," and fired a beam of magic at Twilight. When it hit, Twilight, all she was, was vaporized. Those that had been holding her in place releasde the spell, and Rainbow and Pinkie, along with Celestia, began to cry in shared sorrow. There would be no happiness, no celebration, no party, for this victory. Only sorrow and sadness.
They stayed this way for well over an hour. At which time, Rainbow and the other three Knights left the throne room, and Celestia, still drunken with sadness, retired to her chambers, knowing not even sleep could fix the new hole in her heart.
If she had the mental speed, though, she would have noticed a dark flash take Twilight away before her spell had hit.
In the space between universes, where nothing was made or destroyed, only taken to and from, a lavender alicorn lay, her head throbbing from pain. She opened her eyes, and saw only black.
"So, this is what being dead is like," Twilight Sparkle said before a voice she had never heard before spoke up.
"This is not death," a voice said, "but simply a new beginning for you."
"Who are you," Twilight said as she got on her feet, though it could hardly be considered standing, as nothing was below her.
A shape came into view. It had ashen gray skin, red eyes, and a somewhat humanoid appearance mixed with that of a spider, as it had two arms, the bottom two ending in claw like pincers, and the upper two being ordinary hands. He wore dark red armor that covered all but his face ."My name, young Twilight," he said, "is Plasma, and I am the one who gave you the powers you now have."
"A lot of good they did, seeing as how I died," Twilight said.
"You have not died," Plasma said, "as I teleported you here just before Celestia's spell hit you, saving your life. As for the spells I gave you, they failed simply because Celestia had discovered you prematurely. If she hadn't, I would have been able to give you more powerful spells, which I am still willing to give you."
'What's the catch?" Twilight asked.
"Simply that, when you win, you put all research into the mirror portals Starswirl made, and bring them under your rule. It's more then fair for you, if you ask me, seeing as how you're getting even more power," Plasma said, a small grin on his face.
"Nothing else?" Twilight asked.
"Only one other thing: If you should meet a black and red stallion whose name is Lone Shadow, kill him. That is it."
"In that case," Twilight said, "I accept the terms. I only ask that my allies be made aware of this."
"I have already informed them as to your predicament, and told them that it will be a year before you can return, so that you can learn the best ways to use the new spells at your disposal."
"I suppose that is fair."
Plasma smiled. "Good," he said. "Now, prepare."
A year later-crystal empire train station
Cadence, along with Chrysalis, Nightmare, and Galaxy stood alone in the train station, her having ordered the place cleared of any pony else for the next few hours, the official excuse being maintenance.
They had been waiting for thirty minutes, using small talk to pass the time, when an orb of lavender light appeared out of no where in front of them. When it faded, Twilight stood there, but she was slightly different then before.
The bottom of her legs had a red tint to them, and copies of her cutie mark were on them, much like when she used her rainbow form. What had once been the whites of her eyes were now entirley green, the irises now purple, and her corneas, the black part of her eyes, were some what reptilian. Her wings were mostly the same, but the back part of the top half were now black. She also now had a purple and cyan stripe in her hair. On her head was a black, steel crown with a cyan Element of magic in it.
"Hello, girls," she said. "How have you been for the past year?" |
The ultimate evil | A solar year | Canterlot castle- a few weeks after the failed uprising of Twilight
Celestia sat upon her golden throne as she listened to Blueblood give a speech about how the parks should all have statues of him. As if one of you wasn't more then enough already, she thought. "No, Blueblood," she said plainly. "The parks are meant for all. Now, please, leave. You aren't the only pony who wishes to see me today, and I apologize for being blunt, but I'd rather be alive to see them."
Blueblood's eye twitched, though he wisely did not test his aunt's patience. "Of course, auntie," he said with bow, and left the room.
"I'm beginning to wish I had let Twilight win, just so I could get a break from all this," Celestia said with a sigh just as the pony she wished to see the most walked in. "Hello, my daughter," Celestia said with a small smile towards her adoptive daughter, Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, Celestia," Rainbow said. "Sorry I couldn't make it yesterday. The performance got held up." Rainbow, with a word from Spitfire and Soarin, had gotten into the wonderbolts a week after the incident involving Twilight, and had been with them as they did a few big celebrations in cites like Manehattan for various reasons. The public still knew nothing of Twilight's "death", no one knew the truth, but Celestia and Rainbow had decided that they would say she had gone missing, and, after extreme search, was presumed dead. That wasn't due for another month.
"I understand, Rainbow," Celestia said as she got up from her throne and went to Rainbow's side, nuzzling the cyan "pegasus" when she reached her. "It's just good to see you again. I imagine, though, that word reached you of my new relationship?"
Rainbow blushed. "Yeah, and I still can't believe it. I mean, you and Rarity? I don't think anypony could have seen it coming."
"Niether did we, I'm afraid," Celestia said. "It just happened, and we went from there."
"Well, let's hope it turns out well," Rainbow said with a small laugh.
"Yes, that would be good," Celestia said, hiding her own chuckles. "Now come on, Luna's waiting." Rainbow's adoption was a closely held secret. Only she, Celestia, Luna, and Celestia's closest Knights, which included Pinkie, knew of it.
"Right. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting. Who knows how mad she'll get," Rainbow said.
"Yes, we don't need another Nightmare." Oh, Celestia, if only you knew. "Now, come on, Rainbow. It's time for lunch, and I'm certain there's a slice of cake for each of us." Both mares laughed as they exited the throne room and made their way to the kitchen.
"So, Rainbow," Celestia said, "what do you think of Rarity and I, any how?"
"So long as you guys are happy, I'm fine with it."
"Thank you, Rainbow. That means a lot. And you know you don't need your disguise when it's just us and Luna."
"Yeah, I know, but i just like this. Besides," she said with a shrug, "who knows what ponies Twilight brought under her hoof and are still on her cause even with her being, well, you know."
Celestia's smile instantly turned into a saddened frown. "Yes, that may prove to be an issue. Has anything occured with Applejack and Fluttershy since then?"
"Not as far as I can tell, no," Rainbow said. "But then again, the changes I did notice were only with Twilight there, so who knows. Maybe what ever happened just went dormant."
"Let's hope not, and that any other unicorns she enthralled can not cast what ever spell it is she used on the two of them."
A few minutes of silence passed before Rainbow spoke up. "What about Luna? If Twilight really wanted to overthrow you, she would have tried to bring Nightmare back."
"I imagine we discovered and stopped her before she could," Celestia said. "There would be obvious changes in Luna's behavior if that were indeed the case, as there are no recorded spells that can separate essences from their hosts."
"What about her cousin? Didn't she say she did so, and released Nightmare?"
"Galaxy was a special case, as she was her own being, and Nightmare, I imagine she was bluffing on that regard. I hope so, anyway."
Rainbow chuckled. "Yeah, I doubt even Twi could make a spell like that."
"I would not discount that yet, Rainbow. We both know how skilled in magic Twilight was, even before her ascension."
"Yeah, yeah, I guess."
Both of them arrived at the dining room a few minutes later. Celestia opened the door to reveal Luna and Rarity discussing something neither of them could hear. Luna was the first to notice them as they approached, but before they could hear the conversation. "Hello, sister," Luna said. "How did court go?"
"Blueblood," was all Celestia said in a glum tone.
"Ah. I am sorry for that. Rarity here was just telling me as to how you two discovered you feelings for one another," Luna said with a devious grin.
"Rarity," Celestia hissed in embarrassment. "You said we'd never speak of that incident in detail!"
"Oh, Celey, I simply told her in the barest of details how it happened. Nothing specific. A lady doesn't just kiss and tell, as I thought you knew," Rarity said in a playful manner.
"Yes, I do suppose your right," Celestia said. "But then again, we did do more," she said with a grin.
"NOT LISTENING!!" Rainbow and Luna yelled, covering their ears, which got laughs from the other two, and laughs from Rainbow and Luna as well soon after.
Celestia and Rainbow then took their seats next to Luna and Rarity, Celestia seated between the two.
"So, sister, what have you been up to since we last saw each other," Luna asked.
"Oh, just the usual, Luna. Paperwork, dealing with annoying nobles and Blueblood."
"So, nothing of note, then?"
"No. But then again, with what usually goes on in Equestria, that's not really saying a lot."
"No, I suppose not," Luna said. "And what of you, Rainbow," Luna asked, turning towards Rainbow with a small, glare you could only see if you looked for it. Or knew it was there.
"Oh, not much. Just flying with the wonderbolts!"
"Nothing else," Rarity asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope."
"Well, I guess it makes sense. After all, she does need to practice a lot to make sure she can do the new tricks," Luna said. "I, for one, can not wait for their next performance." As well as their final, she added mentally.
"I think that goes for all of us, princess," Rainbow said.
"Indeed, I know I look forward to it," Rarity said just as the food for the four mares arrived. For the most part, the dises were salad with varied dressings, and, for Celestia, a small slice of cake.
When they were all done fifteen minutes later, Celestia got up, saying, "Now, if you all will excuse me, I must return to day court."
"Of course, sister," Luna said. "Don't let us keep you."
"Yeah, and Spitfire wanted to see me, too," Rainbow said, getting up as well.
"I suppose we'll see the both of you later," Rarity said as she nuzzled Celestia. "See you later, my love."
"And I you, Rarity," Celestia said as she returned the nuzzle.
"Well, see ya guys later," Rainbow said as she flew to the doors and flew out, with Celestia following after breaking the nuzzle.
Once the two of them left and the door closed, Rarity said, "Well, it's about time they left. I hate having to act like I'm in love with Celestia. Especially since she adopted Rainbow."
"Rarity, calm down," Luna said. "We can not risk the guards overhearing us."
"Buck the guards, and Celestia, and Rainbow. They deserve to burn in tartarus for Twilight."
"I agree, but you and I both know she is being trained by one of it's rulers, and will return in a year."
"Yes, I know, and I know we have a plan for Celestia that, unfortunately, doesn't involve sending her to tartarus," Rarity said. "On the other hoof, when it succeeds, then I may be interested in her."
"That is still far off, Rarity," Luna said, getting up. "Now come, we must contact our friends in the Empire."
"Of course, Luna," Rarity said, getting up from her seat as well and following the alicorn of the night to her room.
Approximately three months after the "Twilight incident"
Celestia was in her personal quarters, Rarity being out to do shopping for her work, when she heard a knocking on the door. "Come in," she said, and the door opened to reveal Twilight Velvet and Night Light, Twilight's adoptive parents. "Ah, Velvet, Night, how nice to see both of you again."
Both unicorns bowed, Velvet saying, "And it's good to see you again, princess. We just wanted to check on you."
"Thank you, but I am doing fine," Celestia said. "In fact, I am more worried as to how you are taking the news." It had been released that Twilight was presumed dead after an extensive search throughout the entire country after she went missing on the coasts. Velvet and Night Light had taken it hard, and they were, eventually, told by Celestia about Twilight being the alicorn's daughter, after promising not to spread it. Not that they needed to, as Twilight and her allies had already done that.
"We've, well, we could be better," Velvet said. "Even though she isn't our daughter by birth, it's still hard to believe she's dead."
Celestia smiled, and decide to give them some hope, as crazier things then Twilight surviving her magic and reappearing one day free of corruption had happened. "Were it so easy for her to die, something tells me it would have happened before now."
A small smile came to the faces of the two unicorns. "I guess so, princess," Night Light said. "I guess."
Both bowed and left the room. Once they had left, they turned to the left, and headed towards Luna's room. When they arrived three minutes later, they knocked on the door. "Come in," Luna said, and the two unicorns entered and bowed to Luna. "Does she suspect?"
"Not as far as we can tell, Empress," Night Light said. "I do not think so. She believes too much in ponies loyalty to her, a mistake she has done once before."
"Indeed," Luna said. "What do you think, Rarity?"
Rarity, in her Nightmare form, stepped out of the nearby shadows and said, "I doubt it, Luna. How an idiot gave birth to a pony as smart as Twilight is beyond me."
"I imagine it's simply that she is too much of an appeaser, and has let peace cloud her mind," Luna said. "She wasn't like this before my banishment."
"And let's hope it remains that way until it is too late," Rarity said.
"Agreed."
The crystal empire-approximately six months after the "Twilight incident"
Cadence was giving Celestia a tour of what had been unofficially and officially dubbed the "Princess Twilight Sparkle" memorial, which was a rather large building that had a fair portion of Twilight's feats before and after her ascension in there, and even a few well drawn portraits of her as a filly, including her getting her cutie mark.
"And here's the part of it that took the longest," Cadence said as the two reached a rather large hallway. "The part of the museum that has to do with her time as a princess."
"I idn't think it'd take that long," Celestia said.
"Well, most of the workers did break into tears during this part of construction, so that set construction back a bit."
"I suppose it would." Celestia sighed. "I know it's been three months since we announced it, but I still can't get over the fact Twilight might be dead."
"I don't think any of us will be able to, auntie," Cadence said as she hugged Celesia with a wing.
"Yes, I know," Celestia said. "It doesn't make it any easier, though."
"I know, auntie, I know," Cadence said, shedding a tear, but laughing mentally. Too trusting.
Celestia pulled out of the embrace, smiling. "Thank you, Cadence. I needed that."
"Of course, auntie," Cadence said. "Now come on, Shining has something to show us."
"I wonder what it is," the solar alicorn said as she followed Cadence out of the soon to be open memorial building.
Approximately nine months after the "Twilight incident"
Celestia was upon her throne just as day court ended, and the time of day she set aside for her meetings with her top Knights was upon her. Once the last noble left, she immediately used her magic to create a topography table, showing the whole of Equestria, similar to the map that had been in Twilight's castle.
Ten minutes after this, the Knights came in. Among them were Spitfire, Rainbow, and Pinkie, though there were three others as well. They took positions around the table, with Celestia at the end closest to the throne. "What do you have to report," she asked.
"Well, your Highness," Sapphire Spirit, a mare with a, quite obviously, sapphire coat with teal eyes and mane and tail with cyan accents, "we've had reports from the other Knights in Manehattan that some ponies are being infected with dark magic, though the effects, as far as we cn tell, haven't surfaced. They're keeping an eye on those who are infected."
"That's good." Celestia turned to face Spitfire. "Anything from you, Spitfire?"
Said mare shook her head. "Nothing significant, ma'am," she said. "Nothing I noticed, anyway."
"Same here," Rainbow said.
"Oh, I have something," Pinkie said. "The changelings that think they're hidden in Ponyville? They seem to be getting ready to leave, and I'll be going with them to make sure we know why."
"Of course. Be careful when it starts, Pinkie," Celestia said.
"You got it," Pinkie said with a smile and salute.
"Anything else?" Celestia asked,to which their were shakes. "Good. If any of you need something while you are here, you need only ask."
"Of course, Princess," Sapphire said. "Thank you, and see you next month," she said as she and the other Knights excluding Rainbow left.
Rainbow noticed the look on Celestia's face, a small one of fear mixed with happiness, if that was possible. "What is it, Celestia," she asked.
"Nothing, Rainbow. I just. . . have a feeling, I guess you could say that I'll see Twilight just once more before the year is out, and she'll have forgiven me for what I did."
"Well, let's hope so," Rainbow said, moving to nuzzle her adoptive mother, who took it in pleasure.
The night of Twilight's return
Celestia tossed and turned in her bed. She was having visions, not nightmares, of Equestria in flames, ponies everywhere, dead, dying, and injured, a sight not seen for over a thousand years. But, amazingly, none of these got her attention the way the last part did. What it was, as far as she could guess, was a large army, two, large armies, doing battle in the area between Canterlot and the Everfree, a large, black castle in the background, and ten beings of immense power doing battle in the skies. The strange thing? Seven had an aura reminiscent of the Elements. One resembled Twilight's aura, but one was a complete unknown, but even in this dream, or vision, what ever it truly was, she could sense it's power.
The last thing she saw were, in a darkness blacker then space, were six. Red. Eyes, staring at her, as well as two purple iris' surrounded by purple, the corneas being somewhat like Nightmare's. The last thing she heard was, "I'll see you soon."
"Mother."
> Interrogation
"So, what have you girls been up to the past year?" Twilight asked Cadence, Nightmare, Chrysalis, and Galaxy.
Cadence waved a hoof, saying, "Oh, not much. For the most part, we've just been making sure Celestia didn't suspect your return and that she didn't once suspect we were with you."
"Plus," Galaxy said with a small smile, "we've been working on a plan to overthrow Celestia."
"Oh, care to let me in?" Twilight said.
"As soon as we get to the palace, Twilight," Chrysalis said as the group began to make their way to said palace. "Cadence, Nightmare, Galaxy, and myself were able to cast enough of a spell on the crystal ponies that they won't notice you or me, and see Nightmare and Galaxy as normal unicorns, but they will still be able to overhear our conversations, and we'd much rather play it safe."
"Right, I understand," Twilight says. "I'm surprised you guys aren't wondering why I look the way I do."
"We figured it's because of your training, and we figured that new Element of yours is simply a negative version of it Plasma, whoever he is, made it."
"You'd be right, there, Nightmare," Twilight said, tapping her new cyan Element. "It's the Element of dark magic, which I got training in over the last year, by the way." She began tapping her chin. "I think he said it was one of four, or something, and that they're more powerful then the Elements of Harmony. I actually think he said I'd meet him sometime this calendar year, actually."
"Well, who ever it must be, they'd better help us, for their sake," Chrysalis growled.
"I am certain they will," Nightmare said. "Oh, and you won't believe which of you is a changeling."
"I already know. Pinkie. She was there, with Celestia and the others, when I was defeated. How did you find out?"
"Pure chance. I happened to walk in on her as she changed into her changeling form a week ago," Cadence said. "She does't know. Obviously, she and the others are visiting."
Twilight smiled. "Then get Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. It's time they met with me. Oh, and Pinkie too. I want to know what she was doing with Celestia and Rainbow that night, as well as how Rainbow's an alicorn," she said, growling that last part.
"Wait, the Element of Loyalty is an alicorn," Nightmare said in surprise.
"I knew I felt ascendancy magic while we were in Canterlot a year ago," Galaxy said. "That explains it!"
"Then we might need another to have a chance, assuming Celestia did the same to other ponies," Twilight said. She then smiled a little. "I have to give Celestia a little credit though. She must have done that so she could have a chance against dark magic the Elements wouldn't be able to handle, even with us being the Elements. Probably one of her more intelligent moves."
"Agreed," Nightmare said. "Though, who did you have in mind for our ascendancy?"
"Dark ascendancy, Nightmare," Twilight said. "It's what first made you, and I was thinking of all of you girls getting that treatment, aside from Nightmare, obviously."
"I'm guessing it makes one even more powerful, even if they were an alicorn to begin with?" Galaxy said.
"If I understand it right, yes," Twilight said. "Now come on, we need to get to the palace. Cadence?"
"Yeah, Twilight?"
"Would you mind getting the others I said earlier?"
"Not at all, Twilight," Cadnece said as the group left the station, Cadence splitting off to get Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie.
Ten minutes later-palace throne room
Twilight sat on the throne in the palace. Fortunately, she had learned from Chrysalis on the way that Shining was away in Canterlot to help train a new batch of guards, and would be for the next week.
"Sitting on a throne fits you well, Twilight," Galaxy said from beside the seat of power.
"Thanks, Galaxy," Twilight said.
"No, problem, Twilight. So, what are you going to do specifically to your old friend?"
"I have a few things planned," was all the lavender alicorn said as Cadence walked in, Rarity close behind. They closed the doors behind them.
"Hello, Twilight," Rarity said. "The others are just outside. I must say I like the new look."
"Thanks, Rarity," Twilight said. "You know, I've been wondering: Haven't you always wanted to be an alicorn?"
"Why, yes, darling," Rarity replied. "Cadence told me of what you wanted to do," she said before she transformed into her nightmare form, "and I would be honored if you did so."
Twilight smiled. "Then hold still." She lit her horn, her magic having a distinct blood red color to it now, and an orb of the same color enveloped Rarity. When it collapsed five seconds later, Rarity was, for the most part, unchanged. The difference was that she now had wings in addition to her horn.
"Thank you, Twilight," Rarity said with a bow of her head.
"No problem, Rarity," Twilight said with a smile before she took on a more serious look. "Send them in."
"Right," Rarity said opening the door, with the three other mares walking in.
"Hello, girls," Twilight said with a smile as she took a hold of the pink mare in her magic. "And to you, especially, Pinkie. Want to play a game?" The look on Pinkie's face said that, for once, no, she did not want to play a game.
Celestia, in her personal room, stopped what she was doing, which was reading her favorite book. She set it down on her nearby desk, and put a hoof to her head. It can't be, she though to herself. I haven't felt something like since-
Her eyes widened in alarm. Not since Nightmare. She bolted out of her room, the guards not even trying to keep up with her at thes speeds. They had tried before, and it was impossible. Celestia rushed to Rainbows room and opened it, revealing Rainbow, her horn visible, sleeping on her bed, back on it. "Rainbow, wake up!" Celestia yelled. "Don't bother with your disguise."
"Wh-what's going on?" Rainbow asked as she jumped to her hooves.
"I will explain on the way to our destination," Celestia said, urgency in her voice. "Come, we have a long walk ahead of us."
"Right," Rainbow said, nodding and getting off her bed, not hiding the fact she was an alicorn.
"Now, Pinkie," Twilight said, she and the others still in the throne room. "Here are the rules: answer a question, and I don't break a limb. Don't answer too many, and I'll crush you. Understand?"
"O-only if you answer one of mine in return, Twilight," Pinkie said in fear.
"I don't see any harm in it, seeing as how we won't let her leave," Rarity said.
"Agreed," Twilight said. "First question: Why was Rainbow an alicorn?"
"Because the Princess made her one to help fight dark magic. My question: When did Rarity become one?"
"Just before I let you in," Twilight replied. "Are there more alicorns other then those in this room, Celestia, Rainbow, and the two that were there a year ago?"
At Pinkie's silence, Twilight applied pressure on Pinkie's front left leg. Pressing inward. There was aloud snap, and Pinkie screamed in pain as her leg bled from the dislocation.
"I'll ask again, Pinkie: Are. There. More. Alicorns?"
"Y-yes," Pinkie said, crying from the pain. "W-why, Twilight?"
"Why did I break your leg? Oh, well, I need to show I was serious. Don't worry, if you live, I'll make it better. Now, how many are there, and are they organized somehow, and are you, somehow, a part of them? Yes, I know, three questions. I'll let you ask three."
"I-I don't know. I really don't," Pinkie said, tears still coming from her eyes. "Y-yeah, they're organized. Yes, I'm a part of them." She looked Twilight in the face, sorrow evident. "Twilight, why are you doing this? After all we've been through? How could you try to over throw your own mother?"
"Why!? Because, she's the reason I nearly lost my life every damn time I did something for Equestria. The only reason I went to Ponyville was to make sure everything was ready for the Summer Sun Celebration! She didn't even try to distract Discord when he was free, and I don't care what she says the reasons were for the Empire, we could have had help from her or Luna! You and the others didn't really want to be my friend. You only wanted to get in with Celestia! NOT ANYMORE!! Now, what do you think of my new look?"
Pinkie only looked in confusion while answering. "Uh, nice, I guess. Why?"
"Thanks, and because I want to actually look good when I take over Equestria. Now, final question: Has the group working for Celestia ever had a traitor?"
"No. Why?"
"This," Twilight said, firing the loyalty spell at Pinkie, who was unable to get a mental barrier up in time before it hit her in the face. Twilight also mended her broken leg as Pinkie looked around the room. She stopped as she looked at Twilight, then removed her disguise and bowed.
"Hail, Empress Twilight," she said.
Celestia and Rainbow walked through the halls of Canterlot castle with a purpose, the ponies, even the nobles seeking an audience, in there way moved aside and bowed. Eventually, the two made there way to a single hall, with a single painting depicting the rising sun over a field of what could be guessed as defeated enemies of the past, numerous alicorns in the sky.
"Here," Celestia said as she lit her horn, the painting disappearing, and a hall way appearing. "Come, Rainbow," Celestia said. Nearly ten paces in, the solar alicorn got a major headache, which faded just as quickly, and she tripled her pace, Rainbow doing the same.
"Princess, what's going on?"
"A grave threat," was all Celestia said as the two reached a door surrounded by rock. "What you are about to see, Rainbow, is a room not used in over twenty thousand years, not since my grandfather was alive," Celestia said. "He had it constructed in the mountain, and it saved the planet during his days, and, Harmony permitting, it will again," she said as she lit her horn with an ancient spell, and the door opened, and the two stepped inside. |
The ultimate evil | War council | "What is this room," Rainbow asked Celestia as the two of them stepped into the room Celestia had revealed.
"This, Rainbow," Celestia said, lighting her horn, "is the war room. My grandfather created it in preparation for what we may very well be facing."
"What's that?"
"An alliance of dark alicorns."
"What. How can dark alicorns exist?"
"Because, Rainbow," Celestia said as a table grew from the ground and projected a view of all of Equestria and the Crystal Empire, the former having a dark fog around it, "there is a darkness to every light, and the two, though they can peacefully coexist, often clash, and never truly get along."
She looked at the table, and her expression took on a somber look. "It is worse then I thought," she said. "The entire Empire has been converted."
"But that's where Pinkie is!" Rainbow yelled.
"Then let us hope she made it out before this." There was a silence between for the two for a minute before Rainbow spoke up.
"Who could do this?"
"Only one with immense power and a truly black heart," Celestia said. "It can only be Sombra." She turned to face they cyan alicorn. "Bring Shining Armor here, Rainbow, as well as Spitfire and Soarin. Whatever you must do, do it. I also want Luna here as well."
Rainbow nodded. "Right," she said before rushing out of the room. She made her way to Shining's room first, ignoring the guards that were there and entered the room, causing the unicorn to fall out of his seat and hard on his flank. "Shining, Celestia needs you now!"
Shining just looked at her for a moment, and said, "Right," as he had been told of the Knights, even if he wasn't one, and had been told of Rainbow joining their ranks. "What's going on?"
"Something's going on in the Empire," Rainbow said. "We don't know if Cadence is alright, but I'm optimistic."
"Let's hope she's alright, then," Shining said.
With that, the two of them made their way to the rooms Soarin and Spitfire were staying in. "Celestia needs us," Rainbow said, and the two followed Shining and Rainbow to Luna's room. When they arrived, they didn't see any guards. Rainbow knocked on the door, and entered. What she saw scared her.
There, on the bed in the very center of the room, was a single, bloody head, a fake one, but very real in appearance. In the guise of Celestia. With it was a note.
If my sister values the life of her mare friend, Rarity Belle, she will meet me at the northern edge of the Crystal Empire. Alone.
-Queen Luna
"Well, shit just escalated," Rainbow said. "Come on, guys, we need to let Celestia know!"
With that, the three alicorns and one unicorn left the room, not noticing the shadow in the corner. "Much to easy," Luna said before she teleported to the Empire, using a special teleportation spell to bring with her those who had been enthralled to the Empire.
Luna appeared in the palace throne room, and the first thing she saw was that Cadence and Galaxy had new looks. Cadence's coat was a darker shade of pink, nearly red, and her mane and tail were slightly darker, but also had an ethereal look to it. Her pupils(1) were now draconic like Nightmare's. Her teeth were now those of a predators, and she was as tall as Celestia now.
Galaxy was still the size she was when Luna had last seen her, but her eyes now resembles Nightmare's, her coat was darker, and her teeth sharper. On the throne was Twilight, looking just as one of the changelings had described her from Chrysalis' description. "Hello, Luna," she said.
"Hello to you too, Twilight," Luna said. "I must admit, I like the new look."
"Thank you, Luna."
"So, has the bait been set?" Cadence asked, her voice noticeably more regal in a threatening way.
"Yes, it has been," Luna said. "All that remains is for Rarity to assume her other form so we can start the plan."
"Then by all means," Rarity said, assuming her normal unicorn form. "Let us begin."
Back in Canterlot, Celestia was waiting for Rainbow and the others to arrive, looking the the table in the center of the room, deeply worried for the Empire and Cadence. She heard hoofsteps approaching, and turned around. She was dismayed to not see Luna. "Where's Luna?" she asked Rainbow, who simply gave her the note from Luna's room.
Celestia read it, and she became somber. "So, it would seem my sister has fallen yet again," Celestia said.
"But why would she," Spitfire said. "And, if I may ask, what exactly is this room?"
"I have no idea, Spitfire," Celestia said. "As for this room, it is an ancient room built by my grandfather millennium ago to defend Equestria from dark alicorns, or something similar to it. Soarin, I want you to contact the other Knight cells and tell them to begin preparing for a march on the Empire. I'll play along with whatever it is that's going on until Rarity is safe, then we will cleanse the Empire of the dark magic."
"Right," Soarin said, then left the room, unaware of an invisible changeling that had followed him and was reporting to Chrysalis the entire time.
Follow, but do not engage, the changeling queen ordered telepathically, and the changeling drone carried out the orders.
Back in the room, Celestia and the others overlooked a zoomed in view of the Empire and it's surrounding area. "Luna and whoever is controlling her wishes for me to show myself at the Empire's northern edge, here," Celestia said, using her magic to highlight the portion of the Empire.
"I think it would be best if the Knights, while you were in the northern section of the Empire, princess," Shining said, "waited with invisibility spells at the western, southern, and eastern for you to get Rarity out of there, then move in."
"No, captain. The only Knights I will bring with me will be Rainbow, Spitfire, and Soarin, and them only to ensure that it is just Luna, Rarity, and myself."
"But princess-"
"That is my final decision, captain," Celestia said sternly just as Soarin came back, carrying in his magic a very interesting prize.
"How'd that thing get in the castle?!" Shining snarled upon seeing the changeling, even if it was out cold.
"I don't know. The thing just appeared in front of me," Soarin said.
"Did it speak?" Spitfire said.
"Yeah. All it said was 'Beware the gem', and it attacked. I don't know what it meant."
"They must mean Canterlot, the gem of Equestria," Shining said. "They must have more changelings in the city."
Celestia turned to face the three Knights and said. "Change of plans. You three are to assist Shining Armor with finding more changelings in the city. And take this one to the dungeon. I want it interrogated when it wakes up."
"Understood, Ma'am," Spitfire said before leaving the room with Soarin and Shining, but Rainbow stayed behind.
"What is it, Rainbow?"
"Well, it's just, what if Chrysalis is trying to make sure you come alone, if she's with whoever's controlling Luna, I mean?"
"I doubt that, Rainbow," Celestia said. "Throughout history, changelings have never shown that level of intelligence. Even when she was posing as Cadence, she made the mistake of alienating Twilight, which led to her discovery."
"Yeah, I guess," Rainbow said. "I'll handle the questioning," she said as she left.
"I was hoping you would," Celestia said in a small whisper before disappearing to her room to prepare.
"He's been discovered," Chrysalis said with a small grin to her allies, "and they took the bait."
"Good," Twilight said, "but Luna, how can you be certain she'll be there in a week?"
"'Tis a common courtesy that any exchanges involving a royal or their beloved takes place a week after the note is delivered. I will not break that tradition now," Luna said.
"I guess we'll have to live with that," Twilight said, getting up from the throne. "Now, to have a little fun with the prisoners," she said.
"I must see this," Chrysalis said, and the others, even Cadence, agreed, and followed Twilight.
When they made it to the prison cells under the palace, Twilight stopped. "So, Cadence, who here do you think deserves my special treatment?"
Cadence put a hoof to her chin. "Hm, I'd say this one," she said, using her magic to open a cell. "He was too inquisitive as to the truth of what happened to you, and I had him arrested for treason before he got too far."
"Alright, then," Twilight said as she walked into the cell. When she saw the one shackled to the wall, a devilish grin appeared on her face. "Hello, Flash," she said.
The orange pegasus' coat and mane were filled with dirt and grime. One of his eyes was swollen shut, and he had dried blood all over him. He looked up. "T-Twilight," he said weakly.
"That's Empress Twilight to you, Flash," Twilight said in an ironically caring voice, stroking a hoof over his chest. "What did you do to deserve this?"
"I was just trying to find out what happened to you," Flash said.
"Oh, well, I'm touched. What did you find out," she said, bringing her face closer to his face.
"Almost nothing," he said.
Twilight closed the distance between her muzzle and his right ear and said, in a small whisper, one a lover would speak in, and said, "Good," before using her magic to add strength to her hoof, and thrust it through the former guard's gut to the wall. "And it'll stay that way," she finished, pulling her hoof out and causing a spurt of blood to come out of the surprised pegasus and used her magic to shield herself from the fountain of blood and to clean her hoof.
The last word to leave Flash's mouth before he died was a weak, "Why?", to which he got no response.(2)
The lavender alicorn left the cell. "Any others who began to ask questions?"
"A few, actually," Nightmare said, opening another cell. "She actually got further then Flash. I think her name is Amethyst Shine."
"Then let's see what she knows, and why she asked," Twilight said as she walked into the cell.
The mare was in noticeably better condition then Flash was. "Hello, Princess," she said.
"That's Empress Twilight."
"Of course, Empress," Amethyst Shine said with a small head bow. She had a bright purple coat and a white mane and tail, with a horn coming from her forehead. "Are you here to kill me?"
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "That all depends on what you know, and why. If I like the answers, I'll let you live. If not, then you should beg for a quick death," she said calmly.
"Of course," the unicorn said. "I began to ask because I had looked up to you as an example of what happens when ponies try their hardest, and I was always a inquisitor." The mare chuckled. "Plus, I always thought you'd be a better ruler then princess Celestia. As for what I learned. Well, I did find a special book in the museum dedicated to you, and I sensed the magic in it, and, the night after, I broke in and took it. When I opened it, I found everything.
"And you have my allegiance, my Empress," she said with another head bow.
"Chrysalis, ask Pinkie if she knows the name Amethyst from that group," Twilight said through the mental link she had made with the others shortly before coming down here.
"She doesn't, and she would know of her if she was," Chrysalis replied. "And I can sense her emotions. She has no fear, but all admiration. She is telling the truth."
"Good," she said over the link before speaking to the unicorn mare. "How do I know you won't betray me?"
"I could have easily gone to Celestia and told her of it, but didn't. I am devoted to you and your allies, Empress. Please, let me serve you to the best of my ability."
Twilight thought on this for a moment, then said, "Okay, but if there is even a small hint at you working for Celestia, I will not hesitate to kill you. Is that clear?" she said, releasing Amethyst from her shackles.
"Yes, Empress," she said with a bow.
Twilight smiled. "Good. You are to stay with me and my allies while we are down here. After that, you are to remain in the Empire."
"Yes, Empress."
"Then follow," Twilight said, exiting the room with Amethyst getting up and following. "Any idea how that book got there?" she asked Cadence in a whisper.
"Plasma sent it to me and said that the first one to read it would help us, so I put it in the museum."
"Where any pony could have gotten it?!" Twilight said in an angry whisper.
"You forget that any who would have would have been on the receiving end of an angry alicorn. Only the brave or the stupid would try."
"Fair enough," Twilight said as another cell door was opened. "Now it's time to see if she's telling the truth," Twilight said. "Who's in this cell?"
"Amethyst's sister, Opal Radiance," Cadence said, smiling at the irony.
"Excellent," Twilight said before entering the cell.
"What do you want, traitor," Opal, a unicorn mare with a white coat and a silver-gray mane and tail, said.
"Nothing," Twilight said coldly. "You're just a part of an initiation."
"For who?"
"Amethyst, come in here."
Opal's eyes widened. "No, she wouldn't join you! She'd rather die then betray Celestia."
As Amethyst walked in, Twilight said, "Are you sure of that? She's right here."
"What is it you require, my Empress," Amethyst said.
"I want you to. . . . . . kill Opal." As Twilight said this, she brought a sharp rock up from the floor and gave it to Amethyst.
Amethyst just stared at the rock before she looked at her sister, indecision in her eyes. She rose the rock up, and made her decision.
The rock came down, and Twilight smiled. "I knew you'd do that, Amethyst," she said as Opal opened her eyes.
"What," Opal said. "You planned for this?"
"Of course. I don't want a killer who kills just because she's ordered to in my alliance. If she had a reason to beyond you simply annoying her all siblings do, I'd actually want her to, but you haven't, and she passed the test." Twilight turned to face Amethyst. "Welcome to the Eclipses, Amethyst."
"Thank you, Empress," Amethyst said. "Truly, thank you."
"Amethyst," Twilight said. "Call me Twilight. You're an Eclipse now, and we are all equals."
"Th-thank you, Twilight."
"Of course. I want you and the others to go back up to the palace. I still have some issues to take care of."
"Right," Amethyst said, excitement barely contained in her voice before she left, leaving Twilight and Opal in the cell.
"So, why is it you are loyal to Celestia," Twilight said, "but Amethyst isn't?"
"I don't know. She never liked Celestia as a filly. Why? What is it to you?"
"Oh, nothing," Twilight said. "I simply wanted to know coming from you before I made you loyal to me. Maybe as my own personal servant," she said, charging the loyalty spell.
"I'll never become your slave, bitch."
"Never say never, slave," Twilight said as she blasted the loyalty spell at Opal.
It hit her, and she shook her head to clear the disorientation. She then said, "Please forgive me, my Empress. I was not in the right mind."
"I know, Opal," Twilight said as she released her new servant. "Come. I'll take you to your new room," she said, and she led Opal out of the room.(3)
A few hours later, Twilight and the others, now including a darkness ascended Amethyst with a darker coat, wings on her barrel, and draconic pupils, her mane and tail ethereal, her teeth that of a predator's, stood around a table that counted as their war table.
"So, what will the plan be, juts to make sure I fully understand it, including what's already happened?"
"Right," Galaxy said. "The first part of the plan, which went off without a hitch, was for Celestia and Rarity, or somepony loyal to our cause, to fall in love."
"Something I did only for the plan," Rarity, in her nightmare form, added.
"Yeah. Anyway, the next part was to make sure that your return went off without being detected, and it wasn't," Galaxy said.
"The third part was to make sure Celestia knew something was going on," Nightmare said. "Just not what."
"Four was to make it to where only Celestia would come due to a potential changeling threat to Canterlot," Chrysalis said. "As well as give her a reason for her to really come alone, instead of with some of those 'Knights' of hers."
"Part five," Luna said. "Well, you came up with that, and we caught Amethyst up on it before this meeting, so we all know that one."
"Good," Twilight said. "Is the field up and ready?"
"It simply waits for you to activate it, Twilight," Nightmare said.
Twilight smiled. "Good. I have a surprise for Celestia. I just need to test it. It's a good thing there are plenty of ponies I can test it out on in the dungeon."
"Do you need help," Twilight," Amethyst asked.
"No. It's a simple spell, really. Ironically, as Celestia made it to make sure unicorns weren't a problem before inhibitor rings were made."
"Then it's settled," Rarity said. "One way or another, this ends next week." |
The ultimate evil | Execution | It's been six days since the note in Luna's chambers told Celestia to come to the northern part of the Crystal Empire, and Rainbow was currently interrogating the changeling they found, and they hadn't gotten anything. "Again: why did you reveal yourself?!" Rainbow asked, a little aggravated.
The changeling just stared at her, saying nothing.
"Uh, why won't you talk!?" An idea came to Rainbow. "Okay, can you tell me what country you're from?"
"What?" The changeling asked, surprised at the question.
"'What' ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak Equish in What?"
"What?" the changeling asked, certain already something was wrong in the head with Rainbow.
"EQISH, MOTHERBUCKER! DO YOU SPEAK IT!?"
"Yes."
"Then you know what I'm saying?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you reveal yourself!"
"What?" the changeling asked, now just for shits and giggles.
"That's it!" Rainbow yelled, charging her horn. "Say 'what' again! SAY 'WHAT' AGAIN! I DARE YOU, I DOUBLE DARE YOU, SAY 'WHAT' AGAIN. SAY 'WHAT' AGAIN ONE MORE CELESTIADAMN TIME!!"
"Whoa, hold on their, Dash," Spitfire said as she grabbed Rainbow and dragged her away. "The princess said not to harm him with magic."
"What else am I supposed to do, ask nicely?"
"Actually, yes."
This got looks of surprise from both Knights. "Huh?" was all Rainbow could say.
"All you need to do is add 'please' to the end, and I might answer."
"Oh," Spitfire said. "In that case, would you please tell us who your ruler is?"
"Queen Chrysalis."
"The one who attacked Canterlot?" Rainbow asked.
"The same," the changeling said. "And by the way, all my friends call me Reflector, or just Flec."
"Okay then, 'Flec', why did you reveal yourself?"
"Because I wanted to. Simple as that."
"In that case," Rainbow said, "would you please tell us why you're here in Canterlot?"
"Of course," Flec said as one of his brothers relayed a message.
Celestia is a quarter way to the Empire. If they want to catch her, they'll have to fly.
"To deliver two messages, one of which I already delivered."
"Then would you please tell us the second," Spitfire said.
"That the most dangerous poison is the one we changelings seek.
"Love."
"Well, thanks for that," Spitfire said as she and Rainbow left the changeling's cell. "What do you think he meant, RD?"
Rainbow didn't answer, but was going over the two messages. Okay, let's see. Beware the Gem, and the most dangerous poison is love.
Gem. Love. Rainbow's eyes widened. Those were meant for Celestia. They must be using Rarity as a trap. Or worse, she's with them.
"Gotta stop her," she said as she ran to the nearest window.
"Stop who?" Spitfire said, but Rainbow didn't hear her.
Rainbow quickly made it to the nearest window, but, for some reason, when she got in the air, she wasn't able to hit rainboom speeds, so she flew at her best speed, just under half mach one, with Celestia at the same speed, but her headstart meant she would still be in the lead.
A day later
Celestia set down gently at the northern edge of the Empire, seeing not a single soul, unaware that Rainbow had followed, and was closing in.
Her coat, by itself, made it to where she blended in well with the snow, but her mane and tail counteracted that. Just as she landed, she felt something dark, but believed it to just be nerves.
After thirty minutes of waiting, having to use a warming spell, there was a flash of light, and the two mares she had been waiting for appeared.
In front was a gagged Rarity, an inhibitor ring around her horn, her white coat and purple mane and tail were disheveled, torn in some places, and her left eye was swollen shut.
Behind her, in battle armor fit for a royal, colored as black as night with accents of sliver, was Luna. "Hello, Celestia," she said coldly.
"Luna, why have you done this?" Celestia asked.
"Simply because you are a terrible ruler," she said. "And a terrible sister," she added after a second.
"Luna, we both know that isn't true."
"Then why did you not try to release me before the prophecy said I would return, or try to have the Elements cleanse me before by bringing me back? Don't bother lying, I would have still felt your summoning magic if you tried."
"I did that because I hoped you would come back as Luna, not Nightmare Moon."
"It seems you were mistaken there," she said as she saw a small, cyan speck approaching. Perfect, she thought with a smile that went unnoticed. She pushed Rarity to her. "Go, take your lover and leave, The Empire is already with us."
"Us who?" Celestia asked, lighting her horn, unaware of the seed doing so planted in her.
"Why, the Eclipse," Luna said before a single voice that wasn't supposed to be there for Celestia, but Luna welcomed, rang out.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!!" Rainbow yelled, firing a shot of magical energy that was aimed for Rarity.
It seemed to travel in slow motion for Celestia as she saw the beam lance to her lover, but she couldn't do anything, as she felt her magic draining out of her.
She saw the beam strike Rarity in the barrel, and a large scorch mark appear. Thw white unicorn fell to the ground, her eyes still.
"No," Celestia whispered. "No, no, no, no, NO!!" she yelled, her volume increasing every time as she looked at Rainbow, and felt one, small surge of energy flow through her. "I told you to stay away," she said. "Now, you will pay." She then fired a beam of dark magic at Rainbow, who saw it, dodged it, and promptly ran away.
As the beam left her horn, Celestia fell to the ground. As her vision dimmed, she thought she saw Twilight, looking much darker. "Hello again, mother," she said as her horn was lit, and Celestia's wings began to shrink, but Celestia didn't notice, until they were gone.
A few hours later
Twilight and the rest of the Eclipses, including Rarity, who had simply sent an illusion in her place, stood in the palace throne room, deciding what their next move should be.
"So, what do we do next with Celestia?" Nightmare asked.
"That's. . . a little complicated," Twilight said. "I was hoping to make her my student in dark magic, but she said no. Shouldn't be surprised, seeing as how I came up with a back up plan for it."
"Oh? What might that be, darling," Rarity asked.
"That spell field I placed? It was designed to place a seed of darkness in her heart," Twilight said. "That's why the spell she fired was dark magic, and why she got so angry so fast. All that's left is to activate it, and you might not like how, Rarity."
"Why's that?"
"Because, well, it and I'm quoting here, 'in order for the seed to be activated, the afflicted must have blood flowing much more actively, and dopamine must be enhanced'. In short, you and Celestia need to have sex."
"What?" Rarity said in disbelief.
"The spell instructions say that the one the seed is in has to make love with the one they love, and as far as Celestia knows, that's you. It's not my fault that the spell needs it. Besides, didn't you say that if we turned Celestia in anyway, you might be interested?"
"'Tis true, she did say that," Luna said, getting a glare from Rarity.
"Plus," Twilight said, "if you did so, the seed would start spreading instantly, and you'd only need to keep going until it's done, which should be indicated by Celestia's eyes going the same shade of green as mine."
"Is it really the only way," Rarity said.
"Yes, it is."
Rarity sighed. "Then wish me luck," she said as she left the room.
"Well, this is going to be interesting," Cadenece said.
"Indeed it will be, my love," Chrysalis said, as the two had started dating in the past week just after the trap had been placed.
"Well, I don't know about you girls," Amethyst said, "but I'm going to do some reading," she said, leaving the room and going to the library.
"And we'll go make sure the crystal heart is ready for the loyalty spell and is able to transmit it, Twilight," Cadence said as she and the changeling queen left side by side.
"And we," Nightmare said, Luna, Galaxy, and herself, "will make sure the sun and moon still follow their cycle."
With that, Twilight was the only one in the throne room visible. She lit her horn, and, close to the throne, Opal appeared.
"Hello, slave," Twilight said.
"Hello, my Mistress," Opal said, bowing. Ordinarily, Twilight wouldn't have any of those she put under the loyalty spell callin her this, but figured it was appropriate because of the, ahem, activities the two had done. "What do you require of me?" Opal said, still bowing.
"Nothing, simply company for now until Rarity returns, hopefully with Celestia."
"Of course, Mistress. What would you like me to do?"
Twilight said nothing, only lit her horn. "Just hold still for now." As she said this, a small stream of magic came from her horn and made contact with Opal's horn. As it faded, Opal blinked rapidly, and looked around, and, when she saw Twilight, glared.
"You," she said, venom in her voice. "Why is it now you decide to let me have my mind back? Why take it at all?"
"Because, I just wanted to talk with somepony who would give me their actual opinion rather then what they think I want to hear."
"So I'm your therapist?" I think it's a little late for that, seeing as how you killed the stallion who had a crush on you, and killed plan on brainwashing the princess." At Twilight's look, she added, "Yeah, bitch, I remember everything I heard when I was your mind slave, as well as everything else."
"Then why don't you try to run, like any pony would.
"A: I'm not an idiot. B:Not much good getting away would do me if it could, what with Celestia imprisoned. C: You could always just blast me with that spell of yours." She paused. "And, I guess, because I liked it."
"Wait, what?"
Opal shrugged. "Yeah. If I had to guess, I'd say the spell makes me like it, or I subconsciously wanted it." She bowed again. "My Mistress."
Twilight sighed. "Opal, you aren't under my control. Just Empress will do now."
Opal got up, and teleported in front of Twilight, who, to her credit, only jumped a little. "How about 'Love'," she said, bringing Twilight into a full-fledged kiss. Twilight's eyes widened to begin with, but she slowly closed them as the pleasure took over.
A few seconds later, Opal pulled out, allowing Twilight to ask, "Why?"
"I don't know," Opal replied. "But, I always did like your figure, and you new color scheme. Guess It just needed time to grow on me." She giggled. "Just how long do you think Rarity will be gone?"
"I'd guess an hour. Why?"
"This," she said, kissing Twilight again and pushing her to the floor, the alicorn offering no resistance. With Twilight on her back and Opal on top, the two stopped kissing again. "You know, if I had known this was going to happen," Opal said. "I would have asked for it in the cell."
"Why are you complaining when your getting it now," Twilight said, kissing her lover again, their tongues wrestling for domination of the other, this time holding the kiss as Twilight's hoof moved down her lovers body until it reached Opal's glistening marehood. Just the act of Twilight making contact with it made Opal moan in pleasure into Twilight's mouth.
This made Twilight begin to slowly rub her lover's pussy, causing even more moans. Not wanting to look unappreciative, Opal's hoof made it's way to her lover's marehood, and reciprocated the action, causing the lavender alicorn to moan in response.
Opal pulled out of the kiss, still rubbing her lover, and began to move downward, sating, "I always did like this part of the activities we did while I didn't have control over my body." She eventually made it to where she had a good view of her lover's sex. "And I definitely liked how you tasted," she said before she dove in, causing Twilight to shriek out in pleasure.
"Ahh, YES, OPAL! YES!" Twilight screamed. "DON'T STOP, PLEASE, DON'T BUCKING STOP!"
Opal didn't speak, only put her tongue into her lover's slit, and began to lick it like it was a one of a kind delicacy that would soon expire.
As she was, Twilight decided to give her lover the same feeling, and put a hoof on Opal's horn, and began to stroke it, causing Opal to moan into Twilight's sex.
As Twilight stroked faster and faster, a charge began to build up in Opal's horn, just as Twilight felt something in her build up. "O-OPAL, I'M ABOUT TO-AHHH!" Twilight cried out in pleasure, unable to finish her sentence.
Not a second later, a stream of marecum rushed out of her wet slit and onto her lovers face, and a jet of magic came out of Opal's horn and washed over the two of them, the magic disappeared shortly after it made contact with Twilight's coat. Opal's muzzle was wet with Twilight's fluids as she pulled out of her lover's slit and crawled back up to Twilight's face, both mares smiling.
"I love you, Opal," Twilight said, panting.
"I love you too, Twilight," Opal said, kissing her lover.
As Rarity was making her way to the cell where Celestia was being held, she decided she would stay in her nightmare from, saying that Twilight could only save her by giving her this body. "I can't believe I'm practically selling my self for this," she muttered as she reached Celestia's cell. The two guards, crystal ponies that had been enthralled by Nightmare with the loyalty spell Twilight had taught them after she returned, moved aside and let her pass, not saying a word, but they did unlock the door.
Rarity opened the door, and let out a genuine gasp at the sight of Celestia's current state.
Her coat was stained with dirt, her once beautiful etheric mane and tail now hanging limp like any normal mane and tail, and they too were stained with dirt. Her eyes were bloodshot, most likely from crying over Rarity's death. Well, her supposed death, anyway. Around the base of her horn was an inhibitor ring that prevented her from doing even the simplest spells. Where she once had wings, she had a plain barrel, a spell Twilight learned from the former alicorn's journal being the cause.
"What, come to torture me, or to kill me?" she said as she looked away from the door, not even looking at who entered.
"Now, why would I do that, Celly," Rarity asked, causing Celestia to spin around in shock.
"Rarity?" she asked in hope before she saw her lover's form. "What did they did to you," she asked, horror in her voice.
"They saved me, Celly," Rarity said.
"What do you mean?" Celestia said.
"When i was hit by that beam of magic, I was barely alive. Twilight appeared, and I suppose Luna told her of what happened. I guess she asked me something, and I responded right, and she gave me this form, saying after that it was the only way they could save me. I deided to go with it, as I knew you wouldn't be able to handle losing me," she said as she walked over to Celestia and nuzzled her, which made the now white unicorn visibly relax.
"But why did the guards let you through?"
"Well, Twilight did give me permission to visit you once per day," Rarity said as she made her face level with Celestia's. "That, and I'm allied with her," she said before pulling Celestia into a kiss, the second mare's eyes widening in surprise, but she quickly pushed Rarity away.
"Get away from me, Rarity!" she yelled.
"But Celestia," Rarity said, "you already lost, and I only allied myself with her so I could see you. If I could, I would try to get the both of us away, but she put an anti-teleportation spell over the Empire."
"But why are you here? You know that Twilight wants me dead."
"No, she doesn't, Celestia," Rarity said. "Yes, she may hate you, and she did tell me the reasons as to why, but she never explicitly said she wanted you dead. If she did, then why bring you here, when she just could have left you where you were, and let you freeze to death."
"She told you I'm her mother?"
"Yes, and, though I do not like the idea of the one I love being the mother to one of my best friends, I can look past it." Rarity giggled. "After all, you are still the most beautiful mare I've ever seen, darling."
"How? Look at me," Celestia said.
Rarity only pulled up to her and gave Celestia a small kiss. "Did I say I meant your physical looks?"
Celestia chuckled. "No, I suppose not. But still, why would you side with her?"
"Well, for one, she is still caring. In fact, there was this one mare who found out the truth, and Twilight let her join us. She is willing to do the same with you, you know?"
"Yes, but I'd have to learn dark magic, something I swore I'd never do."
"Even if it meant we never saw one another," Rarity said, looking at Celestia with sad eyes. Not pleading, just. . . sad.
"Rarity, I never want to be away from you, and if I had to choose between you and being killed or what ever it is Twilight has planned, I'd want to be with you, but I swore to myself when Luna became Nightmare Moon, I would never learn dark magic."
"Who said you had a choice," Rarity said as she tackled Celestia to the floor, partly out of lust, and partly because she just wanted t get it over with, and began to rub Celestia's marehood so fast, Celestia's moans were heard throughout the cell block.
"Rarity, what are you doing," she yelled.
"Isn't it obvious, Celly," Rarity said as she kissed Celestia. "Having fun. Don't you enjoy it?"
Whatever Celestia was about to say, it was interrupted by another moan as Rarity pushed her hoof into Celestia. "AHHH, YES, Rarity, don't stop, please!"
"I knew you wanted it," Rarity said, rubbing faster.
"I don't want it, I need it," Celestia growled, pulling Rarity into a deep kiss, neither noticing the whites of the former alicorn's eyes beginning to turn green.
"I want to eat you out, Rarity," Celestia said as Rarity pulled out of the kiss.
Rarity smiled and got up, and sat down, facing the door, and said, "Then what's stopping you?"
Celestia let a devious smile loose, her whites slowly becoming greener, and laid down behind Rarity, getting an eyeful of her marehood, before diving in, causing Rarity to gasp. "Oh, yes," she said in a sigh. "Yesss, faster, Celestia."
Celestia complied, causing Rarity to moan loudly and in shorter intervals.
After nearly ten minutes of this, Rarity screamed in pleasure, "OH, CELLY, I'M ABOUT TO CUM!!"
"Then let me drink it down like the dirty whorse I am, Rarity," Celestia said, the whites of her eyes now entirely green.
Rarity said nothing, only shriek as she released jets of marecum onto Celestia's face. "AHHHH! AHHHH! Ahh." she said as she came down and Celestia moved next to her.
"I love you, Rarity," Celestia said.
"I love you too, Celly," Rarity said, with genuine love behind it.
After a minute of panting. "You know, I think just being with you is worth taking Twilight up on her offer to teach me dark magic," Celestia said, getting up on wobbly legs.
"Then why keep her waiting," Rarity said, getting up with Celestia, and the two left the cell and made their way to the throne room.
Twilight sat on her throne, Opal sitting next to her, and smiled slightly when she saw Rarity and Celestia walk in, side by side. "So, mother," she said to Celestia, "have you decided to take up my offer?"
"Of course," Celestia said, bowing, "my Empress."
Secondary author's notes
Thus ends the first arc of the story. The second arc will be the hunting of the Knights. And yes, it will be with this story, for those of you who didn't see the incomplete tag. |
The ultimate evil | Arrival | It has been a month since Twilight and the Eclipses had succeeded in overthrowing, and subsequently turning, Celestia, and, all in all, the citizens were happy.
One of the first things Twilight had done was, for one, standardize magic education, and even make programs to help unicorns and pegasai that were having trouble with their respective brands of magic. This had actually helped pegasai like Scootaloo, who had trouble flting, to get to normal levels, and even past that.
Equestria and the Empire, now the Eclipse Empire collectively, even had it's own army now, trained by ponies and changelings alike. As a part of this, a changeling relation program had been started, and it showed what kinds of conditions they lived in, which was pretty terrible. This got the race in general a lot of sympathy, and it was now common for changelings, undisguised, working and living along side ponies.
One new law that had been made was that any and all magic research was to no longer be independent and unmonitored, but handled by unicorns that had been appointed by Twilight and the others, so as to avoid any huge, world ending spell being created by the, to use a technical term, ponies who are coo-coo for coco puffs. This was also a popular decision. One such project was one sanctioned by Twilight into creating duplicates of the mirror portal, but went to other worlds.
As for said already existing portal, Twilight was currently working on fiind a way that would let her keep her powers while retaining her form on that end of the portal, as she would need it when the time came to bring in allies from that side.
Right now, though, she was teaching her student a new technique.
"Now, one well known but hard to pull off dark magic spell is the ability to melt one's self into shadows, but still be able to control their body. The key is to imagine yourself as the wind, but directing it. Is that clear, my student," Twilight asked.
"Yes, Empress," Celestia, now a unicorn with the white's of her eyes entirely green and purple eyeliner on her eyelids, said.
"Good," Twilight said with a small smile. "Now, I do not want you to try this until I say so. Don't want to risk you killing yourself, now do we?"
"No, Empress."
"In that case, class is over with for today," Twilight said as her marefriend, Opal, and Rarity, in her alicorn nightmare form, walked into the throne room.
Hey, sweetie," Twilight said as she walked up to and hugged Opal. "How are you?"
"Good. I just wish you's use some of the time you use to teach Celestia, you'd let me watch, if only so I can be with you."
"It'd be too dangerous, Opal," Twilight said. "I want that too, but I don't want to run the risk of you dying."
"And what about you?"
Twilight tapped her dark magic Element. "I have protection against it, and Celestia would be, physically speaking, unharmed, and I make sure to keep a magical copy of her mind from the start of the lesson. The only way we'd be harmed is if Rainbow or another Knight that's still against us got in the palace."
Upon hearing of Celestia's defeat, as well as seeing that what Twilight and the others had done had helped Equestria more than harmed it, a group of Solar Knights, their numbers at fifty, had revealed themselves and had, to Twilight's surprise, pledged themselves to the Eclipse's service.
"Yeah, I guess so," Opal said. "Still wish I could at least watch."
"I know," Twilight said before kissing Opal.
"Hello, Celly," Rarity said, nuzzling her marefriend. "I must say, I like the eyeliner."
"Thank you, Rarity," Celestia said. "I did do it for you, after all. It is our one year anniversary, after all. And besides, you did change your look, and it is much more attractive than before."
"Oh, thank you, my dear," Rarity said as she kissed Celestia.
Before things could escalate, Sapphire Spirit, one of the turncoats, walked in and bowed, saying, "Empress, our scouts have detected a faint dimensional reading coming from the north."
"Ugh," Twilight groaned. "Do they know what it is, exactly?"
"No, Empress, but the readings had it becoming stronger, indicating something's coming through."
Twilight put a hoof on her chin, thinking on what to do. "When it comes through," she finally said, "bring it here if it doesn't attack. If it does, destroy it."
Sapphire bowed her head. "Yes, Empress," she said before running out of the room.
"Wonder what it is," Rarity said.
"We''l find out soon enough," Twilight said, walking to the door and opening it. "Tell the other rulers that I need them as soon as possible," she said to the changeling-unicorn guard duo outside, both of whom nodded, and she stepped back inside.
"The others will be getting here soon, hopefully," Twilight said to the others.
"Then what do you require of me, Empress?" Celestia said, bowing.
"I want you to stay here and watch what ever will happen, Celestia. You can stay if you want, Opal, but I hope you don't for your safety."
"I'm staying for this, Twilight, whether you want me to or not," Opal said.
Twilight sighed. "Can't say I'm surprised," she said. "In that case, we wait for the others."
Thirty minutes later, all of the Eclipses, as well as Opal and Celestia, were in the palace throne room. Twilight had filled them all in as to the situation, and they were simply waiting, as the changeling guard outside had informed them that something had come through and Sapphire was bringing it to them.
"Any idea what it is?" Csdence asked.
"We'll find out soon enough," Twilight said.
"Well, let's hope they get here soon," Nightmare said.
Two minutes later, the doors opened, and Sapphire walked in. Bowing, she said, "Empresses, we've brought what came through the dimensional rift. In fact, it actually requested to speak with you."
"Well, don't keep us waiting," Galaxy said.
"Yes, Empress Galaxy," Sapphire said. "Bring him in!"
Once the last syllable left her mouth, two Lunar Knights, the term for the turncoat Solar Knights, walked into the room. Between them was a figure that resembled the humans from the other side of the mirror. It had hooves where the feet should be. It's skin was green, and had a hard appearance like chitin. On it's forehead was a jagged, changeling like horn. It's body was dressed with a strange armor thta had a bone like appearance. On his back were two gossamer wings. On his neck was a black collar, with a teal gem shaped like a hornet.
"And just who are you?" Twilight asked.
The figure bowed his head and said, "I am Green Mist, zealot of Plasma, and bearer of the Element of Deceit." |
The ultimate evil | Green Mist | Twilight lit her horn and took the human like changeling's throat in her grasp, and said, "Everyone, out. Now." The rage in her voice made it obvious she didn't want to argue, and the Eclispes, Opal, and Celestia, as well as the Lunar Knights, left, leaving Twilight and Green Mist alone.
"Now," Twilight said, green mist with a lower case "g" and "m" began to come from her eyes. "How do you know Plasma?"
Still getting strangled, Green Mist chocked out, "Be-because he sent me here."
"And just who are you to him? And where are you from?" Twilight growled, lessening her grip.
"I was his top lieutenant, his zealot, until he was killed by one of descendants. His last command to me was to gain allies to strike back, and he gave the ability walk between dimensions. I've been in only one other besides this and my home, and it is where I came from."
Twilight eyes Green Mist. "And how do I know this isn't a trick?"
"You have the Element of Dark Magic, and I the Element of Deceit, Plasma's Elements . We must stick together to defeat Harmony's Elements, especially considering they are more numerous and the one who killed Plasma is the bearer of one of them."
"You said it yourself, Green Mist," Twilight said. "You're the Element of deceit. Other ponies may be trusting to the point of stupidity, but not me. Unless you give me a reason to believe you, I'll crush your throat slowly, more so then I did to an old friend of mine a year ago."
"Well, I know you wish to find a way to your equivalent of the human world with your powers intact," Green Mist said, "and I know of a way for that, as well as to be able to blend in with them."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "And how could you do that?
As much as he could, the changeling chuckled. "Because I learned that spell during my time in the last dimension," he said, lighting his horn, with his name sake surrounding him before dissipating, a changeling with a green carapace where he once stood. "It allows me to change my form at will," Green Mist said.
"Plus, I used it to great effect with my powers still being active," he said. "So? Do you still wish to kill me, or do we have an alliance?"
Twilight thought about it before saying, "Yes, but if I so much as even get a suspicion that you're planning on betraying me or the others, I'll make you wish I had slowly crushed your body, leaving nothing but a bloody mess." She yanked Green Mist to her face. "Do I make my self clear?"
"Crystal," Green Mist said, returning to his hybrid form.
"Good," Twilight said as she got up and left the room. "I'll meet you back here in an hour with the others we'll bring with us." Se then left the room.
Once she had left and he was certain no one was listening, Green Mist let out a cliched villain laugh. "Too easy," he said. "Even more so then those Guardians, and I started from scratch with those idiots. I simply need to ensure Lone Shadow doesn't find out I'm here before I can succeed, even if it would take him a while to get here." He then reached out quickly with his left arm and tightened his hand, causing it to encircle something, even though it looked like he was grabbing thin air. "Hello, Discord."
The air shimmered, and there appeared the god of chaos, Green Mist's hand around his throat, and the spell he had cast during his transformation preventing Discord from teleporting. "I guess we should have figured you'd still be following Plasma, huh? How'd you sense me, anyway," he said in an unusually serious tone.
"You forget, Plasma gave me many of my powers, including being able to tell when some one is spying on me. I'm surprised Twilight hasn't come after you," Green Mist said.
Discord chuckled. "Oh, she did, but I do have a hiding spot not even Celestia knows about. You do realize that, if you kill me, they will know you're here, and I could just tell them you're here? You're going to be discovered."
"Oh, I do," Green Mist said. "This isn't my second stop, after all," he said, opening a portal. "Have fun," he said before pushing Discord through it. A second, whose colors were much darker, came through.
"What do you require of me, Master," it said.
"Keep false reports flowing," Green Mist said. "I don't want to risk Harmony or her allies discovering me before I'm ready."
The duplicate Discord nodded, then disappeared. "Now, then," Green Mist said as he sat upon Twilight's throne, a smug smile on his face. "Who should I brainwash first?"
As he contemplated this, in the shadows was a particular female changeling with a bright pink carapace.
"This is bad," Pinkie said before she disappeared in a flash, which Green mist noticed.
He only scoffed. "You'll need to get here quickly, Lone, to stop me, and my plan to avenge Plasma and his brother," he said, a smug smile on his face as he summoned a sword that seemed to be made of bone, and had an emerald sheen to the edge. "And you'll need everyone.
"Including dear Chrysalis and her daughters," Green Mist said before letting loose a small chuckle. |
The ultimate evil | New conquest | An hour after Twilight had left Green Mist in the throne room, she returned, with Cadence, Chrysalis, Celestia, and Galaxy.
"And what took you so long," Green Mist said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"I had to get some stuff ready," Twilight said, gesturing to her saddlebags. "Now, how about that transformation spell?"
Green Mist rolled his eyes, or at least as much as he could, given his eyes were the normal changeling eye style. "Fine," he said. "Simply imagine yourself as a certain form, and you'll become it. Given where we're going, it would be best to go what the humans would call 'anthro', which is what I currently am, and it can pass for human at a distance, which means you'll need an illusion spell for close in inspection. And it might be best to create clothes, as nudity is a taboo there."
"He's right," Twilight said as she lit her horn and was enveloped in a dark purple orb, which grew as it was there longer. When it faded, Twilight emerged, this time with a build somewhat similar to Green Mist's body, but it was distinctly more female. She wore a dark purple shirt that hugged her cest, revealing her modest sized chest with a leather jacket that went to just under her ribs, and leather jeans, her cutie mark on the side, as well as boots that had the same dark cutie mark on them as the ones on her hooves when in pony form, her skin the same shade as it was when she went through the mirror. "I thnik I like this better," she said, as stretched her new body to get used to it.
"I see you went with the bad girl look," Green Mist said.
"What can I say, I did like how Sunset Shimmer dressed, and I always wanted to try it." Even with out the influence from the book, which had weakened quite a bit, this was true. Twilight, even when facing off against Sunset, had just found something about that outfit, for lack of a better word, sexy, even if she wasn't attracted to Sunset.
"I know I like it," Cadence said, repeating the spell, and the end result being much the same, but the shirt was more dark pink, and it was tight as well, showing off a chest larger then Twilight's, high heels, and her hair in a pony tail, and I am aware of the irony in that, with dark pink highlights, and a few locks covering her left eye, with dark eye shadow going. "So, Chryssi, how do I look?"
Before she responded, Chrysalis performed the spell, and the result was the exact same as Cadence, but her hair, instead of a pony tail, went just past her shoulders, and it was entirely green, and the pink shirt was instead green, but, aside from that, it was the exact same. She pulled Cadence into a hug and gave her a kiss. "As beautiful as ever, Cady," she said, which made Caence smile.
"Can we please get this over with," Green Mist said. Seriously. If there's one good thing I can say about Lone Shadow is that he didn't get all kissy-feely with his love before a large battle. They shared a kiss, and that was about it.
"Oh, shove it," Galaxy said as she transformed. When it was done, she was as tall as Twilight, about three-quarters as tall as Cadence, which was the also the height of pony Celestia. Twilight's height, not Cadence's. Her shirt, which showed a small chest, was dark green, and she wore simple, mesh shoes. As much as an anthro pony could, anyway.
Celestia was the last, and, as an anthro, was taller then the others, her shirt, which showed a barely above average chest, not much larger then Twilight's, her leather pants tight and showing her moderate ass. The shirt's neck line was low, and it showed the upper part of her clevage. She flipped her hair, which no longer blew in an invisible wind, a hand on her hip, which jutted out a little, like she was the kind of woman who was on the runway. "I can see why you like this form, Empress," she said to her daughter, adding a sultry smile. "It's quite hot."
"Celestia," Twilight said, "you don't need to call me Empress anymore. You are my mom, and you've shown that you're good for becoming an Eclipse." Not making you a dark alicorn, yet, though.
Celestia smiled a little as Green Mist did the changeling equivalent of rolling his eyes. "Thanks, Twilight," she said, speaking Twilight's name for the first time since her corruption.
Green Mist lit his horn, and a small dimensional portal opened. "Can we please get this over with," he said, annoyance in his voice.
"Green Mist, please shut up," Twilight said. "There's something else I'm waiting on, though."
"And what's that, Twilight?" Cadence said.
"Just give it a few moments," Twilight said. Indeed, a few moments later, the doors to the throne room burst open, and, surrounded by Lunar Knights, was Rainbow Dash.
"What's she doing here," Galaxy asked, snarling.
"Surrendering," Rainbow said. "Most Knights already defected, and, in all honesty, most of us don't really see a reason to fight anymore, as you haven't done anything bad since taking the throne, Twilight."
Twilight smiled. "Good," she said. "And I think I have the perfect place for you," she said as Green Mist face palmed, silently praying that he'd just be killed or that Lone Shadow would break this up, even if it meant his death. Twilight strutted over to Rainbow, and stroked the cyan alicorn's cheek with a finger. "Want to know what it is?"
"Not really," Rainbow said.
"Well, here it is anyway." Twilight leaned in close to Rainbow's ear. "A prisoner." She leaned back. "Take her away," she told the guards, who bowed, and left with Rainbow in the middle.
"Now that that's taken care of, we can go now," Twilight said, and they all went through the portal.
Sunset was having a normal, if boring, day at school. She woke up at six a.m., got ready for school, and had been here since seven-forty five. Now, for her, there were two things that made it bearable. The first, and universal one, was that it was only a few minutes until it let out. The second, and exclusive one, was her girlfriend, Adagio.
She and the other two sirens had reconciled a few weeks after the battle of the bands. Some of the students, and even a small few teachers, gave them a hard time, but with Sunset and the others accepting them, most had at least given them a chance. It had been just a week ago that she and Adagio had discovered their feelings for one another, and had their first date just two days ago on saturday night.
They went to the movie theater. They had watched a corny comedy/action film. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was funny as hell, and at one point, Sunset thought her lungs were going to implode from how much she was laughing.
A minute from when the bell was supposed to ring, her teacher, Miss Cheerilee, and the other students in the room, including Applejack and Fluttershy, took on a blank look. No emotions, they just stared forward.
Sunset Shimmer, Adagio Dazzle, Sonata Dusk, and Aria Blaze, report to the principal's office.
Sunset shrugged, but got up and grabbed her backpack, and left the room the others still having blank expressions on their faces. She found it a little odd that principal Celestia had called for the four of them, but figured it was important.
When she made it to the office door, she saw her girlfriend and the other two ex-sirens there, proably waiting for her. "Hey, Dagi," she said as she smacked her girlfriends ass, causing her to jump. "You look as beautiful as ever."
While Sonata and Aria snickered, Adagio turned around and took Sunset in a hug. "Hey, Sunny," she replied, giving Sunset a small peck on the lips. "We were waiting for you to get here to see what Celestia wants."
"Well, let's not keep her waiting then," Sunset said as she and Adagio let go of one another and she opened the door, only to be surprised at what hit her senses.
The first thing came to her ears. The four of them heard small moaning and gasping. The second hit their eyes, but it took a while for their brains to process it.
What they saw was, I shit you not, Twilight in her anthro form, as well as a second woman who looked about Twilight's age, with green skin, but the odd things were they had horns and wings. That, and they were both naked, playing with themselves, as fully human Celestia ate out her sister, both of them entirely nude as well.
"Uh, Twilight, what's going on," Sunset said, wanting to look away but unable, just like a train wreck.
"Oh, hey, Sunset," Twilight said in between moans. "Glad to see you made it."
Sunset, and the ex-sirens, for that matter, did the one thing that came(any jokes about this in the comments will be nuked) to mind. They blacked out, and fell on the floor.
A few hours later, Sunset woke up on the couch in the main office. "Well, it's about time," she heard an unfamiliar voice say.
She opened her eys, and saw a woman with dark pink skin standing over her, the woman's hair being a dark pink like her skin with highlights of navy blue and dark red. She wore a dark pink shirt tht left little to the imagination, a leather jacket and jeans, and high heels.
"Who are you," Sunset asked.
"Queen Cadence," she said. "I'm a friend of Twilight's. And no, you weren't dreaming what you saw earlier. Twilight's become a lot. . . kinkier in the last year, and she's wanted to see those two eat each other out for the past week."
"Wait, you're Cadence," Sunset said. "Twilight's foalsitter?"
"Yep," Cadence said, helping Sunset up. "I imagine you have a lot of questions?"
"Yeah, like what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the Crystal Empire?"
"We have aides to look over stuff while we're here," Cadence said with a wave of her hand.
"And why are you here?"
"I can answer that one, Sunset," Twilight, fully clothed, said, walking into the main office from the hall entrance. "I'm here to give you an offer I know you can't resist."
"And what's that?" Sunset asked warily, but also curious.
"To give you a place in Equestria's new government," Twilight said, pulling out from behind her, to Sunset's amazement, an amulet with her cutie mark on it, but the colors being darker. "I know that, deep down, you still want power, but you don't want to lose your friends. I can say you won't. Rarity from my side of the portal's with us, and so is Pinkie, Applejack, and Fluttershy."
"What about Rainbow," Sunset asked, feeling a desire, no, a need, to take that amulet, but not wanting to just yet.
"She tried to lead a rebellion," Cadence said. "She's still alive, just imprisoned."
"And what about Adagio and the others?" Sunset asked.
"I gave them the same offer," Twilight said. "Sonata and Aria said they wouldn't unless Adagio accepted, and she said the same with you." Twilight held the amulet out. "So, what do you say?"
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "One more question for now: Why were you and the other one masturbating while watching Principal Celestia eat out Vice Principal Luna?"
"First, her name's Galaxy, and come on, like you weren't slightly tempted to do so when you saw Celestia's ass in the air and Luna's tits hanging free?"
Damn it, she's right, Sunset thought. Hell, she was wet with arousal just thinking about it. Double hell, she was tempted to just spank Celestia's ass and eat Adagio right then and there. "Okay, and what if I say no to the proposal?"
"You, Adagio, Aria, and Sonata would be imprisoned until you either died or accepted the offer," Cadence said. "So, what do you say?"
Both scenarios ran through Sunset's head. On one hand, the one where she took the offer, she and Adagio would still be together, but there was no telling what would happen to her if she put that amulet on. On the other, the one where she said no, she may not see Adagio again, but she would most definitely remain herself.
The choice for her was obvious.
She took the amulet in her hands and placed it around her neck. As soon as the clasp was closed, an orb of blue and black flames enveloped her. Whne it faded, she was the same hieght, but her appearence was that of when she was a she-demon. The odd thing? She didn't feel like a monster. She liked it, and wondered why she hadn't tried to find a way to get back to it sooner.
"So, like the new body, Sunset," Twilight asked.
"I think you mean 'love it', Twilight," Sunset said, her voice a mix between her human and she-demon voices. "And yes, I do. So, can I see Adagio now?"
Twilight nodded. "Yeah, you can. Just follow me. Cadence," she said to her comrade, "head back to the hotel. I 'll take care of this."
Cadence nodded, then left the room by teleportation, as she still had her powers.
Cadence reappeared in the hotel room. When they had first arrived, Twilight had used the loyalty spell on those in the building, and gave them all rooms free, as well as room service. As she made her way to he rroom, the various people she passed bowed and said, "Empress Cadence," in a whisper. Her room was, like the other's, on the top floor. She entered her room, and procceded to strip off and get in the shower. As she got in and got the water flowing, she didn't hear a certain changeling sneak in, their horn lit.
As the hot water flowed down Cadence's body, she decided to turn the teperature down, and the water became icy cold. Her right hand made it's way to her wet, tight slit, and her left made it's way to her left breast, her nipple erect.
She began rubbing herself slowly, her right hand massaging her slit, her left massaging her sensitive nipple. She slowly sped up, her middle finger now going in and out, causing her to moan in pleasure as she pinched her nipple, her eyes closed in pleasure. As she pleasured herself, she heard footsteps enter the bathroom, the sound of clothing coming off, and get in the shower with her, two hands grabbing her tits.
"Ohhhh, Chrysi," she said, only to not here her marefriends voice as something clapmed down on her horn.
"I'm not Chrysalis," Green Mist said, "and soon, you and her will see me as the one you take orders from." He teleported the two of them out of the shower and to the bedroom.
Cadence panicked, and tried to escape, but couldn't. "Ah, ah, a member of the Brotherhood must do whatever their zealot says," Green Mist said as he grabbed Cadence's shoulder, spun her around, and forced her to her knees, giving her a an eyeful of Green Mist's huge, thick cock.
As she opened her mouth to protest, Green Mist rammed his member into her mouth, causing Cadence to gag, but, at the same time, caused pleasure to go through her body. Her mind didn't want it, but her body did. She began to slide her head back and forth, Grene mist's cock so big, she couldn't take his full length, only able to get half of it before it reached the back of her throat.
"See, I knew you were a little slut," Green Mist said. "You like it, don't you?"
"Mmmph hm," Cadence moaned out, causing pleaure to rack Green Mist's body, and she only increased her speed. As she continued to suck, a green gleam seemed to come from her eyes as she looked up at Green Mist, who smiled.
Cadence began playing with her tits and her wet pussy, causing her to moan in pleasure even more. She put her middle finger inside herself, followed by her index and ring, then, finally, her pinkie, while she pinched her nipple, causing small spurts of breast milk to come out of it.
She removed her mouth from Green Mist's cock and placed the hand that had been playing with her tit on it, and began to stroke it. "Is this satisfactory, my zealot?" she asked.
"Indeed it is, Cadenza," Green Mist said. "I think that when I overthrow Twilight for Plasma, I'll keep you as my sex slave."
"Perhaps she should be one as well, my zealot," Cadence said, speeding up her strokes. "She does have a good plot, after all."
"Maybe," Green Mist said. He moaned as Cadence continued to stroke his full length.
Cadence put her mouth over the head, and spit on it, which lubricated it, and sped her stokes up even more.
Eventually, just before Green Mist released his seed, she stopped. "Why are you stopping," Green Mist asked as Cadence made hey way to the bed.
She leaned her upper body on the bed, her breasts hanging. "Because I wish to have your children, my zealot," she said, spreading her legs to reveal her glistening slit. "Please, fill me with your seed, make me the bearer of you children, allow me to serve you and Plasma in the only way a slut like me knows how, and that's getting fucked and bearing the next generation."
Green Mist grinned as he walked behind Cadence, lining himslef up with her. "It's good you know your place, slut," he said as he thrust himself into Cadence.
"AHHHHH, OH YES!" she yelled as she felt herself getting filled by the largest dick she had ever felt. Green Mist started out quickly, causing Cadence's tits to jiggle back and forth and to keep saying, "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah," as the black member kept being shoved inside her. "Please, my zealot," she said, "fill me, plant me, make me worthy of being in your prescence, make me you cum dumpster."
"I'll do more than that," Green Mist said. "I'll make you enjoy being treated like the slut you and the rest of the Eclipses are, and next up to be alongside you will be Celestia."
Cadence didn't speak, only continually gasp in pleasure as she got fucked. As he neared climax, Green Mist sped up, and evetually, he released his seed in Cadence, who gasped as she got filled by her new master's seed. As they both panted, Cadence said, "Thank you, my zealot. Did I do satisfactory?"
"Indeed you did, my slave," Green Mist said as he turned Cadence upright, the mare smiling as he did so. "Now, make sure my seed doesn't come out of your whore hole, wash up, and bring Celestia here," he said as he pulled out of her and threw her on the bed.
"Yes, my zealot," Cadence said. "Allow me to ensure Celestia has the hoor of bearing your child as well," she said, lighting her horn, and a tingling sensation was felt in Green Mist's balls.
"What did you do," he asked.
"I simply gave you the ability to fuck as many sluts like me, and give them the honor of bearing you children by using a spell to make it to where your glorious cock is always ready to seed a mare," Cadence said, the lighting in the room making her eyes appear like a changeling drone's.
"Good. Now, do as I said," Green mist said, and Cadence nodded as she lit her horn, her magic now a blood red, and a similar light being seen on her hole, which then faded, before getting up and making her way to the bathroom to shower.
Back at Canterlot high, Twilight led Sunset to where the latter's lover was being held.
"You don't need to worry, Sunset. We treated Adagio and the other well, gave them whatever kind of food they asked for," Twilight said, chuckling. "Sonata sure does like tacos, doesn't she?"
Sunset, in her demon form, laughed. "Yeah, she does. Every taco tuesday, she'd get two trays worth of them. I don't know why, I always found them shitty."
"I guess it's just taste," Twilight replied. "So, how've you been, Sunset?"
"Good," Sunset replied. "In fact, maybe you could help us with a little something."
"The friendship games?" Twilight asked. "Principal Celestia told me about it just after I brainwashed her and Luna."
"Yeah," Sunset said. "What could you do?"
"I already have a plan for the human world, Sunset," Twilight said. "The entire thing, and I wanted to see if you and the sirens wanted in before I went forward with it."
"Well, thanks, Twilight," Sunset said as the two of them reached the door to the gym. "Here goes nothing," Sunset said nervously as she opened the doors and saw Adagio, true to Twilight's word, unharmed, sitting on the bleachers eating a sandwich.
Adagio heard the doors open, and tunred to look the those who entered, but her eyes focused on the she-demon. "Sunset," she whispered in disbelief. "Is that you?"
Sunset took flight and flew over to her lover. "Yeah, it is, Dagi. Is something about it wrong?" she asked, fear in her voice.
When Adagio remained silent, Sunset hung her head, and slowly flew over to the doors. "Sunset, wait," Adagio said, which caused her girlfriend to turn her head in hope. Adagio got up and walked to Sunset, with Sunset covering half the distance.
When the two met in the middle of the gym, Sunset landed. "I think you look beautiful," Adagio said, carressing her lover's face before pulling her into a deep kiss, the two of them embracing.
At the door, a tear of happiness came to Twilight's face, as well as a small smile. She closed it, giving the two of them some time together. Eventually, moans could be heard from the otherside, and Twilight lit her horn, creating her own portal, from which, Opal walked through.
"Hey, babe," Twilight said, a smile on her face.
"Twilight, is that you?" Opal asked, as she hadn't been present during the use of the transformation spell.
"Yeah, it's me, Opal," Twilight said, lighting her horn and returning to her pony form. "See?"
"Yeah, I do," Opal said, hugging Twilight. "Mind teaching me that trick?" she asked.
"Not at all," Twilight said, showing Opal how to transform.
After that was done, Opal lit her horn, and used the spell. The end result was, in Twilight's opinion, breath taking.
Opal had beautiful, full, shoulder length hair, her shirt being a modest, black, short sleeved shirt and a gray, knee length skirt with her cutie mark, a single opal, on it. She wore silver high heels that had gems, maybe fake,maybe real, hard to tell with magic, embedded in them.
"Wow, Opal," Twilight said, changing to her anthro form and taking her mare friends hands in hers. "You look breath taking."
"Thanks, Twi,"Opal said, giving Twilight a small kiss. "So, when can I meet your new friends?" she asked as the moaning got slightly louder, and the two smiled as they embraced one another.
Back at the hotel, Green Mist was waiting in Cadence's room, waiting for his new slave, as well as the most recent member to the Brotherhood, to bring the dethroned alicorn. Already, he could taste the irony in having Celestia overthrow the one who overthrowed her, only for Green Mist to then overthrow her, and, he had to admit, it was a convoluted plan, he wasn't that stupid, but, given the fact Twilight would be busy, he could get the plan in motion, hopefully before he was found.
He sat on the bed, slowly stroking himslef in preparation for Celestia. In all honesty, he'd probably rape Celestia anyway, simply because of her outfit. He was still a living being, after all. A sick, disgusting, despicable living being, but a living being nonetheless. An unintended but welcome side effect of this plan was he had a second way to ensure the loyalty of those he brainwashed, as he knew Alicorns rarely got pregnant, he ensured they would with a spell, and would do anyhting to ensure that if they got pregnant, the baby would live. Well, that was true with this version of alicorns, anyway.
He was brought out of his thought as he heard hoofsteps and Cadence's voice approaching. He got up from the bed and cloaked himself, hiding next to the door.
"I still don't see why you wanted to talk to me in your room, Cadence," Celestia said as the two entered the room. "Especially when we could have dismissed the new servants to be in private."
"That would be because of me," Green Mist said, turning visible, lighting his horn, and putting an inhibitor ring on Celestia's horn, then grabbing her mounds. "I know you want this," he whispered in her ear. "You want me to make you my slave, and rut you senseless, don't you?" As he spoke, a familiar, green gleam came to Celestia's eyes, and her look went from horror and shock to joy and pleasure. "Cadence, assist me."
"Yes, my zealot," Cadence said, slowly stripping off her clothes in front of Celestia. She unbuttoned her jeans, then took off her jacket, looking at Celestia with a lust filled gaze. She took off her shirt, with no bra underneath it. She began playing with herself, one hand on her tits, one in her pants.
"Cadence, no playing," Grene mIst said, still groping Celestia's breasts. "Strip off, then play."
"Yes, my zealot," Cadence said, bringing her hand out of her pants and made her way to the bed, where she lay down on her back, and slid off her shoes, then her jeans and panties at the same time. When they were off, she tossed them to the side, and spread her legs, holding them high in the air, and began to finger herself. "Like this, my zealot," she asked, her eyes now entirely like a changeling drone's.
"Perfect, Cadenza," Green Mist said. "Like what you see, Celestia, or should I say 'Slutia'?"
"Yes, Green mist, I do," she said, earning a slap on her face.
"I'm not your equal," Green Mist growled. "I'm your zealot, and you will refer to me as such. Understood?"
"Y-yes, my zealot," she said, showing some amount of resistance.
"What is your name," Green Mist asked.
"My-my name is-is Celestia," she forced out.
Green Mist snarled. "No, it isn't. It's Slutia, just like Cadenza's new name is Whorenza. Now, what is your name?"
"S-Slutia, my zealot," the now named Slutia said.
The changeling smiled and looked at the other mare. "And yours?"
"Whorenza, my zealot," the now named Whorenza replies, a smile on her face as she head her new name.
"Excellent," Green Mist said, moving Slutia's shirt and bra down, allowing her boobs to hang free. "Whorenza, play with Sltia's nipples."
"Yes, my zealot," Whorenza replied, lowering her legs and getting off the bed and walking to her fellow slave and getting down on her knees, as Green Mist had bent her over, and put her mouth arond one of Slutia's nipples, and began suckling on it and played with the other one with her left hand while she fingered herself with her right hand.
As she did this, Green Mist moved to stand beside her head, his cock haning in front of her face. "Suck," he said, and Slutia put her mouth around the head, her head turned to the left to be able to take it, and began to move her head back and forth, slowly at first, but slowly picking up speed.
After a minue of this, he said to both of them, "Stop. Both of you, stand."
Both stopped their actions, and Whorenza stood up, and Slutia straightened. H esaw that Slutia's eyes were now almost entirely like that of a changeling drone's. "Slutia, strip."
"Yes, my zealot," she said, and removed her jacket, then pulled her shirt over her head and unclasped her bra, allowing her breasts to fully come down. She unbuttoned her jeans and took off her shoes, and slid her jeans and panties down, revealing her glistening hole.
"Good," Green Mist said. "Now, Whorenza, lay down on the bed, your back facing up. Slutia, I want you to lean over the bed and eat her out, and I want you to spread your legs as far as possible while still being able to stand."
"Yes, my zealot," the two mares said, and took their positions, with Slutia eating out Whorenza, who gasped as it went on. Green Mist took up position behind his newest slave, and thrust himself into her, causing Slutia to gasp as she felt the cock enter her folds, and just barely fill her to the hilt.
"Ohh, yeeeessss, make me carry your children," Slutia said. "Please, my zealot, give me your seed."
Green Mist smirked. "Oh, I intend to," he said, and began to rapidly pull out and thrust back in, causing Slutia to moan as she ate Whorenza out, which caused the second mare to moan in turn.
As he picked up speed, he said, "So, Slutia, who should be next to feel my gift?"
"I am not worthty to say, my zealot, but I would suggest Rarity upon our return."
"I had hoped so," he said as he thrust once more before he unleashed his seed in Slutia, the spell he cast earlier ensuring she would become pregnant. "Ahh, Whorenza, make sure my seed doesn't leave her cunt," he commanded, to which she obliged.
Once she was done, he said, "Now, I think the both of you deserve a reward. Get on your knees."
"Yes, my zealot," they both said, and did so, Green Mist's member haning just in front of their faces.
"Now, both of you, do you want a reward?" he said.
"Yes, my zealot."
"Then you'll have to work for it," he said. I want you both to kiss, stroke, suck, and even put your tits around my dick until I give you both your reward, am I clear? And you can play with yourselves and each other like the sluts you are."
"Yes, my zealot," they both said, and Whorenza stroked his length while Slutia sucked on his balls.
The two alternated and changed their methods for minutes, Slutia going for the oral side, with Whorenza using her hand and breasts. After ten minutes, he said, "It seems like you two got your reward,' he said, and Slutia removed her mouth and Whorenza began to stroke it as quickly as physically possible. After just ten seconds, a jet of warm, sticky splooge erupted from the cock and coated both mares' faces and chests in his seed.
He delivered four more bursts, and he alternated between the two, which gave each mare three bursts, which included the first one that had been shared between the two.
"Thank you, my zealot," they both said, using their hands to collect Green Mist's seed, then lick i off their fingers, with Slutia's and Whorenza's eyes now being entirely those of a changeling drone's.
"Both of you, take a shower, get dressed, and put an illusion spell over your eyes to make them look as they were before. I do not want Twilight to discover us until it's too late."
"Yes, my zealot," they said as they got up and made their way to the shower.
And that is why I am the Element of Deceit, Green Mist thought as he got dressed in his armor and left the room.
In the hallway of Canterlot High, Opal and Twilight sat on the floor, side by side, simply enjoying one anothers company. "Can't believe they've been going at it for nearly an hour," Opal said.
"Same here," Twiligh tsaid, "but at least they're in good company with each other, so I'm willing to wait."
They didn't have to wait long, as, five minutes later, Sunset and Adagio stepped out of the gym. "Have fun, you two," Twilight asked with a smirk. At heir blush, Twilight laughed. "I'm just messing with you." She put an arm around Opal. "And this is my marefreind, Opal," she said. "Opal, this is Sunset Shimmer and Adagio Dazzle."
"The ones you met the last two times you came here?" Opal asked as she and Twilight stood up.
"Yeah, we are," Sunset said, her hand and Adagio's entwined. "And Dagi has something to say to you, Twilight."
"And what's that," Twilight asked, though she had a good idea as to what it was.
"I've decided I'll take you up on your offer," the ex-siren said.
"Then here," Twilight said, reaching into her left pocket and pulled something out, and flicked it to Adagio, who caught it and was surprised at what she saw.
"Another siren gem," she said in amazmnt before looking at Twilight. "How?"
The lavender anthro alicorn shrugged. "I just used some of my magic to make three more. And they don't need negative emotions to be powered. These use positive emotions like love, which I'm certain you get daily, to work. Now come on, it's time to get Sonata and Aria."
Adagio put on her new amulet. As the clasp was sealed, she was encircled by red ribbons, which shattered a few seconds later to reveal Adagio with her pony ears, pony tail, and siren wings. The four of them left, Twilight holding Opal's hand, and Sunset doing the same with Adagio. They made thier way to the lunch room, where, unsuprisingly, Sonata was eating a shit ton of tacos.
"Okay, I'm just surprised this place hasn't run out of tacos," Twilight said, face palming.
"You and me both," Adagio said.
Sonata heard Adagio, and looked up from her feast, and her mouth dropped open whne she saw the four of them. She got up and tackled Adagio to the floor. "Dagi, you're alright," she said in an excited tone that wouln't have sounded out of character on Pinkie. She looked at her firend, and her look became puzzled. "When did you get your wings?"
"That would be because of Twilight," Adagio said. "I took her up on her offer, and she actually made a duplicate gem for each of us that doesn't need negative emotions, but positive ones, so we don't have to harm anyone else."
"Oh, I want that too," she said with a large smile.
"Then here, Sonata," Twilight said, tossing another amulet to the Pinkie like siren, who caught it, then put it on.
"Yay!" she said after her wings, tail, and ears returned.
"That just leaves Aria," Twilight said. "She should be in one of the classrooms."
"Or right there," Sunset said, pointing behind Twilight, who turned around and saw the purple siren walking toward the group."
"Aria, I thought you said you'd wait in the class room," Twilight said, to which Aria shrugged.
"I got bored, and decided to find you and see how Adagio and Sonata stood on the decision. I can guess they went along with it."
"So what about you, Aria," Sonata asked, a curious look on her face.
"Sure," Aria said, "why not. Nothing better."
"Then here," Twilight said, taking the last amulet and handing it to Aria. "By the way, it uses positive emotions to work."
"Well, that's an improvement," Aria said, putting the amulet on and regaining her siren form. "Thanks."
"No problem," Twilight said. "Now, we should head to the roof so I can cast the spell that will make the planet loyal to us."
With that, the group of six made their way outside. Once there, those that could fly made their way up, with Twilight carrying Opal. Galaxy was already up there.
"About time," she said, her arms crossed. "You ready, Twilight?"
Twilight lit her horn and said, "Yep."
"Then let's get started," Galaxy said, lighting her horn as well.
The two began to hover in the air, orbs of transparent magical energy surrounding the two. Then, ten seconds after they began to hover, the orbs grew and met, formed a singular orb. then exploded outward, quickly enveloping the city, then, just a minute later, the planet.
When it had disappated, those that were out in the streets of the city stopped what they were doing and made their way to the front of the school, nelt, and siad, "Hail the Eclipse."
"I guess the Eclipse is the name of the alliance," Sunset asked.
"Yep," Twilight replied. "And if you four want it, you can have rule over this world. The others and I are content with Equestria, but you can visit whenever you want."
"I think I'll be happy with that," Adagio said. "What about you, Sunny?"
"Long as you're here, Dagi," Sunset replied with a smile.
"Then how about we have a party?" Opal said.
"I think that's a great idea, Opal," Twilight said as she kissed her lover.
Epilouge
A week has passed since the reach of the Eclipses had expanded to the human world, and, with some help from Sunset and the others, the two worlds had begun trading resources, with Equestria getting various advanced technologies, and the human world getting various magics.
When Twilight and the others returned, she and Galaxy had performed the sam spell, this time more to ensure Equestria wasn't attacked then to make sure they weren't overthrown. Unfortunatelt, though, they didn't plan on Green Mist.
The changeling sat in his room, his armor on, with Slutia, Whorenza, and Raunchity, formerly Rarity, kneeling before him, clothed in simplt their underwear.
"Does she suspect?" Green Mist asked.
"No, my zealot," Slutia asked. "My daughter is completely unaware of our plan, and we have removed the memories of those who found out the truth, as killng them would bring unwanted attention down on us."
Green Mist nodded, pleased. "Good. And what of the status of ther other converts?"
"Fluttershy and Applejack have been converted, zealot," Whorenza said, "but the guards have prevented us from getting to Rainbow, and none of us have had an opprotunity to convert Galaxy, Nightmare, or Luna, and we have not converted Chrysalis, on your orders."
"And where is the pink menace?"
"We do not know, my zealot," Raunchity said. "She has been missing since our arrival, and there are no leads."
"Hmph. I suspected as much," Green Mist said. "Even where I came from, she was able to transverse and see into other dimensions, however rarely she used it." He looked at the three mares. "If there is any hint what so ever of her being back, find her, bring her here, and allow me to finish that problem. Now, dress and leave me."
"Yes, zealot," the three of them said, and they dressed and left.
Once they were gone, Green Mist smiled and reached his hand out, and he seemed to grasp an orb. As his hand tightend around it, a simple, white, spherical device appeared, a lense in the middle. He brought the lense ot wher eit faced his head. "If you want to stop me, Harmony, you'd better hurry. I still have my army, and all you have is a team, and my forces continue to grow." With that, he crushed the sphere.
In a location few knew about, and even fewer lived in, a tall, female figure, as tall as human Celestia, with white skin, an ankle length gray dress, and flowing hair that looked like a rainbow, six of the colors being that of the Elements, purple, cyan, pink, orange, magenta, and crimson, with four other strands, one being emerald green, a second being steel gray, a third being dark marron, and the fourth being black. From her forehead was a majestic horn with a blunt tip, and, upon her back, were two, majestic wings.
Standing next to her was a certain pink changeling. "This is getting bad," Pinkie said. "Is it time to get them, Harmony?"
Both of them stood in front of a moniter, the only thing on it being static. "No need, Pinkie," the mare known as Harmony said as a door opened, and a peculier figure walked in.
He had blockish armor, the shoulder plate sbeing metal squares that jutted out from his shoulders. His chest had small, brass like cylinders on it contained in a metal strap, and had a knife sheath, the knife contained in it, screwed on to his upper left chest plate. His helmet, a round object hanging from his side with a sun-visor that blocked sunlight from getting in the eyes. The armor's colors were black, with highlights of red. The stallion's face could be considered attractive and rugged at the same time. He had a scar stretching from just above his right eye, which, like his left, had a teal iris, with the scar running down to his cheek. His right arm, though, was the oddest thing, as it wasn't an organic arm, but a robotic prosthetic. From his forehead, a medium length horn with a pointed end sprouted, and, on his back, were two furled wings that, if they were unfurled, would be half pegasus, half bat. His skin had that appearence of normal skin, but, if one looked close enough and felt his skin, it would feel like a changeling's carapace
"Hello, Lone," Harmony said to Lone Shadow. "I hope that Pinke gave you the briefing?"
Lone nodded. "She did, Harmony," he said. "We're ready to get him and make sure nothing else happens there." |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | pre | She held his gaze, "True." She lost her thoughts of the Professor and of all of time, Done that instant, and focused on Cozech. She had never felt more known or accepted. Before she knew it- before they knew it -they had been kissing for a good while.
Cozech smiled as Elizabeth slowly moved her lips away from his, a rosy colour on both his cheeks still. "Well, guess you were right."
"About?" Elizabeth's voice cracked with excitement. She kept looking at him as she heard her experiment fizzing, but she didn't want to move from under his wing.
"You know, this attraction we have." He gave her a smile as she blushed in turn, with a devilish smirk on her face.
<\Steve...rebooting.....execute memory bank code: 0-0-9-7/> This is why the Master is after Haiex...An exert from Blitz's journal.
"There was a crash and a boom. 'Do you surrender, Missy?' I scoffed through gritted teeth, with sword in hand whose tip just balanced on Elizabeth's jugular .
'You watch,' she panted out, blood running from her wounds, 'I'll put an end to you and the Professor, soon. If not me, then--'
'Who? Your husband?' I smirked as her pupils dilated with fear. 'If he can't save you know, how the hell is he supposed to take us on.' I stared into her large, watery eyes, as my fingers gripped the sword tighter and the cuts on me I could feel bleeding. 'You shouldn't have laid a hand on the Professor, Missy!'
'Blitz! Don't!' But the Professor was to late, for as she approached Elizabeth was too far gone. Though Elizabeth had given her a painful bruise and a bleeding cut, she still knelt beside the body and whimpered. Her friend was gone with a whimper as I pulled the sword from her chest. 'No, Elizabeth...Elizabeth! Regenerate, please!' Her voice shook with emotion as she saw Missy's body go limp, no sign of regeneration about her.
I slowly cleaned my blade, a little taken aback by the Professor's crying, but stoic at the least. 'She had no more regenerations in her, Professor. You know that.' I had said with calm collectivity as the Professor looked up at me.
'I-I know...but you didn't--'
'It was either her or you. I didn't want it to be the latter option.' I sheathed my rapier and knelt at her side, trying to encircle her shoulders with my arm but she shrugged me off as she clenched Elizabeth's body close to hers. I knew in my heart I was sorry, but I was also glad she was gone; No more problems from her, which meant less worry about the Professor. But then, just as I though the trees about us with their dense, damp, dark leaves would have muffled the battle's noises from the outside world, I heard a distinct cry of rage. It was far off in the distance, but I knew it was the Master; I knew he was out for blood and knew we had to get out of there before he got close. It was too late, though. He had maybe flown, or wrenched his way to the clearing we were in and was stand there with anger in his pupils. He knew now I was the one who had delivered the final blow...
The Professor told me to write this all down to remember the time my anger had boiled over, to remember not to let it get that far, and to remember Missy..."
</Back to Haiex's recollection from where I had stopped YOU all. Thank you./>
"So, wait, let me get this straight...you're saying that your Professor killed the Master's wife?" Dash was sitting up on the bed, facing Blitz who was sitting opposite of her.
"Eeyup," Blitz said, mimicking Big Mac's saying to the letter.
"And that you really aren't my double?" She looked him straight in the eye, with conviction.
"Eeyup. See, I had to infiltrate this world some way or other and I saw that the original Rainbow Blitz was in dangerous trouble. Considering that I was born an alicorn I could be susceptible to magical appearance manipulation; me and the Professor explored the possibility and we made it happen. I look exactly like him, in equine form."
"And as a hoo-man?" Dash struggled with the word and the entirety of the story she just heard.
"As a 'hu-man'," Blitz articulated the word for her, "I look much different--maybe--from him."
"Maybe?"
"It's hard to say considering we couldn't get him to comply with us that far."
"So, he was the one that the Professor yelled to get into the TARDIS?"
"And hence, she gained his trust and we were able to transform me into him."
Dash reclined on the headboard, relieved that he wasn't her doppelganger, but also a little disappointed in not finding the true one. She loved this Blitz, though, anypony could tell. "So, what do you actually look like?" She looked at him, smirking. "Probably not as cool as me, huh?"
"Definitely not, Beautiful." He smiled.
She rolled her eyes as she took the compliment with a smile herself.
"I'm actually that jet black stallion, with a black-ish brown mane." He had to ponder what he had looked like when he had seen himself in the camera lens, after eating that Poison Joke.
"So, this 'rainbow' look..." she pondered.
"Yes?"
"So what's your real name?" She leaned forward.
"Well, it's supposed to be Haiex Pond, but after a few missions with the Professor I decided to call myself Lake Song after she alluded to someone else's name...which I can't remember."
"Are you sure it wasn't The Master's name? You know, the one she killed?" Dash leaned forward to Blitz.
He leaned closer to her as well, meeting her nose with his, "I doubt it...but then again, I have another name that I took on when the Professor died. It used to be hers. Hence I call myself the Doctor, now." |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | Two Become One | Rainbow Dash raised her ear off her eye and looked about the half darkened room. It was morning. The sunlight was pouring in through the skylight and glittering off the white walls of her bedroom. She didn't understand why she woke up so early, it was her day off; her one day off from weather duty, at least that's what Blitz had told her. As she came to her senses and the haze of sleep started lifting from her mind she realized that Blitz wasn't with her. His spot on the bed, in front of her, was empty and she suddenly started panicking. She sat up, her wings on end and her heart pounding, "Dash, come on. Don't worry...he's probably downstairs with breakfast, or something." She unconsciously put her hoof over her heart. "H-He's just d-downstairs he's n-not g-gone. He c-could've left before, b-but he d-didn't."
Blitz gently nudged the front door in as he quietly walked into Dash's house, not a sound. He thought Dash was still asleep and he didn't want to wake her with going up just yet, so he set down the ring box he'd been carrying, on the kitchen counter, and closed the door with his magic. "I hope she hasn't woke up yet. It is rude to leave her unattended at rest," he mumbled as he tried undoing the red sash about his waist. "I better put this to dry," he said as he went to put the sash on the kitchen chair. "That rain storm was a pretty hard job to do. Good thing I can't get that wet." He chuckled as he compared his dry coat to the wet sash.
Dash heard a rustling from downstairs and sighed with relief. "He is downstairs," she flopped herself back on the bed. She had gotten used to there being a canopy above her bed, when they had been staying at Princess Celestia's castle, and she now had to squint as she looked up at the ceiling for the sun wasn't her thing in the morning.
"Duskie?" Twilight called as she trotted down to the foyer. There was nopony in sight and it seemed that there was a note on Owlicious' beak as she moved closer to her sleeping friend. "What?" She gently took it off the owl, with her magic, and read it. "After two weeks of being away from Canterlot, he, Spike, and Barbara are called back to investigate more into the elements?" she mumbled as she read. She let out a sigh next, "Well, at least they'll be back tomorrow..." She took the note with her as she went upstairs to the balcony to try and spot Rainbow Dash for maybe a nice get-together later, but when she reached the open air she only found a gloomy sky. "That's strange..."
"So, you did all my work for today, just so we could hang?" Rainbow Dash asked Blitz, a little pompous and prideful, as they ate lunch. She paid no attention to the dark clouds above, even if they were sitting just outside Ponyville's finest cafe.
"Well, of course. Why else would I fly all over Equestria in one morning?" he gave her a wink.
She blushed hard, slipping down in her seat as she held her sandwich in front of her muzzle. "R-Right, sure you did," She took a bite of her sandwich and pretended like her cheeks weren't so rosy.
Blitz chuckled a tad, picking up his sandwich with his hooves, awkwardly, and taking a bite.
"You okay there? You seem to be having a little bit of trouble." She grinned, sitting up in her seat again and snickering at Blitz's effort.
"Yeah...just not used to eating with my hooves," he gave her a sheepish smile and fumbled with his sandwich again, trying to flatten the sandwich between his hooves so as to get a better grip. No use, a bit of lettuce slipped out as he stuck out his tongue in concentration.
"Alright, easy there, 'Hot Shot'," Dash found her opportunity and started getting her pompous demeanor back. She gently pushed Blitz's hoof down, so as to make him put down his sandwich.
"W-What? I was getting to eating that," Blitz pinned his ears back, slightly, trying not to show how red his ear tips were getting. As he pushed his ears back, though, Blitz caught a glimpse of the gloomy sky. "That's strange..."
"What's strange?" Dash looked up to see the clouds had turn a deep black and soon a drop of rain fell on her muzzle. "What the--I thought you said only Cloudsdale was getting a shower?" she looked at him, surprised, and quickly wiped her nose.
"Yeah, that was what I did. Nothing more, but I bet we should take these sandwiches inside." He gave her a grim look, reaching for the watch in his vest pocket.
"Uh..what's up with your mane?" She pointed to him as his mane started to stand on end, like it was statically charged.
"I honestly--" As Blitz clicked open his watch a rush of future images ran through his head, like a movie, and he saw lightning striking their table in just a matter of seconds. He knew what to do, but it pained him to show it to Dash; he had to save her, right?
"Blitzie?" Dash started, but was cut off by Blitz lunging over the table. As he clutched her Dash felt a rush of warmth and a sudden rush of wind. She found herself with her eyes closed and clutching Blitz, tight, the next minute and as she opened her eyes she found them sitting behind the windowed door of the cafe and with Blitz's forelegs and wings about her, protectively.
"It's alright..." Blitz whispered to her as he nuzzled her ear, tiny sparks jumping from his coat, the "open" sign on the door swinging side-to-side.
"How did we get here?" She asked, keeping her voice steady and she looked about, a little angry as well as surprised; by the look on everypony's faces, about the cafe, they must have made an entrance.
"Just a trick, Dash." Blitz tried not to say "magic" for he thought Dash wouldn't have understood.
Dash looked up at him, realising something else had happened as she saw him giving her that same, unsure, grin. She looked out the window to wear they had been sitting to find scorch marks on the ground and the table dark and smoldering on its surface. "What the hay happened?" she shoved him away and stood up. "What aren't you telling me? Was that lightning that struck the table?" She started getting red in the face with anger.
Blitz, feeling guilty, started, "Well, care to take my entire story over a cup of coffee?"
Dash, still angry, but grateful he had done something to save her, agreed to hear him out.
Meanwhile, Twilight let Rarity and AppleJack into her home, as the storm took a turn for the worst. "Some storm, huh? The Pegasus ponies sure have outdone themselves this time. I hope you and Applejack don't have any trouble getting home." She closed the door behind Rarity, trying not to slip in the puddles the two newcomers were making.
Rarity turned about, trying to wring out her hair as AppleJack tried the same. "It may indeed be a problem."
AppleJack nodded in agreement.
Twilight looked at the two soaking friends and produced two towels for them, which they gladly took. "Well, you're welcome to stay if need be. Spike, Barbara, and Dusk are away in Canterlot on royal business. I'm home all alone tonight." She gasped, "You and Applejack should totally sleep over! We'll have a slumber party! I've always wanted one of those."
AppleJack and Rarity tried to refuse, giving excuses involving AJ and Elusive worrying about them, but Twilight eventually got them to stay.
"So, what? Now you're telling me you're really an alicorn?" Dash rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat, forelegs crossed over her chest.
"Yes. Exactly. Remember, I am not really Rainbow Blitz. I just took his name and face. I'm Haiex, that wolf you guys encountered, that's the real me." He sat up straighter, his rainbow bangs falling over part of his face, then quickly turned to the window of their kitchen as he saw a flash of lightning.
"So, you're really a hard ass?" She chuckled, then got serious again.
"Yes...well, sort of. Now, if I were to change I'd be more calm." He looked back at Dash and smiled.
"Alright. Anyway, you say that you can teleport?" Dash eyed him and his watch.
"Well, I did get us back home, didn't I? And it was because of my Time Vortex Manipulator, not because of a teleportation spell, like at the cafe."
"Right. Sure." She squinted at him, then jumped at another flash of lightning.
"It isn't supposed to be this bad, at least, it wasn't this bad when I left it with that one mare...or was she a filly?" He looked out the window again.
"Wait, you're telling me that you might've left this storm in the hooves of a filly?!" She got up on her hind legs and stomped her forehooves on the table. "Really?!"
Sheepishly, flattening his ears against his head, Blitz silently nodded to Dash who was gritting her teeth at him. However, another strike of blinding light sent Rainbow Dash jumping onto Blitz's lap and Blitz's own mane standing on end. "I gotta do something about this," Blitz thought as he gently helped Dash to her hooves and started for the door.
"Hey, hold up. If anypony's going it's going to be me. You've done enough damage." Dash quickly ran past Blitz, out the door, and into the downpour outside. In the darkened sky Dash could barely make out the blackened clouds through the heavy rain. Thunder crashed and ripped the sky around her as she flew higher, the rain pelting and drumming against her
"Dash!" Blitz ripped through the sky in his own lightning bolt; the fastest he had felt himself fly before.
Dash turned about to see her stallion flying towards her. She was about to stop hovering, but Blitz pushed her horizontally from him. "What the hay!" Dash spun around and around, away from him, then got her stability and was ready to start yelling at Blitz. Her jaw dropped instead.
Blitz teleported, just a few seconds after pushing Dash, maybe ten feet from where he was hovering. He saw Dash straighten out and then a massive bolt of lightning struck between them; however, in the eye-scorching light Blitz thought he saw a pair of glowing red eyes peering out at him. "The Master....?" Blitz's hearts started to race, sounding like drums in his ears, "The drums are coming...I can hear them..." Blitz shot up, to Dash's surprise and his own, in a rain sizzling streak of lightning (around a darkened rainbow that was elusive in the darkened sky). He dashed and zipped, this way and that, trying to avoid the oncoming strikes of lightning. "It's like they're being controlled," he thought. "Maybe if I break the cloud line I can stop this..." He kept going, his lightning failing as the rain started to overcome him. It started to scorch his coat, his own electricity hurting him where the water hit; it was everywhere. He was so close to the clouds now.
"NO! Blitz!" Dash screamed.
"Tick tock goes the clock..." Blitz thought as he felt his body go limp, the shroud of darkness was pulling itself over his eyes as the lightning that hit him coursed outwards from his heart to his other limbs. "The rain. In my eyes. I didn't see it. I was almost there. Directly in the left heart...my normal hear--" Even the voice in his head cut off as he succumbed the the pain...and fell.
"No...no, this can't be happening." Dash paced, sniffing back tears as the rest of her friends rushed in. It was morning now, Dash's mane and tail were frizzed from the storm and from the past hours of anxiety.
Pinkie rushed in with a heart warming hug, "What happened to you?"
"Yeah? It looks like you just got caught in a storm, witness the death of Blitz, and then carried him all the way over here," Bubbles smiled after giving Dash a hug.
Rainbow Dash looked, dumbstruck, at Bubbles. "I still can't believe you two can do that."
"Don't try to wrap you mind around it, Dash," Twilight gave Dash a reassuring hug. "But, is it true? They rushed us all over here after telling us the same thing."
"I...I don't know..." Dash started to tear up as she buried her muzzle in Twilight's mane.
The ringing was subsiding from Blitz's ears now. He twitched one, then the other, checking for feeling. The beeping of the medical instruments around his bed was pounding against his skull like the drums he kept hearing. It was still dark, he thought, but he then tried to open one eye, then the next. The fuzzy, light, images of the room around him were seeping into his head with the clearing of the fog that was still there. He looked this way and that, looking at his darkened wings. "There not black...but a dark blue," he heard a voice say; he felt his lips move, but the voice wasn't his, or was it? He looked at his legs, all four of them, "My George, I'm a dark blue...and this hair." He tried to blow his bangs out of his eyes, the green streaked strands were the only ones he could see, but as he stared at the mirror at his bed side he noticed he had brown hair too. "Bloody hair, but why brown? And why is Elusive's mirror here?" He picked up the thing with his magic, studying himself. He then noticed a book by his side, just on the bed as if somepony left it there as they slept. "A Daring Do novel?" He began to look the book over, and over, and soon found that he was reading it with emphasis. Sure, he read in his head normally, but his head voice had become to British to stand so he decided to read aloud and to no avail; his voice had become British inside and out and he couldn't understand why. There was a knock at the door.
"Um....uh....is anypony in there?" Fluttershy nudged the emergency room door open a tad as the others tried to console Rainbow Dash.
"Flutters?" Butterscotch looked about for her as the last glimpse of Fluttershy's tail vanished through the door.
"Huh? What?" Rainbow Blitz fumbled and quickly shoved the Daring Do Novel under the blanket. "Yes?" Blitz looked towards the door and instinctively tried to fix a tie that wasn't around his neck. "Damnit, where are my clothes?" he thought as he looked this way and that and then decided to sit there and wait for whomever was around the corner to bare the sight of him.
"Uh...hello?" Fluttershy peeked around the corner, hearing a strange sounding voice that sounded a lot like that wolf they'd encountered days before. "H-Haiex?" She saw the pony sitting in bed, staring straight at her. She squealed and hid behind the wall again.
"Fluttershy? Is that you?" Blitz tried to crane his neck to get another glimpse of the beautiful yellow feathers before they hid themselves.
"H-Haiex?" she squeaked again.
"What?" Blitz looked at himself in the mirror. "Come here...please...I don't understand what you mean, Flutter."
Fluttershy came from around the corner, "F-Flutter? Uh...I haven't heard that name in a while. At least not from a stallion besides Butterscotch." She looked at him-horn and wings-and saw that charismatic glitter in his eyes. "Blitzkrieg? But, you also remind me of-"
"Haiex? That black colt you took care of, many moons ago?" A soft grin crawled across Blitz's lips. "So, that's how you know me..."
"No...I took care of colt a couple of months back..." Fluttershy, unconsciously retorted. She then looked him up and down, "But how are you Blitz too? I thought you two were different-"
A light bulb flicked on in the recesses of Blitz's mind, the TimeLord part of his mind, as Death's fog vanished from his head. "Mindsets? Different personas? Maybe before-oh, I hope you don't hold it against me that I growled at you before-and now I have my ole British accent back, a new body, and the best of being an Element of Harmony and a TimeLord. Plus, everything's separated by two hearts to boot!" Blitz's rant left him out of breath and Fluttershy speechless.
"I...I..." Fluttershy looked at him again, his darkened cyan coat and wings a stark contrast to his brown and streaked green hair. "But still those same eyes..." she thought, the voice in her head as timid as that from her lips. She moved to Blitz's bedside, astounded and flushing.
"You don't have to say anything...just, don't tell the others." Blitz put a hoof on her shoulder, wincing at the pain it took to achieve the effort, and managed a smile; as his lips parted to show his K-9 teeth, Blitz's horn disappeared by his own magic, "A little dimensional rift spell. I didn't care much for the horn anyway."
Fluttershy gasped, louder than she'd ever before, "That's what that pony said when she dropped that colt off at my cottage."
"That the Professor did and I would never be able to repay you for taking me in, Flutter." He tried to keep his smile, but it faded as the rest of the group rushed in, beckoned by Fluttershy's gasp.
"W-We could do tea sometime...i-if you w-want?" she gave a timid smile as her wings began to rise. "So, he was that colt? But how? It wasn't that long ago," she thought.
Rainbow Dash then hurled herself at Blitz, landing on top of him in bed, "What the hay?! You're alive!?" She hugged him and gave him a frantic filled kiss on the lips.
Rainbow Blitz just hugged her, uncomfortable by the position, but kissed her anyway as the Daring Do novel slipped onto the floor.
"You've been readin' again, Sugarcube?" AJ picked up the book and set it on the nightstand, giving an eye roll to Fluttershy who was on the other side of the bed from him.
The friends all laughed and soon they were all gathered around the newly entered Rainbow Blitzkrieg, asking him things and finding that his Posion Joke personality and his Rainbow Blitz personality-the two that had been struggling to take control-had become one now. |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | How Old Wrong Doings Bring New Ones | "She dropped me off before that. Remember? And apparently picked me up before we came in the Tardis..." Blitz smiled, taking a sip of his tea and looked at Fluttershy.
"Before what? I haven't said anything?" Fluttershy got up to get the tea kettle from the stove, nuzzling Celestia's phoenix on the way back. Since Butterscotch was gone for the day to help Rarity and Elusive at their boutique, Fluttershy saw it a good time to give her phoenix friend a proper caring as Blitz told her about how it could be possible.
"Before he killed her..."
"Wait? Who, Haiex?"
"I don't expect you to understand right away, Flutter..." Then, Blitz started falling into his reverie once more.
He could see it like it was just the day before, being walked up to that familiar cottage while under the caring wing of his Professor. "Why do I have to stay here?" he whined.
"Because, Haiex, you need to get familiar with this place and go to school."
"But why?" He fumbled up the steps, still uneasy on his hooves. "Being a horse is weird." As he grimaced his horn began to glow and with a flash of the Professor's glasses the magic was gone.
"I told you to control your temper," she knocked on the door of the cottage and Fluttershy answered, "you know what can happen." She gave Haiex one of her stares that always gave Haiex the shivers.
"Umm...Hello?" Fluttershy smiled and peaked out.
"Yes, hi; we spoke by letter, Ms. Fluttershy?"
"Oh, yes, Ms. Rane." Fluttershy looked from her to the colt by her side, patting him on the head, "And this must be your son? 'Hay-ex?'"
The Professor snickered, then gained her composure as she looked around, the clear sky making the thought of leaving so dreadful. "Yes, but you pronounce it 'High-ex.'" She smiled.
"Yes, of course." Fluttershy ruffled Haiex's mane behind the ear, which apparently the colt like for he smiled and wagged his tail as if a dog. "So, I'm going to be taking care of you for a while. The name's Fluttershy. And yours?"
In a shy manner, almost parallel to Fluttershy's, Haiex answered, "The name's...Haiex...Flutter...Flutter..." He couldn't get the ending of her name right, maybe because he was still enjoying the feeling of being petted, or maybe he was just shy, he would never remember.
"Well, it's alright if you're shy, I'm the same way. If you want, you can just call me Flutter." She smiled at the colt, who smiled back and with that magic coming about his horn again.
With another flash of the Professor's glasses and a whip of her magic, his horn was gone, leaving the wings to be seen and Fluttershy gasping. "Don't worry. A little dimensional rift spell. He didn't care much for the horn anyway."
A knocking at the cottage door snapped Blitz out of his story. "You expecting somepony?" He looked at Fluttershy and sipped his tea.
"No, maybe it's Discord coming by. I'll get it and you can continue your story." Fluttershy went to the door to open it to the dragon she was expecting.
"Why, hello Fluttershy," Discord said in his usual, elongated phrased, speech.
"That voice..." Blitz thought as the drums started coming into his head, distant but there; they lulled him into another dream like state, this time while overhearing the conversation and not saying a word:
He had just kissed her, that female Doctor. She had just shoved him onto her work table and strapped him in, face down on the metallic surface. "Professor!? What are you doing!?"
She started putting needles into his flank, legs, and a larger three needled cup-link into the back of his head. "Sorry, my Lake Song. This is for science." She trotted around the table as Haiex flailed against the restraints. "Easy there, it'll just...be a minute." She gave him a loving and frantic kiss on the head and then flipped the switch as she skipped back into their bedroom.
The heart of the Tardis whirred and brightened as its power grew and made its way down through the tubes that fed into Haiex. His coat became a dark cyan and his horn began to show; his mane and tail dulled to a brown with the green strips aglow; and soon his cutie mark began to shift, a lightning bolt to rift that protruding hourglass that now lay on his hip. He tossed and turned as the power surged through him, from his left heart to his right and soon his mind was adrift. He could see, in a dream, when they had loved, but now the Professor was using him as guinea pig. He felt his mind split and heard the Professor scream. There were two voices in his head now, Haiex and Rainbow Blitzk. He could feel the restraints come loose and the cup-links dislodge, the one on his head leaving a wound that healed instantly with sparks. As the scar became he rolled over on to the floor and realised he was back to his old "rainbow" self. "That's strange," he thought, hearing his American accent as well as his old British one in unison. He didn't understand, nor did he care, for the whole Tardis was spinning about him as he walked to the bedroom. "Professor Rane?"
She looked up from a packed suitcase, and smiled at him. "Seems you made it, TimeLord," she smiled and walked close.
"I...heard you scream, right?" He looked at the suitcase and a calendar was there, with that day's date circled in red. He looked back at her, "Sweetie?"
"Tick tock...it seems the day has come." She kissed him after she popped a coat on him, slipping her own green sonic screwdriver into the pocket along with his blue one, without Blitz's knowledge.
"Professor?" He was dazed and trying to shake it off, to no avail, as the Professor made her way out to the table again. He followed, almost in a drunken fashion, overwhelmed with the two voices and personas in him as well as the power that was swelling his brain.
The Professor sat up on the table, bringing down the Chameleon Helmet that hung above her. She inserted her fob watch into the back slot and slid it over her ears.
"Rane?! Professor?! What are...you doing?" Blitz fumbled and had his head land on the Professor's lap. Then the Tardis shook violently as the Chameleon Helmet started to work.
"I'm Sorry!!" The Professor's body went limp and Blitz caught her, snapping to his senses finally. The fob watch fell out on to the table too as the Professor gained consciousness. "Well, if it isn't you, silly filly," she said as she rubbed Blitz's cheek.
"Professor?"
"Who? No. Remember me?...I think my name was...Jane Doe..."
There was a crash and an explosion. A black hole seemed to just rip through the front of the Tardis. Blitz protected the Professor against the table, he eyed the watch too and shoved it into his coat pocket, not feeling the screwdrivers.
"Oh Doctor~! I'm home~!" The Master strutted through the opening with Daleks on his tail, chattering away: "The Professor must be EXTERMINATED!"
"You'll have your fun," he waved off the three Daleks in separate ways, to find the Professor.
"We gotta hide, Professor."
Jane Doe trembled, not compliant with Blitz whatsoever. The console had been the only thing obscuring the Master's view of them, but as he moved about it, Blitz became ready to fight.
"Why, hello Haiex," the Master greeted in his usual, elongated phrased, speech.
"Come on, leave the Professor alone. It's me you want!" He braced between the Master and the Professor.
"Oh, no...you took my beloved. I TAKE YOURS," with the entirety of the Master's might he threw Blitz, with his magic, against what was left of the wall. He strutted up to Jane and pulled her chin up; he look into her eyes with his red irises flamed like death. "And, it wouldn't be symbolic, unless it was by your blade..." With that, and his magic, he conjured Blitz's swords from down the hall and they flew to the Master's sides. He took his time prodding Jane's chest with the tips of them.
"No...Please...I didn't do anything..." Jane whimpered.
"The second to last TimeLord, groveling on her flank as if a child. How pathetic."
Blitz came to, his vision blurred. He looked horizontally at the two and Haiex screamed in his head, "NOO!" but Blitz could only manage a whimper from his lips as he saw the Master plunge both rapiers into the Professor's chest.
The Daleks lined up at the now regenerating gap, at the start of the Tardis. "The Professor has been EXTERMINATED!" they screamed in unison.
"If you don't get to destroying the Tardis, I'll 'EXTERMINATE' you!" The Master yelled at the Daleks as he turned around. The three of them wheeled about, bumping into each other in haste, and then started to fire upon the Tardis.
The Master and his entourage of Daleks slowly left as the gap closed in the front of the Tardis, the Master's tail tip barely making it as the hole closed. Their work was done, the Tardis on fire, and the flames reflecting in the pool of the Professor's blood. Blitz came to, again, crawling on his belly to the Professor, his wings and legs sprained. He needed to get her in his arms one last time, pulling the blades out with his magic as he crawled through the Professor's blood, smearing it down his underbelly and his face when he collapsed from the trauma. When he finally got to her, her body was carefully propped up against the table, as if the blades had stuck her there; their clanging on the floor seemed louder than the raging fire that engulfed the Tardis. With shadows dancing on their bodies and the blood making Blitz's face partially black, he cradled her against him, moaning and sobbing...rocking to and fro. "No...no..." his tears fell from his cheeks onto hers as Jane Doe's wings laid limp in the blood on the floor.
The Master's voice rang in Blitz's ears, deafening him to the roar of the fire that was soon being put out by the Tardis' ability to heal. "I guess...Tick tock goes the clock, he laughed at fate and mourned her...tick tock goes the clock, even for the Doctor..."
"Shut up...Shut up..." Blitz mumbled, the fire slowly dying.
"Tick tock goes the clock...he cradled her and rocked her....Tick tock goes the clock...EVEN FOR THE DOCTOR!" The Master's laugh rang throughout the Tardis, sending the dying flames higher, for an instant, then they died completely.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!!!" Blitz yelled to the ceiling, holding the Professor closer. As the laughter overwhelmed him, Blitz cried out, "TICK TOCK GOES THE CLOCK! NOW I"M THE DOCTOR!"
"Oh, Rainbow Ditz?" Discord poked him on his shoulder.
Blitz's eyes opened and he jumped right into Discord's arms, "What the?" He looked up.
"Uh...it seems that Fluttershy's rubbed off on you." He gave him a smile.
Blitz snorted and teleported back onto the floor, "She did...a while ago. Now, what did I miss?" He looked around to see Fluttershy sitting on the couch sipping tea. She slowly patted the seat next to her, signaling for him.
"You were asleep, we thought. You were having a nightmare, weren't you?" Fluttershy asked in her sympathetic tone as Blitz came to sit by her side.
"Cucumber sandwiches?" Discord offered the platter that was on the centre table.
"Of course, Discord. Thank you." Blitz picked up one of the sandwiches with his magic and started chewing away.
"You were mumbling in your sleep, Blitz. Something about your Professor...and blood?" Fluttershy started to shiver at the thought.
Discord slowly patted her shoulder to console her, then snapped his fingers and a horn appeared on his forehead. "I like the new fashion statement, Blitz. Where did you acquire it?" Discord poked at the horn and smiled at Blitz, who was touching his own forehead.
"Oi, that belongs here, Discord," with a click of his tongue, finishing his sentence, the horn magically floated off Discord and onto Blitz fixing itself upon his own forehead.
"Hello? That's a bit of my magic," Discord seemed, surprised, and reclined in his seat.
"Well, you're not the only one that can use dark magic to 'cause chaos,'" Blitz grinned.
"Well, now that I know that, I believe my work here is complete. Good bye~" Discord did his usual disappearing act, into thin air, leaving the sandwiches.
"What was that about? What business?" Fluttershy asked Blitz as she picked up a card that had appeared on the platter:
I Am Truly Sorry, Fluttershy. It seems that a fellow by the name of THE MASTER, hath decided to ask me for service in serving BLITZKRIEG some untimely justice. See you in the city square!
"What?" Fluttershy looked at Blitz, confused. "What does it mean?" She looked back down at her hoof and the note had turned into another sandwich.
"I don't know, but we need to get to the town square if the Master's involved." Blitz took Fluttershy's hoof and raced towards the door, letting Fluttershy's hoof go to let her follow. The two flew and soon found themselves in front of the town hall and in a crowd of ponies.
The din of hoof beats on the path was deafening within the crowd, but somehow Blitz was able to tell Fluttershy to follow as they picked out their friends and rushed to the centre of the gathering.
"Does anypony know what this is?" Mayor Mare announced, inspecting the silvery domed object that sat in front of her.
"Well, by the way it's humming and the smoke coming from underneath. I assume it might be some sort of projectile." Dusk Shine gave the object a once over and stopped at the purple fumes.
"Pinkie? Is this another one of your rockets?" Twilight gave her a sidelong glance.
Pinkie was bouncing around, trying to get a better look at the rocket as she spoke. "Nope. But I think I saw Trixie put it here with the help of Discord. I think it could be a really big party rocket!"
"Trixie and Discord? This isn't good." Blitz checked the control panel of the rocket and was able to get somewhere. "Bubbles, see anypony else?"
Bubbles had been bouncing through the crowd, a party hat on his head and a kazoo in his mouth. "Well, I did see a red haired stallion with Trixie. As they say, the more ponies, the crazier the party!"
"Were his wings bat like?" Blitz turned his head to look at his friend, but ended up pressing their muzzles against each other.
"Whoa! Can you see what happens around here too?" He smiled. "OOOH! What does that button do?" The soft click of the green button on the console made everypony gasp.
"Bubbles!" Blitz bared his fangs in annoyance and scowled at his friend. The rocket started humming and emitting more smoke.
"Everypony clear out!" Twilight issued, her horn glowing a bit.
Everypony scattered, leaving the twelve friends semi-circled about the rocket. The under-layer of the rocket extended and the projectile started to shake the ground as its thrusters warmed up.
"Anypony got a rope? I could lasso it," AJ protectively stepped in front of Apple Jack as he looked for anypony's reaction to the comment.
The rest of the stallions did the same for their mares and soon shielded them with their own bodies as the rocket took off, the purple smoke blowing them all back from the site.
"HA! I knew you wouldn't resist, Haiex! Or should I call you, 'The Doctor' now?" The Master appeared through the smoke, standing in front of the friends with his own party of ponies: Trixie, Discord, Sombra, and Chrysalis.
Blitz heard the voice and opened his eyes to the sight of them, but also to see he was on the floor, on his back, with his gauntlet broken and he was human. "What the--?" he became wide eyed and looked towards his friends who were having the same reactions to their own bodies, giving him relief: Pinkie and Bubbles where messing around with their toes and fingers and the rest were trying, to no avail (except Princess Twilight), to stand up. Blitz, however, quickly rolled onto his feet and got ready for a fight.
"Oh look, the Doctor got his wind back," the Master teased.
"What the hay was that?" Blitz asked.
"Well, the rocket is a transdimensional infuser. But the exhaust was a test batch of the magic that is to come." He gave a grin.
"Master!" Blitz dashed forward, throwing the first punch which didn't land its mark. Then, a small battle ensued with the Master's accomplices letting the fight take its time. Punches were thrown and Blitz was bruised, but the Master seemed to be quicker than him and was able to throw him off.
"Oh, trying to be the hero again. That's terrible, Doctor. Remember what happened when you failed the last time?" The Master started laughing, but kept calm as Sombra opened a portal, along with Discord, as their escape.
"NO!" Blitz got back up and ran after them as they went through. He flung himself at the Master, but he was through the gateway and it closed just behind him, letting Blitz crash to the ground in a cloud of dust. "Dang it!" he got up, clenched fist and teeth, and stared at both is gauntlet and his friends. "Well, the one thing that was keeping me pony broke. But, seems I have an excuse to be human."
But...though he thought his true form was human, was he right? |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | “Guess Everypony’s Seeing Double” | Blitz helped up his friends after he dusted himself off, a little salty from not being able to catch the Master, but he was gratefully to see he had Princess Twilight to help him teach the others.
"So these are what 'hoomans' look like?" Apple Jack asked, examining her hands and boots.
"Gosh, you all look so familiar," Twilight surveyed the friends.
"Indeed they do, Twi." Blitz looked this way and that to see ponies emerge from their hiding places.
"Uh...girls?" Fluttershy squeaked and shied away as a pony started smelling her.
"Uh...how do we explain this, Blitzkrieg?" Twilight tossed a glance Blitz's way.
"Well, uh..." Blitz thought, then decided to just go with what he heard the Master say. "Mayor Mare?" he called as the pony in call came from behind her podium.
"Rainbow Blitz?" Mayor Mare almost collapsed from surprise, but Luna showed up, in the nick of time, to keep her up right.
"Yes, it's me, Mayor..." Blitz quickly bowed, along with the rest of the friends (taking their motions from Blitz and Twilight) and ponies. "My liege, I didn't expect--"
"You never expect me, Blitz." She interrupted with an air of anger and sadness. "I have seen your recent dreams of this Master and came quickly to avert a catastrophe, but it may seem I'm too late." She looked at the new humans standing in front of her, snorting as she laid eyes on the bowing Blitz, thinking he was trying his hardest to distance himself from her.
"No, we can still stop him," Twilight spoke from Dusk Shine's side, a little quiet as to not be too rude to interject.
"Yes, we may--" Blitz tried to get up, but soon fell flat on his flank as the ground shook. The shaking toppling Dash onto AJ, then Applejack, then all the friends collapsed in a heap, Luna flailed her wing as she fell on top of Blitz. Blitz, the wind knocked out of him by Luna, managed to at least give her a small smile as he embraced her midsection to keep her from falling anymore; She blushed at the gesture and kept still as best she could.
"Oh look, all the fillies and colts are falling over like dominoes." Discord chuckled as he spun around to see a very similar dragon, to himself, but figured to be a female.
"Oh goodie! That means Legion will be pleased with us, Honey." The female dragon looked through a telescope she made appear, which stuck out of the bubble her and the rest of the Master's posse were lounging in, in space, in wait of their rocket to work.
"I believe so, Eris, Darling." He gave her a grin that was shadowed with remorse the both of them shared.
"I don't understand how we're here anyway--another, Sombra," Queen Osura, the female doppelganger of Sombra, was lounging on a couch waiting for Sombra to feed her another grape; with both pleasure and annoyance about him, Sombra did so as the Master spoke.
"Well, my Queen...I've been able to travel between your dimension and Sombra's for quite a while. We decided to bring you here with us so that you don't feel the after-effects of what is to come." The Master pointed straight outwards towards the rocket, which had expanded a second time to produce a satellite dish that was now bombarding the planet below with dark purple, magnetic, waves.
"Yes, the combination of his and my magic will be able to bring our two worlds together, but we have concern about the effects to the population." Trixter gave Trixie a soft nuzzle, seeing as they were relaxed on another couch.
"But, I do know that nothing will be destroyed, that's for sure. Everything and every-'one' will be accounted for when done, and soon, Missy's half of our machine--in your world, Oscura--will unite with mine in the one below and the ponies will be at their weakest."
Chrysalis, recline on another chair (made for her by Eris herself), was being fanned by a rather large changeling as she spoke, "And soon, Equestria will be ours and we can finally get some peace. Isn't that right, Amorphous?" From a speech to the group, to a small kiss to the changeling fanning her, Chrysalis' demeanor changed in an instant as she looked into the eyes of King Amorphous.
The Master stifled a laugh, "Goodness, all you are quite entranced by your opposites. Seems I wasn't the only one to find a connection in that world."
Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, the more the ground shook the more there seemed to be that the buildings were cloning themselves. Blitz held onto Luna and just thought the shaking was making him see double, then he noticed his TARDIS, suspended still, behind SugarCube Corner. "What...t-t-t-t-t-the?" Then it all stopped, when Blitz popped his eyes open again he soon found everything to be back to normal and his TARDIS gone from sight. "Uh...Princess Luna?" He charismatically rubbed her back to get her to her senses.
"Huh...what?" She got up, still blushing and frantically moving her hooves in embarrassment. "My apologies, Prince Blitzkrieg." She gave him a smile.
"Uh...I'm no Prince, Luna, but if you're dubbing me such I like the ring of it." Blitz grinned back as he got up.
Luna screwed up her face in confusion, surprise, and annoyance and snorted again. "Pompous..." She looked about as Blitz became confused himself, "It seems everything is fine here, we shall take our leave." She gave Blitz a growl and walked off, noticing nothing new as she disappeared.
"Uh...Mind expainin' that, SugarCube?" Apple Jack asked as she helped Dash up, confused as well as the rest of the friends as to Luna's actions.
"Beats me." He turned about and looked at the friends, then cocked his head to one side in confusion. "Uh, Madam Mayor. Did you leave a candle on in your house?"
"No, I never do..." She looked up at her window and saw one on, soon rushing to her home in hopes nothing got burnt, but when she flung open the door she saw herself standing in the kitchen; however, something about this pony made him seem more stallion like. She screwed up her face and looked at the pony, coughing to get their attention, "Excuse me, sir. What are you doing in my kitchen?"
He turned, "Uh...I believe this is my--" His jaw dropped as well as hers.
"Think she got it?" Pinkie asked Dash.
"Well, I've never seen her run that fast before, but that light's still on." Dash answered.
"Hey, Dusk Shine, a letter for you," A pony hovered behind Dusk.
The familiar voice brought Dusk about and to his surprise it was Dopey! The mailcolt of his world, he hugged the pony about the neck. "How the hay did you get here? And how'd you know it was me?"
"Well, I was the Professor's companion long enough to not be bothered by dimensional movement and I could tell it was you even if you'd changed form." Dopey squeed, his eyes going derp once more as he finished his intuitive speech.
A human hand came up and snatched the note from Dopey. "This is from Solaris? Why didn't he just send it the usual way?" Spines asked Dusk Shine.
Dusk looked down from Dopey to realise that Spines and Spike had been with them, and now her scales and tail were gone. She was about his chest height and fully human too, with the brightest emerald eyes imaginable. "Spines?"
"Yes?" She looked up at him and realised what he was. "You're a human, like Spike described. Oh! Where's Spike?" She looked about frantically to see a human Spike yank himself free from a nearby bush. "Spike!" She ran to him, helping him get thorns out of his arms.
"Well, that was weird." Dusk turned to Dopey who was still hovering there, looking at him. "Uh...Dopey, you might want to land. We don't know if there's more 'becoming human.'"
Dopey did, but soon spied Derpy walking out of her home, a smaller filly in tow. Either something clicked in his head or his heart skipped a beat, but his eyes became normal once more and he trotted his way to introduce himself to the mare coming from "his" home.
"Well, guess everypony's seeing double." Dusk turned around to see his friends and the few gathered ponies bowing, a shadow crawling over him. "Prince Solaris?!" Prince Dusk's wings would have been on end, if he still had them, as he hugged his mentor about the neck. The full grown horse to human ration was good enough for Dusk to not need to look up so much. Then he saw Princess Celestia by his side and Prince Artemis on his other side, with Princess Luna on his "arm."
"I believe you need to explain what's been happening, Dusk." Solaris smiled to his pupil and then signaled for Blitz to come up. "And Artemis' pupil, Blitz, you also need to explain, for I don't believe this could have been done by any mere pony." |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | “‘Legs, I've still got legs, good?’” | After a long ride back to Canterlot, a discussion and hugs shared amongst the friends and royals, the Princes and Princesses were up to speed. Soon, all the royals sat in the throne room, on cushions, circled about a pot of tea on the centre table. "So, Dusk Shine, you've made acquaintances with the mares of this world?" Solaris looked from Dusk to Celestia, eyeing Celestia with interest.
"Actually, Princess Twilight and I are the only 'friends' here," Dusk chuckled.
"More like a brother 'slash' sister, thing, Sire." Twilight added as she looked from Solaris to Artemis, who was slowly putting his wing about Luna in some machismo way. "But the others--"
"Were a bit weaker, Prince Solaris," Blitzkrieg interrupted, Rainbow Dash leaned against him, looking out the window, as Blitz stroked her hair.
"What do you mean by such, Blitz?" Solaris and Artemis asked in unison.
"He means that the attraction between them and their look-alikes hath been too much for them, but not Twilight and Dusk Shine," Luna interjected, giving Artemis a nuzzle on the neck as she eyed Blitz for some type of jealously. However, sadness struck her heart as Blitz showed no sign of notice. She slowly leaned into Artemis, then, for comfort as she wept internally, making Artemis skeptical as he petted her and searched her thoughts.
The other friends were making progress on their Dungeons & Dragons game, in the next room, leaving Blitz, Dash, and the royals to mentally fend off the noise; however, both Rainbow Blitz and Rainbow Dash were still confused on why they had been invited to the discussion in the "improved" throne room, apparently now able to accommodate all four royals by the infusion of worlds. Celestia and Luna had insisted that "all the royals should be present" as Blitz tried to refuse, so both he and Dash were sharing confused looks with Twilight and Dusk. "May I ask, Princess Celestia, why are Dash and I here?" Blitz finally built the courage to ask.
"I would assume you would remember, 'Prince Blitz', or did that hit to the head that Sapphire give you leave a--"
Blitz stood up, "Princess Celestia! Stop now, please." Blitz looked terrified as well as surprised.
"What's the matter, Blitzkrieg? Can't take the memories?" Luna asked, smug-like, eyeing Blitzkrieg for some sort of reaction to satisfy her anger towards him.
Blitz, however, just looked dumbstruck. Dash, lying flat, looked up at him with confusion too. "Look, I have no clue what you mean, Princess Luna. And all or...just you two Princesses...or, any of you! Just 'NO SPOILERS!'" Blitz stormed out of the room, frantic and confused.
All the friends in the next room had heard the doors slam, but Blitz had never touched them with his hand.
"Was that....magic?" Prince Artemis finished off his brother's sentence as they looked on with Dash and the others.
"You alright, Sugarcube?" Apple Jack popped her head out into the hall as Blitz stormed up.
"Yeah...fine." Blitz was mumbling to himself, but had quickly answered Apple Jack in a frantic and distant sort of tone.
"You sure, Blitz? You wanna come in and finish the game with us?" Apple Jack stepped aside to let him in, but Blitz kept on.
"Sorry, no can do. I need to think of what's occurred." Blitz sped off down the hall and started reaching in his blank saddle bags for something. "There you are," he lifted his Professor's sonic screwdriver with his magic as he turned the corner. "I just have to know when this occurred," he pulsed the screwdriver to call the TARDIS and heard the TARDIS materialize; when he turned around he found the TARDIS had landed on his tail, the pain made him jump and yelp. He then teleported himself into the TARDIS and quickly started configuring levers and hitting the bell, making the TARDIS whir and whiz through the Time Vortex. A zap and a power outage upon the TARDIS and Blitz was heading for a crash landing. "Geronimo!!"
"So, I really don't know how we're humans and you aren't," Dash addressed the royals.
"Indeed, it's a puzzling predicament," Solaris stated, giving Celestia a magical rose that appeared, effecting a blushed colour on Celestia's cheeks.
There was a knock at the door, and then Blitz barged in, human form and sonic screwdriver in hand. "Legs, I still got legs, good!" Though he had threw his arms in the air, he brought them back down in an embrace around a young girl at his side.
Then a wave of magic hit the tower, everypony quickly closed their eyes to the purple ray, but upon opening them everypony found themselves to all be humans.
"'Legs, I still got legs, good?'" Dusk echoed as he rushed in behind Blitz and started poking Blitz's chest in anger, accusing him of the recent magic blast.
Of course, as all the ponies in Equestria fidgeted with their new bodies, Lyra and Harpsy jumping off their walls and screaming "Anthropology", the Master gazed up at the metal orb that stood in front of him and his crew as they entered their new lair (deep in the Everfree Forest; The olden castle of the Two Sisters/Two Brothers). "Finally! The two pieces, from my world and Missy's world, finally joined! Now, this M.M.P hath casted our magic across this planet!" They gave each other glances of approval. |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | Thanks for the Memories | As Celestia and Luna opened their eyes they saw Blitz and a young girl at his side. They looked on as Dusk confronted Blitz about the "legs" remark, but they paid no attention to the skirmish, only to the young girl.
"Is that..?" Luna turned to her older sister.
"I think she is." Celestia called to the girl then, "Sapphire?"
She looked up from Blitz's side, dressed in a blue princess's gown and tiara. "Uh..." her eyes soon grew large and tears started to form as she raced to hug Luna and Celestia. "Celestia! Luna! You girls are okay?!" she gave them both a loving embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Dusk and Blitz just looked on, only, Blitz had a tender smile on his lips.
"Yes, we're here, Sapphire," Celestia gave her a nuzzle.
"But how? I-I thought Sombra was going to get all of Equestria." Sapphire looked up at the two sisters, now wondering how much older they were to her.
"He tried, Sapphire, but did not succeed," Luna explained, ruffling the girl's hair.
Blitz stepped closer, his long coat's belt swaying side to side, "It's true, Sapphire. The Element Bearers stopped him permanently after Celestia and Luna chased him away, years ago."
All three mares looked at him as he spoke, with Celestia adding, "Yes, the Element Bearers and Blitz banished him once more...but it seems he's back."
"Wait! You mean the Elements of Harmony myth is true?" Sapphire turned to Blitz, but not after giving a curtsy to the other three royals in the room. Blitz nodded to her, making her run to him, to hug him, "And you are one of them?"
Blitz nodded, half-heartedly, and looked up to Celestia and Luna (especially Luna) as a silent apology as Twilight came rushing in with the rest of her friends.
"Is everypony alright?" she waited for the nods and turned to an armoured guard who was rushing in.
"Flash?" Blitz asked, "What is it?"
Lifting his helmet Flash Sentry eyed Twilight and then began as he tried to steady his new legs, "It's the whole city; we've all changed."
"Uhm...are these the Element Bearers?" Sapphire squeaked
The friends looked to the young girl at Blitz's side, as Celestia and Luna approach, followed by their stallions.
"If I may ask, who's the adorable filly at your side, Darling?" Rarity asked, giving Sapphire a curtsy and admiring her dress.
Out of instinct, Sapphire returned the curtsy, but stood back up in awe at Blitz's friends.
First, Blitz gave a nod to Sapphire and then addressed everyone in the room. "Well, everypony, from the fall of the Crystal Empire...to the hooves of Sombra," Blitz growled and held Sapphire closer, "I present to all of you, Princess Sapphire." Blitz stepped back a few paces and gave Sapphire a bow along with the other royals and soon the rest of the ponies in the room.
Sapphire giggled at the gesture, curtsying back to Blitz, "And my brother, Prince Blitzkrieg."
All the humans in the room, save Celestia and Luna, chorused the same question, "He's your brother? A Prince?"
The Master's maniacal laugh resounded throughout the olden castle, "Everypony must be at their weakest now, including The Doctor."
There was a long pause as the air became still in the room. "What is the name that stallion goes by, besides the 'Doctor' or 'Blitzkrieg?'" Sombra asked, with an air of suspicion about him as he stared past the window into the darkness of the forest.
"Haiex, why?" The Master became intrigued for he thought he, only, knew about the Doctor's given name, in this world.
"He reminds me of a Prince I met some time ago...Haiex beeth the name as well, but..." Silence overcame the room as Sombra's resonating voice fell in thought.
"But what?" The Master gritted his teeth, knowing something was ahoof.
"He must have died out with the Princess and her parents as well, when I set the Crystal Castle aflame, in darkness." He looked towards the Master, sweeping his cape back as he turned.
Oscura soon became worried as she saw uncertainty in Sombra's eyes, but no one moved about the room as the question settled to the cobblestone, with a soft hiss. Then, the Master moved to turn off the flame under the hissing beaker, a purple fume boiling up from the opening. "So...you believe you met the Doctor, in the past, and he were of royal blood?"
"They called him such, which is all I know." Sombra retired to his seat, next to Oscura, on the couch.
"So he's a royal, big deal," Discord hissed, peeling an apple as he spoke, deftly.
The Master turned on him, moving the chair Discord was reclined in, from beneath him, with him magic. As Discord landed with a thud the Master spoke through gritted teeth, "'So?' He isn't supposed to get involved with the past like that. And if the kingdom's royals died to Sombra, and he's alive, I don't doubt that his 'kind hearts' also saved that Princess, his sister." The room fell silent as the Master's clenched fist fell to his side; the purple fumes of the Master's concoction spilling onto the cobblestone.
Back at Canterlot, Blitz soothed Sapphire as she ate, the others eating at the dining table as well. Luna kept seeking Celestia's eye for some glimmer of thought that would undo the harshness she'd shone Blitz. Celestia soon gave her sister a nod and a knowing smile, seeing Artemis was also doing his best to comfort Luna as well. Then somepony spoke.
"So, Blitz, whatya do to find her?" Apple Jack spoke, beckoning all to look to her, then to Blitz for his answer.
"Well, I bet the Princesses can help with the story," Blitz looked towards Luna and Celestia as Celestia started recollecting how they first met Blitz. Blitz reclined, Sapphire leaning against him, and started remembering his side of the memory:
Blitz had landed with a thud, getting to his hooves as he checked the TARDIS. "I'm equine, again?" He snorted with annoyance (checking his sparking gauntlet), but made his way out of the TARDIS to see he landed just on the backside of the Crystal Kingdom's Castle. He hid in a bush, quickly, as he saw two guards coming his way; clicking the TARDIS' key, the TARDIS disappeared just before the guards saw it, but they saw him. They scooped Blitz up and carried him to the castle, managing to restrain the hooded stallion as he struggled back.
"Don't you know me?! I'm Blitzkrieg!"
"Again, you were caught trespassing, citizen. Now bow," one of the guards, the one that had been talking, forced Blitz on the ground as the other pulled off Blitz's hood. The other spoke and bowed, "My King Cortez, my Queen Emerald, we found this citizen trespassing on the grounds.
Before Blitz's hood could be taken off his head he magically aged himself to look as if a colt. When he looked up he saw two unrecognizable horses sitting before him, definitely not Princess Cadence and Shining Armour. He bowed his head as well as flattened his ears, in a sign of adolescence.
The Queen offered him a smile and her face showed remorse for the poor colt, his cloak tattered and dirt all about him. She gave her husband a quick whisper, "He's just a beggar. Let him go."
He nodded, but proceeded to question the colt before him, "State your business, young one."
Blitz couldn't think of what to say, but a whisper in his head told him the TARDIS was again damaged and that employment would lead to good reward. He pondered where he'd heard the words before, and it hit him: The Professor told him this story. After the thoughtful pause, Blitz stood straight, "I, Haiex Romanov Blitzkrieg, seek to impress the royals in hopes of finding acceptance in the ranks of their guard or jesters." Blitz gave a weak smile, sticking to acting his "new" age.
Queen Emerald's heart melted at the thought of being able to help the colt and she gave King Cortez a gentle elbow on his shoulder, cutting him off. She spoke, "Well then, show us some skill you possess.
Blitz perked up his ears and wagged his tail, "Yes, my liege." Blitz spread his wings, to start, with such force that the two guards were blown back. Blitz propelled up, sparks in his wake, and then he used his magic to conjure enough black magic to darken the room (his eyes turning red), then the room was lightened by Blitz dissolving his magic into confetti that reflected the sunlight into rainbow patterns.
The Queen was impressed, the King and guards were taken aback, but the deciding factor was the filly at the doorway; stomping her hooves in enjoyment and whooping with satisfaction, she obviously enjoyed the show.
"That was awesome!" she ran over and looked Blitz up and down as he landed. "Can you do anything else?"
Blitz flattened his ears and blushed, "I could, but I must be going--"
"To get fitted for your new armour," Emerald interrupted, seeing how much joy that performance had brought her daughter.
Blitz was taken aback, but felt himself smiling. He bowed, "Thank you, my liege." He saw King Cortez quickly turn to his wife, after speaking with the guard at his side, and furiously whispering to her as the young filly and the guard from Cortez' side led Haiex out to the guard barracks to get him suited.
"So, where are you going to be put?" The young filly asked.
The guard with them spoke as he looked forward, "He shall be put in with the royal guards, Princess Sapphire, by your father's request."
Princess Sapphire gasped with joy and hugged Blitz again, as they walked. "And, since you're getting put as one of our personal guards, you'll be able to teach me how you did that back there."
Blitz felt a flurry of pride as he realised that the filly was being sincere. However, before he could open his mouth a couple of stallions dragged him into the armoury, proceeding to suit him with golden armour. Blitz struggled against the hooves as the guards did their job, effecting a giggle from Sapphire.
Blitz looked about the table, seeing Sapphire giggling again.
"So, you were just swept into the armoury?" Celestia asked.
Blitz nodded and was about to speak, again, but fell silent as he looked out of a nearby window to the darkening sky. He felt himself growl, but he knew he wasn't meaning to.
Solaris spoke, "So, how did you come to meet Princess Luna and Princess Celestia?" Solaris gave Celestia a warm smile as he had said her name.
Blitz continued his explanation, but kept his eyes and ears aware of the coming storm.
It had been a month, the same routine judged Blitz's days: Wake up by dawn, dawn his suit, and make his way to the royal kitchen to start the cooks on their way, then he would find his way up to his post in front of Sapphire's room and would wait there till she stirred. The routine was his idea, for his true assignment was being Sapphire's personal guard; Queen Emerald had done so, for she had seen how well Blitz got along with Sapphire, and she didn't see how an older guard could have be so relative. But, the day which is being spoken about was the day the royal family ventured to Canterlot (not for their monthly visit with Canterlot's royals, to keep their places united, strangely). However, though the ride, in the closed-horse drawn carriage was bumpy, it was tolerable considering The King and Queen had grown fond of Blitz, and he of they, and not to mention that most of the trip he played court jester for Sapphire's entertainment. He was the only guard that was sitting in the carriage with the royals, the excuse being he was "Sapphire's personal guard," but that didn't seem to be the only reason.
"So, my lieges. Once we are in Canterlot, I can personally escort you three to the castle--"
King Cortez interrupted, "There is no need, Blitzkrieg. The other guards will escort us four by means of the carriage." He said this with a charismatic smile, one that a father would give his son in the brightest of moments.
Blitz smiled back as he stroked Sapphire's mane and covered her body with his wing, seeing as she had fallen asleep with her head on his lap.
Emerald whispered, "So, will you reconsider? She already treats you like--"
"A brother, I know, my Queen, but I canst allow that. I..." Blitz's voice faltered with agony as he looked from the two horses to the young filly on his lap, her horn gleaming as she dreamt.
"Didn't you already tell us about your parents, how you canst remember how you lost them? How you lost your sisters?" Cortez softly asked, looking to Emerald.
Blitz realised that Cortez had been spending more time with him (asking Blitz to walk with him around the castle, showing him the secrets of their castle, or joining him as he escorted Sapphire about the gardens and town) just to butter him up for this very question. It had work. "Yes...but, I'm just a guard. What is so special about me?" He looked up at them both.
"The size of your heart," Emerald answered. "See, many of these guards we have are in our presence for either their patriotism or because their job has been passed down their lineage...only. You, however, stay because you care for Sapphire. I see it in your eyes."
Blitz blushed at the compliment, "And for you two, of course...this past month I have finally had 'parents' that are actually here." He smiled up at them. Cortez and Emerald smiled back, filled with a sense of pride, but the mood of the moment was jerked out the window of the carriage as they hit the end of the draw bridge.
Sapphire stirred, "Are we...there already?" she rolled to put her muzzle on Blitz's stomach and fell back asleep.
Blitz chuckled and looked up at the royals before him, "I guess we've entered the city?" Blitz looked out the window and saw the glimmering mountain-side city roll past as they rolled through.
"So wait, they adopted you? After you met Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" Dusk, Solaris, Artemis, and Twilight chorused.
Celestia chimed in, "Well first, after Sapphire introduced us to Blitz, we had our fun as children do: running about the castle and garden."
"Though he was my age, he acted as if a grown stallion already," Luna gave a shy smile to Blitz, who winked back, causing her to blush.
"Yeah, like he was my 'really'-older brother," Sapphire teased.
Celestia noticed Blitz's fixation on the coming storm and tried to sooth him, "Blitz, do you remember what Sapphire called you, in the meadow, when we were trying to see how many of us you could carry around?"
Blitz's eyes focused on her and he grinned, "Yeah, it's the reason, I think, that you recognized me when Twilight brought us here the first time."
Sapphire laughed, "I called you a walking rainbow!"
The rest of the table laughed, but Blitz fell silent as he recollected and kept an eye on the dark clouds rolling in, from the direction of the Crystal Kingdom.
"We are all gathered here to unite two bloodlines," a hooded stallion called. His voice echoed about the ceremony hall as Celestia and Luna, accompanied by their parents, watched as Blitz, Sapphire, Cortez, and Emerald encircled a pedestal that held a rustic looking basin. "The orphan, Romanov, and the royal bloodline of the Crystal Kingdom."
Luna looked to Celestia and mouthed the word "boring" which effected a laugh from the fillies and a nudge from their mother.
"Let us begin," the hooded stallion whispered to the new family before him, his brown cloak hiding everything but his muzzle. He held out a knife with his magic, next.
Blitz started, taking up the knife and admiring its curvature, but still proceeding to cut himself just above the hoof. The blood trickled down as he held the wounded leg over the basin, the blood pooling inside.
Sapphire, Emerald, and Cortez followed suit, adding their blood to Blitz's. The mixtures of red held resemblance to the Professor's, in Blitz's mind, but only for a little while, for the mixture started to glow a bright red and pink as the cleric started to say his chant. The sphere of light lifted from the basin, impressing the onlookers, and leaving the bowl empty of its contents.
Blitz smiled to his new found parents, his new sister jumping for joy, quietly.
As the room grew bright with the sphere rising higher, it spontaneously split in to four parts, speeding their way into Blitz, Sapphire, Cortez, and Emerald. A feeling of fulfillment rushed through the four horses, and all sparkled as the crystal ponies they were.
"And see, we were there when the blood ritual occurred," Luna nodded as she finished, giving Blitz a loving smile.
Blitz smiled back, getting elbowed by Rainbow Dash as she saw. Blitz grunted and was about to speak when the doors to the dining room banged open.
"Cadence? Shining?" Twilight got up and rushed to hug them both.
"Twi, what's happened?" Shining asked as he hugged her. "We were on the train here when everypony changed into," he looked at his new hands as his voice trailed off.
"Yes, we were on our way to warn you all about what's happening at the Crystal Empire." Cadence started to shake again, leaning against Shining for stability. "Changelings...they took over the castle...they're coming here, next..."
Everyone in the room looked at Cadence as she whispered her warning.
Blitz looked out the window and saw the sky was pitch black outside, now. He absently stated, "I believe war is upon us." The drums of war became clear in his ears, and Blitz was forced back into his memory by the noise.
The chandelier in the throne room swayed back and forth as the candles were snuffed out by the foul wind brought through the doors of the Crystal Castle as Sombra swaggered in. The clank of the stallion's hooves echoed through the hall as each hoof fall left darkened crystals behind.
Blitz's horn glowed a bright white as he set himself between the royals and Sombra, waiting for a fight. "Be gone, Sombra. I order you as the Prince of this kingdom," he snorted.
Sombra smiled, his horn glowing a crimson red, "And what will you do, child, if I don't leave?" Sombra laughed, his booming tone seeming to make the hall darker.
Blitz growled, stomping his hoof, "I will fight." With an outburst of magic, as he spread his wings, Blitz transformed before everypony's eyes into his stallion form; his royal cape gently overlaying his back. "And, I'm not a child, Sombra."
Sombra and the others in the room were taken aback, but it didn't stop Sombra from making the first move: he shot a bolt of crystal at the royal family, encircling Cortez and Emerald. "No...you still are. And, no child would fight if their parent's lives hang in the balance." He smiled his fanged smile.
Blitz saw Sapphire hoofing at the crystal around Cortez, "Fine, just spare Sapphire and her family. You can take me and the kingdom." Blitz growled as he turned to Sombra.
"Actually," Sombra grinned, "I'll spare all of you if you just go to your rooms." Sombra laughed.
Blitz took that as his time to escape, so he rushed and started to try to free his parents, but to no avail.
Cortez got Blitz's attention, "Blitz, get out of here. Save yourself and your sister."
Emerald snuffled back tears, but kept a hardened stare at Sombra, "Go kids, we'll be fine."
"No! I'm not losing my parents, again!" Blitz's horn glowed with a dark aura as he tried to fight the crystals with dark magic.
"No, don't waste your time with us. Get going, remember your duty as a royal guard," Cortez barked at Blitz.
Blitz stopped in his track, "What do--"
Cortez shot him a teary look, "Your primary job is to keep your sister safe. Now go!" Cortez gave a look at Emerald and they nodded.
Sapphire was clenching onto Blitz by this moment, making it easy for Blitz to get her on his back. Blitz gave one last, tear filled, goodbye to his dying parents (a whisper of sorts, and a promise to protect Sapphire with his life), then he raced out of a side door while Sapphire held his neck in frenzy.
Cortez and Emerald knew they couldn't have gone out without a fight, so they made one final effort: a joined blast of light to stun Sombra as their kids made their escape.
"Ah! Impervious souls you two have turned out to be." Sombra opened his eyes to see Haiex and Sapphire gone, and blue sunspots in his vision. "You two are strong, I wouldn't mind having a strong throne to sit on. Let your children try to make it out...they won't!" His maniacal laugh rang through the halls, chasing the two children.
"Haiex! Watch out!" Sapphire braced herself against Blitz's body as Blitz came to an abrupt turn.
"The entire bloody castle is in flame!?" Blitz raced up the staircase to Sapphire's room, the flames licking at their manes. Blitz was familiar with this darkened flame, "demon fire" he called it to conjure the dark magic: it could destroy or recreate whatever it touched, to the wielder's will. He knew he had to save his sister, and there was only one way he knew how, "Hold on tight, Kiddo!" Blitz felt Sapphire tense up as he lost the ground under his hooves and extended his wings. They both huffed as they flew through the smokeless fire, but Blitz soon banged through the door of the study-wing and set Sapphire down.
The little filly shook as the flames got closer about them. She looked up at her brother, terrified but curious of the calmness on the stallion's face. She heard him click his tongue and saw him take out a green stick from under his cape. "What is that?" she whimpered, getting under Blitz as the tongue of the flames started to inch closer with every book that fell off the shelves.
"I guess...hope..." Blitz clicked the screwdriver and the TARDIS appeared; as quickly as it appeared the doors opened wide for the Prince and Princess. At that moment Blitz turned to look at the study's doors and tried to imagine a different outcome for his parents, but to no avail; so with tears in his eyes Blitz threw the screwdriver into the TARDIS and picked Sapphire up by the scruff of her neck and raced inside.
"What is this...?" Sapphire was both quieted in fear and astonishment as Blitz set her down on the bench. "It's--"
"Bigger on the inside, I know; everyone says that." Blitz said this line with utter dread, knowing it meant that he was about to leave another family, again. He put his hoof on the main lever as he watch the flames crawl under the closed doors of the study, then came what he had been waiting for: it was an ear-piercing scream, two to be exact, one male and one female. Blitz pulled the lever to close the TARDIS doors and then quickened his step to go cover Sapphire's ears.
Tears streamed down Sapphire's cheeks, onto Blitz's chest, as the screams died away. "Was that..." There was no inflection in the filly's voice, to signal a question, but Blitz knew what she meant through her tears.
Blitz clicked his tongue and the TARDIS revved to life as he gently stroked Sapphire's hair and continue to rock her back and forth. |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | One...Two...Three...Four | "War? Now?" Celestia and the other royals looked to one another, Sapphire finding shelter under Blitzkrieg's arm.
"Yes, war is upon us, just like during Cadence and Shining's wedding," with that, everyone looked up to the ceiling as they started to hear the changelings land upon the roof. Ordinary storm clouds bring rain and lighting, possessed or not; however, the clouds outside casted a smoke-like veil upon Canterlot as it rained, but not water...changelings.
"Somepony better git me my rope," Apple Jack spoke.
"Eeyup, because here comes the rodeo," AJ finished the colloquial saying just before he jumped on and over the table, ramming into the doors as changelings tried to push in. "I can't hold them back much longer!" One stuck their hand through the opening and was forced to recoil when AJ shut the doors again.
In glee, "O.M.G! They look like real zombies when they're human!" Pinkie couldn't hold the ejaculation and everyone about the room stared her down. "What, they do," she gave a shrug.
Blitz got up, calm and quietly, and squared up behind AJ. "Let them come, I can buy you all some time. There is a back exit in the throne room that leads down to the catacombs. Get to the armoury and pony up."
Twilight sighed along with Spike, "Really? You had to make that reference."
"I said go!" Blitz wedged himself against the door as AJ and the others retreated down the passage described, led by Sapphire herself. Blitz was ready to release the doors and square for a fight, but when he released the doors the banging had stopped and a glimmer of light faded from behind them. There were groans and the doors creaked in.
"Oh, 'daddy discord,' you obviously have lost your training," A hooded, brown eyed girl (about 17, by the looks of her), strolled in the room and closed the doors with her magic. Her white robes swept at her feet and as she bowed.
"Who are you? And what do you mean?" Blitz gave a wary questioning.
She swept off her hood to show her hair was of gold, like the sun, and she bared the same green in it as Blitz did. She adjusted her belt, a queer shape, almost a spade of sorts.
The one name that kept coming into Blitz's mind as he looked at her was "Ezio" but it meant nothing. "'Who are you,' I ask." Blitz's palms began to spark.
The girl flicked her wrist and a blade extended from it and she held it towards the man in front of her, "Easy there, Doctor. You'll learn of me, and you'll tell this story to your child when she is ready; how an 'assassin' saved you from this mess." She gave a longing smile and a tear came to her cheek. "You'll find that there are more of these arm blades in the catacombs, Doctor. Just where the Professor left them."
Blitz was stunned, "Only I know of her weaponry stash there. Who are you?" Blitz looked the girl in the eyes and saw a flame of tender love, but then fell unconscious as one of the girl's blow darts hit him in the neck.
She leaned over him, her red and white cape covering the man's chest, "I am you...if you can believe that, only a part, though. Aroura is my name." She smiled at the closing eyes and looked up at the sound of rushing feet from whence Blitz's friends had vanished. She got up and turned about, walking towards the doors.
"Stop!" Rainbow Dash warned and took aim at the white, hooded, figure with her acquired slingshot. Fluttershy, with her bow and arrow at the ready, stood beside Dash as the rest brought up the rear as they encircled the royals.
"Bye moms..." the hooded figure, in a flash of light similar to the Tardis, vanished in front of the group.
Rainbow Dash stood stunned, murmuring, "Moms...?" as Fluttershy dropped her weapon and kneeled next to Haiex's side.
"Haiex?" She stared at him, frantic, but soon calmed at the notice of breath and pulse.
"What did she do to him?" Dusk asked.
Fluttershy started to say something when a jolt of electricity jerked Blitz awake, "A horse tranquilizer." He bolted upright and hugged Fluttershy in reaction, "But I'm fine." Fluttershy hugged back as the rest sighed with relief.
"Perfect, now what are we going to do? And where did these weapons come from?" Rainbow Dash insisted as an explosion shook the castle.
Celestia ran over to the window, "It's warfare out there."
"They are taking any and all as prisoners?" Luna expressed, moving to see out the window as well.
"The weapons were mine and the Professor's. Each will find that there is one for each of you, but not me." Blitz got up, still speaking as he gave Fluttershy a hand up, "The Professor knew this day would come. I didn't, however, she always spoke in riddles about it."
Artemis began to clench his fists as Blitz spoke, but Solaris waved his hand to stop the anger. "So, what is to be done?" Solaris spoke.
"We fight," Blitz grimaced at the thought of it, but also had a smirk disappear once or twice in the moment.
Elusive pushed passed the friends and came to Blitz, carrying a small pack in the opposite hand of his shield and staff. "Seems your Professor left you something to fight with after all."
Blitz took the pack and realised it were half of an old-looking pair of saddle bags which bared his current cutie mark. "Twilight and Rarity? Have you finished making us colts those saddle bags?" Blitz spoke as if distant, training his five mile stare on the pack that hung from his hand.
"Uh, no. Why?" Twilight asked, walking up to Blitz as the others continued their guard of the room. She gasped at the bag, "It's completely war-torn and it looks exactly like the ones I have planned for you."
"But those plans should still be sitting in my boutique--oh, my boutique," Rarity swooned a little at the thought, gratefully Elusive caught her in time.
Twilight turned back to Blitzkrieg, "Rainbow, do you think--"
Blitz answered, "When we're dealing with wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff, call me the Doctor, Twily." Blitz waved to AJ and Apple Jack to guard the doors while the others stood guard at the back hallway; the royals in the room encircled Blitz as he dumped the bag's contents out on the table. "Canst be this," Blitz's voice faltered as his eyes roamed over the same items that he saw that girl wearing, down to the robes and belt; however, these were blackened robes, not white, which struck him as odd as well as the other things. "Well, is it a coincidence that we still have robes in this castle?" Blitz eyed the people about the room as an idea came to his head.
Another explosion engulfed the castle walls in smoke as a fight between the guards and changelings...and guards ensued? Then, as eyes turned passed, a black, hooded, figure made his move out of the castle doors and into the bush.
"Come on, they're distracted by each other," Blitz waved from the bush at his cloaked friends who rushed to join him, in hiding. The robes he wore didn't stretch, nor squeeze, they were a perfect fit and oddly smelt of himself and war (gunpowder and soot).
"Alright, what's the plan?" Bubbles questioned, getting a little happier every time he stroked his newfound axe. Pinkie rubbed into him to settle him down, but to no avail.
"Get the Princes and Princesses out of here. I'll deal with the guards as you all make it out the gate." Blitz took another look at the quarreling guards and oddly enough started to see the fakes flicker form back into their changeling states.
"From there, we need to get back to Ponyville and warn the others," Cadence whispered.
Fluttershy noticed Haiex's focus on the fight and tried to squeeze his hand, but he only blinked. "Haiex, what is it?"
His vision started to flicker in and out of colour, from coloured to black-red-blue-white. "I don't know, I think I'm remembering something." He threw back his hood and squinted his eyes again; no colour change, but the changelings kept flickering in and out of form. "Do you see that?" Blitz whispered.
"What?" Fluttershy asked, looking at the guards fighting each other.
"You don't see which are changelings and which aren't?" Blitz looked at her, wide eyed, but the rest of the group eyed him back as if he were daft.
"You okay there, partner? Don't be tellin' me that those robes are poisoned, or is it those arm blades you got?" AJ asked, worry being heard in his voice.
"I'm not going crazy, I just saw something."
Dusk shook his head, "Alright, the sun's coming out so we better make our run now."
"Then get going, I'll catch up." Blitz said, nonchalantly, as he pull his hood over his head and ran into the fray before them. "Oi, changelings! Come and get me," something had clicked inside Blitz's brain, a part of some past memory that gave him a new outlook on the fight. Blitz could see training he'd never thought he had, in his mind's eye, with some man he honestly didn't recognize but only by the robes he wore, which were exactly the ones Blitz wore at the moment. Blitz's mind raced with the memories of training, so many, as he stood there awaiting the changelings (which he could see for what they were, now) that rushed him, then the first changeling swung and Blitz dodged to the left. The fight was over for the enemies before it had begun, it now seemed.
"What the hay got into Rainbow?" Butterscotch asked as he stopped at the gates, watching Blitzkrieg use his arm blades to cut at one of the guard's knees.
"I don't know, but if he is fighting them he must have found the changelings out," Elusive conjectured as she tugged at Butterscotch's hood. They both nodded and were off with the others towards the train station.
"All aboard!" Pinkie and Bubbles yelled as they put the train in gear.
There was a jerk and everypony grappled to keep their balance as they gathered at the entrance to the conductor's cabin. "Guys, did he have to highjack the train?" Dusk yelped, then eyed the two troublemakers with surprise by their change into conductor attire.
"Well, duh, silly. The conductor was going to not pullout for he was paid off." Bubbles growled at their tied-up prisoner, in the corner, and then walked back to the door as Pinkie took over.
"There are passengers on this train, fleeing like us. You sure you know how to operate this?" AJ asked, holding onto the same bar as Dusk, the train now picking up speed.
"Sure I do," called Pinkie, "is it like flying your balloon Twilight?"
Twilight froze in place, and frantically called, "No."
Pinkie turned about and hopped to the door and put her chin on Bubble's shoulder, "Then this will be easy. You know I can't fly that balloon, Twilight." She smiled Twilight's way and then raced back to the controls.
Twilight sat down on one of the benches, hyperventilating at the thought of Pinkie's words.
"Alright, so Pinkie's got this. Now, what about Blitzie?" Dash asked, sitting on the bench opposite Twilight.
Twilight was about to say something when they heard a thud on the roof of the train car. She then spoke, "I think that was him."
The doors of the car swung open and everyone was prepared to see Blitz, but lost their smiles when they saw three men, dressed in suits, enter instead. The car was empty, save the friends, so the men's heel clicks could be heard over the low rumble of the wheels. "Alright, turn this train around," one of them ordered.
"Or what?" Dusk stepped closer to the middle of the car.
"Or you, Prince, and the rest of you get peppered," another spoke.
All the friends looked at each other with questioning stares. "Uh, sorry to disappoint, but apples don't go good with pepper nor salt," Bubbles said as he patted AJ and Apple Jack on the heads. The friends snickered, but Celestia and Luna got the impression that they needed to scoot closer to the front of the car.
The final man drew a silver weapon, "The saying means either you turn the train around or you get riddled with bullets.
The friends looked at each other shocked and confused. "Uh, sorry, but if that's a threat we don't get it. What are bullets?" Dash looked at the intruders, who by this time were both annoyed and chuckling.
"Why don't I show you?" The man pulled the hammer of his revolver back and took aim at Dash. "You can say it's 'fire' magic." He got his finger on the trigger and then the door behind them slid open.
"Why don't you put the gun away, idiot," Blitz pulled his hood on again, since the wind outside had blown it off.
The three men turned and looked at the newcomer. "Assassin?" the one with the gun questioned, then fired.
In a roll towards the three, Blitz dodged under the bullet and tackled the one with the gun. Once on the floor, as if by instinct, Blitz plunged one of his arm blades into the man's neck and recoiled as blood squirted out with each dying heartbeat. The other two stood shocked, along with the friends, and then drew their weapons: an extending sword and another revolver. Blitz heard the gun cock, but didn't move.
"You bring a knife to a gun fight, how sad," The man with the gun took aim and Blitz only turned.
As the dark robes swooshed about Blitz, the friends saw his arm reach onto his back and swing forward. They waited for the fire magic, but nothing happened except the gun falling to the floor and then the man, with a knife to the neck. Blitz got up and dusted himself off, "It's been a while. I was aiming for his head, guess I need a little more practice."
The calmness in Rainbow's voice made everyone in the car shiver as well as sink back into their seats. The remaining man, however, put his blade up and was galvanized for a fight. Rainbow had no hesitation and stood his ground in the centre of the car. The man approached, with caution, and swung. The blade was met by Blitz's arm blade and parried. Swing after swing the clash of metal could be heard, then a quick sweep at the feet and the man was on his back. In one swift, almost natural, motion Blitz pounced on the man and sunk his blades into his neck. Blitz stood, hood covering his eyes, and the words that escaped his lips were quiet, but enough for everyone to hear, "Rest in peace." The friends' hearts sank and Pinkie jerked the train again as she sunk to her knees while holding back a shiver. The friends looked on as their hooded friend stood in the midst of three bodies, but their breaths were stolen once more when witnessing Blitz closing each of their eyes, one-by-one, and searching their pockets as if the act of killing had come natural.
"Haiex?" Luna called, her voice quivering.
Blitz turned to see her being sheltered by Artemis and her, herself, holding Sapphire close as Sapphire hid her face in her hair.
"What have you done?" Celestia hissed.
"They're casualties of war, that's all. It was either us or them." Blitz shook as he came to his senses.
"But you're the Doctor. You save people," Bubbles stated from the door.
Blitz looked at him, "Yeah, but I was a killer first." Blitz, gulping back agony, started for Bubble Berry and gently nudged his way into the cabin. Everyone sunk deeper into their seats as Blitz crossed into the conductor's cabin, he searched the man's pockets, as the man squirmed, and found what he had found on the other three men: a gold coin that bared a red cross. "Let us just get to Ponyville and I will explain...to listening ears, I hope."
The somber mood in the car was cut by a voice over the train's speaker system, "Oh, come on, Doctor. Admit it, you liked seeing their blood pool." The Master's laugh rang in their ears.
"Shut up, Master," Blitz barked at the ceiling.
Then they heard fingers drumming on wood, over the speakers; four knocks, repeating. "Do you hear that, Doctor? I'm always hearing that rhythm in my ears, aren't you?"
Blitz's face went pail as the friends looked to him. "The drums of war," Blitz whispered.
"Yes! Very good Doctor. That's what I thought too, then I overheard the Professor once. She said it were, 'a Time Lord's heartbeat.'"
It made sense, what he had always been hearing was just his hearts, nothing more. He always forgot he had two hearts, but now it all made sense.
"But see, Time Lord, I've been driven mad by these 'drums,'" the finger tapping continued, "and I get it now, they are drums, not my hearts. I need to feed the drums of war with war." The Master laughed and all the friends looked at each other once more. "One...Two...Three...Four...I declare...a Time...War," The Master laughed as he had said the words in time with the drumming. The laughs of his accomplices could be heard in the background.
Solaris spoke up as the sound cut out and the car became quiet again, "I guess it has begun." |
The Mane 6 Finally Find Their Stallions | The Royal Pardon | "Get your hands off me. We did nothing to be condoned," Blitz fought against the restraining grip of Solaris, Artemis, Dusk Shine, and AJ as they walked him off the train.
"Yes, you did," Solaris whispered to Blitz, pulling Blitz's hood, as well as his own hood, over his head. The other royals followed suit, and soon the Ponyville friends took the lead as to not cause too much of a spectacle.
"Friendship and Harmony canst live amongst violence and destruction," Artemis hissed at Blitz as he kept his grip on their prisoner.
"I had to," Blitz struggled, "if it weren't them it would have certainly been all of you. 'The death of a few to save many.'" Blitz tried to look at Artemis with an air of remorse but caught Dusk's eyes instead, and Blitz's eyes were only met with sadness from his friend's.
AJ yanked a little as Blitz's boots caught the dirt, "Could you at least walk?"
"How about I walk with you instead of being your prisoner?" Blitz barked, but shied away from the confused look AJ gave him.
Artemis had never seen his star pupil act like this and it worried him as well as his brother. "We should just let him walk, he could have teleported away by now."
Solaris looked to his brother in surprise, but agreed nevertheless. "We should, then we could get to the town hall quicker," the Prince looked to the clear blue sky, but knew that the storm on the horizon would reach them soon.
All four of the stallions let Blitz take his footing, but kept a wary eye as Blitz dusted off his robes. Dusk put a hand on Blitz's shoulder, "Look, you try to teleport or anything and we are--"
Blitz raised his hand to Dusk to cut him off, "I highly doubt the Prince of Friendship could harm his friend. Rest assured, though, we won't deceive you nor run, why should we?" Blitz looked to his friend and gave a small smile.
Dusk was about to say something when Pinkie and Bubbles hopped over to break up the ring of whispers. Pinkie started waving at the on-looking humans as Bubbles brought the five stallions to reality, "Guys, your stopped in the middle of the road, what gives? A bunch of hooded clerics starting a party or something? Come on, ponies are watching." Bubbles hopped back to Fluttershy and Butterscotch as Pinkie took that as her queue to start on her way to Sugar Cube Corner.
"Pinkie? Where are you going?" Twilight asked.
"Sugar Cube Corner, of course! We can't fight on empty stomachs," Pinkie skipped on her way and soon Bubbles joined her.
Twilight sighed, "Typical Pinkie Pie." A few more steps brought her and her friends to the doors of the town hall, and Twilight was about to knock when Mayor Mare pushed open the doors.
"Twilight! You're all back. Please, come in. Everypony has been gathered here since the 'change.'" Mayor Mare led them inside the hall and to everyone's surprise it seemed as if all of Ponyville was crammed inside the building: figuring out what the hay was going on, how to use these "fingers", or just confused in general.
Blitz closed the doors after letting the few people from the streets enter, "So, you all are here to figure out what to do?"
"No, more on how this all happened as well." Mayor Mare whispered to Blitz, "Everypony is pretty traumatized; not just by the change, but by the fact that there are two of everypony, now."
Blitz and the other hooded royals removed their hoods and everyone in the room bowed as awkwardly as they stood, even Mayor Mustang almost dropped his tea.
"Please, my subjects, rise and know that this problem will all be made clear." Artemis looked to Luna and Blitz for some help with the speech.
Blitz took Twilight's hand and whispered, "They look up to you, not me.
"But apparently you know more than me, and you're a Prince." Twilight looked at the awaiting mass and gulped, "You say something."
"They don't know I'm royal yet, so do what you can and I'll step in when you see fit, your highness." Blitz bowed and moved over between Dash and Luna, putting his arm around Sapphire.
Twilight gulped and began, "Everypony, we hope that you all have been able to cope and situate yourselves with each other. In the coming days we will be able to teach all of you what's really been happening, but for now we only need to learn the basics." She turned to Blitzkrieg and waved him forward, "My friend, Blitz, will be able to explain everything here at length."
Blitz gave Sapphire a pat on the shoulder and let her go, into Luna's care, as he stepped forward. He fixed his belt, "My fellow 'humans'," he started, letting the murmurs die away, then continued, "our worst fears are upon us. War has come to Equestria and it has started in the Crystal Kingdom." There were enraged sobs and gasps as the news settled in, and Blitz continued. "King Sombra is at its helm, there, but I fear that the rest of our enemies are about to make their own side to the war."
Princess Mi Amor Cadenza stepped forward, "Queen Chrysalis and her changeling army are in league with Sombra as well."
There were more gasps, then someone spoke up, her black and white Mohawk able to be seen rising as she got up. "These dark deeds have been strewn, but fight we must, and soon." Zecora, in her traditional dress and rings, came to the centre of the hall, followed by a man baring the same hair and rings as well.
"Changelings can take many form, but we shall make a brew to warn." Zecoro bowed to the royals, followed by Zecora as well.
Shining Amour bowed to them, in return, as they returned to their spots amongst the group.
Zecora and Zecoro then stopped midway to their seats and turned to Blitz, speaking in unison, "To be disguised is to not be kind, but the truth of royal blood should be heard, in due time." The hall was silent again as the two former zebras took their seats.
Blitz screwed up his face and was met with astonished looks from his friends as well. "How did they know," he thought, "their cauldron must be more powerful then imagined." Blitz shook the thoughts away and looked to the group again, "Just like Zecora and Zecoro, everyone will need to play a part in the coming war. From factory to fighting."
There were murmurs again, then a little girl called out from under her mother's arm, "The Doctor will save us," but was quieted by her mother soon afterwards.
Dusk Shine and Twilight Sparkle looked to one another, confused. "Isn't that what Blitz called himself, back there?" Twilight whispered to Dusk.
"Yeah, but how does somepony else know?" Dusk replied.
The murmuring started again as the crowd looked around for the girl that belonged to the voice, and Blitz turned to Celestia for help. He knew no one would listen to him, yet.
Luna took the opportunity and used her royal tone, "My subjects, please be silent for Blitz." The yell cut the din of murmurs to a single whisper, then it was silent again. She looked to Blitz and smiled, which he returned.
Blitz bowed to Luna, next, then addressed the audience again as he weaved through the group, "Who is the little girl that hath spake?" Blitz gave acknowledging nods and smiles to the grouped humans and then a little girl tugged on his robe. He turned to see Dopey, Derpy, and the little girl on Derpy's lap.
"I-I did, sir," the little girl squeaked, then hid her face in Derpy's side, out of embarrassment.
"Sorry, she didn't really mean it. It's just, we haven't seen the Doctor for a long while," Derpy looked down at Blitz as he crouched on his haunches.
Blitz smiled to Derpy, but the smile soon faded after kissing her hand, "I know, my Professor has been gone a while too." He patted the little girl's shoulder to get her to look at him, "Ditzy? You miss him, don't you?"
The little girl, her cheeks red with embarrassment, turned to Blitz and nodded.
"Well, I'm probably never going to be able to step into his shoes, but I can tell you that his TARDIS and title are safe with me," he smiled to the girl.
Ditzy cocked her head in confusion, "You are a Time Lord too?"
Blitz nodded, "You can call me, 'The' Doctor, if you want. Until he comes back, he entrusted me with his duties." Blitz then thought a little, then smiled as he snapped his fingers, "And he gave me something, for you to have." With a glow, of magic, from Blitz's hand, a patchwork scarf appeared around Ditzy's neck.
Ditzy cuddled the fabric as if an old friend and a lump formed in Derpy's throat. Dopey consoled the mother as he saw Ditzy give Blitz a hug around the neck, affecting sighs from the crowd.
"Thank you, Doctor." Ditzy smiled as she went back to cuddling the scarf.
Blitz smiled back and then went back to the front of the room, "Yes, you may call me the Doctor, for I save people. Yes, that was magic I used, for I'm an alicorn."
There were astonished looks from the crowd and murmurs, then the question aroused from the mass, "Is he royalty?"
There were questions upon questions, no answers in sight. Time was extended by Shining Armour's might; with Cadence to empower him, the stallion's magic grew, and soon a protective bubble was placed around the hall and the town too.
"That should keep them out," Shining acknowledged his work as he held Cadence close.
"Do you think the changeling will be the only ones?" Cadence looked up to Shining as she leaned on him.
"I doubt it, but until they come, we better get ready," Shining looked back over at the mass swarming Blitz and his sister. Questions had been answered, but not the important ones and that made Shining wonder if Blitz was withholding something, for sweat beaded down the stallion's brow.
Blitz finally spoke above the din, soft in tone, and impressively spoke what was on Shining's, the royals', and the Ponyville friends' minds, "We must prepare for war. There is no other way and who bloody cares if I'm royal? I'm going to die as your kin anyway, so what is a title in life when in death we are all the same?" The room fell quiet and Blitz straightened his robes, "Now, we need a battle plan to keep ourselves alive, right now." Dash started to salute and Blitz barked at her, "And don't anyone dare salute me, nor call me 'Prince'. I hate being saluted and I don't think myself any different than the smallest pony here. Got that?"
Dash gulped and put her hand down, a new pride for her Blitzie now growing.
"Then I propose we start training," Shining rose from his seat and adjusted his shoulder armour.
"Excellent. Gather those who are able to fight, Shining," Blitz gave a nod. Scootaloo and Scooteroll both stood up, but then Blitz added, "But, I don't think we can allow colts and fillies on the front lines." He looked at them both as the two kids slowly slide back into their seats.
"Maybe we should send out scrolls to the surviving towns," Cadence added.
Twilight and Dusk both stepped up, in unison of footing and speech, "And we'll deliver them." They both looked at each other, flustered a little at the situation.
Solaris got the room's attention, "Then it is settled, the Element Bearers shall take the messages while the rest of us prepare." He, unconsciously, put his hand in Celestia's, fearing his own statement.
"Then it's settled, we take the train," Twilight gathered her friends as the others looked on in confusion of the swaying robes.
"I-I don't like this p-plan," Fluttershy squeaked.
"Yeah, exactly how are we going keep everypony, we find, safe?" Apple Jack asked.
"With our secret weapon," Dusk Shine gestured to Rainbow Blitzkrieg as he said the final word.
"Then we'll start on our designs," Rarity clapped, giddily, and hooked her arm with Elusive's.
"Uh, what?" Twilight asked.
Rarity gave a flick of her wrist, "Posh, Darling. You don't suppose use to go around in these, do you?" Rarity tugged at her robe's sleeve
"I'll start making the new mannequins and templates," Elusive zipped out the doors with his brilliant idea, so fast it would have made Bubbles and Pinkie drop their jaws.
"I don't know," Twilight questioned.
"I would find it much appreciated if I didn't have to fight in these here robes. Too, poufy." Apple Jack added, affecting nods from everyone except Blitz.
"I don't--" Twilight began, but was stopped by Rarity's hand on her mouth.
"Wouldn't it be counterintuitive if we showed up in these...garbs?" Rarity asked, making a disgusted face at the thought.
"Well, I guess--" Twilight got interrupted again.
"Then it's settled. Come along, Spikey Wikey, work is to be done," Rarity turned on her heels and started off to her boutique, with Spike at her heels and Spines following to keep the former dragon from floating away as he swooned over Rarity, again.
"Oh, brother." Blitz shook his head, "Three hours, tops, and we head out." He pulled his hood on again and walked off, leaving everyone to question his authority and the tears that were in his eyes. |
Oxidized | pre | "FOR EQUESTRIAAAAAAA!"
"Buh?" Sunstone mumbled, surprised by his brother's unexpected bravado.
Shining brusquely impacted Sunstone. The two of them rolled together, the momentum carrying them all the way to the side of the sofa. They both got their heads knocked as the tumble came to a sudden halt. Their whole world was spinning, though Sunstone was the first to break out of it.
Now having his brother close by, he could pull a Twilight on him as well. He groggily grabbed the heaviest pillow around in his mouth, dragging it on the floor by his side like a serial killer. He slowly approached his still dazed bro, taking his sweet time, and gazed at him with the look only a villain could give. How he was enjoying his position of superiority! Shining finally snapped out of it and looked at the earth pony towering him, a shadow darkening his face from the low angle shot.
"Y'know, brother... I've always hated royalty," quietly said Sunstone, etching a deranged smile.
Shining could only stare at him with quaking eyeballs.
"... Bummer," is all he managed to say in the view of his impending doom.
The pillow was raised. Two eyes closed themselves. Resignation was palpable. And then, what was meant to happen, happened.
SMACK!
The sound of a second pummeling. Shining fell on his side, his cheek impacting the floor. His teeth even clacked together with an unpleasant sound.
And just like that, the war was over.
"WOOO! Two unicorns down! Bow down to me, peasants! Hahaha! Earth ponies wiiiinnnn! See? We don't need spells and all that overpowered stuff to pull our weight! We da best, we da best!" danced Sunstone.
Among the deafening quietness, he heard some sniffles.
"... w-we da best?"
The sniffles turned into sobs, then the sobs into full blown crying.
Twilight Sparkle's face was all wet with her tears. She was hiccupping, choking on her own breath. She was rubbing her head with her hoof, trying to make the pain subside. A nasty bump had swelled just above her right eye.
When Sunstone took notice of that, his heart sank into his chest, culpability fully taking over his senses. His adrenaline drained in an instant. No longer did he feel triumphant. He ran by his little sister's side, fueled by big brother instincts alone, unable to bear seeing her hurt like this. Guilty. Stupid, stupid, and guilty! Triple guilty! Sunstone simply couldn't digest that he might've really hurt his sis. He couldn't have done it, no! S-something else... something else must've been at play, here! Right!? Something must've conspired against him. Hurting his siblings, him!? Baloney! Preposterous! Impossible!
"S-sis! Are... are you okay?" he desperately asked, fully knowing the answer. "A-are you hurt?"
He tried to put his hoof over her tiny shoulders to bring her comfort, but she rebelled and pulled away.
"Yes! Y-yes, you hurt me, you... you b-big bully!" she cried between two sobs.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean... I'm so sorry! I..."
He tried to approach her again in a poor attempt to bring her comfort, but she widened the distance once more, crawling on her bum. Sunstone was in a pickle and he had absolutely no idea how to make amends here. The slight was still very fresh, but he wanted it to be mended right there and then. For a young teen, there was no time factor at play when it came to burying the war axe. It was now or never.
"L-look! Y-you can hit me, okay? You can hit me! I'll let you punch me in the face, and then, and then... and then we'll be equal, right? P-please stop crying..." was Sunstone's last gambit.
Unfortunately,
"SUNSTONE!"
He recoiled and blanched like he's never blanched before. There were only two unicorns in the world who could shout his name like this with this much displeasure. He dared not to turn around to confirm his greatest fear. Frozen in absolute panic, hunched over his distraught sister, even at his age, he knew a "It's not what it looks like" wouldn't cut it.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light, both equally ticked off, made their way into the field of view that was Sunstone's pinpricked pupils. B-back so soon? His mouth was hung agape and his throat clamped itself shut. Because this morning? You would've been hard pressed to find two parents that were more disappointed in all of Canterlot. It was difficult to make Mrs. Velvet and Mr. Light frown, but somehow, Sunstone managed.
Twilight Velvet huddled over her wounded daughter and gently put her on her withers, craning her neck back and nuzzling her to calm her down. The small unicorn buried her face in her mother's white fur like it was one oversized teddy bear. Meanwhile, Shining Armor managed to get back to his four hooves, and limped next to his dad. He looked as unamused as him.
And just like that, it was the whole family on one front versus a mortified Sunstone standing all alone.
But this new war was impossible to win.
"Care to explain, young colt?" coldly demanded the patriarch.
Night Light then lifted his head, pointing at the total carnage that was the living room. Sunstone finally took notice of the absolute disaster it had become. Somehow, it didn't look THAT bad mere minutes ago. But... Now it was messier than a landfill. W-weren't those rare Prance plates broken from the start? ... Uh oh.
"It... It wasn't me...! They, they, they were playing! I w-was reading, I didn't... I didn't start this!"
Every word he uttered felt like a buck in the guts. His dad remained absolutely unimpressed, and so too did his stoic mom. Sunstone couldn't feel any more intimidated if he tried.
"Sunstone," resumed Night Light, rubbing his hoof on his forehead, "that is no excuse. You know that this is no excuse! You're the big brother, you're supposed to be more mature than this!"
Twilight Velvet nodded. "Mmmh hmmm! At your age, you should watch over your brother and sister and show them the example. You know, instead of joining in their destructive games. You need to be a good role model for them! They need to learn from you!"
Sunstone's tail was between his hind legs. He was almost prone to the floor in supplication, trembling at his scolding. He could barely manage to find what to say, his esophagus drier than a chimney.
"But I... but I..." he yammered, a lump forming in his throat.
His dad cut him off. "And frankly, Sunstone, you're twice your brother's age! And Twilight's only four years old! You play way too rough with them. Not to mention, you're an earth pony, so you've got some natural strength you really oughta be careful with."
"That's right, Sunny," added his mom, giving a small smooch on Twilight's forehead. "If you really want to play, why don't you go outside and do it with some of your friends your age?"
Sunstone remained silent for a moment, but his pounding heart was audible to anyone in the room. He started to hyperventilate a bit, clenching his teeth.
He felt so rejected at that moment. And maybe even a little angry. A lot more than a little, actually! Couldn't they see? Couldn't they understand!? It was so... so unfair! His intentions were noble and he... it's not his fault if he was that much older than Twilight and Shining! When he was their age, he didn't have any siblings he could share playing sessions with. But them? They had each other. Not only did they have the right to play together, but they also had a lot of fun doing so - so why couldn't he? What made him so different, so unusual? Why was he the bad guy right now? He wasn't a bad pony, wasn't he?
Wasn't he?
Tears started to swell up in the corner of his eyes. His face felt hot. His emotions were all over the place.
"M-my friends?" he repeated, tears escaping his defiant eyes. "My friends!?"
Before both of his parents could reply to him, he stomped a disobedient hoof.
"I don't HAVE any friends! I don't! I don't have friends!" he cried, tears dropping on the floor. He pointed a trembling hoof at Shining Armor, and then at Twilight Sparkle. "They're all I've got! They're my... they're my only friends! And now, y-y-y-you're telling me t-that I can't..."
He couldn't bear his rage any longer. Sunstone ran past his family and aimed for the stairs.
"I hate you all!"
"Sunstone!" shouted Night Light. "You do NOT talk like this in this house! Now come back here and apologize to your brother and sister!"
A door slamming shut, and Sunstone secluded himself. Only his moans and sobs were audible.
His parents sighed, unsure what to do with all this. Sunstone was well on his way to become a teenager, the toughest years in a pony's development. Night Light and Twilight Velvet expected to encounter some resistance along the line, sure, but that all came too suddenly. Way, way too suddenly. Where did this attitude come from? He never bit back quite like this before.
They needed to adjust and be thorough with their oldest son, lest he started being out of control. Parenting was not an easy game to play, but they'll forever remain fair and impartial to their offspring. Sunstone wasn't exempted from making mistakes, but he had to own up to them, learn from them, and fix them.
"I'll go talk to him," said a discouraged Night Light.
As soon as he started trotting toward the staircase, a small tug on his back leg halted him. He turned around, confused, and saw a pleading Shining Armor.
"W-wait dad," hesitantly said the young unicorn. "I um... can I go talk to him instead? Please?"
Shining's dad tilted his head. "Mmmh? Uh, I suppose? But I mean- aren't you mad at him for hurting you?"
"Well, yeah, but... he's still my big brother. And I just wanna make sure he's okay..."
Night Light smiled and ruffled Shining's blue mane. Forever wanting to play the protector, this young colt.
"Alright son. But you make sure to tell him to come back down to clean up the mess he's made."
"Okay dad, I will!"
Princess Twilight Sparkle paced around the cutie map for the nth time, her eyes locked onto the pictogram of her own mark. It was hovering all alone right by the circumference of the table. A sigh escaped Spike's mouth. He was tapping his little claws onto the armrest of his undersized throne, following her movements in a semi catatonic state. His other arm ended on a knuckle to his cheek. Has it been half an hour already? Truly, there have been more exciting moments in the castle of friendship. With only the two of them populating the room, he couldn't even make idle chatter with anyone else. It was that boring.
Five more minutes. Five more minutes and he was going to interrupt the princess' musings. That was his cut-off time.
Much to his relief, Twilight stopped for a bit, squinting intensively at the holographic six-pointed star. She rubbed her hoof under her chin, concentrating on putting her million thoughts into their rightful place. Was this it? Was she finally going to break her mutism? Was she going to challenge the sound of silence? Was she-
Nope. She started circling the table again. Spike couldn't take this time of inaction anymore. Enough was enough. He lifted a claw, about to protest-
"This is all so intriguing!" suddenly exclaimed Twilight. "Usually, we're sent as a duo to tag team a friendship problem, but here, there's only just me involved, all alone? Oooh I wonder what's so different this time!" ...
"... That's it?" complained Spike, throwing his arms.
"Huh? W-what do you mean?"
"That's all you've come up with after all this time? Gee Twilight, I could've told you that from the start and saved you the effort."
She rolled her eyes and tsk'd. "No, of course there's more to it than just that, don't be ridiculous."
Intending on continuing to relay her discoveries, she approached her floating cutie mark one more time and gently tapped under it.
"Do you know what this place is?"
Spike gave it another quick look. "Far."
"Ha ha ha, Spike. I meant, this particular location's name?"
"Beats me," he shrugged, still a bit disinterested.
"Well, according to the map, there's a minuscule settlement riiiiight over there."
Indeed. If you closed an eye and focused under Twilight's hoof, you would see a couple of houses and buildings bundled together right by the base of a decently-sized rocky hill. A detail so cryptic, so hidden, that it put the entire Where's Waldhorse? franchise to shame. The immense forest surrounding the secretive landmark didn't help either. Who would ever think about veering their attention to the middle of nowhere like this? Twilight and her friends never did, and for good reasons.
"So?" indifferent Spike asked.
"So? So?"
She approached her assistant with a bit too much enthusiasm for his tastes. On guard for upcoming Twilight shenanigans, the little drake firmly clenched his clawed hands onto the throne.
"Spike, I thought I knew all there was to know about the geography of Equus - let alone that of Equestria! But not once have I heard of a small village established so far into the Undiscovered West! And I tried with all my might to remember what this place could've been, but nothing rang a bell! In all of my years studying history books, never have I come across anything that could give me the slightest of hints about whatever that place might be."
Invading Spike's personal space, she rested her forehead on his, squeezing his cheeks with her hooves with perhaps just a tad too much passion.
"Do you know what this means!?"
"Muh-oh," he struggled to say through the bulged lips of his clamped mouth.
"This means, there's still some knowledge to be harvested! I need to know all there is to be known about that place! I cannot believe I've been in the dark about a whole countryside town this entire time!"
She finally allowed him to regain his freedom and bounced like an excited foal.
"Oooh what a wonderful day to tackle a friendship problem!" she squealed, clapping her hooves. "Spike, to the library!"
Quicker than Spike could elbow out the saliva drooling from his fangs, the princess teleported out of sight. Spike could take a hint as to where. He half-heartedly left his crystal chair, unable to hold a sigh.
"Haven't had one of those 'wonderful' days in a while, I s'pose," he cynically mumbled to himself.
Twilight was already surrounded by a mound of books when Spike finally made it to the library. It's not like he didn't take his sweet time, but.
The princess was hunched over a circular workstation, skimming through her lecture at Mach 5 speed. She barely registered any of the words from all those paragraphs before a new page covered them. Her eyes were ping-ponging from left to right, intending to cram as much information under her horn as she possibly could. As though data gathering was some kind of competition - an egghead competition, as Rainbow Dash would so eloquently put.
True to herself, she failed to suppress her bad habit of floating random helpful - but sometimes sharp - tools all around her with magic she didn't even realize she was using. Be they rulers, magnifying glasses, custom-woven bookmarks, quills, ink pots, or simply other books she was more than eager to read, the result was always the same: A big fat hazardous cloud that could crash down at a bad news' notice.
A bit fatigued and strained by all this crazy activity, Spike rubbed an eye. Not even a step into the library and a ladder on wheels surrounded by a purple aura slid right next to the midget dragon.
"Spike, find me everything you can about Outer Grove!" ordered the busy bookworm, not even turning to acknowledge his presence.
"Outer what, now?"
"Outer Grove, Spike!"
"Run that by me one more time?"
She audibly moaned, her eyes looking to the crystalline ceiling. This time, she turned to glare at her somewhat confused assistant.
"Outer. Grove," she said with palpable impatience. "That's a town. I mean, THE town. I mean... ugh! The town on the map, Spike! Five minutes ago? Remember?"
Spike was already four bars up into the ladder when he snickered. "Uh, sh'yeah. I was just pulling your leg. I'm not a dum dum, Twilight," he quipped. "Why am I not surprised you found the name of that 'mysterious' place already?"
In the corner of the room proudly stood an old yet charming sepia globe of Equus; an obscure antique wedged on four spindled wooden supports. Twilight Sparkle floated it toward her, adding it to her nebula of swirling objects - the one that would give any safety inspector worth their name the motherload of all heart attacks.
"Interesting you should mention that! Because that town, Outer Grove, is rather young in the grand scope of Equestria's many urban centers. It's only half a century old, as I've just read. My outdated globe right there didn't even have it properly mapped, so I had to-"
"Imma stop you right there, Twi," cut Spike, already two books under his armpit. "How can your globe be outdated when I'm preeetty sure this castle has only been in Ponyville for a coupla years at best? Less than 50 years, I can guarantee you this much."
"The globe didn't come with the castle; it's a vintage set piece I bought from a broker when- you know what? That's besides the point!"
She yanked a book Spike had scrounged with the aid of, yet again, her powerful magic. That threw off his balance just enough to give him tummy jitters, and he had to rapidly flail his free arm like a rotor blade to avoid an unpleasant rendezvous with the floor. He growled a bit at that, not too keen on having his safety put at risk only to entertain the princess' dopiness. She really had a tendency of becoming somewhat careless and cloistered during her nerdgasms.
"The point I'm trying to make is, I had to do some research in our most recent census records to find a lead as to what- ah! There we go. Thanks, Spike!" she interrupted herself, her newest book now opened to page one.
"Yeah, don't sweat it," Spike replied begrudgingly, clutching the ladder with his dear life.
Much to his relief, she started petering out her magical cloud. The torrent was reduced to acceptable levels. She quickly skimmed through the tome Spike had found - not without jumping over the table of contents, of course. The title was simply: "The Last Stop West," which was completed by a cursive "An Explorer's First Outlook at the Principality of Outer Grove" underneath. A promising little piece of tuition for those who knew what to look for. And recently published too, which wasn't a surprise, given the town's rather brief age. At least, this ensured that the information within would be more or less up to date.
Spike continued adding anything he deemed relevant to his collection. He couldn't help but give quick looks at his mentor; how she always looked so delighted when sponging up new knowledge into that curious brain of hers! There was something commendable about that. Something about mastering your craft, perhaps? Or was it about nourishing a hobby? Either way, she looked happy.
He browsed for an additional fifteen minutes before he rolled with the "good enough" doctrine. Spike regained the floor and went by Twilight's side. Neither of them had spoken since. Spike piled up the books he had found on the table and let out a polite cough in his fist. Y'know, just to prove he didn't phase out of reality since she embarked on her intensive reading session.
She didn't respond to that, and so, he upped his game.
"Sooo... found anything interesting so far?"
It took her a couple of seconds to answer. "Mmmmh? Oh! Yes yes, this is all so fascinating! Did you know that Outer Grove is actually the most westward established city in all of known Equus? It stands all on its own without any other municipalities for kilometers around! This in itself is already incredible- and listen to this!"
She magically flipped a couple pages back and cleared her throat, ready to dictate the words before her.
"'One must've prepared to pilgrimage their way through the Undiscovered West to reach the principality of Outer Grove. A perilous trip that would usually last a minimum of three days if leaving from the nearest known populated outpost. Venturing in and out of Outer Grove certainly has proved to be a test of will and endurance. Unprepared caravans would most surely tempt a terrible fate - as it so happened many times in the past. Ponies accidentally veering off course, highwayponies stealing precious merchandise and goods, wild beasts attacking those without a proper armed escort; all this, a slim part of a long list of recorded incidents. Outer Grove is indeed built on the efforts, selflessness, and sacrifices of those who were willing to make these risky trips simply to keep the principality well-rationed.
"'Fortunately, travels to Outer Grove have become significantly less dangerous ever since a brand-new railroad was commissioned by the Crown to link it with the rest of civilized Equestria. The construction was completed a little over three years ago, this, in an effort to ensure the safety of those who dared to brave the Undiscovered West. One must now charter - if travelling from Canterlot, for instance - two different trains at the two respective crossroads where the rail splits. One right by the exit of Ponyville, and the other, built on the fresh tracks that used to solely bring passengers to the vibrant city of Las Pegasus.'"
Twilight quickly flipped the book to look at the little numbers scribbled on the back.
"Mmmh. According to the date this encyclopedia was released, this would mean that the 'new' train tracks are now a bit under six years old. I had no idea about any of this!"
Spike sat on a stool, brought his feet onto the table, and linked his arms behind his head. A typical detached pose he would usually adopt whenever he expected the spur-of-the-moment lessons to go above the hour mark.
"Y'know Twilight, I'm wondering why they even bothered making a town all the way over there if it was so complicated for ponies to reach it..." noncommittally posited Spike. "Seems like a lot of effort for a whole lot of nothing, but hey, what do I know."
"Ha-HA!" Twilight said, an accusatory hoof a few centimeters off Spike's snout. "I'm glad you asked, my faithful and oddly astute assistant! Because the book also has a response for that!" she added, her excitement never leaving for a second.
More pages flipped. This time, to the section about the town's history.
"Hang on, lemme just find... ah, there! It says, and I quote: '52 years ago marked the first battalion's foray into the territory. They operated under the name of what was referred to as the 'West Campaign.' The campaign's primary objective, funded and endorsed by the Crown, was to cartography more thoroughly the rough guesstimates elite unicorn mapmakers had sketched about the Undiscovered West. Disappointingly, the first battalion merely scouted the place and came back to the princess with minimal oral reports.
"'Over the next few years however, further and further these corps went, until the fourth battalion, aided by the expertise of military engineers, finally had the means to establish a semi permanent installation. At first, simply composed of tented barracks, the daring mares and stallions stationed there managed to erect a sturdy and tall watchtower. A strategic building that would give the troops an advantageous outlook over their surroundings. They fought tooth and nail to claim that territory as their own, but managed to prevail in the end - partially due to their investment in their defensive watchtower.'"
Spike was intrigued by this latest piece of trivia. "Fighting? What the hay were they even fighting all the way in the middle of nowhere?"
Twilight Sparkle giggled. "Another pertinent question!"
Flip, flip, flip. To the Fauna and Flora subchapter of the hefty part dedicated to Outer Grove's geography.
"'The Undiscovered West obeys esoteric rules when it comes to the nature flourishing in it - not unlike those of the Everfree Forest. For starters, the weather system is complex, works on its own accord, and doesn't accept any inputs from weather pegasi. Moreover, random cells of many different critters roam well-defined sections of these large forested lands.
"'Reports from the earlier years of the West Campaign made it clear that the site (where the principality of Outer Grove would eventually end up residing) was unusually rich in Ursa Minors. It was found that these Ursa Minors used to hibernate around the base of the mountain where the watchtower was built. Over the years, thanks to the valiant efforts of the pony infantries, these Ursa Minors were discouraged to approach the territory claimed by the West Campaign and wound up migrating elsewhere - though it was always suspected that they've remained close-by.'"
Spike scratched his head. "They fought flippin' Ursa Minors!?"
"That they did, Spike. That they did." She tapped her hoof under her chin, pensive. "Hmmm, I do hope the ponies living there today aren't stripping down the land or overextending their town too much, otherwise, they might provoke an ugly conflict..."
A few seconds went by as Twilight thought more and more about the nasty consequences that could befall upon the poor ponies living there. Surely, they knew they had to tread carefully with the dangerous ecosystem surrounding their living space, right?
Spike smacked his head. "But... why!? That still doesn't answer my question from earlier: Why go through all the trouble of making a village over there if it's been nothing but trouble from the start? A-and... and especially if there are still risks even to this day?"
He didn't know why he was so invested in this. Somehow, he wanted to make sense out of this crazy town. He was desperate for the big cathartic twist.
Twilight returned her muzzle down into the book. "I'm getting there, Spike! Hear this one out: 'During a particular nefarious battle against a ferocious Ursa Minor, a magical spell misfired and ended up striking the side of the nearest mountain. A section of the hill got chipped away after the resulting landslide. Explorers later went on the site of the impact to properly evaluate the destruction. What they found, they couldn't have expected: Amongst the debris, a non-negligible source of precious materials had surfaced. This prompted the Crown to send a convoy of miners and other specialists to collect the ores and potentially extract some more.
"'Over time, as more and more settlers flocked to the encampment covered by the watchtower, a small hamlet, shared by military personnel and civilians alike, was slowly put in place. Workers and soldiers needed to feed; grocery stores were built. Workers and soldiers needed a place to rest; hostels were built. It's around that time that princess Celestia had officially called off the West Campaign. The last battalion departed and left behind what is now the principality of Outer Grove as we know it today.'"
This concluding line got Twilight all giddy again. She couldn't help but squeak out an excited laugh. Spike didn't really share her joy however. He was more flabbergasted than anything.
"So wait wait wait," he said, a hand massaging his forehead. "If I'm getting this right... the whole reason these ponies were so eager to go there was to... mine a bunch of rocks?"
"Seems like it!"
"And get a coupla bits doing so?"
"Mmmh hmm!"
"And that's why there's now a community living there?"
"Yup, yup! Though, the book does precise that the gold rush period has diminished significantly since then. Turns out, ponies aren't too eager to live all on their own for years in a place so deserted."
Spike couldn't find anything to reply to that. For him, to isolate himself so far away... the prospect was insane. He'd go mad from loneliness over there. All of the delicious gems in the bordering mountains weren't worth any of this.
Twilight took her assistant's silence as her cue to keep reading. "Ah! But that's not all! There's more: 'To not leave the town completely defenseless, even to this day, a duo of pegasi sentries from the royal guards is dispatched to the principality of Outer Grove to protect the secluded citizens. These pegasi are stationed there and typically rotated every six months by the Crown.
"'The watchtower remains as the earliest installment in the village and still stands today. However, ten years or so after the end of the West Campaign, it was converted into a clocktower by the local population. The bell was to be rang by an employed lookout to alarm the sentries of potential upcoming dangers. To this day, it has only been recorded to have rung five times - the last of which being approximately twenty years ago. As the years rolled by, the clocktower became more and more obsolete, and today, it is more or less seen as a novel monument, a testament to Outer Grove's rich history.'"
Spike was phasing out a bit, his eyes listless from Twilight's endless parroting. Perhaps that is why it took him a bit longer than expected to realize that she had stopped her narration. When he finally looked up to see what the deal was, he immediately noticed that something was off with the princess.
Her book was lowered, for starters. But her head, her expression... She was looking to the side, her gaze fleeing the words displayed in front of her. She was biting her lower lips, her hooves nervously rubbing on each other. Her eyes, they used to be so full of enthusiasm just a moment ago. Now? They were trying their hardest to mask a deep sadness. It's as if she suddenly received a letter full of bad news from Celestia herself.
"Uh... Twi? You're doing okay there?" Spike queried.
She didn't answer. She was too busy focusing on what was eating at her. Spike decided to intervene. He got up from his seat and tugged at her a bit.
"Twi?" he tried again.
"H-huh? Oh uh... hum..." she mumbled, snapping out of it somewhat.
"What's going on? You look rather, uh... down?"
Indeed. Her mane had lost a few levels in vibrance, and even her coat was paler. Spike could practically feel the anvil wedged in her guts.
"Oh. It's ah, it's nothing. It's nothing, Spike."
Spike cocked his head, thoroughly unconvinced. Twilight knew she couldn't lie her way out of this. She sighed.
"It's just, I was reading a bit further, and stumbled upon Outer Grove's motto. 'A Miner's Paradise,' it said. Then, it... it added: 'Anypony with a pickaxe, a good attitude, and a knack for fortune can call this place home. A welcoming town with plenty of opportunities to build a new life.'"
She deflated after saying that. Her neck sagged and her ears flattened themselves on her skull. She looked so morose, so defeated.
"Uh, oookay?" Spike said, a bit confused.
"I don't know Spike, it just... It just reminded me of somepony, that's it..."
"Somepony? Do I know them?"
She silently gestured positively. Then, as if struck by lightning, Spike's eyes expanded. Oh.
"Wait. Waaaait. You don't mean...?"
"Yes. Him," she whispered with great pain, on the verge of turning into an emotional sinkhole.
Spike was suddenly attacked by the same heartache that had claimed the princess. He truly loathed seeing her miserable like this. Her anxiety was his to share too. So he did the best thing anyone in his position could've done: He embraced her as hard as he could, rubbing his cheek onto her warm lavender fur.
"Oh, Twilight..." he said in a sorrowful tone.
"I-it's alright Spike. H-heh. I'm just being a big silly pony. I've come to terms with his... with what happened a long time ago. I... I shouldn't think about stuff like this. N-not now. Not when there's a friendship problem in dire need of my help!"
She tried to chase these bad memories out of her troubled mind. Focusing on the mission was the best way to reclaim the ambition she once had. She returned Spike's hug, and tried to smile a little.
"I better go make some preparations for the voyage."
Fortunately for the princess, that distraction would prove fruitful.
A new day rose on the castle of friendship. Twilight Sparkle was already up and about, filling up her luggage and saddlebags with all her necessary equipment. Cosmetic products, blankets, a myriad of books, neatly packed lunches with days and times written on them, half a dozen quills... you name it; she had it. She was overpacking to the point of giving Rarity some serious competition.
That's what Spike and Starlight Glimmer initially thought when they joined her in the lobby of the castle. They both exchanged a perplexed look, unsure what to make of the scene before them.
Spike awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and coughed. "Um, aren't you overdoing it a little bit, Twi?"
"Mmmh?" she turned around. "Oh, good morning Spike, good morning Starlight! No no, I'm packing just the bare minimum for a one week stay."
Starlight tilted her head. "A... week? You really think it's going to take this long? The um, friendship problem, I mean?"
Twilight Sparkle let out a small chuckle. "Oh! No no, I don't think so. I mean, I hope it won't!" She shook her head. "Regardless, I'd like to prolong my stay in Outer Grove to learn more about this place. I mean... What kind of princess just ignores a whole city like this for that long? I owe the ponies living there at least the courtesy of a proper visit. See if they have any problems, any issues that need to be dealt with..." She lowered her head, her ears drooping. "I just feel a little bad that they've tended on their own for so long without any of their rulers even checking on them... they all must think we're snubbing them."
Starlight gave a hopeful smile to Twilight. She approached her friend and put a comforting hoof on her shoulder.
"I don't believe they're thinking this at all. And I'm sure they will appreciate it, Twilight. You're a good princess," she encouraged her. "But..."
She bit her lips, unsure if she should keep going. Finding the courage to do so, she went on.
"... a whole week? A-are you sure it's wise to go over there all by yourself? It's kind of far. Shouldn't uh, maybe... I guess it's not my place to say, but maybe one of us should come and keep you company? Maybe? I wouldn't mind."
"Yeah Twilight!" agreed Spike. "It could be dangerous for all we know. I mean... Ursa Minors, Twi! At least enroll a couple of royal guards to come with you, please?"
The princess remained impenetrable. She shook her head with authority.
"No and no. The map has picked me and only me to go all the way over there. There must be a perfectly good reason for that. I'm not going to rock the boat on a system that's proven to work before. It's a tried-and-true formula. Besides..."
She interlaced Starlight and Spike in a group hug.
"... I'm only going over there to solve a friendship problem. Not to engage in epic battles and fight big monsters or what not, hehehe!"
They all laughed together. Yeah, now that she put it like that, their concerns really did seem a bit far fetched. What could go wrong? A simple small vacation in a remote town, what's so bad about that? Not everything had to spiral down into misadventures.
Once they simmered down, Twilight nodded at Spike.
"Want to help me carry all of my suitcases to the train station, Spike?"
He saluted like a little soldier. "On it, Twilight!"
Lifting with his legs (and not his back), Spike started carrying her baggage one by one toward the huge double doors by the entry of the castle. Twilight Sparkle used that time to take a private moment with Starlight.
"Listen, Starlight. Since I might be gone for a while, could I ask you to handle all of the castle logistics during my absence? I'd really appreciate it. I need a strong and organized pony to do so, and I know I can count on you."
"I uh... I'll..." She wanted to say 'I'll try,' but a quick look at Twilight's expectant eyes made her reconsider. "Yeah, I'll do that. Don't you worry about a thing," she winked.
Twilight was seated on a cushiony red velvety banquette with a small cherry wood table in front of her. On the table, a tome Spike had fetched opened midway through. On her right, her luggage placed in an orderly fashion. On her left, a window giving view to a wall of trees zooming past at high speeds. A horn echoed. The train was well on its way toward the distant town. The ride wasn't bumpy at all; in fact, it was surprisingly smooth. Everything was hunky dory.
Since today was a Saturday, she expected the trains to be full of commuters. Ponies sure loved to travel when the week-end rolled around! And lo and behold, her hypothesis was proved right almost immediately.
On the first train, she was crammed between a metric ton of ponies. It was bustling with activity. Families, tourists, workers, envoys, couriers, group of friends... they all wanted to travel to the four corners of Equestria. When other nearby passengers recognized the benched alicorn, gasps and bows were inevitably exchanged. Other ponies were baffled that she allowed herself to be wedged between all of them, sharing seats with mere commoners, but she had to certify that she did not mind at all. Certain overly polite ponies even went as far as to yell at strangers to give her some room. She had to practically beg to these passionate ponies that all was well. In fact, she loved being all close and personal with her fellow ponies, sharing stories and anecdotes. A good way to keep in touch with Equestria's denizens!
On the second train, the number of ponies boarding was halved. This time, most of the passengers were clothed with colorful attires. Glamorous business suits were a-plenty, and so too were faux-leather jackets, extravagant dresses, and synthetic pompadours. All of these ridiculous ponies, it was obvious that they were on their way to lose a couple of bits in slot machines in Las Pegasus. The celebratory ambiance certainly had enjoyable qualities, to be fair. Twilight Sparkle even had to deny the many martinis offered to her by the party-go-round ponies of her wagon. She had to keep her head clear for the mission at hoof. Besides, she wasn't really keen on alcohol to begin with.
On the third train, she stood alone. In fact, that train wasn't even scheduled to depart today. The princess had to send a communique the day before to the mare in charge of the station to let her know of her intent to board a train toward Outer Grove. Strings had to be pulled to make the staff deviate from their timetable, of which she was a bit ashamed. Of course, they did not mind making this work - she was a princess after all. They were always so happy to oblige. Twilight didn't like to be on the receiving end of special treatments like these, though in her defense, there was an urgent friendship problem lingering about. This had to be tackled as soon as possible before it could potentially devolve into an unsolvable mess.
This last ride was by far the longest of them all. Whilst the two others took an hour at best before reaching the next junction, this one was well on its way to cross the six-hour threshold. It was now around five in the afternoon, which was on time with her carefully put together schedule. She even correctly accounted for the down time at the stations. The skyline was turning into a beautiful orange glaze, and soon enough, Luna would allow her magnificent canvas full of stars to take over.
As the natural light dwindled, Twilight had to strain more and more her eyes to keep reading the lecture she entertained herself with. She took this prolonged ride as a good opportunity to know even more about Outer Grove. The more she knew, the better prepared she would be.
This lone wagon of this train only harbored four other ponies: A conductor, a mechanical engineer, an all-purpose butler, and a chef. For once, she wasn't stuck in conversations, meaning she had all the time in the world to spend some with her books.
She had learned that Outer Grove was predominantly populated by earth ponies. Pegasi were more-or-less constrained by the two royal guards, and unicorns were straight up an oddity. That didn't surprise her much. From what she had gathered, this town was mostly made to accommodate blue collared laborers, jobs usually preferred and best carried out by earth ponies. Not to mention, the natural state of the town was attractive to those who controlled it the best. What good was a unicorn's magic in a place that offered neither scholarship nor grants for those who mastered it? What good was a pegasus' role in a place where weather acted on its own volition?
Another interesting aspect of Outer Grove's demographics was its male-to-female ratio. In all of documented Equestria, this might've been one of the only places with a larger population of stallions. And not just by a little either; two thirds of the village was male. This was beyond unusual. Twilight might've finally found the exception that made the rule.
"Your tea, princess," suddenly said the butler.
Twilight looked up, her neck cracking with painful kinks. The unicorn mare before her gently deposited a small cup onto a saucer. In the cup was the delicious-smelling green tea she had ordered.
"Oh, thank you very much! I haven't had a nice warm tea in two days. I really needed that," she candidly said.
The servant bowed with a smile. She trotted back to the front of the carriage, where a tiny makeshift kitchenette had been installed. In front of the few passenger seats, travelers could easily see what the chef was preparing. It's crazy how much they managed to fit in that small area. Twilight spotted a fridge, an oven, a chromium preparation counter, and countless pots and pans hanging from hooks on the ceiling.
Everything in its right place, she smiled, about to see if her tea was scalding or drinkable.
She never had the chance to find out.
Her lips by the porcelain cup, she couldn't hold onto it with her magic when the train suddenly came to an abrupt halt. The braking process was so loud, so abrasive, that all the objects in the room, her luggage included, were projected to the front wall of the wagon. The same was true for the princess herself. With no seatbelt in charge of upholding her security, she rolled on the slanted floor until her back impacted the door leading to the next car. Her rear legs were over her head, and dizziness became her middle name.
When the train was finally out of motion, she gathered her thoughts and weakly got up. The collision gave her some wincing pain, but at least, it was no piano on her head (that one hurt badly). She gave a helping hoof to the chef and the butler who too were in a pitiful state.
"Are you two alright? Nothing broken?" she drunkenly asked.
When they nodded, a small wave of relief washed over her.
Her second reflex was to knock on the door that led to the front of the train. When no answers came, worry started to nestle in her guts once again. Intending to find out what the hay this was all about, she unlocked the sliding door to the exterior and pulled it open despite the poor oil job that offered some resistance.
Alongside the two other staff members, she disembarked the vehicle to assess the damage.
Who would appear but the engineer and the conductor, two stallions that looked utterly incredulous. They were peering at the railroad, something nasty having caught their attention.
"What happened?" asked the princess. "Why did we come to a sudden stop? Why are you two outside?" she rapid fired.
"Oh! P-princess!" said the engineer, bowing despite his best efforts not to. "Sorry 'bout that. I hadta pull the 'mergency brake. Tried not to be rough, but had no choice! 'Cuz lookit this mess! I ain't never seen anythin' like this in ten years o' drivin'!" he complained.
She walked past the group and gasped when she saw what had occurred. The metallic tracks in front of the train... were completely disconnected from the other ones further ahead. The chef covered her eyes with her hooves. The butler nearly fainted.
"The tracks are... broken?" she rhetorically asked.
Now was the conductor's turn to speak. "Yup. Severed. A clean cut. Something sharp must've done it. Can't go any further without derailing."
There was more than could meet the eyes, that was a given. Twilight channeled energy in her horn, and lit up the crime scene with a potent spell. The extra brightness highlighted a new ominous variable: Deep and elongated claw marks near the destruction. The purple alicorn's eyes grew in horror. It took her a very short time to recognize what could've caused something like this.
Immediately proving her right, a prolonged and terrifying bestial scream drowned the otherwise calm ambience of crickets and toads. It sounded close. WAY too close. Twilight has had the displeasure of having heard that same scream directly in her face a couple of years ago. She could identify those monstrous noises in a heartbeat. This could get ugly. Very, very ugly.
The four other ponies grouped together. They held themselves tightly with quaking front legs, looking left and right to spot the source of what they've just heard.
Twilight has had enough. It was time to act, and not a moment too soon!
"Okay. Listen to me and listen well!" she commanded. "You and the others, go back into the locomotive and start revving it to go backward. You cannot stay here!"
"B-b-b-but... w-w-what 'bout you, princess?" replied the train engineer, deeply afraid.
"I need to find out what's going on here. Outer Grove is only a few minutes away, is it not?"
"Y... yes, b-but..."
"Then it's a wise assumption to say that they may be in danger! There might be a crisis, and I need to fly there myself to see if it truly is so! I'm not going to let them be the target of a vicious attack if I can help it!" She pointed at the train once more. "So all four of you, go back to the Las Pegasus junction where you can be safe. Do not be alarmed and wait for my return. If I do not make it back in two days, send an urgent letter to princess Celestia, do you hear me?"
They remained silent, blinking their eyes.
"Hello? Anypony!?" said Twilight, trying to break them out of their stupor.
"O-o-okay!" finally said the engineer while the rest of his crew quickly jumped back into the train. "But please, princess, for the love of all that is right, please! Be careful..."
She nodded. "I will. Do not worry about me. It'll be fine!"
Another ear-piercing growl prompted her to take off to the skies. It'll be fine, she mentally repeated to herself. I sure hope you know what you're doing, Twilight! Not only that, but she also hoped her concerns - nay, her FEARS were worth abandoning her personal possessions for.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the airflow still felt warm and nice. The sun was dancing by the firmament and in a few minutes, night would replace the evening.
When she saw the first few lights of the town appearing by the horizon, a bell reverberated. |
Oxidized | Sunstone: Not a Hero? | A record was spinning on the turntable of Sunstone's personal gramophone. Out of the horn of the apparatus came the microtonal, atmospheric, and rich sound of that new style of electronic music all the youngsters worshiped almost religiously. Sunstone had bought that EP in a music boutique by combining his allowance and a modest part-timer paycheck. Ever since then, he has played it almost every day. All of those intricate bleeps and bloops did their job at helping him concentrate during his intensive study sessions. Since these tended to last a couple of hours, background music was a welcomed addition to help him out. Maybe a little bit to his family's dismay.
He was in his bedroom, posted by his desk with a singular candle lit and the curtains drawn. As the number of books required to obtain his diploma increased over the years, so too did his workspace to accommodate them all. No longer did he need to sit at the undersized toddler lectern he cherished oh so much during his younger years. On the verge of being a young adult, he needed something a little more serious to reflect his 17 years in Canterlot.
Sunstone closed his "Advanced Magical Applications of Stoichiometry" manual. He exhaled to give himself the moral boost he desperately needed. But with his music, his self control, and his strive to succeed, odds were stacked in his favor.
He was ready.
"Alright Sunstone, you can do this."
He inhaled. And then, on top of his head...
"'Various specific stones, ores, and minerals, when sufficiently heated, after a while, will become oxidized. A powdery substance known as calx will be the result of that chemical reaction.'"
He flipped a couple of pages to make sure he didn't get that wrong. And huzzah! His memory was on par with his textbooks. Things were starting to make sense now!
Confident with his streak, Sunstone kept on going.
"Let's see now, mmmhhh..." He looked away from the book, eyes closed. "'Calxes have many interesting magical applications, especially within the dogma of potion brewing. They act as important adjuvants that fulfill certain roles when mixed in. Their properties are codified by their natural (or artificial, in rarer cases) color.'"
Sunstone tried to remember the most important colors. For sure this was going to be asked in the upcoming end-of-semester exam. These tended to be pretty brutal, and Sunstone didn't want to take any chances.
"Okay, so... Red calx is used as an enhancer: It multiplies the effects of the potion. Blue calx, however, is an inhibitor. Pretty much has the opposite attributes of red calx. Then we have purple calx, which is an accelerator. With it, the reactions of a potion occur much quicker. Orange calx makes a potion's effects last longer. Gray calx is... is uh, ah..."
He tapped his chin, pupils lost to the corner of his eyes.
"Darn, I actually don't remember that one. Must be pretty useless."
He quickly searched in his comprehensive manual once again.
"Ah, there we go: 'Gray calx serves no specific purpose whatsoever. It's an inactive filler that merely helps increasing the volume of a given potion.'" He chuckled a bit. "See? I knew it was nothing special."
Three knocks on the other side of his closed door attempted to interrupt his time of learning. Sunstone decided to ignore them, hoping his visitor would quickly get the message. In fact, contemptuous, he raised the volume slider of his gramophone. That sure would show them, ha!
"Okay. So where was I? Ah! Identifying from which ore, metal, or mineral a type of calx stems from simply by the study of its physical properties. You can measure its density, its texture, and its color to figure it out. There are even advanced experiments, such as the hydrochloric acid test, more commonly known as the 'bubble test,' which you can perform to-"
Three more door knocks.
Clearly, the intruder was either stubborn or dense. Maybe a little bit column A, little bit column B. Whatever their major malfunction was, they sure couldn't take a hint. Sunstone rolled his eyes and let out a prolonged sigh. He closed his book in annoyance. He obviously couldn't be left alone, noooo. Somepony had to bother him.
"Yeah, alright, damn! You can come in," he grouched.
The door timidly opened and in came a horn atop a pink head.
"Sunstone?" said the mare. "You're in there, right?"
"No, I'm somewhere else," he immediately replied, a bit irked.
When he spun on his chair to see who had dared to inconvenience him, he was left a bit surprised. That was definitely not somepony he expected.
"P-princess Mi Amore Cadenza?"
"Hehe, it's okay Sunstone. You know you can just call me Cadance, right?"
Wasn't the first time she said that.
"If it's all the same with you, princess, I'd like to stay formal."
Wasn't the first time he replied that either.
And as always, even though she tried her best to hide it, Sunstone still caught the micro expression of uneasiness that washed over her face. Regardless, she managed to keep her large smile and the majority of her composure. Oh, she was good.
"May I come in?" she politely asked.
Ha! Why even bother asking? She was royalty. Didn't matter that she was a couple of years younger than he was. She pretty much had the birthright to tread wherever the heck she wanted. What, was Sunstone even allowed to say: "Nah, get lost?" What a preposterous idea. If she wanted to come visit his humble room, then of course he'd oblige. That's just how it worked in Equestria. He was dirt, she was grand: Same as it ever was.
"By all means, princess, make yourself at home!" Sunstone bowed with a borderline sycophantic voice.
She offered another smile despite the negative undertones her host was giving.
Cadance was a smidge smaller than Sunstone. Her long stripes of colorful and curly hair had been tied up in a ponytail behind her head. How adorable, mentally mocked Sunstone. She approached him shyly and peered at the loud object on his worktable.
"What's this?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Ah, you see princess, foals these days, they call it a 'gramophone.'"
She chuckled at the obvious wisecrack. "No no, I mean, the music? I've never heard anything quite like this before."
"Ah. Well, if you must know, it's from a young emerging musician called DJ Pon-3. No idea if that's her real name or just a pseudonym. Anyhow, that's her first musical piece, and that there's some pretty good acid techno. Any more questions about this music?"
"Um, yes. Just one. Could you please turn it down?"
Okay, Sunstone actually laughed at that. He was still pretty disgruntled, mind you, but he wasn't one to resist a good quip at his expense. Anyway, since it was royally decreed, Sunstone figured he had no choice but to comply. He reluctantly removed the needle from the disc and the music was immediately cut with an unpleasant scratch.
Cadance used the newfound silence to pace around the room. It was, um... well, calling it "messy" would be a gross understatement. She could forget the bed that was completely turned over, but it was hard to ignore the sea of papers littering the floor, the random sculpting tools scattered about, the dirty plates that somehow hadn't found their way to the kitchen sink yet... Yeah, it was a late teenager's crib alright.
She didn't want to make it look like she was judging his living quarters too harshly, so she tried to scrounge for something nice to say. She approached a cork board on the wall that piqued her curiosity. It was filled with sketches and works-in-progress. But in the center of it was a chef-d'oeuvre. A drawing much larger than its surrounding companions.
On it were three earth ponies on their back hooves holding a sphere.
"Sunstone, did you draw this?" she asked, impressed by the quality of the sketch.
"Mmmmh?" Sunstone lifted his head from his study book, which he had quietly returned to. "Oh. Yeah. I scribbled that silly thing a couple of weeks ago."
"That's a very nice draft! You really have a talent for such things. But..."
Sunstone frowned. "... But?"
"Well, wouldn't it be more harmonious if there also was a pegasus and a unicorn holding the globe instead of three earth ponies?" ...
"No."
With that cold and blunt answer, Sunstone returned to his favorite activity of ignoring the princess.
She blinked a bit, unsure how to further smooth things out. Sunstone could sometimes be a bit difficult to puzzle out. Talking with him often resulted in conversation judo. He was always so reclusive, so distant. What common grounds could anyone have with the pony who never left his room? With the pony who barely smiled? With the pony whose favorite catchphrase was a condescending sigh? With the pony who was, for all intent and purposes, allergic to anything remotely fun?
He hardly partook in family diners, let alone gatherings. He was never present during celebrations, activities, or events of any kind. Twilight Sparkle being enrolled in the School for Gifted Unicorns? Sunstone was absent. Shining Armor applying for the tryouts of the academy's youth program? Sunstone was absent. Night Light making it to the semifinals of his bingo league? Sunstone was absent- well that one was understandable, to be honest.
Still. It's as if he practiced solitary confinement on a daily basis. Every time the princess came to visit, he was always ready to disappear without saying a word. She didn't even know Twilight had a second brother until the fourth or fifth time she came to foal-sit!
But Cadance wasn't going to give up without trying. As the princess of love, it was her duty to be there for a pony in need. And behind Sunstone's elaborate masquerade of sarcasms and surly zingers, she perceived a hidden cry for help.
"Sunstone, I was wondering... well, may I ask you a question?" she treaded carefully, going to his left and taking a peek at his studies.
"You're a princess. You don't need my permission for anything," he replied, tongue-in-cheek.
Another wince she tried to stiffen. "Well... You know how your parents hired me to watch over Twilight, right?"
"Mmmh."
"Don't you think it's a job you could be doing yourself? Watching over your little sister and all? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love foal-sitting her, and I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but-"
"I'm busy."
Cadance lowered her head, a bit defeated at the bleak, no-nonsense response. "Yes, of course..."
That's the answer Sunstone always gave when it came to family affairs. "I'm busy." Two little words that would always shut off any kind of discussion, any attempt at reaching out.
Meanwhile, Sunstone continued writing homework notes. After a few quiet seconds, he tried a quick look to his side. Was she still here? Ugh. Here we go again.
"Look," he said, giving in. "I'm sorry, and I truly do not mean to be rude, but that's just how it is. Okay? I straight up do not have the time or patience to look over my sister. I'm already juggling a job at Joe's donut shop, a bucketload of homework - as you can clearly see, and a tough session at a college that's an hour out of town; because apparently, Canterlot is too sophisticated to have proper tuition for the likes of me. The last thing I need is to get involved in my siblings' shenanigans. I tried that a couple of years back, and that didn't end well."
"What do you mean by your 'siblings' shenanigans?'" she asked, genuinely curious.
Sunstone chuckled sourly. "Oh, you know. This and that. They call it 'Sibling Supreme.' Twilight never told you about it? It's a bunch of silly competitions they do against each other to see who can pee the furthest."
"Sunstone..." mildly scolded Cadance, unhappy to hear such foul language.
Getting reprimanded by a pony younger than he was. How rich. Sunstone just had to relish the deliciousness of the situation.
"It's true though!" he doubled down. "Who can have the best grades at school. Who can be the best stand-up comedian. Who can toot their own damn horn the hardest!"
Sunstone started to raise his voice by the end of his enumeration. He took a big breath to reduce his temper.
"That's what they do, princess. And mom and dad think it's the cutest thing ever."
Cadance tilted her head. "And you don't want to participate?"
"Ha! Even if I wanted to lower myself to their stupidity, it's not like they'd want me there. I'm way too old compared to them, after all. I'd have an 'unfair advantage.' Can't let lil' Twilight and Shining think they don't stand a chance now, can I?" He waved a hoof. "Besides, I've seen what happens when I get involved. I once made Twilight cry before. That was a good dose of reality. I'd rather stay out of trouble and not deal with the fallback of that horsecrap anymore."
Yikes. It was worse than she thought. The offhoofed comments about his siblings was a bit alarming. It wasn't natural for a pony of his age to hold grudges like these. She had to help him realize that the way he evaluated his family bonds were probably a bit biased for the worse, otherwise, he might cultivate and foster these negative feelings to the point of no return. It was a good thing that Cadance was particularly articulate for her age. She knew how to apprehend and talk to a given audience. Time to use those skills to win Twilight's brother over!
"I... don't think that's completely accurate, Sunstone. I'm sure they'd love to have you with them. I mean, take Twilight for instance. I talk with her a lot during foal-sitting and... you know she really looks up to you, right?"
"Uh huh."
"I'm serious! You remember that time at the Summer Sun Celebration when she saw for the first time princess Celestia raise the sun?"
"No. I wasn't there."
He wasn't. He was working double at Joe's at the time. During an event as big as Summer Sun Celebration, Canterlot always expected a huge influx of tourists. Naturally, greedy businesses and shop owners took that as a good opportunity to jack up their prices. Employees were tough to come by during the holidays, so those who were willing to put in extra hours would benefit from a higher pay to compensate. For Sunstone, enjoying a healthier salary, even if it was just temporarily, was a boon. Train rides to school were expensive: He needed the bits. So, every festival, while his folks enjoyed themselves, Sunstone busied himself making donuts and cleaning shop. It's not like he drooled over the idea of meeting the princess of the sun anyway.
"Well, point is," continued Cadance, "ever since then, she became super invested in magic readings. Yes, part of that is due to how impressive she found the princess to be. But you know what really got her going?"
She paused a bit. Sunstone raised his shoulders.
"Growing up with you, Sunstone. That's the best motivation she's ever gotten. She saw how passionate and how invested you were with books. She told me more times than I can remember that she wanted to be just like you. She finds you inspiring, Sunstone. All she wants is to follow in your hoofsteps."
Sunstone considered that for a moment. Him? She found him inspiring? He was her role model?
... Nice try, princess. That was just an elaborate ruse to keep his guard down. Cadance and Twilight were in cahoots, obviously. They wouldn't spend so much time together if they weren't. It would take more than a bunch of thinly-veiled lies to convince him. For the time being, he was going to hold onto his convictions.
"No she doesn't. She just wants to one-up me and prove that I can be easily beaten. Books and academic achievements were my shtick, and now she's trying to take that away from me!"
Satisfied with his dismissive comeback, he reached forward and opened the curtains. The new sudden flood of light that invaded the otherwise dark room made the princess squint and protect her vision with a hoof.
The window gave view to the house's well-tended backyard. In the middle of it, they both could see Shining Armor, young, healthy, and determined, rushing toward a wooden pony mannequin with pillows strapped to it. His head impacted the decoy, and with his strong build, he managed to push it back almost effortlessly.
"And look at my brother. He's just like her! Just because I'm physically stronger than him, he's been training non-stop to rectify that. I'm an earth pony, princess! Strength is the only advantage I have over unicorns. Ever since he got his cutie mark and his growth spurt, I swear he's done nothing but try to surpass me." ...
"Princess?"
Cadance was frozen, staring intensely at the young unicorn. Her cheeks reddened and her breathing deepened. Shining looked so professional, so coordinated during his training. His blue mane, his white fur, his strong hooves...
"Seeing something you like?" Sunstone teased.
"H-huh?" she shook her head, forgetting for a moment that Sunstone was still right next to her.
"Instead of window licking, why don't you just go down there and marry him, mmh?" he teased some more.
Cadance's face became redder than a tomato.
"W-what!?" she blurted out. "N-no! I mean... no! I would never...!"
Sunstone quietly snickered at his flustered guest. "For a princess of love, you sure have mixed feelings about it."
"I... It's not... Oooh, what's this?" nervously asked the princess out of the blue.
In a desperate attempt to change the subject, she picked up a random small sculpture on the windowsill portraying an earth pony pumping one hoof out.
"Heh, nice segue, princess," smirked Sunstone. "And to answer your question: That there in your hoof is the first thing I've ever chiseled. It ain't too shabby, but I still need more practice. I've only taken to sculpting a couple of months ago after all. Every asset and extra curriculum credits I can get will help me elevate myself above the mass. That's why I draw too, by the way. I have no other choice, otherwise, I'll just risk staying a nopony forever."
She was quite content with the long-winded answer, because it involved not talking about Shining Armor anymore. That wonderful, good-looking, gorgeous...
Sunstone saw that she was getting lost in thoughts again and coughed impatiently. Daylight was burning, and he was getting a bit peeved that he still couldn't study proper. Seemed as good a moment as any to let her know that this was seriously dragging on.
"Pardon to be so blunt, but was there a reason why you came to my humble hideout in the first place?"
She blinked a bit. Ah, right! Her impromptu visit. She craned her neck back and looked at her cutie mark.
"Oh. Um. Well, I'm here to foal-sit your sister, but on my way up to her bedroom, well... I had to stop myself. Because I suddenly detected a good pang of heartache nearby." Oh.
Sunstone knew where this was going. He was not in the mood to play her game. He had school work to go back to. A backseat psychiatrist was the last thing he needed. He had no spare time to pour into this nonsense.
"Well, princess, better go ahead and calm my sister down, then."
"No, Sunstone, the heartache, it ah, it came from your room. So I thought maybe I could come in and help?"
He squinted. He didn't enjoy his feelings being meddled with like this. Especially from a pony who couldn't read between the lines and outright refused to take a hike.
"I... appreciate it, but your love detector is in need of some fine-tuning. Because I'm fine, I'm totally fine."
"Really? Are you sure? Because if you have anything on your heart, just know that I'm a great listener."
She kept inadvertently pushing his buttons. He was getting increasingly annoyed at her resilience and started feeling tense on the inside. That little ball of frustration in his chest was slowly inflating.
"I am fine, princess," he insisted between grinding teeth. "Really! The only thing that's stressing me out is missing some precious minutes that could be better spent studying. I've got a lot of school work to do and very little free time. Plus, I've got to go to punch-in in less than an hour. So if you could please...?"
He pointed with his face toward the door, really inviting her to get out of here already. Cadance looked back, then sighed. This time, she couldn't ignore Sunstone's not-so-subtle "please leave" cues. She wasn't going to win that battle today, unfortunately. If only she could find the right words to breach that stubborn wall of his. Her cutie mark was pretty much pulsating with the insecurities emanating from that poor earth pony. But she couldn't do all the work herself. He had to do his part too.
One final attempt.
She was going to try to say one last thing, in a desperate gamble to get him to open up.
"Alright, I'll leave you alone then... But if I may? I think you work and strain yourself too much... Sunstone, this isn't healthy. It's not good to constantly hide yourself away from your family like this. You know they love you, and I'm sure they would be happier if you took some time for yourself as well."
Sadly, the risk didn't pay off. Because, much to her chagrin, her speech didn't fly high with Sunstone. At all. He tried to hold it in, but in the end, that was the line that broke the camel's back. Was she seriously patronizing him right now? Her, of all ponies?
The silver pony banged a hoof on his desk. That drew a quiet "eep" out of her.
"I 'work too much?' S-says who? A princess who's already on top of the world? Spare me the horsepucky! Must be reeeal tough to be exceptional at such a young age, doesn't it? J-just like my brother and my sister! Already well on their way to become champs and leaving me in the dirt! Need I remind you in which city we live, princess? Freaking Canterlot! I'm already at a MAJOR disadvantage what with not being a unicorn, but Shining and Twilight? Oh, they sure can thrive in this little paradise! You know what this means? It means, I have to work twice- no, THRICE as hard as they do so I can make a name for myself. Otherwise, how else are they ever supposed to see me as their big successful bro and not this loser pony who's tainting their family name, huh? Huh!?"
"W-wait! Sunstone, I... I didn't mean-"
"Oh no no no please, oh please, I beg you princess: Keep telling me how I should dictate my life! You obviously know better than I do! 'Take some time for myself?' Are you seriously that naïve? You're still practically a kid; I don't have any lessons to take from a know-nothing know-it-all!"
Sunstone breathed in and out, his eyes widening. He put his hooves over his mouth, shushing himself. Even he knew that spitting at her like this was uncalled for. If he was spiteful before, now he was completely out of line.
Cadance received all those words like someone threw stones at her. Despite Sunstone's insults, she kept her tact and stayed level-headed. She waited for a good minute before she could formulate a reply.
"I... I'm sorry you see me this way. But... you make a lot of assumptions, and I don't think that's fair. It's not always a breeze for me either, you know. We all have our struggles, alicorn or not."
Sunstone lowered his head, still in shock that he dared badmouth a princess this harshly. He didn't want to show any cracks in his resolve. But here? He failed miserably. Why couldn't he have stayed impenetrable like he always did? Why did he suddenly feel the urge to have an emotional outburst like this? It hadn't happened in years, and now...
"I'm... I'm sorry princess, I shouldn't have..."
"That's okay Sunstone, I forgive you. It happens to the best of us," she said, offering a sincere smile despite everything. "I just hope you understand that Shining and Twilight love you because of who you are, not because of who you are trying to be."
She rubbed a hoof on the carpeted floor, knowing her time with him was up.
"I suppose that I should um, I should probably leave you to it, then?"
Sunstone didn't lift his head to look at her, but he still nodded in shame.
The princess of love excused herself and quietly left the room, the door gently closing behind her. She waited for a few seconds in the corridor. Her heart-shaped cutie mark was practically burning with his unhappiness.
Sunstone's music started blaring throughout the house once more. She shook her head, eyes closed, and let out a sigh of disappointment while trotting away.
I was on my way up the mountain, ready to put in another day of work. Today was a Saturday. And I was working. Yes, I worked on the week-ends. That wasn't imposed on me, yet I did it anyway.
Look, I loved to work, okay? I think I made that abundantly clear already. It was a fulfilling duty, and I was a capable pony, etc etc. Working six days a week didn't make me a martyr or whatever. If anything, it helped fatten my coffers. Which was good. Money was good. Money money money~. And hey, my house needed the repair work, remember? That kind of stuff sort of operated on having a big ol' pile of bits. So yeah, I wasn't going to refuse Mr. Prospector's generous offer to let me work overtime.
Besides, I had a perfectly good excuse to clock in more hours. When I took inventory yesterday, after I brought in our new batch of copper that is, I noticed that our reserves of grounded rubies were worryingly low. I was more than willing to rectify that. Our lackluster supplies gnawed at me all night; even maybe a little during the party as well.
The party...
You know, on the one hoof, it was an amazing event. I really enjoyed having my 15 minutes of glory. I mean, who wouldn't? The townsfolk, they all busted their flanks to make it happen. They must've prepared and pepped up the bar all day while I was on my shift. What kind of ingrate milquetoast pony would I be if I was a grump about it? No, really, it was a good time all around. Spending precious moments with friends and acquaintances? I'll take any excuse to do that!
On the other hoof, however. It ah, it didn't end as well as I expected it to. And it was entirely my fault. A small part of me wanted to blame the alcohol, but that wouldn't be exactly honest now, would it? No, it's my attitude that done did it. Such a pleasant evening, tainted by my suboptimal - not to mention unprovoked - social move.
I still cannot believe I lashed out at them the way I did. That must've come out of the blue from their perspective. What a jerk I've been. And then, to continue making a total foal out of myself, I isolated my sorry ass with a beer, only exchanging a few words with Sweet Pint. As if to make things worse, Skybrush even came back to see me to make sure everything was alright. Naturally, I assured her it was so, but somehow, I think she knew that I was just trying to diffuse my little oopsie. I nursed a few more drinks for the rest of the night, and the party was called off a couple of hours later.
Look, you have to believe me! It was an overall fun night. Let's forget about the last part. It didn't count. That was just me being stupid. Let's call it a mulligan, heh.
... A mulligan that still made me feel out of it even today. Ungh. Work should appease my mind, aye? That seemed like a good way to turn the page and to never speak of this incident ever again.
With a newfound boost of confidence, I ascended some more. I even felt my ears popping due to the increased altitude. That's okay, I was used to this phenomenon by now.
I took a different path than yesterday. Ruby deposits were located elsewhere after all. I was walking next to the minecart rails on the narrow path when I peered over the rocky cornice. I stopped in my tracks a bit, appalled by the scenery below.
"Oh wow!"
What I saw! Or rather, what I didn't see. A huge chunk of forest, that's what! Completely missing right by the bottom of the escarpment from this mountainside. A gigantic square of land filled up with chopped up trees, piled up timber, and other various debris; all of them, resting on a bed of chipped wood and nubby stumps.
That was site 2B, was it not?
Well, congrats Seesaw Log and Leafy Humus! You successfully cleansed an entire chunk of the surrounding preserve. Sheesh. They really weren't kidding about their exploit yesterday. In fact, they might have undersold it, ha.
I get that Mayor De La Tour wanted Outer Grove to have enough space for that fancy college of his, but boy, how big did he want it to be? We were barely a hundred in here. That seemed like overkill. The clearing could've easily fit five hoofball fields, and that was a modest estimate!
Look, obviously, I wasn't an expert; far for me to entertain the idea of telling Log and Leafy how to do their job. If they judged that basically nullifying a corner of the Undiscovered West was the way to go, then hey, more power to them. Besides, they were probably just carrying out the blueprints carefully laid out by Mr. Prospector. Surely, they knew better than to deviate from them. All was well.
I sardonically chuckled to myself and marched on. Today was ruby day, and I had a good feeling about it. My sixth sense all but ensured that I would strike a fortune!
Well, my sixth sense certainly had a strange sense of humor. Or maybe it was defective?
Whatever the case was, today was going poorly. Poorly with a capital P. Poorly to the max. In fact, I don't think I recall the last time I was that subpar, that inefficient at my job. My cart was barely a quarter full when my stomach told me it was soon time for dinner. My instincts were all off, and rubies made a mockery out of my expertise.
I guess somehow, I still felt under the weather.
What's wrong with me? Did yesterday evening jumble me up that much? Like, come on now! Yes yes, we get it, princess Twilight Sparkle. You tripped me up, okay? You win!!! That being said, could you kindly leave my mind now, if it's not so much trouble? I had work to be done, you see. Gray Calx was pragmatic and down-to-earth; not emotional and mopey. So, begone now! Shoo! Out of my brain! You've done enough damage already. ...
Sigh.
Might as well call it a day. I'll have some serious explanations to give to Mr. Prospector. Not to mention, I think he was still recovering from his night of debauchery, so bad news was the last thing he'd want out of me. How I hated to disappoint.
I was bringing the cart up the steep slope of my tunnel as I always do. It wasn't as heavy as it usually was; another grim reminder of my terrible performance today.
I was halfway through the return path when a sudden earthquake shook the whole cave system. Everything vibrated with fervor. So much so that I had no other choice but to trip to the floor. The tremors might've only lasted two or three seconds at best, but that was enough for me to let go of the minecart.
I flipped to my back, just in time to see the cart speeding down the rails, gravity giving it all the acceleration it desired. It soon disappeared into the deep darkness below, the crystal light of my helmet failing to illuminate this far down. And then, a few seconds later...
CRAAAAASHHH!!!
Followed by the distant sounds of gems spilling everywhere.
"Are you KIDDING me?" my infuriated voice echoed.
Wonderful! High score! Let's pop out the champagne everypony!
Today was a day, wasn't it!? One of the most days ever. The hay did I do to Marephy's Law to end up on its crappy side so badly? I dared not to think of the damage my cart received. For all I knew, it was a mashed-up wreck of metal. It would take me hours, literal hours, to get it out of here, bring a new one in its stead, and fill it back up. I'd be here all night. Cool Saturday, right? Hey, maybe the tremors could dislodge a boulder from the ceiling and smother me while we're at it?
Speaking of the tremors, what in Faust's name caused them in the first place? My geological knowledge knew that this sector was NOT prone to random earthquakes. You see, we were in the middle of a tectonic plate, which meant that- !!!
S-something roared! Aggressively so. Same as yesterday night! I heard it loud and clear! Came straight from the outside, a-and... and there it went again! More bestial snarls! Oooh that sounded unhappy.
Okay, you know what? We'll handle the clean-up job later. I have had just enough of these mind games. I'm going to check what the deal was once and for all. I wasn't crazy! I wasn't hearing voices- or screams, rather! I'll prove to the world that my delusions were grounded. I. Wasn't. Losing. My mind!
I got back up on my hooves and took no time to gallop toward the exit.
When I appeared out of my rounded chasm, I had to put on the brakes. Violently. I slid forward, raising a cloud of dust behind me. I even had to flail my front hooves in a backpedaling motion to help me come to a full stop. When I finally did, I flattened my body to the floor, making myself as minuscule and innocuous as I could. I held my mouth shut with my two front hooves to avoid uttering a reflex scream.
What. THE HECK! This can't... w-w-were t-t-these...? I c-c-couldn't be dreaming this stuff, r-right?
Could somepony, ANYPONY, please, explain to me why there were TWO FREAKING URSA MINORS DOWN THERE!?
Right by the base of the mountain! Wandering in the middle of site 2B! I knew Ursa Minors weren't the friendliest creatures of the bunch, but these ones looked unquestionably ANGRY. Aggressive to incomprehensible levels, especially for us unassuming little ponies. But it was indisputable: They were rage incarnate. The purest manifestation of fury.
One of them was larger than the other. Maybe the smaller one ("smaller" being used loosely here) was a cub, or something? I dunno, I wasn't an expert on the topic of destructive creatures!
What I did know, though, is that they looked oh so peeved. The mother (or father?) smacked away a pile of logs, whilst the younger one busied him or herself with pounding the barren muddy floor - and now I know where the "earthquakes" came from. They paced around the site, destroying everything that they could. Geez, if I wasn't so dumb, I'd tentatively guess that something about that place had attracted their wrath.
The fact that they didn't spot my frail frame all the way up there was nothing short of miraculous. My cover hadn't been blown - at least not yet. I was just there, spying on them, my body trembling in ways I've never felt before. There was fear, and then there was me right now. It took a lot of mental fortitude to not faint at the sight.
Both of these giant bears were radiating with a blue cosmic backdrop. The crepuscule made them stand out like sore hooves. Everything around was getting darker, but these two Ursas, they were getting more and more vibrant.
Finally deciding that they loitered about for long enough, they took the wise decision to leave the stripped area and headed West. Right until they turned around the mountain I was standing on, where I could see them no longer. ...
Wheew!
I think I held my breath for a solid minute there. I started panting audibly, giving some much-needed oxygen to my lungs. A cold sweat ran down my temple, and my heart was drumming with painful palpitations. What a thrill! What an experience! But hey, the danger has passed, right? H-hurray?
Then it hit me.
These two gigantic monsters? Were on a direct course toward Outer Grove.
Oh, buck.
That wasn't ideal now, was it? Oh crud, oh crud, oh CRUD!
Welp. Time to put an X on Outer Grove. They were done for. Totally out of lifespan. They were going to get absolutely leveled. Let's pour one out for the poor souls down there. One Ursa was already trouble, but two of them? There was no way out of this one. It was going to be a bloody massacre.
I was just lucky to have been out of town during its time of destruction, phew! All I needed was to wait this one out and sulk in my pit like a big crybaby. Better safe than sorry! Inaction saved the day - my day! Hehehahaha, good job, Gray Calx! ...
Wait, what the hay was I even saying right now?
I had friends living there! Good ponies! Ponies who pooled their efforts to commemorate my name not even a full day ago. None of them deserved such a fate!
And Skybrush... Honey Dream... I couldn't possibly...
I stood up in a heartbeat. I had to do something about this! Warn them proper, or something. I wasn't going to let them perish, unaware of what even hit them! I was the only one aware of the problem, and it was up to me to use that knowledge to save the day.
... But I wasn't a hero. I DIDN'T want to be a hero. Oh sweet Celestia, why was I put in such situations? Why meeee! Couldn't anypony else have taken my role here? I just wanted to mine for a living; how dare I, right!?
Okay. Okay Calx. You can feel sorry for yourself later. Now was the time to act like an adult.
A plan.
A plan, a plan, a plan. A plaaaaaan-
Right!
Here's what I was going to do. I was going to beat these two uglies to the town. That would leave me some time to shout "THE END IS NIGH" in the streets like an absolute madpony. Problem was, I couldn't possibly outpace them. Except! I just witnessed ten minutes ago a pretty efficient method to go downhill at Wonderbolt speeds. Yeah... that could work! You sly devil, Calx!
I hastened myself and jumped into an empty minecart that stood all on its own outside. Feeling confident, I yanked the braking mechanism with all of my earth pony strength. Rocking my body back and forth, surely, the cart started to go forward on its rails. The gentle slope, becoming more and more diagonal, made the cart and I gain a lot of speed, until eventually, it was moving faster than I could've galloped all on my own.
The wind was blowing in my purple mane. I had to squint with watery eyes. Holy moly, that thing was speedier than a rollercoaster! Seriously, why was I going so effin' fast!? I was merely trying to tell my fellow villagers of the upcoming danger, not to break the sound barrier!
I attempted to put the brake back on, but that was futile. The lever just became red with the friction and emitted a firework of sparks. It even smelled like burnt metal. There was no stopping the Gray Calx ride. Hey, at least I had a helmet to protect me, right? Good lord, I totally was going to get myself killed before the Ursas could do it for me. Hilarious.
Fortunately, the cart held during the many twists and turns, and neither derailed nor toppled over. Yay.
Unfortunately, my comet of a ride soon ran out of tracks. Nuts.
Barreling down at alarming speeds, I saw the end of the line. A simple little contraption on which carts could come to a rest. Although in my case, it probably won't achieve anything.
To the left, resting on the cliff of the mountain, was an old-fashioned bungalow: Mr. Prospector's office. As for the stallion himself, he was seated not too far where the collision would occur. Napping on a rocking chair, head hung low under his big hat, he was most surely sleeping off his hangover.
"WAAAAAAAATCH OUUUUUUT!" I tried in vain to warn.
But it was too late. A few centimeters now, and-
KA-BANG!
Goodbye, cruel ground!
Upward I went. Like I was shot out of a canon. My helmet got projected away from the sheer force of the impact - so much for that! Everything was upside down. Guess I was in the middle of a majestic front flip? I was a few meters up in the air, on my way to a back breaking injury.
Even though it all happened so quickly, I swore I saw the green form of Mr. Prospector passing under me. In the microsecond he appeared in my view, I even managed to see him snorkel awake with a gasp.
Couldn't float forever, unfortunately. I eventually started descending. Faster and faster now.
SMAAAASH!!
Back first directly into a pile of crates. I totally wrecked them - and myself.
"Unghh..." I moaned in pain.
Followed up by a bunch of coughs. Ouch... my everything. What was in those crates, effin' bricks or something!? Oh wait, no. Spare parts for the rails, as it turns out. If only I worked in a mattress factory, guh...
I heard a pony gallop toward my corpse of a body. "Sweet jumpin' Celestia, what do you think you're doin', son?" yelled Mr. Prospector. "Have you completely lost your marbles, eh!?"
I somehow succeeded at bringing my sore self up. I cannot recall the last time I maimed myself this badly. Thankfully, adrenaline was on my side for the time being. Tomorrow would suck, though.
"I... I'm sorry Mr. Prospector, I didn't mean... But it's, t-there's-"
"What's gotten into you? You've never been this... this reckless! Here I thought I could just snore my killer headache away, and this is what I wake up to!? A crazy acrobat of a pony who's..." He stopped himself, peering at my forehead. "... who's bleeding! Calx, your head, you're... you're hurt!"
Huh? I mean, I did feel something warm and wet up there, but I passed it off as some oil or something that splashed on me during the collision. Surely, it couldn't be...?
I probed the damaged area under my mane, and looked at my hoof. It was stamped by redness.
See, normally, this is where I would appropriately flip my lid. But we had more important things to deal with! I had to get back on track (no puns intended). Time was of the essence!
"There's no time for that!" I harshly grabbed him by his vest and brought him snout-to-snout with me. "Mr. Prospector! The town's in grave danger! U-Ursa Minors! Two of them! Coming to wreck everything in their path!"
Despite my psycho babble and my intense breathing, there was a moment of silence. Soon to be broken by Mr. Prospector, nervously chortling.
"Surely you jest, eh? That's why you injured yourself, isn't it? To make this unsavory joke more genuine?"
I just stared intensively at him. His mustachioed grin faded out. His eyes, which were oh so full of comedy just then, were now terror-stricken. I don't think he fooled himself with the improbability of his assessment.
"... You're not kidding, are you?"
"Have I EVER joked about stuff like this!?"
Okay, now he was in full blown panic mode too. Guess my neurotic mood finally got to him. To think that he was always so mellow and collected. Now though? It's like he was a completely different pony.
"Oh this is bad. And I mean, this is BAD!" he rambled, losing his nerves. Which was new to me. Never seen him freak out before. "I knew this was bound to happen one day..." He shook his head, trying to get a grip. "We need to warn the whole town!"
"I'm already there, boss! My shouting voice is all prepped up - let's go!"
I was about to bolt away to fulfil my destiny as the harbinger of bad news, but he halted me before I could do so.
"Hol' up!" He lifted a commanding hoof, despite his alarmed state. "Think I've got a better idea, eh? Follow me, Calx!"
Considering we were competing against a bomb with a very short fuse, I wasn't about to second guess my superior. I followed him without arguing.
I might've been a pretty muscular pony, but that didn't mean I came without my share of shortcomings. As it so happens, my cardio was ah, a bit lackluster, to say the least.
Okay. Alright. It was terrible. You've got me. I was panting and wheezing. I could've easily been mistaken for a pony in the middle of an asthmatic attack. My tongue was out of my maw, trying to lower my inner temperature. Sweat dampened the entirety of my fur. So much so that my mane was sticking on my neck, yuck. I must've looked miserable to the common observer.
Guess that's what happens when you cross half of a town in a fraction of a second. With a busted forehead too, ha.
So. Tired and wounded. A throbbing migraine and lungs close to a total meltdown. Legs burning with pins and needles. Spots peppering my darkened vision. That was my current status when Mr. Prospector and I finally reached our destination.
The clocktower. That's where I've been dragged, apparently.
"W-why... why..." I huffed and puffed. "Why d-did... why t-t-the clocktower?" I struggled to ask.
"Because, Calx, my boy, it is our duty to ring the bell to alert the royal guards!"
Ring the what to alert who now?
Mr. Prospector exhaled in annoyance at my blatant incredulity. "Young ponies these days, they always skip their history classes, eh! I can either take twenty minutes to give you a quick lesson, OR, we could save the town. What says you?"
"O-option... option B, please," I mumbled, my regular breathing pattern slowly returning to me.
"Wise choice, son. All we hafta do is- Darn nabbit! It's locked!"
It sure was. He was forcing the little metallic half circle handle on the wooden door, but it remained defiantly static. Nothing was moving, nothing was budging.
When he started banging on it and shouting for anypony on the other side to come greet us unwelcome guests, I approached the door-shaped barrier as well. Pegged to it, I noticed a little note with some text hastily inked on it.
"On lunch break. Be back in a week."
That's what it said. That's what the note said. Are you literally yanking my tail right now? What sort of buffoon just bails on their job like this?
"That lazy sonufagun!" raged my boss. "We need to go find that good-for-nothing, irresponsible screwup of a custodian! But he lives across town, that oaf! And I'm not even sure he-"
"There's no time for that!" I cut his rant. "Any moment now, the Ursas are going to pop in unannounced. We need to go in there, now."
He scratched his hat at that. "... What are ya sayin', eh?"
"I'm saying, let's bust this door open and barge in!"
He gave me a look of incomprehension. But then, he nodded, fully aware of what needed to be done. We were always so law-abiding, so by the book. Deviating from our goody two horseshoes attitude was a tough pill to swallow. Still, drastic circumstances called for drastic solutions. It was for the greater good.
We both got into position, our backs facing away from the obstacle.
Me: "On three! One!"
Him: "Two!"
Together now: "THREE!"
In a coordinated effort, we bucked the door at the same time. Two strong earth ponies, applying all of their might toward an unmovable object. It wasn't unreasonable to imagine that it stood no chance. Yet, against all expectations, that sucker held on. Sure, it bent inward a bit. Sure, a few nails popped out of the planks. Sure, wood shrapnel flew in all directions. But the door was still functionally locked.
However, my boss and I, we didn't take no for an answer. That's why we went at it again. Same song and dance.
Two more synchronized kicks. This time, the door waved the white flag and swung open in a satisfying thud. The decades old locking mechanism effectively shattered in a million pieces. We took that as an invitation to make our way inside.
The building was tall, but slender. A few meters both in length and in width. The walls inside were a drab beige, though the years haven't been kind to the paint job. It started peeling, giving way to the mortar and bricks it tried to conceal. A spiral staircase a couple of stories tall went all the way to the top, where a large (and rusted) brass bell waited patiently to be rung. I wasn't scared of heights, but you'd have to pay me a lot of bits to escalate all the way up there. Not only were the stairs barely larger than my barrel, but a couple of planks had fallen off over the years, replaced by a colony of spiderwebs. Not to mention, the guardrail had all but collapsed at various spots. I don't think this clocktower passed any kind of building regulations.
On the bottom floor, dust had gathered into little triangular deposits on the four corners of the only room. Interlaced with the defunct planks, moldy newspapers, and other various trash of your choice, were random equipment, tools, and pieces of machinery. Like those big printing rollers in the back, what the hay were they even doing there? And those bags of cement powder too. There was no rhyme or reason for any of those knick-knacks. If I knew any better, I'd say that this place was mostly used as a storage room for whatever and everything else too.
There was a small wooden stool smack down in the middle. Probably where the alleged key master would sit and uh... do something? Get paid to keep the spiders out of trouble, mayhaps? Who knows.
Most importantly, though, were the two large ropes dangling right in front of the aforementioned stool. Really thick, these ropes. Almost larger than my hooves, I'd say. In any case, this is where Mr. Prospector bull rushed as soon as he entered this vertical room.
"Take yer rope, Calx! We're going to ring that bad boy!"
"Aye captain!" I agreed like the devoted worker I've always been.
I pulled on my designated rope. He pulled on his. We gave it our best effort. And you know what happened after that?
Sweet nothing, that's what.
"Hum..." I hesitated, suddenly unsure of his masterplan.
"It's... the bell's all out of whack! Hasn't been properly maintained in 20 years, Calx! Must've rusted to Tartarus and back. We hafta pull harder, eh?"
"Gotcha. Let's go all in, boss!"
I wasn't done giving him the benefit of the doubt. Call it sunk cost fallacy, but we put all of our eggs into the clocktower basket. So we were going to ring that stubborn bastard if it was the last thing we did!
I pulled so hard that I actually came close to pop a blood vessel. My head had already suffered enough in one day, thank you very much. But hey, our extra elbow grease paid off, because at some point, I started feeling a tug in the rope. The tension loosened, and as we pulled in an async pattern, more and more did it start going up and down. Ladies and gentlecolts, we had movement in the ropes! The first few chimes of the bell started to be audible. We were going somewhere with this, hahaha!
That was wicked and all, but um, the up-and-down motion started to be a little too intense. I had to be on the tip of my back hooves just to keep my grip. Now the bell was fully crying its message to the locals. Yeah uh, that was loud. Like, really, REALLY loud. Felt like my head was on the verge of exploding.
"That's it Calx! Let's keep it going!" shouted Mr. Prospector, his voice almost entirely drowned by the thunderous bell. "Hear that? That's the sound of a proper warning! Just a little more, and-"
"H-hey! Y-your hoof, it's...!"
What I wanted to say here was: "It's stuck in the rope." Because it absolutely was. His left rear hoof, to be precise. Two or three loops had accidentally bundled around it, holding him hostage in a firm noose. But I never got the chance to tell him.
Mr. Prospector, that old pony who had seen it all, that stallion I had the utmost respect for, practically disappeared when he got swooped by the rope and lifted in the air. The last thing I saw before he hung upside down in midair was two big eyes that realized just a little too late what was about to happen.
He was bouncing up and down, flailing like a mosquito caught in a flytrap. The bell's ringing started to lessen (but was still positively loud), leaving him stuck a couple of meters up from the floor, as though he was a pony-sized mistletoe leaf - how fitting that he was green.
I think that he was shouting for help. He must've been, right? I saw his mouth move, but I couldn't hear the many swears I'm more than certain he was patenting on the spot.
For sure I had to get him out of here! My instincts at play, I grabbed in my mouth a sharp chisel I still carried in my work saddlebags and... gulp... started to go up these monoliths of safety hazards I liked to call stairs. Guess I jinxed myself by wishing not to climb them five minutes ago. One step at the time, I was treading cautiously. If they cracked under my hooves, I thankfully couldn't hear it.
Close to my dangling supervisor, I could see that blood started to rush to his head, given his woozy expression. I ah... I extended myself over the void with shaky back legs. Tool prudently placed in my mouth, I began to gently saw off the rope. That stupid rope! Why did it have to be so rich with fibbers!
It eventually gave in at some point. And so too did the brittle platform I was standing on.
Yup. A chunk of stairs totally collapsed under my weight.
The result? Two idiotic ponies falling onto the concreted floor. In a neat little pile of limbs, dizziness, and coughs. My ribcage tanked the hit and I think his did too. That's what I got from the both of us wheezing straight after the impact.
When the thick cloud of dust finally dissipated, a helping hoof I gladly accepted got me back into the game.
"Oof... urk..." I groaned.
"T-thanks Calx... for... cough COUGH... not l-leaving me all on my lonesome u-up there..."
"W-what a day, h-huh?" I tried to quip.
"Heh... I'm quittin' drinkin' for good now!" he quipped right back. ... ...
"THE URSAS!" we both screamed.
Total panic.
That was the best way I could describe the apocalyptic scene before the two of us. The moment we stepped outside, our jaws came close to dislocating themselves. Long gone was the once peaceful Outer Grove we all came to love. It left in its stead streets full of ponies running for their lives. Mares and stallions, foals and grownups, all of them, shouting in terror. Mothers clutching babies, street vendors desperately trying to protect their stalls, shutters from home owners closing themselves with loud bangs... It was disastrous.
I saw ponies tripping to the floor. I saw ponies adopting the fetal position and rocking themselves in a fit of pure dread. I even saw ponies holding each other like it was the end.
I heard cries, screams, pleads for help, prayers... But above all? Even surpassing the sound of the bell we worked so hard to activate?
The angry roars of those two Ursas I spotted earlier.
They were here. They were here, and they didn't want to play nice.
I could see them by the end of this larger main boulevard. Since the clocktower marked the center of Outer Grove, this effectively meant that they had breached the outer perimeters of the town. They wanted sweet revenge, and they were going to hit where it hurts.
And hitting they did. The adult Ursa, that unreasonably big freak of nature, swatted with vigor what I believed to be the storeroom for our edible rations. Where the bakers and grocery store owners went to refurbish their shelves and- look, did it really matter? They were destroying stuff! I couldn't care less WHAT they were destroying! I only cared that they WERE destroyed stuff, period!
Catching me by surprise, to my right, a pegasus mare in full golden armor came rushing. She hastily put her helmet on, as though she just woke up from a peaceful nap. She had her teeth clenched and her nostrils were flaring with determination. When she saw the same Ursa Mr. Prospector and I were gazing at, she recoiled with disbelief - and maybe even with a dash of scepticism.
"N-no way! It wasn't a prank! T-the bell... it wasn't..."
She mumbled a couple of four-letter words I'm not at liberty to disclose. She then stretched those trained wings of hers and flew straight in the direction of public enemy number one. Soon after, her co-worker did the same - minus the curses this time. Both of them, armed with pointy halberds, were gleaming in the early night, like twinkling stars in the infiniteness of the violet sky.
As we stared at the two soldiers circling the bigger Ursa, we heard someone whistle.
"Hey! Mr. G! Gray dude! You numbskulls gonna stay frozen in the open like this forever!? Over here!" the whistler urged us.
That voice, I pegged it as Sweet Pint's, which was impressive given the uproar all around us. She was poking her head out of an alleyway crammed between two tall dwellings. She was also hysterically waving her hoof, more than intent on getting our attention.
Between taking cover and getting pulped by an Ursa Minor, the choice was simple: We made our way to her hiding spot.
"What the HAY were you two dingleberries lollygagging about!? Are you that eager to kick the bucket or what!?" she berated us.
Sweet Pint might've been smaller than your average pony, but she sure had a character to make up for it! Bossy and rough around the edges, trust me, you didn't want to end up on her bad side. "Naponyleon complex," Doctor Stethorsecope once said (before getting bucked in the guts).
But make no mistake, that coarse persona of hers was just an elaborate charade, because in truth, I knew she bore the "sweet" part of her name for a good reason. Took me a while to figure her out. She just cared too much, that was her issue.
All's that to say, we knew better than to reply to her accusations. When she shouted at you, it was in your best interests to keep your mouth zipped and nod like a good pony.
Seeing as we learned our lesson, she sassily harrumphed and instructed us to follow her. So we did just that. Trotting behind that pink earth pony of braided white mane.
A little further down the thin back alley, we ended up in a small alcove with benches and trash cans. A sanctuary where we could be safe for the time being. This is where the rest of Sweet Pint's group was waiting. A lab coat and two construction helmets: Doctor Stethorsecope, Leafy Humus, and Seesaw Log. With Mr. Prospector and myself, the whole gang was here! It was a relief to know that all six of us were safe and sound despite the ongoing disaster. What I wouldn't give to end the night with a death toll of zero...
"Calx!" hailed Log.
"Mr. Gold!" followed up Humus.
"You two made it, heheheeee! Oh how glorious it is to see you're okay!" continued the jumpy doctor for them. "We heard the bell loud and clear, so the four of us quickly met up in this lil' spot. And then... and then, ah..."
He trailed off, gazing at me. He cocked his head sideways and his left eyeball twitched. Uh oh. I've seen that crazed look before. I didn't even have time to brace for cover when, in one unexpected leap, he invaded my personal space and forcefully tilted my head backward. He attacked my vision with a small crystallight held in his teeth, making me see spots.
"H-hey!" I complained.
"Fresh horizontal laceration on the encephalon about oh, one decimeter in length. No basal layer or scabs formed yet. Blood coagulated on the cranium with a mix of sweat. The wound has neither been properly cleaned nor disinfected with iodine, making it prone to bacterial infection, and-"
"Stop it! Back off!" I pushed him away a bit.
"But ah- what? Come on now, you can't just go ahead and amuse yourself with blunt traumas and expect me to not bandage them, heheheheee!" pouted the doctor with another one of his typical uncanny laughs.
"Calx, you're hurt!?" worried Seesaw Log.
"You're hurt, Calx!?" echoed his broken record of a colleague.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" I insisted with a tinge of hurry. "We can get that checked later, alright? But for now, we have bigger issues, guys! Two Ursa Minors are currently wreaking havoc and-"
"Whoa what!?" shouted Seesaw Log. "Ursas? Like uh, those giant blue bears thingamajig? That's what's happening? Why!?"
Yes, why indeed?
"I dunno Log... they seemed pretty pissed off at site 2B when I first spotted them," I replied.
"Ya don't say, eh?" lowly said Mr. Prospector, giving a stern and apprehensive look to his two employees.
"Okay but look- does any of this matter for now? W-we gotta... we need to do something about it!" I urged the whole gang.
Maybe I wasn't assertive enough, because everyone remained silent. Mr. Prospector awkwardly rubbed his hoof on the dirt. Both lumberponies exchanged a worried look, biting their lower lip. Doctor Stethorscope anxiously toyed with his glasses. Okay then! They might not have said a word, but the resultant message was loud and clear.
"Preeeetty sure we can't butt heads with Ursas, Gray dude," sarcastically said the barmare. "Must be pretty lonely in Delusion Land if you think we stand a chance."
"What?" I puffed out. "N-no! I'm not saying we should fight them! Do you think I'm nuts?"
"Coulda fooled me," she shrugged.
"No! What I'm suggesting is, we need to save as many lives as we can! Ponies out there, Mr. Prospector and I, we saw them: They're completely lost and terrorized! We need to bring them someplace safe; someplace where they won't be at risk of having their home crumble down on them or... or get clawed to death!"
I at least got her to consider my pleas. Good. Sweet Pint thought about it for a second or two. All eyes were on her; except those of Mr. Prospector. Somehow, he was still glaring at Leafy and Log. Suspicious.
Eventually, after a short moment of deliberation,
"Yeah... yeah, we could do that," said Sweet Pint, having found compassion and courage. "And I know just the place. The Two Arches, it has a cellar underneath. A very large one at that too. It's built directly in the bedrock of the mountain. Ain't no way these big pea brained bears can reach their grubby paws in there."
Good enough for me. If my party proved anything yesterday evening, it's that her workplace sure could harbor a lot of ponies.
And just like that, we were slowly devising an efficient plan to get us out of that catastrophe. See what happens when six heads work together? When six friends pool their might to work as a team? On our own, we had our quirks and were overall pretty inefficient. But as a group, we had the will, the means, and the wits to work this bad situation out. Friendship truly could trump anything.
After a very short debate (we were still under attack, after all), it was decided that Sweet Pint and Doctor Stethorscope were to usher as many ponies as possible to the designated safe room. The doctor would stay stationed down in the cellar, ready to treat as many patients as he could. Because - and let's be real, here - it was more than possible that some of our dear villagers sustained some injuries already. Having his healing skills down there was the best use of his talents.
Phase two of the plan involved the rest of us - aka Mr. Prospector, our duet of lumberponies, and yours truly - to lure an Ursa out of town. Why's that, you might ask? Well, as Sweet Pint delicately put, we had no means to combat these overgrown monsters. But it wasn't about winning the battle. It was about moving the battle someplace else. Someplace that wasn't prone to be reduced to rubble. With the four of us, surely, we could pull it off. If, for instance, one of us suddenly became incapacitated from a cramp or whatever, well, there were still three other able ponies to help the victim out.
We picked the smaller Ursa as our target. That seemed self-evident. Not only would their smaller size increase our chances at survival should we fail, but it was also entirely possible that endangering the parent's "baby" would attract them out of town as well. Double whammy, so the saying goes.
"Plus," I added, "I think the bigger Ursa is already busy dealing with the two royal guards. Look!"
Like clockwork, right above our little unsuspecting eyes, in the middle of the night sky, a pegasus was passing overhead. She even fired a powerful burst of concentrated magic from her horn in a display of pure force.
"See? We're in good hooves. They've got this covered," I concluded. ...
Aheh.
H-hang on for a minute.
I feel like I've missed something here. Something wasn't adding up. Since, uh... since when did pegasi learn to fire spells like unicorns? They couldn't do that, couldn't they? Unless I've lived under a rock for most of my life? Because... Because there were only a couple of ponies who could pull that off. And one of them was-
"PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" exclaimed Seesaw Log, pointing up.
My stomach churned all that it held and purged it directly to my bowels. I came this close to puking my own heart.
"W-w-what... what d-did you just say...?" I pathetically whimpered.
"It's the princess! Hohoho heeee! She's here to save us all! It's a miracle, everypony!" answered the yellow quack.
And then, they all collectively cheered. Jumping and hugging, as if the struggle was already over. W-what the buck is going on!?
I dared another peek at the sky. No matter how much I tried to deny it, the winged figure gliding above us was unquestionably alicorn-shaped. And despite the darkness of the night, I still detected specs of purple. Good lord, it was purple! SHE was purple! ... No.
Hahaha, no.
No no no NO!!! Are you kidding me!? This wasn't happening. Tell me this wasn't happening? This couldn't POSSIBLY be happening, couldn't it? Two Ursas tearing our town apart, somehow, I could wrap my head around that. But THIS? HER? We had to have been collectively sniffing glue and hallucinating or something. That was the only plausible explanation. Because the alternative was impossible. Straight up impossible.
"What the HAY is SHE doing HERE!?" I bellowed.
Mr. Prospector slapped a stern hoof behind my back. "Being a hero, that's what, eh Calx? We'll pull through thanks to her!"
And there they went again. Another round of ovations for... for...
I started dry heaving. My face became cold, yet I was boiling on the inside. It was as if I caught a cold in an instant. I felt so powerless, so lightheaded. And dizzy too! So, so dizzy. Everything around me wobbled uncontrollably, amplifying my queasiness. W-why were the walls closing in on me?
Couldn't keep my breathing in check anymore. I felt like I was struggling for air, yet at the same time, I was drowning my lungs with exaggerated gasps. Is this what a mental breakdown felt like? Because if so, I didn't like it one bit! I...
I had to get the HECK out of here! I couldn't stay here! I wasn't here; I was NEVER here! The only thing worse than the complete obliteration of Outer Grove was me being spotted by that stupid, nosy, meddling, tactless-
"Are... are you alright, Calx?" Log tilted his head at me.
My friends. They all stared at me with concern. Again. Again! Dejà freaking vu! Memories from my gaffe at the bar yesterday flooding right back in! History was repeating itself!
"GAH!" I screamed.
Right before bolting in the opposite direction. Away from my pals, without so much as owing them an explanation. I didn't know where my legs were instinctively taking me, but anywhere else but here would do the trick.
"Hey!" a now distant Sweet Pint complained. "Where are you going, you nutcase? What about our plan!?"
Forget the plan! The plan was dead to me! I had to bail. I had to make it to the outskirts. I had to run in a straight line and never look back. I had to un-exist, to be low profile, to be a safe distance away from that purple mongrel!
She was ruining everything, as she always did! Sucking all the glory for herself: How typical! Being idolized by my friends, hypnotizing them with her charm and her alicorn superpowers! Stealing them away from me... More, more, MORE! She always wanted more! Nothing left for me! She had to come all the way here to vacuum the crumbs of joy I had left for myself!
I cannot believe this. And to think that I hadn't seen her in so long.
How I wished it had stayed that way!
Left, right, left, right...
Didn't matter where I was going. So long as it wasn't straight into an Ursa, or worse, into the princess of friendship herself, then I was golden. But boy, was I in a total state of panic. A perfect fit with the surrounding rabble galloping all over the place.
Nothing could calm me down. It's as if I had Equestria's next big bad villain right on my heels. I panted, my friends. I panted hard and ungracefully. My cardio still hadn't improved in the last half hour. The only silver lining was that my crew didn't give me chase.
I had no idea what was going to happen to Outer Grove. A victory for the Ursas, or for the defenders? Didn't matter. Wasn't my battle anymore. MY battle was to bring my messed-up and shaken self out of the equation and lay low. With a little bit of luck, maybe the princess was going to fail and get smashed to bits. That was the best outcome that could possibly come out of this whole mess.
I turned a corner. Since I wasn't really looking where I was going, it was only natural that I ended up bumping into something. Thankfully, it was soft and cushiony.
"Unf!" I grunted.
When I shook my head to clear up my mind, it occurred to me that I was laying on top of another mare. A rather portly mare.
"S-Skybrush?"
She didn't answer when I helped her back on her hooves. When I saw her face, my heart broke in two.
Huge streams of tears leaking out of her pale green eyes. She was crying like I've never seen anypony else cry before. Seeing her this broken was wrong. So very wrong!
"G-goofball?" she sobbed.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Skybrush, are you hurt!?" I insisted perhaps a little too hard.
You have to understand. She couldn't be hurt. Ever. Okay? That clear? She was the last pony in the entirety of Equus who deserved anything bad to happen to her. I swear I was going to declare a personal vendetta against the universe itself if ANYTHING harmed my friend. She was such an incredible pony - much better than the rest of us combined - and she was to be protected no matter the cost.
"I'm... I'm fine, b-but... y-you?" she fearfully looked at the red line right above my eyes.
"Don't worry, it's just a superficial wound." I shook my head. "Why are you crying? Did something happen to you? Where's Honey Dream?"
She lowered her head and let out a few plaintive moans. But no clear answer came.
"Skybrush..." I tried again, even more serious. "Where's Honey Dream?"
"I don't knoooowww!" she bawled.
She melted into my hooves, resting her head on my back just a little bit above my saddlebags. I could feel my fur getting wet with her tears. She hiccupped, wailed, and completely broke down. That poor mother...
For a moment, the world stopped. I swallowed those words with great pain. That completely brought me out of my psychotic Twilight episode. I'm not sure if this was a good thing.
"You... you don't know?" I repeated, still in shock. "She's not with you?"
"Noooo! She... She... Oh Caaalxx!" she cried again.
"Concentrate, Skybrush! Do you know where she might've gone?"
She sniffled a bit. "S-s-she was g-going... going to meet w-with some of her friends b-by the fountain... I... And then, the Ursas..."
The fountain... not good. Not good at all. It wasn't too far off the clocktower, where the Ursas were currently wandering. She was right in the middle of the battlefield and, consequently, was in grave danger.
As I embraced my friend to give her hope and courage, I couldn't help but look ahead with glassy eyes. As if something took a bite out of my very soul.
A few dozen meters away, I could see the bordering forest where I could lose myself and never be found by that dumb alicorn. My way out of Outer Grove, right there. An escape route ripe to be used, teasing me in an almost in a seducing way. All I needed to do was to let go of my friend and bolt forward. I mean, it was right there.
However, that would mean leaving Skybrush's daughter to an unknown - and potential fatal - fate. Could this be a burden I'd be willing to carry for the rest of my pitiful life?
Heh. You know what's hilarious?
The fact that I even pretended that this was a dilemma. A choice involves a set of answers. Here, there was only one correct answer, and it was a no-brainer. Anything else was absurd.
I had to find Honey Dream. I just had to. No matter what.
"Skybrush..." I lifted her sadden face with my hoof. "I promise I will bring your daughter back to you safely. You hear me? She's going to be alright."
"Oh, Calx..."
"But you can't stay here either. With two rampaging Ursas, it's too dangerous! Me and the gang, we decided to shepherd the residents in the cellar of the Two Arches. You need to go there so you can be safe. Do you understand?"
She silently nodded.
"Good, good. But please, listen to me, this is important: Be EXTREMELY careful. I would never, EVER forgive you if you put yourself in danger."
Again, she simply gestured positively.
Alright. That put my mind at ease. Off to find the little filly and bring her back in one piece to her mom!
I was ready to turn and run straight back into the fray, but Skybrush put a gentle hoof to my back.
"Goofball?"
I gave her a look of assurance. She wiped a tear.
"... T-thank you." |
Oxidized | Twilight: A Town Savior | An aspect often overlooked in the mining industry is proper tool maintenance. This is true not only for the bigger pieces of machinery, such as large-scale excavators and thaumaturgical blasters, but also for a worker's personal equipment. Continuous usage of such equipment will inevitably erode their efficiency, or, in other terms, force a team to work much harder to obtain the same payload. This is even more relevant than in other fields, since mining activities are highly straining on the tools, and their usage typically extends over a long period of time. Two factors that make equipment decay a predominant issue.
Tool maintenance isn't just a means to prevent sizable losses of productivity, but it also is the best way to avoid work-related accidents. An improper pickaxe, for instance, can yield disastrous results. A single chip in a cutter mattock can divert the angle of penetration when chopping roots, which could potentially end up injuring its user. This is why a regular whetstone sharpening session is recommended every month, not only to ensure the proper functioning of the tool, but to help the worker stay out of harm's way (more on that in subchapter 4.3).
Maintained tools also have a longer lifespan, cutting down replacement costs. A study made by renowned economist and professor Capital Bond showed that a non-negligible part of the budget from the biggest companies under the Equestrian Geological Association (henceforth referred to as the EGA) is directly allocated towards resupplying spare parts for their branches, as demonstrated by the projection of graph 3.2 below. Various financial quarterly reports even proved that an egregious sum-
"I'm telling you, Sunny, I totally saw a ginormous dragon head pop out over the buildings!"
It was too good to be true. The peace and quiet. Sunstone almost made the mistake of thinking it could last, but alas. He grunted in annoyance.
"You're doing it again, Shiny."
"Huh?"
"You're doing it again. I'm trying to study and you're distracting me."
Both siblings were in the living room of their upper middle-class home. The older brother was slouched on the opulent sofa, back to the cushions and hooves holding above his head a large brown manual about tool upkeep. Shining, meanwhile, was sitting on his haunches on the carpet, lining up many little wax toys depicting pony infantries. He was putting them in various formations and debated internally which ones he thought had the best chance at pushing back against an unknown threat.
Finding Sunstone out of his bedroom was not a common occurrence. But today, he had been coerced into making a rare apparition. Both of his parents were out, accompanying little Twilight Sparkle to her school for an evaluation of some kind - Sunstone didn't really know what it entailed; he hardly paid attention. Since no adult was present in the house, 17-year-old Sunstone was tasked to keep an eye on 12-year-old Shining. That got a couple of grumbles out of the ambitious scholar, but so long as it didn't impede on his studies, he would tolerate it.
It was nearly noon and the hot early summer sun was incubating the whole dwelling in a cozy greenhouse warmth. Though they might've been in the same room, the two brothers didn't exactly share the same mood. Quite the contrary, in fact. While Sunstone was detached, concentrated, and perhaps even a little bit blase, Shining Armor, on the other hoof, was primed, restless, and ready to go kick some flanks.
"Pfff! Who cares about studying rusty-old books when Canterlot might be under attack?" Shining countered. "Look, for the tenth time, I swear I'm not lying! There WAS a dragon, okay? A big, purple dragon! I saw him from the window and he... he was in the direction of Twily's school!"
"No he wasn't, because you're making stuff up. With that crazy imagination of yours."
Sunstone placed his book on his tummy and gave a disinterested stare at his brother.
"I mean, seriously now? First, a big wave of rainbow washing over the sky, and now, la creme de la creme, a dragon who abracadabra'd out of nowhere, roaming in Canterlot? I spend five minutes on the porcelain throne and that's the stuff you come up with? Puh-lease. I know you're trying to bait me, Shiny. I'm not a gullible moron."
"H-hey! The rainbow, the dragon... it's all true! You HAVE to believe me! Why would I be lying? We... we have to do something about this, okay? We need to go save the ponies out there! I mean... Twily might be in danger! How can you just sit there and think about doing nothing?"
"Because even if you were telling the truth, which you are clearly not, there are already more than a few qualified ponies out there who can take care of the situation. We don't have to get involved; we'd just interfere with their protocols. And- wait! Shhhh! Do you hear that?"
Sunstone's ears perked up, and rotated like small antenna dishes. His brother held his breath, becoming attentive as well. He rapidly turned his head in all directions, concentrating on tracking the source of what Sunstone had just heard.
"N-no? I don't hear anything?" said an alarmed Shining.
Sunstone slumped back into the lounge. "Neither do I. And that, my friend, is the sound of the cavalry not being alerted. Guess there really isn't a problem, uh?"
Shining Armor untensed, a bit slighted at being mocked like this. His brother's uncaring behavior and doubtful attitude was really starting to test the limits of his patience. He felt so restrained, so strangled. He wanted nothing more than to be taken seriously.
"Ughhh!" he complained. "That's because the royal guards are too busy doing nothing in the castle. If I was in charge, things would run much smoother!"
Sunstone couldn't help but let out a condescending chuckle at his wishful thinking. Sure Shining. Sure. Keep dreaming, young colt, he thought.
"And look- we don't need the guards! I don't need the guards! I'm practically a soldier myself. Look, my cutie mark proves it," he boasted, turning to his side, showing his shielded purple star to his brother. "I can take care of the big meanie on my own!"
"Exemplary display of humility right there, dearest Shining," sarcastically chortled Sunstone. "I don't want to pop your bubble, but I think you maaaaay be a little bit of a narcissist."
"And you, a... a total bore!" retorted Shining while stomping a hoof. "Every time there's a cool adventure waiting for us, you always stay put and twiddle your hooves!"
Oh, fighting back, are we? Feisty!
Sunstone lifted his head, a grin now covering his face. It's almost as if he was waiting for Shining to poke the hornet's nest. Getting an excuse to put oil on the fire. Enjoying a good brotherly argument, in sum.
"Yes, Shiny, I stay put. As opposed to what? Running frantically in the streets of Canterlot like a headless chicken? I might not have your marefriend Cadance's special foal-sitting talents, but I know a thing or two about staying out of trouble. And when you get in trouble, mister, who do you think gets punished? The reckless unicorn, or the responsible earth pony?"
He didn't leave Shining a gap to answer his rhetorical question.
"That's right, pal, it's me! I get punished, Shining. Me. And tell you what, I grow bored of being 'the bad guy.' So please sit down, be a good pony, and kindly stay out of trouble while your big brother studies."
Shining harrumphed, not quite happy with having his dynamism caged in like this. He knew what he saw. If Twilight's safety was ever compromised because of his brother's infinite lethargy, well... Being mad would undercut it.
These bickering sessions weren't anything new. As the years went by, the two brothers' disagreements seemed to have multiplied tenfold. They didn't see the world the same way, and that often resulted in them confronting one another. At least, under the scrutinizing eyes of their parents, these quarrels were done in a respectful environment. Mostly.
Sunstone didn't like Shining's grand ideas and his rose-tinted glasses. He would take any opportunity to wane down his enthusiasm with a good dose of pessimism, which he claimed was "how the real world functioned." That forever remained a no-sell with Shining, whose grievances with Sunstone stemmed from his aggravating mood and being constantly put down by him. He tried many times to get his unenthusiastic brother involved in activities of all sorts, to get him to poke his snout outside for a change, but Sunstone was an immovable object. A black hole sucking any good vibes Shining had the misfortune to display in his presence.
All in all? Sunstone was comfortable on the beaten path, while Shining Armor wanted nothing more than to break the mold. They were just incompatible.
Even though they lived under one roof, it became obvious that the list of things they had in common diminished every day. They drifted apart so much that they eventually reduced their kinship from "siblings" to "acquaintances." And with these past few months, it was on the verge of being demoted to "strangers."
So once again, Shining had to stay away from all the action, as ordered by the oldest sibling.
Well. Be that as it may, this wouldn't do for him. He was old enough. He could take care of himself. He wasn't a foal anymore. And to Tartarus with Sunstone clipping his proverbial wings! He was going to go out there and make that dragon rue the day it dared to show its face in Equestria's capital!
He got up on his hooves, and darted toward the entry door, not without blowing a raspberry to his brother.
Sunstone flung his book on the floor. "Hey! Come back, you little rascal!"
"Make me!"
"Make you!? You gotta be... ugh! How many times have I told you to stop trying to be a hero? We're not heroes and never will be, so stop pretending to be someone else already!"
Shining shook his head. "Speak for yourself. I'll show you that I have it in me!"
"Oh sure you big wannabe! You and your awesome superpower of getting me scolded by mom and dad!"
"Hrmmph!"
Further ignoring Sunstone's countless warnings, Shining pushed on the handle and swung the door open. At the apex of his cockiness, he turned to face the outside world, knowing with absolute certainty that he could succeed at anything if he really put his heart into it.
He would've beelined straight for Twilight's school, if it weren't for the fact that she was standing right in front of him on the other side of the doorway, a hoof hanging in midair. Almost as if she was just about to turn the handle herself. She looked a bit staggered, not unlike Twilight Velvet and Night Light on either side of her. The four unicorns were face-to-face, a little confused by the sudden encounter.
"O-oh, u-uh... H-hi mom! Hi dad! Hi Twily!" sheepishly said Shining, a few shades redder.
Sunstone heard that. "Wow, you did it! Good job saving them all, bro. And so quickly, too!" he ridiculed him from afar.
The parents questioned what Sunstone had meant by that, but the embarrassed unicorn colt quickly brushed it off. In any case, the group made their way into the foyer, preferring to discuss inside rather than catching sunburns on the porch.
And boy, did they have some things to discuss.
For starters, Twilight Sparkle was bouncing everywhere, practically climbing to the ceiling. She was thrilled beyond what was once thought possible. Foals were excitable little things, of course, but her? Created an entire new meaning to the definition of "happiness." It's as if she downed three jars of sugar in a row.
In fact, she was in such high spirits that Sunstone - yes, Sunstone, of all ponies - actually got up from his seat and joined the rest of his family in the entry hall. With all of them in the house now, it's not like he could sink more hours into his books anymore. Before sneaking into his room and becoming a shadow as per tradition, he had to admit, he was kind of curious to find out why his little sister was squeaking as though she stumbled upon the world's biggest diamond. Investigating seemed worth his time; a rare development indeed.
When he saw his parents and his sister completely over the moon, Sunstone just had to raise an eyebrow. What uh, what was going on, exactly? Why did an indoor parade suddenly invade his residence?
"Shiny, Sunny, I'm glad to see you both here!" said their peppy mother. "A lot has happened and- well, Twilight, why don't you tell them yourself?"
"I GOT MY CUTIE MARK! I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!" she bellowed, hopping like a slinky on steroids.
She joined her brothers and exposed her new cutie mark with great satisfaction. Sunstone and Shining both carefully examined it. Yup. It was real, alright. Right there on her flank. An honest-to-Faust cutie mark. You couldn't fake stuff like this.
"Oh wow!" exclaimed an impressed Shining. "Congrats, sis! I KNEW it was your turn soon enough! Welcome to the club, hahaha!"
He embraced her in a tight hug, twirling around whilst compromising the structural integrity of her ribcage. He also gave her a noogie, just because he could.
"S-Shiny... s-stop!" said Twilight with a grin, a bit embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Sunstone awkwardly cleared his throat. "Uh... yeah. What he said. That's uh, that's a pretty... interesting design you've got there."
He looked backward to evaluate his own mark. Then back to hers. Then his again. Hers, his, hers.
Huh.
Well, Shining sharing part of his cutie mark wasn't a crazy coincidence after all. Because all three of them had that purple star in common. How peculiar. What did that even mean? A novel attempt at sapping away the remnants of his uniqueness, perhaps? They clearly have shown no qualms about stealing some of his thunder, so why wouldn't their cutie mark give him the same treatment? An unintentional (but convenient) ploy orchestrated by mischievous deities, maybe?
Or perhaps it was even worse. That blasted star could very well be stamped on him to be a constant reminder that he was forever linked with Shining and Twilight. Doomed to recognize his subpar advancements every time he stared at his doppelganger in the mirror. That no matter what, these two hooligans still existed, and they still remained better than he was. What a cruel twist.
Sunstone shook his head, just in time to realize that Twilight wanted to give him a hug as well.
Yeah, how about no. He backed off a bit. He had been crystal clear on his "no hugging" policy throughout their shared years. Still, to not make a scene (his parents were right there), he offered a couple of gentle pats on top of her mane with a generic "there there." It did its job at quenching her thirst for appreciation.
Night Light nudged his daughter a bit. "Hehe, don't you want to tell your brothers how you got your cutie mark, eh sport?"
She nodded and nodded and then nodded some more. "Yes! I got it after I passed my test! I did a bunch of craaaaazy magic, it was insane! And I- and then... Then I got my cutie mark!" she squealed in pure jubilation.
"She had a magical spur of monumental proportions in the middle of her assignment!" clarified Twilight Velvet. "We don't know how this happened, but it was um... It was an experience," she added, her and her husband looking nervously at each other.
"I'd rather not talk about it," dismissed Night Light, rubbing a hoof behind his head.
Sunstone was a bit intrigued by the cryptic explanations. What could've happened in that classroom?
In any case, that left him a bit dejected. Of course she would finish her school year on a high note, sure, why not. She was Twilight freaking Sparkle. She never encountered any resistance in her pedagogical journey, why start at the very end? It was in the bag for her, it has always been in the bag!
And that got him to think. If she could skim through her final exam with such ease, then what about him?
That one last written test for his Field Work class was still dangling by his snout. Twilight's personal success just made him hope to pass it even more. Not only for his sake, but to show her that he too could prosper when it actually counted. Maybe then she'd see him as something more than a genetic malformation who's struggling to be worth something.
Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor. These two were top of their class, and aced pretty much any challenge they encountered. That didn't leave them much else to be envious of. And that included him, the subpar brother. They tolerated his insipid presence, sure. But he wanted a little more than that. A lot more than that.
He wanted respect. He wanted to leave them awestruck. He wanted to be coveted, to be desired, to be doted over, to be the pony any brother and sister would've wished to have. He wanted to lift his chin all proud, and have them tell him: "Sunstone, pray tell, what's your big secret?" He didn't just want to exist: He wanted to thrive. To be an asset, and, above all, an important heirloom in the family. Between being a protagonist for something epic and being left in the dust by his siblings, Sunstone chose the former.
That all rested on the shoulders of the upcoming test. If he could finally jump over that last hurdle, just as Twilight did, well, maybe he'd be ahead for once? To be special and unique in a positive way: Wouldn't that be nice for a change? Climbing the ladders in a world that seemed to constantly have a dent against him, now that, that was some daydreaming he could get behind.
A weird juvenile growling noise broke him out of his illusions of grandeur.
"Buh? What was that?" he queried.
"You heard it too, right?" Shining wondered as well.
To answer their inquiries, out of complete nowhere, a small creature jumped off Twilight Velvet's back. Taking a good look at the unexpected newcomer, they quickly found that the purple critter was none other than a baby dragon. Close to having just crawled out of his egg, if his small size was any indication. He just sat there, on the floor. He looked up at them with a big innocent grin, blinking small green eyes of silted pupils.
Sunstone couldn't help but chuckle and elbow his younger brother. "Hey. That the big menace taking over Canterlot, by any chance?"
Shining looked completely lost. "I... I mean... I don't... I don't understand, he was..."
Yup, stunned into silence. The poor colt.
"Oh um. Yeah. The baby dragon," said Night Light, not too sure himself what to make of this. "That was a reward generously donated to your sister for hatching him during her exam."
"He's going to be living with us from there onward," continued the mother. "We just need to find him a proper name!"
Well, that was out of the left field, but so long as the little guy didn't eat his homework, Sunstone didn't particularly care.
Anyhow, he got his answers about the Twilight case, and that was enough excitement for one day. A baby dragon was where he drew the line when it came to absurd social interactions. Something he'd sink more hours into down the line. Maybe. Probably not.
He was about to turn around and finally reclaim his bedroom, his fortress of solitude, however...
"That's not the only gift princess Celestia gave to your sister," resumed Night Light.
Uh, wait a minute. Princess Celestia was part of her peanut gallery?
... No, seriously, what happened in that classroom!?
"Sunstone, Shining Armor," began their mother with a serious yet positive tone, "you'll never believe this! Starting next week, Twilight, your little sister, is going to be studying directly under princess Celestia! She decided to take her under her wing. Oh, isn't that just wonderful~?" she sang-sung.
Bam. Straight onto the table. No sugar coating it.
Night Light nodded. "That's right! Twilight impressed her so much with that incredible display of magic she performed during the exam that she decided on the spot to take her as her personal protege!" ... ...
"... E-excuse me?"
"For real!? My own sister, working with the princess!? No kidding! That's super duper mega ultra awesome! Aw, c'm'here, you!"
Two brothers. Two completely different reactions. One of them ran to give yet another boisterous hug to princess Celestia's new pupil, while the other remained stone cold frozen. It wasn't hard to guess who was who.
Twilight was on the floor, Shining embracing her as hard as he could. The small dragon even joined in the pile - because hey, why not - and they all laughed together. Twilight Velvet, meanwhile, fought really hard to hold tears of joy. She even levitated a handkerchief to her misty eyes. Her husband was rubbing a reassuring hoof on her back with a smile of pride only a father could give.
But Sunstone? Sunstone was drawing a blank. A million thoughts thundered in his mind, and he had a hard time compiling any of them. Disbelief, defeat, disarray: So many emotions fighting for a spot in the hodgepodge that brewed under his skull. One thing did stick out, though.
It was over.
He lost. He played a good game, he gave it his best shot, but in the end, it had been so pointless. Not only were the cards stacked against him from the start, but now, Twilight skyrocketed so far ahead, so impossibly far, that trying to catch up became a fool's errand. And this changed everything.
Controlled by a brain running strictly on autopilot, Sunstone walked forward with soulless eyes. His legs were moving on their own in an unnatural and robotic way. And this time, it wasn't in the direction of his room.
Fresh air. He needed fresh air.
When he brushed past Twilight on his way to the front door, he took a good gander at her. He felt so disconnected, so depersonalized. None of this felt real. His identity and self-worth had no idea how to handle this new crowning achievement in his sister's life. Yet still, with a complete lack of emotion, he drew all that he had to drone out a few comments.
"Well sister, it looks like you're well on your way to become someone very important."
He took a few more steps, but Twilight got up from the floor, now noticeably worried. She approached him with pleading eyes, desperately seeking his approval.
"W-wait! Aren't you... aren't you proud of me, Sunny?"
He looked at her with all the neutrality in the world. "Proud? Sis, I'm ecstatic. Overjoyed, even."
With this meaningless response, he kept going. When the trim of the door passed over his head, Twilight Velvet got a bit concerned by his unnatural and lackadaisical reaction. It was a bit out of the ordinary, even for her son's standards.
"Sunny? Is everything okay? Where are you going?"
"Work."
"Really now?" said his suspicious dad. "But you told us this morning that you had the day off today. That's why we entrusted you with Shining's supervision, remember?"
"Well, I forgot. Guess I really do have the brain of an earth pony."
If they protested at his passive aggressiveness, Sunstone either didn't hear it, or ignored it. He turned right and walked downhill, which wasn't at all in the direction of Joe's shop, until he disappeared behind a corner.
Twilight Sparkle knew something was amiss and lowered her neck. Her emotional state did a complete one-eighty. Heavy. It felt heavy. Wasn't the first time it felt heavy around a certain pony. But the circumstances of today made it that much more obvious.
And that got her to think. Something that's been boggling her mind for a while now. She just had to know for sure.
"M-mom? Dad?"
"Yes dear?"
She felt gutted on the inside. "Does... does Sunstone hate me?"
That was the last thing any parent wanted to hear. Their hearts skipped a beat, and they couldn't help but gasp out loud at the ludicrous accusation.
"Of course not! Honey, don't you ever think such things!" Immediately replied an appalled Twilight Velvet. "Sunstone is just... he just has a difficult way of expressing his love, is all."
She nuzzled her. The rest of the family followed suit. The dragon, once again, saw what all the grownups were doing and partook in the collective hug. Twilight nervously laughed, partially reassured. S-silly her! For sure Sunstone loved her, right? How could he not? He was her brother. Brothers and sisters love each other; that's just how it works.
That's just how it works...
A good distance away from the household, Sunstone kept advancing on Canterlot's polished pavement, unsure where he was going at all. He felt like a ghost in a city full of busy ponies. An interloper without a goal. Everyone around him had a purpose, but him? A mere watcher who had been led astray throughout nearly two decades of fighting in quicksand. All he had was his insecurities; that was the only thing that kept him grounded in a reality that felt so fake, so impure.
Twilight Sparkle, princess Celestia's personal student. Now with a thousand times the prestige. As if she wasn't enough of a prodigy already. As if he didn't feel minuscule enough already.
Taunted by his own sister...
How could he ever compete now? Even if he passed his test with the highest grade, that still would be meaningless compared to having an apprenticeship with the most powerful pony in existence. What's an A+ on knowing where to dig dirt when you can just start every sentence with: "Yesterday, princess Celestia and I did this and that." When uncles, aunts and family friends would come and visit, they'd be all over Twilight, impressed and eager to know what she and her mentor had been up to. Maybe a sympathetic relative would carry the burden of turning to him every now and then and begrudgingly ask: "Oh, and uh, what about you... Sunstone was it?"
It didn't matter. None of this mattered. Twilight pretty much cemented his descent into obscurity. Because no matter what he would try from there onward, it would always come bundled with a word. One particular, simple, yet very real word.
Underwhelming.
It was worse than she feared.
Two of them. Two Ursa Minors! Double trouble.
Twilight Sparkle has had some experience wrestling with an out-of-control Ursa in Ponyville a few years back, but to have a second one in its vicinity was seriously going to complicate things. Among other things, she wouldn't be able to stay put and make one of them fall asleep as she had done before, lest she gets interrupted by the second giant troublemaker. The many potent spells she employed to pull that off had some serious casting lag, and she'd be vulnerable for far too long. Horseccam's razor was a bust: The simplest solution was definitely off the board. This time, just as with her first encounter, she'd have to improvise, and quickly.
Thankfully, the ringing of the bell directed her exactly where she needed to be. No time was wasted on finding where the monsters were attacking, all thanks to the valiant efforts of the sentinel who alerted the populace. She made a mental note to give them her regards after this cataclysm was over.
Being a couple of meters up in the fresh air of the night, one thing she didn't miss during her approach were the two gold spots orbiting the larger Ursa like pestering fleas. On closer inspection, she realized that these were in fact two heavily armored ponies, which she immediately identified as the royal guards she read about. Once again, books prevailed and saved her precious seconds!
But, oh! They appeared to be in trouble. This wasn't entirely unexpected. Two Ursas was no small feat.
A pegasus tried to slice the overgrown bear with her weapon, but no dice. Wouldn't have worked anyway; Twilight knew this. These creatures had a near impenetrable hide, reducing their spears to little more than toothpicks.
Regardless, the monster took offense and roared in retaliation. They stood on their hind legs and tried to viciously swat away the little buzzer, but thankfully, she saved her own skin and dodged in a swift motion. The cart-sized paw missed, but not by much. A claw was only a few centimeters off from scratching the hair out her snout.
Her fearless partner saw that after the bear's offensive comeback, they left themselves open. Feeling opportunistic, she flew directly towards what she perceived as a weak point: Their head.
Unfortunately, Ursas aren't as simpleminded as they look. From the corner of their yellow eyes, they saw the brave pony speeding toward them - and most importantly, the pointy tip of her halberd.
Which is why they tried to intercept her by opening a drooling maw full of razor-sharp fangs. Twilight Sparkle saw where this was going and knew that if she didn't intervene right there and then, a pony would meet its end.
Not a moment too soon, she concentrated and allocated a good part of her energy reserves into the tip of her horn. Teeth exposed, eyes closed, brow furrowed, a bead of sweat rolling down her neck: She gave it her all. Her fur raised up, overcharged as if she was saturated with static electricity. When she judged her spell was sufficiently built-up, she released a majestic swirl of magical plasma: A funnel of magenta and indigo that would leave anypony wishing for their mommy should they be hit by it.
And yet, when it struck the chin of the Ursa, it barely bruised them and only left the tiniest, mildest scratch. Fortunately, the sheer recoil of the beam still succeeded at making them fall backward, their galactic body impacting the cliff of the nearest mountain in a shower of debris. That triggered a small rocky avalanche, but nothing that would seriously threaten the principality.
Since the beast became momentarily immobilized and that the other one was busy dealing with something Twilight couldn't really make up from this far away, she called out for the two flying mares to regroup with her. If there was ever a time to come up with a plan, now was a pretty good contender.
"P-princess Twilight Sparkle!?" said the first royal guard that arrived, completely bewildered by her presence.
As expected, she offered a bow, and so too did her less punctual co-worker when she finally joined them. This gesture was a little awkward to execute, considering they were hovering in the air.
"W-we don't have time for formalities!" halted the princess, who didn't even like bowing rites to begin with. "Quick, what are your names?"
"Private Sterling Plume," said the soldier who couldn't help but offer a traditional salute. "And this is Hasty Flail, a recruit in training. She ah, she doesn't speak much- but never mind all that! Princess, what in Celestia's beard are you doing here!?"
"Important friendship business. But I'm afraid I'll have to table that, since it appears we have more pressing issues..."
Right on cue, the Ursa she valiantly knocked out was attempting to get back on all fours, albeit hazily. That didn't go unnoticed by the two guards, who dreaded to think how their opponent would fare in the second round of the battle.
"Princess, what's going on exactly?" queried Sterling Plume. "Why are there TWO Ursas trying to reduce Outer Grove into a pile of rubble? We've been stationed here for four months now, and we've never had to deal with anything more than like, a squirrel with rabies! We've been tasked to protect the town, but nothing in our training prepared us for something of this magnitude!"
"Y-yeah! I mean... A mama Ursa a-and her baby...?" finally spoke the quiet pegasus.
"Not that I'm unhappy to see you here," Plume kept on going, "but did you know anything about this? Were you sent to provide aid? Your timing is ah, it's kind of tough to beat!"
Twilight became somewhat defensive. "H-hey! I'm here strictly on friendship grounds, like I said! I had no idea I was going to arrive in the middle of a catastrophe like this! It's just a crazy coincidence! A very, very crazy coincidence!"
She switched her look to the timid soldier.
"And sorry to correct you... private Hasty Flail, was it? But that Ursa right there is neither an adult nor a female. That's actually a common misconception a lot of folks make. Adults of this species are called Ursa Major, and have an entirely unique morphology. Not only are they colored differently, but trust me, they are also a whole lot bigger! No, what we have right here are, in fact, what I highly suspect to be two siblings: A big brother and a little sister. You can easily tell their gender all thanks to the disposition of the stars near their tail. You see, males have a brighter-"
"P-princess! Please! I don't think we can afford a lesson in biology at a time like this!"
"Oh! Um. Yes... yes, you are quite correct. S-sorry about that!"
Much to their dismay, the time allocated for their "strategic" meeting ran its course. Because not too far away, with a menacing battle cry, the astral bear had fully shaken off the counterattack and was back up on his feet, ready to crack some skulls.
"Gang? Hate to be that mare, but I don't think it- he enjoyed being shoved like a ragdoll. Looks like he wants to exchange a few physical notes with us!" private Plume warned.
She wasn't incorrect in her assessment: Their nemesis was gazing straight at them with knives in his antagonistic eyes. Without wasting any time, he tried to close the distance between him and them, now completely ignoring the town as though it didn't even exist anymore. Naturally, the three mares started flying away; being idle was an obvious death sentence.
As they withdrew in an arbitrarily chosen direction - which so happened to lead them above a parcel of the boundless forest wrapped around Outer Grove - Twilight came to a sudden realization.
"W-wait. This is good. This is good!" she declared with great exuberance.
"How can you possibly be saying that!?" a hectic Plume demanded.
"Because- look! Don't you see? He's aiming at us, and not at the buildings anymore. So long as he's not dishing out his anger on the innocent citizens of Outer Grove, then I say we're in the clear!"
"You won't see me disagree, but what about our safety!? Princess, he's right on our tails!"
"Then let's exploit his tunnel vision and use it to our advantage. I may have... an idea. Follow me you two, we have one very large Ursidae to bait out of town!"
They flew a good distance away from the village in a Vic formation, with Twilight Sparkle spearheading the movement. The male Ursa Minor hadn't given up his pursuit; if anything, he looked even more determined to teach those annoying fluttering critters a lesson. A very painful lesson. He was stampeding in the dense woodlands below, breaking trees like frail twigs as he parted a pathway through trunks and leaves.
"Where are we going exactly, princess? I obviously know less about their behavior than you do, but doesn't exactly look to me like he wants to throw the towel anytime soon," spoke out the more experienced pegasus, forcing her voice against the dashing wind.
"Just as planned! We don't want him to give up. Not yet! Just... just trust me!"
She lowered her altitude, getting closer to the floor of treetops. The two guards followed suit, knowing better than to express doubt against a pony who's defeated one of their aggressor's kind all on her own before.
Twilight tossed a couple of magical flares up in the sky, horn powers at play, highlighting their position. She wanted to make sure they were still acting as pony-shaped bullseyes for the gargantuan bear. They could hear more wood creaking, more heavy stomping, all of this, accompanied by the branches of the pines rustling with increasing intensity. This was all the proof they needed to confirm that they were indeed sitting ducks, ready to be served as a three-course meal to one voracious predator.
"P-princess?" said Hasty Flail, as unsure of herself as ever.
"Lower now," Twilight ordered.
Even though she had no experience acting as a commander in a military context (that was more Shining's cup of tea), she knew a thing or two about being the leading force behind a squadron of ponies. With her friends, the other Element bearers, she's been at the forefront of multiple judicious operations before, which is why she didn't have as much trouble finding her voice now as she did a couple of years back.
And this is with that kind of confident tone that she convinced the two royal guards to follow through with the leap of faith, even though from their perspective, the whole ordeal smelled like a suicide mission.
All three of them sunk into the deciduous verdure, now hovering only a few meters above the hazardous and humid terrain.
"I sure hope you know what you're doing," said Plume.
"T-t-this wasn't p-part of the contract!" added Flail.
"Any moment now..." finished Twilight.
The last few trees that acted as a feeble palisade between bear and ponies didn't hold for much longer. Just like a giant scythe, a blue claw annihilated the evergreens before anypony had the chance to yell: "Timbeeeer!" A colossal head with two enraged eyes soon replaced the deceased pines, vision locked on three measly prey that really overstayed their welcome on this plane of existence.
"NOW!" barked Twilight. "Everypony, back up quickly, now!"
And they did. The trio flew a few meters back, scraping through a couple of bushes ungraciously.
Right until they cleared the last line of trees, only to float past a sharp ninety degrees cliffside. Which, in turn, opened up to a ravine. A rather deep ravine. Despite the darkness, they could see the reflective surface of a canal in the middle of the depression surrounded by a riverbank of boulders and gravel. Private Plume and private Flail were understandably surprised by the unexpected change of scenery.
But not as much as the Ursa when both of his front legs suddenly looked for solid ground. Suffice to say, one could make the assumption that the monster was not as well-read about the geography of the surrounding areas as bookworm Twilight was.
His center of mass couldn't make up for his hundred of pounds that were tilting forward over the void, and that led to the nasty consequence of dragging the rest of his body along for the ride. It didn't take long for the Ursa to start rolling down the rocky edge and pass right under Twilight and the guards, roaring louder than thunder. And for a fraction of a second? All three caught a glimpse of his expression. It screamed: "I'll get you next time, you miserable little ponies!" This whole sequence wouldn't have been out of place in one of Spike's corny comic books.
Big brother Ursa eventually ended his crash course, ramming the floor quite a few levels lower than Twilight's group. Just enough time for the three of them to make sure that they were all still in one piece.
"Come volunteer to Outer Grove, they said. Easy vacations for you, they said!" grumbled Sterling Plume, wiping a good layer of sweat out of her brow.
"T-that was close!" Hasty Flail breathed out. "How did you-"
"Know about this canyon? Simple: I read all about it in my Outer Grove Geography atlas on the train on my way here! It's called the Burgundy Marquis Canyon by the way, named after the prince who gave his blessings to the principality 50 years ago. Oh, oh! Did you know that this gorge goes all the way down to half of a kilometer under the ground at its deepest? Isn't that fascinating?" Twilight grinned like a foal on Heart Warming's Day.
However, both soldiers just kept batting their wings in place, their mouths completely horizontal. Twilight's little tidbits of trivia weren't resonating all too well with them.
"Riiiiight. Um, not to worry though," Twilight squinted, looking down to evaluate the damage. "Ursas are bulky and some of the toughest creatures in Equestria. He'll be alright. Maybe have a few sore spots for the following weeks, but nothing that can't be healed over time, h-heh! Push comes to shove, he'll just hibernate early," she awkwardly half-smiled.
While the combat method of sending your enemy plummeting down a pit seemed a tad barbaric, Twilight took the necessary precautions to not punish an organism part of this ecosystem too harshly. That bear was acting on pure instincts alone; he could hardly be faulted for following his primal urges. It just wasn't worth making his little sister an only child, forever wondering what could've happened to her missing sibling...
And that train of thought raised another problematic.
The other Ursa! She was probably still causing trouble! They weren't out of hot water yet. Winning half the battle wasn't cause for celebration. Until the danger was eradicated in its entirety, rejoicing was going to take the backseat.
"Come on everypony," said Twilight full of motivation, "pest control is not over yet! We have another bear to take care of!"
"Right behind you, princess!" patriotically chanted Sterling Plume.
"Lead the way!" added Hasty Flail.
Spears raised and helmets put back on: Off they went. Returning to the flying formation they adopted earlier, this time, heading in the opposite direction. Not getting lost was child's play; all they had to do was to follow the path of destruction the Ursa left behind when he plowed through the land.
Without the threat of a chase, Twilight Sparkle took her time to better analyze her surroundings. She could've sworn she spotted some kind of unnatural structure in her peripheral vision earlier. She rapidly chalked it off as something irrelevant, perhaps even as an adrenaline-fueled mirage. However, this time around, she could confirm that her earlier appraisal held true. It was right there, at her one o'clock, not too far from the closest mountain. She could see it, and she could see it well.
"Excuse me, but why are there acres of barren land over that way?" asked the princess to her armed escort.
A huge bald rectangle in the middle of one luxurious forest. An anomaly that could never have been shaped up by Mother Nature herself. No, it was pony-made for sure. Only they could chop down trees in such an orderly fashion - and so many of them, too!
"Beats me," Sterling said. "We don't mangle with civilian affairs. Looks like some kind of clearing to me?"
"Yes... a very large one, too," she squinted.
Way too large, in fact. She'll have to take a good look at it again with the light of the day; another task to add to her hefty schedule. But Twilight already had a couple of theories cooking under her mane. In that analytical brain of hers, the puzzle pieces were slowly starting to fall into place.
Because, until proven otherwise, she was of the firm belief that this wasteland was none other than the origin point that initiated this whole bear vs. pony feud.
When they finally made it back in town, the streets were deserted and completely devoid of ponies; a sharp contrast with the mayhem that greeted her upon her arrival. Twilight hoped with all of her might that it was due to the ill-fated bystanders down there having found shelter to wait this crisis out.
However, not everyone was so lucky.
One hapless soul was unfortunate enough to still find himself present in the middle of the cobblestoned streets. Twilight could hardly see any of their features, no thanks to the distance and time of day. From that far away, all she could see was a blotch of gray. Looked like a "he," maybe? She was going to roll with that for now.
Well, one thing was for sure: The alleged stallion was fleeing, stuck in plain sight of sister Ursa. He was galloping at the top of his lungs, his neck craned backward, gazing at one heck of a behemoth giving him chase. All on his lonesome, he was acting as an unwitting decoy for the raging beast. Problem was, she had four times his leg span and was slowly catching up.
Very close to being in grabbing rage, the cunning guy sharply turned left and sank into a passageway between two tall houses. A decent tactical evasive maneuver. Twilight couldn't see if the escape route ended in a cul-de-sac or not. Sadly, the Ursa had more intel than she did. The monster peered at the gap where the pony disappeared. She howled a couple of times and rose up to her back legs, claws out, ready to pulverize anyone who found themselves trapped in that alleyway of doom.
Well, not if Twilight had anything to say about it! She was done playing the observer.
She dove closer to the ground and encapsulated in her telekinetic aura a wheelbarrow that had been left tilted over in the middle of the street. Keeping a sturdy grip on the heavy object wasn't an easy task, but her drive to save a life gave her all the strength she needed. Like a giant sling, she rotated the improvised weapon behind her and flung it directly toward the Ursa Minor. It struck true, crashing into her cheek in an explosion of wood chips. The diversion proved successful: The monster teetered a fair distance backward and ended up falling on her rump, seemingly confused as to what just happened.
The three town saviors took that as their cue to make their approach.
"Keep her distracted! I have to help that poor pony; he might be injured!"
Or at the very least, very shaken. Without arguing, Sterling Plume and Hasty Flail obeyed and headed toward the downed Ursa.
For the first time since she left the train, Twilight's hooves embraced the ground. She landed gently, but not without haste either. She retracted her wings and, not used to flying for this long, recalibrated her balance. From the main road, she made a quick visual survey of the alleyway where the runner had taken refuge. Oddly, she couldn't find anypony there. All she could see was an unhygienic mix of moldy boxes, damaged barrels, overflowing trash cans, and weeds growing through the cracks in the hardened mud. Yet, the grotty corridor didn't lead anywhere: It ended on a tall picket fence. An obstacle that, at its height, wouldn't have allowed any pony to climb, let alone jump over.
So where did the mysterious victim go? She was quite sure that he was an earth pony, which meant he couldn't have escaped airborne or teleported out of sight.
"Hello? Anypony in there?" she cautiously asked. ... ...
"Uh, yeah. Yeah. There's me," came a masculine reply behind a tall stack of crates.
A reply that sounded unsure, a bit stressed out, but above all, obviously faked. The yet-to-be-seen stallion was forcing his vocal cords in the strangest way, almost as if he was putting on an accent on purpose. Twilight wasn't sure why he was going through this rather peculiar pretense, especially at a time like this, but she attributed it to shock. The poor sod just narrowly escaped a meeting with the grim reaper, so who's to judge his unusual reaction, really? It was more than possible that he was in a panicked state, and the brain, being an intricate little machine, was prone to easily go haywire after such a trauma.
Whether it was garnered from books or personal experience, Twilight knew all this. It was her duty to reassure a pony in distress. She would never consider ditching him and leaving him at the gallows. Had he not suffered enough?
"This is princess Twilight Sparkle speaking. And who might you be?"
No answer came.
"Are you okay? Can you walk up to me?" she tried to mellow him out. "We need to get you out of here, this is a dangerous place to be!"
"I'm ah... I'd rather not," he hesitantly said, still with that faked voice.
"I understand that this is scary out here, mister, but I cannot stress this enough: You really can't stay here! Please, come with me, I promise I will do my best to keep you safe!"
"Well, I can't! Um. Because! Uuuuhhh... my leg's broken? Yeah that's right, broken! The pain is too much, ouch."
Oh no! A broken appendage on top of everything? Being chased in a brutal game of cat and mouse, and now this? This incapacitated stallion sure couldn't catch a break. This just made Twilight's worries increase exponentially. She felt so bad for him. No one deserved to be in that kind of situation. She needed to be there for this stranger more than ever.
The obvious hitch was, if his leg was truly broken, how was she going to get him out of here? She didn't think she had enough endurance to carry a fully grown stallion to the nearest medical center. She was a princess after all, not a stretcher. Maybe she could cobble up some kind of cast on the spot to at least keep the limb from moving? Have him lean on her after? That all seemed so risky.
She took a couple of steps toward his box fort. "Don't put any weight on it! I'm coming right over to hel-"
"N-NO! DON'T COME HERE! STAY BACK!"
Twilight stopped on a dime, intimidated by the sudden outburst. She was more confused than ever by the reluctance of this anonymous pony. What was going on, here? Did he seriously not want to be rescued? Why scoff at her altruistic assistance given his awful predicament?
"Look err... I misevaluated my injury," he continued, quieter this time. "It's just a sprained hoof, silly me! Nothing to it, really. I don't need help."
"W-what? But you just said-"
"Please, please just go away! Leave me alone! I'm fine!"
He started to lose his makeshift accent there. No matter. Twilight already made up her mind. She kept advancing toward the hidden pony, further ignoring his foolish demands of being left behind. In a second or two, she'll be able to fully assess his physical state herself with an unbiased perspective.
"I will never abandon one of my fellow ponies! I'm going to keep you safe if it's the last thing I-"
"PRINCESS, WATCH OUT!"
Twilight heeded private Plume's warning almost instinctively and conjured a protective sphere around her whole body by reflex. And not a moment too soon. A fraction of a second later, and she would've been bludgeoned by a giant fist full of claws.
The defensive veil wasn't without faults, however. Her translucent lavender bubble kept anything inside safe, sure, but it could still be subjected to external forces. And as it so happens, being pounded by a creature ten times her size was all that was needed to send her ball-shaped shield rolling in one sadistic game of pony-sized billiard, with the princess herself acting as the cue ball.
Twilight gyrated inside, pinned on the "wall" of her spell. It was more thrilling than any carnival ride found in Equestria. And yet, despite bouncing uncontrollably in the streets of Outer Grove, despite her sudden urge to lose her lunch, despite all of that, the princess held onto her spell. The moment she'd let go, she'd turn into a tumbling mess of gore. That alone was all the motivation Twilight needed to keep her horn active.
This, until she ended up striking a wall head-on, putting a stop to this whole fiasco. Once she was out of motion, her spell vanished, leaving behind one very dizzy princess. In her drunken stupor, she tried to refocus her vision, but that was easier said than done. All she could see were blurry blobs doing a poor job passing off as buildings. Not to mention, her head was seriously starting to hurt. That was a lot of spells in one night, some really powerful ones too, and the drain of her natural stockpile of magic was taking its toll on her.
"Hunnhhnnngg... w-w-where am I?" she said with a wobbly voice.
She didn't expect an answer, and was proven right when no one came to give her any. The deafening silence led to one obvious conclusion: Plume and Flail were nowhere near her. They must've gotten separated after she got launched Faust knows where. She had absolutely no idea where she landed. It was one thing to go tourist in a town you've never set hooves in; it was another to ricochet mercilessly in it. Twilight was effectively lost, disoriented, and-
GrrOOOAARWWRGGG!
-still in danger.
Didn't take a genius to deduce that the Ursa wasn't done with her. Apparently, hurling a wheelbarrow in somecreature's face made her top of the list. That Ursa was out for blood: Specifically, HER blood! She wouldn't be subdued until she could floss bits out of her teeth with Twilight's bones. Could be why the royal guards' distraction only lasted as long as it did. Unlike the princess, they just weren't interesting enough to be dismantled bit by bit. Or perhaps the Ursa was simply saving them for later?
But for now, she was slowly approaching Twilight, savoring the moment as if the princess was nothing more than a disposable toy to chew on. Nothing like the fresh smell of an easy victory.
In her weakened state, Twilight knew she had nowhere else to run. It was the end of the line. She'd have to pour all that she could into this final encounter, otherwise, her story was going to be cut short. She needed one last push to gain the upper hoof against this restless invader. Gambling with her life was scary, but there truly were no other options. It was now or never, forever.
The princess harvested the remnants of her energy and funneled it all onto the tip of her horn. It radiated brightly with purple magic. A beacon of a thousand lumens in the middle of the night. She felt like passing out, like crumbling to dust. Her legs quaked and hardly supported her own weight anymore. Every single muscle burned and twitched with fatigue. Miraculously, she managed to power through the magical exhaustion that strangled her from within.
SWOOSH!
The Ursa, in the blink of an eye, was submerged by a force field that expanded out of Twilight. Once the brute had realized what just happened, she became as mobile as a statue, her pupils turning into pinpricks. Her irises, once yellow and hostile, were now screened with a psychedelic backdrop. Multicolor swoops and swirls dancing across her eyeballs like oil flowing in a lake. Her mouth curved downward, as a worried expression slowly replaced any evil intent she had prior to being hit by Twilight's spell. Her ears even became flat on her head; a very rare sighting when it came to Ursa Minors.
Twilight Sparkle collapsed on the floor, totally out of juice. She winced from the efforts of staying conscious. She sluggishly lifted her head with force she didn't even have anymore. It's as if she wore an anvil as a necklace.
"Leave... l-leave this town now..." she said between heavy pants.
The Ursa kept staring at her, a bit dumbfounded. Or perhaps she was frozen in terror? It was tough to say. She didn't give many visual cues as to what was going on in that cluttered head of hers.
In any case, that was all so irrelevant for Twilight.
"Go. AWAY!" she suddenly bellowed, a hoof meekly pushing her off the floor. "Leave these ponies alone! Return to the woods, vile creature, and never, EVER come back here!!"
The Ursa whimpered. She actually whimpered. An Ursa Minor. Whimpering. Just like a puppy about to be bathed. You had to be there to see it. Not only that, but she also retreated, tail between her legs. She ran back toward the forest, and got lost into the darkness of the Undiscovered West, until her cries were out of hearing range.
The silence of the aftermath reigned supreme.
No longer were buildings being ripped from their foundations. No longer were the nightmare inducing howls of two angry beasts tormenting the villagers of a defenseless town. No longer were the united screams of a horrified crowd merging into an ear-splitting tide of pure dread.
All that was left was the subtle high-pitched droning noise of the wind. With a few lights shyly turning back on from homes that hadn't lost their roof. A few doors opening, with the inhabitants slowly coming to terms with the reality of the situation, as unbelievable as it was:
The danger had passed.
"Princess!"
"Are you alright? Nothing broken?"
That was Hasty Flail and Sterling Plume landing right in front of the downed princess. They both offered her some much-needed support which she accepted without a fuss.
"I'm... I'm okay. I'm okay," she said, not too sure herself, leaning on private Plume.
"What the hay happened at the end!? We arrived just in time to see the monster make herself scarce! How did you pull that off?"
"O-oh! Heh. Just an illusion spell to change my shape from the Ursa's point of view." She let out a hollow chuckle. "Let's just say, I have an inkling that somecreature now has a deep dragon phobia."
Plume cocked an eyebrow. "Geez, you almost make it sound easy."
Oh, but it wasn't. In fact, Twilight had never casted an illusion as potent as this one before. They weren't even her speciality to begin with. Crazy what the body and mind could accomplish when your life was on the chopping block.
"Guys, look!"
Hasty Flail pointed at a group of ponies a short distance away pouring out of the building Twilight impacted with her shield spell. Tens upon tens of ponies, exiting through the main double doors. It's a good thing that this large establishment hadn't suffered any significant collateral damage. It remained proudly standing, more or less intact.
Even the three sturdy columns in front of it hadn't toppled over. They kept doing their job of holding two splendid arches as if the attack had been nothing more than a trivial footnote in their life.
But whoa, there sure were a lot of ponies crowding around the three of them! Some bowed, some gasped, some were outright astonished that any of this was really happening. First, two Ursa Minors, and now the princess of friendship herself? Here of all places? For like what, the first time ever?
And she saved them!? Now that was a Saturday to remember!
"See, what did I tell y'all, eh? I knew the princess would prevail!" a gruffy yet appreciative mustachioed stallion declared to the rest of them.
"She totally did!" / "She absolutely did!" followed a duo of ponies to the left.
"Oh hehehehe! Never doubted her monster fighting proficiency for a second, hehehe!" now added some kind of yellow doctor to the right.
"Here's one for the princess!"
"We owe you our lives, princess!"
"You're the best!"
"Anyone seen my glasses?"
"Let's make some noise, everypony!"
"Woo!"
And just like that, what started as praise quickly turned into a gang of ponies cheering so loudly that Twilight nearly developed a bad case of tinnitus. Hooves stomping in an applauding rumble, not a single mouth depicting a frown, ponies reconciling and hugging each other in relief, hats and other accessories being tossed in the air, hip hip hoorays all across town... Twilight felt so valued, it was almost dizzying.
Or perhaps that was just another side effect of her drought in spare magic.
When the noise dwindled down, a pony got closer to her.
"Well! If they told me that my peaceful little town was going to receive the visit of two Ursa Minors AND one princess in a single day, I would've checked the expiration date on my medication, muhehehe- cough COUGH!"
Sounded like Outer Grove's head cheese. Looking at him, she saw yet another earth pony; nothing too out of the ordinary. The senior was pale brown and had a white diamond decorating his muzzle. Gray tail, salt and pepper sideburns. Again, nothing too shabby.
But his clothes.
Oh lord, his clothes. What a ridiculous attire that stallion was wearing! Clearly, his wardrobe hadn't evolved with age. She could almost forgive the antiquated maroon doublet, but was the black cape really necessary? That particular combo in itself would make Rarity faint on sight. What really took the cake, though, was his ebony and gold platted top hat. Yes, a top hat. Made Twilight appreciate Mayor Mare's choices that much more. At least, she stopped at the dickey. But this stallion from another epoque felt like it was necessary to tie the whole ensemble with this anachronistic tube of felt. Who knows, maybe he was going to pull a rabbit out of it?
"My name is Mayor De La Tour," he said with a respectful bow, "grandnephew of Marquis De Burgundy and elected representative of this little corner of Equestria. Princess, on behalf of every Outer Grovian, I would love to offer my most sincere thanks for your selfless role in chasing these dastardly pooches back to their den. Without your input, well... I dare not think of the grim consequences."
Twilight eventually snapped out of her, err, "appreciation" for his daffy costume and returned a bow. However, a little voice in her head told her that now was the not the time to engage in a diplomatic exchange. Something didn't feel right still. There were a couple of loose ends in dire need of being tied.
"Mr. Mayor De La Tour, it's an honor to meet you, but... I'm afraid it's not quite over yet!" she warned.
The goofy guy tilted his head, confused. "Whatever do you mean, princess?"
"W-we need to evaluate the damages! H-help anypony lost and hurt! There was a stallion! A stallion in a back alley not too far from here. H-h-he was in dire need of assistance, I must-"
Not even a step in and her trembling knees buckled. She would've flopped onto the stony floor like a rag if it weren't for the guards dutifully giving her the support she needed. That physical malaise didn't go over the mayor's head.
"Nonsense!" he protested. "You have done plenty to rescue our quaint little town already. For that, we are eternally in your debt. So please, I must insist, do not strain that overworked body of yours any longer than you already have. In the meantime, we will pool together our collective efforts and handle the fallout of this tragic calamity ourselves."
She had to admit, her magical migraine was drumming harder than ever behind her skull. Attack beams, flares, protective spheres, legendary illusions... Saying that she was out of steam was the euphemism of the century. Because in truth, the probabilities of her falling unconscious within the next few minutes were staggeringly high. After everything she went through, that would make for one anticlimactic ending.
"Do not worry, princess. We will find that missing stallion of yours. You can count on us! But for now, you must rest." He clapped his hooves in a commanding manner. "Miss Sweet Pint! Would you give me the satisfaction of coming forth, if you please?"
Heads turned and singled out a white and pink pony of petite stature. She gulped and took a couple shy steps forward, breaking off the crowd. Just under the white freckles of her rosy cheeks, she attempted to keep a smile trained by years of customer service.
"Ah, there you are, my dear. Would you be so kind as to accompany the princess to the grandest suit of your delightful inn?" Mayor De La Tour asked.
"Uh... yeah. Not a problem. R-right on it, dude- I mean, uh, Mr. Mayor Sir," she tripped onto her own words.
There was no denying that she was a bit shaken not only by the recent course of events, but also by being the center of attention at the moment. And for once, against the very nature of her tough persona, she resisted all urges to mumble something sarcastic. Somehow, being unpleasant in front of a princess, one that just saved everyone's flank - hers included - seemed a bit out of place. Instead, she silently showed her royal guest the way, moving away from the other ponies at a reduced pace. After making sure Twilight Sparkle was in a stable condition to move on her own, Plume and Flail nodded and receded into the crowd.
On the porch of the bar/inn hybrid, Sweet Pint turned to look at the esteemed princess. "This is- this is the Two Arches. I work there as a barmare. I mean, I guess I'm not a barmare, but more like, the barmare, since there's just me behind the counter, if you catch my drift. Um, welcome, I guess?"
She facehoofed.
"Erf, not the best sales pitch I've given, gonna be honest. Can't say I was 'xactly prepared for any of this, h-heh."
Twilight candidly smiled. She understood all too well what it was like to try and please a higher authority and making sure everything was up to code, spick-and-span, without faults, etc. She's been there before. Many more times than she'd like to admit.
When she walked past the middle column, she couldn't help but admire the carved art that reshaped it into three ponies and a sphere. Now just where exactly did she see that design before? Somehow, it wasn't all too unfamiliar to her. Maybe she'll rethink the question after being properly revitalized?
Intrigues aside, that was one stunning piece, really! Credit to the artist. She'd appreciate it even more if she wasn't so close to sleepwalking. Right now? Snoozing was the order du jour.
The barmare made it inside first, and she couldn't help but cringe at the state of her workplace.
"I ah, um. Sorry about the mess. We held a party here yesterday and I meant to clean before opening for the night, but y'know. Giant bears. Sort of shifted my priorities a bit. And then I had to house dozens of desperate ponies like stowaways, so that didn't help! Look, I'm telling you, normally, I'm tidying up this place so good, it's almost like-"
By this point, Twilight could hardly pay attention to the scenery anymore. Her head was sagging low, and her eyelids only allowed a slit of vision for two bloodshot eyes. Still, looking left and right, she could sort of see what Sweet Pint was rambling on about. A bunch of empty mugs caked with froth, crisp bowls filled with crumbs, chairs toppled over, unfinished games of cards, deflated balloons, an uncountable number of dirty paper plates...
... and of course, right above her, a huge banderole that spelled: "HAPPY 5 YEARS GRAY CALX."
Which, once again, sort of rang a bell? Maybe? Could've sworn she heard a name similar to this one before. Eh whatever. Probably just some balderdash derived from sleep deprivation.
No, really, if there was one thing to get anxious about, it was something else entirely.
She had triumphed over the duo of Ursas, yes? The town had been salvaged and its citizens celebrated their well-earned victory, yes? One could almost say: "Problem solved," correct?
Then why didn't her cutie mark acknowledge this satisfying denouement?
It hadn't given her any completion signalization. No hints at all. It didn't pulsate, it didn't illuminate. No celebratory chime and no glittery particle effects of any kind. Both of her stars remained completely motionless, placidly waiting on her flanks the same way they have for the past 24 hours.
This could only mean one thing.
The friendship problem still existed. |
Oxidized | Sunstone: Waiting for a Train | As the years rolled by, new chapters about this winding journey in self-discovery get written. Growing up, moving out, meeting new ponies, forging an identity, tripping and getting back up, enjoying new hobbies, seizing the day... This long and ubiquitous game of life has a way of bringing anypony to all sorts of places, the majority of which, their past incarnation couldn't have possibly conceived. Routines and status quo gradually making room for something so unfathomably exhilarating, something so wonderfully grandiose, while the world gets swept by innumerable waves of change.
But for as much as things have a way of moving forward, a lot tends to remain the same, too.
For Sunstone, it was essentially back to square one. All means of progress had been erased; it's as if the last 10 years didn't happen at all.
The poor stallion was nearing his thirties and had to return back to living with his old folks. Not by his choice, mind you. An unfortunate series of circumstances had befallen upon him, booting him back where it all started.
Being the oldest sibling, and being the last one to leave the nest. There was something thoroughly humiliating about this. If he found his life unimpressive before, now, it was borderline pathetic. And to what end, really? Had he not busted his flank his whole life to secure himself a cozy lifestyle in the future? Studying relentlessly and applying himself at school to snatch a snazzy job like every other salaried worker?
Look at him now: Sitting on his haunches at the kitchen table, a yellow newspaper opened in front of him. Desperately scrounging the ads section to find a new and better form of employment where his expertise could shine.
His neck was curved downward and his face was completely buried in his lecture. As if he was trying to intimidate the paragraphs with his vitriolic stare alone to rearrange the letters into something more acceptable.
Unfortunately, nothing yielded. Yet another day of finding nothing but posts that either required courses his studies didn't cover and/or field experience he didn't have. And a minimum wage was out of the question; who could avoid having the bank foreclose on them with something that could barely cover a week's worth of groceries? Canterlot's cost of life could be a cruel mistress if you didn't shove that silver spoon far down your throat.
Sunstone took another sip out of his lukewarm coffee. A true meal fit for the failure that he was. All hail the almighty loser, he mentally chanted.
His mother was doing the dishes by the sink. Hovering the plates with her horn telekinesis and washing out the goobers in midair with a brush. Well, she was sort of half paying attention to her chore. She couldn't help but give genuine sad looks at the pitiful state her son was in. Seeing him so morose, so defeated, well, it was tugging at her heart. Twilight Velvet was still a mother, after all.
"Found anything interesting this time around, Sunny?" was her first effort to jumpstart a conversation.
"'Fraid not," he said after swallowing a big gulp of his bitter drink. "Looks like you and dad are going to be stuck with me a bit longer than expected, heh."
"D-don't say it like that! You know you'll always be welcomed here. You know that, right?" she said, scrubbing a pan with a little too much intensity.
Sunstone dropped his paper and rubbed his temples. "Yes, mom, you've said it enough times for me to take the hint. The point has been sufficiently driven home, trust me."
He peered at the leftovers of his veggie omelet he didn't have the guts to finish. With his appetite missing, he half-heartedly pushed the plate away.
"It's not that my current job is all that bad, but... It's just not enough. I need something that pays more. I've crunched the numbers, and at the rate I'm saving up, it'll take me another full year before I can accumulate a decent-enough cash down to afford my own house. Probably two years, realistically. And by then, who knows how much inflation will have screwed the economy."
Sunstone segued his speech with a humoristic glance toward his mother.
"Bet the princess and her inner circle of nobles are having a reeeaaal good giggle at us crumb-eaters when they purposefully plunge us into recession after recession. 'Austerity,' they then proclaim. Psshhh, yeah, good one, princess Celestia. Wonder if that's the kind of ingenious wisdom she's passing onto her faithful student."
"S-speaking of jobs, you ah, hehehe, y-you still work as a field researcher in the abandoned Canterlot crystal mines, right?" Twilight Velvet asked, desperate to change the subject.
"Yup. Earning peanuts by freezing my flank in that cold and desolate cave system is my vocation, apparently. I don't know why they even bother sending me to convey on-site geological surveys. Everything that was worth something has already been picked clean by greedy unicorns a really long time ago. I don't see anything important ever happening again down there. Sometimes, I swear, it feels like I'm being held hostage in this stripped mine. Like I'm some kind of... I dunno, some kind of prisoner, I guess."
"Surely, you must be exaggerating just a little bit?" she tentatively asked.
"Eh, I probably am. You know how melodramatic I can get," snarked Sunstone in return. "Still, I highly suspect that my superior only tasks me with this... pseudo busywork, because she has no idea what else to do with a flathead like me."
"With a flat- Sunstone!! Don't call yourself that!"
"Hey, why not? Everypony needs a nickname."
Twilight Velvet didn't feel the need to entertain her son with a response.
As this "pleasant" morning talk dwindled down, Sunstone began to reminisce about the events that forced him to go on the hunt for a better living wage. He had reasons to not be entirely satisfied with his current job. It was a bit disheartening for him to uphold this kind of unambitious low-end position after being so close to obtaining something a lot more prestigious.
Indeed. About five years ago, Sunstone finished his time at university with an internship that sent him straight to Manehattan. His gradebook was beyond satisfactory, and his top percentile performance caught the interest of the Equestrian Geological Association. Naturally, Sunstone gladly accepted this once in a lifetime opportunity.
This was it, this was finally it! A gateway for his name to have a place in history books. A means to be remembered. A reason to believe that maybe, just maybe, he was something more than an irrelevant detail.
It took very little time for him to pack and kiss the family house goodbye. His parents were all emotional, as were his siblings and Spike who, back then, were still all living together. The five of them felt melancholic and saddened by his departure, but for Sunstone, it was a whole different category of emotions that turmoiled inside of his stomach.
It felt exciting. It felt liberating. It felt good.
Finally, finally, a way out of this place. Finally, he would stop being told about how Twilight's magic was becoming more and more potent each passing day. Finally, he would stop unwittingly hearing about how Shining kept being promoted along the royal guards' ranks at record speeds. No more playing second- nay, third fiddle.
For him, this was a new start. A way to do his own thing, far away from those who overshadowed him so much. The perfect solution to focus on his own projects without them feeling so dang inferior. No longer would he be constrained by having to share a bedroom wall with those who had done nothing but bring him jealousy and unpleasant thoughts.
This couldn't have been made more obvious when Sunstone moved in with two other alumni in an apartment not too far from the EGA headquarters. The rent was rather hefty, but splitting it three ways helped a lot. That first night he spent in a bed away from home, Sunstone had been blessed with the most pleasant dreams.
Over the next few months, Sunstone quickly climbed the corporate ladders, and what started as a modest internship quickly shaped up to be a permanent job offer. He had been relocated to the research and development branch of the renowned firm, with a keen aptitude in figuring out and creating new means to facilitate the extraction of heavier ores.
This went on for a couple of years. With Sunstone's projects and ideas managing to find grants funded by the Crown, this couldn't have been going any better. There was a point where he even started considering becoming a teacher in the matters of geology, what with him having lived the best moment of his less than stellar childhood at school. He could totally picture himself in front of a class full of students eager to learn, sharing his passion for everything rock related. And the best part of that was, the EGA was actually endorsing this decision. With a few appointment classes offered by his firm, Sunstone would be ready to spread the good words about the benefits of the mining industry.
At this point, it was undeniable: Sunstone was living the dream.
But you know what they say about the good times.
Good times never last.
It happened one evening, when his two faithful rent buddies announced to him that they wouldn't renew their next lease. The two of them had fallen in love over time, something Sunstone was well aware of, but the stinker was, the lady wound up becoming pregnant. The couple decided that living in an expensive apartment in the big city was no place to raise a foal, and they agreed to move to a quieter place.
Sunstone understood why they took that decision, but at the same time, that left him in a rough spot. Now alone, the next trimester became financially unsustainable. He defaulted on multiple payments, to the point that his landlord started bullying him with threats of eviction. Sunstone's school debt was still omnipresent, and with food and taxes, his paychecks came a little short.
With every other apartment being more or less in the same price range, he tried to find new people to cohabit with until his savings became more stable. He really did. But they were always either problematic, unreliable, drifting away after a few weeks, or all of the above. It was a frustrating game of musical chairs, rotating ponies after ponies.
In the end, Sunstone's expenses piled up to insurmountable amounts and, with his head hung low, he returned to Canterlot. There were no other options. His parents were accommodating, of course, especially since Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor had since then moved out to live in dorms.
Unfortunately, Manehatten and Canterlot stood approximately four hours apart, and that's if you took the express train. Being so far away from his workplace became a huge problem, because commuting for eight hours, five days a week, was absolutely mental.
Oh, Sunstone tried to make it work. But after two weeks, only two weeks, he gave up. His productivity at the EGA had tanked significantly, something that didn't go unnoticed by the higher-ups. Rather than waiting for a pink slip, Sunstone took the honorable decision of stepping down himself.
Just like that, what started as a promising career deflated to nothingness. All that was left were the memories of a better time. Of something that could've been.
Sunstone downed the rest of his roasted beverage. Taking a trip down memory lane had brought him nothing but misery, something he sure could do without. There was enough to be disappointed about in the present, after all.
He brought his cup and plate to the sink counter before they could attract flies. Next to his mother who has tried really hard to keep a bright smile this whole time, Sunstone just had to cock an eyebrow.
"Mom? ... You've been wiping the same pan for five minutes."
"I have? Oh! Uhhh, heheheee...!" she sheepishly smiled.
Sunstone rolled his eyes. "Alright mom. What's on your mind?"
"Me? Oh, nothing, nothing!"
Yeah, haha, no. She was really bad at hiding her true intentions behind those pale blue eyes of hers. She couldn't tell a lie to save her life.
"Mom."
She turned off the water tap and dropped her kitchen equipment. She sighed, knowing that the upcoming discussion was going to be an unpleasant one.
"Look, Sunny... I-I know very well how you feel about it, but please, why don't you let your dad and I give you just a little bit of financial aid for a change? Y-you could consider it a loan if you'd prefer! I mean, obviously, you wouldn't even need to pay us back, we'd be super happy if-"
"No. No deal," Sunstone predictably replied.
"But... why? You've always refused our help. I don't get it, Sunny. You don't need to do everything on your own. We're here to support you, you know."
"Yeah? Riddle me this then: Did Twilight cry for your help when she became the princess' personal protege? Did Shining ask for mommy and daddy's bits before he was made captain of the royal guards? No! Neither of them licked your boots to achieve their goals; they did it all on their own! So you would think that, by comparison, my sorry 28-year-old ass should at the very least be capable of affording its own plot of land without resorting to begging for your cash!!"
Her heart was racing. "H-honey, it's not a competition..."
"Oh, that's where you're wrong."
It's always been a competition, he said in his head.
Twilight Velvet wouldn't win here, that much was a given. Who has ever won these kinds of arguments against Sunstone? He was far too deep in his beliefs. His ego would never allow her to have the final word on that particular subject. Instead, she tried a different avenue.
"Well... If that's how you really feel, and if you truly do not want any of our money, then have you instead considered looking for a house in the suburbs? Like, say, in Ponyville instead of Canterlot? It's not too far away from here; I'm sure the commute time to your current workplace wouldn't be all too harsh to handle. House prices are pretty affordable over there I reckon."
"Yeah, and you know why that is?" he rhetorically asked, chuckling. "Because there's always a bunch of crazy shenanigans happening over there. No wonder they ask for so little upfront: It's the insurance companies that must fill their pockets! This town is a scam, I tell you."
He started to strut away, possibly to crash on the couch and wait for the hours to pass. Yet, something nibbled at him in the back of his mind.
"Besides," he quietly resumed, facing away from his mom, "I know what you're trying to pull here."
"W-what? I'm not... um..."
"Yeah yeah mom. I can read you like a book. You just want me to go there so I can crash with a certain purple unicorn."
"Sunny... I'm sure she'd be more than happy to-"
"I'm not moving in with Twily, mom," Sunstone sternly replied. "For Celestia's sake, she only left for Ponyville, what, two days ago!? I would definitely come off as a liable opportunist. Also, didn't she take that sycophantic drake with her anyway?"
"Hey now, don't you talk about Spike that way, young stallion!"
"Doesn't matter. Point is, they probably don't have enough room for a third wheel wherever it is that they live now. My presence would just spoil their fun. And, you know, it's probably for the best, since there's no way I could ever be convinced to go squat her house. End of discussion."
End of discussion indeed, because, right on cue, dry knocks reverberated in the house. Somepony was at the door, patiently waiting to be answered. Twilight Velvet obliged, happy to have found an outing. This private moment with her eldest son had made her so skittish, it was almost a relief to have been given a chance to distract herself with something else.
Sunstone followed her out of the kitchen until he bifurcated to the living room, where he tossed himself on the lounge. No sense in having two ponies greet the stranger. Attentively, he heard a couple of "Hello Mrs. Velvet," "Beautiful day ain't it," "Sign here please," which was a pretty standard exchange when it came to mail calls. A moment later, Sunstone's mother re-emerged back from the lobby, an envelope held between her teeth by the string.
But that envelope was no ordinary envelope.
"Is that a royal seal?" Sunstone asked, partially intrigued.
"Seems to be? Oh I wonder what this is all about!"
She unrolled the parchment, levitated it in front of her, and began reading the cursive words, her eyes squinting in concentration. Only a few lines in, and she gasped out loud, her face completely covered by a mask of pure shock. Sunstone had rarely seen her displaying over-the-top reactions like this before.
"What? What is it?" he asked, now definitely more intrigued.
It took her a few seconds to realize Sunstone was addressing her.
"O-oh? This? It's nothing. Just more boring Canterlot paperwork, hehehe," she nervously giggled
Sunstone simply crossed his front legs on his torso and cocked his head. For the second time this morning, she had been caught in her lies.
"We're playing this game again, aren't we? Look, mom, I'm no dupe. It's a royal seal. I know what it implies. It's something about Twily and her personal ties with the princess, isn't it?"
She silently nodded, bracing for the upcoming storm that would undoubtedly erupt from her already disgruntled son. She knew how badly Twilight's personal victories could set him off. And this one was a big one.
A very, very big one.
"Care to give more details?" Sunstone insisted.
"Weeell," she started, biting the inside of her cheek, "r-remember how the sun was late to be risen this year during the Summer Sun Celebration? The one held in Ponyville two days ago? Something... something happened. And it involves your sister..."
Uff...
Uff...
Running.
Feels like I've been running for my entire life.
Ever since I barreled down that accursed mountain, it's been nothing but run, run, run! And whereas one would expect me to do so with the clear goal of escaping danger, haha! ... They'd be sorely mistaken! Because that, my friends, would imply doing the smart thing. But me, the unusual specimen, well, I haven't really been in touch with my rational side. S'why you could currently find me closing the gap with two bears on growth hormones - you know, the ones who could flick me to the fifth dimension molecule by molecule.
A mere nopony confronting a situation one step removed from the Armageddon: Me no likey them odds. Hey, anypony waging their bits on me? Come on, don't be shy; you could win big, here!
Fatalism aside, what was I even supposed to do here? Like seriously, what can a simple dimwitted buffoon such as myself even accomplish in this particular scenario?
Hey, maybe I could talk them out of doing whatever it is that they're doing? Use my silver tongue and convince them that they're committing a big no-no? Toss in tea and biscuits to seal the deal?
... Nah, let's be real.
It was going to get physical. Oh you better believe it! I couldn't see myself cheating my way into an easy win here. My pragmatic flank was going to get kicked hard enough for me to regurgitate my own tail.
Look. Call me overly sensitive, but I wasn't exactly keen on treating my pain receptors like second-class garbage. Weird, right? Let's not forget that less than an hour ago, I came awfully close to a concussion after riding one demented cart ride, this, right before plowing down the most unsafe flight of stairs in the universe. Think I've sufficiently paid my ouchie toll for the day. Could feel it in my bones still; how's that for some proof? I've done nothing but take my personal safety for granted, so now, the last thing I wanted was to be gutted like a pinata by two unstoppable creatures.
But my legs, these four audacious gray tubes under my torso, they couldn't stop bringing me into danger territory. Clearly, they didn't get the memo when I preached for self-preservation. Here they were, digging into the soil, confidently pushing me toward the place I feared most: The fountain. That archaic circular landmark plopped smack down in the center of Outer Grove's main plaza. Thanks legs, very cool. Ugh. Weren't they aware that patching a hemorrhage with courage alone was just fairy tales?
Meanwhile, my cardio was about to call it quits. Unlike my legs doped up on bravado, my diaphragm simply couldn't keep up with my pace anymore. I had no other choice but to slow down and catch my breath. Oof... Boy was I out of steam. My muscles were working overtime, and they were more than ready to unionize against the poor choices that I've made. Luckily, my trusty eyes were still operational, and they took this short pause to analyze what was going on exactly. From left to right, then right to left, it was time to draw a portrait of the situation at large.
And it wasn't exactly a black-or-white type of deal.
For one, I had indeed reached the aforementioned fountain. Very dull, that structure. An uninspiring ring a couple of meters in diameter made of poorly-carved stones. To add insult to injury, the pathetic basin had been filled with a murky pool of stagnant water where lily pads and lichen made their home. I mean, there wasn't even a statue or anything to give the whole shebang a bit more oomph. You know, if Mayor De La Tour hired my services, I would've happily reshaped that ugly thing into something more respectable. It was rather telling that the Ursas didn't even bother with it, probably thinking that it was already a broken pile of junk, ha.
... I trailed off big time here. Sorry.
But see, when facing off a wild animal that could swallow me whole if it so desired, my brain tends to fidget just a bit. Call it fishing for time if you will. One does not perish when one stalls.
In any case, that mountain-sized bear had been left all on their own. Their bigger comrade in destruction had nicked off somewhere else, separating the two of them in the process. As if that would alleviate my position at all. One Ursas, two Ursas... What difference did that make? Knowing it only took a single one of them to bring carnage of apocalyptic proportions, to me, that all seemed so arbitrary.
But...
But there was a problem. And not an insignificant one either.
See, my eyes weren't lying: Everypony else had sought refuge. Whether this was by their own doing or through the efforts of my group of friends, I had no way of telling. Maybe they went ahead with the plan we cobbled up on a whim before I succumbed to my ill-timed panic attack? I sure hope they did. That'd be swell.
Still. Whatever caused the streets to become eerily deserted effectively left me as the sole taskforce to deal with that Ursa Minor. Even the royal guards and... Her... were nowhere to be seen. But that wasn't what worried me the most, no. Because, in truth, I wasn't the only pony who had been left behind. The reason why I hadn't been targeted yet by that big mother Hubbard was written in the sky.
Simply put? I wasn't the main bait. THAT was the reason. Somepony else had taken my role here. And not exactly by choice either.
And that pony...
That small, orange, ridiculously adorable yet totally terrified pony, well... she was none other than the objective of my rescue mission.
It was Honey Dream.
It was her. It was her, and she was stuck in a less than subpar position.
She was backing off slowly, two globular cyan eyes peering with unfathomable intensity at the Ursa looming over her. I could almost see my own reflection in them despite the darkness. Her quivering mouth was hung halfway opened. Even from this distance, I saw the entirety of her body shaking in ways no foal of her age should. But those eyes... sweet Celestia, those eyes. Her expression! I had front row access to witness the complete disintegration of her precious childhood innocence. Today marked the day she saw how ugly the world could truly be. And she'll never be okay ever again.
Her trembling tail, that beautiful bundle of crimson and copper, ended up bumping into the side of a store that had met its demise. A fate she was soon going to share at the rate things were going. Caught in a trap, retreating became impossible; she was just about ready to be devoured.
All of my self-centered worries flushed away in an instant. No longer did I fear for my own life. No longer was I constrained by my insecurities. No longer was I paralyzed by indecision. Something took control of my senses. Some kind of... I dunno, parental urge to protect? Weird. Whatever the case was, my mind was set.
I had to act, now.
My legs, my tenacious legs, they went in full overdrive. I ran towards the Ursa towering over my all-time favourite filly at speeds I thought myself incapable of reaching. The monster had their claws retracted and was approximately three seconds away from doing something my imagination was outright refusing to picture.
Still on the run, I unholstered the pickaxe that somehow still kept me company after this whole time. My jaw was clutching the handle hard enough to chip a tooth or two. I rapidly escalated a broken chunk of wall that had fallen into a makeshift slope. At the tip of the conveniently placed debris, I pounced with great athleticism and soared through the air...
... the exact same way I did during those play-pretend games I used to share with... well, you know who I'm talking about. Except now, I was armed with a mining tool, not a fluffy pillow.
What a dissonant image my mind automatically rewound to. Was I experiencing that "reliving memories before you die" myth ponies propagated? I was still in midair, reconsidering my position in this world. Everything slowed down to give me just enough pause to ponder the circumstances that had brought me here. What an absolutely bizarre life I was living. Completely, completely out of this world - that's just... wow, y'know?
What kind of clueless imbecile ever said that nothing ever happens in Outer Grove, again?
CHLUCK!
As I inserted the pointy tip of my pickaxe into the flesh of the Ursa's back paw, time resumed back to normal. I didn't expect anything out of my cocky power move, but who knows, maybe I had hit a literal Ponechilles' heel? Well, whatever little damage I did, it was enough to trigger a deafening howl that sent my poor sensitive ears flat on my head. Been a lotta loud noises in one day.
I didn't even take a breather to recover my tool or to check if the coast was clear: I rushed ahead and dove like a hoofball player on top of my "niece" to shield her from any potential retaliative comeback. After the little number I pulled, I expected revenge.
I wrapped myself as good as I could around Honey Dream as we slid together a fair distance away through pebbles and dirt. We could still hear the Ursa echoing plaintive moans, possibly dancing on one foot and going "owie owie my pinkie!"
At this point, we managed to gather our bearings (well, as much as we could). I then did what I did best and tossed Honey Dream onto my withers, that soft little spot she loved to claim as her own so much. I think she was still a bit perturbed by this whole sequence of events and didn't even realize that she had been displaced to relative safety - at least, for the time being.
Since I apparently have not fled enough in one day, I resumed my "getting the heck outta here" routine. I chose a direction at complete random and darted forward. I was running on fumes, but now that I had someone on my back to protect, perishing was no longer an acceptable failure case.
I felt my own body tremble from Honey Dream's hysteria. She was completely traumatized. Who could've blamed her? Who in their right mind could have possibly blamed her!? Like sheesh, at her age, I wouldn't have been able to sleep with my eyes closed anymore.
"Un... uncle Calx?" I heard her slowly whisper.
"Don't worry sweetie, you're safe now, I gotcha! I'm going to get you out of here!" I said with a throat that felt like molten lava.
She nuzzled me even harder than she already was. "T-thank you... Thank you! Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" she repeated, sniffling all the while.
Hearing her angelic little voice encouraged me to press on. Slowly but surely, I was tricking myself into believing that I was actually going to make it!
"Going to get you out of here..." I said again, more determined than ever.
My brain was mush. My heart was busy pumping blood where it was needed most in this exhausted body of mine. I could hardly focus. Couldn't clear my head. Didn't have any idea what to do now. Finding shelter seemed like a good follow up, but... where could we even- I mean, there had to be a place where-
Wait. Of course, you triple idiot! The Two Arches! Duh! They'd welcome us with open hooves over there for sure.
Buuuuut I was currently running the wrong way, because of course I was. Fate was playing tricks again; who could've predicted that? And look, I wasn't about to stop, pull a U-turn, and wave hello to the Ursa whose ankle I just disrespected. I wasn't a master strategist by any means, but that to me didn't seem like a winning move.
No, instead, I sank into a small depression between a clothing boutique and a patisserie; both of which had lost their upper floors. Bummer. A problem for later, though. For the time being, I skulked further between the two bricked walls.
Outer Grove was unusually rich with small secretive passageways, I'll say this much. Didn't know all of this town's many twists and turns by heart, but I did know that in-between each building were small transversal pathways that all connected together in a thin backroad parallel to the main boulevards. This secluded snaking path wasn't really employed so much as it was used to stash crates of merchandise and to hang fresh laundry.
Wedged between the back of the buildings and the tall cliffside of the mountain, this would make for a perfect escape route. We'll use it to travel back to the Two Arches - maybe even elude the Ursa I've angered while we're at it.
One problem though.
Fence.
Chain-linked and tall. With barbed wire on top for good measure. It did a wonderful job blocking all access to the corridor of freedom I've just spent five minutes praising. Wasn't that rich! And while my pickaxe and my chisel came to the rescue in a timely fashion earlier, sadly, I didn't come equipped with anything that could let me pry open this obstacle. Metal sheet cutters weren't standard issue in my toolkit.
However, not all was lost.
Whoever erected that barrier fit to stop half a dozen manticores failed to secure the lower part. It floated about a quarter of a meter off the floor - at least, a damaged part of it was. It curved upward with just enough height to let a couple of stray cats through. And whatever small critters had found this failsafe improved upon it: They dug a shallow trench in the hardened soil to give even more room to crawl underneath.
A filly would have no trouble sneaking to the other side.
A grown stallion, however, wouldn't.
... Well then. Looks like it was time to pull that idiotic move I've seen in way too many sappy movies already. Never thought I'd see the day where I'd be the one performing the heroic sacrifice trope. Hey, did I mention I didn't want to be a hero before? However, for lack of a better option, our hooves were tied. Sigh...
I heard a faint gasp coming from the filly on my back. She too must've begun to understand the unfortunate ramifications behind our inability to progress any further.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed.
"Huh? What for?" I queried, genuinely confused.
"Because... because I- It's my fault! It's all my fault!"
I twisted my neck to look at her, still puzzled.
"I, I was with Roller Wings and Comely, and, and, and I told my two friends that I was going to distract that big monster so they could run away... S-so that's what I did. That's why I was there, alone, when you found me! T-that's why you're trapped with me, uncle Calxie, it's all my fault, and now, and now, w-w-we-"
"Waitwaitwait... You faced that Ursa Minor all on your own!?"
"I'm so sorry!" she simply insisted. "Please don't tell my mom! Please!! I told Roller Wings and Comely to hide in our secret cave where we play, I... I know they're safe! Y-you have to believe me!"
She... really went out of her way to save her friends' life at her own expense? This, despite knowing fully well her chances of survival weren't exactly stacked in her favor? How incredibly brave and selfless! And she was apologizing about it? Excuse me!? Seriously, few are the ponies of my age who would have gone out of their way to take such risks, but her, having only existed on this rock for seven meagre years, she didn't hesitate one second to take a stance. Heck, I'm surprised she didn't get her cutie mark for putting her life in peril like this.
I... hmmm. How peculiar. Why was it that I felt a weird kind of pride building inside of me? Kid wasn't even my own. I had no right to- I mean, it wasn't my place to- ...
B-but nevermind that! Tick tock, tick tock, clock was still spilling out seconds!
I invited Honey Dream to re-engage with the floor, gave her a heartfelt hug, and then, I looked at her dead in the eyes, my hooves on her shoulders.
"Don't you ever feel sorry for doing the right thing, sweetie. What you did was incredible, and you will never be punished for that, you hear me?"
I gave her a moment or two to fully soak that in. There was so much more I wanted to say about her amazing accomplishment, but, once again, we had very little time to spare. It's a damn shame I had to put a sock in my praise. Instead, I unlinked from her and carried on with the plan.
"It pains me to say so, but... we're running out of time." I pointed ahead. "You see that fence? There's a gap right by the corner. You need to crawl through, take the service paths, and run along aaaaall the way to reunite with your mother at the Two Arches. It's the big building where we held my party yesterday evening. Do you remember where it is?"
She nodded like a dutiful little soldier.
"Good, good! Go there and go find your mom. Then, tell her where your friends are, so that we may go fetch them after we chase the bears away. That okay with you, sweetie?"
"Y-yes! Yes, you can count on me, uncle Calx!"
"I know I can. You're the most trustworthy pony I know. Now go! There is no time to waste."
She immediately followed my orders. It was wonderful to know she understood the direness of our situation. She was so mature for her age. An inspiration to foals everywhere, I say.
Once she reached the other side, she started strutting forward, until she froze mid walk. Her ears lifted up and turned toward me. Then the rest of her head did the same. She looked rather perplexed.
"You're... not coming with me, uncle Calx?" she asked with big blinking eyes.
I signaled negatively. "We both know I can't fit through. I'll find another way, don't worry about me."
"B-but...no! You have to come!" she pleaded.
"Honey Dream..."
"W-what if something happens to you? Huh? What if? It'll all be because of me!"
Her chin quivered and a long hot tear escaped her eye. Dammit. Them feels were cooking up inside of me. I wasn't built for this. Seeing her feel guilty about my accidental involvement squeezed my heart in all the wrong ways. Of course it wasn't her fault. Only the dumbest of all dumbasses would believe that! But in her current state, I don't think anyone could convince her otherwise.
"I will see you later, Honey Dream," I simply said, not too sure how to apprehend the situation anymore. "I promise."
She sniffled a big chunk of snot. "Y-you do?"
I silently nodded, eyes closed. "You have my word."
She approached the fence and gently put her hoof on it. I did the same. The two of us, making contact on our respective side. So close, yet so far away. Two centimeters of rusted metal: That's all it took to split us up. Not going to lie, it was a bit frustrating. I could still look at her in the eyes, which just made it so much worse.
"I..." she said, her head looking down. "I love you, uncle Calx."
She really loves you, you know, repeated Skybrush in my mind.
... Ouch.
For the first time in the last 20 years, I felt like crying.
I fought really hard not to. I really, really did. I had to bite my lower lip so hard, I almost drew blood. I could feel my throat getting itchy and my cheeks warming up. The warning signs were all there.
It took a lot of effort to not lose control, but thankfully, in the end, I managed to keep my emotions in check. Now was not the time to open the floodgates. Was there ever a time for that? What was the point of giving in to waterworks? Seemed counterproductive at best and a waste of time at worst if you asked me. Besides, I was still on the wrong side of the fence; saving my own skin remained top priority. So, no crying. Not now, not ever.
A final goodbye wave in Honey Dream's direction paired with a "right back atcha, buddy" (decisively, I was really bad at this), and off I went. With a pinch of luck, I'll find a good hideout to duck and cover. If I could avoid sending myself straight to heaven's gates, today could still end on a semi-decent-ish note.
When I popped out of the narrow path, the weight of everything started to grow heavy on me. My dwindling optimism had a hard time finding the right words to cheer me up. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was turned around, drained, and-
GrrOOOAARWWRGGG!
-still in danger!
Didn't take a genius to deduce that the Ursa wasn't done with me. Apparently, imbedding a pickaxe in somecreature's foot made me top of the list. You know how the saying goes: Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I hereby coin this as my new motto. Actually, no, that wasn't quite accurate. I had already been seared and charred, so it was more like, "out of the fire and into the magma pit." There. Glad we got that sorted out.
Anyway. Heh. You know what I did next? Hmmm? Take a good guess.
I ran.
Yeah. I ran! Big shocker! Ten points for those who guessed correctly. Sweet Celestia, it felt like tonight would never end. As soon as I was done plugging a leak, something else broke. In this clever metaphor, it was me; I was going to be the next "something else" to break. Being chased by an Ursa Minor who would settle for nothing less than biting my head off could only end one way. To think that I actually believed I could outrun that mastodon. It was almost hilarious, in a pathetic kind of way. Eh, it wasn't for lack of trying though.
After not even a minute of fleeing elapsed, I started to feel the bear's hot humid breath moistening my fur. My time was up. All it took was for them to reach forward and flatten me like a pancake. It was only a matter of-
WAIT WAIT WAIT ALLEYWAY TO THE LEFT SPOTTED!
I veered so sharply, I redefined what a ninety degree angle was. Swiftly throwing myself into yet another alleyway. For what, the third time tonight? Hat trick, I guess. Made me wonder if this time, Outer Grove's urban planning was going to be kind enough to throw a bone at me. Was being allowed to slip away too much to ask?
Apparently, it was. Because, as per tradition, I counted my chickens before they hatched.
"Oh, come on!"
No drumroll needed: I was greeted by yet another dead end. Hello there my fenced friend. Been a hot minute, hasn't it? This time, it was made of wood and had been painted white. Cool variant, but still positively impossible to breach. Out with the old, in with the same.
Turning around didn't yield any better results. The one and only exit was now covered by a wall of glowing blue fur with little stars scattered throughout. I wasn't allowed to try my luck again with another alleyway. Three times was not the charm, I'm afraid.
I was uh... Yeah, I was trapped. There weren't even any side doors from the buildings casing me in on which I could bang and beg for my life. Nor were there any fire escapes, ladders, or anything I could climb to Deus ex Machina my way out of this one. It was just me, the Ursa, and one disgusting detritus-filled corridor. A one versus one with no spoilers and no punches to hide.
Completely out of options, I took the cowardly path and hid behind a heap of trash. A couple of melon crates that had been stacked into the ugliest cardboard snowman I've ever had the displeasure to lay my eyes upon. A mighty tower of babel where flies and fungi reigned like kings. And the stench. Urk. Boy was it ever impossible to put into words.
Yeah, you know what was worse than basking in a bacteria-riddled petri dish full of junk? The piercing animalesque noises that stuck with me like the flu. And this weird feeling of doom that crept into my spine. Accompanied by cold shivers that by no means meant anything good.
I mean, was this it? This was it, wasn't it?
I've lived my whole freaking life, only for my plug to be pulled like this? In my mid thirties of all moments? There was no way I could've predicted this gruesome and crude ending. When I woke up this morning, how was I supposed to know it was going to be the last day I... ... Ha.
Hahahaha! No, surely there was a way out of this one, right? There has always been a way out. Every time I faced adversity - and there's been a lot of adversity - I've always managed to find my legs and keep on going. So, given my unforgiving but consistent track record, this time had to be no different. It simply had to, because... because I refused to believe these were Gray Calx's final moments. I still felt largely unsatisfied with this life I've lived. I couldn't go; I was not ready to move on. I had... so many untapped projects I could've started. So much wasted potential that still hadn't had a chance to flourish. Unaccomplished life goals practically begging to be put into motion.
I didn't want to go.
Oh for the love of me, I did NOT want to go!
I mean... At least I had been allowed just enough time to do something good. I got to save Honey Dream right before I tossed myself into the gaping maw of death. At least... At least I did something right in my life. If only once. Maybe that counted for something? I sure hope it did, because I had nothing else to show for it! I had made so many bad decisions - really, REALLY bad decisions - but perhaps reuniting a mother and her only child was my magnum opus? Maybe there was solace to be had in knowing that, even if I wasn't going to be a part of their future, these two could carry on and live together happily. Could this have been the sole reason I had been allowed to exist in Equestria at all? Thirty years of aimlessly bumbling around, culminating in this one particular moment?
Heh. How fitting that I would perish alongside the trash in this crummy place. Right where I ultimately belonged. Almost poetic, wouldn't you say?
As I ungraciously faced my death like a total chicken, covering my head under my hooves with my eyes wide open - the exact same way Honey Dream's had been - it took me a moment to realize that the Ursa who wanted me gone so badly hadn't made their move yet. In fact, I could hear them growling from much further away now. Which means, uuuh... I wasn't... quite done yet? Ha!
I wasn't quite done yet! Oh lord have mercy on my soul, I still had a chance! Hahaha, take that, you stupid narrative! You can take my ticket out of here and shove it up where Celestia's sun don't shine! What else you got, huh? Come on, don't be shy: I'm eagerly waiting for your next move, here! Anything you can throw at me, I can take no biggie!
"Hello? Anypony in there?" Oh.
That... that voice.
WOW that voice. I hadn't heard it in so long. It came from somewhere close by. WAY too close for comfort, in fact. And make no mistake: It was addressing me directly. But holy moly, did it ever feel so weird. You think you remember somepony's voice so well until you hear it again, don't you? My mind had distorted and vilified her timbre so much in five years, it was shocking to realize that it sounded more... I dunno, more caring? Definitely more soft-spoken than the twisted image my mind created and came to believe.
And now it was my turn to retort? With uh, words and such? Give her the satisfaction of a "hi, wassup, how do you do?" ...
As unbelievable as it sounded, preconceiving my own death hadn't been the worst thing to come out of tonight's episode. I hadn't reached the bottom of the barrel yet. And with the bar constantly getting lowered, I don't know if ever will.
Zzz... urk!
Groan...
Waking up.
Feels like I've been sleeping for my entire life.
I oughta tell you guys, I had the weirdest fever dream. It involved a metric ton of injuries, a duo of bears, some kind of tower bell, a whole lotta panic, and I think Mr. Prospector may or may not have had a role throughout this whole malarkey. But that wasn't the worst part, oh nononono... Wanna know what - or rather, who the final boss of that nightmare was? Get this: It was plagued with the presence of my sis- I mean, cough, um, the princess of Friendship. Guess her name being dropped at my party two days ago really scrambled my paradoxical sleep for the worst, huh?
Yeah, by now, I think it would behoove me to stop pretending none of that happened. Oh it was real alright. Yesterday had been an absolute trainwreck of a day. A total travesty. Worst day of my life for sure. Weeeell, maybe not. It was up for debate.
But yeah. From the moment I came empty hoofed with rubies, all the way to my fateful encounter with the pony I despised most. I came dangerously close to exposing myself there, by the way. Five years of taking the most vigilant precautions, only for my efforts to almost be voided in an instant. I have no idea what I would've done if she and I came face-to-face. Probably fight and say a bunch of ugly things, I dunno. Maybe one of us would've strangled the other. At least we managed to avoid that disaster. So it's not like yesterday was all that bad, when you really think about it. Ha. Haha... ...
Where was I right now anyway?
I was prone on the floor, for one. It felt hard and displeasing; my poor ribs were sore all over. For some reason, I hadn't snuggled into the comfort of my bed. Or ANY bed, for that matter. A quick scan of my surroundings, and I could see I was in some sort of hovel. With poor decoration, barely any furniture, cracked walls that hadn't been caulked yet, a faulty drippy faucet, a tapestry that was quite passe, a picture frame of me, and- aw hell, it was my house, wasn't it?
Yup, home sweet freakin' home. Same ol' dump that could hardly justify my motherload of a mortgage.
I was by the entry door. In fact, my back was resting on it. Ooookay?
Luckily, I was slowly starting to half remember why I had chosen this particular spot to wait for the sandmare. See, after a bunch of circumstances totally outside of my control separated me from that witch of a princess, I had an important decision to make right there and then. With a minimal amount of musing, I concluded that I have had my fill. Enough was enough already. I was done.
I cheated death an unacceptable number of times. I was anxious, hungry, dehydrated, and drowning in emotional vomit. I still hadn't had a proper dinner, and I still hadn't tended to my fresh wounds. Plus, Twilight's nearby presence got me to think a lot. Unpleasant thoughts, I assure you. Rotted my brain to its very core.
So, taking that all in, I simply walked home. Limped home, in fact. Without meeting anypony else. Without checking if Honey Dream had made it to the Two Arches proper. Without verifying if my friends or anypony else were on the lookout for me. I just couldn't take it anymore, okay? I had reached my limit.
When I finally secluded myself indoors, I... I don't know why, but I felt the overbearing urge to block the door with my back, as if I feared that something would try to barge in. I felt safer garrisoned over there, playing the neurotic gatekeeper. A psychotherapist would've probably claimed that I was subconsciously trying to barricade my problems out of my home and, by extension, out of my life. Not a totally inaccurate diagnosis, but who the hay was I to evaluate my own condition, really.
Fear of the outside world or not, it's with my tail to the door that my consciousness went kaput. And I might've had an idea that could explain why my body went lights out as quickly as it did.
Yeah, remember how I said yesterday that "tomorrow would suck?" Well, we were now tomorrow, and it did indeed suck. It sucked! My joints ached, my bones felt hollow, and my skin was reduced to a fragile membrane. I mean, Saturday had been a test of endurance for sure. Physically taxing in ways even a well-built pony like me couldn't have anticipated. Or properly deal with, for that matter.
Which is why I think today was going to be spent at home, recovering. Maybe finally quieting my hunger and enjoy a copious brekkie with the remnants of my groceries. Have a lil' morning brew while I'm at it, hmmm. Don't wanna pat myself on the back too hard, but I kind of deserved it. Oh! And a hot bath! That also seemed like a good-
Knock knock knock!
-or I could just go buck myself.
Now, what kind of impolite provocateur had the guts to be disrespecting my privacy this early in the morning? After all, it was only 11 AM- whoops. I overslept. Not used to oversleeping.
Still! Who could be standing at my doormat? I wasn't expecting guests, especially on the very next day after a third of the town got torn to shreds. There were better things to be done over selling toothbrushes and vacuum cleaners. How utterly bothersome.
I hesitantly cracked the door open, letting the faintest amount of light in. Only my spying eyes could be seen from the dimmed interior.
"Howdy, neighbour!" boomed a voice on the porch.
Well, at least it wasn't a door-to-door salespony. And that's where the good news stopped. Trust me, those two energumens were equally as joyous and twice as annoying.
"Oh... Hello Mr. and Mrs. Blueberry," I said with a tinge of disappointment.
Blueberry Leather and Blueberry Strudel. He and she. Colored after their name and happily married for far longer than my time in Outer Grove. They acted as block captains for this section of the neighborhood, which put them in charge of ten residences or so. "Being in charge" more-or-less meaning that they kept the ponies under their jurisdiction up-to-date with new developments, alongside making sure that their lawn was trimmed to respectable lengths. You know, pointless garbo like this. But they sure took their role seriously. With such pride too. To each their own, I guess.
Blueberry Strudel had a knack for haute cuisine and could bake a mean loaf. The kind of mare to leave a steaming hot rhubarb pie by the windowsill. Geez, I hoped her bakery hadn't been Ursa'd to oblivion...
Blueberry Leather, meanwhile, was an interesting case. Unlike the rest of us, he was - get this - a pegasus. A dying breed in Outer Grove. His wings gave him the perfect biological advantage to be employed as a courier, delivering letters all across town. Since the mail rarely came in and out of Outer Grove (again, trains being a rare occurrence), he had to coordinate himself with the bigger cities to uphold tight schedules. Or something. I'm sure he did some "hard" bureaucratic work every now and then.
Anyway. These two were very bubbly ponies. Smiles permanently glued to their face. A typical "Double Income No Kids" couple who loved to insensitively flaunt about their many high-end personal possessions.
I didn't like them much.
"Oh it's so wonderful to see that you've made it out in one piece, deary!" said Blueberry Strudel with fake relief. Only to gasp a moment later. "But what happened to your head? Is that... is that blood!? My oh my, don't you just look so awful!"
"My juicy lil' berry is right! Neighbour, you look terrible! I mean, more than usual. Just... really, really terrible! Hahaha!"
Blunter than a mallet, these lovebirds.
"Yeah, thanks," I said, rolling my eyes. "How about this then? You tell me what you want, and in exchange, I promise not to slam my door shut in the next few seconds."
They both laughed together in an exaggerated fashion.
"Oh! Always the funny one, neighbour!" said Blueberry Leather, wiping a tear, right before elbowing me with wiggling eyebrows. "Totally makes up for your rather eeeehhh grotesque appearance, am I right?"
Sometimes, I wish I too wielded the power to banish ponies to the moon.
"But my hubby digresses. You do digress, don't you, my schweet tender berry?"
"I indeed digress!"
Uuuuggggh...
"Anyway," resumed the postpony, "me and the missus, as block captains, we're going from house to house to warn everypony that there will be a public heralding in approximately 30 minutes at the plaza. You too are of course invited to partake, neighbour!"
"Oh?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Lemme guess, it's going to be about yesterday's attack, am I right?"
They joined their voices in a big gasp.
"Yes, exactly!" said the wife. "Mayor De La Tour wants everypony to be aware of how we're going to handle the repairs, among other things."
"Neighbour, how did you know!?"
No, they weren't being sarcastic. They genuinely believed I had psychic powers to correctly guess the answer.
"I'm just that good, I guess," I mockingly replied.
"That you are, deary! That you are!" chuckled Mrs. Strudel, before clearing her throat. "We'd like for you to join the rest of us in half an hour, and- oh! Erm, I know you're a little bit of a... shall we say, unsophisticated fellow, but please, if you come with, do try to be on your best behaviour, deary! And clean that ugly scab off your forehead."
"That's right! We need to demonstrate to the princess of Friendship that we too are capable of having a refined culture here in Outer Grove, hahaha!"
Wow wow WHAT!
Okay, pause for a sec or two! The hay did that walking annoyance just say!?
"W-what do you mean...?" I said, looking left and right in paranoia. "She's still... She's still here?"
"A-yup!" proudly nodded the pegasus. "She's going to co host the assembly alongside the mayor. Oooh, aren't we so lucky?"
"SHE'S STILL HERE!?"
"Oh tsk tsk, deary. This is exactly the kind of abrasive reaction we want to avoid today," cringed Blueberry Strudel.
"H-how long? How long is she planning on staying?" I demanded with the worst possible expectations.
Mr. Leather tapped his chin. "Mmmmh, weeeell, if the rumors are to be believed, then she should be here for a week."
A whole week!? Like uh, seven days kind of deal?
Uh-uh! No way! Not happening! I wasn't going to bunker up in my house and live on canned greens like a hermit for that long.
It was too risky, all too risky. The longer she prolonged her trip in Outer Grove, the more likely she was to accidentally bump into me. Or figure me out. It only took one of my friends to spill the beans for her to debunk my ruse. As much as it pained me to admit, if there was one thing to be said about the princess, it's that she was way too clever for her own good. Her powers of deduction were something to be feared.
Oh Faust! What if someone tells her in great detail what I look like? What my CUTIE MARK looks like? I'd be caught in an instant. Even hiding in my house wouldn't do me any good when she can just blast the door off its hinges.
I needed to skip town. Immediately.
That was the only way. Spend a few days in a distant hostel, waiting for things to simmer down a little. Because if she ever finds out I exist around this corner of Equestria, then you bet she'll relentlessly hunt me down. When something's on her mind, she does NOT let go.
The neighbours, totally oblivious to my inner panic, stretched their necks a little too close to my face with big toothy smiles.
"Sooo, can we count on your presence?" they insisted together.
"NO! I mean, no- I mean... Sigh. Look, can you two keep a secret? I'm ah... working on a surprise for the princess! A big cool surprise, yup! So I won't be able to join today's seminar, darn. You understand, right?"
Blueberry Strudel put a hoof on her chest. "Oh my, absolutely! How generous of you, deary!"
"Our mouths are sealed, neighbour!" added her husband.
I scratched my mane. "In fact... Can you please tell anypony that you haven't seen me at all today, should they ask? That'd do me a major solid. You know. All in the spirit of the surprise, or whatever."
Together, they both imitated a Zipper pinching their lips shut. That's as good as it was going to get. I simply had no choice but to count on their goodwill.
... I was so doomed.
Operation "Escape Outer Grove" began around noon. I wasn't a sneaky pony, but I didn't need to be. At first, I tried to keep to the smaller, quieter roads to avoid drawing suspicion. I even employed the same back-alley Honey Dream had when she managed to escape a most terrible fate. You know, the one that I just couldn't reach no matter how hard I tried yesterday? Bit ironic, in a way.
... I hoped Honey Dream was okay. And Skybrush too, for that matter.
Skybrush... Good gravy, I had never seen her that broken before. Brrrrr. It has done nothing but haunt me ever since. Her beautiful visage was usually so radiant and warm. She and her daughter deserved nothing less than a happy ending. How I wish I could've personally checked on them, just to put my mind at ease. Just to verify that they were indeed alive and well. It's a damn shame I was in such a rush... ...
No, surely, they were fine. You're thinking too much again, Calx. Skybrush and Honey Dream were two strong ponies - way stronger than I was. They didn't need my needless foal-sitting.
Gotta focus. Outta here, chop chop!
Chastising these intrusive thoughts out of my mind, I doubled down on my progress. As I was saying before, being all ninja-like was a bit redundant. Why? Because there was little to no one in the streets. Everypony must've congregated at the plaza for that meeting the Berries yammered about. That seemed a bit too convenient to me, but hey, I'll take it.
Thus, travelling through Outer Grove has been a breeze. That even left me a bit more time to evaluate the destruction the town had been subjected to. It wasn't pretty, but it could've been much worse. A majority of the establishments only suffered minor structural damage. Some were a bit worse-off, but nothing a bunch of able-bodied ponies couldn't fix. Broken window panes could be easily replaced and streets could be swept clean in one afternoon. Heck, we had enough timber stockpiled around to rebuild a whole new town if we wanted to.
Moreover, the onslaught had been mostly contained within the surroundings of the clocktower, which turned out to be commercially zoned. This meant that the residential areas had been more or less left intact and, miraculously, not too many ponies had lost their homes. My neighborhood, for instance, was almost in pristine condition. Well, except for my house. Buuut this one was a feature, not a bug.
After a few more minutes of prancing alone, I finally made it to the train station. As expected, nopony was waiting on the elongated platform to hitch a ride. Though not nearly as expected, there wasn't a train waiting to depart. Ugh. Guess things could only go right to a certain extent.
Gotta admit, that was a bit strange. Usually, there was a passenger train present on Sunday mornings to bring back home the few tourists who travelled here for the week-end. Maybe those in charge caught ear of what happened to Outer Grove and decided to put their trains on hold as a contingency measure? Mmmh. A bit dubious. I mean, how could they have reacted this quickly? At the risk of repeating myself, the news did not travel in and out of Outer Grove in the span of a day.
And, you know, it's too bad, because contrary to other towns, this station didn't come with a ticket booth. The demand for commuting via train simply wasn't high enough to justify having one. Instead, the conductors themselves would handle the fees and manually collect the fares from pony to pony. A little bit of an archaic way to go about it, but sometimes, the traditional methods are the best.
Where I'm getting at is, there weren't a whole lot of ponies around here I could query to ask them how soon I could choo choo my way out of here. Except for those two male railroad workers on the tracks a little further up. The scruffy mustachioed ones under their striped hats. Hard at work, and potentially affable enough to appease a few of my enquiries. Maybe they knew something? They wouldn't be here if they didn't. Or something. Work with me here, people.
Well, my mind was set. Manual laborers were often chatty fellows, yes? I had nothing to fear, haha.
As I approached them, my nostrils flared up. Eww, what was that foul smell? The waft came from the left and- oh!
Would you look at that. Two barrels cooking under the midday sun. Completely filled with, you guessed it, expired oil. They're the ones that our pair of zany lumberponies brought out of the Two Arches halfway through my party. I almost forgot about their existence until, well, until two seconds ago. Heh, I wonder if those wooden drums knew what the rest of the town had to go through. I mean, look at these two rapscallions. Still standing, still filled up, still pretending nothing bad even happened. They've just been idly waiting, sharing a precious romantic date on the train platform, while WE were fighting for our lives a couple of steps away. They had no idea! No clue at all!
... Okay, can anypony explain to me why in the world I was personifying barrels full of bubbling waste? Didn't I tell myself to focus less than 10 minutes ago? Oh sweet Celestia, my mind. My poor, poor mind.
Erf. Alright then. Show time.
"Howdy," I said to the workers, "quite the day we've had yesterday, han?"
Welp, it's official: I was cringe.
"Hmmm," simply grunted the bulkier stallion.
And they weren't as chatty as I thought them to be. Great. Let's crank the awkwardness up a notch, why not.
I coughed in my fetlock. "Look, ummm, you two look busy, so I'll be quick: Do you happen to know if a train is scheduled to depart today?"
"No can do Sir," replied the politer half of the duo. "The tracks have sustained critical damage around the station and a little further up as well. Until we get that fixed, no trains can reach us."
"Oh... How long do you think the repairs will take?"
The big grouchy guy rolled his eyes. "Tche. With da piss poor material we's got, Imma says 'bout twos day. Probably threes."
Ahhhh nope. Not good enough. We had to do better than that. Anything short of today was a wrong answer.
"Well- what if I helped you guys?" I said, desperate for a way out. "I've assembled minecart tracks for the past five years, and I'm quite skilled when it comes to manual labor."
Grumpy pants exhaled in annoyance. "Ye well, unless youse can pulls an entire railroad outta dat purple mane o' yours, lad, youse ain't gon' do us much good."
Well youse gotta have more faith in me than that, my cranky friend.
"Yeah? That all? I've got this covered! Just give me aaaahh twenty minutes or so."
I galloped away with a clear plan in my mind. For once, I felt confident about the trick I was about to pull. The skinnier, gentler worker, however, didn't share the sentiment all that much.
"Wait- You know we can't pay you for this, right?" I heard him shout my way.
"I don't care. I'll happily do some volunteer work!"
Oh, don't get me wrong. I still felt like a sack of dung today. Yet somehow, the prospect of getting my hooves onto something I was good at was too good to skip. Being hard at work, to me, was a balm. No quicker remedy to heal up than getting into some kind of routine headspace. Mentally and physically. That sounded a bit paradoxical, sure, but trust me, I was right on this one.
"... Gee, that pony sure wants to get the hay out of here," I overheard Mr. Polite say to Mr. Grouchy.
Oh, you didn't know the half of it, brother.
As the sun slowly made its way across the sky, the valley became coated with all sorts of warm orange shades. Despite everything that's been happening to me - to all of us, I had to admit, it certainly was a pretty sight. I completely understood why Skybrush loved to paint these gorgeous shows of light so much. Her landscapes painted at dusk were always my favorites.
Once again, the passage of time left me rather famished. Felt like the daisy sandwich I hastily chomped on this morning had been digested eons ago. Knowing what I know now, I would've definitely packed a lunch.
Five hours. Took us five hours. Plus a thirty minute break; we were only ponies after all.
Still. That was a far shot from the initial two to three days estimate. I guess you could say that three earth ponies working hard and efficiently as a team was the right way to go about it. We hadn't been born with a natural talent for fixing stuff up for nothing, after all. Eventually, at long last, we deemed the job more or less done, and my new nameless buddies took that as their cue to leave. Sure, we could have refined our work a little better if we really wanted to, but it's not like we did the bare minimum either. I filed our efforts as passable, which, given my urgent desire for falling off the radar, was good enough for me.
By the way, you'll have to excuse me if I wasn't giving any juicier details about what went down during these five hours, because these jolly ol' fellows I worked with? Well, small talk wasn't their forte. That was quite alright with me. Like I said before, I vastly preferred to work alone. So in a way, we were all on the same page there.
The first thing I did to accelerate the repair work was to bring a crate of spare parts from my workplace. Remember? The one that gave me, as Mrs. Blueberry would so kindly put herself, "an ugly scab" when I accidentally used it as a landing pad? Turns out, metal beams for minecarts were compatible with the ones used for larger locomotives. Hurray for standardized parts! Even the rivets and everything would fit without complications. That got a rare smile out of me.
Before you ask, no, I still hadn't been caught during my back-and-forth to the quarry. It wasn't even that far, and it was located in a part of Outer Grove that didn't attract that much traffic, so I wasn't really worried. Plus, nopony was there today. Not only were we a Sunday - and y'know, who worked on a Sunday - but also, I'm pretty sure punching in was the last thing on everypony's mind after surviving yesterday's events. Well, except for the two repairponies, but they were the exception that made the rule.
And uh, yes. Technically, I did steal from Mr. Prospector.
Yeah I didn't really feel good about being a thief. But it was a strictly necessary crime. I'll just have to come clean, tell him that I was the culprit, and get the material deducted from my next few paychecks. Whatever. Getting screwed monetarily was worth it, it was so worth it, if it meant that I could dodge a one-on-one with a certain winged unicorn.
No idea when I could even contact Mr. Prospector next. I was going to miss a few work days, after all. Something extremely out of character for me. I owed him an explanation for my unexpected unreliability. I'll have to write him a letter and tell him that I had to take a temporary leave for a few days to deal with... I dunno, a last-minute funeral for a deceased uncle or something. Meh, not the most convincing excuse, but I'm sure I'll think of a proper lie on my way out.
Wow. Look at me. Stealing and lying to my boss. My boss!
What was happening to me? That wasn't me! I didn't do those things! I was losing it. Or myself. Or both.
All in the name of escaping our veneered royal envoy. Yeah, thanks! Thank you oh so very much!
She has done nothing but cause my grief! She turned me into this absolute mess of a pony who acted without thinking. Thanks to her, I had been reduced to a sorry excuse of my former self; that stallion who was once grounded and capable of using common sense. I was Gray Calx in name only at this point.
Thankfully, I could soon put all of my worries behind me. I was on the cusp of leaving. And the princess would be none the wiser, ha!
Mmmh? Who could be tapping on my shoulder right now?
I mean, I was just sitting on my haunches, politely waiting for a train just in case it decided to show up. I wasn't above pulling an all-nighter if need be. What's one night camping under the stars in the grand scheme of things, really? One thing was clear though: Returning home was off the board.
I mean... I wasn't doing anything wrong, was I? Perhaps I looked a little bit weird being all on my own on the boarding deck? But did that seriously warrant being poked by somepony? It's not like I was trespassing or anything! So who could possibly require my attent-
"Oh, hello Sunstone!"
Hello Sunst- Who the buck just called me by that name!? Whose skull do I have to crush!? ... ... Oh.
Oh okay then.
Sigh...
I suppose there wasn't any way to avoid the princess anymore when she was, y'know, standing right in front of my freaking face! With that big stupid hideous grin on her face.
So that's it then? That's... that's the way we reunited after all those years lost to time and regrets? Just like that!? Well pull the freaking curtains, everypony; show's over!
I always had a feeling that my past would catch up with me down the line, but I mean, today of all days? What was so special about today? I wasn't prepared for this! I didn't need to prepare because that situation never ever needed to happen!!
Maybe I tried too hard. Fleeing from the princess? What was I thinking!? Stupid me! I should've seen that it had been futile from the start. My whole life had felt that way, so why did I expect a different outcome today? In retrospect, it was rather obvious that she was magnetized to my exact longitude and latitude. I should've just given up, faced the music, and let fate have its way. Would've saved me a lot of time and effort.
Twilight Sparkle. The almighty princess of Friendship. Look at her. Still as dumb-looking as I remembered her. Dumb purple coat. Dumb navy mane. Dumb horn. Dumb wings- oh that's right, she had those now. Fancy pants, you.
"Say, have you seen a pony named 'Gray Calx' by any chance?" she asked, tilting her head. "I've been looking for him all over town for the whole day, but came empty hoofed. It's almost as if he went into hiding, hehe~."
"Uh... yeah... I think he went that way," I said with absolutely no emotions, shut up, I wasn't being emotional.
"Oh, thank you so much, Sunstone! You're a lifesaver!'" she smiled.
She strutted away, bobbing her head and humming to herself.
Three...
Two...
One...
The princess turned to ice, a hoof in midair. All I could see was her barrel inflating and deflating, faster and faster now, as hyperventilation started to nestle in her lungs. Her ears drooped and her whole body trembled in epileptic shivers. She stayed like this for a moment, until slowly, her neck turned back toward me with the puffiest and wettest of eyes.
Goodness gracious, I've seen some ponies ugly cry in my life, but this, this was monumental. A picture for the scrapbook for sure. With the snot dripping down her snout and everything. Choking on her own breath behind a symphony of hiccups and sobs.
"S-Sunstone...? You're... You're alive..."
Yes, but for how long?
And there you have it. The unforgiving hoof of reality finally slapping her in the face. Not with a bang, but with a whisper. Quite literally. Took her long enough.
I could already picture how the rest of the night would unfold. It was going to get... interesting, to say the least.
Looks like I've done it. The bottom of the barrel. I've finally reached it. How surprising to see it existed after all. |
Oxidized | Twilight: Looking for a Pony | "I do believe everything is in order, Mr. Gray Calx."
At long last, trust in the process paid off. It was done and over with. Officialised. Inked in records. Ready to be housed in a cozy little corner of the Canterlot archives. As soon as the royal scribe was done notarizing the form, the name change was now in effect and fully legal in the eyes of the Crown.
Gray Calx couldn't help but exhale in catharsis.
It had been a rough couple of days, but seeing that stamp of approval just had to make him smile ever so slightly. He was still boiling on the inside, mind you, but being the proud owner of a new name was the first of the many small victories he would allow himself to enjoy. Leaving the pony once known as Sunstone behind was the event horizon from which there was no turning back. The past was to stay the past, and there was no point in ever looking back to it. Sunstone might've brooded a lot, but Gray Calx only had his eyes on the future.
He had been ruminating on what was going to be his next move. After isolating himself for two days or so, tickets were bought, appointments were taken, a notice of resignation was issued, and a lot of packing was done. After waking up early this morning, with saddlebags carrying everything that needed to be carried, it was a trip straight to the castle.
Angry.
Gray Calx was angry. He had been nothing but angry ever since his mother unrolled that forsaken scroll. He thought himself capable of taking punches, especially after the whole Manehattan debacle, but in reality, he wasn't as resilient as he built himself to be.
His sister, his inspiring, remarkable, capable, hard-working, rousing sister, decisively not having had her fill with her impressive reputation, apparently took the liberty to go above and beyond. Bad enough that she had made an absurd number of friends not even a single day after emigrating to Ponyville, but as it turns out, she and her new ragtag gang felt the need to thwart a villain with unfathomable ease as a team bonding exercise. Saving Equestria so that everypony could live happily ever after, so said the scroll.
Had it stopped there, Gray Calx would've simply drowned his sorrows with a few gallons of liquor. Probably buck a couple of trees in his backyard to vent his frustration. But no. Twilight Sparkle, his little baby sister, had ALSO been crowned with one of the most honorific titles of all time.
She became what was known as an "Element bearer," acting as the official wielder of an all-powerful artifact; some kind of golden tiara with which she could channel an ungodly amount of magic. Said magic could purify some of the most disharmonious corruption in Equestria. It was mind-blowingly overpowered, really.
According to the letter, Twilight was the bearer of the Element of Magic, which was once believed to be lost and unrecoverable and yaddi yadda. Which made her, what, a superhero, or something?
His sister was a superhero.
And now, the whole of Equestria would know her name, chanting it in unison whenever she and her heterogenous crew of philanthropists would save the day. She was going to be a superstar enjoying an inconceivable amount of fame.
Gray Calx couldn't believe it. Of all ponies in the world to fit that role, why did it have to be her!? She was a scholar! A bookworm! A social outcast! These types of ponies stayed indoor and preferred to enjoy the quietness of a good library! She was already an academic prodigy; how in the world did a pony of her notoriety manage to pull that one off? Being brains AND brawns? Making friends? Becoming an Element bearer? Kicking the flank of the evil alter-ego of princess Celestia's sister? An alicorn at that too!?
How was she doing it? How did she keep doing it?
She had it all, and he still had nothing. The scales couldn't have been more tipped in her favor.
Just reminding himself of his sister's rise to celebrity reaffirmed Gray Calx's position. He had made the right call. He wouldn't tolerate living in a cramped bedroom anymore, moping and cursing at the world. He no longer wanted to hear her name, only to become explosive to anyone around him. It was too much to bear. There was no making sense of a life as the brother, one that had bungled his whole career, of a pony who not only represented the very essence of harmony in Equestria, but who also had princess Celestia's very name as a contact on her resume.
Gray Calx was fed up with this nonsense. He needed to disappear. Leave as far away as his remaining bits would allow him to travel. Put as much distance between him and his sister as he possibly could, leaving her sphere of influence for good. All in the hopes of never hearing the mere mention of her name EVER again. Hey, he wanted to find a new place to live, right? Might as well use this pivotal point in his life to claim a new spot as his own. A spot where the news of Twilight's countless exploits would have trouble reaching.
And Gray Calx knew just the place to defect to.
A small mountainside village far and deep into the Undiscovered West. He had learned about it when he was still working at the Equestrian Geological Association in Manehattan. Near the end of his time over there, there was a lot of office gossip about a brand-new railroad being connected to this hamlet. There were prospects of contacting an independent mining company over there to form a partnership with the EGA before their private competitors could put their greedy hooves on them. Sadly, discussions fell through when the project was deemed a bit too unprofitable, mainly due to the distance.
They called that place Outer Grove.
It was far, relatively unknown, dirt cheap, and full of unextracted minerals. And best of all: Gray Calx was dead sure that his sister didn't know about that place at all. This was perfect!
The only thing that would explain his departure to the few ponies who still somehow foolishly cared about his whereabouts was a note he hastily wrote right before leaving, the one he left on the work desk of his bedroom. Whether they understood, let alone cared about his decision, at this point, Gray Calx couldn't care less. What was done was done.
"Mr. Calx, are you okay?" asked the scribe behind his silver desk. ...
He coughed at the nonresponse. "Ahem. Mr. Calx?"
"... Who, me? Oh!" He slapped a hoof on his forehead. "S-sorry about that! I was thinking about, uh, stuff, and I'm still not used to... well, you know..."
The chestnut unicorn scribe chuckled. "Oh, I do! We don't have many name changes here in Equestria, but the few of them I've notarized, they pretty much all went the same way."
"Heh. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it," Gray Calx said, rubbing his neck. "Well, I appreciate what you've done for me today. It was worth every bit, lemme tell you. So you have yourself a wonderful day."
The two of them respectfully nodded at each other, and with that, Gray Calx readjusted his saddlebags and made his way to the big golden double doors of this hall.
Weird place to do some bureaucratic stuff, he thought. It was his first time ever going inside of the castle, and Gray Calx would've sincerely preferred for it to have stayed that way. He didn't like being closed in by these wealthy walls. Somehow, he didn't feel at ease being in such a grand place, like he didn't belong or something.
Not to mention, he had been a teensy bit lost at first. Thankfully, he had been redirected to the right place, but now, the goal was to find his way back without bothering another guard. Again, strange that he had to go this far into the castle only to sign a couple of papers.
And in such a luxurious room too. Having worked with number crunchers in Manehattan, he expected a small and modest office, a typewriter, and a file cabinet. Nothing more, nothing less. But as with the rest of Canterlot, of course, everything had to be encrusted with jewels and plated with gold. Ooh la la.
Still, he could've almost sworn that this had the allure of a throne room. Bizarre, right? Getting a name change in a large, prestigious, and empty throne room. That's a fever dream if he's ever had one. The red carpeted platform elevated in the back, the large stained-glass windows, the almost mirror-like reflective floor, the columns, the murals... It was all so regal.
Bah. Ridiculous. What did he know about castles, really? The procedure was probably a standard one. He had done what he set out to do. Now was not the time to rock the boat and dwell on-
"Oh, excuse me my little pony, but do you happen to be Sunstone, by any chance?"
He wasn't even three steps away from the desk when a soft female voice begged his pardon from behind. And it didn't sound at all like the scribe he just chatted with.
"Yeah no, this is Gray Calx. Sunstone left; I'm afraid you've just missed him," he replied dismissively, a bit annoyed at having been recognized by someone.
Wait.
Recognized by someone?
Gray Calx turned around to shed some light on this little mystery, and...
"My apologies, I wasn't aware. I will now refer to you by your proper name, Gray Calx," said... said...
Said princess Celestia.
Her. In the flesh.
As radiant and as beautiful as she had always been portrayed. For the first time in 28 years, Gray Calx not only found himself standing in the same room as Equestria's ruler, but also, engaging in a conversation with her. He had never even seen her before, save for pictures in books and newspapers.
They weren't lying when they said that the princess' mane was mesmerizing, stunningly undulating in the ambient air in a show of pastel and glitter, like a never-ending aurora. Her horn was another impressive set piece, something that left Gray Calx completely awestruck. And her height! He was used to be the tall one, but here, he felt positively dwarfed.
He couldn't help himself but remain silent. For some reason, his brow was furrowed, as if he was trying to puzzle out what was happening. His lack of reaction made the princess softly chuckle, like she caught him red hoofed or something. She used this quiet time to dismiss the scribe with a silent movement of the head, and the latter complied, immediately disappearing through a service archway in the back.
Gray Calx swallowed dryly. Now was not the time to make a vow of silence.
"Uh... yeah, don't sweat it. You can call me Sunstone if you'd prefer. I'm not used to the change anyway."
Then, he widened his eyes. What the HAY was he doing!? Addressing royalty as if they were equal? What kind of impolite etiquette was that?
"B-but where are my manners!" he backpedaled, offering a distinguished bow, his forehead a few centimeters off the ground. "I send you my most sincere and warmest salutations, princess of the sun."
"Why thank you, my little pony. This is very much appreciated. I would also like to return greetings of my own, Sunstone," she said, choosing his former name after all. "However, you need not be so servile. I have on good authority that a student of mine has blood ties with you, and seeing as this is nothing more than a casual meeting, we can take a more relaxed approach if it puts you more at ease," she smiled.
Gray Calx considered the offer for a moment. Only three sentences in, and he could tell that she was practically oozing with wisdom, being well-spoken, caring, and benevolent. However,
"Um... if it's the same with you, princess, I'd like to stay formal."
The one and only stock phrase, making its triumphant return.
Princess Celestia nodded, understanding. "If this is how you wish to proceed, then it shall be so."
She took a couple of shy steps forward, approaching him ever so slightly. Gray Calx, meanwhile, backed away slowly, ogling the door behind him. His only realistic way out of this place. It was good practice to spot the emergency exits, just in case things got too heated.
"You'll have to excuse me for jumping directly into it, but do you have a few minutes or so to spare, Sunstone? There are a couple of subjects I'd like to personally address with you, and I would love to understand your perspective on them. Is now a good time?"
While she tried her best to stay as polite and as approachable as she could, Gray Calx couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. He didn't understand why he felt so tense. Was it because she was an indestructible alicorn? Because she was at the top of the royalty chain and he was low level scum? Because she had the home field advantage in this castle? Because she was the one who personally picked his sister and put her on a path to success? Because she was not at all how he pictured her in his cynical mind?
Or was it because, for some reason, it felt like she had set up this encounter?
"A-actually, uh, I was just about to leave. Heh. Gotta go catch a train, so I really oughta skedaddle if I don't wanna miss it. You know how it is. Sooooooo... yeah. Ta ta~!" Gray Calx mumbled incoherently.
He didn't wait for a response and started walking toward the doors. Suddenly, a gold aura encompassed the handles on both sides, and the doors closed themselves shut. Not abrasively or anything, just with a muffled thud. But surprising enough to make him freeze in place, turn his head around, and blink incredulously at the princess.
"... Please?" she insisted, with a guilty smile. "Just five minutes?"
"Well, when you put it that way, your highness, how can I say no?" he said.
No, seriously, how can I say no!? sarcastically added his brain.
The princess, relieved to have won him over (albeit a bit forcefully), sat on her haunches to reduce the height discrepancy between the two of them. Talking at eye level was a good social norm, after all.
"Thank you, and I do apologize for putting your tight schedule in jeopardy; I'll try to be as brief as I can. But knowing you had an appointment booked for today, I simply could not miss the opportunity to finally meet you for the first time. I have been looking for this moment for quite a while now, you know."
Gray Calx cocked an eyebrow. "Wait a minute. You knew I was going to make a detour to the castle today? How?"
"Believe it or not, but a lot of paperwork tends to end up on my desk," she said, again, without an ounce of malice.
Obliviously, she took this with a comedic approach, and yet, Gray Calx's sense of doubt kept growing. Time to put it all on the line. Nothing like a good 'j'accuse!'
"Did you... did you lure me to you?" he asked point blank.
The princess playfully laughed at the idea, shaking her head all the while. "I did no such thing, Sunstone. After all, it was you who took an appointment with one of my public servants. I did, however, pull a few strings to ensure that you and I could at least be allowed to have a private moment where we could calmly converse without outside interference. Oh! Speaking of which, tea?"
The princess conjured a teapot out of thin air, ready to be served. There were even two little porcelain cups on saucers floating by its side.
"Um, I appreciate the offer, but no thanks, princess."
One of the cups vanished in a magical poof, while the other was already in the process of being filled up with a jasmine tea that, Gray Calx had to admit, permeated a delicious flowery aroma. When princess Celestia floated the cup to her lips, savouring the flavors with her eyes closed, Gray Calx decided to double down on his suspicions.
"So, n-not that I want to sound accusatory or anything, but would I be venturing a wrong guess if I claimed that you relocated my rendezvous to be held further inside of the castle? Possibly closer to where you usually operate?"
"Very perceptive, my little pony. You are as observant as your sister led me to believe. That is indeed what I have done - with no ill intents, I assure you."
Gray Calx found that completely otherworldly. What was so interesting about him that warranted such special treatment? Wasn't princess Celestia an incredibly busy pony? Why would she ever bother herself with a nopony like him? He needed clarifications.
"But... why? Why go through all that trouble only to talk with me? S-shouldn't there be a day court being held here at this time of the day, or something?"
"Normally, you'd be correct. There would be a lineup of ponies where you stand. However, these are some unpreceded times, and the day court is adjourned for the next few days while we are in... a readjustment phase."
"Readjustment phase? What do you mean by that? If uh, I'm not speaking out of line."
"Familial affairs, mostly. The majority of which caters to princess Luna, my dearest sister, given her recent return to Equestria." Oh.
Yeah, that oughta do it.
"She has been reinstated as a ruler, and this new diarchy is subverting a lot of the structures we have in place in our current governance. However, and more importantly, this downtime isn't just about parliamentary reorganization... I am also to be here for Luna on a personal level. I want nothing more than to help her adapt to her new environment, and I cannot in good faith handle the day court with her well-being clouding my judgement. I want what's best for both my sister and for my little ponies."
Amidst everything happening lately, Gray Calx sort of forgot about the princess' recent reunion with her long-lost sister. The two of them had a lot of catching up to do after a thousand years of being apart. That was one heck of a reason to put her court on hiatus.
"For what it's worth, princess, I'm sorry about all of this. I cannot imagine what this felt like."
"Actually, this is sort of why I wanted to talk with you, Sunstone. As far as I understand, you may very well be on your way to share the pain that I've been through, and this isn't something that I would wish on anypony."
Ah. There it was. The meat of it all. Gray Calx was beginning to understand where this was going, and he didn't relish the idea of hearing an essay explaining what he was doing was "wrong" and "immoral." For once, he'd like to be in the pilot seat and take control of his life however he wanted to. And he was so close to achieving that too! To think that the princess herself would be the last obstacle he encountered...
"... Whatever do you mean, princess?" he asked, squinting ever so slightly.
The princess took another sip, preparing to fully lay on the table the core of her enquiries.
"To answer your question, I'd like to formulate one of my own. Ever since I took your sister under my wing, not once have I seen you present for any of her graduation ceremonies, award showcases where she performed greatly, or even as a guest for the invitations I have forwarded to you and your family. May I ask why that is?"
"I've been busy," he replied without hesitation.
"Yes, your sister has said as much to justify your absences," she said, not entirely convinced.
"Tough to get by in Canterlot," Gray Calx shrugged with a tinge of sarcasm.
He didn't have the courage to bring up the topic of classism directly to the princess. That would open up a whole new debate and boy did he not have the time for that. That train to Outer Grove wouldn't wait for him if he showed up late. And he had to depart today, especially since his goodbye letter might've been discovered by now. Delaying the unavoidable was not to be tolerated.
"Sunstone... Do you know how I've come to learn of you?" resumed princess Celestia.
Gray Calx had an inkling, but he preferred to remain silent.
"Simply put, Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, has had a lot to say about her older brother. The one I've never had the pleasure to meet. As far as I could tell, she truly holds you in high regard. We've discussed your case many times, and she's been nothing but highly defensive of your interests, claiming that not only were you an incredibly talented pony, but also a major source of inspiration for her."
"Funny, your niece Cadance said something similar to me a decade or so ago."
"But," she continued, "whenever she praised you, I've always perceived undertones of melancholy in her voice. She could never admit it, but I've lived long enough to tell that something was off with my dearest student. From what I've gathered over the years of teaching her, your sister has been saddened that no matter how hard she tried to bond with the pony she idolized, she constantly felt rejected by him. Which, in turn, led her to believe that she needed to try harder to earn his respect. And yet, despite everything she did to get his attention, it was never sufficient; she would never be good enough to make him proud of her."
Gray Calx swallowed these words like someone threw a brick at him.
"I do not mean to pry, but this brings me to my main point: Sunstone, is there a feud going on between the two of you?" concluded princess Celestia. "Perhaps some kind of sibling rivalry that ignited years ago and spiraled out of control?" ...
"It's... It's complicated, princess," said Gray Calx, looking down at his front hooves.
What has gotten him so fed up to begin with? He had many, many reasons to feel resentful, yet somehow, he had trouble articulating any of them. It's as if, when it came time to finally explain his existential dread, he couldn't do it properly, effectively blanching on the spot. Has he gotten so far deep into the rabbit hole that he forgot what had made him upset in the first place?
No, of course not! That was preposterous! He was a logical and fact-based pony; he didn't act irrationally on the basis of strong emotions alone. He would not have simmered in a snowball of repressed feelings and bided his time for 28 long years in the failing case.
Another sip of tea defied the newfound quietness. Gray Calx had to say something to the princess. But what? He could've retold his whole life story from the very beginning. Or explained how sucky it was to feel lesser than nothing. Or argued that constantly being juxtaposed to two extraordinary ponies he had to coexist with for the larger part of his life had totally killed his drive.
Instead, all he managed to do was formulate one very simple question.
"... Why her?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why her? Why Twilight?" he said, his fragile emotive state starting to crack at the seams. "Of all ponies, why did you pick my sister specifically to be your protege? It could've been anypony! What was so... fascinating about her that made her fit for that role? What did you see in her? I don't... I don't get it..."
He finally looked back up, but the princess didn't feel like interrupting. If Gray Calx had something to say, now was the time, and she was fully intent on letting him steer that ship.
"It's just, it put her on such an incredible path. Everything good in her life cascaded from that one decision, and it has made me feel miserable ever since. I mean, if it weren't for that, she would never have become an Element bearer."
"And never have saved my sister," clarified a stoic Celestia.
Gray Calx bit his lip. This conversation was becoming dangerous. "Maybe somepony else would have risen to the occasion. Maybe somepony who too deserved a chance at success in life for a change."
"Somepony like you, perhaps?"
Gray Calx simply stared at her, now taking his turn to remain voiceless.
"Sunstone, is it possible that you may be a little bit envious of your sister?" asked the princess.
Well, was he?
Was he envious of Twilight Sparkle?
"How could I not!?" he finally admitted. "I mean, I don't want to yank the carpet from under her; her victories are not without merit, but how is that supposed to make me feel? I had to work every single day of my life to obtain something semi-decent, and I'm still living a below-average life, with a crappy job, broken dreams, and a ton of debt to tie it all in. Meanwhile, she's Equestria's next big thing, surrounded by friends, and has you to personally watch her back. She's happy and I'm not, so of COURSE I'm jealous!!"
Gray Calx was riled up, which was a stark contrast with the princess who had remained calm the entire time. Perhaps he should've accepted some of that soothing tea after all.
"You know," resumed the princess, as poised as ever, "my own sister felt the same way about me a long time ago. Seeing that you are echoing her bottled-up sentiments is... difficult to digest. I don't believe I need to give you a reminder as to what happened next."
He tche'd. "Okay, well, you don't need to worry about that. I'm not about to go full villain mode and seek revenge or anything; that's just plain stupid and a waste of everyone's time. Absolutely asinine! ... N-no disrespect meant to princess Luna, of course! No, really, I just want to go someplace far away, someplace where I'll be free to do my own thing. Someplace where Twilight and the rest of my family won't constantly remind me how bloody useless I am!"
The two of them just stared at each other, with the built-up tension slowly deflating. Gray Calx, for a moment, forgot who he was talking to. His cautious and prudent stance from before had all but vanished. It was concerning to realize how little it took to get him going.
"Thank you, Sunstone," the princess said, her candid expression never leaving her face. "Thank you for giving me your side of the story. I believe I have a better understanding of the situation, thanks to your input."
"You're... thanking me? What for? For losing my cool and raising my tone at you? You of all ponies!? How many protocols did I just infringe, by your estimate? Enough to send me to jail?"
She laughed at the amusing, if a little straightforward pleasantry. "You won't need to worry about these sorts of things, trust me. And of course I'm thanking you! As crazy as it may sound, insightful conversations like these have become a rarity in my life. Nothing like a heated debate with clashing viewpoints to keep your mind healthy and active. And while I haven't known you for very long, you have given me sufficient material to see you as a particularly sharp, astute, and intelligent pony."
Wowzah, flattery much? smirked a silent Gray Calx.
"That being said, I too would like to say my piece. Will you give me the privilege?"
And now she's asking for my permission? What kind of game is she playing? pondered his brain.
"With great pleasure, princess," his mouth instead replied.
She nodded, dematerializing her cup after emptying it.
"I truly mean no offense, but it is my opinion that you may be a little bit misguided. Your overachieving and independent nature is commendable, my little pony. Working hard and having a strong desire for success are virtues everypony should strive for. But ultimately, this is not what makes a pony, a pony. True happiness comes from within, not with prestige.
"Your family, while certainly very proud of your goal-oriented attitude, doesn't display unconditional love because of what's written on your diploma or because of your desire to prove yourself to them; rather they enjoy your company through a strong sense of kinship they naturally share with you. I cannot stress how important and how powerful these ties are. These are the ponies who have your best interests at heart, upholding them without ever asking anything in return. It's a testament to having each other's back when the world turns sour.
"Sunstone, you are not useless. Nor are you a burden on your family. You are a unique, wonderful asset who renders everypony around you incredibly proud. Twilight loves you; she couldn't love you more if she tried. The same applies for captain Shining Armor, Spike, and both of your parents. They always have, and always will. No matter how you choose to dictate your life."
Gray Calx's heart jumped when an unexpected noise from behind reverberated in the echoey throne room. A quick turn of the head, and he noticed that the exit doors were opened once more, with the golden glow surrounding them waning away.
"You have an important choice to make, Sunstone. I won't interfere with whatever may come next. Likewise, I promise that I will keep this encounter between the two of us a secret. If only because it is not my place to force life lessons on you; only you can figure them out at your own pace. And so, whether you decide to jump in that train or to stay in Canterlot rests on your shoulders alone. I can only implore you to choose wisely, my little pony."
Gray Calx understood where the princess' concerns came from. After all, she just reunited with her sister, and he was about to lose his. This parallel didn't go over anypony's head. However, there were a lot more variables at play here. It went beyond simply being isolated far away from those he grew up with, be it in the Undiscovered West, or on the moon.
From her perspective, she saw an irate little pony who was putting himself on a Nightmare Moon-esque journey to villainy. From his perspective, he saw an opportunity to have a better chance at life and to find true happiness.
But who was right?
"I... I have only one life to live, princess. And it won't last a thousand years," he finally said, ashamed, backing away through the doorway. "I have... I have to make it count."
Sunstone really would have wanted more time to think about it. Unfortunately for him, Gray Calx already bought a one-way ticket out of there.
What is the root cause of that friendship problem?
Such was the question that lived rent free in Twilight Sparkle's head ever since she woke up to seize the day. Luckily, it hadn't been enough of a hindrance to keep her awake all night; quite the contrary, in fact. As she quickly found out when she stretched herself out of bed early this morning, she had slept like an angel. She didn't realize it the evening before, but that suite where she dozed off was not too shabby! The bed was plush, the walls were properly soundproofed, and the water pressure in the adjacent bathroom exceeded her expectations. Quite the revitalizing morning indeed!
Sweet Pint, her appointed hostess, wanting to make up for the unsatisfactory state of her inn/bar yesterday evening, was already in the process of sweeping the floor when the princess emerged from the second floor. But the cherry on the sundae was the bountiful breakfast the barmare had already prepared for her. A real cornucopia of fruits and pastries. She did substitute her breakfast stout with a glass of freshly pressed orange juice, though. It was, all in all, a very charitable gesture, and the princess offered Sweet Pint her compliments. Though the brassy earth pony would've denied it, Twilight could've sworn she saw a blush.
It's between two bites of her cantaloupe that the princess began to think about how she'd approach this unresolved friendship problem. Somehow, she had the growing suspicion that this one, not unlike her cantaloupe, was going to be a juicy one. Indubitably, investigating was going to be in order.
And investigating she did. She took off to the sky around 9 AM, right after passing by that decorated column that still made something itch in the back of her mind. Those three ponies and that one sphere were practically taunting her by this point.
The first place she snooped around was the big clearing she spotted yesterday evening. More than ever did she believe that this was the inception of yesterday's disaster. She even found the proof she needed. Everything checked out with the books she read about Outer Grove's dangerous fauna, and how easily disturbed it could be. The fine balance between ponies and Ursas had been disrespected. Could this have been related to the friendship problem somehow? It was her best (and only) lead thus far.
A trip to the mayor's office to relay her findings, and she found out that a gathering in the plaza an hour or two later had been organized. Mayor De La Tour even insisted for the princess to join him on stage, saying that it would be "a good PR stunt after the Ursa incident." She agreed on the spot; these ponies deserved to know that the Crown hadn't forgotten about them. Not only would she be in a good position to hear the townsfolk's suggestions and/or concerns, but also, having them crowded in one place would make it easier for her to spot those who had an ongoing conflict between them. A friendship conflict, dare she say.
Which brought us to now. Here on this wide linear podium, surrounded by hundreds of ponies, stood the princess, accompanied by her two bodyguards, Sterling Plume and Hasty Flail. The mayor, still dressed as unfashionably as ever, was a little ahead, a megaphone in his hoof. He had done an excellent job upping the morale of his town. He may have been on the older side of things, and his periodic coughs were a little distracting, but the princess could totally see that this stallion displayed an immense amount of care to his citizens.
"... And furthermore, my dear Outer Grovians, it is with infinite relief that I bring you the best news of all: No casualties arose from yesterday's events!" the mayor proudly declared.
Hooves stomping and acclaims filled up the valley from every direction. Twilight couldn't help but grin from ear to ear; this was news to her as well. What an immense weight off her shoulders knowing that the worst had been avoided!
"Indeed," so continued the motivating speech, "our patrolling teams combed the town clean through the entire night, and in conjunction with our devout block captains who took a thorough headcount this morning, our census of ponies is 100% accounted for, meaning, we all made it through this disaster alive and well. A true miracle, if I do say so myself!"
Face away from his voice-enhancing apparatus, the good mayor fell into another coughing tantrum. Twilight hoped that he wasn't overworking himself. Like the captain of a vessel, his passion and strive to reassure those who looked up to him for guidance was exemplary, but he wasn't exactly a young stallion anymore. Yet, despite her concerns, after clearing his throat, the mayor went back in full force.
"As for the town itself, the repairs have already begun and are concentrated on the areas that currently need it most."
He took a couple of frail steps forward, a hoof panning in front of his face. He raised his chin, a glint of hope sparkling in his gray irises.
"Look around you, my little ponies. Our wonderful historical plaza has been trashed beyond recognition. The clocktower, once proudly overlooking this crossroad where flea markets and street performers proliferated, now casts a gloomy shadow over debris and demolished infrastructures.
"Luckily, we have dedicated teams on the case, and they told me with great assurance that Outer Grove would be back on its hooves within two weeks at most. You, my dearest citizens, are of course invited to pitch in with some volunteer work of your own to accelerate that deadline. For those interested, a list depicting various tasks has been pegged on what's left of the public bulletin board."
This went on for a while. Explanations following more explanations. Solutions for every single inquiry coming from the attentive audience. Everything on the basis of bringing some peace of mind to the local population. Mayor De La Tour wanted nothing more than to explore every nook and cranny of today's meticulous planning. No stones were left unturned, no questions were left unanswered. A complete and refined Q and A, Twilight had to admit.
Then came the time for the special thanks part of the convocation. A yellow doctor she half recognized who went by the name of Dr. Stethorsecope was the first on the list of many. Apparently, so confirmed the mayor, he had been hard at work tending to the wounds of the many victims who required his medical assistance. The crowd turned to him and applause arose again in his honor, which, for some reason, made him giggle like a maniac. Bizarre tic, the princess thought, but oh well.
Sweet Pint was also highly praised for her role in hiding a myriad of ponies in the basement of her establishment, though she had to be excused for not being here at the moment. Twilight knew for a fact that the busy mare couldn't delay her cleaning any longer, so she sort of understood why she took a rain check.
The two royal guards were mentioned next. They inched forward, bowing to another wave of cheers. Twilight was immensely grateful for their presence as well. Without them, she most likely would've failed at repelling the Ursas. It truly was a team effort.
"But perhaps most of all," segued the mayor, "our flawless survival rate was not and could not have been achieved without external help. For those who didn't have the pleasure of witnessing it themselves yesterday evening, a guardian has been sent to us and has played a critical role in forcing the enemy away. It arrived in the form of our majestic and fearless ruler; ladies and gentlecolts, I want you all to give your warmest welcome to our strongest line of defense, the heroic beast tamer, the one and only: Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
If the princess thought that the enticed crowd was loud before, now, they were giving their 110. Many decibels worshiping her name, the exact same way they had yesterday evening.
To think that for a moment, she had the nagging feeling that they would scoff at her presence, hurt by the fact that they have been left in the shadows for so long. But now, it was clear that her worries were for naught. These ponies weren't angry; they were thrilled to have her here. Once again, her all-too-familiar Twilightisms made her play a bunch of scenarios in that overthinking head of hers for no good reason.
She approached the edge of the podium. The mayor hoofed over the megaphone to the princess, but she politely declined. Instead, she preferred to use a spell she taught herself shortly after Luna made her first visit to Ponyville after her return. Voice enhancing cantrips were quite handy indeed. Casting it in a jiffy, it made a little amoeba of purple throb around her neck. Her vocal cords were ready to be heard.
"Thank you everypony, thank you very much," she said with a booming tone. "This warm reception is very much appreciated! It's just... It's so much to take!" she sheepishly admitted. "But I really am happy to be here. I just wish it was under happier circumstances, h-heh!"
A tide of chuckles emerged from the crowd. Twilight smiled and carried on.
"Hopefully though, today marks the first of the many visits I'll be making here. I solemnly take the engagement of making it happen! No longer will you wonder where your princesses are, and Equestria will not turn a deaf ear to your demands anymore: The silent treatment stops today!"
And there they went again, whistling and raising hooves in the air, completely enthralled by her rousing speech. The Mayor even nodded, quite satisfied to see that the princess had their back in these trying times. Hope was in the air; she could practically smell it.
"Just like your brilliant Mayor," the princess went on, "I too would like to forward a few appreciative notes. That's right: It would be brutally dishonest to say that I worked alone when those Ursa Minors were sent packing. Sterling Plume and Hasty Flail have had my back the entire time, and I owe them immensely for their loyalty. Oh! And also, before I forget: Shoutout to the bellmaster who rang the clocktower. Whoever that pony was, they saved me a lot of time, and if it weren't for them, things could've been much worse."
"That would be me!"
Ponies turned their heads around. Behind them, a stallion well in his 50's approached the scene. He was wearing a big white hat, a brown vintage vest, and sported a well-groomed orange mustache. A typical stallion of the land, immediately figured the princess.
Splicing through the crowd with a determined demeanor, he arrived at the base of the stage with his head angled up.
"Mr. Gold, your highness, that's my name," he said, bowing. "Town prospector and forepony in charge of the mining and logging industry. I'm the one who rang that bell and put the town on high alert."
Twilight jolted with surprise. "Oh! Well, um, in that case let me-"
"But," he raised a hoof, "I didn't do it alone!"
She decided to stay silent, eager to know where this was going. Mr. Gold's attention, meanwhile, switched to the old pony under that ridiculous top hat.
"Mayor De La Tour, I'm sorry, but ye forgot to mention someone on that congratulating list o' yours, eh?"
"Oh? I do apologize if that truly is the case," the mayor said in his metallic cone. "Who would I be missing, my boy?"
"Why, Gray Calx, of course! Remember? The stallion we all drank in the name of two lil' nights ago? He did a mighty lot, and I think he deserves proper credit for his role. After all, he's the one who spotted the two Ursas before anypony did. He even went and hurt himself helpin' me warn the town about it."
"Oh, oh, heheheheeee! And he also wanted to save the ponies who were totally lost during the attack," added the town doctor. "Calx pitched the idea of helping them find shelter while the rest of us were ready to hide and do nothing about it!"
"He saved the life of my daughter," now followed a... well-fed mare with a small pony pouting on her back. "If it weren't for him, I... I don't know what would've happened to my sweet lil' baby," she nuzzled her, the emotions starting to strangle her again.
The princess rubbed her jaw, pensive. There was that name again! 'Gray Calx.' The one etched on that banderole back at the Two Arches. The one that she just couldn't place back no matter how hard she tried.
Who exactly was that mysterious fellow?
Well, if this round of devotion was any indication, he sure seemed revered around these parts. A local hero, perhaps? It was great to see that, even so far away from the capital, some ponies rose to the call, ready to serve and protect. Not for the glory, but because it was the right thing to do.
Ponies like this Gray Calx guy sure made her job easier. It was amazing to know she had unknown allies she could trust. Well, maybe not 'unknown' for much longer: She was interested in meeting the chap and letting him know that the Crown was proud to have protectors of his caliber keeping Equestria out of trouble.
As she thought about this, the mayor, meanwhile, fumbled a bit, learning of Calx's exploits at the same time the princess did.
"W-why um, of course! I totally was going to mention him next and absolutely did not forget to jot down his name on my list." He awkwardly cleared his throat, "Gray Calx, where are you, my friend? You too deserve a round of applause, I reckon!"
Ponies started to stomp their hooves for the nth time, but the movement faded away rapidly. They hesitantly looked around in all directions, unsure where they should even aim their praise. It soon became clear that nopony who identified as Gray Calx wanted to take the spotlight.
"You're all wasting your time. He's not here..." grumbled the orange filly on the big mare from earlier.
Her mom, alongside the rest of the town, twisted their neck and looked at her. "W-what? Honey Dream, sweetie, what are you-"
"He's not here! He's not here, okay!?" she barked, visibly angered, right after jumping off her mother's back. "I looked for him but couldn't find him!"
The mother, a bit embarrassed, tried to calm her down. "H-Honey, please, not now... N-not in the middle of-"
"No! Mom, he promised! He promised he'd see me again! But I haven't seen him since we split up yesterday, after I... After I..." She shook her head, trying to flick the bad memories away. "He promised he would see me later, he said he would, but he didn't!" She lowered her head, heartbroken. "He didn't..."
Before tears came to her eyes, the large mare embraced her gently, rubbing a hoof on her back.
"It's okay my sweet lil' Honey, shhhh..." she murmured in a reassuring tone, trying to defuse her worries. "I'm sure he's ok. Nothing bad happened to uncle Calx. He's a tough pony."
Mayor De La Tour, feeling nothing but empathy for this sorrowful filly, took back control of the situation. "Well, worry not, little Honey Dream. And you too, Mrs. Skybrush. If it makes you feel any better, his block captains have registered his presence at his dwelling this morning, and so, even though he doesn't appear to be with us today, I can at least certify that he is indeed very much still breathing."
Honey Dream lifted her quivering chin, her lower lip pursed with two sad eyeballs peering in his direction.
"W-well... Then it's even worse! That means he lied! Why would uncle Calxie lie to me!? He would never break a promise he made to me, I know he wouldn't...!"
It's at this moment that Twilight Sparkle had a stroke of genius. A pony not living up to a promise they made to a friend? One of them being MIA and the other feeling cheated?
Huzzah! Now THAT, that had 'friendship problem' written all over! The princess finally had something to work with. She knew this public meeting would pay off, she just knew it, haha!
Sompeony subtly elbowed her.
"Pssst, princess?" quietly said Sterling Plume. "You really shouldn't be smiling at something like this. Bad image."
The princess didn't even realize how hard she was grinning. Her goofy expression disappeared in a moment's notice, with eyes terror stricken and a hoof in front of her mouth. It was just a misunderstanding! S-she wasn't enjoying the sufferings of that filly, no! It was just- She didn't mean to- Gah! What a stupid gaffe!
"O-Oh! Hum...! Heh, I..." she yammered, her voice still magically boosted.
She slapped her head, trying to scramble her thoughts back in place. Now was not the time to mess up her first public performance in Outer Grove. She was hungry for friendship problems and a hook was delicately dangling in front of her. She was not going to let go of it!
"Don't worry my little pony," she eventually said to the bummed down filly, a hoof pumping her chest. "I'll personally go see him after this seance and try to shed some light on the situation."
"NO!"
"You can't!"
Today was a day of interruptions, wasn't it? Ponies in the crowd were starting to feel rather fatigued from rubbernecking left and right, constantly on the lookout for the next attendee who gave themselves the right of speech. Twilight, on the other hoof, was a bit taken aback by how disorganized this whole thing was starting to feel. She still had important talking points she needed to bring up, and at this rate, she was going to be on this stage until tomorrow morning.
In any case, this time around, it was two blue ponies with carefully combed blond manes who decided to interject - one of which, curiously enough, had wings. An oddity in the crowd, making him and the mare next to him stand out that much more.
"Um... excuse me? I can't?" repeated Twilight.
"That's right, your highness, y-you can't!" fidgeted the winged one.
The other one took a step forward with a pretence of confidence. "Because! He's not at, um... home? Right! He's not at home! S-so it's a futile endeavour." She nudged her husband. "Isn't it so, deary?"
"Yup, exactly! Haven't seen our neighbor at all no matter how hard we looked, s-so you shouldn't bother yourself trying."
"That's right!"
"That's right!"
They both tried to keep an honest smile, but their sweaty foreheads were telling a whole different story. The mayor, of course, could see right through them and their inconsistencies.
"Aheh. Mr. and Mrs. Blueberry. At the risk of going against your words, you both have gone on record this morning saying that you personally verified the presence of the 25 ponies in your neighbourhood - Gray Calx included. So which story holds true? Have you perhaps entered falsified information?"
They both looked at each other nervously. Their little charade had been debunked on the spot. Totally busted in front of a hundred witnesses.
"Okay, yes, yes, he was home alright!"
"But he totally wasn't working on a surprise for you, your highness!"
"My juicy lil' berry is, as always, correct! He was literally busy doing anything other than preparing a surprise for his beloved princess. So don't go ahead and think that he was doing that!"
"And uh, y-you should probably not go there; you could be distracting him from his non-surprise-making activity! Whatever that activity is, deary!" ... ...
"Well, that went rather well, wouldn't you agree, my juicy lil' berry?"
"Oh my, yes! We played our cards magnificently."
"Soooo... Seeing as we did everything right, let's make like hay and bail, yes?"
"I concur, my schweet tender berry!"
Cut to them making their escape, leaving a cloud of dust matching their silhouette where they just stood. Everypony was rightfully confused, looking at each other and shrugging. Even the mayor didn't really know what to do with... whatever that was. If the Berries tried to be cunning, not only did they put on an abysmal performance, but also, nopony truly understood what they even tried to keep under the drapes.
"Oooookay?" is all the princess could find to say after this circus show. "I suggest that we table this and move on to the next topic, yes?"
Everypony in front of the stage nodded. Good. Playing the ignorance card was the best and possibly only solution in the face of the inexplicable.
"So," tried the princess once again, "there is something... rather concerning that I have discovered, and it wouldn't be right to keep it for myself any longer. Because I think... I think I might've found the source of Saturday's attack!"
Everypony gasped. Oooh sweet revelation! Twilight held no punches; she exposed everything about the clearing she explored this morning. How it had been sacked. Every piece of equipment over there had been squished to a thin paste, and the stored lumber had been shredded to uselessness. She saw giant paw prints and claw marks only a creature the size of an Ursa could've produced, surprise surprise. This particular area was in such shambles compared to the bordering forest that pegging it as the Ursas' motivation to go on a vendetta made complete sense.
"B-but wait a minute! That place, isn't that... isn't that logging site 2B?" the mayor stressfully wondered. "I-it was supposed to be the construction site where my team wanted to erect a new college, b-but... Mr. Gold, didn't you swear that the logging activities wouldn't cause any issues?"
The pony in question, who hadn't left the base of the stage, recoiled with offense. Was he being accused of something? What was this, a public trial with the princess as his personal prosecutor?
"I did, and I didna go back on my word!" Mr. Gold countered. "This ain't my first rodeo with Ursa Minors - you of all ponies should know this, Mr. Mayor! I've been in this town far too long for my own good, being the oldest foal from one of the first family of pioneers who colonized this place. You and I have seen giant bear attacks before, we've been through 'em together! So believe me when I say I'm well aware that they ain't to be tampered with!
"Look, the forestall zoning around Outer Grove holds no secrets from me. Never has. I know where those wild beasts' hunting grounds are by the tip of my hooves. It IS my special talent after all, eh? So I ain't lyin' when I said I triple checked the boundaries for the cutting area I've carefully marked."
He then singled out two other earth ponies, these ones, wearing construction helmets. They jumped a bit, unsuspecting that it was going to be their turn to hog all of the attention.
"Because you have only fallen trees within the limits I gave you, isn't that right, Seesaw Log and Leafy Humus?"
One of them waved a nonchalant hoof. "Pffff, duh?? Who do you think we are? We're professionals, after all!"
"Yeah, we're super-duper pro at this!" followed the other forest worker.
"We cleared the job in like, what, half a day? Easy peasy!"
"That's why, after we finished everything, we decided to cut even more with the rest of our Friday!!" ...
"You did WHAT."
The prospector's eyes were just about to fall out of their sockets. Ponies around him receded a bit, forming a distant circle. The green pony was vibrating like he was on the verge of erupting, and no way did they want to be caught in the crossfire.
"Humus' right!" reprised the lankier one of the two. "We had so much spare time and a ton of leftover energy that we decided to keep cutting to save time for Monday. Smart, huh?"
"Yeah! So now, we have even more logs, and more free space for the college! Aren't you proud? You always tell us to take the initiative, so we did, mmh hmm!"
"No need to thank us!"
That was it. The straw that broke the camel's back. Mr. Gold, infuriated, threw his ten-gallon hat on the floor, revealing a completely bald pony. He stomped on his poor innocent hat, coming real close to burying it in the plaza. Still marginally better than using Leafy or Log's faces, Twilight mused.
"Gosh darnit! Ye GIBLET HEADS! What have I told you about overextending? What have I told you about deviating from my plans? What have I told you about going over my head!?"
Today, the town prospector was neither gold or green: He was completely red. Enough to render the juiciest tomato jealous. Twilight could've sworn she saw steam coming out of his ears.
The lumber ponies recoiled, gulping in fear. Seems like it wasn't going as well as they thought it would.
"B-b-but we thought... Y-y-you said... It's all Log's fault! He's the smart one! I never know what I'm doing!" blurted out Leafy Humus.
"W-what? No way! You're the one who said they felt like bucking a million trees! I-I was just following your lead!" his ditzy companion countered.
Mr. Gold stomped hard enough to cause an earthquake. "I don't give an ounce of a dung who did what, I don't want to hear it, eh!? Yer both equally responsible for this! I told y'all a million gazillion times about NEVER bypassing security measures! What will it take, eh? A town in ruins, perhaps!?"
He kept approaching them menacingly, berating them all the while. The only proper response they found was to back away from their superior who was awfully close to chewing them up.
"Now y'all listen to me and listen well: You two 'geniuses' are going to get your butts over to the bulletin board, and you're going to tend to every. Single. Task! Everything written there, that's on you, and you alone! I don't want to see either of you so much as taking a break before that list is fully crossed out! We'll be at it all night if we must, ya hear me!?"
"Y-yes boss...!" they both stuttered.
They turned to wherever the board was, and yelped in surprise when Mr.Gold used his forehead to push them both, their back hooves sliding forward on their own. They exchanged a worried look, tossing the blame between them like two immature foals.
"... Your fault."
"Not as much as yours."
"Yes, well! It's your fault times infinity!"
"Oh! You! It's... It's your fault times infinity... plus one!"
"Your fault times infinity plus two, nener nener!"
"Your fault infinity plus... um, plus... plus... uuuuhh..."
"Plus three?"
"Yeah! Plus THREE!"
Twilight couldn't help but giggle at their childlike behavior. They reminded her so much of Snips and Snails. Well-meaning, but a bit lethal with their carelessness. Just like the two young unicorns, these lumberponies pulled something eerily similar, what with bringing an enraged Ursa Minor into an urban area. Well, two Ursas in their case, and it's not like they did it deliberately. But still! These four probably shared the same brain cell.
In the end, this wound up being the last in a long series of disruptions, much to Twilight's relief. The seminar concluded a few hours later, and the rest of the diminishing crowd dispersed in a blur thereafter.
Twilight vowed to find Gray Calx, and the last thing she wanted was to toss another broken promise in Honey Dream's face. Unsurprisingly, her first stop was the most logical one: His private residence. This, despite the Blueberries' poorly executed con. What was with those two charlatans anyway? A bad omen, or a fluke? She sincerely hoped there wasn't something nefarious at play here.
She rapidly found the house in question, following Skybrush's descriptions of it. What a nice mare, by the way. Helpful, approachable, and very much on top of her social game. The two of them briefly chatted after the conference, and she learned a little bit about her. General store clerk, and talented painter on the side. Single mother of one, and appreciated by pretty much everyone in town. She and "uncle Calxie" had been best buds for a long time, sharing their love of nature during their after-work hours, among other things.
Skybrush tried not to show it, but Twilight knew she too had worries of her own about her missing companion. Just like her daughter, she also expected him to be present at the public gathering, and became understandably concerned when she realized that he was a no-show. More fuel for the friendship problem, so it seemed!
So, the house.
Almost a 1:1 match with the info she had received. It was made of wood, was cylindrical, had a few rounded windows scattered throughout, had a quaint little balcony high up on the second floor, had many twirling branches extruding in all directions, and... and...
"It looks exactly like the Golden Oak library!" gasped the princess.
It was a bit smaller of course, but give it a plump hat of leaves, and this would've made for a perfect 'spot the difference' exercise.
Oh, the memories! She and Spike spent their first years in Ponyville in that cozy library, where she adapted to her new life and learned a lot about herself in the process. It was a peaceful sanctuary she loved to call 'home.' A sanctum of tranquility she could retreat to when things got too crazy. And in Ponyville, you better believe that it happened more often than not!
Twilight couldn't help but feel slightly nostalgic about what she had lost. Yes, at the end of the day, it was only material, and material could be replaced. Nopony died; that's what was important. Regardless, she held her time in her former household dearly, and it was a darned shame that it ended up as a scorched pile of charcoal. How peculiar that it took a trip all the way to the edge of Equestria to reopen old wounds like this.
Ah, but now was not the time to agonize over her own little quibbles! After all, Gray Calx wouldn't wait to shake hooves forever.
She knocked on the door and waited a minute.
Then she waited another.
She knocked again. Two more minutes of waiting.
Another set of knocks, more desperate this time.
More minutes passing by.
"Hello? Anypony in there?" she asked to the silent house. ...
"Mr. Calx? Gray Calx? Is this your house?" she tried to ask again, this time, her face to the floor, peering at the gap under the door. ...
Well whoop-de-doo, of course it couldn't have been a hole-in-one. Too easy, right? If Gray Calx truly lived there, he was either absent, or socially adverse. That last hypothesis seemed rather improbable, considering the many things his friends had to say about him. Saving a foal and acting heroic didn't really go hoof-in-hoof with being shy. Um, save for Fluttershy; she could be excused.
Twilight Sparkle grumbled to herself. She should have seen this possibility coming. And now, she'll have to aimlessly chase him around town, that is, if he was even still in this town. She had no idea what he even looked like too! So now, it was even more of a crapshoot. Why didn't she just ask Honey Dream and Skybrush to describe him real quick in case this particular situation arose? It wasn't like her to not account for pitfalls such as this one. She should've made a list! Lists are good, lists are love, lists are life savers!
No matter. Just a small hiccup in this game of hide and seek. She'll find him one way or another.
And she knew exactly where to look next.
"What can I tell you about Gray Calx, that's uh, that's what you're asking me?" Sweet Pint parroted behind the laminated counter.
"Mmmh hmm!" excitingly nodded the princess, forelegs crossed on said laminated counter.
It was incredible to see the Two Arches back on its hooves this quickly. What was a battlefield of a party's aftermath coupled with the dirtiness of a temporary bunker space was now a respectable establishment, ready to get a bunch of clients all tipsy and happy. It was spotless and barely recognizable. Not a spec of mud desecrating the floor. Impeccable job indeed!
The first few patrons started to give life to the tavern, ever since it reopened a few minutes ago. Most of them were workers who had done their best to shape the town back into its former image. A hard day of sawing and hammering, that'll leave you rusty and thirsty for sure. Nothing like a cold pale ale to rejuvenate a brain that demanded to be numbed just a little bit.
The princess, of course, came for a different reason altogether. She didn't return to the pub to get her rocks off. When Sweet Pint tossed a draft her way 'on the house,' Twilight had to refuse once again. She contented herself with a simple glass of water. She still had tasks to attend to, and drinking on the job was far from being professional.
No, rather, she decided to go back here primarily because she recalled Calx's name being displayed in big bold letters on the ceiling. Given that, interviewing Sweet Pint seemed like a proper follow up.
"Erf, what's there to say about Gray dude, really?" Sweet Pint shrugged, polishing a glass with a towel. "He's kind of a troublemaker, ain't he? Stubborn little thing who never listens, hrmmphh! Oh! And he should get a better manecut too. I keep telling him that, but it's like he lives with his head in the sand!"
"Soooo... I'm guessing you don't really like him?" asked the princess, a bit disappointed.
"What!?" yelped the barmare, genuinely taken aback. "Says who? Is that what you think I...? Naw, naw, I tolerate the guy alright. Him and I wouldn't have lived together for a while if I hated his guts."
Living together? These two had history then? Personal history?
Oh! Was she hinting at romance? She totally was, wasn't she? G-g-g-gossip time! Twilight didn't come here to explore the intricate world of past dates and ex coltfriends, but really now, when was the last time she had that kind of girl talk? Rarity had been quiet on that front recently, and although Twilight would rather be tortured than to admit it, she sort of missed all the romantic rumors the fashionista loved to share with her. Hey, if anything, this would help her figure out Calx's character, right? So there was uh, a scientific reason to probe for those spicy experiences, oh yes there was, yep yep! Don't let anyone else convince you otherwise!
"Ooooh, I see! So what happened then? Did you kick him out? Or did he leave on his own? Was it because he did something bad? Are you two still seeing each other, or did you go your separate ways? Was it awkward when you tossed him that party?" she ran her mouth exactly like Pinkie Pie.
Sweet Pint stopped rubbing her glass and looked up from it, a blank stare covering her pink expressionless face. "I... I don't follow?"
"Well, from what I'm getting, you two used to be lovers, right?"
The barmare remained completely immobile, her mouth as horizontal as it could be. Uh oh. Now the princess was starting to become hesitant.
"Am... Am I not reading the room right?" she asked, her voice but a whisper.
Everypony currently present in the Two Arches could've heard a bit drop. It was nauseatingly silent.
It stayed that way for a bit, until Sweet Pint exploded in a tirade of laughs. Her head was buried in a foreleg, and the other one was banging on the counter, effectively knocking over the glass she worked so hard to clean. She was completely in stitches, even snorting as she was trying and failing to catch her breath. That sure attracted some unwanted attention from the surrounding drinkers, and Twilight, darting her look left and right, sank her head into her neck, her cheeks reddened from embarrassment. Thankfully, the moment passed (sort of), and the barmare rose from her laughing position, eyes wet from amusement.
"Ahhh, I'm... I'm sorry about that, princess, I was just imagining-" And then she chuckled again, unable to control herself. "Sorry, sorry! It's just, me and Gray dude, a thing? A duo? Partners in love? Smoochin' lil' lovebirds?"
She kissed the air a couple of times to illustrate her mockery, before promptly laughing again.
"Ummm..." simply droned Twilight, wanting this bit to stop already.
"I'm so sorry!" apologized Sweet Pint once again, before exhaling to calm herself down. "But uh, yeah, no. What I meant was, he rented a room here for about a year, so technically, we shared the same roof during that period. Sorry if I wasn't clear, I didn't mean to create some confusion."
The princess facehoofed. Ugh! How many times had she scolded Spike to not jump to conclusions just the way she had? So humiliating! Shame she declined that mug of liquid courage after all.
"So, no tying the knot between the two of us," pressed on the pink pony. "First of all, I don't swing that way, so tough luck there. Secondly, he already had his eyes on another mare. Still does. The whole town pretty much knows it. Sometimes, I wonder if Gray dude is the only knobhead who's blind to it. Holy smokes is that stallion oblivious at times."
"Oh, so he does have a crush then?" brightened up the princess; maybe she'll have that girl talk after all!
"Sh'yeah he does. Big time. He has the hots for a pony that goes by the name of Skybrush. These two scallywags are pretty much inseparable."
"Skybrush? What a coincidence, I've just met her! You know, she said to me earlier that they were only friends - REALLY good friends - but I immediately suspected that there was more to it. With the way she talked about him, she made it rather obvious," she teased, giggling in her fetlock. "Very nice gal, by the way. Been nothing but a pleasure to converse with her."
"Neat, glad to see you know who I'm talking about. Saves me the time. And yeah, you're right, princess. She's a delicious piece of mare alright, mmmh~. You gotta trust me though, no matter what she said, these two are more than friends. Everypony can see it."
She rolled her eyes and sighed, a bit desperate.
"Gray dude hasn't made his move in, what, four years now? Mr. G and I have tried time after time to nudge him her way, but the loon can't take a hint at all! Can you believe how dense that ignoramus is? Completely romantically illiterate. I tell you, if Skybrush wasn't playing for the other team, I would've swooped in a long time ago and claimed her as my own, ha!"
The princess rubbed her neck. "Are you uh... Are you absolutely certain you like Gray Calx? You sort of keep calling him names."
Sweet Pint seemed offended. "Huh?? Well, I- ah- Of course I'm insulting him! What better way to display your affection than taking a few jabs at each other? Showing your appreciation for another pony by telling them they stink, now THAT, that's the pinnacle of friendship."
In theory, Twilight would've loved to agree there, but in practice, she couldn't bring herself to. She had a hard time pairing friendship and verbal abuse in the same boat. Sounded unhealthy in the long term. She should know: Was this not, after all, her main affiliation? The number one subject she taught to other ponies? The very thing that justified her crown?
Unable to find something to say, she just replied with a somewhat dishonest smile, which made Sweet Pint sag in return.
"Look, yes, okay, I like him," she reluctantly admitted. "Gray dude may be an oaf, but he's my oaf. And he ain't half bad of a pony either. Responsible and always putting the needs of others above his own. He works hard, he's a good role model for his friends, and he's way smarter than he lets on. He's like, uh, the intelligent link that keeps us afloat, if ya know what I mean," she went on, before coughing dismissively. "B-but don't tell him I said any of that! I have a reputation to uphold. Can't have the whole town start thinking I'm all mushy and sensitive, bleh!"
Ah, now that was more like it! The princess' theories about her target were slowly becoming more and more grounded. He truly was a good pony, and for sure she'll be able to make him reconcile with Honey Dream. Being aware of his virtues was a big help; she'll use that knowledge as a bargaining chip to sway him her way. This should be a ball in the park!
"I think I'd like to talk to him. Any idea where I could find him? He wasn't home last I checked. And just like you, he wasn't at the seminar either."
"Doesn't surprise me one bit. Like I said, he's a workhorse. Perhaps a little too much for his own good. Bet ya twenty bits he's at the quarry as we speak, digging, or doing whatever it is that he's doing over there. If you wanna pay him a visit, then head for the train station and turn right at the last fork. Can't really miss the place; it's sort of next to that one big mountain towering our village."
Ah-ha! A new lead; how exciting! She was following a trail, and at this point, it had to go somewhere. Calx's breadcrumbs were no match for the sleuth that was princess Twilight Sparkle!
The two chatted for another ten minutes, but once Twilight's glass became dry, she used that as an excuse to take her leave. That was good timing all things considered, since by the end of it, the Two Arches was becoming really animated, and Sweet Pint had to work double to keep everypony fully quenched.
Another miss.
There was nopony in the mining district. Dead ends after dead ends. Twilight Sparkle was about to cry uncle; Gray Calx was apparently way too skilled at being a nonexistent entity. And with the sun being threateningly close to the treetops, it was time for her to surrender. Scrounging trash cans and peeping under street benches at night whilst shouting "Gray Calx? You there?" sounded a bit mad, even by her standards. By no means did she want to deceive Honey Dream with her delays, but she had to stay realistic if she was going to solve this problem the right way.
Instead, she made a quick detour to the city hall again, seeking the mayor. She had to inform him that she was going to take a train for a quick back-and-forth to the Las Pegasus station. Her personal belongings had been stored over there after she bailed on them. A second day without a toothbrush didn't seem very renowned for a princess like her. Moreover, yesterday, she instructed the train conductor that she'd be in touch with him at most two days after telling him to rev his train back to the Las Pegasus Station. Without a word from her yet, he was probably starting to get antsy.
But perhaps worst of all, her precious books were under nopony's surveillance: Totally unacceptable!
Mayor De La Tour explained that, while a Sunday express was normally in town at this hour, it had been brought to his attention that the tracks had been badly damaged. Twilight confirmed this, having witnessed a sectioned portion of the rails herself. Two repairponies had been dispatched early this morning to take care of business, since being connected to Equestria was kind of a priority. Coincidentally, they told the mayor no less than fifteen minutes ago that the job had already been completed. Took them a few hours only, all thanks to some altruistic external help they received.
Regardless, it was possible that no trains had arrived yet due to that rather hefty speed bump from the day before. She was encouraged to go check the station herself nonetheless.
Before Twilight departed, she met with the two royal guards who were clustered around a desk, in the middle of writing a report. This report was to be sent straight to Canterlot, to record and describe what had occurred in Outer Grove. In it, they requested some ponytarian help. More materials, medicine, and rations to be taken directly from their disaster funds. Faust knows the ponies here needed it.
The report would also give a few insights to ensure that Ursa-related incidents would never happen ever again. To that end, they beckoned the princess for some assistance, wondering if she could write a paragraph or two about her discoveries with logging site 2B. Essentially, putting into text what she orated earlier. Twilight complied, though she really wished she had Spike with her to do the quill work.
Once their four page summary of the situation was written and double checked, Twilight Sparkle tentatively asked her two armored friends about Gray Calx. She expected nothing, and that's exactly what she got: They had no idea who he was. Looks like a last minute clutch wouldn't save her.
And so, with nothing left keeping her there, she flew straight to the train station.
Where a lone gray and purple stallion was waiting, facing away, and dozing off on his haunches.
For some inexplicable reason, he looked mighty familiar. And even though she didn't know where she got the feeling, she could've sworn he had the stature of someone incredibly resourceful.
Hey, maybe he knew a thing or two about Gray Calx? |
Oxidized | Sunstone: Burning Bridges (Part 1) | Twilight Sparkle was making her way up the steep streets of Canterlot. On the outside, she appeared calm and collected. But behind her plastic smile, a great deal of worries surged.
Spike, meanwhile, was a bit more annoyed than he was concerned. He was on her back, his arms folded onto his tummy. He took another tentative gaze at the sky: Still as gray as it was when they woke up in Ponyville this morning. He was mentally cursing at the thick curtain of wispy clouds doing a mighty fine job blocking any and all sunrays. Bit of a depressing scenery, really. And a smidge cold as well. His clattering jaw just had to remind him of those subnormal temperatures.
The small dragon had no idea what exactly the teams of weather pegasi had in mind, but one thing was for sure: He wasn't jiving with their questionable decisions all that much. Since when did polar vortexes become acceptable at a time where his scales should've been drenched in sunscreen? Every other cold-blooded creature in Equestria would've agreed with him there. Summertime was their time to shine; a perfect opportunity to laze on a reclining chair with a nice lemonade on the side. But nope, the warmth had decided to go AWOL.
Even though it was semi tolerable in Ponyville, now that the two of them were strolling in the bustling city of Canterlot, the higher elevation made it all the worse. Spike, for a moment, could've sworn he saw his own misty breath, thanks to the condensation of the cold ambient air. Oh what a summer to remember!
"Brrr! S'kind of chilly up here, don't you think?" he complained. "And to think the summer solstice was a few days ago only, bleh."
"I have to agree with you there, Spike. We've certainly had hotter days."
She looked up, almost expecting a droplet from the heavens to damp the tip of her snout. Other unicorns in the street were more proactive: They preemptively casted magical umbrellas over their head, protecting hundred bits worth of manecuts.
"We should hurry; looks like it's going to drizzle any moment," rationalized Twilight.
She hastened herself, now in close range to her destination: Her parents' house.
"I wonder what was so urgent to warrant us coming on such short notice?"
A question she could no longer keep to herself. She thought about it long and hard during their train ride, but now that she could see the first few houses of her childhood neighborhood popping into their view, it became virtually impossible to not let the cat out of the bag.
"Yeah, never seen a letter like this from Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle," confirmed the freezing drake. "Sounded like they really needed you to move your butt, presto!"
"Language, Spike," she scolded. "But you're right. Not even leaving me a day to prepare? That's not like them."
Her pupils lost themselves to the corner of her eyes. She still had, oh, three minutes to think some more about it? Their old house was fast approaching.
"Maaaaybe they want to congratulate me about the whole Nightmare Moon affair? Throw me some kind of celebration?"
Spike sighed and snickered, strangely at the same time. "Whoa there Twi, good to see that you're not letting all of the glory go to your head!" To which Twilight lowered her neck, her cheeks reddening in guilt. "And eeeeeh, I'm not so sure either way. Wouldn't they have given a few hints in the letter? Congratulating you instead of telling you to come urgently?"
He wasn't wrong. The word 'urgently' had even been written in all-caps, before being highlighted, underlined, and circled three times on the parchment. That erred more on the territory of bad news than anything.
"Yeah... I didn't like the tone of what we read, I'll be honest. It sounded super pressing, not to mention cryptic, like something bad happened and... and..." Oh.
Wait a minute. An idea. Could it have anything to do with...?
"You don't suppose it's about Sunstone, do you? Oh heavens, I hope he didn't get in trouble again," nervously chuckled Twilight. "We haven't, um, seen him much since he returned from Manehattan. I should've probably checked on him more often now that I think about it. It's a pity I've been so busy with my studies," she sighed. "Who knows what he's been up to lately?"
"... Probably off ruining somepony's day," lowly grumbled Spike.
Twilight frowned. "Spike..."
"Look, I'm sorry Twi, but that pony is just... so mean and rude!" he admitted. Been a long time coming since he wanted to address that. "He's always super negative, he's always found the dullest excuses to dodge me, and frankly? I don't think he appreciates either of us all that much," he pouted. "I hate when he's around, he makes me feel so nervous."
"I understand where you're coming from, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be there for him. Yes, he's a bit difficult to work with, but I firmly believe that with enough effort, he'll... eventually warm up to us better," she said, as if trying to convince herself. "Isn't that what my friendship reports to princess Celestia are trying to teach us? That everypony can be redeemed with the right amount of care and dedication? That a supportive group of friends can bring the best out of us? If there's anything to learn from these reports, it's that Sunny, I'm sure of it, will wind up having a change of heart."
"Pfff, I'm not even sure he has a heart."
Twilight abruptly stopped, turning her neck back to gaze at her somewhat sardonic number one assistant.
"That's quite enough, Spike! Sunstone is my brother and I love him. And I'm sure he loves us back. It's just... Well, like my mom used to say, he just has a hard time showing it. But that doesn't make it any less true!"
Spike preferred to keep his doubts to himself and answered with a few discontent grunts.
Twilight started walking once more. "I mean, think about it. He must feel so alone being all cooped up with mom and dad at his age... If only there was something I could-"
She brightened up, even going so far as doing a victory bounce that perturbed Spike just a little.
"That's it! I know! I should invite him to come live with us at the Golden Oak!"
"Wuh-what!? Are you... are you sure about that?"
She nodded with confidence. "Mmmh hmm! Spike, it's a great idea! Getting him out of Canterlot oughta make him feel better. And don't we have a spare bed in the library for sleepovers anyway? That really shouldn't cause any issues."
She looked ahead, picturing an hypothetical future where the two siblings could finally connect, sharing kooky but fun adventures. Spike, meanwhile, really wasn't looking forward to spending more time with the stallion that always treated him like he didn't exist, let alone share a roof with him once again.
"And then I'll present him to the rest of the girls," Twilight continued to extrapolate. "I'm sure he'll fit right in! Befriending new ponies did me a lot of good, and I'm sure it'll do him a lot of good as well. Ooooh, I can just imagine Pinkie throwing him a big welcoming party, that for sure would cheer him up! She's really good at turning frowns upside down."
"I'm not really sure he'll even want to-"
"Ah, here we are!"
Here they were. In front of the house. They haven't even left Canterlot for a week, and already Twilight was basking in the warm embrace of past memories. Her childhood life had been cradled with all of the love a foal could possibly desire. From the silly Sibling Supreme competitions she held against Shiny, to the tight bonds she formed with her bestest foal-sitter Cadance, all the way to Sunstone's, uh... Sunstone's err... to his lonesome studies she could only gawk at? Mmmh.
"Now remember Spike," she advised, "I want you and Sunny to get along, m'kay? Even if he's a little sullen about his current situation, I'd like it if you didn't give him any unnecessary attitude."
He sighed. "Yes Twilight..."
With that being taken care of, they opened the door. Despite the serious nature of the letter that prompted her to partake in a last-minute family gathering, she was nonetheless happy to meet them again. After all, she already had a few Ponyville anecdotes to tell, and her mom's cooking was always a welcomed addition in her world.
"Hello everypony, we're here!"
Her joyous stance couldn't have been more out of place with the dark ambience she immediately perceived from the four horned ponies stationed in the living room.
For starters, her mother had her front hooves wrapped tightly around her father, her back throbbing with every sob that came out of her throat. She wasn't a loud crier, but somehow, that made it even tougher to witness. It's like she was keeping something terrible bottled-in. Night Light was trying his best to make it better for her, rubbing a hoof on his wife's back with his eyes closed, but she was totally inconsolable. There was nothing he could've done to cheer her up, and so, they just remained solidly linked with neither of them daring to speak a word.
Shining Armor, meanwhile, was looking ahead with a blank stare, as if he was shell shocked. His soulless pupils had lost any semblance of life, and his overall expressionless visage told a million different horror stories. Seeing him so detached, so apathetic, so unable to react, it just wasn't right. It wasn't right at all. And it's not like he was being callous or anything. Nor was it because his robust training as a captain taught him to stay cool and level-headed during the most critical times. No, rather, Twilight somehow deduced that it's because her brother simply had no idea how to grasp... whatever it was that had rendered her family on the precipice of depression. Shining Armor's emotional state had been cornered in an uncharted part of his brain, and he was stuck trying to find a proper response.
On his right, a grieving yet compassionate Cadance was nuzzling the neck of the distraught captain. Twilight could tell a few tears had been shed earlier, if the thin droopy lines of her mascara were any clue. She was probably the calmest pony in the room, though that didn't mean much.
Anxiety crept into Twilight's barrel. She wasn't oblivious to the overall mood of her family members, and even though she had no idea what it entitled at all, it certainly was infectious. Nopony even said "hi" to her, much less give her a warm welcome hug. It was so unusual, so unprecedented... She gave a puzzled look to Spike who had jumped onto solid ground, and he shrugged in return, being as clueless as she was.
"W-what's going on?" she timidly asked, knowing fully well something foreboding was at play. "What has gotten everypony so down?"
Her mother's head popped over her husband's shoulder blade. She didn't even realize her daughter had made it. She tried to say something, but her quaking mouth was at a loss for words.
"Where's Sunny?" suddenly prompted Twilight.
It's true. He wasn't there claiming his share of the burden. Well, he was never really all too present to begin with, and strong emotions could easily repulse him, but this seemed like a rather serious thing to miss. Twilight came all the way from Ponyville just for this; surely, he could've made the tiniest of efforts and left his bedroom.
But Twilight's seemingly naive question was the catalyst that finished off the Sparkles. It's as if she ripped the world's most painful band-aid. Shining lowered his neck, Cadance visibly cringed, her dad sagged a bit, and her mother, her poor poor sweet mother, well, after blinking out of stupor three or four times, she melted into Night Light's back, unable to do anything else but to cry some more.
Silently, Cadance left the captain's ranks, and levitated in a pale blue glow a folded piece of paper towards Twilight. The latter picked it up with magic of her own, and began reading. She immediately recognized the calligraphy as Sunstone's. Constantly spying on his homework rendered his writing unmistakable to her. On her side, Spike had his arms linked, more confused than ever, but wisely deciding not to interrupt. Explanations would soon follow, right?
But the more Twilight read, the more her expression was starting to mirror that of the rest of her family. For each line of text, it became increasingly dreadful.
On paragraph one, she was invaded by a strong sense of bewilderment.
On paragraph two, the first few tears started to escape her eyes.
On paragraph three, she had trouble breathing, her stomach doing flips.
She never made it to paragraph four. Her magical grip on Sunstone's note broke, the paper slid on the parquetry, and Twilight slumped on the floor, ducking under her hooves. She had neither the guts nor the composure to relay to Spike what her eyeballs had just been exposed to. All she could do was repeat to herself that she had been too late. That certain doors had been closed permanently, and that there was absolutely nothing she could do to go back and make it right. This was finality in its most uncontested form.
Cadance immediately hugged the devastated unicorn in an attempt to give her the confidence she herself didn't even have. Shining soon joined in, as did the rest of the Sparkles. They held themselves solidly, wishing they could find the strength to carry on with one of the worst predicaments that could strike a family.
And as they remained grouped for what seemed like an eternity, the first thunders brought forth a heavy tide of rain, a deluge of grief and loss that would flood Canterlot for the next two days.
The princess and I just kept staring at each other in complete and utter silence. The crickets of the early evening rendered this whole scene even more uncomfortable.
I had no idea how to apprehend this. My brain ceased all activity. For the first time in my life, I was speechless, thoughtless, and motionless. The only thing that I was hoping for was that, if I kept blinking hard enough, maybe, just maybe, she'd vanish from my view. I'd rather go to bed with the immense relief that I was going completely insane over having to face her for real.
But ah no. It doesn't quite work that way, doesn't it? She was still there, immobile, unable to even come up with words due to how much she was sobbing.
Gee, bit of an overreaction, don't you think?
She finally managed to exhaust the last of her tears. Her body had nothing left to give. Leak's been plugged. She rubbed the lingering wetness out of her face, so she could take a good gander at me again.
"It... It really is you... isn't it?" she hiccupped a bunch more.
"It really is me. You've caught me alright," I said indifferently, resigned to my fate.
And that's all she could take. She approached me. Slowly at first, but then, she picked up the pace. My first thought was that she wanted to impale me with that horn of hers (which, by the by, appeared lengthier than I last remembered), but when she opened her front hooves, I realized that she had something far more sinister in mind.
She wanted to hug me.
What in Tartarus did she think she was doing? I didn't agree to that - I never have! Hugs were not for me to give or receive! My "no touchy" policy was still in effect; what, did she think my absence voided it? Not at all! Because the last place I wanted to be now, right now, was squeezed in between her hooves.
"Hey hey hey!" I warned, taking a few cautious steps back. "What have I told you about hugs?"
"Oh... R-right..." she said, lowering her head in shame.
Crazy how quick she switched from being in disbelief over my existence to being submissive towards my uncivil demands. Once a Twilight, always a Twilight.
She kept getting closer nonetheless. But this time, it was more akin to a newborn foal discovering colors for the first time. Her looks scanned every little detail of my body, as if I was displayed in a museum. Nothing escaped her. Not even the beautiful new addition to my forehead, which made her expose her teeth out of phantom pain.
And now she was face-to-face with me. If I craned my neck down juuuust a little, our snoots would've booped. But I wasn't moving, no. I was way too good at cosplaying a mannequin. I was paralyzed by the fact that, yes, all of this was still really happening. Princess Luna didn't appear yet to blast this nightmare away, so it was as real as it could be. I think this is why I was so... static. Because I was in it all the way to my neck. How does one even move when only their head is poking out of the manure?
The princess probed my shoulder with a hoof, just in case I wasn't some kind of bizarre magical mirage. But no, this stallion was no hallucination, alright. I was as tangible as she was. Bummer. If either of us had been a fake, I would've been all the happier.
Now her investigating hoof went to my face, pushing my skin against my skull.
"Charming," I said, a cheek squeezing one of my eyes shut.
"S-Sunny, how... How are you still alive? H-how can you BE alive? I c-can't... h-how..."
I gingerly removed her hoof out of my personal sphere. "Why do you keep saying that? Of course I'm alive! What, did you think so little of me that you figured I wasn't going to survive the moment I went on my own?"
"W-what? No! I mean... h-huh? Going on your own?" She shook her head, then blinked two centimeters away from my face. "How are you alive!?"
This was getting old.
"This is getting old."
She started pacing in a circle, her eyes ping ponging everywhere, on the lookout for some kind of explanation.
"I cannot believe this. I just cannot believe this!! This can't be possible, I- Sunstone, the note! That last note you wrote, it... it..."
"Yeah, what about it? I thought I made it abundantly clear what my intentions were. But now, it's becoming obvious to me that I didn't, seeing as you've tailed me all the way here."
She backed away, now seemingly afraid of me? What was going on here? Why was she so neurotic? I mean, she's always been a little bit like that, but now? She wasn't making a modicum of sense. Yes, okay, boo-hoo, we've been apart for half a decade, but with the way she was acting, it's as if I accidentally got myself killed or something. Can we tone it down a little?
"Do you even remember what you wrote in that note!?" she exclaimed, her denial now replaced by anger. Was somepony going through the five stages of grief, by any chance?
"Frankly? Not really," I replied, disinterested. "I was blowing a fuse pretty hard when I wrote that thing. Totally at my wit's end. Why? What's the big deal?"
"T-the big deal? The big deal!?"
She approached me again, a purple hoof poking me on the chest.
"Sunstone, how can you say that!? We thought you... We all thought that you decided to... I... I-I can't even bring myself to say it!" She did a couple of breathing exercises, trying to control her rising hysteria. "We thought you did something terrible to yourself!"
Okay, was she on something? Because if so, could I please have some of it too? Seriously, I had no idea what she was even hinting at...
Hinting at... Oh.
Hang on one sixtieth of a minute. Was she implying that mom, dad, and the rest of the gang convinced themselves that I tossed myself into a ditch a couple of stories high or something? Quitting the game ahead while I was still young?
Wait, why was I even asking this? Of course that's what they believed. Don't attribute to malice what you can peg on idiocy. And these idiots, well, leave it to them to find new ways to assume the worst out of an already crappy situation. Wasn't Twilight the poster child of excellence when it came to dissecting dissertations? How could she fail so badly at interpreting what I wrote? ... Whatever it was?
Look, yes, I wasn't lying when I said I didn't remember half of my goodbye letter's content, but I was sure, dead sure she did a poor job analysing it out of spite; you know, just to inject a pinch of fear mongering into the family household. And now everypony thought of me as a goner- a real goner. Awesome. Simply bodacious. As if I hadn't been sufficiently stigmatized in one lifetime.
"Well, princess, sorry to break it to you, but you misinterpreted my message. You all did. You can't pin this one on me."
"M-misinterpreted...?"
Why did she keep repeating everything I wa-
"We mourned you, Sunstone! We MOURNED you!!" ...
I slowly placed my mane back in place, after it had been blown backward by the sheer volume of her voice. Which, by the way, made me look left and right. It was getting a little bit too spicy, and now I had legitimate concerns about being spotted by curious passersby. This would blow my shell game in one easy trick, and my Outer Grove persona would crumble in the blink of an eye. I had to bury this, and quickly. The louder the princess got, the more cracks in the thin ice appeared under my hooves.
We were still alone at the train station, but so long as we were in public, it would only take one curious eavesdropper to ruin this new life I've built for myself. And that, that wouldn't do. Call me cold-hearted, but I cared a million times more about protecting my status quo than I did about the princess' nervous breakdown.
I held a hoof up in defense. "O-okay, okay! Mea culpa and all that. But can you please keep it down? I don't want to attract unwanted attention."
And you know what? Something else badgered me. Couldn't help myself but address it.
"And please, your majesty, would you be so kind as to stop calling me 'Sunstone?' I go by Gray Calx now. I'd appreciate it if my old name wasn't shouted willy nelly in front of everypony like that."
Anger passed, now making room for some deductive efforts. Look at her, flexing the iconic Sparkle brain. It truly was her strongest muscle. She tapped her chin a few times, and finally, neuronal connections synapsed a great realization:
"Wait. You? You're Gray Calx, you?"
"The one and only. You were looking for me, weren't you?"
Despite everything, she still found it in herself to perk up. Hey, was that a smile?
"... Of course! It makes so much sense! A mining town, a five year anniversary, three ponies holding a sphere," she returned to pacing, enumerating this and that, "and calxes! You were studying calxes during your curriculum! I remember that now! ... Although I can't quite recall what the gray one did. But that's not important! Everything matches your profile down to its last details, Sunstone!"
I cringed again, seeing as she completely bypassed my request of being referred to by my actual, legal name. I get that this was news to her, but come on now, try a little. To make matters worse, she still wasn't piping down, endangering my position some more. I had to do something about it, pronto.
"Look, look, you're passionate and I get that, but I'm serious! We really can't be seen together here!"
"H-huh? What do you mean? Why does that matter?"
"Because! The ponies out there could start suspecting that we're related, and I don't want them to!"
"Wait, wait, are you saying that they don't know about us? Y-you haven't told them you're my brother... even after all this time?" she said, almost pleading. "B-but what about our cutie marks? They're nearly identical, how could they not know?"
I instinctively took a look at my cutie mark as she mentioned it. Yup, that blasted thing still lived on my sides after 27 long years.
"It took me a really long time to convince the ponies of Outer Grove that my cutie mark looked like yours out of pure coincidence," I begrudgingly explained. "I have no desire to go through that again. It was enough of a pain in the ass the first time around!"
She winced. Perhaps due to my usage of a big mean word, but more realistically, because of my own admittance about the many lies and hoops I had to jump through to secure the life I had today. It wasn't sitting all too well with her. Wasn't she BFF with the Element of Honesty, or whatever? I could practically feel her holier than thou superiority penetrating the marrow of my bones. Sorry that not everypony could live to your standards of perfection, princess!
She shook her head like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But... why? Why does that even bother you? D-did I do something to you?"
"With all due respect, princess, I... I don't owe you a justification!" I protested.
Oh great. Now it was my turn to be inconsiderately loud.
"Listen, for the third time, I'd really prefer if we could take this conversation elsewhere - say, at my place. At least, there, we'll be in a private environment, and I'll be in a better position to answer every little thing I know you're dying to ask me."
I demonstratively unfolded one of her purple wings like a paper fan.
"So get some good mileage out of those new appendages of yours and follow me up high in the sky. I'll bring you up to my crib, and then we'll talk. And try to not make it apparent that we're heading to the same place, m'kay?"
She freed her wing from my grip and lowered her head, conflicted. She wasn't a big fan of my idea, that much was evident. I had just re-emerged in her life, and the first thing I was doing was being overtly capricious and hard to please. "No hugs, princess," "call me Gray Calx, princess," "lower your voice, princess," "I don't want us to be seen together, princess," "come to my house, princess..." Certainly not the heartwarming reunion she was hoping for.
And yet, she wound up nodding.
"If that's what it'll take to make you explain to me what has happened to you, then... okay," she conceded. "But I'll teleport us there, that's more efficient and less time-consuming. I've been to your house before, so I know where to anchor our destination vector. J-just hang on..."
Ah. Good to know I was at least half justified when I made the wise decision of leaving my fort earlier today. Made me feel a little bit smarter. A little bit.
But uh, hol' up for a sec, I didn't agree to telep- Ach, too late. Her horn was already glowing white and bright. She scrunched up her face like she ate something sour, and with a high-pitched poof, for a fraction of a second, our molecules left the realm of Equus.
We popped back into existence on the dirt patch that was supposed to act as a beautiful turf around Casa de la Calx. Look, outside landscaping wasn't my number one priority; fixing the house was. Renovations start inside, okay, and then they expand over your backyard and such. If you have any motivation left, that is. 'Sides, I didn't even have any lawn ornaments to beautify my would-be grass, so, much to the Blueberries' disapproval, I was quite content with my field of mud.
Got all that? Good. Now that y'all are done judging my nonexistent gardening skills, let me take this moment to confirm that no, I will not go into details about how it felt like to be teleported. Because it was my first time being teleported, after all. Let's just say that it left some residual queasiness, which may not have had anything to do with the spell, but rather, being a side effect of the disgust I was feeling over inviting the princess to poke around in my personal living space.
Because that's what I had to do, really. How else was I supposed to keep this clusterbuck under control?
I opened the door, and let Her Majesty in first, as any polite non-royals such as myself were expected to. I even bowed! Let it be known that I knew the rites, and that I couldn't be fined over my non-respect of our social hierarchy. We owe it to ourselves to lick the boots of the elite, my peasant brethren.
She entered shyly, wanting to say something about my over-the-top actions, but thankfully getting over it. I echoed her silence, saying even less than the nothingness coming out of her mouth, and made my way toward the kitchen whilst she stayed next to the entry door. Suit yourself, princess! I did have a pretty bitchin' coat hanger over there, after all. Varnished oak wood and all that sweet stuff.
So, I couldn't help but notice that all of this was still happening. Was today still today? It was, wasn't it? Ugh. Yeah, I wouldn't be able to power through the next steps ill-equipped as I was. The princess was in my house. She was in my house! Let that sink in for a moment or two!
... Oh? You wanna know what I was doing to this huge keg wedged between my ice box and the moldy back wall? Simple, really. I was turning the tap, for one. On the little metallic nozzle that protruded near its base. For two, I was holding a mug under it, making sure not a drop of beer that poured out of the spigot would splash on the floor. That right there was liquid gold, and not meant to be squandered.
Yes, I needed alcohol in my system. Oh so very much. Judge me all you want. But when you're born as weak as I am, you need some, shall we say, artificial flavouring to help you through the moments of misery. And this one was going to be merciless like you have no idea. It was either that, or bash my head against the wall until I was dizzy enough to be considered sufficiently hammered. Pick your poison.
Now that my ceramic stein was all frothy and ready for consumption, I suppose it was time to finally say something - it's not like she was about to take the reins there.
"Well, welcome to my humble abode, princess. It ain't much, but it sure is good enough to warrant a huge stack of city taxes, har har," I guffawed dishonestly. "May I offer Her Highness something to drink? I've got a delicious tripel freshly imported straight from Griffonstone, ripe to be served!"
I waved a second mug her way, as the tempting deviant that I was. Oh, and looks like she was in the kitchen now, nice. I sincerely thought for a moment that she was going to set camp in the entryway. But nope, she was right there, shaking her head while waving a hoof.
"Uh... N-no. No, that's... No thank you, Sunstone."
I shrugged. "Hey, your loss; more for me!"
Well cheers! Down the hatch it went. Get in my gullet, booze! Make me forget the present!
"That's um," she coughed, her windpipe still phlegmy from her incessant crying from earlier, "that's a big beer barrel you have, h-heh..."
Were my ears deceiving me, or did we have a foray into small talk territory already? Saucy, princess, saucy! I tapped my mug on the counter, now halfway emptied. With a big pant of satisfaction, I allowed my lungs to be oxygenated once more.
"Oh yeah. Big ol' barrel indeed. I didn't buy it though; didn't have the bits for it. It simply came bundled with the house. Tell you what, when I found that out, 'twas like I stumbled upon El Ponyrado!" I laughed. "I get that bad boy filled up every now and then, on the rare occasions where I actually make ends meet."
"That's... very nice. I like your stylized drink cup too. Artisan work?"
Another talking point brought to you by the princess! Oh she was good. That was two for two now.
Yeah, I saw where this was going. She was definitely trying to ease her way into pulling whatever she had planned to do with me. Sort of taming me by pretending to be interested with all the shiny new stuff I had in my life. Either so I would let my guard down, or so I would become more open-minded about being bombarded by all the why's and how's she no doubt had on the tip of her tongue. I was willing to play the game for the time being - at least, until my mug was dry.
"Why thank you, your highness. It was a gift given to me by a good friend who works at a bar."
"... You don't mean Sweet Pint, do you?"
Good thing I was in the middle of taking another swig, because I would've growled right there. What I was fearing was slowly manifesting itself. The princess using her charisma and her title to subconsciously coax my friends into befriending her. Took me a while to work my way into a circle of good ponies, but her? Boop. One evening, and everyone wanted a piece of her. She did it in Ponyville, so why not here as well?
"Oh. You've met her already, golly. What did you gals chat about, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Um, you, mostly."
"Moi? Aw, stop that, I'm blushing." I wasn't blushing. "What'd she say about me?"
"Actually, I... It's- I can't really say, I promised not to tell, because-"
"-Because that would put a dent in her reputation, yep, got it. You've met her alright."
A third sip. Mmmh, nice and rich flavors, yummy. Good choice of hops too; props to the brewmaster, really. Gotta give it to 'em, those griffons really knew how to craft a mean beer!
"Y'know," Twilight said, clopping her hooves together in a nervous tic, "it was overall positive. I mean, what she divulged. It was good. Um, same as with the prospector and the town doctor, they also had some pretty nice things to say about you. Not to mention your friend Skybrush and her daughter Honey dream, they too seemed really proud to have you in their life."
"Oh, you've seen the whole gang already, haven't you?" I muttered between clenched teeth, fighting the urge not to jump at her throat. "Pray tell, whaddya think of my pals?"
"Well, they definitely strike me as good ponies. It's nice to see that-"
"Just makes me wonder though, and sorry for interrupting: On a scale of ten, how much were they smitten by your splendor? Rough estimate?"
"H-huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ach, nevermind. Forget it."
Sip sip sip. Doooown it goes~ ♪♫. Numb it all with some delicious 10% ABV juice, and- oh? I closed an eye, and peered into my mug, as if it was a pirate spyglass. All gone already? Booo! I'll take that as my call to speed things up. I was growing bored of her groveling anyway. Telling me how good I had it, yeah, no, I wasn't buyin' any of that hogwash.
I shuffled out of my seat, and went for my second serving.
"So," I plainly said, my cup getting fuller and fuller, "I think we've danced around the elephant in the room for long enough, wouldn't you agree? Let's stop pretending that everything's sunshine and rainbows. At the risk of sounding pushy, what is it that you want, o princess Twilight Sparkle?"
She recoiled at my sudden mood shift. She thought she was so in control, didn't she? Heh, think again, my flabbergasted liege.
"Well, first of all, I'd like you to stop calling me princess, or highness, or what have you." Ah, her soft shell was starting to crack. "You do know I'm your sister first and foremost, right? You don't have to follow the procedures to a tee; a simple 'sis' is totally acceptable. Preferable, even. This isn't some kind of... political summit or anything: Just a brother and a sister talking things out."
A large gulp of beer later, "If it's all the same with you, princess, I'd like to stay formal."
"Sunstone..." she sighed.
"There! Right there!" I exclaimed, a hoof in her direction. "Why should I abide by your demands, when you have made zero effort at calling me Gray Calx? Seems fair to me that you get your just deserts."
She was about to protest, but right before any counterarguments could escape her mouth, she closed it, and then exhaled deeply, most surely to help her get a grip.
"You want to jump straight into it? Fine by me." Yup, she was done buttering things up now. "Tell me then, why did you leave us? Why did you write that loaded letter full of slander? Why did you exile yourself without even consulting us first? Was there anything to be gained from this?"
I looked at her with wary eyes, mug to my lips. I pulled it away, and stiffened a gastric reflux. "Boy, you really don't have a clue, do you?"
"I have a few theories, but nothing that could ever justify making us think that you... harmed yourself in a permanent fashion."
I laughed. Brashly and facetiously.
"Harmed myself. Wow, you're still stuck on that one, aren't you? But it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all. I know that when you're transfixed over something, there's no changing your mind. So by all means, keep believing what you want to believe. Whatever helps you sleep at night, champ."
"Stop dodging my questions, Sunstone! You wanted to trim the fat? Then trim the fat! Tell me, plain and simple: Why did you do any of this?"
I tsk'd. "Don't rip your mane out, princess. I mean, between you and me, are you even sure you're ready to hear the truth? The harsh, stinky, and unforgiving truth?"
She sank into a chair, crossed her front legs, and gave me a serious expression. "Pretty sure I am, yes."
"Hey, your funeral. The answer you're looking for is quite simple, really: It's you."
"Me?"
"Yuppers. You. And don't act so surprised. You keep yapping about that letter I wrote, so you should know by now that I kind of have a beef with you. Oh don't get me wrong, there's more to it than that. But you, my friend? Heh, you stand alone at the top."
She bit her lips, trying not to lose control. "Y-you're meant to tell me you silently left Canterlot... because of me? Am I hearing this right? I don't-" A hoof rubbing her mane. "That's just- That's utterly ridiculous. I'm fully aware that I'm not a perfect pony by any means, but what could I possibly have done for you to go that far down the deep end? I mean, this is huge, Sunstone! We're talking about holding a grudge for years, and never backing away! Even my friend Applejack isn't that stubborn, and that's saying something!"
"Yes, well, your friend Applejack, I'd be willing to bet she never grew up in the shadows of overachievers. And therein lies the problem, princess Twilight Sparkle."
C'mon bro, another shot for some good mojo.
Sluuuuurp... Aaaahhh.
Alrighty then, let's bring out the big guns.
"Do you have any idea, any idea at all, how soul crushing it feels to be an outcast, not only within a society that clearly wasn't built for you, but also, within your very household? Desperately trying to crawl out of the pit of mediocrity, only to catch glimpses of two amazing ponies who never stopped making their sibling feel like an underdog? Outperforming him at every task, with it being so natural, so easy to gloss over, to the point that they didn't even realize they were doing it? Can you even conceive what it's like, going to bed every day, starting from a WAY too young age, and telling yourself: 'Well dang, guess I really am going to die unremembered. But these two - oh, these two!'
"It kind of erodes your will to keep trying after a while, princess. It eats at you, it guts you from within. It's a massive backstab to your confidence. And that there is no way to live. I've tried to ignore it; I've tried to make it work for twenty odd years. But there comes a point where I just gave up. Frankly, I'm surprised I even lasted as long as I did."
"Right, gotcha. And so, because you weren't living up to your own expectations, you took it as your cue to sneak out and disappear forever, correct?" arrogantly concluded Twilight with a provocative look.
I frowned. "Don't trivialize my hardships, princess. I won't take that - not from you. Because, to be perfectly honest? Mom, dad, as prolific as they are with their fancy unicorn magic, I could've let it slide. Heck, even Shining! Even him, I could've lived with my tail between my legs. I could've made it work. But you!? You're the one who pushed me over the edge. A hundred percent."
"That's so unfair, I've never tried to hurt you, Sunstone!" she immediately protested, bouncing out of her seat. "I would never think about doing anything that would harm my older brother!"
"Princess," I coldly said, "you're an alicorn. An alicorn! Do you realize how freakin' monumental this is? There are only four of you in-"
"Five."
Five? Were they multiplying or what? Whatever.
"-Five of you in existence. Can't get any more exclusive than that! On top of that, you've been princess Celestia's number one, AND you're the bearer of the Element of Magic itself. Do you know how second-rate I perceived myself next to that? You're a princess! And I dig dirt! That's all I do; that's all I'll ever do! You're everything, and I'm still NOTHING!"
You're losing your cool, buddy. Quick! Further intoxicate yourself! The only realistic way to avoid detaching from reality!
Complying with my own advice, I emptied my mug for the second time tonight. Hey, gotta find some form of determination somewhere.
After that, I resumed my rant with a sigh. "I'm almost midway through my thirties, and I'm still nothing. I've got nothing to show for it. No accomplishments whatsoever," I panned a hoof around, "e-except for this crummy rathole I can hardly call a house."
Twilight Sparkle looked around, fully soaking in the averageness of my living quarters.
"Well... I quite like it," she admitted after a short moment of deliberation. "Your house, I mean. It's very rustic, very down-to-Equus. It reminds me a lot of my first house in Ponyville, the Golden Oak Library." She craned her neck down, saddened. "You know, before it went up in flames..."
Ugh, back with the strategic delegations of flatteries? Maybe she felt bad about seeing me getting my knickers in a twist. Or maybe it was her special way of avoiding taking the blame for having scuttled the lingering morsels of my happiness.
"Yeah, not the first time I've heard that comparison and- wait wait, slow down a minute. What do you mean, 'before it went up in flames?'"
"Oh," she pouted, drawing circles on the counter with her hoof, "to make a long story short, a few years ago, the Golden Oak was totalled after being targeted by a powerful incandescent spell from the evil centaur, Lord Tirek."
Lord Whom'st've now? Not a single clue who she was talking about. And I was going to keep it that way, on account that I couldn't muster any will to care. For all I knew, she was making stuff up. Firing a bunch of positivity my way by downplaying her situation.
"Well, regardless. If you like my shaggy hut and miss yours so much, how about we trade places, mmmh? I'll happily take your castle if it's too much of a burden for you."
"... You know I can't do that. I have duties to fulfill over there, and it's not-"
"Duties," I cackled. "Ooooh, the life of a princess! Must be so difficult. Sign this paper, stamp this envelope, smile for the cameras. So much hard work having a crown on your head."
She grimaced. "Actually, it is! I have many diplomatic obligations, Sunstone. Take right now, for instance. I had to travel far away for a friendship problem and-" ...
Annnnnd? Hey oh, wake up, princess! Did your brain shut down on you or something? Tsk. Happens to the best of us. I mean, look at her: She was just blankly staring at me with two big eyes and the occasional blink. I wouldn't say it felt uncomfortable, but it was getting there.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed, finally rebooting. "It's YOU! It's totally you! You're the friendship problem that summoned me here!"
"Are you... Are you calling me a 'problem' now? Harsh, princess, harsh. Could've sworn you didn't use to be so blunt."
She whooshed her hooves to deflect. "N-no! Not at all! That's not- That's not what I meant! It's the cutie map. It sent me to, um. Well, probably to patch things up between the two of us?"
"The 'cutie map?' What the hay are you talking about, now?" I groaned.
"Oh! It's a wonderful magical device that can locate with pinpoint precision various places all over Equus that require friendship-related assistance from me or the rest of the Element bearers. Sometimes other ponies, or creatures too, I suppose, but it's not the norm. In fact, I can only recount-"
"Okay, okay, I get the idea!" I cut her off, before she delved into full encyclopedia mode. "So what you're essentially telling me is, you crafted some kind of witchcraft bauble to stalk me? Am I off the mark? Because if not, then for an alleged princess of Friendship, that's a scandalous attack on our privacy."
"It's nothing like that!" she objected. "I didn't create- And it's not up for me to decide; it's the table. It knows who to send and when to send them. And it recalls them once their cutie mark glows: That's when the problem is deemed successfully resolved."
"So, what, the table does all of this? On its own? A four-legged piece of furniture spewing prophecies left and right? ... You do realize what you're saying doesn't make a lick of sense, right?"
Ohhhh my poor meninges. Reduced to atoms by fallacies and make-believes. Massaging my temples did nothing to alleviate my rising migraine, but I knew what would: To the keg! What's two drinks without a third one, I ask you.
Same routine as always. Lever pulled up, a brown waterfall into the cup, my tongue licking my lips, and-
"M-maybe you should slow down a little, Sunstone," warned a cautious Twilight.
"Thanks, but no thanks." A quarter of my beverage swiftly went down my tummy in an act of defiance. "I'm finally beginning to understand what's going on, and that's cause for celebration. Yeah, all of your little encouragements and tidbits of praise? At first, I was wondering why you were doing it. I thought it was your not-so-subtle way of earning my trust. Now? It couldn't be more obvious: You're just idolizing me so that you can get your stupid checkmark for your table thingamajig! You want me to abdicate so that you can win again!"
"Abdicate? Winning?" she burst out. "Now who's the one not making sense? What even is there to abdicate about? I mean, what are you even fighting for, right now?"
Mug back onto the counter with a loud CLANG. "I'm fighting for my right to be left alone, but that clearly went over your head! You just HAD to travel all across the globe to nullify the only good thing I finally had going for myself! Infecting my pals and the rest of Outer Grove with your radiating grandeur and your infinite magnificence."
"Will you stop vilifying me already!?" she spat, fed up with my bad attitude. "I'm just there, trying my best to stay polite and understanding, but you keep portraying me as some kind of boogeyponey. Maybe instead of using me as a hate sink, you should start looking on the inside a little more?"
I looked at the two princesses with frustration. Wait- The two princesses?
Blink blink.
Right, right, the one princess. Hahaha, boy oh boy, I was drinking myself silly, wasn't I? Well, at least it helped me loosen up enough to continue antagonizing my unwanted guest.
"I have e-e-every right to think of you as a scapegoat when I feel this worthless, Twilight Sparkle! And how growing up next to you has done nothing but elevate my worthlessness. And I think, uuuuh, I think this is my biggest gripe I have with you, mmm'yep. You're a smart pony, so I assume you know about the laws of average, right? Hehe, w-well, princess, you've exceeded them all!"
I sloppily pointed at her with my stein. Nothing could stop me now. I was going down that slippery slope at terminal velocity; might as well go all in and double down on my alcohol induced folly.
"Y-you're an anomaly, yup, that's what you are! A statistical fluke. It's outright impossible to be this good at everything! I mean- I mean, when will it stop? Hmmm? When is enough, enough? D-d-do you need to be the queen of the universe or something? Do you need to become a literal God before you've had your fill of wealth and power?"
"Sunstone! Stop it!"
"Naw. Naw lemme- lemme continue. Cuz y-y-you know w-what my problem was?" I hiccupped, getting dizzier by the second. "I took the regular path. That's my problem. I d-didn't shortcut my way into being a c-child prodigy. O-or a superhero. In any other family, yes, in any other f-family, I would've done just fine. I would've been an inspiration. B-b-but you and that butthead Shining Armor, y-y-you just had to be so damn good at everything.
"J-just once! Just once I would've LOVED to see you fail. That's what I kept wishing for. Because, me, I- I was the big brother, y'see, I was the big bro and you were supposed to look for MY guidance! You were supposed to look up to me!"
"I've done NOTHING but look up to you!!"
Whoa. She- Did she just yell at me? And approach me in a threatening way?
Uhhh... Well, that sure shut me up. She looked mega pissed now. Deep and heavy breaths, a look that could kill, and a stance ready for combat. That was... that was new. Gotta admit, I was a bit afraid of her now. L-look at my hooves! They shook so much, I could hardly keep a steady grip on my drink anymore.
It was now dawning on me that she was an alicorn. I mean, I already knew this, obviously, but I don't think I fully understood what it meant until she was fed up with my insolent ass. Powerful as she was, she could absolutely vaporize me simply by yawning. Thankfully, it was safe to assume that she didn't have any intention of pulverizing me. Still, it wasn't whether or not she wanted to destroy me that was so terrifying. It was the fact that she could. To think that I used to be the strongest one in the family when we were younger. In today's times, however, she overpowered me by orders of magnitude.
Should've smacked her harder with my pillow when I still had the chance.
"It's been rough for me too, you know!" the princess pressed on. "I too faced my lows. You're arguing in bad faith if you think I've never hit a wall in my life. There was a time when I plagued the entire town of Ponyville with a Want-It Need-It spell, just because I couldn't bear to miss a deadline and disappoint princess Celestia. You think a perfect pony could've pulled that one, huh?"
She took a couple of abrasive steps toward me. I was hunched over my cup, trying to not cave in to her intimidation. It was tough, but so far, I managed.
"But you know what has been the toughest, Sunstone? What kept dragging me down every day? It was being raised in the same household with a pony who I'm pretty sure has had nothing but disdain for me since day one. It was attempting to catch some sleep while solving an impossible puzzle in my head. Figuring out where I went wrong, maybe even accept that I just wasn't good enough for my brother. That's why I've kept trying time after time to get you to notice me! I just wanted you to be proud, to be happy to have me as a sister."
Now she was right next to me. I kept drinking. Keep your tough act, Calx.
"You know, I've always wondered. Mom has repeatedly told me that you had a difficult time showing your love, but I don't believe she was right. I believe you never had any spare love to share with me. So let me finally put the question to rest: Sunstone, do you love me?"
What the...?
"C-come on now, kind of a loaded question, don'tcha think?"
"Don't dance around it!" she insisted, her face practically pressing against mine. "Do you, or do you not love me?"
"You h-heh... you can't go ahead and ask me to-"
"Sunny! Have you EVER loved me!?"
"NO! No, okay!? I don't love you and never have!!" ...
Yup, that just sort of came out on its own.
Oh, but I wasn't done. She wanted to poke the bear? Throw down the gauntlet? Pester me until I broke? Well, reap what you sow, Twilight, for I was going to completely obliterate you verbally. If you wanted some, then allow me to give you some!
"In fact, let me take this even further. Not only do I not love you, but, but I- I'm pretty d-dang sure I hate you. I hhhhaaate you, p-princess Twilight S-Sparkle! I used to be the sweetest little colt in my younger years, but you- oh you modified me t-t-t-to be something soooo ugly, s-so deformed! You've changed my very nature! And I haven't... haven't been myself for so long. Y-y-you turned me into an envious little ball of jealousy. A m-miserable self-hating pony who's had a cloud over his head for uh, twenty? Yes, twenty plus years. Twilight, you've filled my heart with hatred... soooo much hatred.
"So, no, I don't love you! I really, really don't!! And I never, EVER will! I detest you, Twilight. More than any- any other pony in Equestria! I wish you nothing but trouble, nothing but the worst!! I hope- I HOPE you trip, and fall, and bleed!!"
I was panting and close to drooling by the end of that. Halfway through orating the vilest speech I've ever given, I wasn't even processing what I was saying anymore. The words stopped making sense. All I knew was, I had to wound her. It was my ultimate goal. Didn't matter if what I was saying was logically sound or not. At this point, holding a proper debate free of pesky ad hominem was beyond irrelevant. It was all about being vindictive, and making her feel vulnerable. It was extremely petty; it was extremely satisfying.
And sweet Celestia, did berating her take its toll on me. More beer! Oil my gears - they pulled some decent work here.
The princess, though, she was a few shades paler. Her mouth curved downward, dangling in astonishment. It's like she aged an entire decade in the matter of seconds. Whether or not she expected me to react negatively, I'll say, neither of us could've foreseen how hard I went about it.
For a good minute or two, she tried to make sense of what had just happened. I expected her to rebuke with violence, or at least, to push back a little. But when she slumped, when she accepted the monstrosities I flung her way, I knew it was over. I had won. For the first time, I had emerged victorious over Twilight Sparkle. Turns out, all I needed to do was to become the missing link between a vitriolic curmudgeon and a drunk asshole. Duly noted for the future.
Twilight shook her head, awestruck. "Y-you don't love me? FINE! But I always will. I will ALWAYS love you. With all of my heart! Hundreds of years in the future, that fact will not have changed. You're my brother! You, Shining, and Spike will always be the most important people in my life. When you disappeared I... I lost a part of myself. I was crushed beyond redemption, do you get that!? I went on for years, smiling my way across Equestria, keeping that burden all for myself. Hidden from my friends, hidden from anypony! I want you to know that, no matter how much you hate me, this is how I felt, and this is how I'll keep feeling!!"
She blinked warm tears and darted to the front door, which she swung open with telekinetic magic.
"H-hey!" I stuttered. "You're w-wasting... wasting y-your time with t-those feelings. T-total waste of time, I'm telling you!"
She wasn't listening to me. I couldn't let her have the last word. With neither balance nor grace, I sloppily gave her chase, and staggered my way to the porch. After accidentally bonking my face onto the trim of the door, I noticed that she was already up in the air, batting her wings in place. She was on the verge of departing, but right before she did, she turned her head to take a good look at me. One last time.
"No matter what happens," she sniffled, her voice quivering, "you'll always be my older brother, and... and you'll always be my hero... Gray Calx."
A synchronized flap, and she arced across the sky, leaving my propriety at impressive speeds.
"Hey! HEY! L-l-listen to me!" I shouted at her disappearing silhouette. "If you ever think about ratting me out to mom and dad and, heaven forbid, Shining, I'll make... I'll make sure you'll have a proper reason to mourn me next time around! Y-you hear me!?"
No she wasn't: She was out of hearing range. My epic zinger had been lost to the clouds.
Bah! Screw it, right? I said my piece, and I had no regrets. Why dwell on stuff I couldn't control when I still had plenty more to drink? Now that, that was my kind of jam. I was getting all warm and fuzzy; night was still young! Let's not spoil it with more Twilight-related poppycock. Had enough of that for one evening. And hey, she was gone, was she not? Kinda what I wanted from the start. So, yay me. I deserved a reward for driving her away.
I re-emerged in the kitchen. Barrel, tap, mug, and ka-ching: There was my reward! A fourth tripel, all for me! I sat down and lifted Sweet Pint's cup. A toast, my friends! A toast in the name of having not only survived, but also, having outlasted Twilight with my mind more-or-less intact.
"H-here's one for you princess! Protector of Equestria! A-an inspiration for us lil' people! Let us drink f-for eeeeverything you stand for, bwahahaha!" I drunkenly declared to absolutely no-one.
I chugged it all in front of my invisible audience. Boy was there a lot to be proud of tonight! Outsmarting the smartest pony in Equestria, that sure will look badass on my trophy shelf! I was good, and I was feeling good. And you know what else?
I was happy. So, so HAPPY!
CRUUUNNCHH!!
I jumped in fear at the loud noise that reverberated behind me. Then I realized what I had done: After I knocked one back, I flung the cup that had been gifted to me over my shoulder. Physics didn't take the contact between mug and floor too kindly, and what we had now were bits and pieces of glassware scattered throughout the junction between the kitchen and the living room.
Yeah, don't ask, I too had no idea why I even did this. I think it was a poor attempt at venting some leftover ire, as well as being overly slapstick after my disingenuous tribute to Twilight Sparkle. Well, whatever half-assed justification I could find, it still was a stupid move. I was being stupid. And tired. And groggy. And perhaps a little sick, too. The walls wouldn't stop swaying and wiggling, urk. Didn't know my house could boogie-woogie with such dexterity.
I think... I think I had to lay down for ten minutes. Or maybe ten hours, I dunno.
Welp, nighty night then. Catch y'all on the flip side. |
Oxidized | Sunstone: Burning Bridges (Part 2) | The last three days had been a total quagmire.
Nothing. I did absolutely nothing.
Nothing but skip perfectly good work days without even expressing a proper warning to Mr. Prospector. I was in such a lethargic mood that I began to forget how long it's been since I tossed myself into my slothful solitary confinement. I think I remembered going to the bathroom a few times, and maybe I had slept on my right side instead of my left one once, but the rest was a blur. Every detail blended together into an insipid porridge of emptiness, and my life had effectively been put on hold.
I mean, where did Monday even go? I didn't even remember a Monday passing by, and we were already halfway through the week!
Seriously, I was miserable. Everything was miserable.
Food was tasteless and uninspiring. Not that I've been particularly hungry these past few days. Just forcing myself to nibble on a few carrots was a monumental task. Anything that entered my stomach, I wanted to instinctively upchuck right away. And when I was not busy being disgusted at the thought of feeding myself, it was an exercise in controlling my fits of nausea. I felt sicker than a foal with cutie pox.
I was homesick, as in, being sick at home, and being sick of my home. But the simple thought of going outside was equally as repugnant. This duality was exhausting, just... so exhausting. Made me not know what to do with my own skin. Caught between two layers, I went with the principle of the least effort and simply spent a three-day sabbatical on my couch.
I was tired all the time, I wasn't cleaning myself, I wasn't eating properly, I wasn't partaking in hobbies of any kind, I wasn't leaving my living room, I wasn't cleaning my house - heck, the kitchen floor was still laden with the shards of the mug I shattered a few days ago. I didn't even have the strength to pick that mess up.
Everything felt like scaling a mountain.
All that was left in my drought of energy were my thoughts. And they ran a hundred kilometers per hour. I just kept repeating the scenes of my clash with the princess. Looping them over, and over, and over.
And over. And over.
I kept rewinding that tape, replaying it from the start. Evaluating in great details every little thing that I could remember. During that unpleasant evening, I had been so wasted, so angry, that my mind blanked the nastier parts to protect me. And I wasn't going to stop thinking about it until every gap was filled up with a lost memory. I wanted- needed to make sure my forced amnesia was out of my skull. I was obsessed to unreasonable levels. My entire focus was dedicated to this torturous mental exercise.
I must've looked terrible. I must've smelled terrible. I must've been completely and utterly pathetic. I was a burden on society, my family, and myself. The complete failure I always suspected of being. Unproductive, moping, and drowning in self pity.
Unable to even stand up and do anything about anything. Incapable of emptying the echo chamber that sabotaged my mind. It was all about that fight I had with the princess, and nothing else. And it would keep being all about that, until... Well I don't know when, frankly.
I guess, until a papery noise close to the entryway of my house lifted one of my ears.
Huh. I was surprised that my body was still capable of reacting to external stimuli. I hadn't completely broken down yet, hurray...
To my defense, that noise was unusual, alright. I heard many knocks over my days of seclusion. Sometimes accompanied with muffled inquisitive voices from the outside, sometimes not. Suffice to say, I never answered - not even once. I wasn't even comfortable hanging out with myself; that was one pony too many. What made them think I wanted to see anypony else?
At some point, I even started to fear that somepony would barge in, concerned that they'd discover my face filled with flies or something. I made sure that all three locking mechanisms were well in place during my sojourn away from society, but my door was as solidly built as the rest of my house - which is to say, not very well.
I was straight up afraid of an intrusion now. It was really, really bad. At first, I thought that I was just being silly. But the more ponies banged on my door, the more my heart wanted to pay my colon a visit. I never knew my adrenal glands could pump so much long-term stress into my body, and oh boy, was it a terrible feeling. I had never felt this way before, but now, I wouldn't be all too hyperbolic if I said it was erring on the side of PTSD.
I cannot stress how terrifying this was for me. I kept picturing Twilight coming back in to finish me off. Or a squadron of patrolponies arresting me for slandering a figure of authority, following a warrant issued by their infallible ruler. Or, worst of all, the rest of my family inviting themselves over after the princess tattled, looking down at me with contempt and judging me for misleading them about what I had done with myself.
These what-if scenarios consumed every fiber of my being. Twilight had the power to pull any of these, and nopony would bat an eye at my demise.
I... I wanted to be alone, and I wanted nopony else to intrude in my time of introversion. Nopony at all!
Which is why this new sound attracted my attention. It was... different. Different enough to finally peel me off the couch, my silhouette still carved on the cushions. My hooves felt shaky, in part due to my newfound agoraphobia and my malnourishment, but also, because I hadn't used them all that much lately. They were feeling in full capacity the effects of muscle atrophy, and the rest of my torso felt like it weighed a hundred tons.
I was ready to give up halfway through my long trip to the door, when a rectangular object flat on the floor caught my attention.
Oh Faust, what was that?? A notice of eviction? A convocation to the Canterlot tribunals? A letter full of threats from the princess of friendship? A bomb!?!
... Well, okay, maybe not a bomb. Although, the princess could've easily enchanted that piece of paper with explosive runes. She was a crafty one; finding a creative way to end me surely would've been nothing but a game for her.
Risking my life over it, I decided to pick it up. It looked... It looked like a regular-old letter. Someone must've slipped it through the gap under my door. Since I already made the mareculean effort of bringing my carcass to a different room, I decided to go ahead and read it. It went like this:
"Dear Gray Calx,
"My name is Mrs. Felt Tip, and my position is that of the mayor's secretary. I write this letter on his behalf for the purpose of a commission. Indeed, your talents and your tales of heroism haven't escaped Mr. De La Tour's ears, and he would very much be interested in hiring your sculpting services for a city embellishment job. Your eye-catching chef-d'œuvre carved into the Two Arches' middle column truly is a staple of Outer Grove, hence why we thought you'd be the perfect candidate to carry out the job.
"You are not unaware that the city has been ravaged to a pitiful state. When our teams of analysts were sent to consult the population, they found that, among many projects, a new monument would give our loyal voters all the pride and hope they could strive for in a post-Ursan Outer Grove. A piece of art to commemorate the vicious battle we all had to endure. Something to make sure this bit of history shan't ever be forgotten.
"To that end, should you be interested by this proposition, we would like to receive a couple of drafts for a statue to be erected on the fountain, right in the middle of Outer Grove. And what better way to show our appreciation than to model it after the image of our very own savior? An effigy of our beloved princess, Twilight Sparkle, would be the perfect addition to officialise what will now be known as 'Twilight Day,' a new public holiday marking our calendars after her brilliant performance. We would be immensely grateful if you could sculpt a highly-detailed, grand, and majestic replica of the heroic princess for everypony to admire and-"
ENOUGH!!
I have had enough of this! No more, dammit!!
I ripped the letter into tiny pieces with my mouth, and crumpled the shreds the best I could. I flung the resultant mess onto the closest piece of furniture I could find, before barging outside for the first time this week.
The entry door flung open in a loud crack, and I left it wide open as I zip zoomed out of my house's perimeters. I cared so very little about being robbed right now. Not that my house had anything worth being robbed, but.
I ran through the streets, my eyes adjusting poorly to this sudden influx of sunlight, fleeing from the imaginary demons on my heels. Quite possibly faster than when that one Ursa gave me chase. I barely noticed the ponies around me who most surely raised their eyebrows at my fit of craze. I ignored them all, as I kept going forward as fast as I could, as far away as I could.
Twilight Day? Twilight Day!?
A freaking statue for her? A totem dedicated to her gluttony for fame, one that would look down at me smugly every day I trekked to work after I had to carve the bloody thing myself!?
Are you literally kidding me right now? This was how it was going to be? Was the universe having a giggle at my misfortunes?
Cursing under my breath, I turned corners, I dodged carts of repair materials, I swerved around those who questioned my sanity, and took my marathon out of Outer Grove.
I've been doing a lot of thinking. This time, it was not about the past, but the future.
Where was I going with this?
Something I had no answer to give. I had hoped the quiet scenery of lake Bristlecone would've shown me a sign, but nothing made sense still.
I parked my frail body next to the thick unearthed roots of a weeping willow that curved over the pond, comfortably sitting onto a grassy edge that sloped gently into the water. Between a patch of reeds, a fallen hollow trunk, and a few wild berry bushes, this was the quintessential spot to indulge your need for escapism.
A natural paradise Skybrush and I used to retreat to when the weight of life got the best of us. Nopony ever bothered us here. It was tranquil, not too far from the city, but above all, it was ours. We picnicked here many times before when we didn't know what else to do after our work shifts. And then she would paint the lake, the birch trees, and the occasional mallard, with an expertise I envied oh so much.
Skybrush. I really, really loved her...
Paintings! I loved her paintings. They were stunning, beautiful, and the best kind of eye candy. No wonder she had that itch to travel elsewhere and show her talents to the world, h-heh.
I was immensely glad she was there for me. Just the way she had been the first time she showed me this place. It was on a day where I was feeling particularly surly, and it did a wonderful job upping my morale.
But today was a whole different story.
I've been there for five to six hours now, and still I felt at the end of my roll.
I took a couple of steps forward and used the last few sunbeams of the day to gaze upon my reflection. I could barely recognize this angry little pony who stared right back at me, which aggravated my mood even further. In response, the other Gray Calx frowned harder, and I frowned even more to beat him at his game. It stubbornly one-upped me once again, now showing his teeth in seething hatred- and this is where my bad temper took over my motor skills.
I violently slapped the water to dissipate my mirrored self. I couldn't bear seeing what I was seeing.
What have I become? I've been nothing but chill, mellow, and relaxed the whole time since I've last changed town. But now, the anger I've buried in the past surged back like a tireless zombie and was dragging me down with it. I have changed, and not for the better.
I think... I think I had to face the facts.
My halcyon days in Outer Grove were over. We crossed the point of no return, and the fact that I even believed for a moment I could work this out was pure fantasy.
Trust me, I wasn't just saying that without strong evidence to back me up. First and foremost, the princess now knew where to find me and could blackmail me however she wanted. Like a swindling puppeteer, she could pull any of my strings and I'd have no choice but to dance. Once again, I found myself with the short end of the stick. Any day, she could come back, and honestly, why wouldn't she? She was venerated like a hero in Outer Grove.
Which brings me to my second point. The ponies here have had a taste of royalty, and were now full-on addicts. If Mrs. Felt Tip's letter was to be believed, Twilight's first visit here sparked something no Outer Grovian expected to ever see in their life. Tales about her heroism would be recited every day at the Two Arches. More statues of Her Majesty would decorate our public spaces. Banners and flags would be held high on masts and buttresses, with her face woven on every single piece of fabric you could find.
And what about my friends? They would swoon harder than they ever had about being this close to an alicorn. That's all they will be talking about from there onward. Seriously, I've seen them react to her name before, and the princess herself has all but confirmed that they practically lined-up to have their butts autographed.
The whole reason I came here in the first place was to settle in a rural area where the local population didn't know much about the pony named Twilight Sparkle, and vice-versa. Alas, this all changed today. Outer Grove had been poisoned, and there was no antidote. The venom would keep on spreading. There was jack squat I could do to help it return to the peacefulness we once had.
And so, a choice.
Stay, or leave?
I've abandoned many lives before; who's to say I couldn't do it again? I was getting pretty good at it. A real connoisseur among defectors. Manehattan, Canterlot, Outer Grove... What difference did it make? All failed experiments in my book.
And you know what? This time, I was going to do it right. Seems like a simple note wasn't enough to trick a friendship table or whatever the heck into failing to localize me with eagle-eyed precision. No, if anything, I could learn from my mistake and pull a big finale that wouldn't leave anypony doubting about what could've happened to me.
Looks like I've made my decision again, princess Celestia. I hope you're not all too disappointed with my judgement skills. And... and tell your sister that I'm sorry. Tell her that I tried, but in the end, I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it. I've lost that bet fair and square. ...
I knew what I had to do.
It was a little past two in the morning when I made it back to my house. I was still riding my emotional high, and at no point did I consider backing out of my insidious plan. The little devil on my shoulder was in full control of my actions, and I saw no reason not to reply with an ardent "Sir, yes Sir!"
I noticed that my front door had been left ajar, slightly dangling in the breezy wind. Oh well. Who cares? Give me ten minutes or so, and I can guarantee you that none of this would matter anymore.
I made it inside, quietly now, so as to not alert the neighbours. They were far enough away and probably busy counting sheep, but being overly cautious never hurt anypony.
Clutched in-between my teeth, a rope attached to something important. Two important somethings, actually. Before coming here, I made a detour to the train station to fetch some exotic material to execute the next part of my little scheme.
Two barrels full of oil.
Yeah. I dragged them all across town. Took me a good while, although I was at least able to use the ambient darkness to conceal myself. Their heaviness proved quite challenging, but it was no match for the weight I had on my heart. Even though my current health was far from perfect, the struggle hadn't made a dent in my determination. Because, at the end of the day, I couldn't pull what I wanted to pull without the help of a certain chemical reaction.
For those of you who were still confused about where this was going, well, lemme tell you this: Tonight, something was definitely going to happen in Outer Grove. And the fireworks were going to be spectacular. Oil sure was a flammable material, wasn't it?
Maybe I was acting a bit impulsively. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Had I not been so beaten down by the inevitability of the whole affair, I would've weighed my options better. Tonight, however, was a special night. I was furious, impatient, and totally, unquestionably, irrevocably done.
Propped up on my hind legs, I tipped the first barrel in the kitchen. Part of me wanted to buck it with whatever force I had left in me as a final act of defiance, but once again: Neighbours. Noise equals bad. Let's not screw this up at the last moment.
The liquid tsunami'd out of the container, the expanding puddle of putrid biomaterial dragging the remnants of my mug with it. It was so gross. Like, picture something gross in your mind? Good; It was grosser than that. For sure I was glad that it was dark enough for me not to gag on sight. The horrid stench was bad enough to deal with.
The faster this nauseating job was in the past, the better. That's what I kept repeating to myself when I poured the second barrel near the entryway. You know, next to the cool coat hanger and all that. Varnished oak wood and bla bla bla.
Speaking of the coat hanger...
Something caught my attention. Something on a hook. Something I had worn nearly a week ago. Something a very special somepony bought for me on a particular birthday.
It was the jacket. The one Skybrush gifted me. The one that accompanied me to what might as well have been my farewell party.
I peered at it; it peered right back with puppy eyes. I err, found myself becoming conflicted. Taking a moment of lucidity to second-guess my actions. I... I didn't want to bring any artifacts from a bygone life, but... I mean, wouldn't this just make me relive old memories featuring a great friend I couldn't have anymore? I'd hurt myself every day just thinking about it. ...
Blast! Fine! You win, nostalgia goggles! I took the stupid jacket and tossed it onto my back. You can come with me, you treacherous article of clothing. But I'm warning you! The moment I start bawling over you and what you represent, woosh, you're out!
With that being taken care of, this left me with one last thing to do.
A match that's mean, tossed into a sea of gasoline.
Retrieved from a box in the entry drawer, I stroke one, holding the ignited stick in my mouth. Being on the brink of throwing everything away, I took a good, final look at this rickety cottage that had sheltered me for the past four years.
"Yeah... Never really liked this crappy shack."
I spat out the match, and combustion took the wheel.
FWOOOOSSHHH!
I backed away quickly enough to dodge the fireball that quite literally immolated the vestibule in a single fiery bite. I felt an immediate tide of warmth engulfing my entire body. My eyeballs would've evaporated on the spot had I not covered them under their lids. The inferno took no time to spread all across the first floor. Wood was kind of burnable, right? Oh no, would you look at that, how utterly convenient. Plus, with how cheap the overall structure was, I gave it 20 minutes tops before it would collapse into a wreckage of ashes and burned timber.
... Oh, stop that! Don't give me those condescending looks! I told you already that my house sat on top of a muddy molehill. Nothing would spread to the surrounding houses. Even if I was being irrational, I hadn't completely lost my marbles (yet). My goal wasn't to set ablaze the entirety of Outer Grove; one disaster per week was enough for the good Samaritans here. ...
The orange glaze of the brazier highlighted the contours of my dark silhouette, and my purple irises shone brightly in the face of the dancing flames. They chanted in a sublime choir of crackles and hisses.
I should've ran. But positioned a few meters away from the funeral pyre I had caused, I couldn't help but admire the results. It felt surprisingly... good? The destruction felt good. I mean, I did this. I did it all by myself! I called upon the elements and created fire!
You know when someone repeatedly pushes your buttons until you reach your breaking point and you end up shoving their head into a wall? That's how it felt, times a hundred. A kind of "heck yeah, take that!" vibe I had never felt before. And hey, shush, I wasn't going cuckoo! Can't a pony simply enjoy the fruits of their exaggeration?
I found myself smiling. By Tartarus, I was smiling! Gosh, why did it feel so good to be bad? If that Lord Tirek outlaw felt half the satisfaction I did engaging in arson, then hey, I understood why he gave in to his vices. How fitting that my house, the one that has been compared so often to the Golden Oak, would end up suffering the same fate. Both razed by a gorgeous showcase of thermodynamics. It was too perfect, hahaha! Hey, you know, maybe Tirek and I could share a drink and exchange notes about our personal experiences on the matter, see who felt the highest amount of elation. Seemed like a pretty cool dude in my book.
In any case, that's all she wrote. The deed had been done. Outer Grove, I must bid you adieu. Your five years of service shan't be forgotten.
I started to trot away, the heat of the bonfire warming up my tail. I figured that fireponies would be too late to salvage what I had started, but I didn't want to linger to find out.
Now, where to? I could always establish myself even further westward, maybe hope to be out of range from that accursed cutie map. Build myself a hut far away from society and live risk-free with my fellow Ursas in the wild, finally someplace untouchable by the slithering tendrils of Twilight's ever-growing empire. Or I could sneak into a train wagon and see where it would take me. Either way, that would make for a fun tale, I'm sure-
Buh!?
Somepony screeched. Drat, has my criminal act been detected this quickly? Wait no- no, it couldn't have: The screams came from behind, which was a bit unrealistic, since all there was thataway was a big ol' torch of burning memories. Perhaps I simply misheard the creaking noise of air escaping from a scorching wooden beam?
"S-somepony please help! H-help! HELP ME!"
... Uuuuuh. Wooden beams couldn't beg for their lives, couldn't they?
Having sworn to leave everything Outer Grove related behind, in a very selfish way, this felt like a problem that was no longer my own. Somepony else could elucidate this. Yet, the scraps of my good nature pulled at my consciousness with just enough insistence to make me turn around and inquire.
The first red flag was the circular bedroom window on the second floor and how it found itself wide open, even though I clearly remembered it being shut when I came in. A column of ebony smoke was pouring out of the orifice, not too dissimilar to a volcanic flow of pyroclastic gas.
The second red flag was the little pony coughing her lungs out, her soot-covered face perched out of said window. Squinting as hard as I could to make sure I wasn't going schizoid, the bright backdrop of flames and embers obfuscating my vision with a blistering haze of heat, more and more did I come to terms with the fact that yes, there truly was a stranger in my house, and yes, she really had screamed. And this pony, I... I knew this pony, and...
Oh no... Not again...
"Honey Dream!?"
What the HAY was she doing here!? I mean- huh!?
I shouted a couple more things from below. Deep down, I knew she had no chance of hearing my feeble voice over the carnage. She was too busy coughing black tar anyway. And also, cooking like a slab of grilled tofu! From the barbecue I had started! Me! How and why was she even there- I mean, this made no sense whatsoever! How was I EVER supposed to expect that-
Okay, no. You know what? Act now, ask questions later. There was no way in Tartarus I was going to let her be cremated by the stake I had erected. It wasn't happening. You hear that, you skeptics!? Not happening!!
Leaving the jacket behind, I galloped back toward the entry door, nearly tripping on my way there. I wanted to go inside, but this was the origin point of the fire. Which, in laypony's terms, meant that this avenue was currently out of order. Crossing those deadly orange curtains, and I would've emerged as a filet mignon on the other side.
O-okay, okay, don't panic hahaha. I said don't panic, dammit! You were a creative pony, yes? So get creative!
T-the window! Yup, yup, that was another entry point! The burglar's numero uno quick fix. A little bit to the right, I tried to pry open the living room window. I would've filed this as a decent attempt, if it didn't simply result in a pair of sizzling hooves. Yaouch, dangit! Since when did fire get so hot!?
Well, mister, you won't let yourself be opened? Fine. Eat a stone, then! A big one, retrieved from the barren lands surrounding my decaying house. I picked one up, and impaled it into the fragile glass. It shattered - that it did. More smoke immediately channeled out of the new gap. Nice try, but it will take a lot more to discourage me from jumping in, which is the next thing I did.
Already my respiratory system felt prickly. It was like I swallowed a gallon of boiling water in the wrong hole. The coughs immediately followed, accompanied by tears welling on my cheeks, my poor eyeballs being attacked by the heat. Yeah, it was hot. Not a "oh no, I caught a sunburn at the beach" kind of hot. It was a category of hotness I had never felt before, and words to describe it failed me. I'll just say, it was a good thing us ponies had hooves, because I could not imagine how bare skin would've felt on the heated floor.
Before my pelt started bubbling in ugly blisters or peel off in little charred rolls, I rapidly escalated the spiral staircase that miraculously still held onto a thread. Finding the damn thing was a blind pony's game, with the visibility being almost completely null, but it was my house, after all. I knew where to go.
Not a moment too soon too. Once I made it to the top floor, the stairs crumbled down in a terrible din, forbidding me to come back from where I came. That was... quite scary. Really freaking scary, in fact!
I did a quick checkup to verify if neither my mane nor my tail had been lit like a candle, but I was still in one piece. I must've lost five kilograms in sweat alone already, ugh. Every time I breathed in, I was choking on the mixture of toxins and radiating heat that entered my trachea. I needed to get out of this oven with Honey Dream before we both passed out from the fumes!
Problem was, my bedroom door was sturdily barricaded by a ceiling piece that had collapsed in front of it. Because things could never go right, after all. I heard Honey Dream's muffled voice shouting for assistance on the other side, but it seemed like it had grown weaker.
As good a kick in the flank as it was going to get. No time to waste on strategizing: I had to use my head first.
So I used my head first.
When I bashed it into the door after dashing toward it. It was the only part of me that hadn't shriveled into uselessness after my three-day fast, so there. Concussion or not, haters will be jealous to know that it wasn't that dumb of a move after all, because when my daze subsided, I was belly-first on the floor like a starfish, inside of my bedroom. Ha! Guess my bullies were right when they said I had a thick skull!
But now was not the time to feel like a millionaire. I still had a pony to find!
"Cough cough! H-Honey Dream? COUGH! ... W-where? W-where..."
"O-over here, cough cough COUGH!"
I staggered in the overall direction of her raspy voice. The smoke was thicker than a DJ-Pon3 rave party, it was impossible to navigate. Thank Celestia I ended up accidentally bumping into her. Up on my withers she went; business as usual.
Now, onto getting the hay out of here.
Err, easier said than done, right? The way back was unusable. So all that I was left with was the balcony. As the glass shattering expert that I was, this time, my bedside table was the one to finish off the patio door. Sorry bedside table. You held my pajamas well.
Once on the balcony, the two of us immediately felt the relief of the fresh air of the night. Well, relatively speaking. We were still in a burning house, after all. But not for long. I fully intended for us to make it out alive.
And for that, there weren't many options. It essentially boiled down to jumping.
And um... I wasn't scared of heights, but ah... gulp. Last time I spent some leisure time on my balcony, it didn't seem so high. Oh Faust, why couldn't I have been a pegasus? They made it look so simple.
Well, we were burning daylight (and a good portion of the balcony). It was either jump and maybe not die, or don't jump and definitely die. I chose to jump.
Hasta la vista, and gravity be my witness!
"AUUUGHH!!"
That there was me screaming out of agony after a rough encounter with Mother Equus. Normally, when you land on a slanted piece of ground after dropping from a height a little bit more extreme than what you're used to, you roll to properly redistribute the impact. But when you have a foal on your back, it's a bit more difficult, innit? So in order to not elbow drop my guest of honor, I landed flat on my four legs.
And the front right one did not like that. At all. It made this horrible cracking sound when it brusquely slammed on compacted dirt. I'm no Doctor Stethorsecope, but if I was to make an early diagnosis, I'd say that something important snapped in there. That's what my nerves relayed to my brain, at least.
All that to say, I buckled to the ground, my adrenaline finally tagging out and switching places with my low tolerance for pain, as Honey Dream cartwheeled a little further in the mud. We both came to a rest, panting and coughing. I even spat a huge gooey chunk of something dark and nasty. Looked like a melted piece of coal. Disgusting, and concerning.
We waited like this for, what, five minutes? Ten minutes? It felt like a long time. More and more of the house was consumed behind us, but I cared very little about it. We had to recuperate. We deserved to recuperate.
Once our heatstroke was reduced a bit, I crawled toward Honey Dream. She was desperately trying to get back on all fours, but I could see her struggling. Didn't matter anyway, since I had her lay on me, as I hugged her, happy- nay, euphoric to see her safe and sound. I even ignored the shot of pain I felt travelling through my maimed leg and carried on with the hug. After what we went through, we both needed that, regardless of what my broken limb had to say about it.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" I whispered into her ear.
She silently moved her head up and down. She must've been as murky with ashes as I was, and she sported a few bruises of her own, but no underlying permanent damage seemed to be present on her. Good... good. Again, this was all that mattered. Her safety was top priority, and the rest was superficial. I could deal with the rest.
After maintaining her mutism for a few more seconds, she looked up, and said with an hesitant voice, "It... It wasn't me, I..."
"What do you mean?"
"T-this!" I turned to see the burning house she was pointing at. "The fire! I... I didn't do this, I swear! I swear it wasn't me! P-please don't be mad, uncle Calxie, I didn't burn your house. I-I would never, I-"
"Shhh shhh," I hushed her, a hoof gently pressing over her lips. "I... I know it wasn't you. You have nothing to prove to me. I believe you."
Gee, I wonder why. Could it be because I sort of knew who the felon was already? What a walking disaster of a pony I turned out to be.
In spite of my growing sense of culpability, I found myself becoming pensive. It probably wasn't the time to go all Columbhorse on her, but my curiosity had to be sated.
"But, I uh, I have to know, sweetie. What... What exactly were you doing in my house? Why were you there?"
She refused to look at me, and a few mumbles ensued, but no clear response came out of her mouth.
"Honey Dream?" I insisted.
"Y-you promised..."
I what now?
"Calxie, you promised! Y-y-you said! You said we'd see each other later after you saved me from the bear, b-but... but you didn't! I haven't seen you since! W-why? Why? I was so afraid you were gone... gone because of me..." Oh.
Oh, right...
I did promise, didn't I? And I never took the time to make it even. In my own little world of woes and tribulations, I had completely forgotten about how I had given Honey Dream my word. I took her trust for granted, and swiped my hooves on it. Well played, Gray Calx. Are you sure your special talent wasn't to let down fillies who looked up to you? Or maybe it was to sear them to a perfect medium rare?
"I tried to find you," she continued to lament. "I tried to come visit you, but... Your house was always locked! And you never answered, so I didn't know what to do and- and I didn't know- b-but today, after school, after school I was walking home, I was supposed to go at Comely's for a sleepover, but I saw your door opened, so I snuck in to meet you, but, but- and you still weren't there!"
Processing all of this made my heart feel like a pincushion. I was the adult, she was the kid, and yet it was I who was being scolded. Appropriately so. Made me bite the inside of my cheek, unable to find an alibi to acquit my poor behavior.
And little Honey Dream, she went on, pulling away from me. With the flames accentuating her shades of orange, her eyes listless and troubled, as if she was telling a bittersweet story by a campfire.
"I waited and waited and waited, uncle Calxie. I waited for soooooo long! All day! And then, it was night, so I got sleepy and tired of waiting, so I fell asleep onto your bed, and then... And then I woke up, and there was a fire, and why didn't you try to see me again!?"
I couldn't take it anymore: I reengaged in another hug. What else to do? I had no answer to give. She got me good. I couldn't forge a lie to save my flank, here - not that I wanted to. Facing the consequences of my carelessness seemed like an appropriate punishment.
"I'm, I'm so sorry, I..."
Yeah, couldn't finish that train of thought.
Because for the second time in 20 years, I felt like crying.
Damn.
Damn, damn, damn.
I think I needed to reevaluate where I stood in life. This was the biggest slap in the face I desperately needed. The reality of my situation, the one I had brought upon myself, was steadily becoming clearer and clearer. I nearly caused a child to lose her life, for crying out loud! Thanks to me and my crazy antics, a mother would've outlived her only offspring- and just imagining that felt wrong on so many levels.
Had I not paid attention in school? Had I not learned by now that fire was, um, y'know, a teensy bit dangerous? That playing with matchsticks was the distant cousin of running with scissors? You'd think that my diploma would've said something about my application of common sense, right? Unbelievable. Just... unbelievable.
Why, just why did I do this? Why was it that I kept making bad decisions after bad decisions?
And I wasn't talking about the fire alone. I was talking about everything. Why did I leave it all behind? To what end had I withdrawn from my family?
To wind up becoming a deranged pyromaniac, apparently! With a scar on the head, black grime all over the body, and a twisted bone in the leg. Was it worth it, you big dolt!? Did you find what you were looking for? Did you up your quality of life by a substantial amount with your "brilliant" initiative, hmm?
What was I, a wannabe megalomaniac? Or perhaps some kind of sociopathic masochist? And... And sympathizing with a known terrorist too? Who the hay does that!? I practically announced that I was willing to join Tirek's exclusive club of bad boys; what did that say about me?
I had been so focused on not wanting to play the hero that I swung the pendulum too far the other way. Getting a peek - a sniff, if you will - of villainy. Brrrr. Only a few meters away from the fire, and still that realization made me feel so cold. The thought of abandoning myself to the sweet seduction of the evil side, yikes, it was goosebump inducing, truly.
This was not the beginning of something here, okay? Okay? I was putting a stop to this madness right this instant. Starting now, I was going to enact a few reforms to ameliorate the way I apprehended my problems. No way would I do anything of the sorts ever again. It was too dangerous, too self-destructive. I almost dragged down a poor innocent foal into my delirium! So, no more! No more locking away pent-up regrets and exploding in a cataclysmic fashion! Today, I was a new pony, and I was going to fix everything.
And my first good deed was to bring Honey Dream back to her mother.
"Come on kiddo, let's take you home," I told her, trying to be as reassuring as I could. "It's not safe to be this close to a fire."
"But, what about your house?"
"... Don't worry about it. It's not a particularly windy night. It'll just burn itself out."
"Oh. Oh okay then..."
I could see that she felt bad on my behalf. She had so much empathy, so much care, even though she had all the reasons in the world to be mad at me. It was unbelievable how undeserving I was to be acquainted with somepony like her.
I appreciated her worries about my homelessness, I really did. But ultimately, material was precisely that: Material. Ponies were a million times more precious. I think you'll find Skybrush agreeing with me soon enough.
With nothing keeping us here anymore, I collected both Honey Dream and my jacket, swung them onto my back, and just like that, we were off.
Welp, it's official: Trotting on three legs was no bueno. Any pressure I was putting on the sprained leg triggered this stinging wave of pain I didn't have the bravery to deal with. It's as if a thousand little tacks punctured me up to my neck. Consequently, it took a bit longer than expected to reach Skybrush's place, what with the limping and everything.
Kind of ironic in a way. Here I was, lying to Twilight about a broken leg behind a stack of crates a couple o' days ago, and tonight, delicious schadenfreude decided to have the last laugh. I think there was something to be said about crying wolf.
Honey Dream noticed my impaired walking cycle, and she asked a few times if I was feeling okay. I sort of waved her concerns away, for you see, I was too busy apologizing profusely about the way I had played with her feelings when I vanished without a trace. She had no qualms burying the war axe after the first of the many "sorries" I blurted, making it crystal clear it was already considered water under the bridge. But honestly? She shouldn't have let me off the hook this easily. After everything I did, I didn't deserve to be forgiven right away. Now was the perfect opportunity to hold a grudge! She should have let me have some!
Anyway.
We reached the general store, much to the mercy of my trembling leg. That's right, Skybrush and her daughter actually lived a floor above her workplace, which was located on a busy corner of two interesting boulevards in the lower part of town, at the tip of the piedmont.
I turned around The Clover Mart - that was the name of the place, by the way - and rang an old-fashioned bell on a system of pulleys next to the back door. This shortcut led to a steep indoor stairway that directly opened up to the living space on the second floor. A much better alternative than using the main entrance and teetering through the store alleys.
And now, the waiting game. Hopefully, a brief one, because I was starting to feel my own heartbeat painfully pulsating around my fractured area. Being ache-adverse, and perhaps a little bit hypochondriac, I was picturing scenarios of amputation and-
Oh look! My pleas have been answered: The door gently opened.
And there she was.
Skybrush. With sleepy baggy green eyes, rubbing one to remove the nighttime goobers. She let out a hearty yawn, blinked a few times, and then progressively became more alert when she realized who had been rude enough to disrupt her well-earned sleep.
"G-Goofball?"
"Um. Hello, Skybrush."
More blinks from her. I think shock was slowly settling in.
"What are you doing at- Where have you been all this time? I haven't seen you for- I thought that... W-what happened to you, why are you black all over?"
Yup, shock was fully locked and loaded. The lantern dangling on the canopy did a decent job putting emphasis on my rather unhygienic features. I don't think she could've looked past them.
"I'm fine, I'm good. It's just, it's been a long couple of days, Brushie," I downplayed, hardly knowing where to begin. "There's a lot I need to explain, especially about tonight. Something uh, something happened to me and Honey Dream, and I-"
"Honey Dream? My sweet little Honey Dream?" she exclaimed, emotions strangling her. "W-w-what's going on exactly, goofball? Isn't she currently at Comely's?"
"Hi mom!" said Honey Dream just to prove her wrong.
She pounced from my back directly into the warm embrace of her mother, nuzzling her pudgy barrel. Can I just say that I found it mind blowing how natural it was for her to move from emotionally straining situations, back to her jovial self? As if drama was nothing but an annoyance to be swept under the rug. Her optimism superseded everything; it was mighty impressive, really. Part of me was envious of her ability to discard traumas and turn the page so quickly.
"Oh my lil' Honey, what are you doing up at this hour? W-what has happened to you? And Calx? Why are you two so filthy? Is that dirt all over your coat?"
"Nope, it's ashes!" she giggled. "There was a big fire, and I was stuck in it. It went BROOSHHH, it was super duper hot, mom! But then, uncle Calxie came and saved me like a superhero!"
"What? A fire!?"
And then she looked up at me silently, with eyes that screamed: 'Tell me she's joking?'
"Uh... yeah," I admitted with prudence. "I plucked her out of the flames. She's not hurt, I promise- Actually, Honey Dream, do you mind going upstairs and taking a bath to clean your fur? It's not good to wear all those sticky microparticles, especially if you wanna keep your lungs pink and healthy."
"Mmmh, yup! Can do, uncle Calx!!"
She dashed past her mother and climbed the carpeted stairs two steps at a time, with Skybrush spouting something about not making a mess. Heh, cute. Getting clean wasn't without merits, but truth was, I kind of wanted to have an honest, one-on-one conversation with Skybrush. Without kiddy ears overhearing grownup stuff. I think she sort of understood that as well - at least, that's what I perceived from the knowing look she gave me.
"A fire... That's just-" A low voice, then a sigh. "Listen, goofball, obviously, I want to know all about it. I have to know what happened. Ponies just- they just don't bring a daughter at the crack of dawn like this."
But?
"But, I need to make something quite clear first. Something I've meant to say for a while now."
Uh oh.
"Thank you."
Thank you?
"Are you sure you aren't running a second job as a guardian angel?" she winked. "Seriously: You run headfirst at Ursas, you become a one-pony fire brigade... You do everything to keep my sweet baby out of harm's way. No matter the gravity of the situation.
"So before you help me make sense of this: Thank you, goofball. Two little words that have been tingling in my tummy lately. You, heh, you haven't exactly given me the chance to say them to you. But know that I really appreciate it. I appreciate all that you've done for us - and all that you keep doing for us."
I-I'm not sure I was-
"You're a good pony, Calx." ...
Okay, that's it! I couldn't spend another day deceiving her anymore. She deserved to know the truth. The whole truth, from A to Z. I had no merit receiving a medal for starting fires, no. I needed a good dose of karmic retribution. Dodging my queued up comeuppance no longer felt right, especially after the heartfelt speech she just gave me.
How could I look at those beautiful eyes again, knowing that she didn't know? How could I sleep at night, pretending I wasn't a two-faced jackass toward a pony who has given me the benefit of the doubt time after time? How could I call a friend a friend, when our bonds were built on the back of trickery?
If I truly believed that I could better myself and atone for the fires I've started, figuratively and literally, then I was going to pony up and tell her everything I had kept from her. Breaking my one-sided false front, right there, with no more manufactured excuses to hide behind.
So that's what I did. For the next twenty minutes, I ran my mouth nonstop. I told her all that needed to be told. From my ties to royalty, to my life as a fugitive, all the way to my name change, passing through my dissociative behavior vis-à-vis my younger siblings. I even mentioned the fight I've had with Twilight at the start of the week, which led to my societal retreat.
And the fire, of course. How could I not come forth and admit that I had willingly incinerated my own dwelling? I didn't try to play it safe: I told her the story as it was, from an objective, unbiased perspective. With journalistic integrity that would've made the papers proud. It felt so weird spitting ugly truths like that, yet at the same time, it felt so liberating.
But...
Skybrush wasn't all too impressed. I mean, I get it, I totally did... But I'd be (even more of) a liar if I said that seeing her fall to her haunches, dizzy from processing this enormous barrage of new information, didn't hurt me more than my dismantled leg ever could. I saw her oscillate dazedly, and I saw her bring a hoof to her head. It's as if she was feverish, catching some kind of illness from my verbal insanity.
Yet, at no point did she try to interrupt me. She was listening and keeping herself from fainting, probably. She had no time for petty interjections. All she could do was to hope there was a very, very inappropriate punchline at the end of it all.
There were no punchlines.
At some point, I stopped talking. I had to. I wasn't even halfway through my list of reasons explaining why I was such a hot steaming pile of garbage, but giving a friend a heart attack didn't exactly fit within a redemption arc, now did it?
"So, there you have it. That's... that's everything I can tell you for now..." I droned out, exhausted. ...
"Come on, Brushie, say something, please... D-don't leave me hanging, here."
Her eyes were glued on me, but I could've sworn she wasn't looking at me. She wasn't seeing a friend: She was seeing a total stranger. A pony she no longer recognized.
"I mean... What's there to say? What are you even expecting me to say, Gray Calx?" Crap, I could hear the sadness in her voice. "This? All of this? This is too much. It's- It's too much. There's just- I mean, where do I even start?" she chuckled, but not because she thought any of this was funny.
Because it really wasn't. Funny, I mean. None of this was funny. In fact, it was pretty damn bleak.
Bleak. Yup, that there was the word of the day. Toss in the extra seconds of silence I had to endure, and what we had here was a perfectly stirred cocktail of mental torture. It was straining. It was excruciating. It was the worst feeling in the world.
"... The princess, she's your sister, huh," Skybrush wound up acknowledging.
"Um. Uh... y-yes. That's... Yes."
"That's- that's hardly believable. But, with your cutie mark and everything, it makes some form of sense, I guess," she admitted with a disappointing sigh. "The mayor announced that Twilight had to urgently depart ahead of schedule a few days ago, and now I'm beginning to understand why... "
She shook her head and looked at me, bemused.
"Is this why you've always been so secretive about your past life before moving to Outer Grove? Why you've always brushed away any attempts to figure out your origins? Because you wanted to keep your strained relationship with her under the drapes?"
I nodded like a colt who had just been asked if they got to the cookie jar before supper. I no longer felt like an adult. I was this stupid little edgy punk who needed to learn his place, who needed to be told not to be such a fool. ...
"I don't believe you."
"H-huh? You don't- No, I swear Twilight Sparkle and I grew up together! I mean, I get that you've got zero reason to trust me on that, but-"
"No. No, I don't care about that. I couldn't care less!"
Err, w-what? Skybrush, angry? H-hold on...
"I just, I don't believe that you were going to leave. Just like that, poof! Without even saying goodbye! I don't believe you could ever be cruel enough to do that to me! To me, of all ponies! I don't believe you, you big... you big liar!!"
"I'm- It's not like that, I-"
"No! I don't want to hear it! Not a word, Gray Calx! Or is it Sunstone!? Gah, who are you anymore? Where's the goofball I befriended? Because my goofball would have never pulled what you just did! You seriously think this was an okay thing to do, leaving everyone who cares behind without even considering talking to them first? Without telling them what you were up to? Y-you can't do that, you just... you just can't!
"What if you had it your way, huh? What if your little gambit succeeded? What if I woke up, day after day, convinced that you went down with your house? That my best friend was no longer with us? That he croaked in the most gruesome way I can possibly imagine? W-what if I became all alone, again!?"
She stomped. I recoiled. She inched closer. I retreated slightly.
"How could you! How could you do this!! Y-you were going to leave me, and I, and I..."
She gave me a serious look, blinking a few times, as if stopping herself from saying the next thing she had on her mind. She sighed, dejected.
"... You're really important to me, Calx. More than you can possibly imagine. When my ex husband gave up on me, when he walked out of my life, i-it left me in a very dark place. I felt worthless. I felt like no one could genuinely love me. I felt like I had done everything wrong. I was convinced that the father of my only child had every right to blame me for my countless pitfalls, that he was fully justified when he nitpicked at every little flaw that made me the detestable mare that I was.
"A-and on top of that, I had to raise a foal all on my own. A foal I very much loved since the day she was born, don't get me wrong. But juggling an income that suddenly became halved, alongside many sleepless nights of twisting and turning, thinking about how good the world would be if I was just straight up gone... It was difficult, Calx. I mean, look at me! Take a good look at how I turned out!"
She demonstratively sank a hoof into the blubber of her torso. I wanted to protest there, squealing something about how physical appearances were only important for shallow ponies, but I wasn't exactly in the most comfortable position to take the moral high ground right now. 'Sides, I don't think she had any interest hearing me flounder compliments like I was trying to buy peace.
"I used to have a frame fit for fashion catalogues, but being alone, being so easily left behind, it was impossible to deal with. Do you have any idea how awful it feels to eat your emotions away? To become fatter and fatter every day, knowing that slices of cake were the only balm you found to keep the pain to a minimum?"
Answering that rhetorical question was a death sentence. I did nothing of the sort. She sat on the floor again, tears she held as hard as she could finally flowing down her cheeks.
"B-but you. You, Gray Calx, you gave me meaning; you gave me purpose. Your friendship meant the world to me. It kept the fight in me, it gave me courage. Without you, I don't even know where- I don't even want to know where I'd be. But I need you. You have no idea how much I need you!! I don't want to be dumped like a wet rag again. N-not again. I don't think I could take it. Not from you I wouldn't..."
Fatality.
Spitting out pieces of my broken soul. Feelings whirlpooling down the drain. Will to stay awake and fully conscious plummeting. Guts smeared on the wall. I had broken Skybrush, and have broken myself in the process. I did the one thing, the one thing that was universally forbidden, the one losing condition in this game of life:
I had let her down.
"I... Y-you're right. About everything. You're absolutely right. But... W-what should I do?" I yammered, my esophagus completely dry.
"What should you do? I'll tell you what you will do: You'll stop living this lie and set the record straight with your family. I understand that you had reasons to feel slighted back in Canterlot; I can sympathize with that. But has it occurred to you that you perhaps went about it the worst possible way? You took the most extreme option without even attempting to let your relatives know how you felt! And now, now they're worried sick about you. Same way your friends and I would've been had you not backed down tonight! So you're going to go and talk to them. If you were genuine in your strive to become a better pony, if you sincerely meant any of it, then you're going to leave Outer Grove, and come clean to your siblings and parents. O-otherwise..."
She wiped a tear and exhaled audibly.
"Otherwise, I don't think I ever want to see you again."
Well, that was just about the most brutal sentence I've ever heard in my entire life. It sure stung like a bitch. Like someone stamped my heart with a branding iron.
"D-Don't- Don't say that," I begged with a nervous chortle. "Please, don't say that."
"Why not? You seemed pretty content with cutting me from your life."
"I wasn't- You have no idea how hard it was to- L-look!"
I removed the jacket folded onto my back and waved it in my teeth.
"T-the jacket. I kept the jacket. It's the only thing I've kept! I kept it because I was not ready to say goodbye to you. I kept it because you're the most important pony to me and I- I wanted to keep a reminder of that. I swear!"
Skybrush looked at it with caution, then at me. Her distrust pierced me like an arrow. She was trying to figure me out. Decipher if I wasn't just pulling more fabrications out of my ass. See if there was any good left in me.
"... Fix it, Gray Calx," she reiterated, a bit appeased, yet still authoritative enough to make me squirm. "Fix the mess you've made."
She turned and was ready to close the door on me, but I reached forward with a pleading hoof.
"W-wait! I'll catch the first train I can, but... I can't do it alone. Skybrush, I'm scared. I don't know what anyone will think of me, and I need a friend to help me through this. H-how about you tag along and travel with me? I know you've always wanted to get out of Outer Grove to explore the world; now could be your chance!"
She paused for a bit, her head tilted down.
"I-I'm sorry, but... no. I can't. Not after tonight. I need... I need some time alone, Calx. I need a few days to think some things through. There are some serious questions I need to ask myself. So... you'll have to do this on your own." Oh.
Oh I see.
Nah, I get it. See, I spent most of my life rejecting ponies. It was only natural that I was the rejectee this time. My hypocrisy was almost palpable. So, pow! Eat it, me! Take these bad feelings in. Take them all in! Take her cold shoulder and suck on it! After all, I made my bed, so it was high time I laid in it. Having a friend give up on me, that's exactly what I longed for. I deserved to feel bad. I deserved to be on my knees and still be knocked down. I deserved to beg for mercy and be spat on at my lowest.
Skybrush didn't look too triumphant about having frozen me on the spot. But she had to do what she had to do. I understood her decision, and gestured positively, unable to find my voice. I turned around, and began trotting away from the Clover Mart with my head hung low, as the three-legged protoplasmic cretin that I was.
Despite it all, I was still going to succeed. Failure was for failures, but I was a winner hellbent on winning. For Honey Dream's sake, I was going to live up to the expectations she set out for me. For Skybrush's sake, I was going to re-establish long-gone family connections. For my sake, I was going to stop fleeing what I should've faced years ago.
I was going to earn my title of 'good pony' the right way, just you watch.
"Goofball?"
I flipped my head. Skybrush was in the doorway, halfway through closing the door.
"Be extremely careful. I would never, ever forgive you if you put yourself in danger."
... Heh. How the tables have turned, right?
I offered her a shy smile. She closed the door, the streets became devoid of activity again, and I skulked further into the darkness, a clear goal in mind. From what I gathered, Twilight had left Outer Grove, and most surely returned to Ponyville. Logically, this is where I should be heading.
But... But I don't think I had it in me to face her this soon after what happened between us. I needed more time. I needed some kind of buffer to better prepare myself mentally. If I wanted to make a semi-decent impression, I had to be in a healthier headspace. I couldn't flick my switch and shift from one mood to another this quickly. Not after everything I've been through. Again, time was a crucial factor.
Luckily, I had more than one sibling. Despite all of the bad I had brought to myself in my life, I at least had the luxury of getting a practice round. I could ease my way into being a better peer. Or so I hoped.
Prince Shining Armor, time to roll out the red carpet: Your brother was going to make his big comeback.
> Twilight: With a Heavy Heart
"Sir? We've been at the terminus for fifteen minutes now. You have to get off the train."
Incited by a few nudges from the conductor, Gray Calx groggily awoke from his dreamless night, not without feeling a bit grouchy. He almost accidentally mumbled a "five more minutes, mom."
When his conscious and self-awareness properly joined hooves, he realized that he had slumped against the window of his booth, cheek squeezed against the glass with a thin line of drool dribbling down to the sill. Almost on reflex, Calx wiped his mouth, a teensy bit embarrassed at having subconsciously slobbered in public.
One of the first things he noticed was how the outside had been recolored into the beautiful palette of dusk, amber and burnt orange giving the bordering forest a comfy and scenic appeal. Clock on the wall indicated five PM. How long had he even been asleep for? He tried to recall exactly when his brain called for a timeout. Maybe it happened a little bit after switching lines at the Las Pegasus station? Tough to say. It definitely was still daytime before he fell into a snooze. The combination of being caressed by the rocking of the rails, and being pacified by the lullaby of the low-pitched engine noise probably got the best of him.
"Ahem. Sir, if you please?"
Ah yes, him. The pushy conductor impatiently tapping a hoof on the floor right in front of our sluggish commuter. Really wanted him out of the passenger wagon already. Eh, fair enough.
Visually scouting the surrounding vacant benches, Gray Calx concluded that the three or four other tourists who traveled with him had already bailed, effectively leaving him as the last pony behind. Hence the conductor's insistence.
Calx got up from his seat, readjusted his saddle bags, and nonetheless offered a polite nod to the conductor who simply grunted something unimportant in return. On the outside docking station, Calx stretched like a feline, appeasing a few kinks that had formed all over his body. He smacked his lips a couple of times and infused his lungs with a voluminous amount of Undiscovered West air.
Whoa. It's true what they say about the countryside atmosphere. It truly feels fresher, he immediately observed. The thick scent of petrichor and pines felt decently pleasant, especially to a stallion who was so used to the big city life. Canterlot and Manehattan weren't bastions of pollution by any means, but there was a tangible difference in air quality.
Surely, a first good sign for Outer Grove, and what it had to offer.
"Hey. You, with the purple mane and the dimwitted look," echoed a brash voice to his right. "You gonna stay there daydreaming all day instead of giving a hoof to a poor lady in distress?"
Calx had no reason to suspect he was the one being asked earnestly. He was only two steps into this new town; logic dictated that this was far too early for an impromptu interaction. But, part of him had to face the facts: He did have a purple mane, and, more to the point, he did have a dimwitted look. Yup, somebody was asking for his help alright.
He turned to look at the convoy of merchandise wagons linked behind the sole passenger compartment (i.e., the one he just exited). Indeed, mixing travellers with merchandise was the best way to streamline transport to this remote town - or so the info brochure at the Las Pegasus station claimed.
Crates had been pulled out of the cargo doors and stood idly in the drop off zone at the end section of the platform. Seems like Calx's prolonged nap had left plenty of time for everypony else to have claimed what they had to claim. Either that, or their stuff had been left there to be hauled on a subsequent day (it WAS getting pretty late).
However, one resilient contrarian, just like Gray Calx, was still present next to the train. A small earth pony, pink all over, her white braided mane bundled in messy locks, with sweat distinctly leaking down her face even from this distance. Her head was a bit redder than the rest of her natural coloration. Whether it was due to the physical effort of failing to pull a large wooden crate by a flimsy rope, or due to the frustration of being stuck alone carrying out a job she clearly wasn't built for, Calx couldn't really tell. Once again, she tried her hardest to put some form of motion into the crate to no avail. She scrunched her face, mumbled a few swears, only to give up and catch her breath with her tongue dangling.
"Well?" urged the pink pony with a pant. "Huff, huff... Y-you look like a pretty strong dude. How about, huff, you use these muscles for something more u-useful t-than standing around and doin' a whole lotta nuffin'?"
"Wha- uh, me?" Gray Calx burbled, looking left and right to find another pony on the otherwise empty train station.
She rolled her eyes at that. "Nah, huff... I was talking to the fence behind you. Come on ya dork, snap out of it and bring your flank over here. My vertebrae are about to be grinded to dust."
"Oh! R-right," Calx said, caught off-guard.
He approached the pony in trouble. He had no idea why he complied so easily; he didn't know that somewhat bashful lady. Nevertheless, that didn't stop him to take a quick curious glance at her cutie mark: Three hops bundled together. Interesting. Mastery of the finer arts of cocktail-making, perhaps?
"Where do you want me to bring this, miss?" said Calx who began to pull on the rope, moving the crate with relative ease...
... Until he came to an abrupt stop, almost tripping and falling flat on his face. He turned around, and saw that his easily irritated overseer had both of her hooves onto the crate, firmly holding it in place.
"First of all, Casanova, none of that 'miss' business, m'kay? I go by Sweet Pint, and that's what I expect you to call me. Capiche?" she demanded, to which Calx hesitantly nodded. "And to answer your question, I want this through the backdoor of the Two Arches. That's the big building over there," she explained, pointing at the angular roof protruding off in the distance. "Tell ya what, if you can make it in less than ten minutes, as the baremare, drinks are on me."
"Um, alright then, let's get this over with," the discombobulated stallion said.
The two of them walked side-by-side, with Gray Calx carrying the whole weight of the heavy box. More and more he questioned why he accepted and kept accepting to be abrasively bossed around by this rude pony to whom he owed absolutely nothing. Free booze was free booze, sure, but perhaps it also had something to do with his desire to please other ponies, or to make good first impressions? Regardless, he was in it now, so backing out and throwing a 'you know what, go suck an egg' her way didn't seem all too swagger of a move. He'd be done with her soon enough.
Sweet Pint observed the stallion with apparent antipathy, as he was putting his might into dragging her shipment onto the uneven cobblestone path.
"I don't suppose you come with a name either, tourist?" she remarked after a moment. "That's sort of how introductions work with us normal ponies. I tell you my name; you tell me yours. Basic stuff."
"It's Sunstone," he grumbled, rope in mouth. "I MEAN- It's not- it's Gray Calx! Gray Calx's my name! Not the other thing I've said. I'm Gray Calx, hehehe!"
Sweet Pint let out a degrading chortle. "Wow, you might just be the first pony I've met who got their name wrong on the first try. You're something special, aren't you?"
He sighed. "Listen, I've had a rough day, miss-"
"Sweet Pint," she reaffirmed with a grumble.
"Right right, Sweet Pint, sorry. But yeah, I do feel a bit overwhelmed. Like, I just rode that train for several hours right after an agitated meeting with princess Celestia, so I think I'm entitled to not be on top of my A game-"
"Okay, no. Pause. You can't just casually say that you've bantered with our ruler and leave it at that. Once we're at the Two Arches, you will give me all the juicy details, lest I pry them outta you by force," she chuckled perhaps a bit too sadistically.
"So long as I get my free drinks," Calx snarked back.
"You've still got six minutes, big boy. Make it count."
Less than six minutes later, the crate had been properly stored in the depository of the Two Arches. As promised, Calx received one liter of hoppy sour ale straight out of the tap. Delicately served inside of a fancy Masskrug, with the candle-lit room making the apricot hues of the alcoholic beverage shine beautifully through the glass. The barmare had also been meticulous enough to trim the effervescent collar to a perfect beer-to-froth ratio. Our thirsty stallion couldn't help himself but lick his lips, almost lovestruck: He had earned his prize.
Also as promised, after enjoying the delicious aromas of not having paid for a consumable good, Calx told the outlandish tale of his heated exchange with the almighty princess Celestia. Of course, he kept most of the details to himself and concealed the truth whenever he could help it. This stranger had no right to poke her head into his personal business. Thus, he only allowed himself to give her small bites to satisfy her curiosity. His name change, for instance, had remained unmentioned.
Sweet Pint, meanwhile, listened attentively from the other side of the counter. She didn't have much else to prepare for the night, as the food and drinks only started to be served past 6 PM (save for Calx's victory beer, of course). In fact, the two of them were currently alone in the large diner area for the time being.
"So ah, you're also the innkeeper here, I'm getting?" Calx segued.
"You betcha. What, you lookin' for a place to stay, Celestia-boy?"
"As it turns out, I am! Care to show me your wares?"
"S'all on the back of the menu. We pride ourselves on having prices that don't require you to sell one of your kidneys."
Slowly, Calx was getting accustomed to Sweet Pint's rather... in-your-face attitude and dry sense of humor. Slowly. Still had some progress to be done, of course. He looked down at the few different rooms offered at the Two Arches. Already, the suite was off the table. He only had so many bits in his saddlebags, after all. Fortunately, after doing a couple of mental calculations, he came to a few positive conclusions.
"Well, the single-bed room seems like it wouldn't burn too big of a hole in my purse. Without a current job, I think I can last for about a month before you'll have to kick me out. Should give me ample time to find a way to make money."
"Aheh, what do you mean, a month? And a job? Wait, wait- I thought you were a tourist? You're not... you're not seriously considering moving here?"
"That do be the plan, yes."
Sweet Pint stayed frozen for a short moment, then scoffed.
"I don't think you get the full picture, Gray Calx dude, this town is- okay look, I'll let you onto a lil' something here. Because you know what's up with Outer Grove?"
She edged closer, as if ready to tell a secret.
"Nothing. Nothing ever happens in Outer Grove," she whispered, before withdrawing. "You're in for a rather uneventful life if you choose to settle in this boring dump."
"Sort of what I'm hoping for, truth be told," he admitted, circling a hoof on the rim of his tankard. "I've had enough on my plate lately, and I'm not looking for some... wacky adventures to make it even. I just want some peace and quiet. That's all I want anymore. So uh, I hope I can last here - maybe even build something passable. That'd be pretty neat."
Sweet Pint stared dumbfoundedly at her sole patron. She considered this bizzarro stallion who came straight out of nowhere, and fought to fish for some goodwill buried underneath her many layers of gratuitous sass.
"Alright. Listen here, Gray dude. Just because I'm so nice, and as a, uh... cough... thank you for the help and for the cool story you gave me, Imma give you the first two nights here free of charge. Can't let you go bankrupt on the first week, now, can I? That's Outer Grovian hospitality for you."
Gray Calx raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by this sudden offer. Every fiber of his being wanted to politely decline, seeing as he's never liked being on the receiving hoof of charity, but somehow, he had an inkling that saying 'no' to Sweet Pint would invoke her wrath. The goal was to make it at least one day in Outer Grove without signing his death warrant.
"Really? I didn't expect, uh- Well I mean, that's very generous of you," Calx fumbled, "but... Huh. I dunno, I was under the impression that you hated my guts?"
"I sincerely have no clue where you got that idea from," the barmare quickly replied. "Now listen here, keep them flappy lips o' yours sealed and stop yammerin' stupid stuff for two seconds, cuz if you're looking for some quick and easy bits, then perhaps I could offer you a temp job here? Plenty to be done in the Two Arches!"
"Wow, the beer, the room, and now this? You're spoiling me rotten! What kind of work did you have in mind?" he asked, getting more and more surprised by the minute.
"Well, let's see here. How do you fare in the kitchen? Can I trust you with a spatula?"
"I once tried to boil water and ended up burning it. The water, I mean. I burned water."
"Ah, a real cordon bleu, I see!" she mocked, doing a chef's kiss. "Okay, let's forget food prep. How about drinks? What do you know about them?"
"I know that I like chugging them," Gray Calx quipped, before hydrating himself.
Sweet Pint couldn't resist but snicker with a snort. "Heh, that's funny. You're funny. See? I knew I had a good reason to like you, smartass."
"I try," Calx smiled a little. "Anyway, I'm going to make this easy for you: My main proficiency is geology. Be it in a lab, or on the field. Oh, and sculpting too; I'm quite the artist, you know," he added, tongue-in-cheek.
"... Not quite the set of skills that I was hoping for. Though you won't have any difficulty snatching a job that pays well here in the Grove, I'll say this much."
Well, a little bit of good news for a change certainly was a pleasure to hear. Gray Calx nodded and emptied his glass. All in all, not too shabby of a start. He had already secured himself a place to stay, so going full vagrant was now a concern of the past. On top of that, he was all beered up; what's not to love? His worries and anger that had followed him from Canterlot were slowly starting to dissipate. No more reminiscing on what he had done behind everyone's back, and how it was too late to reopen the doors he had permanently closed. He took a decision, a supremely drastic decision, yes, but by Tartarus, he was going to stand by it, for better or worse. Outer Grove was a new start; looking behind was just grounds for regression.
Sweet Pint couldn't have known any of this, of course. Calx was to keep his setbacks and his past mysteriously devoid of information. The less they knew, the safer he was. It was the best and only way to protect his machinations.
But eh, there wasn't much to worry about - at least, for the time being. Sweet Pint didn't particularly strike him as a nark. A bit unmannered at best, but definitely not a nark. Case and point: The lady hadn't even noticed Calx's mental respite. She was too busy being somewhat pensive.
"Hmmm, you know, thinking about it some more? I may take you up on that sculpting biz o' yours," she said after a moment. "This place is a bit too drab for my taste and could use a lil' more pep. Maybe you could carve some nifty wooden gizmos and we could hang 'em on the walls? Finally decorate this place proper, give it a bit more of an identity."
Calx looked around. "Oh shoot, not to be even more of a party pooper, but I'm much more of a stonemason than anything. I know how to chisel a mean rock, but wood? I can only botch that sort of work."
"Ah, tch, that's too bad. The only stone we have here that isn't busy supporting the whole dang structure are the three columns on the front terrasse."
"Weeeell," Calx pondered with a hoof rubbing on his cheek, "depending on what kind of rock we're talking about, and how thick the support beams are, I could probably rearrange one of 'em into something artistic?" He shrugged. "Eh, don't mind me, I'm basically throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks."
"Actually, for a stallion so insistent on speaking outta his bum, that ain't half bad of an idea!" Sweet Pint joked. "Putting emphasis on the set pieces the Two Arches is named after? Now that's the kind of out-of-the-box publicity that'd make our place look sexier in travel pamphlets, ha!"
As she finished endorsing Calx's ad-libbed suggestion, she pulled a few menus from a compartment behind the counter, eyeing the first few paying clients steadily reducing the number of free seats around the low-profile circular tables. She didn't expect high traffic tonight, but she knew better than making thirsty ponies wait unnecessarily for their happy hour windfall.
"Just so you know, I'll have to ask my superior before you go all Michelangelhoof on us," she asserted, placing the menus on her back. "He's a kind of a money-grubber; you know how managers go. And the bloke rarely comes here, ain't that a surprise. He'd rather visit his other branches, as in, the ones that aren't hidden on the edge of the world, if you catch my drift."
Calx nodded. He was a patient stallion, he didn't mind delaying that kind of side job if he had to. Besides, Sweet Pint was essentially doing him a favor, so it was on her terms, not his.
This whole exchange elevated something incredibly surreal: How instinctively disconnected from his previous life the town's newcomer was feeling at the moment. Perhaps it was due to how swiftly Calx had segregated his present self from his past self, replacing what made him who he was with something new, something untainted? He was essentially a pony in mint condition as it stood. Rebuilding a life from the ground up felt right, because, amongst many things, he could freely detach from the obstacles that kept strangling him on a daily basis. It was one gigantesque relief. A 20 something year relief. He could finally breathe.
Sweet Pint veered around a smiling Gray Calx, and with a quick nudge of the elbow, said, "Welp, gotta put a peg into this convo and go do what I'm paid to do. Ya need anything else to quench your thirst with, bucko?"
"Oh uh, no, I'm good, thanks," he replied, not wanting to usurp more of her time. "I was actually thinking about heading out and buying myself some supplies. I err, packed very lightly when I left Canterlot and- Actually, do you know a place where I could get myself a bit of groceries, some cosmetic stuff, and perhaps a bit of scribbling material to kill the hours?"
"Hrmmm. Your best bet would be to make a detour to The Clover Mart. There's this cute mare who works over there, heh... Anyhow, you'll find that shop at the corner of the two big boulevards in the lower part of town. It's the building with the forest green shingles; only an imbecile would miss it. So, y'know, try not to be that."
"Gotcha. Thanks for the tip, I'll head there straight away," he said, pushing away from his stool.
"Should move that gray rump of yours then," warned Sweet Pint, walking away from her crate-pulling aid. "They close at the same time we start dispatching drinks, so that gives you a little over thirty minutes. Once again, big boy, make it count!"
With every intention of making it so, Calx re-equipped his saddle bags and trotted with haste out of the tavern. With luck seemingly on his side, hopefully, his pit stop at The Clover Mart would go without faults.
To say that things weren't going all too greatly in Twilight's head would be laughably inaccurate. A quick glance at her depressed form slowly trekking through the occupied streets of Ponyville would highlight a contrast as sharp as pouring oil in water.
On one corner, you had Celestia's sun giving warmth in a clear blue sky, ponies bouncing with bliss and boundless euphoria, a technicolor scenery where rhododendrons and daffodils bloomed, families hugging, laughing together, joining in various activities... All of that, and more. Heck, even the chickadees were chanting in a chorus of energetic chirps. It was peaceful, amicable, and above all, harmonious. Everything was right in the world. Living the good life felt right.
On the other corner, however, you had one tormented princess - an outlier stranded in a saccharine utopia of a thousand smiles. She couldn't blend with the rest of her entourage any less if she tried. There was feeling down in the dumps, and then, there was her. Gave a whole new perspective to what having a bad day entitled.
No, truly, there weren't many other ways to put it: Twilight was depressed.
It all started on the dawn of her final day in Outer Grove. A Monday that, in all normality, should've marked the start of her diplomatic mission in strengthening the relations between the forgotten principality and the rest of Equestria. Surveying the ponies, providing what they were lacking, giving them comfort and assistance, overseeing the repairs, using her magical affinity for the greater good, and much more: That's what a princess worth her crown was expected to do.
In reality, Twilight was in no suitable condition to be the liaison she had hoped (and officially vowed) to be. Nopony could avoid the curse of succumbing under the pressure of a turbulent emotional state, doubled by a serious lack of sleep. Twilight herself was no exception. For all of her baggage and experience, for all of her drive and resilience, for all of her determination and desire for success, for all of her hard-fought battles and personal victories, at the end of the day, at her very core, she was still a sister. And despite some recent disagreements, she would never allow anypony to strip that label away from her. She was a sister, and she was forever going to be a sister.
That's not to say that she was unbreachable. Au contraire.
Under her many defensive layers of confidence and poise, a heart once pumped with the promise of protection. It had done so for twenty years and a half, cradled comfortably in a climate of relative peace. Alas, that all changed on the infamous night of finding her missing brother, where she made the unforgivable mistake of exposing her weak point. As a result, an opportunity presented itself, and the heart she tried so hard to safeguard had been violently pierced.
Sunstone singlehoofedly accomplished what no other villain had done to this day: He actually managed to dig under her defensive veil and, without showing the faintest hint of regret, struck where it hurt the most. And hurt it did. Much more than she could've ever anticipated.
When Discord corrupted her friends into being negative versions of themselves, Twilight came close to giving up. When Chrysalis tricked everyone into believing she was the real Cadance, Twilight had never felt so alone. When Tirek razed her home to the ground, Twilight dealt with a surge of emotions she didn't even know she had in her. But when Sunstone told her straight to her face that he hated her with a burning passion? When he confirmed what she always suspected but never had the guts to admit? When he spat at her with a kind of animosity ponies weren't even supposed to be capable of harboring?
Empty. It felt so empty. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the turn of events that had led them to this point. How strikingly astray these two have become. Try as she might, there was no logic to be extracted out of that estrangement. It was just too unbelievable, too inconceivable.
Two nights at the Two Arches; two nights following two skirmishes. One against a twosome of bears, and one against a lone pony. One where she recovered greatly, and one where her mental state took the plunge. Naturally, that clear-cut juxtaposition didn't go over Sweet Pint's head, who immediately perceived something off about the princess after she rose early from a sleepless night. Food had been declined, and coffee was a no-sale.
In fact, the princess whispered something about leaving preemptively, and insisted on being in the barmare's debt if she could bring said news to the mayor's team. When prompted about this sudden turn of events, Twilight made up something about receiving a distant message from Spike, recalling her to the Friendship castle due to some urgent and unexpected business. The princess couldn't help but feel like she dishonored a certain apple farmer's moral code with her made-up excuse, but when all was said and done, she departed without any ceremonial goodbyes.
And even though she wasn't entirely sure of it, Sweet Pint could've sworn she caught a glimpse of the princess gazing upon the middle column in front of the tavern, really soaking in the aesthetics of the three ponies carved in, and blinking a few tears before flying away. Art was pretty, sure, but to be moved to tears? And this early in the morning? Something definitely felt amiss.
Meanwhile, Twilight headed to the train station, trying her luck once again. When she arrived from above and saw a platform completely devoid of vehicles, she considered just sort of... flying along the tracks. Fly and fly for hours, until her alicorn body would give up on her. A five hour ride translated into pure analogical flight was nonsensical, really. She knew it'd take her almost a whole day of batting her wings nonstop. She'd collapse from exhaustion long before reaching the halfway point.
Yet, her strong emotional drive was convulsing in her chest with enough fervor for her to go forth with that insane plan. Using that resolve to power through the physical pain.
What else was she supposed to do? Sitting around and waiting for the clock to spill hours of pure nothingness would give her too much time to think, too much of an opening to go back and try to parlay with her brother again. It was obvious that he didn't want her in his life, and getting blown a second time after extending the olive branch would achieve nothing but finish her off.
And so, for a solid two hours, Twilight used all of her concentration on keeping her flight smooth and steady. That's as long as it took before her muscles started to seriously ache, with the princess having more and more difficulty exerting motion in the bones of her wings. After banking and tilting down one too many times, before she nosedived to her doom, the princess continued her pilgrimage on hooves, as out of energy as she was allowed to be. With no sleep in her body and no food in her stomach, she was exhausted and starved.
This was a terrible idea. She wasn't even a quarter into her hike, and she was already considering calling it quits. What was she possibly thinking when she deliberately left the only populated settlement for kilometers around? She always prided herself on being a level-headed pony who acted rationally, but this? Not her finest hour. Yes, a most terrible idea indeed.
A stroke of luck blessed her with the promise of rescue. At first, a dot by the horizon, far away onto the tracks. Soon enough, the dot turned into something more defined, and in the end, the obvious became obvious: It was a train, waiting patiently with the engine turned off. Three ponies disembarked from it when they recognized what - or rather, who the purple blotch approaching them really was. A railroad engineer, a conductor, and a chef galloped to give her assistance, flabbergasted by the princess' lone presence at a place like this.
As it turns out, these were the same ponies part of the crew that accompanied her on her way to Outer Grove. The same folks whom she ordered to wait for her input back at the previous junction. Seeing as the allocated two days deadline was running its course, without any news, the engineer embraced a pang of courage and took the matter into his own capable hooves, stationing his locomotive just far enough from Outer Grove to intervene if need be. Being on standby just in case the citizens had to be evacuated, or if they needed to quickly borrow a means of transport. As the stallion himself said, "better be pre-emptive rather than patching up unprepared."
It was no surprise that the gang was unable to comprehend what could've led their princess to trek in the middle of nowhere all on her own, fatigued and beaten down, without protection of any kind. She did as best as she could to summarize the situation, telling them that all was good, that everything had been resolved.
Well... not everything, right? After all, she didn't look too thrilled, which raised a bit of suspicion. But this was for Twilight to keep, and not for them to know. The Ursas might've been dealt with, but the battle was far from over. A battle that no other agents could partake in. It was all on her. An incommensurable burden she had to carry on her withers, which she did for the remainder of the train ride - back to the Las Pegasus station, and then, back to Ponyville.
It felt like hell. The two train rides felt like hell.
Exactly as she had feared, she found herself with too much time to think, and too little actions she could take. Time became meaningless, and the outside world, irrelevant. Maybe she had been spoken to on a few occasions by concerned travellers, but she was simply unable to heed their calls. All she was left with was some alone time to figure out what had happened, and what could be done. And at some point? As she thought more and more about what had been said during yesterday's malarkey of alcohol, shouts, and obscenities?
She gradually accepted that Sunstone might've been right about more than a few things.
This is primarily why the princess, on her way to her castle with that conclusion still fresh in her mind, was so morose. Not only was Sunstone's hostilities hard to digest, but at the bottom of it all, he was right. Behind the insults and the impulsive behavior was a pony who spoke the truth, and nothing but the truth.
She could've done more.
She could've tried harder.
She should've seen the signs.
She should've been there for him.
But as usual, she had been too preoccupied with her own quibbles to make any serious attempts at reaching out. How could she have been so blind? This was the Moon Dancer incident all over again, topped with an extra layer of complications. If only she had learned about the virtues of friendship years prior to her relocation in Ponyville, perhaps she could've been better equipped to stop it all before it became too late.
Yes, perhaps...
With more of these thoughts bombarding Twilight Sparkle from within, she almost failed to notice that she crossed the large doorway of the Friendship castle, the coolness of the inside clashing with the hot late afternoon air of the outside world. By the end of the entry parlor, between two grand staircases, was a circular room the princess wasn't unfamiliar with, its two doors wide open. Inside, a scene in plain view caught her undivided attention: A little ghostly orb above a protruded disc, surrounded by half a dozen chairs.
Oh, she knew what it was. She knew what it meant.
After all this time, her cutie mark was still floating above the cutie map. Almost taunting her with its presence, as if arrogantly saying: "Come on, what's the hold up, princess? Solve me, already!" Understanding its significance, she scoffed at it with a snarl. It was insulting. It was the last thing she wanted to see. It was... well, to tell the truth? It was too much to bear.
She sagged, defeated, unable to dish out any frustration at the little star blowing a proverbial raspberry her way. That pictogram was as right as Sunstone was: She had failed him. She had failed him a day ago, and she had failed him for the entirety of her upbringing. Maybe the whole goal of this friendship trip was for her to fully soak in the repercussions of her lackluster efforts as a child? The world wanted to give her a sadistic reminder that she unwittingly left a family member behind; it wanted to rub salt in the wound.
To think that all this time, as she grew up to cultivate her many skills, all she really desired was Sunstone's approval. When in truth, it was the opposite: He had wanted her approval all along. Sunstone had been sneaky about it, his ego doing a magnificent job at blurring the line between his true self and the rest of the Sparkles, but after meeting with him and suffering the whiplash of his explosive reactions? It became as clear as crystal. That cutie mark in front of her was the memento of a realization she should've had years ago. Before Sunstone had enough, before he became embittered, before he wrote about his... well, his voluntary exile, apparently.
Twilight shook her head with fervor; being ridiculed by the friendship problem on standby would advance nothing. Instead, she cantered away from the throne room, unable to withstand another second of being bullied by inanimate objects. She then headed toward the safest haven she could think of: The library. Yes, over there, she could bask in the safety of her books, clutching onto them like dolls. It was the most effective way of seeking any form of comfort after these precarious days of travelling, orating, sleuthing, fighting, realizing, enduring, and, of course, crying. A safe space that could help her reset. Hopefully...
A sneak peak inside, and in between the tall shelves garnished with colorful tomes of all kinds, onto a little stash of comic books turned into a makeshift beanbag, a lazy Spike held Supermare's latest in one claw, the other busy foraging into a bowl chock-full of glittering sapphires. Having found his next prey, he flicked a blue gem into the air, caught it in his maw, and crunched his delicious snack with a moan of pure satisfaction.
Midway through the mastication process, he opened an eye and gazed directly at the purple pony who stared right back. He hesitantly chewed a few more times, his look panning from his bowl of gourmandise to the mess his throne of superheroes had made. His transgression now unmistakable, he gulped both of his food and his stress. Ensued a sheepish smile, plus a few beads of sweat for good measure.
"Oh, Twilight! B-b-back so soon?"
Immediately after saying that, a tilted tower of books in the unkempt room came down in a loud ruckus, sheets of papers catapulted in all directions.
"... Uuuuh, it's not what it looks like, I promise, hehehe~!" he pleaded with a guilty smile.
Twilight took a good prolonged look at the total war zone that was the library. A small part of her wanted to scold her assistant, a bit disappointed that he had been slacking off this whole time behind her back. Instead, she simply sighed, and tried a smile.
"Um, don't worry about it, Spike. It's just... It's just good to see you."
"Y-you don't understand, I swear I was only keeping watch over these comic books and those tasty did you just tell me not to worry about it?"
Twilight motioned 'yes' with her head, entering the library with shy steps. This prompted an incredulous expression from Spike as he regained the floor.
"... Really? You're going to let me off the hook, just like that?"
Another silent 'yes' from Twilight.
"Okay, now I know something's up," he determined. "Arriving waaaaay ahead of schedule, that's already a bit weird coming from you. But hoofwaving my mess away that easily? That's not the Twilight I know. So, out with it, Sparkle."
"Muh!? Um... n-n-nothing's up! I'm perfectly fine!"
Unphased, Spike crossed his arms and gave her that look. Twilight, meanwhile, tried her best to maintain her charade by holding her breath. Sadly, it was a futile endeavour. Unable to stage her happiness any longer, she exhaled, lowered her head, and then slumped on her bottom. Her assistant, once on the attack, couldn't have known about the inner demons she was tucking away. When he realized that he might've probed a bit too hard, he dropped his accusatory stance in a heartbeat. He approached the sullen alicorn and gave her a much-needed hug, which she returned gleefully.
They stayed like this for a while. It felt good not only to be back home, but also to receive a bit of support and positivity in these troubled times. The brotherly problem was far from over - the cutie map taking perhaps a bit too much joy confirming this - but everypony needed a moment of respite. This was her moment.
"Spike, I..." she whimpered in a chokehold of emotions, "I have a favour to ask of you."
Detaching from the hug, the bite-sized dragon stood straight. "Uh, sure! Anything for you, Twi. What can I help with?"
"Can you... Can you fetch the family album? I have something to know... Something I desperately need to find out."
"Huh? The family album, really?" he repeated, scratching his head. "Bit of a weird ask, don'tcha think?"
"Just... Please just do it. I need to see. I need to pinpoint exactly when he... when he stopped loving me."
As she was explaining herself, Spike had already nabbed a small key from a drawer in a reclused corner of the library. He made sure to blow the spiderwebs out of the brass object before plunging it into a locked panel of a specific bookshelf.
Deciphering Twilight's latest lament was getting more and more cryptic. But, as her number one assistant, it was his job to avoid upsetting her further. So he kept to the task at hoof, flipping the lid open and grabbing the fat dusty binder hidden behind. The extra secrecy of that family relic wasn't without reason. These were, after all, private memories best kept away from the public eye. Twilight's childhood wasn't for sale.
With the thick photo album held between shaky arms, Spike looked back at Twilight. She hadn't moved a muscle. He gave her an apologetic smile, and tried something:
"You know, uh, just because Shining teases you every now and then, doesn't mean he stopped loving you, Twi. You're probably overthinking stuff again."
"I'm not talking about Shiny..." she countered in a murmur.
"Okay, well, neither does your dad. Sure, Mr. Night Light spends maybe a liiiittle bit too much time at the bingo hall, but that has nothing to do with-"
"It's not about my dad either!" she rebutted again, this time considerably louder.
Spike was running out of candidates. Who else could be a 'he' and have a noticeable presence in the Sparkles' personal gallery? Who else in this book could have soured her mood with such professionalism? Yes, who was the perpetrator indeed? ...
Well, there was someone alright. Captain negativity himself. The destroyer of joy, the harbinger of bad mood, the guru of all naysayers. Would explain why Twilight was slumped onto the floor, a figurative cloud raining down on her. But why now of all times? Twilight had all but assured him she had turned the page a long time ago, so why dig up the name that had been laid to rest in the distant past?
"Aww, Twilight," Spike sighed, having confidently identified who the mysterious stallion was, "what has brought this on? Sunstone's been, um, well he... He's no longer with us. Hasn't been for a while. I mean, I know this is sad and all, but why are you thinking about this all of the sudden?"
"Because that's just it, Spike!" she said, bouncing up in a jiffy, now face-to-face with the small dragon. "Sunstone is not a goner!"
"... W-What do you mean?" he stuttered in return.
"Sunstone is STILL ALIVE."
WHAM
Spike dropped the book on the floor, unable to keep a steady grip. He couldn't believe his ears. Has he correctly processed what she just told him? Or did his brain decide to go rogue on him? Because, aheh, it sounded like he just heard that Sunstone, the one and only grumpy Sunstone, was currently NOT pushing up daisies and was in fact still prancing about somewhere in Equestria. But that was outright impossible, now, was it?
"Ha... hahaha!" Spike chuckled nervously. "G-good one Twilight! A-almost had me going there."
"You... you think I'm pulling your leg? Spike, I've seen him with my own eyes! I've talked to him! W-we chatted and... I would NEVER joke around about such things!"
Well, she had a point: Humor wasn't Twilight's forte, let alone the dark kind. She was too true to herself to play pretend with her moods. A bona fide bout of hysteria was as Twilight as it could be; she couldn't fake hissy fits if her life depended on it.
Spike brought a hand to his forehead. "How is this even possible? Haven't you told me that he was the victim of a lethal accident a few years back?"
That was indeed what the Sparkles had told Spike, which was kind of a half truth if you squinted hard enough. Explaining in great detail the method Sunstone used to depart from the mortal realm was deemed a bit too much for a dragon of his age. Analysing the sort of mental strain and depressive thoughts that would push a pony to nullify their own life was not something Twilight wished to explore with someone who had yet to enter puberty. Spike had every right to enjoy his childhood before being exposed to a sad reality that was too often ignored and/or brushed away in modern Equestria.
"No! I mean- No, t-that's what we thought! That's what we all thought! But..." Twilight hovered the album in front of her and magically flipped a couple of pages, "he was there, in the flesh! He was in Outer Grove. I've bumped into him!"
"You've bumped into... Oh boy, that's..." Spike droned out, fidgeting with his claws. "W-w-what are we gonna do about this?"
True, he wasn't the biggest fan of Twilight's oldest brother, but the last thing he wished for was for the poor stallion to meet a gruesome end! That perverse thought never once crossed his mind. No, in fact, Sunstone's departure from this plane of existence had affected him as much as it did with the rest of the family. And just like them, it took him a while, but he managed to move on. Life goes on, right?
But now that this whole mourning period has been for naught? Well, where did that leave the Sparkles? What was the next move? What did this all mean? A myriad of big questions, yes, but the one that trounced them all: How was he even supposed to feel about this?
Weird. Definitely weird. Predominantly weird, actually. Spike hadn't been trained to properly deal with a pony close to him suddenly reappearing years after being MIA. After all, resurrection wasn't a topic covered by any of Twilight's books.
Speaking of Twilight, since she still hadn't answered his question, what with being too occupied rifling through the many pictures with apparent melancholy, Spike coughed politely. "W-well, I mean, uh... Sooooo, h-how was he? How's the old guy doing?" he noncommittally asked, cringing at his awful segue.
"How was he? Oh, I'll tell you how! He hates me, Spike! He hates my guts with a kind of hostility that would render Chrysalis proud! H-he... He has always had nothing but pure hatred for me; that's why he left us behind, that's why he went into hiding! He couldn't stand my presence! The only real accident Sunstone had was being my brother!"
"Oh I uh... I'm sorry Twi, I didn't-"
He tried to put a comforting hand on her back. It would've been a kind gesture, had she not shoved the binder right into his face.
"Look at him in this picture!" she demanded. "Look at his scowl! This one was taken by a photographer at the beach when I was six. Look at this! I was nuzzling him, and he was scowling!! Does that look like a pony who ever loved me!?"
Spike always thought that the "good" chemistry between the two siblings had never been reciprocal. To have figured that out years before Twilight did due to her inherent bias was as good for his self-validation as it pained him. Because if there ever was a time to put the lid on a 'I told you so?' Now was probably that time. Hence, he bit his tongue, not wanting to be caught giving the wrong answer to a rhetorical question.
"How in Equus have I never noticed this? How deep in denial must I have been!?" bellowed Twilight to herself.
Again, Spike kept his remarks to a minimum. When the princess noticed her assistant tapping his clawed indexes together, she saw someone who really didn't deserve to be her emotional punching bag. A bit more lucid, she sighed.
"When I saw him again, I tried to reach out," she resumed, noticeably calmer. "I tried to talk to him, but he wanted nothing to do with me. Nothing! In fact, he hoped... h-he hoped..." She breathed out, finding courage to articulate her next words. "He hoped that horrible things would happen to me. He told me so with such authenticity, it's almost as if he pledged an oath. I've never, never seen a pony who wished for my own demise with the passion he exerted!"
"Wuh-what!? Why would he ever say something like this to you? To his own sister?" genuinely wondered Spike.
"Because he hates everything I stand for! My crown, my title, my friends, my education, my special ties with the other princesses, my adventures... my everything! I've always had it so easy compared to him, and he's grown extremely indignant about it. That's why he wanted me to have things not go my way; so he could step up, so he could experience what it's like to be the centerpiece of our family, so he could have a chance to feel accomplished for a change!"
"W-whoa, no kidding! S'that why I've never seen him smile? Because he was envious of you this whole time?"
Twilight nodded. "I... I believe so." ...
"Well... forget about this jealous meanie head, Twilight! If he only wants to bring misery in your life, and if he wants to live in secrecy, then I say, wish granted!"
"How can I!? How can I forget that I have a brother who banished himself to the other corner of the world? A brother who was right about me!? On the whole line, from A to Z! Spike, it's my fault he became the pony that he is today. It's my fault he wrote about his... accident. From the beginning, all I saw was an irate pony who thought of me as a bugging little sister, but what I should've seen was a pony who was in dire need of a helping hoof! But no! We cast him aside, we ignored his mood swings, we allowed him to develop his familial aversion, and we... we turned him into this!"
She re-exposed the family album. On it, Sunstone sitting at the dinner table, Twilight Sparkle to his right, Shining Armor to his left, a birthday hat on his head. Two smiles and a frown. A young colt about to blow 14 candles with a single wish in mind: Going back to his room and eating his chocolate cake alone.
"Who is this pony?"
Both alicorn and drake looked up from the pages to see an inquisitive Starlight Glimmer standing in the entrance of the library. Twilight had the album wide open, exposing the picture for everypony to see. When she fully processed what was happening, with a swift application of telekinesis, she clasped the binder shut, floated it away into its proper casing, turned the key, and completed her performance with the biggest grin she could fake.
"S-Starlight! Uh, that was uh... N-nopony! That was nopony, hehehehe!!"
"... You're back awfully early," she squinted. "Did you solve the problem in Outer Grove already?"
"Did I- Yup! Yup, that's exactly it, you've hit the nail on the head! Bullseye, hehehaha!!" Twilight latched on, much to Spike's disapproval. "Solved it like psssshhhtt it was nothing! J-just like that!"
"Uh-huh. I suppose this is why I saw your cutie mark still loitering above the map on my way here, hmmm?" she retorted with a cocky smile.
Twilight became completely white. A strand of her mane even curled up with an audible twang. Starlight had laid a trap and she foolishly sprung it. Now that her friend was done playing coy, the skittish princess was running out of options.
"Okay, you've got me," she admitted, her ears drooping. "It didn't, um, go exactly according to plan. I had to come back because uh... because ah..."
"Becaaaaause?" Starlight edged closer, as curious as ever.
"... Well that depends. How much of our conversation did you overhear? If, erm, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Bits and pieces. Heard you talk about a pony named Sunstone? That a friend of yours?" She tapped her chin, all analytical. "Was he the one whose picture you two were ogling?"
To this, Spike inched closer, seizing his opportunity. "Actually, that wasn't a friend. That was Twilight's bro-"
"MY COUSIN!!" interrupted Twilight with a concerning eye twitch.
Opportunity seized, yet so swiftly taken away. Before finishing what he had to say, the little fellow got teleported by Twilight's magic above a disorganised pile of books in the far back of the library. After falling into the mound of papery lore and preserved knowledge, he popped his head out with both of his pupils rotating out of sync.
"Yup, my cousin!" reasserted Twilight. "My very, very distant cousin! An unimportant somepony whom I barely ever met, hehehe~...!"
Starlight blinked, blinked again, and then blinked some more, bewildered by what had just unfolded in front of her. The sudden mood shift, the teleportation, Twilight smiling creepily a centimeter away from her face... Yeah, there was no denying that something wasn't right with the unhinged princess of friendship.
"R-really?" further questioned Starlight. "For somepony so unimportant, it kinda sounded like you were shocked to learn that he was still alive."
"Ah, n-nope! Nope nope nope! You misheard! I was merely saying, uh, that it was 'a good day to be alive!' Seeing as I made it back to the castle safe and sound, you know...?"
Starlight Glimmer did not, in fact, know. If anything, she was thoroughly unconvinced - the exact kind of nonplussed response that only made the neurotic princess feel even more backed into a corner. With the addition of Spike staggering back toward them, she knew her time was limited. These two were about to perform a pincer manoeuvre on her, and she'd have no choice but to abdicate. Her only saving grace was a well-placed excuse. A quick getaway from this conversation. A pretext to keep Starlight's skepticism at bay.
Thus, the princess feigned a hoof slap on her head. "Oh! But you know what? I came back so quickly, I left all of my luggage at the train station! S-silly me, right? Would you be so kind as to retrieve them for me? I'd do it myself, but I am sooo exhausted by the trip!"
"I-"
"Lovely! Thank you so much, Starlight, my friend, my pal, my bestest of all buddies!" Twilight said, chaperoning her out of the library via the most indiscrete head push in the world. And then, after slamming the doors shut, "Take all the time you need! There's definitely no rush!"
With her ears glued to the door, she no longer heard any resistance on the other side. Feeling the noose loosening, she wiped the sweat out of her forehead, right before dropping onto the cold tiles with some kind of half wheeze, half grunt.
"Oof, that was way too close for comfort, but I'm glad we avoided the worst!"
"Guh, s-s-speak for yourself," Spike stammered, still a bit dazzled by the commotion. "W-what was that all about? And why didn't you ask me to get your stuff? Hello-ooo, number one assistant over here?" he complained, a pair of thumbs poking his chest.
"Isn't it obvious? We can't have Starlight finding out about the mysterious brother we've never mentioned before!"
"Um, why not?"
"Because, it's- Spike, haven't you paid attention to what I've said before? Sunstone wants to be left alone! If we go ahead and drop his name without being cautious about it, then it's bound to give him unnecessary attention. And that's exactly the opposite of what he wants!" She sighed, getting back on four hooves. "For once, I'd like to respect his wishes. That's... that's the least I can do at this point."
Sunstone's voice echoed in the princess' mind. "I'm fighting for my right to be left alone," it berated, "but that clearly went over your head!" Well, not this time it didn't. His message was fully heard and fully understood. If it's privacy he sought so badly, it's privacy he shall receive.
"Well, aren't you going to tell your parents at least?" Spike wondered as he began to pick up a few books off the floor. "I feel like at least they should know..."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Oh, brilliant! 'Hey mom, hey dad, did you know that your long-lost son is actually still alive and kicking? Here's his address and his postal code. Anyway, what's for dinner?' Spike, that'll send them packing immediately! Again, that's precisely what he doesn't want and what we're trying to avoid!"
Her assistant kept to himself, not bothering with a reply. Either because Twilight's justification was pure folly, or because he was too busy balancing a tall stack of twenty-something books.
"And before you say anything," Twilight warned Spike who really wasn't going to say anything, "Shiny is also off the table! Don't even get me started on what he'll do to Sunstone the moment he hears that his brother has lied to him - to all of us - for years. He'll be like an unleashed Diamond Dog! He'll go straight to his doorstep and buck his teeth out for what he has done. I'm not even sure Cadance will be able to restrain him!"
"Twilight, you have to tell somepony!" finally yielded Spike. "You can't keep this all for yourself, it's not going to do you any goo-ACK!"
As if poor Spike hadn't been sufficiently maimed today, he just had to trip on a thick atlas left haphazardly on the floor. Needless to say, his tower of books never made it to their proper shelves. Twilight stared at him (and at the resultant mess) with big white eyes, unsure if she should be amused by his slapstick comedy, or reluctant to agree with his words of advice.
"I'm not... I'm not keeping this for myself," she ultimately concluded. "I confessed to you, didn't I?"
"Well yeah, but uh, what about your friends?" he tentatively asked, shaking a few books off his head.
"What about them? I mean, I love them dearly, but... It's still not something I wanna burden them with."
For the nth time, Twilight sighed. She approached Spike to give him a hoof up, which he gladly accepted. All the while, she mentally prepared herself to explain the main reason why she was so picky with his more... open-hearted approach vis-à-vis the Sunstone affair.
"After Nightmare Moon's defeat, after we were recalled to Canterlot to learn about what had occurred to my brother... Do you remember the promise we made to each other? How we vowed to never mention Sunstone to anypony? How we agreed that it'd be easier if we just kept his tragic story to ourselves? Well, I'd still like to uphold that promise. I really don't see why we should revise it now of all times. What, because I've learned that Sunny wasn't as gone as I thought he was? That's hardly an excuse!
"But let's say that I do anyway. Let's pretend that I meet the girls and suddenly admit, half a decade after befriending them, that surprise! I have twice as many brothers as they originally thought I did. How do you suppose they're going to react? For me, it's beyond obvious: They'll be fawning over the idea of meeting him ASAP! An idea that'll pass very quickly once AJ learns how he betrayed his family, once Pinkie learns how big of a 'grumpy meanie mean head' he's been, once Fluttershy learns how much grief his insults gave me... Should I go on?"
Spike waved away the rhetorical question with a quiet headshake.
"No, truly, I need to keep my lips shut," she recapped with a wry smile. "Anything short of that is asking for trouble. I... I can't tell anypony. We can't tell anypony. Anypony at all! Because the minute one of us leaks anything related to Sunstone's existence, you can be sure that this unbelievable story is going to be picked up by the papers. What a scoop it'll be for Equestrians everywhere to learn that one of their princesses has had an unknown brother hidden away from the public eye this whole time! I can't see any brighter spotlight shining on him after that. Journalists and paparazzi will be dying to book exclusive interviews with him! So to avoid any of this, we need to keep quiet, as we have been for the past five years. Nothing has changed!"
There was sort of an awkward silence, and eye contact was avoided. Spike knew where this was going. It wasn't his first time trying to keep Twilight's sanity in check. She's always been prone to let her critical thinking wither away when the direness of a debacle became a bit too much.
How ironic that her very own intelligence could sometimes be her undoing. Her brain has always been her strongest asset, yet sometimes, following the brain was a suboptimal play when the heart really should've been the organ in charge. Her current predicament sure was a prime example! However, for Twilight, when family was involved, she simply couldn't afford to gamble on the heart; she had to remain by the book - quite literally.
Given that, what was really holding her back, here? Did she really lay out the whole of her enquiries, or was there perhaps something else that made her reluctant to find an ear to talk to? Maybe there was an underlying issue that pushed Twilight Sparkle to maintain her mutism?
An imaginary lightbulb turned on in Spike's head when he remembered the response she gave him after prompting her to enroll a few guards for her trip to Outer Grove. She didn't take his suggestion all too kindly. In fact, she had been pretty forward with how adverse she was at the idea of travelling with a couple of allies, and how much she preferred to take care of business all on her own.
"Oh, I see what's going on!" Spike raved, getting the full picture. "You're hesitant to talk it out because the cutie map only summoned you and no-one else, right? And you don't want to botch the friendship problem by seeking out help? C'mon now Twi, don't be silly. I'm preeeetty sure the map can make an exception for once, right?"
Compromising the cutie map's desires?
Putting the mission in jeopardy?
Going against the instructions?
Disrespecting the friendship problem's guidelines?
"Uh, Twi? You look-"
She stomped. "I don't care about the friendship problem! I couldn't care less!! I just want MY BROTHER BACK!!" ...
Twilight huffed in and out, realizing that the little dragon was taking a few steps back with his hands held up in self defense. She immediately mellowed out, feeling guilty at having been a little... too extreme with him for the second time this evening. She shouldn't have raised her volume. There was never a good reason to become loud at your friends and making them feel vulnerable.
"I-I'm sorry Spike. I didn't mean to lash out like this. This isn't your fault. None of this is. I guess I'm just a bit stressed out..."
"W-well, I mean... T-that's perfectly understandable, uh..."
"But, the good news is, there is a solution out there, I'm sure of it. There has to be! And I won't quit until I put my hoof on it!" she declared with her chest pumped up. "I just need... I just need some time to think. I need a few days to hash out a plan..."
She lifted her chin and panned her look across the library. In complete disarray it was, but the books were very much still out there, begging to be read.
"... And maybe give myself a little bit of me time as well, so I can figure out what I can do about my brother. I already thought I had lost him once, and I don't... I don't wanna lose him again, Spike. I can't let that happen. I just, I can't afford to make any mistakes here. Because if I pull the wrong move, if I'm not delicate enough, then... Then I really do risk losing him forever..."
For Twilight, being insufficiently prepared to face a problem, no matter what form it took, was nothing short of unacceptable. You couldn't jump headfirst into the battlefield without knowing about the enemy first. When it came to familial divides, it wasn't all too different; the metaphor stood true.
Luckily, she had many textbooks about sociology, psychotraumatology, neuronal behaviors, ponythropology... Heck, she even had a couple of manuals about anger management. Surely, something in her nigh infinite inventory would hold the solution to settle this decades-long dispute? All she needed to do was to find the right paragraph, the right string of text that would jump start her journey into untangling this mess of a puzzle.
And to achieve that, for sure she'll need a few days alone. Not only to cope with the gravity of the situation, but to benefit from a quiet environment where no distraction shall pull her away from her studies. She had a lot of cud to chew; being forced to partake in cwazy misadventures was a no go.
In Ponyville, it was well-known: Trouble had this weird tendency of following anypony who dared to poke their snout out of their house. The obvious countermeasure was to stay inside, lock the door, and throw away the keys. Something that sounded deliciously appealing for the princess of friendship. She couldn't afford to get sidetracked by anything of lesser importance, for she had a brother to reconcile with, and that, that absolutely trumped anything and everything else. Ponies outside these crystalline walls will just have to learn to function with one of their princesses indisposed in the meantime.
It'll take time that it'll take. Be it days, weeks, or heck, even months. Until then? It was book time. A time of solitude to give her the guidance she desperately needed. The path to recovery may be a rough and long one, but it was nothing she couldn't undertake.
She wanted to fix this?
She was going to fix this.
She was going to fix this the right way.
> Skybrush: Also With a Heavy Heart
Ding-a-ling! ♪♫
The door gently nudged the ceiling bell, indicating Gray Calx's entrance in the Clover Mart. As the town newbie, shopping there was a first-time experience for the stallion.
Good thing he didn't have any trouble finding the old-timey general store. Not only was it a standout from the other nearby establishments, but also, architecture wise, it looked quite promising. The storefront had a recessed entry and was encompassed by display windows. The roof was indeed composed of those iridescent, dark green shingles Sweet Pint had mentioned. They made for a perfect match with the big four-leaf clover logo adorning the store banner. With its peculiar yet intriguing quarter circle shape, the whole building caressed the curves of the two crossing boulevards.
The interior had all the pizazz of the outside, with wood being the primary choice of material. Given Outer Grove's placement in the heart of a thick forest, it made a whole lot of sense. The planks and overall woodwork had a maroon hue and still smelled of sap. The ceiling was low, but it didn't feel claustrophobic. The merchandise, item displays, and isles of food were a-plenty, but it didn't feel too encumbered. The whole place had a sense of disorganisation, but it didn't feel like a ramshackle bazaar. It was the perfect balance between quaint and functional. A methodical mishmash, one might say.
A quick scan to make sense of this myriad of products, and Calx saw ice boxes in the back. Probably where frozen goods were to be found. On the right, behind the loaded shelves, was a section dedicated to small products of all kinds. There was an abundance of party supplies and crates of fireworks over there (maybe those Outer Grovians were a festive bunch?). A little further to the left was a menagerie of objects. Bags of food in bulk, gardening equipment, hardware tools, headgears, drapes of all colors, random pieces of furniture... There was even a large canoe leaning against the wall back there! No really, this bric-a-brac had no rhyme or reason to it. I guess this is why they call it a 'general' store, Calx couldn't help but ponder.
He took a few steps forward and let his look wander from item to item, passively wondering how he'll find what he needs. And quickly too. Sweet Pint made it quite clear that this store ceased all operations by 6 PM, which only left him with 10 meagre minutes to complete his shopping. Calx felt a little guilty at bothering the store owner with his less than subpar punctuality, especially since there were currently no other clients inside. He understood that kind of frustration all too well, having worked a good portion of his teenage years at Joe's Donut shop. Nothing like preparing to close up for the night and having a last-minute buyer throw your routine out of whack.
A few seconds of scrounging later, and his idle thoughts were cut short by the jovial voice of a nearby mare.
"So sorry, didn't see you there! I was in the back taking inventory. Nevertheless, welcome to the Clover Mart!" she chanted.
Calx was currently pacing around a shelf, trying to find toothpaste in the collection of hygiene products. Without prying his attention away from the small knick-knacks, he hailed an amiable welcome back at the shopkeeper.
"Hmmm. Can't seem to recall having seen you before," she mused after a short silence. "You're a new face around here, aren't you?"
"Oh uh, yeah. Yeah, it's my first day in Outer Grove," Calx admitted, a bit caught off-guard by the friendliness of the shopkeeper. "Heh, you're not the first pony who noticed that I..."
His jaw dropped when he took a good gander at who he was talking to. The lady in question was behind the counter, leaning on a hoof, and offering a smile full of charm.
Whoa, admired his mind.
She was staring straight at him with those piercing green eyes. Two sparkly emeralds adorning a visage partially hidden behind a soft lock of hair, a brown mane that complemented her peach coloration flawlessly. She had a sea of freckles on her cheeks, and a paintbrush on both of her flanks.
If this was the mare Sweet Pint had called "cute" back at the bar, then she was spot on. It was no exaggeration: This pony must've had the best silhouette he'd ever laid his eyes upon. Her thin, slender curves married her sublime features to perfection. Her overall frame had the right balance between too skinny and too plump. She was astonishing; she was the very definition of eye candy. To say that she was an aspiration to standards of beauty everywhere was an understatement.
She's pretty, thought a daydreaming Gray Calx. Super pretty, in fact.
It all happened so suddenly. But for a moment? For a microscopic amount of time in the grand scope of his life? Calx fancied doing something irrevocably stupid. His mind was overcharged on libido-fueled synapses, printing hundreds of ideas and hypotheticals a second. Most of them involved gathering his courage and temporarily doing away with his lack of confidence. A timeout in his world of self-doubts to pull an impulsive move straight out of Nowhere town.
He wanted to go talk to her. But not just talk to her. Really talk to her. Maybe even... Well, it was unbelievable that he even considered such tomfoolery, but just to be wild, just to play the devil's advocate, what if he was to ask her out? Getting to know her first, and then popping the question down the line?
Obviously, this was all too crazy, hahaha... He had never done anything of the sort before; why would he flip flop on the matter? The love game was not his to play. Not to mention, he was in a completely different league. Stallions of his caliber, they had no business flirting with the likes of her.
And yet, trying as he might to pretend those feelings were nothing more than juvenile thoughts passing by, there was no denying that she had sparked something in him. Something that made his heart pump just a little faster, his forehead just a little sweatier, and his smile curve upward just a little more. Maybe it was due to his do-over in life? Maybe the air of Outer Grove had a flair of je-ne-sais-quoi in it? Maybe Sunstone couldn't love, but Gray Calx could? Whatever the reason was, something was genuinely cooking inside of him. In the same second it took him to build up the dream and immediately tear it down, a great realization culminated:
He had been lovestruck.
And it was such a good feeling.
WHAM - CRRRASSSHHH!!
Distracted, what had to occur, occurred.
Calx didn't even realize he had been instinctively moving forward the whole time he was eying her. He was too busy being head over heels, lost in a touchy-feely world full of smooches and snuggles. Consequently, without paying attention to where he was going, the collision with the tall sunglasses display was unavoidable. It tilted, falling onto a shelf of pots and pans. Like a Rube Goldberg machine gone wrong, the large stock pot at the end got catapulted in the air, ending its parabolic course on a crate of oranges, which split open and let hundreds of fruits enjoy their newfound freedom by rolling everywhere.
It was loud. It was cacophonous.
It was embarrassing.
When the dust settled, Calx could be seen hiding behind a hoof, his upper set of teeth digging into his lips. He did a few timid coughs, his ears receding onto his neck.
"Uuuuuhhh," he droned, "so, do I get a mulligan here, or is this going to stick as far as first impressions go?"
The mare behind the counter was completely mute, stunned by the Kafkaesque series of events that took place in her store. All she could do is blink her stupor away.
That was, until she exploded in a fit of laughs. It wasn't a laugh of mockery though: She was genuinely amused by Calx's antics. Buuut, that didn't make the poor stallion feel any less flustered. It took him a lot of effort to not just book away, change town, and never think of Outer Grove again. He became completely red, his front legs almost buckling under the weight of his shame.
"Heh, you're kind of a goofball, aren't you?" said the one who witnessed his shameful display.
"I'm surprised that didn't turn out to be my special talent," he improvised, humor being his best and last line of defense.
She silently chuckled a bit more. "My name is Skybrush. And who might this goofball be?"
"Name's, uh... I'm Gray Calx, ma'am. I'm 28 years-old, I know a thing or two about rocks, and bumping into displays is my favourite pastime."
"Oh yeah? What a coincidence! Mine is observing clumsy clients pick up their mess."
Both of them shared a good, honest laugh. All in all, this mishap was resolved in good spirits, and Calx began atoning for his accident by putting the knocked over display back in place.
As he foraged for a few stray oranges in front of the register, his ears lifted up to the sound of a door being brashly pushed open. Even Skybrush jumped a little. The source of the nuisance came from behind the counter, exactly where she had made her entrance. Except this time, it wasn't a mare who came from the back store: It was a pale red stallion who barged his way in. He sported a beige buzzcut mane supplemented by two cyan irises. Just like Skybrush, he too had neither horn nor wings.
If there was one thing to get from this new guy, it definitely was his patience - or rather, his lack thereof. He looked absolutely fed up, his baggy eyes telling all about the sleep he seriously lacked.
Both Calx and Skybrush turned to look at him. The lad's barrel was inflating and deflating with intensity, and his frustrated breath could be heard from blocks away. His anger was so palpable, Calx figured he was one step away from bursting a blood vessel.
"Alright!" shouted the irate stallion. "I give up! I'm done!"
"W-what?" timidly spluttered Skybrush, her ears falling flat on her head. "W-w-what's happening, sweetheart?"
Sweetheart? Calx repeated in his head. Hol' up- Isn't that a term usually reserved for couples? As in, ponies united under the bells of love and what not?
"I tried to make the baby sleep, but she just keeps crying, whaaa, whaaa! I've had enough!" informed grumpy reddie with the same aggressive tone.
Oh, a baby, eh? Probably what caused all those distant wailing noises. Calx could definitely hear them now that the back door had been left ajar. Seems like her cries came from somewhere upstairs, and by the sound of it, she was pretty dang upset, yikes!
All in all, the baby's presence pretty much settled the score: Grouchy Mc. Grouch Face was indubitably Skybrush's hubby. These two were a duo, life partners, a match made in heaven, etc... So much so that mommy and daddy got busy under the blankets, pooled their respective DNA together, and created life. There were no stronger indicators to prove that Skybrush wasn't single and looking.
Calx chuckled to himself. His love at first sight sure came a few years too late. How naive it was of him to think he stood a chance to begin with.
Welp, that crush was pretty short lived, he silently conceded, graceful in his defeat. Ah well, what can you do. Plenty of fish in the sea, so they say.
As he submitted to his 'it is what it is' ways, Skybrush, on the other hoof, was far from being all too chipper. In fact, she took a few steps back, putting a bit more distance between her and the one she apparently loved oh so much.
"W-well... D-did you- did you give Honey Dream her antibiotic for her otitis, l-like Dr. Stethorsecope prescribed ?", she said with a shaky voice. "You know that, um, that her ears hurt a lot..."
"Yes, well, so do mine!" he retaliated. "I got her to drink her syrup alright, but that little monster is still crying her heart out! Do I have to write a symphony to keep her quiet? Ugh, I don't know what else I can do to calm her down, so I'm tapping the heck out for the night, okay!?"
This whole time, Gray Calx had remained silent and kept to his orange picking task. For a moment, he almost considered taking Skybrush's defense - not because he wanted to be her valiant knight in shining armor, but because nopony deserved to be talked to this way. Ultimately, he decided to keep his interjections to himself. A total stranger butting into a spicy argument was not only socially uncalled for, but it was also the most effective way of making their problems his. Not to mention, he had already argued with princess Celestia this morning; one conflict per day was more than enough.
The baby - or in the dad's own words, 'that little monster' - went into another fit of screams, taking her volume to a whole new level.
"There she goes again! Yeah, I'm outta here," said the husband, brusquely brushing past his wife.
"Where... Where are you going?" Skybrush wondered, not even daring to look at him.
"Whaddaya think? At the Two Arches! I need a freakin' drink to reduce my headache. How about you try to give that cry-o-ton her nap for a change, see how you like-"
He stopped himself from berating his wife any further, and instead drew his attention to Gray Calx. Or more likely, to the isles behind him in complete disarray. He noticed the many kitchenware shelves off their brackets, the floor laden with oranges, and the overall state of disorganization this corner of the store had been left in. He took it all in, each misplaced item making him grit his teeth more than the last.
"Hey, you!" he shouted in Calx's direction. "Did you make that awful mess!? What's wrong with you! You better clean that up, or else!"
"I'm on it, I'm on it!" repeated Calx, rapidly sweeping a platoon of oranges with his foreleg into a paper bag. "I've got this!"
"Well, make it snappy then! We close in five minutes for crying out loud! Don't you know that!?"
"I said I've got this."
Calx had replied as sternly as he could without entering conflict territory - a defiant vibe that didn't go over Mr. Killjoy's head. He squinted at the pony on the floor; the pony squinted right back. They kept their antagonistic visual exchange for a few seconds, silent and motionless. In the end, the impatient store owner harrumphed. He resumed his walk to the front door, saying nothing else to his dearest Skybrush. He slammed the door behind him, nearly breaking the bell in the process. The last thing they heard before he left was a mumbled 'didn't sign up for this crap.' ...
"Little ray of sunshine, ain't he?" Gray Calx quirked to break the awkward silence.
Skybrush was staring into pure nothingness. Calx could've sworn he saw her attempting to smile at his obvious ice breaker, but it waned away as rapidly as it came.
"H-he's not... He's usually not that bad," Skybrush protested, unable to look at her client. "You've just, um, caught him on a bad day. You gotta understand, our two-year-old daughter has an ear infection, and it's been a bit difficult to appease her lately. S-so, heh, i-it's not my husband's fault if he's a little moody, really. He's actually a very, um... a very nice guy."
"Uh huh."
Skybrush looked down, a wry expression on her face. "No, no, I'm serious. He's not- He... It's me. I'm... I'm the problem, heh. I could be doing more. A lot more."
Calx wasn't having any of that. No father worth his name would label his own flesh and blood with all those degrading nicknames. Heck, even his own father never went this far when he was instilling discipline in the family household. No, really, something just wasn't right. It was sad to see Skybrush take this kind of abuse as if her spouse was infallible, as if being mistreated in public like this was the norm, as if getting a daily dose of verbal violence was fine and dandy. Indubitably, this relationship reeked of toxicity; a realization that left Gray Calx a bit more despondent than expected.
But what could he do about it, really. He was but a mere pony, after all. A pony who already endured enough familial havoc in one lifetime. Whatever was happening between the two shopkeepers was for them to sort out, without his unneeded input to turn the tide. It's not like he held the solution to their problems anyway.
Gray Calx was broken out of his moment of reflection by the foal's tantrum. Still upstairs, still parentless, she let the two ponies know of her displeasure by upping the ante with her many shrieks.
Skybrush nervously stared at the ceiling. "I, um... W-would you excuse me, Sir? I really- I need to go upstairs. My little Honey Dream needs me... I-is it okay if I leave you to it for a moment?"
"Oh, don't worry about me," he shrugged off. "I can always come back another day if it's more conven-"
"NO!" she immediately protested. "I mean, no, it's okay. It's alright. It's your first day here, and I don't want you to think that... Well, just, uh, just put your items on the counter, and I'll do the check out in... Um, give me 10-15 minutes, if it's okay?"
He nodded. She bolted.
Now alone in an empty Clover Mart, Calx figured he could at least use this downtime to finish cleaning up. With idle thoughts running wild in his head, he couldn't help but notice that, in waiting for Skybrush, his presence would spill after their closing hours. Well, if she was alright with this, then so was he.
But boy, it sure has been a long day. Waking up early, packing his stuff, changing his name, having a one-on-one with princess Celestia, spending over six hours of commuting, meeting an abrasive barmare, renting a hotel room, being enamored with a crush, giving up on said crush, witnessing a conjugal fight... It was a bit much. It felt like a lifetime ago since he rose out of bed. He had started his day being so angry, but now? He was more mellow than molasse.
As his reserves of energy grew weary, a sardonic Calx couldn't help but wonder what else Outer Grove had in stock for him. Because, for a town where, allegedly, "nothing ever happens," it sure was brimming with strange encounters. Maybe this was all part of his entry tax, with the peaceful lifestyle he was yearning for waiting just around the corner?
Here's hoping.
I have to admit, it's been... It's been rough.
Sigh...
If you told me a few weeks ago that we would be exactly where we're at today, I would've laughed in your face. N-not to be rude or anything, mind you! Just, um, I would've found those kinds of predictions utterly unbelievable. I don't see any way I could've been convinced.
Being convinced of what, exactly? Well, of everything, really! I mean, look around: Can't you see how much it all spiralled down out of control? It all came so fast, so unexpectedly. And through this period of extreme adversity, I've lost touch with my own reality, floundering to figure out who I was supposed to be anymore. Ever since those two gargantuan monsters invited themselves into our quiet little borough, it's been nothing but hardships after hardships. Everything has changed. Everything has been turned in over its head. Everything has gone to Tartarus.
Yesterday was the worst of it all, somehow. I couldn't help but feel partially responsible for that.
Okay, that's not entirely honest. The truth is, last evening, I definitely dropped it. Because I... I did something awful. The way I acted has been so reprehensible, so scandalous, that it was nigh impossible to not look back at what I had done in pure disgust. At that crucial moment where I should've stopped and listened to that little voice in my head, I exploded in an unprecedented fashion. I had so much to deal with, and so much came at once, and... I lost it. I lost it big time.
It took me a night of tossing and turning to even comprehend what the hay had just happened. Waking up in cold sweat between two nightmares, that's when I fully grasped the consequences of my actions. Almost as if I had an epiphany. It all came crashing down. Everything at once, realisations after realisations.
How I broke something wonderful I had going for myself. How I soiled a beautiful friendship. How I drove a wedge between my best friend and myself. How I lost one of the ponies I cared for the most.
How I sent Gray Calx away.
I sent my goofball packing, lost, broken, and wholly unprepared. He pleaded for my forgiveness, and at his lowest, when he needed me the most, I scoffed at him and told him to go at it alone. W-what kind of support is that? What kind of so-called friend acts as ungracefully as I did?
I mean... I know it's no justification, but at the time, I wanted nothing to do with Calxie and, overwhelmed by motherly instincts of protection, strived to put as much distance between him and my daughter. Plus, I didn't know how to handle years and years of lies from a friend whose real name, as it turns out, I didn't even know!
A friend, yes, but a friend who came a hair's breadth away from... f-from quitting on me forever. I think that's what got to me the most. Reveals like these were too shocking for a pony with my background to properly absorb. Anything on the topic of abandonment, I just, I can't. It's too painful of a wound to reopen. It drains my composure and sends me completely berserk. It turns me into a whole different mare. It leaves me stranded in this very dark place, consumed by thoughts I dare not speak of...
But now, with a bit more time to think behind me, I realize how big of a mistake I've made! Calxie was in a pitiful state when I strongly suggested for him to skip town. If only I had remained poised, if only I had tabled this inappropriate nighttime discussion, if only I had invited him to crash for the night, then... then we could've talked like two adults the next morning! Things wouldn't have escalated the way they did! I wouldn't have wrapped things up by throwing that cruel ultimatum in his face!
Oh, my poor Calxie... What have I done to you...
Sigh... I-I have to confess. In less than a day, I immediately felt it.
The void.
I hadn't felt that void in so long. I thought the void was well in the past, but it never really left, didn't it? It was just biding its time, waiting to pounce back at me when I was fragile and helpless. When it resurged, I knew what it was. I recognized it on the dot. The void groped me, the void hog-tied me... the void became me.
That stupid void...
I had to fight back. I wanted to, I tried to, but I couldn't. I never could.
In my pitiful mental state, I felt so alone, so afraid. I was powerless, miserable, spineless, and every other derogatory term to describe a pony who had lost their spark. The result? I caved in and filled up the void the only way I knew. I spent the whole day filling up the void. Patching up the damage with the most abhorrent gauze a mare of my size could find. Like a bottomless pit, never to be satiated.
It felt good. Then it felt not-so-good. Then it felt bad.
And now it felt downright terrible.
Two years. I had lasted two years. Two years without binging until I cried. A streak so easily broken. I thought of myself as a capable adult, one that could uphold resolutions with undying conviction. I thought I had turned the page on my self-destructive habits. But I guess I was just pretending to be something else this whole time, wasn't I? Under that repulsive physical envelope of mine, under that thick layer of useless cellulite, was a sad, pathetic, gross pony who was only good at eating her problems away.
That was my true self. An inflated mockery of what a pony should even look like, one that turned her back on a friend in need. A failure who could only derive temporary happiness from sugary treats.
At the rate I was driving my entourage away, I was probably going to die alone as the unlovable fat cow that I was. And I will have only myself to blame for it.
This surge of anxiety at least proved itself useful by finally separating me from my living room couch, where I've been busy doing absolutely nothing. Indeed, today has been a total waste. All I've managed to accomplish was gorging, worrying, and procrastinating.
I kept the general store closed for the day. Knowing that The Clover Mart played an important role in the lives of Outer Grovians out there, disrespecting my traditional business hours has done nothing but triple my guilt. Plus, with the high demand in supplies caused by the repairs all across town, my spur-of-the-moment decision couldn't have come at a worse time.
Despite everything pointing in the opposite direction, I couldn't in good faith handle any of my shopkeeping duties. Not to mention, today was a Thursday, and Thursdays had no part-timers scheduled to give me a hoof. I would've had to take care of everything on my own, something that I just could not realistically do at the moment. Therefore, the Clover Mart remained inoperative for the day. I, uh... S-sorry for the inconvenience, I guess. I really hope I haven't disappointed anypony any further than I already have...
I took a disinterested glance at the wall-mounted clock in the kitchen. The hour hand had just passed 10. I put Honey Dream to bed sometime around eight, then tried to catch some sleep myself. Unfortunately, plagued with insomnia, my attempt at catching some Z's proved unsuccessful. Plus, reminiscing about the badness of yesterday, it made me want to... double check. Just to make sure that, um...
... I silently trotted through the bedroom hallway, pried open the white door at the end of it, and peeped an eye inside. With the ambient moonlight, I could see my little angel snuggled under her blanket, a rabbit plushie clutched between her hooves. She was fast asleep and, judging by her smile, dreaming of wonderful things.
This was the third time I've checked on her since I sang that favorite lullaby of hers. I don't know why I felt the need to make sure she was still where I left her. It's like, if I stopped periodically keeping an eye on Honey Dream, she too would disappear on me forever. I knew this was a preposterous idea, but after she found herself way too close to bear and fire, I wasn't sure of anything anymore. It never hurts to be a little excessive, right?
I mean, I don't know. I really don't know. Maybe I needed to talk to somepony... Maybe I needed a bit of company to vent some of my torments away. But ooooh, I so didn't want to leave my lil' Honey bee all alone! Call me overprotective, but what if something else happened to her, and for the third time, I wasn't present to keep her safe? I couldn't count on my goofball forever to keep the danger at bay, especially after the falling out we've had between the two of us. How could I leave my only child unattended after everything she's been through? How irresponsible would that be? First, a bad friend, and now, a bad mother? This wasn't a new low I could sink to! ...
I couldn't leave things as they were. This wasn't healthy. I couldn't see myself relying on more junk food to keep my depressive thoughts in check. I had been there before, and at my current age and weight, I don't think I could afford another journey into destroying my health any further. I already had a hoof in the coffin: I simply had to snap out of it and pull myself up. This was the only way forward.
Now I understood why Calx said he couldn't tackle the crux of his problems without the helping hoof of a friend. It really takes being in his horseshoes to fully soak in what trying to climb out of the pit of despair entails. I guess on top of everything, that also made me a hypocrite.
... Well, there's no time like tomorrow, I suppose. What needed to be done, needed to be done.
I'm sorry, my sweet little baby. Mommy will be back real soon, I promise.
It took me a lot of self-persuasion to leave the vicinity of the Clover Mart. I weighed the pros and cons for another good thirty minutes before I gave up and ran outside. "Honey Dream will be ok" is what I kept looping in my brain to censor all of those improbable what-ifs from clouding my better judgement. In fact, going uptown through the quiet streets, I hadn't stopped repeating that phrase in my head. Now, it may sound like my sanity was hanging by a thread, but I simply had to keep my mantra going. It was the only thing that prevented me from turning around!
Oh, what a relief when the Two Arches finally greeted me with its presence after I scaled the last flight of stairs! A beacon of hope in the darkness, with its burnt orange-lit windows promising warmth and coziness. With my objective in plain view, it became obvious that it was too late to fold my cards. I had made it this far, right?
I breathed in, gathered my confidence, kept the air in my lungs like a brave mare... and then looked down, exhaling with the sorriest whimper known to ponydom.
C-come on Skybrush! Don't be a coward! You were just there to talk, remember? You needed this! It was either that, or going back to your stupid eating disorder. Seeking help, or heart diseases? ... Well? What's it going to be? Seemed simple enough of a choice. So take your pick already, you undeceive oaf!!
"O-okay!" I said, trying to motivate myself. "You can do this!"
Going all in, determined, I pushed the door open and went inside the tavern.
First thing I noticed was how busy it was. Only a few seats had been left unclaimed. And the noise! The many voices of the townsfolk merged into a loud, nondescript soundscape. Through the deafening background noise, mugs clanked, stools rattled on the floor, orders were barked in the back by... by Sweet Pint! Aaah, there she was, exchanging bits for filled-up tankards behind the bar counter! Calxie notwithstanding, she was one of my most trusted allies, and the one I really needed tonight.
But, um, she looked incredibly busy. Ooh, this was a bit unfortunate. Maybe I oughtn't bother her? Y-yeah, that'd be rude. I should p-probably just try my luck another day. So, um, I guess, time to turn around and-
"Oh! Sky! Come over here!" said a brash voice above all the noise.
Recognizing the timbre, I tilted my neck back and saw Sweet Pint waving at me, inviting me to take the empty spot in front of her.
W-well, I guess that settles it. N-no way out, now!
I pulled back the vacant stool and politely sat between two male patrons I couldn't be bothered to recognize. The majority of the drinkers here wore construction uniforms, which was more or less what I had expected. Admittedly, it was a bit hard not to feel out of place. Good thing Sweet Pint was there to make me feel like I wasn't a complete outlier. She even offered me a friendly look, extinguishing a good chunk of my social anxiety.
"Quite a surprise to see you here, beautiful!" she welcomed me with glee. "Thought those fancy schmancy nostrils o' yours couldn't stand the smell o' booze or something like that?"
I looked left and right, making sure my neighbors didn't catch that. "Oh. Well, you're not wrong. I still kinda do."
"Ouch, you hurt me so," she feigned offense. "Can't say I blame ya, to be fair. What with that sleazebag ex o' yours, heh."
... Um. Yeah, I, um... I-I'd rather not get too much into the details of-
"Still though," thankfully moved on the barmare, "what brings ya to the Two Arches all on your lonesome? S'rare to catch a glimpse of my favorite painter around these parts. Y'know, outside of special occasions like parties and such."
I bit the inside of my cheek. "To tell the truth, I'm ah... I'm not too sure myself? I guess I was down to see other ponies for a change, b-because I had trouble sleeping, you see. So I figured, might as well go out, take a walk, refresh my mind a bit, uh..."
"Sky, you doin' okay there?" she said, immediately discerning my poorly hidden sour mood.
The suddenness of my friend's question made me look up from the counter. She was staring at me, a skeptical eyebrow raised. Under her investigative gaze, my ears drooped.
Yeah, I was in it now. I just thought I had more time to... Well, what was I expecting, really? Now or thirty minutes down the line, what difference did it make? It was going to sting either way. So, may as well rip off the band-aid and lay it all out. She asked, after all. Making an overworked barmare waste her valuable time by weaseling away from the truth like an inconsiderate fool? Thanks, but no thanks.
"Am I doing okay? ... No. No, I don't think I'm doing all too good at the moment," I eventually admitted.
I felt so ashamed at having answered an innocent 'how do you do' with honesty. Usually, social norms dictate that you're not supposed to dwell too much on such banal questions. Going against the grain was just asking for trouble.
Naturally, Sweet Pint didn't expect a negative response. Told you so! If she was bubbly mere seconds ago, now, her jovial expression had turned into a stone-cold poker face. Almost as if she swallowed the next joke she had on the tip of her tongue. Not because I killed her vibe, but because she didn't particularly enjoy seeing me feel crestfallen.
"What's eating you, bud?" she asked, discernibly concerned.
Oh wow. 'Eating.' Too fitting. I didn't know why that specific word made me cringe, but it sure left a non-negligible impact. Or maybe it was the prospect of having to explain myself that made me somewhat hesitant? Either way, I swallowed dryly, for a reply was inbound.
More nervous than before, I looked away, and said, "It's about... It's about Gray Calx."
Sweet Pint brought a hoof between her closed eyes. "Wait- Hang on. Hold the quill. Gray dude's the one who dropped an anvil on your noggin?"
I nodded. ...
"That schmuck!" she suddenly shouted. She even slammed her hooves on the counter, which made me jump a little. "Nopony has seen that light headed buffoon in days, literal days!! Last time I was with the boy was when he ran away from us during the Ursa attack. I mean, what's up with that, right!? Why, I oughta make him eat dirt for bailing on us and then going radio silent!"
She was riling herself up, her face becoming redder by the second. She even went as far as showing her clenched-up teeth! Even though she was smaller than your typical earth pony, she could be... a bit much when she was in the middle of a passionate rant. Feeling like she was going a bit too far, I wanted to find a way to keep her temper down. However...
"Like, am I the crazy one, here!?" she raised her tone even more. "Even Mr. G - you know, his very own boss - even him, he came here a few times to ask me where in Tartarus his best employee disappeared to. Told me he knocked on his door a few times, but was never answered. How rude is that? And who skips work without advising anypony anyway? I'll tell you who: Gray dude! Ooh, next time he rocks up for a bev, I'll SO knock some sense into that stupid, moronic, brainless-"
"His house burned down."
... Well that sure made her stop talking. The redness left her face in an instant, leaving room for two appalled eyeballs. She tried to dissimulate her surprise the best she could, but I could see that this new piece of information had pierced her thick skin. Totally blindsided by a not-so-insignificant detail she most certainly did not expect.
"T-that was him?" she said, quiet, cautious, and careful. "Calx was the one who...?"
"Huh? What do you mean, Sweet Pint?"
"Sweet Celestia, I thought these were just silly rumors, but..." she trailed off a bit, then shook her head to regain her composure. "I caught some small talk today about a residential dwelling that went out in flames, but figured it was nothin' but gossipers trying to capitalize on the fearmongering the bears brought to Outer Grove. I had no idea that... I mean... Damn. I-is that why Calx's been absent lately? ... Is... Is he, um..."
At first, I didn't really understand where she was getting at, but then, it hit me. It shouldn't have taken me this long to figure it out.
"Oh!" I jolted. "No, he's not... He's ok! He's alright! Well, relatively speaking."
She exhaled cathartically. "Ah. Cough... Well alright then. That's good. That's really good!"
I could see a literal weight lifted off her shoulders. Rare were the times where you could catch her untensing. When she noticed that I noticed, she swiftly returned to her sassy persona, her traditional bothered expression reigning supreme once more.
"N-not that I cared, hrmmph!" she groaned. "Doesn't cost anythin' to make sure though, right?"
Since she wasn't giving me any wiggle room to argue, I found myself agreeing. Trust me, it was simpler that way.
"So," she resumed with an awkward cough, "where's our survivor knockin' about then? I assume he must be feeling a bit adrift, what with having lost his roof and everything. Again, not asking cuz I care. Just, y'know... How's your goofball holdin' up? You givin' him a hoof, I would imagine?"
Yes Skybrush, why don't you amuse her? Where WAS your goofball indeed? And what about his mood? Think maybe your bestie was currently feeling like prancing in a field full of daisies?
Away and surly. Sent packing and embittered by a sorry excuse of a friend.
There was your 'where' and 'how.' This is precisely what I had to tell Sweet Pint, which I would've done if it weren't for that annoying roadblock in my throat. It's not like I haven't managed to stay honest thus far anyway, so what was the holdup now? All I needed was to expose how bad of a pony I've been. Piece of cake, right?
... If only things were so simple.
In reality though, instead of articulating anything remotely close to a sentence, my eyes decided to become moist with water. Yup, I was breaking down alright. I had kept my deterministic charade for far too long already, and my artificially induced courage was on its last leg. It was rather sad to see how little I've lasted before I couldn't find my voice anymore...
A tear rolled down my right cheek, followed by an undignified sniffle. It was so embarrassing to be all emotive in the middle of a crowded area like this. I already had so much to cope with; being humiliated by acting like a big crybaby in front of all those macho alcohol enjoyers wasn't the cherry I wanted on my sundae.
Not willing to expose this moment of weakness, I hid my wet visage behind my front hooves, silently hiccupping.
I felt Sweet Pint edging closer. "Sky...? Are you-"
"Oooh, Sweet Pint, I've been awful to him!" I bawled outwardly. "Calxie came to me, seeking my trust, but I turned my back on him! And then... A-and then it happened again! I had a terrible relapse! I fell back into another disgusting binge to feel better, but now, but now I feel so grossed out at myself, and... and I'm so nervous, I'm so lost, and I don't know what to do anymooore!!"
Gah, oh my gosh! I can't believe I pitched a tantrum like thiiiis!! Me! A grownup who had a foal under her care! I was supposed to be way past this kind of childish behavior!
The last thing I wanted tonight was to turn into an incoherent sobbing mess, but here we are, I guess. I knew it was no excuse, but keeping my cool has been extremely challenging. I tried, I really did! But in the end, my efforts were in vain, for the dam had burst open and all I could do was to let the tidal wave of strong emotions sweep me until there was nothing left to cry about.
When I looked up to see how Sweet Pint would respond to my blatant lack of maturity, I realized that she had moved away, her head now poking halfway through the backdoor to the kitchen.
"Oi!" she shouted. "I need one of you slackers to handle the front for a while! Something came up and I'll be indisposed for a good chunk of the night, m'kay?"
"B-b-but Pinty," an unseen scaredy pony protested, "t-t-the kitchen is about to close, a-and we need to-"
"Whatever it is you're about to say, zip it, cuz I don't care! I have an emergency to deal with! Y'all can flip hayburgers on your next shift, but 'til then, I want somepony behind the counter, NOW. Do I make myself clear, or do I need to crack a few skulls to get my point across!?"
I heard a gulp. "O-Okay Pinty. W-we'll take care of it."
"S'what I thought!"
As soon as she was done, um... strongly "encouraging" her team, she trotted through the swinging service entrance of the counter and went to my right. With a head nudge, she invited me to get up.
"C'mon girl, let's go upstairs and talk in private. This dining room is too dang noisy."
"Okay..." I whispered, lethargic and resigned.
At this point, I couldn't care less about how unpresentable I looked, let alone where I was being taken to. Just like an innate puppet, I allowed Sweet Pint to guide me towards the staircase. No longer was my brain in control of my actions. No longer was my consciousness aware of my surroundings. The world around me straight up became a different reality, and the only thing I could focus on was trying to jury-rig my state of depersonalization back to normal. I was stuck in a catatonic rut, with my soulless shell of a body following my friend's instructions on pure instincts alone.
The only thing that kept me somewhat grounded was reminding myself that tomorrow would make today yesterday. Ugh, why did now have to be now? I was so envious of future me, because that Skybrush already had all of this behind her. If I could leap forward to any point ahead of the present, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Alas, I was well aware that this wasn't how real life worked. No, rather, powering through whatever was in the pipeline for me was the only way I'd get a sense of closure. After all, I was about to receive free advice from a loyal friend who's always had my back. I just hoped I was sufficiently receptive to listen to any of it.
I was invited to sit on the bed of an unoccupied bedroom. With no desire to protest, I followed through and sat on my haunches onto the wool blanket. Meanwhile, Sweet Pint had gone to the small adjacent bathroom to tidy herself up a bit. It was understandable: The intensity of tonight's shift had done a number on her mane, and left her coat pretty scrappy as well. Being at her best was the only way she could handle a heavy mare with heavy problems.
I politely waited for her to be done, tossing occasional glances toward the nearby window. I couldn't help but look in the direction of the Clover Mart, as if I even had a chance to see it from this distance. I hadn't stopped thinking about my daughter for one second, and my futile visual scouting did nothing but elevate my lingering discomfort.
... Honey Dream will be ok.
At some point, I heard the sink tap being turned off, and into the room re-emerged the spruced up barmare. She gently embarked on the bed as well, sitting to my right. She stayed quiet for a bit, probably testing the waters with me. All that was audible were the muffled voices of the happy-go-round ponies a floor below.
"Tell me everything," she sternly broke the silence.
Straight into it, I see. Um... Well, she was never one to dance around the subject.
"It's... It's kind of a long story," I admitted.
"Ain't a problem. I've got the time."
I heaved a helpless sigh, as if preparing to do something physically taxing, which, I don't know, maybe it was going to be? Opening Ponydora's box certainly was no walk in the park.
I suppose there was no reason to not spit it out anymore. So, uh, here goes nothing.
"Okay so... Earlier before, I um, mentioned that Calxie came to seek my guidance. Well, that sort of happened yesterday, right in the middle of the night. After I was awakened by my doorbell, I was greeted by a pony in pretty bad shape. I'll spare you the details, but basically, after chatting for a bit, he started talking about... a lot of stuff. And I mean, a lot of stuff. Far too much for me to retell without omitting important details. I will say, though, that there is one thing - one specific thing - that became increasingly obvious as he went on and on with everything he had to unpack."
I took a short pause here, not for dramatic effects, but because I was unsure if sharing secrets without asking for permission first counted as a form of betrayal toward Gray Calx. Probably a moot point, however, since the barmare had no intention of letting me back down.
"He... he has skeletons in his closet, Sweet Pint. And I'm afraid there's a lot we don't know about him."
"Sh'yeah, I getcha," she rolled her eyes. "You tried to get him to talk about his ma and pa, for instance? Or ask him what he was doin' before ploppin' down in the middle of nowhere? The boy always deflects with random subjects anytime he's put on the spot. He thinks we don't notice, but we do!"
"No but it's- It's even worse than that! We don't even know half of it! Like uuuuhh- Oh! For instance, did you know that he changed his name before coming here? On the very day he moved out? He used to be known as Sunstone."
Sweet Pint tilted her head. "Sunstone, you say? ... Hrmmm. Odd." She scratched her chin. "Feels like I've heard that name before, though I can't quite put my hoof on where and when."
"And how about this! You remember how princess Twilight Sparkle came to visit a few days ago? Well, as it turns out, she's Gray Calx's sister!"
"You're... You're kidding, right? A unicorn, formerly, and an earth pony sharin' the same parents. Huh. Go figure."
"I swear I'm not making that up! And that's just the tip of the iceberg! He's a whole different pony than the rock miner we got to know and love! And... A-and I can't help but wonder if this was all just a pretence, if he's been concealing his true nature this whole time. What if this 'Gray Calx' alias was just a ruse to avoid attracting suspicion from something he wasn't ready to face? What if he's been playing the role of somepony else - somepony he's never been? What if... W-what if my goofball only befriended me because... because he used me as an asset to make his disguise more believable?"
Sweet Pint gave me an intimidating scowl. "Whoa hey now, slow your roll! That's poppycock and you know it! Okay, sure, our local troublemaker might've kept a secret life under the drapes, but I'm sure he was genuinely happy to hang around his pals."
"Was he? Was he really?"
I have no idea how it managed to find its way there, but one of the two large pillows was now squeezed on my tummy, with my front hooves firmly wrapped around it. Almost as if I desperately needed something to hug. That, or maybe what I really wanted was a bit of padding to cushion me from an eventual crash. Either way, I was holding onto that pillow like my life depended on it.
"We've taken his presence for granted ever since he first showed up, and we were all collectively happy to give him the benefit of the doubt, but how much do we really know about him, deep down? I mean... You know how I've told you that his house has been the prey of flames? W-well... It was him! He's the arsonist! The princess following him here drove him completely bonkers and he... He burned it all down! He burned it all down, with the full intent of disappearing forever! Pinty, he wanted to leave everything Outer Grove related behind! Without telling anypony! Without telling us!! You of all ponies should know how much of a sensitive chord it struck for me!"
"Oh."
Yes, Sweet Pint, 'oh!' 'Oh' a thousand times over! ...
I err, became a tad too excited throughout my speech there. I even scooted closer to Sweet Pint without realizing it. What for, I didn't know. Maybe so she could fully grasp the gravity of the situation? And if that wasn't bad enough, looking down, what started as a modest hug was now a vile vise-grip. Seriously: I was practically strangling the pillow. Fearing that I would be overtaken by misplaced anger just the way I had the previous day, I took it upon myself to become calmer on the spot. I returned the pillow next to his fluffy brethren and breathed out gently.
"At the last possible moment," I resumed, "before he went through with his scheme, he started expressing regrets on what he had done. That's the reason why he came to me: To tell me everything I'm telling you in the span of what, 10 minutes? He wanted to repent, to become more honest with himself. But not without my help. He couldn't have made it clearer how much he needed my assistance to turn his life for the better."
"So then, what did you do?"
There it was. The big stinger. I buried my head in my hooves, eternally remorseful for the way I had treated Gray Calx.
"I told him to leave, Sweet Pint! Straight to his face! I used our friendship as a bargaining chip! I blackmailed him into rekindling his relationships with those he left behind and threatened to never speak to him again if he didn't! And now he's gone! He's gone!! I totally overreacted, and I don't even know if he'll ever want to come back... A-and I wouldn't blame him if he didn't..."
Pow! Cat was out of the bag, meaning, Sweet Pint now knew how low I could really sink. If I was seen as a humble and caring pony before, now, for sure she was going to start questioning the integrity of my personality. Treacherous? Self-serving? Egocentric? You name it!
Sigh... I tried not to cry here. I already turned on the waterworks earlier; how much crying in a day is enough crying? Did I not have an ounce of adulthood left in me? C'mon Skybrush! Show a bit of resolve in front of your friend for a change! It's alright to tank your reputation a little, but try to not outright destroy it!
A good five minutes passed with me trying to keep my sentimental temper on the inside. With those minutes came another wave of silence, everything accompanied by more deafened chants from the partygoers on the main floor.
My period of wallowing more or less done, I tried a discreet look toward Sweet Pint. She was looking ajar, a blank expression on her face. What she said next, though, was as anticlimactic as it could get. Know what it was?
"Ouch."
"Ouch? That's all you have to say about it?"
"I mean- Sorry. I'd be a liar if I said I was expecting any o' this. S'a bit tough to process, know what I'm sayin'?"
I knew exactly what she was sayin'. After all, it's through my own ineptitude to cope with Calx's new reality that I've been railroaded all the way to where I was today, here in this bar, here in this bedroom, here on this bed.
"Look," she said, semi serious again, "way I see it, there's a coupla things we need to clear up ASAP. So before we go any further, can I ask you something rather indiscreet? Something you probably won't like to hear?"
"Y-yeah?"
She bent forward a little. The springs of the mattress creaked.
"Do you love him?"
"What!?"
"Be real with me, gal. Gray dude. You love him, don'tcha?"
I...
Well this definitely wasn't how I figured tonight would unfold. Here I was, sharing something super delicate I had on my consciousness, and her best response was to bring up the topic of love? How were these two subjects even remotely related? And w-what kind of question was that anyway? That was such a... such an in-your-face intrusion of something only I should have access to! What, was she actually expecting me to answer something as silly as this? ... I guess she was, wasn't she? But I mean... eep!
Did I love my goofball?
There was a time where I thought I knew the answer to this. I was super confident about it, too. But now? Five years after neither of us had made a single attempt to take things a little further? I think it became pretty obvious where we stood.
That's not all.
I looked over between the chifforobe and the coat hanger near the entry door. Over there was a tall standing mirror. In it, I could see my reflection. The neat part about reflections is that, well, they make you reflect. Reflecting at your reflection: Quite the efficient tool to make you reevaluate your current reality.
Well, my current reality looked rather grim. And pudgy. Yeah, what I was seeing in the looking glass was far from being pretty. Next to Sweet Pint, it looked like I got stung by a swarm of bees. I had gained so much weight over the years, I could barely recall how I used to look. Undoubtedly, that extra hundred pounds did not do my figure any favors. I mean, look at those cheeks... those legs... and good heavens, let's not talk about those hips! Everything had ballooned to proportions rivaled only by those of the foulest of caricatures.
Whether I had romantic feelings toward Gray Calx was absolutely irrelevant. The real question Sweet Pint should've asked was: How could anypony in their right mind love this? And more to the point, how could I impose this awful body on somepony else? What right did I have to coerce a poor soul into settling down with the mare in the mirror when there was an ocean of thinner, and consequently, more attractive candidates out there?
Now there was an answer I could give.
"Helloo-oo~? Equus to Sky? It's a simple 'yes' or 'no' question, lassie."
"Then I choose... I choose 'no.' I am not in love with him."
"You what-!?" she recoiled, as if she didn't anticipate this kind of response. "Uuuugh, I told you to be real with me, Sky. How 'bout ya take a couple more minutes to reconsider and pick a different option? Y'know, a more honest one?"
"T-that won't be necessary. I meant what I said! About not being attracted to him, I mean. B-because I'm not! In love, that is...!"
She did three things there: A slight head shake, a disappointed sigh, and a condescending eye roll. A combination that clearly demonstrated how little she believed what I just said.
"Okay, so you don't love him. Sure. Fine. Whatever you say, Skybrush," she emphasized with a distrustful squint. "But you DO care for him, right?"
This one was a no-brainer.
"Absolutely."
"And do you know where he went?"
"Uuuh, more or less," I pondered, a bit uncertain. "He said he was going to take the first train available, though where, I'm not totally sure. I thiiink he went to Ponyville? Logically, that's where I'd go if I were him, given his uh, recent quibble with his sister."
She breathed in, joined the tip of her front hooves together, and crossed hind legs. Sitting this way, she kind of had a flair of Dr. Stethorsecope, especially before delivering bad news to a patient with worsening symptoms. S-surely this couldn't bode well...
"So let me get this straight then," so went her prognosis, "you care about Gray dude, and you have a solid guess as to where he nicked off to. If your goal is to make up with him, then sorry to be so blunt, but what the hay are you still doing here!? If ya wanna salvage that beautiful friendship, then you'll go after him and fight for it!"
I jolted. "A-are you suggesting that I too should leave Outer Grove!? Sweet Pint I can't... I can't just do that, that's nuts!"
"Psssh," she waved a hoof, "sure you can! Didn't ya hear? The sentinels' report finally reached Canterlot, and since then, there's been a steady flow of supplies pouring into the Grove like we're on the brink of a famine! I ain't yankin' your tail: The Two Arches' storage room has never been so jam-packed with goodies!
"Look, point is, there are enough trains for you to find one that'll take ya straight to Ponyville. Probably how your 'totally-not-love-interest' found one, by the by."
"I-it's not commuting I'm worried about, it's just... I have a business to run! I can't just bail on my store and keep it closed two days in a row! A-a-and what about Honey Dream, huh? She has school to attend! I-I'm not going to leave her here without a legal guardian, and, and-"
"You're panicking again, Sky. Ya oughta calm down and think things through. Right now, you're just making up a bunch of excuses."
"Excuses!? That's not- I d-don't have the time to go on a wild goose chase! I have chores and responsibilities to take care of!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, you have stuff to do. Like pigging your heart out, am I right? Think you ain't busy enough for that!?"
I gasped, mouth hidden behind my hooves.
D-did she just...? ...
Her personal attack had felt exactly like someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water on my head. I was not... I was not prepared for her to go this far, and given her sudden surprised expression, neither was she. We both backed away from each other slightly, ashamed to have raised our tones. There was nothing that could've justified our petty escalation.
Sweet Pint fiddled with one of her braids, her head hanging a bit lower. "I-I'm sorry, Sky. Insulting a pal in distress, that ain't me. I didn't mean to say... um. You know what I mean. S-sorry."
"No... No you're right. I was panicking pretty hard, yet again. I need a good wake-up call every now and then, h-heh."
She gave me an apologetic smile. "I've ah, I've seen what your lil' ankle-biter's father has done to you. I've seen how difficult it's been for you to move on from that good-for-nothing sack of dunce. And I just, I didn't wanna see history repeat itself. You don't deserve to go through this kind of bullcrap again, Sky. Nopony does. I guess what I'm tryin' to say is that I, um... care about you and stuff. So if I can help ya keep the sweets at bay, then I should probably do just that, right? This is how I can help. By nudging you toward doing the right thing."
Huh. It just dawned on me that she was encouraging me to pursue something I had broken the same way I did with Gray Calx yesterday. What a strange world we lived in.
Perhaps... Perhaps Sweet Pint was onto something.
Perhaps the correct course of action here was to follow through with the plan and ride out of Outer Grove for the first time in... Celestia knows how long. I could hardly remember what Equestria looked like outside of the Undiscovered West. Still, this was no detriment to stop me from carrying on. I had pushed my Calxie out of here, so it only made sense if I made it even. If I could dish it, then by Faust, I should be able to take it too.
If only I had left with him when he gave me the chance.
"There are solutions for every problem," Sweet Pint continued with a reassuring hoof on my shoulder. "Your store, for instance. Tomorrow's a Friday, right? Don'tcha usually have one of them snotty teenagers punching in on Fridays? You could always leave them a note or somethin', tellin' them all about your absence. Heck, if you need more hooves in the Mart, I'll happily enroll one of the young cooks we've got here to cover for you while you're away. S'not like they're busy busting their flanks or anything anyway."
"W-wow... You'd do that for me?"
She flicked her free hoof. "Pbbbt, sure I would! What are friends for, right? And, oh! As for your girl: Take that lil' tornado with you! I can go talk to her principal and sort it all out. Ain't no thing!"
I... guess it could work? But that implied putting a lot of strain on her shoulders, and I wasn't all too sure if I was comfortable with that. She was already doing so much for me, taking time off work just to hear me whine and whine... She was a real trooper, this pony. The amount of fidelity she had toward her friends was off the charts. First giving refuge to the families of Outer Grove during the Ursa incident, then acting as the princess' personal hostess, and now setting work aside to help me feel better? I definitely didn't deserve her.
"Thank you..." I whispered, for lack of better words.
"Bah," she dismissed, "you would have done the same for me. Last I've heard, we're a tightly knit community here, yes? We oughta stick together to survive. So you focus on finding that runaway o' yours, and you let this barmare take care of the rest."
I sheepishly moved a lock of hair out of my face. "I know you're usually not too hot on compliments, but I do mean it, Pinty. You're a wonderful friend for helping me through this. I just want you to know I greatly appreciate it. In fact..."
I approached her...
"What are ya-"
... and give her a nice peck on her rosy cheek.
What? She deserved it! This was a simple token of my appreciation. I've been miserable all day, but now, now I was a bit more optimistic, thanks to her. The least I could do was to show her how meaningful her input has been. A platonic kiss was all the rage when it came to show how grateful a pony was to another.
And Sweet Pint, she... um...
Well, I certainly didn't expect a quick innocent smooch to make her that flustered, yikes. She hadn't moved at all, but she sure was breathing heavily. She turned crimson on the spot and was practically melting through the blankets. She was even staring at me like she was afraid. Or maybe she was apprehensive? Regardless, for once in her life, she was completely speechless. No witty comments, no sarcastic remarks, no nothing. Only a forehead covered in beads of sweat, a fur coat erected as if she's been struck by lightning, and a thundering heartbeat even I could hear.
I think I broke her.
"You're ah..." she slowly swallowed, "you're one cruel son of a bitch, Sky. Teasin' me like this? Totally uncool!"
For the first time today, I allowed myself to giggle. I couldn't help it! She looked like an absolute mess. It was probably the one and only time I was going to catch her in this state, so I made sure to keep a good mental image of what I was seeing.
"Maybe you should take another shower?" I quipped.
"Hardy har har, Sky," she deadpanned whilst fanning her face with a hoof. "S'good to have you back, ya sly devil."
Seeing as I was finally brightening up a little, we decided to keep chatting for a good portion of the night. Sweet Pint eventually promised she'd give an update about Calxie's whereabouts to Mr. Gold and the rest of his acquaintances, just to keep their worries on the low end of things. She even assured me that she'd seek the mayor to explain what happened to Calx's house before "those two idiot Blueberries continued spreading more dumb rumors" (her words; not mine). She even added, and I quote: "The old geezer and I are getting pretty chummy lately, so he'll understand." Apparently, princess Twilight Sparkle entrusted her to tell Mayor De La Tour about her departure, or something? Poor Sweet Pint sure was running a lot of errands lately.
When the clock struck one in the morning, I let out a big yawn. Seems like my need to sleep was finally making itself known. I wasn't unhappy about that. Besides, I had been away from my lil' bee for long enough. Likewise, Pinty had some tasks to go back to; she wasn't exactly confident that her crew was going to complete their end-of-day upkeep the right way.
As we wished each other good night, I couldn't help but think some more about an important point she made earlier.
We were a tightly knit community.
She hit the nail on the head with that one. Scratching each other's backs essentially made Outer Grove the place of trust that it was today. That's why we showed gratitude toward Gray Calx's five years of services with his party, that's why he saved my daughter (twice), that's why everypony worked together to rebuild the town, and that's why I was going to do everything in my power to reconcile with my goofball.
I didn't know where tomorrow would take me. I didn't know what setting hoof in Ponyville for the first time would mean for Honey Dream and I. And I certainly didn't know if my mission would even bear fruit. But, strangely enough, this uncertainty felt a bit... I don't know. Exciting? At the very least, it was going to make for an interesting journey.
Here's hoping. |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | pre | "Why are there coins in the bar?" Good. I'm not the only one confused by that.
"Coins!" Oof! Yona shoved me aside! What is she- Huh? She has a coin in her mouth and is headed for the pinball tables.
"Yona! Wait!" Ocellus is hot on her heels. "We need to-"
Too late. The coin is in the machine and Yona is smashing those buttons like mad.
Gallus is shaking his head. "Well, we only lost one coin at least." He's gathering the rest of the coins. "Let's see what we need these for."
... I have to watch. I know Yona loves pinball tables for some reason, but I haven't seen... Wow. This is entrancing... How is she doing so well?... Go go go.
"Silver!" Ow! My ear! "Stop watching her!"
"But it's so cool!"
*Thud!*
"Huh?" That came from under the table.
Gallus is headed back to the table. He's bending down to look under- HIS ASS IS IN MY FACE! I REPEAT! HIS ASS IS IN MY FACE!
"What the heck?" Before I got too entranced by the ass, he laid flat on the ground. What is he doing?
He's come back out with... a black, plastic rope?
"A cord?" Of course, Ocellus knows. "Why was there a cord under the table?"
"Are you telling me we were supposed to play the pinball machines?"
Who made these puzzles? "We need a cord for the TV, right?"
"Yeah." Ocellus is taking the cord to the TV. "I can handle it."
"Yay!" I plop myself onto a beanbag and grab a controller!
"Well, someone's excited."
Ocellus is a small creature (a rat, I think) behind the TV with that cord thing. Oh! I can't wait! What game is it? Puzzle? Action? Shooter? Gallus is about to press the power button!
1285
... That's not a game.
"What's on the TV?"
Gallus is smiling at me. "Numbers." He's mocking me silently.
"Aww." Now Ocellus is doing it too. "Are you sad, birdy?"
"Be quiet."
"Yak miss something?" Yona's not mocking me, but I'm too jealous of her to care. She got to have fun. "Is that code to door?"
I drag my body over to the keypad. "Well, it's worth a shot." I wonder if I made my disappointment apparent enough.
*Beep beep beep beep*
*Click*
"Hey! It worked!"
I let out a sigh, my heart ruined by the lack of gaming. Guess I'll see what's through the door.
The walls have a long desk attached to them, the only gap being at the door. There is also a large table in the center that has dividers in the middle, making it about six desks in one. There are white rectangles on four of the desks with a colored square on each of them.
"Tangrams?" No prizes for guessing who said that.
"What's a Tangram?"
"It's a puzzle where-"
"I found a key!" I look at Gallus. He has a key in his claw... with a string connecting it to a pin.
*Grrrrrrrr*
What's growling? What is growling? That's not my stomach, so what is it?
"The ceiling!"
The ceiling? "Ahh! It's coming down!"
*Bang bang!* "The door won't open!" Gallus is tugging at the door with all his might!
"The Tangrams! If we-"
"YAK SMASH!" *CRASH!*
I have to get out of here! ...
What just happened?
I turn around. The room is completely crushed by the ceiling. The door is still closed, but the glass is shattered. Ow! I... stepped on a piece of glass.
"Thanks for the save, Yona."
"Yak good at smashing!"
I look at my friends. Ocellus is still catching her breath, Yona is smiling widely, and Gallus is patting her on the back.
"You got the key, right?"
"Yeah." Gallus is holding out his claw with the key in it. "I've still got it."
I think that's enough excitement for one room. "Let's get out of here."
We walk over to the exit. Gallus puts the key into the keyhole and turns it. That click... was so relieving to hear.
*DING DING*
With everything that happened, I forgot we have a time limit. We only have eight hours left before we become prisoners here.
Forever. |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Two: Between the rooms | "Eight hours left." I look over just in time to see Gallus shaking. "That sound is chilling."
"Ha! If all rooms that easy, we be out of here in no time!" Glad to see Yona's confident.
"Let's get going." I lead the others out of the room... only to stop when I realize someone's not following. "Ocellus?"
She's staring at the TV.
"Come on, Ocellus. We're done here."
She's not responding.
"Is changeling confused by puzzle?"
"It's not that." She finally turns around. "Where did we see a TV before?"
Really? That's what's bothering her? "We see them all the time."
"Well, let me put it this way; where was the first TV we saw?"
Easy. It was at... wait. ...
Where... huh? They're so common, it should be obvious, but... when did they first appear? I don't remember seeing one ever.
"Yak... confused."
I look at Yona. "So I'm not the only one."
"That's my point. We are so used to seeing them that we don't give it a second thought. We think, "Oh, look! A TV!" And go on our way. We never stop to think about when we first saw something so common. But my last memory, when we went into the cave under the school, must have been before we first saw TVs. You know what that means, right?"
Yona and I look at each other.
"It means two things. First, we didn't just step into the cave and get thrown into this nightmarish situation, so we probably aren't in the cave below the school. Second, we had lives after that moment, enough to see the TV invented, and forgot all of it. It's hard to imagine that it was pure coincidence."
Did... did the room get cooler all of a sudden? "Are you saying... someone erased our memories?"
"That's good to know, but isn't there something else we should be worried about?"
"Wha- Gallus?" Isn't he fazed by this at all?
"We can worry about our missing memories once we're out of here. Let's meet with the others and figure out what to do next."
I look at the other girls.
"I hate to say it, but he's got a point."
I sigh. There's really only one thing to do now. "Let's get going."
We leave the rec room. There's a hallway here with a staircase on the other side of it.
"Let's try the doors on the side."
"Let's not. We should look for our friends or the other doors. We can search for other stuff later."
I look at the dejected changeling. "Gallus, is there a reason you're putting Ocellus down?"
"I'm just trying to stay focused. I understand being curious, but we're not in a situation where that will help us."
"What if we find everyone else and they want to look around?"
"Then we'll look around. I'd be outnumbered in that situation."
"You outnumbered now!" Uh oh. Yona doesn't look happy. You don't want to be on the wrong end of an upset yak.
"Uh... Well..." Gallus knows that all too well.
I think that's my cue. "I agree with looking around, but we should only look in rooms that look significant."
That got Ocellus' attention. "What do you mean?"
"Well, look." I point at the doors we just passed. "Do any of those doors look different? Out of place?"
"... No."
"Then we shouldn't waste our time with them yet. If one of them was open, then I would suggest checking it out. But none of the doors here stand out for any reason. So we should just ignore them for the time being."
Ocellus is looking at the doors. "I guess that's fair."
"Now come on. We should keep moving." Eh? Gallus is already down the stairs.
"Hey! Wait up!" I rush after him.
At the bottom of the stairs is a big room. There are a few hallways branching off of it, and a double door labeled "Infirmary."
Gallus looks over his shoulder at us. "So our agreement means that we check out the infirmary, right?"
I look at my hind leg. "Even if we didn't make that agreement, I would have wanted to go in there. I got cut by the glass door."
"So did I." Oh? Ocellus has a cut on her front leg. "Come on. Let's go."
I head over to the doors and open them. "Uh, guys? I found the next set of doors."
"R-really?" Hey! Gallus really needs to be more patient!
But yeah. On the other side of the room are three doors. 1, 3, and 5. "They add up to 9 again?"
"Well, that makes sense. If you add the digits 1 through 9 together, you get 45, which adds up to 9. So if you split all of those numbers into two or three groups, the Digital Root of those numbers adds up to 9. If the doors had a Digital Root of 7, for example, then one, two, or three of us will have to stay behind with a Digital Root of 2. Moving forward with less than our whole group would put us at an unfair disadvantage."
... Ocellus was talking too fast.
"So if doors not equal to 9, then we have to leave friends behind?"
"Because we won't be able to add our numbers up to the numbers on the door otherwise."
"Yeah, that's what it sounded like to me." I'm glad they cleared up what she said because I am not letting them know I couldn't keep up with what Ocellus said.
"Really? You kept up with what I said?"
"There's no way. This is Silver we're talking about."
Don't see the sweat. Don't see the sweat. "Of course I-"
"Hippogriff can't keep up with uphill cart of bricks!"
"FOR THE LOVE OF JUPITER! LAY OFF OF ME!"
They're laughing at me again!
"I'm glad you doofuses are enjoying yourselves." Ow. That hurt my teeth.
"Okay, okay. Let's get you two bandaged up." I don't know if I want Gallus touching me right now.
Well, Ocellus headed over to the cabinets on the side, still giggling, and is now looking through them. I pick up a small set of post-it notes and a pen from one of the tables. Maybe I can doodle something to distract myself.
"Who's Jupiter?"
I look over at Yona. "Oh, he's-"
"Hey. How about we ditch Ocellus and go through door 3?"
Wha- Gallus?
"Why?"
"We're on a time limit here. If we take too long, then we'll be stuck here forever. And it's not like she'll be stuck here forever. The other group will pick her up."
Maybe he doesn't realize how bad of an idea that is. "Then how do we get through the next set of doors? The doors require at least three of us to go through, so we would have to wait on the rest of them in order to go through the next set of doors ourselves, and if we ditch Ocellus, they might not trust us enough to bring us along."
"Yak not think griffon think this through."
"Think what through?" There's the angry changeling voice. And there's the angry changeling.
"Oh, nothing. Just making sure you three don't ditch me to go through door 1." If she buys that, I'm taking him gambling for every day for the rest of my life.
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm being honest! I swear!" He says with a dishonest smile.
"I'm a changeling. We're born to deceive. I know a liar when I see one."
He's in trouble and he knows it.
"Do I need to use Soporil beta on you?"
"No no. That won't be necessary."
I don't want to save him from her wrath, but I have to know. "Soporil beta?"
Ocellus turns towards me, then puts her hoof to her chin. She's either trying to figure out how to explain it, or...
"I think it's something else from our lost memories."
Thought so.
"Soporil beta is a powerful anesthetic, able to knock even yaks and dragons out in mere moments, regardless of how it's applied."
Gallus looks at me specifically. "You know what that means, right?"
I nod. "It means breathing it in is as effective as getting injected with it or drinking it."
Ocellus wraps her leg in a bandage. "I also think I remember reading that taking too much Soporil beta can cause memory loss. That might explain why we lost our memories, even if it wasn't used to kidnap us."
"Memory loss?"
I turn to the door. The rest of our group is standing in the doorway, looking either shocked or confused.
"Good timing. Gallus was about to ditch you guys."
"N-no I, I wasn't." Mhm. Good lie there Gallus.
"Okay, yeah." Smolder walks up to Gallus and lightly hits him on the head. "Gallus is a jerk. What was that about memory loss?"
Ocellus is explaining things that I heard earlier, so I can just look around a bit. There's another door near the numbered doors. It's not marked or anything.
*Rattle rattle!*
And it's not opening. I can't help but feel like this will be important. Gallus is watching me for some reason. He does trust me... Right?
"That's pretty observant of you, Ocellus." And there's Sandbar, jumping at the chance to praise Ocellus.
"Yeah, really interesting." And there's Smolder, jumping at the chance to ignore what she was just taught.
Bramble looks a little red in the face. "Miss Smolder!"
Smolder puts a finger on Bramble's muzzle. "Don't we have more pressing issues? Like, you know, looking around?"
AH! Oh, that's Gallus' wing that nearly smacked me in the face. "Hey! What-"
Smolder's hands are way above her head. "I don't want to either, but the others want to, so I'm not getting much of a say in it."
Sandbar nods. "We'll meet here at the next chime. Until then, we'll split up and look for anything useful or significant."
I watch as the others head back through the door, leaving Gallus, Smolder, and me standing in the room with the next set of numbered doors.
"Why don't we go through one of the doors right now?"
I look at Smolder and catch Gallus shaking his head out of the corner of my eye.
"We can't. 5, 6, and 7 make 18, which is 9. We'd need one of the others, and the only one we could reasonably convince is Cozy Glow."
I guess we should just look around for now. "Why don't you two look around in here? I'm going to check on everyone else."
"Fair enough."
Gallus heads over to the drugs while Smolder is checking around the beds. I head back through the door to the main room.
I hear buzzing... Oh. Cozy Glow is checking the ceiling. I float up beside her.
She looks at me. "Hi, there! I can check this room by myself."
"I know, but I wanted to ask you about a couple of things."
She tilts her head. "Like what?"
"Why do you think you were given the number 9 bracelet?"
"Dunno. But it does feel like it's going to be a bit of a crutch from now on."
"Huh? Why?"
"There are three doors in the next group, and there are only three more doors before the 9 door. If all of us are going through the doors, then I have to go through a door with two creatures that make the number of the door. Best way to do that is to wait for the others to choose their doors and go through the last door with whoever is left."
That... does sound restricting. "Any idea why we were kidnapped?"
"I have no idea why you guys would be kidnapped by someone that would kidnap me."
... Huh? Something about that sounded weird. "What do you mean?"
"Well, seven of you are non-ponies, and Sandbar strongly associates with non-ponies. So if that's what it was about, why would they kidnap me? If there's anyone that I'm the most distant from at the school, it's you six."
"Maybe they were trying to hurt the school's reputation."
"If that were the case, why kidnap two creatures that aren't from the school? If there were plans to send them to the school, then it would make sense."
I think she's forgetting something. "We are missing some of our memories."
"Did you really believe Ocellus when she said that?"
"She used me to prove it."
"Well, changelings are professional liars. I don't get why you would trust any changeling, let alone her."
... Really? I can't let that slide. "That's the last thing. Something about you is wrong."
"What makes you think that?" The fact she hasn't stopped smiling this whole time is frustrating.
"It feels like you say and do things no normal filly would even know how to say or do."
"Well, we're in a life or death situation." Gah! "It would be a shame if you suffered an "accident" in one of the later rooms we went through together."
No normal filly should ever make that expression! I think that's my cue to get away from her! "O-okay! I think I should check on the others now!"
"Hehehe. You really should."
I head off down one of the halls. Not a particular one. I just want to get away from the potentially psychopathic filly. Oof! "S-sorry!"
"Yak fine."
Eh? Oh, it's Yona. And... Bramble? "I though Yona would be looking around alone."
"W-well, Yona's so big and strong. So I figured that, if something happened, I would rather be around her."
"Yak also not too good at searching. Deer able to find things Yak miss!"
"Well, I'm just going around and asking everyone a few questions."
"Huh? Not looking?"
"Well, that should be fine." Bramble is trying one of the doors. "Ocellus, Sandbar, and Rain are all looking in different hallways, so every location is covered."
First thing's first, Bramble himself. "Was there any sort of interest in the Deer uniting with the other races?"
"It has been a topic of debate among some of our elders, but I don't think anything decisive was reached. Come to think of it, everyone agreed that if we did take that step, I would have to be there. I am the one with the most experience with non-deer. Well, ponies, specifically."
"Really? You?"
"Why's that?" There is a reason, right?
"Well, we caused an incident due to some creatures tearing down our forest. It's kind of a long story, but it led to me meeting a group of six ponies."
"Let Yona guess. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack?"
He's blinking. "Huh? How did you-"
"If something big is happening, they usually get involved somehow. And they're our teachers!" I probably shouldn't mention that time we caused an incident.
"Wow! I might want to attend regardless. Miss Fluttershy was really nice."
"Yak found something!"
Bramble and I rush over to Yona. Sure enough, the door at the very end of the hall has three symbols. "Have either of you seen something like this before?"
"The other deer found similar text, but we have no idea what it means."
"Yak never seen text like this."
... It doesn't look like text to me. It just looks like three symbols. Then again, text is basically a bunch of symbols. "I wonder if this stuff appears anywhere else."
"Maybe through next doors?"
"I think Yona's right. There could be something through the next set of doors."
Easy solution. "Then we should split up for the next set. That way-"
Did something- Oh. Bramble is touching my wing. "But Smolder gets to pick for the next set. She didn't get to go through the door she wanted to last time, so we have to do what she wants."
Right! If she wants to go with two of us through a door... Wait. "I don't think she can go through with more than one of us."
"Yeah, but she could go through with none of us."
Wait. Was that Yona? Can she stomp and not break something? "Why we not show others?" Apparently, she can.
... I didn't want to bring this up. "I don't trust Cozy Glow."
"You too, huh?" Bramble? "Something seemed off about her the whole time I was with her in the 2 door. So I'd rather not let her know about this either."
... Oh yeah! I pull out that set of post-it notes I grabbed from the infirmary and trace the symbols.
"Huh? Where did you-"
"I grabbed them from the infirmary." I fold up the first note and do some quick math on the second.
2+6+7=6
2+6+9=8
2+7+9=9
6+7+9=4
Yona is tilting her head. "Why those four?"
"Because I trust Sandbar and Ocellus the most right now. Well, aside from you two. We already talked about Cozy Glow, Smolder and Gallus already talked about ditching others, and I sort of trust Rain Kiss, but I can't be too cautious right now."
"So by showing it to Sandbar and Ocellus, every door will have someone that knows about these symbols going through them no matter what Smolder picks. That's smart." Bramble seems to get it.
Yona doesn't. "Why not tell everyone?"
"We have to be careful about who we tell this to."
"But if we need go through this door, they find out anyway."
"Well, uh... um..."
I can only assume my face is as red as Bramble's. "Miss Silver? I think we jumped the gun a bit."
"Well, let's not tell them for now. There's a chance they don't need to know about it. If you don't mind, I'm going to go find Sandbar and Ocellus now."
"And if we do need to go through them?" Great. That tone means Sandbar thinks I'm being stupid.
"Well, they'll learn when we go through them. Or if they find the symbols themselves."
"Um... Well, I guess there's the chance we don't all need to go through the door with the symbols on it. Besides, Gallus tried to ditch me earlier, Cozy Glow said those off-color things about us, and we really don't know who Rain Kiss is at all."
Sandbar is looking at Ocellus. "What about Smolder?"
"She tried to ditch you guys as soon as you were out of the room."
"Okay, screw her. But Smolder's picking which door she goes with this time, right? What's stopping her from making a team of the ones that don't know?"
"I already did the math. If you two know about this, there's no way for her to make a combination without someone that knows."
"I still don't think you thought this through, but I'll go with it." Thanks for the confidence, Sandbar.
Ocellus is waving her hoof like she's trying to get rid of me. "You can go back to looking around now, Silver."
"Oh, I wasn't looking around. I was asking the others some questions."
Ocellus takes her hooves off the handle of the door she tried. "Oh? Well, go ahead and ask."
First things first. "What do you two think of Cozy Glow?"
"Well, she's Cozy Glow." Thanks, Ocellus.
"Did Bramble vent to you too?" So Bramble talked to Sandbar about it?
"Well, not until I brought it up myself."
Sandbar is rolling his eyes. "I don't get what his problem is. There's nothing wrong with Cozy Glow."
"Aside from the fact she threatened to kill me?"
3... 2... 1... "Wait, what?" There's his reaction.
I tell them about what Cozy said to me. How she called Ocellus a liar, and how she threatened my life.
Sandbar has a far-off look in his eyes. "I still find it hard to believe that she's going to be a problem."
"I think she was just trying to scare you." Ocellus puts her hoof on my shoulder. "What she said is concerning, but I really doubt she could be that much of a threat."
"That's fair. She is the youngest of us. Aside from perhaps Bramble." I probably am overthinking things right now. "Who do you guys think Zero is?"
"If they're smart, they're nowhere near us right now. If they're giving us a chance to get out, they'd be caught pretty quickly if we got out."
That's true, but... "How would they keep track of us? They don't have any cameras around here."
"Cameras can get pretty small. Just because we can't see any cameras doesn't mean there aren't any cameras around here."
Sandbar can sigh pretty heavily. "I have to agree with Silver on this one. Why bother hiding the cameras if the creatures you kidnapped know someone is watching them anyway?"
Ocellus is tapping her chin. "Uh, they used some spares they had lying around? That is pretty flimsy, huh?"
... Wait, what did I ask them again? "Back on subject, who do you think Zero is?"
"Probably someone not happy with the School of Friendship, possibly Neighsay."
"But Bramble and Rain-" Get your hoof off of my beak, Ocellus!
"If they're racist enough, they probably just grabbed them to make nine of us, to make a point, or maybe just because they were easy to grab."
I'm suddenly not sure what's worse. There being some kind of connection between the nine of us we don't know about, or some of us getting caught up in something we shouldn't have just because we were easy targets.
"Thinking about it, they might be one of us."
Ocellus makes some noises that I can't even describe. "Sandbar? You don't seriously think-" Okay, that voice crack was cute.
"Think about it. There are no cameras, none of us would suspect each other, and the "danger" in the first rooms could easily have been faked. I can't help but feel like we'll run out of time only for Rain Kiss or Yona to reveal it was all a joke."
Is he going into his own reality? "Sandbar, I appreciate that you're looking for the best in others, but isn't that a bit far-fetched in this situation?"
"I agree with Silver. I mean, the two of us nearly got crushed."
"It was probably just... foam or something."
Well, I see Sandbar's completely gone into his own reality at this point. Time to change the subject.
"Sandbar. You can't be serious."
"What? Do you really think one of our friends would hurt us?"
Or not.
"That's assuming that one of our friends is the one behind this. I'm saying it isn't."
"Well, you can't prove that."
"We can't prove anything at this point!"
This is going nowhere fast. "Hey, have you guys met a Kirin before?"
"Huh?"
"Um... I read that they live in the Peaks of Peril. They also have a natural enemy in the Nirik."
Good. They stopped arguing.
"Speaking of Kirin, Rain seems very... absent-minded. She was constantly staring off into space while we were working together."
"It seems like she's a bit shocked by everything. As far as we know, Kirin are completely isolated from the rest of society, so she probably never saw a pony before. Or any other kind of creature, for that matter."
Hmm... "That may have changed during the time we forgot about though, right?"
Ocellus pulls at another door. "Yeah. Assuming that we did forget something."
Huh? "That was your theory!"
She's blushing. "It is, but I still have to be ready to say I was wrong."
*DING DING DING*
"There's the chime."
"Right. Let's get back to the infirmary."
Huh? Smolder and Gallus are here, as well as Yona and Bramble. But... "Where are Cozy and Rain?"
Smolder shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine."
Gallus is staring at the doors. "That's not good. They should have come back right away."
"Miss Silver?" Hm? Oh, Bramble's whispering. "Did you tell Ocellus and Sandbar?"
I just nod.
Smolder's grunt draws my attention to her as she rolls her eyes. "Rain isn't here, so I'm not going anywhere. I'll go ahead and say-"
*SLAM!*
We all look at the door to the hallways we came from. Rain is standing there, looking like she saw a ghost.
"Guys! You have to see this!"
"Rain, where were you?" From the sound of it, Gallus isn't amused. "We agreed-"
"Screw the agreement! You have to see this right now!"
"When did you start..." I see Ocellus shake her head out of the corner of my eye. "No. You won't tell us until we see whatever it is you want us to."
"Come on! This way!"
Rain took off. The others reacted faster than me, leaving me at the back. I follow them down the hall to the 7 room. Even at a distance, I can see one of the doors is open.
Rain skids to a stop right in front of said door. "Oh no!"
Ocellus and Sandbar reach it right after her. Whatever's inside, it can't be good. Ocellus is screaming pretty loudly.
I don't have time to see the other's reactions as I reach the door.
"Wh-what?"
The floor is covered with glass shards. In the corner...
"Cozy Glow?" |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Four: Memories and Evidence | *DING DING DING DING*
This isn't good. It's been a full hour, and Cozy Glow hasn't woken up yet.
"Hey, Rain?"
We all turn towards Yona.
"Where did glass shards come from?"
Rain sighs. "It was a glass orb. I thought it looked out of place, so I touched it. When I did, a ton of memories flooded my mind."
Ocellus' ears perk up. "Memories?"
Sandbar laughs. "Looks like you were right after all."
"Assuming she's telling the truth." Where would we be without skeptical Gallus?
"What I remembered was... interesting. First, I remembered Professor Fluttershy and Professor Applejack arriving in our village and teaching us how to speak without upsetting each other. How we can't throw away our good times just because of some bad times."
"Professor?" Does that mean that she's...
"The next thing that was important was enrolling in the school of friendship. It was the same day Bramble enrolled, even."
"We were both students there?"
Rain is bobbing her head.
Ocellus is tapping her chin. "That makes it more likely that we were targeted because we were students at the school!"
"The only other important thing I remember was seeing the teachers going through a grate that led under the school. I got curious, followed them, and that's where my memories ended."
"That's where my memories ended too."
!! That was... I look at the bed Cozy Glow is on. She's sitting up!
"You're alright!" Sandbar's face is glowing.
"Yeah. I guess I am." Huh? Something feels off about her, but differently from before.
"So that orb does return memories." Ocellus suddenly bites her lip. "Or, would have."
Smolder is growling. "Why did you smash it? We could have used that!"
"Smashed?" Cozy Glow isn't looking at us. "... I guess I forgot why, between my memories coming back and getting knocked out."
"And who did that? You better not say Rain." I may not trust Cozy Glow, but Smolder needs to respect her personal space.
Though... Cozy seems unfazed. "I should be asking you something; Which door is each of us going through?"
Oh, yeah! "We can ask her questions once we're out of here. We should focus on getting out of here first."
"Right." Gallus is pointing at Smolder. "Smolder, you're the one deciding."
"Ugh. Fine, we'll move on with it. But I want answers once we're out of here!"
Cozy Glow shrugs. "That's fair."
"Right. I'm taking Rain and Yona through door 1."
There's a soft chuckle to my left. "I figured you'd take me."
Alright. So that's three of us. What does she want the rest of us-
"Come on!"
Huh?
*Beep Beep Beep*
HUH?
*Squeeeeak*
"Wait, Smolder, aren't you-"
*SLAM!*
... They're gone. "I thought she was going to decide what the rest of us would do."
Sandbar is blinking. "So did I."
Gallus is writing something down. "It's Smolder. What did you expect? As long as she got what she wanted, she doesn't care what the rest of us do. Although it does narrow down what the rest of us can do." He puts down the pen and holds up the note. "Ocellus has to go through room 3, I have to go through room 5, Sandbar and Silver have to go together, and Bramble and Cozy have to go together."
Bramble's eye is twitching. I don't think he wants to be stuck with Cozy Glow. "What if we don't want to do that?"
"You're free to stay behind if Cozy agrees to that, but this is the situation we've been forced into. Similar to last time, we have two groups adding up to a specific number, 8 in this case, and they have to add to someone else to create the number we need. I ran through the other possibilities, and none of them work."
Someone coughed right next to me! "I won't blame you if you forgot, but I didn't get to choose last round either." Right. Ocellus was forced to go through door 7 without getting a say in it. She was just more quiet about it than Smolder was. "So if you five don't mind, I'd like to go with Bramble and Cozy. I want to look out for them."
Gallus turns towards the rest of us. "Is that fine with you guys?"
That expression... Ocellus isn't looking out for both of them. She wants to make sure Cozy doesn't do anything to Bramble. "Yeah, that's fine." That also means I get to spend more time with Gallus. Woo!
WAH! Bramble nearly knocked me over! *Wump* Scratch that. He knocked me over. Where did he go? Oh, he's standing over the paper Gallus was writing on.
"The only way to separate you and Cozy Glow is for one of you two to stay behind. Then someone else would also have to stay behind, and some of us would have to go through the other room regardless. It's better to suck it up and tough out working with her rather than forcing some of us to go through more rooms pointlessly."
Have I heard a deer growl before? Of course not. Bramble's the first deer I've met.
Ocellus has her hoof over his back. "It's alright. We just have to get through this room, then you can go through a different one from her from here on."
He's biting his lip. "... Fine. Let's get this over with."
Cozy watches him walk to the door. "Not even gonna hide it, are you?"
We all head to the appropriate door, scan our bracelets, and head through. As soon as we're through, the DEAD is right in front of us. We scan our bracelets again and pull the lever, deactivating the bracelets.
"I still don't get what you and Bramble have against Cozy Glow." And Sandbar immediately chews me out for some reason.
Gallus is scratching his head. "And you don't have an issue with her? She insulted you too."
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't justify the way Silver and Bramble are treating her."
Why is Gallus smirking? "To be honest, I find her cutie mark suspicious."
... What? "Her... cutie mark?"
Did Gallus have to boop me? "Tell me, what does the term "rook" mean?"
"It's a chess piece." Sandbar said what I'm thinking.
"As a noun, yes."
"As a... noun?" Okay, I am thoroughly confused.
"The word "rook" can also be a verb, meaning to cheat or defraud someone."
... Does he mean...
"So... you're saying Cozy Glow's talent is..."
"Deception. I think her talent is deception. Since the other use of rook isn't as well known, it's a lot easier to convince others that it isn't her talent."
"If that is her talent. It could just be a bad coincidence." Why am I defending her?
"It could be, but you've seen how she treats others."
... He has a point. I look at Sandbar, who's looking at me.
"Anyway, come on. We don't even know what room we're in."
TIME TO SEARCH!
I look into the room and immediately see glass-covered shelves lined with bottles and jars full of liquids of different colors. "Guys, I'm no chemist, but I think this is a chemistry lab."
"You sure? I thought it was a cafeteria."
Sandbar does that... thing with his mouth. You know, where you blow out air while your mouth is closed. "I doubt there's a way to make a cafeteria into a death trap."
"There's plenty of stuff in the back they can use."
"But then it would be the kitchen, not the cafeteria."
Nice tangent, boys. "What's the puzzle? I see the locked door we have to get out through."
"It probably has something to do with the chemicals lining the walls." Gallus. Stater of the obvious.
"Actually, it may have something to do with that." I watch Sandbar approach a panel of some kind. "Look at these glass tubes. It reminds me of one of those pipe puzzles."
"Oh! Where you take the pipe pieces and rotate them so they connect from one end to the other? I love those!"
"You two might want to take another look." Gallus is tapping on the glass. I'm tempted to tell him he's scaring the fishies, but I don't think he'd appreciate that. "The lines are already connected."
"Yeah, I know." I put my talons through the holes at the top. "See up here? We need to put some chemicals in these holes. They'll mix in the bulbs, and then pour into the pipes."
"Don't stick your claws in those!" Eeee! He's holding my claw!
"Actually, it looks like..." Sandbar pulls at one of the bulbs, pulling it out. "Yeah, these can switch around. And it looks like we're supposed to stick the bottles in at the top."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's stick some chemicals in and see what happens!" Let's see. Are any of these-
"Hey, Silver? Could you calm down?"
I hear a sigh that is distinctly Gallus. "You know how she is. She got excited by something, and now she's excited for no reason."
"What's wrong with being excited?" Come on, guys. Let me be excited.
"Before you start digging through the chemicals, look at this." Gallus is motioning towards something on the panel. "It says to check the bulbs for the acidity they need. The lines on the bulbs should also change color depending on the acidity."
"Huh?" I look at one of the bulbs. It says 'pH ~11.3 Blue'. There are white lines on the sides of the bulb as well. "What does any of this mean?"
Gallus holds up another bulb next to my face. "pH is what they use to measure the acidity in chemicals. The number is what we need to make, though the squiggly line indicates that it's only an approximate. The color is what those white lines should turn into when mixed."
Okay. I guess. "But how do we do that?"
"What we need to do is find two chemicals that-" Sandbar is talking, but all I hear is words words math words.
"Hey, Silver?" I turn towards Gallus. "Do you need us to do this one for you?"
I can't think of anything to say, so I just nod my head.
Sandbar sighs and looks at Gallus. "You better pull your weight better than the others did."
Gallus nods. "You take the bulbs at the top, I'll take the ones on the side."
I watch them walk around the room, reading the labels and pulling out the chemicals. As they do, I notice something off to the side. A doorway. The boys aren't paying attention, so I approach the door. Maybe I can be useful.
The room beyond is surprisingly clean. The only thing of note is the small pedestal in the middle. I make sure the boys aren't looking and head inside. Hey, what's that smell? Anyway, I approach the pedestal. There's a key on top of it. Maybe they'll need it to open something? I pick it up.
*CLANG!*
Wah!
"Silver?"
The door slammed shut on me! I run over to it. There's a small window, just enough that I can see out of it. The boys are right there. "Guys! I'm stuck!"
Sandbar places his hoof on his head. "Silver, what did you do?"
"I saw this door, but it was open, so I went inside and picked up this key, and-"
"You couldn't sit still for one freaking second?"
"Not the time, Sandbar." Why is Gallus sweating? "Do either of you know what this room is?"
I stare at Sandbar, and he stares back at me.
"It's a hazardous chemical room. You use this room if you're messing with chemicals that could kill you." ... Oh.
Oh, no.
"Guys? Can you get me out?"
"Is there anything in there?"
"J-just the key."
Gallus runs his claw along the glass. "Ah. See this slit here?"
His claw is poking through it. I put the key through. Gallus is able to grab it.
"There are some cabinets that are locked over there. Someone had to go in this room at some point."
I bang on the door a bit. "Hey! Open the door!"
"We can't. There's no handle. There's no button. I think we need to solve the puzzle to open the door."
I whimper. I don't want to be stuck here.
"Try to find a way to distract yourself. We'll get you out."
Distract myself? But there's nothing in here but me! Wait! Where did the boys go? What's going on? I have to sit down. I'm... I don't know if I can handle this... ...
Bees.
The bees needed a way to protect their honey. So one of them went to Jupiter and asked for a way to defend the honey. Jupiter briefly misunderstood the bee, but Juno agreed that bees needed a way to defend themselves. So Jupiter-
*Ding!*
Buh?
"All bulbs filled. You have five attempts before the hazard room is filled with Hydrochloric acid." ...
FUCK! GET ME OUT OF HERE! "HEEEELP!"
"Silver!" Gallus! "Silver! Calm down!"
"Let me out! Let me out!"
"Silver, calm down!" ... I put my claw... to his claw... on the glass... "Stay calm. I just need a bit of time. The puzzle is simple, I just need to get it right. Think you can wait another minute?" ... I nod. "Good. I'll have you out of there soon."
He leaves... I hold my head...
So Jupiter... gave the bees... stingers... But if... if they ever used... used them... they would... would... Th-they agreed, hoping... hoping that someday they... My beak hurts... They wouldn't... they could use their... their stingers... without... consequence... But that day... that day hasn't-
*BZZZT!*
"AAH!" So loud!
"Damn it, Sandbar! Stop distracting me!"
... What? I put my ear to the glass.
"But you haven't answered my question."
"Because it's a stupid question! Why would you even think that?"
What are they talking about? I got so wrapped up in distracting myself, I didn't hear them say anything.
"It's not a stupid question, and you still haven't answered it!"
"I'm trying to save Silver! Save your-"
"You're the one that put her in danger in the first place!"
...!!!
"No, I didn't! What the fuck are you going on about?"
Did... did Sandbar accuse Gallus of being... Zero? Why would he think-
*Ding* "Please stand clear of the door."
! I step back. The door slides open, and I dive through it.
Rrrrrrright into Gallus. "Silver! Are you okay?"
"Yeah." I look at Sandbar. He looks angrier than I've ever seen him. "What were you two talking about."
"Uh, it was nothing. Sandbar accused me of shoving you in the room. That's all."
Wait... Was that all it was? "No, I went in there myself. Why would you shove me in there."
"Well, that's relieving." ... Then why do you still look tense?
Gallus helps me to my hooves. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
He walks towards the exit, but I walk towards Sandbar. "Did you accuse him of being Zero?"
"It's just a hunch, but I-"
"Hey, guys?" I look over at Gallus. "This door is still locked. Was there another key in that room, Silver?"
"I don't know. I was too scared to really look around."
"Alright. I'll check." Gallus walks past us and into the room I was trapped in.
I shoot a glare at Sandbar. "Still think he's Zero?"
He's sweating. "Um... well."
"There's literally nothing in here!" Gallus walks back up to us. "So how do we get out?"
We sit there in silence.
I can only think of one thing. "We do have a key."
Sandbar raises his eyebrow. "We used that to open the cabinets to get some of the liquids for the puzzle."
"But that doesn't mean that was its only use. Where did you guys put it?"
Gallus walks over to one of the cabinets. "It's right here."
Sandbar watches Gallus hold up the key. "Well, it's as good a shot as any."
Gallus heads over to the door, puts the key into the slot, and opens the- What?
"Uh, where did that come from?"
It didn't open the door, but a panel in the wall next to the door.
"Didn't see that one coming." Gallus walks over to the panel and pulls out the thing inside. And the door just opened.
"Hey, Silver, you see the symbol on that key, right?"
"Yeah. I do."
Gallus looks at us. "Do you guys recognize this?"
I scratch the back of my head. No hiding it now. "Yona and Bramble found a door with three symbols on it. The symbol on the key looks like one of them."
Gallus is looking at the key. "Why didn't you tell me about that earlier?"
"Ask her." Thanks for throwing me under the bus, Sandbar.
"Well, you tried to ditch the others, Smolder tried to ditch the others, we still don't really know who Rain is, and Cozy Glow is Cozy Glow."
"So I'm not the only one in the dark on this, huh?" Please don't be mad at me. "Well, I'm headed back to the front. The door should be open now that we opened this door. You two can go on ahead." And he's headed back to the infirmary.
Sandbar and I look at each other. "Well, Silver. Let's get going."
We head through the exit. It's a hallway with three doors on the same wall, one of which we came through. To the left is a dead end, and to the right is a corner that I can't see past.
I scratch my head. "Have the others come through yet?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if they haven't. We got through that pretty fast."
... Did we? I was so scared that I lost track of time.
"You go on ahead. I'll wait for the others."
"Alright." I float over to the corner. It's just an empty hallway. What's at the end... A door? It's blocked off with a wooden bar. I lift it, drop it on the ground, and open the door.
"Fancy meeting you here."
!?!? "Gallus?" Wait, this is the infirmary.
Gallus is chuckling. "Was there anything else back there?"
I shake my head. "Just the exit doors and this door."
"Where's Sandbar?"
"Waiting for the others."
Bup? Oh, he's soft. "SANDBAR! GET OVER HERE!" And loud. Ow.
I turn around in time to see Sandbar skid to a stop. "Gallus? How did you get on this side of the door?"
"It loops around." I motion to the beds behind us. "It never split off, so we might as well wait here for the others."
"Oh. Alright."
I look at the REDs next to the doors. Busy. Busy. Cleared. "I think we can watch the REDs to tell when the others are done."
"You two do that. I'm going to find this weird door you two mentioned."
I watch Gallus leave. "Go right."
"Thanks!"
I look at Sandbar. "Why did you accuse him of being Zero?"
He's staring at door 3. "I'm not sure. I guess it's because of what he did earlier."
"Earlier?"
"Thinking about it, I guess it made sense for the context of the situation."
"What are you talking about?"
He's being quiet.
"Sandbar?"
He suddenly gets up and rushes through the door to the back.
"Hey! Where are you-"... He's gone. I look back at door 3. The RED says "Cleared." I guess he just wants to see Ocellus that badly. I wish they would just kiss already.
I look at door 1. It's the only one that doesn't say "Cleared" at this point. Which is a bit odd, considering that they had a head start on the rest of us. They aren't dead, are they?
"Hey, Silver."
I look at the two children. "Hey, Bramble. Hey, Cozy Glow." Wait. Bramble seems calmer than before.
"So where's this door Bramble mentioned?"
I open my beak to respond.
"Through these doors and to the right." Gallus is back.
"Thanks." And Cozy Glow left.
Gallus is moving his head left to right. "I'm guessing Sandbar wanted to be with his love bug."
I nod. "Ran back as soon as the RED said "Cleared"."
"They really love each other, don't they?" I look at Bramble. "I wonder how that feels. To have someone you care about so deeply."
"Silver." I look at Gallus. His eye is twitching. "Did you look at the RED for door 1?"
"Yeah. It says..." I look at it again. "... Assist."
How did I miss that? It said it earlier. Right after Sandbar left.
"5+6+8 is 19, 1+9 is 10, 1+0 is 1."
I look at Gallus for a moment before rushing over. Bramble somehow beat me to the RED. Not that it matters. We scan our bracelets into the RED, pull the lever, and rush into the door.
We find the DEAD quickly and scan our bracelets. It looks like we're in some kind of Exam room.
*Bang bang bang*
"Yipe!" Bramble jumps behind me.
"Where did that come from?"
"This thing." Gallus puts his claw on a long metal tube. At the base are nine latches, though only one has a lock on it.
"LET YAK OUT!"
"Yona?" Bramble rushes over to the tube. "Yona, are you okay?"
"Yak entered tube after entering room, and can't leave now! Wait, where Smolder and Rain?"
I look around. "I don't know. I can't see them anywhere."
"Maybe they're in there." I look at where Gallus is pointing. There's a closed door. It looks like it's designed to hold back a grown dragon. I look at the panel next to it.
Bramble walks up to the panel and presses a button.
"Please wait while the room ventilates."
Ventilates? Doesn't that mean... "Is that room full of poison?"
I can't take my eyes off the door. I walk over to it.
Rain. Smolder. They aren't dead, are they? They have to be alive, right?
"Unlocking door."
Yeah, they're fine. They had a way to breathe in there. They had to. They... They had to.
*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
They're fine... they... they... ... Ah.
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!"
"Silver!"
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!" I have to get out! I have to get out!
"Miss Silver!"
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!" I have to get out! I have to get out!
*Bang bang*
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!" I have to get out!
"Silver! Calm down!"
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!" WHO'S SCREAMING?
"SILVER!"
"AAAHHHHHHHHH!" LET ME OUT!
"Silver! Calm down!"
!!! LET ME GO!
"Calm down! Calm down!"
LET ME GO! LET ME... Let me...
"It's okay, Silver. It's okay."
Let me... I need...
I... ...
I... ... . . . |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Six: Reality | . . .
"Mmph."
So warm. ...
Huh? What... happened?
"Miss Silver? Are you awake?"
I open my eyes. "Bramble? What happened?"
He digs his muzzle out of my chest. "Well, when I opened that door, you freaked out. You started screaming at the top of your lungs, ran to the door, and started hitting it. You passed out after Mister Gallus held you for a bit."
The... door? ...! That's right! "Where are Smolder and Rain?"
"Um..." He shifts a bit. "Over there."
I look where he's pointing. Sure enough, they're both on side-by-side beds. I get up and walk over to them.
"Miss Silver?"
... They look like they're sleeping. Very different from how they looked when that door opened. "How did they die?"
Bramble is looking away. "We don't know yet. Ocellus is looking into it."
I look back at them. Nothing I see on them looks like it would kill them. For that matter, they don't even look dead right now.
"Silver, I wanted to talk about Cozy Glow."
Eh? "What about her?"
"She's... different."
"Different how?"
"Well, when I went through door 2 with her, she looked ready to pull off something that could kill us. Going through door 3, though, she seemed like she was focused on getting out with me and Ocellus, and seemed genuinely worried when Ocellus got trapped."
"Really? I don't know why... Actually, I think that might be because she got her memories back."
"Huh? Why would that change anything?"
"The Cozy Glow I remember from school didn't seem to really understand certain emotions, like empathy. Maybe something from our lost memories caused her to fully understand those emotions."
"That's a nice thought. Especially since it proves Rain wasn't lying when she said she got her memories back."
"Ahem!" Oh? Ocellus is standing in the doorway of door 1. "I figured she wasn't given how she was talking."
*DING DING DING DING DING DING*
!? Wasn't it hour four? I was out for that long? That's not good.
... What's that sound? It sounds like a stampede.
"Silver!"
The others just entered the room.
"Are you okay? When we saw you lying on the floor, we were worried."
"I'm fine." I look at the bodies. "Physically."
"Silver was the first one to see the bodies." Gallus is moving towards-! So soft... "After that, she started screaming and didn't stop until she passed out."
Sandbar is moving towards the bodies. "Speaking of the bodies, do we have a cause of death?"
Ocellus nods. "It took a bit of reading and looking in the room they died in, but I can say what killed them without a doubt. Rain suffocated and Smolder drowned."
... Eh? How does that work? "Details please."
"I think they made a mistake that effectively became "choose how you die." Smolder inhaled a gas called Emoja 16, causing her to cough up blood while her mouth was covered by a breathing mask. That means that her blood had nowhere to go but into her stomach or back into her lungs, and her body desperately needed air."
Bramble is shuddering. "That sounds like a horrible chemical."
"It's not usually that effective at killing. Victims typically lose only half a pint of blood. Not enough to cause any adverse effect on its own. It was typically used to scare others away from somewhere since there are poisons that do the same and then some."
Sandbar puts his hoof on Smolder's stomach. "Or if you can cover their mouth."
That makes- wait. "I'm sorry, does that gas literally make you cough up blood and do nothing else? What's the point of it?"
"Emoja 16 was created as a way of scaring opponents during battles. Like I said earlier, there are other chemicals that have the same effect of coughing up blood, but they do more on top of that. As a result, they can use one or the other, and the opponent wouldn't know which they got hit with. It became restricted because robbers were using it in banks, waiting for everyone to clear out, then robbing the place blind. Or, as Sandbar said, you can cover someone's mouth then administer it to cause that someone to drown in their own blood."
"It exists for some reason. Just accept that." Pffft! Gallus! I was able to understand half of that!
"Moving on, Rain apparently chose to remove her mask, keeping her safe from drowning. However, the room must have been flooded with some other gas, likely carbon dioxide. As a result, she died by suffocation."
Yona's biting her lip. "They not have a chance to get out?"
"There was. There were two panels on opposite sides of the room they were trapped in. I think they needed to press a button on each, but couldn't. I'm not sure why, but I think it has something to do with the ties on the tubes connected to their masks. They couldn't move a certain distance away from each other." Ocellus draws a deep breath. "But that's where I draw a blank. I didn't find anything that would prevent either of them from moving in any way."
"We don't have to find out all the details now. What we need to find is the exit." Gallus moves towards the door. "Let's go."
We all share a look and follow. Gallus leads us to what looks like a waiting room.
"Er, Mister Gallus? Where are the doors?" Bramble is right. I don't see the doors here.
"They're all scattered around this time. This is just the most convenient place to discuss who's going where. And this time, we have something else to consider." Gallus puts his claw on a table, next to two bracelets.
That's right. Even though Rain and Smolder are dead, we still need their bracelets.
Gallus looks at the rest of us. "First thing's first, who's comfortable with going with one of these bracelets?"
... Am I? I don't know.
"Yak is fine."
"I mean, I was examining their bodies earlier. In detail."
Sandbar lets out a big sigh. "I'd rather not, but I will if I have to."
"I'm sorry. I can't." Bramble is looking away from Gallus.
"So we just need to keep the bracelets away from Bramble, right?" Cozy Glow isn't showing any fear right now.
"Seems like it." Gallus pulls out a piece of paper and starts writing on it. "Ocellus and Cozy Glow take the 2 bracelet through room 6, Silver and Yona take the 7 bracelet through room 4, and Bramble, Sandbar, and I go through room 8. That sound good?"
I look at the bracelets as the others nod their heads and make sounds in agreement. Gallus picks them up, hands one to Ocellus, then hands one to me.
Smolder's bracelet...
Smolder... ...
"S-Silver?" I look up. Gallus is looking at me. "You dropped the bracelet."
"I... I can't. I can't do it."
"What? But you said-"
"She didn't say anything. We cut her off before she could say if she was comfortable or not."
Hearing Ocellus say it, I realize I was trying to figure out if I could when they all decided I was fine with it. But seeing the bracelet makes me remember what I saw through that door. I don't want to see another dead body. Ever.
"I'll go with Miss Silver." We all look at Bramble. "I know it'll change things, but I don't think Miss Silver is able to handle the original set-up anyway."
Gallus nods. "That means you two have to go with Cozy Glow through door 4 or Ocellus through door 8."
"If you guys don't mind, I would actually like to go with Sandbar this time." Ocellus seems... fidgety.
Well, I don't see why not. "That's fine."
"It's not."
We all look at Gallus.
"Given the circumstances, only two combinations can go through door 6. One is Yona and Sandbar taking bracelet 2. The other is me taking both bracelets on my own."
Wait, that means-
"Or you could wait for us to finish then tackle the room with someone." Cozy Glow has a point. He can just-
"We have less than three hours left. Do you really want to risk having some of us waiting around?"
"I think it's better to have full teams going through each door. We already lost two of our members. We can't risk more of us dying pointlessly."
Cozy Glow's statement was followed by silence.
"Fine. It's Silver, Bramble, and Cozy Glow through door 4, and Yona, Sandbar, and Ocellus through door 8. I'll just wait here for you guys to come back." Gallus sits himself down in one of the chairs, looking like a child that didn't get his way.
"Silver, Bramble, this way!" I follow Cozy Glow out of the room.
It may not be the time, but... "Hey, Cozy. Back when you touched that orb, what did you remember?"
"A lot. I can't go into details now, but it was a lot."
"Enough to change your whole personality?" Glad to know Bramble is just as inquisitive.
"You could say that." She suddenly slows to a stop. "I just remembered what I said to you two. This is... a bit awkward."
I look at the door to my right. It has the number 4 on it and a RED next to it. "Well, we can talk about it later. For now, we need to get through."
We scan our bracelets and go through the door. Once through, we see the DEAD quickly and rush over to it. Once our bracelets are deactivated, I look at the room.
"HAHAHA!" That's funny.
"Miss Silver?"
"Sandbar said they couldn't make a cafeteria into a death trap. I think he was wrong."
Cozy Glow covers her smile. "Well, the cafeteria looks like it has a puzzle in it at least. There's stuff in the back they could use. Though that would technically be the kitchen."
"You just recreated the rest of Gallus and Sandbar's conversation."
"Miss Silver? Mind if I ask why you were talking about cafeterias?"
"Gallus made a sarcastic remark about it."
"You know what sarcasm is?"
"H-hey!" Great. Now Bramble is joking about my attention or whatever.
"Could you two stop? We have to get through here."
I look at Cozy Glow. She doesn't look like she's in a joking mood right now. "Right."
TIME TO SEARCH!
There's a lot of trays on the tables, some stacked with food. "Mind if I eat? I'm starving right now."
Cozy Glow lets out a sigh. "No. The food might be part of the puzzle. Or poisoned."
"That's a shame. I'm hungry too."
"We'll eat once we're out of here, Bramble." Cozy Glow floats over to a metal panel. "Well, I think this has to do with our way out."
It looks like there's a number pad on it with a display with six lines on it. Above it is a message. "Find the nines, and you may find your answer." ... Eh?
Cozy Glow reads it, then looks around. "Maybe... the trays with nine different foods on them?"
Hmm... I look at the trays with food on them. This one has three foods. This one has six. This one has a mountain of pasta on it...
"Wait! I think it involves the ones that don't have food on them!" Eh? Bramble's waving us over.
The tray doesn't have any food on it, but it has two lines of numbers printed on it.
378/226/459
654/298/771
"Oh, I get it. It's digital roots again. See the top corners? They add up to 9."
Hmm... Ah. I see it. 3+7+8 and 4+5+9 each make 18, which becomes 9. "Maybe the tray where all three of the top numbers make 9 is the one we want."
"Maybe, but we should get any that has a nine on it to be sure." Cozy Glow picks the tray up and floats over to the number pad.
"Something weird happened earlier."
I look at Bramble. "What was it?"
"Miss Ocellus... seemed to be angry at me."
... Ocellus? "Why do you think she was mad at you?"
"I don't know. I just asked her a simple question."
"What did you ask her?"
"Can you two save it for later?" I think that's a tray Cozy tapped my head with. I hope it is. "We need to find those numbers."
"Uh, right." I start looking around. I'm no math wiz, but I know how to add three numbers together. ...
"Uh, Miss Silver? Why did you leave this tray here?"
What is Bramble talking about? "It didn't have any nines."
"But it does." Bramble points at the numbers on the tray. "See? There's a nine there, and a nine-"
"None of the combinations add up to nine."
Bramble looks at me, then the tray. His ears fold back. "I... don't know math. I just grabbed all of the trays I came across."
I sigh and pat him on the head. "That's fine. Just let me handle this."
"... Okay." He sits off in the corner.
I glance at him and head over to Cozy Glow. "Hey, Bramble apparently doesn't know math."
"Yeah, I figured." She tosses a tray into a pile of them. "This can't be good for his self-esteem."
"Huh?"
"I've been with him through all of the doors. In every one of them, he wasn't able to do anything. I wish he was able to do more."
That's odd. "That's... not something the you I knew would say."
"We aren't going back to what I remembered, are we? I understand why you're curious, but we have more pressing issues right now."
"If you don't want to tell us, you can just say so."
She looks me in the eye, then away from me. "... I don't want to tell you because you would never believe me. I'm still not sure I believe it myself. But it's clearly affected me in some way. Could we leave it at that?"
"Um... How sure are you that I wouldn't believe it?"
"Very. Very sure. You'd have to be pretty much insane to believe it. Or a quantum physicist."
Quantum physicist? "Alright. I'll let it go for now."
"Now go comfort Bramble. I have enough trays to go through right now."
"Alright, Cozy." ... Hehe. The way she blushed was cute. With how she acts sometimes, it's hard to remember she's a child.
I watch the tiny pegasus as she shifts through the trays, putting the digital roots of the numbers on them into the number panel. I turn and go to Bramble. "Hey, are you okay, Bramble?"
He shakes his head. "I'm guessing she told you."
I bring him into a hug, similar to the one he gave me earlier. "Being useless or useful isn't important here. What's important is that as many of us get out alive as possible. And we still need to go through the 9 door, so you still have a chance."
He smiles at me. "Thanks. I just need a bit of time to cool down."
I'm not about to let go either way. For a small while, all we hear is the sound of Cozy trying different combinations.
"Hey, Miss Silver? Can we go raid the kitchen?"
"Sure thing. I could use a snack right now." I wonder what they have in the fridge here.
I take another glance at Cozy as I move towards the door to the kitchen. Inside, it looks like, well, a kitchen. Ovens, stoves, refrigerators... yeah, we had those at the school, from what I remember. I open up one of the fridges. "Oh, yummy. A key." I pull it out.
*Slam!* *Click*
... That was the door again, wasn't it?
*CLANG* *FWOOOOM!*
"M-miss Silver! The oven!"
I look at the oven. Flames are shooting out of it like it's a dragon!
I start banging on the door we came through. "Cozy! Cozy, we need-"
*Bzzt*
*Pssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*
WABLARGH! Well, the fire's out.
"Oh, man." I look at the drenched deer. "We just got so wet."
I look at myself. "Yeah. I mean, it's nothing I'm not used to."
"Really? You get this wet regularly?"
"Oh, yeah. I was this wet all the time at home."
"Guys, context." Eh? Why is Cozy blushing so much? "I know what you're talking about, but context."
I have no idea what she's talking about. "Thank goodness you got the door open."
"Well, let's say I found the right tray."
"Oh! Oh, wow." Now Bramble is blushing. For some reason. "Yeah, now that I think about it, that did sound pretty bad."
... Is he talking about being wet? "How?"
Cozy's eye is twitching. "How do we get it and you don't? You're the oldest one here!"
I don't know how to respond to that without asking what they're referring to.
"For that matter, how do you know what I was referring to, Bramble?"
"Our elders see no shame in discussing those things with the young."
I'm still confused. "What are you two- Nevermind. We need to get looking."
"Right. Was there a key back here?"
"Yeah. I've got it." I move past Cozy and head to the exit door. I unlock it and open it to find... more hallways.
"Let's split up. We're looking for a door with a 9 on it."
Bramble and I nod at Cozy and head off. I run around the hallways for a few minutes, but I can't find anything.
I head back to the door we came through. Bramble and Cozy are already there. "Anything?"
Bramble shakes his head. "Nothing."
Cozy's hoof is pressed against her head. "I didn't find anything either. What a waste of time."
I look at the steam in the cafeteria. "I guess we have no choice but to go back."
Bramble folds his ears back. "That's not good."
*DING DING DING DING DING DING DING*
"That's really not good." Cozy grabs us. "Come on! We can't waste any more time!"
She almost drags us back through the cafeteria and to the room Gallus was in. As we get close, I hear something... concerning. We round the corner to an even more concerning sight.
Ocellus is crying her eyes out, Yona is patting her on the back, and Sandbar and Gallus are nowhere in sight.
"Ocellus?" Cozy finally lets go of me. "Where are Sandbar and Gallus?"
Ocellus looks up. "Sandbar ended up in a death trap. We couldn't get him out, and he... he..."
... What? Sandbar is... dead? How? Why is this happening?
"We came back here to get Gallus' help." I look at Yona, who's still trying to comfort Ocellus. "He wasn't here. Neither were the bracelets."
Why did he leave? Where would he have taken the... ...
A chill runs down my spine. He didn't.
I rush out of the room.
"Silver! Wait!"
I round each corner until I find it. The 6 door.
Busy.
"He went through by himself."
I look at Bramble and Cozy.
"Silver, we shouldn't waste any more time. We can always."
"No. I'm waiting for Gallus to come-" ...
Vacant. ...
It switched to vacant as I was looking at it. ...
159.
"Wait here! I'm getting Yona!" I push past them.
"Miss Silver!"
"Hurry!"
I round corner after corner, making my way back to Yona. There's the door.
"Yona! I need-"
... Huh?
R-red?
Is that... BLOOD?
What happened? Why aren't they moving?
"Ocellus? Yona?" I move towards them.
Once I'm next to them, I nudge Ocellus. AH! It's the same look... Smolder...
Are they... Did they die? How? ...
GALLUS!
I grab the 1 bracelet and start making my way back to the 6 door.
"Cozy! Bramble! Something bad has-"
... No.
This... is a joke... right?
It... it has to be.
No one... no one would... kill them... right?
I move closer. "Guys... this isn't funny."
They'll... they'll move... any... any second...
I put my claw... on his head... and shake it a bit... "Bramble? This... this isn't... funny... Ocellus... and Yona... died..."
He's... he's... not responding... He'll... respond... right?
"G... get up... this... this is a... a joke... right?" ...
Why...
Why me...
My eyes drift towards my claw...
My bracelet... 5... I...
"I guess... I don't need this anymore."
I grab my bracelet.
*BOOM!*
... Huh?
Is there... more blood?
I'm feeling... weak...
What is... that pink stuff?
I... I'm taking... a... nap... ...
Gal... lus... ... . . .
Ending 1:
DEAD End |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | ???: Belief | ...
"Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why would my number be a reason for her to be suspicious of me?"
"Because it can be very powerful in this situation." That's... Gallus?
"But that note said that 9 doesn't change the Digital Root of a number." And... that's Sandbar.
"That's why it's powerful. Take those doors for example."
... What? What's going on?
We're trapped in a death game we have to escape from. Right?
"When griffon get good with numbers?"
What's... happening? Why do I feel like I'll... die?
"You can't go through door alone."
My whole body feels cold. I feel like my guts have been ripped out!
"Miss Silver?"
Where am I? What's going on?
"Actually, the easiest way is to split into two teams of four and let Cozy go into whichever one she-"
"Guys, something's wrong with Miss Silver!"
I can't take this! I can't-
"Silver?"
! G-Gallus...
"Hey, what's wrong?"
I... I...
"Silver, why are you-"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" ...
"Silver, we're all scared, but we have to-"
"I'm not going!"
"What do you-"
"I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"... Why am I so scared? Nothing's happened yet.
My head's spinning. Everything is dark. And there isn't a reason for me to be scared yet.
"I think we're at an impasse here."
"I can stay behind. That way, the rest of you can go through."
"That won't help Silver. We'll need her at some point."
Why? Why can't I think straight?
"You religious?"
... Huh? I look at Rain Kiss. As blurry as she is.
"You have gods you believe in, yes?"
... Gods...
"Saturn, the father of the gods." Was I... really holding Bramble that tightly?
"What was that?"
"He was the... ruler of the cosmos. When... when it was prophesied... that one of his children... would overthrow him, he... he started... eating them at birth. His wife chose to... to switch out the sixth child with a bundle of... rocks. Eventually, that child, Jupiter, managed to... to slip Saturn a poison that caused him to vomit up the five immortal children he ate."
"Ew." Heh. Ocellus is a bit green.
"Yeah, it's kind of disgusting. I'd like to think he imprisoned or banished them in some other way, but I'm not the one that wrote these tales. After that happened, Jupiter and Saturn went to war. Jupiter ended up getting enough support to overthrow his father. That's how he became the god of gods."
"Hey, Silver?" Smolder has her hand on my shoulder. "I don't think we have time for a bunch of stories. How about telling us which god or goddess we remind you of the most."
... I'm not the best at this, but...
"Hey, Smolder? Do you think she'll be able to do that?"
"Maybe, maybe not. It'll at least help her take her mind off of things."
I guess I'll start with the 1 bracelet and go up from there. "Yona... would be somewhere between Mars and Bacchus. Mars is the god of war, and Bacchus is described as the god of good-cheer, hilarity, mirth, and revels."
Yona tilts her head.
I smile at her. "Whatever those mean."
Ocellus giggles. "To put things as simply as possible, hilarity means good cheer, mirth means good cheer, and revel means good cheer."
Cozy covers her mouth. "So he's the god of good cheer, good cheer, good cheer, and good cheer."
"YAK IS GOOD CHEER!" Heh. That gets all of us laughing.
Ocellus quickly catches her breath. "There are appreciable differences between the terms, but that is what they boil down to."
Alright. Back on track. "Um... I don't know Rain that well, but something is telling me that Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, would be a good match."
"Agriculture... Growing thing, correct?"
"Yes, it is. Specifically, growing plant life." What was it that Gallus called her that one time? Encyclopedia Ocellus?
"Then Ceres very fitting. Kirin connected to nature greatly." I'm not sure I can get used to how Rain talks.
"Hmm... Neptune is the god of seas, but he also presides over ponies. I think that would fit with Sandbar."
Sandbar doesn't look enthusiastic. "Why do you have a god of ponies?"
"Uh... I think Novo wanted for there to be a god to watch over her crush." ...Oh, crap. Did I just say that out loud?
"And who would your aunt have a crush on?" Either Gallus is psychic or I said that out loud.
Sandbar is looking at my soul. "Is it... Princess Celestia?"
"Um... alright." Might as well get this over with.
"Or is it Luna?" ... Or Bramble could throw me an olive branch.
"Sure."
"Or was it our headmare, Twilight?"
"Uh huh." I'm not giving any of them a clear answer.
Ocellus is trying to hold in her laughter. "I don't think she's going to give us a clear answer."
Oh no. She caught on to my tactics. "No. I'm not."
"Then let's move on. Who would I be?"
"I would say... Venus."
"Venus?" She looks mad. Why wouldn't Ocellus want to be Venus? "Is this a jab at changelings eating love? Or a reference to that tale where she caused a war that ended an entire nation?" Oh. Of course she would know about that tale. It is Ocellus, after all. "I'd rather be Vesta, thank you."
Vesta... Goddess of home and hearth... Hmm... "I don't think it fits you."
Ocellus gives me the stink eye. "Why would Venus fit me? Please answer in a non-offensive way."
Sandbar puts his hoof over her back and moves his muzzle to her ear. "Because you're a very lovely creature that has shown affection to us all."
Hehehe. Ocellus' face is so red right now. "V-Venus is fine."
Everyone else giggles a bit. As happy as I am that he bailed me out, I really wish he would kiss her already.
"Miss Silver? If you're going through us in bracelet order, then you'd be next."
"Please answer modestly."
I think... "Juno."
"I said modestly!" And Ocellus is at me again.
Smolder is scratching her head. "She's comparing us to gods. How is one less modest than another?"
"By comparing herself to the wife of the most powerful god."
"I didn't even think of that. I just... always felt a connection to her."
Ocellus is in my face. "I can tell when you're lying."
"Isn't Jupiter the god of the sky?"
Ocellus looks at Cozy Glow. "Yeah, why?"
"Well, I think I know the reason she chose his wife." Cozy is pointing at... Gallus. Uh oh.
They're all looking at Gallus... I can see, one by one, when it hits them.
"Ohhhhhhhh." I don't like the way Ocellus is smiling. "You were about to compare Gallus to Jupiter, weren't you?"
"Th-that's completely irrelevant!" Why is she able to see through me so easily?
"Because you make it so easy so often." ...Krrrgrfffaflllegh.
"Am I missing something?" Good, Gallus doesn't- HE TOTALLY GETS IT! I CAN TELL BY THAT EXPRESSION THAT HE GETS IT!
"Hey, guys? I think we should stop. She looks like she's on the verge of an emotional breakdown." I'm not really, but I'm not about to correct Sandbar.
"Yeah, let's get on with things. Silver is Juno, Gallus is Jupiter, and I'm next. Who am I?"
"Smolder." Nice to have an easy shot at someone else for once.
It's hard to tell what Smolder's reaction is when she covers her face with her hands like that.
Gallus pats her on the back. "Well, at least she's in a good mood."
Hehehe. "In all honesty, you'd line up with Vulcanus, the god of volcanos."
Smolder folds her arms. "Volcanos, huh? That fits, I guess."
I look at Bramble. "Um... I guess... Apollo?"
He smiles at me. "You don't sound too certain about that."
"Well, Uh... I'm not. I don't know you that well, so..."
"What's Apollo the god of?" Sandbar leaned over to Ocellus to say that.
"Uh, he's the god of the sun, music, medicine, and archery."
"Silver, he was asking me that." Oops. At least she doesn't seem bothered that I answered.
"That all... sounds about right for me. Those sound like things that the deer regularly partake in."
I look at Cozy. She's smiling at me so sweetly.
"Pluto."
And the smile is gone. "Excuse me?"
Rain, Ocellus, and Gallus giggle.
Smolder scratches her head. "Who?"
I smile at the dragon. "The god of the underworld."
The rest of them start giggling as Cozy tries to glare me to death. "Silver, did I upset you somehow?"
I giggle, but there is something gnawing at me. Pluto wasn't actually the god that came to mind for Cozy. I did say Pluto as a joke, but I didn't want to acknowledge the goddess she really makes me think of.
Because I can't think of any way that Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, fits with her.
The filly rolls her eyes. "Ugh. Well, you're obviously in a better mood, so who's going where?"
"Oh, I'm still not going anywhere."
"Silver!"
I smile at Gallus. "I'm kidding."
Some math stuff happens, and this is what we have.
Yona and Ocellus are going through door 7.
Rain and Smolder (reluctantly) are going through door 2.
Sandbar and Bramble are paired up.
Gallus and I are paired up.
And Cozy Glow... "Well, since Silver apparently has a problem with me, I'm going away from her."
I guess we should... Wait. Where's Gallus going? "Come on, Silver."
"Huh?"
"We're going through door 7."
He feels rather forceful about this, but I'd rather go through the other door. "I want to go through door 2."
He stumbles over his claws. "Huh?"
"Wait." Smolder is looking between us. "You both want to go through opposite doors?"
Sandbar looks at Bramble. "Do you have a preference?"
"N-not really?"
"I... don't either."
Cozy slaps her face. "Great! We have one pair that wants to go through opposite doors, and another pair that will go through either!"
"Okay. We'll go through door 2."
Eh? "Wait, didn't you want to-"
"I said that so that we would keep moving. I didn't think you had a preference."
"Well, I do. But do we need to be in that much of a rush?"
*DING DING*
... "I had to say it, didn't I?" |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Two: Greenhouse | I did not realize we lost that much time.
"Let's hurry!"
None of us question Gallus. Rain, Smolder, and I follow him to the 2 door, while the others go to the 7 door. We waste no time scanning our bracelets in. I pull the lever and we dart through the door.
*Beep beep beep*
"The DEAD! Where's the DEAD?"
I see a blinking red light. "This way!" I rush over and scan my bracelet in... Huh. There is a skull on it.
The others scan their bracelets in, and Gallus pulls the lever. The skull disappears from my bracelet, leaving the 5 all alone.
"Woah. Plants for days."
I turn around. Smolder is right. This place is packed with all kinds of flowers. Bright ones, dim ones... Oh my gosh! I recognize the ones in the aquarium over there!
"Hey, check this out!" Huh? I look over at Smolder. She's standing in front of a table with six indents and a violet on it. I head up beside her. There's a note on the table.
Roses are red,
That much is true,
But violets are violet,
Which is not blue.
... "Something tells me Zero doesn't like that popular rhyme."
"I mean, they're right."
"Call it hauch, but this may be puzzle."
I look at Rain. "Hunch. But yeah, this looks like the puzzle."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Gallus cracks his neck. "Time to search."
TIME TO SEARCH!
I look at the violet on the table. I wonder what the puzzle is exactly.
"Hey, what are those shutters blocking off?" I look where Smolder's pointing. "Eh, it's probably not important." ... Then why point it out!?
I look at the shutters Smolder pointed out. There's a panel in front of it-
"Yeow!"
...? Rain is dragging Smolder off to a corner. I wonder why.
Anyway, the panel looks like it belongs to a computer. There's also a hatch that one of us could probably fit through.
*Clang clang*
"No dice?"
I shake my head. "It feels like it's locked pretty tightly."
Gallus taps my shoulder. "What do you think they're talking about?"
I look at the other two. "No idea. See if you can find something that will fit in those indents on the table, I'll go talk to them."
"And by "talk," you mean "listen in from under the table they're next to," right?"
"Please get out of my head." I head over without letting Gallus respond.
I duck under the table they're next to.
"So just find the flowers and let me point out the other things."
"Are you sure that will work?"
"Well, you're acting..." Rain is looking at me. "How long you down there?"
"I just got here."
"Wha-" Smolder looks at me and leaps back. "Oh geez! What the heck?"
I step out from under the table. "So what was that about flowers?"
"Table has flower. We in room full of flowers. Ego, we need flowers."
Smolder scratches her head. "I think you meant to say "ergo"."
"Okay, but what about-"
"Hey, you three think we should be looking for flowers?" Buh, Gallus! I was about to- That's a pretty flower.
"That Delphinium."
"Why would we need a blue flower, though?"
Gallus and Smolder look at me, then at each other. "Well, it's not like she would have much reason to know about that."
I tilt my head. "Know what?"
"Roy G. Biv."
"Who's he?"
Smolder chuckles. "I wouldn't be shocked if there was someone called that, but we're referring to an acronym."
Gallus lifts a talon and starts poking like he's spelling something out. "Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet."
"... Oh! That's why there were seven indents, with the far left one already filled with a violet." Of course. Gallus draws in his free time, and Smolder spends a good bit of time with Professor Rarity. They would know about color stuff.
"Yeah, it's pretty easy to get." ... Did he just take another jab at my intelligence?
I turn back to the table with the indents... wait. "How do we know the blue flower isn't one of those two?"
"Left flower Bellflower, right flower Balloon flower."
"That doesn't solve the problem, Rain." I pick up the flowers. The pots they're in are the exact same as the one Gallus is holding. "Is there something else that would indicate which one is right?"
"Look at you. You know what the word "indicate" means." That was a jab at my intelligence.
"Not now, Smolder!"
Gallus groans. "Let's just gather any flowers in these kinds of pots we can find."
Gallus and I set the flowers we're holding on a table next to the one with the indents. I look around. There are a few clay balls hanging from the ceiling. I fly up to one.
"Hey, Silver!" Smolder flies up beside me. "I feel very strongly and for no particular reason that you should smash that on the ground!"
... !?!?!? "Smolder, please keep your destructive habits in check."
Smolder chuckles nervously, then grabs the ball from me and thro- Wup- "HEY!"
*Crash!*
"Hey!" Gallus starts waving his fist around like an old man would at brats on his yard. "Be careful! You almost hit me!"
I point at Smolder. "She threw it!" Oh, don't make that innocent face!
"I don't care who threw it, don't throw that kind of stuff-"
"Guys, look!"
I look at Rain. She's holding a small piece of paper. I land next to her and read it.
Five bells ring for the second prince.
Uh... what? "Does that make sense to you?"
"Yes." Rain turns around and picks up the... Bellflower.
"So it was referring to the Bellflower?"
"Bellflower and..." She lifts up a flower that looks like a poppy. "... Prince of orange."
"That looks like a poppy."
"Prince of orange type of poppy." She places the poppy in the second indent and the Bellflower in the fifth.
"Look out below!" *Crash Crash*
!!! "Smolder, I don't normally say this, but what the fuck are you thinking?"
Rain puts her hooves to her face and Gallus glares at Smolder as she lands with a goofy grin on her face. At some point, Rain picks up the papers that were in the clay balls Smolder hurled to the ground, picks up a few flowers, and puts them all in their place in the indents.
Gallus breaks the silence. "Smolder, why?"
"Well, there were clues in them."
"But you wanted to break one BEFORE WE KNEW THAT!" I don't know what's worse. The fact Smolder got me to raise my voice like that, or the fact Smolder got me to be the voice of reason in this situation.
*Chchchchchchchchchchchch*
I look at the opening shutter. "Forget it." I head over to the window that was just behind the shuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh... That doesn't look nice.
"Those are..."
"Bear traps." Gallus starts nodding his head. "Those are bear traps lining the floor of that room down there. Specifically designed for warding off Ursa Minors. If one goes off, they'll all go off."
*Chink*
That sound came from the hatch. I guess it's open. And leads to... that mess of horror.
"Look there. Across room." Rain's pointing at something, but it's not clear to me what she's pointing at. "There's switch on far wall."
I scan the far wall for whatever she is talking about. The only things I see are the door and a green thing that looks like a RED or DEAD. Is she referring to that second thing?
Smolder shrugs. "Easy enough. We just fly over and trigger the switch."
"It's not that simple. Look up." I follow Gallus' gaze to the ceiling of the room through the window. There are some pretty large fans up there. "Those will blow any creature smaller than a ten-foot dragon down in a heartbeat, no matter what they are."
I look at the sides of the room. "There are also fans on the walls, just as large. If the ones up top will blow you down fast, the ones on the walls will keep you from going where you want."
"So? I just need to be faster than the fans."
Gallus raises his eyebrow. "Who do you think you are? Rainbow Dash?"
I hear a soft humming. Is that Rain?
"Well, I just need to get across before the fans turn on."
I look at the fans. "Too late. They're already on."
"Well... I just need to outfly them?"
Gallus grabs Smolder's wing. "And how do you plan on doing that, baby girl? You're not big enough and you're not Rainbow Dash. If you try to fly in there, you'll be lucky to get off the ground, let alone get to the switch."
I look through the window at the kirin bouncing between the traps. "We're going to need another way through."
Smolder grunts. "What do you propose? Dropping a flower down there and hoping it springs the trap?"
"Well, Rain seems to be getting through just fine-" Wait, what am I saying? What did I see earlier? I look through the window again.
Sure enough, Rain is jumping and bouncing between the traps with the grace of a swan.
"When did she get in there?"
I would call out to her or be more concerned, but she's basically two jumps away from the switch.
"Go go go!"
Maybe I should try to... No, she's already at the switch. She pulls it and a couple of steel walls come up around her like a pyramid. I'd be more worried, but-
*CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG*
OW! MY EARS!
"Argh! That was so loud!"
"Well, at least the danger is gone!" Smolder doesn't seem to be affected by the sounds. She moves over to the hatch and hops in. Gallus and I share a look before following her.
The fans turned off (I guess that's where the humming was coming from), so the three of us fly over the mess of metal traps on the ground.
As soon as the walls around Rain lower, Smolder flies over and hugs her. "That was so awesome! I love you even more now!"
Gallus and I share another look. "Smolder, are you alright?"
She looks at me. "What do you mean?"
"Well." Gallus starts counting on his claw. "You beelined to the table with the flowers on it, you saw the shutter before us and immediately wrote it off, you had that weird discussion with Rain earlier, you somehow knew that those clay balls had clues in them, and what you just said makes it sound like you already knew Rain, even though we just met her. It's almost like you knew what would be in this room."
"Well, I just wanted to get through the room."
That- I- Grr. "That just sounds even more suspicious!"
"You see-" *Whump*
Rain is dragging the dragon by her tail, letting her face slide along the ground. "Let's get going."
Gallus and I share one last look before following them.
"Hey, are you two going to tell us what's going on?"
"No." At least Rain is honest. All Gallus and I can do is follow her down the hallway.
Smolder says something, but the ground is a better gag than I thought it would be.
Rain drops Smolder. "What was that?"
Smolder sits up. "Can we get some bandages for my face?"
"Sure. Infirmary right there."
Yup. That's the infirmary alright. The others go inside. I step towards the doors.
"Come on! This way!"
!? What was that? I look to my right. That hall... The others aren't watching, so I rush over and into the hallway.
After going up some stairs, I find the door... how do I know that it's this door? I push it. The room it leads to looks like an empty apartment aside from the glass orb in the middle. It looks kind of like Aunt Novo's orb did. I go in and touch it.
"Then tell him exactly what you think of him."
"I'm sorry I caused all of this."
"Well done. You've all done wonderfully this year!"
"There may be a majority of ponies joining, but they don't even make up half of the new students."
"Anyway, I can help you make a shrine to your gods or something if that will help you settle in."
"Wow. The buffalo sound very resourceful."
"Those two are like oil and water. Even ignoring that she's a princess and he's a thief."
"Let's make sure that she doesn't get in too much trouble."
!!! Those were... I... Wow...
"Silver?"
I turn around. The other half of our group is there.
"Is something wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."
I sit down. "I remember. What happened in the basement. The Tree of Harmony. Our second year. I remember all of it!"
"What? How?"
I look at the orb. I don't say anything before they rush over to it and touch it. Cozy has her back to me, but the other's eyes are glowing. Once their eyes stop glowing, they all step back.
"I can't believe my memory theory was right."
"Miss Anita, Mister Hector, Miss Strongheart... I wonder if they're alright."
"Yak hopes they're still at school."
"Hey, Silver?" I look at Cozy Glow. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just... processing that."
"SILVER!" Someone is calling out. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
Sandbar rushes to the door. "IN HERE!"
I watch him step back towards the orb right before Smolder, Rain, and Gallus enter the room. "Woah. What's with the congregation?"
Sandbar puts his hoof on the orb. "This is why."
I watch the other three approach the orb, then cautiously touch it. After a few seconds, Smolder screams and falls flat on her ass.
Gallus stares at her. "Good job, Smolder."
"NO!" *Crash!*
I look over. The orb is in pieces on the ground.
Rain tilts her head. "That was brittle."
"It's alright. We got what we needed out of it." Cozy floats over to Gallus. "Is there anywhere better we can talk?"
Gallus nods. "The infirmary. There are cots and chairs to sit on, medical supplies if you need them, and, oh yeah, the next set of doors is there."
"That sounds perfect." Sandbar turns to the rest of us. "Come on, guys. Let's get going."
We all head to the infirmary. Sure enough, there are three doors there. Er, my mistake, apparently there's a fourth door, but it doesn't have a number on it.
"1, 3, and 5." Sandbar scratches his head. "Why does it add up to 9 again?"
"Because our bracelets add up to nine." I hold up my bracelet. "If the doors didn't add up to 9, some of us would be forced to stay behind. For example, any combination that adds up to a group adding up to 5 and a group adding up to 3 would leave one or more of us adding up to 1."
Ocellus stares at me in shock, but Gallus just nods his head. "That's exactly it. Little shocked Silver was the one to point that out."
"Well, I know some things."
Smolder clears her throat. "Well, since I'm choosing who goes where-"
"Actually, I'd like to look around first. See what's through the other hallways." We all turn to Ocellus.
"No." Something tells me Smolder doesn't want to do that.
"We should keep moving." Gallus doesn't either.
"Well, we found that orb. Who knows what else we'll find." And Sandbar is on Ocellus' side. Big shocker there.
"Yak want to look!"
"I say we look."
"We probably should."
"Sorry, Miss Smolder. I want to see what's around."
Gee, thanks for making my opinion count... Hmm. "Alright. Let's look around."
"Come on, Silver! You could have at least made me feel like someone was on my side!" Hehe. Smolder's scolding me.
"Alright, we'll meet back here at the four hour chime."
"Why not the third-"
*DING DING DING*
"That's why."
I swear these hours feel like they're passing by really fast. |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Three: A crazy choice... | "Alright. We'll meet back here in an hour." With that, Ocellus leaves. Most of us follow her, leaving me with Smolder and Gallus.
"You could have at least made me feel better."
I look at Smolder. "Well, it's not like my opinion would have mattered at that point."
"I know. That's why I'm upset at you. How about making it up to me by going through one of these doors right now?"
Gallus shakes his head. "We can't. 5, 6, and 7 make 18, which is 9. We'd need one of the others, and the only one we could reasonably convince is Cozy Glow."
"Ugh. Fine. Grab Cozy Glow and we can go through door 3 without Gallus."
I look at Gallus. He's making an 8 with his claws behind Smolder's back. Hm... I think I know what to do. "Sure. Just give me a second."
Smolder grunts as Gallus heads over to the part of the infirmary with the drugs. "Just get her and get back!"
I nod and make my way to the door out of the infirmary. I look around for a bit before heading down one of the hallways. I happen across Bramble and Yona.
Bramble notices me first. "Oh, hey Miss Silver."
I put on my sweetest smile. "Hey, Bramble. Could you help us? Gallus says he found something, but we can't reach it. We think your smaller size would help."
"Oh, sure! I'll help-"
Yona sticks her hoof out in front of Bramble while glaring at me. "What you planning?"
... She's suspicious? Of me? There's no way she could know what I'm planning.
Bramble pushes her hoof down. "It's alright, Miss Yona. I trust her."
Yona looks at him, then at me. "... Fine. Yak let deer go. But if you hurt him... I will crush you."
That has to be the scariest I've seen Yona. She wasn't even talking how she normally does. "Don't worry. I don't plan on hurting him."
Bramble walks past me, so I turn around and follow him back to the infirmary. As soon as we're inside, I close the doors.
Beramble backs into me. "What the-"
"Oh, hey." Gallus is standing over Smolder's unconscious body. "Didn't expect you to be back so soon."
"M-Mister Gallus? Why is Miss-"
"Don't ask." I grab him and dart over to door 1. I force his hoof onto the RED, then put my claw on it.
"HELP!"
Gallus reaches past me and puts his claw on the RED before pulling the lever. As soon as the door is open, I rush through, Bramble still tightly in my grasp.
"Guys?" That's Cozy's voice. "What's going on in here?"
"Sorry, but we can't wait forever." With that, Gallus closes the door.
The DEAD is in our line of sight already. I rush over, force Bramble's hoof to it, then drop him. I scan my bracelet in, then Gallus scans his in before pulling the lever.
"HELP!" Bramble is banging on the door we came through. "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
"Hey, Bramble?" Oh, he's scared of me. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to help everyone. We don't know what's going to happen going forward."
"S-stay away."
"Hey, it's okay." I move to pet him. "Just-"
"STAY AWAY!" !!! He moved so fast I didn't even see him.
"Bramble!"
*BANG BANG BANG* "SILVERSTREAM!"
Uh oh. That's Yona.
"I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS! GET OUT HERE THIS INSTANT!"
Gallus hits his claw on the door. "We can't! The rules don't allow it!"
"GALLUS!"
"See you on the other side!" He takes my claw. "Come on. Let's go."
Wow. I got so distracted by the DEAD and Bramble, I did not realize how tight the area around the door is. Gallus leads me to the end of the wall opposite the door leading in here. It looks like there are a few metal tubes with computers next to them. There are a bunch of boxes everywhere with numbers on the front. There's a door to the side... Wait.
"Where's Bramble?"
"Oh, he's in that middle tube."
"The one with all the padlocks on it?"
"Yup."
I tap on it. "You okay in there?"
"Better than I would be out there!"
... I get the feeling he's upset at me.
Though, now that I think about it, I'm not entirely sure why I did this. It wasn't to be with Bramble or Gallus, I know that much. I think I was trying to protect Smolder... Wait, what? What am I thinking? I'm not keeping anyone safe by going through a specific door! It's not like she would have died by going through this door in particular! They all have death traps in them! What the heck was I thinking?
"You okay, Silver?"
"Yeah, I'm just facing some internal conflict."
"Eh, that's fair. You can argue with yourself inside your head while we work out the puzzles."
TIME TO SEARCH!
Well, the puzzle here is rather obvious. Er, hold on. It looks like a small panel slid open on the computer next to the tube Bramble is in. I look in the panel.
"Find something?"
"Yeah, a key." I hold it up. "It has a weird symbol on it."
"We should probably keep an eye out for that symbol. Otherwise, let's get to the puzzle."
I nod and make my way to one of the boxes. There are numbers and symbols on the front.
[+}(-]{x) 721 <><
Um... Hmm... I wish I had a notepad or something. "Hey, Gallus? Is there anything to write on?"
"Uh, I think there are a notepad and pen next to one of the tubes."
"Thanks." I look at the tubes again. Sure enough, the left one has a notepad and a pen next to it. I pick them up and head back to the box.
"Any idea what those symbols mean?"
I tap the pen to my beak. "Well, three of the symbols are mathematical, but I'm sure you knew that already. The other symbols appear to be paired brackets." I draw the brackets on the notepad. "I think that means the math symbols between each pair of brackets mean something." I draw the symbols in between the brackets they're between on the box.
[+-]
(-x)
{x+}
"But the question is how this relates to the numbers on the box."
"Ah, that's what I was missing."
"Really?" I hand him the pen. "Can you show me what I'm missing?"
He takes the pen. "You see the lock on the box, right?"
"Yeah, it's like the ones on those padlocks. The twisty dial."
He chuckles. I can't blame him. "It's called a combination lock. You turn it one way to one number, then the other way to the next number, then repeat until it unlocks. If you mess up, you just spin it a bunch to reset it, then try again."
"So what's the combination?"
He holds up the paper he was writing on. "This."
[7+2-1]=8
(7-2x1)=5
{7x2+1}=15
"So, judging by the arrows below the numbers..." He puts his claw on the dial. "... first, we turn it this way to 8..." He turns it counterclockwise to 8. "... then we go this way..." He turns it clockwise to 5. "... and we finish going this way..." He turns it counterclockwise again until he gets to 15. "... and now..." He lifts the lid like it wasn't ever locked. "... presto."
I look in the box. There's another key inside, this one significantly less detailed than the other one. "Hey, do you think that fancy key from earlier is the key to the door out?"
"Maybe, but it will probably do something to Bramble if we use it before letting him out." He hands me the notepad and pen. "You probably need this more than me. I can crunch the numbers in my head."
I'm confused. He's... not the best academically. Oh, that's a big word. Academically.
"It's because Grandpa Gruff had me working at a store so I wasn't doing nothing with my life. I learned a lot about numbers there. About the only thing I learned in Griffonstone, too."
I take the pen and notepad. "So, when we meet with the others again..."
"I'll handle the talking. I have something in mind to talk them down."
I nod. I really hope he gets through to them. I don't want to know what Yona will do to me if he can't.
I take the key that was in the box and move back to the tube Bramble is in. I try it on a couple of padlocks before one of them unlocks.
"How about saving that for when we have all of the keys." He already has another key. I didn't think I took that long finding this lock. He sets it down on the table beside me. "Just leave that key in the lock so we don't try to use it on another one."
I drop the lock on the ground. Well, back to the boxes. I read the front of the next one. The only thing different from the first box is the numbers themselves. 823. I write down the equations again.
[8+2-3]=7
(8-2x3)=18
{8x2+3}=19
I turn the dial counterclockwise to 7, clockwise to 18, then a tiny bit back to 19.
"So how many do you have?"
"I got... one." He's dangling three keys in my face. How did he even work that fast? "You know what? You unlock the boxes. I'll just... figure out which key goes where."
He shrugs and hands me the keys he has. "Suit yourself."
Ugh. At least I won't have to worry about taxes if we get married. Not that I should be thinking about marriage or taxes right now. I take one key and stick it in one of the locks, then try the next lock until one of them unlocks, then repeat the process with the next key... Given that this is an exam room, shouldn't the puzzle have something to do with anatomy? I guess it would be awkward if it's a pony anatomy doll and only non-ponies in the room, and the solution would be obvious if they left a book on pony anatomy in here. At least we don't have to cut each other open.
"Here's the rest."
"Faajajajaja! I just got the third lock open!"
He stares at me, then smiles. "What was that sound?"
I roll my eyes and grab the rest of the keys. For the rest of these, I just try each key on a lock until it opens.
"Did you count how many keys and padlocks there are?"
"Did you, captain math?" Seriously, the speed he worked at shouldn't be physically possible.
"Yeah. We're one key short."
"Maybe we need to use the symbol key." How did he... you know what, never mind. He's good with numbers. I don't need to worry about it.
"Maybe. But it would be odd that locking him in there would give us a key to release him."
"Yeah yeah." I unlock all but two of the locks. Sure enough, I've got one key left. I try it on the first one. No dice. I try it on the second one... Huh? "Wait. This key doesn't fit either of these locks."
"Really?" He takes the key from me and... does exactly what I did. "Hmm... We unlocked all the boxes."
"We?"
"Well, you got one of them."
I can't roll my eyes hard enough... Eh? "Hey, did we ever try that door?"
Gallus shakes his head. I head over to the door. It's heavy and metal, like all solid doors and effective weapons. Not my taste in music, though. It doesn't look like there's a handle on the door. Hmm... There's a panel near the door. I look at it. It looks very simple to operate, but it's covered by a glass case. There's a latch on it with a padlock.
"Hey, Gallus. I think we need that key over here."
He brings the key over and puts it in the padlock. It opens right up. I open the case and press a button.
*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
Yes! The door is open! I step inside... A chill runs down my spine.
"Silver? You okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine." There are two panels on the left and right sides of the room, two masks dangling from the ceiling by tubes, and a box below the masks. "I think we need whatever's in that box."
Gallus pushes past me and walks up to the box. "There's no dial or inscription."
I walk up behind him. He's right. It's like the other boxes, but without the puzzle parts on it. He opens the lid.
*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
!!! The door is closing!
"Wait!" Gallus let me go! "You'll hurt yourself if you try to stop it!"
*Ding* "Dispensing carbon dioxide."
... Oh, crap! I put one of the masks on. Gallus is standing right next to me.
"We're not given much room with these on."
I look at him. "What do you mean?"
He tugs at the tube. "We can probably move three feet from each other while wearing these. It could be worse, I guess."
"Yeah. We could be suffocating." I look at one of the panels. It looks like there are instructions on it. "We should probably read that."
Gallus looks where I'm pointing and follows me when I move. I read the instructions out loud.
"Press the button on this panel at the same time as the button on the opposite panel.
"Failure to press both buttons within fifteen second of each other will replace the oxygen with Emoja 16.
"Failure to press either button within fifteen minutes of the door closing will replace the oxygen with Emoja 16.
"The room will ventilate when both buttons are pressed. Keep the masks on until the room is fully ventilated.
"The room will ventilate if the button outside the room is pressed.
"The door will open once the room is venitlated."
I tilt my head. "Well, that sounds simple enough."
"It sounds simple, until you remember one small thing." He tugs at the tubes connected to our masks. "We can't go more than three feet apart from each other, and the panels are on opposite sides of the rooms."
I look at the other panel. It looks like a mirror image of the one we're next to. Right down to... "Maybe we should read those instructions before doing anything."
Gallus looks at the other panel, then nods. We head over before I read out the instructions.
"When one button is pressed, a wall will rise from the floor. It will be fully raised after 5 seconds.
"Your tubes give three feet of clearance. There is no way to extend this range.
"If the wall is raised and two creatures are on opposite sides of the wall, the wall will be high enough to force both creatures against the wall.
"Removing the keys from the box will do nothing. Their weight will not help you, though. Trust me, I tried."
I look at the box. We head back over to it and peek inside. There are two keys. "Well, I would try throwing them, but that note said they won't help."
Gallus chucks them at one of the buttons. They uselessly plinked off. "It was worth a shot."
I look at the panels, then at the tubes connected to our masks. "I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"I'll hold my breath, then we hit the buttons at the same time. Once that happens, we run towards each other and you hand me back the mask I'm wearing."
"And how can I talk you out of this?"
"Get ready." I take a deep breath.
"Silver, wait!"
I slip the mask off of my head and run over to the button.
"Damn it, Silver!"
I smash it and run towards Gallus. He hands me the mask back and I slip it back on.
"That was one hell of a move you just pulled."
"Yeah. I didn't think you'd be fast enough."
The wall comes up between us.
*Ding* "Please wait five minutes for the room to ventilate. Oxygen dispensing normally."
"Normally? That means it worked, right?"
"Yeah. It does."
I let out a sigh and slide down the wall onto my rump. I guess that means no one died this time... this... time?
"Gallus, what's wrong with me?"
"That depends on what you're referring to."
"Ever since the first chime, I've been feeling... off. As if I went through something horrible. As if I saw everyone else die in front of me." I look at the floor in front of me. "As if I had to stop Smolder from entering this room at all costs."
"And here I was questioning if it was real."
"What?"
"The Morphogenetic Field. A phenomenon where specific creatures send and receive information regardless of where they are in time and space."
"Time?"
"Let's say you went through things without interfering. All of a sudden, someone dies. That information enters the Morphogenetic Field and goes to the past, creating a new timeline where you do interfere and save that someone."
I hold my stomach. "So that feeling from earlier. Where I felt like I was killed."
"You probably were. In a different timeline where you sent the information backward through time. Unless we're immortals with anterograde amnesia, constantly forced to live out the same day over and over."
... "Could you help me understand something else?"
"Let me guess. You want to know when I got so smart, right?"
"Yeah. Because, now that I think about it, you weren't particularly good with math in the past. So you weren't good with it before coming to school."
"Well, maybe I faked it."
"Gallus, I'm serious."
"Heh. Sorry. Memories and knowledge are two different things. So if someone has amnesia and forget about a year of their life, they still know what they learned during that year. This is because memories and knowledge are stored in different parts of the brain."
"So when something specifically targets our memories, they don't affect our knowledge."
"At the same time, that knowledge can be passed through the Morphogenetic Field. So when you go through rooms you went through in other timelines, you'd already know what to do."
I chuckle. "That sounds good... Wait, do you think Smolder is able to use the Morphogenetic Field?"
"That would explain how she was acting in door 7. She's not that weird. She probably just wanted to get through it. Rain is probably the same way. You saw how she was treating Smolder that whole time, right?"
"Yeah. I did. This all feels so surreal, but it explains why I've been acting the way I have."
We sit in silence. Does he know how I feel about him? Should I tell him, knowing he could know from here on out without me knowing how? Do I just let it slide, knowing he could slip away from me at any moment? Why is this the one thing I have trouble being impulsive on?
*Ding* "Room ventilated." *Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
I look at the door. It's wide open. I take off my mask and take a deep breath.
Gallus puts his claw on my shoulder. I guess the wall went down. "We're in the clear."
I get up and head out of the room... Oh, wait. "You have the keys, right?"
"Yeah. I've got it." He heads over to the metal tube Bramble is still in. He removes the last two padlocks, causing the base of the tube to slide out. I look inside... Uh oh.
I place my claw on Bramble's neck... "He has a pulse. He's just asleep."
"That might be a good thing. He probably would freak out at us again if he was awake." Gallus picks up the fancy key. "We'll let him catch up to us."
I nod. We head to the exit door. Gallus puts the key into the hole and unlocks it. The door swings ope-
*KSSSHHHHHHHHHH*
GAH! Some kind of gas... sudden... uh...
So... sleepy...
*DING DING...* |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Five: Consequence | ... Nothing.
It's all dark.
What's happening?
*Ding ding ding ding ding*
Was that the hour five chime? It sounds dull and distant.
Is someone talking? I can't see anything. It's hard to make out what they're saying.
"Hello?" ...
*BANG* "Quiet!"
Uh, that's Yona. I don't think I want to mess with her.
Wait. Did Gallus blame me for this? Was that his plan? That would be very low.
Where the heck am I? I reach a claw out. It almost immediately touches something metallic... Am I in that metal tube Bramble was in?
I hear more voices. I put my ear to the metal.
"Yak go with Deer!"
"In that case, you should probably go with me through door 4. Your only other option is to go with Gallus, and I don't think you'd want that."
So they don't trust him? I guess they knocked us both out.
"I'm going with Gallus and Rain. That should add up to 6, right?"
"That means we're going with Silver. Do you really think we can handle her?"
I am trained in-
"She's a wimp. Anyone remotely close to her size can handle her."
... Dicks.
"I say we go in a certain order. Yona, Bramble, and Ocellus go first so that Bramble is away from Gallus and Silver. We count to twenty, then we let Gallus out and Smolder and Rain take him to door 6. That way we have more creatures here if he tries anything. Finally, Sandbar and I let Silver out and take her to door 8."
"That sounds good. Let's go, Bramble."
There's silence for a while.
"Let's let him out." ...
"Huh? He's not awake yet?"
!!! He's claustrophobic!
"No. His face is pale. I think he woke up and panicked so much he passed out."
Oh, Gallus! You poor thing!
"Well, that makes it easier to move him."
I have to get out! I have to see him!
"Huh? What was that?"
"I think Silver's awake."
Please! Please!
"Well, you two might want to keep that in mind. We're off."
... No... Gallus, please be okay...
*Click*
? What was that- What- GAH! SO BRIGHT!... I slowly reopen my eyes so they can adjust to the light. As I do, someone is silhouetted above me.
"Silver."
Cozy Glow?
"That stunt... That was Gallus' idea, right?"
"Well, he suggested it, but-"
"Then it was his idea." She looks... worried? "Right?"
"... Right." I really don't want to throw Gallus under the bus like this.
I sit up. I'm still in the exam room. I look to my right. The other metal tubes are there, completely open. I guess they put Gallus in that far one.
"Are you okay, Silver?"
I look at the filly. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just... worried."
"Don't be. Let's go." That was rather blunt for Sandbar.
Cozy puts her hoof on my shoulder. "Why did you go with it?"
I bite my beak. Do I tell her about the Morphogenetic Field? Will she believe me? Will she call me crazy? What do I tell her?
"Silver?"
"I... wasn't really thinking. I just went with it." That's the best I can come up with. And it's a complete lie playing off the lie she wants to believe.
"... I understand."
"Come on, you two!" Sandbar's really getting impatient. "We're not getting out of here by standing around!"
Well, he's right. I get up and follow him and Cozy out of the room and through a few hallways. Eventually, we reach a door with an 8 painted on the front. We scan our bracelets into the RED, pull the lever, and go through the door. The DEAD is... right next to the door. Are they trying to hide any of these? We scan into it, pull the lever, and look around.
That's a lot of boxes! That is not a small amount of boxes! They're all over the place! Mostly on shelves, but still!
Cozy floats over to some of the boxes. "So, all of the boxes, the layout of this place-"
"It's a storage room, you idiot!"
!?!?!? "Sandbar! What is wrong with you?"
"I just want to get through."
I grab him by the shoulders. "That's not what I mean! You're usually kind and patient! All of a sudden, you're being blunt and aggressive! That's not the Sandbar I know!"
He rolls his eyes. "Well, maybe you don't know me that well."
I start shaking him. "WE SPENT TWO YEARS AT THE SAME SCHOOL! YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT WAS ALL A LIE! ESPECIALLY ONE YOU WOULD DROP FOR THE HECK OF IT!"
Cozy grabs my legs, forcing me to stop shaking Sandbar. "Now Silver, I'm sure he's just tired." She turns to the colt. "Why don't you just find somewhere to rest, and we can handle the puzzle."
"... Yeah. Sure." He heads through a door off to the side.
I look at Cozy. "What just happened?"
"I have no idea."
TIME TO SEARCH
First thing's first, what the heck is on that table? I head over to it. There's a sign that says "collect" with a baggie below it.
There's a buzzing right next to me. "Collect? What does that mean?"
I pick up the baggie by the bottom and lift it up. About five small cubes fall out. "I guess we have to collect those cubes."
"First of all, don't do that. That could have had something dangerous in it. Secondly, do we know how many cubes there are?"
I look around. There doesn't seem to be anything to indicate how many cubes there are. Or what we would need them for. "Let's just collect as many as we can. If all we have to do is look for these cubes, this room might just be a cakewalk." Why do I get the sinking feeling it won't be?
"Alright. Let's get looking. You cover that half of the room, I'll cover this half."
I stick the cubes back in the baggie. Well, this is going to be boring. I've got to look everywhere you'd expect to find a wagon wheel, everywhere you wouldn't expect to find a wagon wheel, check the wagon in case the wheel is already on it... I just thought of something.
I move towards the doorway Sandbar went through. "Hey, Sandy? Could you look for some small cubes or baggies?"
"There's nowhere to hide them in here."
"Okay, thanks!" That wasted a second, but it's peace of mind.
This is going to get boring really fast. I look inside the boxes. I look under the boxes. I look under the shelves. I look at the tops of the shelves. I look in every nook and cranny... "Hey, Cozy?"
"I knew you couldn't keep quiet for long."
"Have you heard of the Morphogenetic Field?"
"I have, but I don't think it's a real thing."
I pick up a baggie and put it on the table with the rest. "Because it's so unbelievable?"
"Well... sure. Let's go with that."
"Well, that just screams no to me."
"I do have other reasons, but I don't want to go into details."
I'll let her believe what she wants to believe. After all, what else could explain me having memories from another timeline?
"May I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you trust Bramble?"
"Well, yeah. We went to school with him. Why do you ask?" I put another baggie on the table.
Cozy puts a baggie down at the same time. "Then why did you kidnap him? Even if it wasn't your plan, you still assisted with it by kidnapping him."
"Well, I didn't realize Gallus would knock Smolder out. I thought we would either sneak by her or talk to her about it. I guess I panicked when I saw her unconscious."
"And dragged him through door 1? I'll take that answer."
Uh, I think she knows I'm lying.
"Well, that's my half of the room done. How much have you got left?"
"Two boxes." This one's empty.
"I'll check on Sandbar."
And this one has a baggie in it. I grab it, toss it on the table, and follow Cozy... THAT DOES NOT LOOK NICE! "What the heck is that thing?"
"It's a crushing machine." Sandbar is sitting in a corner. "You throw junk in it, and it crushes the junk down so it can be more easily reused or removed."
He doesn't sound much happier. "How are you feeling?"
"Depends. How many of those baggies did you find?"
"How did you-"
Sandbar points at a panel on the rail keeping us from mindlessly wandering into the obvious death trap.
"I'll grab the ones we found." I head back to the main room, grab the baggies, and head right back. Wait. Do I have to count these out?
"One. Two. Three." Cozy's counting it out. This is still going to be boring. ...
"Forty-six. Forty-seven. Forty-eight. Forty-nine. That makes fifty with that one in the case over there."
"Case?" I look where Cozy is pointing. "How did I not see that earlier?"
"It also has a key in it, so we need to open it in order to leave this room."
"So how do we open it."
Sandbar points past me. I turn around. At the other end of the walkway we're on is a cage. It's so small, only one of us can fit in it. There's a chain attached to the top of the cage. I follow the chain up. It's attached to a track of some kind, leading over to the crusher.
"One of us has to get in that?"
"I'm not getting in it."
Cozy is scowling. "You haven't done anything at all! You could at least do this!"
"Then make me."
He's still not back to normal. "Then how about you solve the puzzle and one of us get in the cage."
"Only if Cozy Glow gets in. Otherwise, she's doing the puzzle."
Cozy Glow? Not me? Why? I'm the one they're supposed to be suspicious of right now! What is going through his mind?
"Ugh... Fine. But only because you'd probably throw me in there if I didn't." Cozy buzzes over to the cage and closes the door.
There's a loud buzz, then some mechanical sounds as the cage lifts into the air. I look at the case. It's op- NO! I kick off of Sandbar to try and grab the bag before- URK! "LET GO OF ME!"
"SANDBAR! YOU ASSHOLE! YOU PILE OF SHIT!"
I look at the colt. He has a smug grin. As if throwing the bag into the crushing machine was the right thing to do.
I fly over to the cage Cozy is in. She's rattling the door, hitting it over and over. I try to lift the cage even a little.
It's too heavy. I can't get any slack on the chain at all.
"Silver." I look at the helpless filly. "Let go."
... I can't do anything. I let go.
*BUZZZZZZZ*
The cage falls. I cover my ears. I can still hear her screams of pain though. I close my eyes. That last sad look she gave me is still there...
It's done.
I couldn't do anything. ...
*DING DING DING DING DING DING* ...
"You coming or not?"
I look at Sandbar. At that murderer. I fly over but stay out of reach. "Why? Why did you kill her?"
"Let's just say, I had a bad feeling about her."
... "Stay away from me."
He shrugs. "Have it your way." He turns around and leaves the room.
I land back on the walkway. I look over at the panel. I look at the bags on the ground. What did he mean by a "bad feeling"? I head out of this room.
I head back through the door with the 8 painted on it. I head back to the waiting room.
"I know that! At least she didn't kill someone!" ?
"Sandbar? Did you actually..."
"She had it coming."
"SANDBAR!"
"Sandbar, you..."
I step into the doorway. Sandbar has his back to me. Ocellus, Bramble, and Yona are looking at him in shock and terror.
"Come on." That killer steps towards the others. "I did what-"
Yona stomps her hoof down. "Stay back!"
... I'm going to check on Gallus. I leave to look for door 6.
It doesn't take too long to find it, but...
"Vacant?"
I look to my side. Either the others followed me, or I was staring at that for longer than I thought.
Bramble hides behind Yona. "Can I stay with Yona?"
Ocellus looks at me. "Did you grab Cozy's bracelet?"
I shake my head. "She was crushed to death. Even if I could reach it, it would have been destroyed."
She lets out a sigh. "In that case, there's only one group that can go through. Me, Sandbar, and Bramble."
I can see Yona and Bramble's hearts break.
Sandbar shrugs. "Okay, we just go in and finish what the other group started. I already killed the only one I wanted to."
"Don't say that so casually." Ocellus moves over to Bramble. "I'll stay between you and him. There's nothing to worry about."
Bramble nods. They head over to the RED and scan their bracelets in. I stay back as they go through, leaving me with Yona.
"Yona..."
"Hmph!" She stomps off.
... I just wanted a hug.
I can't get it out of my head. That screaming. It might stay with me until the day I die. It was so heartbreaking. Seeing her face. I'm not sure if I'll ever move past it. I'm not... I'm...
Vacant?
When did it switch to vacant?
Was I sitting here that long?
"YONA!" I start running through the halls! I have to find Yona! Or at least something I can do!
! That was her! I grab the doorframe to slow myself down, then move just outside of the room! "Yona! We-"
My heart stops. Yona is lying in a pool of blood.
And a hooded figure is standing over her.
They turn to me.
I have to run!
*WHAM!*
A wall? When did this... I'm trapped. There are walls in the hallway that weren't there before. The figure steps out of the room, and the door disappears. I'm in a room with a killer, and there's no way out. I look at the hooded figure.
"Zero."
Ending 8
Helpless |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour One: Dis/Trust | "Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why would my number be a reason for her to be suspicious of me?"
"Because it can be very powerful in this situation."
Wait, something feels off. I can't tell what, though.
"Miss Silver?" Bramble is in my grasp. "Could you let me go, please?"
I nuzzle him a bit before letting go. He makes a beeline for Yona, who's looking at me strangely. I look right at... Sandbar. Was I about to call him a murderer? Why? I look at Cozy. She's glaring at Sandbar.
"What's with all the tension?" Ocellus has her eyebrow raised. "It looks like you all just came from a huge brawl or something."
"Whatever it is, we can work it out later." Gallus points at the doors. "We need to work out who's going where."
"Yak avoiding Hippogriff!"
What?
"Keep me away from Sandbar!"
Cozy-
"I'm keeping my distance from Gallus!"
Smolder?
"I don't trust most of you!"
Bramble-
"What did I do?"
"Don't drag me into this!"
"What did Sandbar do?"
They're raising their voices! They're moving close to each other! RAIN SAVE ME!
I watch from behind Rain Kiss. They're all going at each other! Bramble is on Yona, waving his hoof at Sandbar while Yona waves her hoof at Gallus! Cozy is practically in Sandbar's face- No, Ocellus shoved her away and is yelling in her face now! Gallus and Smolder are prodding each other in the chest! This is so scary!
"ENOUGH!" *FWOOOM!*
Woah! I had no idea Rain could do that! And that shut everyone else up.
Rain now has a very black coat, and her hair has turned to flames. Her horn is also glowing brightly. If it weren't for me being behind her, I'd be just as scared as the others look.
"Are you all insane?" Woah. Her voice sounds nothing like it did before. "We're in a life or death situation, and the seven of you are quarreling over petty issues? We can't wait around here! So if you don't mind, I'll be making the decisions here. You got it?"
The seven of them nod. She glances back at me with her white DEMON EYES! PLEASE DON'T BE MAD AT ME! She looks away. Phew.
"Smolder and Gallus make 4, Ocellus and Sandbar make 7, Yona and Bramble make 9... Silver and I are going with Yona and Bramble through door 7, the rest of you are going through door 2. Any objections?"
"Are you-" A burst of flames shut Yona up. "No objections."
"Good." A column of flames erupts from below Rain. Once they vanish, she's back to how she was. "Now let's get going before I lose my temper again. Door 2 first."
Gallus, Smolder, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Cozy Glow all sheepishly move past us, scan into the RED of door 2, and go through. All it takes is a glare for Yona and Bramble to scan into the door 7 RED. I scan after them, and Rain scans after me. Rain pulls the lever, and we go through the door. Once through, we find and scan into the DEAD. With all of that done, there's one thing that takes priority.
I wrap my legs around Yona's neck. I feel her pull back slightly. I can't stop shaking. I feel like I'm trying to disarm a bomb right now. Please don't hurt me. Please...
I stop shaking once I feel her wrap her hooves around me. I also didn't realize I was holding my breath.
"I'm sorry, Yona. I don't know what I did that upset you, but I'm sorry anyway. I'll make it up to you somehow. I promise."
"It's alright, Silver. Yona not sure why she was up in arms either. But we're friends. It's not important to avoid these things. It's important to forgive each other when they happen."
I suddenly feel Bramble and Rain hug us as well.
"Miss Silver, Um... I don't know what you did or why you did it, but if you're sorry, then I'll forgive you."
"See? This is all it takes. You don't have to keep your friendships pristine. You just have to repair the damage when it happens."
... Ah! "We should probably focus on getting through here. It'd be bad if the others got mad because we took too long."
"Right. Hugs later."
We break the hug off. The others spread around the rec room to look for clues.
TIME TO SEARCH!
1285.
... Huh? Why did that pop into my head? I look at the number panel... Well, it's worth a shot. I punch the number in.
!!! It opened!
I look around. The others might get suspicious if they realize I opened this myself. I slip in and close the door.
There are a bunch of desks in here. On a few of them are these weird puzzles that look like they involve shapes. One of them has a key with a line attached to it. I think I'll leave that alone for now.
This puzzle. There's a very blocky image and two squares with some lines cut into it... Oh! I know this puzzle! I just have to fit the pieces from the square into the blocky image! Though it's usually just one square. I pick up a piece and fit it in where it looks like it goes.
... Now that I'm putting this together, it kind of looks like Professor Rainbow. Is that a coincidence? Maybe not. Then again, she is a public figure, being both a hero and a Wonderbolt.
I go to the next one. This one looks like some kind of tornado. But it has a base? And a ball inside. I guess it's some kind of trophy. Anyway, it looks like... no, I need a different piece there... there we go.
Three? I have three squares of pieces to work with? Oh, I know this crown! It's the crown of King Grover! Gallus really likes this thing... Uh... Huh. Okay, like that. That looks good. Hold on... alright, now it looks good.
"Silver?"
Er, hehe. They noticed.
"How did hippogriff get in?"
I scratch my ear. "Well, I'm not sure. A few numbers just popped into my head, so I tried them on the number panel and they worked."
They all look at each other and shrug. "Anything we can do to help?"
I shake my head. "Not really. I'm almost done. I just have to finish this puzzle." FOUR SQUARES? Ugh. I remember when they were one square and nothing else. Alright, I put this piece here. This piece there. Rain, please stop hovering over my shoulder.
I watch her as she walks over to the other puzzles. I put my full focus on the puzzle before me once again. This here. This there... Hmm...
"Aren't Tangrams supposed to be a solid color for each piece?"
Ugh. Rain. I put the piece I'm holding into place. "Yeah. It's also supposed to be a different color. I think Zero wanted to specifically design these."
She's hovering over me again. "Looks familiar, right?"
I put another piece in and look at the puzzle. "Yeah. It kind of looks like the Crusader's cutie marks."
"But none of them have that specific design."
I put the last piece in place. "Yeah. It's kind of strange. If they wanted to represent the Crusaders, why not use their typical symbol? The one they sometimes have on their stuff?"
"That's a good question. If you did this right." Rain walks over to the key. I watch as she pulls it from its spot... Nothing happened.
Was I holding my breath? I'm not anymore.
"Let's go." I follow Rain out the door and to the exit to the room. She uses the key and we go through.
It's a hallway with doors lining the sides. It goes a good way down. I look at one of the doors as we pass it... I should stay with the group. We head down the stairs.
This is a bit of an open room... Yelling? Someone is yelling.
"Cozy Glow?"
Cozy? Where? Oh, in front of the infirmary. "Hey, you okay, Cozy? You look down."
She looks at me. "You might want to leave them alone right now. They're having some... conflict."
Rain is growling. I can't see her, but she's the only one that would growl at that. "Those four. Why do they have to keep fighting like this." She barges into the infirmary. "What are you... GALLUS! WHERE'S YOUR LEG?"
!!! I rush in. Sure enough, Gallus' leg is mostly missing, with a bunch of bandages on what's left of it.
"Smolder shoved him into a death trap! He's lucky to have lived through it!"
I dart over to him and take his claw in mine. "Gallus! Gallus, are you alright?"
He lets out a weak laugh. "Yeah, I'm just missing a leg and a lot of blood. That's all."
"Gallus. Please don't die."
"That's not gonna happen. I'm just gonna say that."
He puts his claw on my cheek. I put my claw on his. He's so cold. ...
His claw slowly drifts off of my cheek. ...
"And if you think he didn't deserve it, then you deserve to die too."
... Smolder... "SMOLDER!"
I immediately strike her in the stomach and keep hitting her hard enough to knock her, bit by bit, into a wall. As soon as she's against the wall, I spin her around and pin her arms to her back, putting my full weight into it.
"Ghh. When did you get so strong?"
"Really? Is forgiveness not an option for you? You had to take it so far?"
"You don't know what he did! Don't make me the bad guy here!"
"I don't have to. You're doing a good enough job of that yourself."
"You don't really think anything you say or do can get to me, do you?"
I open my beak to respond when I realize something. I don't have her pinned to a wall. I have her pinned to door 5. I look at the RED. "Oh, I think there is something."
"What? I have thick scales!"
"Sandbar! Ocellus! Can you help me with something?"
I watch them share a look, then head over to us.
"And what are they gonna do?"
*Beep Beep*
"Huh? What did they just do?"
I force Smolder's claw to the RED. "Your scales are thick. Your insides probably aren't as tough."
"... OH FUCK!"
"If I pull this lever and force you through alone, you won't be able to deactivate your bracelet."
"FUCK! FUCK!"
"We wait for time to run out, then get your bracelet and get ourselves out of here."
"I'M SORRY!"
I smirk. "What was that?"
"I'M SORRY! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I'LL BEHAVE! I PROMISE!"
I giggle. "Sorry, I'm having some trouble hearing you. What was that?"
"PLEASE! PLEASE STOP!"
I press into her body a bit.
"NO! PLEASE NO! STOP!"
I put my claw on the lever.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
I pull the lever.
And I pull Smolder away from the door.
We watch the door open and close.
I giggle. "I was just messing around." Not a complete lie. I wanted to scare her straight. I hope it sticks.
"Fuck! HOLY FUCK SILVER!" She pulls away from me. "Do you have ANY idea how FUCKING scary that was?"
"Yeah. I do. His name was the Storm King. I barely got away."
"W-wow."
I look at the others. They're all looking at me with wide eyes and slack jaws. Except for Gallus, who's just lying there.
Ocellus blinks a couple of times. "I'm more shocked that you managed to overpower her than anything."
I shrug. "My family is pseudo-royalty, and my dad was in the navy. I pretty much had to learn how to hold my own."
Cozy rubs her leg. "I think that's a bit more than holding your own."
I go back to Gallus' side. I look at his bracelet. "The fact that's still on means he's alive, right?"
"Yeah, but he's lost a lot of blood."
I look at Ocellus as she looks around the room. She flies behind a counter in the room.
"Does anyone know what Gallus' blood type is?"
The rest of us look at each other.
Ocellus sighs. "Nevermind. I asked on a chance." She pulls some kind of machine out from behind the counter. There are a lot of tubes and a container of red liquid. "Although using this would be taking a chance anyway."
Bramble taps the machine. "What is this?"
"It's a blood transfusion machine. It's used to keep patients from bleeding to death. But it requires the right blood type. Otherwise, it can cause other medical problems."
I look at a note on the machine. "What's type O?"
Ocellus glares at me. "An error while writing. Please don't change the subject."
She heard typo. "So this machine is loaded with writing errors?"
Now she gets it. "Oh! That's a blood type. And the only one that can be added to any... body..."
I smile. "So this machine will help him, right?"
Ocellus looks at the note I read. "Yeah. It'll work. Type O can be added to any other blood type without issue. I just need to hook this up, then we wait for him to wake up."
*DING DING*
We all look up. It's only just now the second hour?
"Let's look around while we wait for him." Rain. "Even if he can't physically help through any of the doors, it'll be better to have him awake to help with any puzzles."
I clench Gallus' claw. "I'd like to stay at his side. It'll make me feel better."
They all nod in understanding.
"Then we'll meet back here at the third-hour chime."
"Right." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Three: Drifting Together | I run my claw along Gallus' head. His eyes are still closed, but he looks healthier than before. I haven't left his side for a while. I move my claw to his shoulder, then along his side. He feels warmer than earlier. I move my claw to his stomach...
"And here I thought you wanted to touch my butt."
"Gallus!"
He opens his eye. "How long have I been out?"
*DING DING DING*
I look up. "A bit over an hour."
He takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "It feels good to not die."
I chuckle. "You're back in top form."
I hear the others enter the room.
Ocellus is the first one to speak. "He's awake!"
Gallus sits up. "Yeah, I am." He looks at what's left of his leg. "Although I'm not all right since my right leg is missing."
Smolder facepalms. "We couldn't let him die?"
Cozy buzzes over to us holding what looks like a peg leg. "Here. It's better than nothing."
Gallus watches us attach the fake leg over his missing one. "Oh, no. I'm Hector."
... HAH! Oh, I almost forgot about that nutjob. "Nah, you're more of a pirate than he'll ever be."
If the others weren't laughing before, they are now. "He would kill you if he heard that!"
Rain clears her throat. "Well, it's good that we're laughing together again, but we really need to keep going. I'm sure Gallus needs to get real help now more than ever."
The griffon is glaring at the kirin. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"To keep Smolder from causing more trouble, I'll be going with her and Yona through door 1. It would probably be best if Gallus has someone to help support him, so that would mean..."
Gallus sighs. "Silver and Sandbar."
Sandbar rubs the back of his head. "Does that work?"
"It's either that or I go with the kids. If Rain is going to stay with that combination for door 1, then it's me through door 5, Ocellus through door 3, the smallest ones together, and you two together."
Why do I have a bad feeling about this? "So Sandbar and I have to go with Gallus to make sure his leg doesn't cause him trouble?"
Cozy looks annoyed. "I can handle it."
Rain chuckles. "I feel better about having larger creatures handle it."
Bramble stomps his tiny hoof. "I'm plenty strong!"
Smolder has her hand on her head. "Are we going to argue at every junction?"
Yona has her hoof to her mouth. "At least it's not like last time."
Rain sighs. "Look, the three of us are going to get going. I suggest the combination I recommended for Gallus' sake." With that, she leads Yona and Smolder to door 1. They scan their bracelets into the RED, open the door, head through, and close the door.
"Don't worry about me." Gallus? "If something happens to me, whoever's with me can finish the puzzle and fetch some help."
Cozy looks at the doors. "I want to go through door 5."
Our other pony looks at our changeling. "And I want to go through door 3."
I look at Ocellus and Bramble. "Is that alright with you two?"
They nod, and I nod at the others.
"Alright." Gallus starts walking towards door 5. "The kiddies are coming with me, and the others are going with Ocellus."
"We have names." Pfft. Sandbar, that flat expression doesn't help your case.
Gallus, Bramble, and Cozy all scan into the door 5 RED. I guess we're locked in, huh? I head over to door 3 as door 5 closes.
*Beep Beep Beep*
I watch the door open.
"Don't do anything stupid, you two."
Sandbar and I share a look before we head through. The DEAD is at the other end of the room. We all run to it and scan in.
Woah. This place rocks. Literally. There are rocks everywhere. It looks kind of like-
*CLANG!*
Huh?
"Guys! Help!"
Sandbar's hoof connects with his face. "What was that about us not doing anything stupid?"
Ocellus is blushing from inside of a large metal capsule. "Just get me out of here!"
I tap on the window. "How did you get in there?"
"I was just looking! I thought it looked suspicious, so I stepped inside to look!"
Sandbar and I look at each other, then lower our heads and shake them. "Let's solve the puzzle. That'll probably get her out of there."
TIME TO SEARCH!
Let's see here. Five slots in the front of the capsule, so we need five stones. There are little panels that flip up over each of them. Let's see what the first one is. "A silver stone of the sea."
Sandbar puts his hoof to the panel. "The only "stone of the sea" that I know of is Ruhgomite, but that's more green than silver."
"It's probably Neptite. A silver stone that can produce water, if you know how to use it." I look around. "Although, if you think about it, you just need to find a stone that's silver. Maybe grab a few and then check which one is which."
"Well, this looks really helpful."
Eh? It looks like some kind of book. I look over his shoulder. There's all sorts of stones listed in there, including various ways to tell what does what. "Did they just give us an answer guide?"
He chuckles. "I think so."
Well, I don't need it to recognize Neptite. I head over to the stone I see and knock it. A few drops of water fall out. I take it over to the capsule and drop it in the first slot. A small door closes over it.
Sandbar lifts the second panel. "A green mineral of oil and water."
... Uh... "What does that even mean?"
"EEP!"
We both press against the glass. "Ocellus?"
"I'm fine. My hooves got a bit wet. That's all."
Sandbar lets out a sigh. I think he's upset that she's not really helpful right now. "The "mineral of oil and water" is probably Mixitol. It can be added to any liquid to fully mix it with anything, hence the "oil and water" part."
"Oil and water don't mix. Unless you ad Mixitol." I look at a green mineral. It glows as soon as I touch it. "Uh, this is Lytherium."
"You know what that does, right?"
I nod. "It's naturally created by every creature so they can use their natural magic. The exact details vary from creature to creature, but any Lytherium in our bodies automatically adapts to our bodies needs."
"And you know which creatures generate the most Lytherium, right?"
"None of them. It may seem like creatures that use some sort of magic would produce more, but they're just using it in a different way, creating magic outside of their bodies, or the magic most creatures think of when they hear about it."
He picks up a clear bag of green crystals. "Speaking of most creatures, not many know that much about Lytherium, especially how there aren't any creatures that create more. I read that about 79 percent of ponies don't know everything about Lytherium. How do you know so much?"
"I asked my aunt what her orb was made of, and she told me everything about Lytherium. A part of me wants to see if I can change how a body uses Lytherium, so I've been on and off researching it."
"That sounds really useful." Sandbar empties the bag into the second slot. "I think it would be neat if I could-"
"AAH!"
"Ocellus?" I rush back to the capsule.
"It grabbed my legs! I can't move them!"
Sandbar and I share another look, this one more of concern. "Hey, Silver? You don't think we're putting together a... uh..."
"Putting it together or not, we need to get Ocellus out, and there's only one way to do that right now."
He bites his lip. "Try to stay calm, Ocellus! We'll have you out as soon as we can!"
"I can't promise anything. Thinking is the only thing I can do right now."
Sandbar lifts the third panel. "You take the fourth one, and whoever finishes first will get the fifth."
"Right." I lift the fourth panel. A pink mineral of... clotting? Wait, that's Valital. It's mixed with an injection to stop bleeding right away. "Why aren't some of these more popular? They sound really useful."
"One word; price. They're expensive to fabricate accurately enough, and they're aren't that many places that creatures are able to mine them naturally. Believe me, these kinds of things are the kinds of things that deserve to be widespread, but they are too pricey for that."
I pick up a few different bags of pink crystals, and take them to the book for reference. "Magnite?"
"You know so much about Lytherium but haven't heard of Magnite before?" Sandbar is checking the fifth panel. "It's the polar opposite of Lytherium. It absorbs most magic near it. It won't do anything to you if you touch it, but you want to avoid eating any of it."
I figure out which one is Valital then take it back to the capsule. "That's what anti-magic weapons and armor are made of, right?"
"Yeah, but it's a catch-22. Magnite, even when combined with steel, is physically weak. So you either have something tough, or something that blocks magic."
I pour the Valital into the fourth slot, then look at Ocellus. "Hey, do you hear Ocellus right now?"
"No, why?"
"Because it looks like she's talking."
Sandbar steps up next to me. "Huh. I guess she's saying something." He puts the rock he's holding into the fifth slot, and it closes up.
"Is that it?"
Two holes open up, as two trays come out of the machine.
*Ding* "These holes lead to mixing devices. Anything in the mixing devices will be injected into the subject. Lytherium on the left, Magnite on the right. You can only insert three stones before the seals close. Please keep the amounts as balanced as possible."
Uhh... "Sandbar? What happens if you have too much Magnite in your body?"
He gulps. "Your coat and eyes lose color, and you quickly die from a lack of magic."
"How quickly?"
"I don't know. I've only read about it."
I look at the left tray. "And Lytherium?"
"I've only heard of unicorns having excess Lytherium, but if you don't have some way to filter it out, then the excess magic will cause stony growths to appear on your body. Your organs will absorb the magic, causing them to... rapidly fail."
"I'm guessing you don't know how rapidly, either."
He shakes his head.
I let out a sigh. "Let's hope I can get this right."
I look at the stones. Their weights are labeled in grams.
Lytherium
1.0g
2.1g
4.4g
6.8g
15.5g
Magnite
1.7g
3.7g
9.3g
17.3g
23.9g
Oh, geez. Ocellus or Gallus would be able to do this without a second thought. But I have to add three of these up to make the same number? When did Captain Math suddenly decide to hate me?
"Hey, Silver? I think you should know that you have a 500-milligram leniency. Basically, if you're half a gram off, Ocellus will be fine."
I sigh. "That barely helps. How good are you at math?"
He looks over the numbers. "Not good enough for this."
Ocellus looks like she's screaming. Maybe she'll understand this.
"WE CAN'T HEAR YOU! IT'S BEEN SOUNDPROOFED!"
She looks me in the eye, then looks around inside the capsule, apparently not wasting her voice.
"I think I got something!" Already? "If you put the 1 gram and 4.4 gram Lytherium in the left hole, and the 1.7 and 3.7 Magnite-"
"But we need three on each side."
He stares at me for a second, then looks at the minerals. "R-right. I remembered that."
So, uh, 4.4... 1.7... uh... UH... HOW? How do I do this? Oh, geez. Oh geez. This isn't good!
"Silver? Are you sure-"
"LET ME THINK!" I'm sweating bullets! This is so tense!
"T-try lifting them! Judging by weight!"
"Uh... s-sure." I pick up the 2.1, 4.4, and 15.5 gram Lytherium pieces. Then I pick up the 17.3, 3.7, and 1.7 Magnite pieces. This... "I think this works?"
"Are you asking or telling?"
I bite my beak... and put them in. A small door slides over each of the holes, blocking them off.
"Let's hope this works." Sandbar presses the button on the front of the capsule.
Oh please oh please oh please be right! She cringes, probably from the needles jabbing into her legs. Come on... The capsule opens, and she tumbles out.
Sandbar catches her. "She's breathing!"
I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness." I don't know how I'd live with myself if I got her killed.
"S-Sandbar?" She sounds weak.
He caresses her cheek. "It's alright Ocellus. You're safe. You'll survive."
"If I'm going... to survive..." She opens her eyes. Her... white eyes? "Why do I feel... so weak..."
...! The color is draining from her coat!
"O-Ocellus?"
Her eyes are rolling back!
I rush to her side! "No no! Don't die!"
She breathes out and... and is going to sleep!
"Don't die! Don't-"
*Click* *Tink*
... That... was her bracelet...
She's...
gone... ...
I... I killed her. ...
"It's not your fault." ...
Did someone... say something? ...
*DING DING DING DING* ... |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Four: Half Lives | ...
"Silver. Please don't waste her death." ...
"Come on. Let's go." ...
"We can't do anything now."
... I get up.
"Let's get going. I already have the key."
I watch Sandbar walk over to the exit door, then look at me. It takes me a moment to realize he wants me to follow him. So I... do. I walk behind him. He opens the door.
"Mister Sandbar?"
Bramble is standing there. He looks upset. I'm tempted to hug him. I think I need a hug.
"Silver? Are you listening?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Cozy Glow died, and Gallus needs our help."
"Are you okay, Miss Silver?"
I look at Bramble. He's looking at me. What's with his expression?
"Let's help Gallus." I move past him and into the open door.
"Yo, Silver!" Gallus immediately draws my attention. "You okay? You look like you just saw a puppy die."
I pick up the fake leg as I pass it. "I did. Her name was Ocellus."
"Oh. Shit. She died too, huh? Here's hoping Rain's team is good. I'd hate to lose half of us only halfway through this."
I put the fake leg up to his stump.
"Wait, Ocellus died?" I guess Sandbar didn't tell him.
"Yeah." I don't feel like going into detail.
There's pressure on my head. "Well, let's get out of here. That way, their deaths won't be wasted."
"... Sure." I think his leg is on right.
"Let's get going." I follow Gallus out of the room. We loop back around to the infirmary.
"Sandbar, take the keys and find the door they lead to."
"Huh? Why?"
"I need Bramble and Silver. Something went wrong in room 1."
It says assist. I follow Gallus over to it, then through the door. We go around a wall, and find an exam room with three metal tubes in it.
*Bang Bang Bang* "Let Yak out!"
Yona must be in one of them. Bramble steps from behind me as Gallus heads over to the tubes. I look over at a door in the room. I head over to it. There's a panel next to the door. I press a button on the panel.
"Please wait while the room ventilates."
I guess I have to wait.
"Silver, what did you do?"
I sit down in front of the door.
"Miss Silver?"
Just have to wait.
"Unlocking door." *Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
... Fuck. They're dead too. I step in and grab the key from Smolder's body, then I leave the room.
"Oh, no! How did they die?"
"Don't know, don't care." I unlock the last lock on the tube Yona is in. It slides open.
She looks me in the eye. "Silver? What happened? You are Silver, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
Something pulls me back a bit. "She's a bit out of it right now. Cozy Glow, Ocellus, Smolder, and Rain all died."
"What? Oh, no!"
"Uh, Mister Gallus? I got their bracelets."
Gallus' claw hits his face. "We forgot Cozy Glow's! I saw Sandbar with Ocellus' earlier, but we need all of them!"
"I'll get it." I unlock the exit, head through, and make my way to the room Cozy died in. I see the skeleton lying there on the other side of a door. I look it over. It's Cozy Glow's. I see the bracelet. I guess they're made of something incredible. And expensive. I pick it up. It still displays a 9 on its face.
"Silver, talk to me."
I look at Gallus. "There's nothing to say. I got Ocellus killed. End of story."
His ears perk at that. "You what? How?"
"I messed up the puzzle."
"Then it's not your fault. Blame Zero for her death, not yourself!"
"I tried that last time this happened. It didn't work then, either."
"... What do you mean?"
I take a deep breath. "My uncle. My father's brother. He died because I lived."
"What?"
"When the Storm King attacked, I was at the tail end of the evacuation. I was running as fast as I could when I tripped. A couple of storm beasts came up to me when I did. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed with fear. That's when my uncle yelled at me. He held them back as I got back up and ran. When I looked back, they decapitated them. Whenever it came up, my parents and aunt lied and said it wasn't my fault."
He's gawking. "I had no idea. All this time, and... Hey, Silver? Could you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Once we get out, promise me you'll get help for that. Professional help. I know something that can."
"Sure. As long as our friends don't know."
"Promise."
I walk towards the exit. "Let's get going." Wha-... He's... soft. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We break off the hug and get going. We get to the infirmary just in time to see Bramble's butt disappear through the door out. We quickly fly out the door.
"Wait up!"
The others stop. "Hey. You got the bracelet, right?"
"Yeah, but how were we supposed to find you without any way of knowing where you went?"
The three of them share a look. "Good point."
"Also, we have a bigger problem." Gallus holds out the bracelet he has. "There are five of us left. The remaining doors are 4, 6, and 8. That means we either have to leave one room alone, or one of us has to go alone."
They all look at each other. "I say we leave one of the rooms for now. That makes it less likely for any of us to run into a situation where we have to die."
We all nod at Sandbar's suggestion. "That's a fair point."
"May I ask, in that case, to go with two of you? It would make me feel more comfortable."
Gallus looks at Bramble. "That depends on how things add up."
"It's 4, 6, and 8, right? 3 and 6 make 9, which means Bramble can go with you two through door 8, and I can go with Yona through one of the other doors."
They all look at me.
"I... guess that works."
"Is that alright with you, Bramble?"
Gallus is tapping his talons together. "Actually, it's either that or you go with me and Yona through door 6."
"Um... I'll go through door 8."
Gallus nods then holds out bracelet 7. "You can take this bracelet through door 4, or you can take bracelet 9 through door 6."
I swap the bracelets. I'd rather go through door 4. "Are we all good?"
The others nod, and we go through the halls to the doors we need. It doesn't take long for me to find door 4.
"Silver? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I scan my bracelet and the loose bracelet.
"You can talk to me if you ever need to." Yona scans her bracelet then pulls the lever.
We step into the cafeteria and find the DEAD. It doesn't take long to scan into it and pull the lever. Well, better not waste any time.
TIME TO SEARCH!
My eyes lock on to a number pad in the room. I walk over to it. "Find the nines, and you may find your answer."
"What that mean?"
I shrug. "I guess it has something to do with the trays."
She turns to the trays on the tables... and starts drooling.
"It could be poisoned, you know."
She looks back at me, then rubs the drool off of her chin. "Yaks immune to poison!"
"Yaks bad liars."
"Yak hungry."
I sigh. "Yak can wait until we're out. If you can't help, just stay away from the food at least."
She starts pouting and makes her way to a corner. I look at one of the trays.
378/226/459
654/298/771
Hmm... The top corners add up to nine, so I guess I'm looking for that. I pick the tray up and move to the next empty one. I don't see any sets of numbers that add up to nine, so I leave it be.
I go through the rest of the trays on this first table, and put the ones I picked up by the number panel. Then I move to the next table. This is going to take a bit...
"Yak bored."
"How good are you at math?"
"Not very."
"Then quiet down and let me work." ...
"Are you done yet?"
"No."
"When will you finish?"
"When you stop asking." ...
"I stopped asking! Are you done yet?"
"Whine whine."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Just quiet down."
That's half of the tables. I might as well see if I have the right one before going through the other half. I go through the trays I set aside one by one, punching in the combinations that have more than one nine.
This tray...
369/459/144
882/729/981
All of the combinations add up to nine... Are you kidding me?
I punch the nine key six times.
*Ding*
... That was the answer. Really? Really? Alright then. Time to grab... The kitchen door is closed. Did Yona go through? I go up to the door and open it. ...
Fuck. She's dead. Crisp. And damp from the very late sprinklers...
Fucking SHIT! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME? I KILLED TWO OF MY FRIENDS NOW!... Fuck...
I pick up her bracelet. The screen is cracked. I think the heat broke it. I drop it and pick up the key. Ugh. Why couldn't I be the one to die? Ever?
I unlock the exit door. It leads to a mass of hallways. I wander them for a bit, but I doubt I'll find anything here. ?
A box?
It's small but noticeable.
Was this here before? I lift the lid. There's a book inside. I open the cover.
'Dear Diary.
Two ponies arrived today. An orange one and a yellow one. It was the oddest thing since I haven't heard of anyone coming or leaving the Peaks of Peril in a long time, let alone a pony.'
Is this... Rain's diary? I keep reading. The rest of the entry is about the professors going on their friendship mission to the kirin's home. The next three entries are about how wonderful it was to have her voice back. The next one...
'Dear Diary.
I'm scared. I'm leaving the land the gods love. I don't know what to expect at this "school," but it terrifies me. I don't want to go. What if someone tries to hurt me? I want to stay, but I'm the only one they can send. Do they think I'm expendable? Or is it because I don't have any friends?
I don't like this.'
She didn't have any friends before coming to school? But she was so nice. Wait. If this is her diary... I flip to the back.
A number of pages are torn out. Darn. I thought she would have written about the rest of the memories we're missing.
I flip back to the entry after the one I just read.
'Dear Diary.
I met the nicest girl today. She even helped me reconnect with the gods. I never would have expected to befriend someone like her, let alone ever meet someone that wasn't a kirin.
Her art skills are amazing. She's not someone that knows my gods, yet she replicated them so well. It makes my room feel a lot more like a home. I have to wonder how my parents will feel when they see it.
Then there are her friends. There's Gallus, the sarcastic, Yona, the clumsy, Sandbar, the unnotable, Ocellus, the nerd, and Smolder, who is easily the most annoying of them. Even so, I'm looking forward to spending more time with her and her friends. This is going to be great!'
That's right. I was the first one to approach her, and I helped her make those statues of her gods. The next three entries are about... me? I can't tell. They almost read out like something out of a romance novel. If that's the case, then it probably isn't me. She was always so honest, so I doubt she would have... kept...
'Dear Diary.
I can't keep it bottled up anymore. I can't say it to anyone, but I have to let it out. I've been trying to lie to myself as much as possible. I can't. Not anymore.
The way she speaks always makes me smile because she sees the light when there's none in sight. When she dances, I can't take my eyes off of her. Her movements can be so hypnotizing. I've gotten lost in her eyes once or twice. The only thing more amazing than her gaze is how she doesn't mind.
I can't get close. She wants someone else. I can't get in the way of that. But I have to say it.
I love Silverstream.'
... Why?
Why am I learning this now?
Why am I realizing this now?
Those odd moments. I thought it was just her being... her.
I close the book and cry...
It's so... heartbreaking. Heartwrenching.
This whole experience.
Yona...
Ocellus...
Rain...
Everyone...
Powder? Oh. Of course.
"The others are dead, aren't they?"
I put the book down and wait for the inevitable...
I cough.
Blood.
I feel... dizzy.
He catches me as I fall.
"Who... are you?"
I can barely feel a thing... but I still feel his breath on my ear.
"You know."
Ending 2
Heaven |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Former Patreon Content: Lost Memories 1 | "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you. How many new students are joining this year?"
Cozy Glow sighed. "Twice as many as last year. Quit making me repeat it, Smolder."
"Just... wow." Sandbar rubbed his head. "To think that the school's become that popular in just one year. Even without E.E.A. approval."
Cozy flipped through some of the papers she had. "Well, getting the official support of several world leaders probably had something to do with it."
Smolder smirked. "And we have something to do with that."
Gallus moved in front of the filly and started walking backward. "So how many griffons are signing on?"
"Um... Two, I think."
Smolder stumbled a bit. "Wait, it's not just ponies?"
Ocellus shook her head. "I heard about this from Professor Twilight. There may be a majority of ponies joining, but they don't even make up half of the new students."
Cozy nodded. "There are a number of hippogriffs, changelings, and yaks signing on, as well as a few dragons and the griffons I mentioned earlier. There are even other races that are testing the water, so to speak."
"Kind of like the five of us, right guys?" Smolder looked around. "Hey, where'd Silver go?"
Rain Kiss sat on the bench facing a small stream in the courtyard. All she wanted to do at that moment was watch the water flow. She didn't turn her head or acknowledge the light pink creature that sat next to her.
"Do you like the water too?" The creature next to her spoke softly.
Rain nodded but remained silent.
It was a while before the other creature spoke again. "Would you rather be home?"
Rain nodded again. There was another period of silence between them.
"Is it because you don't like it here, or are you just more comfortable at home?"
Rain drew a deep breath then let it out. "I feel like the gods are watching my home, not me. So when I'm away from home, it feels like I'm not under their care."
The other creature giggled. "The gods watch over those they care about, no matter where they are. There's no need to worry about them abandoning you."
"Are you sure about that?"
"My kind lives in two places. At the top of a mountain and the bottom of the sea. Our gods watch over us in both places."
Rain turned towards the other creature, finally realizing that it wasn't a pony. "What are you?"
"I'm a hippogriff." The pink creature grabbed the amulet around her neck. A swirl of magic engulfed her. Once it was gone, she looked like a horse crossed with a fish. "And now I'm a seapony."
Rain stared in awe. She hadn't heard of this kind of magic.
The creature turned back into the bird-like form she had earlier. "Anyway, I can help you make a shrine to your gods or something if that will help you settle in."
Rain looked back at the water, then smiled. "That would be nice."
"Excuse me, miss?"
Yona turned around. "Hello."
The small deer looked like he was about to be crushed. "Uh, d-do you know where Miss Fruity Sap is?"
Yona tilted her head.
"Er, I-I-I mean, Frontier Shot!"
Yona scratched her head.
"Ah! Uh, Flapper Shutter! No- That's not-"
"Fluttershy?"
"Er, y-yes. Her."
Yona pointed to her left. "She right there."
"Oh, uh, thanks." The deer darted off in the direction Yona was pointing.
"But I still think-" Fluttershy squeaked when something hit her side. She looked down. "Bramble? How are you doing? It's been a while."
Starlight raised her eyebrow. "You know him?"
"Oh, yes. There was an incident a while back, before we knew you, even."
"There were a lot of incidents from before you knew me."
"M-Miss Fluttershy?" Bramble was trembling. "W-what was that big thing?"
Fluttershy looked over at the "big thing." "Oh, her? That's Yona, one of our best students."
"W-What is she?"
"A yak. They come from the far north where it's constantly cold, so they need thick coats to protect them from the weather."
"You aren't afraid of her, are you?" Starlight watched Yona approach them. "She's a sweetheart. If anything, you're better off being near her."
Bramble hid behind Fluttershy, only for her to use her wing and push him in front of her.
The large creature looked down at the smaller one. The small one let out a whine.
"It's okay, Bramble." Fluttershy gently stroked his head. "She won't bite."
Yona leaned down and rubbed her nose against Bramble's, causing him to crinkle his nose. She followed it up by rubbing her cheek against his. Finally, she wrapped her hooves around his body and pulled him into a hug.
Bramble took a deep breath in, smiled, and let out his breath.
"Get off of my back!"
"Yarr! Enjoy manual labor, princess!"
Two seconds later, the black feline fell to the ground, causing the light gray parrot to faceplant into some... plants.
The female looked up to find a dragon hand reaching out to her. "You aren't helping me for gems, are you?"
"Nope."
The kitty girl raised an eyebrow but took the hand offered to her anyway. Once she was on her feet, she dusted off her dress. "I'm Anita. You?"
"I'm Smolder."
There was a cough nearby. "Name's Gallus."
"And I be Hector! The youngest pirate from Ornithia!"
Gallus raised an eyebrow. "Uh, cool. So are you a real princess?"
Anita rolled her eyes. "Yes. I am."
"Cool deal, missy."
Anita looked at the dragon, a slight smirk on her face.
"Beware the pirate, here for yer booty!" That statement earned Hector a slap from a cat, followed by a slap from the dragon. Followed by Rarity, who was apparently nearby, walking up and slapping him. Then another parrot came up from behind Gallus and slapped him as well.
"You touch my bottom, and I will rip your feathers out."
"I don't care if you meant my body part or my gems, but I won't let you near either one."
"How dare you say such a crude thing! You already earned an F from me and class hasn't even started yet!"
"You're giving parrots a bad image. If you keep acting like that, I'll drag you all the way back to Ornithia by your ankle. Without pit stops."
Hector was visibly nervous.
Gallus rubbed the back of his head. "Ouch. Four hit combo. You have to watch what you say around here."
Rarity looked at the older parrot. "Celaeno, how could you recommend such a crude boy to our school?"
Celaeno shrugged. "It wasn't my call. Some of the actual leaders of our kind decided he needed discipline or something."
"They didn't like how I did my pirate training."
Celaeno grabbed the young parrot by the ear. "Because you kept breaking into important places! You're lucky nothing ever broke!"
Rainbow dashed in out of nowhere. "Hey, Captain! Is this the kid you mentioned?"
"Y-yeah?"
"I need him real quick! Bye!" Rainbow suddenly grabbed Hector and flew off, leaving no time to react.
"Wha- Rainbow!" Celaeno ran after the pegasus.
Rarity sighed and turned to the cat. "I'm guessing you're Anita."
Anita bowed. "Indeed, madam."
"Wow. Super formal much?" Smolder started scratching Anita's head. "You're not earning princess points around here."
"Ebbehnehhh... Ahhhh."
The others stared at Anita for a moment. Anita herself seemed to take a moment to process what happened.
Once she did, she swatted Smolder's hand away. "Do not touch me there again, rogue."
Gallus moved up behind Anita and started scratching behind her ear. "Kitty like scritchies?"
"N-no! Don't touch me!" The unfortunate kitten went from commanding to pleading very quickly.
Smolder grabbed Anita's hands. "Aww. But it's so cute."
Gallus continued his assault on the feline's head. "And you like it, right?"
Anita helplessly struggled against her scratching assailants. "Nyaaaa! Miss Rarity! Help me!"
"Professor Rarity!" The trio of students was knocked over by a hippogriff. "I was just looking for you!"
"Oh, really?" Rarity looked at the three floored students and the kirin cautiously moving around them. "What for?"
"Well, Rain Kiss here is worried that her gods aren't watching her here, so we decided to make a small shrine for her to use. I don't know how much you know about religion, but I figured you could help make the designs accurately."
Smolder sat up. "Huh? Why a shrine? She can just pray, can't she?"
Anita used Smolder's head to stand back up. "Some creatures prefer to have a dedicated place to practice their religion. Just like how there are some that prefer not to actively practice their religion."
"Because religion is stupid."
Everyone looked right at Gallus. "What?"
"Gods aren't real. They're just something some desperate creatures made up."
Tears were appearing in Silver's eyes. "Even if that's true, you don't need to be so harsh about it. Let them think how they want to."
Gallus scratched his neck. "Well, it's just, it's not like the gods actually help any creatures."
"Care to run that by me again?" They all looked at Rain Kiss, whose body suddenly had flames coming out of it. "Dinner?"
Everyone's eyes went wide. Everyone but Smolder stepped back. Gallus was trying to respond but only succeeded in making strange noises.
*Splash*
All of a sudden, the flames were out and Rain was dripping wet. A bucket bounced off of Gallus' head and landed at his claws.
"I was gonna warn y'all about making her mad, but I think you get why that's a bad idea." Applejack put her hoof on Gallus' head. "I better not have to stop you from fighting someone else every year."
Rarity sighed. "Come along now, Rain. Let's make that shrine you want."
"To sum that mess of a speech up; if you steal from the other students, you run a hundred laps around the school. If you steal from the staff, it's a hundred laps around Ponyville itself. If you try to steal anything from Ponyville residents or if you steal from someone at the school ten times, you get expelled and Celaeno drags you back home, where you'll face the punishment you were originally supposed to! Are we clear?"
"Uh huh. Sure."
Rainbow looked at Hector, then followed his gaze. Right to her trophy cabinet. She thrust her hoof full force into his stomach.
Rainbow waited for the parrot to open his eyes before really laying it on thick. "YOU TOUCH ANY ONE OF THOSE FREAKING TROPHIES, AND I WILL RIP EVERY FEATHER FROM YOUR FREAKING BODY! YOU GOT THAT?"
Hector smiled, sweat drenching his head. "Y-yes ma'am."
Rainbow stepped off of him. "Good. And if you forget any of that, I will gladly beat it back into your head."
Hector took another look at the trophies before deciding not to enrage Rainbow Dash any further.
Celaeno stepped away from the closed door as soon as she heard Rainbow get close. Once the door opened, they locked eyes. "If you knew everything he did, you probably would have gotten pretty physical."
"I'm shocked I didn't with what I know already. He sounds pretty rotten."
Celaeno patted Rainbow on the head. "If anyone is gonna turn him around, it's you guys. Please don't let me or Lix down."
Rainbow nodded. "I won't. I promise."
"Hi, Little Strongheart! How have you been?"
The buffalo looked at Pinkie. "Hi, Warmaker."
Pinkie tilted her head. "Warmaker? That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"
"I personally blame Applejack and Rainbow Dash for not letting me talk with Braeburn while I had the chance to, but your horrible song is what really caused us to clash."
"Come on! I was trying to help!"
"And your unique way of helping only made things worse."
Twilight watched as Pinkie and Strongheart went on like that for a while.
Starlight walked past the two ungulates and over to Twilight. "Hector, the parrot representative, is already rubbing other creatures the wrong way, but everyone else is settling in just fine."
Twilight smiled. "It's going to be a good year." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Former Patreon Content: Lost Memories 2 | "So please keep in mind, your forest protects you, but our lands fight against us. Would you use a living Timberwolf as a shelter?"
Bramble looked around. "N-no. But that's because it's a threat to us!"
Strongheart sighed. "That's what I'm saying. Everything, where I come from, is a threat to us. Our only allies out there are the ponies and each other."
"B-but-"
Fluttershy put her hoof over the deer's back. "Bramble, you need to understand, not everyone comes from a place like the forest. Take the Dragon Lands, for example."
Smolder raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about? There aren't any threats there aside from the other dragons. We've got lava baths, huge cliffs, and super hot caverns."
"Which is fine for a dragon, but a deer or buffalo wouldn't be able to last there."
Bramble's eye was twitching. "I'd die in a second!"
Anita nodded. "Most of the lands south of here are naturally dangerous until you get to Mt. Aris. We don't have the things you have in the forest, so we have to make do with what we have. Well, my ancestors did."
Silver giggled. "These days, you have to worry about things like White Panther."
Anita burst out laughing. "That's true!"
Gallus raised an eyebrow. "White Panther?"
"A nasty thief running amock in Abyssinia. Word is that she even stole a valuable jewel right from under the appraiser's nose, and slipped off with everything at a big auction."
Sandbar rubbed his head. "For being a nasty thief, you seem pretty happy to talk about him."
"Well, she ran rampant in Abyssinia, and we're in Ponyville."
Fluttershy started stroking her mane. "Um, Twilight mentioned that you have some strange fascinations. I'm guessing that's one of them."
Rain Kiss cleared her throat. "Back on the original subject, the Kirin also live with our environment, like the deer. We have no need to fight against nature where we live, so why should we?"
Fluttershy's ears shot up. "Oh, yes! It's quite a sight to see! I'd love to go back there sometime!"
Several of the students giggled.
"Oh!" Silver turned to Fluttershy. "Field trip, maybe?"
Fluttershy gasped. "That sounds like a wonderful idea!"
The students cheered as Smolder took Fluttershy's photo, causing her to make, well, that pose.
Rainbow stepped in as Fluttershy was rubbing her eyes. "Aww, did you just win teacher of the month again?"
"Um... I guess."
Rainbow groaned. "Not what I wanted to see." Rainbow looked around the room. "And I'm not seeing what I want to see. Have you seen Hector?"
Fluttershy shook her head. "He said he was going to be with you today."
"He was supposed to be, but he never showed! I really don't get why we put up with him most of the time."
Gallus scratched his cheek. "Uh, he's not ransacking our stuff again, is he?"
Smolder let out a growl. "He better not. I've already singed his feathers twice for that."
Sandbar gulped. "Can we go check real quick?"
"Um, I'm sorry, but I can't let you go until-"
The school bell suddenly rang, causing all of the students to stampede out of the room, knocking Fluttershy over and making Rainbow spin like a top.
Pinkie poked her head into the room. "What were they in a rush for?"
The pegasi responded at the same time. "Hector."
Pinkie stared at her friends before looking down the hall. "Oh."
"No! Stop! I am a pirate! This is what I do!"
Applejack's expression didn't change at all as she dragged the parrot through the halls by his legs.
"Whose room was he in?"
Applejack looked at the crowd of students. "Wow. Did y'all even wait for the bell?"
"Yeah. Barely."
Applejack sighed. "He was in Anita's room. Don't think he got anything out of her room, though."
"I'll be the judge of that!" Anita stomped towards Hector, who was struggling against the ropes around his legs. She immediately started rummaging through his pockets.
"Wait! No! I didn't take anything! Honest!"
"Then what is this?" The cat held up a necklace.
"I-I-I was gonna give it back! Really!"
Anita rolled her eyes. "Sure you were."
Applejack raised her eyebrow. "That's, what, five times now?"
Hector covered his eyes.
"Hector." Enter Twilight Sparkle. "You have not only tried to rob a classmate again, but you also skipped on your class to do so. You have no idea how hard it is for me to resist sending you back home to face your fate."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Twilight sighed. "Come along. I doubt detention will do anything, but it's always worth a shot."
With that, Twilight dragged the pouty parrot away.
Rarity stared as she entered and they left. "Nothing in his room but his own things."
Anita let out a soft tsk. "Not a very good thief, is he? Anyone here would do better than him."
"But Yona trusts her friends not to steal from her."
"Exactly. Part of being a thief is slipping under the radar, being unsuspicious. He's done everything but scream that he's stealing things. He's kind of pathetic, really."
Ocellus bit her lip. "Well, there was that time he yelled out that he got away with stealing one of Professor Rainbow's trophies."
Anita stared at the changeling before burying her face in her paw. The others all giggled, then burst out laughing.
Celaeno looked out across the sky she was sailing. "Did you need something, Mullet?"
"Yer losing yer touch, captain."
She turned around. "Hey, Lix. I'm guessing this is about your nephew."
"I can't help it. His parents aren't around anymore, so I'm the closest thing he has to a parental figure."
"And you've done as good of a job as you could have, all things considered."
Lix sighed. "Figures. I hop back on for one voyage, and we end up enslaved by that psychotic monkey."
Celaeno chuckled. "At least he's gone now."
"He knows what'll happen if he don't shape up, right?"
"The council told Twilight, and they expect her to tell him."
"So he may not know."
"Assuming Twilight didn't tell him." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Lost Memories 3 | "And why is Hector here?"
Rainbow sighed. "Because he's a student and he's been on good behavior for just long enough. Really wish he was in detention right now."
Silver looked at their destination. A dance club they had reservations for. "Well, as long as someone keeps him in sight, he won't be able to cause too much trouble."
"Why are you guys acting like I'm a criminal?"
Gallus prodded Hector's beak. "Because you are! And you advertise it very loudly!"
"I'm not a criminal! I'm a pirate!"
Ocellus rolled her eyes. "The titles are not mutually exclusive."
"Um... What's it like in there?"
Yona leaned over to Bramble. "Remember the thing Silver did that gave you a headache?"
Bramble's face went pale. "Uh, is it too late to turn back now?"
Smolder slapped the deer on the back. "Don't worry! You're gonna like it!"
Rain scratched her head. "Is it bad that I don't know what Yona was talking about?"
"Try not to think about it."
Strongheart turned to Cozy Glow. "That makes me even more worried."
"Could you all be quiet?" Anita had a huge smile on her face. "I'm trying not to let my excitement disappear."
Rainbow looked at Anita. "Have you been in a club before?"
"Yeah! And it's so exciting!"
Anita rested her chin on the table. "This is so boring."
Rain looked at the flashing lights on the dance floor. "Well, it's certainly more tolerable than I thought it would be."
Smolder chuckled and placed her arm around Rain's shoulders. "At least someone thinks so. How long did Bramble last?"
The blushing kirin put her hoof to her cheek. "Eight minutes."
"And how far did he get?"
Anita looked at the janitors by the door. "Not far enough."
Hector stretched his arms over his head. "It's a shame Yona and Strongheart had to take him back to the school."
Anita eyed DJ Pon-3. "To be fair, I don't think either of them really wanted to be here either."
Across the room, Silver was scratching her head. "What's with all the ballads?"
Gallus sighed. "I think it was Twilight's request. She didn't want us going too wild."
Sandbar took a bite out of the sandwich sitting in front of him. "Actually, I think it was so Bramble wouldn't get overwhelmed."
Ocellus looked at the janitors by the door. "Not that it actually helped."
Cozy looked at the DJ. "Should I tell her?"
"Uh..." Gallus rubbed the back of his head while looking at the dance floor. "There seem to be ponies that are fine with it."
Silver looked at some of the other booths. "Yeah, but there are also ponies that clearly aren't."
"Oh my goodness!"
The others looked at Cozy.
"S-Smolder just..." Cozy started laughing. "She..."
Silver followed Cozy's gaze to the opposite booth. Rain had her hooves over her face while Smolder scratched Rain's head.
"Silver? Do you see what she's laughing at?"
Silver looked at Ocellus. "Not really." She turned back to the booth. "Wait, where's-"
A record scratch drew everyone's attention to the DJ booth, where Anita was standing with a record in her hand. "Sorry. I know some of you where having fun." She held the record in her left hand. "But me? I was getting rather bored." With a flick of her wrist, the record appeared in her right hand. "Time for a change of pace."
The cat placed the record on the turntable, and a different song started playing. Anita stepped onto the floor to the beat of the song, pulling out a pair of glowing batons. As she got close to the center of the floor, she started spinning them around.
"What is she doing?"
Once the first verse started, she started twirling her own body while the lights above her dimmed, making her batons stand out more. The aura she was giving off was of both dominance and elegance, making some of the onlookers think of their own princesses. While Anita did pose from time to time, she never stayed still for long, often moving between poses before anyone could piece together how she was positioned.
When the chorus came, she suddenly tossed her batons in the air, twirled for a few feet, then caught them. All in time with the music.
"Is she a juggler or a dancer?"
Ocellus' friends were to entranced to respond.
Hector moved to the edge of the booth he was in.
The third time Anita tossed her batons, she pulled two more out of nowhere, throwing them as well. She then posed four times, catching each baton with each pose, before the second verse kicked in. During the second verse, she continued tossing her batons and twirling her body. Several ponies joined in, though none dared get close to Anita herself as she continued to juggle her batons.
Smolder nudged Rain, then nodded towards Hector. Rain smirked, then slid up behind Hector before igniting her horn and knocking him onto the floor.
And into Anita. Her response was swift and certain.
She forced two of her batons into his claws before resuming her dance in time for the chorus to come back. Hector took a moment before starting to move rather stiffly.
Smolder and Rain both giggled. But their amusement turned to amazement as Hector started getting more into the beat, no doubt with some silent help from Anita. By the time they got to the bridge, both of the creatures were moving in sync with the music and each other. It was as if their dance was planned out, in spite of its impromptu nature.
"Is he really..."
Rain started fanning herself. "Who knew our trouble maker was a good dancer?"
The duo posed four times before the final chorus. They both tossed their batons in the air, danced a few feet, then caught each other's batons, then repeated. They both tossed the batons a third time, but this time Anita caught all four as Hector backed out. Anita moved to the remainder of the song on her own, with Hector watching while just as entranced as the ponies that weren't dancing.
Once the song finished, Anita held one last pose before her observers let out a loud applause. Anita herself smiled at Hector, who returned the smile.
"Well done, kitty! Well done!" DJ Pon-3 pulled out a few more records. "Well, now that we're out of the ballad section, how about we really get this party going!"
"DID SOMEONE SAY PARTY?" In true Pinkie Pie fasion, she popped out of the dance floor.
The nine creatures were laughing as they left the club.
"Thanks for that, Anita." Cozy took a moment to catch her breath. "It was getting pretty boring until you did that."
Smolder pat the cat on the back. "Yeah. That was amazing. Not sure I could have lasted if you hadn't done that."
"Hadn't done what?"
The students looked up. It was Twilight. A few of them struggled to find any words at the moment.
Gallus lifted a claw. "If this is about Bramble, he couldn't handle the lights by themselves. Made a mess of the entrance and had to be dragged of by Yona and Strongheart. By the time things really got kicking, he was long gone."
Twilight stared at them, her expression stern. Her students were starting to sweat.
Except for Cozy Glow. "So, how long are you gonna keep this up?"
Twilight sighed. "Bramble told me that already. I was more worried about how Rain would react to the louder music of a dance club."
Rain chuckled. "Thank you for thinking of me, but I can appreciate all kinds of music. Seeing Anita dancing also let me appreciate the music they played."
Twilight smiled. "That's good. I was worried you were going to be bothered by how loud it can get."
"I don't want my preferences ruining other's experiences. And to be honest, the dull music almost ruined mine. I'm fine with different cultures rubbing off on me."
Cozy floated up to Rain and whispered something into her ear. Something that made Rain's face go completely red.
Smolder cleared her throat. "So, how is Bramble?"
"He's fine now." Twilight looked towards some hills in the distance. "Yona and Strongheart took him somewhere quiet and peaceful so he could wind down. The three of them are back at the school now."
Hector looked back at the club. "So, how about we do this again sometime?"
"You're free to return to that club any time." Twilight turned around. "Just don't expect it to be on the school's funds."
Anita giggled. "Good thing I have my own."
The group of creatures started laughing again.
Silver leaned over to Gallus. "Hey, does Hector seem different somehow?"
"He probably just likes dancing."
Silver looked at the parrot. "I don't think that's it. Maybe he just wanted someone to treat him like a friend."
Cozy floated over. "If what I read is right, you won't want to know what I know."
The two half-birds raised their eyebrows. "What is that?"
"You don't want to know." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour one: Of Life and Love | "Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why... Nevermind." She mumbles something to herself.
Gallus shrugs. "So, who's going where?"
"Yak want door 7!" We all look at Yona. She got pretty loud just now.
The one least bothered by her volume was Gallus, who just chuckled. "Alright. We'll just have to work with that."
"I want 2." Rain holds up her bracelet. "Same number."
Rain... Something about being near her suddenly feels... odd.
"Hey, Silver? Are you alright?"
I look at Gallus. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just... thinking."
"Well, unless it's which door to go through, that can wait."
"Door 2." I say that without thinking much, but I do want to go through that door.
Gallus smiles. "Sounds good to me."
There's a bit more discussion about who goes where. Bramble wants to go with Yona, Sandbar wants to go with Ocellus, Gallus wants door 2 and the others want to go through door 7.
Gallus is scratching his head. "Well, that's a problem. Door 2 has three creatures that add up to 4, and door 7 has six creatures that add up to 5. We need a change of 7 for things to work."
"Alright, so what adds up to 7?" We all stare at Smolder. "... No."
Cozy shrugs. "We'll be stuck here otherwise."
"Send Ocellus and Sandbar over!"
"No!" Both of them responded at once.
"Then you're both holding us up! Not me!"
Gallus coughs. "How about this. You get first pick at the next set of doors."
Smolder glares at him, then rolls her eyes. "Ugh. Fine."
For some reason, my eyes drift to Sandbar as he scans his bracelet. I don't know why, but I suddenly have a sinking feeling about him. Am I afraid that he's... Zero?
"Silver, come on."
The door 7 crew is already through their door, and the others going through door 2 are waiting on me. I head over and scan my bracelet into the RED. We head through the door into the greenhouse.
... Wait. How did I know this would be a greenhouse? This whole thing is confusing, and we're just getting started.
"Silver! The DEAD!"
Oh, right! I rush over, scan in, and pull the lever.
Smolder prods my head. "You need to sit this one out, Sil? You look pretty out of it."
I sigh. "I really am right now. I need a break."
Rain shrugs. "Go ahead. We've got this."
"Thanks." I head over to the aquarium. How did I know it was here? I saw it, that's why. ...
"You want to talk?" Gallus sits next to me.
"I do, but I don't know where to start."
"Let's start with why you wanted door 2."
I lean on his shoulder. "Rain."
"What about Rain?"
I can barely see Rain in the reflection of the glass. "I just feel like... like I need to make something up to her. Like I wronged her somehow. I don't know why."
"Because of her crush on you, maybe?"
... Huh? I look Gallus in the eye.
"You know how Sandbar and Ocellus will make goo-goo eyes at each other when the other isn't looking? I once saw her making that face while looking at you."
I look at Rain directly. "That might be it. I don't see her as any more than a good friend, but I really don't want to break her heart."
Gallus sighs and drapes his wing over my back. "I'll help you find her someone but only once we're out of here. Until then, love has no role in what we're doing."
"Maybe Sandbar thinks that way."
I feel his wing stiffen. "What?"
"I don't know why, but I get the feeling that Sandbar might be Zero."
Gallus rubs the back of his head. "Have you heard of the Morphogenetic Field?"
"Yeah. You mentioned it while we were in... door... 1."
He smirks. "We aren't at door 1 yet. If you focus, you might remember what happened in that other timeline."
I close my eyes and focus... ...
"Ocellus, Cozy, Rain, and Smolder died in the second set of doors, then I saw Yona dead in front of me. I found Rain's diary, detailing her life at the school and her crush on me, then Zero appeared and talked to me."
"There you go. It can't be one of the other girls. What makes you think it's Sandbar specifically?"
"Well, you've been so helpful to me, and Bramble has never done anything suspicious."
"So Bramble is too innocent, and you don't think it's me because I've been helping you?"
I scratch the back of my head. "Well, yeah. There's not really anything that I can use to defend Sandbar."
"Are you sure about that?"
I close my eyes and focus again... "I really don't. The one time I didn't see Zero was the one time I knew Sandbar died." The first timeline, I was told Sandbar died. That is the only timeline so far that I didn't see Zero at the end of things.
"Maybe you'll find something to defend him with."
"I doubt that."
*CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG*
... My ears. My poor ears.
"Hey, guys! We finished the puzzle!"
Gallus moves away from me. "Gee, you don't say!"
I head over to the window. All of the traps have been triggered. "How did you set it off?"
"We found a clay ball to chuck in." Smolder points up. "It was hanging from the ceiling."
Rain is rubbing her head. "Good job, Smolder."
"Thanks!" I think Smolder heard the words and not the tone.
"Well, let's go." I hop through the hole and into the room below. There's no threat here anymore, so I can just fly across to the door. Or the lever to open the door, rather. Now through the door.
Huh? "Hey, why is that door open?"
The others look at the open door as well.
"That's odd."
"I wonder what's through there."
"Only one way to find out." Smolder flies through.
"Smolder!" We follow her.
Inside are two things; a glass orb, and a message on the wall.
"Only the LUCCKY can survive. Zero is the PRISONER."
... Whaaaaaaaat?
Smolder has her hand to her head. "Why is lucky misspelled?"
Rain has her hoof to the message. "Zero is the prisoner? What's that supposed to mean?"
Gallus scratches his head. "Is it an anagram? That could explain the extra C."
I look at the orb. "Well, this might help." I place my claw on the orb.
"This is incredible! How long has this been down here?"
"It was good to be home."
"So this is Gallus? I can see why you like him. He's cute."
"He's mine!"
"I'm not making it up. If you saw half of what I saw, you'd think the same way about them."
"Uncle Highwind? Wha- tha- huh?"
"How is she? After the accident and all."
"I don't know. She hasn't gotten back to us."
!!! AH! Those were... Wait. UNCLE HIGHWIND IS ALIVE? But, no. I saw... he died. What is... how did... Huh?
"Woah!"
The others apparently grabbed the orb while I was holding it.
"That was... trippy." I think Smolder is right.
"What happened to Strongheart?"
I look at Rain, then scratch my head. "Something happened with her tribe she had to go home for. If she came back or sent a message, it was after our memories cut off again."
Rain sighs. "We were about to go on a field trip too. I wish I could remember it."
"It's alright, Kissu. We can visit once this is over."
... Wait. "Kissu?"
Wow. I didn't know dragons could turn that shade of red. At least, the ones that aren't red naturally.
Gallus is smirking. "Smolder, how long have you two, uh..."
"NO! We, uh, there's nothing going on! We're just, uh, friends!"
Wait.
... There was that time when we visited the Peaks of Peril and saw Rain's home, Smolder and Rain went somewhere by themselves.
"CUTE COUPLE WANTS TO BATTLE!"
"I'm not cute!" Smolder takes a moment to process that she just denied the cute part and not the couple part.
This is so EXCITING! I have to hug them!
"Gah! Silver! No!"
Rain just giggles. Oh? She's just as red as Smolder.
"You two have to give me every detail of how you two started dating, starting from the top!"
Smolder is pushing on my chest. "This is why I didn't want anyone finding out!"
"Uh, should I come back later?"
We all look at the doorway. Sandbar is standing there.
"Yeah. And bring the others. We found something crazy."
Sandbar nods at Gallus then walks off. Sandbar...
"Could you please not tell anyone else?... Silver?..." Ow! "SILVER!"
"W-what?"
Smolder looks mad. "Could you not tell anyone else, please?"
"Uh, sure."
"Silver?" Rain has her hoof on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"
I look at the door. Should I tell them?
"She thinks she knows who Zero is, but I don't agree with her guess." And Gallus just told them.
"And who does she think-" Smolder's eyes shoot wide as she turns to the doorway. "No. Sandbar? There's no way!"
"You might not want to share that assumption with anyone else." Rain steps away a bit. "They might think you lost it."
"Right." I hear voices through the door. Soon enough, the others step into the room.
Yona tilts her head. "An orb?"
Ocellus steps up to it. "Well, let's see what it does."
The five of them touch it. All of their eyes glow for a few seconds. Once their eyes stop glowing, they all jerk back.
"Oh, yeah." Cozy eyes Rain and Smolder. "The two of you were going out, right?"
"ARRRRDFDFDFDFDSDFJIADPSDVJERO" ??? Did Smolder have a seizure?
Bramble looks shocked. "Wait, is that true?"
Ocellus is smiling. "Aww, that's sweet!"
Sandbar is rubbing his head. "Yeah, I kinda figured when I overheard Silver mention it."
Yona is scratching her head. "But why?"
Rain waves her hoof around. "You wouldn't understand."
Snapping? Why is Gallus snapping his claws? "We can discuss this later. What do you guys make of that message?"
"Uh... They misspelled lucky?" Thanks, Sandbar. Thanks.
"There's probably a reason for it." Ocellus moves over to the message.
Gallus is beside her in a moment. "I'm thinking anagrams. Why else would there be an extra C?"
"Hey, Silver?"
"What is it, Bramble?"
"Since when was Gallus this, well, smart?"
I look at Gallus. He does seem to be smarter than he usually was.
"I think it has something to do with the rest of our missing memories." Cozy? "Let's say something needs to be moved from one part of a forest to another. If the first part of the forest burns down but nothing else does, then whatever was moved out of it is still safe. Memories and knowledge are the same way. Even if we forget we learned something, that doesn't mean we forget what we learned."
Bramble looks at Gallus. "I suppose that's fair. But can we lose knowledge without forgetting that we learned it?"
"Well, heh, it depends on how well we remember learning that thing, though it would probably involve recreating how you learned the first time to the best of your ability."
Huh. Yona's been pretty quiet. I look at her... huh? "Yona? You seem pale."
Her eyes snap towards me. "Hehehe. Yak just... cold. That's all."
A yak getting cold. That's a new one.
"I'm not coming up with anything. No anagrams at all." Ocellus sits down. "And at face value, it doesn't make much sense. They wouldn't misspell a word like that unless it was intentional. Zero being a prisoner makes less sense. Even if they are one of us involved in this game, they probably have a way out of here."
Gallus scratches his head. "And it's not like they're trying to save a past version of himself or anything."
... The Morphogenetic Field. It allows anyone that can access it the ability to send information across timelines and to their past self. What Gallus said... I might forgive them if that really is the case. Otherwise, how would they live?
"Silver?" Smolder has her hand on my shoulder. "You look out of it again."
"What if Gallus is right?" ... Wait, I need to clarify that. "What if Zero had a good reason to trap us here? Would it be possible to forgive him?" I give them time to answer.
"No way." Not that Smolder needed any. "This is way too far for any justification."
"Well..." Rain scratches her head. "If they really are trying to find a way to survive something."
"Nevermind the death traps they could fall victim to." Cozy... has a point.
"Well, maybe they have a way to avoid dying."
"Don't get off topic! What could possibly justify their actions?"
Uh oh.
"Nothing! That's what!"
"There might be something!"
They're raising their voices.
"And what would that be?"
"Guys, calm down."
"No!"
I'm getting out of here before they cause another panic attack.
I slip out the door and head down the hall. Once I get to the doors to the infirmary, I sit down.
"So you start a fight and bail?"
I'm not going to look at Gallus. "I didn't want to have another-"
"Maybe you're Zero."
WHAT? "Hold on. You're not serious, are you?"
He looks very serious. "Everything that casts suspicion on Sandbar comes from you. You're the cause of the groups two big arguments across the timelines. And you've done nothing to defend yourself."
"Hey, don't blame me for the first one! You came up with the plan to-"
He presses his claw to my beak. "Don't make this about me. Why should I trust you?"
... I don't have an answer. What can I even say right now?
*DING DING*
"Well, Silver?" |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Two: Superstition | I bite my beak and take a step back. He's saying... I'M ZERO?
"Well, Silver? Do you have an answer?"
How can I even respond to that? What do I say?
"Come on, Silver. Say something."
Why would he accuse me? What did I do?
"Why won't you say anything?"
"How about she shouldn't have to?"
!!! Smolder leads the others into the room. Yona and Rain step between me and Gallus, and Cozy wraps her hooves around me. The rest surround him (though I don't know how much Bramble can do in this situation).
Gallus looks around at the others. "Weren't you guys arguing?"
Ocellus shrugs. "We figured it wasn't worth arguing over if we would forgive them or not. They probably have an unforgivable reason anyway."
"Why would you accuse her of being Zero? You don't really think she would do something like this, do you?"
Gallus looks right at Sandbar. "To be quite frank, any one of us could be Zero. If we don't suspect each other, we'll keep playing right into his claws." He starts moving around like there isn't an angry mob around him. "He'll pull the strings, control your actions, and lead you all right to failure. Everything will end, and the truth will be forever lost."
Yona lets out a growl, but Rain is the one to speak up. "Do you really think she's Zero?"
Gallus shrugs. "I know she isn't. I just want her to prove that to all of you."
Really? He put that pressure on me and stressed me out... over something he already knew? Why did I fall for him again?
Smolder's face is in her hand. "I'm gonna have to keep an eye on you."
Sandbar rolls his eyes. "So, what are we doing right now? Looking for things that could help us?"
Cozy looks at the door to the infirmary. "The next set of doors are through there. How about we look around until the next chime."
Everyone nods except Gallus, who just stands there.
"Anyone that misses the chime gets a wet willie!" Uh oh. Smolder can actually do that.
"That's not sexual, is it?"
We all look at Rain and burst out laughing. How does she not know?
Ocellus shakes her head. "It's where she wets her finger and sticks it in your ear. It's not sexual."
Sandbar lets out a few more laughs before taking a deep breath. "Alright, let's split up."
Ah. It's nice to get a good laugh in times like this.
I suddenly feel Gallus' breath on my ear. "Don't trust the pony."
... Did he just confirm that Sandbar is Zero? I watch him as he and Smolder enter the infirmary. I guess he thinks the same thing I do.
"You okay, Silver?"
I look at Cozy Glow. "Yeah. I'm just letting my imagination run wild."
"As usual."
"Hey!"
She giggles. "I didn't say that it's a bad thing. All the time. Anyway, I can search around here by myself, if you want to look somewhere else."
I look around. "Actually, I think I'll just ask questions for now."
"Well then, ask away."
"Why do you think you were given bracelet 9?"
She shrugs. "Probably nothing specific. If they had a reason to distrust me, they would have given me it as a crutch."
"A crutch?"
"Moving forward, the easiest way to form a team is to make nine with two bracelets and have them pair up with whoever has the bracelet of that door. As a result, I'll be stuck with whatever team is formed after that happens."
"So you won't get a say in where you go." I get it. If Zero is afraid of Cozy, they would want Cozy to have the least say in what we do. Though that is a pretty big if. There's not much reason for anyone to distrust her. "Any idea why we were kidnapped?"
"Chance? Fate? Who knows? The only constant is that we all go to the School of Friendship, but even that doesn't quite work. They could have grabbed Anita, Hector, or Strongheart as well."
I scratch my ear. "They probably only needed nine of us. Besides, Anita is a princess, Hector is a nuisance, and the last time we heard from Strongheart, she headed home for some mysterious reason."
"True, but that assumes that the memories we just got back were the last memories we ever had. It's possible that she came home."
"Even then, they might want to cripple the school by taking away it's best students. Especially the one that gets the most work done."
She squishes her cheeks. "Aww. Thanks."
"When did I say that was you?"
"Hey!"
We share a giggle.
"You know, I'm not quite sure what to make of you."
"Me?"
I nod. "Sometimes I feel like something is off about you but can't place what. Other times, you feel like a perfectly normal pony or someone I can trust to the end of the world."
She sticks her tongue out and looks up. "Mmm... Let me put it this way; you don't have to worry about what I'm going to do."
I smile. "I'll keep that in mind." I look around.
"Ocellus and Sandbar went that way, Bramble and Yona went that way, and Rain went that way."
"Thanks, Cozy." I guess I'll talk to Sandbar and Ocellus next.
This hallway... I don't think it's really been significant. Either way, there they are.
Ocellus is the first to notice me. "Hey, Silver. We've got this place covered."
"I'm not searching. I'm asking questions."
Sandbar smiles at me like he's not Zero. "Alright. What's on your mind?"
"About what happened earlier..."
"You mean with Gallus? Or before the first set of doors?"
"Yeah, you seemed pretty upset at that point. I'm glad you calmed down."
Uh... What?
Ocellus puts her hoof to her cheek. "I'm not sure why you broke down, though."
"Well, the rest of us were going at each other pretty hard."
What are they talking about?
"Sandbar, what are you talking about? We weren't fighting earlier."
"Yes, we were. Cozy was mad at me, Smolder was mad at Gallus-"
Ocellus raises her eyebrow. "No, Silver just broke down crying and screaming. It wasn't until Rain suggested-"
"Rain wasn't arguing until-"
"There was no arguing."
"I think you're both losing it." They stare at me. I was expecting that. "I don't remember anything significant happening before the first set of doors. I was talking about what happened after I left the room with the orb."
"Oh, that?" Ocellus rubs the back of her head. "Well, I tried to diffuse it by thinking of something that would justify this, but Sandbar beat me to the punch by pointing out that we shouldn't worry about it right away."
"Once we find out who Zero is, we can decide if we forgive them or not. After all, I didn't want another big fight." And Sandbar is talking crazy again and doing nothing to stave off my suspicions.
"Again, we didn't fight before the first set of doors."
Ocellus prods Sandbar. "See?"
"And I didn't break down crying. I don't know where either of you got the idea that something happened before the first set of doors."
"Um..."
"Well..."
I sigh. I think it's time to switch topics. "What do you two think of Rain?"
"She's nice but doesn't talk much. In fact, I think I've heard her voice more here than I did in a week at the school."
Ocellus taps her chin. "From what I've read, kirin have a natural enemy in the form of the nirik. I wonder if she's so passive because of them."
I scratch my head. "Nirik?"
"I wish I could describe them in detail, but all I really know is that they are a natural enemy of the Kirin that resemble them somewhat."
"Hey, do you think that's what Rain turned into?"
I tilt my head. "What are you talking about?"
"Back when she broke up the first argument."
How do I even respond to that? Why is he still saying that happened?
"Let it go, Sandbar." I think Ocellus is just as frustrated as I am, even though she's imagining things as well.
Next topic, before things get weirder. "Who do you guys think Zero is?"
"Probably Gallus or Smolder, since they're the pranksters of the group."
Wait, what? "Prank?"
"Sandbar, you don't think this is all a prank, do you?"
"I'm hopeful it is. It's probably not, but I hope it is."
At least he's acknowledging that he could be wrong on that.
"I don't have any idea who Zero is. For all we know, they may not even be one of the participants."
"That's a good point." That doesn't make me think it isn't Sandbar, though. I just have to be ready to admit it might not be him.
I think that's all I have to ask them for now. Well, I have one more thing to ask Sandbar, but I don't want to ask it in front of Ocellus. "I'm going to talk to the others."
"See you at the hour."
I head back. I don't think I've spoken to Rain that much. I head over to her.
She quickly notices me. "Hello."
"Hey. I'd like to ask some questions."
"Sure."
"Who do you think Zero is?"
She shrugs... ...
Uh, okay. "Why do you think we were kidnapped?"
She shrugs... again... ...
Wow. "Do you remember anything happening before the first set of doors?"
She shakes her head... ...
"Are you..."
She giggles. "Sorry, I didn't see a need for complex answers, so I chose to remain silent."
Okay, that was amusing. "So, you and Smolder..."
She's blushing. "Y-you wouldn't understand. It was a connection that wouldn't be considered normal. Let's just say, she understands part of me that I never thought anyone else would."
"And that understanding connected you two and it blossomed from there?"
"Yeah." Hah! She looks so embarrassed.
"Mind if I ask about the nirik?"
"Well, they aren't exactly kind creatures." She's still blushing.
"Rain, is there something you don't want to tell me?"
"Well, the nirik... I guess I can trust you. The truth about the nirik is that they are kirin."
Interesting. "You mean, they're kirin that-"
"No, that's what we call kirin that get too angry. Because that's when we change. We thought it was something to fear until Lady Autumn Blaze showed us that we could control it. Since then, there have been fewer nirik issues."
"So, how well can you control it?"
"Vvvvvvvvvery well." Well, that's one way to say it.
"Have any of the others seemed off to you?"
Rain sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask. I feel like there's something wrong with Gallus."
... GALLUS? "Wait, what do you mean?"
"The others seem to be almost exactly the same as when I first met them. Gallus, however, seems much smarter. And some of the things he said earlier really make me wonder if he knows something that we don't."
"Things such as..."
"Even beyond him accusing you of being Zero before saying he knows you aren't, the way he worded some of his statements seemed strange to me. Almost like he already knew who Zero was."
I raise my eyebrow. "You don't think it's him, do you?"
"I can't rule it out, but I believe Zero is someone outside of our group. I hope that, at worst, it's Hector or Anita. At least, someone like that."
"Why?"
"Because they can be more easily proven to be Zero, meaning they are more likely to be brought to justice."
I put my claw to my chin. "I see."
"I know you think it's Sandbar, but I really doubt he would do this. We can't use faith to prove who is or isn't Zero."
"Thanks for talking to me. I feel like I understand some things better."
"No problem."
I head back to the infirmary. I want to talk to Smolder while this is still on my mind.
Smolder is near the beds of the infirmary, while Gallus is searching around the drugs. I head over to the dragon.
"Hey. We've got this area."
"I know. I'm just asking everyone questions."
"What would you ask me?"
"Well, I asked Rain how the two of you got together, but she couldn't bring herself to tell me."
She looks me dead in the eye... and smiles. "Really? It's kind of a fun story."
"I won't tell anyone."
"I don't care. I like how it happened."
I sit down. "When did it start?"
"When we visited the Peaks of Peril. Rain went off on her own at one point. I got curious, so I followed her. She eventually reached a clearing, then let out a scream and got engulfed in flames. When they died down, her coat had turned black and there were pink flames all over her body. I realized what had happened since we were warned about the nirik just before that. She thrashed around a bit, then noticed I was there. She tried to scare me off. Once I realized why I did what any dragon would."
My heart is pounding. "You fought her?"
"She had a ton of steam to blow off from various frustrations at the school, and I had been itching to fight someone for quite a while. We got so aggressive that if anyone had seen us, they would have either run or tried to save us from each other. Her coat eventually went back to normal, so I lightened up. Once the flames vanished, she fell to her knees. I walked over to her and hugged her. That's when I noticed how tired I was from our fight."
Wow. "Then you kissed?"
"Nah. That didn't happen for a while. We laid there holding each other until we were able to get back up and rejoin the group. She had an image of calmness to maintain, so we kept it quiet for a while. When we got back to Ponyville, we found a place we could fight without bothering anyone. We probably went at it eight or nine more times before our first kiss."
"Really? You fought that much?"
"Yeah, and we would cuddle up after each and every fight. Though as time went on, our fights got shorter and our rest time got longer. I didn't notice or mind until our assignment about foreign plants. Rain and I went to our spot and did the assignment. Once we were done, I asked if she wanted to fight, and she said no."
"So you skipped to the cuddling?"
"I grabbed her and held her for a while. She kissed me on the cheek. So I grabbed the sides of her face and kissed her on the lips. We just laid there like that for a while."
"Wait. Wait. Don't tell me. Is that why you didn't show up for class the next day?"
Those red cheeks say everything. "We fell asleep while like that. The headmare found us, dragged us back to school, and only gave us a warning for missing class since we did the assignment. Then she told us we were free to explore our relationship as long as it didn't make the other students uncomfortable or get in the way of our studies."
"Did you ever fight after that?"
"Once. Someone she had a crush on got on her bad side, so she needed to let it out as much as possible."
Oops. That would be my prank gone too far. "I didn't even mean for half of that stuff to happen. It just did."
"Doesn't save you from her anger, though. Anyway, I need to get back to looking. Looking for nothing."
I turn to leave. Gallus.
"Hey, Silver. What's up?"
"What you said earlier, about-"
"Don't know what you're talking about." That smile says otherwise. "Just keep your wits about you and you'll be fine. Anyway, how are your memories?"
"What? We all touched the-"
"I mean from the other timelines."
"Oh. That. Well, things aren't exactly clear. I'm getting bits and pieces of other timelines, but it feels like I'm watching a string of random scenes cut out from two or three movies. Disjointed and obscure. It feels like I'm not able to access the field all that well."
"It's like any other skill. Unless you're naturally good at it, you have to practice and practice until you're good enough. Like me."
Wait. Is he saying... "Do you... remember something we don't?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Why do you want to know?"
"I want to know who I can trust."
*DING DING DING*
"The other's will be back soon. We'll talk later." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Three: Digging for Answers | "One two three four five six seven eight... We're missing someone."
Bramble's face goes pale. "Really?"
I scratch my head. "Yeah. One two three-"
"Did you count yourself?"
... "Nevermind. We're all here."
The others laugh. I can't believe I missed that.
Gallus rubs his head. "Alright, Smolder. What do you want to do?"
"I'm taking Rain and Yona through door 1."
A chill runs down my spine. "Are you sure about that?"
"Don't worry." Rain starts moving towards the door. "We'll be fine."
"What about the rest of us?"
Smolder shrugs. "I don't care. Just try not to die."
We watch the three of them go through the door.
"Um, if you guys don't mind, I'd like to go with Sandbar."
We all look at Ocellus.
"Well, it's either him and Silver or Bramble and Cozy. Those two pairs make 8, which each of us needs to get through. You go through door 3, and I go through door 5."
I'm going with Sandbar! If I go with Gallus, I can just ask him! If I go with Ocellus though-
"I'd like to go with Sandbar."
"Alright. That fine with you youngsters?"
"That's fine."
"We aren't that much younger than you!"
... Crap. At least Sandbar looks happy.
I helplessly watch Gallus go with our youngest members, leaving me with a... well, minor problem. I need to get Ocellus separate from us so I can talk to Sandbar.
"Silver! You coming?"
Ah! I rush over to the door and scan my bracelet into the RED.
"Don't do anything stupid, you two."
The door opens up and we step through. We quickly find the DEAD and scan it. We're in a geology lab... Wait. Didn't Ocellus die here in another timeline? I think it's because-
*CLANG!*
"Guys! Help!"
Yup. That's why. She's in a metal capsule in the middle of the room.
Sandbar's hoof connects with his face. "What was that about us not doing anything stupid?"
Ocellus is blushing from inside of the large metal capsule. "Just get me out of here!"
"We'll get you out. Don't worry." I grab Sandbar and pull him off to the side. This is the exact opportunity I needed. "Sandbar, can I trust you?"
He raises his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I just want to know if I can trust you."
"Silver? Are you okay?"
"No. I'm not okay. I'm trapped in this weird world with eight of my friends, and I have a sinking feeling one of them put the rest of us in here. I don't care who that is at this point. I just want to know who I can trust. If I can trust anyone."
He's looking around. "Yeah. You can trust me."
I nod. "Then let's get Ocellus out of there." Successfully this time. I hope.
TIME TO SEARCH!
Hmm... Neptite, Mixitol, and Valital. I don't think I learned the names of the other two.
"A silver stone of the sea."
I look at Sandbar. "I think that's Neptite. It's a silver stone that generates water." The five stones the panels want are what make this trap work, but we can't get Ocellus out until we put them all in.
"I'll see if I can find it." He walks off.
I check the two panels I never saw.
A grey powder of silence.
A knocking stone.
... I don't know what either of those are. I'll just grab the Mixitol and Valital and let Sandbar handle those two. Huh. This stone is pretty. Oops! I dropped-
*Zzttt*
"OW!" I drop the pain stone. It sparks upon hitting the ground.
"Careful now." Sandbar approaches with a rubber square and picks up the pain stone. "This is Shock Quartz. It's designed to create electricity upon knocking or hitting something. This one, in particular, looks like it's designed to be powerful."
I watch him set it on the table. "One of the panels said we need a knocking stone."
"That probably is it, in that case. Just don't try to catch it if you drop it again."
He didn't need to say that. I know better than to hurt myself the same way twice. Oops, I dropped-
*Zzttt*
"FOR THE LOVE OF MINERVA!" ...
Sandbar has his head on the desk. I don't blame him.
I put the Mixitol and Shock Quartz in their respective holes. I wait for Sandbar to get over the stupidity surrounding him and put the Valital and whatever the last thing is in their holes. The five holes close and two more holes open up, as two trays come out of the machine.
*Ding* "These holes lead to mixing devices. Anything in the mixing devices will be injected into the subject. Lytherium on the left, Magnite on the right. You can only insert three stones before the seals close. Please keep the amounts as balanced as possible."
... Oh. Oh, I feel stupid.
"So we need to figure out-"
"No. I know what we need to do." I press the button on the front of the capsule.
She winces in pain from the needles, I think. Not long after, the capsule opens up and she steps out.
"Well, I'm out."
Sandbar is scratching his head. "How did that work? We didn't put anything in."
"It never said we had to. It said we had to balance the amount of Magnite and Lytherium, and 0 is balanced with 0." This also means Sandbar's earlier solution would have worked.
Sandbar stares at me, then at the capsule. "Wording things so that we assume something that could cause someone else to die. That's sadistic."
"The devil's in the details, you know. Or lack of details, in this case." Was that key in the capsule she was in? "Let's get going. We won't get anywhere just standing here."
I watch the two of them head to the exit. I guess I shouldn't blame myself for her earlier death, knowing Zero set it up that way. Once they have the door open, I start to follow.
Hello? Is someone there?
!?!?!? I look around. There's no one visible. "Hello?" ...
"Silver?"
I look at Ocellus. "Did you hear someone just now?"
Ocellus looks around. "I didn't hear anything."
"That was... weird." I hope I'm not going crazy.
We leave the room and make our way into a hallway.
"Woah! Hey there!"
I recognize that voice. "Gallus. You alright?"
He has a huge grin on his face. "Nope. Bramble's stomach turned inside out."
"It did not!" I'd be more worried if Bramble himself didn't look perfectly fine. "Don't make it sound like I died!"
Cozy doesn't look very amused either. "That is a proper way of saying what happened. Not that he's bothered by it."
Ocellus looks disgusted. "Did Bramble..."
"Right onto my back. I'm just glad there was a shower in there."
Gallus is snickering. "It may have kept me in the death trap a little longer, but that was freaking funny."
"No, it wasn't!" I'm not sure if that was Bramble, Cozy, or both.
The rest of us share a laugh.
"That didn't make it any less reckless."
I turn around. Smolder is walking next to Yona, who has Rain on her back.
"At least we all got out, right?"
"But you didn't know I could get you out like that!" Smolder looks at us. Staring at her. "What? I can scold my girlfriend if I need to."
Yona sighs. "Rain went into a side room that was a death trap. Smolder opened it from the outside, but Rain was already coughing a good bit."
Rain shoots us a smile. "I'll be fine. I just need a bit of rest."
I tilt my head and smile. "Well, some of us have to put our lives on the line to get us out, whether we want to or not. At least we all made it through this set of doors."
Ocellus looks at the ceiling. "That leaves doors 4, 6, and 8."
I don't know why, but... "I'd like to go through door 6."
They all look at me.
"We'll see what we can do, but let's at least wait until we find the next set of doors before we decide who goes where." Gallus pats me on the back. "Come on."
We head to the end of the hallway and head through the doors.
"The infirmary?"
We looped around. "Now where?"
Bramble turns to Gallus. "Gallus, you have that key, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Gallus holds out a key with a symbol on it.
"Oh, hey!" Ocellus holds out the key she got earlier. "The key I have has a similar symbol on it."
"We got one, too." Smolder holds out yet another key. "I'm guessing we need these."
The deer then looks at the yak. "Yona, you recognize those, right?"
"Yup. Those were on the door at the end of that hallway."
Smolder takes the other keys. "They're Draconic words. They literally translate to "This way next." No prizes for guessing why."
"No need to waste time here. Let's get going." Cozy leads us out through the doors.
Once we get to the door Bramble and Yona mentioned, Smolder moves to the front and puts the keys into their respective spots. After turning them all, the door opens up.
"Let's split up and find those doors." Smolder heads off in one direction. Cozy immediately goes in the other direction. We all split up.
It doesn't take long for me to find door 4. I don't want to go through there, though. Too much death in the other timelines. Not long after, I find door 6. I reach my claw towards the RED.
"What are you doing, Silver?"
Urp! Gallus is there. "Uh, hehe..."
"Why do you want to go through door 6 so badly?"
I look at the door. "I think it's because the other timelines, where I went through the other doors, all had something bad happen in them."
"Then change it. Don't let those other timelines come to pass. Go through with a different group, if you have to."
I look at Gallus. "Alright." I guess I'll have to convince the others to let me through door 6.
"Did you find all the doors yet?"
"Only this and 4."
"Did you pass by the waiting area?"
I shake my head.
"Find door 8 and come to the waiting area. That seems like the best place to meet."
"Alright."
Gallus leaves...
*Beep*
*Bzzt*
Oioioi. I head through the halls to find door 8. Once I pass by it, I start searching for the waiting area. I'm guessing it's that well-lit room over there.
"Look who's slow!"
I stop in the doorway. They're all looking at me. "I'm out of here." I turn around.
"Sorry! Sorry." Smolder rubs the back of her head.
Rain puts her hoof on her girl's shoulder. "And you say I needed scolding?"
"Well, it's not like she can go anywhere we can't find her." Gallus looks at me. "We're about to choose who goes where."
Cozy nods. "We decided to write down the door we want and decide based on that."
Ocellus looks up from the page she has. "You want door 6, right Silver? That's what Gallus put for you."
I nod. "Who wants what?"
She looks at the page and bites her lip. "Yona wants door 6. Rain wants door 4. Sandbar wants door 8."
Sandbar wants door 8? That doesn't sound good.
"You want 6... Cozy wants door 8. Gallus, Smolder, and Bramble all put "any." You guys don't make this easy."
Cozy wants door 8? Now I'm getting scared.
Gallus sighs. "Door 4 has 2, door 6 has 6, and door 8 has 3. Sorry, Ocellus, but this is all about who you don't want to upset. If you choose door 4, Silver would be forced through door 8. If you pick door 6, Silver gets what she wants, but Yona will have to change doors, and either Sandbar or Cozy will have to change doors as well. If you pick door 8, Yona, Rain, and Cozy will all have to change."
!!! There's only one choice she can make that will make me change doors! I might be able to go through door 6 after all! Just do this for me, Ocellus! Please!
Ocellus is looking me right in the eye. "Um... Uh..."
Oh, please, Ocellus!
She's looking away, sweating. "Well..."
Please!
*DING DING DING DING*
"I choose..." |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Four: A Poor Choice | "I choose... Door 4." ...
"I'm sorry, Silver. I know you wanted to go through door 6, but this way, most of us get what we want." ...
"Silver, please. We need to-"
"Didn't you drag me through door 3?"
"Huh?"
"I didn't get a say in that. Did I? Or did I imagine it somehow?"
"Silver, I"
"Whatever. I'll just accept whatever everyone else wants like a good girl." I leave the room. If they want to talk to me, too bad.
I head over to door fuck me and sit in front of it. ...
"Silver? Are you alright?"
"No."
"Well, let's go through, and you can wait in there." ...
*Beep Beep* ...
I scan my bracelet in and pull the lever. I'm tempted to stay out of the room just to spite them, but I go through. We scan into the DEAD. Good. I'm not gonna die in here. I head off to a side room to hide. ...
"Silver. Let go."
That's right. In another timeline, Sandbar killed Cozy using that cage there. It lifted her up and dropped her in the crushing machine, and I wasn't strong enough to lift the cage.
"Woah! That looks dangerous!"
I look at Sandbar. "You know what that is, right?"
He shakes his head.
"It's a crushing machine. You throw junk in it, and it crushes the junk down so it can be more easily reused or removed."
"Uh, I hope that doesn't include ponies. Though, knowing this place, it probably does. Oh, yeah!" Sandbar holds out a bag to me. "Cozy suggested you should hold on to this."
I take the baggie and watch Sandbar head back out into the other room. Come to think of it, Sandbar was acting strangely when he killed Cozy. As if Cozy had killed Ocellus or something. Well, it's not worth dwelling on. I just need to keep track of these baggies.
"Howdy." Cozy floats up to me and gives me three more baggies. "How are you feeling?"
"I'll be fine. I think I got most of my pouting out of me."
"Is there a reason you wanted to avoid me?"
I shake my head. "You aren't the one I was trying to avoid."
"Sandbar, then?"
"I'm worried that he's Zero. I don't have proof, but I have a bad feeling about him."
"Ehehe. Let's hope you're wrong about that."
"Why is there an ax?"
... What? Cozy and I peek around the corner. Sure enough, Sandbar has an ax. "Could you put that down?"
Cozy re-enters the main room. "Of course there's going to be a lot of weird stuff in here."
Sandbar sticks the ax in the box he's next to. "Why?"
Cozy shoves the ax in enough to leave just the head sticking out. "It's a storage room, you idiot!"
Sandbar's ears shoot up, then back. "Hey, don't be rude. And that doesn't explain why there's an ax."
I wave my claw around. "Guys, could you please focus? We need to get out of here."
They both look at me, then Cozy rolls her eyes. "Alright. Fine."
They both go to opposite sides of the room. All I can do is wait for them to bring me the baggies. I head over to the panel in the side room. It has some instructions on it, but I'm only concerned about the first part. It says there are fifty baggies, including the one in the case we can't open yet.
So, all I can really do is keep track of the baggies they bring me. And thus, I wait.
10...
15...
20...
30...
40...
45... ...
"Hey, Silver!" Cozy cries out to me. "How many baggies do you have?"
"45!"
"45? I thought we brought you 44!"
"There was already one in here!"
They enter the room with the last five baggies. I point at the case that has the last baggie and a key in it.
Sandbar taps on the glass. "How do we get this open?"
I look at the cage at the other end of the room. I look back at Sandbar as his eyes move up then over.
"Oh, man. One of us has to get in that cage?"
"What are you waiting for? Hop in."
We look at Cozy.
"Me or her?"
"You, Sandbar."
He looks right at me.
I give him a smile. "It's okay, Sandbar. I'll get you out."
He sighs and moves towards the cage. I thought he would be more resistant to the idea.
*Clang*
"Hey, Silver? Remember how I said you didn't need to worry about me?" I look at Cozy, who has the baggie from the case in her... hoof. "What I meant to say was, you aren't the one that needs to worry about me."
I shoot towards the baggie as she tosses it, but she gets in the way. Not by much, just by enough. By the time I reach the rail, it's gone.
"COZY GLOW!" I look at Sandbar. "YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU!"
I don't know what's more unnerving; Sandbar screaming, or Cozy Glow laughing.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU FOR THIS! I'LL GET YOU! SILVER! SILVER, DO SOMETHING!"
I bite my beak. I tried in another timeline. I can't do anything.
"SILVER! DO SOMETHING!"
"I'm sorry."
"... DAMN IT! FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU SILVER? YOU BITCH! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!"
"Cozy... why?"
"Mmm... Let's call it revenge."
I hear him scream right before he's drowned out by the crushing of metal.
I sigh. It's done. I turn to take the key. ...
"Cozy, where's the key?"
"It should still be there."
Wait. "Was it tied to the bag?"
We stare at each other.
That face hoof means yes.
I turn around and leave the room. Once in the main room, I move to the exit door.
*Rattle Rattle*
It's still locked. How are we supposed to get out now? I turn around.
Cozy is biting her lip. "Are we stuck?"
I fly to the entrance door. It opens up, for some reason. "No. We just have to face the others." I barely see that ax from earlier. I really want to introduce it to Cozy's wing right now, but we still have to work together.
I head through, not bothering to check on the filly. As soon as I get back to the waiting room, my heart sinks. Smolder and Rain are there. I step through.
"Hey, Silver."
There she is. Ocellus is just off to the side. "Hey, Ocellus."
"Where are the others?"
"I'm right here."
!!! I immediately grab Cozy by the neck.
"Wah! What are you-"
I put my claw over her mouth. "Is there anything you want to tell them?"
I remove my claw, but she remains quiet.
Ocellus' eyes are as wide as dinner plates. "Where's Sandbar?" ...
I grab Cozy's mane and yank it. "Well? Are you going to tell her?"
Cozy's yelp of pain was followed by more silence.
Ocellus shoves past me and out of the room.
"Wait! Ocellus!" Rain follows her out.
I let go of Cozy and she follows Rain.
"Silver!" Smolder runs up to me. "What happened?"
"Cozy destroyed something we needed to get out, killing Sandbar in the process."
"What? What the hell was she thinking?"
I sit down. "I don't know. We should probably just wait, though. I'm sure Ocellus is giving Cozy a nice screaming."
"I think Ocellus should get a kill on the brat for that."
I want to talk back, but I don't disagree with her.
The first time through, Sandbar acted weird and killed Cozy Glow. The second time through, Cozy acted weird and killed Sandbar. What is up with that room?
"Hey, shouldn't Rain be back by now? I can understand Ocellus and Cozy Glow, but not her."
I look at Smolder, then sigh. "I'll see what's going on." I get up and head out of the room.
Huh? What's Ocellus doing here in the hall?
"Oh. Hey, Silver." She seems... calm.
"Uh, where's Rain?"
"She wanted to check something out in room 8." Scratch that, she seems robotic.
"Okay. I wanted to ask her something."
"She wanted to be left alone." ... Why isn't her face moving at all?
"Well, I needed to check something in there anyway." What kind of excuse is that?
"... Okay." She moves past... she has the ax on her back.
As soon as she's out of sight, I hurry to room 8. I barge through the door, knowing exactly what to expect.
Rain is lying on the floor of the room, surrounded by blood. I dart over to her and hold up her head. Her eyes are wide open, but they aren't moving at all.
I look around. I don't see Cozy Glow anywhere. I head into the side room. I see Sandbar's blood on the grinders where he was dropped into it. I slowly lift myself onto the rail.
There's another blood stain below.
"You shouldn't have come in here."
!!! OCELLUS! She's smiling, but not in a way that makes me comfortable!
"When I saw that blood, I knew what happened. I was mad. I needed to avenge him."
"Ocellus, stop!"
"I crushed two of Cozy Glow's legs and one of her wings before Rain jumped on me. We fought for a bit before I saw my new friend." She moves the ax from her back and lifts it up in front of her. "I like him, but I don't think Rain did. You saw how their first meeting went, right?"
I bite my beak. Is there any way out of this? AH! SHE'S APPROACHING!
"After that, I picked Cozy up and dangled her over the edge. Right behind where you are right now. I let her plead for a bit before dropping her in. It was quite fun to listen to."
I look at the crushing machine behind me.
"After that, I went to talk to Smolder. She turned unpleasant, so I had to treat her like I treated Rain. She put up a good fight until she lost her eyes. And axes are designed to take out thick things, so her scales weren't very useful to her."
I clutch the rail behind me with my right claw.
"I think we'll have a discussion with the others when they get out of room 6. After all, they deserve to know what happened, right?"
"And by "we," you mean you and your ax, right?"
"That's right. I just need your bracelet, and then I can leave."
I take a deep breath. "I don't have a way out of this alive, do I?"
"No, you don't." She lifts the ax above her head.
I put my weight on my claw and leap over the rail. The ax misses my throat but cuts my claw clean off. I drop towards the crusher.
"SIIIIIILVEEEEER!"
That scream... That makes all the pain I'm about to feel worth it.
*CRUNCH*
Ending 4
Changing a Changeling ...
......
............
"Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why... Nevermind."
I look at Ocellus. She seems perfectly normal. For some reason, I feel like I need to watch out for her.
"So, who's going where?"
"Yak want door 7!"
"I'd like door 7 as well." Huh? It feels like Ocellus just said something... strange.
"I'd like door 2." Rain holds up her bracelet.
"Door 2. Door 2. Door 2. Fine." Pfft. Smolder definitely said something strange.
We talk it out a bit more. Bramble, Sandbar, and Cozy Glow team up, and Gallus and I team up.
"Which way, Silver?"
"Door 7."
"Alright. Let's get going." Yona, Ocellus, Gallus, and I scan into the RED for door 7. Once through the door, we quickly scan into the DEAD for the room.
"Well, no time to waste."
"Yeah. Let's get looking."
TIME TO SEARCH!
*CRUNCH* |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour One: Aftershock | "Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why... Nevermind."
I look at Ocellus. She seems perfectly normal. For some reason, I feel like I need to watch out for her.
"So, who's going where?"
"Yak want door 7!"
"I'd like door 7 as well." Huh? It feels like Ocellus just said something... strange.
"I'd like door 2." Rain holds up her bracelet.
"Door 2. Door 2. Door 2. Fine." Pfft. Smolder definitely said something strange.
We talk it out a bit more. Bramble, Sandbar, and Cozy Glow team up, and Gallus and I team up.
"Which way, Silver?"
"Door 7."
"Alright. Let's get going." Yona, Ocellus, Gallus, and I scan into the RED for door 7. Once through the door, we quickly scan into the DEAD for the room.
"Well, no time to waste."
"Yeah. Let's get looking."
TIME TO SEARCH!
Wait. Didn't I-
*CRUNCH* ...
......
............
"Uh, Gallus?" I look over at Cozy Glow. "Why... Nevermind."
I look at Ocellus. She seems perfectly normal. For some reason, I feel like I need to watch out for her.
"So, who's going where?"
"Yak want door 7!"
"I'd like door 7 as well." Huh? It feels like Ocellus just said something... strange.
"I'd like door 2." Rain holds up her bracelet.
"Door 2. Door 2. Door 2. Fine." Pfft. Smolder definitely said something strange.
We talk it out a bit more. Bramble, Sandbar, and Cozy Glow team up, and Gallus and I team up.
"Which way, Silver?"
I look at Ocellus. "Door 2."
"Alright. Let's get going."
I move towards the door, only for Ocellus to catch my wrist. "You're trying to avoid me, aren't you?"
"Uh, I-"
"I don't blame you. In fact..." Uuuuaaaaahhhh! "I think you made a good choice."
Getting away from her RIGHT NOW! I rush over to Gallus.
"Uh, are you alright?"
I give a smile. A very fake smile. "I'm fine!"
Ocellus is giggling. "I think she's just worried about what's through that door."
Gallus pets my head. "Well, that's fair. Don't worry. I'm here for you."
"That's comforting." My smile is still as fake as possible.
I scan the RED quickly and pull the lever.
*Bzzt*
"Silver! Wait for us!" Oops. I thought they scanned in.
I scan in and let the others do the same. Smolder pulls the lever and we head through.
As soon as we scan the DEAD, Gallus looks right at me, looking very pale. "Did Ocellus really make that face?"
"So I'm not seeing things!" I hug Gallus. "I think she wants to kill me!"
"Do you two... need some time?" Smolder is rubbing the back of her head. "We can handle this room if you do."
"Yeah, g-go ahead and solve the puzzle." Gallus turns back to me. "I'm really worried about what she's going to do. It terrifies me."
"I think..." I bite my beak. "I think she killed me in another timeline."
His eyes shoot wide, then he smiles. "So you're adapting to using- No! Bad Gallus! Not the time! The thing is, she actually killed you in two other timelines. The first one, she offed most of the group, leaving only me, her, and Sandbar. Then Sandbar killed himself to get away from her, leaving us stuck. She killed me in frustration."
What the fuck, Ocellus?
"The second timeline, Yona killed her, but not before she got half of us. Zero finished the rest of us off."
"Zero?"
Gallus nods. "He just showed up and started stabbing us. I don't even know why. It's almost like he wasn't happy with how we were doing."
That makes me wonder something, but there's a more pressing issue right now. "So how do we deal with Ocellus?"
He sighs. "I'm not sure. It seems like she's also using the Morphogenetic field, so I doubt there's a place to imprison her that she doesn't know about already."
Wait... "Do you really think she's doing the same thing we are?"
He nods. "Her snapping was way too sudden and didn't happen in most of the other timelines I've been to. It had to have been caused by something from the last timeline she went to before she went wild."
I rub my head. I wish I knew how to access my other memories more easily. "There's not something that could make using my powers more easy that you aren't telling me about, is there?"
His eyes go wide, then he looks away, scratching his cheek. "I haven't lied to you at all. Now's not the time to worry about our powers. Not while Ocellus is on the offensive."
He's right. I'll have to grill him later. "So if we can't imprison her, how do we deal with her?"
He shrugs. "Kill her? She'll probably get someone else before we meet her again, but it's best if we minimize our casualties."
"I don't know if Zero will let us."
Gallus tilts his head. "What-"
*CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG*
... What was I doing? I got distracted by my EARS BEING TORN APART!
"You guys ready? We are!"
Gallus leers at Smolder. "No! We aren't ready!"
"Whatever it is, it can wait." Rain jumps into the hatch leading down, followed by Smolder.
Gallus and I share a look. We are not ready to face Ocellus right now, but we aren't being given much choice. We reluctantly follow.
We all head down the hallway to the end, where the infirmary awaits. We step inside. The other team isn't here yet. I head over to door 1.
"Oh, hey guys." Oh, shit. "You guys beat us here, huh?"
"Yeah, we solved..."
I turn around. Smolder is looking at the other group. Ocellus has a freakish smile on her face, while the three creatures behind her look like they witnessed a murder. To be fair, they probably did.
"Where's Cozy Glow?"
"It's okay. I have her bracelet right here." And she lifts it up as if there's nothing weird about her having that.
Rain's eye is twitching. "What? Did she die?"
Bramble nods. "Ocellus took a weight and crushed her head in."
Smolder grabs the bracelet away from Ocellus. "What the fuck, Ocellus?"
"What's wrong?" Is she really that far gone?
"You killed Cozy Glow! You can't just do that kind of shit!"
"Hehehehehe." ? "Hahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Smolder steps away from that... thing. "What's so funny?"
"You think I was wrong for doing that?" Oh, sweet Juno. The only thing wider than her eyes is her smile. "Cozy Glow was a problem. Problems need to be solved."
No one looks comfortable around her. I feel lucky I'm by door 1 and not next to her.
"There are certain creatures in this world that aren't worth keeping around. They won't do anything but cause trouble. And that's very unacceptable."
Oh, dear. She's very gone by now.
"How are they supposed to be handled? We can chuck them into Tartarus, but that just means they get to live until they can cause trouble again. They're better off dead."
I look at the door behind me.
"But you're going to try and tell me that Cozy did nothing wrong. She did. You may not remember it, but she did."
I crumble up a post-it note on a desk near me and toss it at Yona.
"And that thing she did was horrible. So vile. So evil! Hehehehehe."
Yona looks at me. I nod to the door behind me.
"So it was only a matter of time until she did something worse. And then what? Do we shrug and say we didn't see it coming, even though we did?"
Yona looks up, then nods.
"I'd rather take care of a problem before it gets too bad, rather than let the problem become something we can't handle."
Yona moves into position.
"But now she's in the past. No longer a problem. And we need to keep moving forward."
I scan my bracelet into the RED for door 1. "I agree with that much."
Ocellus looks at me. "Wha-"
Yona rams into her and smashes her into door 1. I quickly grab Ocellus' hoof and scan in the bracelet. Yona follows suit.
"Sorry, guys. We'll see you later!" I pull the lever and follow Yona as she drags Ocellus into the room.
"What are you-"
Yona throws Ocellus into the DEAD. Her bracelet scanned into it somehow. Yona rushes over, scans in, and picks Ocellus up. I scan the DEAD and pull the lever, deactivating our bracelets.
I look at Yona just in time for her to chuck Ocellus into a metal tube and slide it shut.
Ocellus wastes no time banging on the walls of her prison. "What are you doing? Let me out!"
I slam the top of the tube. "Not until you stop acting like a psychopath!"
"What are you talking about? I'm not acting any differently than normal!"
Oh, sweet Pluto. "Yona, one of us needs to talk her down. Do you want to handle the puzzle in the room? Or should I?"
"Yak will handle puzzle."
"Because you don't want to deal with the crazy?"
She puts her hoof on my shoulder. "Because if anyone can talk her down, it's you."
... I smile and nod. I have something important to do.
"I can hear you out there! DON'T CALL ME CRAZY!"
Ho, boy. I've got an uphill battle. I give the tube another good smack. "We're calling you crazy because you're crazy!" Ow. I think I hit the tube too hard.
"Shut up! You selfish brat! Don't act like you're better than me!"
Selfish brat? "I don't kill others for no reason!"
"I did have a reason! You didn't!"
Where did that come from? "Then tell me your reason!"
"You know my reason!"
"No, I don't! I wouldn't be asking if I did know!"
"Quit lying! We both know you know!"
I need to sit down. "Does it really justify killing her?"
"It does and you know it does!"
Why am I playing along with this? "Could you at least leave everyone else alive?"
"You're already getting in the way of our escape!"
Our? "You and who else?"
"YOU KNOW!"
"Sandbar." Yona knew. And, to be honest, I should have pieced that together.
Maybe she'll realize that I don't know everything if I act like I don't know anything. "So you think you can get you and your friend out by killing everyone?"
"That's how the game works! It's a killing game! You kill everyone else, and you get your freedom back!"
... It looks like Yona's not sure what she's saying either. "I don't think that's right, but if it is, wouldn't that mean only one of you two can escape?"
"Oh, I don't plan on leaving. I'll kill everyone for my precious, and then I'll kill myself so he can leave!"
THE FUCK? "Ocellus, Zero only said that we need to find door 9! He didn't say we had to kill each other to get out!"
... That is not a comforting laugh. "Even better! I can kill everyone else, and then get out with him! He'll be mine forever! FOREVER! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
I bite my beak. Yona has three of the keys, but she put them down on the panel next to the tube. We really don't want to let her out. Not like this, at least.
*DING DING*
Not the time! Thank Vulcanus that my life isn't divided into chapters, because that's where the chapter would end. |
Zero Escape: Chambers of Nightmares | Hour Two: Reasoning | ... So Ocellus lost her mind. How am I supposed to reason with her? Think, Silver. Think...
"Her snapping was way too sudden and didn't happen in most of the other timelines I've been to. It had to have been caused by something from the last timeline she went to before she went wild."
Right. It would have to be something that happened here. I have to acknowledge that she can access the Morphogenetic Field at this point. Even considering that, she was perfectly sane when we got here and at the start of most of the timelines. So what happened that made Ocellus snap?
"You okay, Silver?"
"Yeah. I'm thinking."
She called me a selfish brat. Was there a point I was being selfish?... The last set of doors in the last timeline I went to. I wanted door 6 and shamed her when she wouldn't let me go there. Honestly, I was just upset because I knew something would go wrong. In hindsight, I can see why it came off as a selfish demand. And what happened after that...
"What I meant to say was, you aren't the one that needs to worry about me."
What happened after that...
"COZY GLOW! YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU!"
What happened is...
"SIIIIIILVEEEEER!"
Exactly why she snapped! Cozy Glow killed Sandbar in that timeline, then Ocellus killed her, Rain, and Smolder before trying to kill me! For all she knows, Cozy and I worked together to kill him. That's why she's treating me like I'm just as bad as Cozy.
"Did you realize something?"
I nod. "It's just a matter of if I can use it or not. I don't want to say the wrong thing and make it all worse."
Yona's scratching her head. "She keeps blaming you. Is there some way to throw that back at her?"
"How would that help?"
"If she thinks she's at fault, she might blow up for a bit, but she might go back to normal after calming down."
Huh... Can I blame her for this at all? That might work, but I can't think of anything-
"HEY!" She's banging on the tube again. "WHAT ARE YOU TWO SAYING?"
"Quiet down!" Think, Silver! Think! Is there some way you can make her think it's her fault? Think. Think...
"I choose... door 4"
!!! No! Wait! It's entirely her fault!
"HEY! DON'T TELL ME TO SHUT UP! YOU'RE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH AS COZY WAS!"
"By that logic, you're also responsible for his death!"
Silence. Fully expected that.
"WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING?"
"I knew things would go bad if I went through door 8! That's why I wanted to go through door 6 in the first place! But you prevented me from keeping him safe!" Okay, it was Cozy I was trying to protect, but still. "So, by your own logic, you're responsible for his death!"
Waiting for a response...
"YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!"
Uh oh.
"DON'T FUCKING BLAME THIS ON ME, YOU ROTTEN BRAT!"
Shit. I don't think this will end well.
"I WASN'T TRYING TO FUCKING SPITE YOU, YOU SLUT! I WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE HAPPY! I WAS TRYING TO SATISFY AS MANY OF US AS I COULD, AND MAKE AS FEW OF US UPSET AS POSSIBLE!"
I lift my claw to smash the top of the tube. She needs to shut- Yona? "Wha-" Her hoof is on my beak!
"I WAS TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY! STOP BEING SELFISH!"
Why did Yona stop me? Why won't she let go?
"I WANTED WHAT WAS BEST FOR EVERYONE! I WANTED... I... I..."
Ocellus is... coughing?
"I wanted... I... everyone..."
She's crying.
"I wanted... I wanted to make everyone happy, and then I... I... Waaahhhhhhh!"
She's... really breaking down, huh?
"Why would I... Why would I do that? What is wrong with me?"
I gently move Yona's hoof off of my beak and place my claw on the tube. "Ocellus? We're going to get you out, okay?"
She doesn't respond. I can still hear her crying. It's strange. Just a few moments ago, I was terrified of her, even with all of that metal between us. Now? I want to hug her.
I look at Yona. She's smiling at me... I smile back. I did the right thing. Not in the way I intended, but she should be back to normal now.
Yona and I take the keys she's already got and try them on the locks until they work... Ah! This one doesn't fit any of them.
"What? Are there fake keys?"
"No." I head over to the panel with a locked glass case over it. "This key goes to a different lock." I unlock the glass case and lift it up, then I press the button to open the door it's next to. "I'm going into this room alone. If the door closes, press that button. Hopefully, that will open it back up." I already know that it'll close on me. I just wonder if this is what Rain did in the other timeline.
Yona just nods... wait. Did she hear what I said to Ocellus? Did she stop me because she thought I was talking crazy? Or did she somehow know that would work? Did she know what I was talking about?... Uh, door door door. Don't worry about that, Silver. Just stay focused.
I walk in and open the box at the far end of the room.
*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
That was the door closing. I put on one of the masks that fell from the ceiling.
"Plea-" *Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
Wow. Yona was fast about that one. I take the key from the box and head back towards the door. OW! Right. I should take this mask off.
I step out of the room and share a look with Yona.
"How did you know that would work?"
I shrug. "I didn't. I just figured it would be a bad idea for both of us to go in at once."
She looks away from me, then nods. "Let's get Ocellus out."
I nod. It looks like we only have two boxes to open up now. I start unlocking one of the boxes while Yona handles the other one.
It doesn't take too long for us to open the boxes and unlock the last of the locks. We slide open the tube. Oh no!... "She's just asleep."
I hear Yona let out a sigh. "Let's go."
I lift Ocellus onto Yona's back, then open the door out of here. As soon as I step through, I see Smolder, Rain, and... Sandbar.
"Yeah, the needles didn't pierce my scales at all. It's almost like they didn't-" Smolder looks right at us. Rain and Sandbar both turn to look once they notice where her attention is.
"Ocellus!" Sandbar rushes over to Yona. Or rather, to the changeling Yona is carrying.
"It's alright. I managed to talk her down. Somehow."
Sandbar grabs Ocellus like she's a plushie, closing his eyes and rubbing his cheek against her's. It makes me feel good that they... He's... staring at me. It looks a bit like he's mad at me. But I saved Ocellus! That should count for something, right? He's looking at his girl... His eyes are closed... He's breathing in...
"Thank you." Ah! There's his smile! That makes me feel fuzzy inside.
"Mmph. Sandbar?"
Sandbar looks at Ocellus. "I'm right here."
She's nuzzling up to him. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I learned something horrible, and I just-"
Sandbar is shushing her. "It's okay, Ocellus. It'll be okay. We'll worry about that once we're out of here. Alright?"
Aww. She's smiling. "Alright."
I guess- AHH! Please tell me that was the first! Please tell me I just watched their first kiss!
"Silver, what was that sound?"
"She's a hopeless romantic. That's all."
Hehe. They know me so well.
"Uhh." ?
"Ahh."
That sounds like... "Bramble?"
He's looking me right in the eye. "I... I..."
Wait. Someone's missing. "Where's Gallus?"
His eye is twitching. Did something happen?
*Whump*
!!! Oh no! Is he alright? "Bramble! What's wrong? Did you hurt-"
"I... I couldn't..."
I lift his head up. "Talk to me, Bramble. What happened?"
"I... I..."
"I've been with him through all of the doors." Cozy Glow? But she's- "In every one of them, he wasn't able to do anything."
That's right. In another timeline, Cozy mentioned that he can't do the puzzles on his own. Which means...
Oh, no!
"Silver! Wait!"
Gallus isn't here, and Bramble can't do the puzzles! That means that Gallus is... Gallus is...
That's... not pretty. It's not as bad as I expected, but it's still not pretty.
"Oh. Oh, no." I look at Rain. "That's... not good."
I look back at Gallus. At least, what's left of him. "It's not. Go tell the others. I'll get his bracelet."
... Have I really been exposed to death that much recently? This is hardly getting to me now. Either way, we have to keep moving.
There's no sign of damage on the bracelet, even though it got soaked with acid. Though they're probably just coated in something that keeps them safe from acid. Or maybe they're made out of bone since that's all that's left of Gallus! Ick! There's not a bit of flesh left on him! Ugh... I guess I'm not as used to this as I thought.
I head back through the door, bracelet in claw.
"But if I hadn't killed Cozy Glow, she would have been there to help you with the puzzle."
"But I should have gone in that side room before he did!"
What a thing to return to. Ocellus and Bramble are both trying to take the blame for Gallus' death. I look at the other's reactions. Sandbar is biting his lip, Yona has her head tilted, Rain isn't looking at them, and Smolder looks annoyed.
"I, uh, got the bracelet." That's not gonna stop them, but I at least want to get their attention.
They both look at me. The look in their eyes can only be of guilt. That doesn't make me feel any better than whenever it's of accusation.
"Silver," Ocellus speaks first, "Who do you blame for his death?"
"It's me, right?" Bramble is practically asking me to blame him.
I can't have them acting like this. Not right now. "Gallus should have known better. He told me a while back that he wouldn't trust Bramble to solve a puzzle to save his life." Okay, Gallus didn't actually say that, but they don't need to know. "We can work out the details once we're out. Let's just focus on getting out of here first."
The two of them look at each other.
Ocellus sighs and looks at me. "You're right. We should keep going."
Bramble lets out a soft groan. "The sooner we get out of here the better."
*DING DING DING*
There's the next chime as if to remind us of how long we've been here. And how much longer we could be here. |
Glowing Embers | pre | "Huh?" she followed his glance to the bookshelves in the living room. "Oh, well, all of us really. But mostly me."
"I just don't know many people who'd display them in the living room," he said, picking up one of them.
"We used to have signed first editions," she explained. "That's the kind of books to display, but I left them.... We lost them when we moved here. I managed to find them online, but we haven't gotten around to getting them signed yet. But the shelf felt empty without them, so they're still here."
As he put the book back on the shelf, Sunset popped in one of the games. She wondered what he was thinking of, and a part of her was paranoid that he'd somehow figured it all out. That maybe she'd made too many jokes to herself, or said too many things that a normal teen wouldn't. But he didn't say anything about that.
"You play as Rosalina?" Flash asked.
"Yeah," Sunset nodded, turning her attention back to the game. "I like the large karts and bikes better, and she's prettiest out of the large characters so...."
"What, Waluigi's not your type?" he teased.
"You already know my type," she said.
"Fair enough," he shrugged, choosing his own character and kart. "Then again I- hey! Don't you dare start us on Rainbow Road!"
"Too late," she smirked. "Should've said something earlier!"
She stuck out her tongue while Flash hunkered down into 'serious game' mode. Despite the protest, and some minor shoving, he didn't do too bad, coming in second place. Of course, Sunset was still in first.
"Think they'll have a Mario Kart contest in the Friendship Games?" Sunset asked.
"I think it's more of a Mario Party thing," Flash said. "Longer competition, and they'll definitely start throwing punches."
"As if they don't already?" she laughed. "Think the whole 'fangirling' thing will be the same if you win at Mario Party Seriously, did you see everyone around High Kick during the pep rally?"
"Ugh, yeah," he made a face. "I don't get it. Sure he's a good soccer player, but does everyone have to go nuts?"
"They think he's cute," she shrugged. "I guess he is, if you're into guys."
"Not really," he mumbled.
Sunset gave him a look and set down her controller. He stared back, head tilted as if he didn't notice what he said.
"Something you wish to share?" Sunset prompted.
"No?" Flash answered.
"You just said High Kick isn't cute," she said. "Not even in the 'I'm not into guys so he's not cute' way like I did but regular 'guys are cute but he's not' way."
"Well if I'm not into guys I obviously don't think he's cute," he defended, a bit too adamantly.
"Which is what I said," she nodded. "Except you disagreed."
"Then I-" he stopped and frowned. "Damn it Sunset! What do you want me to say?"
"Okay, you don't have to tell me if you don't actually want to," she said, a bit softer. "But hey, you're talking to me here. I'm not going to judge you if you like guys."
Instead of answering, Flash curled up on his side of the couch. His knees were at his chest, the forgotten controller hanging limply in his hand as he rested his head in his arms. He stared at the tv, watching the playback of their race, but not really registering it.
"I-I definitely like girls," Flash said, more to himself than her. "I know I like girls. But I just.... Sometimes.... I don't know."
"Okay with me," Sunset shrugged. "I, personally, only like girls. But if you like both, that's fine with me."
At her comment, his head shot up and he stared at her. The expression on his face was some combination of shock, confusion, and hope. It took a moment for that to click in Sunset's brain, but once it did, she just stared back.
"Oh. My. Stars," Sunset whispered. "You-you didn't know that was a...."
"That's an actual thing?" Flash asked, still in disbelief.
"That is absolutely a thing!" she exclaimed. "There's plenty of people who... okay, you know what? I'm getting my laptop. I'm going old-school research paper on this thing, because holy fuck you need to know this stuff!"
"Wait, I'm still stuck on the 'this is normal' part," he said. "If the idea of liking girls and guys is too complicated for me, do you really think a research paper will help?"
"You're right, I think you work better with powerpoints," she nodded. "But okay, I'll admit, sexuality and gender and all that is a whole bunch of fuckery, though not as complicated as when you more than just.... not as complicated as choosing your main on Mario Kart. Anyway, let me chug an energy drink and give me twenty minutes to work up some basics on the complicated stuff. Trust me, you'll feel a lot better about your life when you have answers!"
"Yeah, but-" he tried to protest.
Unfortunately, Sunset was already at the fridge and half-way through a drink. |
Glowing Embers | Summer Fun and Winter Doubt | Sunset hadn't thought about it, but they didn't really need to hang out over Summer Break. They barely saw any of their classmates in summer, so there was no one to impress. She could've told Flash 'you're probably sick of fake-dating me, so how about you do whatever for the Summer and I'll tell my 'parents' you go to camp'?'.
But she didn't. She kept hanging out with him. Sometimes they would hang out with Brawly and Thunder too, but Brawly did actually have a summer camp to go to and Thunder's family liked to go on vacations. So a lot of times, it was just the two of them.
They did everything a pair of teens liked to do, having carefree summer fun. Some days were spent in their own gaming tournaments or movie marathons. Others they went to the park. A few times they just wandered through downtown, finding little shops that had the best trinkets, things that Flash speculated could be the key to some Magical Destiny while Sunset was just reminded of home.
One of the most interesting things was learning to drive. Sunset had some difficulty when it came to the paperwork to get her learner's permit, but once she knew what she needed to fake, a concentrated burst of Trust from one of her pendants was enough to make the people at the DMV believe her paperwork.
After that, it was just the terror of learning. Goldie and Bramble offered to help her, taking turns between teaching her and Flash. But Sunset still didn't quite trust cars. They were like small, personal trains, which was convenient, but the lack of room and the fact that it wasn't on set tracks was a bit unnerving to her.
However, what she really found cool were the motorcycles. She hadn't paid much attention to them before, but Bramble had one. One time he offered her a ride home on it, and after that she was hooked. It took her enough time to walk to her front door to decide she wanted one, and immediately sprinted back to ask Bramble to teach her how to ride it.
Bramble had given a hearty chuckle and agreed on one condition: it had to be a surprise for Flash and Goldie. That worked for her. Riding a motorcycle, with the wind rushing past her, it made her wonder if that's what flying was really like. She'd have to ask a Pegasus.
It was all worth it by the end of summer. As soon as she was able to, she bought her own motorcycle. Of course, Flash and Goldie were expecting her to come up in a car, and she cackled at their faces when she rode up in front of their house. Bramble grinned with false innocence when they asked how, but it lasted all of a minute before Goldie rolled her eyes and smiled, telling Sunset how proud they were.
The last event of the summer was a trip with Flash, Thunder, and Brawly. It was a typical teen thing, going to a beach and having a bonfire and just camping. It was weird to camp on a beach, but other than the sand everywhere it was just them having fun.
They didn't have to pretend to be anything else here. No one played the 'happy couple', or the 'cool teen', or anything else. Sunset didn't even pretend to be a normal Human. She didn't tell them the truth, that would be far too difficult, but she didn't think of it. She was just her, just Sunset Shimmer. Unicorn, Human, it didn't matter here.
Eventually, school started up again. But Sunset did not go back to pretending. Sure, she and Flash still let people think of them as a couple, and neither discussed the technical terms, but they were them.
Somehow, it didn't hit her just yet. The moment Sunset realized it all, was her second time as Princess of the Fall Formal. She realized that, for the first time in so long, she felt happy and loved.
If only it were real. If only it wasn't based on a lie. Everything they cared about wasn't her, but the Human she pretended to be.
The cold was a bit refreshing. As much as Sunset liked having some sort of structure, school was exhausting. But for now, she didn't have to think about class for two weeks.
She gripped the crystals in her pockets, the fire spell in them warming her hands. Strange, how fingers could get so cold. More than once she debated giving one to Flash, but she'd have to explain why a large gem was giving off so much heat.
"Hey," Flash said, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Are... are your parents going to be home for Christmas?"
"I don't know," Sunset answered, keeping the lie. "Probably not."
"Well, if they don't," he began. "You can spend the day with us. You know, me, Goldie, and Bramble."
"I wouldn't want to impose..." she trailed off. Technically imposing was all she was doing with them.
"You won't be," he said. "Trust me they'd love to have you over."
"I'll think about it," she said. "At the very least I'll try and stop by."
At home, Sunset debated with herself. Should she go, should she celebrate with them? But it felt like too much. Not just because it felt wrong to celebrate a holiday of togetherness when their relationship was built on lies, or that she wouldn't want to be missing her real family while playing 'the girlfriend' for Goldie and Bramble.
It was because Christmas was their holiday, not hers. Despite the similarities in tradition and theme of togetherness, the holidays came from two different places. It didn't feel right to celebrate something that meant nothing to her, but it also felt wrong to pretend to celebrate it while celebrating her own holiday instead.
She did stop by, for a little bit, bringing gifts and a plate of cookies. But she refused to stay for more than an hour. It hurt a bit, to disappoint them. But making them happy would have hurt more. Because it could never be real. |
Glowing Embers | The Past Still Haunts | While Canterlot High wasn't like Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, it did have its fair share of jerks and bullies, people who ruined others just for the fun of it. Sunset hadn't liked them, but she stayed away from them and they thankfully stayed away from her. These people went only for those they saw as 'lesser' than themselves, and Sunset was either 'on their level' or 'above it' here.
It wasn't like CSFGU where she was younger, and didn't have their money. Not that she'd been 'poor', with a bestselling author for a mom and a Royal Mage for a dad, but she wasn't the same rich as the Nobility who paid their way into the school.
Here, she was smart, pretty, in their age group, and charming enough to be popular. And there were very few students with rich or powerful enough families to be considered 'above' like those back home. Sunset didn't 'get it', but as long as they left her alone, she was fine.
Still, there were some who tried, thinking they were better than everyone. Sunset didn't ignore them, but a quick rebuff usually shut them down. Sometimes, they thought she was like them, tried to get her to help them hurt people for no reason, or to help them break the rules. She'd put her foot down at that, but this time she didn't get the chance.
"So, how'd you do so well on the test?" a new transfer student had asked her.
"I studied," Sunset shrugged, continuing to put books in her locker.
"But you're too pretty to study!" the girl said. "Pretty girls don't have to be smart."
"Well, I am," she said. "Because people are more than tropes. And I like doing things, even if that's homework, it's something to do."
"Doing things, you say," the girl mused with a smile. "I see. So care to give some tips?"
"Open a book for once?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Not that," the girl rolled her eyes. "I meant about Mr. Birch. Seriously, what did it take?"
"What did what take?" she demanded.
"Seducing him for a grade," the girl elaborated in a more hushed tone. "Doesn't seem too difficult, he seems the type that would sleep with a student. Wonder how many-"
The next thing Sunset knew, the girl was on the floor and her hand was throbbing in pain and burning rage beneath her skin. She connected the dots as one teacher led her to the office and the girl was sent to the nurse. Thankfully, she didn't have to deal with Principal Celestia.
However, Vice Principal Luna was an enigma all her own. Her existence was a puzzle to Sunset, but one she couldn't solve. Luna's closeness to Principal Celestia, the Moon theme in all of her clothes, her demeanor as Equal to the Principal instead of just being a Vice Principal. Everything about her told Sunset that this was the Counterpart of the mare from the stories, Nightmare Moon. Except for the fact that Nightmare, and Luna, had never appeared. Perhaps that is why Celestia looked so sad at the sight of the Moon.
But for now, Sunset tried to focus on her as any other Human. Luna was not a Princess, but a Vice Principal. One with a cold stare so much like the Princess's, but so different. It was a stare of authority, yet she could still see the disappointment in her expression.
"Miss Shimmer," the VP began, keeping her voice neutral. "Would you care to tell me why you assaulted another student?"
"What do you want me to say?" Sunset replied. "She was awful. And I don't say that lightly. You should keep an eye on her, because she'll probably try something else while she's here."
"I will keep an eye on students that have shown they need it," she said. "What makes you think she needs it?"
"Because she was...." She trailed off.
If she said it, then it could happen again. That wasn't fair to anyone, but if she didn't, worse could happen. But could she trust the Vice Principal? Could she trust Luna? There wasn't a Counterpart to give her an idea. Then again, Luna was not her Counterpart, and deserved her own chance.
"She was what?" Luna asked.
"She was looking for tips to seduce a teacher for test scores," Sunset said. "That's why I punched her."
"That is... Unexpected," she said, surprise quite visible. "Before we continue, I must ask, why did she ask you?"
"Because she thinks I did," she said. "But I haven't. She just thinks that I couldn't have possibly been smart enough to pass a test, even though all the answers are in the book. Whether or not the books are accurate because they're out of date is another question, but the test questions come from there."
"And you believe she deserved to be hit for that?" she questioned. "Why not report it?"
"Report what exactly?" she asked. "Firstly, hitting her was spur of the moment, not something I planned on. Secondly, do you know what happened last time someone suggested that my grades were fabricated like that?
"Fair enough, you don't," She continued, not giving a chance for Luna to interrupt. "But it reached the faculty before I even knew about the rumors, and the teacher was put under investigation. Even with me insisting that nothing happened, and no other students coming forward to say it happened to them, the parents still tried to get him fired. The only reason he wasn't was because Pri- because someone the parents liked to suck up to took my side."
"So yeah, I hit her," she sank back in her chair. "Because it just reminded me of that. And I didn't want Mr. Birch to go through that Hellscape."
"Language," Luna automatically chastised. "However, you do have a point. Not for punching her, but for what would happen. By law, we do have to investigate. But considering your testimony, we can keep this quiet and ask directly."
"That said," she continued. "You still did hit a student, and there needs to be some sort of punishment. Given that you reported a potential crime in progress, I believe we can call that Community Service and go with two days of detention instead of suspension."
"Thank you," Sunset nodded, knowing better than to fight that. "Can I go back to class now?"
"Yes," she nodded, writing her a pass. "And I will be dropping by the nurse's office, so I suggest you avoid its occupant."
She nodded again and headed out the door. Sunset wasn't sure she was able to breathe until she was back in class. Flash tried to ask what happened, but she didn't want to tell him here.
She waited until they made it to her place again. He wasn't sure how to react, but Sunset didn't care. She just hugged him close and tried not to cry.
"I didn't want to ruin someone else's life," she said. "I'm sorry. I know I'm not the best person. But I don't want... I don't want that."
Once more, she wanted to tell him everything. Not just that she lied to him about everything, but about Equestria and why she left. He deserved to know, and she knew he'd believe her. Even if he never forgave her for lying to him.
But she couldn't, because it would hurt him. She knew she'd have to tell him eventually, either when he figured it out or when she broke and couldn't stand it anymore. Yet some irrational part of her thought that maybe if she just kept from saying anything, she'd never have to hurt him.
The only thing she did was apologize over and over, hoping it would get through. That it would be enough.
They made it back to Flash's place after a particularly disastrous basketball game. Not that their players were a disaster. But when the college student that had been shadowing the retiring theatre teacher decided to give a grand finale to his prank war with the principals, well, there were a few literal and metaphorical explosions.
The duo relaxed in Flash's room, exhausted from even processing the Gym incident. Instead, they talked of anything else.
"Oh, I forgot to mention," Flash began. "You wanted me to tell you about any more Pegasus dreams."
"Yeah, they're interesting," Sunset said. "So, what now? Capture any villains?"
"No, but there was a guy that reminded me of you," he said.
"What did he look like?" she asked, bolting to attention.
"Well, at first, weird," he said. "I thought it was just because it's a dream so all the ponies in armor looked the same because of that. But apparently their armor is magic and makes them look the same."
"Magical uniforms," she shrugged, pretending to guess. "Wait, you don't look like them?"
"Maybe because I'm dreaming?" he suggested. "Anyway, this guy, this Unicorn, at first he was all gray and blue except for the scar on his cheek, but then he took the helmet of and he changed. He was yellow with orange hair that had a silver streak, and eyes just like yours. That's what made me think of you."
"Anything else?" she asked, her heart tight in her chest.
"Uh well," he began, turning a little red. "I think he was flirting with me? Not really sure it I was into that since he's some kind of horse, but if he were a person...."
Sunset didn't hear the rest of his comment. That was Lance, it had to be. While it wasn't much, she was glad he was okay. Of course, it made her want to know more. How'd he get the scar on his cheek? When did he get switched to the Lunar Guard? And most importantly, was he being generically flirty or had he lost interest in the Unicorn he'd been in love when she'd left?
In the end, it didn't matter too much. Lance was okay, he was alive. And that was all she could really hope for. |
Glowing Embers | A Band of Matchmakers | With the end of the school year fast approaching, the upperclassmen had started going nuts with what Sunset liked to call 'Prom Fever'. All any upperclassmen could talk about was finding their dress and their date and what limo they should use. Of course, the Freshmen and Sophmores paid no mind.
"Why do they call it the 'Spring Fling'?" Flash asked.
"Probably to match 'Fall Formal'," Brawly said through a mouthful of chips.
"I think he meant 'why don't they call it Prom like everyone else?" Thunder said.
"Because CHS is Extra like that," Sunset answered, posing dramatically for effect.
"Good point," Flash agreed.
"So, you two planning on going next year?" Brawly asked. "Or you could try and sneak in this year, but that seems more trouble than it's worth. Then again, the whole thing does."
"What, not one for prom season?" Sunset teased.
"Not all of us have a date you know," he stuck his tongue out at her. "Thunder, back me up here. You wouldn't go to prom unless you had a date."
"Yeah, a date would be nice," Thunder answered, somewhat distracted.
Focusing closer, Sunset saw what had him distracted. She smiled at the way Thunder had glanced to Flash when a date was mentioned. She smiled wider when he noticed her looking at him.
He looked a bit terrified. Sunset under stood. After all, she was 'the girlfriend'. But still, with that same smirk, she gave a small nod to him and lightly jerked her head in Flash's direction. Thunder's face turned red and he buried his head in his hands.
"Any idea what they're on about" Brawley asked.
"Nope," Flash answered.
Sunset rolled her eyes, but smiled to herself at the idea. Perhaps she could play matchmaker.
Summer vacation had started perfectly. Sunset and Flash hung out, driving around wherever. Most days they'd take Sunset's motorcycle, but if Brawley and Thunder happened to be along, they'd take the car Flash had gotten. Even if Sunset and Brawly teased him about his choice of decals.
She'd spend time at Flash's house a lot. Goldie and Bramble were wonderful people. They'd taught Sunset to play guitar and piano, and she questioned why she never tried it when learning how to work fingers.
Flash got the idea to start a band. After all, both he and Sunset could play guitar, Thunder was on bass, Brawly was epic with drums, and the four of them were decent singers. Why shouldn't they start a band? The real question was band names.
"It should be a pun on one of our names," Brawly said. "What about 'Flash Drive'?"
"That's the best pun you could come up with?" Thunder raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, man," he groaned, flopping onto the couch. "Flash's the guitar guy so he'll get the attention anyway, and there's not a lot of puns I can think of with 'Flash' in it that don't involve a dick joke!"
"Besides, it doesn't fit our aesthetic," Sunset said. "'Flash Drive' would be good if we were a bunch of nerds."
"I'm with Sunset on this one," Flash said. "She's the closest thing to a nerd we have so.."
"Hey!" she pouted.
"Remind me what you got on your final exam scores?" he teased.
"What about 'Thunder Flash'?" Brawly suggested, ignoring their bickering. "That sounds more badass."
"It only uses half the band members though," Flash said.
"And it sounds like a fanfic thing," Sunset said. "You know, 'ship names' and all that."
It probably didn't help that she gave Thunder a smirk when saying that. The poor boy got so flustered that even Brawly managed to catch on. Brawly raised an eyebrow at Sunset, before glancing between the other two. She only shrugged and nodded, while he joined her in an almost maniacal grin.
"Come on," Brawly said, getting up and putting an arm around Thunder. "I think it's a great name. Sure, it's little fanfic-y, but come on. It's a badass name."
"You know, it's starting to grow on me," Sunset added, sliding up to his other side. "Sounds like a great idea. Really, I say we ask and see how it goes. Can't hurt to try, right?"
"I am going to murder you both," Thunder whispered.
"I feel like I'm missing something," Flash sighed.
Sunset and Brawly both shared a look, trying not to laugh. That was another thing she'd learned about Flash. His obliviousness was an enigma of sorts. So often he was the first to spot something, see the little details and put puzzles together, not to mention his reaction time. Yet there were moments like this where no amount of not-so-subtle hints could get things across.
And while both knew they could probably save a good bit of hassle later on, Sunset and Brawly also knew that you're not supposed to be blunt here.
"Nope," Sunset shrugged. "You're not missing anything other than a nice band name."
"Let's- let's just pick an actual name!" Thunder insisted. "No more name play!"
"Fine," Brawly conceded. "Still don't think we'll come up with a better name."
Before anyone could think of a suggestion for another idea, four phones rang at once. If it had been only three, then Sunset might not have questioned it. However, there were only five people who she knew had her number, and three of them were in this room.
"What kind of text is that?" Sunset frowned, looking at the unnamed number.
"A weird one," Flash agreed.
"It's Pinkie," Brawly said, already messaging back.
"Pinkie like Pinkie Pie?" Thunder asked.
"Yep," he nodded.
"How does she have my number?" Sunset wondered.
"Or mine?" Flash added.
"She has everyone's number," Brawly shrugged. "Honestly, when it comes to Pinkie, the less you question it the better."
"Okay, but what does her text mean?" Sunset asked, programming the number into her phone to prevent future confusion.
"She says it's a band name suggestion," he answered.
"How does she even know we're-?" Flash began, before stopping and rubbing his face in exasperation. "You know what? Never mind."
"Okay, but 'Knights of Dawn'?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Not to be self centered, but shouldn't it at least be 'Knights of Sunset' or something, considering me?"
"What happened to no more nameplay?" Thunder sighed.
"Maybe it's ironic?" Brawly said.
"Or someone told her about Flash's Pegasus dreams," Sunset muttered.
"Kind of hope not," Flash said. "But honestly, it's kind of the best suggestion yet."
"So, are we actually using that as the name?" Brawly asked, waving his phone. "Because Pinkie thinks we are and is planning to celebrate that once we have our first actual performance. And by that I mean she's asked me if we could play for a party she's putting together at the end of the summer that would probably be good for telling people we're doing this so..." |
Glowing Embers | Replaced | The rest of Summer went as expected. Just like the last one, Sunset spent her time with them and just did things a normal teen would. There were days when Equestria would not cross her mind, when the strangeness of this world didn't feel as strange.
But just before it ended, Flash told her about another one of his 'Pegasus Dreams', about news from Equestria. It was a little vague, but it was enough. Sunset held it together, long enough for Flash to leave. As soon as he was gone, she broke down.
Sunset had not only been replaced, she had been outdone. She had expected to be replaced eventually. Hell, she knew she wasn't the first Unicorn to be the Princess's student. But it seemed like it might have happened almost immediately after she left.
She was fine with that, but then there was the story of how Vice Principal Luna finally 'appeared in his dreams'. The return of Nightmare Moon, quickly put to a stop by the Princess's student and the Elements of Harmony. Sunset's Replacement was the Element of Magic, Savior of Equestria, and probably a whole bunch of other titles.
But that wasn't what hurt most. What hurt most is the fact that she couldn't really say she had been replaced as the Princess's student, because the new girl was not 'the Princess's' student, she was Celestia's.
Why was this mare worthy of seeing Celestia, of knowing her and being her friend? What did she have that Sunset didn't? Sunset had tried, over and over, to get even the barest glimpse of Celestia, yet this mare was granted that so easily. Why?
Sunset asked herself why over and over. She cried, maybe harder than she had the night she left. The only thing to keep her from screaming was the idea of waking the neighbors. Many poor coping mechanisms ran through her head. She was too young to buy a drink, and while her nails dug into her skin, she couldn't bring herself to attempt any self-harm.
She wasn't sure when she stopped crying, when her pain lessened from intense stabbing to a dull throb. It still killed her, but she could at least think. She could plan.
If.... If she managed to go home, managed to get the Element of Magic for herself, maybe she could get everything she had once wanted. That was it, wasn't it? She hadn't used the Element of Magic, that's what made this other mare 'better', the only differences she could find. If she could do what her replacement had done, would Celestia talk to her, care for her?
She had a chance, one chance, to get everything she'd ever wanted. But was it worth giving up the life she'd made here? Flash, Goldie and Bramble, Brawly and Thunder, even just the other students at CHS that could be friends if she tried. If she was able to go home, she wouldn't see them again. At least not for years.
The answer came from doubts. The doubts she had about these friendships, despite what happiness they gave her. None of them, not even Flash, knew the real Sunset Shimmer. It wasn't like she had faked everything, as if she didn't care about them. Because she did.
But how could they know her if she had to keep so much from them? She could never tell them 'I'm a Unicorn from another Dimension'. She justified it over and over. She had to lie because who would believe that? Because it would unravel the things she did lie about, both for protection and to get what she'd wanted, and that could force them away more than going home could. And if she kept up the lie, could she really call them friends?
But Celestia... while she hesitated to go back, to even hope that she could have what she'd longed for, she wouldn't have to hide anything from her. She could tell Celestia about this world, about her life, and about little things that she could never tell anyone here just because it involved Magic. She could have a real friend in Celestia, if only she could figure out how.
Sunset had a plan. When the portal opened, she was to go to Equestria, take the Element of Magic, and bring it back here. She'd debated about whether to bring it back or not, but in the end, it seemed like a better option. She didn't know how long it would take get the Element of Magic to work, if she could put it on and have it instantly work or if she needed to 'convince' it to let her use it. No one would expect someone from another dimension, so she'd have all the time she needs while they search Equestria.
The only problem was making sure no one here could keep her from using the Element of Magic. While Humans didn't know about it, there was a chance that the Elements were bonded with the Souls of those who wield them. If so, their Counterpart's Souls might be enough to interfere.
To keep that from happening, she had to stop them from being together. Technically there were many ways to stop them, but some of the more definite options were.... Nothing she wanted to do. So she just had to separate them from one another, get them to stop talking to each other.
She didn't want to do that. Maybe if they had been terrible, she wouldn't have cared. But these girls, well, she hadn't found her Replacement's Counterpart. But thanks to her new theatre teacher's shenanigans, she figured out the other five.
While they weren't close, she liked them well enough. Fluttershy was sweet, and scary when pissed off. Applejack was blunt and stubborn, but she was the definition of 'Southern Hospitality'. Rarity was an oddity. She fit a lot of tropes for the stuck-up-bitch, but always helped others. And Rainbow Dash was entertaining and overall fun, even if her ego could get bit on her nerves.
And then there was Pinkie Pie. Pinkie was the one Sunset knew best of the group, but not through anything specific other than their recent time in Theatre. Pinkie just liked being friends with everyone, with knowing things about everyone. And sometimes knowing too much. There were things she said sometimes that made Sunset wonder if she knew about Equestria, about what she really was. More than once Sunset had wondered if she should tell her, and there were many times where she slipped and replied with something too Equestrian.
She didn't want to break them up. But she had to. If she wanted any chance, she had to. Even her third year as Fall Formal Princess didn't make her as happy as it had in the years before, despite Flash trying to make her laugh and mess up the picture. She couldn't be truly happy in a world where no one knew her. |
Glowing Embers | Descent | Breaking them up might be harder than she thought. They had each other, so she'd need to do it all at once to make sure no one talked to one another and helped them make up. But they had more than just themselves. All of them seemed to have their own circle of friends outside of this one. She'd have to convince them that keeping the group separated was for the best.
Some were easier. Rarity's Popular friends and Rainbow's sport teams already had some tension, one hated for being 'prissy' and the other for being 'violent', but the hippies and theatre people both seemed chill with everyone.
Sunset realized it was getting complicated. But.... Every time she thought of quitting, she remembered how it felt. She remembered the pain and betrayal she felt, having never known 'Celestia', but she also remembered the night that sent her down this path.
If she could have that again, it would be worth it. Even so, it hurt to do.
Sunset put off actually engaging in the rest of the plan for a while. She tried once, lifting Pinkie's phone and sending an email to Rarity. But it made her feel sick. She put off doing it again for months.
But with bigger and bigger things happening back in Equestria, Flash was getting more and more significant glimpses into his other self's life. She heard of Discord's defeat, of Changelings invading Canterlot, and of an Empire made of Crystal.
She started up again when his dreams told of Discord's reformation, becoming a 'force for good' or something like that. She'd expected that, seeing as his Human Counterpart was now her theatre teacher, but it pushed her to try again.
"Here comes my messenger!" Sunset spoke. "How now, mad spirit? What night-"
Sunset was cut off, choking on pink hair.
"Pinkie, move!" Sunset coughed, shoving the pink girl off her 'throne'.
"Sorry Sunny!" Pinkie giggled from her newfound place on the floor. "My hair kind of does what it wants."
"Ugh," she groaned, looking out into the seats. "Hey Discord, think you have twenty headbands back stage? Or maybe a pair of clippers?"
"No, but there is a bandsaw," Discord mused. "I'm kidding. Please don't use the bandsaw."
"She has a point on headbands!" Pinkie chirped. "Think we can work that into the costume? Wouldn't antlers be cool!"
"Yeah," Sunset muttered. "Choke me with hair or stab me with antlers. I think I'll take the quick death."
As the two ignored her comment and wandered backstage to look for headbands, Sunset wandered offstage to a water fountain. Pinkie's phone was, for lack of a better word, adorable. And far too easy to get with how their characters were supposed to interact.
Sunset pulled herself together, sending more emails and matching syntax. She had to. She didn't have anything left. If she didn't do this now, it would be another three years. As soon as she was done, she deleted the sent messages and put the phone on the floor upstage. Pinkie thought it just fell out of her pocket.
Some things she had to do she hated more. She needed to be able to do things, to be able to talk people into doing things, and the only way to do that was blackmail.
Still, there were lines she wouldn't cross. She wouldn't threaten people with personal things, like their family life or hidden sexuality. But the knowledge that one of the techies was getting their spending money by writing others' assignments? That was fair game.
She needed to get others to fight. Getting others to break the five up, basically. Causing rumors and 'pranks' that made fights between groups of people. And nothing that could trace back to her.
Fluttershy's phone was easy to get. She always left it in her gym locker, and it was far too easy to pick the lock. A quick message to Pinkie about a large party at the same time and place at a silent auction, and the rest would do itself.
On the other hand, getting Applejack's phone was near impossible. Finally, Sunset gave up and ended up 'accidentally' spilling a soda on her. She apologized, and tried to apologize in advance for everything, but took her phone all the same.
Just as she'd been wondering who and what to message, one came in from Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, when's the bake sale thing again?"
Looking through the messages to find the date, Sunset smiled at her luck. She texted back, trying her best to match Applejack's syntax as well, and told her the day after the bake sale. Then, she deleted the messages and turned the phone in to 'lost and found'.
By the time the Spring Fling came around, Sunset was furious. That mare, her Replacement, had done more. She'd become a Princess. Celestia made her an Alicorn, an equal to her in all ways. This mare got gifted with everything Sunset had wanted, everything she fought for and was denied for being somehow 'unworthy'.
Why? What did this mare do differently? Why was she so special that Celestia would give her anything and everything? Or was Sunset worth so little to her?
Sunset tried to be happy again, tried to give up on a mare who'd never loved her. Princess of the Fall Formal had done nothing, so maybe the Spring Fling would. She couldn't be 'Queen' this year, as she was still a Junior, but 'Princess' should surely work?
She did everything, but it tipped her over the edge when Rarity ran against her. She knew this Rarity was not her Counterpart, but she didn't care. All five of them were a part of this, were the mares that Celestia loved so much more than her.
She didn't care about trying to keep things 'fixable' anymore. She hated them, and everything they took from her. She wanted them out of her life, away from her, and so she slipped into sabotage. No one could prove what she did, but as the only person to gain from Rarity dropping out of the contest, she was blamed anyway.
She didn't care. She didn't care that they'd started to whisper, started to claim that her Fall Formal wins were sabotage as well. It didn't matter if they hated her, she would have everything as soon as the portal opened again.
It hurt that Flash didn't defend her, but he didn't accuse her either. It probably didn't help that she hadn't denied anything, even if she didn't confess. |
Glowing Embers | Burnout | Summer break was worse than before. Sunset and Flash still hung out, but she stayed home more often. She told him that she was trying to push him and Thunder into a relationship, since they obviously liked one another, so they should hang out instead. He didn't deny it, but he did try to hang out with her.
It hurt to do that. It hurt to push him away. But if she was going to do this, if her plan worked, she would be going back to Equestria. And yes, perhaps she could take him with her; tell him the truth and show him the world that he thought was a dream. But that would mean leaving Goldie and Bramble and Brawly and Thunder. Maybe she could find a way to bring all five, but what about their friends and family?
She couldn't bring everyone, and she didn't want to make him choose between staying with them or not seeing them for at least three years. Instead, she'd make the choice for him. But she'd tell him, tell him everything before she left. And maybe he wouldn't believe her, but maybe she'd come back in another three years and it would be just like before, a few days of visiting every couple years. Maybe she could have everything.
But by the time the beginning of Senior Year came around, Sunset was trying to balance everything. She knew she was snapping at others more often, and especially at those girls. The only solace she had was that it had worked.
They stopped talking over Summer break, the months apart giving things time to fester, and now they barely interacted. Even if she hadn't sent a direct message, either their own fighting or siding with other friends on their conflicts had driven them apart.
She had been careful. There were no online messages to track, no recordings thanks to an EMP made from a crystal, and even if someone said 'she blackmailed me into doing this', there was no proof. She even had copies of her blackmail material hidden and protected. No one could hack her laptop or phone and get rid of what she had if there were copies in flash drives hidden around town.
But she hadn't been careful enough. Somehow, somewhere, she slipped up. Flash knew now, and he didn't like it.
They fought. It was more than petty arguments, this was screaming and yelling and crying hot tears. It was the kind of fight that could ruin people.
"Just tell me why!" Flash demanded.
"Because I have to!" Sunset screamed back.
"Why?" he yelled, slamming his fist into the table. "What the hell is so important that you'd bully and blackmail people?"
"I-I can't tell you," she answered, her voice quieting a little. "Not yet. Not until I actually....."
"Is it worth this?" he asked. "Is it worth hurting everyone?"
She hesitated. She didn't want to hurt people, she didn't want to ruin them. She was sure she could use the Element of Magic, that she could prove her worth, and gain everything her Replacement and those five had. But if these few people had to fight one another, just for a little while, was it worth it all to get the love she'd wanted for so long? She hated it, but she'd made her decision.
"Yes," Sunset answered. "I'm sorry, but I have to."
"Fuck this," Flash replied. "I'm out."
"What do you mean you're out?" she asked.
"If this is what you want to do, I want no part of it," he said, heading to the door. "So I'm done. Done with whatever our relationship is. Both the fake parts and anything that might be fake. I don't even know if I can trust any of it!"
"Flash-" she started, her hands shaking.
"Don't," he cut her off. "Don't you dare. Whatever it is you want out of this, it isn't worth it. And I'm not going to go down with the ship. Until you find a way to fix this, I don't want to even talk to you. You're not what I thought."
"Flash please," she cried. "Just-just don't tell Goldie and Bramble about this."
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
"Because I didn't want you guys to get hurt," she said.
"Too late for that," he said. "You're hurting everyone else, for reasons you won't even bother to explain! I won't tell them, but it sure feels like you wanted to hurt us too. And right now, I can't trust that you ever cared about any of us."
She tried to protest, but the door slammed shut. There was a half-second of shock before she broke, before she was sobbing on the floor. It hurt, just as much as everything else, but it was so different. This wasn't a pain that burned her from within.
It was cold, terrifying, like winter frost blasting through her Soul until her fingertips went numb. And in so many ways, that was worse. The only thing that kept her together was hope that once she got what she wanted, she could fix it.
"It isn't that I never cared," Sunset sobbed. "It was that I cared too much."
She had begun to hate them. Those five had cost her everything. Their Counterparts had Celestia, and now when she tried to get that back, they had taken anything she had left. She didn't hold back her comments, her insults. They were the only ones she crossed the line with, using any foothold she had against them to hurt them worse than she felt.
She avoided Flash, just like he asked. It took a day for rumors to start about what had happened, and all of them painted her as the bitch. She couldn't blame them. She couldn't even blame Flash for leaving her. She knew what she was doing, even if she had her reasons. But it would be okay, she could fix it, once the portal opened.
She wondered if she should even bother fixing it. She didn't care about those five. Even if she did, Flash would still hate her. She wondered if she even could fix it, if it was too far- If she were too far gone.
It was too late to go back now. Her only hope at any sort of happiness was to get the Element of Magic. |
Glowing Embers | Ashes | The portal was open, and she had stepped through. It felt almost weird to be a pony again, but it felt so normal at the same time. She took up a candlestick and flipped it in her magic. She missed it, oh so much.
It was odd, feeling the magic thrum through the crystal under her hooves. She knew the mirror was in the Crystal Empire now, that the Replacement had taken a trip here at just the right time. The memory of that 'dream' sent a shard of ice through her heart, but she pushed forward.
That hadn't gone as planned. She'd forgotten about the Student's Familiar, and the stupid Dragon had tripped her up on her escape. Not to mention the Element getting flung through the portal. She'd followed it only seconds after, but it was too late. Someone had already picked it up and brought it to the Principal.
Getting it back was going to be a pain. The Principal refused to hand it over, saying they were going to use it as the Fall Formal crown. Sunset had screamed at her, calling it blatant theft. The crown belonged to her, and she had no right to claim it as 'school property'.
"Come on now, Miss Shimmer," the Principal said. "We had yet to get the crown, and now we have one. Considering you're running unopposed anyway, you'll get it back. It just gets to be on display for a few days."
She debated about actually calling the cops, but not only did she have no 'proof' that it was hers, but it was hard to get the cops involved with her lack of records. Even a burst of Magic Emotion wouldn't help on that front.
Instead, she decided to take out her frustration on the girl who, upon seeing something drop on the ground, didn't bother to ask anyone if it was theirs before giving it to the Principal. Of course it was one of the five. Even if they didn't know what they were doing, they somehow managed to try and stop her.
"I'm really sorry," Fluttershy had said. "I-I just found it, and- and I thought I should give it to her. I didn't know you had dropped it."
"Well I did!" Sunset barely reined in the need to scream. "And I was about to get it before you swooped in and ruined everything! You shouldn't pick up things that don't belong to you!"
"It doesn't really belong to you either," she muttered.
Did this girl really have the audacity to say it wasn't hers? Yes, technically it wasn't yet, but that wasn't the point. This girl knew nothing of Magic, so why she believed it wasn't hers was beyond Sunset's imagination. She hated it, and her.
"Excuse me?!" Sunset started, preparing to rant.
"N-nothing," Fluttershy backed down.
"That's what I thought," she glared. "It's as good as mine, and you know it. You really are pathetic. It's no wonder your best friends are stray animals."
"How dare you speak to her that way?"
Sunset had whirled around, a glare already aimed at the source of the voice. It was a girl, around her age and colored in various purples. The girl had no trace of fear, unlike what she'd grown used to seeing in the other students. And it drove her nuts.
"What did you say?" Sunset demanded, furiously stalking through the hall.
"I said, 'How dare you speak to her that way?'!" the girl repeated, heading to her as well.
Sunset glared at her. She looked a bit familiar, though she couldn't place it. Still, something about her was off, something that felt right and wrong at the same time. But she decided it didn't matter. She was so close, and one new student trying to 'play hero' wasn't important
"You must new here," Sunset shrugged, tracing a finger along the girl's face before walking down the hall. "I can speak to anyone any way I want.
She left, glaring at the rest of the students who stood by and watched. They were just as bad as she was, really. But at least new girl, as irrationally angry as she made Sunset feel, had tried something. Those kids just hid themselves away and watched.
She'd gone to the gym just to antagonize those two. They deserved it, they were just as bad as Fluttershy. Broken up or not, that whole group wouldn't stop. Especially since Pinkie helped the 'new girl' sign up to be Fall Formal Princess.
It was then that she recognized 'Twilight Sparkle', her Replacement. So she waited, knowing that sooner or later she'd go somewhere alone. Of course it had to be the one hallway with lights that always flickered, but a part of Sunset found it beautifully dramatic.
"Should've known Princess Celestia would send her 'prized pupil' here after my crown," Sunset said, before adding a joke, "And her little dog, too."
"It's my crown," Twilight growled.
"Whatever," she shrugged, knowing how little there was to fear. "This is just a minor setback for me. You don't know the first thing about this place, and I already rule it."
"If that's so," she began, "why do you even need my crown? You went to an awful lot of trouble to switch it with the one that belongs here."
"Pop quiz," she chirped. "What happens when you bring an Element of Harmony to an Alternate World?"
Twilight didn't answer. Sunset was mostly using that question as a joke, but also a test. She wondered what this girl could come up with, or to see if the Princess had told her. She was curious to see the way this girl thought, to see if it was different than her own conclusions. Yet, there was no answer.
This girl couldn't even offer a guess. She couldn't even bring forth some panic-fueled answer of Summoning Eldritch Monstrosities and Lovecraftian Horrors. Yet she had somehow been given everything Sunset was denied. It made her want to scream, but instead she laughed. Because it was the only way she could keep from crying.
"You don't know? Seriously?" Sunset laughed. "And you're supposed to be Princess Celestia's star student? Then again, what were the chances she'd find somepony as bright as me to take under her wing after I decided to leave Equestria? Bit embarrassing that you were the best she could do."
With a growl the Dragon-turned-Dog poked his head out of the girl's backpack, and she glared once more. He was a part of this, but she'd give him a little bit of a break, being a kid and all. Maybe some actual advice, though she wouldn't hesitate to add more insults to the girl who got everything she never deserved.
"I'd keep an eye on your mutt," Sunset said. "Hate for him to be taken away from you."
"Is that a threat?" the ex-Dragon asked.
"Of course not," she said, quickly shushing him as he tried to bark. "But I'd cut down on the chatter if I were you. Don't want everyone to know you don't belong here, now would you? You want to be Princess here? Please, you don't know the first thing about fitting in."
Sunset walked off, but that last comment stuck with her. No, Twilight didn't know anything about 'fitting in'. But neither had she for a time. If Sunset had managed to charm her way to being Fall Formal Princess in her Freshman year, than this girl could possibly manage to be just charming enough to win. Especially the girl who had somehow gotten to Celestia.
There were other tactics for that, specifically two Freshmen that loved to follow her around and do what she said. Really, it was almost ridiculous how they latched on to her, but as long as they did what she wanted, she didn't care that they followed her around.
Nothing had worked. This girl had not only gotten her group back together, but cast off both the smear campaign and the sabotage frame up. She even got Flash on her side, though his interest was far more romantic than the one he'd had with Sunset. Why? Why did everyone love her so much?
Sunset resorted to more drastic measures, having the Freshmen grab her dog and threatening the portal with a hammer. But even that hadn't worked. Twilight just refused, saying she'd rather stay here than go home. She believed that Sunset being happy was somehow worse than whatever magical monster would pop up in Equestria. Sure, she'd been a bitch, but had the Princess really told her she was that bad?
Did the Princess really believe she was that bad? That if she were happy and loved she would be worse than any terror that could attack Equestria? She shook with rage, hearing of how the Princess truly felt.
It burned worse than before. She had trusted the Princess, but it was all a lie. It had always been a lie, hadn't it? She'd only ever taken from her, withholding the only thing she wanted while freely giving it to others. She'd abandoned her, kicked her out, let her run off into another world alone. It was cruel, and she felt tears begging to start as she heard those girls talk of how she'd never been worth anything. Of how 'Twilight' was.
"You are so awesome!"
"I can't believe you were going to do that for us!"
"It's no wonder you're a real live princess!"
"Oh, yes, she's so very special!" Sunset screamed.
With that she snapped, tackling Twilight. She didn't care anymore. There was nothing left. Her last chance was slipping away, or maybe it already had. But she was done trying to hold back, she cared so much that she stopped caring.
It hurt. Sunset thought she knew this pain, the pain of Emotions so strong they became physical. But this was literal. The moment she put the crown on her head, it blasted through her. She felt her body being ripped and twisted and burned, but it was barely anything compared to the rest.
Some of it was what she had felt, everything she had felt the moment the Princess left her. Betrayal, like everything she deserved was being held from her, like she had been tricked into searching for something that wasn't there until she was kicked out, until she was left scared and alone and crying.
But she also felt the choices she had made. Lies she told to get what she wanted, every time she tried to hurt those she thought deserved it, because they had withheld something she never truly had. Everything she did that ruined what happiness she made, because she was so sure she could fix it.
"I am your princess now, and you will be loyal to me!"
That wasn't her. The Demon she saw was not the real her. It was everything she felt, intensified into a monster. It was what she was when she no longer cared for anyone, and while part of her screamed that no, there were still those to care about, she couldn't feel it through the pain of everything that had been taken from her.
"I want Equestria!"
She had never wanted Equestria. She never wanted to rule. She knew she got lost, trying to be a Princess so 'Celestia' would talk to her, and that desire reawakened when her Replacement got that so easily.
What was left, but everything to take? Power was all that was left. The Princess had never cared about her, these girls were worth more than she was, and she had pushed away everyone else that wanted to care about her.
"She needs to be dealt with!"
She hated them, oh stars did she hate everything they represented, everything she'd never been given. Everything she'd wanted.
Yet her Magic shifted as she cast it. Some small part of her knew how far this was, how much pain was caused by this Magic. She hesitated, because as much as she hated them, she didn't want to hurt them. |
Glowing Embers | Spark | There was a white void, almost like a pocket dimension constructed of Magic. The void itself felt calming, nice, but she wasn't sure. All of her other emotions surrounded her. Anger and jealousy and sadness and fear, it felt like red-hot knives boring into her skin. She cried, because she never wanted this, because she wanted this to stop.
There was a purple hoof in her vision, and an aura of emotion with a simple message: "Let me help you. Let me show you there's another way." The feeling was so sincere, she couldn't help but believe her.
Sunset took the hoof in her own, surprised to see she had hooves at the moment. And the void cut out.
Everything hurt, but at least it was physical. Her back burned, and she was at the bottom of a crater. And some things she understood.
She understood how much she fucked up. For a while, she was happy. She had managed to lie her way into friends, she had some people she thought of as a family, people she cared about and who cared about her. Even if the beginning was a lie, it had felt real, and she threw it away chasing old dreams of a mare that had never loved her.
She understood why the Element of Magic had reacted the way it did. Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty, and Kindness, the other Elements. The Princess took those from her, but she had gained them back, and threw them away again before doing the same to others.
For a moment, she remembered the Fire of Friendship from the Hearth's Warming story. She'd tried for so long to light her own, and had smothered the glowing embers in favor of something that would never light.
Now she had no clue how to fix it now.
But she never understood. Why was she so unworthy in the first place? She'll admit she screwed up, she made terrible choices, but all of it was just because she wanted one mare to care about her. So why...?
"Tonight, you've shown everyone who you really are. You've shown them what is in your heart."
Gasping apologies through sobs, she took in those words. She'd become everything she'd felt, everything she'd done. And she had no idea why she deserved to feel this way.
Still, the girl, the mare, Twilight, offered her a hand.
"The Magic of Friendship doesn't just exist in Equestria. It's everywhere. You can seek it out, or you can forever be alone. The choice is yours."
She had sought out friendship. That's what brought her here. Was she doing something wrong? What was she doing wrong?
"All I've ever done is drive everyone apart," Sunset choked out the words. "I don't know the first thing about Friendship."
"I bet they can teach you."
The five girls she'd hated. Sure, they could. But why would they? They should hate her. And she wouldn't blame them. She wouldn't blame them if the moment Twilight went home, they dropped her, or worse.
The one pony she wanted to care about her never had, and she made everyone else hate her trying to change that. She couldn't see a way out, a way forward. Even stubborn determination didn't want her to keep going.
Yet... she remembered the white void, created from the Elements. Everything she had felt, but also what they had felt, what they had offered. That in itself was a Spark. It was small, and she didn't quite trust it yet, refusing to give hope that it would stay.
But it was a Spark all the same. |
Two Noble Loves | pre | "I mean, she'll definitely have things to do, and Twilight will want to spend some time with her, but we're gonna be in Canterlot for all the weekend, so you'll definitely have a chance to meet her." Sweetie explained.
None of the crusaders nor Zecora noticed that the excitement of Gabby had reached a building point, as Gabby launched herself towards the crusaders, embracing them in another hug.
"Thankyou thankyou thankyou!" Gabby exclaimed before flying upwards and spinning in joy, taking the fillies with her while laughing the same way she did when she met the crusaders for the first time.
"G-gabby," Sweetie Belle said in a whisper, struggling to breathe because of the extra tight embrace.
"We spoke about this," Scootaloo adeed, also struggling to make herself heard as she too was having trouble breathing.
"Not so tight, remember?" Apple Bloom finished, her tone being a little more audible compared to her friends as her strong earth pony muscles. Allowed her to breathe a little better.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Gabby answered, relaxing her arms. She then began to descend, to her surprise she was higher than what she had thought, expecting to be hovering barely above the ground rather than at the same height as town hall.
"Though I find it quite delightful, why are you so excitable?" Zecora asked once Gabby and the crusaders had returned to the ground.
"Of course." Gabby answered with excitement rather than the shy behaviour one would expect in that kind of situation. "You see, I always wanted to meet Princess Celestia. Even since I was a little chick back in Griffonstone I always heard stories of how beautiful and lovely Equestria was; and often Princess Celestia was credited as making your land that way, and well, ever since then I always wanted to meet her and befriend her."
"Aww!" Sweetie exclaimed, finding Gabby's explanation to be quite adorable.
"So, she's basically your hero?" Scootaloo asked, as Gabby reminded her of how she sees Rainbow Dash."
"Yep," Gabby answered with a simple nod.
"I apologize, but I must make haste, not a second more must I waste. The gala is soon and I must soon prepare, for the old dress I have is in need of repair." Zecora said with a wave, before restarting her walk back home.
"Later Zecora." Both the crusaders and Gabby exclaimed while waving back to Zecora.
"She's right, we should start preparing for the gala," Apple Bloom added while she and the other crusaders returned to the wagon and scooter.
"You too Gabby, you probably have a lot to do in preparation to meet Princess Celestia," Scootaloo added.
"Not really," Gabby answer in a nonchalant tone, "Derpy already told me we are getting also getting the long weekend off, so I don't have to worry about work"
"Well, you still need a dress among other things. Rarity already told me that whomever we invited can come to the boutique for help preparing for the gala; so if you need anything our door is always open." Sweetie continued.
"Thank you, I might drop later tomorrow." Gabby answers, trying to think of what else she might need to take care of. "I still thank you enough for the ticket, you are such good friends".
"It was nothing Gabby," the crusaders answered with a smile.
"Toodles!" Gabby exclaimed before taking flight. "I'M GONNA MEET PRINCESS CELESTIA! WOOHOO!" Gabby stopped amid flighty to celebrate, raising her florelegs before diving down, the small dive giving her more speed as she flew away.
As they saw their friend fly away the crusaders turned to see each other, and after a silent nod, the three high-hoof, happy that today had gone so well.
A few days later, during a weekend afternoon, Zecora found herself at the front door of the Rarity's Carousel Boutique. Just like when she had purchased a few things at the market early that week, she was rearing or cloak with her saddlebags under it, though this time the bags were more noticable, as she had stuffed them as best as she could with her old dress.
Zecora tried to look for any signs that the place was open, but she couldn't find any, after a few more seconds of looking around she decided to knock at the door.
"Please come in, the door is open." Rarity called in from inside the boutique.
Zecora followed her instructions and moved inside the building, looking at the interior with curiosity, as there were a lot more dresses and fabric scattered around than the last time she had visited.
"Hi Zecora!" Sweetie Belled exclaimed, getting the attention of her distracted friend.
"Afternoon Zecora," Rarity said, after taking her eyes off Sweetie, who was wearing a new dress that Rarity was adjustmenting.
"Greetings, my friends." Zecora answered with a wave.
"So, Sweetie and her friends told me you have an old dress you can use for the gala, did you find it?" Rarity asked, turning her attention back to Sweetie Belle and her dresses.
"Indeed! I have this dress to mend." Zecora answered, struggling to put it out of her saddlebags.
"Excellent, could you please put it on, I want to see how you look with it. The fitting room is behind me." Rarity said, not taking her eyes off Sweetie's dress.
"Are you quite certain? I do not wish to be a burden. It is quite old and worn, you see. It may no longer fit properly." Zecora answered, as she made her way to the small fitting room.
"Don't worry about it." Rarity answered, levitating a needle and some thread to fix a small hole in Sweetie's dress.
"Yep, there's no damaged dress my big sis can't fix." Sweetie added, reaming still to make sure Rarity didn't poke her with the needle.
"Except burned dresses," Rarity answered with a sassy tone.
"I told you, it was Discord's fault!" Sweetie exclaimed sharply, remembering how the previous dress she had worn to the gala was accidentally destroyed during said event.
Zecora chuckled at the exchange, before looking at the dress with consearn. "Then I will be sure to be putting it on most carefully. Now how did this go? Did this go on top or below?" She then left her clocks and saddlebags on a small hook and entered the fitting room.
"By the way Zecora, why did you knock?" Rarity asked, trying to make some conversation to pass the time.
"You did not seem open for business, I did not wish to beg your forgiveness." Zecora answered, groaning a little as she began to battle with her dress.
"I told you we are forgetting something." Sweetie said while looking at Rarity, who was looking at the front door with shock at the realisation that indeed, they had forgot to put the opensign.
Rarity sighed, while putting the sign in place. "At least I was able to fix everyone's dresses." She said, while cringing at the thought of how many clients she probably lost that day because of that small mistake.
Fortunately for Rarity's morale, someone else showed up to keep her distracted.
"Hi Rars! Hi Sweet!" Gabby exclaimed while entering the boutique, as always she had that contagious smile and jolly spirit.
"Welcome Gabby!" Rarity said with a smile.
"Hi Gabby," Sweetie answered, before tilting her head a little, "Sweet?"
"Yeah, I tried to come up with a nickname for you and that's the best I could think of." Gabby explained, "Do you like it?"
"I don't know why but my name has never worked when making it shorter, it just feels... odd" Sweetie answered, remembering how no one had tried to shorten her name, not even her parents or Rarity. "At least it's better than when Scootaloo tried to make 'bee' a thing." She concluded, remembering that weird week when Scootaloo called her bee, and how every time she did Sweetie would begging to look for a bee.
"So it's this the place?" Another griffon asked from behind Gabby, it was only then when either Rarity or Sweetie realised that Gilda was with Gabby.
"Hello Gilda," Rarity said with a small wave, as she didn't have much experience with the griffon, even after her 'improvement in behaviour' or as Pinky described it: 'the meany got less meany'.
"Oh, hello... Rarity, right?" Gilda answered with a very awkward wave.
"Oh, so you know each other, wonderful!" Gabby said, not noticing the tension between the two.
Rarity just smiled at Gabby unwavering enthusiasm. "So, I imagine you two come to get your dresses fixed?"
"Yep!" Gabby answered while digging into her saddlebags, however, before she could show the dress to Rarity she interrupted her.
"I'm sorry dear, but for me it's easier to work when the dress is being worn. I still have space in two of the three fitting rooms so please get change." Rarity exclaimed, moving aside, letting both griffons make her way to where the rooms were.
"Say, who's in the other one?" Gabby asked, while she and Gilda entered the spare fitting rooms.
"It's me, Gabby." Zecora called out from inside the room.
"Oh, hi Zecora good to... well I was going to say see you, but it's more like hear you." Gabby answered while putting her own dress on..
"Zecora, you are taking quite long in there, do you need any help?" Rarity asked, noticing that Zecora still hadn't left the fitting room.
"No need to worry, I simply feel a little gauche," Zecora answered tersely from the changing room. Several grunts and angry groans sounded from inside until Zecora yelled, "For heaven's sake, where in the world is my brooch?"
"Don't worry about it, I have a few of those here." Rarity explained.
"Please come out Zecora, I want to see how you look," Sweetie pleaded, as besides that witch costume Zecora usually wore during Nightmare Night, she had never seen Zecora with something besides her cloak.
"Fine, I resign. Here I come Sweetie, and Miss Rarity." Zecora said before leaving the small fitting room.
Her dress was quite unique, besides the black colour, something unusual as ponies prefered more lively colours, the most interesting part was how it looked. Rather than something elaborated, it look more like a simple piece of fabric in a long rectangular shape that had being wrapped around Zecora; looking like a sort of togga but somehow tighter, accentuating her body, yet it was also quite lose, letting her walk normally, it also cut short of the neck at an angle, letting her entire right foreleg exposed.
"Well? Don't keep me waiting. Is this a good dress for celebrating?" Zecora asked. Before either Rarity or Sweetie could answer, part of the dress slipped and ended on the floor, revealing that indeed it was just a long rectangular fabric.
"Let me guest, that's why you need the brooch?" Rarity asked, before starting to look for it.
Zecora simply nodded. At the same time Sweetie walked around her, adring the dress. "You look so pretty!" Was the only thing the little fillie could say.
"Indeed, you look quite elegant my dear." Rarity said, while helping Zecora with the broach, a golden one with a flower whose interior was a dimont and petals were also gold.
"However, there's a few problems!" Rarity added sharply, while walking around Zecora. "There's a few holes here and there, and I suppose you aren't supposed to drag the back through the floor." She added, noticing that there was quite a long surplus amount of fabric at Zecora's back legs.
"Wait? Is this cotton?" Rarity asked, after taking the fabric on her hoof to take a closer look at it.
"Yes, a traditional kanga, woven with the finest of tools. For me to go without one, why, I'd look quite the fool.." Zecora explained.
"SWEET CELESTIA!" Rarity exclaimed in horror while looking at a part of the surplus fabric at the back that had a massive hole on it.
"Oh yes, I confess, last I wore this was under some duress. In my haste I might've created a terrible mess." Zecora explained in a nonchalant tone.
"Poor little thing, Rarity is going to take care of you." Rarity said while petting the fabric like it was a lost and afraid kitten,
"Are these nicks ones you can fix?" Zecora asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Not only I can, but I must!" Rarity exclaimed with determination. "This little beauty has already given me a bunch of ideas, and I can't let my muse go out there in such terrible condition."
"Wow! You look beautiful Zecora," Gabby said with stonismsnet, alerting the others that she and Gilda had finished getting dressed.
"Why thank you for liking this dress, though it's torn through and meager, but if you don't my saying, you two don't look bad either." Zecora answered, taking a better look at the griffons.
Unlike Zecoras's dress, their dresses had a bit more complexity, but not that much compared to that of a standard pony dress. It was of a single piece and colour, without much detail our decoration, resembling that simple yellow dress with a bow Rarity made for Twilight's birthday. Gilda's dress was of a light purple, the same as that of the tip of her head feathers, while Gabby's was of a light blue, the same as that of her eyes and the hair, or well feather tie she always uses.
However, the most remarkable thing was what they wore over the dresses, as both had capes, and quite elaborate capes compared to their dresses. Both had yellow lines in the shape of patterns, the yellow being of the same colour as that of their talons and beak. The capes also had holes, where they could choose to put their wings though, or high them, as Gabby had hers out while Gilda didn't. The capes also had a big pointed flat collar and even a fluffy white collar, making them look like royalty, As for the colours, Gilda's was red, making her look even more royal, while Gabby's was of a light grey, the same as that of her feathers.
"Wait, does this mean capes are part of griffon formal dresses?" Rarity asked, as took a closer look at both.
"I suppose so?" Gilda answered with a light shrug.
"You know Gilda, I'm starting to understand why you call us ponies lame," Rarity said, as she had always been a big fan of capes.
"Gilda! Language!" Gabby exclaimed in shock, scolding Gilda for her bad language like a mother to her daughter, even though Gilda was just a little older.
"Oh come Gabby! That was years ago!" Gilda answered with a sigh, knowing that Gabby will force her to apologise.
Rarity just chuckled, before getting closer, looking for imperfections. "Well, there's a few holes, but less than what I expected, some of the seams are quite loose. As for the capes, some of the patterns need love, and honestly I think the fluffy collar is too much, you look like a pre-Equestria royals, and for what Twilight told me they were insufferable."
"Agree, we look like clowns with this, and they are very itch," Gilda answered while scratching her neck,
"Hey Rarity, if you take off the fluf, can you give me a hood? I like them a lot" Gabby asked, while pulling the cape over her head, imitating the look of a hood.
"Of course I can, dear," Rarity answered, already looking for a fabric of the same colour to make the hood. "Alreight, you better get comfortable because we are gonna be here for a while".
"Oh, I'll go for snacks!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed while rushing to the kitchen.
"How much is this going to take?" Gilda asked, a little inpatient.
"A few hours," Rarity answered with a nonchalant tone.
Gilda let out a groan in desperation. "Como on Gilda, look at the bright side." Gabby answered while giving her a pat in the back.
"Indeed, our dresses will be lovely like a bouquet of callas, with this we shall be ready for the Grand Galloping Gala!" Zecora said, while making herself comfortable in one of Rarity's couches.
"Speaking of the gala, the best advice I can give you is to stay away from that spoiled colt in the body of a stallion known as 'Prince Blueblood'." Rarity said while starting to work and Gilda's dress, using an extremely mocking tone when saying the name of the prince. "He's an absolutely dreadful character that will ruin your evening."
"Could you please stop talking about him?" Sweetie exclaimed while entering the room, bringing some candies, some cookies and 5 glasses of water with her. "I know he was mean to you but every time we have been invited to the gala you go on hours long tirades about him."
"Hmmm! I was just warning our friends about him." Rarity answered with indignation, before returning her attention back to Gilda's dress.
"I doubt he would be a problem." Gabby said with a relaxed tone. "I tend to get along with almost everyone, besides I'm mainly going to the gala to meet Princess Celestia".
"Still, keep an eye out for him," Rarity answered; at the same time Zecora took one of the glasses of water, thanking Sweetie Belle before drinking part of it's content.
"Anyway, so how's everything going back in Griffonstone?" Sweetie asked after giving Gilda and Rarity their own glasses of water and sitting next to Gabby.
"Things are going quite well, Gilda's bakery is doing very well." Gabby answered after eating one of the cookies.
"Oh, I didn't know you had a bakery." Sweetie Belle exclaimed while turning to look at Gilda. "Could you please tell me more about it?"
Gilda just let out a sigh. "Come on Gilda! Tell her about your bakery." Gabby said, noticing that Gilda was reluctant to do so.
Gilda rolled her eyes, "Alright, but can you bring more water, please?" She answered, while holding her empty glass.
"You forgot to say please," Gabby added in a singing-like tone.
Gilda just let a tired old groan while Zecora chuckled, looking forward to a few hours of this kind of always charming antics; and for the look of things, so did Rarity, Sweetie and Gabby. |
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