Flying to Canterlot should be very simple flight from the Wonderbolt HQ at the Academy grounds but for Spitfire this wasn't such one of these simple trips. She glance to the yellow stallion flying beside her with serious amount of worry as he was half awake, the eyes kept closing and snapping open with a shake of the head.
Spitfire glance back seeing the Academy wasn't even ten miles away. “Electuroo why in the hay did you not get any sleep last night or in the last two days? Look at yourself! Your all emotionally and physically drained!” She quickly glide over correcting his flight path from crashing into anything which she feared he could in the sleepy state he was in.
“In fact you shouldn't even be flying! I can't believe that you refuse to be airlifted to the city! Your in the worse possible state for any Pegasus to be in right now.” Spitfire was now determine to drag Electuroo out of the sky and then put him in something to be flown then in.
But the next words that rang out made her scrap that idea pretty fast. “Try dying and fearing that you go to sleep and never see the ones you care about again.” His sleepy tone of voice making his words slued at points. With a mighty yawn and wiping the tears from his eyes.
They flew at a steady speed towards the mountain side city Canterlot. Spitfire couldn't say much to counter it cause she never knew anypony or anything for that matter being dead and brought back to life. This was well beyond what the Wonderbolt Captain has ever experienced and wished that this was all just some wild dream, yet that was too much to be asked for.
She thought about those words and decided to counter to keep him from falling asleep without even releasing it, Spitfire can easily see this was going to happen every flap of the wings. “That no excuses rookie! We was there the whole time! The whole team of the Wonderbolts, we would of made sure you get some sleep! Instead you played on your own stupid fears of sleeping and never waking!”
Electuroo glared at her for a second and look forwards. “Bullshit! I bloody had my life sucked right out of me! The bloody pain in both wake and sleep I can never forget! The sorrow the sadness in Rainbow Dash's eyes when I was lying there in her lap unable to do jack but weakly mutter out words!”
“And how do you think Rainbow Dash going to think when you seen like this! A Pegasus without two whole days of sleep! Unable to even think straight yet alone fly without help from me! Your fears I can't understand since I never been through it but we all have fears and you need to overcome it rookie! Not for me, but for Rainbow! You need to buck up Sparky!” Spitfire snapped back at Electuroo she was playing him along with this and the alertness from this over tired pony was there.
Electuroo quickly turn around with a few sharp flaps coming directly face to face with Spitfire. “You bloody don't understand what I-”
“You don't understand what she been through too, she broke not only time and space for you but crossed whole dimensions too. This isn't your Equestria Sparky.” Spitfire let go the bomb she kept back all this time and played her cards.
Electuroo tired eyes darted left and right trying to understand what she said. “Di-dimensions? Yo-you mean this-” His mind couldn't process it as it was now wearing down on him. “I-I caused this, I died and caus-”
Spitfire put a hoof to his snout. “What I am going to say wasn't suppose to be said till we got there. So if this make sure you get some stupid sleep after we get there and you meet up with your damn beloved Rainbow Dash so be it!” Spitfire remove her hoof and point to fly, he did so.
“We saw some crystal showing what happened after you died. Yes we saw you dead. Merlin this weird unicorn recently got a body showed us it.”
“Weird unicorn recently got a body? Merlin is a Unicorn?” Electuroo's confusion showed as he tried his hardest to think. “Gah! I can't even think of understanding! I just can't think clearly!”
“That what happens when you think not sleeping is best...” Spitfire muttered.
Electuroo close his eyes taking a deep breath with an very heavy sigh. “Your right... I've been completely stupid... Continue...”
Spitfire sighed as it finally sunk in. “Finally! Took you long enough!” She didn't say anything but showed shame as they got closer to the city. “There was future versions of you, Rainbow Dash and Merlin in what we saw with the crystal, they watch Rainbow Dash do that super hyper speed move around the whole world to save you. They made sure it did happen because it was part of some temporal paradox.”
Electuroo knew a lot from movies, tv shows and other forms of theories about time travel. He was now part of one of them. “So me acting like a complete idiot for the last two days all part of it huh?”
“Guess so. Well it didn't have to be. Since your the idiot that choice to use their own fear to become a restless ass.” Spitfire chuckled slapping him across the head with her left wing during a flap and drift back to her spot beside him.
Electuroo rubbing his head with his right front hoof. “True. And I deserved that. But why didn't you tell me when you got back from Canterlot?”
Spitfire blinked and now felt stupid. “Touché Sparky. You got me there. I guess we both asses.”
“Hehe yeah.” He yawned and drift down towards the castle with Spitfire, her plan worked and even she did spill it to him, it kept Electuroo from going to sleep in mid flight.
The landing wasn't even close to perfect, she watch the stallion land with his forelegs giving way and causing him to tumble around and around till he came to a stop with half of his back on the ground the other bent up against the pillar with his hide legs close to his mouth with his tail covering his head.
“Maybe I should call you Sparky Crash.” Spitfire land beside him with a chuckle.
“Do that I tell everypony in the world your Wonderbolt nickname.” Electuroo flick a wing pushing his tail off his head looking upside down mischievously at her.
Spitfire didn't seem impressed and with a hoof on his side she gave him a push to roll him over and off the pillar. “Not convincing by the slightest Sparky, if you didn't look like a wrecked over tired pony I might have been.”
A guard came over with orange fur, blue mane and tail wearing golden armour with two white fur, blue mane and tail typically looking Pegasi royal guards. “That a rough landing there, you don't look too good.”
Electuroo yawned laying there on his stomach with a hoof over his snout. “Not sleeping in three days or was it two?”
“Two...” Spitfire replied. “Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts with Electuroo to see Princesses.” Spitfire stood firm before the guards.
The orange pony stood firm and saluted. “Lt. Flash Sentry! It a pleasure to meet you Captain.”
“Hehe... The fandoms most hated pony for no reason at all...” Electuroo mutters and chuckled a bit more.
Flash raise an eye. “I have a fandom?” Only hearing a little of what half muttered words of Electuroo said.
Spitfire hits Electuroo. “Ow! What that for!?” He complained.
“Get your head straight Electuroo! Seriously! Look at you! Your half aware and acting like a complete idiot!” Spitfire glares at him.
Electuroo slowly got up almost falling over with his sense of balance not completely there. “Because I refused to sleep!” Electuroo glared back.
“I know you think it an stupid excuses and year it could be! But have anything like this happen to you!? Have you experienced it till now!? Can you tell me right now that all this bull crap bloody temporal crap can be foretold!?
Paradoxes are a pain in the ass and give you one fucking serious headache! I am getting one just thinking about it in the last few minutes when you told me! So fucking back off and if being a idiot is part of what I do! So bloody be it!”
Pushed passed both of them and the guards, they lower the spears to just get him to push them right down and step over them storming off into the castle.
Flash blinked. “What the heck was that about?”
“More then you want to know...” Spitfire rubbed her head a little. “And what happened nothing like it ever happened so he got me there.” Spitfire flew off after him with the guards glancing to Flash he waved them on with his front hooves and they flew after her.
Spitfire caught up to Electuroo seeing he was still anger. “Spitfire don't... I hate enough of I did wrong this! And Wrong that! I am a complete wrack and get it ok! I did wrong and should of thought about it! Yet I didn't and didn't pay attention like per-usual!”
“Is this to do with that asperger's syndrome you spoke about yesterday?” Spitfire asked.
Electuroo come to a dead stop. “Yes... Not sleeping hasn't help my thinking. It all over the place and so it my mood.” He sniffed a little. “I am not using it to excuse myself, it just with everything-” He sniffs with tears falling. “That happening I just don't know what to do. I am a afraid to even think of what Rainbow will think of me looking like this.” He closed his eyes trying to keep it together taking in a deep breath of air, breathing it out afterwards.
“Sparky your a good pony. Even you don't think of what to say first and act before you think sometimes, your heard is always in the right place even though sometimes it acted or said at the wrong time.” Electuroo nod a little with the guards rejoining them. “Now get that flank moving or do I have to force you to go through those doors?”
Electuroo turn to her. “Go through the doors?”
She point with a wing. “Just look where your standing in front of.”
Electuroo faced forwards and stared at the large doors. “Your serious aren't ya?”
“What you think?” She move around to behind him reading to give him a helpful push.
Electuroo instantly move forwards. “No thanks Spits I already made a fool of myself so far, don't need extra help on that.” He put the hoof to the door.
“Where you really going to do that?” Flash asked.
She smirked. “Yes.” Flash didn't say anything else as he and the guards now stood attention in the hall not to far. “Guess you guys will miss all the fun.” Spitfire chuckled as Electuroo push open the door and enters with her following inside.
The doors close to hear a mighty thud against the doors seconds later causing them to get startled but whatever was being said they couldn't even hear. Seeing a glow of golden light they knew that Princess Celestia just sound proofed the room with her magic and sealed it from any from entering, they could only guess what was going on inside the throne room .
The doors close as Spitfire and Electuroo enter the throne room only for Electuroo not able to even react or realise what came right at him. Rainbow Dash knocked right into him sending him flying backwards into the doors just as Princess Celestia quickly used her magic to soften to impact and seal the door up in the process.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my Gosh! Electuroo you alive! I am so happy!” She hugged him tightly with tears rolling down her face. “I wasn't sure it worked and when Soarin told me about you I was over joyed!”
Electuroo put his wings and forelegs around her too with tears falling. “I heard and I am breathing because of you Rainbow Dash. You did beyond what anyone as ever done. I should have been dead but you did the impossible.” He press his head against hers as they rubbed together a little.
The other ponies watched from where they stood at the round table, Cadance generally very happy seeing the love that was coming from the two pegasi. “It at these moments that are treasured the moment when love blooms.”
“Indeed.” Celestia replied.
Rainbow Dash slowly eased the hug and look into the eyes of the pony she had to fall in love with and noticed something instantly with a hard whack with her hoof against his right foreleg. “OW, what the hell Dash!”
“Sparks don't 'what the hell' me! You haven't slept haven't you!?”
Electuroo nods slightly. “What the buck have I told ya about getting some stupid rest!”
“He did try but every time it was a nightmare, thou we wonder why we could not aid in thee.” Luna responded to this.
Rainbow Dash turn to her and back to Electuroo. “Let me guess. Fearing of dying and never seeing me?”
“Kinda...” Electuroo whispered. “I was so scared of sleeping. So afraid that I would awake as something else. Something that would harm you Rainbow... I was terrified.” He put his head into her chest and start to cry.
Rainbow Dash embrace the emotionalized wrecked pony. “It cool Electuroo, I'm here now...”
Merlin turn to Luna. “I believe I can answer why you couldn't solve or dissolve the problem within the nightmare.”
“Please do tell.”
“His mind isn't like a typical ponies, it far more active and even in his sleepy state the dreams of his fears are still there. Can't you sense the nightmare?” Merlin answered and questioned the princess of the night.
Luna close her eyes for a second and open them. “Yes we can. His dreaming of the fear within but then it changing to pleasant ones being with Rainbow Dash once more. The scene of his death hunts him the most.”
Rainbow Dash kiss him on the forehead. “Sparks it ok now we together.”
“We are...” Electuroo return the kiss on her own forehead raising his head and finally they let go, getting up on all fours. “Shit!” He instantly curses. “I left my jacket back at the bed side!” He realised he didn't have his jacket on after all this time.
Rainbow Dash chuckled. “That what happens when you let your nightmares get the best of you. Didn't your mum tell ya dreams just dreams and they can't possibly hurt you?”
“Yeah she did.” Electuroo replied and slowly look around the room. “Did we just cuddle, sweet talk and kiss in front of them?”
“Pretty much.”
“Well it safe to say we feel like bloody twats at this second.”
“Hehe yep.”
Princess Celestia spoke to them as they walked up to the table with the other ponies slightly gathered. “Before we start this meeting about what Rainbow Dash has done and the effects it laid out to us at this very moment of time. We have one more guest to arrive, he should be arriving any moment.”
Shining Armor turn to Electuroo. “You really look bad.”
“Yeah no sleep. Pretty much wiped out. Look forward to getting my Zzzzs.” Electuroo answered. “Being a twat did this to me.”
He raise an eye brow. “Twat? What exactly does that mean?”
“Other words for being stupid.” Electuroo answered.
Rainbow Dash stood by Electuroo. “Yeah and got me saying it some times. British slag has a way getting to ya.”
Merlin reading through a book nod to this and speaks as he reads. “That is very much the case. Many are shared in many countries.”
“How come we never heard of it?” Cadance asked.
“It simple, Electuroo not really from the Equestria Rainbow Dash is from, his from another reality that shares an connection to their worlds. He in fact once human. But-”
“Not a pony but-”
“Captain Armor if you please let me finish I can explain...” Shining Armor agrees with a nod in silence. “Thank you, as I was saying the fact he not any more is what Rainbow Dash did. The pony body you see him as is the form the magic of Equss a spell I cast 6000 years ago aided giving him thanks to Miss Dash touching a mirror connected to another on Earth.
The two allowed a bridge to form and pulling Electuroo in turn him into a pony. The cutie mark does show his thrill of flying but it also shows the talent his has with the flight, he has a signature move called the 'Thunder Bounce' that allows him instantly sharp turns and repelling himself away at great speeds from them creating a charge through his coat.
The results of such leave a large dome of static electrical energy. But this is getting off topic about his talent. The cutie mark also acted as a magical converter allowing him to exist when he shouldn't be able to. When his cutie mark was removed the results left the cutie mark to become instantly unbalanced and poor child with the magic bleeding out of him.
The results was very painful and resulted in his death with the human within dying out without the mark to protect it. That is where Rainbow Dash came in, she held a tiny amount of the human of Electuroo within herself, some how travelling at speeds that I couldn't even calculate resulted in an magical transfer. That led to Electuroo being restored to life, his cutie mark returned and the pony you see before you.
If the cutie mark was to be removed he would live this time. The human part that left his the very soul within, what makes him who he is. Electuroo you never be human again the human physically form was destroyed and you most likely sense a difference in the way your body feels, natural even.”
After Merlin spoke in detail about Electuroo with the cutie mark and human side nothing more a shadow now of his past. Electuroo knew inside Merlin was right...
“Your right Merlin it does feel like this is my body, every twitch of a wing, the wind, sleepless nights. The nightmares and the way I feel with my hooves to my mouth and how my feelings are to Rainbow Dash seem to be so part of this body. The human once was is gone physically, I can't even think of my true self as normal any more.” Electuroo turn to Rainbow Dash. “It kinda scary thinking that I lost something and just accepting it...”
Rainbow Dash hit him again with him yelping. “I don't care about that Electuroo, knowing that what ticks here and there is you that only matters, I love you for who you are even how annoying you can get sometimes.” Rainbow Dash tap his head then his chest with a hoof.
Cadance heard everything and kept her smile about the whole thing that turned out before her. “That is how love should be, I love Shining Armor because of who he is not by the way he looks even he is cute.”
“Cadance!” Shining blushed.
“Only teasing my love.” She place her head against his.
Merlin whispered. “Young love. Even Miss Dash forgot to mention it wouldn't of happened without him being a pony in the first place and her touching that said mirror. Love has a strange way of sipping in.” He gazed over to Celestia. “Isn't that so?”
“Indeed, it has lightly the mood but matters will turn serious.”
“That is true.” Merlin turn to the door hearing it open with the two twins entering with a orange Pegasus with a similar colour mane and tail to that of Electuroo's. “And it seem that moment has came.”
Lightning Strikeer turn to the door closing with Celestia's magic. The Lance brothers joining them at the table. “What exactly am I here for Princess Celestia?” He turn to the table and start to walk towards it.
Rainbow Dash felt very uneasy and her wings twitching was showing it. Soarin saw the look in Spitfire's eyes, he put a hoof to her not to explode and let this play through, she grumbled under her breath an uneasy look she only can give for now with answers wanted from the previous Wonderbolts Captain.
Electuroo eyes was trying to avoid eye contact with him while Merlin was relaxed with the princesses and Shining Armor looking at him as if he done something wrong and kept them in the dark about it. “And why so many ponies seem to be uneasy or giving me such strange looks?”
The three princesses decided it was now to show him. “We decided to run our own tests on your DNA on record to the yellow feather provided by the young stallion Electuroo over by Rainbow Dash.” Princess Celestia raise a right hoof to the yellow stallion.
“We discovered that his related to you.” Luna adds. “Thee have reason of not telling us?”
“Is that it? We related. That all this is about?” Lightning said in slight annoyance in his voice. “Why would I not tell of something I didn't know?”
Cadance using her magic moved it over to him on his side of the table. “It more then just related Lightning Strikeer. His is your son, the DNA results was ran in two different labs, one in Cloudsdale Medical and here in Canterlot General Hospital. They both clearly show you are his father.”
Lightning took the papers with his wing and scanned through both of them quickly. “You had a son and never thought to tell anypony including your fellow Wonderbolts? Why keep such a thing as this a secret? Aren't we best friends?” Shining Armor demanded an answer with a hoof slam down on the table giving him a really shameful look.
Lightning Strikeer toss the papers back on the table. “Care to explain?” Celestia asked calmly.
“Some how he manage to make a completely fool of everypony because I have no children, I been in the Wonderbolts over 15 years and never once thought about being in a relationship!” Lightning Strikeer quickly turn to Electuroo. “Look Electuroo is it?” He step up to the yellow pony. “I don't know what you have to gain for this, I am a retired Wonderbolt and not letting my name get dragged down by somepony that want to get his bits worth for being a son of a ex captain.”
Electuroo sighed. “Recently being told we crossed dimensional barriers and mum making sense when it seem she didn't. Geez she just always seem to be able to get one up on ya.” He step up to his father. “Strange as it sounds, you are and your not at the same time since I am from the dimension next door but-”
“Dimension next door what the buck are you talking about colt!?” Lightning Strikeer step back a little with an uneasy feel about this.
Electuroo raise a hoof up. “Just one sentence will confirm your my dad, a personal message from my mum.”
“Fine I will play your stupid game!” He sighed and allow Electuroo to get close enough to lean towards his right ear. The other ponies watch as Electuroo whispers something in his ear making his large round eyes quickly shrink to small little pupils, he quickly flew back with a deep pink clearly seen under his eyes.
“SHE SAID THAT TO YOU!? ALL THE THINGS TO SAY SHE SAID THAT!!!”
It echoed through out the room and that all that was needed to confirm it. “It seem you have a tale that you never told Wipe Out.” Spitfire spoke up his nickname now amused at the embarrassing position he was in.
Merlin pull out a small note book from his bag and wrote into it. “It seem the fur is able to change colour specially around the face to show expressions of deep feeling. I also saw the fur can turn red if they really anger or in the case of being in the hottest sun light. Sun burn. It an interesting thing indeed, sick is almost green if you already green then a more neon close my guess.” Merlin continue to speak in lower muttering tone of voice writing down his findings.
Lightning lands and look into the brown eyes of Electuroo. “Wayne?” He whispers.
Electuroo nods with a smile. “Yeah dad it me. Electuroo now but good to see you breathing again. Even back on the other side there another you that encountered mum for real and let say it left you with a real shiner in the right eye.” Electuroo point his wing to the right eye of Lightning.
Lightning sighed heavily. “Knowing if I figured it out I would play dodgers with her and-”
“That exactly what happened from what mum told me.” Electuroo chuckled lightly and gives him a big hug and Lightning returns it in full.
Rainbow Dash steps up. “I knew you was the ex captain but how can you be his father when you never been with anypony? Spitfire you treated as a younger sister right?”
Lightning release the hug standing by his son. “It true. But before that I just woke up one day in Cloudsdale as I am and at first I thought I was going completely nuts but it seem one second your another then become another. Spitfire can tell you how my mouth was full of crap. The words saying wasn't too pleasant right?”
“Indeed, you sure had a mouth back then.” Spitfire chuckled. “But what was this other life then?”
“I was human, not had a good life. Did mostly the wrong shit that put me in the bloody pits of regret. I had a heart condition and didn't care much about it. Taking care of the children while their mum was away to relax from raising three children mostly on her own. I feel asleep watching a movie and woke up here. In Equestria.” Lightning Strikeer explained to her and the rest. “First I thought I was off my rocker.” He flew over to the table landing on it.
“I thought that other life was just a dream nothing more so I moved on and lived the life of Lightning Strikeer which is really me now. I don't get how or what happened back then but-”
Electuroo let the bomb drop making them all gasp. “You died of a heart attack. I found your body on the sofa.”
Soarin was really stunned by this and quickly spoke over everypony in the room. “That crazy! How can he die of a heart attack!? His right here! It makes no sense!”
Lightning turn to the young co-captain. “Sometimes life and magic never make sense no matter how much you want to figure it out youngster. I am 52 years old, I lived over 20 years here in Equestria. How I ended up dead in one world and woke up alive breathing and what else you like to call crazy into the world. I am here breathing with wings, hooves and this being my body. I captained the Wonderbolts gave it to my co-captain Spitfire. That all happened, it just now I realise that I'd had another life and never thought about it being real.” Lightning Strikeer jump off the table walking around the throne room looking at each window display as he told them what was on his mind.
Celestia nod with a warm smile. “It seem life has an interesting twist. Your still part of the project you signed up for, helped and continue to do so. I believe this just another one of those interesting points of life we just have to live with. I still have complete trust in you my little pony.” Celestia walk up to him standing by him looking out of the window towards the warm light of the sun.
“That your own son did die and Rainbow Dash some how brought him back to life by not only crossing dimensional barriers but also breaking space, time and magical barriers that once should be impossible to break all at once. Yet she stands there with three different sides of the story all alining with each other.” Celestia said with a feeling of thrill in her voice. “I been surprised so many times but this is one of the most amazing things to happen. I feel young again and wish to see what happens next.”
Luna blinked. “Sister thou not thinking that they should return to Ponyville? Wouldn't that upset the balance?”
“Luna. Sister, don't you think this very meeting is such?” Celestia gave a playful smile.
Luna smiled slightly. “Yes that is true. We agree.” Luna turn to Cadance and Shining Armor. “Learning on the wedding before you two can say is one thing indeed. Thee agree?”
“I have to. It rather strange that they knew of it before we did but the fact they come from a different point in time too is interesting.” Cadance turn to Merlin then Rainbow Dash and finally Electuroo. “So I wish for you three not to tell of what to happen. I wish to be surprised if you don't mind.”
Electuroo shrugs. “Sure, just call out Sparks when you next see me and call Rainbow, Skittles.” Electuroo replied.
“Skittles?” Shining Armor asked.
Rainbow Dash glared at Electuroo. “Oh your so in for it!” She open her wings and Electuroo was gone busting through the door Celestia let go with her magic. “GET BACK HERE!” She chased after him with a burst of speed.
Lightning Strikeer watched the two disappear in a second not even that. “Sweet Celestia they fast...”
“Indeed they are.” Merlin replied walking past him. “I will be on my way to Ponyville, I bid you all a good day.”
“That it? We talk about this, have some talk about the father and you let them all off the hook?” Spitfire turn to Celestia. “I'm a bit confused. They did do impossible things Princess... No offence but isn't that reckless?”
Celestia shrugs. “Sometimes you just have to roll with it Captain Spitfire. Am I right Soarin?”
“Yes Princess.” Soarin replied. “So what now?”
“Keep a eye on their progress time to time. I have a feeling that Rainbow Dash's dream of being a Wonderbolt someday may come true, she rough around the edges and have a ego to match but with Electuroo around I can say things will be interesting for sure. It not everyday something new and thrilling comes your way.” Celestia turn to the large table. “And a gift from an very unusual wizard.”
“We like it sister, it fitting for the throne room.” Luna agreed.
Lightning Strikeer rubbed his head with his hoof. “If you don't mind I think I like to just go somewhere and lay down.”
“You may and see you the day after tomorrow at the west wing.”
“Yes ma'am.” He saluted and trots off before stopping, he thought about something from the look of Celestia gave him and said. “Damn, how did she know?” He leaves with the words muttering under his breath with the princess laughing softly.
“Let get going Shiny. I found this little place where they sell this really amazing food.” Cadance pull on his foreleg.
Shining Armor nods. “Alright, I am a bit hunger myself and today is my day off.” He nuzzles against her head and she returns it.
Spitfire and Soarin saluted and leaves right afterwards. “Lance brothers.” Celestia step up to them. “Remove your armour and report in with me for a special assignment.” Celestia walks by them and out of the throne room.
They look to each other and back at Luna who shrugged and went back to the cube that she been trying to solve.
“Special assignment?” They said together