//------------------------------// // Chapter 08: Genesis // Story: Under Lunar Wings // by JP HACK //------------------------------// Under Lunar Wings Chapter 8: Genesis ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By: JP HACK Co Written: Shadowxrazor Edited by: JP HACK, zomboni247, Shadowxraxor ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What is a life that is in eternal servitude? What is the purpose? I have slaved for this witch for too long, my mind in shambles, and my internal fortitude diminishing by the second. I may have to tell her that I cannot continue to... *Unreadable text* -Star Swirl the Bearded, Journal entry #1337 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time: 5:36 Location: Lunas Personal chambers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lunas personal room was something impressive. The black marble shined brilliantly reflecting the lights of the room and had a mirror reflection. The purple and black bed resembled the galaxies and stars on the sheets and pillows. There was a small assortment of furniture but what was most interesting was her game station. There laid the finest techno magic display and the latest game console, the X-colt 720. Luna's two personal unicorn guards stood still in the room, guarding the emptiness. Both had the night guard armor which had white outlines and accents of purple which resembled that they were the highest ranking night guards. Both were standing on each side of the massive door in the center of the room staring into empty space, and one of them sighed loudly with a shake his head. "This is boring." He turned to his companion guard who stared into the princessless room. "What do you think Pepperstone?" The guard, named Pepperstone, only snorted. "Can't you see that I'm busy Darkshade?" Darkshade stumbled not to laugh. "Busy doing what? Standing there doing nothing?" Pepperstone stood there and said nothing for a long time in a motion to ignore his fellow guard. Darkshade gave another heavy sigh and trotted over to the game console and display making Pepperstone raise an eyebrow. "Uh, what the hell are you doing?" Pepperstone said in a high whisper, as if he was afraid of talking. Darkshade only ignored him by grabbing the console controller with his magic, turning on the system in the process. "Hold it! Didn't Luna tell us NOT to play with her games without her?" Darkshade still didn't answer back to his companion but only continued to grab a game titled "The Mare of Duty: Lost souls," popped the case open, grab the disc and jam it into the console. "Shutup Pepper. Since when does luna 'forbid' us to play? I'm bored guarding an empty room." Darkshade turned to give a big smile back towards his fellow guard. "And besides, I have to beat your high score!" Peppertones reply was just his mouth down to the floor and a large gasp followed by a loud snort. "Fine then. You asked for this. I shall teach you your error of your ways" Pepperstones face turned evil with a quest to school his fellow guard in a classic deathmatch. He walked towards the console until he noticed something odd. He couldn't figure it out yet but it was familiar somehow. Darkshade picked up another controller but stopped before hoofing it to Pepper. "Do you feel what I'm feeling on a magical level?" Asked Darkshade. Pepperstone turned around for a moment and trotted back and forth as if scanning for something. "It feels like someone is sucking all the residual magic in the air." "I agree. Do you think it could be Luna coming back?" Asked Darkshade as he kept his eyes open for anything out of the ordinary. "Maybe? I don't Like this..." Both night guards kept a lookout until out of nowhere, in the center of the room, a bright ball of purple and white erupted and started to expand. Darkshade instantly dropped the controller in a near panic, and teleported to his post followed by Pepperstone. As soon as Darkshade got to his post he pressed the off button on the console with his magic and gave a wink to his companion, who in return mouthed 'you're an idiot.' The ball of light expanded and then disappeared revealing Luna, Hammerheart, and Lance Skyslicer. Though another ball of light erupted from above which spat out Nova Blade close to the ceiling, making him plummet nearly twenty feet towards the ground. He hit the marble floor with a thud and laid there groaning in pain. The Night guards had to stifle a laugh at the expense of Nova.. Luna paid no heed to Nova and his companions, and instead looked at her guards. "Guards. Leave us." Darkshade and Pepperstone both saluted. "Luna, should we call for a doctor as well?" Asked Pepperstone who stared at the miserable state of Nova. Luna raised a hoof in dismissal. "That won't be necessary. I will call when you're free to return. Also make sure no one bothers us. Is that clear?" Both night guards saluted. "As you wish." Replied darkshade. "Nova, Hope you get better." Nova groaned as a response and stayed on the ground his tongue out comically. The guards opened the massive door and walked out, closing it behind them. Luna said nothing for a moment until sighing heavily. "Okay then. Now that we have some privacy, I can punish Nova myself." Lance and Hammerheart both shared a look and shrugged. Luna moved over to Novas limp body and wrapped him a field of magic. He was hoisted into the air and thrown across the room once more, crashing into some furniture. Lance was compelled to say, "Critical Hit!" He got a stare from Hammerheart and just dismissed it. Both of them quietly resumed to watch Luna pick up Nova again and throw him across the other side of the room, making him slide and crash right into the wall. As soon as he hit it, a picture that was hanging came loose and smacked him on top of the head. Lance and Hammer both stifled not to laugh at that comedic moment lest they want to face the wrath of luna themselves. "Okay, punishment time is over, for now. So tell me Nova. Why did you deliberately disobey me?" Nova now reduced to a pathetic excuse of a warrior only grumbled and gurgled. "Are you mocking me?" Nova slowly picked himself up and stood before her, limping on one leg. "*struggle* Nn...no." "Then speak! What the faust happened?" Luna spread her wings which made her more intimidating. Nova opened his mouth as if about to speak and closed it. He turned to Hammerheart and asked, "Nows not a good time to be a moron right?" "What do you think Nova?" Hammerheart stood still next to Lance with a serious expression as they both waited to see what was gonna happen next. Luna looked on with a bit of perplexity on her face. What was Nova gonna do now? Nova took a deep breath and gave a hard gaze towards his mentor. His voice deepened and he stopped wincing from pain. “Oh please oh please forgive me!” Nova bolted right up to Luna and hugged her in a tight hug. Luna struggled to get the crying armored pony off of her while Nova kept mumbling “It was an accident! I swear!” The princess used her magic once more and threw Nova off of her back towards the ground. But Nova was suddenly quick on his feet and got right back up and lunged for another hug. “ENOUGH!” Luna screamed. Nova skidded to a stop right in front of Luna and there faces were inches apart. He gave a sheepish smile and gave a wink to his friends. Both Hammerheart and Lance were chuckling in the background. They know that when Nova is not serious or hungry he acts like a little foal, quite literally. Luna though was NOT amused at all. She had a mission to accomplish and the pony responsible for its failure was right in front of her. Why she had the ability to send him to the moon! But that would not the be the wisest choice now wouldn't it. Luna addressed Nova with a tone that could cut glass with a spoon. "Enough of the games. Nova sit down." Luna almost forgot his friends were still there and turned her attention to them. "Hammerheart. Lance Skyslicer. With Nova. Now." All the ponies promptly lined up and sat on their haunches in front of Luna. "Good. Now I'm gonna ask you this once and only once. Why did you not take down Strife as you were supposed to?" Nopony said anything for a moment. Nova raised a hoof, and before speaking he took off his helmet, revealing his royal blue mane with the single black streak. His horn glowed and his helmet was enveloped in a white light and disappeared. "Luna. I apologise, but please don't blame my friends. They were only following my orders and I messed up. Royally." Nova laughed mentally at that little pun he made. Lance and Hammer both didn't say a word to interject but wondered why his tone is so calm all of a sudden. "A simple apology will not suffice this time Nova, for you don't know the scope of the damage and headaches you caused." Luna explained. She turned and grabbed a scroll from on top of her bed and brought it to her. A quick manipulation of magic later and the scroll opened. "Here is the damage report from the Industrial District." Nova and his friends expressions all turned sour. This is not gonna be good. "Complete destruction of the Flim Flam Brothers Incorporated warehouse, at a cost of 100,000 bits. Damage to nearby buildings with a cost of 20,000 bits. And the clean up effort which in itself costs 10,000 bits. 1 pony was rendered unconscious and missing a cutie mark near the destroyed warehouse, and when the local fire brigade unit came to the scene, a white cloaked unicorn attacked them, taking another cutie mark from a poor mare rendering her in critical condition." Luna took a deep breath and continued with effort not to send Nova and his friends to the moon for all these failures. "After I collected these reports, It was obvious to me that you guys failed. But not until Lance and Hammerheart came to me with news that you, Nova, were missing and were found In Ponyville which shows me the scope of your failure. Was that not the train, where I teleported you three coming from Ponyville proper?" "Yes? I think."  Answered Nova who was looking at the floor, avoiding eye contact. "Was there not a rule that I set before you and your friends not to go anywhere near Ponyville or meet with the elements of harmony?" Luna waited for a response. This time Lance spoke up before Nova could respond. "Yes. And might I add that it was n-" "No interruptions! I'm talking to the team leader Lance." Luna said sternly. Lance nodded in affirmation and backed off. Nova finally looked up and spoke. "Its true." "Then what do you have to say for yourself and your team?" Asked Luna, expecting a full apology. But even after knowing Nova for a while she was not prepared for the words that will come out of Novas mouth. "I blame this on secret option E. Unexpected turn of events." Everyone groaned in frustration. "No really. Its like this." Novas expression changed from being sad to picking up his head high and cleared his throat. "I was faced with a decision Luna. Something  with which I couldn't do." Luna raised an eyebrow. "What would that be?" She asked with added eagerness in her voice. "I cannot take the life of a past friend." Nova said with determination, as if he thought it was a valid excuse. Luna was taken a bit by surprise by this. "What do you mean by this?" Asked Luna. Novas horn glowed a bit in pulses that transferred the same glow to his axe and back. All in attendance wondered what the hell Nova was doing until his axe stopped glowing and he again spoke in a commanding tone. "Strife is actually my best friend from long ago. Her real name is Sonata and we grew up together. When I realised that she was Strife or 'the cutie mark stealer', I refused to take her life and only defended myself in the ensuing battle. I thought of a quick plan to have the building collapse on top her so if she did perish, I would not be blood guilty. Lance collapsed the building while Hammerheart aided me in melee combat. I know you taught me everything I know about weapons and fighting and whatnot. But she ruined the plan of me coming in and ending it right then and there and to my miscalculation on her strength she was about to take my cutie mark as a result of my poor judgment." "What is your cutie mark?" Interrupted Lance. Novas axe glowed red and he just ignored Lance and kept speaking to Luna. "Regardless, I couldn't let her have it. So, I did what I had to do. Use the Grand Vortex Spell. That is part of the reason why I ended up in Ponyville. Due to the nature of the spell by requiring a powerful magical charge to activate it, I teleported to the rare function of "anywhere but here" and it pulled me to the nearest destination bearing the highest magical properties within a 100 mile radius. AKA Ponyville. Normally I would have used a normal teleport but Strife was blocking me from doing that when she held me in her magical grip." Nova stopped and waited for his axe to glow again by itself before continuing. Was his axe speaking for him, through him? Nobody dared asked. "I take full responsibility for breaking your rules and not taking down Strife properly. Please don't blame my friends either as they were only following my orders." Nova gave a heavy sigh and sat back down on the floor giving a quick pat of his axe.. Luna and everyone else stared at Nova like he was from another planet. Did he actually say something logical and cohesive? And was his axe doing the talking? Luna nodded but still had a frown on her face. "That is quite interesting. Lance is all this true?" Luna asked Lance, who was staring at the ceiling and admiring the arch work. "Huh? Oh yes. I was the one that destroyed the building with extreme prejudice and provided the usual air superiority." Luna nodded and turned to Hammerheart who was staring at Nova with concern. "Hammerheart is what Novas testimony true as well?" Hammerheart snapped out of her fantasy world and gave a salute. "Yes its true." "I see." Luna turned and paced back and forth in front of her subjects in thought. I can't believe this is happening! Now most likely Celestia knows about my student and now the whole plan to get back at her is ruined. Though if I can't get Nova to try again and find this Strife fellow in time, I might be able to salvage this plan. I spent too much time training and mentoring for this to fail yet. "Luna you okay? You don't look so good." Asked Hammerheart. Luna got out of her thoughts and cleared her throat. "Don't worry about me. I have to figure out what to do next. But right now it seems to me that were in a bit of a situation because of my student here." "Oh no. Don't blame this on me." Retorted Nova in a whiny high pitched voice. "Thats exactly what I am gonna do!" "Thats Horse crap! You know very well what happened..." As Nova and Luna argued, along with Hammerheart and Lance sitting there watching the show, a couple of hard knocks on the door sounded through. "Luna. Um, someones here to see you." Said one of the guards through the door. Luna stopped her arguments with Nova briefly. "Unless they want to be sent to the moon. No disturbances." She turned back to Nova. "It must me those sweet rolls. I think you're addi-" The voice from one of the guards again interrupted her with another call. "Your highness. Its your sister.." "Nows not the time!" Luna barked back towards the door. Nova smiled towards his teacher and chanted. "Luna’s a sore loser. Luna’s a sore loser!" "Am not." "Are too" "Am not" *CRASH*  The doors flung open making the doors into splinters. Again. And making the night guards fly through the air from the impact. There in the middle of the entrance stood Celestia in all her glory. Her mane all glowing and flowing with the same radiance as the sun itself. She was adored with her royal regalia and well, looked pissed as hell. No pony has ever seen her this angry before since the changeling invasion two years back and it scared the buck out of Luna and Nova with both of them falling back in surprise. Lance fell backwards comically while Hammerheart ducked from the flying debris of the door. "Sister. wha..what is the meaning of this?" "Actually I could say the same of you!" Celestia trotted quickly up to Luna and magiced a scroll in front of her face. "Do you know what this is!?" "No. What is it?" "A letter stating that you have your own student from Twilight Sparkle!"  Yelled Celestia. "Should of took her out when I had the chance." Mumbled Nova under his breath. Both Luna and Celestia now faced the armored unicorn with equally angry looks but Luna faced her sister once more. "How is this a problem?" Asked Luna in an effort to try to calm Celestia down. "The problem is that you agreed to be more open with me, have less secrets, and come to me for any problems. This is a violation of all of them!" The sun princess voice of sheer disappointment made the atmosphere of the room turn dark. As if you took out the love and joy of Equestria and threw it out the window. "How could you do this?" "Easy! To prove that I could have a faithful student, just like you. But a student willing to fight for Equestria, not through pointless negotiation, but through direct conflict!" She gave a heavy snort. "This is why I hid it from you. I knew you wouldn't approve of my ways. But in order to get things done, direct action must be taken. Something that Twilight would never do!" Celestia was surprised at that answer and stumbled back. "*gasp* Sister! What are you saying?" “I'm saying, do you remember the negotiation deal that you made with the Griffon Empire a couple of weeks back how, after 4 months of negotiations, they suddenly wanted to make a deal?” Celestia winced at that. “You don't mean...” “Yes. Just last month, all you had to do was send in Nova, an expert warrior,” Nova blushed at that comment, “with his team and only kidnap and ransom a high official and threaten to reveal compromising information to their enemies causing something to get done. Simple as that! But you had to waste time and resources all for nothing while your ponies suffered!” “That is not the way you rule Luna! What you are doing is going against the times of our day, which is peace and security! Why would you purposely go about this behind my back!?” Celestia visibly got more and more irritable by the minute causing all in attendance to shiver in slight fear, except Nova, for some unknown reason he was staring at celestia with a slight twitch in his eyes. The princesses kept arguing for a moment before somehow the conversation switched to the subject of Strife. “And who is this Strife or ‘cutie mark stealer’?” asked the Sun Princess. Luna thought for a moment how best to explain something as touchy as this. “Another villain that wants petty revenge against the throne, almost like the changeling queen that you talked about to me when I was out on official negotiations in Saddle Arabia . My student was sent out to dispose of her, but failed. I was administering punishment before you rudely interrupted." "Failed? How could Lunas student fail?" A lot of sarcasm flowed from Celestia as if trolling her sister. She turned to look at Nova and was surprised to be actively stared down by him now, with some hatred in his eyes. She turned back to Luna and softened her voice. "Sister, I know you're mad but please tell me. Who is Strife exactly and how is she evil?" Luna gave a grunt and turned her face away from the sun goddess. She couldn't take anymore verbal assault. "Shes a very powerful unicorn, your highness. Capable of stealing cutie marks and using the interwoven magical power within them to gain power. I admit, I made a careless mistake in my effort to take her down, but let me go back to track her down and end this once and for all, and for the safety of Equestria" Nova explained. His axe glowed now green and then died down a bit. Celestia thought for a moment before responding. "I see." She paused for a bit. "Her powers are very peculiar. What has she done so far?" Nova placed hoof to chin and rubbed, as if he was having trouble remembering anything that happened 24 hours ago. Brain capacitors charging....4%....47%....87%...*Ding.* "She stole so far 3 cutie marks and is hell bent on gaining the bearers of the Elements of Harmony cutie marks to use their power. And to use their power to dethrone you and Luna. Her methods are worst than Discords, she has intentions to kill, not hurt, those that get in her way." Nova gave a heavy sigh and turned back to look at his companions. Hammerheart looked scared having seen the princesses fight for the first time, while Lance was actively picking through Hammers bags to find anything with alcohol in it behind her back. "I see...I deem this acceptable for now. But I want to talk to you later about being a proper princess and leader. And we shall discuss this as sisters to take care of this new threat to our kingdom. Goodnight and make tonights night as great as always." Replied Celestia. She turned around, nodded to them all, and walked out of Lunas chambers with her head held high. Luna turned from angry to sad almost instantly and fell back on her bed in a sob, wetting the pillows beneath her head. The three warriors of the night looked on and said nothing. Nova stood there with almost no expression on his face. He didn't know what to do, nor did he want to make the princess sad. Everything that he accomplished so far was for moot. A villain on the loose, a princess in need of comfort, a pegasi with a drinking problem...what was the next course of action to take?                                         "Everyone out!" Nova barked, he took his axe from his back and swung it towards the ground, impacting with a loud crash which created a crater in the nice marble floor. Hammerheart and Lance and even the two night guards all jumped in shock. "I mean It. I have to talk to Luna alone and in private. So all of you out. NOW!" Luna still sobbed on her bed but gave a slight smile knowing that her student cares for her that much. "Nova lets not be-" Hammerheart got cut off when Novas axe impacted right in front of her. "Out. Now." Nova commanded. Lance said nothing as he knows when not to mess with his armored friend and urged Hammerheart to Leave. Both the earth pony and the pegasi left down the hallway. The two night guards both looked perplexed and stayed. "We are Lunas personal guards, we vowed never to leave her side unless-" Pepperstone didn't finish his sentence when Novas axe appeared from out of nowhere and was inches from his neck. "I dare you to finish your bucking sentence." Nova seethed with pure anger now and really looked deadly. Pepperstone and Darkshade both gulped and backed away slowly. "I want you two to erect a forcefield around these chambers since the door is out. Sound proof it as well while standing outside. Understood?" The night guards nodded and promptly did what they were told lest they want an axe through their body. A magical purple barrier slowly came up and surrounded the room making the outside noises cease to exist. Nova turned around to Luna. "Now lets talk..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Time: 6 PM" Location: Canterlot West Hallway. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I just don't know what went wrong Lance. Did you not see him? He threw a frakking axe at me!" "Yeah. That was hilarious when you nearly peed yourself." Replied Lance. Hammerheart stifled not to take out a power hoove to jab it into his side with max power. "But you should know not to mess with him when hes like that." "True. But that was rude of Nova to do that." "Agreed. But he will catch up to us soon. I left a note in his armor during his rage that we’ll meet up later at certain place. Mares not invited." Lance wiggled his eyebrows at Hammer. "Wait. What? And How did you do that?" Hammerheart asked in surprise. Lance just hummed to himself and whistled that whistle you do when you did something but act like all 'natural'. "Whatever. Anyway i'm gonna go get my power hooves tuned from Magnus the blacksmith. I want you to give me your wing braces. I have some tuning and modifications which I want to do before the next upcoming battle with Strife." Hammerheart waited for Lance to prant and whine how he hates taking them off but surprisingly Lance said nothing about them. "Sure." Lance said without missing a beat. If Hammerheart was drinking anything she would of spat it out instantly. "Wait. Seriously? No nagging, yelling, or acting like a foal? Wait a second..." She went up close to his muzzle and sniffed his breath. She gasped, "You're slightly drunk arent you!" "No. I'm buzzed. Theres a difference!" He chanted. Hammerheart wanted to hoof him in the face for his stupidity. But now she realised why Lance was so calm in all that drama back there. They both reached a split of the hallway. One way lead to Canterlot proper while the other lead to the guards barracks and the blacksmith. Hammerheart held her hoof out as if demanding Lances braces. Lance nodded and pressed off some latches and the braces holding his crossbows dropped onto the floor. His wings shot straight up from not being under constant pressure. Hammerheart rolled her eyes and grabbed the braces with the weapons on them, and placed them on her back. "Thanks. Any requests since I'm going there?" "Actually, now that you mention it, yeah. I need you to recalibrate the tension while fixing the reload mechanism to reload bolts faster. And can you make a scope function on it like what you have with your goggles?" "I will see what I can do." Hammerheart said. She eyed the now naked winged Lance, showing his muscular body and large wings how it complemented his looks. She shook her head. Bad hammer bad. What are you doing looking that way towards Lance!? Okay hes good looking but come on! You like him more than Lance! Get a grip! She got out of her thoughts and started on her way towards the blacksmith. Lance trotted away but paused. "Hammer, meet me and Nova at the "Plot o' Rama" tonight. Thats where I said i will meet Nova." "That naughty place! You should know better Lance to bring Nova, of all ponies there. He can't even have alcohol! Why there of all places?!" She yelled in surprise, nearly dropping Lances wing braces. "Cause I need a drink and they know me. Duh!" He waved a wing. "Bye!" Lance thrusted his wings in one sweeping motion, and flew away at high speed. Due to not having any weight or tension on his wings, he created a large gust of wind in the process. Hammer nearly got blown away as the wind nearly knocked her over. She puffed up at her mane in order to stop it from hanging in front  of her face and trotted away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location: Lunas Chambers. Time: 7:43 PM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna stood out on her balcony and eyed the darkening sky with admiration.  It was time for her to raise the moon, light up the stars, and start her rule of the night. She used her magic and grabbed the large celestial body. A quick tug started to made the moon move and rise out of the Horizon and into the sky illuminating the darkness in a blue glow. She added some more stars here and there to make it sparkle. It was the creation a beautiful night as usual. "Luna what the buck! I'm dying here!" A voice in distress called out ruining the moment. Luna turned, "Hang on a moment Nova, this requires a lot of a mental fortitude to do." "Well hurry up. I need a gunner and I'm getting KSed by, Uhm, xXMuff1nMar3Xx? The hell kind of username is that?!” Nova called from the inside. Luna cringed at that name and almost made a meteor instead of a star from her distraction. She cut her night making short and quickly went back to where Nova was. He was holding his X-colt controller sideways as if was motion controlled and yelled at the screen into his headset that he had on. "Quickly Luna, I need support. I have a mark 2 battle tank but it needs a gunner!" Luna looked at the screen and cringed at the scene before her. Nova was driving a tank shooting enemies but got PWNED by a airstrike not soon after. She quickly grabbed her controller as well and even put on her own head set. She joined Nova and selected her profile. >Night Master logged in. Instantly the players on the opposite team raged in chat such proclamations as, >Xreo87: “All heeeellll no. Not you again.” >MegaMare: “No. Bucking. way. You again? AFK.” >MysticalMOO: “ you. Guys we lost.” >AllStar765: “Dammit. we had like 3 minutes left till the match was over.” >PurpleDragon42: “What just happened? Are you guys lagging?” >PieLover12: "Who took all the pies in game and replaced it with muffin bombs!?" The players all raged in the chat, spamming on how the end of the game is inevitably upon them, though those on the same team as Nova and Luna praised them as saviors. The warrior student and the princess of the night continued playing into the evening until Nova paused the game some time later. "Are you sure I can go about finding Strife in my own way?" "Yes. But I thought we were done discussing about that now. Can you unpause?" Luna said with eagerness while shaking her controller, not amused by Novas abrupt pause in the middle of a team death match. "Just making sure. I will leave in the morning, but I have to meet Lance tonight, he’s gonna go hang at some place and left a note that he wants me there.” “I see. Just promise me you will be more prepared in your next encounter with her?” Asked Luna. She eyed Nova with concern. But Nova dismissed it with a wave of his hoof. “I promise, horn swear?” Luna was put off from doing that in the middle of the game. But she finally lowered her head touching Novas horn with hers. Once the both horns made contact they sparked and fizzed. “Happy? Now lets get back to playing. You said that there was a pony called xXMuff1nMar3Xx?” Luna asked. She didn't like the events that transpired but being consoled from her student was helping with her mood a great deal. Video games where the best at making her feel better, especially when she played with friends. “Yeah, why?” Asked Nova. The night princess just smiled at him warmly. “Thats our clan leader.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time: 9:43 PM Location: Plot o’ Rama. Downtown Canterlot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wubs. Wubs everywhere. The club reverberated with sound of a heavy bass. In the center was a stage and multiple gorgeous mares with clothes on dancing and twirling themselves around poles and being sexy in all their ways. In the back was the bar that was being tended by a yellow stallion with a brown mane. To the left was a door that said VIP and to the immediate right was the DJ on her own platform controlling the wubs. Outside of the club was a large line and in front of that line had 2 bouncers controlling the flow and kept the peace. Both bouncers had dark blue coats and white manes. They were muscular and larger than average, as necessary to keep the peace. Lance Skyslicer was high in the sky when he dive bombed right in front of the line and landed in a flash. The bouncers put their hoof up to shield their eyes from all the debris that lance scattered around in his abrupt landing. "Hey, Biff and Buzz. Is my spot still there?" Lance asked the bouncers. The earth ponies both smiled until one of them spoke. "Damn Lance. Where were you for the past 5 days?" Said Biff. Buzz just gave a sigh. "Yeah, you missed a drinking contest again." "What? Again?" Asked Lance disappointedly. He looked at the line who were staring at him angrily for holding up the line, but just turned around back towards the 2 bouncers. "Okay. Time to get drunk and have some fun, I see ya guys around." The earth pony lifted the velvet rope up and let Lance through causing everyone to yell and chant that he was a line cutter. Buzz slammed a hoof on the ground. "Shut up! All of you! He is the boss of this establishment! So unless you want Biff here to give you the 'punisher' then settle down!" He yelled. Biff smiled and puffed out his chest making those in the front of the line back off a bit. Lance smelled the air in a deep inhale. "I love the smell of booze, mares, and wubs late at night." He walked in and headed for the bar passing alot of other ponys having a good time. Drinking, dancing, and above all enjoying themselves. The bartender saw him come near and called out, "Skyslicer? Damn. I havent seen you for a while. White pegasi right?" "Hey Spitshine. Haven't seen you in ages as well. How is the gig at Ponyville working out?" Spitshine passed him a bottle, not glass, of white pegasi. He opened it and started drinking it down like it was water. "Its alright. Though working here on weekends is keeping me busy. Vats on yer mind?" He quickly grabbed another bottle of booze and poured into a glass and shuffled it to some other customers. Lance put the now half empty bottle down and smiled at the yellow stallion. "You would not believe what I have been going through lately." He held the bottle in his front hooves and swished it around. "Battle after battle. Skirmish after skirmish. Love escapes me every time. I seem never to get a break from it all." He took another swig of booze. "And now i'm lonely in my time of need." Spitshine washed and dryed off a glass while listening to Lances rant. He gave a knowing nod and kept cleaning. "I know vat vould make ya feel better boss." Lance raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "What?" "Eey, theres a new mare thats a great dancer. Just hired her actually. Ya vant to have a little fun?" Spitshine gave a sly look to Lance while he nodded rapidly like a little foal. "Aye, she's in the back. Her stage name is Serenity. I give her a call for ya, boss." "Thanks Spit." "Noo problem." Spitshine left the bar for a moment and went back stage. He came out a couple of minutes later followed by a unicorn mare with a mask and having black lingerie on, emphasising her features. Her yellow mane and pink coat contrasted heavily with her colors. Lance stifled not to instantly embarrass himself with a wing boner. The mare came up to him in a hug and started to touch him in the most nicest places. “How ‘bout you. me. back room VIP?” She cooed with a sweet voice full of lust. Lance couldn't contain himself any longer. He grabbed her in his front hooves and flared his wings making a leap in the air. He instantly shot right into the back room with her and slammed the door. Everyone stopped and looked at what just happened until Spitshine called out, “The boss is back everypony!” Lance then poked his head out from the door and called for the DJ. “Hey! Put on Candy Shop by 50 Bitz! That’s my bucking jam right there!” The door slammed shut again and was followed by deep wubs and yells from the small crowd. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=- “Now how do you wanna...” Lance’s question was cut off by the mare’s lips pressing against his and pinning the pegasi to the door. Of course he pushed back with his body causing the two to fall back onto the bed conveniently placed in the small but cozy back room. Lance pulled back from their embrace and nip at the dancer’s ear. A little trick of his that always got the fillies was whispering sensual things in a very masculine tone. “How bout you get that flank of yours up and working?” Serenity blushed and giggled and Lance’s hoof traced up & down the side of her body. “Well you sure know how to convince a mare.” She winked at Lance and using her magic pulled him back up to a sitting position. Lance had no complaints as the mare soon got to work, literally after all she was a stripper this is what she is paid to do. As the sharpshooter was put at ease by the mare’s lewd body gyrating in provocative ways a thought popped into his head. Why is it that I like this more then kicking flank on the battle... His thought was cut short as Serenity started gyrating against a very sensitive part down below. Oh yeah that’s why Lance however was never keen to let such a beautiful thing go with examination and soon found his hoof around her waist, rubbing against her lower stomach and brushing over her still clothed cutie-mark. How is it that mares could look even better with clothes was beyond Lance’s buzzed and hormone clouded brain as soon he pulled Serenity onto his lap and kissed on her neck. Moans emanating from the mare were always a good sign and coming from a stripper were an even bigger ego booster. “Oooooh goddess you really DO know how to get a mare going.” Serenity managed to gasp out. Lance meanwhile didn’t respond and kept at doing his second favorite thing in life after shooting and before drinking. You could say Lance was a veteran at this sort of thing if not by age ‘slightly at least’ but mostly experience. Even Lance himself would admit it that it was pure dumb luck he became this infamous among mares in Canterlot. He came to the conclusion that a couple of mares that he ended up with for a night of debauchery must’ve been friends and of course rumor spreads quickly in a big city. It didn’t help that Nova & Hammer bagged on him about it either but he wasn’t complaining. After all look where it gets him. Serenity was now straddling his waist and facing him. She must’ve switched around when he went into thought but that train to was derailed and a very welcome pleasure rippled through his body. “I figured you like it. Everyone always seems too.” She bit her lip and Lance could swear it made him turn to putty in her hoofs right there. “Oh sweet Celestia yes.” He groaned. Serenity’s magic continued its massage working one of the most sensitive parts on Lance’s body. “I always figured a pegasi’s wings were sensitive, guess I was right.” Serenity sang as rubbed Lance’s shoulders as well. Getting a massage from a stripper wasn’t something he was planning but after the rough day he had it sure as Tartarus was welcome. “How bout we skip the rest of this rubdown and get on with the real show huh?” He grinned, another little weapon against mares was Lance’s cocky grin. It just oozed the words ‘showoff, badass and I’m better than your ex’ and sure enough it worked. Serenity said nothing but stood up and lit her horn. Soon the short skirt she was wearing was off, including her socks and she fell back onto the bed laying down. “Well?” She teased. “Come on big boy.” No complaints were made from Lance as he rolled onto all fours and climbed on top of her. He repeated kissing her neck and rubbing the side of her stomach but kept moving down kissing down her back. Another weapon in his arsenal was kissing a mare’s cutie-mark, if she was ‘in the mood’ for some reason it always seemed to be pleasurable. He could never really understand why but never really cared. Lance made his way down and gazed at her mark. Probably a stripper pole or some sexy... For once in Lance’s life he went from horny to full blown scared in a split second. The mare’s cutie-mark was familiar to Lance but not in a good ‘hey you’re that hot mare I always wanted to rut in flight school!’ way. The image of pentagram star adore by circles, 3 of which contained an image meant that the mare lance was about to rut was... “Strife...” “What was that?” ‘Serenity’ asked, glancing over her shoulder. Lance cleared his throat. “Sorry slurring my words. I said beautiful sight.” He laughed sheepishly and went back to kissing down her leg, but inside Lance’s mind he was panicking. Okay I’m here fairly horny, drunk, was no...  I AM about to rut a mare who wants to rule all of Equestria and could blow my head off with a single spell and was also Nova’s best friend... Yay me? Lance kept at his sensual machinations and made his way back up to Strife’s head where he locked lips with her again. Wait, no yay. And how the buck did I not see it was her before? Maybe I was just too drunk. “Please...” Strife said. Lance could hear the mix of both actual lust and acting in her voice. He knew that if he didn’t act quickly she’d steal his mark too. Luckily I don’t think she recognizes me without armor otherwise I’d of been disposed of by... Wait! Lance felt ‘himself’ against her and the deep breaths she was taking. It’s now or never and this will definitely not look good. Slowly Lance brushed off the mask Strife was wearing and confirmed that was her. He could almost see the evil desires floating in her eyes but he was ready. A twist of his body and a false feather fell from Lance’s right wing. A little creation of Hammer’s for tight spots was a hidden hoof blade disguised as a feather which soon found its way into Lance’s hoof and driven in the right side of Strife’s body. Strife inhaled loudly but was suppressed by Lance pressing his muzzle against hers. She struggled against the pegasus kicking and punching at him but Lance twisted the feather knife deep inside her side and felt her whole body writhe in pain. Quick as he could Lance broke muzzles with the evil unicorn and shoved his hoof in her mouth to stop her screams of murder. “Oh come off it Strife.” Lance chuckled as he twisted the knife back the opposite way. “I know this won’t kill you.” Her eyes glared at him confirming his point. Lance leaned in with a sadistic grin on his face. “But I know that it still bucking hurts doesn’t it?” He pressed it in further and twisted more but no matter what he tried tears didn’t fall from Strife’s closed eyes. Only seconds later though Lance realized she wasn’t responding. He felt scared now, even though Strife was a criminal he still would have murder her in basically cold blood. “I didn’t. Did I?” He pressed a hoof against her chest. ‘Thump thump, thump thump’ “Passed out.” Lance sighed and rolled off the unconscious mare. “Thank bucking Luna.” And with a loud sigh of relief he grabbed a bottle of White Pegasi from the nightstand and took a few swigs. A few minutes later once Lance had a nice buzz going he rolled off the bed onto his hoof and pondered what to do with Strife now. Shrugging he threw the thankfully non blood-stained covers over her body and turned to the door. Mama won’t find out about this *hic* mess. Now to find *hic* Nova. Lance made his way out of the room a little too quickly and ended up throwing the door open. Apparently in his absence the bar filled up and a fairly large sized crowd was now looking at the sweating drunken pegasus standing by the backroom door. Even the wubs themselves played by the DJ were silenced in that classic rift interruption. Lance in his drunken stupor shouted the only thing he could. “The mare has been broken in!” He gestured wildly and struck a valiant pose. The crowd took half a second to register what he had just said and soon erupted in cheers, hoots and praises along the lines of ‘Lance rules!’ ‘Neeeeeew Recooooooord!’ and ‘Lance you can have my wife annnnnytiiiiiiiimmmeeee!’ Lance smiled and soaked up the attention he was getting until he heard some loud grunts coming from behind him. "Oh crud, I nearly *hic* forgot. I gotta tell *hic* Nova!" Lance was starting to actually feel drunk now when his liver kicked in. He sped out of there by knocking over some other ponies in the crowd and rushed out the exit. What he didn't expect was to be met by Nova who was talking to the bouncers Biff and buzz. Nova was still in full armor, except for his helmet, when he got air tackled by Lance. They both flew back and landed on the street, grinding to a halt making the bouncers cringe at the impact. "What the buck! Lance what the hell is going on?!" Lance on his back, flailed his arms and legs into the air rapidly screaming, "Help! I have fallen *hic* and I cant get up!" He stopped for a moment and then laughed uncontrollably. Nova came up to him and tapped him. "Buddy. Are you okay?" "I'm not *hic* I'm running away from her, she did something. And it was her. *hic* I took my blade and she got mad. And then *hic* stuffed under the bed sheets. Now, I run into *hic* you. Fireballs. Yum." Lance collapsed and laid there in the middle of the road rubbing his stomach. "My tummy hurts. *Hic*" Nova stood there and pondered over what Lance said. Usually his drunken language skills, he somehow always said that he did something that he was not too proud of and Nova knew him well enough to actually understand some, if not, all of it. "Let me get this straight. You found Strife who was pretending to be a stripper, and you went and stabbed her and after you found out. you panicked, so you shoved her under some bed sheets?" "Yessh" "Holy moon pie. You are drunk. That could never happen in a million years!" Ponies around them gave some stares at Nova for talking to a drunk multi maned pegasus. He ignored them while poking Lance to the side. "Come on Lance. Get up and get sober. Your face is greener than usual. And thats usually not a good sign. Also, you said in your note that you wanted to talk to me about something really important to you?" Lance nodded and rolled a couple times on the street in apparent pain. 1 bottle of White Pegasus is already too much for him to handle. Nova gave a heavy sigh and did not want to do what he was about to do. Great friends always prepare something for their drunk friends. He pulled out a potion from one of his pockets in his armor and opened it.  Lance immediately stopped wiggling around and gave a hard stare to Nova. “What the *hic* is that?” Lance slurred. He tried to pick himself up with his wings and hooves but kept stumbling from side to side. Nova said nothing, went up to him and grabbed his face and shoved the potion down his throat. Nova made sure the entire bottle was emptying as he struggled to hold Lance still. He protested and his eyes went in circles. A couple series of gags and coughing followed by a large gulp ensued. Lance spasmed and fell backwards on his flank. He held his head with his hooves and stopped shaking. A look at his own hooves confirmed that he was still alive and not hallucinating. He slowly got up from the ground and gave Nova a stare. "Temporary alcohol inhibitor?" "Temporary alcohol inhibitor. Yes." Answered Nova. "You have 4 hours before the effects wear off and you're gonna feel the most massive hangover of your life once the time is up. You better thank Hammerheart for that." “Gee thanks.” Lance answered with all his enthusiasm lost. He opened his mouth to say something more but was cut off when a scream followed by ponies rushing out of the club. The bouncers rushed inside to see what the heck was happening and not too long after they got thrown back outside, crashing through the entrance of the establishment. Nova was quick to grab them in mid air in a telekinetic grip and set them down on the ground. Biff and Buzz both thanked Nova but looked like they have seen discord himself and huddled together like scared little foals. "Lance you have to help us!" Cried Biff as Buzz stared back towards the club, fear all over his face. More ponies screamed and a lot of smashing furniture sounded through. Everyone cringed when somepony yelled, "Mah beer!" "Boss do something!" Buzz this time cried out. Both bouncers were overcome with fear and ran away leaving Nova and Lance to just stood there in dumbfoundment. Both of them did not expect this to happen. Not one bit. "You said Strife is in there?" "I'm not that drunk to mistake a random mare for a pshyopathic ex best friend." Lance answered. Nova cringed cause It kinda hurt him that she was doing all this with intent to hurt and kill. It didn't have to be this way and Nova knew she had to be stopped. "Wait a minute. Does that mean we have to capture her in a bar?" Asked Nova while he watched everyone scream and panic out of the club. Lance stood next to him watching the scene with him. "Yes. Shes kinda pissed. I kinda, sorta, maybe, Uhm, stabbed her?" "Wait you were serious?!" Nova blurted out. "Oh look at this! Another cutie mark for the taking! Ha ha ha! This one is rare at most." Strife yelled from the inside. Both the warrior and pegasus looked at each other like they were found guilty of stealing cookies from the cookie jar. Nova took out his axe from his back and turned to Lance. He nodded and in that instant, both of them rushed back in the club. Nova shoved other ponies out of his way with his axe while Lance flew above. Inside they saw a mess with the stage nearly destroyed, Injured ponies all over the place, a DJ still playing wubs and one specific unicorn on the stage with blood spilling from her side while having another pony in her magical grip holding him hostage. "She got Spitshine!" Yelled Lance in shock. Now Strife was targeting Lances friends? This got personal for the pegasus who now suddenly wished he had his crossbows so he could put a bolt in her head and get it over with. "Put him down Strife!" Nova commanded. His axe glowed a fiery red and he held it with his magic in front of him. "Luna asked me to capture you and bring your for trial. So put. Him. Down. Now." "Oh this stallion? Me and him are gonna have a little fun!" Strife said playfully.She erected a force field around the stage. "Lets see if you can get to him on time before I take his cutie mark."  Spitshine struggled and flailed his hooves wildy in the air in a vain effort to get away. "Vat are ya doing ya crazy mare! Why I aughta' sm-MMM. MMhhmmmMM!" Strife held his mouth closed with a zipper that she magicked up and grinned. "Once your friends attempt to save your sorry flank, then I give you permission to speak!" She informed Spitshine who narrowed his eyes back at her and continued struggling to break free from her magical grip. Lance and Nova both looked at her, then towards each other and back to her and shrugged again. It was a hidden language that they spoke just by reading each other facial expressions. The bar and everything else was nearly destroyed, with broken chairs and tables scattered, bottles of booze broken everywhere, leaking there contents. The only thing still intact and working was the DJ who was still there blasting wubs. Strife stood there holding her captive and keeping a shield going while anticipating Nova and Lances next move. "Hey yo DJ!" Nova yelled. "Whhhhaaatt up?" The DJ, a white unicorn mare with purple shades and a glorious spiked blueish mane, called back. "Play something to get us in the mood for battle and you better get to safety." Nova calmly said. DJ obliged with grabbing a vinyl disc from her stash and then plopped it on the turntable. She put the needle gently down with her magic and got the mix ready while Nova put full power to his horn and axe. Lance got into an attacking position with his hidden blades fully exposed. "I guess I’ll take this time to leave.” DJ announced. She pressed a button making the music change and start to play while she left. As soon as it started, both Lance and Nova looked at each other and nodded in an unseen agreement unlike before. Nova summoned his helmet in a flash and put it on. “Ready Lance?” Nova asked, with his axe giving a green glow. “Lets just get this over with.” Lance now threw away the hoof blade and revealed feathers that were hard and acted like swords. “CHARGE!” End of chapter 8. Reader has gained +1 INT +1 DEX +1 STR +23 LUK. Objective - defeat Strife. (In progress) Secondary Objective - get Lance to a doctor. (In progress) Primary Objective - don't start club fights (failed) New Skill learned - Selected Summoning - You can summon and store objects remotely using Teleport magic. Requires 500 MP and can only be used once every 60 seconds.