Chapter 6
Silence was all that filled the square. A sudden change from the uninterrupted chaos that had prior filled the air. Twilight was left to stare in awe at what just transpired. She had nothing but her thoughts.
So let's go over this. Avery had his leg cut off. Then it grew back in a matter of seconds. Impossible for magic, yet unexplainable otherwise. By the way Ira reacted, she knew that would happen. How could she? Avery acted as though noone would expect that, and rightfully so. So how much does Ira know? More than Avery thinks she knows, that's for certain. Twilight's mind went back to the previous evening and the voice that called out to her, Is this what the voice meant? Is this connected to the role I'm supposed to play?
In the short time Twilight was going over this in her head, Avery grew increasingly fidgety, while Ira stood with a satisfied smirk across her face.
Avery finally spoke, "Listen Twilight, I can explain. It's just that... I wanted to talk about..." His look of worry turned to panic as he turned and bolted away from the scene.
"Avery wait!" Twilight called out to him, yielding no response. Frustrated, she turned to Ira, "You knew that was going to happen, didn't you!?"
By now, Ira was casually strolling back into her shop, "Me? Nah. Oh yeah, about that crutch. You can come pick it up tomorrow." She said with a playful smirk, then disappeared inside.
Twilight was now left fuming with anger by herself in the square. She hated being left in the dark, not knowing. The feelings she experienced reminded her of her last days in Ponyville. The same crushing weight of the unknown that plagued her mind as she began to experience symptoms.
The anger on her face dissipated when she turned from the shop and saw the filly with vibrant green hair once again. Twilight began to step towards her, before she too turned from Twilight and ran. She was truly alone. Alone, but not without objective. She decided to focus on finding Avery and try to get some answers. She thought about where Avery would eventually end up. In a sudden moment of clarity, the answer came to her. Simple.
After an hour of hobbling through town, she was face to face with Avery once again.
"I'm not the best at hiding, am I?" Avery stated with a light smile.
"Usually, this would have been the last place I'd check. But I remembered what you said earlier about your connection with these artifacts, it was a pretty safe hunch."
"I should have figured you'd find me. You're the smartest pony I've ever met after all. These objects have always called to me during times like this."
"Times like what?"
"When I get worried about who, or what, I am."
His emphasis on the word "what" was concerning to Twilight, though she willed her face to not display this thought.
"Can we talk about it? I'm at a loss for explanations honestly. Let's take this moment to have you teach me something huh?" Twilight said, giving him a light nudge.
"I guess it would be nice to tell someone, after all these years."
"All these years?"
"Yeah. I'm a little over 1500 years old. Give or take..."
"WHAT?!"
She noticed Avery flinch.
"I mean, wow, that's something," She said, hoping she didn't scare him off the topic.
Avery sighed, "Well, I was never a filly. That I can remember anyway. I've always been exactly like this. I also can regenerate from any wound. I suppose I've never found it's absolute limit, but it's not really something I'm interested in exploring."
"That's incredible! Is it magic? Some sort of invulnerability spell? I don't see a horn on you, so that rules out you as an Alicorn..."
"I have no idea."
"Of course you don't. Still, 1500 years?! All the knowledge you must have gathered! All the things you must know! Have you been hiding your true intelligence all along?!"
"Nah, I just don't really bother to remember most things. Gathering knowledge isn't really something that interests me."
Twilight hung her head in complete defeat, "Of course," then gathering an even more defeated tone, "all those years...wasted."
"Oi. It's not that bad Twilight."
Twilight sighed, "any more you care to share?"
Avery rubbed his chin, "well I've been living in this town now for as long as I can remember. I've only left a few times in my life. To gather these items." He said as he directed his hoof at the pedestals. "I can't explain it Twilight, but they called to me. I always knew right where to look for them. Like I left them there in the first place."
Twilight continued to wrap her brain around the whole situation, "I think I understand Avery, but I have another question for you. Ira didn't seem too surprised when your leg grew back. Is there any chance she's like you as well?"
"Hmm, I don't think so. She's only been around for 50 years. Unless you want to go over there and chop one of her legs off, I'd be safe assuming that she isn't like me."
"50 years!? No way! She looks like she isn't a day older than 25. And she moves more like the most fit pony I've ever seen in my life!"
"I guess that's a point. But I specifically remember her moving in to town not long after the last blacksmith died. I guess she saw the opportunity and took it, or something like that. Never really thought about it."
"Right," Twilight said, "speaking of Ira, she said we could pick up the new crutch tomorrow."
"Is it okay if I leave that up to you? I'm not feeling up to having some idle chat with a pony that just sliced my leg off."
"That seems fair enough. I can handle that." What in Celestia's name am I going to say to her?
Twilight reached over to give Avery a friendly hoof around the neck when she noticed all the dried blood down the back of his mane and on his wings. "Are your wings okay Avery? That block was incredible! And your swordsmanship was unlike anything I've ever seen!"
Avery spread his wings to get a closer look. Twilight had never noticed before, but his wings were the most stunning gold color she had ever seen. The inside of his wings twinkled so finely, as if gold dust has been spread over his plumage. Avery caught onto her stare and quickly folded them back up. "They look fine to me! I'm sure I'd be in much worse shape if I wasn't... whatever I am."
"Avery, I promise to do whatever I can to help you find out more about yourself while I'm here. I'll do some research in the library with Ace and I'll try to get to the bottom of this."
"Thanks Twilight. I really do appreciate it. You're the first pony I've told any of this too, and it looks like I've made a good choice in that," Avery said with water gathered in his eyes.
"I'm honored Avery." Twilight responded, "one last question and that's it, I swear."
"Shoot."
"Earlier, when you were in your duel, I saw a filly watching closely from the side alley. She had a grey coat with a bright green mane."
"Oh, so you met Trist?"
"I would hardly call it a proper meeting. Trist is her name?"
"Yep. She is the only homeless filly I've ever seen in this town. No family or anything, sad stuff. She always flees when ponies approach her, myself included. I only know her name because Lux told me that she once treated a wound that Trist had gotten when she fell on the path. Strange filly."
"That is sad indeed."
Another silence filled the area, but only for a brief moment.
"Well, I'm gonna go on a walk," Avery said.
"Would you like some company?" Twilight said, forgetting about her damaged leg.
"Actually, I think I'll take this one solo. But thanks for listening Twilight. You're a great friend."
Twilight couldn't fight back the smile that crept up onto her face as Avery turned and left. It was well into the afternoon, and dusk was approaching. It was the first alone time Twilight has had since Avery found her. She began to think of her friends back in Ponyville. Fluttershy would do just about anything to try and help that poor filly. Pinkie would just want her to smile. Rainbow Dash would really have loved that sword fight. The familiar heartache returned to Twilight, and she could feel her heart sinking lower and lower.
"What did I say about crying, Twilight Sparkle?"
"I wasn't cryi- wait! That voice again! I'm not crazy!"
The voice echoed around the room.
"No, you're not. But I am! Just a little anyway!" The voice began to cackle and Twilight found herself unable to suppress the giggle that was building up inside of her. She started walking towards the kitchen, still wearing a smile.
"So who are you?"
"Ruining the Surprise already? Hmm, you're getting cold."
Twilight took another step towards the bedroom.
"Freezing cold!"
Twilight deadpanned, "really?"
"Where's your sense of FUN?!
Twilight sighed and slowly moved back towards the kitchen.
"Back on track."
She stepped towards the piles of junk lying around the floor.
"Warmer."
She inched towards the door.
The sound of teeth chattering filled the air, "Brrrrrr."
The only area left, was the pedestals. Twilight moved towards them.
"You're burning up!"
She moved in front of each one left to right. Carefully examining them, waiting for directions from the voice.
She at last reached the skull lying on top of the far right pedestal. She moved closer, until she was looking eye to eye socket with the lifeless relic.
SURPRISE!
The skulls lower jaw moved as it screamed directly into Twilight's face. The sheer volume sent Twilight reeling back into piles of junk, knocking down a large tower of trinkets on top of her body. The skull started an incredible volley of laughter, going on for quite some time before finally calming down. Just as Twilight regained her composure and swept the last of the dust off of her mane, the skull spoke again.
"Twilight Sparkle, the current Element of Magic. We need to talk."