Chapter 33: The big day
Part 1
It was a quite and well lit mourning, the yellow sun rising from the east, it was around nine o'clock, and Myriad and Corolla were up. They both decided to let JetStream sleep in, just in case. Corolla was at one of the tables, having coffee, while Myriad was on the balcony, with a good view of the castle if you had looked to your left. Myriad felt like it was just as it was at home, especially with the building in front of the balcony, it was so close that he could almost touch it. He walked back in the room, scratching the back of his head, Turning to her wife as she came into view, "What do you think, JetStream might have done to interest somepony like Celestia? I hope it was nothing bad..." he turned to JetStream with a worried frown. Corolla walked over to him, curling a hoof around Myriad.
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't. That's not the colt I know. And besides, wouldn't we deal with it ourselves if it was bad?" Myriad nodded.
"It is a good point, but I'm still thinking hard about this, and I mean, besides we might as well take this the best way possible, when does a normal pony ever get to meet somepony like Celestia?" Corolla was just about to speak, but she instantly stopped herself, Myriad rose an eyebrow, "You were just about to tell me about staying with Celestia weren't you?" Myriad at this point was giving her, the look, it was quite at first, but as the seconds past on, she looked like she was going to burst.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you." Myriad stopped what he was doing and listened closely, "I know a mare that I was working with during the second-half of the Fun-Run" Myriad put a hoof in front of her muzzle.
"Why only the second-half?" Corolla lowered it back down.
"... She said herself that she was with her husband and daughter at a local school. And she looked rather excited about it too." Myriad rose an eyebrow in question.
"So, she's the teacher?" Corolla shook her head, and walked to the balcony, Myriad stood right next to her, "She was a spectator, she was watching her daughter, It was in some sort of test, or anything that could be like it." Myriad tilted his head, looking at the dirt ground below.
"Then, who's the teacher?" Corolla shook her head again, and looked at her husband.
"I don't know, but I do know who practically owns it." she got a sassy tone in her voice, Myriad just shrugged, Corolla just stood taller and pointed to the castle in front of them, "Yours truly." Myriad's mouth dropped.
"That's amazing, to be doing so many things, and not be able to over heat." She turned to him.
"Well, think about it, she's an Alicorn." Myriad nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I forgot that..." Myriad soon sighed, and Corolla turned.
"What is it?" her tone changed into a tease, "Are you envious of Princess Celestia?" Myriad suddenly shook his head.
"N-no it's not that, I want to take a walk around, with you, to get the sites in..." Corolla sighed as well.
"That does sound interesting." she looked back at JetStream, who was sleeping soundly in his bed, or so they thought, "But what about, JetStream?" Myriad turned to her.
"That's my worry." Corolla sighed once again, then like a light bulb right above her head, she went to grab the nearest piece of paper she could find, and grabbed a near sharpie pen in one of the cabinets, Myriad rose his hoof, "Now what are you doing exactly?" She coughed, acting like she had an I.Q. of 300.
"Well, just in case if, JetStream waked up to find that we're gone, I'll put this somewhere near for him to read." Myriad, celebrating at a less-than-serious tone turned to Corolla.
"You are the smartest pony I have ever married." Corolla rose an eyebrow, Myriad felt a cold chill down his spine, and grew worryful, "... Saying you are the only one that I will." he facehoofed, "I need to reword better." he muttered to himself. Corolla grinned.
"Now then, that walk?" Myriad sighed and smiled.
"I wouldn't agree more."
Part 2
JetStream was standing in yet another dark void, he was standing alone in a defensive stance, gritting his teeth, "What and/or who are you? Are you the same that I saw before?"
"Same and different, yet omnipresent." JetStream breathed deeply.
"I'm not impressed by your near rhymes." his voice in some way sounded weak, but meanwhile in reality, a noticeable glow went bright red surrounding him.
"And you still don't remember me, hmm?" He just stood there, waiting for the next response, "Why, it's me, Neurelm, the one you had to befriend." JetStream took a step back.
"Had, to?" he shook his head violently, "How do I get out of here?" JetStream suddenly heard wind started swirling.
"My, my. Impatient are we?" JetStream stomped a hoof down.
"Give me an answer." he looked at the ground, furrowing his eyebrows.
"How, may I ask, how you got your name? What it means?" JetStream's anger lifted to annoyance.
"I don't know, I heard it had to do with something of separating cold and warm winds, or something."
"Mmmhmm, and do you, accept that?" he just stood there, staring into the never ending room, JetStream was suddenly full of motion.
"What does that have to do with anyway?"
"Well, actually nothing... But it seems you get distracted easily, like having a low radius in a come-and-they-go kind of awareness." JetStream scoffed.
"What are you, a Doctor?"
"Are you a pony?" JetStream visibly looked like it was a stupid question.
"Well, yeah... Again, why are you asking me these questions, Neurelm?"
"Ah, there's another topic, my name..." JetStream tilted his head raising an eyebrow.
"What about your name?"
"Try, to remember, about those past times you had a conversation with me." JetStream nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I remember those..."
"Did you keep a tally on how many times you've said my name, until right now, I'm actually speaking, unlike those times, and you're not adding to that tally." JetStream's eyes widened.
"I did? Oh... wait." all the past times seemed to swiftly pass him by, in a matter of seconds, "Oh yeah, that tally... roughly eight." There was a long pause.
"It will be more once this is over." JetStream looked side to side swiftly.
"What do you mea-? ...!" There was a big thump, and reacting to it, JetStream turned around, "Oh my..." standing right there, "Neurelm, is that you?! That's not the way I remember you." She was taller, a lot taller than JetStream, maybe even more than a stallion, but there was something else, something he knew but couldn't put a hoof on.
"It is 'cause I have grown stronger than when I met you." she stared dead straight at him, making his spine chill, "And now I must do what I need to!" Suddenly almost sting-cold winds started blurring around, JetStream leaped forward and went to speak, but he choked on his words, but finally uttered.
"What is it you're going to do!?" She quickly turned to JetStream.
"To take back what is rightfully mine!" JetStream felt so cold in this wind, like he was freezing, he was getting a freeze sensation, he looked down to notice that he was physically freezing up, thin ice slowly making its way up to his mane every inch a second. The first thing JetStream tried to do was shake free, and with a couple of tugs, the ice broke, and JetStream ran to the mare floating above him.
"Stop this, please!"
"Oh, yes! That is just what I want to hear!" That's what JetStream did not expect, he grit his teeth, and the ice started freezing at his hoofs for the second time.
"Agh!" It stung like needles, JetStream was struggling out of the icy trap, soon before he knew it, he pulled the strength and tugged as hard as he could, the ice cracked, one of his left thigh was free and started chipping at the ice till it cracked once again, "Cut it out!" he knew finally what struggle was, trying not to give an inch when your opposition is stronger, and for all of the thoughts on that topic seemed to raise JetStream's spirits even more, and it felt warm. With every second JetStream had his mind on that thought, everything got a little warmer, even to the point that ice wouldn't regenerate to ruin his newfound plan. Neurelm seemed to walk backwards, continuously, avoiding where the warmth was, the glow, warmth, and spirit seemed to push the dark and Bittercold back. Soon, when JetStream finally had enough, his eyebrows furrowed, "I'm done with this! I'm finding my own way!" Neurelm felt it, something she didn't like. Continuously looking at her, JetStream noticed something, the gem on the front of her chest, it sparkled from the light JetStream possessed, he focused, and started galloping toward Neurelm, but she was speechless, and with out a second thought, he jumped just ten feet away from her, and aimed for the dark blue gem in the center, he landed hard, it forced Neurelm back a good couple of feet, while JetStream bounced back and almost fell over, he looked at what he done, the gem was cracked and broken on the floor.
"It Broke!?" Neurelm exclaimed, she looked at JetStream, who looked back, and noticed it.
"If it's anyway to get out of here..." but before JetStream could finish, he looked at Neurelm, she was in shock, almost scared, but before he could make a move, everything went white. The next thing he knew he lying down, his heart was pounding, and as usual he found himself staring at the ceiling.
"Do I dare look at the clock." he spoke to himself. He slowly looked to the clock without getting up, he caught a glimpse, and groaned, "... eleven-eleven in the mourning." But before he could continue, one thing still bounce in his head, "Am I dreaming again?" luckily the clock was a hand-clock, and looked at the seconds, minutes, and hours carefully. Then he looked away, and for what seemed like five seconds, and with his heart pounding still, JetStream looked back, now he knew he wasn't dreaming, but he had one question.
"Where did Mom and Dad go?"
Part 3
JetStream hopped out of bed, "Okay, where's Mom and Dad." he looked around, then finally started rummaging, he turned toward his bed once more to find a paper plate, "What's this?" he lifted it up, it had writing on it.
We went on a walk, we will be back whenever we finish.
-P.S. We left around nine o'clock
JetStream put the note down back where it was, he sighed a sigh of relief, "Great, okay, they're on a walk, around town." JetStream walked to the balcony, and looked left toward the castle, "I guess I've nothing to do..." it seemed the building in front of him had the windows open. It was obviously warm enough. But the Sun's light hasn't reached the ally below him yet. But the rooftops on the buildings were shining brightly, he sighed, "I bet it's something to actually live here..." JetStream right ear twitched, he could hear hoofsteps.
"It sure is." JetStream looked down, but saw nopony, "No, up here." JetStream then looked to the rooftops, up there he saw four ponies on the same rooftop in front of him, JetStream was shocked to see a all the way up there.
"How did you all get up there?" They all looked at one another, each one sharing a smug grin, then looking back at JetStream, he felt a mix of worry and nervousness.
"... You could say it's a special technique." JetStream perked up, and jumped to on the balcony's railing, "What kind of technique?" The pony in front and talking to JetStream looked a little skeptical.
"It's like what you're doing right now." JetStream quickly looked down, he was still standing on the rail.
"Like this? What do you mean?" They all suddenly stood erect.
"What I mean is that we use rooftops to get around Canterlot."
"Oh, wow." JetStream looked back down, "But isn't that a little, dangerous?" He looked at his group and back to him.
"It does have its, downfalls..." JetStream sighed.
"I don't think that was funny, it's a serious matter." he held his nose up high.
"Then we don't need ponies like you..." JetStream looked down for a moment, almost regretting saying that.
"But it did sound interesting for the moment." He looked back at JetStream.
"Well, I got a deal, if you can jump to this roof, using anything you can, then I will let you join us. But if you don't want to, just walk back in there, and I'll pretend we've never seen you. Your choice." JetStream had to think fast. He looked around looking for the "Ways to get across" he thinks he's seen somepony do it before. But others think it's his way of saying "Now how dangerous could this be?" in a nervous way. The roof wasn't that high, but he knew he couldn't jump there. But, something caught his eye, there's a little over hang above the balcony.
"If I can get there, maybe I'll be able to jump to that roof..." So then JetStream went to one of the sides. It wasn't that high from where he was standing. So he then got up on his hind two legs, and tried to grab the top of the roof. He reached and stopped in mid-air, he looked up and he hanged from the roof just above where he was standing. He then thought about how to pull himself up. The four watching were happy that he's deciding to go along with them, 'Either I make this and I join them, or I fail and...' The suddenly with all his might he pulled on the roof, ending up in a thump of hoofs hitting the roof, 'Yes, I did it. But I'm not done yet...' The sun was finally beaming on him, 'Oh ,jeez...' before JetStream realized, he was on the roof of the balcony below him, 'Hey, maybe I can use that pipe.' and without hesitation or second thought, he trotted and jumped, grabbing the vertical pipe firmly. Suddenly a voice came from the top of the building.
"Start climbing up the pipe, I'll pull you up once you're here." JetStream trusted and continued. As soon as he got to the top of the building the one who spoke held out his hoof, "I hope you've washed." JetStream reached for it.
"For a pony like you, I'm surprised." he rose an eyebrow, JetStream chuckled as he reached the top of the roof, "... Or it's a good sign of a..." JetStream looked over his shoulder and looked at him, "...Leader..." He shook his head slightly.
"Well, anyway. You're a part of the group." JetStream filled with curiosity.
"Thanks, and what's the group name anyway?" he looked at his fellow members.
"We still don't know."
"Hmm, well maybe I can help with that. Yeah, that will be a great idea!" he nodded.
"Well how about we put that act we just saw to the test." JetStream nodded.
"I agree this looks like fun." although JetStream still looked nervous.
"Don't worry." a pony said behind him, she looked confident. They were all Earth ponies like JetStream, the leader had blue eyes, the mare comforting JetStream had yellow-orange eyes, and the other two had red and pink eyes. JetStream looked back on the balcony he left.
"I'll get back as soon as I can." and then he followed them, It would be the worst if JetStream didn't make it back in time.
Part 4
JetStream looked ahead, the buildings got smaller as they headed away from the castle, "Where are we heading anyway?" JetStream looked left to right.
"Oh, we'll be going under." JetStream didn't like the idea, and he probably was guessing the exact thing he was thinking.
"Our base is along the sewers."
"What!?" the pony scoffed.
"Oh, don't..." there was a small distance between the roofs next to each other, requiring a small hop, "Worry, we picked a spot that didn't smell too bad for ponies like you." he said sarcastically. JetStream mentally sighed.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm not like those ponies." he had a smug grin. The other three stopped, then so the leader did. He pointed below him.
"Right down there." JetStream looked down.
'I don't really think I will, but I'm going to if I need to look... Okay in front of them...' The group all jumped, they were on a building's roof with a sewer cover taken off below. Staring into that small space made JetStream think. Not how dirty the water is, just the water itself. He didn't see himself as a good swimmer, but without a second thought, he jumped. Wind hurling fast upward, then everything was quite, almost something you could relax to.
SPLASH!
And that would've woke you up out of a trance, he was instantly having trouble reaching the surface, he knew there was something to take a hold of and walk on when he reached the sides, so with a couple great pushes, and water circling in every place you look. JetStream finally reached the surface, and quickly look around, gasping for air, there was a cement sidewalk along the flow. JetStream had to kick and push his way to the side, he grabbed the most he could and pulled himself up, "Should've known I'd get soaked." he was tinted green due to the water. Mane and tail hanging low, he looked to the right and saw them waving to him, he galloped over there as fast as he could. He stopped at a door shaped opening to another part of the sewers. It was a whole room, almost as big as a normal, it was filled with random junk, and a mild amount of food. After some time, JetStream spoke up, "I'm glad you invited to your group; but I'm not going to be in Canterlot for long..." The pony with yellow-orange eyes looked at the leader, he nodded. The mare looked at JetStream.
"Well, we don't mind even if you're here or not, you're always a part of this group." JetStream smiled.
"Thanks." JetStream thought about the hotel, then a thought crossed his mind, "Does anypony have the time?" They all pointed to the ground in the middle, the sun's light was pouring into the room, a cover with a designed cut-out was leaving some light to let through JetStream looked at it carefully, "Okay, it's almost eleven-forty-five in the mourning." JetStream's eyes widened in realization, "I got to get back to the hotel!" The leader stood up from where he once was standing.
"What do you mean?" JetStream turned sharp.
"I got to get back before my parents see nothing!" He nodded, and told the one pony with pink eyes to go with JetStream.
"Come on newbie. I'll show the way." he said waving a hoof, JetStream followed after. They went out on the other side of when JetStream walked, it seemed to be a little far from where the room was, but then he finally stopped, JetStream did afterwards. There was a staircase he was pointing at and said.
"The hotel should be behind us." JetStream nodded wit ha firm smile.
"Thanks." and quickly leaped out, it was just him now. He jumped toward a light he saw and everything went white. He landed on cobblestone and seemed to slide a couple feet, "South." he quickly turned in that direction and galloped, either the feeling of finding this building alone, or getting there before his parents was getting to him. The city was still eye catching even with all this nervousness, seeing small buildings and larger ones as you look toward the castle. He turned a corner and nearly passed out, his Mom and Dad were walking toward him, they had just turned their own corner, to get to the hotel and finish their walk. JetStream quickly looked around but seemed hopeless, there was no place to hide, but they can't see JetStream. The hotel was right in front of him too. It was at a , T-like cross and if he thought right, they would go straight. So he hid behind a wall facing their direction, 'This isn't enough, I'd have to disappear in some way... My Aura...?' he asked himself, but there was no time to waste, he acted. Second after second, he focused harder, JetStream could see his own Aura grow brighter, the started to dim, fading ever so much, it then disappeared, 'Okay, now just... stay calm.' he suddenly felt at rest. He heard hoofsteps, which in turn, made it grow brighter again, "Nononono." it dimed once again. Just before everything was calm, there they were, his Mom and Dad, passing him, not even turning to look around, soon enough they made a left turn to go to the hotel entrance. JetStream was standing there, eyes wide open, the full appearance of total awe, he just stood there and smiled, "Wow... I was right there, and yet..." he looked at the ground, "I got so much to work with..." His head filling with possibilities, it felt like he was going to drop a couple tears, with such an experience like that, but now he needed to get back to his room, he remembered the window from the balcony, "I don't have time, and I need it." he galloped toward the building next to the hotel.
Part 5
He entered the building faster than recommended, it wasn't cluttered, but there were ponies everywhere you looked, "There's got to be stairs somewhere." An elevator was optional, but there was no time. He galloped a corner turning left, and preceded sown a thin hallway, he suddenly decided to go to a fast trot. He'd still have bumped into some, but having close calls, he'd shout "Sorry" as he continued down the hallway, he reached the end, and to the left there was a room and to the right was a staircase, "Yes!" he instantly went up, "Don't fail me now, step aerobics." he looked ahead and looked down at his own hoofs, making sure he didn't trip, or run into another pony. Soon after tons of stairs to climb, breathing heavier, he went to a speed-walk, "I need to find that same room..." he looked left and right at mounted pictures of the hallways, momentarily blocking his view. JetStream walked past one room but decided to go back and check it out, "The window's open." he looked outside, here were a couple of beds and a balcony out in front, "But how do I kn-" his worries stopped when he realized, "The plate!" he saw it on the red carpet, "This is the floor, but where do-?" he had an "Ah-ha!" moment, he remembered the pip he climbed, and finally decided to peak out the window, the pipe was right there. So he carefully, and with moderate pace, clinged to it, looking behind him, the balcony was right there. And without a second thought, he pushed his back hoofs into the wall, and with a good luck with strength, he was briskly in the air, then landed with a creak loud enough to get caught, he heard rattling from the door, making him cringe, "They're here." he looked around, saw the plate and threw it in the trash, taking that he'd know and threw it away, he walked around the room looking at stuff for him to use in his excuse, he then went to his bed and started pulling all the edges toward the corners. The door opened, and with the first words spoke.
"JetStream! Good mourning, sleepy-head." He turned around to them.
"Hi, Mom. Hey, Dad." trying to act his best, "So, how was that walk?" Corolla went ahead.
"We saw all kinds of different things, and almost all of them of what you wouldn't see back at home." JetStream smiled.
"Sounds like my kind of walk." Myriad smiled as well, and nodded.
"I would've known you'd say that, you are a pony who like to take the scenery in." JetStream coughed.
"So what should we do now?" Corolla suddenly looked like she was swatting something away.
'Oh no...' JetStream knew what was coming.
"You need smell and look nice, for sure." JetStream just gave a sheepish smile.
'Let's just hope this will waste time.'
Part 6
"We got so little time left..." JetStream was walking around a circle. It was 4:17pm. Myriad was on the balcony, and Corolla was at the table drinking her tea. She put it down and looked toward JetStream.
"Why don't you relax and calm down, I'm pretty sure it will be alright."
'I'm now worried...' he thought, he had no nerves about the whole, Meeting-a-Goddess thing, it was something creeping up behind him that he had his mind on, but he still knew it didn't do any good, so he stopped, smiled, and nodded, "Yeah, nothing to be worried about." Corolla smiled too.
"That's good to know." Myriad, on the other hoof, kept staring at the castle.
"... I think it's really neat going to the castle and all. But how do we plan on getting there?" JetStream just stopped in his tracks, Corolla was waving her hoof.
"Now, now. We're going in a carriage of course, it was kind of like the one I was riding here." JetStream was getting excited.
"Sweet, I wanted to see what it was like in one of those too." Corolla giggled.
"I knew you'd want to. And since we're going we need to look prepared. Oh, and Myriad-" he chuckled, walking to the bathroom.
"Yes, yes, I'll take one." he winked as she winked back, JetStream winked to nopony in particular. Corolla smiled at JetStream.
"And you mister..." JetStream looked at her, "You're lucky I already gave you one, or I would've gave you another." JetStream laughed weakly.
"Is that a good, or bad thing?"
"I'll leave that up to you." JetStream turned to the balcony, and away from Corolla.
"Well, saying that you'll leave it up to me, that might be a good thing." JetStream felt confident.
"Might?" Corolla echoed. JetStream sighed.
"Feeling gone..." he muttered to himself.
"What was that?" she was still smiling, JetStream was minorly terrified.
"It was nothing." he gave a weak laugh, he wanted to act has humble as he could, the castle and all the city's, Fancy talk, was making it's way.
"JetStream, sweetie."
"Yeah." Corolla once again put her tea cup down and walked over to the balcony with JetStream, both of them looking toward the castle.
"Back then, probably more than a thousand years ago..." JetStream felt something move.
'Neurelm...'
... I'm listening...
'Okay.'
"... Ponies didn't talk like we do today, communication had a lot less words than we do today. And words were said a lot more differently." JetStream looked up to Corolla.
"What do you mean? Like how?" Corolla shifted.
"Well, like. Let's say, that I was saying hello to you in the evening, it'd be something like. How you, JetStream, this divine even, or something like that." JetStream perked up.
"That stuff does sound interesting though."
... Let me be of service...
'Really Neurelm, you'd lend me some help?'
... Yes, go ahead and say; Cheer dear mother, and gramercy.
'Alright.' JetStream nodded to himself. He smiled, and restated what he heard, "Cheer dear mother, and gramercy." Corolla's eyes widened.
"It's like you're a natural; Have you been studying behind my back?"
'Thanks, Neurelm.'
... You too, JetStream...
'...' JetStream was awed at the fact of she stating his name, but the feeling didn't last long. Soon enough, Myriad opened the bathroom door, steam was flowing out, and it seemed to warm up the whole room a little.
"It's your turn honey." Myriad smiled, Corolla sighed a good sigh.
"I already did, I decided after an hour after, JetStream's bath." JetStream rose a hoof.
"You don't have to call it that..." Suddenly there where knocks on the door.
"I'll get that." Corolla walked to their door, the opened door revealed a worker pony, "Is there something for us?" The pony nodded.
"They have a ride for you and your family outside." Corolla nodded as well.
"Alright, thanks for informing us, we'll be down there as soon as possible."
"I'll let them know." the pony closed the door, Corolla turned, and talked louder then her usual self, "Alright, you heard him, it's time to get ready." Myriad instantly started rushing, and JetStream just sat on a chair waiting. Soon enough they were out of their room and in the main bottom floor checked out and outside.
"Oh my..." like Corolla said it was a carriage, but bigger for holding more than just two. There were a couple of ponies around with golden armor surrounding it.
"Right in here." one of them said, and they entered. Myriad was amazed right away, everything just seemed to sparkle.
"The interior is amazing." Myriad stated.
'We're almost there.' JetStream looked out the tinted windows, trying to get a good look of the city.
Part 7
Building after building had passed by since they were riding, ponies visible on almost all the streets they could pick out. JetStream, nothing all the smaller details, had a question emerge, he wanted to talk about something anyways, "How old is this pla-, city, anyway?" Corolla and Myriad both looked his way, Myriad opened his mouth, but was interrupted.
"From what I studied, more than a thousand years old?" she lightly tapped her chin. JetStream sat more upright.
"Really? I wonder how much its image has changed since then..." JetStream looked back outside the window, trying to think of an image himself, while Myriad gave Corolla a funny look, "You were saying honey?" Myriad crossed his forelegs.
"I have nothing to say." he muttered, Corolla raised her head.
"What was that?" he sighed.
"Your analysis was better than mine, I'm not that, Study-Pony, everypony knows." They both started smiling anyway. Suddenly, a voice called out from the front.
"E.T.A. will be about ten minutes." Myriad turned around.
"Thank you." Myriad called back, the pony nodded. JetStream then turned back to Corolla.
"Hey, Mom."
"What is it?"
"You've said that you met ponies while you where getting the finish ready right?"
"Yes, I did."
"Well, were there any ponies that you befriended?"
"Of, course, Do you want to know?" JetStream shook his head after a couple seconds.
"No, just curious." Corolla smiled.
"Alright then." JetStream went back to looking out the window. Everything was going a little to fast for JetStream to catch everything with his eye, but one thing surely caught his attention, in another set of stands, there was a pony with orange fur, and that cutie mark gave it away, JetStream suddenly rose from his seat.
"That's the same pony." Myriad and Corolla both sat up straight to catch a glimpse, but a building passed.
"Who were you talking about, JetStream?" he quickly turned around.
"It's the same filly that I ran into before." They both looked out the window, but the street already passed. Both parents looked at each other.
"Is she... Bullying you?" JetStream shook his head instantly.
"No, I accidently, or she, bumped into me, it looked like she was busy anyway..." Corolla decided to keep the questions up.
"What interests you into what that pony does?" JetStream looked down at his seat, his whole body still facing the window.
"She seems to be all over town... But she seems to be, troubled..."
"Troubled?" Corolla echoed, "Like, as in, worried-troubled or...?" JetStream nodded.
"Yeah... like behind in something that she needs to catch up to..." JetStream finally sat down and relaxed, that's exactly when the pony controlling once again stated.
"We'll be there shortly." And a little after the notification, they reached there destination. Two ponies opened the doors for them to exit, holding there hoofs low.
"Welcome to Canterlot Castle." JetStream just felt a chill down his spine, As they walked out they closed them behind. All five of them were walking down this red, thin, carpet all the way to a big, golden-edged door. Corolla gently nudged JetStream, getting his attention.
"Remember to be on your best behavior." JetStream decided not to say a word, but instead nod. They approached the door, the two ponies communicated with the other two guarding the door, then they all seemed to walk in front of it and pushed it open and they all continued, and as soon as they were all inside they softly, or rather loudly, closed it again. All three of them looking forward. In front of them was a good sized throne, and so was a white mass, smiling. Suddenly the silence was broken with one of the guard.
"... Presenting your royal highness, Princess Celestia!" JetStream and Corolla were in awe, amazed, while Myriad was mentally trying to fight something, "Your highness, the guests of honor." the guard finished.
'Okay...' JetStream thought, 'This is going to be one long even.'
Part 8
Princess Celestia stood away from her throne, "Hello everypony, I bet you know why you're here today this fine evening." Corolla and Myriad bowed, Myriad spoke first.
"With the letter you gave us, of course, we do." JetStream noticed them, the guards on the side, out of a few, one kept his eye on JetStream.
'I can feel it, one is glaring at me, already suspicious I bet...' JetStream swallowed hard, and Celestia seemed to notice.
"Well, since we have that in check, why don't we go somewhere more comfortable?" She lead them into a smaller room, it was cozier than the last, it had a marble table with chairs all around, and there were windows to the right. Once Corolla, Myriad and JetStream all walked in, Celestia entered lastly, closing the door behind her with a visible gold glow around her horn.
'That color...' JetStream was taken by surprise, 'I guess I should've expected a color like that.' Myriad chuckled.
"Ha, you okay, JetStream?" he snapped and turned to him.
"Yeah." he nodded, Celestia gave a light laugh.
"Nervous are we?"
'This is my chance to get comfortable.' JetStream nodded, "Mmmhmm." he said uneasy.
"Finally getting your first words too?" she was still smiling, it had that I'm-teasing-you impression, JetStream blushed.
'She was once young too...' he smiled, he decided to sit to the closest window while Celestia's gaze went from JetStream to his parents.
"Now, about what I brang you all here for." Celestia turned to JetStream, he knew it without looking.
"I might need some help too..." JetStream sighed, and tried to gather what he could, then moved over to his parents.
"If I may ask first, Princess." Myriad requested, Celestia nodded, "What was it that got your matter to our son?" JetStream shifted from Myriad to Celestia.
"Your son, JetStream, has done something I have seen such activity so infrequent." The parents practically leaned in a little, but Celestia turned to JetStream again.
'I-I'm going to!?'
"I would rather you hear it from your own... JetStream?"
'Here it comes...' JetStream thought, reading the gears that turned his mind, "Yes, Princess Celestia?"
"Would you be so kind as to tell them what you did?" JetStream didn't say or do anything for the moment, the only thing that came out, was what he had done.
"... I performed a spell..." Myriad and Corolla had their mouths open.
"I couldn't have said it better myself, believe it when he said." Corolla looked to JetStream.
"And what, may I add, pushed you to do that?" she was very curious, there was no trying not to. JetStream continued.
"Well, Dad, you know those little event things we went to, and watched you race." Myriad nodded.
"Of course, how could I not forget."
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Celestia really liked the atmosphere in the room, it kind of reminded her of her family talking back and fourth, it's a little feeling that she called, Nostalgia.
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"And Mom, how you would always have to put a spell on me and you, and it would be able to make us walk on clouds, and also how long we have been doing it..."
"Yes, and I see where you're getting this, spell thing from." JetStream again looked to Celestia, but all she said was.
"Go on."
"Well" JetStream continued, "I worked hard, looking up magic" Celestia's mind went through a couple thoughts about certain ponies, "and I ended up working with something called, Aura." JetStream's heart started pounding, it was the fact of speaking his own interests, "And somehow, the more I worked with it, the more I seemed in sync with the spell, until it was at the point to where I could, use it myself..." Corolla soaked it in, amazed at what she just heard a whole.
"Wow" Corolla suddenly went in for a hug, "I'm so happy, you're growing up so fast."
"That's my boy, finding what's seemingly impossible." Myriad countered, JetStream sighed smiling as Corolla let go. Celestia cleared her throat, and everypony readjusted instantly.
"Although it is incredible, it's also very rare, but I must encourage you to continue to work with it." JetStream sat up with a happy expression.
"Really, that's great! Coming from you that's something." Celestia nodded.
"If I could, I'd like to catch up on the progress you make, through your discoveries. But this wont be official, I'll make it if you have made great progression." JetStream nodded.
"Yes, Princess Celestia." Myriad and Corolla smile at one another.
"Well, I am glad we have got it settled- Oh, before I forget, I reminded myself to give you a buffet in the cafeteria, if you would like." Celestia offered, Myriad stood up.
"You really don't, Princess." she giggled, shaking her head.
"Not at all." Corolla smiled.
"I might as well, I'm a little parched myself." JetStream smiled, for the fact of what he did, and how he was talking about it felt like a presentation. But suddenly he felt a cold surge felt in his brain, it stung like a throbbing headache, he grit his teeth.
"Is it okay, if I go upstairs, I wanted to catch the view." he said hurriedly.
"Like I wouldn't stop you, go right ahead, you'll be just amazed as me." JetStream felt surprisingly guilty on how he stated that, and he took off for the stairs anyway, Corolla turned around before entering the Cafeteria.
"You should know where we'll meet up, if not, maybe the guards will help you." JetStream nodded at this, and continued again, he knew the guards are helpful ponies, there's just something unsettling about them.
Part 9
The first thing he was headed for was the first flight of stairs, "I'm guessing that's the way up..." he looked back to where he was previously. Celestia had lowered the sun just before they entered, it was 6:21pm, and it was getting to the point to where the lights where then the only light source, but then again there was a whole city out there, it wasn't hard to miss, considering that there's glass everywhere. And looking outside, the city was lit with orange and yellow light, the hit certain parts of specific buildings.
JetStream grunted, flinching from to the pain of this reoccurring head-ache, but JetStream stood back up, and smiled at his view, "You know what?" he looked toward the next flight of stairs, "I'm going to go as high as it will let me." within a second he was galloping, he reached the next floor and stopped, and something caught his eye, but almost terrified him. There was a pony guard standing at the end of a hallway, and JetStream saw more stairs behind him.
JetStream once again fell to the floor, he almost fell on his side but caught himself beforehoof, this one was more intense, his vision went black and blurry. But once the head-ache vanished for the third time, he got his vision back. JetStream is aware of something he isn't, it has toned his spirit, he decided to walk. He hoped he could pass this pony without conversation, especially with the Royal Guard. But the thing that questioned him was the fact of him not looking like a guard whatsoever, "Why isn't he wearing his helmet, and why is he all the way up here?" he walked slowly to the doorway, and soon he was close enough, he decided to go into a fast walk. The pony was looking at something below from the edge of the room. JetStream suddenly had a change in mind, he turned to the pony to see what he was looking at, 'I don't want to be seen by him... I going to use Aura again, their senses must be higher if he's going for the Royal Guard.' He stopped behind some cover and stood still, not a single muscle, and focused, 'What if I had some fun with this, but not too much.' he then kneeled down, almost sitting, and put his right hoof on the front of his chest, once his Aura was hidden, 'Let me see what I can do with this...' he gained a smug smile. He walked up the pony in utter quiet and stopped a couple feet behind him, he tried to move his head as high as he could, '... Darn, still can't get a good look...' he breathed in deeply, and held it. And walked even closer, JetStream's forehoofs were horizontal with the pony's backhoofs, JetStream's heart was pounding, and he looked down, 'Oh, wow...' he was looking into another room, it had a board in front and a big stand that went from one side of the room to another. JetStream couldn't get the pony's expression, 'I wonder why he's looking down there...' Basically the whole room looked like a normal college class room, the pony shifted, making JetStream jumped in silence, and he spoke his first words.
"That magic of yours is going to be iconic..." JetStream took a step back.
'Who is he talking to, or about?' The pony started turning to his left, 'Oh no!' He had to hurry, but it was no use.
"Ah. You scared me, how long have you been standing there?"
'Not long enough...' JetStream thought, "Roughly five minutes..."
"And who are you to be up here?" JetStream stepped away.
"I'm JetStream, I'm here at the Castle because of Princess Celestia invited us." The pony rose a brow.
"Us?" JetStream was shocked.
"Oh, my Mom and Dad." the pony nodded in reply.
"It's a great thing to be invited by herself." JetStream was talking quickly, trying to let this conversation pass, but he started to warm up, although he was twice JetStream's size, there is an obvious fear factor there. He had white fur, and two different shades of blue on his mane and tail. They weren't looking at each other, but JetStream was too curious.
"Are you, in the guard?" he looked at JetStream, his pupil in the corner of his eye.
"The Royal Guard? Yes" he chuckled looking back to the window, "... Or, I will be." he walked to JetStream, "I'm assuming you were wondering why I'm the only pony in armor like this, and way up the castle here?"
"Yeah." JetStream nodded.
"Well, by the time you leave. Anyway, I'll be ready to take orders so I can officially be accepted into the Royal Guard. But the best thing is, that it doesn't seem to worry me about the thought of it." JetStream suddenly stood higher, his Aura gaining appearance again, the pony noticed it too.
"Whoa, what was that?"
"Aura..." he rose an eyebrow, "It would take too long to explain."
"Another thing that I'm surprised about is your spirit, guts to stand up to somepony like me."
"Thanks for that, at a brother perspective, your a great pony to be a role model, especially for a future pony of the Royal Guard."
"A good pony to look up to huh? Do you mind me asking if you have any brother or sisters?" JetStream shook his head.
"No, not at all, and I don't have any brothers or sisters." he stated rather positive, "But is it okay that I ask you?" he nodded.
"Yes, I have one sister." JetStream started for the stairs, "Well, uh, I'm going to go head up these stairs."
"Alright then, can I have your name before you go?" JetStream saluted.
"My name is, JetStream."
"Well..." he saluted as well, "... Glad to meet you, JetStream, my name is Shining Armor, and I hope you like it here, and to see you some time later as well." Shining Armor smiled as he finished. JetStream continued walking to the stairs.
"Yeah, you too." Shining Armor turned to the window now in front of him.
Part 10
As soon as he reached the next floor, he looked around the room for a second, the walls were closer than before, 'I must be getting closer.' He turned to the next flight of stairs, then he almost completely fell on his sides, everything blacking out.
"What is up with this head-ache..." he gritted his teeth, getting back up rather weakly, "I want to make it outside. Neurelm, are you feeling this horrible thing too?"
... I am the pain...
JetStream shook his head, "You know I don't like were this is going..."
... Obvious enough, but I must admit, you're strong witted for a four year old.
JetStream sighed, "Thanks for the empty complement." he reached the next floor, "Agh!" it was too much pain, he couldn't keep it too himself, a scream loud enough, but not enough to be heard followed, he looked ahead, there was a door, and a bridge that was connecting the side to the other, the other side was only accessible on this floor alone, he then walked lazily-slow to the door, and made his first steps onto the bridge, "The, bridge was bigger, then I thought..." JetStream looked back to where he was, and where he is now. He continued until he reached the center. he turned to the city and forced his forehoofs over the rail, looking in awe, "About the best view in the world." The fully city of Canterlot was in view, he tried to catch what he could see, "Oh, that's Ponyville, and that above it must be Cloudsdale..." the moon was directly above him, but for some reason it wasn't midnight, you just can't trust the moon to check for the time, unlike the sun.
...It's time...
JetStream still looked ahead of him, "Time for wh-agh..." he backed off the rail and stumbled on the stone below, "What is up with this head-ache!" he said, finally screaming, wanting an answer.
... It's my time to get ready.
JetStream's pupils were visibly shaking, looking at the bridge he's standing on.
And with one blink of both his eyes, they were that same turquoise color, "... Neurelm, tell me what's going on." his chest felt a little heavy, it felt like he was being lifted, like telekinesis, even though his whole body was planted on the ground.
... I have rested, and have grown much stronger since, and it's all thanks to you, JetStream...
"What? You got something creative to tell me again?"
... At my own time...
JetStream blacked out once again, but the head-ache was nowhere to be felt, he couldn't see anything, his aura wasn't there to aid him neither, 'Pure Darkness...' the only thing running through his head. Once the blackout cleared, a dark violet, but transparent cloud, was clipping out of JetStream and stopped, hovering above him, fully stretched, covering the area of the entire bridge, the cloud was blocking light traveling through it, in fact, it filtered light with darkness, and shone it at wherever the light was angled at, but of course it was flowing on JetStream, the moon was right above him, just hovering there, minding its own business. JetStream was standing like a statue, everything was quite, until he heard a voice, a very familiar one.
... Banish the sun, bless the Moon.
The time is now, not a moment to soon.
Eternity of Darkness, Shadows forever.
Will transpire as sunlight's hate I sever... oh, JetStream I must thank you dear...
JetStream started shivering, the voice could be right next to him, but he couldn't tell.
... With time running short with each solar year, all ponies will consent to my ascent...
Everything was quite, did she leave, or is she done? Is she still here, or somewhere he'll never see Neurelm once again?
No, muzzle to ear, "... I will give all my thanks and gratitude to you."
He could feel shame wash right over him, Neurelm's breath could practically be felt, and seen, like a cold mourning day. Soon the cloud wisped toward the moon, and after it was out of perspective, the moon glowed and sparkled. JetStream felt dizzy, weak, and especially cold, inside of his own body. He couldn't do anything, everything failed in attempt, trying to stay up on his own hoofs, falling unconscious, he limped to his right.
And passed out.
~~~Chapter End~~~