Location:
R-13 Farway
Caelum, Cygnus, Belfiore
2039 P.C.E. (Post Creator Era)
Applejack sat relaxed, or, as relaxed as she could get, in the common area of the House, waiting for the rest of her friends to be done with the Rate Testing. Her focus on the clothes she was wearing, as they itched against the soft, relatively new, skin, a slight orangish tinge, a reminder of her true form. The fabric that made her shirt and pants grew very uncomfortable after being worn for an extensive period of time. She would have changed her clothes, but sadly it was the only clothes she had. Had the academy’s classes started later then a few days from now, they would have been giving some money to purchase their civies. Applejack, never one to hold much stock in clothing in general (save her trademark stetson look) was simply confused about the whole distinction between the uniforms and civies, clothes were clothes.
Another factor attributing to her inability to unwind, was the Rate Testing. Some sort of way to determine just how much magic a person held. There was some talk of the two major branches of magic, and how they effect body. Applejack really didn’t pay much attention to the information, after all what use did magic have in the life of the humble farmer? Still, she jumped when they said jump, if only to put the ordeal behind her. The test wasn’t long, but to Applejack it felt very invasive. The instrument they used was a small unassuming slate blue cube. They had called it a testing construct, explained how it was used to measure the potential rate for active and passive magic. Setting the construct on a table infant of her waiting for an unspoken signal before the proctor pressed a small, almost invisible, button was located on the top face of the cube.
With a quick depress of the button the construct actuated. A quiet hiss was heard as the edges of the cube began to separate showing a near perfect glass sphere with an arcane formula etched within. A small blue light glowed from inside the center of the sphere, growing brighter until it’s brilliance increased making staring at the core of the construct start to hurt the eyes. Slowly the top face floated higher and higher until it reached eye level with Applejack. The side faces folded down until they were flat with the surface of the ground. The glass core floated ever so gently, suspended above the bottom face, before a blue beam of light, with laser like consistency, shined straight upwards toward the top face. From where the light hit the top of the test construct, a blue shimmering wave passed over Applejack from head to toe, thrice over. Applejack felt a wave of panic When the first wave passed over her, feeling a slight tingle, the second wave only increased what she felt, and by the third pass Applejack felt her whole body tingle as if it were numb. It was a sensation she did not want to be subjected to again, feeling violated by the scan. Faster then you could blink, the construct finished it’s purpose and snapped to a close, making it feel as if the whole test was nothing more then an illusion, or a mild nightmare in Applejacks case. She couldn’t leave the testing room fast enough, she didn’t even stay to hear the result. Even with the memory of the Rate Test, what had kept Applejack on edge, was the colt, boy, that shared the house with them.
Trevor had been kind, polite, cordial even, but to her it seemed it was a lie. Like he was just putting on a show, and not actually caring for any of the wayward ponies. Like he’d rather not deal with any of them at all. This assumption was further reinforced when every attempt to talk to Trevor was shot down, every question answered with silence and a gentle glare. It didn’t stop Applejack from trying, stubborn as she is. It was something the farm mare decided to change, get to know the colt and reduce some of her tension from the events she was living through.
“Howdy!” Applejack greeted the boy cheerfully, “My name’s Applejack. Ah know we havin’ really talked at all since we got here. In fact, Ah never got your name.”
“Trevor Fields” the colt replied, pointedly.
“Pleasure to meet ya’. Say why’d a colt, er, young’n like you join the guard, or nay-vee?” Applejack’s tone was pleasant if not reaching. Her attempt to stifle out the silence with a conversation.
“I have my reasons,” Trevor answered in a polite, yet still frustrated tone, “And I hope to keep them my own, Miss Applejack.”
“Oh…Didn’t mean to push ya’ to talk ‘bout somethin’ ya’ didn’ want to.”
“It’s fine” Trevor sighed, returning to the ever present textbook he was reading.
He jus’ keeps ignoring me an’ the girls. What’s his deal? Thought Applejack, taking the time to study him. Sitting straight, in what was most likely proper posture was Trevor, dress in his service uniform, a sky blue shirt with red piping outlining, and accentuating the collar and breast pockets, was tucked into black trousers with pre-made creases leading to black dress socks, and shined black dress shoes. His auburn brown hair kept neat and orderly, giving him the look of a businessman, his steely grey eyes focused and gave shivers, at how cold they looked with the present company at House Equus. Even his stances and mannerisms were distant and frozen. It was something Applejack couldn’t stand and was unable, and unwilling to continue with the farce.
“Do ya dislike us or somthin’? Ah haven’ heard much more then a sentence or two from you in the week that we’ve been here. Why is that?” her question audibly filled with her frustration.
“I don’t dislike you.” was the only thing Trevor said, never taking his gaze out of his book. ending the conversation and succeeding at boosting the mare’s anger.
Sweet Celestia, he’s jus’ not givin’ me anythin’ to work with. What’s up with this colt? As once again in the uncomfortable silence, Applejack was thinking, If’n it weren’t for the fact the girls are still doing that test, Applejack unconsciously rubbed her arms casting off the unwanted memory, Ah’d just as sooner not be here alone with him. Not that I don’t like the colt or whatever, but I don’t want to be around anypony who thinks were a bother. It’s almost like that one prince Rarity went gaga over at the grand galloping gala.
*Sigh*
Applejack looked on, growing more and more disheartened about the matter. Trying once again to strike up a conversation with Trevor, only to have it end the same way as it did before.
Two hours had passed before the rest of the girls had finished with the Rate Test, all the element bearers scored high AP ratios (Applejacks being the lowest at 6-aP-7). With her friends back at the House, Applejack all but abandoned her attempt to befriend Trevor. Though she was as loyal as the next pony, she never was the Element of Loyalty, so she didn’t feel compelled to keep loyalty to a pony who didn’t want to return it. That and if she was to be true to her own element, she’d rather spend time with her friends in the strange land they were in. After excusing himself from the common area, Applejack suspected it had something to do with the overabundance of ponies he’d rather not deal with. Eventually the girls separated into various parts of the house with Rarity and Applejack staying in the common room to gossip.
“I don’ know about ya’ll but Ah’m not takin’ to kindly to this Trevor fella.” Applejack answered, being asked her opinion of the colt they shared a house with.
“Why ever would you say that dear?” Asked Rarity, not having any particular issue with Trevor.
“Ah just can’t handle that attitude of his, Like we’re a bother to him or somthin’. He reminds me of that prince fella you were after. Like he’s above us and we’re nothin’.”
“While I do agree with some of what you said, Fields is nothing like that so called ‘prince’.” Rarity spat, “At the very least he isn’t terribly rude. So what if he isn’t the most talkative of ponies, er, people? What ever the term is for his kind. Keep in mind darling, this is all new to the colt, including this is all new to us for the matter. It will only be an issue of time. Besides,” Rarity looked over to her lavender tinted friend, “I’d say he much more like how our newest princess used to be before she met us.”
Applejack frowned, thinking over what Rarity had said, before giving her answer.
“Ah…Ah suppose your right.” Aj sighed.
“What are you girls talking about?” Interjected Twilight.
“We’re talking about the colt we’ve been compelled to live with.” replied Rarity.
“Oh…” Came Twilights despondent answer.
“What’s the matter dear?” Concern could be heard in Rarity’s tone
“Yeah Twilight, you can tell us.” Applejack added, trying to find out why Twilight was down.
“It’s…It’s nothing to worry about. Just realizing what my actions caused…”
“Now now.” Rarity moved closer to Twilight, giving her a hug, “It’s going to be alright, you’ll see.”
“Yeah…” Sighed Twilight, not quite sold on the optimistic idea.
“Don’ you worry none hun, Everything will be right as rain in no time.”
“Indeed.” Agreed Rarity, “Though…I am interested in your,” Rarity inflected towards
Twilight, “opinion of the colt…”
“Well I—”
“TREVOR MONTAGUE FIELDS!! GET YOUR CREATOR DAMNED SELF OUT HERE SO I CAN BEAT YOU INTO OBLIVION!!!” A shrill voice cut through the air, stopping cold what ever it was Twilight was about to say.
Silence filled the air briefly followed by confusion. A loud thump alerted the girls that Trevor heard the voice as well. What was unexpected however, was Trevor running through the common room, in between the girls, terror stricken, and out the rear entrance of the house.
“Um…What just happened?” Asked Applejack, voicing the thoughts in everypony’s mind.
“DON’T THINK YOU CAN HIDE FROM ME TREVOR. I. WILL. FIND. YOU!!!
“What in Celestia’s is going on.” Asked Twilight completely lost with what was happening.
“Tis a simple answer princess Sparky. Tis the sounds of love you hear in the air and see with your eyes.” Replied Discord before popping into existence before them. Also to see the chaos caused by Daisy once she realized what her brother did when she was away.
“That sure as hay don’ sound like any kind of love Ah’ve ever heard of. More like a nightmare come to life to me.”
“So you mean to tell me, honest Applejack, that you’ve always been nice to your sister and brother and they’ve have never done anything to make you mad or angry enough to chase?” Discord asked giving his all too familiar smirk.
“Well when you put it that way…” AJ admitted.
“TREVOR!! HOW IN THE VOID COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME! YOUR OWN SISTER! I SWEAR I’M GOING TO GO ALL TOURNAMENT ERA ON YOU!!!”
“Should we be helping him or something?” Asked Twilight, growing more concern with the tone of the shrilling voice.
“No, no. We should let things run there course. No need to ruin the entertain…er, sibling disagreement.”
“GET BACK HERE SO I CAN BEAT YOU INTO A PULP, THEN TURN YOU INTO PAPER!!!”
“Besides, Do you really want to face a mare that angry?”
Their looks gave all the answers Discord needed.
Trevor ran for his life. Not that he suspected that Daisy would actually kill him. Injure him in such a fashion he wish he was dead, absolutely, but the actual act of taking his life, not so much. If there was one of the things he greatly disliked about his sister was her temper, the other was her constant attempts to set him up, but in this moment it had to be her anger. While normally very nice and kind, Daisy had a switch relating to her anger. Once the switch was turned on, even the fiery fury of the surface of the sun couldn’t hold a candle to it. On more then one occasion he’d seen his sister lay out men three times her five foot six self with practiced ease, and that was before her strength enhancing constructs she had forgotten to wear at the time. And so, with that particular incident in his mind, Trevor ran, not really forward or backward, until he was trapped at a dead end with no place to hide, a few blocks from House Equus.
This isn’t good. I have no doubt She’s hot on my trail and will find me here before long. I don’t have an illusion construct with me to camouflage me. I didn’t expect her to show up until the heritage assembly. She hates being here, so why would I ever think she’d show up early?
“THERE YOU ARE!!” Shouted Daisy her eyes narrowed into slits with anger.
Trevor gulped End of the line.
“H-Hello Daisy….I-I Didn’t expect you back here for a few more days. I meant t—“
“CAN IT!” She clipped, marching closer to Trevor, “WHAT IN THE VOID TREVOR!!? YOU SAID YOU HAD NO INTEREST IN JOINING A HOUSE. NOW HERE YOU ARE, NOT ONLY JOINING ONE, BUT A HOUSE YOU STARTED!!!” Just a few steps away from Trevor she stopped, looking up to him. Standing a full head shorter then him didn’t make her any less intimidating then when she was chasing him down, “AND TO TOP IT OFF!! WHY ARE ALL THE MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSE FEMALE? WHY?” Daisy’s demeanor took a sudden one eighty, “Why didn’t you tell me…? I’m your sister, family. I mean we’re close right? So why would you keep this a secret from me?” Daisy now in tears, embraced Trevor in a hug.
“Daisy,” Breathed Trevor, “This wasn’t my choice. I don’t want to be in the houses, that hasn’t changed. I didn’t form a house, I didn’t recruit anybody, and I certainly didn’t want to be stuck here in one.”
“Then why are you?”
“Because I don’t have a choice. Admiral Skeleton ordered me to a house, due to some unique nature of the housemates and my ability to keep a few of them in line…”
Daisy broke off the hug and gave a bemused look.
“Keep in line? How? You’re a passive magic user. I see you don’t have a construct with you, so you’re useless. You need one for your talents to shine. So why did the CO decide it had to be you instead of an active magic user like…I don’t know…Landcaster?”
“Apparently I am an active magic user…somehow my mother’s native magic had awoken in presence of then housemates.” Shock lit up Daisy’s face, “My mom was Terran remember? Apparently I received some of it that needed an extra nudge if you will. When these…er…transfer students showed up, their unique magic triggered my own. Sadly It only effects them, nullifying their magic. That’s why the CO put me in the house. Make it easier to keep an eye on them.”
“O…K…I guess…”
“Wait…How did you find out I was in a House?” Asked Trevor, bewildered by how Daisy knew about it, having just returned to the academy.
“Oh! It was one of the newer instructors. He met me at the station. He told me how you formed your own house and stuffed it full of girls. Though he used a different term though…” Daisy gave an evil smirk, sending a chill down Trevor’s spine, “He said you made this house to fulfill a lifelong dream of yours, to make a harem.”
Had Trevor been drinking anything, it would have been sprayed all over his sister, instead, Trevor swallowed wrong, starting a violent coughing fit.
“WH-WHAT!?” Stammered Trevor.
“That’s what the instructor told me. However…” Daisy brought her hand to her chin in thought, “Now that I think about it…That smirk he had should have tipped me off he was joking.”
“What was his name…The instructor that pick you up.” Inquired Trevor. I think I know who set Daisy off…And if he did…
“Discord.”
“It really does seem the Creators are out to try and punish me.” sighed Trevor.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t leave the greatest impression did I?” Daisy gave a nervous chuckle, “It’s just…I have a deep connection with my brother. We share everything from hopes and dreams to our fears and…past…When I found out the rumor he started his own House…I felt betrayed and let my anger get the best of me…
“So let’s start over shall we? My name is Maria Meadows, but just call me Daisy. I’m Trevor's younger sister, of about…what…year and a half or so? Genious with all things involved with passive constructs and I have quite the green thumb if I do say so. Now, Who might you six be?”
“I’m Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity.”
“It’s a pleasure, though I have to say I’ve never come across names like that.”
“That’s easily answered,” Interjected a familiar voice much to the ire of Trevor and Daisy, “They’re from another world!”
“Discord!” Snapped Twilight, “That’s suppose to be a secret! I don’t want Skeleton more angry with us then he is already!”
Trevor’s head turned toward Twilight. What? What does the Admiral have to do with them being other worlders? Or why is he angry with them?
“Oh it was? My, my, It does appear I’m terrible at keeping secrets princess…oops there goes another one…” Discord said in mock embarrassment.
“Princess?” Both Daisy and Trevor said aloud. “What’s a princess doing here?” finished Daisy
“Er…” Twilight started.
“Wait!” Daisy now recognizing the entirety of Discord’s statement, “Your other worlders!? Are any of you Named?”
“No…none of us are.” Twilight answered, “We’re here to offset what ever damage Discord causes, intentional or otherwise.”
“I~ Don’t need a babysitter, I’m perfectly capable of keeping my self in order.” Discord defended before falling to peaces on the ground, freaking out Daisy out, being unfamiliar with his antics.
“Daisy!” Trevor called to her, “He’s…it’s…an incredibly powerful active magic user, and likes to play unwanted and annoying pranks. Discord is fine. The problems he causes are serious enough that it, he, needs to be watched. His magic is entirely unpredictable, he summoned a Darken his first night here.” Daisy paled.
“Dar-kin?” asked Rarity
“Incredibly dangerous life sucking creatures born by our Creators feud. They can’t be killed. Only temporarily banished by intense levels of light. Luckily for us, they’re few and far between.”
“They don’t sound that scary.” Rainbow said.
“Trust me they are. I hope to the Named you never have to come across one.” Trevor stated.
“Better question,” Applejack turned to face Discord, “Is why he summoned something so dangerous in the first place?”
“I’m sure he didn’t mean to.” Interjected Fluttershy, feeling a need to defend her eccentric friend, “I can’t see him doing something so…so…evil, even if he was angry.” her voice soft and angelic, calming everyone down just by being heard. Daisy found her self enamored by Fluttershy, not unlike finding a puppy you could bring home. Subconsciously Daisy moved closer to Fluttershy, closer to hugging distance.
“He’s dangerous, whether he is doing it intentionally or not. If it wasn’t for the CO’s orders I’d sooner be elsewhere.” Finished Trevor, I’d rather not have to deal with any of the others here too. he kept to himself, his polite nature forbidding him to outright say it. Why did this have to happen to me? I just want to graduate, do my time, then go on marine exploration…find some closure. Not deal with any of this unwanted company. Especially that psychotic creature. Trevor glared at Discord.
“So for intents and purposes, you’re exchange students…” Asked Daisy, breaking Trevor of his thoughts.
“Yes, I suppose you could say that.”
“O.K. For how long?”
All of the girls faces, and curiously Discord, gave a solemn look, before they answered with a “We don’t know…”
Daisy just gave a smirk, sending a feeling of foreboding over Trevor. What is Daisy playing at? Feeling a powerful thirst, Trevor excused himself to make something to drink. At hearing this Daisy moved onto the girl’s personal lives. As Trevor debated on what to drink, he half payed attention to what was being said. Each of the girls now forced here to Farway led varied lives, a farmer, clothing designer, a daredevil, as best as Trevor could tell, something close to what a veterinarian does, and a party planner. Each job seemed to match each of their personalities to a T. After pouring himself a glass juice returned to the common room and back into the conversation.
“So~? Do any of you girls have boyfriends?” Asked Daisy
WHAT!?
“Boy-friends? Is that like a special somepony?” asked Rarity hoping she understood the question asked.
Daisy gave an inquisitive look before nodding, “Yeah sure, whatever.”
“None of us do at the moment.” Replied Twilight.
“Speak for your self darling. I happen to have several stallions that fancy me, One very special suitor that I might very well take up whence we return home.”
“Who is it?” Asked the rest of the girls, looks of shock plastered on all their faces, save for Daisy.
“Now that would be telling.”
“So none of the rest of you have a special some, er, one?” Questioned Daisy, her smile setting off all sorts of alarms in Trevor’s head.
Please tell me she’s not going to…
The answers given were a definitive, No.
“Alrighty then, Would any of you be interested in dating my brother?”
she did….*sigh*
Trevor turned toward the nearest wall, and started to bang his head against it.