From the Ashes
Chapter 6: Real Understandings
The vial shattered and a shimmering purple mist exploded outward, its mass soon enveloping the doorway of the night palace.
Unlike the other gaseous potions in his arsenal that he had used thus far, this new purple fog was thin and almost transparent. And it had to be, for it was essential that the enemy could still see the subject.
This type of potion fell into the same category as his immolation oil, in the sense that neither of them produces a biological effect, but an environmental one. However, there was a key difference that separated this concoction from his immolation oil. While the exploding red pot was offensive in its application, this one’s only purpose was defensive. It was called ‘ghost tempo’, for it made everything within its field sway with the rhythm of a mirage. The doorway, the floors, and even Marco himself became nothing but blurs inside of the haze.
He charged through the cloud, making a beeline straight for the princess. But from the outside looking in, his figure was distorted, and it appeared as though he was zigzagging dramatically as he came forwards, darting from corner to corner and from side to side at unbelievable angles. The need for transparency quickly became apparent. This potion was designed to create illusions and distort whatever was inside its field. It worked by bending the light, reflecting it in such a way that it manipulated the viewer’s perception of where the user was.
As the light was distorted, the image of Marco constantly disappeared and reappeared in different visual spaces, and every now and then, there were duplicates of him visible or he simply vanished for a few seconds. His strategy was now obvious. He wouldn’t last a second if Luna attacked with magic, so he did the only thing he could do...
Magic, be it strong or weak, is equal when you can’t strike the enemy with it. As long as Marco was inside the field, Luna wouldn’t be able to target him if she couldn’t see him. But surprisingly, the princess wasn’t even looking. Her eyes were closed; she was calm and collected...
Luna’s chamber was massive. So massive in fact, that the already expansive purple cloud could only cover half the distance between the princess and Marco.
Even from inside the haze, Marco was able to see what lay beyond it, such was the nature of this one-sided potion’s abilities. ‘What’s she plotting?’ he thought as he neared the edge of the cloud, ‘Is she trying to unnerve me?’
If Luna were looking, she would have seen something pierce through the cloud and fly towards her, its path disambiguated now that it was outside the field. This ‘something’ was not Marco, but another purple potion, his second and last ‘Ghost Tempo’. It hurtled towards the princess but stopped short, landing almost exactly between her and the border of the first mirage cloud.
This also meant Marco had only the one potion left. But his path was clear. He was using the defensively geared ‘Ghost Tempo’ potion as a means of closing the gap between him and the princess without falling victim to any attempts to counter him, even though she had yet to take any action.
But he knew this wouldn’t be enough to defeat her. In fact, the aim of this method wasn’t to simply defeat Luna, but to render her strengths useless. In other words, all Marco was doing was dragging her down to a level he could compete with.
The purple vial shattered, and like its predecessor, it instantly spewed out the transparent fog. As soon as it’s field converged with the first, Marco powered into the second cloud. Safeguarded inside its mass, he pulled out his final potion, grabbing it between his teeth while simultaneously disengaging Zecora’s saddlebags. They were useless now; they held no more secrets. In being rid of the additional weight, Marco closed in faster. He would be upon Luna in seconds, yet she still hadn’t moved. Her eyes were still calmly closed...
Marco didn’t care for what her intentions were. He wanted her dead. Nothing she did or didn’t do would ever change that. His plan was to blast her with the immolation oil the first chance he got. He bit down on the vial as he neared her. This was it...
But the moment he was within range, the only thing he did was tackle her. Hard and fast; very hard and very fast, a full-bodied earth pony charge. He rammed into the princess with such vigour, and such zeal, as if it were the most important thing in the world...
Luna gasped at the impact. She was winded instantly, the air gone from her lungs. Marco followed through so that Luna fell to the floor with him on top of her. “How does it feel princess?” he hissed, the potion gone from his mouth, “For however many thousand years you’ve plagued this earth, has anyone ever hit you?”
Luna had been hit hard, but despite her injury she stared back at the stallion with strangely indifferent eyes. “I’m no stranger to pain if that’s what you’re asking-” she made to say.
“You don’t know what real pain is!” Marco roared in reply, “Not yet!”
The Chamber was quiet for a moment. The dull hiss of Marco’s purple mist faded away into nothing as the twin clouds depleted. The sound of glass on marble expired as his immolation oil ceased its rolling across the floor.
“But you know, don’t you?” Luna replied, killing the silence, “I’ve put you through a lot, haven’t I?”
“Not just me!” Marco snapped aggressively, “Countless souls were buried by your evil...”
Luna coughed hard. She was still winded. “This I know.” she said simply, “They are what brought you here are they not?”
“Damn straight!” he answered, eyes blazing, “And it’s to them I’m sending you! Atone all you want in the next world!”
Marco tensed up as if to strike her, but Luna’s silence caused him to pause. “What’s the matter princess?” he said with absolute venom, “Not gonna beg for forgiveness?!”
“Forgiveness?” she said to him, like he’d just asked the stupidest question in the whole world, “I won’t ask for forgiveness. The fault is mine.”
Marco was absolutely stricken by the brevity of the princess’ words. He wasn’t sure if it showed, but his leading hoof was still lifted, ready to pummel the alicorn on a moment’s notice.
“I won’t say sorry either.” Luna pushed, “Such a simple word that has long since lost the meaning it once held. It would bring nothing but shame to itself. Nor can I apologize, all that would do it rub salt into past wounds...”
Marco was still dumbstruck by where this was going...
“All I can do...” Luna continued resolutely, “All I should do, is accept your revenge-”
Marco refused the dangerous thoughts attacking his mentality. “No!” he roared,
“I don’t wanna hear it from you! You’re the whole damn reason for this! Don’t you dare talk like you know anything about it!”
Luna was still at his mercy, so she could not rise, but her eyes remained defiant. “But I do know.” she said softly, “For a thousand years, the thought of vengeance drove me to madness. And you... you became a victim of that madness. A victim of my hatred.
“I wish I could take it all back.” she continued solemnly, “I wish I could go back to the beginning and change it all... but I’ve lived long enough to know that wishes are for foals...”
Marco watched, shocked, angry, and confused all at once. Even to his maddened eyes, it seemed as if Luna was beginning to cry. “I can’t take it back!” she sobbed, “I can’t change anything or bring anyone back! I can’t move forward anymore! I can’t look to the future while the sins of the past remain unforgiven! But they can’t be forgiven!
“So don’t tell me I don’t know anything about revenge, or the hate you feel.” the princess continued, her sorrow vanished, “Because I was once like you, and I will never escape the consequences of my stupid... stupid jealousy.”
Marco didn’t know what to think or feel. “You’re right about one thing.” he said darkly, “You can’t be forgiven. Not by me.”
Luna closed her eyes solemnly. “Or by myself-”
“Drop the act!” Marco spat, “I’m not about to take pity on you!”
Luna opened her eyes again, and stared passively at Marco. “Act?” she questioned, “You still can’t see it can you?
“I’ve come to terms with why you’re here, and I’m almost relived.” she said surprisingly, “Everypony but you and I are the actors here. Even my sister. She smiles and tells me everything is okay... but it’s so fake it hurts!”
Luna’s eyes locked onto Marco’s with purpose. “Ever since I was brought back, I’ve been waiting for legitimate judgment.” her voice was steady, “You and I Marco; we are the only ones left who know anything. This torment that we share can finally end. I understand you. I just want you to understand me too.”
The stallion was still silent. His expression was masked by the shadows cast over his face. Before the moment passed, the princess cried out for what would be the final time...
“Please Marco!” she pleaded, “I accept your justice! I... I understand your pain all to well. I can’t forgive myself, and I don’t expect you to forgive me either. I accept your hatred, and I forgive you for it.”
Marco’s mind was a flurry of activity. What would he do? What would anypony do? If you were responsible for something so horrible, how could you live with yourself? How would you move forward? If someone hates themselves for what they have done, how can it be just to say they cannot be redeemed?
No matter how much determination Marco had put behind his actions, and even in his current mental state, he could not disregard the veracity of the princess’ words. No matter how much he hated her, he didn’t doubt her truthfulness for a second. He could recognize the raw emotion. Her word were heavy with regret and reproach and her face was that honest kind of sadness. Despite himself, he didn’t know what to do.
His consciousness raged with conflicted thoughts. The climax was upon him, and the voices of Twilight, Celestia, Caliber and Nightmare Moon cried out in utter discord. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the chatter would not relent. The only way to silence them was to choose.
His eyes finally opened. He had decided; he had decided to embraced the anger. He had come too far, he wouldn’t, he couldn’t turn back now. He would take what he came here for.
“Stop it!” he roared as he reared up and lifted his front legs up, ready to strike, “You forgive me? Like I give damn! Just die!”
Luna closed her eyes and embraced her end as that first powerful blow was unleashed.. Her crown was knocked loose by the mighty blow, and as it rolled away, Marco withdrew his hoof in preparation for a second strike.
Fuelled by rage, he was ready to rain down a volley of kicks, for some reason his next attack stalled. He willed his body to proceed with the siege, but the second blow would not come. This was a moment he had been craving since he crawled out from what would have been his grave, a moment he told himself he desired more than any pleasure. Then why? Why were the feelings he thought he’d be feeling replaced by something that sickened him to the core?
Marco looked to his trembling hoof, still poised in preparation for another kick. He had struck the princess but the once, yet he could see tiny droplets of royal blood staining his grey coat. This was blood he invested so much into spilling, yet to see it for himself was so... unsatisfying.
Luna quivered slightly. She had only just endured a savage attack, yet her disposition had not wavered. “What... what are you waiting for?” she groaned, “Please! Finish it! Release us both from this... this darkness!”
‘Darkness?’ Marco thought, that last word echoing inside his mind. Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Rarity, even Nightmare Moon... they had all seen Marco’s darkness, and now he was finally starting to see it too.
Upon having this realization, he knew where his internal conflict was coming from. Luna had awoken his discernment, and his mind’s eye had finally turned itself upon the darkness that had made itself a part of him.
Marco didn’t know what to do, think, or even feel. Everything that had held him together had finally been revealed for what it was. Fake. An illusion. A dream. Just a whole distorted mess of outside influences forged together and made real by pain and solitude. He had confined within himself, searching desperately for answers, and he accepted the first one presented to him. And he never doubted it. Until now...
Luna was too weak, barely able to hold her eyes open. She couldn’t even muster up the strength to call out to Marco as he stumbled away from her broken figure. He was dizzy and could barely breath. He needed air. He had to get out of here; had to get away... as far away as possible.
Marco pounded urgently on the big door until it let him through. He wobbled out and past the threshold, but the feelings he hoped would stay behind were still suffocating him. His mind flashed with imagery. At the same spot at which he now stood, only minutes ago, he could picture himself walking determinedly up to this same door.
But looking back, Marco couldn’t recognize that pony. “Who am I?” he yelled, falling to his knees, knowing there was no answer to his heavy question.
All this time, he had only believed in one thing, and now it was gone. He was destitute... left with nothing to cling to. The vast expanse of uncertainty was mercilessly bearing down upon him. Even still, he rose to his hooves. He stared out into the sky, looking for answers.
The rising sun assaulted his eyes. The last time he saw it, it was much more welcoming. But back then he was a different pony. Regardless, he knew that a risen sun could mean only one thing...
As if on queue, the blinding light of the sun wavered as Princess Celestia came into view. Marco didn’t know what to make of her appearance. It was just one more event among many that carried more weight than he could bear.
As Celestia stood before him, Marco had no control over his expression. His jaw hung loose, his lips were squeezed tightly together, and his eyes were wide and unblinking as they glistened with moisture. As she looked upon him, his expression told her much; a story of guilt, regret, sadness, and understanding...
But these things soon became irrelevant as she saw Marco’s hooves. They were dotted by blood that was not his. After everything Celestia had stressed over tonight, her boiling point was already at an all time low. So upon realizing the blood was that of her sister, she felt a fury she had not known for a long, long time. Even a benevolent princess like her, despite the many years she’d had to mature, was not immune to the sway of rage. The thoughts she could not silence made how she’d already treated Marco seem like mercy.
He saw her horn glow, and he closed his eyes tight, waiting for the end to come. In a way, it would be welcomed. To his awakened mind, it seemed like the only salvation from these thoughts that wracked him.
* * * *
Twilight ran for all she was worth through the absolute chaos, but the distance between the night and day palace felt infinite. The manticore had fled, the princess had teleported, and now Twilight was hoofing it back to the night palace in an attempt to make it back to the eye of the storm before this situation was beyond her control.
She broke through the edge of the frenzy of parasprites and guards trying to handle them. She saw Celestia before Marco, and she saw her teacher’s horn glow the wrong kind of yellow...
She tried to say the words, but they would not come. She tried to force them, but they were simply stuck in her throat...
“Stop!”
Twilight did a double-take. The voice was not her own. The plea had come from somewhere else. Luna had willed her body off the floor, and had somehow made her way to the entrance of her palace. She leaned heavily on the door frame, and her right eye was shut and swollen.
“Luna!” Celestia said aghast, “My sister... what has he done to you?!”
“it doesn’t hurt.” Luna said mysteriously, “Not anymore.”
Twilight could do nothing but observe. Marco’s eyes darted between the two princesses, and she could see all the conflicting emotions on his face. And for once she could tell that they were real.
“I did as you asked!” Celestia replied, still furious, “I gave him a choice. This is what he chose!”
Celestia’s horn pulsed once again, but Luna would have none of it. “He could have killed me!” she shouted, pulling her sister away from her rage, “He should have killed me! But he ‘chose’ not to.”
Luna moved her impaired gaze from her sister to Marco, who was still beyond being able to comprehend the situation. “Why?” she asked him, guilt lacing her imploring voice, “Why didn’t you? All I wanted-”
The princess paused and Twilight took a cautious step closer. The confused unicorn wasn’t sure how to handle herself. She couldn’t tell what had happened, but the injured Luna seemed to be defending Marco...
“What changed?” the young princess continued, “What happened to everything you said? What happened to your promises? What happened to your justice?”
All eyes were on Marco. As she looked on, Twilight felt as if the grey earth pony was only half-aware of his surroundings. Even a glance was enough to tell he was completely overwhelmed, teetering on the verge of metal collapse.
When Marco finally spoke, his tone was heavy, and a single tear escaped his eyes. “Please...” he wept, “Don’t say any more...”
And there it was. That one thing he had managed to stave off all this time. Surrender. He had just acknowledged it...
He gave up. It was too much. No more endurance, no more willpower... he didn’t care. For just one last time, Marco let his legs give into the weight. He fell, collapsing onto his side in a big heap. Nopony flinched, they had all seen it coming. Injury and fatigue, dwarfed by an enormous mental strain, nopony was shocked to see him finally go down.
Twilight knew that this was the time she needed to make her presence known. “Princess!” she cried out, breaking into a run up to the sisters, “Wait!”
Both of the regal sisters turned to face her. Twilight suddenly realized that it was very possible that her presence had so far gone unnoticed considering what had been happening. She made to speak, but she needed a minute to catch her breath. She had been constantly on the move up until now, and pausing to watch the exchange with Marco had given her body time to catch up. Her body was light with exhaustion, and she had a splitting headache, the first among many side effects of over-exerting one’s magic.
“I... I talked with him, not far from this spot. Just before he broke into the night palace.” Twilight she said, practically breathless, “I think I know why he didn’t... um...”
Luna, despite her obvious injury, stood tall, and she smoothly turned to face Twilight. This would be the first of any explicit interaction with the princess. “What happened?” she asked plainly, “What do you know?”
Twilight gulped. “Two things...” she said tentatively, “First, he was being very specific about why he thought what he was doing was right. I mean, he was almost trying to convince me... to prove it to me as if I was-”
She cut herself short. She was getting off track. “The point is, these justifications of his, they were what kept him going.” Twilight moved her gaze to Celestia, and the look on her face showed that she was aware of where her pupil was going with this, “Princess... your spell was an attempt to uproot these justifications right? When my friend succeeded in pulling him away from your ‘hypnosis’, she also discovered how twisted these justifications were. She saw just how the darkness had warped his point of view.
“In a world he thought was all a lie, he only had one truth to depend on.” she shook her head, “But that truth was fake. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to realize this.”
Celestia was still reserved, but Luna watched Twilight with her non-swollen eye and was hanging on the little unicorn’s every word.
“That’s what happened right?” Twilight asked, still knowing no facts about what happened between Marco and Luna, “He came so far, believing that what he was doing was right, and to make it here, only to find he wasn’t...”
Luna flinched slightly. “Doing what was right?” she repeated, looked briefly to her sister, “But-”
Celestia quickly cut her sister off. “Twilight.” she said seriously, focusing her attention on her student, “You said there were two things. What else happened?”
Twilight took a deep breath. She knew how bad this would sound, and that it would possibly be condemning for Marco, but she had to be objective here. What happened back then was a serious issue, not to mention a potential threat.
“Remember when I said I talked with him?” Twilight said nervously, unsure of how to put this, “Well, it was actually going pretty well. But...”
Twilight paused again, collecting her thoughts. “But...” she continued, “Just when I thought I might have been getting through to him, something bad happened.”
Luna was confused. “Something bad?” she asked, “What happened?”
Twilight turned to face her. When she spoke, her tone was grim. “Nightmare Moon happened.” her words hung in the air, “I don’t know what she did or said to Marco, but from what she said to me, I think she’s targeting him...”
Princess Celestia tried to take this all in. She knew Nightmare Moon had never truly been vanquished, but she couldn’t figure out why she’d return now, or why she would be interested in Marco. And here she thought her first decision was hard to make. Intervening back at her pupil’s library seemed like an easy decision compared with the choice she was now faced with.
But perhaps it wasn’t her choice to make. “Luna...” she whispered, “None are more familiar than you with the threat that Nightmare Moon poses. I also do not think there is anyone more familiar with the roads that this young pony has walked that lead here.
“Even if you do not blame him for what he has done to you, he is still a criminal.” Celestia eyed her injured sister intensely, “He has sewn chaos and injured many. This I cannot ignore.”
Luna didn’t hesitate in the slightest. “Yes you can.” her plainness and near-disobedience took her sister by surprise, “You absolved me of my sin even when I didn’t wish for it. How can you forgive me for what I did, yet refuse one of my victims?”
Beyond her surprise, Celestia almost smiled. After all these years, her little sister was finally growing up. These were such strong words, and she was a completely different sister that she was yesterday. All the guilt and reproach that had been anchoring her had been lifted. It left Celestia wondering if she could entrust her sister with a duty that she herself could not handle...
She knelt down before Marco and stared at, around, and through him, taking in every element and every aspect. When she was finished, she closed her eyes and stood back up. “It’s up to you sister.” she said definitively, “I haven’t discerned what this fate of his holds, but I’ll tell you now... decide wisely. It is a big responsibility.”
Not far away, Twilight’s attention was drawn to a small group of guards bounding towards the night palace. They would be here shortly to become part of the scene.
“It’s your choice.” Celestia said as she made to leave Luna, Twilight and Marco to the medics, “I’ll leave sorting this out completely to you.
“And sister?” she continued, her steps suddenly halting, “Welcome back.”
* * * *
“You did what!?” an appalled voice boomed out from inside the otherwise silent confines of the royal palace, shattering whatever peace the morning had.
The day was only half over, and Caliber was already back inside Celestia’s chamber, questioning her judgment of Marco. He had only just woken up at one of Canterlot’s twenty-four-hour health centres, and was told he would be discharged after eighteen hours of observation. He had forced his way out the front door within minutes.
“I can understand that you are still recovering from the blast, but this isn’t like you.” the princess replied, her tone concerned, “Peace is our objective. I will not prolong conflict when there are alternatives, and neither should you.”
“Forgive me for my bluntness your majesty...” the captain took a brave gulp, “But in that case, maybe you should stop lying to me...”
“What?” Celestia asked, taken off guard, “I haven’t lied to you-”
The captain gave the princess a level stare. “I figured out what his connection with you is.” he said evenly, remembering his encounter with Marco at the hospital, “You didn’t tell me the truth about that book. What’s in it?”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. This one had a keen mind, but what was even more impressive was that he was bold enough to accuse her of something like this. “You will find out soon enough.” she spoke relaxed and gently, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the time is not yet right-”
“Don’t screw with me!” the captain exclaimed, “It’s my job to protect this city and its denizens from danger! And you’re hiding a secret that might end up threatening it all!”
Celestia was shocked that her captain was being so aggressive, and to her of all ponies. “Calm down!” she ordered, “You’ve only just recovered, and your mind is still in the battlefield. I realize what you’ve gone through, but the fighting is over. He is no longer your enemy. You are confined to your quarters until you understand that.”
“But princess...” he scrambled, his tone swapping immediately, “I-”
“But nothing.” she snapped back, fair but firm, “You need time to recover, and I’m giving it to you. You are off duty until the end of the month.”
“Wait...” the captain tried again, but the princess would have none of it...
“Please, just do this for me Caliber.” she said kindly, “You’re no good to anypony the way you are now. The damage has been done, but from what I hear, there is a lesson in this for you. Realize it and return to me when you are truly ready to resume your duties.”
Caliber removed his royal guard helmet and took a deep breath, calming himself. Now released, his royal blue mane flopped out over his face in an untamed mess. “If that is what you wish...” he said reserved, “Then it is what I shall do.”
He gave a relaxed salute and departed, leaving his helmet behind on a spare table.
Celestia could see that he was still uncomfortable. “Hey.” she called out after him, “Where are you going?”
Caliber stopped dead. He actually hadn’t thought about it. “Not sure.” he replied honestly, “I suppose I’ll wander for a bit, and see what state the city’s in-”
Celestia cut him off by shaking her head from side to side disapprovingly. “The correct answer...” she said playfully, “Is straight back to hospital.”
Caliber ran a hoof through his mane sheepishly. “Oh, umm...” he mumbled, “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine-”
Celestia gave him quite the stare. “This is not a negotiation...” she said lightly, “Make no mistake, I’ll teleport you there myself if you won’t-”
Celestia stopped short. She had raised a hoof to her muzzle and was looking upwards in thought. Caliber dreaded the idea she probably just had...
“On second thought...” she said, smiling a naughty smile, “Maybe I should teleport you there. We can’t have you walking around in your current state.”
The colour drained from the poor pegasus’ face as Celestia’s horn begun to glow. “No... stop! Anything but that!” he cried out too late, everything around him beginning to fade to white as he was engulfed by magic, “I promise I’ll go straight there-”
Caliber felt his stomach churn as the light faded to reveal he was in a new location. He hated being teleported with a passion. It made him feel like vomiting, and it always feels like some part of you stays behind. No matter how many times she did this to him, he would never get used to it.
He was now smack-bang in the middle of the hospital he was previously being treated at. A random nurse and patient were nearby when he materialized in front of their now shocked faces.
Caliber swayed on displaced hooves as the doctor that had attended him earlier came over to see what the commotion was. “Well, would you look at that!” he said wryly, “The captain came back.”
He trotted over and straightened up the dizzy pony. “You alright there pegasus?” he asked as he guided him over to a vacant room, “You’re not about to hurl are you? You look like you might...”
The doctor slid Caliber onto the hospital bed. “If you’re gonna, warn me first.” he said with humour, “Or just face that way.”
As the guard captain lay there, afraid to open his mouth for fear more than words would come out, he looked over the room and noticed the clock.
‘These next eighteen hours are just gonna fly on by aren’t they?’ he thought, “Damn it. Somepony get me out of this frigging hospital.’
* * * *
With her captain whisked away to the hospital, Celestia was alone as she wandered through the palace on her way to her study. With the topic of health spurred by her encounter with Caliber, she remembered that it would soon be time for her to go and check up on her sister. Last she heard, the doctor had expected her to have to rest solidly for an entire day, but the last time she visited, he reported that she hadn’t slept yet.
The doctor couldn’t explain it, but Celestia thought she could. If she were in her sister’s position right now, she doubted that she’d be able to find the calm required to sleep, even if she was injured and in need of rest.
Marco and Twilight were in hospital too. While she had no interest in Marco for the time being, she believed he was undergoing surgery for whatever reason and getting an emergency blood transfusion. He’d survive, but he wouldn’t be leaving the hospital anytime soon. Twilight on the other hoof, was receiving basic care in response to her overusing her magic. It wasn’t too severe, but she would have persisting physical and mental weakness for the next few days. Once she was feeling better, Celestia would have to go visit her too. She had an important task for her to undertake when she returned to Ponyville.
But while Celestia had chosen to leave her student to her recovery for the time being, it would seem that there were others who were decidedly against waiting. Earlier this morning, five young mares had barged in, unannounced and exhausted, in a frenzy to check up on their friend.
The doctor stressed that she was in no state to answer their bombardment of questions, but Twilight refused to let her friends leave without some kind of explanation. At first, the small party of ponies were reluctant to drop in on Marco despite the fact he was in the same hospital as Twilight, but after listening to what she had to say, and being kicked out by the angry doctor, they practically swarmed over to where he was being kept, but were denied by surgeons.
They gathered outside the hospital to get some fresh air after they couldn’t get through to see Marco. It was close to noon in Canterlot, so the streets were bustling. It seemed that despite all the chaos last night, everypony was going along with their regular business as if it were just another day in the fair city.
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity wearily made their way out onto the cobblestone street. Their abnormal behaviour was attracting some attention from passers-by, but Pinkie didn’t notice the looks the ragged group was getting, far too tired for anything like that. Her frizzy hair drooped like a popped balloon as she laid herself flat on the street, getting the rest she desired so much.
Applejack noticed the stares, but she cared not. She hobbled over to where Pinkie Pie lay, and she slumped herself against the building, letting her cowboy hat tilt down over her tired eyes. Rainbow Dash came next as she landed next to the two earth ponies and let herself fall heavily onto her backside, her head hung as she let her body go limp. Fluttershy followed suit, adopting a similar posture to Pinkie Pie, but instead she laid facing upwards instead of burying her head in her hooves.
Rarity on the other hoof, despite being the more exhausted of the five, would not behave so disgracefully, especially in front of the prying eyes of the high class locals. “Girls!” she cried, appalled, “Get up! Everypony’s staring at us!”
“Oh, quit your whining.” Applejack replied impatiently, “I don’t give a hooey who’s looking, we all need to get off our hooves for a minute. Even you.”
Rarity couldn’t fight it anymore. She sat down, but did so gracefully, compromising with her body that yearned for rest. “I am not whining.” she remarked, “I am merely saying that this may not be the appropriate time or place to ‘get off our hooves’, as you put it.”
“Sure it is.” Pinkie chipped in, her tired voice was light and muffled by the placement of her front legs, “I haven’t been able to relax ‘til now...”
“Me neither...” Fluttershy said in agreement, “But I’m so glad it’s all over now.”
“Is it though?” Rainbow Dash asked, “I mean, how do we know what’s gonna happen from here?”
“We don’t.” Applejack said plainly, “But Twi seemed pretty dang sure of herself, and she does know a bunch more than we do at the moment. In any case, we can’t say for sure ‘til the fool wakes up again.”
“But that’s just it...” Rarity cut in, “He’s been through this before, and I think we all recall just what happened after he woke up. Why would it be any different this time?”
“Didn’t ya’ll listen to what Twi had to say?” Applejack retorted, “She ain’t lying when she said things have changed. Even I can tell that much.”
“What are you saying A.J?” Rainbow Dash questioned, “That maybe this time around, he’ll wake up and be a different pony?”
Applejack paused and nodded her hat back onto her head, letting her green eyes connect with Dash’s. “What I’m saying is, maybe this time...” she replied sagely, “Maybe this time he’ll wake up for real.”
* * * *
The hour was late and the sun’s light was fading from the sky.
Princess Celestia wearily returned to her private study, but when she entered she found somepony else in there. Before her, slumped over a spare desk with a whole mess of notes and papers strewn about was one of her royal guards.
“What are you doing?” she asked, “Why are you in here?”
There came no response. Not even an acknowledgement of her question or presence. Celestia quickly realized that the royal guard appeared to be sleeping. She calmly approached him and gave him a firm prod to the side...
“Excuse me...” was all she was able to say before the figure awoke and snapped up, brought back to the world with a shock.
“Princess!” he gasped, “It’s not what it looks like! Well, it kinda is, but I did what you asked! I went through all the files, but there were so many, and I only closed my eyes for a minute...”
Celestia looked on in confusion for a moment, but then she remembered who this pony was and what she asked him to do. This was the guard she tasked with searching through the criminal records and creating the list she hoped would help discern the name of the pegasus who had been bothering her.
“So how did it go?” she asked him, ignoring his excuses, “Did you find many matches?”
The royal guard blinked twice, hoping he was off the hook. “Er... yeah.” he said awkwardly, pulling a small stack of papers out from under the mess in front of him, “I put everything I found here.”
The princess didn’t hesitate before snatching the list off the pegasus. She looked at the first page, but she didn’t recognize the pony. She looked at the second page, but still didn’t recognize this profile. She looked at the third page. Still nothing.
Celestia’s frustration grew as each useless page brought her closer to the end of the list. She scanned each and every name and photo, waiting for one in particular to grab her attention or reawaken her memory. But it wasn’t doing anything for her. She couldn’t find a single profile that she recognized...
The princess stopped flicking through the pages when she was only a few from the end. Something about that previous one stood out.
The royal guard looked on in dismay as the princess stopped going through the list he had slaved over. “Is something the matter?” he asked, “Did I do something wrong?”
Celestia’s eyes locked onto the page she had turned to, and they widened when the profile before her rekindled some fuzzy memory. “No...” she said, barely more than a whisper, “You’ve done an amazing job!”
The royal guard beamed, but Celestia wasn’t about to let him savour the moment. “Now return to your quarters before you pass out.” she ordered, “You must have worked hard on this, and your effort has not gone to waste. Thank you.”
He made to obey, but a curious thought struck his mind. “So you found the one you were looking for?” he asked politely, “Which one was it?”
In the same motion, Celestia levitated the specific profile out of the stack and floated the remainder to the side. “Here.” she said as she floated the page to the guard’s eyes, “Take a look for yourself.”
He forced his sleepy eyes to focus on the profile the princess was showing him. “Tager?” he said, reading the information aloud, “Female. Pegasus. Twenty-four years old. Current status unknown...”
He looked up from the floating document and at Celestia. “I don’t understand.” he admitted, “Who is she?”
Celestia turned away from the inquisitive guard as she answered him, her voice distant as she invoked her memories. “A problem child.” she begun, “I remember her now. She was Caliber’s lieutenant for a short time, but she went rouge soon after Luna returned.”
“If she was Caliber’s lieutenant, that would make her a royal guard...” came the surprised reply, “But the profile doesn’t mention it. Don’t all guards get flagged if they turn criminal?”
“I believe that Captain Caliber took measures to wipe her history before she became wanted.” Celestia replied neutrally, “I don’t remember much, but I think they shared a bond of sorts. Either way, Caliber’s parting gift to her was one that was something of a betrayal against me, and though I have decided to forgive it, it seems to have resurfaced at a most inconvenient time.”
“Wow... the captain did something like that?” the royal guard asked in disbelief, “That must have been some bond...”
“Well, she struck the captain’s interest once upon a time.” Celestia mused, “If I recall, she was the prodigal child of the late General Zephyr and Ambassador Pepperswell. But instead of inheriting her father’s might and her mother’s mind, she had her father’s bullheadedness and her mother’s fragility. Even so, Caliber thought she had potential.
“And potential she had.” Celestia continued, “Caliber wasn’t a captain at the time, but he told me how she raced up the ranks alongside him in the night guard. If memory serves, they joined the royal guard at the same time. I may have chosen Caliber to become captain, but it was he who chose his lieutenant. In hindsight, I suppose it was all a little too fast.
“Caliber tried to find her again, but she was like a ghost.” the princess shook her head, “When her name finally resurfaced again, it was as a criminal. So Caliber must have made sure to bury her past as a royal guard.”
Celestia turned to face the guard once again. “But...” she continued, “I seem to have stumbled upon a new reason to seek her out once more. I could very well be wrong, but if fate unravels the way I imagine it will, she may yet play a part.”
The royal guard wasn’t really listening. It looked like he was struggling with a memory of his own. “Now that I think about it...” he said thoughtfully, “That name does ring a bell.”
His eyes widened as the realization struck him. “Of course!” he exclaimed, “Tager the bounty hunter! She’s one of Equestria’s most wanted!”
Celestia was stunned, confused, and interested all at once. “Equestria’s most wanted?” she asked, “What do you mean?”
“You know...” he answered, “The list of the top ten bounty heads that-”
“I know what it is.” the princess interrupted, “I’m asking you what you mean by a bounty hunter with a price on her head.”
“I don’t know much about it myself, but I’ve heard rumours.” the guard said, “Even then, they’re somewhat conflicting. I hear that she hunts down the other members of the most wanted in a quest to rid the world of evil, and other stories about how she’s an insane pegasus who simply tracks down strong opponents in some crazed attempt to prove herself.”
“I trust you’re going somewhere with this?” Celestia asked nicely, “How is she called the bounty hunter?”
“Ah yes, well...” he continued, “she is the uh... one, two, three, four, five, six... the ‘seventh’ most wanted. Ponies started calling her the bounty hunter because she’s been working her way up the list, hunting down all the other bounty heads.”
Considering what she had just been told, Celestia directed her gaze to the shambles that had become of her study. She could see herself frantically pulling it to pieces in the minutes leading up to sunrise, but now that the situation had calmed, it was strange she was so content with leaving the mysteries she hadn’t been able to solve dormant.
“Um, princess?” the guard asked as Celestia stared off into space, “Did you want me to follow up on her? Get some fresh information or a location-”
“No, that won’t be necessary.” she replied gently, “In fact, I do believe I have already dismissed you. Get some rest; you’ve earned it. You can leave this with me.”
She concluded her statement by magically opening the door to her study, prompting the guard to be on his way. “Thank you princess.” he said with a big yawn, “I’ll be off then.”
“Oh, before I forget... there’s one last thing.” Celestia called out, “A lot has been going on lately, so I admit that I may have let sip a little more than I meant to in talking with you...
“So all this business about bounty hunters and Caliber tampering with the records...” she continued, “You would do well to put it out of your mind. I would hate to hear any rumours springing up about my treasured captain.”
The royal guard gulped, unsure of whether or not the princess had just threatened him. “Uh sure! My lips are sealed!” he scrambled, a drop of sweat forming on his neck, “Consider all that stuff forgotten!”
Alone at last, with only the chaos of her study for company, Celestia brought Tager’s profile before her eyes once more. She allowed herself to take it in for a short moment before she discarded it with a thoughtful sigh. “This isn’t my duty anymore.” she said to no one, “Luna. You have vowed to take responsibility for what fate now holds. It is a task in which I failed.”
Celestia paused as she trawled her study for that single tome she had stressed over earlier. “But nevertheless...” she continued, “I have entrusted you with this heavy burden. Before too long, you will discover what that truly means. Soon you will discover exactly what path it is you have chosen.”
The princess found what she was looking for easily enough, and she physically bent down to grab it. “But I myself have chosen.” she opened it up and casually flipped through the pages, “Chosen to trust in your judgment and your resolve...
“But miracles do not come along often my sister.” Celestia closed the book determinedly and cast it aside, “And while I had not expected anything like this to happen, it doesn’t change what the future holds. Can you handle it?”
Celestia looked out her window and at her sun that was low in the sky. Even though Luna was back, and possibly feeling at peace with her past mistakes, she wouldn’t be taking back her role in the cycle of the moon and running of Equestria for some time. For a thousand years Celestia had taken charge of her younger sister’s responsibilities, and tonight, like every night for all those long years, she would once again keep the balance and do her sister’s job. But that would soon change. She felt that it wouldn’t be long now before Luna decided to take her older sister up on her offer to return her powers.
It was an odd feeling. On one hoof, Celestia was relived, and proud that her little sister might finally be able to return to her old self after going through so much grief. She had been through jealously and hatred as she transformed into Nightmare Moon, and she had been through guilt and reproach as she became obsessed with the mistakes of her past. But after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, she was Luna again. She was the little sister that Celestia had missed so much.
But then, on the other hoof, Celestia feared for what her sister’s return could entail. She squeezed her eyes tight as she shook her head from side to side, forcing the thoughts to go away. There was no use dwelling on what could be, or what might become...
“There’s nothing to be found in worrying.” she told herself, reaffirming her thoughts, “All that I can do, all that we can do... is wait.
“Time will tell.”
* * * *
Time. For a night that seemed to stretch on forever, the week following it sped by in a blur. Twilight and Marco were long since out of the hospital, the garrison’s infirmary was well underway with its repair, and the Canterlot locals who had been swarmed by parasprites had the damage compensated for and their questions silenced.
Even in Ponyville, it was business as usual once again. No manticore mounted unicorns flew over the town in the dead of night, no wounded strangers washed up outside the Everfree Forest, and Ponyville Urgent Care was visited only by the odd strained farm pony and sick filly. Fluttershy’s cottage was now only home to the pegasus herself and her legion of woodland critters, and Twilight’s library wasn’t getting any strange visitors. Well, technically speaking...
A dull thud could be heard from outside the library as somepony slammed a thick tome shut.
Marco lazily placed the book had been reading to one side. “What absolute horse-shit.” he said under his breath, “How does such a crappy tome end up in a nice library like this?”
“Language!” Spike chimed, surprising the stallion as he trawled through with a broom in tow, “Wait, what the hell are you even doing?”
The deep grey earth pony shook his head from side to side in disappointment at the baby dragon. “Maybe you’re the one who should be watching their mouth.” he retorted, wondering if Spike was the impressionable sort, “And while I don’t relish gratifying your vulgarity, I was quite obviously reading this supposed ‘book’.”
“Supposed?” Twilight’s voice entered the room before she did, “Do you have a problem with my library?”
Marco was unfazed by this loaded question. “Oh... no. Of course not.” he replied absently, “Just the author.”
Twilight altered her gaze as if to remind Marco that she was waiting for him to elaborate.
“Don’t get me wrong...” he quickly defended himself, “It’s not ‘bad’... I just don’t like it when writers try to mix history and theory. The way I see it, it’s up to the reader to make sense of the facts the text provides, not get walked through somepony else’s opinion. But if you look closely, the-”
“I don’t need to look...” Twilight objected, cutting the stallion off, “I’ve read it. It was a gift from my brother after all.”
“I don’t like it...” Marco responded immaturely, “It doesn’t fit among all these other, better books you have.”
“Why are you even reading this stuff?” Spike interjected, “You’re under house arrest, at somepony else’s house I might add, and you even promised to help out as an assistant. But you read more that Twilight does! Owlicious and I can barely keep up with you two!”
‘Hoo!’ Owlicious trumpeted in agreement, though he didn’t appear to be doing anything to help Spike at the moment.
“Well?” Marco hummed facetiously, “Perhaps that’s why Twilight asked me to help you two?”
“But you’re the problem!” the little dragon replied irritated.
“Spike...” Twilight cut in pointedly, “A word?”
The little dragon grunted and stormed out past Twilight and into the next room. “Don’t worry about it...” Twilight said to Marco, “He’ll come around. It was the same with Owlicious; just give him some time...”
‘Hoo...’ the feathered observer cooed again, his deceptively keen insight masked by the language barrier.
“I’ll, uh, go talk with him.” Twilight said suspiciously, “In the meantime, can you put this book back?”
In the next room, Twilight leaned in on a pouting Spike, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Spike!” she said anxiously, “What are you doing? The princess told us to keep a close eye on him and get him re-adjusted. He’s still unstable, so we have to help him get back on his hooves slowly... and we can so long as he’s comfortable here. Besides, he is a big help when you and Owlicious are busy-”
“Hey Twilight...” Marco called out from the other room, “Mail for you!”
The unicorn’s ears perked up at the sound of his voice. “Can’t it wait?” she yelled out in response.
“Probably.” Marco answered casually, “It is however, a letter from Celestia.”
“What?” Twilight called, charging back into the main room, “Why didn’t she send it through Spike?”
“Probably because its a mass send-out.” Marco responded matter-of-factly, “Looks like everypony gets this one.”
“And how do you know that?” Spike asked, his eyebrow raised.
“The mail-mare told me.” Marco replied easily, “She’s a weird one, that girl...”
Marco looked at Twilight, who was already getting stuck into the letter. “She also told me, among other things, what it’s regarding.” he continued, his tone more serious, “Celestia’s changed the date of the ceremony again.”
“What?” Twilight asked surprised as she started reading, “Why would she...”
Marco leaned in and read the letter over her shoulder while Spike attempted to do the same.. Owlicious was perched sagely above the three, and he looked down as if he was comprehending everything...
Marco took the liberty of reading out the important paragraph for the benefit of Spike who was too short to do it himself. “We regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the ceremony regarding the formal reinstatement of princess Luna has once again been delayed.” he recited the letter, “We would like to stress that the new date will not change...”
Marco stopped quoting the text and turned subtly to Twilight. “Unforeseen circumstances?” he repeated, “That’s the third time in a row. Something stinks.”
“Tell me about it.” she replied, facing him, “The last time she did this, I sent her a letter asking her if there was a problem, but she wouldn’t tell me what was going on...”
Twilight noticed that Marco was being unusually quiet. “Hey.” she nudged, “There’s no way it has anything to do with you.”
No response. “Look, if it worries you, you can always go ask Luna about it.” she offered a weak smile, “Remember, she said you could go see her anytime you wanted to...”
Marco copied her smile. “I get it Twilight...” he said meekly, “But I don’t think I’m ready for that yet...”
She definitely didn’t want to force him. “Okay.” she said simply, “We will just have to wait and see then.”
Marco smiled softly again. “Thanks.” he said genuinely, “I know it isn’t easy for you to-”
“Stop.” Twilight said, interrupting him, “I don’t care how long it takes, you just take all the time you need.”
Marco just looked at the purple unicorn appreciatively. He still didn’t seem very comfortable with everything that was going on. “But you are feeling better right?” Twilight asked gently, “Nothing’s wrong is it?”
“No, nothing is wrong.” he said honestly, “It’s just that, well... so much has happened. I’m more or less at peace, but I just don’t know what I should be doing with myself-”
Marco was interrupted by a loud knock on Twilight’s door, and shortly after, a familiar tomboyish voice rung out. “Twilight!” it called, “Are you home? I’ve got something for ya!”
Marco chuckled softly, and Twilight watched him curiously. “But I suppose it isn’t so bad with you guys around.” he said, “It’s a strange new world for me, and it’ll take some getting used to, but at least I have a few friends to help me out.”
He broke away from his thoughts and looked briefly down at his hooves. “I mean, you are here for me right?” he asked timidly, “Because I don’t think I could-”
“I told you to quit it with that.” Twilight said casually, interrupting him again, “You have friends here Marco.”
She trotted over to her front door, encouraging Marco to do the same. “So enough about that...” she said smiling, “I’m going to see what some of them want.”
All things considered, Marco was readjusting rather well. In regards to what had transpired that night in Canterlot, a few things had happened. He had technically been pardoned, but there were a few conditions. First of all, he wasn’t allowed in, or near Canterlot without escort. Secondly, he was under a rather obtuse house arrest arrangement. And while Luna had protested to this condition, Celestia managed to convince her that it was for his own good. And that was more or less true.
For starters, he had no house in which to be confined, but the princess decided that it was best, and had already organised, for him to be under the watchful eye of her student Twilight. She also knew Ponyville would be healthy for him to experience, so he was permitted to leave her house so long as he was with her, or one of five other select ponies.
The more controversial clause in his pardoning dictated that he was not allowed to work, but was also denied any kind of sponsorship. Luna was upset that her sister would not allow her to provide Marco with any coin for living expenses, but since his room in Twilight’s library didn’t cost him anything other than having to double as an assistant, and that he had access to the basic necessities without cost, Luna’s objections were kept at bay as the stallion did not have an explicit need for money.
But then again, nopony is immune to ‘wanting’, and in trying not rely on Twilight any more than he already had, he found a way around his money problems.
He may not have been able to earn a wage, but he could still sell things. Twilight was the first to suggest that he try selling some of his herbal or alchemical creations, but it took an awkward confession on Marco’s part to get her to understand that he was no alchemist, and that he learned what he had out of necessity. In other words, since he had focused only upon potions of ‘questionable legality’, there was nothing he was comfortable selling.
However, Marco still had something he could sell, and was worth a lot of bits to the right buyer. And he was more than comfortable selling it for next to nothing to somepony who both deserved it and could use it well. Applejack was more than happy to take such a treasure off his hooves, and she also insisted on a more honest price.
New Eureka’s pride was the cider from the farm Marco grew up on, and he knew that Applejack would do his father’s legacy proud. And in sharing with her the secrets behind its flavour, this exchange with Applejack marked the first on a long list of repentance.
Applejack. What would have been the hardest act of forgiveness was also his first. She happily accepted his recipe, but wasn’t about to forgive him on account of it. It was only after about a week after that the two earth ponies begun to reconcile. Almost every evening for seven straight days, Big Macintosh or Applebloom would come running to Twilight’s library to bring Marco back with them because their sister had encountered some new problem or quirk in the cider brewing process. Different apples make different cider, and it took the combined effort of all four earth ponies to facilitate a solution. It was hard work, but through patience, and a lot of trial and error, they were rewarded with an amazing tasting cider, and naturally came to bond along the way.
Rainbow Dash. Also not an easy task. During Marco’s episode, her loyalty never once wavered, but he shattered that loyalty with his selfishness. A betrayal like that will always take a heavy toll, and Dash was no exception. But how could he fix the situation? Unlike with Applejack, Marco couldn't help her with her job, and her only hobby seemed to be flying and stunts, which was yet another aspect of her life he was unable to touch on. He was burdened by a lack of avenue for approach. His best bet, and only hope, was to continue with the pegasus’ friends and see if they could rub off on her.
Fluttershy. Compared to the others, it might not have seemed like Marco had done much to the pegasus, but in reality, she might have been the one he impacted the most. From the get go, she pushed herself to the limit, grappling with Marco’s health, and his cause ended up putting her at odds with her friends. And before the end, he also confronted her values. While none of it was direct, his carelessness was the bane of her kindness. Thankfully however, she had been constantly visiting Twilight and Marco at the library, checking up on their health. Her kindness it seemed, truly was immutable. He knew better than to think that meant anything at first, but it kept them in contact, and slowly, the two eased up around each other.
Rarity. While her involvement with Marco was brief in caparison to the others, her engagement with him was by far the most intense. She had disregarded the cost to herself, and dove into his nightmare without knowing what it might entail. It was generosity at its finest, but it had been met by regret. Despite this, it actually didn’t take much to get her to forgive him. Since she actually saw for herself the twisted mechanism that drove him to the darkness, it took nothing more than a simple apology to have her back on his side.
Pinkie Pie. What was there to explain? A girl who had never, and was probably fundamentally incapable of maintaining a grudge, seemed to hold nothing against Marco for the incident. But Marco had seen for himself just how observant and even wise the pink earth pony could be. Even though her personality and behaviour never reflected it, Marco could tell she understood much. He also realized that this disposition of hers existed because she treasured laughter and joy, and could abandon resentment in preference of these things. And the truth was, he had stolen away her laughter with his hatred. Despite appearances, he would have to do his best to make amends.
And then there was Zecora. Marco had certainly wronged her in more ways than one. Like with the others, he had turned on her and taken her out with one of her own potions. Then he stole the most valuable and dangerous creations she possessed, and in using them, practically advertised where he had acquired such illegal measures. And while he had managed to have any involvement on her part ignored by the law, he knew he was far from earning her forgiveness. Regardless, this act served to calm the zebra pony down long enough for him to share with her the means by which he had enhanced her concoctions, and he even went on to provide her with a handful of recipes he planned on using, but never found the materials. He hadn’t held back on her, sharing a whole collection of very powerful, very illegal, and very hard-to-come-by recipes. While she wasn’t as wary anymore, she wasn’t quick to regain a liking for Marco. But she was neutral again, and that was more than enough.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the complete sum of ponies who suffered at the hands of his villainy. The guard captain was chief among such victims, but there was also the two night guards under his command. Not to mention the nurse he gassed and the doctor he scared half to death.
But above all, there was Twilight. Marco’s actions had pushed her to the brink, both mentally and physically. She had been turned against the teacher she adored as well as her friends. And on top of that, while he had been recovering at hospital, Twilight had suffered terribly from the effects of over-using her magic. But oddly enough, it all seemed to be water under the bridge to her. Such a thing was an odd combination of comforting and unsettling to Marco.
For now at least, it seemed like a true recovery would be only a matter of time. Everything was at peace, and all the pain, the mistakes, and fear that had once dominated were fading into a memory of the past that was getting further and further away.
Indeed, the feeling that all this would soon be behind him crept up slowly but surly into Marco’s mind...
“Hello?” Twilight waved a purple hoof in front of Marco’s lifeless eyes, “Is anypony in there?”
The stallion shook his head vigorously, as if he aimed to dispel his deep thoughts. Somewhat successful, he looked Twilight up and down to see the unicorn with her eyebrows raised and a plain looking paperback novel wrapped up in her magic.
“Sorry.” he said, “My mind was somewhere else. I guess I need-”
“What you need is a distraction.” Twilight practically thrust the book she levitated to Marco’s chest, forcing him to grab it, “Rainbow Dash just came by to return this, but it looks like you could get some use out of it yourself.”
Marco turned the unassuming thing around and read the cover. “Daring Do and the Legend of the Blue Moon?” he questioned, instantly dismissing the book, “Sorry Twilight. Fiction really isn’t my thing.”
“What do you mean? It’s perfect for slowing down that mile-a-minute brain of yours.” Twilight reasoned, “Just relax and give it a try. It worked for Rainbow Dash after all.”
With a final gesture from Twilight, he popped open the cover. Scanning past the subtitle, he looked back up to the unicorn to make sure she was serious. She was.
“Daring Do hastily limped her way through the dual saloon doors, and hid herself by the bar amid a chattering group of card players.” Marco said aloud, his voice deflated by the tediousness of it, “She saw the shadow that had been stalking her about to follower her inside the saloon, so she whipped up a hand of cards and quickly hid her eyes behind a royal flush.”
Marco paused, and looked up from the little adventure. “Do I hear cliché?” he sighed, “Come on, what-”
“Oh, just read it will you?” Twilight rolled her eyes, “I’ve got a ton of study to do, so for the rest of the day it’s just you and that book. Try and get along...”
And with those parting words, she left the stallion to what could very well be the first non-scholarly book he’d ever opened. Marco sighed pointedly as Spike and Owlicious followed Twilight out of the room, leaving him alone with his assigned text.
With no one left to pout around, he tentatively decided to give the little paperback the time of day.
“In the dusty and deserted streets outside the weatherboard saloon, Daring Do tumbled out the door in an explosion of cards and coins.” he said aloud, his voice slowly loosing its dreary pitch, “Her masked assailant followed close behind, a moustachioed griffin going by the name ‘Baron Beauxerillo’. The feathered villain ignored the fortune of bits raining down around him, for tucked firmly under his wing was a treasure far more valuable than any amount measurable by currency.
“A dozen law ponies soon arrived on the scene, but they stood their ground.” he continued reading, somewhat absorbed, “Between the well groomed and affluent-looking griffin and the battered and weathered figure of Daring Do, the assembled group could not tell which party was at fault. It was a stand-off...”
“Hrm...” Marco hummed, finally breaking free of his immersion, “Captivating, but unrealistic. You wouldn’t find a wild western town anywhere in this day and age. Even still, perhaps this story’s going somewhere...”
* * * *
The dozen law ponies continued to stand at bay around the town square, the desert dust blowing at their eyes causing them to view the scene before them with squinting eyes.
“Sheriff...” one of the broad-brimmed officers said with a hushed voice, “What should we do?”
The stallion to which he referred, a deep brown coated and silver-star donned earth pony, simply stared at the small band of unconscious earth ponies laid out on the street before him. Putting everything together in his veteran mind, he thoughtfully chewed the cud as he tilted his cowboy hat so as to shield his eyes from the dust.
“We don’t do nothin’...” he drawled, “Not yet at least. So long as its criminals doin’ the tustlin’, it’s not our job to intervene ‘til there’s only the one left.”
“Who the hell’re these ponies?” another lawpony asked, “And where the hell’d they come from?”
“Don’t you read the papers?” the sheriff responded, “See that bigger earth pony in the middle?”
The band of lawponies directed their gaze at the more prominent individual among the scattered group. And while there were about nine or so of the downed earth ponies, they knew instantly to which one the sheriff referred to.
“That’s Equestria’s sixth most wanted. Mageblaze.” he spat, “And that... well you know who she is.”
At the sheriff’s implication, a rag-tag pegasus strode out among the field of defeated earth ponies. Her maroon coat was scuffed from the brawl, and her khaki mohawked mane stood up viciously. She looked about as beaten as the fallen group around her, yet she was the only one standing.
“That’s Tager isn’t it?” one of the lawponies asked, “But what’s she doing here? And what did those earth ponies want with her?
“I don’t understand.” another broad-brimmed officer spoke up, “Been hearin’ whispers ‘bout that pegasus, but I heard she was supposed to be some kind of hero...”
“Hero?” the sheriff scoffed, “Are those eyes of yours good for anything? Look and judge for yourself. She’s just a criminal.”
Almost as if in response to his mention, Tager breathed in deep the smell of victory, an evil grin forming on her face. The lines of her teeth highlighted by the thin trail of blood dripping from her nose, her look was one of satisfaction and excitement.
“You...” the weak voice of Mageblaze droned out from below, “You won’t get away with this...”
Without a moment’s pause, nor any pretence of mercy, Tager silenced the stallion with a swift and uncaring kick to the chest. “Tsk... well ain’t you singing a different tune?” she replied unamused, “The way I remember it, you and your fuck-ugly friends were the ones trying to start shit.”
Mageblaze winced as he was struck, but he continued to stare up at the pegasus with angry eyes. “You’ve signed your death warrant...” he spat, bested but defiant, “My master will have your head for this!”
Tager chucked facetiously. “You’re on your last legs, but you still say the funniest things...” she replied, waving her hoof bashfully, “And it just so happens I’ve got a joke of my own too. Wanna hear it?”
Her mocking question didn’t receive a reply, but she continued on all the same. “Alright, but stop me if you’ve heard this one before.” she leaned in closer, smiling that bloodied smile again, “Nine earth ponies walk into a bar. There’s a pegasus at the counter, but she’s just eating her lunch, drinking her brew, and generally minding her own business. She overhears them spouting some crazy stuff about how they’re taking over the town, but she doesn’t really care. She’s just passing through after all.
“But...” she continued, wiping some grit from her hoof, “Being the tough guys they are, the little band of earth ponies walk on up and tell her they’ve been looking for her. They say that all the top bounty heads are being brought together by some idiot for who knows what reason. Naturally she refuses, kindly of course, but they tell her that it isn’t optional. And then, well... I guess you know the rest.”
There came no reply, so Tager rolled Mageblaze over with a solid shove. Her little ‘joke’ yielded nothing but a spluttering cough from the earth pony below.
“And here we are.” the pegasus sighed, “But you wanna know the fucked up part? After all this, you’ve actually got me interested.
“Now, you may not know this, considering that they sent a bounty head after a bounty hunter...” she continued lazily, “But I’ve actually been looking for some of the guys that you tell me are being brought together. You know, the ones you and your groupies told me I had no other choice but to join?
“Here, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Tager whispered, “I’m not actually a bounty hunter. It’s just what ponies decided to call me after I started bumping your criminal buddies of the most wanted list. What I’ve really been looking for is a proper opponent. One worth of my time.
“And this guy you mentioned, the one who’s bring all the most dangerous ponies together to form his little A-team or whatever, he must realize that they are the ultimate fighting force.” Tager reasoned, “Naturally, the opponent I desire would be among such a force.
“Which leads me conveniently to what I want from you.” she grinned, staring right at the earth pony, “If I had accepted your stupid proposal, where would us bounty heads be meeting up?
“Actually, on second thought, I don’t give a shit about the others.” Tager continued, changing her mind, “The strongest one; the number one most wanted. Where do I find him?
“Oh, and I wouldn’t lie to me if I were you.” she added, “I’m not known for being well-tempered.”
At this, the beaten earth pony chuckled. It was a pained laugh, but dark all the same. “Lie?” he repeated, “You’re asking me to guide you to your death, and you think I’ll lie?
“Listen close pegasus...” his eyes flamed, “You’ll find your fight in Lost Valley. Good luck, and make sure you pack a tombstone! Because it’s where you going to be buried!”
Tager mirrored Mageblaze’s arrogant smile. “Thanks a bunch.” she said, bringing her hoof down hard on his head, knocking him unconscious, “Oh, and sorry ‘bout that...”
She cricked her neck and stood up straight. “Lost Valley huh?” she begun to walk off, “That’s quite the trek-”
“Stop right there!” the sheriff barked, “Tager! You are under arrest!”
The pegasus turned, and cocked her head with dissatisfaction at the cowboy hat donned earth pony. “Now that’s a disappointment.” she drawled, “And after all I just did for you guys... I was expecting a thank you.”
“Will you come peacefully?” the sheriff question undaunted, “Or are we going to have to do this the hard way?”
Tager looked up from the party of downed earth ponies to the group of officers. In comparison, they were of equal number. “Now that depends...” Tager taunted, “Would you rather fill up your prison, or your hospital?”
The sheriff grit his teeth. Even to a hardened stallion like him, this girl was intimidating in the extreme.
“Sheriff?” one of the officers spoke up, “What the hell do we do?”
“We don’t compromise!” he replied resolutely, “Place the criminal under arrest!”
As the group converged on her, Tager couldn’t help but to smile again. “Oh, how I love this town.” she declared, excited beyond her injury, “I can’t think of a better send off!”