-Golden Oaks-
"Twi, Spike!? Anypony? Huh, well that's fine. Rainbow I need you to get the group together by the house."
"You can't expect me to just stay there! What if-if the ghosts come out..." Said the fastest flier in Equestria...who was quivering in cold cold fear.
"Fine, if your so scared the-"
"I'm not scared! I-I'm just...worried. Yeah that's it. It would be a bad idea to have the entire group there."
"Okay fine, meet up by the spa. I need a few things from here."
"On it!" She flew right into the door, which opened, and then she crashed right into Shining Armor. Why must this happen?
Apologies were quickly given along with instructions to meet at the spa. Shining got to his hooves and made his confused and dazed way in.
"Hey, Celestia sent us some invitations to the Grand Galopping Gala this year. Is that why Rainbow was in a hurry?"
"Nope, I'm moving out."
"That doesn't sound like a big deal."
"The house is haunted."
"I'll get my gear."
"Shining no." And he just ran past me and up the stairs. FAN-tastic. 'The frig do I care what he does he's a gro-did he say gala? Shogath!'
"Problem for another day I s'pose. Now where is that magical book of remedies. Super, super, super.....NATURALS! Jack and pot!"
-Ponyville Spa, Twenty minutes later-
The gang all gathered in front of the spa, some onlookers inquired why Shining and Cadence both looked like they were about to go to war with each other (due to Shining's Amethyst Armor and Cadence's face changing Dragon Leathers) but they laughed the questions off simply stating:
"This is how we dress," Shining only leaned in to his mare friend closer as she continued with: "I really wouldn't have it any other way."
Though the majority all looked rested and battle ready, Applejack was still in bandages.
Pinkie was the first to greet me. "Hiya bestest friend! Did you like the party? Who am I kidding, of COURSE you did!" On "course" she grabbed my head and clocked it with her own.
'Ow...my brain.' "Hey Pinks?"
"Yep?"
"You know where I can get these herbs?" Handing her Super Naturals she skims through the bookmarked page for Poison Joke.
"Can't help you," She then chucked the book behind her, Flutttershy catching it with a hoof. "Doesn't mean Fluttershy can't help you!"
"Oh. I um-well..." Fluttershy then viewed the page, closed it, and put it in her saddle bag. "The regents are...pricey."
"Pfft, I funded a war for two years, AND I still have money left over! What's the worst it could be?"
"F-five hundred bits. Not many ponies even carry these roots."
"Pinkie, grab my sack." Everyone present, (especially Spike and Angel) double took as Pinkie pulled out my bag of gold from nowhere.
I opened it, dug in, and pulled out a bag labeled 500. "This should cover what you buy. Angel, be her strong arm in case some jack ass wants to swindle her.
"Why him? I'm twice as menacing as Mr. Pink ribbon." Complained Spike.
"Because you, along with the rest of the group are going in." Spike's face was priceless as it went from cold scowl to unadulterated fear. Rarity's face however, beamed with incredible joy as she plucked Spike off the ground with her magic.
"Oh this will be just WONDERFUL darling! Aloe and Lotus are absolutely THE best Ponyville has to offer. Why I'm sure they can even get a dragon like you to relax..."
The front desk greeted the group with surprised joy. It wasn't everyday the spa had so many clients at once, let alone all of them being the town heroes.
I walked up to the Spa twins and threw a bag of gold on the counter. "Girls, I have no doubt in your skills, as such I'd like service for," 'les see here, headcount of un, dos...RD is shaking her head like Aw hell naw but she still going in...AJ should probably sit this one out though.' "Seven. Treat em right yeah?"
"Yez Sir! Ve shal treat zem vith ze utmost respect!" A group of white garbed employees began to file in. I found a bench and beckoned AJ over to me. Rainbow tried to follow with but I motioned to one of the colts to lead her in with the others.
"Wait what!? You can't expect me to go in there! I have a reputation to keep!" Cried Rainbow.
"You wanna fly?" I ask coyly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Bone lock, your skeletal structure could give way in the air leaving you open for assault or just plain ol' pitfall." Her expression changed from struggle to absolute fear. Hook. Line. And sinker.
"Treat her gentle, she's a special case and for NO REASON should you touch her hooves. She hates that." The employees led the now calm Rainbow Dash with the others. Thus leaving only AJ and I.
She looked...worse for wear and emotionally downtrodden.
"Hey...uh...farm girl..." Applejack merely gave me a sidewise glance and a pained smile.
"You wondering why I didn't ask for you to go in with the others?"
"Yess'm."
"I wanted to ask if I could do two things."
"And they are?"
"One I wanted you to take me to the farm, and two I need you out of those bandages. So, how bout it farm hoof; take me to go see the family?"
-The Farm-
The road was light, talk was small and focused on what her spa treatment might be and how I was going to remove her bandages.
"So it's a simple process, I launch a bigger badder healing spell on you and in theory you should be able to just rip out of your bandages."
"That sounds a bit too simple. What's the catch?"
"Well...I need to be piss drunk." She thus gave me a confused look.
"Drunk? That means...what exactly?"
'Didn't she pull out a bottle of cider a few days ago?' "I need your oldest and strongest bottle of whatever it is that's on hoof. It needs to be about two hundred some odd years old. That's the only catch."
"You'll have ta go through Granny for it. It was the first of twenty bottles made back when Ponyville was founded."
'Sentimentality? Bantha Fodder! I really can't wait to fix this...!' "Okay, barring that...I need to be on the brink." I was shot a worrying glance.
"And what in tarnation dos THAT mean?"
"Hey look the farm!" Running away (both figuratively and literally) I bumped into Big Macintosh. A large rusted chunk of metal hooked into his yoke.
'Ugh, for a town so close to a gem deposit you'd think they'd have better gear.'
"Evening big guy! I don't think we've properly met yet."
The crimson colt takes a second to acknowledge my existence. Who can tell what intricate and complex thoughts run through such a sophisticated mind?
"Nnope." And yet so straightforward in his speech.
"Yeah...soooo...I'm-"
"Ah know who ya are. Iff'n the archives are right then you practically know everypony. That right?"
'Ah intelligence, so graceful, so blindsiding.' "Aye, I know you and your family. Can't say I know everypony, my memory is really bad sometimes."
Unlatching himself from his plow, Macintosh gestured toward the main house. Applejack had finally caught up and so the three of us went onto the porch.
Once we reached the door the two apple siblings took a step back and gestured for me to open the door.
A lump found itself in the back of my throat. Something inside that door scared me to high heaven, one knock. Two knocks. An aged voice rang out.
"Ya'll can come in you know. Ain't gettin' any younger, we can't ALL come back from the dead."
'Well fuck that's morbid.' I opened the door and saw Granny Apple Smith laying upon a recliner. A medal in her hooves.
"You were expecting me?" I ask.
"Took your sweet time too didn't ya? Can't say I blame ya, the Elements stopped you dead in yer tracks."
"We both know that's not true. At least...I think you do."
"Two ponies still statues. A pegasus colt and an earth mare. Last we checked Celestia still has em. But enough about the past, instead les' focus on the now."
Granny left the comfort of her seat and placed the medal on a table next to her.
"Mah daughter and son in-law are dead. We know that now thanks to you and your current connections to the inside. Question now is what comes next. So young-in, what's the battle plan?"
Her eyes bore into my own, a lesser man would have crumbled by now. I am not a lesser man.
"Now? We wait, we gather, and we prepare. A plan has been set into motion by powers greater than anyone, thing, or other form of intelligent life. Best part is: it dislikes Celestia's decisions as much as I do. I can't promise you revenge, Brown Coat would probably never forgive me. I can promise you justice however, not as satisfying, but far more rewarding."
"Heh, a pacifist til the dog gone end jus like the archives said ya'd be. There's probably a lot on yer plate so I'll let ya'll get to-it now. Make em' proud 'hero'."
With a bow I make my way back out the door and release a breath I didn't remember holding.
"AND YOU LAZY KIDS GET BACK TA WORK!" Shouted Granny from the back of the house.
Big Mac took his cue and booked it, whilst Applejack and I headed for the orchard.
"What ya'll talk about in there?"
"The future mostly, I'm not surprised she still misses her daughter. I hope to know more about your mother someday,"
'Oh radish ball.' "I forgot one very important detail."
"Detail?" Just as Applejack had begun her question did an ever growing voice make it's way toward us.
"AAAAAAAPPLE JAAAAAAACK! Pinkie Pie sent me with- *gasp* mister champion!" Exclaimed little Apple Bloom.
Noticing AJ's perturbed expression I decided to cut in.
"Hello little one, why aren't you in school?"
"School is closed fer repairs. Nuthin' major, but everypony is 'sposed to stay home in case of another attack. Say, I was asked to drop this scroll off to ya. What's it for?"
"Well...I honestly don't know yet. Let it be a learning experience for us both." Upon opening the scroll my mercenary garb unfurled out of it. What I had thought to be one scroll was actually two and a note.
Hiya bestest friend! I hope you're having a good day! I wanted to give you your suit back buuuuut...anyway you might need these. Have fun!
Your friend
"Pinkie Pie. These scrolls are for my healing wings and invisible blast. Huh, cool...I guess. Applejack you ready?"
“As Ah'll ever be. What ya need all that fancy magic stuff for anyway?”
“Fancy magic!” Said Applebloom and I simultaneously, the little one adding “Duh.”:
The Garb wound itself to my frame, it's omnipotent magic once again- 'LET ME OUT! YEEEEAH LET ME OUT~' 'How bout half past NEVER!'
“Ugh, putting this thing on is such a hassle. Now for the fun part!” Without warning I unfurled both scrolls at my side and read from my Invisible Blast. Targeting nothing in particular I let off wind ball after wind ball, Applebloom giving off various oohs and ahhs all while the winds became stronger, faster, and more precise with each successive cast.
'Dragon magic is the best...' Putting my hoof over my forehead, I slid it down as if I were sliding on a pair of goggles. The action covered part of my vision with a HUD giving me details on my physical well being.
I was one spell away from critical. “Applebloom, see that big stick over there? Grab it.”
“Alright, what for?” The little one asked as she pulled on the large trunk with her teeth.
“On three, you're gonna whack me on the head with it. Alright ONE!” Ignoring Applejack's complaints I threw one more ball at the club, temporarily infusing it with magic to make it lighter to carry while having twice the weight.
“TWO!” My beating heart threatening to end the lives of the town around me, I saw a pair of dice roll into sight.
You lucky enough to pull this off without a hitch?
Luck Roll: 87/100
'DAMNIT NO DEFY!!!'
“THREE!!!”
…
…...
…......
….........
…............
The world began to swim back to me, the sun looking down upon me through a wobbly film. Bubbles shot away from me as my lungs began to burn all while petals swam in front of-OH GOD I'M DROWNING!!!
“HELP! GAH!” I CAN'T- stand. AUDIBLE GASP! I have legs again!!”
Ponies quickly shot me a glance, and then immediately returned to their normal spa activities.
'It's huntin' time, and it's ghost season.'
