League of Discord

Chapter 3: Chromatic Impact

Riven was fond of the taste of apples. That did not prepare her for what breakfast entailed for a

guest at the Apple family residence. The Apples had a definition of a ‘normal’ sized breakfast that

already would baffle most ponies who didn’t spend their days performing physical labor, but

compounded with their hospitality, Riven had to wonder how it was physically possible for any being to

ingest that much food. Nonetheless, a soldier knew to never refuse a meal when in the field, and so

Riven ate slightly more than her fill, to the delight of the old mare called Granny Smith, who couldn’t

stand all of those skinny ponies who were too concerned with things like weight and diets and looks to

appreciate a good meal, unlike this nice mare who put away almost as much food as Applejack.

Of course, after eating so much, Riven felt compelled to stretch her muscles, as unfamiliar with

them as she was. Being the most agile and physically coordinated of her group, she had taken to the

new form relatively fast, being comfortable walking within seconds, and able to gallop steadily within

minutes of standing for the first time in her new form. However, one facet of her new form evaded her,

and as much as she hated to admit it, intimidated her, as evidenced by the wings plastered to her sides.

She knew that eventually she’d have to master their use eventually, but for the sake of her sanity she’d

allowed at least one thing about this place and form get past her self control. Holding too much back

was mentally unhealthy, and could lower performance in the field, after all.

“Get ‘nuff to eat, sugarcube?” Applejack queried. Riven didn’t especially care for the term of

reference, but wasn’t about to complain to the one who had housed and fed her. Instead, Riven nodded

her assent. Applejack gave a friendly smile, and turned to walk toward the door. “Ah imagine yer friends

are gonna come by some time to collect ya, so you can stay here as long as ya need. Me and Big Mac, at

least as much as he can in his state, will be out in the orchard workin’ if ya need something.”

Riven saw an opportunity for a little morning exercise, and seized upon it. “Actually, I would like

to repay your kindness and hospitality. If there are any tasks that I could help with, I request that you

allow me to show my gratitude.” Riven gave Applejack a hopeful look.

“Ah don’t mean to make ya feel obligated to help. Me and Big Mac have been running this place

by ourselves for years. We get by even if the clumsier of the two of us decides to sprain his ankle,”

Applejack paused, considering Riven’s expression, and her previous experiences with refusing

help. “Although, if ya really want to help, we still got some applebucking to do. Don’t ya feel obligated

though. Ah ain’t in the habit of chargin’ for being decent toward anypony.”

“It would be my honor to assist you. Besides, after such a large meal, I need to do some

exercising anyway.”

Applejack laughed. “Ah know what ya mean. Granny Smith loves to cook a little too much

sometimes, Ah think. Come right this way and Ah’ll show ya how to harvest the apples properly. Don’t

be too upset if ya can’t get them all on the first buck. Me and my brother have been at this for years.”

With that, the two set to work. Riven didn’t need much instruction, and once she established

the basic technique, the task went at a brisk pace. Applejack was grateful that the harvest was going

faster than normal, and pleasantly surprised at Riven’s endurance. Twilight had volunteered to help in

the ‘earth pony’ way in the past, but the studious unicorn had always faltered quickly. ‘Ah swear, she

needs to get more exercise. Book learnin’ is all fine and dandy, but sometimes your body needs to learn

things just as much as your head,’ Applejack thought to herself. ‘This pegasus is pretty hardy though. It’s

nice to have a little bit of…qualified help. Ah’d hire her in a heartbeat if she were stayin’. Love my friends,

but if it weren’t for Twi’s magic, it would have taken significantly longer to finish last year’s harvest.

Dash’s the only one who’s got any real muscle, but Ah’ll be darned if Ah can keep her attention on one

thing for more than five minutes.’

Applejack paused to look over at her assistant. ‘Ah wonder what’s with those funny clothes, and

those broken things on her wings. Looks sharp enough to hurt somepony. Can’t ask though. Don’t want

to seem like Ah’m pryin’ into the life of somepony Ah just met. It’d be impolite.’

She was cut out of her reverie by a familiar whistling noise. “Duck and cover!” Riven instinctually

jumped forward under a tree, turning around with a baffled look on her face before the source of the

disturbance made itself clear.

As if summoned by mere thought, a distinctly multihued blur appeared with a resounding crash.

A few yards away, the meteoric newcomer unfurled from the ball that its landing had forced it into.

Ruffled feathers, various cuts and bruises, and a nervous chuckling confirmed Applejack’s

suspicions. “Rainbow Dash, by Celestia’s mane, what did Ah tell you about practicing over the farm?! Ya

could get hurt! These trees have pointy branches, ya know! Ya should go to the lake if ya want to do

anything risky… Ya know ya worry me with how much liberty ya treat your safety with.”

Riven, upon hearing the name Celestia, was about to ask who the name’s owner was, but

decided it was better not to reveal the extent of her foreign origins. Instead, she sat and watched as

Applejack continued to admonish this rainbow-maned newcomer who was doing a poor job of hiding

her regret at worrying Applejack behind a carefree and brash demeanor.

“Okay, okay…I promise I’ll stick to the lake from now on with the risky stuff, AJ…” Rainbow Dash

paused as she noticed Riven for the first time. “Who’s your friend, Applejack?”

“Rainbow Dash, this is Riven. She and her two friends came into town yesterday, and Twi’ asked

me and Rarity to help house them while they passed through. We was workin’ on the apple harvest

when ya crashed.”

Rainbow examined Riven carefully, darting around in the air to get a better look at the disconcerted

warrior. After a few moments, she landed in front of Riven. “I’ve never seen a pegasus who wears stuff

like that on her wings. Pretty cool, even if it looks broken. How do you fly in that getup?”

Riven searched for words, taken aback by the abruptness of the question. After a few seconds,

she lowered her head, feeling a strange sense of inadequacy at being someone who prided herself on

agility and mobility but lacked this knowledge. “I…I am afraid I was never taught. The blades are for help

harvesting my home’s principle crop. Nobody there was capable of teaching me.” She hoped that

sounded like a convincing half-truth.

Rainbow Dash, who was slightly lacking in the art of subtlety and the interpretation thereof,

bought it, while Applejack, who was suddenly overwhelmed with pity and awkwardness for the pegasus

who couldn’t fly, didn’t give it a second thought either. For her part, Rainbow Dash seemed almost

outraged that an oversight of this magnitude could occur. “What?! You’re missing out on what makes a

pegasus a pegasus! That’s…I don’t even. Applejack, sorry, but this is…yeah, you know what I mean.”

Dash struggled for words to describe a situation that seemed alien and wrong to her.

Applejack nodded and laughed at her friend’s inability to articulate. “Ah gotcha, Dash. If her

friends come lookin’ for her, I’ll send them to the lake. Ain’t nobody should miss out on their heritage.”

At this, she looked at Riven. “Sorry if this seems a might sudden to ya, but Ah’m thinkin’ that ya should

probably go. Don’t know how long you’ll be stayin’, so it might be a good idea to let Dash show ya a few

things. Dontcha worry, she might not be the most patient or well-mannered, but she’s a dang good flyer,

probably one of the best in Equestria.”

As Rainbow Dash puffed up at the praise, Riven decided not to miss out on this opportunity to

make use of her new form’s abilities. “I would be honored to be taught by someone so highly esteemed.

Once more, thank you for your hospitality, Applejack.”

---

“…and then Rarity’s wings burned up, and she dropped like a sack of potatoes. Of course, she

was so busy kicking and screaming that when the Wonderbolts went to rescue her, she managed to

knock them out in midair!”

Curiosity got the better of Riven. She had already learned much, like how the land of Equestria

was ruled by some sort of divine princess duo. Despite the boastful and boisterous nature of the

pegasus, Rainbow Dash wasn’t stupid, even if she lacked any sort of refinement. “She’s obviously still

alive now, so what happened?”

“Well, I was already airborne, so I got up as much speed as I could, and…well, you remember

how I was talking about how I was having trouble replicating my Sonic Rainboom? Well turns out your

friend and childhood heroes falling to their doom is a good motivator, haha. So yeah, I did a Sonic

Rainboom to catch up to them and save them! Right in front of everyone in Cloudsdale, and even

Princess Celestia. One of the best days of my life…Oh, we’re here.” In front of the pair was a large lake.

Even the hardened soldier had to admit that the view was breathtaking, and she couldn’t help but think

back to Noxus’ attempt to conquer the city-state of Ionia. It was during that conflict, in that land of

similarly breathtaking beauty that Riven had been broken in more than one way…

Riven shook herself out of the reverie. “So where do we begin? I have to admit, the thought of

flying somewhat intimidates me. I don’t have any experiences that I think I can compare it to.”

Rainbow Dash showed Riven a few warm up stretches to begin with. Even as a pony, Riven was

physically fit, and though they had never been used, her wings were no exception. Sensing Riven’s

personal attachment to the blades affixed to her wings, Rainbow Dash had the tact not to ask the

warrior to remove them, since the joints expertly crafted to fit her wings meant they didn’t obstruct her

movement at all. Eventually, the time had come for Riven to take her first glide.

Rainbow Dash had carried Riven higher and higher into the air, Riven’s nerves growing

increasingly tormented as she looked down, noting nothing but clouds below them. She was even less

prepared when Rainbow Dash set her on top of a cloud, letting out a strange squeak rather unbecoming

of a decorated soldier of Noxus before realizing that she wasn’t falling through the cloud.

Embarrassment flushing her face slightly, she remembered her teacher’s previous mentions of a city in

the clouds, realizing now that it was less a city in clouds and more a city comprised of clouds. Rainbow

Dash stifled a laugh. “Okay, you ready now? All we’re doing is gliding. I’ll be right beside you the entire

time, so if you lose control or anything, I’ll get you. We’re over a lake anyway, so there’s nothing to

worry about. Just take a deep breath, and whenever you’re ready jump.”

Riven nodded, and gathered her resolve. She had slain men, conquered cities, and proven her

mettle. Nothing as petty as flying in her new form would overcome her… But perhaps she might have to

warm up some more. Fortunately, Rainbow saw Riven about to balk, and decided to give a

subtle ‘nudge’ in the right direction. Riven stumbled, off-balance, toward the edge of the cloud, and

seeing no other option, jumped.

It was like falling and floating at the same time. Riven’s mind scrambled for a moment before

once more she had regained her composure, and was able to fully grasp and appreciate what was

happening. This realization threw off her mental balance again, in the other direction this time. She

couldn’t help but to laugh at the wonder of it, for in the human soul there’s something innately fixated

on the concept of flying, and the fascination is perpetually strengthened by the artificial chains of

society that keep the average human shackled to the ground. As much as a Noxian could, she found it

poetic as she drifted lazily downward, having just overcome the biggest restraint ever to hold back a

dreamer, as if proving that in this strange place, anything was possible. This place was beginning to grow

on her. If she didn’t have a duty to restore her beloved homeland, and perhaps if circumstances were

different…

She didn’t get a chance to finish that train of thought though, as the inevitable counterattack

from the force of nature she had temporarily bested came and she found herself sputtering and flailing

in the lake, much to the amusement of Rainbow Dash, who had decided not to intervene unless there

was real danger. Eventually dragging herself to shore, she tried her best to shake her body dry, still in a

slight cloud of muddled ecstasy. Rainbow Dash was pleasantly reminded of the time she had taken one

of the local fillies who seemed to look up to her on an extremely assisted glide. The excitement and

wonderment of the experience almost universally left new fliers speechless, and it seemed that even

for adults, that statement held true.

Riven sat there, gathering her breath and thoughts alike. After several minutes, she looked up to

her teacher with a determined smile. “Again?”

Rainbow Dash laughed, and the two resumed. The practice continued through most of the

afternoon, neither of the pair noticing that they had observers. The crippled unicorn turned to his earth

pony companion, and smirked, his raven passenger cawing in assent. The two sat and watched, talking

about what they had discovered about their new locale, until eventually the two pegasi landed, and

showed no signs of lifting off again. Riven was pleased. Since her muscles were already fully developed,

a lot of the work that went into learning how to fly was gone, and most of the teaching centered around

technique, which Rainbow Dash was both proficient in as a teacher and as an example.

“Having fun?” Swain let out a quiet chuckle before continuing, his gruff but calm voice resuming

its emotionless, all-business tone. “If you’re done, we have things to discuss. Twilight and her

companions have agreed to let us stay another night, but we need to discuss some things with her at the

library. It turns out we’re farther from home than we thought.”

---

The manticore roared in a mixture of rage, indignation, and pain. It wasn’t used to its food

fighting back this hard. It took another look at the ponies in front of it, and decided they weren’t worth

the effort or the numerous injuries. With a heave, the beast flapped its wings and flew away, leaving the

three to resume their efforts at escaping the forest, which at night seemed to lose any semblance of

hospitality. Luckily, they weren’t lacking in food or water, since grass and water seemed enough to

sustain them.

The youngest of the three, a white unicorn with a blonde mane and a marking resembling a map

on his flank, turned toward the oldest. “Wow. Remind me not to piss you off, Nasus. Wouldn’t it have

been easier to just kill it?”

Glowing red eyes flickered slightly brighter in response. “It isn’t a matter of anger. It is a matter

of proving that we are not prey while preserving the balance of nature here. I do not know how rare

creatures such as those are, so killing them might upset the cycle of life here. Thus, the only solution

was to cause enough superficial damage to convince the creature to retreat. Even in its damaged state,

the likelihood of it being killed by anything other than its natural predators is slim, as most creatures it

consumes will probably be conditioned to avoid it, and it will probably be driven by instinct to avoid

stronger competitors, at least until it is capable of managing them.”

“At least we know our combat abilities are intact. We should be able to fend off anything

interested in us, or at the very least escape if something appears that is beyond our capabilities,” Ryze

commented dryly.”

The trio continued on in relative silence, something that two out of three could appreciate,

but neither of them put much stock in Ezreal’s opinion outside of navigation, and Ryze was too busy

continuing to silently fume over how incompetent Summoners could be to talk. Nasus, on the other

hand, was occupied with appreciating the wildlife around him. During his time in Runeterra, he had

spent most of his time in the deserts of Shurima, comforted slightly by the familiarity being surrounded

by an environment reminiscent of his homeland. He was a little homesick, but he knew better than to

hold a grudge against the Summoners who had ripped him from his world in the early stages of the

League, when the city-states were loathe to surrender their best champions to the cause. Nasus had

decided that ending war was a noble cause, and volunteered his services. Of course, with the recent

appearance of his brother and his induction into the League while the Institute searched for a way

to ‘cure’ Renekton, he had even more reason to stay attached to Valoran’s peacekeeping organization.

Still, the change of scenery was nice, and even an immortal knew that life could be far too fleeting to

ignore beauty. Nasus allowed himself an appreciative smile, and continued onward.