> Mercy and Vengeance > by Warden of Monsters > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 0: Beginnings & Reunions > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life couldn't be sweeter for Magnum, and his wife Cookie Crumbles. Not three weeks ago they had just brought home their little miracle which they have dubbed Rarity, because even with their parental bias aside ponies have told them that such a pretty little filly is indeed a rarity. Her ivory coat much like her father's with the deep plum purple mane and tail make such a unique color combination. “Isn't she just a gem?” Cookie cradles Rarity in her forehooves as she floats a baby bottle in front of her mouth. Rarity coos as she reaches out with her forehooves, and latches onto the rubber nipple with her mouth. Magnum smiles down at them, and leans in to nuzzle his wife which she returns from her prone position on the couch. “That she is,” he whispers softly, the generally soft spoken stallion that he is. Rarity looks up at him, and he twitches his moustache back and forth quickly which makes her smile around the bottle as she back legs wiggle. That makes both her parents laugh softly, and watch her for a few minutes in adoration. Magnum eventually has to pull himself away to do his part around the house. Water the plants, fix lunch, sort the mail and all that jazz. It's during that last task he loses his smile for a moment. “Honey, we got a notice from the agency,” he says as he returns with the envelope. Breaking the seal he opens it curiously with a tilt of his head. Cookie Crumbles blinks, “Oh? The adoption agency? Didn't we send them a notice about Rarity, and that we weren't looking to adopt anytime soon?” “I thought you did it,” Magnum replies in a distracted tone as he reads the letter over. “...Well they're asking us to come in today if we can… What do you suppose that means? Sounds like it might be urgent to me.” “Maybe… Well, let me just finish feeding Rarity, and we can be on our way.” ... After about 15 minutes in a waiting room the couple find themselves ushered to an office. The mare behind the desk, a relatively young tan mare with a brown slightly mane and tail, smiles as they step in. Her eyes fall on Rarity in a basket, and her smile grows. “Oh my goodness, what a darling little filly…” Magnum nods, “Thank you Miss Elena, and that's actually why we're here. You see, with little Rarity here we're not sure we're ready quite yet to be giving another foal a home.” Elena nods, “I see… Well, normally I wouldn't press the issue, but this is something of a special case.” Cookie takes a seat, and helps Rarity get her pacifier back into her mouth before looking to Elena. “Not that it can change much, but… what sort of special case?” Elena's smile fades, and she sighs. “...See, not so long ago there was a village towards the south of Equestria. It was near the border, close to the Badlands, and it was attacked. I don't know all the details, but most of the citizens are either missing or passed on. A hoof-full of fillies and colts were picked up by the relief teams, and we're trying to find them good homes. This Colt I wanted to talk to you about is actually 4 years old, a unicorn like yourselves so it's not as if asking you to take on another baby. He's self aware enough you could just talk to him…” Elena trails off a bit as she notes the looks of uncertainty the couple shares, and she bites her bottom lip softly. Thinking fast she says, “Look… Maybe as a favor you could at least board him until we find a better place? Maybe one of your friends might be willing. But as things are the living arrangements within the agency aren't exactly homey. I want to give this Colt hope that there is a home out there for him. A week at most, that's all I'm asking.” The couple shares another look, and Magnum says, “Well… Why don't we ask him? The Colt I mean?” Elena nods with her smile returning, and trots into the hallway to lead them along. She takes them to a white playroom with a floor of thick tan carpet, and various toys scattered around. There are only a few foals in there, but only one of them is a Colt. His coat is a dark red color, contrasting sharply with glacier blue eyes. His mane and tail are a bit unkempt, and short in odd places with a slightly singed look to them. The coloration of his hair is certainly unique looking with streaks of scarlet and gold running through them. At the moment he just lies on his side with his back pressed to the wall, using his magic to toss a building block up and catch it with an expression bordering on lifeless. “Crimson,” Elena says softly as they walk over, and he drops the block to look up at them. “I have some ponies I'd like for you to meet. This is Magnum, his wife Cookie Crumbles, and their daughter Rarity.” Elena looks to the family, “Everypony, this is Crimson Ray.” Crimson pushes himself up to a sitting position to look the couple over nervously, and then his eyes fall on Rarity. His ears lift a bit as he meets her teal eyes, and his head tilts the slightest bit. Getting up he takes a step closer, but pauses to glance between the couple. “Um… Hello,” he says softly. Cookie smiles at him, “Hello dear, don't be nervous. We just wanted to ask you something.” “O-okay…?” Crimson looks between them. Magnum asks, “How would you feel about living with us for a little while? No offense to the ponies running this place, but our house is a lot nicer. Would you be interested in going with us?” Crimson looks between them, and then back down to the newborn filly who hasn't taken her eyes off him since she saw him. “...I suppose,” he mutters gently. Elena smiles, “Wonderful! Thank you so much for this you two!” She shakes hooves with them, and after some paperwork she sends the little group on their way. The carriage ride back to Ponyville is largely uneventful. Any time Rarity makes a noise or move she suddenly has Crimson's full undivided attention. Cookie smiles softly, “You like babies, Crimson?” He blinks, and looks down as he shuffles his hooves in his seat. “...Yeah… they're…” He fishes around for the right word, but comes up short with a sheepish look. Magnum says, “Maybe tomorrow we can take him over to meet Bright Mac, and Buttercup? They just had a filly of their own last month, and they have a son about your age, Crimson.” Crimson looks up to them, and smiles faintly. “Sure…” ----- ///24 years later.../// The town of Ponyville is a relatively quiet place, despite being right next to the most monster infested forest in all of Equestria. Monster attacks, and most disasters only happen maybe once every two weeks now thanks to the efforts of the newest princess and her friends. Luckily today is not one of those days when they need to be called to action. Rarity deeply appreciates days like this. With her boutiques in Ponyville, Manehattan, and Canterlot of all places she has plenty of business to keep track of. As she works to balance her finance books she smiles as she hears the front door open thanks to the little bell above it. Trotting out to greet her guest she says, “Welcome to Carousel Boutique where everything is Unique, Chic, and Magnifique! I'm Rarity and how can I help you today…?” She trails off as she catches sight of the stallion standing in her doorway. He has a deep red coat of fur with a black leather coat over it that drapes back over his hindquarters. His mane and tail are streaks of scarlet and gold that hang in handsome waves down his neck and rear legs. His horn rests over Glacier blue eyes, and his smile is one of soft warmth as he turns his gaze to her. Taking a seat he opens his front hooves wide. “...Honey, I'm home?” Outside Derpy Hooves is making her usual mail rounds, humming to herself. She jumps though as she passes Carousel Boutique, and stops to stare at it. Inside is a cacophony of crashes, and banging noises as she spies movement just beyond the last windows. Moments later a red stallion darts out of the building with the local fashionista hot on his tail. “GET BACK HERE YOU UTTER BASTARD!!!” Derpy blinks as she was them rush off into town. Using one of her front hood she tries to clean out one of her ears, she isn't quite sure she heard Rarity right even though the ivory unicorn had been screaming at the top of her lungs. No one in town has ever heard her use expletives like that. Derpy is always known that her eyes were a bit off, but she thought her ears were working just fine. “Maybe I should visit the Doctor,” she mutters to herself, and checks her mailbag for anything addressed to Rarity. > Chapter 1, Merry-Go-Round > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everything in the Ponyville marketplace had been going smoothly right up until… “Gangway! Gangway! Mad Mare on the loose!!!” Many ponies turn towards the shout, and jump aside as Crimson streaks into their midst with Rarity nearly a blur several paces behind him. The locals had come to expect many odd sights from the day to day lifestyle of a town where the laws of physics, and rationale seem to be fond of taking coffee breaks… But while tamer than most this isn't a sight that usually makes the list. Crimson looks around for anything to pacify his baby sister, and his eyes spot a rain cover over a market stand made of purple fabric. As he races by he snatches it with his magic, and turns sharply to face Rarity, and then dodges to the side at the last minute, tossing the fabric over her face. Her momentum carries her into a stand selling flowers. “The horror! The horror!” “Ole!” Crimson prances on the spot with his cheer, and then looks around for an escape route. Blinking he spots a certain apple cart, and smiles, “Oh hey there AJ!” The orange farm mare blinks at him in shock a few times, “Crimson? Is that really you?” “Don't sound so disappointed, neighbor,” he chuckles. “Oh,” she shakes herself. “I didn't mean it that way, but it's been so long... Wait, neighbor? You're here to stay?” “If I survive the day,” he says, looking back at the shifting flower stand. “Speaking of…” Rarity rubs her head as she steps out of the wreckage wearing the purple fabric like a toga, and many of the flowers perched in her mane and tail. “Insert Falling With Style joke here-WHOA JEEZ!” He suddenly ducks, and bobs from side to side as Rarity starts throwing debris at him. When that's all gone she moves on to fruit from a nearby stand. “When I'm through with you I'm going to use your mane and tail for my next fashion line, and use your stuffed carcass for the dummy!” “As tempting as that sounds- PUT THAT FILLY DOWN RARITY!!!” Rarity pauses in her bombardment, and turns with surprise to the object in her magical grip… a watermelon. Scowling she looks to the recently vacated space Crimson once occupied, then to his retreating form down a side street. Dropping her weapon she races after him, her toga getting caught on a loose nail of the flower cart and coming off, flowers coming loose as she gallops. Applejack laughs a bit, and shakes her head. “Some things don't change much…” Closing up her stand, she heads off after them, just to supervise really, and make sure they don't hurt anyone. “Can't say that you didn't have this coming for a while Crimson.” From above a certain cyan Pegasus looks down on the town from her perch on a cloud. Her brain is having trouble catching up with the sight below, and she scratches her head. Spotting AJ she swoops down to hover by the cowpony. “Okay, I'll bite,” Rainbow Dash says to AJ. “What's going on down here?” “Just a long awaited reunion,” AJ laughs a bit, stopping at the end of a street. She sees Rarity chasing Crimson over carts, around barrels, and weaving between the alleyways. Rainbow snickers, “Where's the Beany Hill music when you need it?” “Right here!” Both athletes jump as Pinkie pops from the aether with a record player already playing the silly chase music. Crimson dives into a barrel, spamming the lid shut over himself before Rarity pounces on it. It bounces a few times, and then hits the wall of a house, breaking apart to show it is now mysteriously empty. Rarity narrows her eyes at it before whipping her head around with her ears swiveling. The next street over Crimson appears in a flash of bright blue magic, and smirks. A filly on a scooter pulling two of her friends bumps into him, and he blinks down at the locally infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders. He grins, and says, “Hey kid, I'll give you ten Bits for the wagon, and I promise to buy you a new one later.” Scootaloo frowns in confusion. “Uh… why?” Then they all jump when they hear Rarity's enraged scream, and the beating of approaching hooves. Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle quickly jump out of the wagon, and shove it to Crimson who already has it detached from the scooter. Rarity has just cleared the alleyway when Crimson hops in the wagon, coasting down the hill leading further into town. “Oh you think you're so clever,” she mutters, and puts a hoof to her mouth so she can whistle sharply through her teeth. Moments later a yellow Taxi carriage zooms up, and she climbs in the back. Pointing ahead she says, “After that ruffian!” Rarity's friends make it over just as the taxi takes off. Rainbow Dash asks, “Anypony else think she's taking this a bit far?” Down the hill Crimson rides the wagon, angling the stick of it with his magic while throwing his forehooves up in the air. “Whoo! I haven't done this in ages!” His face pales though as a taxi pulls up beside him, and Rarity grins at him. “I have you now!” She leaps from the taxi, and tackles him, the two of them rolling through the front door to a home furnishings store. There's the clatter of kitchenware inside, and several ponies stop to stare. Moments later Crimson is backing out of the store wearing a spaghetti strainer on his head while brandishing a rolling pin. Still in pursuit is Rarity waving a frying pan at him. “This is easily in the top ten strangest things I have ever done,” he informs Rarity, parrying her attacks as he retreats. “Just under riding a train car pulled by a Chimera, but just above that one night I spent with a crossdressing Buck in Manehatten.” He ducks, the edge of her pan just grazing his head protection enough to send it flying. “Dang it… Oh hey look, Prince Blueblood!” Rarity snaps her head over her shoulder with the fire in her eyes even brighter now as she raises the pan held in her magic. “Where?!” Crimson takes his chance to run, this time getting about two streets away before Rarity takes notice that she's been duped in her blind rage. About five streets after that he skids to a stop in front of none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle, the two staring at each other in surprise. Then Crimson smiles, “Your Highness! Glad I got the chance to meet you! Can I ask a favor?” Twilight raises an eyebrow, “Um…” He waves a hoof, “It's an easy one, just be sure to tell her that my Last Will and Testament is being held by Fancy Pants up in Canterlot.” Twilight blinks, “Wait, what? Tell who now?” At that moment Rarity bowls into Crimson, and the two go rolling a ways down the street. They stop with Rarity straddling his belly, her front hooves squeezing down on his neck. Twilight stares in shock, jaw dropping as her friends catch up with the commotion. The princess moves to get involved, but then to her surprise Applejack stops her with a hoof held across her chest. “Just watch,” the farm pony says softly. Rarity's angry eyes bore down into Crimson's as he wraps his hooves around hers to keep her from crushing his windpipe. “Fifteen years,” she growls at him. “Fifteen years of nothing, not a word, not a rumor, not a letter, not even a hint that you were alive… You just drop off the face of Equis, put myself, mother, and father through such heartache, and then show up out the blue?!” He smiles weakly, and hoarsely whispers, “Actually yeah, that's the plot synopsis basically…” She scowls at him, “I should… I should…” He stretches his smile a bit wider as he slowly sucks in a breath. “I love you too little sis.” Rarity goes stiff… Then her bottom lip trembles as moisture gathers in her eyes. Finally in typical Rarity fashion she starts to bawl, lowering herself to press her face into his chest to muffle the noise. Now able to breathe properly Crimson strokes her mane with one hoof as he wraps his free one across her back. “I thought you were dead,” she wails into his fur. “You just… You just vanished, poof, no warning, no reason! Do you have any idea how hard it was to have to come to terms with the fact you were probably never coming home?!” “I know, I'm sorry,” he replies as he sits up, putting her down on her rump in front of him. He wipes her eyes with his hoof as he smirks, and she sniffles. Then he asks, “Has anyone ever told you that you cry like a surly salt-chewer?” “And whose fault is that?!” She tries to look angry with him but he just hugs her to his shoulder so he can rub her back in slow circles. “...I hate you,” she mutters noncommittally. He just chuckles at that, “I know, I know… Still so ugly when you cry...” Twilight clears her throat softly, “Um… not that this isn't touching in its own strange way, but would somepony care to explain?” Rarity whimpers something in response, and AJ just shakes her head with a small smile. “Everyone this is Crimson Ray,” she explains. “Rarity's folks took him in not long after she, and I were born so he's her adopted big brother.” Rainbow, Twilight, and Pinkie gawk for a moment before Pinkie hops over, spinning Rarity to face her. “You never told me you had a brother,” she exclaims in her ever excited manner. Crimson pulls her away from Pinkie, and sighs. “Well like she said, I kinda up and vanished. I'll bet she wanted to forget I existed.” That makes her latch onto him again, and he rests his head on hers as he hugs her gently. “Kinda raises an obvious question, but what the hay happened to you?” Applejack steps over with her head tilted a bit. “Well,” he starts, but then glances down at Rarity. “...Maybe we can sit down to talk about it in a bit? There's some expenses I need to get taken care of.” Twilight raises an eyebrow, “Expenses?” Crimson nods, “If I was keeping track right then I need to pay for one demolished flower stand, some minor property damage, a new wagon for a group of fillies, some kitchenware, and probably some sort of fine for disturbing the peace.” Pinkie nods sagely, “Chase scenes are expensive.” Twilight smiles gently, “Well I can at least say you don't have to worry about the fine, local ponies are used to this sort of thing, and to be honest this little skirmish hardly ranks a 3 on the ten level crisis scale I developed.” “Wait, that's a thing?” He looks among the other mares who shrug with that look that says they're just used to this sort of behavior, even Rarity who more or less has ahold of herself. “Right… well I have to take care of that stuff I mentioned. If you guys wanna come swing by my place around 6 this evening I'll have dinner set up.” Twilight smiles a bit more, like this Colt's manners. “Well my schedule is clear at least. Do you think you could host us, and four extra ponies? We should bring Fluttershy, and I can think of a few fillies that would love to meet you.” Crimson stares at her with a blank expression for several seconds before turning his head to Rarity with a raised eyebrow. “Are you a mom or something?” Pinkie snickers, and then she and Rainbow collapse laughing to the ground. AJ lowers her hat to try hiding her own amusement as Rarity blushes, and Twilight giggles into a hoof. Rarity sputters, “N-no! Certainly not! I think she's talking about inviting our little sister Sweetie Belle, and her filly friends.” “Filly friends? Wow, so ponies are starting herds that young now?” A blatant teasing smirk comes over his lips, and Rarity narrows her eyes at him. He waves a hoof, “Got it, got it, no worries, I'll make sure there's enough for everyone.” And so with that everyone says their farewells for now to get along in their plans until dinner.