> Unlike father, unlike son. > by SolidFerret > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Dedication. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- " This is not what it is, only baby scars. I need your love. Like a boy needs his mothers side." -Second and Sebring by Of Mice and Men A cough had broken the silence in a small home in Canterlot. To the neighbors, it was something that had been occurring for a few weeks. Soon yelling between a teenage colt and a stallion. And they would all say the say the same thing. "Looks like Lightning Speed and Hard Chord are at it again." It's was true. That family had a sick mare that was losing her very life. Two growing colts entering their teen years and her husband had to look after her. But the oldest colt was a very rebellious pony. Lightning Speed never approved. "You always do this! You think that just because I look like this I'm some freak! You know what? I'm done!" "Good! GO! You'll be be back! It's not like even your mother cares!" "That's not true honey." A sickly voiced called. Hard Chord ran out of his front door and turned around. His dad stood in the doorway and glared at him. "You leave, I don't want you back here. Celestia knows what you'll do to yourself without us watching." "So glad to see you'll miss me!" Hard Chord felt his tears fall. "WHY!?" "You brought this on yourself. I told you I didn't want to raise a pony with piercings but what did you do? You did it anyways. I'll make sure Notes doesn't do the same." "He won't cause you guys actually give him attention." "Well good. I'll have a son to turn out great." "Go to hell dad." Hard Chord stopped and listened. A mare was crying in his home. But she went into a coughing fit. "Mom?" "Just go already!" His dad yelled angrily. Hard Chord instead tried to run back into his home. "MOM!" A flash filled his vision as his dad hit him in the face. Hard Chord rolled back. "LEAVE!" Hard Chord stared back at him with a hateful, tearful glare. He never knew that about 5 years later he would have a sad, teary stare at a grave with a flower on it. "So she really died the night I left?" "Yeah. I'm sorry." "Don't be. It wasn't any of our faults. But she could have gone without thinking her son left the family." "But dad drove you away. So it still isn't our faults." The two brothers exchanged their talk, two mares looked at them from a distance. "It's so sad about what happened." Twilight said. "But to think those two can be so... what's the word?" Vinyl wondered. "Well they are humorous. Is that what you're looking for?" "I was implying it." The sun had set, giving the sky an orange color. Hard Chord and Twilight had gone to Canerlot for the day to visit Electronic Notes and Vinyl. "I'd wish they hurry. I know it's their mother but I need food." Vinyl complained. "I'm kinda hungry too." Twilight agreed. "It's kinda more like cravings." Twilight only raised an eyebrow. 'Oh boy.' She thought. She snapped away from her thoughts when she saw the two approaching. "Well i'm hungry. Wanna go get food?" "Oh finally. I've been craving things all week!" Vinyl exclaimed. Hard Chord waited for Notes and Vinyl to get ahead before turning his head towards Twilight. "Cravings." He didn't question it. He knew. "We should-" "No. I don't think she even knows." The group of four had walked through Canterlot and got food. Hard Chord and Twilight Sparkle boarded the next train to Ponyville. Notes and Vinyl made it back to their home. Notes walked in and turned back towards the door. "Hey I know you were hungry but did you have to get so many hay fries?" "But their the best." She argued. "Yeah, I guess." Notes had reached for one when Vinyl walked in carrying them but his hoof was swatted away. "My fries!" Vinyl said nearly aggressively. "Ow." Notes said jokingly. "You hurt me. I thought you loved me." Vinyl giggled at his joking. But a thought made her play along. "Oh, i'm sorry baby I didn't mean it. Please forgive me." She joked. "Aw thanks Vinyl." He said as he hugged her playfully. "You're the best." Vinyl began to give him a smile, "Well I know a better apology." A seductive edge in her voice nearly made Notes wings shoot straight up. "Well what is it?" He asked, only pretending to not know. Vinyl began to flick her tail under his chin before pressing her chest on his. "Well how about we-" First a hiccup, then a run to the bathroom, followed by puking. "Wow this is so hot." Notes said. Clearly disappointed. "Shut it." Vinyl called. "Are you alright?" "Yeah just over-ate." Vinyl said as she walked out. She got into bed and hoped to sleep off the wave of nausea that she felt. Notes climbed in and put his hoof around her. The two snuggled in for the night. "Hahahahaha. I can't belive how he was all like "I'm sorry I wasn't there" and "It isn't our fault." HA!" A stallion spat as he looked at a grave. "Dumb waste of space missed his mommy and wanted to visit. A real stallion would move on. But clearly something went wrong with him. Should have wooped his ass more." The stallion drunkenly rambled on and on to the grave. But to loud. "Sir!" He turned his attention and caught sight of gold. "You're under arrest." Turns out it was a guard. "Well damn I was just visiting my dead wife. Can't a stallion get some sympathy?" "You were yelling loud and causing a disturbance.. I'm going to have to-" "I have a better idea." A majestic voice said. The guard bowed as Princess Celestia walked forward. "It seems as if you need to make amends with your son. Much like he and his brother." "Princess with all due respect, i'm sober enough to not insult you and tell you that it won't work. That little runt is useless to me." "But when the time comes, you'll need him as much as he needs you." "So never." "Tomorrow you will be escorted to Ponyville. You're son is well... "In acquiescence" with my personnel student." "Alrighty then." "Mr. Lightning Speed. I do hope that you and your son reconnect after the terrible tragedy." "You mean when he was born." "Goodbye. My guards will be to you in the morning." After a while, Lightning finally realized it. "Crap, I have to meet my son." Hard Chords' eyes snapped open. He was careful not to wake Twilight. But something felt... wrong. "Shits' about to hit the fan." > Dear Insanity > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic Notes was woke up by violent thrashing and whimpers coming from Vinyl. He knew that it was just another nightmare since their visit to the crystal empire. "Shit, Vinyl calm down." He said as he held her and stroked her mane. Vinyl continued to thrash around. Notes began to shake her a little to hopefully wake her up. "Vinyl wake up!" He exclaimed. Vinyls' breaths began to get to a slower pace as she calmed down and opened her eyes. A tear fell when she saw her husband looking at her. "You're okay?" She asked. "Yeah, I'm not going anywhere." Vinyl pulled Notes into a deep kiss at the sound of his words. Her nightmares were of him often being killed by Sombra in the Crystal Kingdom. She was able to save him from the corruption that Sombra managed infect him with. Ever since, when she sees her husbands face in the morning, she always get emotional. "I think you need to go back to sleep. Do you feel any better?" Notes asked. "A little I guess." Vinyl paused for a moment. "Nope." And ran to the bathroom to puke. A knock at the door roused Notes out of his thoughts as he went and answered. Standing there was a rather nervous looking Octavia. "Notes, have you been keeping track of your father lately?" She asked instantly. 'What, no "hello." Vinyl is sick you know.' Notes thought. "Damnit. He didn't get out of his cage, did he?" Notes said. Octavia didn't laugh. "I just saw him board a regal carriage towards Ponyville. I think their making him go see your brother!" Octavia exclaimed. Notes eyes widened at those words. "Vinyl, I'm gonna go visit Nova. What time does the next train leave to Ponyville?" Notes called. "In about an hour. Why?" "We have to go there to make sure my dad doesn't kill my brother." He called back. "Okay then." After the confirmation, Notes looked at Octavia. "It was just that easy." Nova Burst ran excitedly towards a home of his friend. He nearly knocked over crowds if it weren't for his magic that he used to make platforms to step over. "This is great! I get to see Pinkie again!" He exclaimed. When he got the the house, opened the door and looked to see his friend. "Edge, pack your things, were going to-" Nova stopped and saw what Sharp Edge was doing. "Nova, the normal stallion knows to knock before entering." He said. Sharp Edge was known for making blades out of his magic. It's how he got his cutie mark and was known for being a fast fighter. Currently, he had balanced his entire body on a blade that was in the ground. His hind hooves either holding it or were together and balancing him. "Yeah I know but we're going to Ponyville and I was excited." Nova defended. "I could see why. You've been lovestruck by Pinkie for a quite some time now." Edge said calmly. "Well don't you want to see Fluttershy again?" Edges' eyes shot open at her name. "See, everypony has their weakness." Nova said to Edge as he jumped to the ground. "Not bad," Edge praised with a smirk. "I have to admire your skill in getting me out of focus." "A trick I picked up on." Nova commented. "So why are we going exactly?" "Well apparently Hard Chords dad is on his way there right now." Sharp Edge nearly ran out. "We have to get there NOW!" While Sharp Edge and Nova sat at one side of the train, Notes was staring at the scenery out the window while he held Vinyl and gently rubbed her stomach. "Are you sure you're fine?" He asked, concerned for her. "Yes. You worry to much." "You said that's why you love me. Are you lying?" Notes joked. "It is, but what good is there in flaws if you can't make fun of them every now and then." "Like what I do?" Notes commented. "Just like you." Vinyl said in a flirtatious tone. Notes felt his heart flutter as he stared out the window. Only to realize why they were going to Ponyville in the first place. "We better be there in time." Vinyl looked at him and asked, "Why is it that your brother and your father fight so much?" Notes looked down at her with a serious face. "Well, the story begins when-" Hard Chord couldn't get this thought out of his head. Ever since he woke up late in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep, he felt as if something bad was going to happen. "Okay, somethings wrong." Twilight snapped him out of his thoughts. "I said I'm fine. Just caught up in my thoughts." Hard Chord did his best to contain himself in hopes of not lashing out. "Okay, but you've been acting like you're stressed out all day." Hard Chord looked at her with and simply said, "I'm fine." The train pulled into the station. As soon as the doors opened and out rushed the group of four. Notes turned to his friends and said, "You guys can go do whatever. I need to find my brother." The two nodded and ran off. "Vinyl, we need to find my brother and get him out of here. Hide him at someone else's house." "How do we not know Tavi' was lying. She may have been messing around ya know." "Vinyl. Seriously?" "... Yeah you're right." The two ran off in hopes of finding Hard Chord. But when they got to the library, they found it a mess with two ponies wrestling on the floor. "Shit. To late." "Okay Spike, since you're all finished for the day, you can go visit Rarity." "Thanks Twilight." As Spike ran out happily, he passed a rather angry looking stallion on the way. Paying no attention, Spike kept on running. "So what now?" Hard Chord asked. "Well, we could-" A knock was heard at the door. "Great." "Relax. You can go get 'ready' while I handle whoever it is who knocked." Twilight went upstairs while Hard Chord went to the door. "Hope my wings don't get to stiff." He opened the door to see a stallion with a mess of a mane and a light brown coat. "Hello son." Hard Chord began to yell as he grabbed the stallion and threw him to the ground. The stallion jumped up and tackled his son to the ground. 'Wait a minute,' Hard Chord thought. 'This is my dad.' '... Oh yeah.' Hard Chord then punched his dad in the back repeatedly while yelling insults. The two slammed into shelves, knocked books over and other things. Twilight came down and nearly screamed at the sight. With her boyfriend wrestling/UFC fighting a stallion that looked a lot like him. The library a mess, and Electronic Notes and Vinyl Scratch at the door way. It was a picture worthy sight. Twilight ran over to the two. "What in the world is this?" "Well I say we give em' a minute. We'll see." Twilight looked back and saw her Hard Chord. His face was bruised and cuts from rolling around the floor. She grew more and more worried as seconds went by. "Three. Two. One." Notes went and grabbed his brother while Vinyl and Twilight tried to restrain... "Who is this?" Twilight asked "My dad." "My name is Lightning Speed. You lost the right to call me dad years ago." "Well I hate your name so 'dad' worked out fine. Even if you weren't a good one." Hard Chord defended. "I don't care about that right now. Princess Sunshine has sent me here to make amends." After a short awkward silence, Notes spoke up. "So... did it work." > The only thing I know for real. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharp Edge had a sense. He was a more intelligent pony who listened to the 'feeling that something was wrong' in your gut kind of way. His sense was on finding Fluttershy. He walked to where he was appointed on where she lived to find animals of all sorts sitting calmly and patiently. He walked up to the front door. "Fluttershy? Are you home?" He never heard answer. Just a tapping at the bottom of his hoof. Edge looked down to see a rabbit tapping his foot. "Uh.. Bunny, do you know where Fluttershy is?" He felt strange talking to a rabbit. But what else was there. The rabbit gave a worried look and pointed towards the Everfree Forest. A scream echoed through it that made the bunny squeak in fear and hide behind Edges' hoof. "I got this." He said as he walked towards the Everfree forest. "Hell no it didn't." Hard Chord yelled at his brother. "We just fought each other." "To the death i'm assuming." Notes mumbled. "Ya' know Notes, you were always the better child." His dad said as he put a hoof around him and acted so friendly that Hard Chord nearly lunged at him. "Hey screw you. Hard Chord actually deserves respect alright." Notes threw his fathers hoof off his shoulders and if he could, to the ground. "So I respect you and this is how things turn out for me?" Lightning seemed confused in a drunken manner. "Screw you dad." Notes said as his brother stood by his side. "Fine, I was arranged to stay in the hotel you fucked up when you realized that marriage was gonna be awful." He spat as he was out the door. "It was a crazed Griffin. It nearly killed me." "I should have known you would have been on drugs too." He said as he slammed the door. The awkward silence seemed to be the only thing in the air. A reunion with somepony so cruel to their own son would have had that affect on anypony. "So whats up with Soarin?" "You know, we can go visit them." Twilight said. "Besides, Hard Chord need to clean up the Library." Hard Chord looked up in surprise. "I was attacked." "Well then you can arm yourself with books and broken glass when he comes back!" Twilight nearly yelled as the three ran out the door. Hard Chord just decided to do what was told and started sweeping with his wings. To pass the time he sung a tune. "I lost control again and the night is closing in." Nova walked nervously towards Sugar Cube corner. He wasn't nervous about seeing Pinkie Pie again, it was just that she had a tendency to- A pink blur knocked him to the ground and began to squeeze the life out of him. "NOVA!" Pinkie squealed as she hugged him tight. Nova couldn't help but smile. He loved this mare for these reasons. Her happiness could make anypony smile. "It's good to see you too." He said weakly out of breath. "What are you doing here? Are the others here?" Pinkie let him go and jumped around excitedly. "Well it appears that the musical brothers' father came here to make "amends" with his son. but with all the yelling I heard, didn't seem to work out." Nova looked at Pinkie to see her reaction. What he saw shocked him. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Are you okay?" "I...just don't like it when...when...when people fight." Pinkie blew her nose into a random tissue and then cried into Nova's shoulder. "Uh...there there." Pinkie shot up and laughed, scaring Nova the sudden change of emotions. "You're nervousness is funny." She said playfully before kissing him on the cheek. Nova Burst blushed heavily before falling over. Pinkie giggled and dragged him by a hoof. The trio had looked everywhere. Notes had flown all over with no luck of finding Rainbow Dash. "We've looked everywhere. Where are they?" Vinyl asked. "Yeah, and why does it sound like a Squid is sucking on another nearby?" The trio ran over to an alley to see a sight for sore eyes. Rainbow Dash laid on top of Soarin as they made out. "They're eating her. And then their gonna eat me." Notes said under his breath. "Shh." Twilight shushed. Notes was still amused by his comment. "Oh my God!" He said again, not wanting to leave his sentence unfinished. Sharp Edge walked calmly through the dark forest. Never one for fear unless his friends were in danger, even then, Fluttershy would be fine. Howl from Timber Wolves were heard. edge paid no attention until a voice said to him. "Greetings Pony." Edge jumped and looked around. Nobody was there. But then Trees began to fall down in the form of a ring. As Edge jumped in to center, one began to fall towards him. Edge formed a magic blade and cut the tree away. But a lunging Timber Wolf caught and pinned him to the ground. The most notable feature was that its tail had teeth that whirled around. Edge swung the wolf off with his blade. It jumped and landed on a high tree. "You talk?" Edge said amusingly. "I was granted speech and this tail by an all powerful Pony of The Everfree. But you two will never meet. I'll make sure of that." It said as it swished its tail and swirled the teeth. "Who?!" Edge knew that if a pony that was "made" in Everfree forest, it wouldn't be good. "I've said to much. I could easily lose my abilities if we meet. As for you, your fate ends here." It said as it lunged at Sharp Edge. Edge made defensive maneuvers and jumped back while blocking with his blade. The teeth whirled up as the wolf jumped and somersaulted while swing the tail. Edge jumped to avoid the attack. Edge ran at the wolf swinging and knocked a few wooden chips out of it. Edge slammed the blade into the ground and hoped that he hit the wolf. When he looked up, he saw it standing on a tree that had fallen and was supported up. The wolf howled and called fourth three normal timber wolves. One lead the three as it ran and attacked. Edge parried and knocked the wolf into the air. Jumping up and above it, Edge slashed while whipping his head back and fourth along the blade. When he landed, he noticed how he had taken out the other wolfs by cutting them all in pieces. "Well then." The wolf howled again and what came next, made Edge a little concerned. A timber wolf that clearing formed different in the wood. It stood at about the height of a tree and only had two legs. It's jumping height was clearly the aspect of its creation. Edge took action and charged at the hopper. It swung it's massive legs, which were blocked by Edge as he cut away at them. Edge saw a place where the wood came together and cut there. The leg fell off as tree sap poured out and it cried in pain. "I've had enough." Sharpe Edge called as The Wolf jumped down. It swung it's tail and claws at full force at Edge. Edge blocked a charge attack that knocked The Wolf down. Edge knew his body was weak and picked him up with magic. "No...please." It called as it yelled in pain with a pink blade going through its body. Edge threw him in the air and then, slashed him into pieces. "You're done for." Edge nearly yelled. But a gasp from his side suddenly made him go back. Fluttershy stood there in tears. > Strawberry Avalanche. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Fluttershy?" Sharp Edge said. Fluttershy simply stood there and stared back. She held her hooves to her mouth. "Are you okay?" He asked. Getting up and walking over to her, ignoring all of the sliced up timber wolves around him. Fluttershy backed away slightly as he approached her. Edge slowed down at the sight of her action. "Fluttershy?" He said nervously. Fluttershy eyes grew wide as she ran and hugged Edge tightly. "I'm so glad to see you." She said. "Me too." Edge said rather weakly, his hooves nearly giving out beneath him. "Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked worryingly. "Yeah, i'm fine." Edge lied. He felt as if the forest was sucking the life out of him. "Can we just, rest?" He said tiredly. "Yes, we should. You don't look to good." "Just, out of energy." Edge looked as if he was getting more tired and tired by the moment. "From the fight?" "From the forest." Edge corrected as he passed out. "Come on Nova, get up." Pinkie said playfully as a passed out Nova Burst laid on the floor. Pinkie tried the scent of a cupcake to wake him. Nothing. She slapped him across the face over and over again. Nothing. She had Pound Cake cry loudly into his ear. Pinkie sat next to him in despair. All of her good options were used with the same results. But the ringing of the bell at the front door caught her attention. In walked Hard Chord in a very distraught state. "Oh thank goodness. I need your help." Pinkie said as she grabbed him and pulled him over. "Not now. Have you seen Twilight?" He asked. "Nope. Help. Now. Please." Pinkie pleaded. Hard Chord rolled his eyes with a sigh. Taking in a deep breath, he got right next to Nova's ear and screamed as loud as he can. "WAKE UP!" Nova jumped high into the air in a jolt. He took deep breaths to recover from the near attack. After realizing he wouldn't find Twilight, he simply said "Later" and left. Leaving a nearly panicked Nova and a confused Pinkie. "What's his problem?" Pinkie wondered. Slinging Nova over her back, she went out to investigate. "Notes, have you seen- what the hay?" Hard Chord walked in to see vinyl cleaning Notes wings with her mouth. "Called preening dude." Notes replied sarcastically. "I know, have you seen Twilight?" Hard Chord asked with little patience. "Last I saw, after seeing rainbow Dash and Soarin have a contest of swallowing each other, Applejack needed her help with something. Try her place." Notes said, rather relaxed and calm. "Thanks." Hard Chord said as he rushed out. Pinkie suddenly popped out from under the bed, Notes to relaxed to notice or care. Nova to confused to call out to them. "Hm... Trouble with Twilight I see." She said as she zipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Twilight used magic to pick an apple while Applejack picked one naturally. They placed the two on a table in front of Caramel. "So why am I doing this?" Twilight asked. "Well, I just wanted to see if picking apples with magic make them taste different." Applejack turned towards Caramel, who sat there and just waited for testing to start. Applebloom sat near him with a note pad. "Alright." Twilight said. Applejack gave a smirk and said "Now Caramel, taste Apple number one." Caramel did as told and took a bite out of the apple, the one Applejack picked. "How does it taste?" She asked. "Normal as usual." Applebloom wrote down those exact words. "Now for Apple number two." she said. Caramel bit into, his faced turned into a thinking one as he looked for a difference. "It tastes less juicy." "Good, that is all I needed you for." Caramel seemed disappointed as his ears flattened. though perked back up when Applejack gave him a peck on the cheek. "Now whats got you down Sugarcube? I can tell it already." "There's no use of hiding it now I guess. It's Hard Chord-" "Apple bloom please leave." Applejack said instantly. Appebloom groaned as she trotted away. "Well, his dad is in town. He comes to the library and they fight! Fight! Father and son!" Twilight exclaimed. Applejack never heard that one. Father vs. Son. "Go on." "The two wrecked the library. They were at each others throats." Twilight sat down at the memory. "Well you do know the history between them, right?" "I do but-" "And did you think his dad would have been hitting back?" "No, I never considered that." "See, now go a-" A loud roar sounded from Ponyville, the two instinctively ran to see what the commotion was. Hard Chord ran through Ponyville in search of Twilight. But he overheard a conversation. "Come on, just one more drink." "Get out!" A mares voice said. "But we were really hittin it off sweet cheeks, and i'm single so feel free to-" "Your wife died, idiot!" "I know that, but can-" "Dad!" Hard Chord yelled out as he rounded the corner and confronted his father, Berry Punch stood in the door way with a bottle in her hooves. "Sorry, someone let him out of his cage." Hard Chord said sarcastically as he pulled his dad away. "What the hell is your problem!" He yelled in Lightnings face. "Wel-" "Don't answer that, I know the answer. Now I know there's no way in hell, but can you go talk to Twilight to convince her, that us fighting wasn't the worse thing to happen between us." "Son, *hic* I think you forgot who you were talking to. Me. Even I know I won't help you." "Just go tal-" A loud roar sounded throughout Ponyville. "What the hell was that?" Lightning asked. "Have no clue, lets check it out." The two ran off. > Take One Last Breath > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes and Vinyl ran out of their hotel to see panic as ponies ran for their lives from something. "What the hay is going on?" Notes wondered. His answer came in the form of a giant timber wolf with two legs, jumping in front of him and Vinyl. At first shocked, Notes took a defensive stance in front of his wife. The creature simply leaped away. "What in deaths name was that?" He said with wide eyes. Looking at Vinyl, he said "Stay calm, we're going somewhere safe." The two ran as they searched for somewhere to at least hide. Notes passed an alley way and was pulled in by his brother and Vinyl was dragged by Lightning Speed. "Keep quiet." Hard chord instructed. "What are those things?" Vinyl asked. "Have no clue sweet heart?" Lighting said. "But something tells me this isn't an everyday thing." "What was your FIRST clue?" Notes said as he grabbed his wife from him. "Come on, if we all hurry, we can get to Twilights." Hard Chord said as he peeked around the corner. He saw several Wolfs coming towards them. "Run." He nearly yelled as he and the others took off. Vinyl's sickness showed as she had trouble running. Notes lagged behind to get her, which caused everyone else to help, though the Wolves had em at the end of the road. "We're trapped." Vinyl said quietly, tears coming from her eyes. But Hard Chord looked to the rooftops of a house and saw hope. the form of a pony in a cloak stood above them in the bright sun. "Sharp Edge." He said. Lightning saw their chance to escape. "You guys go." He said, they left without an objection. "This is gonna be good." Lightning swayed back in fourth a little as he watched. "HERE THEY COME!" Edge formed a blade and simply held it behind his back. He jumped to face the giant wolves, keeping a very still stance. The wolves simply looked at him before one stomped down. Leaping quickly, Edge discarded his cloak and in a swift move, sliced the creatures leg off. It fell over as it's sap fell from the wound. Another attempted the same. Edge jumped on top of it and decapitated it in one swift slice. He then jumped from one, to another, killing them. He landed, rolled forward and landed on his hoof to see a pony in front of him. "You're him, aren't you?" He asked. "You are correct." The pony said, a aura of green and brown, the colors of Everfree forest. "You're the pony of Everfree." Edge said as he leaped forward. Vines rose from the ground, thorns on them that left cuts in Edge as the whipped him away. "Nice try." He taunted quietly as he approached Sharp Edge. Edge didn't hesitate as he got back up, stumbling a little before he rushed over and swung his blade. The Pony only countered before pushing him back away. "Weakling." Edge tried to push himself back up, but his body fell back to the ground. His hung in near defeat as the Pony approached him. "Who are you?" Edge asked. "Why, I am what the Everfree forest made. The creation of nature itself." He flaunted. "I meant a name." "I was never given a title. However, since I feel as though the name "Everfree" will be suitable." Edge chuckled a little. "Fine, Mr. Everfree." He said, "Why are you doing this?" "The forest feels the need to grow. I am here to help expand it. Sadly, the new breed of Timber wolves ave been eliminated. That will be a minor setback for me. I will dispose of you quickly and continue." Sharp Edge stood up weakly, "No you won't." "And why is this?" "I am here to visit friends, something you would never know. Nopony hurts them." Sharp Edge said as his body began to shine. In a bright light, there stood Sharp Edge, his body had taken a new form. His coat was see through and glimmered in the sunlight. His mane and tail were in a different style. "I had a feeling your skills were not that of a pure, normal pony. Though I have to admire your dedication." Everfree said. "I'm ending you." Shard Edge said, noticing a crowd gathering around. "Fine then." Everfree said as vines, covered thorns tore from the ground and charged at Edge, who simply sliced them away. "But before this is over." vines began to erupt all around, even grabbing a few ponies. They screamed as they were tossed in the air. Edge sliced the vines, releasing them at a moments notice. "I have to admire your skills." He said as he lashed out more vines at Edge. Edge jumped from vine to vine and dodged every attack. Occasionally cutting one before jumping. As for the three that ran, Vinyl had a hard time keeping up. "Hard Chord!" A voice called. He turned his head to see Twilight running over. The two hugged each other. "I'm so glad you're okay." Hard Chord said. "I'm sorry." Twilight said. "about being mad." "Apology accepted." Hard Chord said as they split. "Where do we go?" Vinyl asked. "The others are at the library." Twilight turned to lead them back. "Come on it's-" The ground began to rumble as vines burst out. Hard chord took action and scooped up Twilight and flew off. Notes did the same, but was grabbed and pulled back into the ground. A vine was ready to smash him when he was pushed, and in his place was his wife, who screamed in pain as she was pinned to the ground before being scooped up by the vine. "Let her go!" Notes said as he dashed up, to be swatted away. Notes stood up weakly. the sight of his wife broke his heart. "Vinyl," he said weakly, then fell to his knees. "I'm sorry." He said before collapsing. Sharp Edge was surprised at how high he had gotten when climbing the vines, looking down, he saw Everfree busy with other ponies. Taking a chance, Sharp Edge jumped and with his blade, swung his head straight down when he landed. Everfree stumbled back as he began to fade into nothing but dirt. He looked at Sharp Edge and grinned. "You...make...me...feel." He said as he faded completely. Vinyl awoke in the hospital, the doctor near her noticed and went over. "Glad to see you're up." She said. "How long was I out?" Vinyl asked. "Only a few hours. You were roughed up a bit. Good thing it wasn't hurt too." The nurse said. "What's "it"?" Vinyl asked. "You don't know?" The nurse asked. Vinyl shook her head. Nurse Redheart looked around nervously and explained. Notes and Vinyl stood by the train, both were ready to leave as soon as they could. The town had recovered from the attack and was back to it's normal self. "Where the hell did dad go?" Hard chord wondered out loud. "Who knows?" Twilight said, quickly changing the subject. "Well, this was a fun day." Notes said sarcastically. "Could have been worse." Hard Chord said. The conductor called for boarding. "Well, time to head off." "Wait! Before we go, I have to say something." Vinyl said. Notes seemed confused about it, but let her speak. "Notes," She said, turning to him, "when I was at the hospital, they said that we were alright." "Who's "we"?" "You're going to be a dad." After a few seconds, Notes fainted as the words went into his ear. "Saw that one coming. Congrats." Hard chord said as he pushed his brother into the train as the door closed. Vinyl dragged him into a seat and propped him on the window as she waved goodbye. On the very back of the train, with a hoof hanging over the tracks, a very drunken stallion watch his son and his sons girl walk off from the station. He grinned to himself. "Don't buck it up, son. Like I did." He said as he looked to the sky with a tear falling from his eye.