Sterling's Story · 1:52am Dec 29th, 2016
My pre-reader, Jeffh4 , was interested in the fate of the alternate Sterling Shield, and wrote this short story:
“…and three weeks ago I began walking south from Yakyakistan, knowing I would arrive not long after Lucida and her team expected to return to their present day. The terrain was rougher than I anticipated, but with the ability to change into pegasus form whenever required, I didn’t encounter any serious obstacles.” Steady Gaze took a long sip of the Jasmine tea, savoring its flavor after a long period of dried field rations and foraging. “And that, with admittedly a broad brush, brings you up to date with my activities for the last few decades. I’ll be glad to go into greater detail once my former companions arrive.”
They were sitting in a small study in the Ponyville Chrome Hive. Bookshelves lined the walls and three leather chairs faced a small square coffee table, currently holding a silver tea set. Fine porcelain cups and saucers completed the service. Princess Twilight Sparkle squeezed Lord Long Path’s hoof, giving him a knowing smile. “Another adventure you and Free missed out on. Whatever will you do for excitement knowing that it is passing you by every which way you look?”
Long Path grinned but didn’t take the bait. “Fortunately, everyone is here in Ponyville. They’ll all be done with their classes and other activities in another hour. I’m glad you came on a Friday because our House gathers for our special informal dinner that night. That way they can all greet you at the same time.”
Twilight frowned into her teacup. Free had said something that ignited a spark of recognition, but she couldn’t put a hoof on it yet.
Steady Gaze leaned back into his chair, letting the leather mold around him. He had not had the luxury of relaxing in his changeling form for some time and the chair was fitting him like a glove. “The positive emotions running throughout House Path here at the Hive have refueled me completely. I’m not in want for any emotional sustenance.”
Path continued. “At the Princesses’ suggestion, we’ve started a rotation program with our chefs to keep them stimulated, and perhaps to foster some competition. Today we’ll be served by Luna’s and Celestia’s private chefs and their staff from Canterlot Castle.”
Twilight’s eyes widened and she shot a sly grin at Path. “You know what? I could go for some pie right now.”
Steady Gaze looked up sharply. The artificial enthusiasm in Twilight Sparkle’s voice contrasting with the near euphoric glee she was radiating were clearly at odds.
Long Path was silent for a moment before a smile crept onto his face. “That sounds like a good idea, but I would prefer some coffee instead…decaf of course.”
Steady Gaze was on full alert now and sat up straight, his tea forgotten. What was the meaning for the emphasis on the words “pie” and “coffee”? Something was up, and he wasn’t privy to it.
“I know just the place! Say, Steady Gaze…you prefer that over Sterling Shield, right? Have you ever been teleported before? Would you like some delightful cake?” She tried to give a comforting smile.
She failed. Steady Gaze was on the receiving end of a rictus grin and a gaze truly scary in its intensity. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought he had just volunteered for a vivisection by the Alicorn of All Book Knowledge. Did she intentionally ask him multiple questions to trap him into giving a positive answer to any of them? More importantly, could he risk antagonizing two of the most powerful ponies in Equestria by refusing? Just a gentle refusal then. “Actually, I’m not really….”
“Wonderful!” the alicorn replied, standing simultaneously with Long Path and reaching out to the changeling. A disorienting moment later, Steady Gaze fell onto his rump, the study and its chair replaced with a city street and its cobblestones. He looked around in shock, recognizing Canterlot Castle looming above. Only then did he realize he was still holding his tea cup.
Twilight tittered unnervingly. “Silly stallion, you don’t have to bring your own cup to a coffee shop.” With a glow of her horn, said cup disappeared. “Now come along, this place is verrrrrrrrry changeling friendly!”
He rose to his hooves quickly, if only to get out of the middle of the street, and followed the pair to the entrance of the nearest establishment. It was a moderate-sized coffee shop, as promised, with many windows and a pleasant dark green exterior. He smelled baked goods along with coffee wafting through the air. Long Path had an only somewhat predatory grin on his face as he politely held the door open for Twilight and Steady Gaze. As he was being ushered inside, the changeling looked up and read the placard: “Frothy Brew”. He frowned. The name was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. One disadvantage to not being connected to a hive was imperfect memory. He may have heard about this place from Lucida, but if he did, the information never made it into his hoofwritten notes. He was shaken from his reverie by Twilight’s raised voice. “Hey, Frothy! Need you to get a free piece of pie ready for a new customer!”
“Be with you in a second!” came the reply from a light brown unicorn pony behind the counter. He was busy pulling a cup of cappuccino for another patron.
Behind him, a red stallion with a curious mix of pony and changeling features turned towards the door. “Is that our favorite princess I hea…. ** GASP! **”
The crash of plates hitting the floor caught Frothy’s attention. He frowned at the pie slices and plate shards on the floor then saw Archer’s shocked face staring towards the entrance. Frothy turned around and saw a grinning Twilight Sparkle, Long Path just outside holding the door, and in between….
Frothy’s eyes bugged out, the cappuccino forgotten. The scalding liquid cascaded over his left forehoof unnoticed. “Sterling? Sterling Shield?”
Twilight’s grin grew wider and she looked to her changeling companion. For his part, he didn’t know what to make of the proprietor. Dozens of emotions poured through the unicorn, making him impossible to read. “I haven’t gone by that name in many years. I call myself…”
That was as far as he got. Frothy turned and leaped over the counter in one bound. Steady Gaze desperately backpedaled, but could not hope to match the speed of the pony. Just outside the entrance, Frothy engulfed the changeling in his embrace, pouring relief, affection, and a tremendous amount of platonic love into him. Steady’s eyes dilated fully, overwhelmed with the outpouring of positive emotions. His wings buzzed like twin band saws in a desperate attempt to bleed off the excess energy. He lost control of his limbs and the two fell in a heap. Vaguely, he was aware of Twilight’s shrieking laughter.
Slowly regaining control of his body, he struggled to his hooves and turned an alarmed face to the unicorn. “Frothy, I’m from an alternate timeline, I’m not the same Sterling Shield you knew.”
“Don’t care! Close enough!” replied the barista, planting an impromptu kiss on the changeling’s cheek. This caused them to collapse into a tangle of limbs again accompanied by an even louder buzzing of wings.
The Alicorn of Friendship was outside now, rolling on the ground next to Path who still dutifully held the door open. Through her howling she struggled out “I….I told you they were changeling friendly!” before collapsing into laughter again.
Path, grinning from ear to ear, turned to look at the princess. “Twilight, I believe being around a pranking Free all these years has had an effect on you.”
Not bad at all.
Oh yes! loving this! Needs to be a part of the main story. "Don't care! Close enough!"
BTW, these little corrections need to be made:
needs to be 'leaped' not 'leapt'.
should be platonic 'love' not 'live.
needs to be 'silver', not 'sliver'.
It was 'a' moderate-sized.
Okay. I am amazed there are so few. I know I often have to read over my works four or more times to get every one of my typos, and even then I occasionally miss something. So, great job!
4359783
Leapt is actually valid. Probably another Queen's vs. Colonial English issue.
4359783 I noticed the errors when I read though the story, but I am embarrassed to admit that I forgot to go back and edit them. Those have been fixed now, plus one other that you missed. And yes, "leapt" is a technically correct in some versions of English, but I decided to change it to the common spelling anyway.
Well, that was heartwarming <3
Well this is funny. I would love to see a whole story with Sterling after the group in Quantum Gallop leaves him in the past to when they meet again in the present.
Free is a realy realy good influance on Twilight
Love it! Though at the mischievous way "pie" was mentioned, I couldn't help but think of an Alternate Thursday...
Ooops! Just noticed one BIG mistake! Frothy isn't an Earth Pony! He's a unicorn!
I hope Frothy didn't knock his horn off going over the counter!
4392334
Wow! I can't believe I didn't notice that error before this.
I've fixed it now. Thanks for pointing it out.
4359783 4359800 'lept' also valid in American English but we won't go there (Kudz is probably laughing at me again reading this)
Uggh decaf!
3.bp.blogspot.com/-99cE0vlvJWw/U4CbSsZ1bcI/AAAAAAAAHzI/rVvvhWs-tFE/s1600/rtwrt.jpg
Not to mention Luna.
This should be added as an addendum-epilogue I think, if Jef is alright with it?