//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Call of a Raven // by Autum Breeze //------------------------------// Chapter 5 ___________________________________________________________ Twilight’s friends glanced at each other with worry. Almost half an hour had gone by since Rarity and the creature calling itself Raven had left for Rarity’s boutique and, since that time, the lavender unicorn had remained completely still, her eyes focused on nothing. After a few moments of looking from one to another, all eyes turned to Pinkie Pie, who gulped and took several steps closer to the still pony. “Uh... T-T-Twilight?” she asked, reaching a hoof out to her statue of a friend. “A-are you alright—?” “What in Equestria just happened?!” Twilight snapped, causing the pink mare to yank who hoof back for fear of losing it. “Uh, well,” Applejack began uncertainly, “Rarity, uh...” Twilight blinked, before her eyes widened in horror. “Rarity’s been put under a spell and that creature took her away! Come on!” “Huh?” the other ponies asked, glancing to each other, before turning to see their unicorn friend galloping away. “Twi, wait!” Dash cried, flying after her, Pinkie, Applejack and Fluttershy right behind. Catching up, they found Twilight metres from Rarity’s boutique. “Rarity, don’t look!” a voice from inside that sounded an awful look like Twilight when she was anxious said. “Sorry, darling. I forgot.” That caused the chasing ponies to pause and look to each other in brief confusion. The lavender unicorn, however, conitued til she was at the door and banged her hoof on it. “Rarity? Rarity, we need to talk!” “Just a moment,” Rarity’s voice called out, before sounding like she was addressing another. “Just finish changing, darling. I’ll just be outside.” A few moments later, the door to the boutique open, revealing the alabaster unicorn. She had no more than taken a step out, however, before Twilight yanked her out with her magic, much to the other unicorn’s displeasure. “Twilight, what in Equestria are you—?” the dressmaker tried to say. “It’s alright, Rarity,” Twilight firmly cut her off. “We understand that Raven put some kind of spell on you. We’ll help you.” At once, the annoyed frown the held unicorn was wearing became a scowl. “Twilight Sparkle, you release me at once! I am under no spell and the very idea that you would insinuated that I am and that young Raven would even do such a thing is quite disappointing.” “Yep,” Dash nodded, folding her forelegs. “No spell. That’s Rarity all the way.” “But— but you wanted to help that Dark Magic user!” Twilight retorted. Rarity’s scowl deepened and her voice tightened. “Twilight, let me go. Now!” A few tense moments passed, before, warily, Twilight lowered Rarity back to the ground and lifted her magical hold. “So, where is Raven?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking around. “Is she inside, trying on dresses?” “Not exactly,” Rarity said, glancing to the boutique. “Not a dress, anyway. Besides,” she turned to Twilight with a firm expression, “I feel I have much to tell you all from what I have learned.” “Other than the fact you’ve a being that uses Dark Magic in your boutique?!” Rarity’s brow narrowed a bit more. “Twilight, Raven explained to us all that she uses Shadow Magic, similar to Princess Luna. Stop with all the Dark Magic talk, already. If you continue to say so about Raven, then you are also saying the same of Princess Luna!” Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but paused, her eyes unfocused for a moment. After a pause, she closed them, taking a deep breath. “Okay, maybe she doesn’t use Dark Magic, but how do we know we can trust her? Yes, she saved yours and Applejack’s lives, but I don’t have any knowledge of a creature like her existing.” Rarity gave a light titter at that. “Not surprising, darling. The form she has now came from that of a comic book.” Twilight’s expression became a deadpan. “What?” “Told you they sound alike,” Dash murmured to Applejack. Rarity spent a few minutes explaining what she and Raven had discussed during Rarity’s repairing of the leotard and the creation of Raven’s more casual wear. Once Rarity had finished, Twilight took a deep breath, before looking sternly at her. “And you’re certain she was telling the truth? This does sound very... strange.” Pinkie Pie hummed, frowning. “I dunno. We live in a world where there’s a being who can warp all space and time and princesses who raise the sun and moon.” She shrugged. “Sounds pretty normal to me.” All of them glanced at the pink mare, eyebrows raised. “What?” Pinkie asked, looking around at them. “I’m just saying this won’t be too odd a world for Raven to have her baby.” Twilight’s eyes widened and she rounded on Rarity. “That’s right! Whoever or whatever this Raven really is, you’ve seen her weirdly positioned teats. They’re huge. If she has so much trouble controlling her own powers, what do you think will happen to a baby with those kinds of powers?!” Rarity frowned. “Twilight, Raven is not pregnant.” Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “What? You saw—” Rarity held up a hoof, cutting the other unicorn off. “Yes, I did. I also made the mistake of assuming the same and even asked her when she was due. The look of horror on her face was as if I’d just told her her family had died.” “Um... come again?” Twilight hesitated, cocking an eyebrow. Rarity sighed. “Raven explained that her species... hue-man-oids, she called them, I think, have large teats like that, but that it doesn’t mean they’re pregnant. In fact, she said they can get even bigger when one of her own are with child.” “I... um... wow,” Dash looked from Rarity to each of their friends, all of whom were blushing. “I... don’t really know what to say to that.” “Rarity?” a voice called from inside the boutique, startling them all. “I’m not about to get blasted by Twilight the moment I step out just because she thinks I’m using Dark Magic, am I?” Rarity smirked a little at the annoyed glare Twilight got at that comment. “Yes, dear. I’ve talked it over and you should be fine.” The door to the boutique open and a figure stepped out, and they all got a good look at Raven and what she was wearing. She was wearing a dark-blue shirt under a black, long sleeve jacket that stopped a bit before her wrist and only went down to just above her waist, black gloves that didn't cover her fingers, a purplish-black skirt and black boots. The others all stared at her in shock, whist Raven looked away. “Fine work, if I do say so, myself,” Rarity said, smiling and closing her eyes. “I never have worked on a biped before and whilst it was a challenge, I feel I succeeded.” I’ve never worn a skirt before, but, I do have to say, I like it,” Raven agreed, looking to the alabaster mare and giving a small smile. “Thank you, Rarity. It is quite good.” She then looked to Twilight, her arms folded. “So, where do we go from here? You gonna report me to the princesses? Keep me prisoner until it can be proven without a doubt I’m not evil?” At once, Twilight lit her horn and a bubble or purple magic surrounded Raven. She looked around, before glaring, her body glowing with that black fire they’d all seen right before she attacked the hydra, yet, when she spoke, her voice was as monotone as it had been since they first met, but also hinted at the anger hidden within, saying through gritted teeth, “I was joking!” “Maybe,” Twilight said, her eyes narrowed. “But I’ve never heard of an Azarathian before, so I’m not taking my chances. And don’t bother trying to use your powers to get out of there. Not even teleport magic could get through this shield; my brother taught me the spell for it.” Raven looked blankly at Twilight for a few moments, before a smirk came to her face. Outstretching a hand to her side, she murmured, “Azarath Metrion... Zinthos.” Suddenly what looked like a black hole of energy (it took Twilight a second to realize it was a portal) opened in front of her outstretched hand and Raven walked right into it, the portal closing soon after. A moment later, another appeared just next to the shield bubble and Raven stepped out of it, temporarily silhouetted before it closed and her appearance was visible again. Raven just smirk at the open-mouthed unicorn. “I may not be a master of my powers, but I’m still no pushover thanks to Zecora. Now, I believe you were going to contact the princesses about me?”