//------------------------------// // To Tell A True Tale // Story: Life is What You Make It, Or How You Happen To Have It Thrown At You // by Pegasus Lightning //------------------------------// With Club Alicorn behind them, they got to work. One would grab cumulus from the East, the other would shape the cloud's front, and the whole thing was a work of art. In about forty five minutes, they completed a small fort composed of only three rooms; a bed, bath, and entry-area. The two were now in some comfortable cloud chairs across from each other. “So, why were you at the club?” “Well, you know, looking to have some fun.” “What kind of fun, Rainbow Dash?” “You don't have to call me by my full name every time, you dodo. R.D., Dash, Rainbow, Dashie, cool-mega-super-ultra-awesome-pony...” “I get it. Are those all of the names your friends call you?” “Yup. Except the last one. I got a bit ahead of myself there. Heh, heh” “I know.” “Oh do ya?” “I know everything.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah.” “Alright then. What am I going to do next?” “Whoa!” Epic exclaimed as 'Cool-mega-super-ultra-awesome-pony' jumped up and tackled him. Just as Dashie was getting up, she felt her back being pressed against his chest again. “You didn't actually think you would get away with that, did you?” “Hey! Buzz off!” He wrestled her to the ground, and once he was on top of her, and he had her arms pinned down, he bent down and kissed her, to which Rainbow gladly accepted. He gradually lifted his hooves up off of hers, and rolled over next to her, still engaged in a kiss. The pair then rolled over like a barrel for a good 45 seconds before coming to a complete stop, still kissing. “So,” Epic whispered, “what now?” “More.” Rainbow stated rather defiantly. She pushed him over to the ground, and she was now on top of him. The sheer force of her agression had knocked his hat to the other side of the room, revealing a particularly stunning horn. Rainbow gasped. She got off of him and was on the cloud chair now. “You- you're- you're-” “Yes, I am an alicorn. Please don't leave.” “Leave? Why would I leave? You're awesome!” “Everyone else seems to fear me, bow down to me- or go out and tell the town, so I have to move again.” “Again?” “I've moved six times.” “That's crazy!” Dash interrupted. “In the past month.” “Well the whole Epic thing makes sense now. You could've at least told me.” “I was afraid you'd be like all the others.” “So, why are you afraid of ponies finding out?” “Because I'm on the run.” “Epic.” “Heh, I know. I denounced my father's plans for the future in public. So did my cousin, who isn't an alicorn. We were immediately ceased and were committed for treason. We were scheduled to be hanged in the next month. That was last year.” “What? Why did you have to make fun of his plans?” “He would've killed thousands- of ponies from our nation, and those of Equestria, too.” “Whoa. With what?” “He planned to take a train car, and put three cannons on it. Then, the train would be removed from its tracks. He'd have three prisoners drive it, a few soldiers operate it, and fire the artillery at the nearest town. The soldiers would jump off of the trains, not before attatching some explosives to it. The prisoners would make it go as fast as possible, ram it into a big castle or building, shoot the explosive, and obliterate themselves and the train, as well as the surrounding area. The catch was that he would institute a whole bunch of new laws, like a farmer can't sell their crop until the weekend, and by disobeying those laws, tons of citizens would become prisoners. Basically, he'd be killing all of the ponies he hated- Earth ponies. He's a very dark pony.” Rainbow Dash sat quietly. With nothing to say, she looked up at him in awe. She pondered on his words for a moment. She decided to ask him a question. “Wait- so what happened to your cousin?” “We escaped, we went into the Everfree Forest- I can't tell what happened to him. I-I don't actually know.” “What kind of pony was he? Pegasus? Earth? Unicorn? None?” “He was an Earth pony.” “Where did you two split up?” “When two agents found us in the forest. I used my magic to tie them up.” “Seriously. You're making yourself more and more attractive with every freaking word.” Rainbow came closer to him. “We split up somewhere near an apple orchard in this town.” “Sweet Apple Acres.” “I think he said he saw a chicken coop,- but then we heard a huge clap of thunder and I ran for cover from the rain and lightning- he went towards the coop.” “What's his name?” “His name is Syenergy. He never tells anypony his real name.” “Does he use any other name in particular?” “He's used various gemstones for names before.” “Oh dear Celestia. I know where he is.” “You do?” “He's at Fluttershy's cottage.” “Where?” “He fell for the shy animal caretaker, Fluttershy.” “Already?” “Yes. He did it so quickly because he needed protection from somepony who wouldn't say a word she didn't need to. That's Fluttershy.” “He mght have played that fake 'love at first sight' act he's pulled a few times before. I hope she understands.” “Oh no- she won't. She may be intelligent, but emotionally,- she can be a wreck if you say something she doesn't understand or that upsets her in the least. She's also awfully stubborn sometimes.” “What are we waiting for? Let's go see him.” “Epic? It's the middle of the night.” “Oh, right. Well, let's get to sleep.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and they laid down to sleep. And sleep they did. Morning came, and something was wrong. Something was horribly wrong.