//------------------------------// // Chapter 2:Her name is Helia // Story: Past Sins AU:Primordial Crimes(Project Helia) // by Brony Mithos //------------------------------// Primordial Crimes:Project Helia (Based on Past Sins by Penstroke & Helia created by SaturnStar14) Chapter 2: Her name is Helia? It had been a few days since their first meeting, since Sunset found the mysterious little filly. Instead of just calling her kid or that filly, Sunset had decided to call her Helia. The name Helia being picked from a series of stories from an old storybook. Helia as it was told was a magical and righteous mare of white who traveled the world long ago during the time of before Equestria. She would come to hamlets in need and would perform miracles and deeds to better the lives of all ponies she met, leaving behind a golden trail from her shimmering mane as she walked. It had been a favorite story of Sunset's when she was a kid herself. The white mare of glittering golden mane, who wandered all around just to help others. As a child it had really spoken to Sunset and was one of the reasons she worked so hard to become the princess's personal pupil. She hoped someday to be like that, a pony who would selflessly aide others and enrich their lives. As the element of friendship and somepony who had saved Eqeustria a few times already she had already somewhat achieved that. The filly of course stuck her tongue out at the name Helia at first, until Sunset explained all of this to her. Which of course got the tiny terror to smile thinking it was a cool name after all. Since then Sunset had been carefully observing the filly, who seemed very curious about certain things. In fact after finding Ember's stash of dolls and princes stuff the two had gotten into an argument, Sunset finding it hilarious at how grabby Helia was. It was like watching a foal argue with an older sibling over who owned what toy, and often trying to sneak desserts as well. She was quit the little troublemaker so she spent time in the corner every now and then over the course of the days. She also seemed very studious, gazing through several books. A lot of them history, geography, astronomy, art, and of course many story books. She seemed to be something of a speed reader and maintained the information well. She even enjoyed examining Sunset's many baubles she had picked up during her travels and also examined Ray, Sunset's pet Leopard Gecko quit a bit. However this also made her more curious of the outside, more then once Sunset caught her trying to sneak out which meant corner time for little Helia. Helia often whining about why she couldn't go out, how unfair Sunset was being, how mean she was for always putting her in the corner. “She is such a brat” Was often what Sunset would think whenever Helia said such things. “How did my parents ever cope?” After all according to what her parents often said she herself was rather rambunctious and sneaky when she was a foal. However the breaking point for Sunset soon came, as Helia began to ask so MANY questions such as:why is the sky blue? Why are their four seasons? Why are there three different pony tribes? Why is Equestria the main place where ponies live? Why are griffins half bird and half cat? Why does Ember live with them, is she a slave? Then came the last question that really hit a chord with Sunset. Why can't I go outside, is there something wrong with me? That last one, Sunset honestly didn't know what to say. How could she look into Helia's eyes and say:"Sorry but your a monster made by alchemy and arcane dark magic?" she just didn't have the heart to tell the kid the truth. So Sunset had been formulating an idea of how to make her enable Helia to go outside without attracting attention. ~~~~ After spending the day mulling it over Sunset had come to the conclusion she needed, so grabbing some papers, then taking Helia and draping her in the black cloak Sunset often wore the two went out telling Ember they would be back soon. Of course now was the endless struggle for almost with every step Helia nearly wandered off constantly enthralled by the numerous kiosks, shops, and all the other ponies she passed by. “Maybe I should have gotten a leash?” Sunset mused as she pulled Helia back over with her telekinesis for the umpteenth time. “Hey Sunset what are you doing there?”A familiar voice struck a cord with Sunset, she looked to its owner and saw Spitfire, who was talking with some of the town weather team. “Whats the deal with the cloaked thing?”Asked the daredevil pointing to Helia who was at Sunset's side. Sunset gulped, nervously looking back and forth. She thought up a lie and thought it up quick. “Oh its just Ember she is very sick.” Sunset patting Helia on the head and grinning falsely hoping Spits bought that story. “Sick huh? Must be a skin thing or she has the chills or something right? Well if its the latter sorry about that the rookies here are making it a bit to drafty today.” Spitfire lowering her shades and glaring at one of the newer weather team ponies. Sunset rolled her eyes at that, at least it seemed like Spitfire was buying the lie. “Yeah its really bad, Scalespox, it happens when a dragon starts molting sometimes and makes them VERY susceptible to the cold and can't have them exposed to that much sunlight. I was taking her to see Redheart to get some lotion that will help her with that.” Sunset was now chuckling in a rather in-genuine way to go with her big fake grin. Spitfire shrugged, she figured “yeah it made sense.” So she also patted Helia on the head. “You take care squirt, get better soon and I guess I'll see you soon for another flying lesson.” She then darted off followed by her weather ponies. “Sunset I'm not Ember?”Helia was rather confused as to why Sunset said she was. She tilted her head, while her golden eyes peered up from the cloak at her caretaker. “I do not understand why you lied to that pony?” Sunset scratched her head, thinking hard as to what to say. “Well um the thing is..............ponyfeathers what should I tell her? Uh the thing is that-that...........she doesn't know you yet?”She was still giving that nervous fake grin her eyes darting back and forth. “Yeah she doesn't know you yet and I want to surprise her when she does? I mean we're in a hurry so no time for a proper introduction?” She hoped Helia would buy that, as that was the best the bacon haired pony could think up on the spot. Helia looked still seemed a tad suspicious, but it was sunset the pony who had saved her, she of course had to give her the benefit of the doubt. If she had lied Helia figured there had to be a reason for it. “Well I suppose so Sunset, still she does seem kind of cool so I hope I can meet her later.” “Oh yeah Spitfire is real cool trust me, she is also the fastest flyer in ponyville too. A real daredevil, Emeber and this one pegasus filly are the presidents of her fan club.” Sunset listing off a few little tidbits about Spits while they walked down the street. “Well look at this seems I got her to stay close by telling her stuff about Spits.” It was of course true, the little filly a bit starstruck now hanging off of Sunset's every word with starry eyes of excitement. And there was so much to tell as Spitfire was indeed guilty of accomplishing quite a few things due to her skill, loyalty, and leadership abilities. ~~~ Soon enough they came upon Sunny's desired destination, Buttonbelle Boutique. It was the flagship store of Suri Polomare a young up and coming fashionista who specialized in inventive ways to use buttons. Suri was often not actually around though due to her intention to set up other shops and going to fashion competitions which left her apprentice the younger and more timid Coco Pommel in charge. Sunset knocking on the door now, she had a very special commission in mind and needed to get it done ASAP. She knocked a few more times and finally the door opened Coco Pommel standing at the doorway. “Oh um hi Sunset, I-I was just on the second floor doing some stocking. Suri likes it when the store is neatly stocked when she gets back from her out of town stuff.” She bowed a few times hoping to be forgiven for taking so long to open the door. Sunset groaned at this display walking past her into the shop. “Same old Coco, always such a doormat.” She of course would never actually say that, just think it after all she was so sensitive about nearly everything. “So-so well what can I do for-for you today Sunset?” she was stammering again, it took a lot longer for Coco to say somethings then most due to her constantly second guessing herself. “Well in case you didn't notice I brought a guest with me.” Sunset levitating over the tiny cloaked figure. “This isn't Ember.” She pulled off the cloak revealing Helia. Coco's eyes went wide as dinner plates, the mare now fainting. Sunset rolled her eyes and face hoofed. “Not the reaction I expected.” She then took Coco to her room and tossed her on the bed. Looking now to Helia she pushed her out of the room, then patted her on the head. “Helia stay out in the main display area, but don't go near the windows okay? If you do that I'll get you some special cake at Sugar Cube Corners okay?” Just saying that made the filly's mouth drool, always such a weakness for cake. “Must be something she inherited from the Celestia Blood in her.” Sunset figured, there was still so much about Helia she had yet to deduce, yet she knew the filly was good she just had to be. Now of course she had been waving some smelling salts over Coco's muzzle to awaken her, after a few minutes her eyes fluttered open now. “Was-was I having a nightmare or something?” Coco sat up from her bed now looking to Sunset, it was obvious she had forgotten why her dear friend was here. “It wasn't Coco, the filly was real, she is waiting outside your door. Now before you ask me a ton of questions I will tell you outright. I think she might be Daybreaker reborn.” As Sunset said this Coco began to get paler and was shaking. “Hey, hey calm down now.” Sunset putting her hooves on her friends shoulders. “I said might, and even if she is she doesn't remember Applejack squat about anything from last year, or even before that we are talking total amnesia here Coco.” Sunset was doing her best to try and explain this, and also not give Coco a panic attack which was proving rather difficult given Sunset's flimsy evidence. Coco of course finally relented when Sunset said this. “She is just a kid, she hasn't hurt anypony do you really want to see her get sent to the sun to burn up and scream endlessly for a millennia? I mean you know it would be agony and I don't think you want that?” Coco's heartstrings thoroughly plucked at the very graphic imagery Sunset had used. “Well I guess not, you know how much I like helping underprivileged foals, I in good conscience can't abandon this poor dear.” Coco had relented sighing relived that no such terrible fate would await the filly. “So um why come to me?” “Right, right onto the topic at hand. She is an Alicorn and that's kind of a problem so I was wondering if you could help with a bit of a disguise aspect for her just a bit? I mean I called Trixie here with a fire message before we got here so she should be arriving soon and I hope the two of you can come up with something. I already have some ideas right here.” Sunset plucking some papers from her saddlebag, Coco of course looking them over and shaking her head in disapproval. “Why do you always wanna use black leather? It-its not exactly nice..........I-I mean well you seem to always want to use jackets and black leather. Some-somepony's might get the wrong idea.” Coco was blushing big, how could she say to her friend that her constant gravitation to black leather was seemingly a tad like she was romantically repressed. Sunset shifting her gaze back and forth at that question. “No reason I-I just like black and I think leather has a great feel is all.” She was nervously smiling once again, everything getting a tad awkward now. ~~~~~ “THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE IS HERE!!!” Just then the doors to the boutique flung open as Trixie Lulamoon, the element of laughter and showboating showmare entered. “SUNSET, Trixie has heard you call and has come!”She of course had a tone that oozed with confidence, arrogance and flash. However Sunset was still talking with Coco in another room and she happened upon only Helia having been sitting and admiring the dressmaker dummies. Trixie's jaw had dropped, her coat becoming pale as she looked at this demonic looking creature with wings and a horn sitting there. “Trixie...........thinks perhaps she should not be seeing this.” She was weakly laughing trying not to show the utter terror she was feeling. “Trixie has heard demons can smell fear.” Helia blinked rather curious at this mare, then lightly cantered to her. “Hi, so who are you?” Trixie was still chuckling nervously, with a bit of panting now. “The creature is right in front of me, what should I do?” Trixie was shaking in her horseshoes now absolutely at a loss for words. “Your funny, also you dress like Starswirl the bearded does that mean your a powerful sorcerer too?” She tilted her head looking over Trixie and seeing her rather magical looking Cutiemark along with her hat and cape. “So you do like special and amazing magic too?” “Y-Y-Yes?”Trixie gulped now panting more heavily, though she listened to what the creature was saying, why ask such questions if it was some demon spawn from Tartarus? “Trixie is-is great and powerful, and-and makes children smile.” “I'm a children, so can you make me smile?” Helia asked, she of course was stifling a snicker at Trixie's odd behavior, yet it was not exactly smile making. Trixie gasped at the words this thing uttered. She was now looking at her, really looking. “She does look like a filly, her size, her face, that voice. Wings, horn, is she a princess? Neigh that can't be right Trixie would know if there was another princess, then again princess Celestia was kind of a shock.” Trixie was trying her best to decipher this odd creature, what exactly was she? Trixie did enjoy a good puzzle yet this was a stumper, then it hit her. “Yes she looks like Daybreaker, Daybreaker was Celestia sort of so maybe this is her foal? Yes, yes a royal foal!” Trixie was now going over her next move carefully. She then grinned as her horn glowed brightly a bit. “You know you do seem sweet, perhaps it is because of this child?”She reached behind Helia's ear and pulled out a large swirly lollipop, then hovered it in front of Helia. Helia clapped her hooves then took the treat sticking it in her mouth to taste the rush of many flavors of the sugary confection. “Mmmmmmmmmm, I liked that trick do another.” Trixie bowed at the praise before she made a flower pop out of a small explosion of confetti in her hoof, offering it to the filly, then tying little flags from all the Equestria city state members to the flower into a circle. “Trixie has got a thousand tricks its her forte.” Trixie had now gotten a bit full of herself thinking, “Yes I have her eating out of my hoof, royal or demon it matters not because, she is now a fan.” ~~~~~ Sunset came down soon after with Coco, the two looking very surprised at the sight. Trixie was doing her dancing teacups trick and Helia was wearing Trixie's hat clapping at the show. Sunset smirking as she nudged Coco in the shoulder. “Yeah she's a real menace to society I mean just look at her eyes full of wonder and her happy laughing while she watches a magic show.” She teased Coco who still had a few doubts about the filly. “I-I guess I definitely should help, I've been looking over the designs I think I can get together something that will work out well since I am really looking at her now.”Coco going down the steps and grabbing a sketchpad. Sunset trotting over to Trixie, smirking smugly as she said. “Well you two sure hit it off.” Trixie shrugged at Sunset's words levitating Helia onto her back, the filly resting her head on Trixie's. “Well yes this child is like all children she loves Trixie's magic shows, I even showed her my puppets and she craves one of her own. To which Trixie has said she shall make and you can pick up at her shop Sunny the royal foalsitter.”Trixie teasingly grinned, then winked to her friend. “Here I was thinking I'd need to explain it all and you'd get all weird and stuff. Like you couldn't handle my new little charge or something.”Sunset levitating Helia onto her own back now and Trixie's hat back on her head. “Nonsense Trixie loves all children big or small, she desires to make all colts and filliy's smile. If there is a child not having fun then Trixie must do something.” She proudly declared hitting her chest with a hoof in solidarity. Sunset gave a flat leering expression. “You got all panicky and nearly passed out didn't you?” She could tell by nervous chuckling that Trixie was now doing that was indeed the case. Sunset sighing as she patted Trixie on the shoulder. “Still glad you two hit it off Trix.” Sunset was inwardly very relived she now had half of her closest friends on board. And she could trust Trixie, sure she was a blabbermouth, sure she was full of herself, but she knew how to keep a secret after all she was a magician. Helia was now getting her measurements done by Coco, who was having her lift her wings up, then measuring her legs, horn, tail, mane, it was so invasive. Though Sunset said that if she was good Trixie would do more tricks and they would all go out for cake after which got Helia to behave as she was often very fussy and hated standing still. Of course Sunset had to bribe the filly as this was rather important and if it worked then Helia would be free to go outside whenever she wanted. Coco now going over the coloration and overall design with the others. “How about something a bit base? I-I mean well if its everyday wear we shouldn't do something too extravagant.”She was pondering aloud. “Look just cover up those wings okay other then that you can do whatever.”Whispered Sunset in a somewhat demanding way. “But-but well I-I mean sure wings are easier to hide, but-but Pegasus models are-are really in right now. In fact I heard the weather team is-is doing a swimsuit calendar to raise money, and-and Spitfire she-she is getting bugged by Suri all the time to take up modelling even with that scar she is so cool and beautiful.” Coco was trying to justify keeping the wings exposed saying how it was so fashionable. “Yeah I can't see that and we all know Strawberry Sunrise ain't the model type either, look just hide the wings instead of the horn, last thing we need it her wearing a hat all the time, what happens if it flies off?” Sunset sternly chided in. Of course despite Coco's desire for wing fashion she relented and designed a very interesting polo shirt, its coloration a beautiful sunset orange, with a salmon pink trim at the collar. “You-you said she is part Celestia ri-right? Well now it matches her mane color, orange and pink do look good with white right?” Trixie looked it over then sighed before messing with the collar design, lengthening it a bit. “A tad bit of mage flare, after all we wizards love a good collar.”She winked to Coco and Sunset. It was indeed a good design, simple, practical, cute, and colorful, with a dash of flare. Coco already busy cutting away at some fabric and using the measurements she had taken, overall it did seem nice and she had been starting the fitting. One the dress was on however Coco was squinting something not seeming right. “Well the eyes are still an issue, but there is something not right.” “Its the mane.” Trixie inputted, she had hit the nail on the head with that. The messy mane cut did not mesh well with the elegant yet reserved dress design. “Trixie knows what to do.” Giving a devious smirk she used her magic to tie Helia's hair into a ponytail. Coco gasped at this getting such inspiration, now moving Helia's bangs to one side elegantly while doing a pseudo bob style with the sides. “Perfect.”Smiled the pale bluenette mare hoof bumping Trixie. Sunset rolling her eyes at the duo's antics, they had been basically just playing dress up and hair dresser with the poor filly who looked so annoyed and antsy. “Yeah, well almost.” Sunset putting some black glasses on Helia, they were large coke bottle types. As if somepony had glued together a pair of magnifying glasses, this oddly caused Helia's eyes to morph into regular golden pupiled eyes with no slits in them. Coco face hoofing a bit at this. “Um black glasses? I get the eyes need to be changed but well, black glasses like this and stuff I dunno about this Sunset.” She didn't want to outright say that poor Helia looked like a dork, her glasses taking up most of her face. “She looks like a dork.” Trixie however had no such tact. Coco and Trixie looking shocked at that. “Seriously if you wanted to have the kid get beat up a lot and worry about them messing with her balance sure go with these, its like you hate her or something.” Coco glaring at that. “Th-That's enough Trixie, you-your being mean again.” Helia looking a tad frightened now as she saw Coco and Trixie start arguing, and then there was if Sunset hated her after all from what Trixie said it was like Sunset was making fun of her or playing a joke. “D-do you guys not like me or something?” She stepped back looking a bit teary-eyed while looking at Sunset. “NO, I LOVE YOU, KID,” Sunset used her magic pulling Helia close and into a hug. “I'm just partial to black and well I'm not exactly an expert on glasses because I don't wear them.” Coco then thought of something, she rushed to a drawer and pulled out a pair of tiny bifocal glasses. “Here these are from when I was a filly, I wore them when I was reading sometimes. I went and got the magic laser beam thing though so I don't need them anymore.” She plopped them down on Helia's nose now, they were an orange color and seemed to mesh well enough with her outfit. Sunset sighing while nodding in agreement enchanted them. “There see how about that Coco gave you her old pair say thanks kay?” Helia blushing a bit then lowering her head. “Thank you, Miss Pommel.” “Oh, um it-its no trouble, but don't call me Miss Pommel. Suri said its a good marketing strategy, but I-I prefer being called Coco kay?” Coco smiling gently and with a caring tone, now stroking the side of Helia's face. Trixie pouting as she felt like she was being upstaged. Then it hit her as she went and dug through her bag. “Trixie has this!”She pulled out a sunflower hairclip putting it in Helia's hair to help keep it in place. “It was a gift Trixie got from her little brother for Summer Sun Celebration way back since Trixie does like Sunflowers, though Trixie no longer wears hair clips since they clash with her current mane style.” Trixie puffing up her well kept mane. Coco surprised at how well it meshed. “Trixie it looks wonderful doesn't it Sunset?” “Yeah actually it does thanks Trix.” Sunset standing on her hind legs and her forlegs crossed. “So why did I need to get clothes again” Helia tilted her head, Sunset had not really explained why they came here or why she needed to disguise her eyes and conceal her wings. “Right um.” Sunset gritting her teeth now as she looked to her friends who both just shrugged. “Oh come on a little help?” “Oh right Trixie knows, Trixie thinks its because you are special. You are an Alicorn, those ponies with wings and a horn, But your not a princess so you'd get bugged and mistaken for one. Honestly sure its nice to be famous but only if you want to be stared at ALL the time, to go nowhere without being surrounded by ponies you barely know asking for things. You are special yes, yet you are not a princess. Other ponies would be way to envious and you wouldn't want that right?” As usual Trixie was always great at lying honestly if the elements were for reverse virtues she would be the Anti-Honesty with how often she made up stories. Helia raised a brow and looked a tad confused, though as she thought about it. “Yeah I guess not, I mean if I want to stand out I can be a magician like you.”She smiled having clearly taken a shine to Trixie. The three mares now all sighing in relief. ~~~~~ A little later Sunset had gotten a fire message from Ember and had to dart off to handle a problem at the border with the Everfree apparently a bunch of Timberwolves had run out of the forest and were terrorizing Apple Inc. Farmland, so A.J Apple Esquire the owner was demanding Sunset deal with them. So while she was off doing that Trixie and Coco had decided to sit down for tea and get some cake from Sugarcube corners for Helia after all Sunset had promised. Though Coco was rather busy and had to do some work off and on. Helia leaning over and lapping at the tea-cup. Trixie looked rather offput by this. “Don't tell me Sunset lets you eat like that?” Helia looking over to the blue coated mare. “Yeah why?” “You have a magical horn, why not use that?” Trixie of course demonstrated as she sipping from her tea cup via levitating it to her mouth. “Even the Earth ponies have better manners, you see if your to be a proper unicorn mare you must present yourself with elegance and tact, you see unicorn mares are all about manners you need to do everything just right, I mean you've seen that glorified blue lizard have her tea parties right? With the pinky out thing? Well for us Unicorns we use our horns give it a try.” Helia looked down at the teacup now, she had never actually used her magic before now. Trixie raising a brow at her as the filly's horn glowed with a golden aura. The teacup exploding while shards shot all over. “Um yeah I didn't mean to do that.” Helia blinked confused, she wondered if she should apologize or not, after all why should she Trixie told her to try and use magic so she did. “Well that was unexpected, clearly your a lot more powerful then Trixie thought. Most unicorns can barely move the cups at first yet you, your telekinesis was so powerful, yet unfocused that it caused the cup to break like that.” Trixie seemed to be praising, but in actuality was deeply frightened by this display of power. “Still it was a good try, Trixie is.......well proud Trixie supposes.” Helia looked flatly at Trixie not really getting this mare at all. “So um should I try again?” With a roll of the eyes Trixie agreed turning a fork into a teacup, then pouring tea into it with her magic. “Yes do try Trxie will stay here until you get it.” Trixie was warmly smiling trying to win Helia over a bit. “And if she breaks more Trixie can just do this all day/” The mare musing while watching Helia try once more, this time it shot into the ceiling, it now raining tea down on the filly who grumbled. “Why can't I do this? I should be able to do this!” Helia had crossed her forelegs, she was absolutely annoyed, getting short temped. Trixie trying once more and Helia failing once again, it just seemed that she was putting far to much power into each try. “Trixie thinks she knows what the problem is, you are to unfocused. You are letting your horn regulate itself instead of you doing it. Emotions, focus, study, all are required to accurately do spells, relying on one above the other though is bad. Why if you just did everything with just emotion you'd have a lot of power but wouldn't be able to properly control.” Trixie went to Helia's side patting her on the shoulder. “Its all about visualization, you need to close your eyes and imagine the teacup just levitating. Then let the magic out just a bit and you'll be levitating small things.” Helia looked up into Trixie's eyes seeing wonder, and support. “She-she believes in me, I should listen I guess.” Helia's eyes slid shut, doing as Trixie instructed she imagined it all in her head. Seeing the cup floating in her mind and moving to her muzzle. Helia's eyes fluttering open now and rather surprised as she spoke. “I did it! Thanks Trixie.” Helia grinned big, then took some sips. Trixie winked, now levitating over some cake. “try and do it with the cutlery now.” Helia's heart skipped a beat, her eyes growing big as she began to shake. “CAKE!” She was now panting, trying to remember the manners Trixie just showed her, but it was a struggle between what she wanted to do and what her instincts told her to do. Whenever she saw cake in front of her it as if a switch was flipped in her mind, and she would devolve into a starving beast and nom on it. Yet Trixie told her such behavior was unbefitting a unicorn. Helia used every last force of willpower she had to calm, herself down. She let out a sigh then began to focus once more. A fork gently flew infront of her, cutting a bit of the cake then gently putting it into Helia's mouth. She shivered at the taste, the heavenly taste and texture, her face practically melting from it which of course made Trixie snicker at how silly and cute she looked. ~~~~ After a several hours had passed Sunset flew the door of Buttonbelle open, stumbling in looking utterly exhausted. “Okay I'm back, sorry I was gone so long. Coco Trixie how did you get along with Helia?” “Shhh.” Coco popping up out from the stairs now at Sunset's side. “She did really well, Trixie gave her a magic lesson, we had tea and cake. Then the little cutie was tired so I let her use my little sis's room for when she spends the night, I figured little Dazzle wouldn't mind.” Coco smiling rather contently and with that sweetness only Redheart could top. “I read her a bedtime story too, she is so inquisitive, yet tries to act so haughty its clear she has a lot of pride, its also clear that she is secretly very sensitive trying to hide it behind a wall of smugness clearly demanding perfect of herself and getting upset at anything she fails at.” Coco as ever was very sharp, especially when it came to kids having a deep understanding of what made certain ones tick by watching them. Sunset seemed a bit surprised everything had gone so well. She half expected Trixie to blow it and for the shop to be on fire when she had gotten back. “Well good to hear she is getting along with her big sisters.” Sunset said using a very sarcastic and lighthearted tone. Coco's eyes lit up however at the very idea. “Well maybe someday, you know how I love foalsitting.” “Yeah” Sunset flatly said. “Still little sister or daughter or whatever she is to me, well I still dunno but I'm glad that you guys are here to help me through it, and to help her too.” Sunset was now walking up the steps alongside Coco. The two coming to a room that had the name: Dazzle on the plaque. Sunset pushing the door open with her magic and seeing Helia snoozing away on a very gaudily designed bed. Sunset smiling lightly going to the side of said bed and gently nuzzling her charge. “Hey, hey Helia naps over.” Helia lazily rubbing the sleep from her eyes, peering one of her golden slitted pupils at Sunset then randomly hugging her. “Your back, about time.” She said huffing while still hugging. Sunset shaking her head, and a roll of her eyes said. “Yeah, yeah I get it. Excuse me princess I just got a little held up fighting timberwolves and other abominations of the darkwood.” She slyly said that last part knowing it would get Helia's goat. “An adventure and stuff? Well can you tell me about it please, please.” Her eyes full of wonder as she broke the hug looking to Sunset in a pleading manner. “Alright, alright, but after the story we gotta head home and get dinner with Ember kay?” She winked knowing of course that Helia was always eager to hear a cool story. Sunset then began to elaborate on her day, how after she went to Sweet Apple Acres, the home office of Apple Inc. She met with the rather sophisticated and demanding A.J Apple Esquire. A.J Explaining to Sunset how the recent attacks by Timberwolves which she assumed to be without provocation had destroyed several of her precious tree's and carried off her workers. The two joined by Macintosh and Braeburn to search for the cause and see that they would not return. Upon entering the forest they were besieged at nearly every end by the wolves, and Ents as well. It was a well know fact that Ents often worked with Timberwolves due to them being some sort of subspecies of each other. Sunset was pleasantly surprised by how well A.J handled herself for a high society mare of Manehatten nurturing. Eventually however they were all captured and it became clear why the Timberwolves had attacked, a magical virus had spread that was acting like a magnet to the wolves and imbuing them with their normally rare ability to convert other creature. The large amount of wolves due to them changing many of A.J missing workers into Timberwolves themselves. A.J becoming infected and changing before Sunset's eyes she managed to subdue her, though it was hard-fought as A.J already possessed amazing close range fighting skills so her abilities were amped up severely as a Timberwolf, which Sunset dubbed Timberjack. Sunset then meeting the Alpha, a gigantic monstrosity half the size of a full grown dragon. The creature chasing her all through the forest and withstanding many of her best spells. Sunset had to think outside the box now and used every trick she could think up, and even a few new ones she had learned from Fluer, Trixie and other unicorns she knew. Sunset trapping the monster in a ravine and extracting its mana energy, aswell as its venom which left the poor mare battered and about to pass out. Thankfully she managed to carry herself to Zecora's and had the Zebra gal gave her some healing potion and worked up a cure for the Timberponies from the Alpha's venom, as that was the only way to cure a Timberfication, thankfully it was usually rare that such things occurred. Sunset then fixing all the converted ponies and they then discovered that A.J's sister Appleblossom(Applebloom) had been researching with her cousin Babara “Babs” Seed Orange and their friend Sweetie Bell Gemnificent on ways to make her own little patch of apples into artificial Zap Apple tree's, this inadvertently acting as Timbernip which caused the wolves to appear and the odd pseudo-Zap's making the Timbervenom more potent. A.J greatly angered at her sister had decided to strip her of her allowance for the month and make her flanks as red as an apple. A.J paying sunset of course for her time with a bag of bits, though a bit less then the agreed upon amount since A.J barely made it out herself and thus Sunset had lost bodyguard points as A.J put it. That was how she always was such a pinchbit. “And that's what happened.” Sunset tiredly sighed as she told the story. Helia was utterly amazed at that whole ordeal. “WOW Sunset that was amazing, I hope someday I can do stuff like that.” The filly clearly in awe of her caretaker's sheer skill and bravery. “Sure kid why not? I mean hey you are living with me and getting tips from me and Trixie. Maybe next time I see Fluer I'll introduce you to her too, she knows a few good combat spells. ”Sunset grinning as she levitated Helia onto her back, now in her new disguise once more and the two waving Coco farewell as they headed back to the library. as they left Buttonbelle that they were being watched from the shadows, by some pony unseen. To Be Continued....................