Clip-clop.
Clip-clop.
Clip-clop
A Maya blue unicorn wearing purple, gold, and black armor paced outside of Princess Luna's door. His purple hooves created a steady rhythm that echoed down the long empty hall. The unicorn's plum eyes were unfocused, lost in thought. His mane and tail were ebony in color, his mane long for a guard's and his tail longer. At his side hung two katana in their sheathes, the blades sharp and awaiting use. His cutiemark meanwhile, was just visible; a katana- with green wrappings over the handle- over the crescent moon, as if guarding it.
Meanwhile, resting against a pillar with a book in claw, was a dragon. Her curvy form marked her off as female, although her stature- about three-quarters of the size of a stallion Big Macintosh's height- still voiced her youth. The dragoness was white in color, with large bat-like wings, beige belly scales, sharp black spikes that lengthened out the further they went down her back, a spade-shaped tail, small horns, intelligent yellow cat-eyes, two small bone growths on her cheeks, and no fins.
The dragoness suddenly yawned, revealing a long forked tongue and sharp fangs. "Dad, when are we going to go outside and enjoy the festival?"
"Soon, soon." The unicorn assured, still trotting back and forth.
She rolled her eyes. "That's what you said an hour ago! And the hour before that, and the hour before that, and the-"
"Okay, okay! I get it." The unicorn grumbled.
"Cool, so I can go meet up with mom?" The dragoness asked, fluttering her eyelids.
"No Sound-Off!" The unicorn suddenly exclaimed, turning around to face her with a stern look. "You're still grounded, and not leaving my sight! You should feel lucky that mother convinced me to let you even leave the castle!"
"Ugh, fine." The dragoness, Sound-Off, went back to reading her book; it was her sixty-fifth time reading the tome cover to cover, the spell book of Fire Dragon Lord Igneel.
The unicorn frowned at her before turning to Luna's door. "Okay Gallant, you got this."
Gallant took a deep breath and trot up to the artfully decorated door. He slowly raised his hoof, glancing back at his adopted daughter who was engrossed in her reading. Although she must have felt him staring, because she looked up at him with a bemused smile. He glared at her, and turned back to face the door. Just before he could knock on it, the doors swung open and nearly knocked him off his hooves.
"Ah! Gallant Aurora! Why art thou not out enjoying the festivities?" Princess Luna inquired.
The alicorn before him was either indigo or navy blue in coloration, depending on how the light hit her. Her miasma mane reflected the night sky itself, right down to the glimmering stars. Her eyes were a peacock blue-green; adorned upon her head, her chest, and her hooves were the royal regalia of a princess which was sparkling obsidian in color. Her face, however, was all but majestic and furrowed into a frown.
"Because dad's freaking out over the hive again." Sound-Off called out, not even looking up from her book.
Luna's frown deepened. "Gallant, it hath been almost eight moons since that day. And since there hath been no further incidents involving Grim Noise, not even a single case of a pony missing."
"That doesn't mean we're safe mother." Gallant argued. "Think of it, almost all of Equestria squished together in a single city? That doesn't sound tempting? And not just Equestria, a lot of important diplomatic figures are also here, Maretonia, Saddle Arabia, the royal deer family from Whitetail Woods, Prance, Trotslyvaina, just to name a few. And if something were to go wrong, it would only hurt Equestria's relationship with them."
Much to his surprise, Luna chuckled. "Oh my son, you do indeed worry too much."
Gallant's jaw dropped, while Sound-Off snickered from behind her book. The unicorn began to stutter, "B- b- but what about- What if- This is serious!"
"It is indeed serious." Luna agreed with a smile. "Serious, because you and my granddaughter aren't out enjoying the Festival of Friendship. You're beginning to remind me of Twilight Sparkle, whom I am late for a meeting with right now."
"Mother, you can't expect me to enjoy the festival when there is danger lurking about!" Gallant protested as Princess Luna began to walk away.
Luna turned back to glance at him over her shoulder. "There is no danger my son. Who would be foolish enough to attack Equestria while all four alicorn princesses are present? Now, go out and enjoy the festival. Your princess commands it."
And with that she continued to trot down the hallway, eventually turning the corner and out of earshot.
Sound-Off burst out into a fit of giggles, much to Gallant's annoyance. The dragoness wiped away a tear. "Nana just told you!"
Gallant scowled at her, and the young reptile immediately stopped laughing. The unicorn sighed in frustration. "How can she not see it?! We've practically gift-wrapped Equestria for Grim Noise with a bow on top! And giving both the Solar and Lunar Guard the day off, what were her and Princess Celestia thinking?! This is bad, this is very bad!"
Sound-Off rolled her eyes. "Come on dad, you heard nana. Nothing is going to happen, not while all four alicorns are in Canterlot. So can we please go enjoy the festival now? Please?"
Gallant was about to tell her no when Luna's voice popped into his head through their telepathic bond.
"I can tell what you are thinking, and that was no suggestion." The princess piped.
"Ugh, fine!" Gallant gave off an exasperated huff. "Come on Sound-Off, we're going on patrol around the city."
"Aww, patrol?" Sound-Off whined.
"I think you mean out to enjoy the various activities and games that your princesses hath organized." Luna chimed.
"Don't you have a meeting to attend?" Gallant thought back to her, before rubbing his temple. "Let's just go."
Sound-Off's grin grew, and she breathed out a stream of amethyst fire. Her book was enveloped in the magical flame, where it was promptly sent back to the room she was staying at in the castle.
"Let's go!" She exclaimed, taking wing. "I hope mom hasn't started the pie-eating contest without me!"
***
A tall pegasus mare with a cutiemark of a judgmental looking skull chased after an excited little colt. The mare's belly was noticeably swollen.
The mare and colt were both white-furred, but that's where the similarity ended. The mare's mane was a bright silver, with a single crimson stripe running through it; the long locks fell over one eye, but this didn't seem to inhibit her sight a terrible amount. The colt, meanwhile, had a mane that was primarily the same shade of red but the tips were black. The mare's eyes were a bright emerald; the colt had ice-blue eyes. His hooves, were also blue. But the most noticeable difference was without a doubt their wings; the mare's wings appeared to have been twisted completely upside-down, and her feathers were strangely angled. While the colt's, on the other hoof, were completely fine.
"Mom! Mom! Look at this! Look!" The colt exclaimed, galloping over to a zebra mare and her tent-style booth.
The booth was filled to the brim with various sized potions that came in a rainbow of colors, and the front decorated to look like a tree. Hanging from the ceiling were various bits and bobbles, hoof-carved masks which sold for high prices, baskets of herbs and berries, and jars full of sacred sands, ashes, and water.
The zebra managing the booth was a friendly looking mare, she wore multiple golden rings around her foreleg and neck, with large hoop earrings that swung as she moved her head. Her eyes were a blazing sapphire, and spoke of untold wisdom. Her mane was a large black-to-white mohawk, and displayed upon her flank the tribal image of a sun.
"Ah, Scarlet Thorn and Black Dawn!" The mare called out upon seeing their approach. "What in my booth has caused your little one to fawn?"
"Hello Zecora." The mare, Scarlet Thorn, chirped. "How are you today?"
Zecora smiled. "I am doing quite well, and have made plenty of sales. Thank you for asking, now what for are you tasking?"
Scarlet turned to the colt and her son, Black Dawn. He was currently trotting circles around an immense gathering of alligator-shaped balloons that were almost as big as he was, which were tied down to a sawed off tree branch. The balloons themselves were surprisingly detailed, although painted with cartoon eyes and happy smiles to attract foals.
"I think," Scarlet began, smiling at the excited colt. "he wants a balloon."
"Yes please!" The colt agreed, jumping up in attempt to grab one of the strings; he had yet to shed his fluffy baby-feathers, and thus couldn't yet fly.
"Ah, but of course. These balloons last a long time I endorse." Zecora versed, stepping out of her booth.
She walked over to the branch and untied one of the balloons, which she tied around the little colt's hoof. Black Dawn's face lit up, as he begun to gallop circles around the zebra.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He chanted, eyes flipping from the striped mare to his new balloon.
"How much do I owe you?" Scarlet inquired once the zebra had returned to her booth.
"For a friend such as you it shall be free of charge, especially when the sheer amount I have is so large." Zecora rhymed out, declining the pegasus with a hoof as she pulled out her bit-bag from between the rigid fabric of her corset and her breasts.
"Really?" The silver-maned pony put her bit-bag back. "Thanks Zecora!"
"It is truly my pleasure, now go enjoy this festival's treasures!" The zebra said, waving them off.
"Oh!" Scarlet had started to walk away, but had quickly turned around. "Before I go, would you happen to know where that lovely smell is coming from?"
Zecora smiled, pointing her hoof out into the massive crowds. "It is coming from an exotic booth known as The Tasty Treat, ran by Saffron Masala a friend from old. Her food is good so I've been told, it is definitely a place you should stop to eat."
"Mom!" Black Dawn suddenly piped as they trot away from the booth. "When are we going to go meet with Nonni Cayenne and Nonno Web? And Gran-père Vlad?"
Scarlet sighed, holding onto her stomach. "Tell you what? How about we find Nonni and Nonno first, hmm? Then we can go see if your father has had lunch yet, and all eat together as a family. How does that sound?"
The colt's face brightened, before he suddenly frowned. "But what about Gran-père? We can't be a family without him."
"Gran-père," The older pegasus spat out through a smile and grit teeth. "is attending official business in the castle."
"But I want Gran-père to eat with us!" Black Dawn insisted. "Can't we go to the castle and see if he can take a break?"
"Official business." Scarlet sternly repeated.
"But-" He began.
"Black Dawn!" The mare suddenly warned, losing her patience as she turned to face him. She winced upon seeing her son shy away. "Oh, no, no, no. My sunshine! I'm not angry with you!"
"You're not?" The colt sniffled.
"No! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose my temper there." She quickly apologized stroking his mane. "Tell you what? How about we go and visit Gran-père after lunch? How about it?"
Black Dawn nodded his head. "Mmm-hmm."
"There, see? All better." Scarlet gave him a quick but firm hug. "Now let's go see what your father is up to."
The colt nodded his head again, following after his mother who did her best to smile for him. Despite her efforts, Black Dawn was silent as they merged into the crowd.
A little filly suddenly approached the potion booth once Scarlet and Dawn had left. "Can I have a balloon?"
"Do you have thirty-bits?" Zecora inquired.
"Um, no?" The filly admitted.
"Then you better check your wits." Zecora stated, waving her away.
"But you gave it to that colt for free!" The filly pointed out.
"Thirty bits is what it will cost, if you cannot pay then get lost." Zecora said, polishing a bottle that had gotten smudged.
The filly's face went from sad to angry. "I hope Nightmare Moon comes and gobbles you up!"
She then trot away, making sure to turn back and stick her tongue out at the zebra shaman.
Zecora simply shrugged her shoulders and continued to polish her wares. Another customer would come.
***
Across the festival, two mares giggled as they sorted through a clothing rack inside of a beautiful light-blue tent that proudly displayed a Rarity's Boutique sign.
The two mares certainly attracted a lot of attention, more from interested stallions and jealous mares than anything.
To the left was a unicorn with clear heritage to the eastern village of Shenkuu. Her ears and horn were much longer than a normal pony's, and her build slimmer. She held about her an aura of grace, displayed in her beautiful kimono. The kimono itself was dominantly black in color, with hidden lotuses embedded into the fabric; the secondary color was a shade of tiger-orange, while the bow around her middle, neck, the fabric of the tips of her sleeves, and the ribbons connected to the puffy white sleeves just under her armpits were red.
The eastern unicorn's mane and tail were a lustrous black that held to it locks of rose-pink; the locks themselves were long, almost flowing like the princesses'. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were amber in color with long and thick eyelashes. In the sunlight, her zaffre-blue coat shimmered like the gossamer coating of a bird's feather while the white markings on her forehead and all but her left foreleg seemed to glow. The image on her flank was of a pink flower with twirls of yellow magic encircling the stem, and two music notes; a sixteenth-note to the bottom left, and a conjoined eighth-note to the upper right.
To the right was a unicorn of normal stature, if not, perhaps just a little shorter than average. Her coat was ash-grey in color, and her eyes- with the exception of her orange eye-shadow- were a brilliant magenta. This mare wore cloud-grey garments that would have made Rarity faint in horror, a cloth mask over her mouth, a ragged piece around her neck, and four more strips around each of her hooves.
At least her mane and tail were redeemable. Her mane and tail spiked outwards, and hung low. The color alternated from black-to-purple almost in zigzags. Tattooed upon her right upper shoulder and partially hidden by her mane was a strange symbol that looked like a swirl and a brush stroke. Upon her flank was the image of three rampaging tornadoes surrounded by a glowing golden ring.
"So they don't have any clothing like this where you're from?" The eastern unicorn asked, her voice sounding young but betrayed by her actual age. "Um, where is that again Tornado?"
"Konaha." The other mare, Tornado Fusion, answered in a very sultry voice.
"Um, where's that?" The first unicorn inquired, sliding over another hanger on the rack.
Tornado was silent for a moment, before she decided on, "Elsewhere."
"Oh. I didn't mean to pry." The unicorn apologized.
"What are you sorry about, hmm?" Tornado ignored, a stallion who happened to have gotten a little too close and had immediately fainted upon hearing her naturally seductive voice. "You haven't done anything wrong Lullaby. You know, it might really help you if you came out of your shell."
Tornado suddenly stepped unnaturally close to the other mare, practically pushing herself against her. Even though she was shorter than Lullaby Lotus, she somehow managed to make herself the more dominant one. The grey mare leaned closer, to the point of where Lullaby could feel the mare's hot breath against her own muzzle. Every stallion within range of the shop immediately stopped whatever it was they were doing; Lullaby felt her own face flush.
"T- Tornado!" Lullaby squeaked as the shorter mare hung around her neck and pushed herself up onto her hind legs.
"What?" Tornado questioned. "I was just going to say that maybe I can help you come out of your shell."
This time every stallion within earshot either fainted, or- for some reason- their noses began to bleed.
A creme-coated mare with a two-toned turquoise mane suddenly trot over to them, Lullaby recognized her as the booth's owner.
"Pardon me, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" The mare softly demanded. "I'm afraid you're obstructing business!"
The mare gestured to all the unconscious stallions littering her tent.
Tornado shrugged, and let go of the taller unicorn. "Aw, I'm sorry Miss Pommel. I didn't mean to cause an uproar. We'll leave, just let me pick up a few things."
The mare trot over to a dress rack, her hips swaying as she walked. She picked up a flattering shoulder-less black dress that came with a pair of foreleg-stockings. The dress itself shimmered ruby when exposed to the sun. She then picked up another dress, which consisted of a black corset, a white undershirt, and a somewhat ragged crimson cape. Lullaby couldn't help but to notice that the second outfit was a few sizes too big.
"Um, Tornado? That outfit is just a little too big for you." Lullaby pointed out.
Tornado smiled at her, the grin itself paralyzing. "Well I know that sweetie. One for me, one for you."
"F- for me?" Lullaby asked with a gulp.
"Well of course, I think it compliments your voice quite nicely." Tornado answered as she made her way over to the counter, where she was met by the booth's manager.
"It's okay, you really don't have to." Lullaby stated.
"Please, consider it my treat." The purple and black-maned mare insisted, paying for her items. "Besides, you would just look so delicious in it."
The eastern unicorn's ears folded back as her blush returned. "I really wish you wouldn't use such words."
"Words?" Tornado's delicate eyebrows knit together in confusion as they left the booth. "Which words? This is just how I talk."
"Well, what I mean is, do you think of what you say sometimes?" Lullaby inquired.
"No. Should I?" The other mare asked.
"Okay, how do I explain it?" Lullaby was quiet for a good minute and a half. "Well for one thing..."
***
The Canterlot Bell Tower stood sentinel over all of the festival. From inside the dark shadows of the tower a silhouette gazed down at the colorful gathering.
The black-coated pegasus leaning against the wall scoffed to himself; he didn't want to be down there. Why would he? With all the fun-looking games, tasty foods, and trinkets for sale from not just Equestria but the entire world. All those vivid balloons, streamers, and banners. Where all his friends milled about and enjoyed themselves. Nope. He didn't want to be down there at all.
He sighed. It just wasn't fair.
From above his arch-nemesis kept vigilance, forbidding him from joining the excitement below. The sun shown brightly above, forcing him to stick to the safety of the shadows. The stallion may have looked like a normal pony, albeit much less colorful, but the large, elongated, and sharp canines gave it away. Looking at the clues it made sense. The avoidance of the sun, the fangs, the glowing pinkish-red eyes, the longer than average and furry ears, the visible twin pricks on his neck. The stallion was a vampony.
His mane was mostly black, a much darker shade than his coat. Although, it held to it a single large white curl. The mane itself curled the closer it was to his muzzle, but spiked back as it ran down the length of his neck. Long bangs partially covered his left eye, while another ebony curtain hid the edges of his right. His tail, however, was pure black and cropped short. While his sharp hooves were crimson in color, as were his secondary and primary coverts feathers of his wings. He carried a suitcase underneath each one of his eyes, large bags that boasted of many sleepless nights...er... days.
He wore a trench coat which matched his coloration. The collar was red, and designed after the wings of a bat. With the exception of the sleeve trimming and the belt buckles and brown leather trim, the rest of the coat was black. Hanging around his neck were two wedding rings, one black and the other white, memories from centuries ago. And balanced on his back and held steady by a strap lie a black staff with two very large and very sharp flat rectangular blades on opposing ends. Embroidered upon his flank, becoming visible as he turned and trot away, was the image of a smiling sun with a bloody razor pressed against its face.
"When can I rest?" The stallion suddenly asked aloud. "When can I finally find peace in death, and death in peace? How much longer must I fight this pointless war? I, the oldest of the Z.O.D.I.A.C. agents, who has lived centuries? When can I see her again? That angel from my nightmares? My bride never to be? Am I cursed to live forever, excluded from pony kind? Has Faust forsaken me? Has she blessed me with the curse of immortality? Or has she made me a monster?"
"What are you muttering about this time?" A new voice piped.
From the stairs came a strange creature that's fur was a mixture of chestnut, tawny-brown, black, and white. It looked similar to a diamond dog, walking upright and canine in appearance. However, his fangs were white, his ears longer and shaped more like almonds, his piercing caramel-maroon eyes were slanted and obscured by circular spectacles, his back hunch-less, his arms were proportionate to his legs, and his black tail large and fluffy.
Around his ankles, wrists, and at the base of his tail were white wrappings. Hanging around his neck was a large white and gold metal collar, and from that collar an eye. He wore a ridiculously rigid and shredded jacket, which fanned out behind him like the claws of some ginormous creature. And tightly hugging his body were a black midriff and skirt. In his claws he held a very evil-looking book, which radiated a dark energy. And the locks of obsidian hair upon his head fell all the way down to his knees, while his bangs hung partially over his face, and sprouting from the sides hung twin braids held fast by two unicorn skulls.
The creature was none other than an anubis from the lost civilization Anugypt, whose only surviving descendants happened to be the diamond dogs.
"Ah, Thanatos my friend." Sunshine greeted. "What brings you here? Run out of fresh hearts for your necromancy already? Well you'll just have to wait. I'm not going hunting until the accursed holy sun has gone to sleep."
The anubis growled lowly as he approached. "Not every time I come to see you means I have a task for you, old pal."
Sunshine and Thanatos were long-time friends, having met almost two-thousand years ago on the outskirts of the rough-'n-gruff city of Ornithia. The two had been inseparable ever since, two outcasts traveling the world together until Princess Luna had recruited them into her organization just before her fall as Nightmare Moon. Being the oldest members of Z.O.D.I.A.C, they were the two that took on the most dangerous missions.
Thanatos was a powerful necromancer who controlled by his book many different enslaved spirits and demons, he himself had a terrifying alternate-form that made even the Vanished look tame in comparison.
Sunshine was the younger of the two, but nonetheless just as wise and deadly as his friend. His nickname was 'the Crimson Lightning', partially because of just how fast he could fly and because of the crackling red electric trail he left in his wake.
Together, or even alone, they were Tirek-damn well unstoppable.
"You aren't going to enjoy the Festival of Friendship?" Sunshine teased with a smile.
"Do I look friendly to you?" Thanatos inquired with a snort.
"Then what brings you from your little hovel in the dungeons?" The vampony asked.
"I'm bored." Thanatos stated. "It's boring down there, and in case you haven't noticed I don't exactly get a lot of company."
"Well perhaps if you stopped using the company you do get in your little, ehem, experiments," Sunshine paused, coughing into his hoof. "then you would have someone other than myself to speak to. Not everyone appreciates being dissected or being used as a living organ-tree after all."
The anubis's face twisted into a malevolent grin. "Oh, but where's the fun in that? Besides, I hate it when they start screaming. And they're always so much more fun to talk to once I've fixed them."
"What about that reptile of yours?" Sunshine inquired. "Where has he gone?"
Thanatos's smile faded. "Azazel? That mangy piece of useless hide is still out in the Dragon Kingdom with his so called 'friends'. I'm afraid he's forgotten his place in the world, and I intend to remind him. He's even changed his name to Baff. How ridiculous is that?"
"Baff?" Sunshine scoffed. "Has he taken one too many hits to the head? We should bring him home one of these days, sooner than later by the looks of it. Want me to fetch him?"
"No. Let him have his fun." Thanatos said with a wave of his hand. "I will deal with him personally. He is my son after all, so I'll be the to punish him."
"Ole' Moon-Butt isn't going to be happy about it." The vampony muttered.
"Well Moony can shove it right where her stars don't shine. Azazel is my child, and I will apprehend him according to my own values and beliefs. He isn't even legally listed as a partaker in the Drago-Solar Pact, I stole his egg if you remember correctly."
"I remember." Sunshine said, looking back at the festival as somepony prematurely set off a firework.
"What about you?" Thanatos suddenly asked. "Will you be enjoying the festival tonight? At least you can go out without drawing too much attention to yourself. If you do, could you deliver this letter to Zecora?"
The anubis handed the pegasus a letter, sealed with a black wax skull. The envelope reeked of blood and some odd cologne that was neither pleasant nor unpleasant to the nose.
"Oh?" Sunshine's lips curved upwards. "Another letter to your black and white lover?"
"She is not my lover!" Thanatos snarled, although he couldn't hide his blush. He then murmured, "She hardly even knows I exist."
"What was that?" Sunshine inquired, his ears perking up.
"Nothing!" Thanatos shouted, before stomping towards the stairs. "I was going to offer you a drink and something to do other than mourn your pitiful existence, but I can see that you're clearly busy! If you need me, I'll be in my chambers working on a new incantation!"
Sunshine started after him. "I better make sure you don't blow up the castle or create an entire evil species, again."
"That was an accident!" The necromancer yelled from the darkness below.
"Uh-huh, sure." The vampony said, following him into the depths.
***
In Canterlot Castle itself, four figures were preparing themselves for their debut later that night. Two of the figures were gryphons, the other a Nyx, and the final a pegasus.
The white-coated pegasus fiddled with the tuning pegs of his electric guitar.
At first glance he could have easily been mistaken for a mare, he was smaller than average- in contrast to his large wings- and less burly than the other stallions. His hooves were black, and his eyes a shade of blue so pure they were almost white. His wild mane was gold in color, with black tips. Tied around his neck was a red handkerchief, the only accessory other than his glasses. His cutiemark was one that was well known across Equestria; a silhouette of his guitar to the left, and a silhouette of a king's piece in chess to the right.
He was Cobra Strike, master of music, speaker of the heart and soul, guitarist and lead singer.
"Hey Cobra?" One of the gryphons called out from behind her instrument, a keyboard with a synthesizer attached to the stand, which she was leaning against. "When's lunch? I'm starving!"
The gryphon was a beautiful hen whose entire body, fur and feathers, was a pure snow-white. Well, almost. Her wings varied in color, her marginal coverts were white with the larger feathers being a navy-blue, the primary and secondary coverts ebony-black, and her outer feathers a bright electric blue. Her tail, which fanned out behind her in long curling feathers rather than the standard gryphon tail, followed a similar color scheme. As did the crest of feathers upon her head which almost ran down her neck like a mane. Her beak was long and thick, like a raven's. And her eyes a brilliant shade of lavender. She wore no clothing, only a pair of indigo shutter shades, rainbow-studded bracelets on either forelimb, and the image of a large purple star painted across her neck.
She was Mainstream- her public name was at least; her birth name was Snow Star- the spunky gryphoness with mastery over any piano-related instrument, and professor of sass in attitude.
"Yeah, let's get some grub already! I want food in my belly, and I want it now!" The Nyx spoke next.
Mainstream nodded her head in agreement. "Come on already, let's eat! There are so many different foods here! I've always wanted to try something from Zebrafrica!"
"Ooh, or true Germaney pork." The Nyx, suggested with the licking of her lips.
"Cengoylan dishes are supposedly very good." Mainstream stated.
"What about something from Trotslyvaina?" The fluffy moon creature inquired. "I've always wondered what their food tastes like."
"Yakyakistan!"
"Maretonia!"
"Abyssinia!"
"Which part?"
"All!"
"Okay, okay! That's enough!" Cobra exclaimed, his own stomach starting to rumble. "Look, I suppose we could take a quick break, but we still haven't had a chance to practice as much as I'd like."
"Boo. You're no fun." The Nyx said, sticking her tongue out.
The Nyx was primarily hot-pink in coloration, with cyan-blue being her secondary, and modeled after a fox. She was slightly larger than a pony, even one as large as Trouble Shoes or Bulk Biceps. Her ears and paws however, were violet. The fur around her neck was ridiculously fluffy, while her ginormous tail curled into vesper trails of dream-smoke as it reached its end. Her eyes were gold, with a red outline to them. And upon her back sprouted beautiful twin faerie wings.
She was Melodic Heartbeat, an unbeatable drummer who's heart followed her kick-drum. And also the only Nyx in all of Equis, having left her home on the moon to find her true calling. She also just so happened to be the special-some fox of the glamorous Mainstream.
Cobra sighed, and set his guitar onto its stand. "Melody, you know how important this gig is right? This will be the gig that puts us back up there. We need this."
"So our ratings dropped a little? So what?" Melody, the Nyx, said with a shrug. "We're still pretty popular!"
"Popular," Cobra emphasized. "doesn't pay the bills. And I need to pay those bills right now especially."
The second gryphon suddenly came up and put a claw on the pegasus's shoulder. "Look Strike, I get it. But that's no reason to stress your band-mates over it. I know that it hasn't been easy for you, but you of all ponies should know when enough is enough. Especially with the new foal on the way."
"You're right." The stallion responded with a sharp intake of breath and a small smile. "And when you're right, you're right. I just can't help but to worry. More than anything I just don't want Scarlet to worry, she's been taking this entire pregnancy too harshly for her own good. I mean, I get it, because, well you know. I guess the stress of it is just starting to wear at me. Besides, I did promise Dawn that we'd start spending more time together."
"Then take it easy and relax. Let's go out for a quick lunch and we'll be back in time to practice for the next couple of hours. We have plenty of time, we're not on until after Songbird Serenade." The gryphon reminded, pointing a claw at his overstuffed clipboard. "I have it all planned out here. We have three hours to spare, I say we go out and enjoy the festival while we can."
Cobra's smile grew as his worries subsided. "I think you're right my gryph. Besides, I can use the time to enjoy my sweet little songbird's company. And maybe do a few activities with my son too. I admit it hasn't been easy with the paparazzi up my flank since Scarlet and I agreed to go public when we learned about our little surprise bundle, but its at least given me some time to spend with them."
"And time you will have!" The gryphon said, flipping a multitude of pages over. "Once this moon passes I've completely cleared your schedule for the next thirteen moons! No gigs, no autograph signings, no public appearances!"
The pegasus's worry immediately returned, and he begun to hyperventilate. "Nothing?! There's nothing?! How am I supposed to produce any income?! What about our ranking?! There's no way we can keep it in the top ten hits without producing any new albums or songs! What if they forget about us?! The public's opinion and demand is always changing, and if we aren't making a presence how are we supposed to stay in their interests?!"
"Cobra, that's enough!" The gryphon shouted, effectively silencing his friend. "Everything is going to be fine. You have enough bits as is, you don't have to worry about bringing in revenue for quite a while. And our fans aren't going to forget about us so quickly, we have almost all of Equestria wrapped around our talons. Hoof, in your case. We've even begun to branch out in Prance and Bridletin. So calm down."
"Right, right." Cobra chuckled out sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. "Let's just not do anything, it will all workout in the end!"
"Ugh, can we eat lunch already?!" Mainstream suddenly demanded.
"I think that would be a fine idea." Her brother agreed, ignoring Cobra's grumblings.
The second gryphon was none other than Looking Glass, the manager of their band. He managed everything, from merchandising, which locations they played at, the visual effects on stage, their tour stops and schedule, and making sure they all got payed at the day's end. He was also Mainstream's older brother.
He had a vulture-like beak that was a shiny sable, but lightened into a yellow-beige near the hook of his beak. His front half was that of a Harpy Eagle, including the piercing red eyes, grey-to-black feather coloration, black-speckled white forelimbs that ended in yellow talons, large angular wings, and of course the neck feathers which could frill up at will. And his back half was that of a Spotted Lynx. The fur was white and plentiful. He had almost no tail, only the small nub that lynx's had. Despite his scary looks, he was a rather nice gryphon that didn't have many complaints of his own and instead looked out for his friends, family, and the overall well-being of the band.
Together, they were Paradise Lost. One of the most popular rock bands in Equestria, they had been on the top ten list in one way or another every year since their initial debut.
"Yeah, come on Cobra." Melody giggled as she floated over to him, wrapping her tail around his form. "Why so serious?"
Cobra muttered something underneath his breath, a few choice words that would have been inappropriate to say in front of small foals such as his own son. "Whatever, let's just take a quick break and be back within the hour. I at least hope dad is handling the stress better than me."
***
Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Princess Cadance, and now Prince Blueblood all stood inside the throne room awaiting the arrival of the long-anticipated Obsidian Vesper and his wife Radiant Hope.
"So these ponies, just who exactly are they aunty?" Blueblood asked. "And why did you pull me from the festival just to meet with them?"
"Because," Celestia began, clearing her throat. "Obsidian and Hope just so happen to be the technical in-laws of your daughter, they're Cobra Strike's parents."
Prince Vladimir Blueblood gulped, and his knees became shaky. Ever since he had first introduced himself to the daughter that he had given up to the orphanage as a foal- who was now a full-grown mare- eight moons ago, he hadn't been able to feel at peace. Of course it hadn't helped that he had decided to go public without his daughter's permission, and now the paparazzi refused- with the exception of when she was in Canterlot because of a certain blue alicorn threatening to give them all nightmares for the rest of their lives- to leave her alone.
Or that he was suddenly at her doorstep every single day. Or that he was constantly sending her and his grandfoal expensive opulent gifts, most of which ended up in the charity bins, 'lost'. It was no wonder she hated him. Or her colt-friend, the father of his grandfoal. Or her foster parents. Or now her in-laws more than likely. In fact, the only one that actually did seem to be willing to give him a chance was his grandfoal.
And he certainly didn't look the part of a father either. While he had started properly grooming himself again, the effects of living in Gryphonia lingered. He had kept the beard for one, although now it was trimmed down but still prominent in a trimming his stylist referred to as 'the Hohenheim'. He had also put on more weight since his return, indulging too much on sweets after nearly starving to death in the homeland of the gryphons; the only food they had to offer was mostly meat with the exception of a few nuts and berries, not that they wanted to share with him. And he no longer so much cared about his reputation or vain looks, his heart only longed for the love and respect of his daughter.
He could only hope to make up for all the years of abuse and neglect she had undergone in the orphanage. In his eyes, Scarlet Thorn would always be the little filly he had given up; his biggest regret.
A sudden loud knocking at the door whipped him from his thoughts and guilt. Their guests had arrived.
Celestia lit up her horn, and the gigantic doors glowed golden as they slowly opened to reveal a small mare next to a large stallion.
The stallion was well-built, with a strong jaw, dominant muscles, and a puffed out chest. His fur was a dark-grey that was just a few shades away from black, while his mane and tail were actually obsidian in color. The mane itself almost seemed to flow, despite there being no vents or open windows in the room. In contrast to his dreary colors, the stallion's eyes were a bright green. While his cutiemark was hidden by a rather tattered looking simple potato-sack style cloak, a thick and rather curved black horn sprouted from his head. Blueblood judged by the mane and dark fur that this was Obsidian Vesper.
While the mare, on the other hoof, was much more delicate. Everything about her was simply, adorable. She was tiny, even by pony standards; maybe about two-thirds of the stallion's height if she stood up on her tippy-hooves. Although, she was also quite beautiful. Her coat was a shade somewhere between periwinkle and lavender, in contrast to her arctic blue mane which curled only slightly but hung tame mostly. Her eyes were the same color as her mane. She was also a unicorn, as told by her longer than average horn. She wore a similar cloak in style to Obsidian, but it was shorter and revealed the image of a glowing golden caduceus. There was no doubt within Blueblood's mind that she was Radiant Hope.
They certainly made an interesting pair.
As they approached, Celestia spoke up.
"Ah! Obsidian, Hope, it has been too long!" She trot over to greet them.
Both unicorns dropped to a bow.
"Princess Celestia." Obsidian greeted.
"Princess." Hope followed.
"Enough of that." Celestia said with an eye roll. "You know there is no need to bow for me, especially not from the two of you."
Obsidian pushed himself off the floor before offering a hoof to his mare. He turned back to Celestia. "It's been a while."
"Almost three years or more, I never keep track of time anymore." Princess Celestia sighed, glancing over to her sister. "I learned not to a long time ago."
"Luna!" Radiant Hope exclaimed, galloping over to the blue alicorn before beginning to dance. "Moonlight, moonlight, fireflies aglow! Light your horn, and let it go!"
The purple unicorn's horn glowed and began to fizzle multiple colors like a sparkler.
The lunar princess giggled, and repeated the gesture. "Moonlight, moonlight, fireflies aglow! Light your horn, and let it go! Ah, Hope, my friend and old student. It does my heart well to see thou are healthy and in good spirits."
"Student?" Blueblood inquired. "Since when have you been taking on students?!"
Luna draped a wing over the mare. "You misunderstand dear nephew. Hope is a student from over a thousand years ago."
"One thousand?!" The white unicorn suddenly shouted.
Hope chuckled, a hoof over her mouth. "I think there's some confusion that needs to be cleared. I'm not technically that old. Obsidian and I were in the Crystal Empire during its disappearance. Our bodies entered a stasis which kept us from growing old. Does that help?"
Blueblood nodded his head.
"Good!" The mare cheered, before teleporting in front of him and levitating him in a telekinetic choke-hold. Her smile turned dark and vicious as Blueblood's face began to change colors while his legs flailed in the air. "Because if you ever hurt my daughter again or, Faust forbid, my grandfoals, I will personally see to it that even Tartarus itself is a paradise vacation!"
She suddenly let him crash to the hard floor below. Blueblood greedily inhaled the air, his chest rapidly rising and falling.
"Mother of me!" Obsidian breathed out in awe. "I still can't get over how amazing she is!"
Hope then offered an outstretched hoof to the white unicorn. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Blueblood looked up at her, and then to Celestia, and to Obsidian before his eyes rolled up into his head and he fainted.
"Well that hath been certainly entertaining." Luna said, before noticing somepony was missing and beginning to look around. "Where hath our fellow princess gone? Cadance? Cadance?"
A sudden hissing noise drew their attention.
The pretty pink pony princess of love was hiding behind Celestia's throne, hissing and spitting like a feral cat while pointing an accusing hoof at Obsidian Vesper.
"Cadance. Cadance no." Celestia sternly warned. "We talked about this! Obsidian has changed, he's no longer the e-"
Cadance suddenly leapt at Celestia when she had drawn close enough, knocking the tallest of the alicorns to the ground. She then barreled straight past Luna and Hope, leaping clear over the unconscious Blueblood.
She lit her horn up, and screamed, "DIE FIEND!"
Obsidian's eyes grew wide, and he quickly teleported away just as Cadance released the spell. Where he had been standing was a smoking blast mark. The pink princess snarled, eyes wildly scanning for the grey unicorn. With a red pop Obsidian reappeared. Cadance narrowed her eyes and flew after him.
"Oh buck." Obsidian swore, teleporting away again.
Radiant Hope and Princess Luna just looked at each other.
"Should we do something?" The crystal mare asked.
"More than likely." Luna answered.
"Are we going to do something about it soon?" Hope inquired.
"No." The nightly princess responded.
"Ah. Okay then." Hope said with a click of her tongue. "Although, shouldn't we do something about Blueblood?"
"Indeed. Wouldn't want him maimed by Cadance's magic, would we?" The alicorn responded, teleporting the stallion onto his bed in his room.
They then continued to watch as Obsidian desperately avoided the Princess of Love's deadly blasts, the stallion unable to get a single word in between the barrage of bolts and charging up his own spells.
"Would you enjoy some corn that has been popped and slathered in churned milk?" Luna suddenly asked, teleporting a large red-to-white striped bucket of popcorn into existence.
"Sounds lovely." Hope responded without even looking away from the light show. She dug a hoof into the bucket and shoved a large scoop of popcorn into her mouth.
Meanwhile, from the floor, Celestia mumbled, "No mama! Brussels sprouts are yucky!"
***
One of the tables outside of Cinnamon Chai's Tea and Cake shop was a cause for clamor and commotion. Crowded around the table sat a ragtag group of ponies, changelings, and a single gryphon. Despite all speaking over each other, they still seemed to be holding a decent conversation.
Directing the majority of the conversation were two very different looking mares.
To the left was a fuchsia-pink unicorn mare; her mane was two-tones of yellow, and almost resembled the petals of a flower. She had dark green eyes, and upon her flank the image of a bursting star. The one on the right was another unicorn, more mundane in comparison. Her coat was a very pale blue, so much so that it was nearly white. Her mane was indigo, and hardly anywhere near as thick as the other mare's. She had pale amber eyes that were more of a dull shade of brown, and was wearing dark-azure eye-shadow. The image on her flank was of a purple heart with four outward facing crescent moons. To Canterlot, they were two of the most influential and well-known ponies in the fashion industry; they were, respectively, Sunshine Smiles and Moonlight Raven.
"Timber Wolf attack, aye? Sound 'spicious to me." One of the changelings said. "I ain't ever heard of no Timber Wolf that keeps 'is prey alive for over a week."
The changeling, who was separated from Sunshine by the gryphon, had darker chitin than the other reformed changelings. His chitin was painted mulberry, in contrast to his rhinoceros-beetle shell which was a shiny emerald green and red eyes. His lower neck was also red, and his middle plum in color.
"Scarab is right." Said another changeling, the one sitting next to the purple-ish bug-pony. "Timber Wolves just aren't the type of predators to do that. They always go for the kill. I've never even observed any sort of behavior like that from them. And I should know, I once lived among them in disguise for a couple of months!"
This changeling was more pleasant in general to look at. Her chitin was primarily white, with a pink middle and bright yellow eyes. The chitin over her wings, which was more smooth and less bulky than Scarab's, was a shiny crimson. Her glittering tail and lower neck were also red. Although, unlike the other two changelings present, she lacked a horn.
"And I can still remember what it felt like to transform into it." The changeling sitting next to Moonlight Raven shuddered before turning to the white-chitined changeling. "I don't know Mantis, but transforming into it just felt, wrong."
"Wrong?" The white and pink changeling, Mantis, inquired. "What do you mean Arachne?"
"You know what? Let's just not talk about it." Sunshine Smiles suggested. "I'd rather not think about it."
"But you don't think it's weird? I mean, the fact that you don't even remember the attack at all?" The gryphoness spoke. She glanced over her shoulder, at the nub where her wing used to be. "Because I remember everything."
Sunshine Smiles suddenly gave the gryphoness a comforting hug. "I'm so sorry Giselle. Maybe if it weren't for me, then, you would still be able to race."
"Nah, it's cool." The one-winged gryphoness, Giselle, coolly assured. Although, her pained look said otherwise. "I'm more worried about you. How can you not remember anything? An entire day, just, gone. It's not natural Sunny."
The pink mare shook her head. "I can't remember anything, it's almost like it never happened. The doctor said it was because I blocked out the memory. And I wasn't missing for more than a few hours. I wasn't missing like-"
She didn't finish her sentence. She didn't want to.
They all fell silent around the table, giving a few minutes of silence to mourn the departed. The unicorn Lily Lace, Sunshine and Moonlight's cousin, had been taken from them eight moons prior. And they all had the same bad feeling that whatever had killed Lily Lace had also been the thing that had attacked Giselle and Sunshine. And, they were all sure that it wasn't a Timber Wolf.
Giselle exchanged glances with the changeling sitting next to Raven, Arachne. Eight moons ago, Arachne and Raven had rescued Giselle while she was being wrongfully accused and beaten almost to death by some police ponies. The charge? The presumed murder of Sunshine Smiles. But when the changeling and Raven had stood up for her and against the police ponies, they had saved her life and they had been very close-knit ever since.
Giselle herself was a lovely looking hen. She had white fur, slate grey feathers, a teal beak and talons, and chocolate eyes. Arachne was definitely the brightest one sitting at the table. She was a ridiculous shade of yellow so pure- although her middle was more of a dark-marigold- that even the sun dulled in comparison. She had a purple ladybug shell that hid amethyst wings, the same color as her translucent tail and curious eyes.
"Anypony have good news?" Moonlight Raven, who hadn't really had much to say until now, asked.
The unicorn mare sitting next to Mantis suddenly cleared her throat. "Well Funnel Web and I have exciting news. We were planning on telling everypony at once, but since North Point and Citrus Blush got hit with the Pony Flu, I guess we'll just tell you now."
"You're having a foal!" Sunshine suddenly exclaimed, diving across the table to envelop the mare and stallion in a hug. "Oh I just, knew, knew, knew, knew this would happen eventually! Ooh! I'm so excited! Is it a colt? A filly? Twins?! What are you going to name them?! I've personally always liked-"
The well-dressed stallion, who had to be Funnel Web, put a hoof over her mouth while the mare next to him levitated Sunshine back to her seat. Funnel Web dusted himself off. "No, Sunshine. We are not having a foal. Our daughter is."
Sunshine gasped before screaming, "SCARLET IS HAVING ANOTHER FOAL?!"
Moonlight, Giselle, and the three changelings all covered their ears as Sunshine let out a high-pitched squeal that shattered their tea cups. The ponies coming and going stopped to look at them with curious and angry glances.
"Jeez, have you ever thought about registering your voice as a lethal weapon?" Funnel Web asked, putting his hooves over his aching ears. "The next time something attacks you, you should just scream at it."
"Seriously." The other mare muttered, rubbing her temple.
"Oops. Sorry." The pink mare blushed.
The two ponies in front of her were just as prominent in the world of popularity as Sunshine herself was. The stallion Funnel Web was a grade 'A' model that designers and photographers were always fighting over.
He had white fur, and a short indigo mane which hung over one eye. His eyes themselves were red, and he wore a black denim jacket with spikes embedded in the collar. His cutiemark was that of a black-widow spider. Although most of Equestria knew him as an earth pony, Funnel was in reality a pegasus. He kept his wings hidden during photo shoots, and since he was always wearing something or another in public his wings were never seen.
Meanwhile, the mare next to him held one of the highest hooves in the realm of gourmet cooking. As was told in her cutiemark, two red-hot chili peppers with flames coming off them. Her coat was also white, which really brought out the garnet, ruby, and pink colors in her mane. Her eyes were also pink, and highlighted by the sapphire eye-shadow she wore. She was Cayenne 'Atomic' Pepper, master chef and restaurant critic.
"Anyways," Cayenne continued. "we don't know the gender. Scarlet and Cobra are keeping it a surprise."
"And they haven't decided on a name yet." Funnel added.
"Aw! Foals are so cute!" Arachne exclaimed. before her eyes went wide and she licked her lips. "And so... full... of... love."
"Sooo," Giselle began, ignoring the three changelings as they began to drool. "how far along is she?"
"Eight months. I know, we've waited a long time to announce it." Cayenne apologized. "But it's been all over the magazines."
"In three more months we'll be able to meet our new grandfoal!" Funnel finished, clapping his hooves together.
"Oh I'm so happy for you!" Sunshine exclaimed, going to dive across the table again before her sister stopped her.
"So excited." Raven stated, although her dull demeanor had not changed.
Sunshine began to look around. "Isn't she in Canterlot right now?! I have a great idea! Let's see if we can find her!"
"No need." Funnel said, pointing a hoof into the crowd. "It looks like she has found us."
Scarlet Thorn and Black Dawn trot out of the crowd. The pegasus mare surveyed the area before her face lit up once she had seen them.
"Mom! Dad!" She called out, galloping over to the table.
The pegasus and unicorn were quick to greet her with a hug.
"How are you my rose thorn?" Funnel asked.
"Oh, we're just so excited for you!" Cayenne exclaimed, hugging her again.
"Admittedly," Scarlet gave them a sheepish look and put a hoof to her belly. "hungry."
"Nonni! Nonni!" Black Dawn called out, practically running into Cayenne.
Cayenne feigned a surprised gasp. "Black Dawn! What are you doing here?!"
Black Dawn giggled. "Having fun!"
The unicorn floated the colt out of her arms, and onto the ground. "Well it certainly looks like it."
"Hey! What about me?!" Funnel pouted, pulling the young pegasus into his forelegs.
"Nonno!" Black Dawn shouted, nuzzling into him.
"Aw! You must be Black Dawn!" Sunshine squealed, teleporting in front of him. "I know we haven't met yet, but I'm totally your aunt Sunshine!"
Black Dawn squirmed out of her hug, and quickly hid behind his grandparents.
Raven walked over to her sister, who was near the point of tears, and pat her shoulder. "Maybe next time Smiley."
"B- b- b- bu- bu-" Sunshine stuttered out as Raven dragged her away by her tail.
"And I'm going to get these guys out of here." Giselle announced, wrapping her tail around the three changelings who were drooling over Scarlet like she was a five-course meal. "See ya!"
Soon it was just the four of them, technically five as Scarlet felt the foal kick.
"So what do you want to do for lunch?" Cayenne asked. "Because I've got a few places in mind."
"Well I was thinking about this place called The Tasty Treat. Only thing is, I don't exactly know where it is." Scarlet rubbed the back of her head.
"Lucky for you, your talking to Equestria's number one food critic!" Cayenne said with a wink. "I know where The Tasty Treat is, and I can get us a table fast!"
"But what about dad?" Black Dawn suddenly piped from his perch, having climbed onto Funnel's back. "Dad is supposed to eat with us. He promised."
"Well let's see if we can find him then." Funnel said beginning to trot into the crowd. He turned back to the two mares. "Are you coming or are you just going to sit here and wait for The Tasty Treat to come to you?"
"We're coming, were coming!" Cayenne assured, sticking out her tongue. She turned back to her daughter. "So Scarlet, where is my grandfoals' father anyways?"
Scarlet giggled. "Cobra should be at the castle with the rest of his band doing a sound check and some practice."
"Hey! Everypony!" A stallion suddenly shouted. "Cobra Strike and the rest of Paradise Lost are in the Ponyville Sweet Apple Acres Section!"
"What?!"
"Since when?!"
"No way!"
"Let's go!"
"How does my mane look?!"
The crowd began to stampede towards the direction the stallion was pointing in.
"Or," Scarlet said with a slight huff. "he's out enjoying the festival."
***
"Why howdy there Mr. Cobra Strike sir!" An old green mare, known throughout Ponyville as Granny Smith, greeted. "What brings you ta' our slice of pie?"
"Just, passing through really." Cobra Strike quickly said, not really wanting to take any more time than necessary.
"Nonsense!" Granny Smith stated, pulling him along with a surprisingly strong grip. "Ya'll here for ta' festivi-what-ya-ma-call-thems!"
"No, really!" He grunted as he struggled to break free. "I'm kind of, in a, hurry!"
"Ah, apple cores!" The elderly pony dismissed his pleas with the wave of her hoof. "It ain't even half-past high noon yet! Ya'll have all day!"
Cobra shot a glare to his manager and band-mates, who were giggling under their breath as they followed after the pegasus and old mare. He mouthed out, "Help me!"
Melody just shook her head. "Uh-uh doll. We all want to have our fun!"
If only the pegasus had fingers, claws, or talons.
Granny Smith continued to drag him around the tables and booths. "Here we have ta' good ole' fashioned home-cookin'! Apple fritters. Apple pies. Apple turn-overs. Apple tarts. Caramel apples. Apple cider! Apple jam. Appled apples."
"Lots of apples." Cobra noted.
"More t'an ya can name!" Granny Smith declared before pulling him along. "And here we got ma families' booths. Bouncy Pie. Strength Kick. Guess ta' Chicken's Weight, designed t'at one ma'self. Hay Jump. Apple Bob. Apple Toss. World's Biggest Apple! Ta' Pie Shop. Ta' Apple Cart. Big Mac's pullin' the whippersnappers in his Train Cart! Apple Jack is monitorin' ta' Lasso Toss! And sweet Apple Bloom and her friends are tryin' ta' attract some new custo-mers to their little club! Say, don't ya have a wee little 'un of yer own?"
"Yeah, yeah. I hear you, I hear you." Cobra said with a huff, stomping over to the booth where three little fillies sat.
"Hi there!" The white unicorn chirped. "I'm Sweetie Belle!"
"And I'm-" He was about to take her hoof when it was suddenly smacked down by the orange pegasus.
"Sweetie!" The pegasus hissed. "Don't you know who this is! This is Cobra Strike!"
The unicorn filly just raised her eyebrow. "Huh?"
"Don't you ever listen to anything other than jazz?!" The orange pony asked through grit teeth.
The little yellow filly with a bow rolled her eyes, extending her hoof out. "And I'm Apple Bloom."
"Cobra Strike." The stallion greeted, taking her hoof.
The orange pegasus's jaw dropped. "Apple Bloom! Do you know what you just did?!"
"Um? Gave ta' nice pony a hoof shake?" Apple Bloom said.
"You just shook hooves with Cobra Strike! The Cobra Strike!" The little pegasus exclaimed.
"Scoot-a-loo, I think yer over-reactin'." The yellow filly stated.
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
Sweetie Belle just sighed. "Sorry about this Mr. Cobra Strike. They can get underneath each other's hooves sometimes."
"It's okay. Between you and me, so do my band-mates." Cobra said with a smile before turning to leer at his friends who were now enjoying some of the food the Apple family had to offer. He turned back to the filly. "So, Granny Smith says you and your friends are trying to recruit young colts and fillies?"
"That's right!" Sweetie exclaimed, stepping away from the other two fillies who had begun to tussle with each other. "Apple Bloom, Scoots, and I are running a Cutiemark Camp! Our goal is to not only help colts and fillies who are looking to get their cutiemarks, but we also want to help those that don't understand the meaning of their marks!"
She handed the stallion a flyer. Cobra looked it over with curious eyes; he broke into a grin as he read aloud the flyer's contents. "Games. Activities. Obstacle courses. Planned lessons. Free?! Where do I sign up?!"
Scoot-a-loo suddenly stopped fighting with Apple Bloom. "You want to sign up for our camp?"
"Really?" Apple Bloom followed, equally as confused.
"No. It's not for me. It's for my son." Cobra explained.
"You mean the colt in Mrs. Pearl Emerald Orchid Sky's class?" Sweetie asked.
"The one with ta' weird cutiemark?" Apple Bloom inquired, immediately receiving a jab from the orange filly. She glared at Scoot-a-loo before continuing. "We've tried talkin' to him before, and he don't want nothin' ta' do with us."
"Yeah, and trust us, we've tried!" Sweetie chimed.
"I mean, he's just so young and he's already got his mark. It ain't somethin' I've ever seen before." Apple Bloom stated.
Scoot-a-loo nodded her head. "And I've never seen a talent like that! A sun with a gem? I mean, what is that even supposed to represent?!"
Cobra raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
The little filly immediately regretted her choice in words and nervously gulped. "What I meant, hehe, is that I've never seen such an interesting cutiemark before. I'm sure that whatever his talent is, it's absolutely amazing. Um, here's the sign-up sheet?"
Cobra Strike gently took the clipboard from her. "Thank you."
For the next minute, he silently filled out his son's information. Name. Birthday. Allergies, of which there were none. Then he moved on to fill out his and Scarlet's own contact information, which was just their address and other places to find them.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle high-hoofed as the stallion handed back the clipboard.
"Wow!" Scoot-a-loo gasped out. "We're going to have Cobra Strike's son as a Cutiemark Crusader!"
Cobra chuckled as he walked away from the excited trio, maybe taking some time to enjoy the festival wasn't such a bad idea after all.
"Hey everypony!" A stallion shouted out. "Cobra Strike just signed his foal up for that Cutiemark Camp! We should too!"
"Ooh, I want my Jet to be friends with a famous pony's son!"
"Yeah, good idea!"
"Me next! Me next!"
"Out of the way!"
"Watch it!"
"But mooom! I don't wanna!"
Or, not.
From behind him, he heard Scoot-a-loo squeak out, "Uh, I think we're gonna need some more paper!"
"A lot more paper! And more clipboards! And pens!" Sweetie added.
"Please! If ya'll could just form a line!" Apple Bloom shouted.
Cobra just shook his head. Someponies were really trying too hard.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Mainstream called out, waving him over. "You'll never guess who we found!"
The gryphoness and Nyx stepped aside to reveal his family.
"We found Scarlet and Dawn!" Melody announced. "Oh, and Cayenne and Funnel too."
"Dad!" Dawn exclaimed, jumping off of Funnel and galloping over to his father.
"Hey Dawn!" Cobra chuckled as Black Dawn slammed into him with a hug. "Have you been treating your mother well?"
"Uh-huh!" The colt nodded his head. "What are you doing here?!"
Cobra showed him the flyer, which he was holding in his wing. "I just signed you up for Cutiemark Camp with the Crusaders! Doesn't that sound fun? Are you ready to be a Cutiemark Crusader?"
Black Dawn's pupils shrunk before he screamed out, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Scarlet Thorn giggled to herself at her son's dramatic display. She then caught a fleeting glimpse of light-blue in the crowd, and with it, black and white.
"Huh? Was that Gallant and Sound-Off?" The mare inquired.
***
Meanwhile, floating over the Macintosh Hills, was a large airship. And inside of that airship an armored mare who was pacing back and forth.
"Hey Tempest! Come on, we'll be there soon!" A strange pug-nosed hedgehog creature assured.
The mare, a sangria-purple with a fuchsia mowhawk, suddenly spun around to face him. Atop her head was the reminisce of a horn, which sparked dangerously with raw magic since she had nothing to channel it through. "Soon, isn't soon enough Grubber!"
The creature, Grubber, flinched. "O- okay then, yeah, we could probably go a little faster. Oh, so where are we, like, heading anyways?"
Tempest's steely teal eyes narrowed, bringing out her scar. "Equestria."
"Oh! That's, like, where your from!" Grubber said with a nod, taking a bite out of a sponge-cake in his paw. Speaking through the cake, he said, "With all the other ponies like you."
Tempest suddenly slammed him into the ship's hull. The cake fell to the ground. "I AM NOTHING LIKE THEM!"
"My cake!" Grubber cried out, grasping for the fallen pastry.
"Ugh, imbecile." Tempest released him from underneath her hoof. She turned back to face him, horn still sparking dangerously. "And have this thing sped up. I want to be in Canterlot within the hour."
"Uh-huh. Will do." Grubber sniffled out, looking sadly at the wasted cake.
"Good." The unicorn said, walking away. "Celestia, Celestia. It's been too long."
