//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Weird Pony // Story: Heart of Light // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Heart of Light Chapter Two: Weird Pony Written by TheCrimsonDM The Sugarcube Corner, a generally nice and cozy little bakery shop complete with smoothies. Of course it’s almost always busy as well. That last bit was what kept Valiant from spending a lot of time here, even if her favorite aunt worked here. She could just go to her aunt’s home and get free cookies so she didn’t need to force herself through the crowd to get in here. Today Valiant was here for somepony other than herself, so she was out of options. There was half a dozen customers inside the shop. Not as busy as it could have been, but busier than she’d like. Still in the corner near the window Valiant spotted one such mare that peeked her interest. Sweetie Belle was sitting by herself sipping at a pink smoothie. There was a half eaten cake and a few dirty plates sitting next to it on the table. Valiant sucked in a quick breath and made her way to the table. “Sweetie Belle?” Sweetie’s head jerked to the side as she looked down at her friend. “Val? What are you doing here? You hate being around other ponies.” Valiant shrugged. “Twilight made me.” “Oh, I get it. Friendship lesson right?” Valiant nodded. Sweetie Belle lifted her hoof, “Here, let me get you a slice of cake.” Her hoof bumped into one of the plates. The plate slid off the edge of the table. Sweetie’s hoof went instinctively towards the falling dinnerware, and smashed into the floor sending shards flying out in every direction. One particular shard flew up past Sweetie’s hoof, cutting a fine red line across her leg. “Ow, darn it!” Sweetie cried as she reeled back. “Ow, the others are going to pick on me for this.” Valiant hardly comprehended Sweetie’s words as she saw the blood pooling over, staining the pristine white fur. Something turned on in the back of Valiant’s mind and her hooves went straight for the wound. Sweetie Belle tried to smile but couldn’t do much more than wince in pain. “It’s okay, Val. It was my fault.” With her brown hooves gripping Sweetie’s leg, Valiant could feel the pain of the injury. It hurt but was far from the worse thing Valiant had ever felt. Valiant had just the remedy for the injury that nopony else could match, even if it was breaking the rules. Valiant summoned forth the magic string inside of Sweetie Belle and channeled it toward the wound. “Shh,” Valiant cooed as she worked her own personal magic into the energy. Soft white light appeared at the edge of Valiant’s hooves, covering the wound. “W-what are you-“ “Shh,” Valiant said once more as she pulled away. The wound was gone, only leaving behind a streak of red stained fur. A smile grew over Valiant’s lips as she stared at her finished work. When she looked up and saw the wide eyed, gaping mouth expression that Sweetie was giving her it occurred to her that she probably shouldn’t have done that. “You’re an earth pony,” Sweetie said quietly. “How did you do that?” Valiant looked away, choosing to focus on the shattered plate instead of meeting those troubled eyes. “I’m not normal. Sorry.” Sweetie Belle shook herself thoroughly. “You’re awesome! Don’t apologize, that looked like I was going to need stitches. I hate needles and you saved me from that.” There was a moment of silence, and Sweetie’s eyes met Valiant’s eye. Sweetie’s cheeks turned ever so pink as she nearly whispered, “I really like your mane.” Valiant blinked. “Um, what I mean is that you’re my friend and that was really nice… but how come you never told me?” “Against the rules.” Sweetie frowned at that. “To use that… uh, power?” Valiant nodded. “Well that’s hardly fair, you should use it all the time. It was fantastic!” “Mmnmm,” Valiant shook her head. “Too much attention.” “But… everypony would want to be your friend if they knew. Why is that bad?” Valiant looked back to the door like her life depended on it. She looked around, not a soul was staring at her so luckily nopony noticed her use that power. For a moment she thought she was free to just leave, but then Pinkie Pie appeared around the corner along with Scootaloo and Applebloom. Pinkie Pie took one look at the cake, the plate on the floor, Valiant trying to desperately hide behind her shaggy mane, and Sweetie Belle who was smiling a little too much. Pinkie practically bounced into the room her smile brightening the area. She stopped just at the table and beamed down at Valiant. “You’re a good kid,” Pinkie said warmly. “That’s why you’re my favorite adopted niece.” Valiant frowned up at her. “Oops, sorry, didn’t mean to drop the A bomb on you,” Pinkie said. “Heehee, but you’re still a good kid.” Applebloom looked at the plate on the ground. “Oh man, did you break another plate? Sweetie Belle?” Sweetie’s smile vanished immediately. “N-no of course not.” Valiant recalled how Sweetie was afraid of being teased. As her one of her only friends, Valiant couldn’t just let her fears come true. Valiant rose her hoof timidly. Applebloom gave her a curious look. “What did you break it?” Valiant nodded. Sweetie Belle looked down at Valiant with a slight frown. “It was just an accident, so it doesn’t matter.” Pinkie Pie nodded. “Yeppers, and it’s not like you ruined any cake. If you had…” Everypony stared at Pinkie Pie in disbelief. Pinkie’s grin grew impossibly wide. “…then I’d have to make more!” The three noisy ponies giggled at Pinkie’s silly behavior. Valiant allowed herself a goofy grin, but stayed as silent as a mouse. Sure she didn’t like being in crowded areas none too much, thus why she hated school, yet she was still here, here and despite herself having fun. Sweetie Belle now knew her secret, though part of her had wanted to tell somepony for a while now. Sweetie Belle would be a good pony to start with, she was after all half of Valiant’s friends. *** Twilight strode through the doors of the Carousal Boutique. Although fancy dresses still lined the walls, and there were patches of the store clearly still meant for business, the fact that various toys littered the floor as well as claw marks on the carpet, teeth marks on the manikin legs, and the distinct smell of sulfur all told a different story. “Hello!” Twilight called out after seeing nopony around. A purple dragon head large as her own poked in from around the corner. This was followed by a roughly pony sized dragon carrying a tiny white filly with bright green reptilian eyes and a short green mane. The filly gave a sharp toothed grin at Twilight upon seeing her. “Spike, Jade,” Twilight said as she made her way over to them. She nuzzled the filly and was rewarded with a giggle. “Oh, you’re just too cute. Grandma Twilight loves you. Yes she does, yes she does.” Now it was Spike’s turn to giggle. “You turn into mush every single time your around her.” Twilight smiled up at him. “You and Rarity made a great child.” Spike looked around the boutique. “And a destructive one. She can’t even help the claw marks.” Twilight frowned at that. “She doesn’t have any claws… she has hooves. Cloven hooves, but still-“ Twilight stopped as she looked down and saw just how sharp the little cloven hooves really were. They were just as sharp as Spike’s claws. “That was Rarity’s reaction.” Spike walked over to a chair and sat down. “The sharp hooves are new. As is the sulfur burps. She actually burnt Rarity’s mane last night.” The filly jumped out of Spike’s grasp, ran up hugged Twilight’s leg, and then ran away. Twilight watched the filly run into the other room with a big smile. “She’s adorable.” “Yeah. So what brings you here?” “I was just visiting my family? Also Rarity’s birthday is coming up and I wanted to ask you if you had any ideas for good gifts?” Spike arched an eyebrow. “You got her a book, didn’t you?” “Um… no,” Twilight lied. “Uh-huh. Okay, well if you aren’t looking for books, try chocolate. Rarity loves chocolate. Even though she’s turning thirty she still-“ “Twenty Nine!” Twilight snapped. The fear of Rarity hearing such blasphemy was just too much. Spike laughed. “Sure, whatever she says. Twenty Nine. It’s not like she’s going to die anytime soon. She’s a dragon’s wife. Kinda immortal.” “Long lived. Your genetics changed her and she is now long lived, not immortal. I can’t fathom how long she will live either, a few hundred years, a few thousand, I mean there aren’t very many ponies out there who have been brave enough to breed with a dragon. So that’s why Jade’s such an interesting little treat. Watching her grow up has been really fun, and educational.” Spike coughed nervously. “She’s not a test subject.” “No, but a healthy dose of research can’t hurt, especially if it helps us understand what she is better. Unless somepony does research she could get sick, and nopony would know how to fix her.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Just promise to love her for who she is, more than for what she is.” “I promise to do both.” “That’s about as good as I’m going to get from you isn’t it?” Spike asked. Twilight only smiled. “Okay, so what are you really here for?” “I… might need to have Rarity make me a new cloak, and another one, much smaller.” Spike pushed himself up. “Another dangerous mission?” “No, this one is safe, just… secret.” “Mom,” Spike began but stopped himself. They’d both done this song and dance enough times to know how it all played out. So deciding to skip an hour’s worth of fighting and the inventible apology he simply closed his eyes. “Stay safe.” “I will.” *** Valiant walked the old dirt roads of Ponyville with Sweetie Belle at her side. The other two had scampered off to chase colts or something. Honestly Valiant was just happy to be away from them and even more so to have Sweetie to herself again. Being friends with only one of the Crusaders had proven to be nothing more than a great big hassle over the years. “So that thing you did… that was magic wasn’t it?” Sweetie Belle asked. Valiant shrugged. “But you’re an earth pony.” “Quarter griffon,” Valiant added. “How is that supposed to… never mind I don’t want to know. You still used magic, that should be impossible.” Valiant gave her a blank one eyed stare. “Mom has super strength, Fluttershy can freeze ponies by looking at them, and Rainbow Dash can explode.” Sweetie Belle bit her lower lip. “Oh… well when you put it that way it does sound less weird.” “Rainbow Dash, can, explode, into rainbows,” Valiant re-stated. “Ok, I get it. Not that weird at all. But still, I wanna know how, and why?” Sweetie wasn’t the only one who wanted those answers. Over the years Valiant only had one answer to any questions involving what she really was; that she was a weird pony. Other than that she was left clueless. She wasn’t likely to get anymore answers anytime soon. It always left her feeling lost to think too hard on the subject, even when she questioned Boulder she didn’t get any real answers. Yet there was a small hope for the future, the Seekers Archive. If anyone, anywhere had the information she sought it would be there. “I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle said lamely. “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.” Valiant merely shook her head. Sweetie shook her head. “No, it was rude of me. You’re my friend, and that’s all that’s important. Besides… I…” They reached the little cottage that Valiant lived in at the edge of town. Valiant turned to face Sweetie Belle but found the filly looking down at the ground. Sweetie Belle swallowed and her cheeks grew pink. “I… I really like your mane.” Valiant raised an eyebrow. “Thanks?” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “N-no problem.” Valiant looked back at her door. “Wanna come in?” Sweetie Belle took a few steps away. “N-no I got, um, homework. You know, we’re working on biology class tomorrow, should be… something.” Valiant shrugged, turned and walked inside. “See you later.” “Bye!” Sweetie Belle called out as she practically galloped away. Valiant entered the house recalling the fact that although she might be weird, she was not the only one. Sweetie Belle got down right awkward sometimes, and for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why. If only Valiant understood ponies better, she could figure out what made Sweetie Belle grow increasingly awkward, and help her fix it. There was no need for two socially awkward ponies in Ponyville. Just inside Valiant saw the kitchen/dining room to her immediate left. It was empty. To her right she saw the living room/den. The walls had been knocked down a few years ago to make the area larger. On one of the couches sat Trixie, right next to a little pink unicorn with a lavender and red striped mane. There was a book between the two of them, Trixie’s personal copy of “The Great and Powerful Friendship Books; Captain Trixie’s adventure.” “The Great and Powerful Trixie knew that there was something wrong,” Trixie read. “The sky had turned black, rain was pouring from the heavens and thunder roared above her. Still she took the helm from Twilight and thus control of the ship.” “Then what happened?” The filly asked. Valiant rolled her eyes. How many times has she been read this story? Yet she always loves it. I got bored just helping Trixie edit it. “The Great and Powerful Trixie scolded Twilight, not for stealing control of the ship from her, but for getting the entire crew in trouble. Trixie was a forgiving pony and as Twilight cried for forgiveness Trixie embraced her. ‘There, there,’ Trixie said with a gentle voice. ‘We all make mistakes, it’s how we make up for them that matters. Will you help me sail out of this storm, First Mate?’ “Twilight’s eyes widened and a smile grew over her lips. ‘Anything for you, Captain Trixie!’ Twilight cried in joy. “Together the two of them had to work hard, but through terrible weather and dangerous waves they managed to sail back to port. It was only due to the power of friendship that they were able to succeed. And to this day Twilight and Trixie remain great and powerful friends. The End.” The filly smiled and jumped with joy. “Twilight used to be a real meanie pants didn’t she?” Trixie giggled. “Only sometimes.” “Yeah, well… it was still not nice of her to steal your ship.” “No, but we made up afterwards. That’s what friends do, they forgive one another.” The filly beamed up at Trixie. “Can you read it to me again?” Trixie’s smile only grew. “Oh, okay, but only because you’re the Light of my life.” Before Valiant had to sit through another reading of that terrible book she stepped into the living room and coughed. Trixie looked back at her and beamed. “You’re finally home! How was school? Did you enjoy it? Nopony was mean to you were they? Did anypony pick on you for your eye patch?” Valiant rolled her eye. “It was ok.” “Then why didn’t you come home for so long? It’s nearly five’o’clock, Maudie is so worried about you.” Valiant cringed. The last thing she had intended was to hurt Maud. “Sorry.” “You want to help me read books to Amber Light?” Valiant looked down at the filly, at her little sister and thought about all the books that Amber was even interested in. All of them were those stupid books that Trixie had tricked Twilight into publishing years ago as part of a joke. The real joke was how popular they got with both kids and adults. Seeing the Elements of Harmony, along with the princesses in different roles and not always a good one made ponies go crazy with fanatical spending. Especially the tale of Princess Luna being a liar and only learning that one should never cry wolf after Trixie rescues her from a shadow beast… actually pretty much every story ended with Trixie saving somepony from the moral mistake they made and teaching them a lesson in friendship. “No,” Valiant said as she walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed a history book in her teeth and went back to her room. “Maud’s going to want to talk to you,” Trixie called out. Valiant would just have to accept that Maud was upset with her and that she might be grounded. Though what counted as being grounded in this house was nothing to really cry over. If Valiant did something bad she’d take her punishment, because she knew that Maud and Trixie loved her more than the world. It wasn’t until much later just before dinner time when Maud finally entered Valiant’s room. The place was unremarkable save for the bookshelves, and the cat plushies lining the window. Valiant was lying on her bed, still engrossed with her book when Maud took a seat next to her. “You didn’t get home until five,” Maud said, her monotone voice hiding her real emotions. “I know.” “I was worried.” “I know.” “Why?” “Friendship lesson.” “With Twilight?” Valiant closed her book and sat up. “I’m sorry.” A loving leg wrapped around Valiant and pulled her in close. Valiant was so tiny compared to Maud, but it left a warm safe feeling in her heart. She couldn’t help but to snuggle into that muscular chest and attempt to hide her good eye. She could feel the tears coming on already. “Shh,” Maud cooed. “Don’t be sorry. It’s ok.” “I hurt you.” “It was an accident.” “You and Trixie took me in, gave me a home, food, and love. And this is how I repay you? By forgetting to check in and making you feel bad?” Valiant was crying now. “I’m a terrible pony.” “No, you’re perfect.” Maud’s hoof stroked the back of Valiant’s head gently. “How can you say that? I even broke the rules today and used my power on Sweetie Belle when she got hurt. She knows now.” Maud’s entire body went ridged. “What did… she think?” “She’s curious, so am I. But she’s still my friend. Mommy, she didn’t hate me at all.” “I’m glad. Someponies wouldn’t be so nice though. Twilight asked us to keep it a secret, until you’re an adult at least. I just want you to have a normal childhood.” “I’m not normal, and I never could be. Not with all the stuff that’s happened to me on top of me having weird magical powers.” Valiant rubbed her face into Maud’s fur and Maud relaxed. When Maud’s hoof began brushing her mane again Valiant decided it was time to ask the important question. “Twilight’s going to start doing some research soon, and she’ll need my help.” “Research on what?” There was an underlying tone of threat to Maud’s voice. She hadn’t trusted Twilight in years, but then again she didn’t trust many ponies outside of her family. “On… stuff to help me figure out what I am. She has some information as to how to find out.” Valiant pulled away and met Maud’s eyes. “I want to know.” Maud blinked, her eyes were wet. “I will talk to Twilight.” “But can I help?” “Don’t you help enough already?” “Mommy! This is about what I am. I need to know.” Maud blinked. “I will talk to Twilight-“ “But I want to-“ Valiant stopped when a hoof gently pressed against her lips shushing her. Maud’s hoof smelled like dirt. “-but I will probably say yes.” Valiant smiled. “Thank you.” Maud smiled in return, a rare and good sign.