Chapter 2
In the quiet town of Ponyville, the populace had begun their daily routines. The weather team was clearing the skies, Sugarcube Corner had a line of hungry ponies waiting for its goods and young filles and colts were off to school. Within the tree library, a busy Twilight Sparkle, a lavender unicorn, was hard at work on her latest experiment.
Notes and books littered the wooden floor, complicated diagrams and summaries placed at random on the desk which the unicorn had seated herself at.
"OK, you can do this," Twilight muttered to herself. Her mane was frazzled and a slight twitch in her eye as she turned from her desk and pointed her horn towards the center of the library. Her horn began to glow in its lavender light as she channeled her magic. For a few moments nothing changed, till a swirling portal began to appear by the front door. The outer edges had two streams of light blue and dark blue light, intertwining with each other as they danced amongst themselves, creating an oval shape. Within the light barrier was pure blackness.
"So far so good," Twilight said. She closed her eyes tightly as her concentration grew, sweat forming on her brow as the intensity of the spell grew. On the other side of the library a second portal came into existence of similar shape and size of the first portal, but was noticeably different. Instead of an assortment of blue light, green was present and the black space in the center was absent. Instead what was seen was the library itself, but from the perspective of somewhere in front of the door. Similarly, the blue portal was showing the library as well, but from the other side of the room.
As Twilight strained to open her eyes, the portals began to fluctuate, the shapes wavering till they collapsed on themselves in a soft poof, blowing a few stray pieces of paper away from there location. She stood there looking at the no longer present portals before swinging her head back round to her desk.
"UGH! Why does this keep happening," She exclaimed, looking over her notes and reading materials. She contemplated the lack of stability as well as the large strain needed to maintain the portals that should not be occurring based on her predictions. She had gone over all the necessary reading materials available at the library and still was no closer to her goal.
She needed help.
Twilight had exhausted all the resources at her disposal in her home, but perhaps some books at the Canterlot library may aid in her experiment. With her magic she took hold of a quill and parchment, drafting out a letter while dictating to herself.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
I have been experimenting a new type of spell to help assist with large groups of ponies traveling from one place to another but have run into complications. Would you please inform the Canterlot library if they have any books on teleportation, gate ways and anything else similar.
Your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle"
With the brief letter finished, she rapped up the parchment and began looking about the room.
"Spike? SPIKE!", she called out to her assistant, he didn't answer. Just then there was a knock at the door. Placing the letter on the table Twilight trotted over to the door and opened it.
"Hi Twilight," a pink earth pony cheerfully greeted. Twilight began to break into a small smile from her friends infectious happiness.
"Hello Pinkie, do you need anything?"
"Nopedity nope nope, just here to give you an invitation to tonight's welcome party."
"Is there a new pony in town?"
"Dunno, I haven't seem them yet."
Twilight furried her brow that Pinkie was throwing a party to a new pony and not even seen them. "But if you haven't seen them, how do you know there's a new pony in town."
Pinkie pie started bouncing about as she made her way into the library, "Well I was helping the cakes before Sugarcube corner opened and my throat started to tickle, and that's pinkie sense for a new pony is in town."
"Oh right," said Twilight as she rolled her eyes. "Have you seen Spike? I need to send a letter to the princess right away."
Pinkie pie was just placing an invite on the table next to the letter when her back leg started to shake followed by a soft rumble in her tummy. Pinkie looked herself over before looking back at Twilight with a smile still plastered on her face, "He's heading over to Sweet Apple Arces."
"Let me guess, Pinkie sense?"
"Yepidy yep yep," Pinkie happy said before hopping out of the library and into Ponyville. Quickly Twilight placed on her saddle bags and slipped the letter inside before leaving for the farm.
* * *
The sunlight gently filtered past the leafes and branches of the trees, lighting the trail as the angel and dragon made they way through the forest. The birds sung their songs high above, fluttering from branch to branch, entertaining the timber audience. During the walk to Sweet Apple Acres, Ragual and Spike agreed to ask a question each. This would help the angel gain a better understanding of Spike and the area of the land, but it was mostly so he wasn’t bombarded by the inquisitive little drake. As they trekked through the forest, Spike had asked how the Angel 'sampled' the language just by touching his head.
Raguel explained how the angels had developed an innate ability that allowed them to harness energy throughout their body and others through touch. By opening vents that regulate the flow of energy, untapped potential could be accessed at will, increasing the capacity to learn, re-act and in other circumstances, increase strength and mobility.
Raguel kindly left out that the sanctums flow of energy helped regulate the flows of energy for all angels, allowing them to turn it on and off without a second thought. If this form of technique hadn’t become so instinctual for Raguel, being disconnected from the sanctum, he may have never been able to access his power.
"So is that why your eyes were different?" Spike asked.
"Yes, basically the flow of energy is constantly moving through us. When I open the regulators within, the flow is increased, resulting in my eyes changing colour due to the increased intensity of energy throughout my system." Raguel explained.
Spike stared at the Angel for sometime, a confused look on his face. In the end he simply started shaking his head, "You sound way too much like Twilight."
"Twilight? Is she a friend of yours?" Asked the Angel.
"Yea, she's the most powerful unicorn around and I'm her number one assistant," Spike said proudly puffing out his chest.
"Ha ha, fair enough."
Spike took the chance to talk about all his friends that lived in the town, all the way from Twilight to the fair Rarity. As they progressed, the sun glowed more intensely as the cover of the forest began to fade, a cool breeze brushing them gently across their face. The trail turn from a dirt path to grass and soft moss as they entered a vast meadow at the foot of the forest. The wind gently brushing over the fields, bending the grass with its touch, and in the distance rested a small town. The roofs were thachted and coated in a white paint, the towns flock only the size ants as they commence with their daily routines.
From the left, along the path in front of their path sat a barn surrounded by acres of apple trees. Raguel stopped at the foot on the entrance to the forest, taking in the sight before him. The peace, the serenity, it was all so beautiful. Spike took note of the angels reaction, walking in front of him with a smug look on his face and gestured towards the town.
“Welcome to Ponyville.”
"Wow," Raguel mouthed as he looked upon the town before looking back at the young drake, "You live here?"
"Sure do, I live with Twilight at the library."
The Library eh. This is good, once I've satisfied my new needs I can go learn more about... wait a minute?! Raguel turned to Spike, "You live with Twilight? But your only a hatchling."
"Well Twilight was the one who hatched me," Spike stated like it was common knowledge. Twilight hatched a dragon? I thought dragons were very protective of their young, Raguel contemplated, Better change the subject. He begun to make his way down the path, "So Spike, are there any..."
"Hey, you've ask your question, now's my turn," Spike interrupted.
Breathing a quick sign of relief, "Very well, what do you want to know?" Raguel could see the young drake pondering his next question, but couldn't help but notice that Spike's attention was mostly focused around his wings. He looked away keeping mind of the path ahead but could feel the drake's eye's continued stare. Soon it became too much.
"IS, there something wrong?"
This startled Spike as the sudden volume derailed his train of thought and ever so slightly moving away from the walking Angel. Seeing his mistake, Raguel attempted to rectify for his sudden outburst. "Sorry about that Spike, it's just... Did you want to ask about my wings?
The little dragon gingerly nodded his head. "Well, fire away."
"It's just that, I know this pony who can do the sonic rainboom."
"A pony can break the sound barrier?" Raguel asked. With the power of the sanctum, an angel is able to move faster than the speed of light, but to have a mere mortal, without the need of machinery, breaking the speed of sound. Truly this was an incredible feet.
"Well I was just wondering how fast you can go, you know with your wings?"
His wings. If he was asked that a day ago, Raguel would have just made a smart remark that he couldn't possible comprehend the speed he could go. But in banishment, his wings were practically useless. Perhaps he could glide with them, but other than that, he was practically grounded. His continued existence in this state reminded him that without his true home, all his gifts were no longer available to him. He would need to eat to survive, he couldn't soar through the skies, he may even have to surrender himself to sleep as it was needed by the mortals to regain their energy. These points alone served to sadden Raguel. There was no way around this, Spike had to know.
"I... I can't fly, at least... not anymore." The angel said with a sad expression.
"I... I didn't know," Replied Spike, "Are they broken? Can they be fixed?"
"I wish they could, but it's not like that."
"Is that why your here?"
...
"Raguel?"
Raguel shook his head and tried to smile, it was weak at best, "Yea, it's why I'm here."
Spike turned away for a moment before looking back at Raguel, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, "You could live with us."
Such generosity and kindness. Hard to believe it was coming from a dragon. The sincerity in those words warmed the angels heart, giving him the drive to look towards the sky once more. Most of the clouds were now absent from the beautiful blue sky. The few that were left hung low in the air above them and the farm. A smirk formed on Raguel face.
"Thanks," He said, bringing his arms up and cupping his hands behind his head, "But I prefer sleeping in the clouds."
Now Spike was cocking an eyebrow at him. "I thought you said you couldn't fly?"
The angel flashed a sly expression at the little dragon before looking back at the path, his hands still cupped behind his head. "Oook," Spike said sarcastically, "Well, we're here."
Finally they had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. As the smell of the fields of apples and dirt filled Raguel senses, he caught sight of two pony's having a discussion next to a barn. One looked quite old. It had a green coat with a white mane and tail done up in a bun. She also had what looked to be some kind of confection on its rear. To the left stood a young orange pony with a blonde mane tied into a ponytail with a red band. It seemed to also be wearing some kind of hat.
Just as Spike and Raguel started walking up towards the barn, the green pony finished speaking, returning inside the barn, while the orange pony walked over to a wagon. The pony began to inspect the baskets within before noticing the dragon and the angel approaching up the path.
To say it was startled would have been an understatement. With it's attention fixated on Raguel it backed into the wagon falling over the harness and onto it's back, whacking it's head on the ground. Seeing the little show Spike jogged lightly over to the fallen pony while Raguel maintain his current walking speed.
"Applejack! Hey you alright?" Spike asked worryingly as he got to her side.
So this is Applejack, owner of Sweet Apple Acres. "Ermh, Ah'm fine Spike," Applejack muttered as she proceeded to rub her hoof at the back of head with her eyes shut. When she opened them, Raguel was standing over her, looking into her eyes. He squatted down to eye level with the farm filly, holding his hand out to her.
"Need a lift?" Applejack hesitated slightly before she placed her hoof in his grasp and was brought out of the wagons proxy, standing beside it.
"Thank ya kindly," Applejack tilted her hat at the angel before turning to Spike, "Say Spike, is emm... It a friend of yours?"
"Yea!" Spike said enthusiastically, "Well... actually I just met him while I was at the barrens and..."
"The Barrens, by yerself? What in tarnation were ya doing out there along?"
"I was collecting gems, there hasn't been any in the library for a while," Spike explained grabbing his tail and shuffling abit, "And Rairty didn't need any for her dresses."
Seeing Spike, Raguel decided to change the subject to help the little dragon out. "The names Raguel, pleased to meet you, Spike's told me alot about you."
Applejack glared back at Spike, "Did he now." She was clearly annoyed at the little drake for blabbing about herself to somepony he'd just met in such a dangerous area.
Great, I think I just made things worse, thought Raguel, Maybe if I stroke that ego Spike told me about. "Don't blame Spike. I was hungry at the time and he told me you grow the finest apples from all over."
The orange mare turned away to look at the angel. A smile on her lips and her cheeks turning slightly red. Bingo.
"Aw shucks, finest apples in Equestria."
Warming up to Raguel, Applejack looked back to her cart before nodding in the angels direction," Was just about ta head to the east fields, why don't ya come with."
"Sure thing"
As Applejack started hitching herself up to the cart, she looked over to Spike, "So sugarcube, were ya able to find any gems?"
"I sure did," Spike said brightening up, "Rarity cast her gem finding spell on my claws and I found Rubies, Emeralds and..."
Spike stood silently for a few moments before vigorously looking around, patting himself all over.
"Something wrong Spike?"
"Arg my gems, I must of left them behind," Spike quickly turned around running back the way he came. Applejack turned around shouting after him, "Be careful now ya hear!"
"Sure thing AJ," he yelled back before turning at the gate and disappearing along the trail.
Applejack and Raguel stared for a moment where they had last seen Spike before he disappeared from view when the angel noticed the mare hadn't hitched herself up to the cart yet. He felt his gut start to bend in on itself in a small, but noticeable bit of pain. His hunger must be getting worse.
"Say Applejack, if you don't mind, I'll take the cart over," He offered, "It's the least I can do."
"Well thats mighty kind of ya, do er, you need help strapping in?"
"It's OK, I can just pull it along with my hands."
"Alrighty then lets go, daylights a-wasteing."
Grabbing both handles in front of the cart, Raguel broke into a slight jog to catch up to the farm filly as they made their way through the orchards.
* * *
Raguel and Applejack had been out in the east fields for the better part of an hour filling the baskets with apples. When the last one was full, Applejack picked up an apple in her mouth tossing it to the angel.
"Go on now, you've earned it."
The apple was a sight to see. The fruit was large to say the least, it's red skin shining against the glare of the sun. He raised it to his mouth and took a bite, it's juices squirting out as the angel sunk his teeth into it. The taste was tangy but sweet. Easy to chew and very moist. Though the sensation was new, it didn't quite live up to Raguel expectations. Perhaps Jophiel exaggerated a little too much. Though it didn't live up to his expectations, he thought the apple farmer deserved the benefit of a doubt.
"I never tasted anything like it."
"Yea, nothing quite like it is there."
Honey dew springs to mind, "It's lovely, thank you."
As Raguel went to take another bite, the distant sound of clopping filled the air.
"Applejack?"
"Over here sugarcube."
The clopping grew louder till it came to a halt on the other side of a tree where Raguel was resting. "Hey Applejack have you seen Spike? I need to send a..."
Raguel stepped round the corner, coming face to face with a lavender unicorn. She seemed to stand in bemusement at the oddity before her. Is this gonna be like this the whole time I'm here. Sure I'm new, but really? Applejack decided it would be best to introduce Spike's new friend on his behalf.
"Twilight, meet Raguel."
Raguel raised a hand, giving Twilight a short wave, "Hello."
"H-Hi," Twilight replied waving her own hoof. Regaining some of her composure, she seemed to take in the various details of the angel. His hair, cloths, height and lastly his wings. Raguel had quite enough inspections for the time being.
"Your looking for Spike?"
"Uh, yes," stuttered Twilight, "Have you seen him, I need to send a letter."
Why do you need a dragon to send a letter? isn't there some kind of postal service in Equestria? There has to be, how else do I know the word 'Postal service' if I'm speaking Equestrian. Well if she needs Spike, "Spikes down by the barrens picking up some gems, thats where he met me. If you want. I can go there and give him the letter for you."
The lavender unicorn relented, "Sorry... Regal?"
"Raguel."
"Raguel, but I would feel much better if I take it to him, It's very important."
"I can see you find it quite urgent that the letter is sent immediately, but I know exactly where he'll be, "Raguel rebuttaled looking over the unicorns form compared to Applejack, "Not to mention I'm alot faster than you. I'll get the letter to Spike and bring him back straight away." It was very clear that even without tapping into his flow of energy, he was just as fast as the pony's here, maybe even faster. Twilight looked to argue the point further but Applejack stepped in.
"It's alright sugarcube, Raguel came here with Spike, Ah'm sure he'll be fine."
Twilight looked back and forth from the farm filly to the angel, still unsure whether to trust Raguel. Feeling the need to give Twilight a finally push, Raguel kneeled in front of the unicorn, "I swear Spike will get the letter swiftly, you have my word as an angel."
"An angel?" A quizzical expression on her face, "What's that?"
"Hm, I'll tell you when I return."
The prospect of learning something new about the creature seemed to tip the scales in Raguel's favour. Without a moments notice, Twilight opened her bag with her magic and floated over the letter to the angel who took it in his hands.
"I shalt be long." With that Raguel leaped up from his seating position and ran down the path out of the farm and towards the forest.
* * *
"So what do we have here?"
"Hey give though back!"
"If the dragons here, then that whiny mule must be near by."
"I don't see her, let's just grab the gems and go."
"Wait, look at his claws."
"Their glowing?"
"The mule must have cast a spell on him, It's lightening up near the gems."
"Egh, let me go!"
"He'll be much easier than her."
"Fine bring him back, he'll be less annoying anyway."
"No! Somepony, anypony, HELP!"