//------------------------------// // The Storm: Part 1 // Story: One Bolt, Spreading Harmony // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// Above the map floated an image of Twilight’s Cutie Mark, orbited by a grand total of seven additional marks. They were situated on the northern half of an island to the northeast of Manehattan. The ponies whose marks were displayed took a long look at the area, joined by yet two more. “Why did the map have to call us right now…?” Twilight asked, hanging her head. “Everything was finally coming together for a perfect visit!” “Well, life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” Boltsinger noted, examining the location. “Isn’t that the island where Trottingham is located?” Luna gave a confirming nod. “It is, indeed. Quite far from Ponyville, as well. I do hope none of you are prone to seasickness.” “As long as there ain’t no bunyip ta capsize us, I’m good.” Applejack boasted. “Me, too!” Pinkie affirmed. “But I don’t think we have to worry about one of those. The last one we met was at the Seaward Shoals and that was all the way on the other side of Equestria! The chances of us randomly meeting another one are as tiny as a cupcake! Or at least a batch of cupcakes…” Her stomach performed an audible growl. “Aww… Now I want some cupcakes!” Twilight breathed a sigh, taking her own look at the area. “It looks like it’s calling all eight of us… This might be a big deal.” “Okay, then, I guess it’s time to get a babysitter.” Boltsinger started, pulling a list from his mane. “Let’s see…” He looked around the room at the ponies he’s be going with. “Well that won’t work… Maybe some of the students?” “No, they have enough on their plate already with their studies.” Twilight argued. “Besides, I’m not sure how good Yona would be with somepony so squishy.” “I can do it.” Celestia stated, raising her hoof. Boltsinger looked back at the list, continuing his search. “Cakes have their hooves full right now… Scootaloo just finished her flight practice, so she couldn’t keep up with him right now… The other Crusaders wouldn’t fare much better…” “I volunteer!” Celestia called out again. “And all of our go-to babysitters are going with us…” he finished, looking tentatively at the map. “Why’d the map have to call all of us…?” With a mildly frustrated groan, Celestia raised her hoof to her mouth, clearing her throat. “I volunteer myself to take care of the baby for as long as you’re gone!” The parents followed the command for attention, looking over at the Sun Princess. Twilight’s muzzle was lined with a big smile, while Boltsinger’s was on the more nervous side. “That’s a great idea!” “Are you sure?” Boltsinger wondered, looking back at his list. Twilight elbowed her husband in the side, leaning in close. “What do you mean, ‘are you sure’? This is Princess Celestia we’re talking about!” she whispered. “I know, first hoof, that she’s great with foals! She was my teacher when I was little!” “I know that.” he replied, sneaking a look at the smiling monarch. “I have absolute faith in her ability as a teacher, a ruler, and a friend… But have you seen her handle a baby?” “No, but she’s the Princess! She can handle this!” she retorted, giving him a smile of utmost confidence. Boltsinger smiled back at his spouse. “Okay… But I’m making a checklist.” Twilight audibly cooed at the idea, pulling him close and nuzzling his nose. “Of course! You know I love it when you get organized!” “So, Trottingham, huh?” Rainbow began, hovering above the boat. “What do you think is going on there?” “Hopefully nothing too awful.” Boltsinger replied, resting his head on his hoof. “Probably some dispute between groups. With all of us going, it shouldn’t be too difficult.” “Or it could be a supervillain causing something horrible to happen!” Pinkie suggested, jumping out from behind him. “That’s what happened every other time all of us has been called by the map somewhere!” She rushed over to Starlight, re-styling her name to have her bangs drape over her forehead. “First we went to Starlight’s village where she was stealing everypony’s Cutie Marks and making everything bland and awful!” She jumped onto the bow of the boat, putting on an all-black outfit  with a fake horn and wings. “And then there was the Poooooooony of shaaaaaadooooooows! Who Twilight and Starlight saved!” She pulled the outfit off and moved back to Boltsinger, smacking him on the back so hard that he fell overboard, only to start flying alongside the boat. “And then there was that time Sparks got the Alicorn Amulet and attacked the Tree of Harmony! But that’s just three times out of three. No reason it can’t be different now!” Boltsinger returned to the boat, taking a spot next to Pinkie. “Every time, huh?” “Well, I guess we’ll find out soon.” Starlight pointed out, pointing her hoof ahead. “There it is…” The group looked over the railing, where the town of Trottingham loomed over them. Pinkie let out an excited giggle as the boat docked, bounding over the edge and towards the town, looking around with her hoof over her eyes. Rarity walked past, letting her horn pull her ecstatic friend by her tail. “Now, Pinkie Pie, I know you’re excited to be here, but we shouldn’t do much to draw attention to ourselves.” “This comin’ from the pony who commands attention wherever she goes?” Applejack deadpanned. Rarity stopped for a moment, hiding her muzzle with a hoof and batting her eyelashes and turning heads on the street. “Well, one can’t help but draw the occasional glance when one is as fabulous as I am!” “It’s nice to be back here after such a long time.” Fluttershy mentioned, taking in the sights. “I haven’t been to Trottingham since I came here with Zecora last year!” Rainbow fell to the ground, laughing. “Oh, yeah! I remember that week!” She wiped a tear from her eye, still busting a gut. “That was such a great prank!” An icy stare fell upon the cyan mare, turning her rigid as she looked back at Twilight and Boltsinger. Their gaze pierced into her, sending her running to hide behind Applejack. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t so great…” “Anyway, we have a job to do.” Starlight said, trotting ahead. “Anypony know where ponies might gather around here?” Boltsinger ascended to a new vantage point, getting a look around. “This is the first time I’ve been here without my lightning making me do it. It’s a little fuzzy, but I’ve got a decent lay of the land.” “Okay, then, you lead the way, Bolt!” Twilight ordered. He gave a nod, returning to the ground and heading down the street. They took a long look around as they proceeded to a nearby plaza. The ponies all around were of a slightly different sort. Adults were slightly larger than what they were used to, reminding Rarity of the manager of her Canterlot boutique, with several more bearing spotted patterns on their coats. They weren’t unfamiliar with ponies of this like, but for many of them, it was their first time they’d seen so many of them at once. Eventually, they found their way to a plaza where a large gathering of ponies had formed. A grey-cloaked Earth Pony mare stood on a makeshift stage. Unlike the locals, she was a more average size, with a tan coat and an almost completely shaven white mane with yellow eyes. She stepped to the edge overlooking the crowd, clearing her throat. “Fillies and gentlecolts, have you grown bored with your special talent? Ever wonder if there was something else you could do with your life?” Several ponies in the crowd muttered amongst themselves, wondering what she was talking about. “If the monotony of what you once believed was your calling has brought you down, then join us, the Talent Troupe!” “Talent Troupe?” Starlight repeated, cocking an eyebrow. “Sounds like a theater performance to me.” Boltsinger noted. “How the hay do you change your calling, anyway?” “I bet you’re wondering how you can change your calling.” the mare continued, pointing at the crowd. Boltsinger pointed to himself, looking around at his friends. “Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be possible. But… the Talent Troupe’s leader has devised a way to do just that! For instance…” She lifted up the back half of her cloak, revealing a Cutie Mark of a hammer and nails. “This is my Cutie Mark. But I hate just building things! What I do like is art! When I joined the Talent Troupe, and met our leader, Lord Paradigm, I became capable of THIS!” She produced a canvas and easel from below the stage along with a palette, brush, and paint. She quickly set everything up, swiftly getting to work. Half a minute later, she put her tools aside, spinning the easel to reveal an image of the landscape behind them, shimmering like nothing the gathered ponies had ever seen in real life. Comments were sounding all over, talking about how beautiful the painting was and how they might enjoy changing up their lives to a degree. “My, that certainly is a beautiful piece of artwork!” Rarity stated, looking longingly at the image. Twilight nodded in agreement, bringing her hoof to her muzzle. “Yes, but can’t you build up that kind of skill without relying on a Cutie Mark?” “Maybe we should check out this ‘Talent Troupe’?” Rainbow suggested, gesturing to the mare. As the cheers began, the mare waved her foreleg. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! If you’re interested, Just speak with me! I’ll be here awhile longer!” The crowd began to disperse, a number of ponies staying behind to speak with the mare. Boltsinger took a look at Twilight, pointing at her with his wing. “So, what do you say? We gonna talk to her?” Twilight put her hoof down, looking at the cloaked pony with fierce determination. “Yes. If there’s something going on, I’m sure we’ll find it with this ‘Talent Troupe’.” She waved everyone forward. Spotting the approaching ponies, the cloaked mare perked up. “Why, hello! Are you interested in joining us in the Talent Troupe?” Her smile was inviting, somewhat infectious, but it sent an eerie chill down their spines at the same time. She was genuine, but there was something… off… about her. The ponies took turns looking at one another. Fluttershy took the first opportunity she could to hide behind Applejack, who pushed Rarity forward. The fashionista shook her head vehemently, motioning to Pinkie Pie, who was still shivering from the initial chill. She looked to Rainbow Dash, who recoiled, pointing to herself. She shook her head in turn, pointing to Starlight, who proceeded to facehoof, pulling Boltsinger forward with her magic as Twilight joined the approach. Twilight brought her hoof to her heart with an inhale, extending her foreleg with a long exhale as Boltsinger slapped his muzzle with his wings. Finally, the Princess cleared her throat. “Yes, we are interested in seeing what your group has to offer. Would you please take us to this ‘Paradigm’?” The mare clapped her hooves excitedly, letting out a joyous giggle. “Oh, of course! Lord Paradigm will be so happy to meet you all!” She took an extra long look at the lilac mare that spoke first, widening her eyes as she spotted her wings. “Especially you, ma’am!” She bounded off past the crowd, waving them along. “Come! Come! There’s much to see!” “Wooooooooooow! So many ponies!” Pinkie pointed out, marvelling at the sheer number of grey-cloaked ponies around. “Yes, there’s certainly a lot of them.” Rarity confirmed, looking at the masses. Like the mare that had led them to the village of tents they approached, they all had manes that were almost completely shaven off, leaving their heads to be naught but a profile with the same genuine yet off-putting smile. “But just look at how they… um… ‘handle’... their manes, dear! Not even a fashionable forelock? Such a pity…” “Lord Paradigm’s residence is this way, friends!” the mare informed them. “He’ll be so excited to meet you! Why, he may even allow me to learn something new! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” The group was led to a tent that looked to be three stories tall, banners of an image where ponies were placing a hoof on each other’s flanks on either side of the entrance. “I’ll go ahead and let him know you’re here!” She bowed curtly, disappearing into the tent. “Anyone else think this place seems… off?” Starlight asked, looking around. “It kinda reminds me of my old village… and not in a good way.” “I don’t know, they don’t seem miserable like the ponies in your village were.” Fluttershy noted, smiling back at the onlookers. “Their smiles are much nicer than the ones those ponies had.” “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Fluttershy…” the Unicorn flatly replied. “But I get what you mean. They don’t seem miserable, just… off.” One of the ponies in the crowd stepped forward. “... Excuse me.” he began, lightly waving his hoof. “I may be overstepping my bounds, here, but… May I please see your Cutie Marks?” “Can’t ya see ‘em already?” Applejack asked, moving her tail so as to avoid obscuring her flank. “They’re not exactly hidin’ from y’all.” “Oh, no, I mean… I want to really see your Cutie Marks! I want to try and do what Lord Paradigm does, and see if I can figure out what your special talent is!” “Oh, my young lad, it’s not so simple as to just look at their Cutie Marks!” came a deep voice, both in tone and accent. Out of the tent came a medium-sized brown Unicorn stallion in a bright silver cloak. He had grey eyes and a short, mildly messy, black mane, a cocky smirk lining his muzzle. He put his hoof on the other pony’s shoulder, gesturing to the new guests. “You have to look deeper than a simple mark on one’s flank! Discover what makes a talent tick! For instance…” He pointed at Rarity. “You, madam, have a keen eye for detail, and, dare I say, a knack for finding gemstones, am I right?” Rarity’s eyes widened, a tinge of red forming on her face. “Why, yes! That’s true! But also--" “Also, you’ve an affinity for fashion, making everypony you can look and feel fabulous! A true paragon of generosity!” he interjected. “Why, just looking at you, I want to drape you in hoof-stitched emerald green, with baby blue sapphires littered all about in such a way as to accentuate your marvelous figure!” Rarity raised a ginger hoof, contemplating the idea he had just presented. “Oh… Why, that sounds quite lovely, actually!” He turned to Fluttershy, who dove behind her friends. “Oh, don’t be afraid, my dear, nothing scary is going to come out and attack you.” She poked her head back up, getting a glimpse of his smiling face. “I understand your reluctance to face me. With as many fears as you’ve got, it’s a wonder you’ve progressed so far! I’m willing to bet the animals had much to do with your confidence, didn’t they?” “Oh, yes. They certainly did.” she agreed, rising to her full height. “But my friends have done just as much. I wouldn’t be where I am without them!” Many of the ponies around them audibly cooed as the brown stallion turned his attention to Applejack. “And you, madam, are quite the farm pony, aren’t you?” “Farm pony, yeah.” she replied. “But I ain’t never been no ‘madam’, an’ I don’t intend ta be, if’n ya don’t mind.” “Ah, yes. Apologies.” He bowed his head gracefully. “It’s just a term I use for all mares. I’ll endeavor to watch my words where you’re concerned.” Applejack looked down at the polite pony’s head, scrunching her face a little. “Aww, shucks… Y’all can call me ‘madam’ if ya really can’t help it…” “Why, thank you, madam!” He raised his head, turning to Rainbow Dash. “I say… Are we in the presence of a Wonderbolt?!” Rainbow Dash shot into the air, flexing her forelegs with a confident grin. “You betcha! Only one of the best on the team!” His smile deepened as he spread his forelegs. “Indeed! I can tell simply by looking at you! An aerial athlete without peer! I dare say you could clear the clouds over our little gathering in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow Dash smirked at him, buzzing her wings and taking off to prove the stallion correct. His eyes fell on Pinkie with a hint of confusion. “And you… I’d bet you are wonderful at parties.” “Weeeeeeeell, that depends.” Pinkie began. “Is it a party of one?” She brought over two stallions and a mare, one of the stallions wearing a pure black mask that covered everything but his eyes and the other with the bushiest brown mane they had ever seen while wearing blue spandex. “A party of three?” She pushed the ponies away as a scream sounded from behind, then pulled her friends close while producing an absurd number of instruments. “A girls band party?!” She threw the instruments aside with a loud crash and another scream. “There’s lots of different kinds of parties! And they’re all super-duper fun!” The stallion beamed, rushing up to Pinkie and staring her in the eye. “Oh, quite fun, indeed! All we’d need after that would be some balloons, streamers, cake, music, and about five hundred and twenty-three different shades of confetti all being fired out of cannons hidden throughout the room!” The party pony gave a gasp, putting her hooves on the stallion’s shoulders. “You’re absolutely right! But where would we hide the cannons?” “I’ve already hidden them!” he replied, throwing his forelegs out at his sides. From behind the large tent, there was a great boom, confetti falling on them from the sky. Pinkie’s excitement came to a boil, sending her bouncing into the air and bounding around everyone else, screaming with delight. Starlight cast the brown stallion a dirty look, stepping up and poking him at the base of the neck. “You’ve got a lot of nerve trying to charm your way through to us.” “As much nerve as you have magic, madam.” he retorted, moving her hoof aside. “Besides, you’re no better than I.” He strutted past Starlight, finally laying eyes on the sole Alicorn in the gathering. “And you, my dear… Oh my…” He recoiled, letting a shiver make itself visibly known down his entire body. “You… You have so much… magic… so much power… So… much...” He looked at her hungrily, just barely stopping himself from licking his lips in anticipation. “... talent…” Twilight looked quizzically back at him, taking a step back. The stallion took another step forward, the hunger only rising as a large number of orange feathers came up between him and that which enamored him. “Nnope!” Boltsinger said, his voice stern and loud. The Unicorn’s eyes drifted in his direction, his normal demeanor returning. “You aren’t getting anywhere near her with a look like that in your eyes.” “Ah! Yes! I’m terribly sorry… I get like that occasionally.” He backed up, brushing himself off. “It happens when I find true…” he slowly took in the sight before him, a look of familiarity ringing in his eyes. “... potential…” He cleared his throat, backing up further and lighting his horn with a white glow. He moved Pinkie Pie back into place among her friends as Rainbow Dash came in for a landing. “I just realized… I’ve neglected to introduce myself!” He bowed low, waving his foreleg in front of him. “Apologies for my rudeness! My name is Paradigm, and I lead the Talent Troupe!” Boltsinger snorted, moving his wing away as wife came forward. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.” she greeted, offering a bow of her own. “These are my friends, Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and, of course, my husband Boltsinger.” Paradigm’s attention swayed between Twilight and the snorting stallion, his mouth slightly ajar. “So it is him…” he muttered. Finally, he fixed his gaze on the Princess. “How lovely to meet you, your Highness. Might I ask what brings you to us?” “We were called on official friendship business.” Boltsinger informed him. “Oh, really? Sounds dreadfully important!” He gestured to his tent, opening the entrance with his magic. “Why don’t the three of us discuss it further inside?” The orange stallion’s eyes narrowed, examining the entrance as best he could. “What do you say, honey? Shall we go into the tent with Paradigm? … Alone? … With Paradigm?” Twilight looked at the entrance, followed by her husband, then finally her friends. “We’ll join you in a moment.” Paradigm nodded, making his way inside as the Alicorn turned to face her friends. “Bolt and I are going to have a chat with the leader, here. Can the six of you go around the camp and see what else might be going on?” Starlight looked at the rest of the group. Fluttershy and Applejack seemed more or less normal, but Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were each going at a mile a minute while Rarity mumbled to herself about an outfit with the details described to her earlier. “I think we can handle it, but it feels like a whirlwind just blew through here.” “A whirlwind of pure flattery…” Boltsinger spat, glaring at the tent. “What did he think he was doing, looking at you like that? I’ve half a mind to--” Twilight clamped her spouse’s mouth shut, patting him on the cheek with her hoof. “I’m flattered that you’re jealous, but we need to concentrate. Why don’t we go talk to him? He did say he wanted the three of us to discuss it, after all.” Boltsinger let out a muffled noise to signal his relent. “Good. Now, come with me.” She walked over to the tent, swishing her tail across his muzzle as she went. Twilight and Boltsinger entered the main chamber of the large tent, where a fire had been started. Paradigm sat on one end, a set of three mirrors placed behind him. “Welcome to my chamber.” he greeted, floating a pair of goblets to his guests. “Would you care for some cider? I make some of the best cider you’ve ever tasted, if I do say so, myself.” Twilight sat down, taking the goblets and placing them in front of herself and her companion. “Cider would be great. Right, Bolt?” Boltsinger swallowed a lump in his throat that threatened a sigh, nodding at his wife. “Eeyup!” “So, you were saying something about official friendship business, yes?” the Unicorn wondered, putting his hooves together and leaning in. “I’m quite curious as to how such a thing works!” Twilight smiled, puffing out her chest. She went into a detailed explanation about how the map works, giving examples of some of the missions they had been sent on before. Paradigm gave her his undivided, hungry-eyed attention, nodding and commenting while Boltsinger eyed his beverage curiously. “And this time, the map called the eight of us here!” “I see.” Paradigm affirmed. He looked over to the disgruntled Pegasus, letting a nostalgic smile onto his muzzle. “I… have a confession to make, actually.” The orange stallion’s attention snapped to the brown one. “Oh? What kind of confession would that be?” “I could have asked to speak with you, alone, Princess, but…” He pointed his hoof at Boltsinger. “I just had to get Boltsinger in private.” Boltsinger reared back, his face turning to discomfort. “Oooooookay… Why did you need to get me in private?” “To catch up! It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, old friend!” he answered, getting up and walking over to him. He plopped his rump down next to the Pegasus, putting his hoof around him. “Married a Princess, huh? How do you rate?!” Twilight’s eyes went wide, pointing between the two of them. “Wait, what? Bolt, you know this pony?” “Not that I can remember...” he stated, slowly removing the hoof from his shoulder. “When did we meet?” “Back when we were colts! You showed up in a flash of lightning and helped me make my first friends and get my Cutie Mark!” he elaborated, lifting the back of his cloak to reveal a Cutie Mark of a mirror with a streak of blue lightning for the frame. “You even passed on a little of that ‘electric’ side of yours when it showed up!” “I did?” Boltsinger wondered. I take it… there was some electricity coming out of my wings? Maybe a bit of a crackle in my Cutie Mark?” Paradigm nodded enthusiastically, prompting the Pegasus to scratch his mane with his wing. “That makes sense…” “What do you mean?” Paradigm inquired. “Well, when I’m… discharging… I’ve got that lightning running through my brain at the same time. It’s made a lot of my memories… fuzzy. I believe that I helped you. I just… don’t remember doing it.” “I see… Well, it’s still serendipitous to see you again!” He lifted the goblets of cider once more. “I propose a toast! To renewed friendship!” Twilight replaced the stallion’s magic with her own, raising her goblet. “I can get behind that! To renewed friendship!” Boltsinger picked up his goblet carefully, looking at the smiling faces of the ponies in the chamber with him. Paradigm seemed to stare adamantly, excited to share a drink with him. He does seem to be interested in rekindling things… He smiled back, raising his goblet. “To renewed friendship!”