//------------------------------// // Ninth Principle // Story: The Manual of Heroes // by Kaliann25 //------------------------------// Ninth Principle: A hero does heroic duties for the honor of being a hero. Not for the reward Both Bright Spark and Luminositè were too quiet, and altered since the incident with Grogar. The fact that they were forced to brake their promise have clearly affected them both. That’s why Rarity and Twilight decided to take them out, to have a good dose of family time, and somehow calm them down. Rarity have decided to take Luminositè to collect gems, like the old times. She hoped that a good dose of family time would help her. She haven’t said a word since Bright and she sent the nukes to the island of Tambelon. Luckily, the perspective of having an especial day with ‘mère’ made her smile. “So, Luminositè, what are you looking for today? Topazes? Rubies? Maybe emeralds?” asked Rarity, trying to make her speak. “As for me, I’m looking for diamonds. The problem is, I need so many that I may up order them to a jewelry.” “Oh, I’m also looking for diamants.” said Lumi, elegantly. “Their level of resistance is vital for mon noveau project. I also ordered a buch from a jewelry, but the quality was inferior. Not nearly enough for my needs.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “You ordered from a jewelry?” Luminositè nodded. “Kid, how much is your allowance?” “Oh, mère, that’s from what I earned for my new line of clothing. The suit and dress Bright and I used at the moron’s crowning. I revolutionized the industry. Again.” Rarity took a deep breath. “Yes, and you’re barely fifteen.” The fashionista didn’t like the idea of being eclipsed by her daughter, but, she was also proud. Lumi’s success came more from the technological advances she added to her clothing, than the designs. As a matter of fact, the biggest firms on the industry paid Lumi millions to develop new technologies to add to their lines of clothing. Suddenly, Luminositè’s ears moved, as she detected something. At her sign, her mechanical dollies created a circle around their creator, and her mother. Lumi’s scarf also moved menacingly, ready to face whoever came. Then, they came. Diamond Dogs, leaded by no other than Crunch, the Stone Dog, their Alpha. “What do you want, Crunch?” asked Luminositè, preparing the mask that contained her power-suit. The Alpha raised a gigantic paw, in order to bring peace to the youngster’s spirit. Then, he bowed before her, followed by the rest of the Diamond Dogs. At his sign, the Diamond Dogs pushed two dozens of carts full of iron, and charcoal. Lumi sighed, this was just what she needed. More reminders that she broke her promise. Rarity guessed her daughter’s mood, and hurried to embrace her, to avoid any explosion from her part. Then, Crunch cleared his throat, and raised. Not his subjects. “Ehem, this is all the iron and charcoal we could find in one night. This is what Prince Spark needs to make steel, right? Anyway, this is only a small part of the tribute our people wants to pay him, as the hero who killed Grogar. But, what about you, Warrior Belle? What can we offer you for the service you made for all the races?” Lumi’s eye twitched, warning of an incoming anger attack. Crunch gasped, and moved backwards, followed by his subjects. The Diamond Dogs feared Rarity, but Lumi, she was the stuff of nightmares. Rarity also shivered, it was only a matter of time for her to face one of her daughter’s psychotic episodes. Noticing her mother’s fear, Lumi took a deep breath, and took a deep breath. “We want diamonds. Mère and I need a big amount for our creations.” Crunch sighed relieved, and bowed again. Then, at his sign, they presented each two big carts full of diamonds. The Stone Dog smiled to mother and daughter, nervously. “Ehem, we were prepared for any demand. I’m glad we had lots of these in storage. Please accept this tribute!” Lumi didn’t say a word, she examined the diamonds, and nodded, pleased. “Good.” “We selected the bests just for you.” Lumi trembled, it was obvious she was fighting to contain her anger. “Good, now, OUT OF MY SIGHT!” Crunch understood the message, and ran as fast as he could, followed by his subjects. Rarity looked at Lumi with concern. Most of the time, she was so calmed, and elegant. Seeing her lose her cool like that was a bad sign. “Mère.” “Yes, Luminositè?” “Shall we eat something?” “Oh, of course, darling! I made reservations at the best restaurant of all Ponyville.” “If you don’t mind, I want to go to another city. I need to be as far from here as possible.” Rarity accepted in silence. She could only hope that her daughter’s bad mood vent away soon. Bright woke up as always. His alarm clock marked six thirty of the morning, and the mechanism under his bed literally launched him against his window. Normally, the force of his thrown would brake the window, but, it was protected by curtains, made by Luminositè. Those things could resist 10,000 PSI of force. The catapult woke him up instantly, so, the son of Twilight Sparkle was ready. He walked downstairs, to the dining room, where his parents were having breakfast already. “Morning Bright!” greeted Twilight. He made a small nod, and sat on the table. At his sign, his robots brought him a complete breakfast. Bright began to eat in silence, much to his parents’ concern. Somepony called at the door. “The door is open!” said Twilight. A bunch of Lumi’s dollies entered to the castle, carrying the metal shipment that Crunch sent him. “What is this?” asked Flash Sentry. Bright sighed, and took the card with his magic. “This is just perfect!” “What is it?” asked Twilight. “A tribute, from the Diamond Dogs. They congratulate me for killing Grogar.” frowned Bright. “Why they can’t leave me alone?” Flash raised an eyebrow. “Ehem, why don’t you send them back their tribute?” Bright rolled his eyes. “I tried, yesterday, with the tribute the Storm King sent me.” “The Storm King?” asked Twilight, shivering at the memory of the monster she faced in her youth. The Storm King, revived by his grandson, tried to attack Equestria once again. But, instead of Twilight and her friends, he faced Bright and Lumi. He ended up being Lumi’s plaything, as Bright forced him to watch as he reduced his hometown to ashes, with a single bomb. A sound-based devise, not a nuke. Still, he never tried to invade Equestria ever again. “Yes, the Storm King.” said Bright, angrily. “Eeyup, just a little bit before my bedtime, he sent me an enormous chest full of gold and diamonds. I sent it back, and five minutes later, he sent another one twice as big. Followed by a note that said that he would send more if I asked him to. He even offered me a part of the lands he just conquered.” Twilight didn’t say anything, but she was worried. Bright was not okay, and, in him, that meant that he could let his madness to take control any minute. The problem was, that he couldn’t forgive himself for breaking the promise he made. That he would never take a life, no matter who it was. And that included Grogar, of course. Thinking fast, Twilight looked at the window. “It’s a beautiful day. What if we three have a picnic?” Bright raised an eyebrow, bot nodded. “Okay, as far as possible from everything, and everyone, would be ideal.” “I think I know a certain spot in the mountains, in between the Crystal Empire and Yak-Yakistan.” Bright nodded. “My transport would take us there in no time.” Canterlot Castle: Princess Celestia was receiving the emissary from Yak-Yakistan. Prince Redford, son of King Rutherford from the Yaks. He appeared, carrying a cart with grain, and precious fabrics from his people. “Prince Redford, I’m glad to see you, but why are you giving us all this things?” He stumped. “Yak apologizes with you, Princess! But Yak did not brought this gifts for you, but Prince Spark and Warrior Belle! Yaks are happy that the goat is dead!” Celestia frowned. “So, you know.” “News go fast!” stumbled Redford again. “Yaks heard the news from Windigos. The monster is dead because of the two of them. Yaks and all races are in debt with Prince Spark and Warrior Belle!” Celestia was about to say something, when a servant came, announcing the new emissaries who have come. “Ehem, your Majesties, we have messengers from Zebrica and the Changeling Hive waiting for present their gratitude with Prince Spark, and Warrior Belle.” Celestia rolled her eyes, and she dismissed Prince Redford. “Hey!” greeted Luna, walking into the Throne Room. “How is it going?” “Well, this is the third emissary I have talked to today. A lot of people from all over the world had come to thank Bright and Lumi. Including a few enemies of ponies.” Princess Luna raised an eyebrow. “They seem to forget how afraid they are of the two of them.” Celestia agreed. “Yes, but it’s only because Grogar left a scar on the collective memory that the time won’t be able to erase.” The two of them stayed in silence. “I’m worried.” said Celestia, finally. “Why?” asked her sister. “My godson.” Explained the elder Princess. “Don’t get me wrong, I love him with all my heart, but I don’t know how he will react to this. We both know he is a time bomb, and without Grogar, there’s nothing left for him to canalize his genius.” “You mean madness.” “Those are the same, at least for Bright Spark.” Bright’s and Lumi’s lab: Luminositè entered to her lab, only to find her friend dismantling a bunch of weapons of mass destruction. Flurry, who was reading her comics at a corner, only shrugged. “He has been like this for hours now.” Ignoring the youngest Princess, Lumi sat aside her best friend. “Did you have a though day too?” asked the girl. “Yes.” said Bright, as he held the power module from a powerful blaster. “I made all this for Grogar, and I was ready to try it on the battlefield, because no one else would survive to this. But, now what? I have to recycle all this. My beautiful creations, reduced to nothing but scrap metal.” Lumi nodded. “Yes, I had lots of ideas to try on Monseur Chèvre. But now, I am empty.” She sighed. “And, it looks like everyone around us want to remind us our mistake. Mère have planned the most beautiful day for the two of us, but we got interruption after interruption, of people congratulating us. For breaking our promise!” Bright grinded his teeth. “You too? Dang it, I want to blow up something.” “And I, to foalnap a bad guy, and experiment on him. It’s a shame we have guests.” Flurry shivered, but, luckily, the two of them calmed down relatively quickly. All because the both of them realized of something. “Have you noticed?” asked Luminositè, checking on something on one of the multiple screens. Bright nodded, as he grinned. “Look at the location. Tambleon.” The both of them exchanged a look, and began to examine the data. “Unbelievable.” “It could be a malfunction.” said Lumi. “The sensors may melted down with the explosion. There were six nukes, after alls.” “Maybe, but I hope is not.” Added Bright Spark. “This could be an interesting turn of events.” “Anyway.” “Yes, let’s see how this ends.”