//------------------------------// // S2EP18 // Story: Discovering Friendship // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// "Come out you brats!" Applebloom held her breath, her Chaos spread around her friends and herself while they hid under a table. "Okay, so, I goofed," Scootaloo groaned. "Yea, shoulda really thought twice 'bout tryin' t' blow him up with yer mind," Applebloom grumbled. "Well you give it a shot!" Scootaloo whispered harshly. "Ain't that simple. Ah'm still learnin. Pink's ain't taught me any kind of fightin' stuff. Jus' how t' protect myself an only if'n ah gotta," "What are we gonna do? He's gonna find us!" Sweetie Belle chewed her lip. "I like your spunk kid, so I'll kill you quick. Just come on out," "AB, you're the one that said we'd get to be heroes, this is our shot," "Fine, ah'll prove my point," Applebloom took a slow breath, the chaos sparking around her. A copy of herself appeared behind the man. The copy raised it's hand and in an instant its head had been lopped off. "I'll be damned, so that's how you're hiding from me. One of you is a little demigod. Guess I can't really kill you. My queen is gonna wanna see you. I'll make ya a deal kid. Give yourself up, and your friends get to live," he offered, twirling a knife about in his hand. "H-He's quick..." Scootaloo gulped. "He's also way stronger than me...Ah'm hidin' us, but he ain't hidin anything..." Applebloom whispered. Scootaloo grit her teeth, wracking her brain for an idea. Anything. Something that could get them out of this. She thought back on everything she knew about magic and everything she had heard from Twilight and Rainbow. "I have an idea," "H-Hi Twilight..." Nyx stammered, sitting beside her. Twilight winced as she pulled herself up, throwing her arms around Nyx. "While I am more than thrilled we have settled the current conflict, there are still many things to clear up," Celestia interrupted. "Leave Nexus and the others to us Sister. With time we are sure we can purge the Nightmare from their systems. We shall require assistance containing it. During that time if the Bearers could assist us..." Luna gave them a smile, Rainbow giving her a thumbs up. "Good. We'll make for Eraville. Vinyl and I will maintain surveillance on Nyx while Twilight and Rainbow help her work through this. We'll also see what can be done to revert Nyx to her true form," Spike added. "My true form?" "The Guardian speaks the truth child. You are far too gentle a soul to be Nightmare Moon. This body does not suit you," Luna winked. Nyx let out a sigh, a shudder running up her spine. "Oh no. No!" She gasped as she jumped to her feet. "Whats wrong kid?" Rainbow wondered. "The Knights. Nexus brought the Knights with him! I just felt one. I-I don't know where, it faded so quickly..." "So they still live..." Luna muttered. "We'll have to find them, they'll listen to me," Nyx clenched her fists. "We doubt that Child. The Knights act only on the Ill Intentions of Nightmare, not her orders. This will be a battle, and there shall be blood," Luna growled, snapping her fingers and vanishing. "This is a stupid idea," Applebloom mumbled. "You got any better ones?" Scootaloo argued. The three girls linked hands. Scootaloo in the center. "Jus' make it count," Applebloom continued to grumble. "Alright...NOW!" Scootaloo yelled, the girls rolling out from under the table. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle filled themselves with as much Mana and Chaos as they could hold, funneling it through themselves into Scootaloo. Scootaloo fought back tears from the pain of having so much magic fill her. Is this what Rainbow meant about pain? Is this the crap she dealt with? She couldn't afford to let the pain win. Her friends were counting on her. "HEY!" Scootaloo yelled, drawing the Nightmare Guards attention. With all that she had she flung the gathered energy at him, smoke rising from her body as the mana around them faded. "S-Scootaloo! Are you okay?" Sweetie Belle panicked. "T-Totally cool, you two should move though. They are gonna find me pretty quick, ya know? Magic leaves a signature or some crap like that. At least, that's what Twilight was going on about," she chuckled weakly. "Scoots...Ya'll knew that this whole time...Well we ain't leavin' ya behind!" Applebloom argued, lifting the Skyborn onto her back. "H-Huh! Are you nuts?!" This is your chance to get to Nyx!" Scootaloo yelled. "Chaos ain't like yer fancy magic Scoots...it feels...Don't ya dare ask me t' leave ya while yer hurtin'" Applebloom growled as she peeked around the corner past the knocked out guard. "H-Hurting?" Sweetie Belle whimpered. "I-I'm fine! I just need a sec is all," Scootaloo argued. "Ah felt all o' it Scoots...Ah mean, ah didn't REALLY feel it, not like you did. Ah guess ah felt you feel it...Ah can't really explain it. Ain't like ah heard yer thoughts or nothin' but ah could tell, ya'll thought ya were gonna die a hero," Applebloom said softly, slipping around the corner. Sweetie Belle kept close, glaring at Scootaloo. "Alright, ya got me. I figured if I could use myself as bait then you two could get Nyx and get out of here. I was out of ideas, sue me," Scootaloo grumbled, trying to ignore the adorable fuming Magian beside her. She was going to get a talking to later. Applebloom shuddered and stopped, shifting Scootaloo a bit on her back. "Ah think ah finally found her! Hold on t' yer lunch, ah ain't done this with passengers yet," Applebloom warned. Sweetie Belle grabbed Applebloom's arm, the Gaian lifting her free hand as she looked at a large door. "Please work, please work, please work, please work," she whispered under her breath again and again, clenching her eyes shut tight as she snapped her fingers. "Hello again Scythe. incapacitated I see," Luna mumbled, weaving her magic around him. Something rather powerful had burst in front of him, but she couldn't tell what. The trail led down the hallway. "An ally strong enough to defeat a knight...Curious," she murmured. "Oh good, it's you," Scythe groaned. "We are so happy you remember us. We've much to discuss old friend," Luna grinned. "This is all my fault...And now I have to just sit here and wait for everyone else to clean it up..." Nyx sniffed, wrapping her arms around herself. Twilight laid nearby, fast asleep. Rainbow had asked her to stay to make sure Twilight was okay while she and the other Elements went to face the Knights. "I don't know what to do anymore...I thought all I had to do was come and face Celestia, but its so much more complicated than that...What would I even do after I beat her?" she continued, tears stinging her eyes. "Nyx!" She blinked and looked up in time for three girls to tackle her to the ground. "A-Applebloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? What are you doing here?!" she demanded. "Whoa, you look way different Nyx..." Scootaloo mumbled. "Almost like..." Sweetie Belle blinked as Applebloom covered her mouth. "We're here cause we're friends Nyx, ain't nothin' more t' it. Ah made ya a promise, that ah'd be there when ya needed me, so here ah am," Applebloom smirked. Nyx sniffed, wrapping her arms tightly around them. "Thanks girls..." "Well, ain't that cute. Guess the Queen is taking a nap," Scythe spat, twirling his namesake weapon beside him "Stand down Scythe," "Yea, not happenin' cuteness. I won't harm ya, since that's my Queen's skin you're wearin'...And these kids..." "Hey, I knocked you down once! I'll do it again!" Scootaloo yelled. Everyone blinked in surprise as Applebloom leapt at the man, Chaos sparking around her. Scythe grinned, twirling his weapon and knocking her backwards, Applebloom seeming to flicker and appear above him as the Chaos grew thicker around her. "Well, that's interesting..." he mumbled, throwing up his arm in time to catch her punch. Nyx jumped to her feet, Scythe snapping his fingers. "Sit down kid, this is our fight," he smirked. Nyx blinked, finding herself sitting down against her will. Scythe let out a sigh as his weapon fell to the ground. "Just one little punch and my arm breaks. Well, didn't expect it to hold up well against a real Demi-god. But who taught you to play with fire?" he chuckled. Applebloom didn't answer, panting slightly while she glared at him. "Not talkin' huh? It's cool kid, but you should know," he grinned as he appeared behind her, smashing his boot across her face. "Your tricks ain't gonna work on me twice, so stay down an I won't have to hurt ya," "Applebloom!" her friends cried out, Scootaloo jumping to her feet and gasping as Sweetie Belle pulled on her arm. "Ah'm alright! Jus' keep Nyx safe!" Applebloom yelled as she stood back up. Her runes slowly began to glow, the Gaian taking each step slowly. "Things could be different kid," Scythe sighed. Applebloom glared at him as her eyes filled with yellow. "But they ain't," she spat. The two charged at one another, each throwing a punch. A loud bang filled the room as the two collided. Scootaloo threw out her wings and placed herself over Sweetie Belle, one of her wings stretching out over Nyx and pulling her close. When the dust settled, Applebloom was sitting on the ground with a hand over her eye. Scythe stood in shock, finding his fist held in the hand of Twilight Sparkle. "I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough girls, thank you for holding on," Twilight said softly. "Color me surprised Spar..." Scythe began, his words cut off as Twilight flickered, her foot coming down hard into his shoulder and dropping him to the ground. Another flicker and her palm was against his chin, throwing him into the air slightly. The Magian let out a slow breath, slamming her left elbow across his face, following the movement with a spin and throwing all of her weight into her right leg straight into his ribs. The Nightmare Knight never had a chance to react, crumpled against the wall with his world spinning. "...What the fuck..." Scootaloo mumbled. "What?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "This is Scythe, my most trusted and most powerful warrior. He cannot be killed. He is many and none, he is all, he is nothing. He is everywhere and nowhere," Luna explained. "Such high praise Princess, I knew you loved me," he chuckled. "And yet, something broke him for but a moment. His story intrigues us. Woulds't thee recount it for us Scythe?" "Sure, since it makes you happy. And you are adorable when you're happy...I found a little chaos Scion and her brat friends. They used a Skyborn of all things as a Conduit for their magic and caught me off guard," "Then we had a fun little fist fight. She really is his kid, heh..." he let out a sigh, tilting his head back. "And then Sparkle ruined all the fun..." he grumbled "But hey, she still couldn't kill me. So, the hell have you fucks been up to?" "Soon, he will escape our bindings. He was never here to begin with, but his tale is interesting, no?" "You don't think he means Applebloom?!" Rarity gasped. "Discord's Gaian brat," Scythe chuckled from the doorway. "I knew the old bat liked to get around, but boy did he really get around. Speakin of gettin' around," Scythe gave a wave and was gone as if he had never been there. Pinkie shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Somethings not right," she said through chattering teeth. Nyx stared in shock as Twilight made quick work of Scythe. The Magian panted heavily, resting her hands on her knees. "I-Is everyone okay?" she asked, still trying to catch her breath. "Y-Yea, we're fine, but what was that?!" Scootaloo asked, still shielding Sweetie Belle and Nyx. Twilight smiled and collapsed, caught by Pinkie Pie. "Girls!" Pinkie called out, her friends appearing around her in Rarity's magic. "Whoa," Rainbow whistled as she glanced around the room, chaos and mana still heavy in the air. Pinkie glanced over her shoulder at Applebloom, wearing an angry pout. "Ah know, ah'm sorry. He didn't really gimmie a choice," Applebloom mumbled, her left eye closed and a bit of yellow still swirling about in her open eye. "Wait, you beat this dude?" Rainbow asked. "Uh, no...Ah jus' kept him busy, Miss Twilight put him down," she answered. "And I just sat here being useless..." Nyx growled. "He did some weird thing that kept Nyx from movin," Scootaloo argued "And what are you three doing here, hm?" Rarity asked, crossing her arms. Scootaloo stood upright and hooked her wings around her friends. "Comin' to save our friend," she answered smugly "D-Don't be hard on them," Twilight stammered, wincing as she cracked an eye open "I couldn't have caught him without their help," she continued. Pinkie let out a sigh and stuck up a finger, "You get a Twily pass this one time but we are doing double practice after this!" she fussed. Applebloom chuckled weakly before passing out. Applejack rushed over to her, letting out a sigh of relief when she realized the girl was only asleep. "What were ya'll thinkin'?" she mumbled. "They were thinking the same thing as us AJ, right squirt?" Rainbow asked softly. Scootaloo gave a nod, wincing as mana sparked painfully around her. Rainbow chuckled and knelt in front of her, cupping her cheeks. "Guess we should start those lessons, huh?" Rainbow asked, wincing as Chaos sparked around her. "Guess you were fighting hard too..." Scootaloo sighed, frowning a little. "Hey, we're in this together Kid," Rainbow grinned, winking over at Nyx. "It's weird," Pinkie mumbled as she set Twilight down in bed, marching back over to Scythe. "That guy again? Did he haul ass here after he escaped?" Rainbow growled. "No, he said so himself while he was with us that Twilight trounced him, did he not?" Rarity pointed out. "That's not whats weird girls. The weird thing is...this one is real..." Pinkie mumbled, tugging on Scythe's cheek. "Twilight did something to him, I-I don't really know what, it happened so fast. I've never seen anything like it. Even my memories of Nightmare..." Nyx put a hand against her head. Sweetie Belle frowned, squeezing Nyx's other hand. "T-Thanks Sweetie Belle. I'll be fine. Whatever he did seems to be wearing off," Nyx assured her. "I still have no idea what's going on," Scootaloo admitted, her legs shaking a bit and her wings fading. She blinked as Rainbow scooped her up into her arms. "Get some rest kid, we'll talk later, k?" she smiled, mana sparking around her hand as she tapped a finger to the Skyborn's forehead. Scootaloo passed out instantly, quickly placed in bed beside Twilight. "That was...impressive," Rarity spoke up. "Hey, I can learn stuff too," Rainbow joked. "We still got a problem here, this guy," Applejack argued, tying a rope tightly around him. "What do we do?" Rarity wondered. Fluttershy sat on her knees, propping Scythe in a sitting position against the wall. Everyone watched as she reared back her arm and slammed her hand across his cheek. Scythe groaned as he came to, glancing around. His body seemed to flicker but stayed bound within Applejack's ropes. "Okay, that's a new one," he mumbled, glancing over at Fluttershy, his eyes wide as he was hit with The Stare. "Hello Scythe, I'd like to have a few words with you," she stood, lifting him by the rope. "In private. Applejack, would you come with me please? I'm still considered dangerous and someone has to be there in case anything happens," Fluttershy spoke quietly, despite the power she wielded. "Ah s'pose that is my rope there. Rares, Rainbow, ah'm trustin' th' kids t' ya'll," Applejack winked, following Fluttershy out into the hall. Fluttershy set the man against the wall, crossing her arms and letting out a slow breath. "Midnight, if you'd please?" she asked softly. From her shadow came a young woman, dressed in thin purple armor bearing Luna's crescent moon. "You called for me Lady Shy?" she asked with a gentle bow. "Do you know of this man?" she asked, pointing to Scythe. Midnight frowned at the sight of him. "He was once one of our own Milady. Many rituals and many horrifying magics changed him...Despite my distaste for him, not all that he does is his fault," she explained. "Hey, I take credit for at least half of my work you know," he scoffed, grunting as Midnight smashed her fist across his face. There was no anger in her actions. Her face was as calm as always. "Ah'm mighty confused here," Applejack admitted. "Apologies Lady Applejack. The Knight entrusted to watch over and protect Lady Shy vanished without a word. I was ordered to become her shadow and to take the place of the previous knight," Midnight explained. "Whats with th' 'Lady' stuff?" "We're Knights, remember?" Fluttershy pointed out, placing a hand against her Element. Applejack chuckled nervously. "That's right...Rainbow mentioned somethin' 'bout that before. Ah ain't one fer all these military shenanigans," Applejack gently pushed between them and Scythe, grabbing his shirt as her runes began to glow. "But ya'll done tussled with my daughter an her friends. An ah can't jus' sit by an let that slide," she chuckled. Fluttershy took a step back, nodding to Midnight to do the same. "Please, I've fought literal gods, you think a punch from a little Gaian is gonna, URGH!" Scythe ended up swallowing his words as Applejack's fist was buried in his gut, twisting slowly. "Ah hear ya'll are pretty sturdy. Now, ya'll are gonna answer my friends questions, so ah ain't got no reason t' hit ya again, understand?" "Thank you ma'am, could I have another?" he choked out. Applejack pulled back her fist, blinking in surprise as she felt a hand on her wrist. "I believe that is enough dearest Applejack. Scythe will speak in due time. It is rather strange for him to be in this state. We must take action before he recovers," Luna murmured, a twinkle in her eye as she spotted Midnight in Fluttershy's shadow. "And we have an idea..." A week later Rainbow let out a sigh as she slipped under Twilight's arm, pulling the Magian against her. "I swear Twilight, if I catch you without that stupid cane again..." she growled. "I-I can't rely on it too much! I'll never recover like that! I need to actually walk, even if only a little bit," Twilight tried to argue. "Twilight...Please..." Nyx sighed. Twilight let out a defeated sigh, letting Rainbow set her in her chair, the Skyborn leaving to grab the aforementioned cane. "I know, I know...I did a bit of the impossible and now i'm paying for it..." Twilight grumbled, smiling as Nyx stood on her toes and leaned over the arm of the chair to hug her. "You'll get through this," Nyx swore, adjusting her glasses as she stepped back. "Tick tock kiddo, don't forget your appointment," Rainbow pointed out as she came back in with Twilight's cane. The Magian reluctantly accepted it, pushing to her feet. "I haven't forgotten, kind of hard to...I'm meeting Miss Fluttershy and we'll be heading into the Forest. I'll be back soon," Nyx promised. "I'm coming too!" Scootaloo stumbled out of her room, her bag strapped and loaded. "It's not a big deal Scootaloo..." "It is a big deal! Like it or not i'm in this too. Besides, who protected who?" she grinned, wincing as Nyx gently flicked her forehead. "Fine...But no shenanigans," she mumbled, turning back to Twilight and Rainbow. "We'll be back soon," "Yea, take care," Rainbow smiled. "Y-Ya'll sure ah can't jus' come along Pinks?" Applejack practically begged. "Nope! Sorry Applejackie. I'd really not even want Applebloom going, but she HAS to be there," Pinkie snorted. "We'll be fine momma. It's jus' a quick thing. We'll help out Nyx an then come right back, ah promise," Applebloom winked with her good eye, crying out as Pinkie Pie tugged on her ear. "Ah'm sorry!" she whined, pouting as Applejack placed a hand over her bandages. "Ah worry 'bout ya...Ah can't even begin t' understand what ya'll are goin' through an that scares me. Ya even got hurt cause o' this an weren't nothin' ah coulda done 'bout it..." Applebloom put a hand on the bandage wrapped over her eye. "Ah pushed myself pretty hard during that, more than ah really should've. Pinkie warned me what would happen...But my friends were in trouble, so ah did what ah had t'. After all, ah made an Apple Family Promise. Ah can't take that back," she giggled. "Ya'll jus' keep what Pinks says in mind, alright?" Applejack sank to her knees, pulling the younger Gaian into a tight hug. Pinkie Pie stood by the door, waiting for the tender moment to end. "I don't think its as strong as an Apple Family Promise. But you've got a Pinkie Promise that Applebloom is going to be perfectly fine!" Pinkie declared. "it means plenty Pinks, ya'll hurry back, ya hear?" "Scootaloo? What are you doing here?" Fluttershy wondered, Chaos dancing around her. "I'm here to protect my friend, duh," Scootaloo scoffed. "She wouldn't be persuaded otherwise..." Nyx sighed. "She'll need to stand outside the circle, or she'll get zapped," Pinkie pointed out, appearing along with Applebloom. Nyx frowned at the sight of her friends bandages, Applebloom glaring at her before she could apologize again. "Hey, why's AB get to be here?" Scootaloo argued. "Cause ah'm part o' th' circle ya ninny," Applebloom pointed out, a small spark of Chaos dancing around her. She cried out as Pinkie tugged on her ear. "Stop! Ah'm sorry!" "We need three users of Chaos for the circle. Me an Shy-shy can't do it alone and Nyx is in the center so she can't be the third. Applebloom was our only option," Pinkie pointed out. "Not only that, but the best one," Fluttershy giggled, the Chaos settling around her slowly. "It's ready whenever you are Nyx," "Thank you miss Fluttershy," Nyx removed her glasses and vest, handing them to Scootaloo. She shuddered as she entered the circle, watching Pinkie Pie and Applebloom take their spots. Fluttershy raised her hands, Applebloom and Pinkie mimicking the movement. The Chaos rushed around the three Scions of Discord, linking them together. "Bound in Shadow, locked by we, be unbound with the power of three!" they chanted together. Nyx's head snapped back as the Chaos soaked into her, her little body shifting and growing, becoming the full grown form of Nightmare Moon. "Been a week already, huh kid?" Scythe chuckled as he rose from her shadow. Nyx rolled her eyes as she sat down. "Good to see you too," he sighed, sitting down and crossing his legs. He shot a smile at Applebloom. "Hey! How's my favorite Scion? Sweet wraps," he boasted, pointing to her bandages. "Hey! You watch it!" Scootaloo yelled. "Relax bird breath, I'm not going anywhere," "Th' Princess made sure o' that one," Applebloom scoffed, wilting a bit as Pinkie glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Right, right, more focus, less chatty," Applebloom mumbled. "You've been working really hard this entire Week Applebloom. When we're done, we'll grab some snacks. my treat!" Pinkie giggled, putting her smile back on. "Ain't that sweet? All of you just living so happy and free even as a bunch of freaks," Scythe chuckled. "Don't make me come in there!" Scootaloo yelled. "That's enough Scootaloo, if you can't stay calm then you will have to leave," Fluttershy spoke softly, never blinking, her gaze focused harshly on Scythe. When Scootaloo looked around she realized it was the same for Applebloom and Pinkie Pie. Just being close to them was forcing her stomach into knots, the Skyborn forced to sit under the growing pressure. "Scoots...Y-You okay?" Nyx panicked, wincing as she reached too far to the circle's edge, zapped by the chaos. "Y-yea, Im fine. Just a bit heavy. How're you holdin' up?" She wondered. "Almost done and then we can go. Promise to stay home next time?" Nyx asked. "Yea, don't think I can handle too much more of this to be honest," she joked, lurching over and emptying her stomach. "Scratch that, i'm uh...just gonna back up a little," she groaned, dragging herself behind a tree, peeking around and glaring at Scythe. "She's a good friend," Scythe spoke up suddenly, his voice missing its usual edge. "She really is," Nyx chuckled. "Keep her safe kiddo, you'll need her someday," he winked as he was pulled back into her shadow. Nyx clutched her stomach as her body began to revert. She was left in the fetal position as the circle burned away around her. Applebloom chewed her lip, groaning in frustration as she waited. Finally the last vestiges of the circle sank away, the Gaian rushing to her friend and throwing her arms around her, hugging her close. "Scoots! Bring her stuff!" she called out. Scootaloo gave a thumbs up, standing on wobbly legs and bringing over the vest and glasses. Applebloom gently pulled the vest over her friend, smoothing out her hair before placing the glasses over her eyes. Nyx slowly awoke to the sight of Applebloom over her, finding her head in the Gaian's lap. "Mornin' sleepyhead," Applebloom joked. "Morning," Nyx murmured back as her cheeks flushed. Applebloom sighed, putting a hand against her forehead. "Ah swear ah keep wonderin' if ya'll are catchin' something, but ya seem fine," Applebloom mumbled. "M-Must just be part of the recovery period," Nyx stammered. "It is a lot of Chaos," Fluttershy tossed in, coming to Nyx's rescue. "Huh, ya know, that face reminds me a lot of Bel...Uhhh..." Scootaloo began, Nyx staring at her with wide eyes. "Oh hey! I totally forgot about this super important thing I promised to do! Gotta run!" Scootaloo shouted, spinning around and jumping down the hill, her wings buzzing to life and letting her coast away. "THAT was weird..." Applebloom mumbled. Nyx let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes and leaning into her Gaian friend. "Yea, but we're all a bit weird, aren't we?" Nyx asked. "Ah guess so..." Applebloom agreed, chaos faintly dancing around them.