//------------------------------// // Rthö Pxà: Stripes and Crystal Horn // Story: CYCLED // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// It had been a week since Twilight had last seen Maestro, and in that time more events had reoccurred. The dragon that had been spewing smoke during slumber had been reasoned with to relocate, and the overworking of Applejack had been curtailed effectively. Twilight didn’t quite know why he’d let her handle those on her own, but she could hazard a guess. She wondered how things were going on his end. He had sent a letter a few days ago explaining that he was helping Trixie with her tour of Equestria, and that the first Lesson with Luna had gone well. He had also said that he’d try and drop by soon, but he made no promises as to when that would be. She knew that he was a busy pony, she recalled that much from last time. She also recalled that whenever he was around, he did try and connect with them- though, it was going much better this time around. She started to read the newspaper, and stumbled across an article with the headline: “A surviving Trigem spotted?” She did a double-take. Last time, that headline hadn’t appeared for a good while, to a few weeks before the Gala. Reading on, it unfolded much as it had the last time she had read it, explaining that this “Last Trigem” was doing good deeds, much to the confusion of everypony. After all, the Trigems had been very powerful and dangerous- and they were often depicted as vile and monstrous. Though, Twilight and the girls had met this survivor last time- and they had been pretty stubborn about thinking that he was being genuine with his actions. Heck, they hadn’t budged on the issue before the reset. Even now, Twilight still had thoughts that Sapphiron was not doing this out of the goodness of his heart. Though, another thought crossed her mind: What if he was? What if he wasn’t doing this to disguise some dark agenda? Twilight realised that she and the girls may have judged him too harshly. After all, they were wrong to ignore Maestro’s advice, so they could reasonably have been wrong about this as well. She resolved to give him a fair chance this time, and see what came of it. She put down the morning paper, and went out to stock up for groceries. As she walked through the town, she noticed that nobody was outside, and that all the doors were locked and… “Boarded up windows… Oh, here we go again.” She walked on, ignoring Pinkie’s hissing from Sugar Cube Corner. Then to no surprise, she saw a cloaked figure come into the town. From under the cloak she saw a striped leg come out, and the black hoof pawed at the ground. Once again tuning out Pinkie’s insistence, she went up to the figure. She stopped just shy of the figure, and reached out a hoof. “Hello there! I’m Twilight Sparkle. Can I help you?” The figure then proceeded to lower the hood of the cloak, revealing Zecora for the first time to Ponyville. She stared curiously at Twilight, and then proceeded to voice her confusion. “Most ponies in this town seem to find my presence here nefarious. Yet you, a newcomer, greet me kindly. Curious.” Twilight smiled gently, and was about to explain when Pinkie came out of the Sugar Cube Corner. “Are you mad, Twi? She’s an enchantress with crazy weird chants! How can-!” Her questioning did make Zecora flinch. But before she could finish, a certain someone came onto the scene. “Well now, that’s not very nice!” Twilight and the others in town looked to see Maestro stroll in, black portfolio slung across his shoulder. “Just because she looks different and acts different to us ponies doesn’t mean that she’s a bad person!” He shook his head in disappointment. “Honestly, you should give her a chance! Zebras are not to be feared- I mean, come on! You let dragons like Spike and Prism be around you with little qualms, and they’re arguably more potentially dangerous! So I don’t see why you should be scared of someone so similar to yourselves!” Twilight smiled at the effect this had on everyone, as they started to come out of their houses, though with caution at first. But some were still not open to the idea- so she decided to help them along. “I agree with Maestro here- we should be friendly with those that are different, and attempt to understand them. We should not fear them with no reason to. It takes courage to reach out to those that are different, but I think it is worth the effort. So do the founders proud- and reach out in friendship.” This caused the rest of them to come out, and they soon started asking questions of Zecora. She answered as many as she felt she could, and they soon helped her with what she came to town for. Though before she left, the Mayor of Ponyville went up to Zecora, head hanging. “I am sorry that we reacted the way we did, Zecora. It was… childish, and close-minded. Let me say on behalf of all the town that you are always welcome here.” A cheer went out, and Pinkie threw a small impromptu party as her own apology. Everything was looking up, that was until a pack of Timberwolves started encroaching on the town as night fell. The ponies quivered and Zecora explained. “This is another reason that I came here- Though I didn’t mean for them to follow near. They are agitated on this night, in the now glistening full moon’s light.” Twilight gathered her friends together, trying to keep calm. She knew that most of them were scared, though Applejack and Rainbow tried not to show it. The only one of them that did not show any sign of fear was Maestro- He was confident and strong, determined to stand his ground. Then, something unexpected happened. As the timberwolves were about to pounce, a shockwave of crystal spires shot across the ground, causing the timberwolves to leap back. The spires shattered, providing room for a figure to leap from the shadows landing between the townsfolk and the timberwolves. This caught all the town off-guard. The crystalline teal fur shined in the moonlight, offset by the ruby mane that had a single turquoise streak down the center. The pony stood to his full height, flicking his seven colored rainbow gem tail. He glared at the timberwolves, unnerving them with his heterochromatic eyes- the left of Emerald Green, the right of Sapphire Blue. He lit his horn, and pointed it at the timberwolves. “Leave this place, or I will do more than fire a warning shot.” The timberwolves tried to test that, but one more fire of his crystal magic at their paws sent them running back into the forest. The light on his horn died down, and he sighed. Twilight could only barely make out his Cutie Mark in the dark, but it sealed the deal on who this was. A Sapphire, a Ruby, and an Emerald in a triangular formation. The ponies were still fearful though, but before anyone could do anything, he spoke again. “I do hope that you are all unharmed. Otherwise, my efforts would be in vain.” The townsfolk murmured to themselves, unsure of what to say- that was until Maestro approached him. “We’re fine, my friend. I could’ve handled that, but I appreciate your help, Sapphiron Rubeus Emerald.” The very mention of that name sent chills through the crowd, with some whispering about the rumors about the last Trigem being true, while others insisted it had to be some kind of trick. Even Twilight’s friends were concerned, for they all had heard of the things that had been said about the Trigems. Twilight remembered how she had been swept up by the rumors last time when she met Sapphiron- but she decided that she would not rest until she had the truth. Steeling herself, she approached Sapphiron. She was quaking, which anyone could clearly see. Hushed whispers went through the crowd as she approached him. She soon stood a few feet away, but she couldn’t muster the courage to stand much closer. She smiled warily, and bowed her head. “Th-thank you, S-Sapphiron. You… saved us. B-but, I must ask… why?” Taking a deep breath, Sapphiron looked her straight in the eye. “Twilight Sparkle, you must understand- I did what anyone with the power to help should, what anyone of my character and disposition would. I am not as the rumors of my family paint- neither were my family, before they were taken from me. We were, as I am, misunderstood and misrepresented. I am not a monster, and neither were they.” He looked across the crowd, a sad look across his visage. “I know that many of you will not believe me- for you are too trusting of the Princess of the Sun. You reason that she has no reason to trick you, no reason to lie to you. Then, let me ask you this.” His face grew serious. “Why would she erase all concrete evidence of her own sister, and attempt to write her off as a mere legend?” The looks on their faces were troubled, and they looked to Maestro. He seemed to support the assertion, though they didn’t quite know why. They were confused, and some just outright refused to believe. Sapphiron shook his head. “I suppose it makes sense for you to try and keep grasp on what you know- or what you think you know. But the day approaches when you will have nothing left to hold onto. When it comes, what will you do then?” Then without even a second thought, he teleported away. The townsfolk were beside themselves because of what Sapphiron had implied, but Twilight looked towards Maestro. He too had misgivings about Celestia, and on top of that a friendship with Sapphiron. Determined to get some answers, Twilight took him aside and set up the silence field herself. He raised an eyebrow. “Figured out the spell for it, hm? Alright, I’ve got time for a question. What do you want to know?” Twilight steeled herself, and broached the topic that was on her mind. “I know that I asked you before, but it’s really bothering me. Why is it that you don’t trust Celestia? What’s the story behind that?” Maestro shifted uncomfortably, and looked away. “It’s… I’d rather not speak on it. The things I’ve seen her do… the atrocities she’s hidden away… It… hurts to consider it, even now. The wounds are still fresh, even though the event in question occurred before the ‘beginning’ of the cycles.” He shook his head. “Please leave it be, and never ask me that question again.” He had a somber look on his face as he looked into her eyes. “I’ll tell you on my own terms, someday. Just… not now.” Twilight understood that it was painful for him, and so she let down the silence field. She watched on as he left, trying to puzzle out what she could do to help him get over his pain… Nothing immediately came to mind, and she was very tired from the exciting day. She decided to turn in for the night, and worry about it in the morning.