//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Petulance // Story: Myth of the Mammon // by snoz //------------------------------// The doors to the royal conference burst open as Onyx galloped inside. "Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight! I have something important to show you." The princesses gasped as Onyx showed them the book entry. "The creature we are dealing with is the Mammon. I know how to stop it if you'll just let me--" Celestia put her hoof on Onyx's shoulder, silencing him. "Look, Imperial Onyx, I appreciate your input. But please understand. You became an alicorn before your time. If it were up to me, I would've waited until you were less...Childish. You're a good pony, Onyx, however, I must ask you to leave this to us." "...Childish?" Onyx lowered his head. "But this is serious! I know what to do! You just need to help me." "I'm sure you understand why we can't be certain as of yet, Onyx." Cadence walked over. "We have rules to uphold. We shouldn't charge into this situation blind." Onyx gritted his teeth. "Fine! If you stuck up princesses won't help me then I'll just do it myself!" Onyx ran out of the royal hall, crying. "...Onyx?" Lucky Break tapped Imperial Onyx on the shoulder as he lied in bed. "Are you okay?" "The princesses didn't listen to me." "What? About that Mammon thing? Oh, Onyx. I'm sure it'll be alright. The princesses know what they're doing." "But I know what I'm doing too! Nobody ever listens to me. It's always about the princesses, never about the prince!" "To be fair...You didn't become a prince very honestly, Onyx." "I know but they should know that I've changed! Isn't Princess Celestia omniscient or whatever?" "I don't know about all that. Maybe if the princesses won't help...You could do it on your own? You're an alicorn." "Still...I can't control all of my powers. I'd need someone to go with me." Onyx sat up, puzzling the issue. "Sounds pretty dangerous. I'm in!" Lucky Break shouted, flying into the air. "Woah, really!? You'd go with me?" "Yeah, totally! I'm sure the others will want to go too." Lucky gestured at the "Then...We'll need to get them together. Can you get all of them here?" Onyx stepped out of bed, looking at Lucky. "You can count on me, Onyx! Except for Malware. You know how I feel about them." Lucky Break flew out of the window, smashing it. "Seriously? Ugh." The customer bell rang as Imperial Onyx entered the local tech repair shop, with computers and tv's and old gaming equipment littered on a work table in the center of the back. A black-furred unicorn with a white and purple mane worked tirelessly with a piece of small tech in her hooves. Sweat dripped down her forehead, as any mistake could break it. "Malware!" Onyx shouted, levitating some batteries to the counter. Malware threw the screwdriver away from the Gamefoal, sighing, and then trotting to the counter. "Oh! Onyx! Good to see you. I was just working on a holographic vintage Gamefoal model. May I help you?" "Well, I'd like to buy these batteries, but I also need you to meet me at my mansion on the edge of town. It's very important." Onyx took some bits out and put then on the table, counting them just to make sure he's correct on the price. "Sure! I'll meet you there. Might be a bit late, as I'm behind on my orders, but I'll be there." Malware put the bits in the register and bagged the batteries. "What's it for exactly?" "I'll explain when you're there, but I promise it's not a waste of time." Onyx flew out the door, yelling a thank you over his shoulder. "What did you call us here for, Onyx? And on such short notice?" Epee Nacrée glanced at the other ponies. "Quite the ensemble..." He muttered. "You five are the only ponies who would even maybe agree to what I'm proposing here. Equestria hangs in the balance here!" Onyx paced in front of the five other ponies, rereading the entry on the Mammon. "Well?" Malware sat down on the floor. "We're listening." "We need to go into the Dragonlands." Onyx pointed at the illustration of the Mammon in the compendium, to the gasps of his friends. "The Dragonlands!? That's crazy!" Jestric Acid hovered above the crowd. "You're one to talk." Malware sneered. "I'm serious. The princesses won't listen to me, so I'll just have to go myself. The Mammon as of now dwells in the Dragonlands, and if it reaches Equestria, we're in grave danger. Once it has all of the wealth in the world, it will want more! We can't just let it do that to our home, can we?" "Onyx, I'm sure you have the best intentions but..." Epee Nacrée sighed. "I just don't think we can. Usually, it's the Elements of Harmony that do that kind of thing. We're not really 'saving the world' material. If we were the Elements, I'm sure we'd know." "Then who are the elements and where are they!? Clearly not doing their job. We're in danger of being attacked and nopony is doing anything! Can't you see it's up to us?" Onyx growled. "Well.. The princesses know what they're doing. I don't think they'd let it attack Equestria." Lucky Break shrugged. "But they are! I know more than any of you! Why don't you just.." Onyx stamped his hooves on the ground, sending out a golden wave of magical energy. "LISTEN TO ME!?" The room stayed in silence for a moment, before Imperial Onyx lowered his head. "I guess if you won't come with me, I just have to do it myself." Onyx sobbed as he started packing the saddlebag he "borrowed" from Pierce Wordsmith. All he could think about was their faces as they refused his last hope to save Equestria. He grabbed an object with his horn, and to his surprise, the object yelled "I can't fit in your suitcase, cous'!" The foal laughed. "Oh, Brush! I'm sorry, just, I need to head somewhere for a while. You'll watch the palace while I'm gone, ok?" Onyx gently put Little Brush down. "But I want to come with you." Little Brush stamped his hoof. "No. Where I am going is much too dangerous for just a little foal like you." Onyx closed his saddlebag and put it on his back, going to the door. "How long are you going to be gone?" Brush looked up at Onyx. "I don't know." Onyx put his head down and shuffled out the door, flying east. As he flew, a familiar green pegasus flew up next to him "Hey, Onyx!" Lucky Break kissed Onyx on the cheek, but Onyx pushed him away. "I'm sorry. I'm not in the mood. I have something important to deal with." "Like what? Oh, is it that Mammon thing?" "Yep. Since you guys won't come, I'm going on my own." "To the DRAGONLANDS!? Onyx, you can't go to the dragonlands all by yourself! I know you're an alicorn, but you're a new one and you still don't have full control over your powers! It's too dangerous." Lucky Break panicked. "I'm sorry but something needs to be done about this, even if I have to do it alone. I appreciate your concern, though." Onyx smiled weakly. "...I'm sorry Onyx. I just don't think any of us are saving the world material." "I figured." Onyx flew faster. Lucky Break caught up. "But...I don't want you to just go out there all by yourself. So even if I think it's a lost cause....I'll go with you." Lucky Break flew closer to Onyx than before. "You really mean that? Like, really really mean that?" Onyx looked up into Lucky Break's eyes. "Of course I mean that." Lucky Break put his hoof around Onyx's shoulder "And I'm gonna get the others." "Look, I wouldn't push our luck." "I know I can! C'mon!" Lucky Break flew back down to Wilmingallop, Onyx sighing and heading back home. Onyx sat down in a comfy chair, petting his cat. He hoped that Lucky would be able to do it but he doubted his capabilities. Not everyone in Onyx's friend group particularly liked Lucky Break. Onyx heard a knock at the door as he finished his thought, putting his cat down and walking over to the door. Opening it, he gasped as he saw Malware, Epee Nacrée, Pierce Wordsmith, and Jestric Acid standing next to Lucky Break. "We're sorry we were so cruel to you before, Onyx. Lucky break convinced us you were right. If the princesses really aren't do anything about it..." Pierce started, "And we don't know who or where the elements are..." Epee continued, "Then we'll be glad to help." Malware finished. "You guys...I'm so sorry. I acted so childish. I shouldn't have yelled. Celestia was right-- I don't think I'm fit to be a prince." Onyx put his head down, but then Malware lifted his chin with her magic. "Of course you're fit to be a prince. The fact that you acknowledged your previous actions as bad shows that. Somepony who is truly childish wouldn't realize that." "You really think so? ...Alright. If you're all coming then we'd better get going-- and soon!" Onyx galloped inside, his friends following.