//------------------------------// // 27 The Scavenger // Story: Errant Finale // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// February 24th, 1001 Domina Solaria “Ah can’t believe you’re having a colt!” Applejack happily exclaims to Rainbow Dash as the herd disembarks at the Lower Canterlot station at the base of the Canterhorn. Each of the other members also offer Rainbow Dash their congratulations, exchanging a nuzzle or hug as they unload their gear. “Somehow, Ah just knew something like that’d happen if’n you spent the night with Doug.” She shakes her head, though the broad smile on her muzzle doesn’t fade. “Heh,” Rainbow Dash admits, a bit of a glow to her grin as she rubs her belly. “Yeah. Me too. Don’t regret a thing, though.” She smirks to herself, “Part of me is just glad I won’t have to suffer through my heat at the coronation. I mean, all eyes are going to be on Twilight and all, but still.” She flutters her wings, placing a hoof on her chest as she proudly states, “I want ponies to watch me for my awesomeness!” The area is lit well enough by both torch and moon, though it doesn’t compare to the bright glow of the capital city above. Many of the other passengers are likewise unloading their belongings, the cargo train engine unable to make the exhausting climb to Canterlot proper. Rarity’s sewing tools find their way into some of the secured storage built into the warehouses made up of the old crystal caves. The rest of their belongings - primarily dresses - are taken to the pegasi chariots Celestia sent down. Twilight gazes up at the lights above. Still too early for the Princesses to be up and about; they had teleported back to Canterlot after talking with Doug and congratulating her again. Celestia is likely asleep, or at the very least resting? There’s no way Twilight could see herself sleeping at a time like this, of course; maybe Celestia is the same. Another part of her wants to test her limits, to see if she could pinpoint teleport not only herself the entire way up (which she might have been able to do as a unicorn, with only somewhat spectacular scenarios if she failed) but how many of her Friends she could bring along for the ride. Lavender wings stretch out, almost as a reminder that she has them. She half-grins to herself. Maybe she should follow a bit of Rainbow Dash’s advice and put her wings to use whenever she can. Otherwise, how is she going to get better at using them? Maybe she won’t get to the point of her cerulean friend, flying everywhere instead of walking, but for a long haul like this? Twilight’s lucky Rainbow Dash didn’t insist she fly the hours from Ponyville to Canterlot instead of taking the train. Twilight takes to the air, giving her wings a bit of a warmup as the herd gets ready. She frowns, but not at the ponies orderly lining up and waiting for one of the climbers to bring them to the capital. Starlight and the foals are joining them, as they wouldn’t be on stage for the coronation ceremony itself, instead given VIP seating up front in the audience. Only Scootaloo seems eager to repeat getting on stage at Tarrapalooza, though Sweetie Belle likely wouldn’t protest too much. No; what caught her eye is the dozens of cats milling around. They’re a motley collection of browns, black and white fur, splayed out with their meager belongings. Which mostly seems to consist of pieces of paper they are waving at each other and anypony who chances a glance towards them. Two massive creatures - bulky gray bodies with beady teal eyes and white manes - also sit nearby. None of the three groups are interacting with each other, instead keeping a wary distance. Also, neither of the latter groups are lining up to go to Canterlot, instead waiting for a train to come from the south. Twilight flies down to the closer pair of pegasus guards assigned to take their chariots directly to the coronation platform. The closer guard’s eyes snap to Twilight’s, but her hooves rest on the ground. Twilight inwardly groans; she doesn’t know the right protocol for saluting a uniformed guard! She knew she missed something! But she only had a couple hours to study, and didn’t think this would be coming up so quickly! Maybe she should just teleport to the top, but then she’ll meet even more guards up there! And it’ll be even more public, and-” “Princess?” the guard hesitantly offers, motioning to the seat behind her. “If you’d like, you can board now. We’ll be taking off shortly.” “Oh, it’s not that,” Twilight says, inwardly relieved that she can actually talk to these guards, and they aren’t ordered to just stand like statues and pretend not to notice Rainbow Dash’s antics. “I was planning on flying up.” She stretches her wings, cringing a little at their soreness. Already? The guard shrugs, but Twilight can spot that relieved sigh. She wouldn’t want to carry an extra couple hundred pounds either. It hasn’t been that long, but Twilight knows she’s not only taller but bulkier, the earth pony magic coursing through her already strengthening her muscles and solidifying her build. “I guess, what I wanted to ask you, is: who are they?” Twilight points a hoof at the cat people. “Them?” the guard all but scoffs, and if it was Applejack she would have been spitting at the ground in disgust. “They’re refugees.” At Twilight’s continued gaze she explains, “From Abyssinia.” “I heard something about that,” Twilight says, hoof scraping her chin as she tries to dredge up recent events. “Didn’t the Storm King invade or something?” The guard smirks in a most un-guardlike fashion, though it doesn’t last long. “That he did. Abyssinia had a bit of a slavery problem. They contravened the Council of Creature’s commands to cease. These are the dregs that would have been executed had they remained; in her wisdom, Celestia offered them asylum.” “That’s… that’s horrible,” Twilight says, gawking at the guards. “Yup,” nods the guard. “Lucky for them, Celestia found them a place to resettle. Halfway between Dodge City and the Badlands.” Twilight’s mind whirs. She frowns. “But... that’s Diamond Dog territory.” The second guard finally speaks, elbowing the first in the ribs playfully. “Oh? What a terrible oversight. Someone should warn the Princess.” He then goes back to relaxing in his harness, doing nothing. Twilight huffs. “This is serious! Diamond Dogs and Cats do not get along! At best, if Celestia herself petitioned the Diamond Dog bosses, they might be allowed to toil in the mines, a fate only slightly worse than death!” The guard stares at Twilight impassively, unmoved by her plea. “You do realize that these are the former slavers and-” he and his partner spit on the ground simultaneously “-lawyers, right?” “Oh.” Twilight’s eyes narrow. “I see.” She brushes a bit of dust off a hoof. “When do the chariots leave?” “Whenever you are ready, ma’am,” the female guard stretches her wings, the rest of the herd waiting patiently to take off. “Good. I’ll try to keep pace, but don’t worry about leaving me behind.” Twilight takes to the air, not sparing a second glance at the ground. The flight is considerably more exciting than she anticipated. It turns out to be a great thing that both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are flying close to her. And there isn’t anything to crash into except a great big mountain. Which, she is proud to say, she only failed to miss twice! Even though Rainbow Dash is too busy laughing her flanks off the first time, Fluttershy is there to help. The second time Rainbow Dash is a little more prepared, which means she only falls about a third of the distance before her herdmate catches up to her. Who knew flapping these wings could be so difficult? About halfway up Twilight considers that maybe she should have warned the Crusaders not to sign a single piece of paper anycreature, including anypony, puts in front of them. But by the time she realizes this, and looks back down, the crowds of ponies have already disappeared. While she isn’t quite able to keep pace with the guards, Twilight (actually Rainbow Dash, who Twilight is now following) is able to keep them in sight. By the time she catches up they are done unloading and changing into their dresses for the special occasion. Guards line the halls of the landing zone, readying everything for the ceremony about to take place directly after the dawn. Twilight teleports into her dress, saving Rarity the trouble of putting it on her. Except she teleports it a little too hard, bits and pieces now scorched from the excess magic. Rarity, hearing the sizzling, comes running. The unicorn’s eyes go wide, nearly collapsing into a sobbing heap. “No!” Rarity shouts, hooves holding onto a burnt section. “Where is Luna when you need to wake from a Nightmare?” She slaps herself with a hoof. “Think! All we need to do is hide it. Color spells!” “Allow me!” Twilight says, charging her horn again. “No!” Rarity says, reaching up and smacking Twilight in the barrel. Twilight rubs at the spot while Rarity glares. “That horn of yours got us into this mess, and I won’t have it making things worse.” She concentrates, attempting to change the color of each of the blackened sections and making it match, if not the texture, at least the color of the surrounding dress. “Well,” the unicorn retorts as she makes sure it fits and matches perfectly. Disaster averted. At least this one. Unfortunately, it’s a little tight; did she seriously grow a dress size during the night? “If I knew you were going to do that, I would have saved the trouble of installing these zippers.” Rarity smirks at Twilight’s apologetic gaze. “Oh, think nothing of it, darling. I’m sure it will be fine.” She pulls at the dress, frowning at the seams. “And maybe I’ll need to build in a little extra give, hmm? At least until you stop growing.” She shakes her head, “It’s like I’m fitting Sweetie Belle after she got her cutie mark.” “Yeah,” Twilight says, glad to get away from the mare who practically brainwashed herself into not getting too upset at her near snafu. She glances at one of the nearby stained windows. It depicts a lavender alicorn, Element of Magic crown on her head, striking a gallant pose against a horizon as seen from Canterlot. When in the hay did the Princesses have time to set this up? She just got her wings this night! “Do you like it?” Celestia asks from Twilight’s side. The white alicorn smiles softly at her former student, though she can’t quite bring herself to think of Twilight as her mentor. Even if that will be her new role. “I wasn’t sure what to do in the background, and I thought it a little poor in taste to depict Nightmare Moon.” She motions to the bottom, where the other five Element Bearers are there in all their glory. “I do like it, it just seems a little…” Twilight searches for a nicer word, drawing a blank. “Bland.” Celestia’s smile purses, nodding slightly. “I never know whether I should hope for exciting times. I’m afraid by my age, I’ve seen and done so many things that I start to live vicariously through my little ponies.” Celestia offers a warm smile, and a comforting hoof through Twilight’s mane. “I’m sure you’ll have many other fantastic adventures.” She pokes a hoof at Twilight’s belly. “Perhaps some we can even share.” “Celestia!” Twilight exclaims, caught off guard by the Princess’ forwardness. She glances around, but the guards are pointedly staring at anything besides them. “That’s… this hardly seems like the place to discuss that!” “Mm,” Celestia says, though Twilight notices as Celestia’s eyes shine white. She gasps as her eyes trace over the Element Bearers. “You didn’t warn me about Rainbow Dash!?” “Um… should I?” asks Twilight quizzically staring up at the white alicorn who looks ready to burst with rage. “Sorry?” “It is not me who you should be apologizing to,” Celestia says with a grimace. She points a hoof at Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, both at the far end of the hall and making small talk with the Bearers. She opens her mouth to say something, then immediately clamps it shut. Raven Inkwell walks down the hall, her brown bun done in a tight knot, checklists levitating in the air. “Done… done… done…” she mutters to herself, nearly walking past the two alicorns standing in the doorway. She glances up at them, then back at her checklists. “Princess… Princess… Now we just need Luna, and in-” she checks a watch “-two minutes we’ll be ready to go.” “No dress rehearsal?” Twilight asks, fearfully looking out the window. “I’ve never needed one in the past, I’m afraid.” Celestia frowns. But her smile immediately returns, gently tapping Twilight on the back. “I’m sure everything will be just fine.” “That’s where I learned it from!” Twilight exclaims. Or did Celestia learn it from her? Regardless, Celestia takes her leave, the sun and moon soon swapping places. Everypony lines up, the coronation ceremony of the Princess of Friendship going off. Hopefully, without a hitch.