As the group made their way to the front entrance of the hospital they saw that a small crowd of curious ponies and reporters had gathered.
"Oh bother!", Celestia sighed in frustration, "I guess it was inevitable that curious ponies and those looking for answers would show up. I just wish they wouldn't block the entrance."
"I'll handle this.", Twilight said.
The lavender alicorn pushed the front doors to the hospital open. The guards pushed the crowd back. "Is it true that a hoom-muhn is in this hospital?", one reporter shouted. "Are there more like it?", another reporter shouted. "Where did it come from?", a third shouted. "Can we get a quote from it?", another shouted. "Are we being invaded?", shouted another voice. "What does it eat?", a sixth shouted.
Twilight put a hoof to her chest, breathed in deep, breathed out and extended her hoof, letting calm wash over her like rain. "Yes an upright did enter into this hospital badly injured. He has gone through a great ordeal and is currently in no condition to answer questions at this time. We the rulers of Equestria will field questions at a later time when our guest has had time when our guest has had time to heal. Now I must as that you to please disperse so that other ponies who needs to gain access to the hospital can get in."
"We have a right to know! The public has a right to know! What are the rulers of Equestria hiding!", a voice shouted amongst the crowd. Several ponies murmured their discontent.
Twilight raised a hoof to silence the voices of discontent. "If you will please go back about your business and disperse, other ponies need access to the hospital. As I said bef-"
"No!", a voice shouted, "We have a right to know!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow in silent command to the guard. The guard captain loudly stomped his fore hooves. The guards started pushing the crowd back, a second later several members of the Ponyville constables joined in helping move the crowd. A few voices in the crowd started started chanting, "What are the princesses hiding?!", the crowd became a loud, raucous, angry mob. A yellow pagasus with pink mane and tail flew up from behind the crowd trying to yell over it to get their attention. A pony threw a rock that harmlessly skipped off the guard captain's helmet.
A long a loud and loud whistle shrilled away to the right of the mob. Everypony stopped and turned seeing Rarity with the edge of a hoof in her mouth, Pinkie Pie stood next to her lowering a large confetti cannon at the crowd, a demented smile crossing her face. "We can all go back about our business.", the white unicorn with the perfectly coiffed mane and tail said in her very formal manner of speaking, " And behave like civilised ponies. Because my friend here has a confetti cannon and she's not afraid to use it!"
Pinkie cackled like a mare possessed.
The ponies decided to go back to their daily lives rather than seek the wrath of Pinkie. A few of them rationalized that if Pinkie was here with one of the biggest party cannons they had ever seen then her husband, Cheese Sandwich, was getting ready to reroute an orbital confetti laser and their son, 'Lil Cheese, was probably preparing the silos that held the intercontinental ballistic party missiles and nopony was prepared to dig out from under hundreds of megatons of weapons grade confetti.
Fluttershy swooped down in front of the journalist who had whipped the crowd up. The normally demure and reserved pagasus was incensed, nearly frothing with anger. "YOU!", she shouted in anger, "Who do you think you are whipping up a crowd of ponies who are concerned and a little scared into a riot?!"
I-I-I was just", the pony stammered, "t-t-trying to get-"
"No!", she snapped, " Be quiet! I know who you are! You're that horrible pony on his trodcast said that Twilight and Shining had-had! Oh you disgust me so much! Doing Armor has been a loyal husband, father and brother, he would never think of doing like that, especially with his sister! GAH!"
"But the public has to know the truth, even if nopony else has seen it!", the pony retorted.
Fluttershy's face twisted up in anger and rage.
"Stare incoming!", Twilight shouted before throwing her wings over eyes.
Any ponies still milling around shrieked and ran for cover. The guards all the guards and constables ducked to the ground, covering their eyes. The ponies in the hospital all ducked for cover. Harald looked around confused. Then in the corner of his eye he caught it. The stare made him feel like we was suddenly turned to stone.
Outside the reporter went completely stiff. He fell over weeping and babbling.
Twilight peeked between her pin feathers and saw the reporter laying in a babbling, weeping heap. "Okay everypony, I think it's over!", Twilight called out.
Rainbow flew up next to Harald's face and poked him with her hoof.
Blinking, he snapped out of his stupor. "What...was...that?", he asked, his voice shaking.
"Caught a piece of it, didja?, Dash said, "Just breathe, you'll get your feeling back in your everything. Be glad you didn't catch that straight on or you'd be like him." She pointed a hoof to the reporter that the constables were dragging off.
Outside Fluttershy was still panting angrily when Rarity walked up to her. "Dahling, are you okay? That was a powerful stare."
"Oh Rarity! Ponies like that make me so darned mad. I could just scream.", Fluttershy said demurely. She breathed in loudly and squinched her eyes shut, "eeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Feel better?"
"Mhm.", Fluttershy nodded. She was back to her demure and slightly smiling self. "Now let's head to Twilight's castle. Oh! I see her over there." She waved to Twilight.
Twilight waved back and smiled. She said through the gritted teeth of the smile, "It's gonna take a week of hot showers before I can wash that stare off me."
The others filtered out of the hospital. Harald looked visibly shaken.
Fluttershy flew up and looked concerned at Harald. "Oh my. I didn't catch you in the stare did I?"
"I caught it in the corner of my eye when I was trying to figure out why everyone everyone else was covering their eyes."
"Oh my. You aren't hurt are you?"
"I am unharmed. It only hurts when I...exist.", Harald replied.
Applejack chuckled, "Eyup! It was the same for me the first Ah got caught in the Fluttershy stare.", her expression turned dejected, "And every other time Ah've got caught in it."
Pinkie came bouncing up beside Harald. "Woo! I'd say that was a doozy of a stare. If I had to rate it I'd it was a....", she began muttering numbers and equations, "...carry the five, divide by...", she continued muttering, "I'd say that was a category three stare.", Pinky went from bouncing to a trot, "Anyway, as the official welcoming pony for Ponyville allow me to officially invite you to Ponyville. My name is Pinkie Pie!" She extended a hoof to him.
Harald gripped her forelimb firmly, "My name is Harald Irontoothson. Pleased to meet you Madam Pie."
"Madam Pie is my fortune teller name silly. Just call me Pinkie.", Pinkie said said before taking his hand in both her hooves, "Oooo! What are these knobbly things on your hoof?"
"You mean my fingers?", Harald asked. "They allow me to do things with my hands. Make things, hold things, touch things."
"I bet that's real neato!", Pinkie said. As she looked down at his hand, the Pinkie sense came on, "Whoa that's weird. Crazy eyes, tingly teeth, clammy hooves, twitchy tummy!"
The ponies began looking around nervously. Any time any parts of Pinkie went twitching, they had learned to be cautious.
Pinkie closed Harald's hand, gently pushing it to his side. A sad look came across her face. "I'm so sorry Harald.", she whispered, "I-I need need a moment." She stepped away from the group and small whimpering sniffles could be heard.
Applejack walked over to Pinkie. "What's the matter Pinkie? We all saw you go all-", she gestured with her hoof, "Well we all saw you go, well, we saw your Pinkie sense go twitchy and now you're not yer usual bouncy self."
"I saw it AJ. My Pinkie sense showed me and I wish it didn't.", Pinkie said wiping tears from the corner of over of her eyes with a hoof, "I saw his loss, I saw his pain. So much sorrow, so much anger. He lost those dearest to him and with his coming here, he might not go home."
"I don't rightly see how he would not wanna go home.", Applejack said, "Every creature has a place that they rightfully call home."
"No AJ.", Pinkie said laying here ears back sadly, "His coming here, to Equestria, he's going to die here."
"An' yer Pinkie sense showed all that when you looked at his, uh knobbly bits?", AJ asked flapping her hoof for effect.
Pinkie nodded sadly. "Don't worry AJ, this sad feeling will pass soon." Pinkie returned to her happy, bouncy self almost immediately. She began waving her hoof enthusiastically as a big grin spread across her face, "Hi Derpy!"
Derpy Hooves, her bright misaligned eyes glinting at her friend's waving, enthusiastically returned the wave, an equally big grin on her face.
"Derpy! Watch out for that...", Pinkie winced as Derpy headlong into the sign, "...ooo, sign."
Derpy rose from the ground groaning. "I'm okay, I'm okay!", she said as several concerned ponies came to help her up.
Fluttershy floated up in front Harald. "Um hi...Harald is it?", she said demurely, "I'm uh...I'm...I mean...oh my." She swallowed hard before taking in a deep breath. "My name is Fluttershy.", she said before extending a hoof, trembling slightly.
Harald gripped her forelimb, "A pleasure to meet you lady...*ahem*...I mean Fluttershy."
Fluttershy squeaked slightly at the firmness of the grip on her forelimb. It didn't hurt, it just felt odd. After several seconds the grip released.
Fluttershy became enamoured with the intricate blue-black markings forming complex geometric shapes, swirls, stylized animal forms and strange writing comprised of triangles, lines meeting at forty-five degree angles and circles with slashes through them. "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you about your markings. Are they your cutie mark or are they for camouflage, like on a zebra?"
The rest of the group grew interested in Fluttershy's question, minus the two sisters. They quietly gathered around taking in the indicate marking on his upper arms, shoulders, lower abdomen, sides and lower back.
Harald looked at the nine curious ponies gathered around him, as his gaze looked across the faces of the nine ponies before his gaze met Celestia and Luna, they had knowing smiles on their faces. He smiled warmly at them. "Of course I take no offense at questions offered with no malice.", he said with a warm tone. He ran his fingers along several of his tattoos. "These are sacred tattoos. My people mark their skin with ink made from the indigo plant. In my clan nearly every man and woman, the term you may be most familiar with are adult males and females, are weirding warriors."
Rainbow Dash flew up next to Harald's shoulder, rubbing at one of the swirls with her hoof noting that the ink didn't smear. "How do you keep the ink from rubbing off?"
"It is applied using a sharp tron or bronze needle attached to a piece of wood. The ink is imbedded deep in the skin with rapid tapping." Harald pantomimed with hands holding something and tapping.
"That must have hurt something terrible.", Fluttershy said softly.
"It hurt greatly. But during the ritual you're not required to cry out in pain or the ritual ends and you bring shame upon yourself.", Harald said.
Twilight stepped up a quill, ink and parchment, "You mentioned being a weirding warrior and ascension. What is the weirding? What is ascension? Does it involve transformation? What rituals do you go through? What about your mane? We're you born with it or did you acquire it in your ascension?", Twilight pranced in place, "Oooooooo! I have so many questions!"
Cadance walked up and gently placed a hoof on Twilight's forelimb. "Now Twilight, don't overwhelm him with too many questions."
Harald bowed his head, "I will answer any question I am able that a Sky Queen asks."
"You don't have to call me Sky Queen. You can call me Twilight or Princess Twilight."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot Sky Queen."
"Why not?"
"Because Twilight,", Celestia interjected, "being an alicorn puts us on the same level as the gods and elder dragons. His people are raised to venerate their ancestors, the gods, elder dragons and alicorns. Being in the presence of one of them, much less five, is practically a religious experience."
"Oh.", Twilight said almost stunned. The thought of being held in religious veneration felt alien to her. She had heard of ponies in isolated parts of Equestria had made shrines to Celestia, Luna, Cadance, her and Flurry Heart. They would pray at these shrines and even leave offerings for a good harvest, happy marriage or even for healthy, strong foals. She shook the thought from her mind. "I will limit my questions to two. If you choose to do so, you may offer more information. What is this weirding? What do your...tattoos have to do with it?"
"The weirding is power that comes from our ancestors. We ask our ancestors for the power and then we can bend it to enhance ourselves. We can use the weirding to enhance our strength, endurance, speed, agility, increase our senses, make ourselves move nearly unseen and unheard by gathering shadows and silence about us. Weirding warriors who have completed the final rite of ascension, honoured elders and shamans can perform truly wonderful feats like make their skin harder than steel, leap incredible heights or distances, heal grievous injuries, make entire armies route with a glare or call the spirits of the recently deceased back and try and convince them to return to their bodies. The tattoos allow us to better channel this power. Normally we have our tattoos covered and I'm feeling a little exposed without my tunic. I was told some...um...pony named Rarity has it."
"That would be me dah-ling!", said the white unicorn with deep purple, perfectly coiffed mane and tail, "I managed to patch the hole in your chemise and cleaned most of the grime out of it, though I couldn't get all the blood stains out." Magic shimmered around her horn as she levitated the tunic and a jewelers monocle in front of her. She closely inspected the tunic with the monocle. "For the life of me I can't figure out how you made this. I can't find a single stitch except for the seams and the decorations along the color and sleeve cuffs. How did you get the threads so ti-" The polite clearing of a throat brought her attention to Harald with his hand extended. "Oh, quite right! I'm so sorry, I got caught up with how your chemise was made that I nearly forgot what I was doing." She levitated the tunic over to him.
Taking the tunic in both his and unfolded it, letting it hang in front of him for moment, inspecting Rarity's work. Other than a difference in material and small stitches, the patch nearly perfectly matched cream-colored tunic. He turned the tunic around and slid it over his head. He adjusted the tunic before smoothing out a few wrinkles, "You are truly a craftswoman...I mean pony...I don't think I'll ever get used to saying that." Harald bowed to Rarity, " Thank you Madam Rarity. In a few days I shall show how we make our clothes."
"Let us hurry to the castle.", Luna said with a yawn, "I need some coffee or a place to lay down."
After several minutes they made their way to the castle. They made way through the castle and to a small dining room. As they entered, Starlight Glimmer and Spike were sitting at the table eating brunch and having a jovial conversation. "...and it was about that time that when I walked in on them and they were completely covered in sticky white goo", Starlight said chuckling.
"What a time to walk on that conversation!", Rainbow said loudly, teasing Starlight.
Starlight had a surprised look on her face and she nearly spit out the mimosa she was drinking. Levitating a napkin, she wiped her mouth. "Girls! I heard somepony important was at the hospital and didn't expect you all to back so soon." As the rest of the group entered the dining room Starlight bowed. "Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Flurry Heart and Prince Shining Armor." As she rose, she noted Harald standing in the group.
She studied his short, flat ape-like face that ended in a small, narrow, pointed nose. She took in his wide body, wider than any other pony she had seen, except for Bulk Biceps. She took account that though his garments his garments covered nearly his whole body, he was as heavily muscled as Big Mac in his prime. His long forelimbs extended just below his torso and ended in paws with five digits each for gripping and grasping. He stood as tall as Celestia, minus her horn. His two long legs ended in long, narrow feet. The coverings on his feet perplexed her, she was familiar with shirts and pants, but the coverings on his feet covered not only the tops, sides and backs of of his feet, but also the bottoms too. She levitated her spectacles from the table to her face to vet a better look as to ensure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.
"Who is this creature? Was he, she, it the one Celestia and Cadance the one they brought in to Ponyville Medical early this morning?", Starlight asked.
"Yes he is, Glimmy.", Twilight replied, "His name is-"
"Before we begin let's get some strong coffee, many of us are tired and it wouldn't do to have introductions if we are yawning.", Celestia interrupted, glancing Luna fighting a yawn, "Then we can get our proper regalia and have proper introductions."
Spike picked up a bell from where he was still seated at the table and gave it a jingle. A sea green earth pony servant with a dark grey vest and freshly waxed mustache entered from a door on the left of the room. "Bring the coffee service and a light breakfast for our guests."
"Yes sir Spike.", the pony said, tipping his head polity.
"Also send for Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.", Twilight chimed in before the servant left.
"Yes princess.", said the servant bowing.
Several minutes passed as the ponies, dragon and human all stood around around in small groups sharing quiet conversation. The doors to the chamber opened, several servants brought in extra chairs and set them up around the table. A silver platter with crystal carafe, filled with dark thick coffee and several china cups was laid in the center of the table. The ponies sat at the table.
When Harald sat down, he found the chair was uncomfortably low. He shifted his weight and tucked one of his legs under himself, though still a bit uncomfortable, he was able to sit more upright.
Twilight levitated the cups in front of each individual then lifted the carafe in her magic. Harald watched as Pinkie reached into her mane, pull out a small envelope, reach into it and pulled out a small square of chocolate and a small of disc of peppermint, then drop them into her cup before returning the envelope to her mane.
Twilight began pouring coffee in each cup. "Just a half a cup right, Pinkie?", Twilight asked.
Pinkie nodded her head. "Mhm. I've already had a cup this morning. If I drink too much coffee me and Cheese won't get too many parties planned as I'll literally be bouncing off the walls." Pinkie looked at Harald and gasped loudly for several minutes, "Me and Cheese are gonna have to plan your welcome to Ponyville party! What kind do you usually have?"
"If party is your word for feast. We hold them for holidays, weddings, births or when someone new comes to the village." Harald said as Twilight filled his cup, "We lay out great tables in the communal longhouse covered in meats, dried fruits, sweet rolls and casks of mead. There is much eating, drinking, boasting and raucous singing. Then there is challenges who can eat the most, who can drink the most, tests of strength, tests of endurance, tests of speed and friendly fights to see who is toughest. The feast ends when everyone staggers home, passes out or can't move because they ate and drank too much."
"What's mead?", Pinkie asks scratching her chin.
"Spiced honey wine.", Harald replied blowing on his coffee.
"Y'all won't find much mead here, 'spose we can break out a few barrels of aged cider an' buy a few from Diamond Tiara's store.", Applejack said, "If'n you put in a good weeks work. 'Specially if Pinkie and Cheese throw you anywhere near as big of a hootenanny as Ah guess they are. If it's anything close to what yer used to, Ah'm guessin' it'll be a humdinger of a time."
A servant walked up to Harald pushing a small cart. "Sugar or cream sir?"
"Just a pinch of salt please.", he replied.
The servant raised an eyebrow slightly before passing him a salt shaker. "Your...salt sir."
Harald took the shaker from the servant and shook out a small amount into his palm, then passed it back. "Thank you.", he said tipping his head slightly. Licking a finger, he touched it to the salt before bringing up to his mouth, tasting it gauging the saltiness of it. Using his thumb, he pinched it between his thumb and forefinger, grinding it into a fine powder as he sprinkled it into his coffee. He clutched the remaining small bit of salt in fist, brought it up to his face, whispered a small prayer a tossed it over his left shoulder. He stirred his coffee with a spoon, then placed it on a small dish. He sipped the coffee, feeling the warm liquid trickle down his throat and felt the caffeine enervate him.
Spike and the ponies stared at him, minus the sisters, as he quietly sipped the coffee.
"What the hay, if no one is gonna say it, I will.", Rainbow Dash said, "Do uprights drink salt water?"
"Manners, Rainbow Dash.", Luna scolded. "But no, they don't drink salt water. In fact his tribe rarely drinks coffee, they usually drink a hot beverage made from chicory and they put a tiny bit of salt in it. I tried it once, it actually cuts the acidity a little bit and makes black coffee more palatable."
"Oh.", Rainbow said feeling a bit deflated.
"More coffee?", Twilight said seeing Harald put his empty cup down and dab his mouth dry with a napkin.
"Just a half cup, please.", he replied.
Soon they had finished the coffee. The carafe, silver platter and china were taken up. Plates, forks and knives were placed at each dining spot. Small platters of eggs, cheese, tiny sandwiches, various fruits, oatcakes, daisies and roses were laid out.
Harald put a few eggs, some cheese and fruit on his plate. He proceeded to cut up his eggs with his fork and knife. Resting the fork between his first two fingers and thumb, he picked up some eggs and cheese with it before slipping the food in his mouth. After he swallowed he said, "I was always told ponies that lived in the south only ate plants."
"Actually we're omnivores.", Starlight said, "We may not eat much meat, but we do eat plenty of animal products like eggs, milk and cheese."
"Hmm.", Harald said before popping a piece of fruit in his mouth.
"What about the uprights?", Twilight said around a mouthful of roses, "The old stories said you all only eat meat, but you're eating fruit."
"In my land we mostly do as there isn't much good land for farming. Though I can't speak for the other tribes as we haven't had much contact with them.", Harald said swallowing the fruit, "I'm most familiar with the Rimewalkers, but one time as a boy a caravan of people from the far west, they all had dark brown skin, wavy black hair and brown eyes with gold rings around the outside. We called them Sandstriders as it was said they lived in a land of burning heat and dry sands. We have had some dealings and border skirmishes with a tribe called the Steppesrunners. They are a secretive and wary people who move around a lot. It's said that they only venerate steel and two sacred mountains.
He popped another piece of fruit in his mouth before continuing, "The old sagas say that there is a tribe that lives far to the south whose skin and eyes are dark as midnight and their black hair is as curly as a cloud before a thunderstorm. Our merchants and raiders have told stories about two fierce tribes living far to the east in brilliant green lands amongst mountains. They were described as having skin as yellow as the sun, straight black hair and eyes like narrow slits."
He continued as he chewed on another piece of fruit, "The old sagas say that there are also said there are lion-eagles and eagle-ponies that can turn into fish at will.", Harald popped another piece of fruit in his mouth, "The old sagas also say when the servants of the nameless evil rear their heads and threaten the lives of Mankind and Ponykind alike, a champion of the Rimewalkers will be the first to hear the silent call and to be the first to stand. Then the Sky Queens of this land ignite the skies to call the champions from the other tribes." Harald casual put a piece of cheese in his mouth. "Maybe they are just sagas and old stories that old men tell children.", he placed his fork on his plate and sat back with a cocky smirk on his face, "But here I sit eating with five Sky Queens and their fellow rulers of this land." Harald went back to eating quietly.
Celestia and Luna continued munching quietly, their eyes closed and smiles on their faces while the rest stared on with flabbergasted looks on their faces.
"Aunties?", Cadance asked, "Is everything thing just said true?" The world suddenly felt topsy-turvy to her.
"Oh yes Mi Amore.", Luna replied, "We remember the six champions very well. Especially Jorgen. He spent the most time with us. He loved us both equally."
Celestia propped her chin on her hoof and sighed wistfully, "That old Irontooth. He loved us so.", she looked at Harald, "Harald looks just like him, except for all that red hair. He used to dance under my sun so carefree and sang under your moon in such a deep gravelly voice. He would dance for us and sing to us. We both tried to convince him to stay, but he said he had to leave and ensure that he had an heir to ensure that when the great evil returned. He said he would not rest until he was with us again." Celestia sighed again.
Luna put the rose she was eating down. "I remember the first time I saw sadness in him." Luna sighed. "Cadance, when he saw your ancestor Bright Topaz as a newborn filly his eyes filled with joy and sadness and he wept. He kissed her on her head saying how much love he felt for her." A tear rolled down her cheek. "He stayed until a year after Daystar Sparkle was born. He used to sing such a silly song to them, it went "Sunshine awaken the ladybugs so they can dance and shake. Let the sunshine awaken the future rulers." I used to think it was a silly song until I heard you and Twilight say that silly rhyme to each other."
Cadance and Twilight looked at each other with stunned looks on their faces. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!", they said softly.
Twilight turned to Celestia and Luna, "How could he have known this? Our ancestors died well over a thousand years ago."
"The weirding can do strange things.", Harald replied, "Those who feel it strongly can see into the future or the past, sometimes it can even let those who aren't born yet or long dead talk to them or through them."
"The day before he left he begged us both to keep Topaz safe as her family would face terrible tragedy and if we didn't keep her close we would lose a ruler for all time.", Celestia said sadly. Her eyes were a million miles away.
"That night he laid with us both for the first and only time.", Luna said a sigh, "It was like the warmth of the sun and serenity of the moon at the same time."
Both sisters sighed.
"The day he left we made Bright Topaz our sacred bonded niece.", Celestia said her eyes misty with tears, "Every member of your family that was born we sacred bonded them as nieces and nephews. When Sombra rose up and overthrew the Crystal Empire banishing it to oblivion, her great-great grandson died in combat and his wife died of a broken heart leaving their infant son orphaned, it crushed me, but we knew that because of Jorgen we had secured the rightful ruler. When you ascended to an alicorn at such a young age my heart sang with joy. When you were the princess of love, I saw the love Jorgen had for my sister and I come to fruition. I don't think he foresaw Twilight ascending or Flurry being born."
"If he foresaw me becoming an alicorn and ruler of the Crystal Empire,", Cadance said, "Why didn't he foresee Twilight or Flurry?"
"The weirding can give glimpses into the past, present or future, Sky Queen.", Harald said, "It can be like looking upon the world through a crack. You can get an idea of what has happened, is happening or will happen, but it is only a narrow glimpse. Mortals can never get full vision, only those whom time never touches can get a look at the whole."
"So this weird thingy works kinda like my Pinkie sense. I know something is going to happen, though I know where it is most likely going to happen, but until it happens I'm not fully sure what it is."
All the ponies gaped at Pinkie for a moment.
"What?!", Pinkie said, "I can't always be the the comedic relief, sometimes I wanna be an info dump." Pinkie tapped her chin with her hoof, "Sometimes I can be a, what was it that Discord said in the first chapter? Oh yes, a Deus Ex Machina!"
All the ponies, Spike and Harald blinked in confusion at Pinkie.
"Best to not let this yummy food go to waste.", Pinkie said before plopping a couple of oat cakes on her plate. She pulled a bottle of syrup out of her mane, drizzled it on the oat cakes and started eating again. "Mmmm, boysenberry!", she said with a mouthful.
The rest of the group continued eating in uncomfortable silence.
After several minutes they finished eating. The servants cleared the tables. As the group went to rise from their seats, the far door to the dining room opened and three bickering mares walked in.
"Aww ponyfeathers! I told you to put the paperwork off 'til later Bloomy.", Scootaloo said, "Now we're late. And on top of that we missed brunch too!"
"An' as Ah told you before, Ah caint jus' blow off paperwork because it inconveniences me.", Applebloom said, "Bein' Chief Constable ain't an easy job an' after that riot that that detestable Lex J. Pones tried to rile up. Ah woulda thought you would understand the heap of paperwork an' stress Ah'm under, with you bein' th' High Warden of the Everfree. An' on top o' that Ah still gotta help get the fall harvest in, cider season is on us. An' I also gotta help take care of my nephew. None of it is easy with this." She waved her left foreleg shaking the brace and prosthetic hoof.
"Girls, my job is as hard as yours!", Sweetie Belle stated sharply, "I'll be lucky if I ever crawl out from under this mountain of paperwork that this near-riot at the hospital. I've also got to calm bunch of scared and concerned ponies about some mythical hoom-muhn." She placed her hoof between her eyes and sighed. "On top of all that, I've got to plan my wedding."
Harald was studying the three mares, they argued like old friends. He first looked to the orange pegasus with bright pink mane and lights purple eyes that burned with strength. He then looked to the white unicorn who had had a pink and purple mane, whose brilliant green eyes sparkled like emeralds. Finally he looked at the golden earth pony, her name was red with a brilliant pink bow, her eyes glittered a bright orange. Her left foreleg had a brace, the scaring visible under the brace said something had mangled her leg, her left hoof was replaced by a well worn wooden prosthetic. She limped showing she never fully regained her strength in her leg. Several knotted scars on her neck was where some great beast had tried to kill her. Her right ear, though covered by her bangs and bow, was nearly completely gone, ripped away by something.
"Such a strong warrior!", Harald whispered under his breath still studying Applebloom.
Applebloom feeling something looking at her brought her face up locking eyes with Harald. "Holy!", she exclaimed, taking two quick steps backwards.
The other two looked up, looks of shock of on their faces.
"I-I-I b-b-b h-h-h w-w-w!", was all Sweetie Belle could stammer.
Scootaloo tried to back up, but tripped over her own hooves and hit the floor with a loud smack. She lay in a slumped heap.
Harald jumped to his feet and sprinted to Scoot. He placed his head on her ribcage, listened for a minute, then began running his hands along her neck. "Breathing and heart strong. No injury to the neck."
Applebloom seeing what was going on started to approach Harald and Scoot.
Harald held his hand up. "Hold shield maiden!" He pointed to Sweetie. "Calm your friend or get her out of here. Her babbling is distracting me." He felt along her head, then opened her eye, waving a hand over noting how it constricted and dilated. "No brainpan injury."
Applebloom walked over to Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle? You okay?"
"I-I-I...", she continued to babble.
Apple bloom reared up and slapped Sweetie with her right hoof. "Snap out of it.
Sweetie Belle snapped out of it. "What?! Where?!"
"Go sit down and get something to drink! Scoot knocked herself out.", Applebloom said sharply.
Sweetie went to a chair and sat down. Seeing Harald tend to Scootaloo made her go to gasp. A napkin in a light blue field was stuffed in her mouth. Spitting it out, she glared at Rarity. Rarity signaled for her to be quiet. Celestia floated a glass of water to her.
Harald felt along Scoot's spine. "No back injury." He felt all four legs. "No broken legs." Harald held up two fingers. "Two bowls of water and two cloths please." A deep blue flash teleported the two bowls and cloths in. He soaked the cloth, wrung out the excess water until it was damp, then gently wiped her forehead and cheek. He periodically repeated the process. After began to stir as her eyes fluttered. Harald folded the cloth and placed it on her forehead, then he placed a hand on her side.
Touch, hearing and sight slowly faded back in for Scootaloo. "Wh-what-"
Harald leaned down and quietly shushed her. "You fell and hit your head. Just keep your head down, I'll get you something to drink.", he spoke softly in her ear. He grabbed the second cloth, soaked it and wrung it so it wasn't dripping. He brought the cloth to her mouth and squeezed a few drops in it.
The cool drops of water was like sweet nectar to Scoot as the drops made her parched throat feel better.
He resoaks the cloth as Scoot tries to raise her head. He moves his to her head. "Not yet. Just let it pass. If you try get up too fast, you'll faint. Just lie here quietly and I'll get more to drink."
She nods slowly.
Let the cloth stay more soaked as he squeezed rivulets of water in her mouth. He looked on pleased as she greedily lapped the water and the blackness left her eye.
"Ah! So good!", she said between swallows of water. "I'm feeling better. You can let me up now."
Harald shifted to one knee, quietly grabbing one of the bowls, "When I move my hand, try not to get up too fast." He quickly moved his hand as he splashed the water on the side of her face.
Scootaloo was on her hooves like a house of fire. Her anger burned, she wanted to smash him in the face. "What the buck was-" The second bowl of water splashed in her face. She spluttered, wiping the the water from her eyes with her hoof. Anger still burned in her mind. Looking up, she saw Harald had risen to his full height and he was nearly twice her height. She backed away a couple of steps feeling afraid of this creature, who not only two minutes ago was gently attending to her, was now radiating an aura of danger.
Spike and the others were laughing, partially at the ridiculousness of Scootaloo getting splashed twice, but also in relief that their friend was unharmed. The laughter wounded Scoot's pride and indignation rose up inside her.
She flew up into Harald's face. Her face was a mask of faux anger, hiding her embarrassment poorly. "Hey?! Why did you splash me...twice?", she said leaning her face close to Harald's. Her eyes tried to bore hot daggers into him.
"The first splash was to fully wake you up, the second one was to cool your anger.", he said with a calm smile on his face, "I take it from the fact you haven't taken a swipe at me means it worked." Harald gave a crooked smirk.
"Hmph!", she said crossing her forelimbs and turning away, flying away a few paces. "I should still kick you in the face for that!"
Harald quickly coiled the wet cloth he was still holding in both of his hands and quickly snapped it into Scoot's rump.
Scootaloo yelped and lurched forward slightly. Anger burning in her eyes, she turned to face Harald.
"You'd only wind up injuring yourself.", Harald taunted. He was twisting the cloth again.
With a growl she started to lunge at Harald again. A blue blur stopped her dead in her flaps.
Rainbow Dash was holding a hoof to her chest. "Okay Scoot! You're not hurt and we've all had a laugh. Just take a breath.", Rainbow said, "Harald, apologize."
Harald bowed, extending his hands out to his sides. "I apologize for striking you on your hindquarters. I humbly beg for your forgiveness."
Scoot turned her head and grumbled, "Forgiven." Now that things were calming down she was seeing how things were a little funny. She tried to stifle a snicker.
"Okay then!", Celestia said tapping a hoof on the table, "If that is over, let's get down to the business at hand."
As they entered into into the map room Harald asked, "Where are my things?"
Twilight summoned a key with her magic and levitated it to to a closet, unlocking it. "I had your things put in here for safe keeping after they were brought here.", she said, "Of course I did take some notes, drawings and rubbings of your weapons and armor." Twilight opened the closet with her magic.
Harald gathered his things out of the closet. Looking at his ruined helmet, he scowled. It would have to be set aside for this ceremony. He inspected his chainmail tabard, he took note of the few rings that had been destroyed by the changeling's bolt dark magic of energy. Harald placed his hand to where the bolt had punctured his lung. The stitches still held the wound closed and though the tincture he drank had greatly increased his healing, he knew he wasn't at full strength yet though you'd never have him admit it aloud. Then he inspected his shield. He ran his fingers along the hole and along the slowly spreading crack that had moved towards the boss.
Harald untied the cinch on his backpack and opened it. He fumbled around in it for a minute before producing two object wrapped in leather, a simple brush, a small pouch and a small crystal vial of oil. He untangled the braids in his hair, beard and mustache, then started brushing them out until his long red hair stood out like a shimmering ruby waterfall. He pulled the stopper out of the vial and the room filled with the scent of roses. He spread some of the oil on his hands and began rubbing it into his hair. He repeated the process until he had applied the oil to his hair, mustache and beard. Replacing the stopper, he dropped the vial in his backpack. He opened the pouch, dumping out several intricate charms made of ivory, bone, gold and gems. He began braiding the charms into his hair, mustache and beard. After twenty minutes he had finished, he shook head his around several times making the charms clack against each other and settle.
"I say dah-ling, you must tell me what was that you used on your coiffure. It simply smells divine.", Rarity said.
"Rose oil. I smells nice and makes the hair soft when you haven't had a chance to clean it properly.", Harald replied.
He pulled on his chainmail tabard, cinched the belts the weapon and shield belts around his waist and chest. He stood to his full height and took a few deep breaths. He turned seeing the group had put on their full regalia. Harald bowed deeply to the rulers of Equestria. They returned the deep bow.
Celestia gave the unspoken signal to start by clicking her hooves as she assumed her full height. The who group took up regal postures that denoted their office as rulers of this land or heirs apparent. their heads were fully upright, ears in the upright forward position, wings were fully spread and flared, horns tipped forward slightly. This was much more than regal posturing, this was also a show of dominance.
Harald gathered the two objects wrapped in leather in front of his feet. Kneeling, he bowed his head in reverence and placed his right fist over his heart. He cleared his throat before proclaiming in a clear voice, "I am Harald Irontoothson, last surviving member of the clan of my honored ancestor Jorgen the Irontooth. By my life or by my death I come to swear my service and my vengeance to the enemies of this land." He removed his shield from his arm, laid it on the floor the slid to the group. "I swear my shield to the defense of the defenseless." He drew his axe and slid it to the group. "My axe to cleave thine enemies in twain." Drawing his sword he slid it across the floor. "My sword to slay thine enemies." He reached into his boot drawing his dagger, laid the blade across his left palm and drew it across opening a wound, then returned the blade to its sheath. Clenching his fist tight, blood trickled onto the floor. "By my life's blood I bind myself to thee. Thy enemies shall be my enemies, thy allies shall be my allies." He extended both arms, palms open facing upwards. "My hands are thine to command."
Twilight stepped forward to Harald. She raised her left forelimb to her mouth and bit down hard, drawing blood. Extending her forelimb, she let her blood dribble onto the floor, mixing with Harald's before placing her bleeding forelimb into his bleeding palm. "As our blood blood mingles with thine, our ancestors become thine and thy ancestors become ours. Arise Harald Irontoothson as a sacred blood bonded brother into the clan of Sparkle."
Harald rose to his feet as Twilight placed her forelimb around him embracing the newly bonded brother. "Behold fellow rulers of Equestria!", Twilight proclaimed, "The newest member of our family and any whom shalt speak ill of him shalt speak ill of us." After they broke the embrace, Twilight gestured to the group, "Harald, meet your new family."
As Harald approached the group, Shining Armor was the first to embrace him with tear glittering in his eyes. As the rest of the group Embraced him, Pinkie felt a muscle twitch in her belly. "We're going to have some unusual visitors tonight.", she thought.
After the embrace ended, Harald walked over to the two leather wrapped objects. First he unwrapped the bronze urn intricately covered with ancient runes, adorned a golden sun and mother of pearl moon. He held it gingerly in both hands. "Upon the request from many generations ago, the remains of Jorgen have been returned to his rightful home."
Celestia's breath quavered while Luna felt like she had a massive boulder lodged in her throat. Tears trickled down their cheeks as they took it in their magic. They each kissed it softly before placing it on the map table.
Harald unwrapped the second object, a small gold and silver box. He lifted the box up, walking over to the sisters, flipped the lid of the box open. Inside it contained an iron tooth preserved in amber, two simple rings, one made of ivory and the other made of onyx. "The last objects made by Jorgen. Delivered by his request to the ones he truly loved."
Celestia and Luna levitated the the rings to their chests, weeping bitterly. After several minutes they slid the rings on their horns. They closed the lid with their magic and levitated it next to the urn.
After the business at the castle had ended, the group began to split up and head to their jobs. Twilight had directed Luna to a bedroom so she could lie down. Cadance, Shining Armor and Flurry Heart had accompanied Pinkie into town to do a little shopping.
Harald, Applebloom, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were making their way to Sweet Apple Acres. "We've lost a good chunk 'o the mornin's chores an' Ah guess Big Mac'll be a bit cross.", Applejack said, "But he'll be glad to have another set of hooves tuh help out on th' farm. Err...yuh know what I mean."
"Eyup!", Applebloom chimed in, "'Sides we'll have 'nuther set of hooves tuh help Granny an' Red Delicious out in the garden."
Rainbow Dash landed next to Applejack. "Ugh! I hate doing chores!", she said loudly. She playfully bumped her hips into AJ's. "Besides I can think of something more fun to do, then maybe a nap afterwards."
AJ nuzzled Dash's cheek. "As Ah told yuh before, t'night. Consider it a reward fer a good day's work. 'Sides if yuh put in an hard day's work Ah jus' might...", she whispered something quietly in her ear.
Rainbow sprung in the air slightly and clicked all four hooves together.
Harald grinned slightly.
Applebloom rolled her eyes.