//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 - Lurking Darkness 
// Story: Reborn 
// by Pensive 
//------------------------------//

Brain.exe has stopped working, would you like to restart?

Yes, yes I would very much like to have the ability to think back right now.

In front of me, was Star. Except... 

A fiily she was no longer.

She looked back at me.





POV: Star

"M-mark?" I asked ever so carefully at the... Filly in front of me.

"Star?" he replied, the same confusion and emotions as me mixed in his... her? New voice.

My confusion, curiosity, slight horror, and other emotion, turned to pure terror. My own voice was different. I Felt different too. I dare not look at myself. Instead, I turned my head away from my brother's... 'Sister's?', now white coat to Luna. Mark did the same.

A she looked impassive, and only raised an eyebrow at us.

"Luna, if you don't undo it, so help me I'll go find a stick and shove it down somewhere the sun don't shine-!" is what Mark wanted to say, but I cut him off after the first word. As much as I wanted to join him, we'd probably get what we'd want.

"A-ahem," I coughed, releasing my hoof from Mark's mouth, "Luna? I think you may have gotten the genders wrong."

"You are Star, art thou not?" she replied skeptically.

"Uhmm, yes?"

"Then there was no error." My eye twitched.

"Luna, maybe I wasn't clear, why are we are our genders changed?"

"Because it's best like that, it's imperative to keep secrecy."

"Luna, I believe your missed one, minor, extremely important detail."

"And that is?"

I looked at Mark and motioned him to finished. He took a deep breath, then looked back at Luna.

"Luna," he said, teeth grinding, "I believe I speak for both of us, that we're... uncomfortable like this..."

"Even so, we-"

"Luna, could you please change our genders?" Mark replied in such a tone that showed he would not back down, nor did he leave any room for argument.

"Even if-"

"Luna."





I sighed, walking happily down the docks from the ship. Besides me walked my brother, now a yellow Unicorn with a cutie mark of teleportation? I think that's what it was supposed to mean.

In front of me, was Luna, now a Unicorn mark with a beautiful coat. A nice rose pink. She had a Cutie Mark of two masks. One happy, the other said. She said it meant she was an actor.

Looking down, I admired my own white-pinkish coat and pink mane. I was a pegasus with a happy face Cutie Mark.

We all had our own story. My cutie Mark meant I was good at soothing others, Mark was something magic-based, and Luna was an actor. Of course, we had different names too.

One thing though that was new for us was the Cutie Marks. Upon questioning Luna, she said it would bring attention to us if others thought we still didn't have one at our age. Mark was the one shoving himself in books, I'll have to ask him later when we're alone what she meant. He told me before, but I vaguely remember it because it was in the middle of the night. 'I swear, he'd be completely nocturnal if it wasn't for me.'

I looked at my coat once again taking in the hefty bag of bits in my saddlebag. Bits were the currency here. It was compensation for the incident earlier. 'While I usually like to talk my way through things, Mark can sometimes...'

I shivered remembering the conversation. That's something I need to dig a hole for, fill with molten metal until it cools, building a house on top filled with evil robot ponies with the doors locked. Instead of thinking back, I decided to focus my attention on that bits I now had. Mark had managed to 'Squeeze' a total of 80 bits from Luna. Don't really know how much it's worth considering she's a princess and currency values are probably different but hey, mine as well get as much as possible.

Besides, the premise Mark and I made isn't going to be fulfilled for many... Actually, having friends in high places would be a huge help. I looked at Luna, thinking of possibility, even knowing there weren't for years to come but hey, I like playing diplomat. 'Wait, what if I actually become a diplomat? Do I even want to be a diplomat? Wait wait wait! Going down this road leads to many more-'

"You okay?"

I bumped into Mark who was walking in front of me. Blinking a few times, I looked at him, confusion obvious. His coy smiled was slightly annoying, but I didn't do anything as I was actually curious.

"I know that look," he said, rolling his eyes and continued to walk as I followed, "whenever we when outa town with m-"

Mark froze a bit, smiling with a chuckle, "Actually, no nevermind it's not important."

'My brother in an idiot.'

My eye twitched just a slight bit before I had slipped into a facade with a false smile, "Ohh, yeah I getcha, you mean when you helped me make the pen?"

"Pen?"

I smiled and pulled it out from my bag carefully moving it around the bit bag. "Yep! Mark helped me make this, you see, I like to draw and I didn't have anything good to draw with so we made this. I'll let you see it later because now shopping takes priority!"

Luna smiled, rolling her eyes playfully. She bought the lie. Mark and I had said we would tell anyone about our past. At least, not now. If we had to, we'd take it to our graves. ' Actually, is that even possible considering we're alicorns? They don't have memory magic do they?'

Anyways, whether death for us was possible or not, I'll need to talk with him later about that.

By now, we had already made our way off the harbor and were making our way into the city proper. ' Baltimare? Or was it Manehatten? I remember overhearing something like that... Bah, I'm getting sidetracked again.'

With a new and improved bright smile Luna, Mark, and I or for those who see us Rose Beauty, Azure Light, and Heart Struck. At least, if I can help it. We haven't agreed on names, so if I get it out before anyone else says something...





Luna, Mark, and I found ourselves within a shopping area. Oh my, they had some many stores and smells...

"Well, what do ya wanna do?"

The question caught my off guard. I actually don't know if I want anything. With a shrug, I let Mark decide what to do for now.

"In that case, book!"

The smile I had drooped, as it melted off my face.

"books...?"

"Book!"

"On magic..."

"Yep!"

That said, I walked forward grabbing Mark's mane with my magic.

"That's it, you've had enough time sitting down and doing nothing, it's time to have some actually fun."

"B-but Star!"

"Nah-uh, we're going, and we're going now."

I let go of him and he started following with a groan. Luna followed, but I think she intentional kind stayed behind a bit. Suspicious, but she's probably busy with something. Instead of waiting or looking back a Luna, Mark and I kept going until something caught our interest. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait as someone to our right side waved.

"Hey! You too looking like you could try some of my own flavor of cotton candy! In fact, free for the first ponies to try it."

The earth ponies with a teal coat waved showing her collection of cotton candy.

"And what flavor are you offering?"

"Well, plenty! We've got Cherry, Apple, Rose, Pumpkin pie, Milk, Soup, Taco, Sugar, Strawberry, Coconut, Water, Eggs, Orange, Pear, Banna, Chocolate, Velvet, kiwi, Butter, Peanuts, Pecan, Acorn, Bread, Garlic, Salt, Lime, Coffee, Tea, Sandwich, Air, fresh mountain air, Daisy, Blue Barry-"

I was getting quite annoyed with the stallion and would have cut him off earlier, but looking at him I could tell he was very stressed. Me, in my infinite wisdom, decided to try and help out a bit by playing off a little joke, all I got to do is get him to say something contradictory, which should be hard considering his smile is fake, he rubbed his hooves tightly together under the stall, and just the very tiny bit of shaking.

"I think we've heard enough thank you, but I think we're okay, at least concerning the rest of the... flavors."

The earth ponies smiled still, "Ohh don't worry, it's all safe and besides, certain ones are for certain ponies in Baltimare. But are you sure you don't want to try my new 'IM A BANNA!!!' flavor?"

The stallion pulled out one of two menus she had. One was Pink, the one she gave us blue. The list he gave us wasn't even a quarter down the first page. Actually, no the list he gave me, as my brother was half falling asleep while leaning on a bale of hey that happened to be nearby.

"What's in the other menu?" I asked, reading curiously reading.

Given that he has flavors of... air, he could probably turn just about anything into cotton candy, I'd imagine those are the more... inappropriate things. Actually, does this guy even make money off the other flavors?

"Oh nothing you foals want to try, it's for the specific ponies that need to have a certain type, except certain ponies, which you, unfortunately, aren't."

'Convinient.'

"Oh, are these not already exotic?" I said, now pointing at the menu in my hooves looking at him.

"Well, they are exotic, but some ponies want even more exotic types which I keep in the other menu."

...

'Is it really that easy? Please tell me this guy is just drunk or something, because I'd rather that than him actually being that dumb or just dropping his guard because I'm a child. Actually, if it's because I'm a child, then he gets what comes next.'

"Oh really, are you sure of exactly what you said?"

The stallion I had been talking to seems to have a near-endless amount of bubbly energy as she kept smiling on. 

"Uhm yes? I think I know my menus well-"

"I'm sorry but Mr...?" Cut her off, got me his attention along with a small frown and oddly enough some nervousness?

She curtly replied with, "Blue, Cotton Blue "

"Yes, Mr. Blue, you said it was for specific ponies who need it, with exception to certain ponies including us, but then after you said that others want an even more exotic flavor, indicating that it's not for specific ponies with specific needs. I find these conflicting states extremely unlikely to be made but an accident."

The stallion agitated state remained the same.

"Well, really, when I said that I meant it was for ponies who want an exotic flavor who can order something they specifically want."

'Bingo'

"Really, oh so, why do you have a menu if it's for ponies who order it specifically. I don't imagine somepony else is going to come up and want the same exotic flavor somepony else ordered."


I kept smiling at the stallion with an innocent face, I wasn't tried to expose him or anything, but this is a little too easy. I felt a little bad as the stallion agitated state changed into something else.

The stallion now looked horrified. I didn't know why, but it made me feel guilty. He looked as if he was ready to bolt.

"Hold up Mr. Blue, I was just joking and knew you weren't-" Suddenly the stallion turned around and ran off to the crowd. Running woke Mark up in a state of confusion but was replaced with curiosity as to why the stallion was now running. I ignored Mark as before she ran, I turned around because before the stallion ran, it looked as if he saw a ghost.

Behind me, I only saw two guards city guards nearby facing the other way. right then, Luna decided whatever was holding her kind of behind was finally over.

"What happened, and why did that stallion run off?" Her questioning look made me feel guilting, and I think she saw it as she seemed skeptical now. I didn't see a point in lying so opted for the truth. Unfortunately, I have a really bad nervous habit when I'm caught doing something wrong. And me being guilty made it feel wrong to me. 

"Well, you see, I was talking with her and saw she seemed really distracted and I ehm, maybe was a bit annoyed and pull a small joke to maybe get him to laugh a bit as I saw his smile was shaking a bit and I started asking questions until he said something contradictory and after I pointed it out she seemed scared and nervous and then just kinda ran way." 

My nervous smile seeing a disappointed look on Luna. For some reason, her being disappointed in me made me sad. So with a reluctant sigh, I looked down drooping my head, "Sorry..."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to..."

'Okay, now that hurt even more.'

I nodded as Luna walked around looking around the stall that was located to the side of the street.

"Hmm, being in my position, I have resources to track the ponies so you proper-..." Luna stopped as soon as she started reading the second menu, "on second thought, I don't think you'll even be seeing that points again..."

"Uhh, what? But you just said-" Luna stuffed a hoof in my mouth.

"Now now little one, do not complain to me here. I just remember I have work to attend to, but I'll have some guards nearby you at all times kept out of sight. Whether you want them to actually be with you is up to you, there in hearing distance. I'll have guards with you at all times. They won't show themselves, but if you need them for whatever reason, just holler as you even if you cannot see them, they're in hearing distance."

"W-what? L- I mean, even so, are you sure that's even a good decision-"

"Well, I think it is!"

I had forgotten I was neglecting Mark for a bit, something I came to regret as he just popped out of nowhere. Looking around, he was a good 15 foot away, with a bag of bits-

"Wait, wait. Wait what!?"

My own saddlebags seemed to be a lot lighter now that I think about it, and my outburst caused Luna to finally look back from what she was digging through.

"You snooze, you lose, to the library I go!"

"Oh please, you'd fall sleeping before even reaching the library!"

He only smiled that goofy grin and shrugged. With that, my brother ran off. 'Is my brother really that big of an idiot?!'

"MARK! GET BACK HERE!!" I screeched as I ran after him through the crowd. The crowd did mute a good bit of my yell but not enough for Mark to reliable pretend he didn't hear me.

"Mark, if you don't get back here I swear you'll never read anything, not even a letter for an entire month!" Playing on one of his hobbies would have made me feel a little guilty, but not when he's being an idiot like this.

Though my yell seemed to slow him a bit, when he looked back and me speeding towards him, he sped up again. He has a small talent for sprinting, but can't go far at all. This means all I have to do is tire him out. I was getting deeper in the crowd now and as I looked back, I saw Luna smiling and waving in her disguised form. 'I really hope our guards aren't needed, or anything happens because knowing Mark, he'll do something stupid again.'