//------------------------------// // Episode 5: Seeking Assistance // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// Sparkler came in for a landing in front of the Castle of Friendship. Her hooves touched the ground, and she folded her wings back to her sides. She smiled as she glanced back at Kicker, who was staring right at her with his wide, shocked eyes. She shot him a smile as she raised an eyebrow. “You ok Kicker?” “You—you have both of them!” Kicker just blurted out. Sparkler’s smile faltered a little, confused. “What?” “You have both wings and a horn!” Sparkler was momentarily confused...until it clicked and she chuckled. “Oh, you mean...” She nodded. “Yes. I have both wings and a horn.” Kicker probably didn’t notice her wings until she took flight with him. Kicker’s mind was racing. He hated the ponies who took him from his home. But he did learn one thing from them. “You’re a...a...oh, an Ailcorn!” Flappy, who had joined them in front of the castle, had heard that and laughed. Sparkler couldn’t help but chuckle as well as she helped Kicker off her back and set him on the ground. “Close. But I’m actually an ALIcorn.” Kicker nodded, and then swiftly bowed his head. “P-please forgive me princess.” Sparkler giggled and shook her head. “It’s OK Kicker. You don’t need to bow to me. I’m not like other Alicorns. In that I’m not a princess.” Kicker’s eyes widened, but nodded. Sparkler shot him a smile and patted his head. “I should tell you that my Alicorn friend we’re going to see IS a princess. But she won’t expect you to treat her as such. Just act normal and you’ll be fine.” Kicker nodded as they all walked up to the front door and Sparkler knocked. ... Meanwhile, Twilight walked through the castle, a mug of coffee in her magic along with one of the many newspapers delivered, with Sparkler on the front page. While the Ponyville Daily actually stuck to Sparkler’s word, this one didn’t, for it had the headline... ALICORN IMPOSTER! Twilight read the associated article as she took a sip of her coffee, and shook her head. “Just because she isn’t a princess...that doesn’t mean she’s an imposter.” Unfortunately, a lot of the papers had gone a similar route. She sighed. I swear. Those nobles in Canterlot had better not try anything. I don’t want Sparkler to regret coming out. She entered the castle foyer and rolled up the paper, she took another sip of her coffee when she heard a knock on the door. She raised an eyebrow. “I wonder who that could be?” She walked over to the door and pulled it open, revealing Sparkler and Flappy. Twilight smiled, but was confused. “Sparkler, Flappy, good morning.” “Good morning Twilight.” Sparkler replied happily. “How’s it going?” Twilight smiled. “Well, the papers are going nuts. But besides that it’s good. What brings you two here? I don’t have us down for a study session until later?” “Squawk! Sorry for coming first thing in the morning. But this can’t wait. Squawk!” Twilight chuckled a little, thinking it was about the study session. “You’re really interested in finding out how you’re an Alicorn are you.” Sparkler sighed and shook her head. “That’s not it. We have a much bigger problem on our hooves. A problem that’s gone on for three years.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “A problem? Three years in?” Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. And it has to do with this little colt right—“ Sparkler had turned her head to gesture to Kicker, only to find a severe LACK of a little colt next to her. She raised an eyebrow. “Where’d he go?” “Where’d who go Sparkler?” Twilight asked. Sparkler glanced around her immediate personal space. “He was just here a minute ago. He’s an earth pony colt I met last night...and he needs our help.” Flappy looked around the immediate area, and quickly found the missing foal. “Squawk! Found him. Up against the corner against the stairs. Squawk!” Sparkler and Twilight looked over the edge where Flappy was looking, and saw who Twilight assumed was the missing foal curled up in a ball against the corner where the staircase and the castle wall met. Sparkler sighed and shook her head. “This is related to that problem I mentioned. He’s shy.” She turned her attention back to Kicker and cranked up her gentle attitude. “Kicker.” Kicker jumped when he heard his name called, and glanced up to see Sparkler, Flappy, and another pony all looking at him. He saw Sparkler’s gentle smile and he watched as she flapped her wings and descended down to his “hiding place”. Sparkler landed in front of him. “Kicker. I know you’re scared. But I promise you there’s nothing to worry about. Twilight can help you.” Kicker glanced up at Twilight, who put on her most caring smile, and then back at Sparkler. “Promise?” Twilight heard that and nodded. “Whatever’s going on. I’ll do everything in my power to help you little one. I just need to KNOW what’s going on.” Flappy sighed. “Squawk! All I can say is...Sparkler’s childhood PALES in comparison to Kicker’s situation. Squawk!” Twilight’s ears drooped as she frowned. Pales in comparison?...Oh no. Twilight’s stomach knotted itself as her mind began to race. Sparkler had been treated horribly in school because of her being an Alicorn. If that paled in comparison... Kicker glanced between the two ponies and the parrot a few times...before nodding and slowly taking Sparkler’s hoof. Sparkler smiled and gently pulled Kicker back onto his hooves, and they walked back up the stairs together. Twilight smiled at the foal. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. I promise.” The foal nodded, and moved slightly closer to Sparkler, still on edge. Twilight’s smile didn’t falter. “I don’t think I got your name.” The foal gulped, before finally saying. “Thunder Kicker.” Twilight smiled. “Ooh. That’s a cool name. It’s nice to meet you. You can call me Twilight.” She said with a wink. Sparkler nodded as she gently placed a wing on Kicker’s back, rubbing it gently. Twilight turned her attention back to Sparkler. “So what IS going on Sparkler? You mentioned that you met this one last night?” Sparkler sighed. “Yeah. I did. And apparently it was good timing.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?” Sparkler bit her lip. “Mind if we go someplace more private?” Twilight nodded. “Sure. Let’s head to the library.” ... It was worse than Twilight could’ve ever imagined. Once they got to the library, after a quick run in with Spike and Starlight, which quickly resulted in Flappy and Kicker going on a tour of the castle with Spike, Starlight tagged along with Sparkler and Twilight to the library, where Sparkler recounted the events of last night and the story Kicker told her. “...and eventually he ended up here in Ponyville. Where I found him in an alleyway.” Sparkler finished her explanation, and Twilight and Starlight were speechless. Starlight had a hoof to her mouth in shock, and her eyes were wet, while Twilight’s mouth was hanging open. Sparkler sighed. “I know this all sounds crazy. But he swears that it’s true.” Twilight shook her head. “Sweet Celestia. THREE years?!” Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. For three years he’s been a captive of criminals.” Starlight dried her eyes and shook her head. “I can’t believe anypony would do such a thing.” Sparkler nodded. “Right? Seriously, who would foalnap a two year old, kill their parents...and just burn the house down? Like, what would they have to gain from that?” Starlight shook her head. “I don’t know. But if any of this is true then we need to put a stop to it.” Sparkler nodded. “Exactly.” She turned to look at Twilight directly. “Twilight, any chance you can confirm any validity to Kicker’s story?” Twilight nodded. “I’ll get in touch with Celestia, see if she knows anything.” Starlight nodded. “I’ll go find Spike, Kicker and Flappy. We need to make sure we have the full story.” Sparkler nodded. “I’ll come with you.” Starlight nodded and she and Sparkler proceeded out of the library. Twilight sighed and summoned an empty scroll and a quill, as well as an inch pot. “There goes our planned study session today.” She inked the quill and started writing. “Dear Princess Celestia...” ... Ten minutes later, in Canterlot, Celestia was chowing down on a piece of cake as her after breakfast dessert. She took another bite and nodded. “Cake. The greatest food of all time.” She took another bite, when lavender sparkles flew right in front of her all of a sudden and formed into a scroll. Celestia set her cake down and saw that the scroll bore Twilight’s seal. She raised an eyebrow. “Hm. I wonder what Twilight’s writing me about this early in the morning.” She took the scroll in her magic and uncurled it. Dear Princess Celestia, I wish that this letter was written under better circumstances. But I am afraid I was just now informed of a terrible situation that I require your assistance in. Last night, Sparkler came across a five year old Earth Pony colt by the name of Thunder Kicker rummaging around in a dumpster. This morning, Thunder Kicker told her that he had escaped the clutches of ponies he claims murdered his parents and burned his house down three years ago. I am unsure of who to contact to validate these accusations, which is the reason I am writing to you. If it would not be too much trouble, we would like some help in contacting the appropriate Law enforcement agency. Preferably one that was involved with this case at the time of its emergence. If I find anything else relating to this situation, I shall write to you immediately. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle Celestia gasped when she read the part about Thunder Kicker. “Oh my. That is a serious situation.” She skimmed over the letter again, and found the colt’s name. “Thunder Kicker. That name sounds familiar...” She searched through her memory, trying to find where she had heard that name before...and then it hit her. She HAD heard that name before, and she had heard of this exact case before. “Sweet FAUST. I have to get to the CPD.” She got out of her seat, lit her horn, and summoned a scroll and a quill. She wrote as she walked. ... Back at the Crystal Castle, Sparkler and Starlight had found the tour group in the throne room...and Kicker was going nuts. “This table is awesome! Isn’t this amazing Miss Sparkler? It actually turns into a map of Equestria. And beyond! There are places like griffinstone, Saddle Arabia, Seaquestria, and Spike says that it expands every time a new place is visit—“ Sparkler smiled a little as she watched Kicker swoon over the Cutie Map. As any foal probably would if they had never seen it before. It was a truly remarkable artifact. She sighed as she decided it was time to pull Kicker back to the matter at hoof, as much as she hated it. We need to know the whole story from him. She cleared her throat. “Ahem. Kicker.” Kicker stopped rambling and looked at Sparkler. “What is it Miss Sparkler?” Sparkler smiled a little and shook her head. “Just Sparkler will be fine.” Her smile faded. “Kicker we need to talk. About the...situation.” As expected, Kicker’s mood dropped. Spike raised an eyebrow. “What situation? Is something going on with Kicker?” Starlight sighed. “We’ll tell you later Spike. Now come on. Let’s give them some privacy.” Spike, confused, nodded and he and Starlight vacated the room. Once the door closed, Sparkler turned back to Kicker. “Kicker, I know you said that what you told us is true—“ “It is!” Kicker cut her off and shouted. Sparkler nodded. “And I believe you, really!” She sighed. “I was just wondering if there was anything you left out. Anything at all that could be important.” Kicker sighed. “They foalnapped me, murdered my parents, burned the house down, and did the absolute bare minimum to keep me alive. I turned four and they started making me do all the chores. A year later I escaped and ended up here. That’s it.” Sparkler nodded. “Are you sure that’s everything you know?” Kicker nodded. “Yes! Honest!” His eyes glistened. Sparkler saw what was coming and immediately wrapped Kicker up in her hooves and wings. “Ok, ok. I believe you.” She rubbed his back, trying to soothe the distraught colt. “It’s gonna be ok Kick, we’ll sort this out.” Kicker nodded as tears started rolling down his cheeks again, crying into Sparkler’s chest. After a few seconds, he spoke in between sobs. “W-why did they have to be s-so mean?” Sparkler shook her head. “I don’t know sweetie. But don’t worry. They won’t get at you now.” Kicker lifted his head to look at Sparkler. “Really?” Sparkler nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.” Kicker nodded and pressed into Sparkler’s comforting embrace. Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Don’t worry kid, if they try to get at you they’ll have to go through me. Squawk!” At that moment, Twilight burst into the throne room holding an opened scroll. “Celestia actually knows about this!” Sparkler, Kicker, and Flappy jumped at the outburst. Twilight ignored it as she urgently shoved the scroll into Sparkler’s face. “This is the letter she sent back.” Sparkler took the scroll in her magic and looked at it. Dear Twilight, Thank you for bringing this to my attention. As it just so happens, I recall this particular case and know exactly who to consult, I will pay the Canterlot Police Department a visit and I will send an update when I can. I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated. Your friend, Celestia Sparkler finished the letter with her eyes widened. “Canterlot Police Department?” She cocked her head to the side at Kicker. “Is that your hometown Kicker? Canterlot?” Kicker thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah...I think so.” Sparkler nodded. “Huh. Imagine that.” Twilight nodded as she held up a second sealed scroll. “She also sent this along addressed to you specifically.” Sparkler’s eyes widened. “For me?” Twilight nodded. “Yes.” She turned to Kicker. “Hey Kicker, mind if I talk to you for a moment? Off to the side?” Kicker froze a little, before scooting closer to Sparkler. Hesitant to go with Twilight. Sparkler noticed and leaned in to whisper. “It’s ok Kicker. She won’t hurt you. If you want, Flappy can go with you.” Kicker looked at Sparkler. “Can Flappy come along?” Twilight smiled and nodded. “If you want him to, then yes.” Flappy nodded and launched into the air as he and Kicker followed Twilight across the room. Leaving Sparkler to unfurl the scroll and read. “Dear Sparkling Medley...” To be continued...