//------------------------------// // Finale V: Revelation // Story: Sometimes They Call Me Super // by KorenCZ11 //------------------------------// Applejack When Mac returned home later that night, he was in a much better mood, even if he still wasn’t willin’ ta discuss anythin’ any further. So much ta talk through, so much ta think about, and none of it on the table. What was on the table was ‘my friend,’ however, who’s name Mac can’t seem ta remember. ‘Ah ain’t never met a mare who acts as cute as she does in public, but when it came ta private activities, she’s some kinda wild, Ah tell ya what.’ The more he talked about ‘my friend’ the less Ah was sure it was Rarity. He said he woke up with her the mornin’ after the weddin’, but with as little as we all remember of that night, Ah still couldn’t think of who it might be. Ask him ta describe her, he tells me she wanted ta keep that between them. Course, Ah only wanted ta know even more now, but he wouldn’t budge, no matter what. Applebloom decided that was the time ta change the subject and started ta vent a little about her job. Everythin’ has its place, Mrs. Daisy likes ta let everypony know that everythin’ has its place, and if it’s even an inch off its place, Mrs. Daisy will let ya know about it. She’s a nice lady, but if anypony were ever ta describe the average busybody mother mare, Mrs. Daisy would be her. Mane up in buns, pearls and earrings and glasses, pressed and proper. Probably be scary if she had any semblance of a spine as Bloom puts it, but because she doesn’t, it all comes out as little passive aggressive remarks every now and again. Business has been slow and a lot of the ponies that typically work there haven’t shown up much fer fear of the fightin’, which leaves our fearless little genius ta pickup the slack. My little remark about that lead ta the story about the fight at the harbor, and before we knew it, Ah’d told ‘em everythin’ about my adventures over the past couple months. What a wild ride this has been. Every time Ah look back, it’s like there’s always a new twist or turn ta talk about and it all feels so… distant. This place feels like a kind of limbo, now that… Ah’m alone, again. A seat’s empty at the table, a foreleg is missin’ around my neck, a light is… gone from my life, all over again. The fake cheer that we all tried ta put on wasn’t much more than a cracked mask with pieces fallin’ off with the slightest wrong move. A cold burn, a low moanin’ ache, a deep cuttin’ sorrow, thin and strained. Repressed. When Ah laid my head down on the pillow in my old room, Ah thought of Pa. If ya were here, what would ya say? Could Ah even imagine the pony ya were anymore? It’s been so long, the memories are all so stale, Ah wonder if Ah could even dig deep enough ta find out. Maybe it wouldn’t be hard ta imagine. “Ah know how it feels, Sugarcube. Ah’m sorry.” Yeah, that’s… probably somethin’ close, Ah reckon. What else could he say? What else would he say? Would it feel any different comin’ from him as opposed ta anypony else? No, Ah… Ah think it’d just hurt like this, all the same. It was cold that night. So strange, ta sleep in an empty bed again. “Ya know, Ah have ta be honest, it feels a little weird comin’ here with you of all ponies.” Tiltin’ his head, Uncle Blood stuck his tongue out as far as he could ta get a good look at the brand. A circle covered in lines and runes with a distinct sun and moon at the top and bottom. A mark that said, ‘this pony belongs to the Equestrian royalty.’ “Applejack, if I went back in time and told myself that I’d walk into a magic crystal castle hidden in Manehattan Central Park, I don’t think I’d believe it either.” “Yeah, that’s a… that’s fair.” Finally at the hidden entrance to the Castle, we stepped through the illusion and into the ‘courtyard’ as Twi calls it. Maybe it was my view of the world, but somehow, it seemed duller than Ah remembered. “Does the building seem… how do I put this…” Uncle Blood tapped at his lips. “Brighter to you?” Ah blinked. “Uh. What do ya mean?” He made little circles in the air near his face. “I mean, it’s… blue-er now, isn’t it? Or… more colorful, even. Shades of red and violet and bright blues are sort of ‘leaking’ off it in streams if you will. When I came Sunday, it was… not as colorful, I suppose.” Ah scratched at my cheek. “Funny ya say that, because Ah remember it bein’ more colorful than this. When Ah first arrived here, and maybe this had ta do with the time of day, it was every color in the spectrum, like a prism each way the light hit it. Trees were dyed rainbow in the sunset, there was a sparkle ta it that just… ain’t here right now. Like it’s… off. Imbalanced. Missin’ a piece.” Uncle Blood raised an ear and squinted at the thing but decided ta shrug it off in the end. “Perhaps that has more to do with you than anything else. Let’s go in.” Ah flexed my hoof ta make the outline come back. It was easy at this point. The power was there, right at the flick of my hoof, and even if Ah don’t understand it, Ah knew it would work the way Ah wanted. Now if only Ah knew what it was… We started toward the door, but it opened up before we could even knock. What Ah could only imagine was near a quarter ton of alicorn leapt at me, and before Ah knew it, Ah was wrapped up in forelegs and wings. “Oh, sweet Goddess, you’re back! Do you have any idea how worried I was!? You can’t just run off on me like that! Are you okay? Where did you find her?” ‘Mom’ asked. More than anything, this moment felt nostalgic somehow. Maybe Ah got lost in the orchard when Ah was little and somethin’ similar happened back when she was still alive. Twenty years and all the loss in between, sompony is still waitin’ on me ta come home. Uncle Blood coughed. “Well, I didn’t exactly find her. She was waiting for me back at the apartment yesterday morning.” Celestia’s eyes narrowed, then she turned her head ta me. “You… went back home? On your own?” It was hard ta look her in the eye. Worrin’ about me like this when the last thing Ah did was attack her in some kinda blind rage. Ah scratched at my cheek. “W-well… somepony else found me first. And she uh… talked me down, Ah suppose.” Even more confused, she asked, “Who?” “Ah don’t think ya’d believe me if Ah told ya.” Celestia frowned. She wanted ta ask. Ah could see it right on her lips. All she had ta do was give voice ta it, and the words would come out, but she refrained. Instead, she brought me close ta her face and hugged me tighter. “Well, whoever it was, I’m thankful all the same. I’m an old mare, Applejack, you cannot strain my heart like that again.” Ah suppose if it was ever a question of how she thought of me, this would be the straightest answer Ah ever got. Warmth and love and shame and regret swirlin’ in the pit of my stomach like a whirlpool of emotions Ah didn’t know what ta do with. All of it threatenin’ ta spill out. Ah bit inta my lip and buried myself in her neck. “Ah’m sorry, Princess.” She ran a hoof through my mane and sighed. “Don’t be. I know all too well how you feel, my dear.” Eventually, Ah’d calmed down enough ta enter the castle and everypony was eagerly waitin’ ta see me. Swarmed by a few, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, Scootaloo, then greeted slowly, one by one from the rest. So worried, so missed, so loved by all these ponies, it made it all hurt just a little bit less. Well, Ah say that, there was one pony that made it hurt, but Ah don’t think either of us knew that was gonna happen. The moment Twi put her hoof on me, somethin’ strange happened. My black outline returned with a vengeance and my entire body locked up like Ah was bein’ electrocuted. Stabbin’ needles all over, like fire and acid were poured on every inch of my skin. A loud, ear piercin’ screech shook the castle. Just like me, Twi was locked up with a similar magic, but hers didn’t look so painful. Like some kinda mechanical doll, her hoof travelled from my shoulder ta my chest, and suddenly, the pain started ta ebb. The tone shifted from a staticky screech to somethin’ sweet and smooth like an E on piano keys. It shook from the magic around us, inta the floors and reverberated through the castle. The blue walls shifted through the color spectrum ta orange as the castle sang, and just as it started ta fade, so did the color return ta normal. Apparently, that’d happened a few times already, but the first time they tried it with me while Ah was still unconscious on Sunday, it didn’t work, in a bad way. Now that it was done though, Ah felt better than Ah ever had, physically, anyways, and the castle had that sparkle ta it again. Balance had been restored. What did that mean? Who knows. But we could feel it all the same. A bit of normalcy returned, we all sat down and ate lunch together, and then, it was time ta get back ta business. “I suppose the first item on the itinerary would be to figure out what we should do with these.” In a flash of blue, a very… Ah figure ‘high-tech’ lookin’ box appeared in front of Luna. Like a white cube out of some kinda sci-fi movie, Luna pressed a button on the top and the box unfolded from the base. Inside was a violet pillow and three shiny, oblong, hoofball-shaped mirrors stacked on top of each other, all seemin’ ta reflect more light than they should. The very image of my nightmares, a sight all too familiar. “So… he really did send them…” Uncle Blood said, just above a whisper. Luna nodded. “Yes, he did. Directly to me, of all things. Naturally, there is very little that can actually reach my chambers in Canterlot castle without hitting a ward or two, but this box and the drone that came with it were all made of the very same ‘disruption metal’ we feared he had been making in the first place. If nothing else, this tells me we need to upgrade the physical and electronic security around the castle, but that is the least of our problems at the moment.” Silence gripped our hearts. These things had caused nothin’ but trouble ever since we first saw one. All the death and destruction they wrought, all the ponies that died at the hooves of the monsters they create. And still, Ah couldn’t help but recognize that there was a chance ta gain power right in front of me. It worked fer him, after all. If… if it came down ta a situation like it did with Sahaquiel, would Ah…? “Perhaps…” Rarity began, “these should be analyzed. Far, far away from here. Under careful supervision.” Twi swallowed. “Y-yeah. I mean, we know how they work, but I don’t think we ever got a full picture of the process. Maybe we could reverse engineer them for a cure or something?” Dash crossed her forelegs. “Sure, we could do that, but there are three of them, right?” Fluttershy lowered her brows. “Wh-what are you saying, Rainbow? Y-you don’t really mean t-to…” Pinkie tapped her lips with a hoof. “We know that they work at least some of the time, right? Some of us are stronger than others. If Persona turns out to be something more than what Sahaquiel was, we’re fucked either way if none of us can stand up to him, right?” Celestia shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. Under no circumstances are you to even dare! Luna, put these things away. The last thing we need to do is… lose more ponies.” Luna held out a hoof. “Hold for a moment, sister. What these things do have is the potential to increase our strength for the upcoming fight. If what Brightness and Rainbow have confirmed is true—” “And it is.” Brightness added. “Then we are dealing with a true necromancer. If Silicon uses one of these on himself, which he surely will as his final resort, what chance do they have if they have to battle an undead army? There are at least ten graveyards within the city alone, and thousands of ponies are buried in them.” Celestia was angry, but not so much that she could just dismiss Luna’s point. Ah couldn’t either. In fact… “Ah couldn’t fight an army on my own. Even with all this power Ah seem ta have now. Maybe we could manage if Persona himself wasn’t part of the fight, but we’ve all been surprised before. What if, on top of everythin’ else, it makes him a monster too? Even before… Ah was never the only pony who could take a hit.” Shy put her hooves on the table and stood up. “Y-you don’t have to be! I-I have control of my p-powers now!” “Yeah, and what is the Beast gonna do if Silicon ends up like Sahaquiel!?” Rainbow shouted. “You knew you couldn’t stand up to him, and you got swatted down before you could even try! We’re a man down, and we already needed more help before! Somepony has to use it.” “And what then?” Rarity asked, “What if ‘using’ the mirror blindly turns you into something horrible you can’t control and we have to put you down, hmm, Rainbow? Miss Executioner? You said you worked for him, how many times did you see this very thing you want to play with on the bloody end of your sword?” Pinkie threw her hooves up. “Who said we have to just throw one on now? We’ve still got five days, can’t we try and see if we’ll get one that works beforehoof? I mean, sure, it’d be great if we could just slap ‘em on and know they’re gonna work, but these are the Princesses! If anypony has the tech or the knowhow to figure out what makes them tick, it’s them, right?” Celestia sighed. “It would, wouldn’t it? It would certainly be nice if we could analyze these things to figure out what makes them work, but that, I’m afraid, will take precious time we do not have. In case you don’t remember, they are made with disruption crystals. Magic cannot touch them. The most powerful tool we have available to us is useless in this situation, and to rely on our electronic equipment would take weeks just to scratch the surface of how these things behave. Not only that, the mirror is some kind of bio-magi-tech replica of an artifact that nolonger exists. They cannot be analyzed in a short time. They are not safe, and I will not allow any of you to gamble your lives on these things.” Ah clicked my tongue. “Then why let us gamble our lives fightin’ whatever comes next in the first place? Dead is dead, and if we’re gonna die anyways, we might as well try everythin’ we can.” Celestia glared at me. “You, of all ponies, have no right to throw your life away.” Air so hot it could be seen puffed out of Celestia snout and she turned her head away. “Perhaps… the Radiant Sun should simply make a return…” Luna stood up. “You shall not! You’ve already left a block of this city in ruins and we have yet to even calculate the extent of the damage you caused just by being out there in that form! Do you want to let him win? You know all too well what a state of chaos the world is in right now just because they know what you are capable of again, and these days that information is much more readily available to the masses!" Celestia eyed her but didn’t argue further. Luna continued, “I understand you care deeply for the lives of your ponies, but these are the ones we have chosen and who continue to put their lives on the line. They have proven time and time again that they are capable of things even greater than we’ve imagined!” Luna pointed ta me. “Applejack has resonated with an Element of Harmony! Did we ever believe that was possible for a regular pony?” She looked away. “No, I suppose we didn’t.” “Exactly! One way or another, these six here are special. Your own daughter, doubly so. If there is hope to be had in gambling, they are the ones I would be willing to bet on.” Celestia slammed a hoof on the table, and this time fire puffed out her snout. “We did that last time and look where it got us!” She sniffed deep and rubbed at her eyes. “I had never considered what it might be like to lose a son, but now I have felt it!” And with that, Luna sat back down. Celestia continued, “You cannot expect me to sit here and encourage some foolhardy dice throwing in an effort to gain a power we may not even need! I will not lose more children!” Ah wanted ta argue more, but there was nothin’ Ah could say ta that. It hurt us. It hurt us bad, and even more than Ah ever imagined. She takes care of us, she helps us grow and teaches us what she knows, she feeds us, she dotes on us. How could anypony ever think she… doesn’t love us like we’re her own? “I hate to break it to you, but I have a mom, and she ain’t you.” Ya had ta admire Rainbow’s courage… or stupidity, ta actually say that ta her face. A vein bubbled up ta the surface of Celestia’s forehead. “And would you look her in the eyes and tell her you plan to gamble your life on odds you know are bad!?” Rainbow threw a hoof in the air. “I already did! I told both my parents what I was in for! They know! I’m sure they’ve watched every broadcast ever since Dad even guessed it was me under that mask with bated breath, hoping with everything they have that I survive. This is something I have to do. This is something I know that I have to do, and it’s something I know only we can do. “In case you haven’t noticed, we all knew what we were getting into when we signed up for this, even…” she lost a little of her steam and shook her head. “Even him. I… I don’t think I ever would’ve had the balls to go face my parents if it weren’t for him. He sacrificed everything for us, and damn it, why are we even here if we’re not going to do everything we can to pick up what he left behind!?”  The scowl on Celestia’s face was unlike anythin’ Ah’d ever seen. Enraged, upset, furious, unyieldin’, but… unable ta say anythin’ back. “Rainbow’s right,” Ah said. My hoof drifted ta the pendant around my neck. “We owe it ta him. Ah owe it ta him. Ah’ll do it.” Ah went ta reach fer a mirror, but in an instant, Ah was trapped in a big golden box. “You will not.” Celestia shot. “Ah will, and ya can’t stop me!” Standin’ and summonin’ all the magic within me, Ah slammed my hoof inta her barrier and shattered it like glass. Celestia stood and the temperature started ta rise in the livin’ room. “Defy me again and you will see what I cannot do! Stand down!” Ah swallowed. “Ah am the most logical choice! Luna said it herself, Ah’ve resonated with an element of harmony! The original mirror was made with the elements, if anypony should try ta use it, it should be me!” “That matters in the least! Of all ponies here, you are not allowed to even think of touching a mirror!” Now Ah could feel my own veins startin’ ta boil. “That don’t make any damn sense! Ah’m the best choice, and Ah’m the only one at risk!” Celestia’s wings flared out. “You are not, you will not risk any lives, and I will not let you! There are too many ponies you could hurt by doing this!” Ah threw a hoof out in frustration. “What in the hell are ya on about!? If Ah’m the one who uses the mirror, Ah’m the only one at risk!” Letting out a fiery breath, Celestia folded her wings up and sat back down. She crossed her forelegs over her chest, stuck a hind hoof on the table, then crossed it with her other leg. “What did I ask you to do for me last week?” What did she ask me ta do fer her? Good goddess, last week feels like it’s so far away, Ah don’t even remember— “… I’d like you to take one of these.” A… a pregnancy test. And… on Saturday, Twi said… “It’s about your blood test. It’s important, but not super urgent.” It felt like all the air had been knocked outta me. Even before all that, wasn’t Ah gettin’ up in the middle of the night ta throw up? If… if Ah wasn’t sick, wouldn’t that…? Too many ponies. That’s… that’s what she means. Ah let myself sink back inta my chair, put my elbows on the table, and covered my face with my hooves. “Uh… what just happened?” Pinkie asked. “O-oh, just that Applejack r-realized Goose left behind a pair of twins.” Fluttershy answered. My face fell ta the table and my hooves moved ta cover my head. Twins? Twins? N-not one, but two? How…? Ah… Damn it, Ah know how, but… Twins? “Do what? Did I miss something here? What the fuck are we talking about?” Dash asked. “Eh-hem.” Twi cleared her throat, “While I’m sure this isn’t how anypony wanted to find out, upon doing everypony’s blood tests last week, I was alerted to PCG, or Pony Chronic Gonadotropin, in Applejack’s results. Mares of course only have this hormone in their blood stream when, um… t-they’re with child.” Ah pressed my forelegs over my ears harder. She said that out loud ta everypony! Oh, Goddess, what am Ah gonna tell Mac and Bloom? This can’t be happenin’! “S-she’s pregnant!?” Pinkie stammered. “W-with twins.” Shy added. Celestia let out a deep, bone achin’ breath. “Yes. With twins. Her values of PGC were a little bit higher than double what’s normal, which of course means more than one. Congratulations, Mister Blood, you are to be a great uncle.” Ah flinched. Oh, Goddess, Ah forgot he was in the room! Why? Why is this happenin’ ta me? Uncle blood blew air out of his lips. “Well. This is… a surprise to be sure. I don’t know if I should be elated, terrified, furious, or concerned. I always thought your brother was going to be the first to produce heirs, but I suppose you were the one who got married.” “How does Fluttershy know?” Pinkie asked. The pony in question sniffed. “P-please. I-I could smell it the moment her h-hormones started to change. She’s… two and a half weeks along now?” My head shot up. “T-two weeks!? Ya knew the whole time and didn’t tell me!?” Shy shrugged. “Y-you didn’t want to know. W-why should I be the one t-to ruin the surprise?” “Oh, good Goddess, what have Ah done?” Uncle Blood put his elbow on the table and rested his cheek on his hoof. “Apparently, the very thing I spent the better part of ten years telling you not to. Biology doesn’t care, remember?” My whole face heated up and Ah went ta hide again. “However…” Uncle Blood continued. Ah moved my legs a bit ta see what he’d say. “I can’t really say this is even so much of a bad thing. With your beloved departed, you still have… a piece of him to live on.” A… piece of him? That’s… that’s right. They aren’t just… just any foals, they’re… they’re our foals. A piece of him… ta live on. Suddenly, Ah was less upset about this and more confused. Where do Ah even begin? “I believe,” Uncle Blood took the floor, “That we should resume this discussion tomorrow. I know I’m not exactly a ‘member’ here, but I think we all have some things to think about going forward, and nothing is going to get done today. A recess and a good night’s sleep should help clearer heads prevail in the morning; don’t you think?” Celestia clapped her hooves. “What an excellent suggestion, Mister Blood. All of you are free to do what you will. Be back here tomorrow morning at 9AM sharp. We all… certainly have things to think about.”