*Nicholas POV*
The whole town pitched in with the cleanup. The pegasus, lead by Rainbow Dash, would work with the earth ponies to cart all of the debris(and Volts body)to the edge of town, where a bonfire was being held to celebrate the victory over the big spider. Of course, Pinkie Pie decided to go ahead and call the whole thing a party, saying it was a perfect time for everypony to celebrate.
Yeah, you do you, you crazy pony.
I found myself sitting on a log that had been placed near the fire with Tak and the girls, with Scootaloo resting her head on Taks stomach as he was sprawled back and Sweetiebelle and Applebloom sitting by me. As per usual at a party, Pinkie had supplied everyone with drinks and food. Raiden was at the food table Pinkie had set up arguing with Luna about whether or not the Big dipper existed, while Ronin was currently arm(hoof?) wrestling with a big red pony with several guards were watching while placing bets.
I nudged Applebloom. "Who's that Ronin is arm wrestling with?" I asked her as she got a big grin on her face.
"That's mah big brother, Big Mac! Ronin must be crazy trying tah hoof-wrestle him, Mac's the toughest pony ah know." She said while I suppressed a snort.
"He may be big, but so is Ronin." I said as a angry groan came from somewhere to my left. I turned my head to see a very angry Chrysalis completely covered in confetti with Pinkie dancing around her like someone would dance around a sacrifice. Twilight, who had been talking with Celestia beforehand, looked on with a bewildered face as she took in the spectacle.
"What is that pink pony doing to my mother?" Tak said as Scootaloo bursted out laughing and the other girls giggled. I rolled my eyes and sighed, yet smiling all the same.
"Tak, that's a question I don't think anyone wants an answer to." I said as Sweetiebelle finished her drink and tossed her cup into the fire. She turned her body around to where her back was leaning against me and looked up into my eyes.
"Hey Nick?" She said quietly as I looked down at her, noticing she looked nervous. "Can I ask you something?"
I raised an eyebrow but nodded. Sweetiebelle gulped and opened her mouth to speak...
...Just as a several loud cheers erupted from the other side of the bonfire. I looked to where the arm wrestling match had been to see Ronin standing in top of the table with his head tilted back yelling in victory over a Big Mac who held his foreleg in his hoof with a slight pained expression. Ronin hopped down and extended a fist to the big farm pony, who bumped it after a moments hesitation, while several guards exchanged bits.
Celestia walked over from her conversation with Twilight and whispered something into Ronins ear, then sauntered off towards town. Ronin, who was smiling big, went straight over to Chrysalis and Pinkie and whispered to them before following Celestia. Pinkie looked confused to the whole situation while Chrysalis frowned and followed with Pinkie close behind.
"Wonder where they're going?" Scootaloo said as the party resumed.
"No idea." Sweetiebelle said, though something seemed off with the tone she had. I shrugged and stretched my arms out, with both Applebloom and Sweetiebelle snuggling up to me as we basked in the fires warmth.
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Ronin POV
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Chrysalis, Pinkie and I followed Celestia to the same area where Volt had died. Once there, Celestia turned to us and nodded.
"I brought you three out here because there is something that comes to my attention, and since you two are in a relationship with Ronin, you two may listen as well." She said as I raised an eyebrow, while Pinkie and Chrysalis looked confused.
I spoke up. "What's going on?" I asked her as she was about to answer before she looked me over, raising an eyebrow.
"Where did you get new armour? From what Luna had told me, you were armourless when you were at the old hive." She stated as Chrysalis turned to me.
"The nosy princess makes a good point, Ronin. Your armour shouldn't have healed so fast." She says while Pinkie smiles big.
"Ooh ooh!" She says while waving her hoof around like a kid wanting to be called on. "Did it happen while you were alone with that Dadiolus creep?" I looked at her in suprise, while Celestia gasped.
"Uh, how'd you know that when he arrived after you left?" I asked as Chrysalis snorts.
"I told her, she wouldn't stop bugging me about the details." She said as Pinkie hopped over to Chrysalis and gave her a hug, which caused an eye roll from said bug queen. Celestia turned to me, worry in her eyes.
"Is it true? Dadiolus lives?" She asked as I nodded.
"Yeah, but we didn't fight. Instead, he talked to me about how he absorbed my darkness and how he had regrets about something and sicked a wolf on me instead." I said as Pinkie gasped and let go of Chrysalis.
"He had a wolf attack you? that big, fat meanie!" She said with an adorable pout. I sat next to her and scratched her head, making her become like puddy in my hands.
"Yeah, then some voice spoke to me and taught me how to absorb dark magic since I'm apparently made of the stuff." I said as Chrysalis suddenly got way more interested in the story.
"Wait, a voice spoke to you?" Celestia asked as Chrysalis looked deep in thought.
"Yeah, but it sounded distant and...oddly feminine. But it told me in order to fix myself I had to absorb dark energy to fix what Dadiolus took." I said as Chrysalis gasped and turned to me.
"You need to fall asleep, now!" She said as she charged a spell. My eyes went wide.
"Whoa whoa whoa, hold on Chrysi!" I yelled as I was hit with a spell and everything went dark.
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I awoke to find myself on what felt like ground in a cave with luminescent lights and shadows surrounding several different holes in the walls. I blinked as I looked around but saw nothing anywhere else.
What the hell did she do to me? I thought as several green flashes appeared, leaving Chrysalis, Pinkie Pie, and Celestia in their place.
"Whoa! where are we?" Pinkie said as she hopped around us. Chrysalis groaned at the silliness as Celestia looked around.
"I must agree with Pinkie, where have you sent us?" She said as Chrysalis smiled.
"We are in what is known as Eureka, the hallowed grounds of Queens of old. So show some restraint!" She growled as Pinkie stopped midair and landed next to Celestia. "We are here by using Ronins mind as a anchor to this realm." she stated while I stretched.
"And why are we in this place?" I asked as she turned towards an approaching figure.
"Simple, Ronin. We are here to see the voice in your head." She answered as the figure walked out of the shadows and approached. She looked like Chrysalis, but had blue hair and stood a head over Chrysalis. "Ronin, Pinkie, sunbutt. Meet the late queen Melfesia, my mother."
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Raiden POV
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"Luna is absolutely insane!" I state as I rubbed my eyes. I had been arguing with Luna for almost two hours about the Big dipper. Apparently, the damn thing doesn't exist in Equestria, and when I told Luna about it she laughed and said that was the dumbest name for a constellation she had ever heard. Of course, she didn't like the fact I pointed out that the city she lived in wasn't exactly a gold star name itself.
"I have no idea why you get into an argument with Luna at a party of all places." Twilight said with a hint of dissaproval before wandering off. I rolled my eyes and sat down by the fire.
"Wait a sec, Raiden is that you?" A familiar voice called out. I turned to see Gold spoon sit down next to me in a ponyloaf. I smiled and extended a fist, which he returned with a bump of his hoof.
"Hey! long time no see! what brings you here?" I asked him as he smiled.
"I'm visiting my family while on vacation. My wife and daughter live here, after all." He said as I raised an eyebrow.
"Heh, I didn't know you were married." I said as he let out a laugh.
"Yes indeed, old friend." He points to a grey mare with silver hair conversing with a young filly with similar features. "That is my wife, Silver Set. she runs a company that makes silver utensils for nobleponies. And that beautiful filly there is my daughter Silverspoon." He said as I smiled.
"Looks like a nice and healthy family you've got there." I said as he nodded.
"I am a very lucky stallion to have such. Many ponies who work in the castle lose their wifes and children to divorces due to being away from household for so long, and many others to more...available stallion. I only hope that my absence hasn't caused any bad behavior to appear in my daughter." He said with a tone of sadness. I frowned and pulled him into a one armed hug.
"Hey, look at her. She looks happy right?" He nodded. "Listen to me. your a good pony, Gold. And your wife doesn't look the type to up and leave you like that. She runs a whole company after all, so she should be used to long work hours." We shared a laugh at that. He turned to me and smiled.
"Thanks Raiden. I needed that." He said as we chilled out by the fire for a bit before he stood up. "Well, I must retire to my house. Feel free to visit us anytime, my friend." He said as I waved him off. For a minute I relaxed alone before a blue alicorn sat down next to me.
"Well, look who's back. Here to ruin my good mood I have further?" I said as I turned to Luna just to see a look of sadness on her face. All anger left me immediately. "Look, I'm sorry about the attitude I had, but what's wrong?" I asked her as she looked me in the eyes.
"Not here in public." She said as she teleported us with a blue flash of light. When it died, I found myself in a bedroom that had to belong to Luna, considering the bed had sheets with her mark on them.
I turned to her and saw tears going down her face. I sighed deeply. "Come here, you." I walked towards her and pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her forelegs around me and cried openly.
"What's got you so upset anyway?" I asked her as she sniffled and responded, though not leaving the hug.
"It's just that we have been gone so long, and are not used to the way ponies act around each other. At the bonfire, nopony besides Twilight and her friends would speak to me without being afraid." I felt her shake as a sob was let out. "Then you, one of the first beings to show interest in the stars in so long, are pushed away by my inconsiderate actions. We are indeed a terrible pony" She says as the hug tightens around me.
I follow suit and speak softly. "Luna, we may not see eye to eye on many things, but believe me when I say you are not a terrible pony." Its the honest truth too. I may get agitated by her on occasion, but I defenitely don't hate her. I break the hug and turn her head to face me, though her eyes avert from mine. "Luna look at me." I say as she shakes her head. I sigh and boop her on the nose, causing her eyes to avert back to the front of her face.
"Luna, you are an amazing pony. You are the creator of the most beautiful sky of all." Her eyes widen as I said that. "And so what if you happen to been gone for a thousand years, are you really telling me that Luna, Mistress of night and warrior goddess, is gonna throw in the towel just because some ponies won't talk to you?" I said to her as the tears stopped coming and she looked at me with those starry eyes of hers.
Neither of us moved for a second or two, before Luna suddenly jumped me. I landed on my back as my eyes widened in suprise.
"Luna? what are yo-" I was cut off as she pressed her lips to mine.
Brain shutdown in 3...2....1...
Princess Luna of Equestria, the mare who had been mocking me since day one and had repeatedly treated me with distrust, was kissing me on the lips. Was this even right? She's a bloody animal for goodness sake!
No.....that's not fair to them. They are sentient beings after all, not mindless horses. They think, feel, talk, and act like humans. They are so much more complicated than mere animals. As she broke away from the kiss and looked me in the eyes, I only had one conclusion to come to.
This....this is real. This....is right.
Luna looked at me for a second before fear went to her eyes. "Raiden I am so sorry! nopony hath ever talked about us like that before and mmph!" It was my turn to cut her off with a kiss as I pulled her back into an embrace.
As we kissed, the one thing Ronin said a while back came to mind.
Don't knock it till you try it! something he had said to me after we had talked in ponyville a while back.
For once, I was glad to have taken his advice.