The Guitarist
Chapter 8: Night at the Library.
I had been following Applejack and Pinkie for roughly 30 minutes. We'd constantly been pausing our trek toward the library over mostly false alarms. But we were making good progress. By the time we had gotten within an eye sight Twilight's place I had already gotten tired of a lot of the ducking and weaving and creeping about.
It kinda reminded me of this one book I had the opportunity to read during my stay in Juno. It was called, "The Bond Legacy" it was about a man who awoke and didn't remember who he was or where he was for that matter. Turns out as the book unfolds, he's actually a secret agent who was recruited by the City-State of Lighthalzen, which was west of Swartzvald, to spy and assassinate a Migardian Ambassador while he stayed in Juno, but when he fails to accomplish his mission he gets hunted by the spy agency that trained him, all the while trying to regain his memory. It was the best seller of a few years back, but I thanked the gods that none of that stuff really happens.
"Hey Kiniro we're clear to go! Move it slowpoke!" I heard Rainbow Dash call out to me.
"Oh. Right, Lets go." I responded.
"Geez whats wrong with you I was signalling you for about a good minute!"
"I'm sorry... I guess I couldn't see you." I commented. I guess I let myself fall to much thinking about that spy thriller book. "Yeah, sorry Rainbow."
"Ugh, I still think your weird." Rainbow stated.
"Rainbow!" Applejack snapped. Rainbow slouched and waited for us at the door.
Pinkie, Applejack and I moved up to the door of the library, and I gave slight knock not trying to attract attention to anyone else. "Twilight! We are here!" I said quietly to the door but I got no response. So I leaned into the door to hear if anyone was coming, Pinkie also followed suit. "Twilight we are he..."
"Bwaaaaaah." Both Pinkie and I stated as the door opened up with us leaning on it and we fell into the doorway.
"Uh... are you two ok?" I heard Twilight's voice ask.
I had looked up to see her in the doorway with a slight smile on her face, mostly getting a laugh at our expense. "Yeah... we'll be fine." I responded.
"Yeah we'll be good! Especially now that we can get the party started" Pinkie quickly jumped up and ran inside but was quickly stopped by Twilight's hoof holding her back.
"After Pinkie, after. We have a lot to do first." Twilight commented.
"Oh ok. I can wait." Pinkie had plopped herself near the party favor table that was set up by the staircase.
"Now we can get to work." Twilight began to smile.
"Yes lets." I commented back.
"Ok I'm usually really good at some basic teleportation spells, but I haven't come across anything for cross dimensional. So while you were resting back at AJ's I sent Princess Celestia a letter inquiring on some help if she knew anything. So she said she'd be here tomorrow morning to see what she could help with." Twilight explained.
"Hey gals' and Kiniro, speaking about tomorrow. I'm going to head back to the farm, I still have some chores I gotta finish up, I'll be back in the morning." Applejack said with a yawn "I'll be back bright and early."
"Yeah me too, I gotta go as well. I have to go uh, practice some of new moves to showcase to the WonderBolts for the next time they are here in town!" Rainbow Dash claimed.
"So you mean cuddle up with a Spitfire plush doll to bed Dashie?" Pinkie giggled.
The expression on Rainbow's face was so priceless. She was blushing heavily that she was turning a light tint of purple in her face. "Uh... I gotta go! Be back tomorrow!" Rainbow then took off in a flash.
"Aww now I definitely can't have a party tonight." Pinkie said with a slight dissappointment
"Its ok Pinkie, we can keep the party favors over and you can bring over some new treats over tomorrow when Celestia is over" Twilight commented.
Pinkie gasped heavily. "I MUST GO PREPARE! I WILL BE BACK! TO SUGAR CUBE CORNER!" Pinkie dashed out the door.
"But its... midnight... ugh that pony really confuses me." Twilight commented.
"But she is quirky and funny in her own way isn't she?" I responded.
"In more ways than one.... Now ahem, I hope you don't mind me asking but can you tell me a little bit about you. Uh your magic I mean, your magic." Twilight stuttered slightly.
"Well its, long story completely short, everyone where I come from has some form of spiritual power/magic power, or mana for short. We just all harness it differently."
"Ah just like how we here do as well."
"Uh, I've been trying to figure that out actually, mind explaining to me?" I asked subtly.
"Sure, There are 3 types of ponies, Earth, Pegasi and Unicorns. Unicorns can actually use magic via spells and training, Pegasi in exchange for their use of magic they can fly and finally Earth Ponies can do neither but instead their muscles are super strong and are physically the strongest out of all three." Twilight explained.
"So do any of the ponies have a choice Twilight?"
"Not necessarily, its completely random at birth, before it used to genetic based on which tribe you originated from, but ever since our tribes came together as one whole pony society, its been at random."
"I see. Well its something like that in my world, but there you can chose how excel in magic or be more focused in physical aspects. It all comes down to training your mind and body, but some people naturally lean one way or another, but that doesn't stop people from choosing what they want. Then from Magic users or Physical warriors, it gets really complicated, but thats the best way to sum it up."
"I see... it does make sense. But what happens if one person leans toward magic and whats to be physically stronger or vice versa." Twilight asked.
"Well people who choose what to be based off of how they naturally lean usually means a better skilled person but like said then it gets complicated based on what the person really wants to do, but no adventurer, magician or warrior is ever looked down upon. But there are some people who choose to fit their lean, and they are superb at it."
"So how do you fit into it?" Twilight asked.
"I'm a bit of an oddity, when I was born, the doctor told my father that I was a rare child, I was exactly center. No lean. My father usually told me this because my mother died during my birth, and what ever spiritual power she had was given to me and balanced me out."
"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that about your mother." Twilight said with a saddened tone.
"Its alright Twilight, I didn't know my mother, but my Dad would tell me that she loved me very much and she would have been extremely proud of me."
"Well considering your the first human to be in Equestria, that would make me proud in my book!" Twilight said as she gave a smile. "How was your father?"
"He was a warrior by nature, and my mother was an alchemist, using her magic to create potions and what not. That's why my father says that I got her magic when I was born. But my father died when I was around 10 years old."
"So you were orphaned at that age?" Twilight said in shock.
"Yeah, but my father's best friend's family took me in. Made sure I was taken care of."
"I'm guessing it was hard being without any parents for so long."
"It was, but I'm sure they are smiling down upon me from Valhalla. That's the place where those who have passed on go and I'm sure they'd be proud of me."
"That's the spirit!"
"Sorry for the tangent." I commented.
"That's quite ok Kiniro, I'm glad you turned out ok!" Twilight smiled.
"Yeah... I turned out ok." I said with a hesitation. I began to think back about everything I had done in my past. I had killed, slayed enemies in the name of good, truth and justice during the Midgard Civil War. I had brought many to their knees during the Wars of Emperium trying to make sure my guild became victor so that we could rebuild a prosperous Midgard and now I was here, while millions were dying at home.
Twilight noticed I had a troubled look. "Are you ok Kiniro?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, I'm fine."
"I can tell your not, whats wrong Kiniro, you can tell me." Twilight asked curiously.
"I'm afraid you'd look at me differently if I told you." I said shamefully.
"I highly doubt that, now you can tell Twilight what bothers you!" Twilight gave me a reassuring smile.
"Look, Twilight." I sighed heavily. "In my world, I'm a hero and an enemy of my people. Years ago, I fought trying to defend a kingdom from internal strife and did so and I had to destroy many lives to do so. Then when my king died, the high council thought it was best to start more wars to see who was right to lead. I joined a noble guild with a noble cause, but as the years of fighting went on, I think my leader lost that ideal. When we ended up being the victors after destroying alot of the other opposing guilds fighting for power. Then when my leader took power she blamed me and several others for trying to stage a coup d'etat against her which was a lie and banished all of us from the kingdom so we wouldn't threaten her power. I challenged her authority and instead of being exiled I was to be executed, I escaped and tried fighting against her when I could, killing more people... but it was hopeless, I had given up and exiled myself and didn't bother to fight anymore."
"Well... that definitely fills in the blanks from what AJ had told me before I met you." Twilight said unsurely.
"I can tell in your voice you don't trust me any longer." I said sadly, expecting to be tossed out.
"Look Kiniro neither you nor I, or even Celestia herself can change your past. I'm sure what you did was for a good reason and only because there was no other way. But if AJ can see the good in you, I trust you. You've just been on the bad end of the stick trying to hold up truth and justice." Twilight approached me and nuzzled her head on my leg to show me some comfort. "You just need to know now that the lives of your people rely on you now, and that's what matters."
"Thank you Twilight for understanding." I stroked Twilight's mane softly. "Thank you."
Quickly after Twilight retreated and blushed heavily. "Ahem, um."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you." I reacted quickly.
"No, no its quite alright. Um, tell me about magically and physically centered."
After I realized what had happened, I found this extremely odd. I suddenly had felt close to this purple Unicorn. Granted I was alone most of my life and now I had friends that were doing their best to help me. But I couldn't help but feel odd regardless.
I paused shortly to capture my thoughts. "Er, um, ahem. Well being centered has its advantages, and its draw backs. I can fight in hand to hand combat decently if I need to, thank to this old thing." I had patted my guitar that was still slung over my shoulder. " Mostly using it as a blunt object but, I modified it to shoot arrows if I need to keep at a distance."
"What about your magic?" Twilight asked with a slight embarrassment from earlier.
"Well, unlike most magic users in my world, who can utilize magic with wands, staffs or healers with religious relics. They focus their mind through those objects and by chanting spell words. Most Musicians can harness some basic magic, mostly like creating barriers to help keep their allies safe. I was the first to be able to channel my magic through my guitar, just like a wand, or staff, but as opposed to using words to cast a spell, musical notes are my words. Sure it takes longer than the average magician, but the harmony of the music combined with the musician putting his heart and soul unto the music produces much more powerful magic, the only down side to it is that it takes a long time to cast a spell, and you have to be musically talented. Its the bringing of several different elements and traits together as one."
"Just like the Elements of Harmony." Twilight muttered.
"The what?" I asked.
"Ok the Elements of Harmony possess the most powerful magic in Equestria, each element is a different trait. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic. But the elements of Harmony aren't just relics, they are the ponies that use them also." Twilight explained.
"I guess I understand?" I said confused.
"Ok. Let me say this way, the pony has to be the literal representation of the element. Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow and I are part of the elements. Honestly, Laughter, Loyalty and Magic. Respectively."
"Uh... then who is Kindness and Generosity?" I asked.
"That would be Fluttershy and Rarity, you haven't met them yet, but I'm sure you will tomorrow."
I simply nodded in agreement. "One last question from me."
"Shoot." Twilight responded.
"Who is this Celestia I keep hearing about so much?"
"Princess Celestia is the ruler of Equestria, she raises the sun everyday. She's also saved Equestria several times in the past"
"So then who brings out the moon at night?" I chuckled.
"Her sister Princess Luna."
"Oh." I blushed slightly.
"So they are both Princesses?" I asked. "If they are the same title who rules effectively?"
"Princess Celestia, she's the eldest of the two sisters. Plus I always here some ponies saying she doesn't want to be called Queen Celestia, just because it will make her feel old. But everypony still calls her Princess, just because no one wants to challenge that rumor and possibly get her upset."
"Why what happens when she gets upset?" I asked curiously.
"She banishes them to the moon." Twilight said nonchalantly.
"Who has she banished to the moon?!" I said suprised.
"Oh, her Sister Luna, its a long story. Anyway its getting late, I'm going to head to bed, there's a couch here in the library if you want to sleep on that."
"Yeah... I am getting a little tired."I stated, but still not sleepy. Anyway I'll see you in the morning.
Twilight headed up stairs to what I assumed was her bedroom. I thought to myself, its good to have a friends again, its been so long of being alone, fighting others. Once this is over, I wonder if I could retire to this place.
End of Chapter 8.