//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: A Stone Reborn // by Ghost Alvasa //------------------------------// "Oh so your the apprentice's older brother," Stone remarks walking over to rummage through some metal. "Yes, Twilight is my little sister and I would like to formally thank you for protecting her and this town," Shining steps up and bows. "Thank you for saving my sister." "Your welcome," Stone says not really paying any head to the ponies outside his work place, in truth finding them rather annoying. He picks a piece of metal looks it over and then walks over to his workbench and takes a small pinch of red powder from a bag. Stone walks over to his forge then tosses the red glimmering dust into the glowing red hot coals causing the fire to glow brighter and hotter. The smith drops the piece of metal in his hand into the flame and coals before grapping a handle and pulling it out and pushing it back in several time. As he did the action the fire roared as it gladly inhaled an excess of air from the smithy's bellows. "Well if you said your piece then you can leave now," Stone says concentrating on his work. "I may have said my thanks but I have yet to hear an apology from you to the princesses for your blatant disrespect earlier and I am still waiting," Shining stands back up and glares at the smith. Stone shoved the bellows back in place and locked them. He turns to the group outside his forge crossing his arms as he looked to the guard captain, "I never said I was going to give an apology to anyone." "Anypony you mean," Shining points still glaring, "And yes you are." "See that's where you're wrong my dear guard captain." Stone states as he grabs his warhammer and walks towards the entrance of his workspace to stare down the white unicorn. "It's anyone as anypony refers to ponies specifically where as anyone refers to all creatures in general. Anypony is just saying blatant race superiority, which ponies are far from the superior race on this planet." "I'll give you that but you're still going to say sorry to the Princesses," Shining cracks his knuckles, "Even if I have to make you with force." Stone smirks at his threat, "You're more than welcome to try captain," he welcomed, "But know that your going to severally regret sticking your horn into business that doesn't have anything to do with you," Stone points to his himself, "I'll even give you a free shot." "You asked for it asshole," Shining reeled back and his fist flew straight at Stones face, when an orange field abruptly appears around the smith causing Shining to jump back on instinct. "You managed to catch it just in time," Stone notes. "A personal shield?" he says in disbelief. "And on the spot too, you're much more skilled than I gave you credit for. Those are hard even for me with my special talent in shield spells. I didn't even see you're horn light to cast it." "Shining Armor stand down now!" Celestia orders. "But Princess he-" Shining retorts. "I said, stand down Captain," Celestia says again much more firmly. "You are digging your own grave captain," she sighs, "You and the entire platoon could try to take him on all at once and it still wouldn't matter in the slightest to this stallion." "Thou should heed mine sister's words dear captain," Luna adds. "Tis true he is much, much, stronger than any here besides mine sister." "I'm sorry your highness but I find that hard to believe," Shining scoffs, "He may have helped save the town but-“ "He fought on par with Nightmare Moon, twice" Luna cuts him off. "Had he not waisted his mana on protecting the elements, and town’s folk the first time he might have very will been able to tear Nightmare Moon limb from limb all the easier!" She looks at Stone, "Why did thou spare me? Even with the remaining power thou had at thou's disposal... thou could've easily slain me, why stay thine hand?" "We are taught to praise all aspects in Stalliongrad, but the night in particular is held in the highest regard above all," Stone explains thoroughly shocking the lunar diarch, "In the mountains daylight is very abundant, but it is at night that we return to our homes or go to see our friends' homes and make merry with all. It is at night when we can be with those we care for and cherish. Night is a time for celebrating what he have and what we have done in the work of the day that has passed. Night is also the time when one certain flowers blooms for me… night time is when I can do my best work in my forge," he motioned behind him, "To take away the mother of the night would've been blasphemy and an outrage not only to me but also those I call my friends and family in the northern moutains.” Luna was moved to tears. She had heard very few praise her night and her with such passion and words outside of the thermals that called her their goddess in the last thousand years. "Thank you, noble Bright Stone," the mother of the night says having been moved to tears by the youth's words, "Thank you so very much for everything thou hath just said and for everything thou hath done for us." "Luna..." Celestia moves closer to her little sister and hugs her looking to Stone, "Thank you for you kind words." "There is no need to thank me for stating what is fact," Stone waves off the compliments, "But all the same you are welcome," he says as he returns to his forge. "Your majesties," Shining speaks up, "We should be getting back to the palace before too long. Many of the nobles are still restless over Princess Luna's return and then your sudden wish to come here without telling anyone without reason has unnerved them more. They'll be unwieldy before long. But first," he attention turns back to Bright Stone who'd already started to hammer away. "What do you want Captain?" Bright says not looking away from his forge, "I can feel those blue eyes trying to pierce through me the second you turned to look at me." "Urrrr..." He turns back to the princesses, "We should go," the both nod and turn leaving Shining, "This isn't over pretty boy..." "Keep telling yourself that," Bright looks over his shoulder at the captain, his eye shimmer like fire as the forges light was reflected in them. "Feel free to back to face me in a real fight anytime Shining Armor, then we'll see if all that guard training is really worth it." Shining grits his teeth but turns away and places his helmet back on his head, "Ponies! We're moving out!" he yells out and all of the guards start to filter out of the area. Later that evening... I mysterious strange raggedly figure fumbled into town with ominous winds trailing behind him. He was old and weathered from days long past with a mane tail of dull grayish blonde and faded amber eyes that even though old could still cause even the most battle hardened guard flinch or even piss his pants. He wore a tattered and frayed black suit under a wither worn faded red cloak. He stopped just on the outskirts of Ponyville just after Sweetapple Arces at the property next to it gate and stare into the distance. His face was on the lights in the distances. He shifted from the house then over to the barn. A dry smile creaked of the haggard wonders muzzle. “It took a a lot of power and time to track you down and quite a bit more power to get here,” he dryly chucked in a sandpapery tone, “but it was worth it to see you here, Bright Stone….” The pony looked around, “I may as well explore and see what this place a little bit before I say ‘hello’ to the lad, hehe…” he shuffled on into the night allowing the darkness to consume his form as if he’d never been there at all, not even leaving a a set of parallel hoof prints in the dirt behind at the gate.