Sweet Remedies
By Ratchetgreen
Chapter Five: Moonlight Serenade
You know in all of Equestria, ponies conspired against one another. It's been in their history, and it's always caused ponies to pick a side when an argument arises. Sometimes we pick the wrong side.
"So.. you ever say anything, stranger?" The old coot figured if he's riding with him, he might as well find out anything about him.
The stranger looked at the old coot. His expressionless face impossible to read, and that's the way he would want it, but for the old coot’s sake he did speak.
"Don't ever speak unless I need to"
"Well at least I gots ya ta talk" the coot said, feeling proud he knew that the stranger had a story or two.
"I'm heading to Las Pegasus. There’s an old friend who I am still in debt with, and soon as I pay him back I'm moving to the frozen north" the stranger knew he needed to say that to satisfy the old pony's curiosity.
"Boy, you must be suicidal! Ain't nopony gone there since the first hearths warming day" the old coot thought he was some crazy pony.
"You're wrong. It's just a cold mountain if you see it with blind eyes, but there is more treasure there than you'll find in Celestia's lifetime. Maybe even before her time" the stranger snapped back.
"Okay, okay, didn't mean ta touch nerve back there.. Got any family?" the coot asked thinking that might get him to open up more
The stranger’s face finally showed an emotion. He lowered his hat, but the old coot knew that he had struck a heartstring.
"I used to have a wife back when I was a family buck. My ma took me to Manehattan when we were traveling to sell our products. There I met the most beautiful mare this side of Equestria. Her family worked in oranges, her brother never liked me though. We got married. Our first foal was a very weak runt , the doctors said he wouldn't live past a month but I'm proud to say he is very alive and well. Two fillies: The first one’s like her ma, and the youngest one, well I’ve only seen her as a foal but here's a picture of her"
The stranger took out a worn photo with him holding a yellow foal with a bow in her mane, an orange filly wearing the strangers hat, and a skinny red colt. The old coot’ eyes welled up. What could have happened to this stallion?
"Well son, I ain't going to bother ya no more, I’m good"
The two walked into the moonlight towards the city
"By the way, my name’s Coal Pyre. But everypony just calls me ‘Coal the Coot’ ”.
*** *** ***
After liberating Sweetie Belle from her burlap prison, the three argued on whether or not to cancel the concert.
"Sweetie, I'm not sure that you should continue this. Let's just go back to Ponyville where it's safe" Spike said with worry.
"I'm not sure, Spike. I feel obligated to preform. I owe the ponies of Las pegasus that much" Sweetie said trying to reassure both of her companions.
"Ponyfeathers! you don't owe anypony anything!" Diamond shouted "Let's just go back to Ponyville! I miss the halfway house" Spike looked at Diamond. Did she really live in a halfway house?
"Look, both of you, if I run away now I'm just letting those bandits win. Besides, you expect me to hide forever?" Sweetie was firm and spoke in a stern voice. The rumbling in Spike’s stomach began again, this time the intensity was overwhelming.
BEEELCH!
Out came a letter. Normally this was a happy sign, but this was not a letter from Celestia.
"What does it say, Spike?" both mares asked
"Next time I'll be after YOU dragon boy, and that pretty pink piece of flank"
Spike was now sure it couldn't be Diamond Tiara, though he still didn’t want to trust her. Not now, not ever.
"Spike, I'm sorry I got you into this " Sweetie said but there is good news she added "that sniper didn't kill that other Pegasus he is still knocked out"
Spike walked with Sweetie to the knocked out riflepony, this time taking him into the suite.
As they hauled the pony, Diamond tugged at Spike trying to get his attention.
"What do you want? I am really not in the mood, here" Spike growled at Diamond.
At that point, DT decided that it wasn't worth it, and sat in the corner of the suite.
"You know Spike, you should really treat her with more kindness" Sweetie Belle said as they covered every window and finished tying up the bandit.
"She doesn't deserve any kindness. Not even from Fluttershy" Spike said quite loudly, disregarding Diamond Tiara’s presence entirely.
"Look, I know you think she’s bad, but she really has changed. She's my friend now, Spike" Sweetie tried to explain.
"She tormented you, and your REAL friends all your lives. She is probably the one trying to kill you!"
"Spike, this is unlike you! Twilight would give anypony another chance!" Sweetie was surprised at his attitude. He was never this cruel.
"Without her I would never have gotten famous, and she would be homeless. We both benefit from each others friendship!"
Spike knew sweetie was right but he never liked Diamond Tiara. Her beautiful exterior did not match the pure filth beneath and he held fast to that belief.
"Spike, look at her. Just LOOK. And not with your eyes, but with your heart"
Doing as Sweetie asked, Spike turned around to see the hollow shell of what used to be a pony.
Authors notes : Today I finally jumped on the Gravity Falls bandwagon, but enough about that. What inspired this chapter was a story of a man who left his family in search of vengeance. Hopefully you got the hint hints and saw where I'm going with this, but I will not reveal the identity of the true villan. All your guesses, they may be innocent or pawns in this pony's game. Title “Moonlight Serenade” by Frank Sinatra