//------------------------------// // Preface - Volume 37 - Internal Conflict // Story: The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds // by Kamahido //------------------------------// In our previous volume, Arc returns to his basement with the others and Hammer. Revealing their true identities and actual races, he heads to bed. After an hour or so of not sleeping Sereb enters the room and informs him of Hammer’s desire to speak with him. Allowing her in, Arc tells her the rest of the story regarding the idea to form a herd back in Equestria. Taking the news surprisingly well, she spends the night in Arc’s bed. Awakening the next morning, Hammer asks Arc if she can join with his other marefriends in the herd. He admits to being unsure whether or not it will even form as the pair head downstairs. Teaching Hammer how to cook, Derpy, Dinky, and Scootaloo enter the kitchen to help. As they do Arc’s earring chirps. Heading upstairs to answer it he hears Rarity’s voice. Telling him of Decimus’ tour around Equestria ahead of Twilight tips him off of their true intentions. Asking about Sweetie Belle and the others Rarity again tells Arc of her desire to join him on Earth. Telling her again of how Equestria needs its Element Bearers, he finishes the conversation and laments not telling her of Hammer. Returning to the kitchen to eat, Arc enjoys his breakfast with the others. Asking to go back to her apartment, Hammer reveals that she kept a diary since meeting Arc. Telling them that it has Arc’s real name in it, they head over to retrieve it. Finding the apartment ransacked, Hammer proceeds to her bedroom. Seeing the diary gone, she spots a note on the pillow. It tells her to meet at the old Rider’s base with her new boyfriend and signed by Bloodletter. Proceeding to the location in the note, Arc and Hammer approach the back of the ruined hospital. Meeting Bloodletter and his gang, he reveals his obsession with Hammer and beckons her to join him. Refusing, Bloodletter transforms in the light of the full moon into his beast form in a sick effort to sway Hammer to his way of thinking with a more powerful body and bigger… well, you know. Admitting that Stingray and Mio had nothing to do with his actions, Arc calls for the others to join him. The battle is joined as Arc and his friends charge forward. Defeating their foes nearly effortlessly, they each take a swing at Bloodletter, toppling the beast with relative ease. As they muse on what do to with him, Derpy cries out with an idea. Returning home, Arc and the others watch the news with Dinky. They see Bloodletter being taken away by Animal Control. Explaining that Arc and Scootaloo used their Crimson powers to remove all memories of Hammer and make the man afraid of the moon, they head upstairs to bed. Sometime later Hammer and Derpy knock at the bedroom door. Admitting that she has something to talk to him about, Arc invite both Hammer and Derpy into his Sanctuary. They lie down with him and fall asleep. Awakening in the Sanctuary the two head inside the house. Finding Arc inside already with Cherry, Hammer marvels at the realism. Asking to be turned into a pony, Arc does so. Hammer suddenly transforms into an Earth Pony and prances around happily. Learning how to use her new hooves to do simple tasks, she helps Arc, Derpy, and Cherry make pies. Waiting for them to cook, they head to the front porch. Arc askes Hammer what it is she wanted to talk to him about. She confesses that she is worried about her sisters. Still desiring to make them see the truth, she asks Arc for advice. Suggesting that she keep an open dialogue with them, Arc and the others suggest various things they could talk about to reassure them that she is alright with Arc. Agreeing to write her sisters, they stand and head inside to eat the pie that Arc has ‘willed’ into being done. Awakening the next morning, Sereb enters the room to inform Arc that Dinky is not well. Hurrying to her room they find her feverish. Taking the little girl down the corridor to the bathroom Arc takes her temperature. Leaving to get her some medicine, Derpy undresses her and Hammer puts her into the bathtub. Arc returns with a cup of medicine. Leaving with Hammer and Scootaloo, Derpy stays with her daughter. A short time later she throws up whatever is in her stomach along with the medicine. Spraying the vomit away, Derpy gets her daughter cleaned up as Arc returns. He carries her downstairs and lays the girl on the couch to watch television. Staying with her as the others eat, they watch Sam and Max together. Finishing their meal, Derpy and the others relieve Arc. After explaining to them what germs are, his earring chirps. Heading upstairs to answer it, Arc is surprised to hear Fluttershy’s voice on the other end of the line. Nervously, she confesses have had very intimate fantasies while helping her bears copulate. Going too far, Fluttershy accidently forces her male bare to ejaculate on her. Admitting that she thought of Arc when she saw herself, she apologizes for having such thoughts about him and even volunteers to withdraw from his future herd. Telling her that he understands that what she did was an accident, Arc is able to convince her that she did nothing wrong. Letting Fluttershy go to rest, Arc lays back on the bed and talks the matter over with Cherry. Returning to the main level, Arc tells everyone that he was speaking to Fluttershy. Hammer asks who she is, which prompts a quick conversation regarding whom gets to make babies with Arc first. Being rescued by a ringing telephone, Arc picks it up to hear Frank’s voice. He informs him that the Shards have just gotten a telephone installed and he is their first call. Telling Frank that Dinky is sick, Hammer calls out to him. Hearing her voice Frank Blinks over and attacks her. Arc is able to convince him that Hammer has changed before leaving with Frank to talk at Shelly’s Kitchen. After ordering, they take their food upstairs to sit with Shelly. She reveals to Arc that she can no longer eat normal food and must instead sustain herself on a nutritional drink. Asking the young woman what she would do if given one wish, Shelly asks for the perfect Christmas doing many traditional activities, as she could not do them as a child. Frank suggests that such a thing would take more than one day, to which Shelly announces she will close the restaurant for one week so that both she and Lily can enjoy the season together. Returning to the house, Frank returns to his base as Arc looks to Derpy. She tells him that Hammer went upstairs some time ago complaining that she didn’t feel well. Going upstairs to check on her, Arc finds the young woman heavily feverish. Unable to convince her to take medicine of any kind, he is able to coax her into taking a shower to lower her temperature. Sitting up, Arc immediately sees that Hammer is naked. Sitting with her in the bathroom as she showers Arc tells her about Ember and their relationship. Hammer sees similarities between her and the young dragon. Hoping to spark a friendship, she asks Arc to put in a good word for her before getting out of the tub and putting on fresh clothes that Arc retrieved for her. Leading her back to the room, Arc lays her down and retakes her temperature before heading back downstairs to check on Dinky. A couple months later Dinky awakens to see it snowing. Waking her mother, the pair head for Arc’s room to show him as well. Going downstairs, Dinky quickly eats a bowl of cereal before running outside to play with the neighbor kids. As the others continue to cook breakfast, a voice in heard in the living room. Arc throws aside his spatula and storms in to face the intruder. Seeing Wiseman sitting on the couch, he questions what he wants this time. Claiming to be looking for a certain lock, the man holds out a key in his gloved hand. Hammer looks it over as she removes some of the tarnish. Telling Arc to look it over he notices it is blue in color. Scootaloo tells them she has soon tools made of the same material in her parent’s shop. Identifying it as mithril, Arc frowns. Explaining to the others that mithril is not of Earth, they head down to the basement to check the chest. Unable to open it, Wiseman tells Arc to think positive thoughts as he turns the key. Doing so a visage of Arc’s grandfather appears. Telling him to open the chest and put on what he finds, Arc does so. Donning the armor inside they visage appears and identifies itself as Daniel Williams (from Generation 1). Telling all assembled of the true history of Equestria, he gives them the Rainbow of Light. Informing Arc that it is how he and his sisters traveled between the two worlds many years ago, Daniel assists Arc in transferring the power from the Rainbow of Light into Cherry’s engagement pendant. Wiseman lends his power to empowering it, making the item fit for use once again. Being asked what to do next Arc announces his intention to go forward with his original plan to give Shelly a wonderful last Christmas. Arc along with Dinky and Scootaloo walk the isles of the toy store. Spotting a Hero of Light action figure along with Dragon and Faithful Steed ones, they play a role playing game on the floor as Arc teaches the pair how to do so. Paying for their purchases, they leave the store and load up the Jeep. Asking what they want for lunch, Arc notices Scootaloo appears to be distant emotionally. Driving to Roberto’s he puts in an order to go and takes a sigil home with the shrunken down Jeep. Sending Dinky to tell her mother and Hammer that they’re having pizza for lunch, he takes Scootaloo upstairs to talk. Revealing that he saw what transpired in the Jeep between her and Dinky, the little girl worries that Arc will be upset with her. Reassuring her that he isn’t mad, Scootaloo asks to keep the matter to herself for now. Arc does not press the matter, but instead takes Scootaloo to the garage. Unshrinking his Jeep he tells her to bring the toys inside while he teleports back to the pizza place to pick up the order. A short time later Derpy and Hammer hear a strange sound. Sereb informs them that is it Scootaloo banging her head on the back door. Hurrying outside to help her, they spot the little girl carrying most of the toys in her arms. Taking the bags upstairs Derpy and Hammer look over the toys as Scootaloo watches. Dinky enters and volunteers to show them how to play. Turning to ask is Scootaloo wants to play as well, she sees that the little girl has already left the room. Several days later Arc returns home with Shelly and Lily. They bring their things inside along with some groceries as Arc carries Shelly inside. Laying her on the couch the remove her boots and massage her swollen feet. Derpy and Scootaloo unpack the two women’s suitcases and put them in the dresser. As they do so Scootaloo tells Derpy of her own problems with her now dead parents. How her mother was always so weak and how she just let Shadow do whatever he wanted to her. Suggesting that perhaps Sunshine didn’t know what else to do, Derpy sends the little girl to her room to think about what was said. Hammer carries Shelly upstairs to the bedroom and lays her down. As she massages Shelly’s spasming legs they talk about her military career. Shelly warns Hammer that Arc isn’t fond of that particular organization, but does not say more. Meanwhile, Arc and Lily cook homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and rolls in the kitchen. Derpy comes downstairs to help them. Removing the Christmas tree from the attic, Arc and his friends decorate it. They sit around talking before making supper together. Scootaloo stays with Shelly to keep her company on the couch. Shelly speaks to her about her own experiences as an orphan. As the others head to bed, Scootaloo stays behind to talk to Arc about her own problems. Confessing to him that she is nervous about becoming part of another family, Arc is able to convince her that they all honestly do care about her and only want to include her if she wants that as well. Waking up together on the couch, Arc and Scootaloo get up early and begin cooking. The others rise from the smells coming from the kitchen only to find Arc cooking cheeseburgers as Scootaloo makes french fries. Sitting down to eat their supper for breakfast, Arc informs them that they’ll be wrapping presents for the orphans that day. Loading the vehicle, Arc lets Hammer drive as they head to Farburg. As everyone sleeps, they reach a convenience store in Farburg. Hammer wakes Arc to tell him that it’s closed. Grinning, Arc announces that he has a plan. Telling Hammer to park in the bank’s lot across the street, Arc Blinks out of the vehicle. Donning Eidolon’s Ward and a magic cloak, he Blinks to the store’s roof and down into the building. Grabbing a cart he picks out the ice cream and condiments. Feeling a whack on top on his head, Arc pulls his magic blades and prepares to defend himself. Spotting a clerk with a broom he retracts his blades and begins to apologize. Recognizing him as the Hero of light they woman, Lorna, squeals happily. Joined by her brother Pietro Arc poses for several selfies before they head to the front to ring up his purchases. Leaving the building Arc returns to the Jeep with the supplies before telling Hammer to take them to the orphanage. Arriving, they help Shelly inside and head to the Day Room to find Headmistress Kulara. She leads them to a partitioned area for special needs children. They find Cybil and Angel playing with them. Seeing the older children with little to do, Hammer asks to borrow Arc’s Jeep. Returning some time later with a cartload of goods, they return to the Day Room to set up a number of Xboxes and wall mounted televisions while the children play outside. Returning, Kulara announces to the orphans Hammer’s generosity before turning them loose to play. Allowing them to play for some time, Arc leaves the room with Dinky. Giving her a bag, he points out a bathroom in which she can change her clothes. Doing so, Arc tells her to head to the Jeep for the next stage of the plan. Returning to the Day Room, Arc nods to Kulara. She tells the children to gather round as she reads an old Christmas poem. As she does so Frank and his men, dressed as Santa and his elves, Blink into the room with presents along with Dinky. Leaving once done, he returns a short time later to help Hammer set up tables and chairs for ice cream. Vowing to take her out should she harm Arc, Hammer is somehow able to convince Frank of her true feelings for Arc. Eating, they watch as the orphans fall asleep one by one. At midnight Kulara tells those still awake to head to bed before thanking Arc and his friends. The night secretary brings the headmistress a letter that had somehow been missed earlier that day. Opening it, she finds a court order to restore Cybil’s parental rights. Signing the enclosed forms, Kulara informs the woman that she is free to take Angel home that very night. Hammer drives Arc and his family home. Arriving, he heads for the house with Shelly is his arms along with Cybil who is carrying Angel. Derpy, Dinky, Hammer, Lily, and Scootaloo follow. Arc escorts Cybil and her daughter upstairs and puts them to bed as Derpy does the same for the girls. Sitting down on the couch with Sereb, Arc confesses his bewilderment that his grandfather once fought for Equestria. Realizing that the old man’s stories were not just random ramblings of a mind fading away, Arc heads to the basement to bunk with Hammer. To his (but not ours) surprise she slides into the bunk with him. Hammer easily falls asleep while Arc lies awake for some time. Eventually he Blinks out of the bunk and heads upstairs. Finding Dinky sitting on the couch, he joins her. Confessing her feelings of inadequacy as a parent, she tells him of her desire for Dinky to grow up happy as well as to join his herd. They part ways and head to bed. Waking early, Hammer and Arc head upstairs for breakfast. Dinky tells her father of seeing a man dressed in a red coat with white trim putting presents under the tree. Chuckling, Arc believes it to be a visit from his friend Frank in the Santa costume. After bringing Shelly downstairs for breakfast, they sit down for a nice meal. Talking about how much better the food is than that which was at the orphanage, the conversation turns to which Christmas movies to watch. Frank arrives and together they begin their movie binge. Afterwards they sit down to a nice Christmas dinner together. Talking about Cybil and Angel’s plans for the future, the conversation turns to Frank and the Shards. He informs them that they are doing well with their magical studies and is planning some community outreach programs to help improve their image. As the adults spend the afternoon talking, Dinky and Angel run outside to play with the neighbor kids Alex and Mia. Coming inside as it gets dark they sit down to some Christmas pizza for supper before moving on to opening presents. As they do so several special presents are found behind the tree. Dinky’s contains a smaller version of her mother’s rug back home in Equestria. Angel receives a framed picture of her mother and father before the fire killing him. Scootaloo finds a package containing her mother’s journal from their cottage. And Cybil opens her package to find a bank statement showing her car loan completely paid off. An hour or so later they load up the cars. Arc carries Shelly to Lily’s car as Cybil walks Angel to hers. As they drive away Hammer approaches Arc to tell him that she just got a call from Stingray asking to get together for the holidays. Arc lends her his Jeep and the young woman speeds off into the night. Heading inside Arc and his family are about to head to bed when there is a strange magical backwash. Feeling it, Arc and the others suddenly hear a small knock at the back door. Sereb tells Arc that he should answer it. Doing so he finds a human Rarity standing on his back deck smiling at him. Allowing her inside, she informs him that she comes with an important message, which is… “Happy Hearths Warming, my love.” However many questions remain unanswered. How the heck was Hammer able to take Arc’s confessions so well? Will the mares back home in Equestria be able to accept Hammer? Why the heck did it take Arc so bloody long to learn about the magic of teamwork? Will Hammer ever become a pony again (I sure hope so)? Seriously… how pent up is Fluttershy? How will Arc and the gang give Shelly the perfect Christmas? Will Hammer and Ember get along when they meet? What will Arc do with his grandfather’s armor? Is Scootaloo really okay? Will the Shards be able to recover from their past? How will Angel do in her new home and school? Why did Stingray wait until late Christmas Day to call for Hammer? Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.