//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: The Invitation // Story: The Missing Bard // by Kiniro //------------------------------// The Missing Bard Chapter 5: The Invitation With my rediscovery of my talent in guitar playing, I believed I would be able to return to my old magical prowess soon, and I had the best teachers around to help me through it. Whether or not some of them knew my talents or knew of my mysterious past, I had to thank them for it. Octavia had to reteach me that music has to come from deep down, from the heart, from the soul and from passion, if you can not harness the three together, music has no value. Vinyl while not my teacher at first reminded me why I love music, to see it progress, and to see new things be invented and discovered for the betterment not just for myself, but for civilization as a whole. Finally Twi, probably my best teacher of all, and not just because I loved her, but she showed me that the things you love are worth fighting for. She showed me that the things you love take dedication, a lot of hard work and concentration. I caught myself gazing at the new guitar that I had been given by Vinyl just a few moments ago as it rested near one of the many bookshelves in the library. "Alright Kini, think you are ready to do some more of your basic magic, and no cider for you this time!" Twilight commented. "Yeah, I know, no more cider." I responded. "I know you were really excited the first time but I'm not fond of being levitated." "Oh yes you do, you just love being swept off your hooves." I joked. "Very funny Kini, but we have to get you practicing, if you really want to persue being apart of Equestria's defense." "I know I have to focus, but sometimes you still have to take the time and laugh, otherwise what's the point of living?" "You sound like you've been hanging around Pinkie too much, but you do have a point." "Well regardless of me hanging around her, I've always had to look life with a sense of humor... or at least I used to before things went to hell in a hand basket in my world, but I guess I had all of you here remind me of that." "Do you ever miss Midgard Kini?" Twilight asked. "Honestly... I miss my good friend Lightning Strike, I know he's king now, but I know I could never go back, even if he wanted me to, I know what the risks are and I'm better off staying here. Besides, I've got you and my friends now, I wouldn't dream of giving this up ever." "But don't you miss everything you ever left behind?" Twilight questioned. "Sometimes I miss my old friends, and the memories, but that's all they are now, memories, whether here or there, nothing will change that. Besides, I've enjoyed my time thus far here in Equestria. I've met great ponies during my stay, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Octavia, Vinyl, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and even Big Mac. Not to mention Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! All good friends, most of them know where I'm from, and what I've done and they still accept me for who I am, and the pony I am now. I wouldn't give that up for anything. Plus I feel the need to step up to the plate, whether or not my talents were unique in my world, they are here, and I feel that I need to be able to protect my friends if anything ever threatens them." "Your intentions are noble Kini, I don't blame you, you've spent your entire life fighting, most of the time for what you believed was right, and you feel that this is your way of being able to stick up to those old habits to show you care for us. But you don't have to dedicate you're life to this holding up this ideal if you don't want to here Kini." "I know Twi, but I could say the same for you and any other our friends who represent the Elements of Harmony, but they do, not because they feel its their duty, but because they know and you know, that you all do it because you want to make sure everypony not just your friends and family are safe." I responded. "All I ask is to be able to be held to those same standards, I think its only fair if I chose to." "But you don't have to do that here Kini! I just don't want to see you hurt, you don't have to take this path." "But I'm choosing to because you do, if there is a chance that when a threat looms over a Equestria and the Elements of Harmony have to be called to save the day, there is a chance that you could get hurt, and I don't want to see that. I'm choosing to so I can help fight with you, along side you and our friends. Besides my cutie mark proves it! A Scroll with a guitar on it! A scroll meaning I'm good with magic, and knowledgeable with it and the guitar being my talent and my channel! I was meant to do this here!" "But Kini... I understand, you're just trying to look out for all us, as we all looked after you when you first got here, but you don't have to pay back the favor." "But I want to, and this is the best way I know how, and I know and everypony we know, who knows about my origins, knows that eventually my secret will come out, especially the fact that an Earth Pony who has this cutie mark can use magic! This is the best way for the world to accept me who I am, because there will be a lot of confusion out there about who I am and what I am. I'm not doing this for glory, I'm not doing this for fame, I'm doing this because I want the world to see that I'm here to stay and I'm here here to help, and not be treated differently for who I am." "Kini no one will judge you for being you." "But they will for me being an earth pony with magic! This is what scares me Twi! Because they won't believe it to be real, or to be possible, but yet, here I am, even you said it was impossible for me to be here. But I'm here..." I explained. "I'm just worried Twi, I'm sure you'd feel the same in my hoof steps" "I can't say I'd know how it feels, but I am trying to understand." "Then that's all I can ask." I responded with a short sigh at the end. "Kini I'm sorry I upset you, I was just trying to look out for you." Twi responded. "I don't want you to believe you have to do something just because its expected, I just wanted to make sure if this is what you really want." "Yes Twi... this is what I want, and I know you're trying to look out for me. But we have talked about this before and this is my decision, and I'm choosing to fight beside you and our friends. I think that everypony who could have the opportunity would take it." I explained. "Yeah, I can relate, I've been the one who has stood up to help my friends plenty of times. And I know we've talked before, and I'm always very supportive about it. Kini, you can fight along side us, but just promise me you'll be safe. That's all I ask." Twilight responded. "Only if you can make that same promise, I will." "Alright." Twilight commented. "Now let get back to your basic magic skills." Twilight gave a light smile. "Alright, and Twi, I didn't mean to make you mad or uncomfortable about this. I just wanted to help that's all." "i'm not mad, I'm just worried that's all, I care for you... I love you." "Alright, lets get back to basic levitation" I suggested. "Excellent, good idea Kini! See if you can levitate this book." Twilight said as she put out a book in front of her. I nodded in agreement and began to form the chords of a short melody to see my guitar glow lightly. "Are you sure just want me to get the book?" I asked. "Yes just the book!" Twilight confirmed. Slowly I closed my eyes and began to focus on picking up the book as my melody picked up. "I know Twi wants me to pick up the book but I think I need something a little more challenging!" I thought to myself and changed my focus from picking up the book that was in front of me to picking up Twilight again. " I know I'll get in trouble for it, but sometimes just we all just need a little laugh" I thought, and I began to open my eyes to see Twilight being slowly encased in the light blue aura. "No no no no no no! Don't you dare!" Twilight shouted. "Then try and stop me!" I said with a big smile only to hear that strange high pitched sound again. And I saw slowly lifting off the ground. "Oh I will!" Twilight shouted and her horn began to glow with a purple aura. "How about a taste of your own medicine!" I saw Twilight smile and a purple aura began to cover me. "Oh so that's how it is!" I challenged Twilight and began to move her around the library and flipping her over and turning her around. "You're forgetting that I'm a very talented unicorn and you shouldn't tempt me!" Twilight quickly levitated me off the ground and pulled me toward her in air. "Think you can beat me Kini?" Twilight commented and kissed me. "Oh I bet I could!" But I regretted those words. Twilight's magic is definitely stronger than mine considering I could just do basic magic channeling and I was challenging an expert. Quickly Twilight had levitated me off the ground and pushed me back down directly underneath her knocking my guitar from my hooves and got the wind knocked out of me and I closed my eyes in pain. "See I told you! You couldn't beat me! "Twilight stuck her tongue out at me and blew a raspberry at me but with my guitar now out of my hands I obviously couldn't perform my spell anymore, so it would wear off soon. But my thoughts were confirmed within seconds, and the blue aura covering Twilight dissipated. "Uh oh! Aaah!" Twilight quickly fell and landed on top of me. "Oof." "Ugh...." I opened my eyes to see Twilight laying on top of me. "Why hello there Twi... wish I could run into you like this more..." I tried to joke. "You wouldn't be able to handle it..." Twilight joked back with a light smile and she buried her head into my chest. Suddenly I heard the door slam open. "Twilight! Kiniro! I'm back from running errands! And by the... What are you two doing..." I heard a voice call out to us both, only to look up towards the door to see Spike in the doorway with appeared to be a scroll with Celestia's royal seal and ribbon wrap. "Uh... I don't want to know and I'll come back later..." "No no! Its not what it looks like!" I quickly responded. "Sure... and I'm a pony who just has scales instead of a mane." Spike said sarcastically. "Could I just for once please come home without having to run into you two... doing what ever it is your doing now!" "But but... we never have... when..." I tried to say. "Look I got a letter from Celestia and its for both of you. I'm just going to leave it here on the table in front of the couch and I'm going to head to my bed and pretend I never saw anything." Spike said as he covered his eyes and walked into the next room where his bed was housed. "But we never... have done anything when you're... here... oh whats the use." I gave up trying to explain. "Did I hear we got a letter from Celestia!?" Twilight quickly got up off me and ran over to the table and quickly opened the letter with her magic and began to read it aloud. "My Dearest Pupil, I have received your letters over the past few weeks on the status of Kiniro's reintroduction to his former abilities. However I can not make a decision to make him an honorary member of the Elements of Harmony until I can see his abilities for myself so that I and my sister Luna can pass judgement on the matter. Please come to Canterlot at your earliest convenience and do bring your friends with you. I will eagerly await you all at the Castle to see Kiniro's performance. Signed, Princess Celestia." Twilight said as she slowly paced the library. "Previous letters to Celestia?" I asked. "Ok I'm sorry I didn't tell you, and I knew that being able to fight by my side was huge thing for you, but the real reason why I've been trying to get you to change your mind, was because I feared that this day might not come, but it has, and I'm happy for you, but I just didn't want you to get disappointed if it didn't become a reality. Please forgive me." Twilight said with a saddened tone. "I'm not mad... I understand why you did, but I forgive you, I'm just glad I'm being given the opportunity to test my mettle." I responded. "That's good and I'm very proud of you, I hope you get both princesses' approval!" Twilight said with a big smile and again I heard that high pitched sound. "Did you just... squee?" I asked. "Yes... Anyway! I'll go tell the girls and tell them to be ready so we leave first thing tomorrow morning! We'll be taking the train to Canterlot!" "Hopefully this time no party train this time?" I joked. "I can't promise that! You know Pinkie!" Twilight laughed. "Anyway I'll be back shortly I have to let the girls know the good news!" With that Twilight bolted out the door. I was finally being given a chance to prove myself that I was able to fight with my friends, and fight with Twilight if a threat ever loomed over Equestria. I hoped that everything went as planned because I knew I was ready and I knew that I wouldn't let any pony down! End of Chapter 5.