//------------------------------// // Retracing his steps // Story: My Little Pony: Legends of Old and New // by AlphaToothless95 //------------------------------// Back in Maretime Bay Midnight was standing outside of Canterlogic, waiting for her many new recruits who were on their way after the recent broadcast she had made, stating that Sunny was alive and that she and her friends had left Maretime Bay so it was safe to come. She looked at all the prisoners she had taken in such a short time, including Phyllis Cloverleaf. She walked up to them and looked down at her, just glaring for a bit, earning a glare back from Phyllis. “Alright Mrs. Cloverleaf, I’m gonna ask you this one. More. Time.. Where did they go?” she asks and for a few seconds, Phyllis didn’t answer, so she hit her across the face, her cheek turning red really quick, her glasses flying off her face and breaking. “I.. don’t.. know!! And even if I did, I’d die before I tell you!!” she yelled and Midnight picked her up by her throat, choking her and glaring daggers into her eyes. “All of you will die if you DON’T.” She said, her grip tightening a little which made Phyllis struggle more until she loosened her grip and said something else. “I was planning to let your son live if I found them, but you’ve sealed his fate now.. he’s going to die along with the rest of them.. because of you.” she says before harshly dropping Phyllis and walking back to her spot. When she turned around, she saw hundreds of ponies if not more coming into town and walking up to the building. They all had some weapons, melee ones that is, the kind that require close combat. “That certainly won’t do.” Midnight said to herself before she walked up to them and welcomed them, ignoring the glares she got from her prisoners. “I’m so glad you all could make it! We have a lot to discuss!” She said to her new followers as they all bowed to her. She smiled and signaled them all to rise, which they did. “As you all know, Sunny Starscout is still out there, so are her little friends. I’m counting on all of you to find them, bring them to me alive.. but not unharmed. They will fight back, and hard, so you have to fight harder, smarter, faster. Luckily for all of you, we can provide the training you all need and the weapons.” she said and they all sigh in relief and she chuckles. “You all need not be afraid, Sunny’s weakened, so she’s on the run. She’ll be on defense.. meanwhile all of you.. are on offense. Now go inside and start training.. unless some of you wanna go with Magma here..” she says as she gestures to Magma who walks up until she’s standing right next to Midnight. “And help her capture a certain zebra who was working with Starscout.” she continues and a few unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies raise their hands, earning a nod from her. “Alright then, get a move on. The Deathbolts will lead you all to where they last saw her.” she says and everyone gets a vehicle, including Magma who has her own lava bike, courtesy of her's and Midnight’s magic combined. They all follow the Deathbolts as the rest just take the prisoners inside Canterlogic to a new prison that Midnight built under it. Midnight smiles and flys up, looking over Maretime Bay, readying her magic. “Meanwhile, since you’re all doing that.. I’ll take the time to give this place a little makeover.” she says as she takes out the bell and uses it’s magic and her own to reshape Maretime Bay.. into her image. Back at HQ After Artemis lands the ship, they all instantly get off it and walk inside, Izzy and Hitch carrying Sunny to the med bay. Sprout is absolutely amazed by the place and he looks around, Brightburn following him to make sure he doesn’t get lost. Zipp follows Artemis and Thunderbird to look over Argyle's notes while Pipp goes to the med bay to check on Sunny. After a few hours, everyone links up and Zipp explains that all they have to do is follow the landmarks. Artemis notices that there’s a spot on the map that’s glowing and Sunny’s rainbow strands of hair are glowing too. She gets an idea and takes the map and one of Sunny’s hands, placing it on the map and the spot glows more until it makes a shape.. and everyone realizes the shape matches the three crystals all together. The landmarks start glowing too one at a time as if telling them where they need to go first to get there. It then glows more, making shapes on the map and they realize that those aren’t just any landmarks. Those are old kingdoms and cities from ancient times. Yakyakistan, the dragon lands, the changeling kingdom, ..Ponyville.. and Canterlot.. Everyone looks shocked as the historical locations light the way to their only solution to save their friend and most likely the rest of Equestria. After discussing a plan for about an hour, they decide to leave early in the morning. Hitch volunteered to stay in the med bay and watch over Sunny and Izzy decided to do the same while everyone else got their rest. Izzy sat on the edge of the bed right next to Sunny and Hitch sat in a chair not too far away from it. He was so stressed out and upset.. he didn’t know what else to do but to go with the plan and try not to worry too much about Sunny.. but how could he not? Sunny was his best friend since foalhood and he already failed to protect her so many times.. he had to make things right. As he watched over her readings, he couldn’t help but chuckle at how much trouble Sunny used to get into, how much she still gets into. He looked at her and saw Izzy gently stroking Sunny's mane after noticing that Sunny’s face had scrunched up in pain and terror like she was having a nightmare but her expression was now a calm, peaceful one. “You’re really good at that, huh?” Hitch asks, surprising and confusing Izzy for a few seconds until she catches on and answers. “Whenever I used to have a nightmare when I was a foal, my mom would always comfort me in this exact same way.. I’m glad I get to share something of her's with Sunny.. besides my craftsmanship and creativity that is.” Izzy says with a halfhearted chuckle and Hitch chuckles too and smiles. “You and Sunny are more alike than you know Izz.. Sunny learned everything she knew from her dad and he was all she had left..” Hitch says and Izzy looks at him then back at Sunny, frowning. “So we both had single parents who taught us important things.. and when they died we had to live on our own but we somehow made it.. we both want a better world for everypony..” Izzy says and Hitch continues “Aaand you’re both resilient, joyful, strong, beautiful and you both never give up no matter how tough things get.” and Izzy nods. “If all of those aren’t traits to admire, I don’t know what is.” he said and Izzy smiles. Then she sighs and looks at him “Did.. did Sunny ever.. ya know.. fall in love or date somepony before?” Izzy asked and Hitch looked confused for a second then sat up to try and remember. “Well.. yes actually.. with me.. we did date for a while when were younger but.. things got complicated when I found out she was bi.. then there was the fact that I had to uphold the law and Sunny kept breaking it obviously no matter how many times I pleaded for her to stop.. after a while I just.. couldn’t deal with it anymore so.. we broke up.. and sure I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still feel something for her every now and then but.. I’ve moved on and so has she, we’re both fine with just being friends.. plus I kind of have my eyes on.. somepony else now.” He says hesitantly and Izzy goes wide eyed and is suddenly in his face with a huge smile on her face. “Oh really? Who’s the lucky pony?! Is it Pipp?! Ooh! Or Zipp?! One of those two or somepony else?!” she asks excitedly, all those questions in less than 5 seconds. Hitch gently pushed her back by the snout and she noticed that he had blushed when she mentioned Pipp.. or Zipp maybe? She gasps and squeals. “It is one of them isn’t it?!” she asks and he sighs and hesitantly nods. She picks him up in a hug so tight he can hardly breathe. “Izzy.. can’t.. breathe..!” he says with a hoarse, quiet voice and she lets him go and smiles sheepishly, apologizing. “Don’t worry Hitch. Your secret’s safe with me!” Izzy says and Hitch chuckles, rubbing one of his arms which were still sore from the bear hug he had just received. “Thanks Izzy.. really appreciate it..” he says as he sits down and she goes back to Sunny and continues stroking her mane. “Your secret’s safe with me too.” he thinks to himself as he watches Izzy continue to soothe the damaged, terrified mind of his best friend. Just from the display of affection, he knew that Izzy would always be there for Sunny.. she would take care of her.. and he was just fine with that.