//------------------------------// // Chapter 98 - Status Report // Story: The Master Mev // by kazamacat //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash decided it was best to meet with Tirek before she updated Celestia and Luna. She was accompanied by Starlight Glimmer. Once the pair arrived in Tartars, Rainbow stood outside Tirek's cage and looked at him. The centaur merely stared back at her without a word at first. After several seconds, she decided she would be the one to begin. "Hello Lord Tirek." "H-hello," Tirek greeted with a hesitant voice. Rainbow cocked her head for a moment and sniffed. "Not that I mind, but why is there such an uptick in fear of me from you?" Tirek nervously scratched at his head and shrugged. "I-I don't know. I mean, it's not like I can use my magic here, so-so why would it scare me that a master mev can eat it, right? I mean, that's what you do. That's what I do." He gestured his arms toward her, then away, as he spoke. She was no longer berserk, so she wouldn't even think to look of him with that piercing, though not enchanting, glare, as she did when requesting his magic. Rainbow Dash nodded as if she understood though she wasn't entirely sure that was why. It could certainly be part of it. Nonetheless, she would pry no further. "Yes, well. I'm actually here to talk to you about the whole visiting and friending thing." Tirek shifted where he stood. "Y-you're not mad about what happened with Cozy Glow?" Rainbow Dash looked at him, confused. "Why would I be mad about that?" "I didn't tell you about her letter when you came by with the game," he reminded her. "Oh. Well, that definitely would have made things easier. You should have, but that wasn't my business here that day. Plus, you and me were like I don't know...frenemies or something. You know, we're working on that. I'm glad you warned her on your own," Rainbow replied. "So no, I'm not mad. If anything, I'm relieved you didn't do worse." To that, the centaur scoffed. "Master, there is nothing I could have told that child to make things worse for you." Rainbow Dash snickered. "I'm flattered." They both sighed at the same time. "So...do you want me to visit again?" the master mev asked. Tirek snorted. "Even after all that, to be honest, I don't know." He chuckled and shook his head with an amused smile. "'Frenemy.'" "Friend," Rainbow said, as if to correct him. Now he looked at her, confused. "I beg your pardon?" "Frenemies then. Friends now, at least on this side. Thank you for your magic when I was hungry. It felt like a friend helping me even if my mind was a bit off at the time," Rainbow confessed to him. Tirek chuckled. "As I said when I gave it, it's not like I was using it though I would certainly be interested to know if you ever do." "Well....I hope it never comes to that," Rainbow admitted. "You're too soft, you know," Tirek muttered softly with a genuine tone. Rainbow's magenta eyes flitted down a moment. "I'm not." Tirek could sense there was something she wanted to say but was stopping herself for some reason. "Care to...elaborate on that point?" he pressed. She gulped. "I guess I did just say it felt like you were a friend, so I can tell you...I've done it." "'It'?" "I actually did find out I can take someone's magic and keep it." Rainbow explained. The listener blinked in interest. "How?" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. The point is I can, and I did. I felt in a trance at the time, but I still would have done it. I wanted it." "Please...Rainbow Dash, it actually does matter. I would like to avoid such a mistake myself," Tirek suggested. She snickered but decided to confess further. "I suppose it's not confidential information." With a sigh, she went on, "Someone said to me, 'do your worst,' and it turns out...that is my worst. My magic considers such words as permission. I am happy to take it then." She smiled quietly to herself. Tirek nodded thoughtfully and smiled, taking delight in Neighsay's mistake, even if he did not know the name of the victim. "Well, then...good to know." A moment passed between them. "If I say you can visit me, how often can I expect you to do so?" Tirek inquired. Taking a moment to think, Rainbow Dash offered, "Once a month." He thought about it. "And the game?" "Well, not Battlecloud. Cozy Glow's got a chess piece cutie mark, so that game's on my mind. How does that sound? You ever play chess?" Rainbow inquired. "As a matter of fact, I have. Alright. I am fine with at least one more visit next month for a game of chess," Tirek decreed. "That sounds good to me, Lord Tirek. Until then," Rainbow said and bowed respectfully. "Until then, Master," Tirek replied and bowed respectfully as well. With that, Starlight helped teleport the master mev back to Ponyville. That same night, after her flexchange with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash met with Chrysalis at Twilight's castle. "How are you feeling?" Rainbow asked as she hovered near the tall changeling. "Inconvenienced, but I'll get over it," Chrysalis replied, referring her to temporarily lost magic. "And at least I can switch to my old default when you're here." The old default was the current form she wore. "Chryssy, I need to give an update to the princesses tomorrow on some things, and one of those things is you," Rainbow explained. "Me?" Chrysalis asked. "What is there to discuss? They've seen my reformed look after what happened on Monday. I've been here for a month, and everyone's safe and sound. I even helped your seal on your berserk." "All true, and that's great. The thing to discuss is what's next. Do you want to keep doing what you've been doing with us the past month or is it time for you to move on? Do you want to go back to the hive?" Rainbow asked. "Do you feel like you've learned anything about leadership from us? Has it been enough?" "Oh," Chrysalis murmured to herself, as if she hadn't truly thought on such things for some time. She contemplated for a moment. "Everfree," she muttered quietly. "Beg your pardon?" Rainbow Dash asked. Chrysalis looked up at her. "There's an abandoned castle in the Everfree forest. It's near the Tree of Harmony." "Yeah..." Chrysalis swallowed nervously. "Does it belong to anyone?" "Well, it used to belong to Celestia and Luna. Now we all just visit it and take care of it sometimes. It can actually be kind of creepy because it's got these contraptions inside." "Really?" a very intrigued Chrysalis asked. "Well, anyway...c-could I live there...one day?" "You want to live there? Why?" To that, the changeling blushed. "Where to start? The hive welcomes me, and I'm glad for it....but it's still not really 'home' anymore. I don't want to live there as a former queen, and I'm not taking the throne back either. This place is my home now, and yet...when it is time to move on...Everfree sounds nice. It's not too far away from my friends." Chrysalis winked at her. "And it's a place I could make my own..." She sighed. "Strange as it may seem to you, it's also where our friendship began. I lost my mean copies. At the time, it was all very confusing and frustrating...but...I've grown since then. I would be closer to the magic that started our friendship." "You want to be near the Tree of Harmony?" Rainbow further probed. "Sure," Chrysalis replied with a casual little shrug. "That's not the main reason—I'm more interested in the castle. It's a place I could feel...in power. The Elements being nearby doesn't hurt. Hey, I could even guard them for you." "Whoa, Chryssy, I'm not so sure about that," Rainbow said nervously. "You were just trying to steal them a few weeks ago." Chrysalis blushed and chuckled. "True. I know that, but...I've changed. You know I have. Still, don't worry. I'm not heading over there anytime soon. I do feel like I've learned things as a student here, Rainbow Dash, and I think I could still learn more. Is there some kind of next phase we could do?" Rainbow grew thoughtful, and such thoughts led to her arrangement with the yaks regarding Cozy Glow. "You know what? I think there is. But give me a little time. Not until after Hearth's Warming. We could go check out the other kingdoms. I can make the rounds again and check on how they're doing. There was the drain and force-fields. I could make sure all is well. You could get to know other cultures." Chrysalis' eyes lit up excitedly. "We could both be dragons together in the Dragon Lands. I'll bet your form gets free reign there." The master mev giggled at the thought and soon calmed herself to consider that. She landed from her hover. "That's something worth finding out for sure. "Alright, well, then. I'll tell Celestia and Luna you're still studying, but we're broadening your horizons by traveling and exploring the world. As for Everfree, I'll mention it to them, but they might deny you pretty quick. How's that?" A sigh followed from her changeling friend. "Well being denied already would be unfortunate, but if you have to tell them, you have to tell them. As for the rest..." she paused, and the two friends met eyes, "'acceptable'," they chimed together at exactly the same time before bursting into shared laughter. On Thursday, Rainbow Dash met with Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle. Sweetie Belle was with them all in her usual Rhezenda role. "Let's start with...Chrysalis," Celestia implored. "Sure. As the two of you know, she's achieved a 'reformed' appearance like all the other changelings," Rainbow began. "Might we ask how that transpired?" Luna inquired. "Friendship, just like the other changelings. She accepted me as a friend and eventually Twilight as well," Rainbow answered with a quick gesture to Twilight, who nodded in agreement. "Do continue," Celestia further urged. "Right. So, she's a client of ours learning to improve her leadership skills and better understand Equestria. She visits the Changeling Kingdom once a week. They have not given her back charge of the kingdom, but they are all on respectful terms with each other. "She has helped out my fledglings on menial tasks, getting to know how things work. I've even shown her around Cloudsdale. She helped us as a friend on the day and night of my berserk," Rainbow went on, as suggested. "That included a dash of magic into my crown, Jin. Plus, she let me eat her magic that night." Celestia and Luna sat together, quiet and thoughtful. "After I talked to her about our progress thus far, we've decided to take it up a notch. I'll show her the other kingdoms since I want to check in on the places anyway," Rainbow noted. "That all sounds well enough," Luna remarked. "Forgive us for prying, but just how did you encounter Chrysalis in a way that made you want to accept her as a friend?" she wondered. Rainbow grinned. "Oh, it was devious on both our parts, and it is quite the tale. Are you sure you want to hear it? That could take awhile." Both the sisters smiled, unable to hide their interest. "Yes, please," they said, trying to sound regal and professional. Rainbow told them all about the encounter, the mean copies, the Tree of Harmony's reaction, the decision and reasoning behind wanting to help Chrysalis, even including the former queen's desire to rule Equestria. Such information was relevant for the part not yet discussed on the castle. Rainbow told them about declining to help that, and offering to have Chrysalis be a student to Twilight instead, akin to Starlight Glimmer before her. When she was finished with that part of the story, she gave the sisters a moment to take it in. "That was indeed very interesting...and devious," Luna said. Celestia only nodded. "Anything more then?" "Yes," Rainbow replied. "Now she does have a long-term goal beyond that, but...you two might deny her. I've already warned her of that." "Do tell," Celestia implored. "She wants to live at your old castle one day," Rainbow admitted. "The one in the Everfree forest...near the Tree of Harmony." The princess' eye silently widened, but they did not immediately deny the notion either. "Why?" Luna probed, much as Rainbow herself had the night before. Rainbow turned a moment to examine some notes from Sweetie Belle to relay the reasoning as she could best remember when they made the notes. Celestia sat with a furrowed brow, hesitating in thought, and Luna simply stared at her older sister. "Do you trust her?" she finally asked, addressing Rainbow Dash. "Me? Of course. She's helped me more than once and out of genuine friendship too. I mean, she's a client and does expect something out of my service, but her living in your old castle is not part of our agreement. She will accept a refusal, and she knows I would enforce that," Rainbow answered. She was careful with her words. "And you, Twilight?" Celestia asked. Twilight blinked, then prepared herself to speak. "Yes, actually, I do. She's helped me as well in her own way when we became friends. We invited her along for an investigation, and she contributed." "If we did deny her, then what?" Luna pressed, this time toward Rainbow Dash. "Then she probably stays at Twilight's until she can find a suitable place," the master mev replied. "Right," Twilight agreed. "I know that can be done." Rainbow went on, "She doesn't want to live at the hive anymore, even if she visits on good terms there." The princesses looked at each other. "I'm sure we could find her a place if we needed to help," Luna told Celestia. Despite her words, her manner suggested hesitance. The older sister nodded. "True, but...this might actually be...a good thing...if she truly is...trustworthy?" Luna nodded. She turned to Rainbow Dash. "We will not deny her today, but we would want to build trust with her over time, as she has done with the two of you." Rainbow nodded. "I think...that will work out." "We hope that to be true," Celestia said. "Now let's move onto Tirek." Rainbow nodded. "He and I have agreed that I can visit him next month for a game of chess. Beyond that, I would like to continue visiting him, if he will let me, once a month. I don't think he'd go so far as to admit that we're friends, but he's certainly starting to act like we are," she explained. The princesses nodded. "I suppose that's good news," Celestia considered. "And Cozy Glow? What's happening with her?" "Prince Rutherford has agreed to let her stay in Yakyakistan to have some time away from Equestria and give everyone time to heal. Her parents have agreed too. That will be for three months. She will be schooled in a similar manner to yaks her age. I'll be visiting her once a week and occasionally bringing her back under Team Awesome's supervision," Rainbow stated. "And after those three months have passed?" Celestia prodded. "A lot can happen in three months, Princess. I myself haven't even been a mev three months You can rest assured, it's on my mind. I don't have an answer for you yet. I will do what I hope is best for both Equestria and Cozy Glow herself. She is now a servant of mine on a strange technicality. She won't be draining magic out of your subjects again. That is an order I have given her," Rainbow explained. "Interesting though a small comfort," Celestia noted. "I agree," Luna echoed. The meeting soon concluded after that. Rainbow Dash entered Spitfire's office and cleared her throat to announce her presence. Spitfire looked up from some paperwork. "What is it, Dash?" "Uh…" Rainbow hesitated. She had mistakenly assumed Spitfire herself would have something to say to her, even if Rainbow was the one arriving to this room. "So you know the big magic drain that happened on Monday…" Spitfire met her eyes and nodded. "You had something to do with that?" "Fixing it, yeah," Rainbow replied. "It's kinda my job as a master mev." Spitfire smiled. "That's great, but what about it? All of us were fine that day." She tapped a gold hoof to her forehead. "No horns." "Well, something happened after I fixed the drain," Rainbow told her. Spitfire grew serious with the way Rainbow said it. "What?" Rainbow sighed. "I went berserk." Spitfire cocked an eyebrow and waited for her visitor to further explain herself. "It's this state that I go into if I don't get enough magic to eat. That's how I ended up needing the way I usually eat, but this berserk can also be brought on in other ways," Rainbow continued. "The pony who caused the drain was manipulating things to summon an artifact they thought would give them power." "And it made you berserk instead?" Spitfire wondered. "In a roundabout way, yeah," Rainbow agreed with a nod. "Was anyone hurt?" Spitfire asked. "Well…" Rainbow swallowed. "Yes." "Rainbow, how bad was it?" Spitfire prodded, her concern growing. She started to stand from her seat but immediately paused and sad down. She instinctively calmed herself. It could not be that bad. Otherwise, she would have heard more from someone other than Rainbow Dash herself. "Ten unicorns were bitten and are without magic until a full week passes from when I bit them. They are part of a reserve for this sort of thing. I can't eat magic to raise the sun or moon, so Celestia's been able to do that," Rainbow answered. "Wait, you ate Celestia's magic?!" Spitfire asked in shock. "Y-yes. She was bait for how they got me to stop," Rainbow explained. Now her anxiety was spiking. "I can't eat magic that controls the sun, so that's why she can still do it without any trouble." "Why are you telling me this?" Spitfire inquired with a slight suspicion in her tone. "Because when I told you I turned into a vampire, Celestia assured you I found a way to eat without hurting anyone," Rainbow replied. She was clearly on the verge of tears. "But...but...now that I've hurt some ponies…" Spitfire's eyes gently darted around in thought. "...You're fine," she eventually said. Rainbow's watering eyes shone back filled with hope. "Really?" she whispered. "Rainbow Dash, you see more of this stuff than I do up close, but I know there are times when magic is out of our control and makes ponies do things. That's just how it is here in Equestria. You still have the trust of both Celestia and Luna, right? Even after all that?" Rainbow nodded. "Yes, I do. They are fully informed on the situation." "Then you're fine. I'm sorry other ponies got hurt, but it sounds like it could have been a lot worse. This berserk isn't a common thing, is it?" Spitfire wondered. "No. I've only had it happen to be me one other time as part of a game with some older dragons," Rainbow replied. Spitfire cracked up at that. Rainbow Dash blushed, realizing that yes, that would definitely sound funny to someone not familiar with what she did as a master mev. After Spitfire settled from the laugh, Rainbow added, "There might be other relics or artifacts out there, but they are rare and conditional. Once an object has made me go berserk, it can't do it a second time either." "Oh, well, that's good news," Spitfire contemplated aloud. "Look, if it ever actually happens during training or a show, then I'll have to re-evaluate things, but for today, we're good. Can you eat pegasus magic or just unicorn?" "I can eat pegasus magic too but have a preference for unicorn. It returns after seven days all the same," Rainbow explained. Spitfire nodded to acknowledge she understood. "Alright Dash. Thanks for telling me. I know you could have glossed over it, and I'd be none the wiser. It shows you care." "Thanks, Captain," Rainbow replied. Spitfire smirked. In the entire meeting, she'd forgotten the title, but now was the perfect time. "You're welcome, Master."