//------------------------------// // Chapter 99 - Ending Project Mercury // Story: The Master Mev // by kazamacat //------------------------------// Three days before Hearth's Warming, the Team Awesome entourage gathered into Zecora's hut. Not every mev needed to be there, but they all felt it appropriate given the significance of what they were about to do. They were readying the last phase of Project Mercury. Pinkie Pie stepped forward and whistled Penny out from the reserve. Rainbow Dash stood in front of the literally icy figure. She took a deep breath, finding and searching for the magic of both the Crystal pony and the Crystal Heart before exhaling. The breath of magic from her mouth streamed around Penny, carefully melting the icy encasement. Next, Penny nimbly plucked the flower from her hair with a hoof and offered it to Zecora with an exaggerated bow of her head. Zecora sniffed the flower and smiled in approval. She showed it to Apple Bloom, who sniffed in approval as well. Sweetie Belle brought out the idol of Boreas for the permanence to be extracted. Fluttershy ate from it; Rainbow Dash ate from Fluttershy. The master mev channeled the magic into a ready cup of water with the flower in it. The magic turned the water and flower a bright red. The next set of actions were all from Rainbow herself. She blew out changeling magic and hippogriff magic, intertwining them into two streams that darkened the mixture all the more. The flower itself began to disintegrate, causing the liquid to slosh around as the flower performed its duty of fusing and mixing the different types of magic. The liquid turned into a dark, blood-red potion. Zecora and Apple Bloom examined it carefully, sniffing and checking the temperature. "Do not be fooled by its crimson appearance," Zecora informed Scootaloo. "No doubt it is for vampiric flair adherence." The master mev's eyes happily lit to red, and she licked her lips with her fangs visibly peeking out. She sniffed and inhaled the scent. "Quite fitting, yes," she agreed, visibly enthralled. To everyone's surprise, she swiped the cup and drank the newly made potion immediately. "Uh, Master, why did you do that?" Starlight asked nervously. Her and everyone else were doing their best to not panic and hope this was some kind of instinct. "That potion was for Scootaloo, you know." Sky blue wings fluttered into their bat shape. "Because it looked like blood, and I'm a vampire," Rainbow said with a fanged grin. She looked over to Scootaloo. who stared at her with a horrified, stunned expression. "It is not gone, Little Sister. I just need some water," the master vampire assured her charge. Apple Bloom quickly readied exactly that with a silent, worried expression of her own. Before anyone else could protest or question further, Rainbow Dash blew out another stream of magic that re-entered the cup, and the drink was no longer red. Instead, it looked like a magical teal water. "There, all better. This is much more suited for a child to drink. It is now fused thanks to the flower and the Master Mev." She set the cup down, bowed as graciously as she could, and at last backed away, her gaze following to her seated little sister. Scootaloo gulped and nervously stared at it, Rainbow, and the cup once more. This was it. The moment was here—or rather, an important moment to lead to another. She was really going to do this. If everything went as she hoped, she would be able to fly in three days. But what if she couldn't? After Rainbow and the others went through so much trouble just for her? A soft breeze told her Rainbow Dash was hovering near. A sky blue hoof clasped her shoulder. Scootaloo looked up into the eyes of its owner. "It's time," Rainbow told her softly. The master mev was still in full vampire form, but the red looked as sincere as her more frequent magenta. "Master commands you to drink," the bat pony said with a playful wink. Scootaloo eased into a comforted smile. She felt relaxed and ready, so she downed the drink. Her entire body felt warm, and her small wings tingled. She fluttered them. She could not get any more off the ground than before, but that was expected. She hoped far more than she wanted to hope that three days would have her answer—the answer she had wanted ever since she noticed she might have a disability at all. "Thank you very much Zecora," Rainbow's voice pulled Scootaloo's attention back to the present hut and gathered group. "My help to give was a pleasure, though much effort was done by your tearm's measure," Zecora reminded the ring leader of her many visitors. "Well, I won't deny that either," Rainbow replied with a proud smile. "Alright, team, let's move out. We're not going to stand around here for three days while we wait and hope." With that, the entire party left and bade farewell to Zecora who was inwardly hoping just as much as they were. Flying. She was flying. But how could this be? It was just a clear night, and she was alone. Three days had not yet passed. Not even a full night—this night—had passed. "Well, I figured this might qualify," a familiar voice said, and Scootaloo turned to her right to see Rainbow Dash suddenly flying alongside her. Scootaloo blinked. "'Qualify?'" Rainbow smiled. "You know, I don't get to use dream magic often. Most of my clients don't need something like this." "But I do?" Scootaloo asked. "Well, 'need' might be pushing it, but you gotta admit, it is a nice touch," Rainbow said, still smiling. Scootaloo smiled back. "Yeah, it is." "It's not too frivolous by my power's standards. This dream will help you mentally prepare and practice. Thinking of dreams is what helped you on your confidence run after all," Rainbow Dash pointed out. Scootaloo's eyes lit up, and suddenly the two of them were sea ponies underwater. Rainbow chuckled at their new forms and new environment. "Swim with me!" Scootaloo declared with an eager smile. She darted off in a flash. The sound of swooshing through water followed with a sudden rainbow blur catching up to Scootaloo. "How'd you do that? You don't rainbow trail in the water," Scootaloo remarked. "Dream magic!" Rainbow proudly sang, spinning around in place. She became a rainbow-finned blur until she finished and struck a pose. Scootaloo giggled. She tried and saw a violet blur trail after herself too. "Awesome!" she squealed. A pause passed before Rainbow decided to say something. "Months ago, you asked me if flying was like swimming, and I never got to give you an answer." "So, is it?" Scootaloo wanted to know. "Sometimes," Rainbow said with a nod, "but I feel like that more often when I'm flying slow instead of fast." "Really?" Scootaloo asked in interest. The water disappeared, and they were in the sky again. Rainbow Dash drifted into a drawn-out vertical circle as she said, "When I am most relaxed, the air is my ocean, Little Sister." Scootaloo stared down and saw Rainbow hovering on her back slowly, gently descending with a confident smile. The older pegasus twirled up and upright. "But you know...everyone is different. You've lived on the ground all your life and still have your stunts. Like you've told me, you're going to forge your own path. Maybe it will be different for you." "Right," Scootaloo agreed with a soft smile. A tear welled in her eye. "Maybe I didn't 'need' this to fly in a few days Rainbow, but it sure feels needed as your sister." Rainbow Dash hugged her. "Then I'm glad we had this time together." "Me too," Scootaloo whispered and soon felt the dream fade away. The next few days passed, and Hearth's Warming Day itself had at last arrived. Scootaloo bolted out of bed and ran to the bathroom to inspect her wings. She grabbed her camera and took a picture to compare to the past three days. A hesitant smile formed as she could see the evidence that yes, the wings were slightly bigger. They had grown to the proper size expected of a filly her age. She inhaled her hope. "Please please please," she begged the air. She flapped her wings and hovered a good five seconds longer than she was usually able to do without help from her mev bond with Rainbow Dash. "Okay okay okay," she said as she paced around the room. "That's fine. It's a gradual change. This is a good sign. The flight will probably be here once we're all together," she reminded herself in an assuring tone. She clambered to the living room to see the Hearth's Warming tree and collection of gifts. Scootaloo hopped and paced. Wake them? Don't wake them? She didn't have to debate long as two familiar figures entered. Both of her aunts smiled warmly at her. "Come on, let's open presents," Scootaloo said, as she pranced in place. The two mares quietly complied, knowing their niece was a bundle of nerves today. They were informed enough to know what this day meant to Scootaloo beyond their presents for the morning. Once the gifts were opened, and the family thanked each other, they moved onto breakfast. With the meal nearly finished, Scootaloo's aunt Lofty asked, "So, is it ready?" "It's not instant," Scootaloo explained. "I took the potion three days ago. Just now, I could hover longer. Starlight Glimmer thinks that even though I'm not Rainbow Dash herself, the friendship magic going into the whole thing will make it happen once we're all together this afternoon." "That's wonderful, dear. What time shall we be there again?" her aunt Holiday inquired. "Stop by around 5," Scootaloo suggested. They all heard a knock at the door. "I sure hope that's Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo declared and zipped over to the door, stumbling part way through an attempted flight. Holiday, meanwhile, stepped over and opened the door. Sweetie Belle peered down at an upside down Scootaloo, the pegasus of the two flicking her violet tail before righting herself. "Scootaloo, I know you're excited, but you could get hurt trying too much too soon," Rhezenda lectured with a gentle smile. "How did you know what happened?" Scootaloo asked. "Lucky guess," Sweetie Belle admitted with a friendly giggle. "Apple Bloom's helping out Applejack with the Pies visiting. They'll join us later at the castle." As the two stepped out into the snow-covered ground of Ponyville, Scootaloo asked, "So where's Master? What's she up to now exactly? Is she already there?" "Yes, she is. She's helping Twilight ready the castle," Sweetie Belle explained. "Uncle Blaze!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She rushed over with a surprised smile, tumbling onto a stallion with a rainbow mane and same coat color as her dad. "Whoa there speedster, I'm not getting any younger," Rainbow Blaze said with his back on the ground. Rainbow Dash held out a hoof to help him up. "I thought I was supposed to help keep you on your hooves and ready for any challenge." She mocked a few punches in his direction without actually hitting him. "Well, I'm a bit older now so it's a little harder," Blaze admitted. He pulled his niece in for a tight hug, making sure to leave her wings free for what was next. "You better let me go or else!" Rainbow Dash threatened with a knowing smile on her face. "Bring it," Blaze challenged. "You asked for it," she warned. Her wings fluttered with a couple of feathers working their way toward his neck. The stallion held out as long as he could before breaking into giggles and letting her go. "Alright, alright, I give. You win." "That's right. This Rainbow wins again!" Rainbow Dash declared. She cupped her hooves to her mouth as she made a mock crowd cheering noise. "Haha, that you did, kid," Rainbow Blaze agreed. "This time," he added with a wink. He held out a hoof for his niece to bump and could not pull away fast enough to tease her and tell her she was too slow. She really was a quick one, he knew. "Mom and Dad, you didn't tell me he would be here," Rainbow said to her parents as they stood in the lobby of Twilight's castle together. "Surprise!" the three elders said together. "We thought maybe you'd want to update your uncle on what's been happening the past few months," Bow told her with a look. "Right," Rainbow agreed with a nod. "Come on Uncle Blaze," Rainbow said, tugging at her uncle's hoof and leading him to a room where they could talk more privately. "I doubt you'll be as proud as Mom and Dad over this, but it is a big deal for me." "Alright, alright, I'm going," Rainbow Blaze said. Once inside, Rainbow admittedly abruptly, "I'm a vampire now. I eat magic instead of blood. It's a type of vampire called a 'master mev.' See. Mev. Magic Eating Vampire," she gestured with her hoof as if the words were in front of her. "No kidding?" Rainbow Blaze asked with an interested smile. "Yup. I got help to feed me, so it's all alright—well, most of the time," Rainbow Dash told him. "Most of the time?" he asked back with concern. Rainbow Dash sighed. "Something happened a few weeks ago that triggered my berserk. It messes with my head. I'm dangerous then, but a berserk isn't common or easy to trigger." "Oh...well, we do live in Equestria. You on the ground with all these unicorns too," Rainbow Blaze noted. "Right though it was a pegasus filly that came up with the scheme," Rainbow Dash said. "And she didn't do it on purpose." "Unbelievable," the uncle remarked with a shake of his head. "Well, I'm glad you're you now. So aside from that...congrats?" Rainbow Dash blushed. "Not what I usually hear but yeah, I like it a lot." "Well, I don't mind being one to say it. What are favorite uncles for?" Rainbow Blaze asked. Rainbow Dash giggled and lightly tapped him in the shoulder. Today was going to be a good day. She could feel it. "Hey Scoot," Rainbow greeted with a warm smile just outside the castle. Scootaloo glided lightly into Rainbow's forelimbs. "It's starting to work more and more like you said, see." "That's awesome," Rainbow Dash replied. "I'll alert everyone you're here." She pulled out her cell phone and sent out a text message to many. The doors to the castle opened and out came Cozy Glow leading Rainbow's parents and a stallion Scootaloo knew to be Rainbow Dash's uncle from a past Hearth's Warming visit. As Rainbow had told it, her uncle was really into sports and was with Rainbow Dash when they found out the Equestria Games were not taking place in Cloudsdale after all. He helped cheer her up and train for her flag routine, as well as being a generally encouraging figure in her life albeit more subdued than her parents. Bow and Windy greeted Scootaloo with an enthusiastic hug, and Blaze gave her a polite shake of his hoof. Chrysalis, Spike, Twilight Sparkle, and Starlight Glimmer soon stepped out from the castle as well. "Oh Scootaloo, has Rainbow asked you yet?" Twilight said. "Asked me what?" Scootaloo replied. "Not yet," Rainbow Dash admitted. "The Student Six chose to stay behind yesterday, instead of going home. So long as we're having so many here to watch and support you...can they join us?" "Oh, sure." Scootaloo scratched the back of her short violet mane with a timid smile. "I'll go get them," Twilight offered and trotted away. "We're here!" Applejack's voice announced as Apple Bloom scurried over to her two crusader friends. "Did it happen already? We didn't miss it, did we?" Apple Bloom asked. "It's getting stronger with each passing moment," Scootaloo explained, "but I'll do my best to wait for everyone else to finish getting here." In a flash, Discord and Fluttershy appeared to join the group with the draconequus having teleported the pair in together. "Lord of Chaos Discord and Segunda Fluttershy of Pack Team Awesome have arrived," Discord half mocked a formal introduction of the pair as he bowed. Fluttershy smiled. "Yes, we have." "I hope I'm not too late," Rarity said as she trotted up to the group. "Here you are, my dear," she said to Scootaloo, giving the filly a purple scarf, matching the shade of her usual helmet. It had a small pair of white wings emblazoned on one end. "Thanks Rarity," Scootaloo replied with a grateful smile. "Quintaza and Pentaza are here!" Pinkie announced as she slid in upon a slide of ice that soon materialized into Penny's pony form. Not long after that, Twilight arrived with the students. "Alright, is that everyone?" Rainbow asked aloud. She mentally checked and made a head count. All of Team Awesome, Penny, all of the Awesome Crusaders, Spike, Discord, the Student Six, her parents, her uncle, and Chrysalis...yes, these friends or friends of friends would do well enough. Scootaloo's aunts would stop by later. She felt a little bad that Tirek could not be here, but she had convinced herself he was too far removed from Project Mercury for it to be appropriate. He and Scootaloo hardly even qualified as acquaintances. Cozy didn't help in the Project Mercury venture either, but she was visiting the area for Hearth's Warming and under Team Awesome's care. Plus, Rainbow wanted the filly to grow into part of the group as Chrysalis had, if such a thing were possible. "Yes, Master, it is," Starlight Glimmer confirmed. Sweetie Belle levitated a checklist of her own. "Yes, Master," she doubly confirmed. "The givers with magical gift needing magic of the giving are all gathered," Pinkie declared happily. Spike silently mouthed the words in almost confusion. They sounded like a tongue twister he could not possibly repeat. "And then some!" Penny added. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Alright Scoot. Sorry it can't be a more private tutorial setting, but we're using magic. Friendship magic is the strongest there is." "I know Rainbow Dash, I know," Scootaloo replied. "It's okay, really." She readied her stance, fluttered her wings in place, and lifted into the air. "It's working!" she told everyone excitedly and then started to fall. Rainbow Dash caught her. "Careful, Squirt. Maintain focus. You're just excited, which is understandable." Scootaloo nodded and repeated her efforts. She hovered in place longer, getting used to the repeated flapping she had seen Rainbow Dash do. "More like Cozy than me," Rainbow herself advised. "You're closer to her size." Cozy herself fluttered as an example. "I flap a little fast so maybe a teensy bit slower than me." Scootaloo nodded and fluttered the wings faster, matching the suggested pace as best she could. "Follow me," Rainbow commanded. Scootaloo nodded and flapped her wings into the same path as her sister. They went higher. "Let's try a glide," the older pegasus suggested. "Hold your wings out and let the air carry you until you sense you can't rely it anymore." Scootaloo copied Rainbow's actions and did that. "Good, good," Rainbow said. "One big flap to go up as high as you can." Her sister demonstrated. Scootaloo followed. She could not go as high, but she grasped the basic idea. "We should go back down," Rainbow said. "Let's try a landing." Scootaloo again followed Rainbow Dash observing when to slow and coil her wings into an easy canter. She smiled proudly at herself. She had done it. Magic assisted this time, but it was still with her and inside her. Windy and Bow rushed past Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to hug her tightly and hold her in the air. "Woo woo woo!" they said before setting her down. "You did it Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle nearly shrieked and gave her friend a huge hug. "You're a real flier now!" Apple Bloom added and hugged her too. The others soon congratulated her, offering hugs or a basic nod or hoof, claw, or wing shake, depending on the species. They soon returned to the castle to enjoy their holiday. They left Scootaloo alone with her big sister so the pair could have a moment. Scootaloo smiled and looked up to see Rainbow's eyes watering. A blue forelimb pulled her in close and held tight. For a long time, neither of them said anything and simply held close to the moment. Scootaloo felt her own eyes soon water as well. They stood together for several seconds. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo finally managed to say in a soft voice. "This is the best gift ever. I mean...not just the flying...but all of you here today...our friendship..." Rainbow swallowed as several tears helplessly streamed down her face. "I uh...we tried...you know, Team Awesome and so many friends out there." Scootaloo pulled away to see Rainbow look down a moment. The master mev had bowed her head. She looked up again, as she could not stop the tears from still streaming. "We're all happy for you. We're glad to have been of service." A long pause lingered in the air. The two stood together, and Rainbow wiped her tears. At last she fluttered her wings, lifting into a hover. "Let's fly for a bit and then enjoy the rest of Hearth's Warming with everyone." Scootaloo lifted into the air, ready to do exactly that. She knew it in her heart. She could feel it in her body. She really had the ability to fly, at long last.