//------------------------------// // R0und Tw0: L0yalty // Story: Zer0 H0ur // by Vorizmordu //------------------------------// Zero began his day normally. Breakfast was made and consumed, he slung his pack across his back, and approached the door. He then realized that Rainbow hadn't given him a place where they would meet at. With a sigh, he turned back into his home. He was sure she would find him when the time came. But until then, he found it to be a perfect opportunity to continue studying his magic. He still possessed various tomes he had borrowed from Twilight a while back. He picked out a particular book that dealth with a topic he had interest in: Illusions. He had forgotten that the clone that usually appeared when he stealthed was tied into his combat armor, not the Gh0st device itself. Once he had realized he was capable of magic and that there was a school of magic focused on illusions, he made it a primary focus of his studies. He was amazed at how much he would be able to do besides a simple clone. With a light smile, he began his reading. He managed to get through two hours of uninterrupted studying before boredom began to set in. As much as the subject was interesting, Zero just wasn't one for books. He took a few notes he thought to be essential and decided he would go test what he learned outside. He managed to set one hoof past his door before he was intercepted by an angry Rainbow Dash. "Hey Z! Where have you been?", she immediately questioned him, sounding quite displeased about something. "I have been indoors/ Continuing my studies/ Where have you been at?", he counter questioned. She dismissed his question, "We don't have time for that poetry junk. I need your help with something.", she stated quite crudely. Zero sighed, "And what could you possibly need help with?" "There's this new mare in town who's supposed to be some kind of powerful wizard. When someone questioned her abilities, she offered a challenge: She would go against anypony in anything and do it better than them.", she explained. The stallion's ears perked up, "A challenge? Very well, lead the way." Rainbow didn't need his permission, for she already began dragging him to the center of town. Zero immediately noticed the massive gathering of ponies who seemed to be surrounding some kind of stage. Before he and Dash could meld into the crowd, a very distraught Rarity broke away from the gathering of ponies with what looked like seaweed on her head. "My beautiful mane! It's green! GREEN!!", the unicorn shouted as she sprinted past the duo. Zero could only assume that it had to do with the problem he was about to deal with. As he got closer to the stage, he noticed that there was a single unicorn standing at its center. She was a cobalt blue mare with an icy blue mane. She had a smug grin glued to her face and literally reeked of overconfidence. "Are there anymore challengers for the Great and Powerful Trixie!?", she exclaimed, emphasizing her own name. Zero immediately compared this new mare to Handsome Jack. The overconfident tone and the obvious superiority complex, this pony could have passed as Jack in pony form. Zero really wished that wasn't the case. His thoughts were cut short as his companion answered the unicorn's question. "Yea! Right here!", Dash shouted. Trixie located the source of the response and smiled, "Well if it isn't the sad excuse of a pegasus again. Do you really wish to be put down again? I think you've suffered enough embarrassment for one day." Before Dash could formulate a response, Zero stepped in, anger lining his voice. "Watch your tongue, you fool/ You speak highly of yourself/ You will prove your worth.", he glared at the mare. Zero's threatening tone had no effect on Trixie, for she only grinned, "Fine. Name your challenge and the Great and Powerful Trixie shall show you what she is capable of!" The crowd gasped in unison as Zero drew his blade, his eyes locked on Trixie, "Prepare yourself." Fortunately, Dash managed to stop him, "Whoah Whoah, Z! I didn't bring you out here so you could fight her. I just wanted you to shut her down and put her in her place.", she stated. "Her place is several feet below the ground.", he hissed. He was fed up with people like Trixie. Pompous, inconsiderate, conceited morons. He felt that way even before meeting Handsome Jack. Jack just pushed him over the edge after he hurt whom he considered his only friend on Pandora. He dismissed that last thought and sighed deeply as he saw the horrified faces of the ponies around him. He allowed his blade to deconstruct back to it's hilt form and put it away. "I am sorry. That was uncalled for.", he attempted to apologize. Trixie could only stare, mouth agape. That stallion was perfectly willing to cut her down right here and now. She regained her smug demeanor, not wanting to appear weak to the crowd. "Right, so are you going to state your challenge today perhaps?", she asked, a bit impatient. Zero had to give this serious thought. What could he challenge her with that wouldn't involve him strangling her in the end? He wasn't in any shape to do any kind of extensive physical challenge. He was going to have to resort to his wit in order to win. An idea formed in his mind. It wasn't the cleverest thing he's ever thought of, but it would get the job done. "I have a simple brainteaser for you, if you're not above it.", he began. Trixie scoffed,"I'll take a challenge, whatever form it's in." That sounded strangely familiar. "Alright, here it is: Your best friend gives you an apple. Her eight friends all give you eight oranges. Half of the oranges are taken back and replaced with twice as many peaches. How many fruit do you now have total?, he finished. Trixie almost laughed at this so called "brainteaser". It was a simple math problem, barely worth the time of a filly in school. She grinned as she confidently gave her answer. "I would have 97 fruits total", he beamed at her success. "No.", was Zero's reply. Trixie gave the stallion an enraged look. "No?! What do you mean no? My math is flawless. There is no way my calculations were off!", she shrieked. "I never said your math was wrong.", Zero replied coolly, biding his time. "Then how was my answer incorrect?", Trixie demanded, visibly angry. "You failed to see the point of my problem", he began to explain, "The question stated that your best friend gave you an apple." "Yes, and?", snarled the mare. "Well the thing is", Zero took on a serious demeanor, "It's quite clear you do not have any friends, so how could you have received any fruit at all?" The crowd sat in silence as the gravity of Zero's statement sank in. Trixie was outraged. "What!? How can you make such ridicoulous claims! The Great and Powerful Trixie has many friends.... right?", she looked at the crowd, each of the ponies conveniently finding the ground worth staring at. "Your personality prevents people from liking you. You are narcissistic, overconfident, and generally annoying. You are unwanted.", his words cut deeper than any physical blow he could have dealt. Trixie visibly shrank as she fell into a depression. Everything he said was entirely accurate. Her boastful attitude pushed others away. She truly was alone. Anyone who had even attempted to be her friend she dismissed, thinking she was better than them. Before she could continue wallowing in her sadness, the stallion once again spoke. "However, I can see that theres more to you than your obvious downsides. If you truly were full of yourself, you would have continued your arguement. As such, since I have misjudged you, I would like to apologize.", he lowered his head awaiting a response. Trixie was at a loss for words. First, he cuts her apart in front of a huge crowd. And now, he is publicly apologizing, making himself look like the bad guy. He was either a complete moron, or he was scheming something. She decided to speak her mind. "You're right you know... I am a horrible person.", she spoke softly, verging on tears. She was surprised when Zero placed a hoof on her shoulder. "But there is hope for you yet", he stated, "and with your permission, I would like to consider myself your...friend. Do you accept?" Trixie ignored the awkward way the stallion worded his statement, it's meaning blatantly clear. He had this planned from the start. The crowd around them were waiting in anticipation for her answer. She gave a nod to the stallion and the crowd erupted into cheers. It was strange to see the crowd cheer for something as simple as her making a friend. But then she realized that it wasn't so much as what happened as to how it happened. Zero had played the crowd like a fiddle, and ultimately she came out looking alot better than she had before. After several minutes of cheers and stomping the crowd eventually split apart, everyone returning to what they had been doing before Trixie had showed up. Trixie watched as the stallion, whom she had apparently just befriended, trotted away, turning his head around briefly to give her a smile. That stallion, despite his hostile attitude, had intended to help her all along. He was her friend before she knew it. He helped her deal with the problem that was herself. He was loyal before he even knew her. She just couldn't wrap her head around it. Zero couldn't help but grin at his success on the way back to his home. Though he had originally planned to just crush Trixie and leave it at that, something deep down would not let him go through with it. He knew it had something to do with his talk with Fluttershy about "kindness". At first he thought he was becoming weak, but seeing how his scheme had worked out in the end squashed any doubts of his strength. He was merely gaining a different kind of strength, one that proved very effective in the previous situation. Maybe Celestia was on to something when she challenged him to learn of the Elements of Harmony. There was definantly power behind them, and he had only mastered on so far. He allowed himself to smile fully. " Princess of the sun/ You were wrong to doubt my skills/ I am learning fast."