The Missing Bard
Bonus Chapter: Studying Together
"I'd never stop wishing the best for you Kini." Twilight replied as she leaned in and kissed the tired bard. "Now off to bed you! I'm going to stay here downstairs and wait for Rarity to come over, hopefully we can find something that could be used as armor in your next fight with Meadow Song. If that day ever comes, we all want to make sure you're prepared. We'll try not to make too much nose so we can let you sleep."
"Thank you Twi, I appreciate it." Kiniro yawned heavily. "I'll see you in the morning and thank you again, tell Rarity I say thank you as well."
"I will, and hopefully we find something for you. Now stop stalling and get to bed!" Twilight instructed Kiniro and smiled.
"Alright alright. See you in the morning." Kiniro replied to Twilight instruction as he began to slowly limp up the staircase toward the bedroom that both he and Twilight shared. Twilight carefully watched Kiniro as he ascended each step, trying to be ready to help rescue Kiniro should he fall or if he could not continue on his journey upstairs. But the bard muscled and fought heavily to make it to the bedroom, but his determination to succeed allowed him to ascend to the bedroom.
"I love that pony... I just wish he didn't get hurt earlier today..." Twilight said to herself trying to fight back tears. "I shouldn't have abandoned him and Fluttershy like that. Kiniro told us to run, and Fluttershy panicked. I feel horrible about all of this... How am I going to forgive myself..."
"Forgive what Twilight?" A young voice called out.
"Oh! Spike. I didn't know you were home. I'm sorry." Twilight responded.
"Oh I was in the next room tidying up, apparently some pony left a big mess of books laying all over the place." Spike chuckled.
"Oh I'm so sorry Spike. We had urgent business in Canterlot with the Princesses earlier today." Twilight explained.
"Urgent business in Canterlot? Oh you mean Kiniro's test?" Spike asked.
"Yes." Twilight simply responded.
"Oh how did he do? How did he do?!" Spike asked eagerly.
"He did amazing Spike! His magic is superb! He's almost to his old magical prowess from before he became a pony."
"That's great! Wait almost?" Spike questioned.
"Yeah... he showed off all his magical abilities to the Princesses but for some reason he couldn't play the song of Ragnarok. He figured it was because there wasn't anything that would warrant it's use." Twilight explained.
"I see, but otherwise everything else is fine?" Spike retorted.
"Oh yes Spike. I'd almost be able to say better than when he was a human. So he passed his test. So the Princesses made him an Honorary Element of Harmony. The Element of Justice." Twilight said eagerly.
"Wow, an Honorary Element of Harmony. That's got to be something special!" Spike responded excitedly.
"It is Spike! He even has to send reports out just like myself and my other friends do!"
"That's still pretty amazing, such a great honor. Uh... sorry to change the subject Twilight, but you were saying something about forgiving somepony?"
"Oh... about that." Twilight's voice quickly retreated. "Well Kiniro and Fluttershy was hurt earlier today.
"How did that happen? Was it regarding his test?" Spike questioned.
"No it had nothing to do with the test. It actually happened after." Twilight tried to explain.
"What happened Twilight?" Spike interrupted.
"I'm getting to that Spike." Twilight said slightly frustrated at the interruption. "You see the short version of the story is that Kiniro, Fluttershy and I were attacked today in Canterlot. We made it out alive, but there was this other pony by the name of Meadow Song, he attacked us and he knew how to play the song of Ragnarok on his guitar. He hurt Fluttershy by breaking her wing, and he hurt Kiniro because he tried to defend us both."
"Who is this horrible pony who would attack you all?" Spike asked.
"Other than knowing his name because of the attack. I have never seen this stallion before. But as Meadow Song tried to play the song of Ragnarok, Kiniro stopped him by sacrificing his guitar to knock him out." Twilight explained. "But the strange thing about the fight that took place earlier, the pony Kiniro fought against, didn't seem to be in control of himself. The behavior seemed very familiar...
"Wow he sacrificed his guitar? Just like that? I mean he's had that thing forever from the stories he's talked about." Spike interrupted again.
"Yeah Spike, he's pretty beat up over losing it."
"Oh my gosh, I almost forgot! How hurt is he?! Is he going to be alright? What about Fluttershy?" Spike said worriedly.
"He's a tough pony, he'll be ok in a couple of days, but he's upstairs resting." Twilight explained. "And Fluttershy should be ok, its just a broken wing, the doctor we met with in Canterlot thinks it will be a while before she flies again, but she should make a full recovery."
"That's very good. I'm glad you all are ok." Spike responded. Suddenly a knock came at the front door.
"Spike could you get that for me?" Twilight asked as she quickly turned away and began investigating a bookshelf.
"Sure thing Twilight!" Spike said as he rushed toward the front door. Spike quickly opened the door preemptively saying, "Welcome to Casa de Twilight, how can I help you... you... you... Hi... Hi... Rarity..."
"How are you doing my little Spikey Wikey?" Rarity asked.
"Hi... Hi... Rarity..." Spike said as he fainted at the door.
"Silly Spike." Rarity said with a subtle smile.
Twilight quickly looked over toward the door to see Rarity with her custom made saddle bags with a diamond symbol for the buckle that latched them down, standing at the front door. "Ah come in Rarity! Did you bring anything that might help with our study session?" Twilight then quickly caught a glimpse outside to see that it had now gotten dark outside.
"I did actually Twilight. It took me a while to locate it but I'm glad that I saved it." Rarity said her horn lit up a light blue, slowly unbuckling her two saddle bags pulling out 2 pieces of familiar clothing. "They are Kiniro's old human clothing."
"Ah yes I remember. His brown vest and I can't identify the other one, but what do these have to do with anything?" Twilight asked.
"Well Twilight, I searched high and low for a while on this other piece but it has the same material like his old vest. Later I realized I should have just asked Kiniro what it was, so I asked him a few months ago what it was at the Day of the Musician festival. Turns out, its called a quiver, its used to hold arrows inside, but the arrow heads are pointed down, and most fabric holding them like so would get pierced easily."
"So what's the material?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Honestly, I can't pin point what type of material it is, but this is probably because its from Midgard. Yet it does seem to share some common properties with leather?"
"Leather? You mean... cow..."
"Yes darling, I know that, that type of material is forbidden here in Equestria and it hasn't been used since the Classical Era as we are not savages, but any pony who's any pony knows about all types of materials especially when they want to be involved in fashion. You see Twilight that's where we have a lot of common ground, we both have a certain nack for studying when it comes to our respected fields." Rarity extended her front right hoof at Twilight. "Knowledge is power is it not Twilight?" Rarity smiled.
"It is Rarity, I never took you for the studious type. Twilight grinned lightly unsure if her comment was appropriate.
"Well, only as far as fashioned is involved Twilight! But how else would I know how to incorporate such different designs together to make such wonderful pieces and ensembles." Rarity retorted back with a smile. "But anyway I only stated that the material in these pieces only share similar characteristics to leather. But this is what I found interesting. Twilight I'm going to set the vest on the ground and do me a favor try to use your magic to try and damage the vest."
"But wouldn't Kiniro be upset if they get damaged or destroyed?" Twilight asked.
"Oh not at all Twilight, Kiniro gave them to me as a gift since, well you know. He said I could have them to study them and get ideas from his old clothing. Which to be completely honest Twilight has been stupendous. The ideas and creations I've been able to make!" Rarity stated slowly going on a tangent. " Oh I'm sorry.. I got rather excited about what his former clothing has done for me." Rarity slowly placed the vest on the ground with her magic and released it from her magical grip. "Now give it all you've got Twilight."
"Ok if you say so..." Twilight responded and her horn glowed light purple. Slowly engulfing the vest with her magic, and she began to try to tear it apart by stretching it, but to no avail. "Hmm that material is very strong."
"While that's not what I had in mind Twilight but yes it is very strong, try shooting a small burst of energy at it. Hopefully you see what I mean." Rarity
"Very well... Oh! Before I forget! Spike! Spike!" Twilight called out.
"Huh?" Spike quickly bolted up from his fainted position on the floor near the door. "What can I help you with Twilight?"
"Can you do me a favor and go check in on Kiniro? Make sure he's ok?" Twilight asked.
"Can do Twilight!" Spike responded eagerly and rushed up the stairs.
"See you when you come back Spikey Wikey!" Rarity commented with a smile.
"See...see... you soon... Rarity." Spike said with a sing-song tone.
"Now lets try this again..." Twilight stated giving it her all. Her horn lighting up brightly and the vest burst in to flames. "Oh my gosh! That wasn't what I wanted to do!" Twilight quickly pulled back her magic to see the burning clothing to the ground. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Rarity!"
"Wait for it Twilight." Rarity responded and approached the burning vest and quickly extinguished the flames with her own magic. "See now look." Both ponies looked down where the vest lay, completely unscratched and undamaged from the magical assault conducted by Twilight.
"Wait... what? How?" Twilight asked.
"Well I'm not so sure Twilight, but when I tried to break a piece off the vest with my magic, when I originally got it to study it, well it resisted heavily and I couldn't rip it that way. But I was able to cut a small piece off of it with some scissors, but even that was a bit of a struggle.
"Hmm... so this vest has some magic resistance properties and its physically resilient?" Twilight asked.
"It appears so, at least when it comes to magic destroying it anyway, and it is rather rigid." Rarity responded.
"That gives me an idea. Rarity do you think its possible to reshape the this material to better fit a pony body?" Twilight asked.
"Well I can't say I've tried, but its worth a short isn't it?" Rarity responded.
"That gives me an idea. Remember that one time I was able to make Spike's suit for the Grand Galloping Gala from rocks and some basic fabric by transmuting it my magic?" Twilight asked.
"Well not per-say but I do remember the story. If you think its worth a shot, perhaps we can reshape it!" Rarity responded.
"Well here goes..." Twilight stated, having her horn light up in a purple aura, quickly engulfing the vest and levitated it off the ground. The vest lit up brightly with a purple aura nearly blinding the two ponies and they covered their eyes with their hooves. "Ah! I can't see!" Twilight quickly reacted and recalled her magic.
"Did it work Twilight?" Rarity said still holding her hooves in front her face.
"I don't know..." Twilight responded and lowered her hooves. "By Celestia... it..."
"Oh my..." Rarity stated as lowered her hooves.
Both ponies stared down at the floor at the newly shaped vest. "It almost looks the same... but smaller and the openings where his arms would go through are slightly lowered so if his front legs could go through it, but other than that... it looks the same... pretty resilient stuff. This should hopefully help him if he has to fight against Meadow Song again, at least protect him from some of the lighter Physical blows, and from some stronger magic." Twilight stated.
"Well from our unicorn magic anyway Twilight, it might not protect him from that pony's stronger magic." Rarity said worriedly.
"That's very true Rarity, but our magic isn't very different, at least when Kini used his guitar to channel it to do basic magic anyway. So if Meadow Song has that type of power it should help. I just hope it fits him and I hope it helps him a lot when the time comes... I just have a feeling it might be soon..." Twilight responded.
End of Bonus Chapter.