//------------------------------// // Part 8: Back In Time // Story: Out of the Sky // by ThatGirl2147 //------------------------------// The year was 985 Y.C., when Tech Specs was but a filly. Her parents named her Emerald Comet when she was born. She was born to a wealthy unicorn family living in the lush capital city of Canterlot. One day, she was given news that would begin to shape her life. “Emerald!” an elderly mare’s voice called through a gorgeously decorated hallway, covered with priceless paintings accented by rare, valuable plants in just as rare vases. “Can you come down here? I have great news for you?” “Yes, Grandmother,” replied a young unicorn filly as she gracefully stepped into the hallway. She had cyan fur with a long, flowing pink mane and tail. Her eyes were bright green and she wore an elegantly designed blue dress, common for young fillies in the area. She trotted down the hallway to be met by an aged, lavender unicorn mare. Her mane was silver, but maintained a platinum-like shine. Her faded sky blue eyes shone as she produced a rolled up piece of parchment from a table in the room. “Guess who just got accepted into Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns,” beamed the mare, offering the parchment to Emerald. The filly’s horn glowed a brilliant green as she looked at the parchment. After a second, the parchment was enveloped by the same glow. It unrolled itself, and Emerald read it, then smiled half-heartedly. The letter rolled up and took rest at the end table where it lay before, and ceased to glow. “You put in an application for me?” She looked up to her grandmother and tilted her head. “Of course, Emerald!” replied the mare, still smiling. “Every member of this family has been graduated from that school. Your parents will be so proud!” She looked to the filly, and changed to a confused look as she continued, “is something wrong, Emerald?” “Nothing’s wrong, Grandmother,” answered Emerald. “The letter says the entrance exam’s tomorrow; I had better get ready.” She turned to the hallway and walked down to her bedroom. The next day, outside a small classroom, Emerald and her parents stood, awaiting the signal for Emerald to enter. “Keep your chin up!” barked the filly’s mother. She held Emerald’s head up with her hoof and added, “and don’t drag your hooves.” She nervously looked over her daughter again and said, “and for Celestia’s sake, stand up straight!” Soon, the door to the classroom opened, a dark grey unicorn stallion emerged from the door holding a clipboard with his magic. “Emerald Comet?” asked he to the trio of ponies. The filly nodded, and the stallion continued, “we’re ready when you are, Miss.” Inside the classroom were four unicorn ponies, one of whom was the headmaster for the school himself, Spark Seeker. Three of the unicorns held clipboards and observed Emerald’s every move, but Spark Seeker merely sat in a chair and casually observed the blue filly. A wooden cart which held and egg stood in front of Emerald. The egg was orange and had large scarlet spots about it. Emerald looked at the cart for a second and then asked, “what is it I’m supposed to do?” The three ponies scrawled a few things on their clipboards, disappointed looks on their faces. Spark Seeker answered, “whatever you wish, Miss Comet.” His voice showed his advanced age, but maintained a rather youthful spirit. "Just show us what you can do." “Okay,” said Emerald. She took a deep breath, planted her hooves firmly on the hardwood floor, and focused her energy on the egg. Her horn and the egg glowed bright green. After a few seconds, her horn glowed brighter, and she started trembling. The wood at her hooves began to crack and splinter as a bolt of energy shot through the air to the egg, causing it to shatter. Shards of egg scattered about the room, save one piece which lay with the contents of the egg: a baby dragon. The piece of shell was beside the dragon, and he picked it up and started chewing on it. The dragon was orange, but a dim green cloud of energy resided around him. The energy was then absorbed into the dragon’s body, but he didn’t seem to notice. Emerald Comet was near the point of fainting, for she had exerted a copious amount of energy doing that. Spark Seeker leaned forward in his chair, an expression of pure awe strewn across his face. “That.. that was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen!” exclaimed he. He looked to his colleagues, who bore similar looks of amazement. “I think it’s unanimous,” continued the headmaster, “you’ve passed with flying colours, Miss Comet! You can start next week, when the semester begins.” He shook the filly’s hoof, and she began to trot out of the room. “Allow me,” said Spark, opening the door for Emerald. “Oh,” continued he, “and don’t forget your dragon. He focused his energy on the dragon, who floated across the room and came to rest on the filly’s back. ************************************************************************************************* “So,” began Twilight Sparkle as the group trotted about, “you’re saying that you were a student at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?” “Aye,” confirmed Tech, “and, according to Spark Seeker, I was one of the best practitioners of magic he’d ever seen.” Twilight looked at Tech and thought about this. She hadn’t seen Tech use magic a single time since she’s known her, and yet she went to the same magic academy as she. “I went there too, you know,” said the purple mare, a bit of pride in her tone. “I know,” answered Tech, “he said that the only student he’d seen who’d shown more prowess than me.." she paused for a moment before finishing, “..was you.” Twilight placed a hoof on her chin as she tried to remember. “Emerald Comet,” whispered she to herself as she thought. “I think I remember that name. Yeah, I remember. She was in a class photo I saw once.” She then looked to Tech and inquired, “and that was you?” Tech nodded. “So what happened next?” ************************************************************************************************* Emerald Comet’s first years at the prestigious academy went rather well; she had excelled at every lesson, and was learning from books that were issued to students at least three or four years above her. She had exceptional skill, but there was something else: she grew bored with magic. Every class she sat in bored her almost to sleep. Eventually, during her third year, she decided to start skipping class. She snuck off campus and roamed the city when she could. During one of these sessions, she wandered into Canterlot’s market square. She observed every vendor, looking at what they sold and did. After a few minutes of wandering, she came across somepony who absolutely fascinated her. The Earth Stallion was a watchmaker. He sat at his stand, working with a fob watch that was broken. The gears and cogs inside of the small clock were strewn about the tabletop, each one a wee bit different than the previous. Emerald watched the stallion put each component back into its precise place in the watch casing. He turned one gear with a key, which turned another. As each small part turned, another moved, setting the entire device in motion. This utterly fascinated the small filly, but her fascination was cut short. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned around to see a Royal Unicorn guard staring down at her. The guard said nothing, but simply focused his magic on himself and the filly. As he did so, the marketplace around them disappeared, replaced by the walls of her classroom at the academy. every student in the room and the instructor looked at the guard. It was then that the guard finally spoke. “I found your missing student, Sir,” said he to the professor, “she was playing hooky in Market Square.” “Thank you, Sergeant,” replied the professor, “you can go about your business now.” The guard left the room, and the teacher moved his attention to Emerald. “Miss Comet,” said he, disappointment on his face and in his voice, “this is your first offense, so I’ll let you off with a warning. Sit down.” She rolled her eyes as he turned around and complied to the professor’s order. After a couple more weeks of occasionally skipping and trying to find that watchmaker, she was caught once again. This time, she was sentenced to detention and the headmaster sent a letter to her parents, who were less than pleased with the news. “What is wrong with you, Young Mare?!” shouted Emerald’s father, trying to control himself. He ran a hoof through his mane and told her, “in my days at that school, you’d be lucky to get expelled if you skipped one class!” “I WOULD be lucky to get expelled,” muttered Emerald. Unfortunately, the stallion heard her. “What?!” barked he. Emerald said nothing. “You will speak when spoken to!” shouted he as he brought his hoof across Emerald’s head. She stumbled and groaned, but still said nothing. He struck her again; still nothing. He shouted from frustration and struck her once more, with significantly more force than before. The third strike knocked Emerald to the ground. “Go!” shouted he, “and never skip class again!” He turned to a window and let out a heavy sigh. It took Emerald a few seconds to stand again. As she walked out of the room, she started to feel a wet spot on her face. She wiped the area with her hoof and jumped as she looked at her hoof, which bore a large crimson blotch. She entered her bedroom and threw herself on her bed. She wiped a bit more blood from her nose and lay back in her bed. She lay there and thought for a couple hours, and ultimately resolved to leave Canterlot. Drop out of school, run away from home, whatever she could do; she just wanted out. The next day, at school, Emerald raised her hoof to get the professor’s attention. “What is it, Miss Comet?” asked he in a rather annoyed tone. “I.. I need to see the headmaster, Sir,” said she, a bit nervously. The professor sighed and replied, “very well. Whatever you miss will be homework.” “Yes, Sir,” said Emerald as she trotted out the door. Emerald had to wait outside of the headmaster’s office for a few minutes, for he was busy with something else. After a while, Spark Seeker opened the door and looked to the blue filly. “Emerald Comet?” said he to her. She nodded, and he added, “you may come in now, Miss.” He held the door open for her as she entered. She slowly shut the door, and Spark turned and asked, “so what is it you wanted to see me about, Miss Comet?” “Umm, well, Sir,” stuttered the small filly. “It’s just that, umm, I was just thinking...” “Thinking about what, Miss Comet?” interrupted Spark Seeker, looking more curious than ever. Emerald Comet took a deep breath and said clearly, “I want to drop out.” The headmaster stared at Emerald for a second, astonished at what he had just heard. He tried to speak, but stopped himself, for lack of knowledge as to what to say. “Excuse me for a moment.” He headed to his desk, produced a piece of parchment and a quill, and began writing. He focused his energy on the parchment, and it rolled itself up and disappeared. “Terribly sorry, Miss,” apologised he, “I had to send a letter to someone. I.. I’ve never encountered anything like this.” After about a minute, the air began to move and a burst of purple energy surged through the room. As the energy dissipated, its cause began to take form. A tall pony’s shape became apparent. The pony had wings, a horn, and a long, flowing mane of multiple colours; it was Princess Celestia. Spark Seeker and Emerald Comet bowed at the regal presence. The princess took a breath and spoke, “Headmaster Spark Seeker,” said she, her voice high-pitched, but booming no less, “if you could leave the two of us alone, please?” “Yes, Your Majesty,” complied Spark, hastily leaving the room. “You may rise, Emerald Comet.” Princess Celestia looked to the blue filly, who stood as tall as a small pony like her could. “Now,” continued the princess, “what is this I heard about you wanting to drop out of my school?” “That’s exactly it, Your Highness,” replied Emerald, looking sternly at the princess. “I would like to drop out.” “And why is that, My Little Pony?” “The magic your instructors teach me is far too easy,” began the filly, “and on top of that, I’m sick of magic.” Princess Celestia’s eyes grew in surprise. “You’re what of magic?” said she, needing confirmation to what she just heard. “You heard me, Princess,” answered Emerald, “I’m sick of magic. It’s a trivial practise and I need a greater challenge.” “But the very ability to use magic at all is a gift,” reasoned the princess, “and there are many ponies not fortunate enough to possess such a gift.” “A gift?” Emerald Comet scoffed and resumed, “I never asked for any gift. I’d gladly give this ‘gift’ to anypony who wants it.” The princess, growing more and more aggravated, beat a deep sigh and said, “I have never met a subject as ungrateful and arrogant as you.” “There’s a first time for everything, Your Highness,” retorted the filly, "and for the first time, a student here wants out." Emerald looked to the princess, whose eyes were closed, and she seemed to be struggling to hold back emotions. Princess Celestia took another deep breath and calmly said, “then leave.” “Excuse me, Princess?” asked Emerald, tilting her head at the princess. “You heard me, Emerald Comet,” replied the princess, her emotional control starting to slip, “leave. And I don’t mean just my school; I mean Canterlot. Leave this glorious city and never return.” She looked to the blue filly, suppressed anger boiling through her regal eyes. “Gladly,” replied Emerald, beginning to head out the door. “Two guards will be waiting to escort you out of the city,” said the princess to Emerald as she left. As Emerald closed, rather slammed, the door to the headmaster’s office, Princess Celestia ran a hoof through her mane, shook her head, and teleported away, having the same effect on the room as when she appeared. ************************************************************************************************* “Wait, wait,” said Twilight to Tech Specs, “you’re telling me that you slammed a door in Princess Celestia’s face?” The purple unicorn thought for a second. “How could you possibly bring yourself to do that?!” demanded she, sounding downright irate. The ponies following the pair whispered to each other in disbelief. Tech Specs merely looked at Twilight and said, “wouldn’t you slam a door in the face of your boss after he fired you?” “Well, there’s a difference between a bad employer and the ruler of Equestria!” barked Twilight, still struggling to believe what Tech Specs had told her. She inhaled deeply and exhaled, reasoning, more to herself than anypony else, “I guess everypony’s done something they regret. What happened next, Tech?” ************************************************************************************************* As Emerald Comet exited the school building, she was met by a duo of Royal Unicorn Guards hooked to an elegant gold chariot. “Emerald Comet?” demandingly questioned one of the guards. The filly nodded. “Get in.” She did so, seeming happy to do so. “Wait, where’s my dragon?” asked Emerald to one of the guards. One guard turned his head to face Emerald and replied, “we’re on our way to fetch your dragon now.” As he spoke, the two unicorns headed down the road, bringing the chariot behind them. “Umm,” began Emerald, “in case you were wondering.” one of the unicorns looked to Emerald, bearing a rather annoyed expression. “My dragon’s at my grandmother’s home, just that way.” She pointed her hoof in the general direction. Ever since Emerald started school, taking care of the dragon had become a problem, so her grandmother took responsibility for him. “Yeah, we know,” barked a guard. “We’re paid to know these things.” As the chariot reached its destination, the front door to the house opened, revealing the filly’s grandmother, who looked very concerned for her granddaughter. “Good day, Sirs,” said she to the guards, who silently nodded. “What are you doing here this early, Emerald? School doesn’t let out for hours.” Emerald sheepishly looked to one of the guards, ready to ask him a question, when he spoke. “Ma’am, we’re here to pick up this filly’s dragon,” said he, “and then we’ll be out of your mane.” “The dragon?” questioned the old mare, “why?” The guard briefly explained everything: Emerald’s dropping out of school, the princess’ orders that she leave Canterlot, the works. “Hmm, I see. Emerald, Dear, I’d like a word with you.” “Well, what are you waiting for?” barked a guard. “Listen to your grandmother.” Emerald sluggishly exited the chariot and walked into the house. She looked up the the mare and asked, “yes, Grandmother?” “I just wanted to say that I love you,” began the filly’s grandmother, “and that whatever you do, no matter what anypony says about it, is okay with me. I’ll fetch your dragon.” The old mare gave her granddaughter a hug, then trotted down a hallway and left sight. As Emerald Comet’s grandmother went into another room, the front door burst open, revealing the one character the filly dreaded seeing the most, especially on that particular day: her father. “I heard everything,” said the stallion, looking angrily at Emerald. “You’ve disgraced this family for the last time.” Meanwhile, outside of the house, the pair of unicorn guards stood at attention, awaiting the filly to re-emerge. They began to hear noises that would make any lesser pony cringe. The pair merely blinked at each strike and shout they heard, maintaining their composure professionally. Were they worried? Did they want to step in and do something? Perhaps, but neither moved nor said a word. After a few grueling minutes of waiting, Emerald Comet came through the door to the house, bearing her baby dragon on her back. She had bruises on either side of her body, a large hoof print on one side of her head, and her nose was dribbling blood. The guards didn’t hazard to look at the filly, but simply stood, looking dead ahead. Emerald calmly boarded the chariot. “Get me out of here,” ordered the filly, looking straight ahead, just as the guards did. “Right away,” replied one of the guards, trying as hard as he could to show no emotion as they trotted off. During the ride out of the city, Emerald admired her sleeping dragon, who had grown quite a bit since she’d last seen him. It was the first time Emerald had seen her little friend in years. He did appear older, but not much. The most noticeable difference was his claws; they had grown to almost twice the length of his hand, and gleamed like silver. When the chariot made its way to the towering city gates, its crew stopped dead, snapping to attention as an older looking Unicorn Guard trotted into view. His armour bore much more silver than that of the two lesser guards, and appeared to have various dings and dents about it. “Greetings, Colonel,” said one of the guards to the officer. “We’re here to deliver Miss Emerald Comet and her dragon out of the city.” His comrade nodded in agreement. “Hmm,” thought the officer, looking at the beaten, bloodied filly, “what happened to her?” “I’m sorry,” replied the same guard, sounding a bit more tense than before, “need to know basis only, Sir.” “I see,” reasoned the Colonel. “Carry on, Corporal.” He then walked away, towards the gleaming city wall. The chariot carried on, eventually reaching the towering gate to the capital city. It took both of the guards’ magic to open the massive wood and steel door even slightly, barely enough for the chariot to get through. Emerald Comet dismounted her escort, taking care not to awaken her dragon counterpart. As the filly walked away, one of the guards got her attention. “Oi,” said he. As Emerald turned around, he continued, “we’re both terribly sorry, for what happened at your grandmother’s house.” Emerald turned around to face the two unicorns, completely taken aback by what she had just heard. “You.. you are?” inquired she. “Of course,” replied the armoured stallion. “We’re soldiers, but we’re not heartless. That was painful just to listen to. I.. I can’t imagine...” “That’ll do,” said the other guard, putting his hoof on his comrade’s shoulder. “We’d better be off.” “Yeah,” agreed the blue filly, “I guess I should be, too.” She began to walk away, but turned around to tell the pair, “and, thanks, for not telling that officer, and getting me out of there.” “It’s our pleasure, Miss.” The guards surrounded the gates with an aura of their magic, and sealed them. Emerald walked away from the gate and the city at a leisurely pace, taking in the scenery to be viewed on the side of the mountain where Canterlot lay. She could see rolling grassland for miles, the city of Cloudsdale as it hung gracefully in the sky, and she could spot the edge of a forest not too far away from the trail she was on. She decided to head for the woodland. Eventually, she found herself at the edge of Whitetail Wood, where all of the trees stood bare in anticipation of the coming Winter. By the time she had arrived at the wood, the sun was setting, and clouds were forming just a mile or two away, the thunder roaring easily through the wood to Emerald’s ears. “Oh, perfect,” thought the filly. She began to scan the near area for anything that could provide shelter, but she saw nothing. She sighed and trotted slowly further down the dirt path into Whitetail Wood. After a few minutes of searching to no avail, Emerald began to feel chills as the temperature dropped. She looked up, and a raindrop landed square on her forehead, followed by another, and another, until it grew to a full downpour. Emerald shivered and carried on searching, finding a small cave on the side of the mountain after a few more minutes. The cave was rather small, but Emerald managed to manoeuvre herself and her dragon into the cave, protected at least a bit from the rain. The filly thought for a while, and everything started to set in. She had lost her home, her family, everything save the dragon who lay with her, and she didn’t have a bit to her name. As she thought more and more, tears began to form and roll down her face. She looked at her baby dragon, who was still sleeping. “You know,” said she, “those claws of yours look a lot like swords, or maybe just blades.” She wrapped her body around the sleeping orange dragon to protect him, kissed his cheek, and said to herself, “yeah, blades.” Soon, she fell asleep as well.