//------------------------------// // Chapter 24 - Sent Back // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// "Go away, Spike..." I sobbed, not lifting my head up from the ground, nor removing my hooves from covering my eyes. Spike however, didn't listen. Instead, he began to rub my back to comfort me. He hasn't said a word yet though, but I don't care. Why am I sent back here? I thought I made it clear that I don't want to help anypony! I was sent here against my will, and now it happened once again! And what is worse, I haven't even seen my family before I got back here! "GAH!" I shouted as I threw myself immediately to stand, feeling really angry. Spike took a few steps back, which was a completely good idea right now. I locked my sight and glared at the gray pedestal that was used to send me back home. I lifted a hoof and started punching the god-damn thing! "Send me back!" I shouted repeatedly as I continued punching the pedestal, which was shaking a bit from every punch I give it. "Send me back!" My eyes were starting to blur, but I didn't care. I wanted to go back home. I needed to get back home. To my parents! To my brother! Why did this stupid thing sent me back here!? "Why!? Why!? WHY!?" I don't know how long I punched the damn thing, but soon, I got tired and instantly dropped myself back on the ground, sobbing. Why...? Why am I sent back here? I didn't want to go back here... I didn't ask to be back here... So...why...? "G-Gold...?" Spike's quiet, nervous and sad voice reached my ears, but I did not move to let him know that I heard him. I continued my quiet sob. He took slow steps towards me, and placed a claw on my shoulder when he was in reach. "Its...it's going to be okay..." Okay? It's going to be okay? Yeah right... I did not reply. I took my time to calm myself down. Now that I let all of that out, it'll be easier to calm myself down...though I'll be staying down in the dumps for a long time. Okay, so I'm back, sucks to be me. I needed to get back, but how? Luna said something about gathering mana-thingies. So I guess it'll probably take her some time to gather enough to send me back...again...if she'll let me, that is. Okay, be logical... There must be a reason why I was sent back. But...I couldn't think of anything at the moment. I rose up into a sitting position, quickly remembering to get my tail out of the way. "S-Spike..." I quietly said with closed eyes. I sniffed. "Yeah?" Let's see here... "H-how long was I out?" I've been with Claire for...four hours, I think... So that means... Spike scratched his head as he thought about it. "Uh, a day and a half, maybe?" Thirty-six hours. I guess a day back home really is nine days here. Okay, so it's a two-hour trip back home. If I want to 'wake up' on time, I only have...er...eighteen hours or less to find a way back. Wait, I don't need to find a way back, because I'm already here, aren't I? I faced Spike with a small smile. "S-sorry Spike." I took a breath and sighed. "Sorry about me getting angry earlier." The pedestal suddenly broke and fell into pieces before our startled presence, and the five orbs rolled over the edges of the raised platform, and each one broke into tiny bits as they fell and touched the ground. I blinked twice after recovering from being stunned. "Uh... There goes my ticket back home..." I sighed, already too tired to get angry or be upset about it. Sigh... Darn it... I looked ahead and stared at Princess Luna's calm features. I guess I need to sleep if I want to talk to her...or for her to talk to me. I may be tired, but I am not sleepy yet. I do have eighteen hours left, so I might as well tire myself out, I guess. I'm...quite sure that there are still other ways for me to return home. I hope... "Are..." Spike hesitatingly spoke. I turned my tired face to see him. "...are you okay now?" I sighed as I nodded. "Well, uh, good," he said, sounding nervous, "b-because, we kinda need your help at the moment." I arched an eyebrow at him. "And...how can an earth pony like me can help you?" --- Fluttershy, Applejack, and the CMC weren't around, but it didn't stop Spike from asking me to follow him to the edge of the Everfree Forest. With a wolf as our guide, and Spike riding on it -- that gave me a little bit of relief -- we walked through the forest until we reached the edge. Spike cautiously looked beyond the edge, and so did I. We were staring at the tiny town of Ponyville, where...it's different from the last time I saw it from this vantage point. There were no more pegasi ponies flying around. There were so many armored wagons stationed in the edges of the town, filled with metal and gem stones. And there's a new wooden stage that was built outside the town, where a large number of ponies were gathered. "Oh no," Spike whispered, "it's starting!" He then looked at me with a scared expression. "W-we have to go there now!" I am not sure what was going on, but I nodded anyway. He climbed on my back and I then started running towards the commotion. --- Earth ponies were standing before the wooden platform, and all of them wore worried and scared faces, as I worked my way to get in front to have a better view of what is happening. The ponies didn't seem to care if I am getting ahead of them though. "Ladies and gentlecolts," said a loud voice from up ahead. As I was finally among the ponies in front of the crowd, I saw armored unicorns standing on the wooden platform. There were five unicorns lined horizontally on the back and were standing tall. In front was the one talking, a familiar dark-blue coated unicorn wearing a high-ranking armor. There were three wooden pillars on the platform, and each has pegasus that was tied there. One of them is the infamous rainbow-maned pegasus, who was glaring daggers at the unicorn. Just what is Starfall going to do with Rainbow Dash and two other pegasi ponies? "As you are aware," Starfall spoke with a loud voice as he scanned every pony before him, "we unicorns of the Empire of Unicornia have now taken this land under our control. We are but friendly ponies," he grinned, "if however, you follow our every order." He then turned to the nearest pegasi: white pegasus stallion who I just recognized as Cloud Strike, and he was glaring at the approaching unicorn. "If, however, we find you slacking off..." he said as his horn lit up ferociously, "or disrespect us, or anything of that matter..." I heard sparks of fire from the unicorn's horn, and in an instant, Cloud Strike screamed in pain as he was suddenly enveloped in a fierce fire. The other two pegasi were terrified as the earth pony audience gasped in horror, and some covered their eyes and ears to escape the scene that was happening before us. I don't know what got into me, but I soon found myself picking up a large rock and immediately tossing it at the unicorn, hitting him on his head. He was stunned in shock as he fell sidewards to the wooden platform. The fire vanished, Cloud Strike gasped for air to calm his aching body, the audience gasped once more, Spike was completely stunned as I put him down, and I climbed up the platform angrily as the other unicorns either helped their high-ranking officer back up and others stood before me. I am angry, even angrier than a few seconds ago, now that the anger I had while punching the pedestal came back. I glared at the rising unicorn as he glared right back at me.