Rainbow and I took our sweet time walking down to the Biology Lab. We made some casual conversation on the way there, to help pass the time.
“So, exactly how many ponies are you friends with?” I asked.
“Uh, most are backup friends. You know, when your friends aren’t around, and you need somepony to talk to?”
“Yeah, I had a few of those in high school. Speaking of which, what does Equestria’s education system look like?”
“Well, from what you told me, it looks way different from yours. Usually we just have what you call grade school and that’s it. Anything more advanced is for unicorns exclusively.” Rainbow Dash seemed very unaffected by this information, I however was taking it terribly.
“WHAT?!” I shouted, as my voice echoed throughout the entire castle. “No! I refuse to believe that there is segregation in the education system of Equestria.” I fumed.
“Well, it’s not like I need to learn about magic.” Rainbow rolled her eyes.
“Oh… never mind then. Wait, is there another thing after grade, school for pegasi and earth ponies?”
“Earth ponies no, but Pegasi don’t really have a grade school. It’s called Flight School, and they teach you about how weather is made. Then there’s the math, science, and history classes that we all get, but they aren’t too heavy. Canterlot has a more in depth education that, which thankfully I was never a part of, I heard they give out waaaay too much homework.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, for next time I become a little colt in Equestria.”
“Next time?” Rainbow eyed me curiously.
“It was a weird dream I had. I know it wasn’t real, though.”
“Tell me about it.”
We arrived at the level where the Bio Lab was located. Rainbow looked at me expectantly for my story.
“Ok, it was a long time ago or something, but I remember calling myself Troy. It was weird, I tried to convince them I was human, but when they wouldn’t believe me I played along and decided I’d have more fun being integrated in a society I knew nothing about, rather than trying to convince them I’m a mythical creature… actually humans aren’t that mythical. In fact none of them really knew what a human was.” I looked over at Rainbow Dash who wasn’t following me down the hallway. “Something wrong?”
“Uh dude, I think you’ve been in Equestria before. That happened in Manehatten, where a young colt appeared for a day and disappeared. The guard is still actually trying to find him. He also called himself Troy, and calling himself a different creature, or something.” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head neutrally. “I only remember this, because Twilight said that to me on a particularly weird day.”
“Well that’s… strange.”
‘Could it be... that me coming to Equestria was planned?’
“Yeah, I’ll say.” Rainbow started walking forward and on ahead of me. She looked back to see me deep in thought. “Coming?”
“Huh? Oh right, yeah.” I followed her down the hall.
We reached the door to the Biology Lab and entered. We were greeted by the sight of Celldric and Hunger once again pouring water down on the base of the tree. But the sight which grabbed both our attentions, was the now fat and ‘glowing’ trunk of the tree that was grown a few days ago. The trunk glowed a lime green color, and the torches that were once against the wall were now cursed flame green.
“What’s with the torch change?” I asked, while Rainbow gaped in awe at the fat trunk.
“It created a better source of sunlight than any other torch, so I put them up my lord.” responded Radiant Garden.
“Huh… ok. I can’t argue with that logic. Are we ready?”
“Not quite, my Lord. We still need three more gallons, before I’m able to do the operation safely.”
“Don’t worry Puppet Master.” stated Hunger. “We can get the last few buckets of water quickly, it’s not a difficult task. Although I do like looking for time artifacts, we found many interesting magical tools, that can improve the strength of many magic users. Some even only work on certain creatures.”
“Well, if you liked it so much then I won’t stop you from doing it again, when everything’s done here.”
“Good. I’m getting bored doing these errands.” he replied bitterly, as he walked out the door with Celldric.
I looked at Rainbow and she had a look of concern.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“Well… how am I supposed to breath in there? I’m going to be underwater right?” She said with concern in her voice.
“Well yeah, that’s the idea. It’s to keep you from starving or dying from the procedure. I think you’ll be unconsci-” I noticed Rainbow was shaking a little from the prospect of being submerged. I’m not afraid of drowning, but the idea of being underwater and unconscious without any breathing tube, was a scary thought.
I put my hand on top of Rainbow’s head, it got her attention and I gave her a reassuring smile. But I noticed something while my hand was on top of Rainbow’s head. I could adjust her emotions and viewpoints. She trusts me enough to take my word for it, but if I was wrong then she would likely go back to Celestia and tell her everything about me.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
I used my new found powers to adjust Rainbow’s viewpoints of me. I gave her more faith in me and then some more. I quickly was able to make it so she trusts my judgment over Celestia’s, for extra precaution. I then removed some knowledge about my world, but enough so that she wouldn’t think that I’m actually a commoner. After all, taking entire pages out of someone’s memory is bound to be discovered.
It’s like removing the memory of how to ride a bike, or removing all memory of your mother. It’s so important that it would be noticed. But when Rainbow was in this trance like state, I was able to locate all the memories and reorganize them so they’d make sense. I ended up getting a more loyal Thane out of the deal.
“Master?” I looked up to see Radiant Garden watching the ordeal. “What have you done?” he asked curiously.
“Ensuring she’s loyal. Don’t worry, she’s fine.” I took my hand off of her head, and she snapped out of it.
“Whoa, sorry, zoned out there.” she stated sheepishly.
“It’s ok, Rainbow. You trust me, right?”
“One hundred percent! But... I kinda want to know if I would be able to breathe in there.” admitted Rainbow, completely oblivious of what just transpired.
“Radiant, is there a way to allow her to breathe while submerged?”
Radiant put on a thoughtful face. “It’s ok, my lord, I never intended for Rainbow to go underwater without air. I have a breathing apparatus made out of plant life that will allow her to breath while unconscious.”
“See Rainbow, nothing to fear.” I stated confidently.
She nodded her head in approval. The rest of the time together we had nothing to talk about. And once again, I found myself watching with interest as Rainbow’s patience drops like a rock. It first began with meaningless questions and attempted conversation starters, with everyone in the room-aka me and Radiant-then it turned into pacing, and poking her hoof in the grass floor. She got so bored she tried to eat a flower that lined the walls, and she spit it out immediately.
I burst into tears from laughter when Radiant started reprimanding Rainbow Dash for eating a battle potion plant. After a few minutes, we heard something scratching at the door and I opened it a creak to see Soul Eaters hovering outside the door waiting for Rainbow Dash to come out. I would find that funny, if I wasn’t worried for her safety.
Eventually the plant wore off, and I opened the door, much to Rainbow’s objections. The Soul Eaters had already moved away and returned to their posts, flying almost aimlessly around the tower. I turned back to see Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be found, and then after a short search I found her behind the fat trunk.
“We’re back!” shouted a familiar voice that came from a noble hollowed guard. Celldric came into the room with enthusiasm, while Hunger dragged his feet unenthusiastically.
“Ok Celldric, I’ve noticed that you’ve been a giddy for a while now. What’s going on?”
“His marefriend is at the pond, waiting for him to return.” deadpanned Hunger.
“Really?” I said. “That’s amazing news! When’d you get a girlfriend?” I enthusiastically said to Celldric.
“We met on our adventure to find magical artifacts.” he replied while swooning. I understood why Hunger was so unenthusiastic about it, because that swooning could get really annoying, if it’s pressed too often. It’s just like Spike’s when he talks about Rarity. And if Spike talked about Rarity all the time it would become one of those over-used jokes that never gets funnier, every time you tell it.
“Really? How’d that happen?” his swooning didn’t stop me from being curious.
“I was asking around for any magical artifacts, and she invited us to lunch. There she convinced me to remove my headgear, and… well her wings shot outward like she was about to take flight.” I heard Rainbow snickering behind me. “She called me the most handsome creature she’d ever seen. I couldn’t deny her affections, so I allowed her to take me to different places around the sky city of Cloudsdale while Hunger went off to do more research. After a while of talking I found her company rather enjoyable, so I decided to stay in touch. Then-”
I interrupted him. “You know Celldric, when a mare’s wings pop open like that it usually means she finds you more than ‘just attractive’, it means she’s turned on.” I said with an unwavering smile.
“R-really?” He said with bewilderment. I could tell he was blushing even though his face was hidden under the headgear. I don’t even know what Celldric looks like under that headgear but I’m guessing it’s more out of habit to keep it on than anything.
“Oh yes, it’s true.” I said nodding my head. “Please continue, I’d like to know more about how you fell in love with her, if that’s all right?”
“Oh certainly! I told her our next stop was Manehattan, and she said she had to visit some family there anyway, so we traveled together. Hunger was opposed to it at first, but he did enjoy her company, so he allowed it and we were on our way there. We returned to Ponyville, where we took the train to Manehattan, since it was such a long trip, most pegasi get tired and have to camp on the ground before making it to the halfway point to the city. On the train, I developed feelings for her and I admitted them. Since then, I’ve been trying to find time with her in Ponyville.”
“Interesting. So I’m guessing she’s waiting for you, right now?”
“OH yes! She’s quite loyal! May I leave to meet her?”
“Yes, and I give you permission to always go meet her when you feel like it.” I turned to Hunger. “Hunger.”
“Yes Puppet Master?” He said a bit annoyed since I was encouraging Celldric.
“You may leave Celldric, whenever you wish, you know that right?”
“I’d rather keep him close by.”
“Regardless, you two still live here. And if ever you need to get back into contact, you’ll always be able to return here. Besides, its better you two are split up to find those artifacts.”
“I still don’t exactly trust you, Puppet Master. You have our greatest enemy in your pocket, and you use him to give you an army.” he spat bitterly. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but as long as you keep Darkness under control, I’m fine with whatever orders you give me. But until I can trust you, I will be around my closest ally for as long as I wish.”
“…As you wish.” I responded dismissively. “Radiant, are you ready?”
“Yes, now that I have all the water I need, I can get started with Rainbow Dash’s transformation. Stand in front of the trunk, please.” he stated, motioning Rainbow Dash toward the fat, waterlogged free trunk.
For a moment I had doubts that the tree would do anything cool, until Radiant said “The vines will now enter your body, make sure you don’t move so they don’t accidently tear apart your internal organs.” he said calmly
‘Wait, what?’
“WHAT?!” panicked Rainbow Dash.
“Rainbow, please calm down.” I said calmly. “We can’t exactly grow things in you, so we need the vines to go into your body so we can grow new organs.”
“I-is it safe?” she asked warily, as the trunk seemed to peal itself.
“I wouldn’t put you in there, if I wasn’t sure of it myself.” I said.
The bark on the tree, turned out to be interwoven strings that stretched out to surround Rainbow’s head, and most of her body.
“Now that they’re in position, you’ll feel a small boring sensation as the vines grow into your body.” stated Radiant watching the process carefully.
“I… I feel it.”
“Good. Now keep quiet while it does its work. Oh, and shut your eyes too.” finished Radiant. Rainbow shut her eyes and waited for something to happen, while I watched with interest.
Then suddenly her body lurched forward, to be swiftly swallowed up, but not before she yelped in shock.
I waited twenty full seconds, watching Rainbow Dash struggle inside it before she lost consciousness, and the trunk settled back down. “Those strings were strong.” I stated.
“That’s what I’m going to use for her new coat of skin. But right now I need to expand her body, and move her organs around.”
“Can you guarantee me, that she’ll be safe?” I questioned, still looking at the unmoving Pegasus in the fat trunk.”
“Not entirely, but I can assure you that I’ll be able to put her back together for the funeral, if she does die.”
“…Good. I’d really hate to have to explain why my Thane, and the Element of Loyalty was being carried in as a bag of organs.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to explain what went wrong. But don’t worry, she’s still alive. I’m sure she’ll come out of there just fine, and able to serve you to her fullest.” reassured Radiant.
“She’d better. I like my Thanes alive.”