After a long night of music, laughter and cheers, me, the mayor and the fire wings were located in a quiet mayor's office with nothing but seriousness in the air.
"I'm sorry I'm late", Twilight sparkle hisses breathless as she enters the room with parchments floating above her head. "I needed to finish a few things and pick up some stuff before I could get here."
"No problem.", Mayor mare said. "It's good you're here. Now we can get started. There have been, as you know, a problem with the Worgens for a long time now, and it seems like It's getting worse. If it wouldn't have been for Grand, Ponyville would have had it's first death caused by an worgen since twenty years back. So once again you will know that we are grateful to you for dealing with it, but we shall also know that this may be a provocation towards the worgens, and tha..."
"Provocation!!", Ember exclaimed with her face shining red and horn reeking alarming. "It attacked us!! Were we supposed to die so they wouldn't take offence by killing one of their own killers?!"
"Of course not, you know I didn't mean it like that. But we have to take it to consideration that they may not be so very pleased by this, and that they may even come here to show it. That is why I need you Twilight to send a letter to princess Celestia explaining what has happened here and that we need a few of her colts here as soon as possible."
"You can count on me miss mayor.", she said and started to write.
"Flapping, I'll need you to find a few weather ponies that know when to keep their mouth shut, to keep an eye out for anything but the usual, and if they do they should tell me about it."
"I can think of a few.", he replied absently.
"Good.", she nodded. "Ember, I need you to find a few combat-efficient ponies that can do just the same and keep their mouth shut."
Ember had calmed down but was still somewhat upset, so she just nodded at the mayor.
"And Grand."; she said and turned to me. "I want everypony to act like nothing, and especially you. I want you to walk around with strength and confidence like nothing is wrong. They all trust and look up to you, youre their hero. And if their hero is calm, they are calm. Can you do that?"
"Of Course.", I answered.
The mayor acknowledged my answer and started to deal out a few other tasks to the ponies in the room. After the third time she had told us to keep this quiet to the townponies to keep them from panicking, Twilight sparkle uttered.
"The letter is done, if you don't want me to do something else I'm going home to send it and then I'm going to go to sleep."
"Yes, one more thing before you do that Twilight. I know that you want to tell your friends about this, and It's your choice to do so because I trust you. But keep in mind that they must be able to keep quiet about it."
"I will, miss mayor.", she said and walked towards the door. "Oh. And grand.", she said and turned to me. "If you dont mind I would like to talk to you in the morning, lets say three Pm at my house, just ask anyone and they can show you the way."
She went out before I could answer, but i was going to say yes anyway so it didn't matter. What was weird though, was the look i received from Wish that was full of suspicion, like when a mouse gets released from a cats paws and then wonder what the cat is going to do next. And apparently I was the dangerous cat that the family of mice had let in.
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I woke up when it still was dark outside. The watch was showing 4:00 Am and I felt that a run to the toilet wouldn't be that bad.
When I was just about to reach out to open the toilet door swung open and in it sat a drowsy Wish in her wheelchair, who looked at me questionably as she started to roll out.
I opened my mouth to say something, but that just made her picking up the pace so i decided not to.
*Why does she hate me?*, I thought when I was done and laid in my bed.
But no matter how long I thought about it I couldn't find a reason why.
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It's 3:00 Pm, and I'm standing outside Twilight sparkle's house after hours of hard exercises, practices and other trials made up by Wish who was still quite reluctant to teach me the routines, but if the Fire wings would ever get a real breakthrough, then this was it. So whether she likes it or not, I was their only hope of success since apparently I was the only pegasus in ponyville who could move like a real air acrobat. If I could just figure out how to, that is.
As soon as my hoof touched the door to knock it started to glow and then opened.
"Come in!", I heard Twilight yell from her study. "I'm upstairs, come on up!"
I did as she said and heard the door shut before I entered the study, that looked just the same as in the show except for a liquor cabinet in one of the corners that took me by surprise.
"You want one?" Twilight asked as she saw what i was looking at.
"Isn't It a bit too early for that?"
"Maybe, but i read in a book that it's rude to not offer something to drink when you have someone over."
I couldn't help but to giggle a bit.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all.", I assured her. *Classic twilight.*
"Okay. But now to the point of your visit."
She pulled out a cushion next to hers and asked me to sit. I did as she asked.
"Now then. I want you to tell me about yourself.", Twilight said with interest.
"What?", I said and was truly confused.
"You know. Where do you come from? Who were your parents? What were they like? Do you have any siblings?"
"Um, well.", I went with the story I told the Fire wings, and told her that I came from a village called Sweden that is no more, I had a Mom who was a painter, a dad who was a weather pony and an older brother, and they were all dead.
She went to one of her shelves to grab something and as she did she continued to ask questions and I answered a few honest, and the rest with lies.
Half an hour with nonstop questions later Twilight asked one question I had hoped would show up much, much later.
"Exactly where was Sweden located? I've studied these maps several times now and I just cant find it."
"Oh. Um? Well, I honestly don't know,", I said, smiled and hoped that it was enough. "all I know is that it was quite isolated."
"Uhu.", she said sceptical. "Oh well, let's not go there then."
She let it go, but started once again to ask a row of never ending questions, and some of them a bit personal for my taste.
"This doesn't make any sense!", she suddenly exclaimed.
She took me by surprise so badly that I fell backwards and hit my head on the floor.
"Ow! What?! What doesn't make sense?!"
"You! You don't make sense! I'm trying to figure out what's up with you! You beat up a worgen! A WORGEN! Only special ponies can do that!! Or at least ponies with some kind of special tool! But you didn't have a special tool as far as I know, and what you told me about yourself doesn't fit any of the descriptions for special or supernatural ponies!"
If this would have happened on my computer screen it probably would have been fun to se her snap. But I will tell you that in real life, it's far from fun.
"I just don't get it! you!..."
Krash!... The sound of a window breaking and then a sharp pain in my side. I was tumbling through the air, across the room accompanied by a wide variation of colors. Then a loud bang together with an even sharper pain in the back of my head, books raining, and then a voice I think I recognised that said.
"What's going on here?! I heard somepony screaming. "
Black...........
Warm and comfortable... *A bed, perhaps?*
"I think he's waking up.", I heard Twilight say. "I hope he's okay."
"For the fifth time, I'm sorry. I thought you were in danger or something."
The way the voice cracked at fifth time made me certain of who it was that had tackled me even before I opened my eyes. And yes, next to Twilight, Rainbow dash stod and looked remorseful.
"It's him you should apologize to, not me."
"Yea, yea. Oh he's awake. Um, look I'm sorry about tackling you and stuff, I honestly thought that someone was attacking Twie."
"No worries." I said and tried to get up, and strangely I almost didn't feel any pain at all. But Twilight shoved me down the bed again.
"Are you crazy?!", Twilight exclaimed. "You got hit badly in the head, you shouldn't try to get up yet."
"I'm just fine.", I assured and got out of the bed. "See.", I said and stomped around a few times.
The both mares looked at me for a while in disbelief.
"Ok. I see that It's all good,", Rainbow dash said and started to hover. "so I'll just skadoosh and go back to napping."
"Hey! Rainbow wait! You have to help me clean up this mess first!"
"Can't hear you Twie!", Rainbow dash yelled as she flew out of the busted window.
"Damn it Rainbow! How am I supposed to clean all this by myself.", she said and looked at the mess of books, glass and something red that i believed was my blood.
I noticed that my head was wrapped in bandages. But when I took of my blooded bands and felt on the back of my head I felt no wound.
"I'll help you.", I offered when i was done.
She accepted with gladness, and a few hours and a daffodil sandwich later the room was as neat and tidy as it was before.
It was starting to get a bit late so I said goodbye to Twilight who apologized for screaming at me before, and was then on my way back to the Fire wings house where the supper was a a bit less tastier than before, so I took it as a good sign. Wish was still avoiding me as much as she could, and still gave me disliking looks. No change there.
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"Wake up you sloth!", I heard Wish skream in my ear as she pulled on my sheets. "It's time for practice!" She pulled even harder, this time so hard that I fell on floor.
"Ouch! Hey what are you?!... Your not in your wheelchair?"
"So what?"
"So what? According To doctor Stable you're supposed to stay in it for one more day, that's what."
"There's no need for that,", she assured. "I'm strong." She took a few steps, and barely noticeable she made a little grimace on her third step. "See. And now if you please get of the ground and try not to crash in to it like your the one with a broken wing, maybe this day you will be able to learn something for a change." she turned around to walk out of the room but then stopped to say something. "Oh, and one more thing. It's still early, so mom wont be able to prepare breakfast, but even if she could you wouldn't get any untill you are able to do at least one loop without a disaster.", she said with a smile and walked out of the room.
After a quick morning wash to freshen up I headed down stairs where Wish where waiting for me. We headed out where it still was a bit dark outside and the morning air was cool and fresh, and not befor long we were once again out on the big field. Once we were there wish made me do a few stretching exercises as warm up, and then up in the air I went. This time I could actually stay airborne without looking like an idiot, and i could see that even Wish was happy about it.
"Good, now ponies may actually believe that you went to flight school once or twice. Let's see if you can pull of a loop."
*Maybe so.*, I thought and tried, and failed. *Well, at least now I seriously know how the ground taste.*
"One more.", she sighed.
I did it over and over again, and after the sixth try I actually did it, and the time after that, and the time after that, and the time after that, and eventualy I could do four loops in a row.
"He's not merely as bad as you said he was Wish.", I heard Flapping say.
I just turned my gaze for a moment to catch the glimpse of Flapping and Ember observing me, but that was enough to bring me of balance and the ground welcomed me with open arms.
"Well, he's not the best either.", he finished. "But I'm sure we can do it if he can move like he did before."
"Honey, manners.", Ember said and shoved an elbow in her husband's side. "It's rude to speak about someponye like they weren't there."
"Ow, ow. Yes dear."
"Now If everypony will take a seat,", Ember said an spreaded out a blanket on the ground next to a picnic basket. "so I can serve you your breakfast."
"Now,", Flapping started after we sat down. "don't take this the wrong way, you can fly, but not good enough."
"I know."
"Then how come that you were one of the best flyers I've seen when you were fighting the worgen, and now you're on the same level as my dead aunt."
"That, I honestly don't know. When it happens it just happens."
"Hm...", Was everything Flapping said for a while as he just stared at the distance. "How about how you felt during that moment.", he uttered as he turned back to me. "Do you remember the sensation?"
"Maybe, I'm not really sure."
"Try."
So I did. But everything that happened, had happened so fast that most of it was since long forgotten, so there were no way that I could remember something as unimportant as how I felt.
"Nope, nothing. Sorry."
"Oh well, I guess you'll get the hang of it eventually."
The conversation changed into a debate of which things they should do at the gala and then carried on as conversations did. Eventually the food was gone and Flapping and Ember left us to carry on with my training.
After about two hours of exercise I had gotten better but also gotten tired, I was just about to ask for a brake when I heard the well known howl of a worgen.
*Oh no, not again!* I thought and feared for Wish who was just a few feet away from the beast, she was stricken with fear and couldn't move.
This time It happened again, my thoughts and emotions was numbed, like someone had covered them with a dark cloth. I felt my senses growing stronger together with my body, and all my exhaustion were gone. It felt like I was going on instinct as I dove at the worgen who was prepared and jumped aside. I were quick on my return as I did a sharp left turn to punch it in its face. It threw it self and rolled forward as it mocked me with a growling laugh.
I flew a few feet back, landed and stared at the beast who stared back at me with an evil grin. We measured each other for awhile, then it darted towards me with ready claws and sharp teeth. It barely missed me with its paw as I flew straight up like a rocket, looped two times and then dove straight down with my right hoof in front of me, and I must have been mistaken as I saw the bracelet glowing green. I was ready for the impact, but it was delayed as I went right through it and hit the ground in stead.
I quickly got back on my hooves and turned my gaze all over the field, but there were no worgen there.
"Fantastic!", I heard Flapping yell as he came out of the forest where he had hidden behind a tree together with Ember and Twilight.
"Quickly! Memorize this feeling!"
I started to get a bit confused, but I did as he said.
"Don't you dare forget it,", Ember said with a sinister tone as they walked towards me. "I don't know what you know about illusion spells, but they are not easy to do."
I nodded and tried to sustain my state of mind which was slipping away in a rapid speed, but it was just as easy as convincing a dragon to leave its nest, so If I would have been fluttershy this would have been a cakewalk.
The last piece of that mysterious state was gone just about when Flapping, Ember and Twilight had reached where me and Wish were standing, and now Wish's angry look was turned at her parents in stead of me.
"Do you recall how you felt this time?", Flapping asked and ignored his daughter's murderous gaze.
"I think so.", I said and still felt a bit confused.
"Good,", he sighed relieved. "good. You don't know how much effort this took."
"And neither do you honey.", Ember said. "Me and Twilight sparkle did almost all the work."
"Well... Um... ", he coughed "That may be, but... Let's not forget what's important here. Young colt, tell us about it."
I told them about the numbing of all feelings and the sensation of strength flowing and building up in my body, how all the senses got stronger and how instinkt took over.
"Splendid!", Flapping exclaimed and danced a little jig. "Now we can get somewhere!"
"Okay, why wasn't I informed about this sneak attack!?", Wish almost growled at her parents
"Because it had to look as real as possible sweetheart.", Ember answered shortly and tried calm her daughter down with no luck.
A heated argument emerged between the three and they excluded Twilight and me like we weren't there.The both of us were bothered by being so close to the battle zone so we started to walk a few feet back.
"You handled that simulation quite well there.", Twilight said.
It felt like she said that just to have something to talk about, but I welcomed the conversation.
"Yeah, I don't know about that, it wasn't a real one so it doesn't count."
"It doesn't matter if this one wasnt real, you've won two fights before and that's something."
"It was the same one both times."
"It doesn't matter, you did it, and really well too. You have a talent in fighting and in protecting ponies."
As I thought back I realised that she was right, I was good at fighting. I still didn't know why, but I accepted that I was good at it.
The sun which had been behind some clouds picked that moment to come out ans shine on us. It felt nice as i felt the warmth all over my boody, and especially on my still bandaged flanks.
"You know what?", Flapping exclaimed. "We don't have time for this, let's agree to disagree."
"Fine.", Wish said.
"Good. Now then, does anyone have any idea on how to make Grand step in... Well whatever he steps into when he fights, without someone attacking him that is."
"I think meditation might be good to start with.", Ember suggested.
"Yes that might work.",Twilight agreed. "I think I have a few books in the subject."
"If that doesn't work we could always try shock therapy.", Wish said with a smile.
"I've got books for that too."
"Even though I'm against stuff like this and I shouldn't say it, but maybe some kind of drug might work."
"I think Zecora can help us with that, and I have a few books about that to."
"Ok, Twilight.", Flapping said and put his right hoof in his face. "If you are going to get that many books for everything we're going to try it's going to take for ever until we're done."
In a bang and a flash Twilight were gone, and before anyone could say My little pony friendship is magic she was back with a small pile of books and a smug smile.
"You were saying?", she asked.
"Nothing.", the old colt replied. "Now what do you want to try first?", he asked me.
"How much I would like to try shock therapy," I said sarcastically and looked towards Wish. "I think meditation is our best shot."
"Okay then,", Twilight said and opened a book on the subject. "let's begin."
The hours went on, and the number of methods of meditation we had tried were countless. Some results had shown as I could feel the beginning of the numbing, but is faded away before the rest of the things could happen.
"Nothing is happening.", Flapping said impatiently.
"Well you didn't think it would work after just a few hours, did you?", Ember asked her husband.
"I guess not." He turned around and murmured as he thought intensely.
"Maybe meditation isn't the way to go.", Twilight said.
"No, meditation works,", I told her "but not all the way. There is something missing."
"Like what?", she asked.
"As I said.", Wish uttered. "Shock therapy."
I ignore her and tried to remember what I had read about the indians online. When they meditated they used to take some kind of narcotic that would help them with something.
*Well if it worked for them, it could work for me.
"How about we give up for today and go over to that zecora and see what she can help with tomorrow."
"But, but the grand galloping.... There is no time to... OW!", Flapping exclaimed as his wife's hoof had discreetly stomped his.
"Calm down.", Ember said. "We still have time and I think we've pushed Grand as far as he can for today."
"Of course. Your right as..."
"Twilight!", Spike shouted as he ran towards us with a scroll in his hand. "Princess Celestia has sent her reply!"
"Thank goodness! I was so worried something had happened."
Twilight received the letter from Celestia and read it out loud.
My dearest student Twilight and involved ponies of Ponyville. I am sorry for answering your letter this late, but there has been coming in letters from all over Equestria with the same Incidents, concerns and requests as you have. I'm sending my royal guards to all places that needs them, it will take time to prepare them so don't expect your group of eight fighters in at least three more days. I wish i could do more, but this is all I can do for now.
For the moment, good luck.
Princess Celestia
"Three more days to wait.", Flapping said and looked worried while he was thinking. "Worgens usually travels in pack teams of seven, exept a few ones like the one Grand defeated. More likely the next worgens that will come here for revenge will be in teams, that will make it hard to defend the townsponies when we only have a dozen colts and mares with no fighting experience and with just a hoof full of weapons to go around."
"How many unicorns do we have?"
"With you and ember, we have five. I know what you're thinking and it's not going to work. When they attack bigger settlements they always bring a shaman to keep magic users busy, and where there's shamans there's also timberwolves."
"How do you know this much about worgens?", Twilight asked.
"Oh, um.", he said and looked distressed by the question. "I've read it."
"Where? What you said is not mentioned in my books."
"Well..." He coughed. " You know what, I just can't remember. Anyhow, We need to go to the mayor with this."
"Oh, you're right. Hang on everybody.", the purple pony said as her horn started to glow."
"Oh no your not", Ember roared and stopped Twilights teleportation spell. "You're not teleporting my little filly when she's still in bad shape."
"I assure you that it's safe for her to teleport", Twilight tried to convince Ember.
"I don't care, she is walking and I'm going with her."
"Honey.", Flapping said. "The mayor will need your opinion when we get there. Grand." He turned to me. "Can you please walk with Wish."
I nodded and before Wish could protest they disappeared in a flash.
"Shall we go?", I turned around to ask the mare who already had started to walk away.
I followed her and heard how she murmured angrily. I tried to ignore her and enjoy the weather in stead, but after a while she spoke louder and i started to hear her say some very offensive things about me, and then I finaly asked.
"Why do you hate me!?"
She stopped in a step. Turned around. looked me in the eyes and said with a shaking voice.
"You honestly don't know?"
"No.", I answered simply.
"Because you're a liar Grand!", She exclaimed. "You're a fucking liar!"
"...... What do you mean?"
"What do I mean!?... What do you mean!? The very first things that came out of your mouth were a lie, and after that there has been nothing but lies. The story of your origins, I've never heard of Sweden, and so has no ane else, I eaven borrowed a feaw maps from Twilight sparkle and what a surprice, it wasn't there! I hate liars. But why, why are you lying? You saved me and my family, and that is the only thing keeping me from beating the living crap out of you for the last days. Are you a worgen spy or something?"
"No I'm..."
"Then what!? What!?"
I felt the danger of the situation in the air, and I guessed that the real story wouldn't do any more harm than I had already done. So I told her... Everything.
In the beginning she was scepticism itself, but toward the end she looked really unsure, and at the end she didn't know what to believe.
"So you come from another world?", she asked.
"Yes."
"And you didn't look like you do now and just recently became like this?"
"Yes."
"You know, this story is supposed to be even harder to believe than the first one, but strangely enough I think I'm starting to believe you. Do you have any proof?"
"Yes.", I said and started to remove my bandages. "I still haven't earned my cutie mark yet, so If my story is true I should have a blank flank, right?"
"I guess.", she said and went silent when she saw my uncovered flank.
"See, I told you th..."
"Shut up! You liar!", she exclaimed and pointed at my flank.
I looked puzzled at where she was pointing. My flanks were no longer empty, but was decorated with a cutie mark of a big silver shield with two swords crossed behind it. I did't hear what Wish where screaming and I didn't feel it when she punched me over and over again, the only thing I felt was shock and the only thing I could see was my very own cutie mark.