Legends of the Mane Six : FIRST BOOK

by Cedric Inuzuka

First day in Ponyville (second part)

Every war veteran will tell you that you can feel it when something bad is coming, like the calm before a storm, a forest without the sound of animals or a clear night without a star and that was exactly what Crimson felt with the electrically charged air around the horn of Twilight Sparkle and the heat emanating from Rainbow Dash. He knew without a shadow of doubt he was five seconds away from something bad. 'What did Spitfire make me do? The room will never survive something like this'

...Then five seconds passed...

Twilight was the first to recover and started her verbal assault. “A bodyguard? Why do I need a bodyguard? Who do you think you are to tell me I need a bodyguard?”

“But...” Crimson couldn't finish because an angry pegasus was forehead to forehead with him.

“You know I want to become a Wonderbolt, I need to be in awesome missions! Babysitting a snobbish unicorn is not awesome.”

“What did you call me?” The purple mare asked while turning toward the light blue pegasus.

“Oh, and you're also deaf.” Rainbow answered, turning toward Twilight. “ I said, you are a SNOBBISH unicorn.”

“How you can say that without knowing me.”

“Because you...” Then the pegasus air-hoofed. “...the unicorns...” And finished her sentence normally. “...are all the same.”

“What maturity. You said you want to be a Wonderbolt. Pfffftt, don't make me laugh.” With every word Twilight was moving closer to the other mare until she was face to face with her.

“Oh yeah, wanna take this outside? I will kick your flank in ten seconds flat.”

“STOP IT!” Crimson was at the end of his patiences, his yell was loud enough to freeze the two mares and make them turn toward him.
“Good, now that everyone has shut her muzzle, listen to me carefully, but first I need to talk with Rainbow Dash.” The stallion said sternly.

With a more gentle tone he looked toward the unicorn. “Lady Twilight if you could wait outside, this will not take long, why don't you take the time to visit the barracks, but don't go too far I will finish this quickly.” The stallion finished his talk with a dark look toward the other pegasus who didn't acknowledged him.

Twilight answered with a nod, but before moving to the door she threw one last glare at the other mare who replicated with a glare of her own, the brawl of glares didn't last long before the only stallion in the office cleared his throat, just as a reminder for the two mares that they aren't alone in the room. After that Twilight and Spike went outside.

When they were outside, the unicorn began to complain. “Seriously, a bodyguard. I never needed one when I was under the tutelage of the Princess, why now?”

“Hum, I don't know. Maybe because we are OUTSIDE of Canterlot?” The baby dragon replied ironically.

“Please Spike, I'm in no more danger in Ponyville than I was in Canterlot.”

“If you says so...” He knew it was useless to argue with her when she was in one of these moods so he tried to change the subject. The baby dragon took the time to look around and saw the barracks was mostly made of wood, but he remembered that the outside was made of stone, the floor creaked at every step he took. After a short time, he found a hallway decorated with paintings, he came closer and noticed that the paintings were in fact framed pictures, there were six hung along the corridor. “Twilight, come here, I found something interesting.”

“What it is, Spike?” Twilight asked when she arrived in the hallway.

“Look at this picture.” he showed the framework that was at the right end of the corridor.

Twilight looked at the picture and saw that it was a group photo with about ten ponies wearing leather armor and who were saluting the camera. She noticed, at the right of the group, were standing two pegasi she knew, Crimson and Rainbow Dash. 'At least she's smiling.' She also observed the mare looked a little smaller than she looked when she was inside the office.' She looked as tall as me, yet when I look at the photo and I compare her with Crimson who is next to her, she looks much smaller, maybe she had not finished growing when the picture was taken.'
Twilight looked at every member of the militia and see they were at least fifty percent of earth ponies, forty percent of pegasus and the rest of unicorns. 'They don't have many spellcasters and definitely less healers since this is one of the more difficult branch of magic.' Finally she saw that each of the ponies had a embroidered badge on their armor, probably the symbol of the Ponyville's militia.

“Did you see?” Spike asked while showing a golden plate in the bottom of the frame.

Twilight looked and read.

“Hum, they are the graduates of this year but what a strange name for a promotion? But my brother's one was even more bizarre, do you remember, Spike ?”

“I was a little too young to remember when Shining Armor finished his Paladin training.”

“Right, but now I'm curious what the other promotions looked like.”

Twilight moved herself to the left and watched the picture of last year graduates, she noticed the same thing as last year, there wasn't more than ten ponies and the presence of a single unicorn, while looking a little longer at the unicorn she saw another detail. “Spike, look at the white unicorn.”

Spike looked at the picture. “Wouha, she is pretty.”

The purple unicorn rolled her eyes. “ Look to her right.” She showed with her right hoof the pony in question.

“Hey, it looks like...”

“Applejack and by the look she is sending to the unicorn, she doesn't seem to like her very much.” Twilight cut Spike off. who sent a jaded look and crossed his arms in sign of unhappiness. “Oh look, Rainbow Dash is still here and she has the emblem on her armor but she's smaller than the last picture, do you think you can be inside the militia without being of age ?” She asked her assistant who was wondering if he could ignore her.

“Maybe, remember the militia isn't composed of regular soldiers, you could ask Rainbow later.”

“Yeah, like she will answer any questions I will ask without starting a fight.” Twilight sighed. After she looked at every detail of the photo, she watched the golden plaque at the bottom of the frame.

“They aren't very modest, let's see the year before.” She moved toward the frame to her left and looked at it. 'Funny there is only pegasus in this year promotion, hum Rainbow Dash isn't wearing the armor or the emblem but just pants and a jacket, what a tomcoltish mare. If I understand well she would have joined the militia the year following this photo,so why is she on it?'

“Twilight,you have the same look as when you are faced with a problem, is something wrong?” The baby dragon asked with a little fear in his voice, because he know what the unicorn is capable of for finding a answer to a problem.

“Nothing major, just a little curiosity.” She answered but you could hear the wheels turned in her head.

“Sure, if you says so.” He wasn't very reassured.

Since she couldn't come with an answer, she looked at the golden plaque.

“At least this one is fitting for a pegasus promotion.” And like the three other pictures she moved toward the next one, situated to her left. Unlike the last one, this time there were only unicorns on the photo. 'A promotion with only unicorns. Oh my, Rainbow Dash looks frightened, she is trying to hide behind Crimson, the poor dear she looks so small next to him but what's her problem with my kind.' As no response came to her mind, she looked at the golden plate.

“A kind of magic, really?”

“That seem right for a unicorn's promotion, since you... well, use magic.”

“Thank you, mister obvious.”While she rolled her eyes she moved toward the penultimate frame.

This time she saw, like in the first picture, that the three kind of ponies were present. 'And like in the other photos, I have Crimson and this time a filly sized Rainbow Dash, she was kind of cute when she was younger, wait a minute, who is this pony hiding behind her ?'

“Spike, Do you see this? There is a pony behind Rainbow Dash, maybe a earth pony since she doesn't have wings and knowing her aversion to unicorns, this is the only answer.”

“Or a pegasus since we can't see if she has wings, maybe they're under her dress.”

“Do you know many pegasus who hide their wings ?”

“C'mon Twilight, you can't draw such a conclusion with only a single photo.”

“And why not ?”

“Because, Miss Twilight Sparkle, you know a grand total of two pegasus...” He emphasized his explanation while showing two claws. “...Spitfire and Soarin', who take pride in being in charge of the Wonderbolts, so of course they will show their wings.” He crossed his arms when he finished his explanation.

“Okay maybe you are right.” She turned her attention toward the golden plate in the bottom of the frame. 'Let see what we have here.'

She stayed a little longer on this plate than the others. 'I know this sentence, where did I heard it before ?'She searched her memory but nothing came therefore she turned toward Spike who raised a eyebrow when she looked in his eyes.

“Yes, Miss Twilight Sparkle ?”

Twilight rolled her eyes but didn't correct the baby dragon. “ Does the sentence 'The Show Must Go on' mean something to you?”

He began to search his memory but like the unicorn, nothing triggered. “Sorry, doesn't ring a bell.” He turned toward the picture. “ But I feel sad when I heard it.”

“Sad? What do you mean sad?”

“It's strange but when I read it, I feel like something bad happened but you have to move on with your life.” He was still looking at the picture and he showed a random pony on the frame.
“Look at him, he doesn't smile like the ponies in the photo of the year after. Look, it's the same for all the ponies, they are all sad, no one is smiling.”

“You are right, even Crimson is too serious. Something bad must have happened five years ago, before this picture was taken, I will look at the archive when I have finished with the preparation of the summer sun celebration.”

But the biggest surprise was when Twilight looked at the last picture on the wall, the one who was six years olds. “Spike, there are so many...At least three times more than on the other photos.”

“But where is Crimson and Rainbow? I can't find them.”

Twilight searched for the two pegasus but where they were usually, stood proudly an earth pony, she could see he had a red coat under his armor and below a brown stetson he had a blonde mane, she was mesmerized by his dark green eyes and his dashing smile.

“Hum, Twilight? Are you all right? You're red.”

“Uh...yeah...everything is all right, I totally wasn't staring at the big, strong, handsome and dashing stallion.” The more she continued, the more she blushed.

“What?” The baby dragon asked while raising an eyebrow.

“*cough* I mean don't you think this pony makes you think of someone?”

Spike took his time to look at the stallion. “Now that you say it. He look like a older Big Macintosh with a blonde mane. Hey maybe this is his father ?”

It was Twilight's turn of watching Spike with a unconvinced look. “And now? Who draws such a conclusion with only a single photo ?”

He didn't answer, he just showed something on the picture with his left hand. The lavender unicorn followed the direction and saw two young ponies, a red colt and an orange filly, they were standing a little to the left of the big stallion.

“AWWWWW! Look how Applejack and Big Macintosh were cute when they were younger.” She tried to change the conversation but the dragon wasn't convinced. “ Fine, you were right. Happy?”

“Quite. But if the father of Applejack was the captain of the militia six years ago, what have happened to change that ?”

Twilight was forced to give the answer she hated the most. “ I don't know.” 'For now, but I will' Her eyes sought an answer in the photo but they finally settled on the gold plate in the bottom of the picture.

“That pretty sad too, isn't it?” Spike asked while looking at the plate.

“Yes, but that doesn't help me to know what happened five years ago. Unless...” Twilight began to charge her horn with magic and with a purple flash she duplicated the six pictures. “... and now to send them to my room.” With a spell she mastered some time ago, she sent the photos to her room at the library.

“What are you doing ?” Spike wondered.

“I'm sure some answers are in these pictures, I will study them tonight.” She looked from left to right. “Now,I need to find something to keep me busy until Crimson finished with Rainbow Dash.”

“Don't worry about that.” A raspy voice said but when Twilight and Spike turned toward the voice there was no one. “I'm up.” They looked upstairs and saw a laughing Rainbow. “Hahaha,it works every time.”

“You seem of better mood than when we were in the office.” The unicorn asked with a suspicious look.

The pegasus had a embarrassed smile and she scratched behind her head before answering. “Yeah about that...” Every time she tried to speak, her muzzle moved but no word came out.

Twilight, being the intelligent pony she was, knew exactly the problem she had. “Fine, I'm sorry too. I think we started on the wrong hoof, I'm Twilight Sparkle.” she held out her right hoof.

Rainbow landed and shook her right hoof with the unicorn. “And I'm Rainbow Dash, second in command of Ponyville's militia and weather team, fastest pegasi alive and most important, future Wonderbolt.”

Twilight,while continuing to shake her hoof, added. “I think you forgot to add the most boastful pony throughout the land of Equestria.” When she finished her sentence she felt that Rainbow added more strength to her grip. 'Oh you want to play this game.' In turn, She clenched harder.

Spike could hear slight crackling from their hoofshake and he thought he saw lightning passed between their gazes. He knew he had to intervene before the situation escalates. He just had to clear his throat to draw attention to him.

“WHAT?” Both mare shouted at the same time. This action made them release their hoofshake.

In a small voice he said “Maybe we should continue with the preparation for the festival?”

“You're right Spike.” Twilight answered with a little smile, then she turned toward the pegasus. “Goodbye Rainbow Dash it was a pleasure to meet you.” She couldn't have made more than ten meters before the pegasus landed in front of her.

“Sorry but Crimson was very clear, I'm your bodyguard, whether you like it or not.”

“I don't need a bodyguard! I going to see Crimson.” She began to trot toward his office.

“This is a waste of time, he went out.” Rainbow smirked.

Twilight turned toward the other mare, anger on her face, and with all the calm that remained, asked. “Where?”

“To see the mayor. He also said we will have lunch with them at the café.”

“What?” She turned toward Spike. “Did I write lunch with the mayor on the schedule for today?”

“Let me check.” He looked at the list and he saw at twelve o'clock. “Yes, you have lunch with the mayor.”

The lavender unicorn sighed and looked at Rainbow. “ And you will follow me whatever I decide?”

“Yeah.” She answered with a winning smile.

“Fine, Let's go. What is our next destination?”

“Next stop is 'Carousel Boutique', this is where the robes for the festival are made and you have to try on yours.”

“Oh joy, the day just got better. And after that?”

“Lunch time.” The baby dragon answered with a smile.

“Bouahahhahaha, don't be like that Twi', you get the coolest bodyguard that Equestria has to offer, You can even go so far as to say that I'm twenty percent cooler than any other bodyguard.”

“It's funny, I'm tired and this is just the beginning of the day, I wonder why ?” Twilight said sarcastically.

“Maybe you ate something bad or you didn't have a morning nap, that happen to me all the time.” Rainbow replied innocently without noticing the sarcastic tone of the unicorn.

'And the worst is that she said it with such innocence' thought Twilight. “Since we have nothing left to do here, let's go to Carousel Boutique.”

The moment the group left the barracks and went outside, Rainbow flew off.

“What are you doing ?” Twilight asked.

“My job.” The pegasi answered like what she was doing was obvious.

But for the unicorn this wasn't. “And how are you going to protect me when you are so high in the air.”

Rainbow began to get closer to Twilight. “ Like you know something about bodyguarding?”

“But yes I know, since I had a bodyguard as soon as I could walk, courtesy of my family.” She finished with a little venom in her voice.

“Oh yeah ?” And like many times today, the unicorn and the pegasus were forehead to forehead.

“Yeah.”

Spike wondered how long the seven days will going to be with the two mares and how Ponyville will survive.

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Somewhere in Ponyville, hiding behind some barrels, two unicorns were watching the exchange.

“What my sister doing so close to that pegasus?” Shining Armor was wondering.

“Hum Captain.” The Squire was trying to attract the attention of his superior.

“Could this me, my own sister...”

“Hum Captain.” The Squire tried again.

“... It may be a deception...”

“Captain, this is really important.”

“... And when the pegasus least expects it...”

“CAPTAIN!”

“What it is Squire ? I listen, you don't have to shout.”

“I think he tried to warn you about me.” A third voice announced.

“Cadance.”