//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Closure // Story: To Save Equestria: The Mysterious Virus // by KalaAWild //------------------------------// "Are you insane, Silvershot?" Finn exclaimed. "That tablet can kill anypony that touches it. And it doesn't mean that you can use magic as a means to move it around." "I think I can move it without it killing me or any other pony," Silvershot rebutted. "I just know that I can." "How do you intend on doing it?" "I don't know. I know that Armonia wanted to use the tablet to destroy the element of sacrifice. Because he failed in doing so, the virus was released from it." "Look, there is some magic that is forbidden to touch. Your father broke that rule when he reforged the element of sacrifice. This is no longer an option. I am the captain of this ship and I say we follow Princess Celestia's orders." "When did you become such a pussycat?" Silvershot turned around and trotted out the door, followed by Applebloom. The name "pussycat" was a name Armonia gave Finn whenever he was scared. Silvershot had begun to gain the ability to delve into Armonia's memories and pick out certain snapshots, and it was something that he wasn't too happy about to learn to do. This would be a great advantage for the upcoming events that will behold on him, though. "Silvershot," Applebloom yawned. "Ey'm sleepy." "How about I tuck you into bed and I go see where Rainbow Dash ran off too?" Silvershot suggested. Applebloom yawned again before saying, "Okay." They trotted together to their cabin. Silvershot could see how the adventure thus far has taken a toll on Applebloom. She was tired from all the events that had happened that day; from her getting her cutie mark to her almost getting killed by a griffin. Her hoofsteps were getting slower and louder as if a weight was being brought on top of her shoulders. Her eyes became heavier and mouth was slowly falling without her awareness. She was so tired she fell asleep while walking. As Applebloom fell to the ground, Silvershot instinctively caught Applebloom with his foreleg. She snored happily while resting on Silvershot. He smiled and patted her back to help her relax a little more. "Let's get you to bed," he said to her as he lifted her onto her back. As Silvershot continued to the hallway, he could hear the flapping of wings echoing off the walls and the floorboards of the ship. These flapping Pegasi wings were distinguishable between Pegasi, and Silvershot knew which pony was racing down the hallway. Rainbow Dash came flying into the hallway at her top speed. She had no time to brake herself before crashing into Silvershot and Applebloom. He reacted quickly and used his magic unicorn powers to stop her. A big wall of pillows erupted from a flash of light and the wall was then fortified by a steel net behind the pillows. Rainbow Dash crashed into the pillows and bounced off softly. "Thanks for the catch, Silvershot," Rainbow Dash thanked as she got up. Silvershot deconstructed his wall of pillows just as fast as he had created it. "I got something to say from Cookie Dough." "Can we wait until we get the little one to bed?" Silvershot asked while pointing his head and eyes at Applebloom. "Yeah sure, let's go." The two walked together to the cabin as Applebloom slept on Silvershot's back. As the two walked to their destination, he was thinking of asking her something, but he felt like it was too personal. He wanted to ask her if his parents, Silver Lancet and Enda Crimson, raised him correctly, or if they were bad parents. For him, there was only one way to find out. "Rainbow Dash," Silvershot said while looking into her eyes. Rainbow Dash turned to look back. "Can I ask you something?" "Sure, what is it?" Rainbow Dash replied back. "Do you think my parents were bad parents? My mom did fake her death and my dad tried to take over Equestria." "Well, you see Silvershot, I think your parents raised you right, and they aren't all bad; except for your dad, of course." "What makes you say that?" "Because you didn't turn out like Silver Lancet now, did you?" Rainbow Dash said with a happy smile. "Ha ha ha, I guess you're right." Silvershot smiled as well and laughed a bit. “Who are your parents like?" At that instant, Rainbow Dash's smile disappeared. "I didn't get to know my parents all that well." "You must have at least known one of them well." "Actually, no I didn't. My parents didn't care about me as a foal because I was found in a cardboard box on the side of the streets. My own parents abandoned me." "I'm sorry I asked." "Nah, it's okay. I was raised by good people at the orphanage I was raised at. My foster parents signed me up for Aviation school when I was able to fly and that's where I got my cutie mark. If I was raised differently, I would be a completely different pony than I am today, and I am glad I wasn't." "That's good to hear. Thanks for, um, disclosing that personal story, Rainbow Dash." "It was no problem. Let's just tuck Applebloom in and then talk about the thing Cookie Dough told me." Just as their conversation ended, they reached the cabin. Silvershot opened the door with his magic and placed Applebloom on the bed. He pulled the blanket over her shoulder and left the room with Rainbow Dash. He locked the cabin with a key and hid the key in his mane. "Now, what's Cookie Dough got to say to me that she couldn't say to me herself?" "Well, two things actually. One, she wondered if you'd like to try out a new cookie recipe she whipped up. Two, we are going to dock at the Zebra kingdom port of Zezabra in about two hours." "Sounds good. Do you want to go to sleep? The two hour wait time can give us some time to sleep." "I could use a good nap." Just as Silvershot and Rainbow Dash left to go to a different cabin to nap in, the letter Spike wrote to Silvershot appeared on the desktop of the table in Applebloom's room. A burst of harmless flames accompany the scroll which only wafted gently against Applebloom's face in her sleep. Under no control in her sleep, she stretched her arm out which knocked the scroll off the table and onto the floor which rolled underneath the bed. Will Silvershot get the news that his wife's baby is coming? We may never know.