//------------------------------// // Chapter 31: Improving Build // Story: One Shot, One Chance // by SpeederClaw //------------------------------// “Twilight? I think you can calm down now. You’ve been at this for an hour, almost two, already.” “Not now, Blitz, I’m almost finished.” “Gah…” Blitz brushed his purple mane with unease as he continued to watch Twilight Sparkle write furiously. Her magically encased pen created legible strokes, despite her speed, with a constant pace. “…and done!” Twilight jumped up with contentment. “I have just successfully recorded the whole conversation that we had earlier today about Victor Vicer and Enzo Endante.” Blitz sighed. “Even though I said I believed them…I still think that it’s complete crap about what they said.” “Blitz-” “I’m sorry; it’s just hard to understand. I’m not as smart as you,” Blitz said as a joke. Twilight frowned as she transported the written documents into her desk via magic. “Don’t say things like that. They’re not positive.” “I-right. Still, I don’t find myself totally believing them word for word.” Blitz stared out of Twilight’s window into the watchful night. The moon was masked with multiple clouds as shadows swept to and fro from the ground. “I just can’t get the thought out of my head. Time travelers or dimension jumpers-whatever. That still sounds like crazy talk.” “Well the craziest things tend to be the most interesting, don’t you think?” Twilight said. Blitz felt slightly creeped out, but did not let Twilight sense his angst. “Well, in any case, I’m still on edge with them just like I always was. Except now, I don’t even know what to know or what to think about them.” He kicked at the ground before leaving to his bed area. Twilight watched quietly before leaving the unicorn to his solitude. Plopping himself on a crude wooden construct filled with pillowing, he turned and eyed his snow globe. It sat beautifully in place, sparkling Blitz’s soul with memories. “At least I have something to believe in…” He picked up the globe and shook it lightly. The everlasting snowflakes did their typical dance and Blitz chuckled. “Fuzzy Fry, Bluebelle, Vice, Enzo, Twilight Sparkle, Clyde…Trixie. Everypony I’ve ever known. It looks like my past is fading; I’m starting to forget about Fuzzy and Bluebelle. Is that good? My ex-girlfriend and…lost friend are being replaced? Celestia, I don’t know anymore.” “Um, I’m sorry, but I unintentionally just overheard that,” Twilight said reappearing next to Blitz. The blue stallion wrestled in his bed before hopping out. “What’s that about an ex-girlfriend? The past being thrown away.” “Ahh-it’s not-” Blitz stopped and looked at his snow globe. It shined elegantly in the darkened room. He reconsidered his actions and smiled. “You know what? I’m not going to run from my past. If Vice and Enzo can tell their story, then so can I.” Blitz cringed. “Uh, Blitz?” “Sorry, it’s just comparing myself to Vice is…not pleasant. But, I feel like I have to tell somepony about this. I can’t just keep it bottled up.” Twilight tilted her head followed by a smile. “Well you can tell me anything, Blitz. I’m always here to listen and observe.” “Okay.” Blitz pursed his lips trying to sort his thoughts out. “So, way before I got here about three months ago, I was living with my two best friends, Fuzzy Fry and Bluebelle. We were all school friends pooling together our money to pay for the house expenses. Fuzzy had a job as a toy maker and Bluebelle worked as head manager of some strange company. I-well, I didn’t find any jobs. Nopony would hire me.” Twilight nodded slowly and frowned. “That’s why you came here right? To look for a job?” “Yup. Things were going well, though. I stayed home and kinda kept things in shape. Time went by and I started going negative if you know what I mean.” Twilight nodded again. “I started doubting myself like a fool and became depressed if that’s what you want to call it. But I hid that from my friends, no need to bring them down with me, right? Wrong. Bluebelle saw through me and tried to help. I pushed her away.” Blitz paused and took a deep breath. “Eventually we started…dating.” The blue unicorn held a faint smile. He almost giggled. “That barely lasted. It was good though, I really…liked her. I did. Time went on, and we were still seeing each other but she felt out of it. She wasn’t as vibrant as before. One day me and Fuzzy were goofing around as usual, wrecking the house and she opens the door and just screams. She said that she couldn’t take it anymore, that we were still colts in a stallion world. I didn’t know what that meant until it was too late. She said she was leaving because she had to teach us what it meant to grow up.” Blitz gritted his teeth. “And she was right. We were three ponies living in a dying house with barely any food. She made the money while me and Fuzzy played around. At that moment, I felt empty. The one mare I thought cared about me abandoned me for the better. She was gone that day and the depression came back. It may not seem like so, but I’m still a little sad from time to time. But its better thanks to Ponyville, thanks to everypony.” “I-I’m sorry,” Twilight said. “Don’t be. I didn’t tell you this to make you sorry, rather I told you so you would understand me. Anyway, after a while, I found an application form for Ponyville and both me and Fuzzy made plans to meet here. That’s when my train accident happened and I broke my leg. And here I am I guess…but Fuzzy still isn’t here. That’s the only thing; I’ve gotten rid of Bluebelle, but not Fuzzy. He’s still my friend to the very end and I don’t know where he is. I don’t want to get rid of him, he’s all I got left.” “Well with the train crashes there must have been some delay-” Twilight stopped and put a hoof over her mouth. “You don’t think he was-” “What?” Blitz’s eyes grew in horror when he realized what Twilight meant. “Oh, no no, you’re not saying he was in a train crash.” “...” Twilight sighed. “It’s a possibility, I won’t lie. However, that seems highly unlikely. I’ve read the reports Clyde gave me on the train incidents and none were reported with any severe casualties. He’s fine, Blitz, he probably just doesn’t have a train at the moment.” “I hope you’re right. All I can do is hope and that sucks. I wish I could do instead of hope,” Blitz said angrily. “Here, follow me,” Twilight said motioning Blitz over. “I have something to take these thoughts off your mind.” Blitz placed his snow globe back on the table and trotted behind Twilight. When they both made their way into the middle of the room, Blitz shrieked. “Oh no-why! I’ve been traumatized! Who are you, Trixie?” Twilight glared menacingly. “Don’t compare me to her, please.” She shook her head. “Just because it’s a tub of water doesn’t mean you should freak out.” “Sorry, I guess the past is always gonna eat away at me.” Blitz observed the white tub of water sitting in front of him. The ripples brought back painful memories with a certain mare forcing him to do magic. He cautiously stepped closer, but kept himself ready to stagger away. “Just calm down and relax. You can’t be tense for this,” Twilight said seriously. “Now, I want you to make just a small cube of ice. You can do that, right?” “Uh, of course,” Blitz said somewhat confidently. He raised his head and his horn started to glow an aqua blue. He focused his attention on the water and licked his lips. ‘Okay, just make an ice cube. Just a small cube, shouldn’t be too hard…oh no I’m gonna mess up. In front of Twilight! No, can’t have that. Gotta focus!’ Within a few seconds of concentration, Blitz’s horn erupted into a zap and within the water floated a small ice cube. “See? Wasn’t that hard. You did it!” Twilight said enthusiastically. “I’m very impressed, well done!” Blitz stood confused. “It was just…a small ice cube.” Twilight shook her head. “You did great. Keep it up.” “Uh-okay,” Blitz said still perplexed. “Now, see if you can make a bigger one. Not too big, but try to challenge yourself.” Blitz stared doubtfully at the tub of water with the single floating ice cube. “Alright?” He focused and closed his eyes, horn glowing. Mimicking his status from before, Blitz concentrated on the water with immense willpower. Before he knew it, that magical feel rushed to his horn and he opened his eyes to find a slightly bigger cube of ice now sitting in the tub instead of floating. “Terrific. Simply spectacular!” Twilight yelled in joy. “Blitz, you sure are something!” “Thanks...” Blitz lowered his head. ‘I still don’t get it. How is she so happy for such a little thing? It’s just a small little-okay, well it’s bigger, but it’s just a stupid ice cube. What’s so special about that?’ “Now, see if you can freeze the whole tub.” “Oka-huh? Wait what?” Blitz said almost toppling over. “I want you to try and freeze all the water within that tub. I know you can do it, I have faith,” Twilight said. “Uhm, alright. I’ll try.” Blitz shook his head. “I’ll do it.” Blitz’s horn retained its aqua glow and he felt that sense of concentration come back. Something was different, however. Blitz felt a change circulate throughout his body. The air around him started to chill and he could now truly feel his magic surging inside. He felt that he was controlling his magic rather than blindly hoping for change. With this newly acquired feeling, Blitz opened his eyes instead of keeping them closed and saw Twilight smiling at him. Within seconds, his magic intensified to a new level. He watched as the water within the tub started becoming solid ice blue. Blitz let himself relax and the tub was iced over completely. He glanced at Twilight and started to laugh. “I did it.” “Yes you did!” Twilight suddenly lept forward and Blitz held up his hooves in defense. The two shared a hug and Blitz felt his body start to melt away into nothingness. ‘She’s hugging me. I’m being hugged. She’s hugging me,’ he thought dumbfounded. ‘Why. I don’t deserve this.’ "The key to improvement is always somepony there to help you," Twilight said. It was at that moment the door busted open and Clyde stepped through with his shining mustache. Within seconds he spotted the two ponies hugging and his mustache drooped into a sad mess. It fell with dying grace. Twilight spotted the mustachioed stallion and broke away. Blitz, however, still sat in the same spot unmoving. Clyde stepped forward sheepishly, but spoke in a teasing manner. “And just what is going on here? What are you two mischief makers up to?” “Clyde!” Twilight screamed. Clyde chuckled and held his head high. “No need to fear, Miss Twilight Sparkle, I’m just joking.” The two shared a laugh as Blitz still kept statue-like. “Now then, that’s settled. I brought over some guests that I’d like to introduce to you both.” Clyde eyed Blitz with curiosity. “Erm, Mister Blitz, are you alright?” Blitz lifted his own hoof and proceeded to slap himself in the face. “Yeah, I’m good now.” “Well then.” Clyde stepped aside and two guard ponies walked through the door. “I’d like to introduce to you both, Misters Brass Dozer and Glass Dozer.” “The Dozer Brothers!” The bigger one said. His brown full goatee complimented his muscular build similar to Clyde’s. With a light brown body, black eyes, and rustled brown mane, the stallion definitely matched his raspy, loud voice. “Best bros in the whole rank!” “Yeah,” the smaller one said with a slight voice crack. He received a light blow to the head and fell over completely. His somewhat neat brown mane was now unkempt and his black eyes spun in circles. “Aw c’mon, Glass, you gotta learn to take more than that,” Brass Dozer said with disappointment. “Stay on your feet, moron!” “Sorry, brother,” Glass Dozer said picking himself up. He dusted off his light brown coat and redid his hair into the half neat, half messy style from before. “Hmm, yes,” Clyde said analyzing the two guard brothers. “If you couldn’t tell already, these two pegasi-” “Wait, pegasi?” Blitz blurted out. The Dozer Brothers nodded and both spread their wings wide and proudly with perfect symmetry. “Yes, Mister Blitz, they are also part of Celesta’s royal guards so naturally they are pegasi. I’ve worked with Mister Brass Dozer here for quite a while.” “That’s right,” Brass Dozer said triumphantly. “Me and the big guy here have been through some crazy stuff. Hah, the guy’s mustache is still as young and healthy as when I first saw it. I mean, have you seen this stallion’s mustache? Have you seen it? Classical. My facial hair has seen its years.” “And I’m-” “Ah, that’s Glass Dozer, my younger brother," Brass Dozer said quickly. "He’s new to the whole guard thing, but he’s ready. Ain’t that right?” “Yeah, I’m totally-” “I thought it would be best to give little Mister Glass Dozer some experience,” Clyde said. “Hey, I’m pretty good,” Glass Dozer said with offense. “Not as good as me, squirt,” Brass Dozer said ruffling his brother’s mane once more. “Now that I mention squirts, who’s the other little pipsqueak I’m supposed to filly sit?” “Me?” Blitz said with unsureness. Brass Dozer huffed. “I’ll let Glass handle that. Me and Clyde need to have some chit chat.” Clyde nodded and the two exited, leaving the three younger ponies behind. “Bah, I wish I could do cool things with them,” Glass Dozer said. “They always leave me behind. I don’t like being left out in the cold.” “Same!” Blitz yelled. “I mean, yeah I hate that feeling too.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you do don’t you.” “She knows,” Blitz said with attitude. “That’s what I get for being the softy of the family,” Glass Dozer said. “Everypony was tougher than me, stronger than me and faster than me. Even my own mom was laughing at how weak I was.” Blitz kept a happy face as his mind mentally sighed. ‘Well this got depressing fast. And I thought I was bad.’ “I’m sure you’re stronger in other ways than physically,” Twilight said reassuringly. However, Glass Dozer’s face shrank in embarrassment. “That’s why I joined the royal guards. I thought if I came into the ranks, I’d toughen up. But, I’m still the same pony I was when I first joined.” “How long ago did you get enlisted?” Blitz asked. “About two months ago.” “And…nothing?” “Maybe you should wait a little longer for some results,” Twilight said. “It could just be how your body accepts training. It’s just getting use to everything.” “You’re right. Maybe I should,” Glass Dozer said plopping himself on the ground. An awkward silence befell the three ponies. Stares shot around and around before Clyde and Brass Dozer broke the tension. “Don’t worry, ladies, all’s fine.” “Quite,” Clyde said. “Now, I brought you two here to assist my in investigating recent occurrences within Everfree Forest. My good friend, Mister Enzo, was injured severely and I’ve made my personal vow to see what’s happening. Are you with me?” “Is that even a question?” Brass Dozer said laughing. “You bet I am. Can’t wait for some good old fashioned guard work. Right, bro?” “Yeah,” Glass Dozer said weakly. “Then it’s settled,” Clyde said brushing his mustache valiantly. “We shall leave tomorrow morning. I’ll see to it that you boys get a nice room for your long journey here.” “Nice. I get to rehash with the great, sir Clyde, and get some room service,” Brass Dozer said rubbing his hooves together. “C’mon brotha, let’s get some rest.” “Okay,” his brother peeped. “Ahem, I must run an errand over and see how Mister Enzo is doing. I still have some…questions that I would rather have answered now than later. Brass-” “Yeah, yeah, I’ll watch the kids. You go on ahead, Clyde. Make it quick, I can’t stand just sittin’ around.” Clyde nodded and exited into the outside night. White wings wide, he flew into the air. His white body speckled as a moving star throughout the pale sky. ‘Just one question that needs to be answered,’ he thought. The white pegasus sailed faster and faster into the blackness, a shooting star. ‘Tell me what happened in that forest. Who exactly hurt you. What are we up against?’ Clyde rubbed his mustache firmly. “Well, I guess it's a few questions now.” ~~~~~~~~~~ As the night clocked itself away, the Everfree Forest grew more and more with corruption. The trees heard everything. Shouts exploded throughout the green; shouts that rattled the air. “Everyone gather right now! Get your asses into order!” Sir Cutter X said standing atop a small, pale rock. “I’m giving a speech so listen up.” “Yeah,” Joltaire said with a grunt. “Dude’s being important for once so you all better pay attention. It’s the only time you’re gonna, haha!” “Shut up you fool. Now then, is the whole group accounted for?” “Right here boss,” Joltaire replied. Masquerade Blade stood adjacent and waved one of his rotary blades. “As am I,” Doctor Rivet said solemnly. “And my creation.” The orange creature sat next to the doctor on the ground emitting a low growling sound. “Yowza, bladed man!” Bull It Buster said with a bounce. “I is here, yes, har har!” Several other ponies acknowledged their existence. Muffles flew all around. “Good.” Sir Cutter X raised his hooves and silence ensued. “We, the Misfit Marauders, are at a standstill right now. Masquerade Blade’s failure is cause for us to act.” Masquerade Blade stood stone still as faces drew upon him. “I failed,” a brown pegasus said. “Blame me.” “Dust Crack, none of this is your fault. The deaths of our two companions shall be avenged,” Sir Cutter X proclaimed. “I assure you, we will step further.” “That’s why you shoulda coulda woulda sent the guy with the big guns!” Bull It Buster said clanging his gun hooves together. “Or the doctor with a grueling test to be made,” Doctor Rivet said petting his creature. “I must see what my creation can really do.” “Hey, why the hell didn’t you send all of us?” Joltaire said with a chuckle. “Why you gotta play things fair, huh? If we just butt rushed them then we probably coulda ended all this bullshit.” “Silence!” Sir Cutter X said. “I kill you!” Bull It Buster finished with a hyena like laugh. “No, shut up. It’s all part of the plan. The plan! These mere fools are far stronger than I suspected; in due time we will prevail. Doctor Rivet, how is the train?” “Preparations are being made. It is almost complete,” the doctor said with pride. “Excellent. We should be ready very soon. Let me repeat myself. We will destroy Ponyville. All of you who have been shamed and wronged and tortured, now’s the time to redeem yourselves! Take out your anger on them, make them suffer. Make them understand what it means to be shunned and outlawed!” The crowd roared with satisfaction and upbeat spirit. Sir Cutter X unleashed his blades on his hooves and stabbed at the air. “Let the Misfit Marauders rule!” More cheers and cries of crazy. He turned around and spoke softly to himself. “Death to Enzo Endante.”