Chapter 16: Dinky’s and Dragon’s
After our success with the dragons we were more than enthusiastic about the other fronts. If we dealt with the most difficult of our foes with nothing more than warm feelings and a few jaunty tunes, surely the rest would be as easy if not easier. Even Silent Step seemed to be in high spirits. Abundance surprised us all by hauling the supply wagon on her own. Evidently her sizeable bulk wasn’t just the result of over-indulging in her own cooking; she was the strongest of us by far.
It was a little over a week to travel from one border to the next for us. We shared tales of our youths mostly, just simple stories to pass the time. It was a pleasant enough way for us to travel. We had an official escort of proper soldiers for our own protection, not that we needed it. We soon reached the border to the great apes jungle nation.
The fighting was much more brutal here, the beasts’ wielded crude but effective weaponry raining death with catapults and smashing us with their stone clubs. Sunshine opted to allow the more martial minded of us to take the lead. Silent Step and Comet Streak decided to have the assassin remove some of the ape generals, while Comet, Abundance, Healing and I struck directly. Sunshine was left to guard the wagon. He was only sixteen winters at the time and we felt it unnecessary to expose him to bloodshed.
Our foes were ill-prepared for the power we brought to bear against them. Comet Streak’s mighty sword cleaved foe after foe. Abundance had picked up a massive war hammer for herself and cut a wide swath through the brutes. Healing Touch made herself useful the way she knew best, getting the wounded from the field and tending their wounds. Of course my own spells were the most impressive on the field. My magic amplified many times over by the shared bond with my fellows, I had soon chased the beasts from the field. We thought the day won until Silent Step slid from the shadows warning us of massive monsters coming from the jungle.
Towering boar beasts lumbered out of the trees, each carrying perhaps a dozen ape spear throwers on their backs. The huge creatures shrugged off my mightiest magic’s, and we were soon routed. Many brave ponies lost their lives that day but my friends and I managed to escape. I began to realize our mundane weaponry and spells would not be enough. If we were to be the champions of our people, we needed proper armaments.
I gathered my friends and explained my idea. To imbue some of our own essence within a weapon of our choosing. Silent Step, Abundance, and Comet Streak all had their weapons chosen already of course. Sunshine and Healing Touch seemed uncomfortable with the idea, but both understood the necessity. The colt took a slim rapier for his own, he was always fascinated with stories of the travelling bards and claimed most carried such blades. Healing Touch refused a blade; instead choosing a simple scepter to imbue with her essence hoping it would bolster her healing magic’s. I myself chose a simple sword and shield. I only intended it as a focus for my magic so the actual weapon mattered little.
The spell was simple enough, though no unicorn had ever attempted to bind a piece of themselves to an object. I went first. It felt odd. Not unpleasant or painful, just an odd feeling of part of myself leaving my being and merging with the weapon. The others watched with baited breath as I experimentally charged the sword with my magic and took a swing. The shockwave it unleashed sheared the boulder I wanted to practice on in half, and dug a sizeable gouge through the land beyond it before dissipating. Needless to say the others were quick to follow my example.
Thusly armed we took the field once more. Obviously things went quite differently. The apes were no match for the fury our weapons unleashed. Sunshine again opted to remain away from the fighting and nopony argued with his decision. Even Healing Touch was sending dozens of apes into a magical slumber with a wave of her scepter.
It wasn’t until the battle was nearly over I noticed Healing was no longer at my side. She lay some distance behind me, an ape spear having pierced her side and pinned her to the ground. Silent ran to her aid at my call, but Comet, Abundance and I…we pressed on. We pressed on with such a fury I shudder to recall the sensation. Such simplicity in such ferocious anger. You no longer worry that you bring weapons and magic against a fellow sentient, only that we wanted what hurt our friend to pay. And pay they did.
Their defeat was total. Their army decimated and perhaps a dozen in all survived the battlefield. Comet and Abundance seemed satisfied. I alas, was not. My master Meteor Trail was famous for his starfall spell. A spell I had never been able to wield before. Well I cast it that day. Not just one but hundreds of streaking lights bombarded the apes jungle homeland. When my fury had finally cooled…nothing was left. The lush beautiful jungles were replaced by cracked and broken wasteland. A land ponies to this day still call the badlands…
“Jenny! You’re gonna be laaaaate~”
Jen lifted her head from the book looking to the door. “Is it almost noon already?” She was reclined on her bed, in pegasus form of course with the book open before her forehooves. Her bedroom was rather spartan still. She had a rather in-ornate set of furniture. The plush bed she was laying in, a writing/drawing desk in front of the window and a few clothes in the closet (both pony and human). Mercy now adorned with Discord’s gem rested against the door frame of her room. Rolling off the bed she retrieved her precious sword and poked her head into the hallway.
Pink was naturally the dominant color of the rest of the house. Her own room was a pastel blue, the color of a sunny sky. Pinkie naturally insisted on the plushest, cushiest of all furniture for her home. It was still chilly out and a fire burned low in their cozy little fireplace. The mare of the house was on her way to the bakery, having stopped at home to ensure her charge wasn’t lazing the day away in bed until she had her own job to get to.
“It’s ten t’noon Jenny-bean. And you know how antsy in the pantsy they get if they have to wait for you!”
Jen gulped. Preening day with Dash and Fluttershy was the one day she couldn’t be late. Bad enough she’d have to listen to Rainbow Dash complain about waiting, but she’d get that…disappointed look from Fluttershy. With a quick nudge of affection to Pinkie’s flank the filly galloped from the house toward Fluttershy’s place as fast as her hooves could carry her.
Today wasn’t just preening day though. Today was it. THE day. Fluttershy promised today they wouldn’t just be standing on a big hill feeling the wind. They wouldn’t be gliding along the ground. No…today they would FLY. The goal for the day was for Jen to reach a cloud and sit on it. Not so grand a task, but an exciting one for Jennifer.
She threw the door open a BIT harder than intended and it hit the wall with a sharp BANG drawing a soft yelp from the timid owner of the cottage. Grinning with a touch of embarrassment Jen slid to a stop before a frowning Fluttershy and guffawing Rainbow Dash. “I’m here!”
Sighing softly the more serious of the pair closed the door. “We heard you coming halfway up the path Jennifer. Lost in your book again?”
Rubbing the back of her head with a hoof she shrugged. “Yeah. I’m close to the end. Starswhirl just like, wiped out the whole ape race with a spell to summon tons of meteors! You know the badlands used t’be a jungle?”
Rainbow Dash perked up. “No kidding? That book actually sounds pretty cool. Fighting dragons and crazy monkey monsters!”
Fluttershy clicked her tongue reproachfully. “No dragon slaying while we preen Rainbow Dash. This is a quiet peaceful time.”
Dash and Jen knew better than to argue with Fluttershy over…pretty much anything really. While the timid pegasus would go along with nearly anything her friends asked of her, if she put her hoof down on a subject one risked bodily harm by trying to force the issue. Jen hadn’t actually seen her snap but she’d been told in hushed tones that it did in fact happen, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.
She may grumble a bit but the daredevil pegasus really did look forward to Thursdays every week. She protested a bit at Jen’s inclusion into she and Fluttershy’s circle, but eased up once she realized the faux pony wasn’t as hapless at the delicate activity as she expected. Dash was lighting a few scented candles while Fluttershy poured some tea.
Rainbow Dash made sure the curtains were closed around the windows. After a certain Foal Free Press incident she was taking no chances in having her image tarnished by being caught on film indulging in her softer side. Room secure and ambiance established the three winged ponies settled into their early afternoon activity.
Jennifer sighed heavily when it came to her turn and the duo went to work over her wings. Maybe she should have her iPod shrunk back down for these days. Find some soothing music to go with the tea and candles, that’d be heaven. Gradually the thought she’d been entertaining for the last couple of days struggled to the surface of her pleasure laden thoughts. “Mmm…whaddo you guys think’a askin’ Luna t’join us?”
The filly yelped suddenly as Rainbow jerked her head up, a feather in her mouth. “Luna? As in PRINCESS Luna? I’m pretty sure she has like a dozen servant ponies to do this for her.”
Fluttershy’s reaction was far less extreme; she only paused in her work to consider the idea. “She must be lonely with Celestia gone. I think it’s a wonderful idea Jennifer. Of course you should invite her.”
Jen nodded lazily. “She said she uses magic to do it with her sister being away but I dunno…it feels wrong that she has to do it alone.”
Dash had settled back to her own work by now. “…I guess that’s true, no pony should have to preen herself.” She smoothed an errant feather eliciting a happy groan from the filly. “I thought about askin’ Scootaloo to join us too. She says her mom does it for her but her folks are both earth ponies y’know? It’s not really the same. I’m sure she’s read plenty of books and everything but without wings of her own…” She shrugged.
“I think that’s very nice of you Rainbow Dash. Of course you can ask Scootaloo join us.” Fluttershy plucked a feather that needed removing drawing a hiss then a happy sigh from Jen.
“Are you sure? I mean I don’t wanna start bringing in tons of ponies and make you uncomfortable Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash eyed the left wing critically; satisfied with her work she sat back.
Her fellow mare did likewise, giving Jennifer some time to bask in the lethargic sensations post-preening brought about. They always did her last as she got particularly lazy after. “Normally I’d mind more but this is a quiet, peaceful time. Everypony knows that, so there should be no problem.”
“Mmmm zzzfwah…” Jennifer eloquently contributed.
“Well as long as you’re both cool with it alright.” Both older ponies eyed the youngest in their midst with a bit of amusement. “I’ll go get things set up for her while she uh, recovers.” With a little smirk Dash zipped out the door.
Giggling softly to herself Fluttershy went about dousing the candles and cleaning the cups used. A lazily smiling Jen soon joined her at the sink, working with painful slowness with her hooves at drying the cups Fluttershy was cleaning. “You’re getting a little better with them.”
“A little. It’s weird, the less I think about it the easier it is for me to do it…of course whenever I’m finally lifting or holding something I think “I’m doing it!” then I drop it.” Gingerly she placed the last of the cups on the pegs their owner stored them on. “I’m a lot better with my mouth but still a little grossed out picking some stuff up.”
With a gentle nudge against Jen’s flank, Fluttershy started to lead the way outside. “Well progress is progress, no matter how slow or small. I learned that the hard way.”
“Ooo I sense a story!” Jen bounded ahead of the older pegasus eagerly working the door knob of the cottage open with her hooves.
“I suppose there’s a little one…we can talk about that or we can get you up in the air.”
This was just the thing to distract the curious filly from the embarrassing story. “You’re right! Let’s get in the air!”
Rainbow Dash had been busy. The usual grey cloud cover was gone from overhead, having been relocated far closer to the ground making the area around the cottage look as if it were covered in a heavy grey fog. “So this is in case you crash and burn! I don’t want Pinkie Pie mad at me for breaking you or something. Fluttershy’ll be with us for most of the way but she doesn’t like going high up so you’re with me today.”
With an encouraging nod from her usual instructor Jen climbed the practice hill she’d been doing her glides from. “Just remember everything I’ve told you about feeling the wind shifting on your feathers. Today you’re going to fly up to that cloud waaaay up there that Rainbow Dash left out for you, you see it?”
Jen had to squint a little but she did indeed see the lone cloud floating in the sky. “Uh huh.”
“All you have to do is fly up to the cloud and sit on it. Just keep calm and relaxed. Our own magic is all about keeping us in the air and helping us get down nice and safe. Your body should know what to do you just have to do what it tells you ok?”
Jennifer gave another nod, taking deep breaths. This was it! Time to fly. Another deep breath and she set her hooves, rear end raised and tail flicking back and forth. With a last intake of air she broke into a short gallop and jumped flaring her wings wide. Immediately she began to coast through the air in a lazy downward direction but today wasn’t about gliding. Feeling the first small gust brush across her muzzle toward her wings she flared the feathery appendages just so, catching the draft and lifting a little higher into the air. With a mighty flap she rose a little further.
Fluttershy passed her smoothly flapping her own large wings in slow, lazy motions. Rainbow was dashing back and forth overhead her own wings going a mile a minute. Jen did her best to ignore the speedster and focus on Fluttershy. Taking her cues from the more experienced flier she twitched her wings in the slow gentle motions a drifter pegasus used to keep herself aloft. It was slow going, but she was gradually climbing higher into the air.
It was hard to resist the impulse to beat her wings rapidly like she did as a night pony. Focusing on Fluttershy ahead of her, slowly climbing higher and higher made a big difference. Unsure at first what to do with her legs she settled for tucking them closer to her body, just dangling there they created a lot of extra drag. So preoccupied was she with focusing on the older mare she hadn’t even realized how high she’d gotten. With a little gasp she realized she was already at the cloud she was supposed to be aiming for.
With an elated cry she flopped on the cloud bouncing lightly. It felt soft, springy, and super comfy just like Echo’s bed did. “Lookit that! You’re a natural kid!”
Fluttershy landed lightly next to Jennifer while Dash zipped about overhead. “All the way to the cloud on your first try. I’m so proud of you Jennifer. Do you want to try flying a little up here? The wind’s trickier.”
Now that she had a chance to sit and rest her wings a dull ache was working its way through the muscle. “I think I’m good for some more! I’m a little sore but not bad.”
“That’s the spirit! Why don’t we getcha buckin’ some clouds? I can take her from here if you wanna head back down Fluttershy.”
The timid pegasus certainly seemed to be considering it. With a little peek ground ward Fluttershy flexed her wings. “I’ll be alright. I think I might watch from here though and um…offer moral support?” She smiled weakly.
Jen was too elated with the sensation of her first real flight to mind much. With a gentle nuzzle against Fluttershy’s cheek she was off chasing after the much faster Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy wasn’t exaggerating about the wind being different this high up. The currents shifted, swelled, and flowed all around her constantly requiring her to shift her wings and flick her tail to compensate. It was a little touch and go but she was managing. As long as she focused on riding the wind currents she really didn’t have to flap very much at all to stay aloft.
Rainbow was gleefully leading her from cloud to cloud. “Alright there’s two ways t’do this! Just flip around and give it a buck…” She demonstrated by doing just that. Beating her wings rapidly to hover in place she delivered a swift kick to the cloud causing it to dissipate on contact. “But your type don’t like hovering, so you guys usually take a more head on approach.” With a fierce grin Dash burst through another cloud head first.
With a little nod the filly chose her target, a fluffy gray number who was just begging to be ploughed through. Happy to give her foe the end it so desired Jennifer pumped her wings to get a bit of speed and smashed through, forehooves leading. She passed through the other side with a soft *pft* sound. With a little laugh she shook the water from her mane and face. “It’s filled with water!”
Dash easily kept pace with the slower flier and smirked. “Well duh, it’s a cloud! C’mon let’s smash a few more of these bad boys then maybe you can kick out some snow.”
It was easy to lose track of the time up there among the clouds. Unable to see the hustle and bustle of the town going about their day a pony could imagine there was nothing to the world but the endless sea of dull gray fluff. A few hours of bucking clouds and kicking out snow passed before a concerned Fluttershy hunted down the adventurous duo. “Jennifer school’s going to be letting out soon. You need to get to work.”
“What?! It’s not three already is it?”
Both mares gave simultaneous nods. “Gah! I gotta go I’ll see you girls later!” Smiling suddenly Jen tucked her wings in close to her sides allowing herself to fall toward the ground. Feeling the updraft she’d been waiting for she spread her wings wide and coasted over the town toward the school house. Flying was everything she’d imagined it to be and she honestly never wanted to touch the ground again. Alas responsibilities reared their ugly heads. She probably couldn’t run a daycare comprised mostly of unicorns and earth ponies from the air. Not to mention wielding a sword in her mouth might be awkward while trying to stay aloft.
The daycare was in view before she came to a rather startling realization. She hadn’t practiced proper landing. When she would glide, landing was just a matter of letting yourself eventually come to a stop. She could probably do the same thing but she was so high up she’d likely wind up in the middle of the Everfree if she tried gliding to a stop. With a little sigh she searched around the school yard for an appropriate snow drift.
Miss Cheerilee’s class was (for the most part) attentively listening to their teacher’s final words of the day. It was almost time for the bell to ring, that meant they got to leave! True most of them only left to walk to the building immediately behind the school, but it was a place of fun and play rather than sitting still and learning. The sudden appearance of a wailing green streak plummeting from the sky outside the window to crash into a big pile of snow interrupted what remained of her lecture. With a quick glance outside to ensure the new flier was alright, Cheerilee sighed.
“I think that’s it for class today everypony.”
***
Glitter. Jennifer was beginning to think offering glitter to the foals she watched over for their various art projects was perhaps a bad idea. Though it did lend a bit of festive color to the interior of her work place.
“You know, maybe we should take glitter off the list of art supplies.”
We. Jen couldn’t hide a grin at that. Dinky was as always helping her clean up after the day. Thursdays were especially more work for Dinky Doo since Jen would be up in her office getting the deposit ready which left Dinky alone for about an hour to clean.
“I was just thinking that myself.” She ruffled the filly’s mane. She didn’t trust her hoof/mouth writing with her account books so she’d always go back to human to fill them out. “Looks like we’re done here.” Jennifer very seriously counted out twenty five bits for Dinky.
The little unicorn eyed the bigger-than-normal pile curiously. “How come there’s five more?”
Jen shrugged slinging the hefty bag of coin over her shoulder. “You’re a really big help, and business is booming. Hard workers get raises.”
Dinky was practically skipping all the way to her vault, gleefully proclaiming she’d gotten a raise today to anypony that so much as glanced her way. Jen had to pause and eye the significantly larger pile of coin in her vault curiously. “Hey Mr. Loan what’s with the uh…multiplication going on in here?”
“Oh Mr. Rich didn’t tell you? Your portion of the proceeds from your franchise businesses are being deposited to your vault automatically. Not to mention your first film debuted in Manehattan last weekend. It was apparently a hit.”
“Oh! Well…cool I guess.” She checked the taller at her vault…it was up to nearly six thousand bits. “Guess I can buy into an equal partnership sooner rather than later at this rate.” With a little chuckle she resealed her vault. ‘Maybe give some to the Apples too, for the weeks they let me mooch off ‘em.’ She thought to herself. She knew Rarity would steadfastly refuse payment for the clothes she generated, calling them gifts. She could always commission a dress as a way to pay her back.
The walk to Dinky’s house was short, of course the house was dark and door locked. Jen frowned a little at the normally cheerful filly’s sigh. “Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? Pinkie’s always got something good cookin’.”
“Sounds good to me!”
Strolling back through town in her (over the past couple weeks) rarely worn natural self Jen considered going back to full pegasus, but Bleeding Heart wanted her to get in some work with her sword tonight and that required hands.
The house was unusually quiet for this time of day. Pinkie was usually chattering to either of the house hold pets, a neighbor, or a visiting friend. The door was unlocked of course…who would break into everypony’s favorite party planner’s house? Spotting a note on the table Jen read it curiously.
“Hey Jenny-bean, had a party emergency! Found out it’s Cranky’s birthday today and was totally unprepared. There’s a fruit pizza in the fridge for you and Dinky! Don’t forget to feed Gummy and Izzy!” She frowned a little as she came to the end. “How’d she know you were coming over?”
Dinky shrugged. “Dunno. What’s a fruit pizza?”
“Oh! A little invention of ours. Probly not the healthiest dinner ever but then again neither is regular pizza right?” She was met with a blank stare; of course Dinky would have no idea. With a little grin Jen retrieved the meal from the fridge. The crust was hoofmade pie dough and in place of sauce was a creamy vanilla icing. The toppings were up to the eater of course, Jen preferred cherries, oranges, and a big slice of apple at the top of every piece. Naturally it was lacking Pinkie’s usual inclusion of ‘everything else’ on her own half. The other half of the pizza was filled with blueberries, raspberries, and black berries.
Dinky hopped about excitedly. “Those are my favorites!”
Shaking her head at the mystery that was Pinkie Pie, Jen fetched some plates and divvied up the slices. “Of course they are.”
Before sitting to her own food Jen split a can of dog food for the resident dog and gator. She always felt it a little weird…feeding dog food to an alligator but what else was he gonna eat? Chores completed (of which she always had few, for such an energetic party animal Pinkie Pie was actually pretty tidy, and Jen kept her messes confined to her own bedroom), she sat to enjoy her own food.
The two ate in companionable silence. Dinky rarely enjoyed home cooked food beyond the occasional batch of muffins so the meal was a special treat for her. To Jen it was mercifully without the flair of Pinkie Pie’s culinary experimentation. At times it was great, others…well pickle juice and peanut butter were not a good mix.
Meal finished the elder of the pair went about clearing the dishes while the younger watched quietly. “So what’re you thinking of doing when you finish school Dinky?”
“Well…I thought about being a mail mare like momma for a bit.”
Jen nodded as she started to stack the plates. “Yeah? I bet she’d like that.”
“Maybe. Now I wanna keep doing what I’m doing now though.”
The teen looked over her shoulder. “You mean help me in the daycare? Isn’t that kinda I dunno…dull?”
Dinky blinked. “YOU do it. And I like helping! It’s a lot of fun. And you look like YOU have a lot of fun playing with us and stuff…I guess it is a little silly.”
With a little smile Jen ruffled her mane again. “Nah it’s not silly Dinky. It’s nice. And it IS fun. I bet you’d be great at it. Heck maybe you can run the place someday.”
The unicorn perked up. “Really? You think so?”
Jen shrugged. “Sure. I’m only doing it cause it’s a good way to make bits. I plan to travel in a couple years. First I wanna see Equestria then I want to go beyond. The dragon lands and griffon empire, down to Zebrica. I’m gonna see it all.”
“R-really? You wanna see where…dragons and griffons and zebras live?!” Dinky shuddered at the idea.
Jennifer laughed as she grabbed a couple books from her room. “Really. It’s always been my dream to travel and see new things. Back home everything’s pretty much discovered. Almost every inch of our world is mapped out and stuff y’know? But here…there’s so little you guys have documented outside of Equestria. I could be like Columbus or Magellan! …uh…I could be a famous explorer.”
Dinky’s eyes were shining a little. “Wow I never thought of it like that! You could see stuff nopony’s ever seen before!”
“Exactly! I’d be the first Equestrian to like, see the dragon lands in years. I’d explore the jungles of Zebrica! Climb the mountains of the griffon empire…course that’s not for a bit yet. Pinkie wouldn’t even let me fly without her say so I doubt she’d ok me wandering off to dragon land for a couple years yet.” Jen glanced at the clock on the wall. “Alright I gotta hit the library than I’m off to practice. Heart’s been nagging me for a while now.”
I do not NAG, I gently remind.
Rolling her eyes Jen looked back at Dinky. “You want me to walk ya home or can you get there ok?”
The little filly shook her head standing up from the table. “I can get home by myself. Thanks for dinner Jen, and thank Pinkie for me too.”
“Heh, you’re welcome over anytime Dinky. I know Pinkie doesn’t mind. She loves pop ins. Usually Vinyl smelling whatever she’s cooking next door and dropping by…” Jen shut the door as she and Dinky stepped out, one headed for home and the other for the library.
***
“Twilight’s not here.” Jen blinked and jumped back a bit as Spike abruptly slammed the door in her face.
She stood in front of the door for a minute before knocking again, frowning this time.
The surly looking young dragon glared up at her. “I SAID Twilight’s not here. No book check outs when she’s gone and she’s studying in that weird library so she won’t be back until late.”
This time when he tried to slam the door she jammed her foot in the way…glad she’d bothered to throw shoes on. “What the heck’s your problem Spike?” Sure she wasn’t exactly best friends with the little guy but they’d always gotten along well enough when she was at the library.
He puffed up his chest looking about to go on a tirade…when he just deflated suddenly. “I guess it’s not really your fault. She’s had her eye on him ever since her big trip to Canterlot a while ago.”
Aha. So that was it. With a little smile she let herself in shutting the door. “This’ about Rarity and Fancy Pants huh?” Twilight’s owl was eyeing the girl carefully as she set her (just barely!) overdue library books on the table.
The dejected dragon nodded sullenly. “I thought I really had a shot y’know? We kinda had this moment during my uh…big dragon rampage.” He heaved another sigh. “And now he’s ALL she ever talks about!”
Jen gave him a sympathetic smile kneeling down to eye level, resting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not so bad Spike. Besides she’s like OLD compared to you. Don’t you want someone…more your age? And species?”
He huffed looking up at her. “You’re one to talk. You’re pretty cozy with that night pony when she visits.”
“Who Echo? That’s different. I’m usually a pony when we go out remember? Plus I’m gonna wind up as one for good sooner or later Spike.” She displayed her bracelet for emphasis.
Suddenly his eyes were fixated on the dangling jewelry. “Yeah…yeah you DO turn into a pony to go out with her don’t you?”
Looking from his suddenly laser focused gaze to the bracelet on her wrist Jen stepped back clapping a hand over it. “Ohhh no! No no Spike that’s not a good idea. I don’t even know if it WORKS for dragons. Plus this seems like something Twilight would freak out over. And d’you really wanna come between Rarity and Fancy?”
Spike clutched at her shirt giving her his biggest puppy dog eyes. “Pleeeeeeease Jen! This could be my last chance! She’s my true love! I’d help YOU if you needed it!”
Chewing her lip Jen ruffled her wings in agitation. “…FINE. For ONE night. And if Twilight finds out about this I’m telling her you like…over powered me and ran off with it, got it?”
Gleefully the little dragon released her and danced from foot to foot, claws eagerly extended as she slid the bracelet off and offered it to him. He didn’t even hesitate to fling it over his wrist and grab at the unicorn charm. A little flash went off and…to Jen’s surprise a pretty handsome colt stood in his place. He really was only a little smaller than she was when she went pony. His light purple coat and green mane were pretty striking, the mane standing up in rakish spikes.
“So? How do I look?”
“A lot older than I expected. How old ARE you Spike?”
The new pony was a lot more adept at walking on all fours than Jen was when she first started. He wouldn’t be galloping anywhere anytime soon but he could definitely walk about. “Fourteen in a couple weeks.”
“Huh. I’m only two years older than you? I thought you were like…I dunno five or something the way the girls all treat you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I mean in dragon years I guess I AM a baby. Dragons take forever to grow up I guess. Naturally I mean. Princess Celestia said it was uh…a combination of mental and physical maturity.”
Nodding a little Jen slid the bracelet from his leg. “Alright so here’s the deal. I’m gonna be out a little ways north of Fluttershy’s cottage practicing. After you see Rarity you come find me, and we get you back in scales. Deal?”
“Deal! Thanks Jen this means a lot to me!”
Jen was nearly bowled over as he awkwardly raced from the house in the direction of Rarity’s boutique. With a bemused sigh she glanced up at Owlowiscious. “Can you lock the door behind me.”
“Hoo.” Was his response. Not one to be suckered into another of his little games Jen just nodded politely and stepped out the door, sliding the bracelet back on. She quirked a brow when she felt a fifth charm against her skin. Lifting it to eye level she smiled. “Well well…look what Spike gave me…”'
***
As Jen passed the Doo house she was dismayed to find Dinky moping about on the porch. “Hey Dinky…you need a boost?”'
The filly sighed. “I guess…” She perked her ears suddenly. “Can I come with you?”
“Ehh I dunno Dinky. It’s not very exciting, and it might be dangerous.”
Truly she be safer with us than sitting here in the dark alone no? Mercy cannot harm the filly either way, even with what I plan to teach thee this eve.
Eyeing her traitorous sword she shrugged. “Alright you can come along. But you gotta be quiet ok? I’m trying to learn something new and sometimes I need to concentrate hard.”
Dinky’s eyes widened and she nodded solemnly. “I promise.”
“Alright let’s go then.”
They walked in silence for a time before Dinky’s curiosity got the better of her. “So didja learn all he runes yet?”
Jen nodded with a faint smile. “I did. Just finished the last one last night. Number five lets me take someone’s wounds onto myself, and number six lets me heal quickly. I guess Bleeding Heart thought that’d be a good inclusion based on the fifth rune.” She chuckled a little.
“So if somepony’s hurt bad you can make it so YOU’RE hurt instead, and then heal yourself? How come the fifth rune isn’t just healing somepony else?”
Jen shrugged. “I guess back then regular healing magic was really rare. And the bearer before Bleeding Heart was named Martyr so it kinda fits. A little depressing if you ask me.”
“A lot depressing…” Dinky squinted at Jen’s bracelet. “Hey was there always a dragon on there?”
With a laugh Jen shook her head. “Good eye, and no it just showed up today.”
“Ooo can you turn into a dragon now?”
“I think so. I was gonna try it out after practice. I guess we’ll find out together huh?” Jen flashed a toothy grin as they passed Fluttershy’s cottage. It was dark inside; the pegasus was probably at the party Pinkie Pie was throwing.
Another twenty minutes of walking had the pair in a large clear field with nothing but snow in most directions, the border of the Everfree could be seen on the girls’ right. The moon hung high in the sky lighting the world below in silvery radiance. Dinky settled comfortably on the ground watching excitedly as Jennifer drew Mercy from its sheath. One of the runes glimmered brightly and the filly gasped as the spectral image of an armored unicorn took shape.
Jen switched from pegasus to unicorn aspect, then brought out her armor…drawing another gasp from the spectating filly. She looked very much like the ghostly knight now…at least in what she was wearing. Identical suits of armor, shields, and blades were drawn as the pair took several steps from each other, raising their blades in a salute.
As if some unspoken agreement passed between the duo they charged at the same instant, blades flashing and shields rising to block. Dinky flinched at the loud clash of steel on steel, but found herself unable to look away. Human and unicorn moved in perfect harmony with one another. When one stepped forward the other was already mimicking. Each swing and thrust of the blade was met by an identical swing and block from the other combatant. It was almost like a dance of sorts. The way they would spin, step, hop back, twirl and block.
Bleeding Heart hopped back and snapped her sword up in another salute, and Jen did the same. This time when they came together they were no longer mirroring one another. They attacked each other with gusto now. The far more experienced knight slipped through Jennifer’s guard more than a few times, but the girl was holding her own. Heart began to force Jen back with a sudden flurry of strikes from her blade and Dinky thought her friend was surely done for, before her horn flared to life and blew Bleeding Heart across the field.
The ghostly mare twisted in the air and landed smoothly on her hooves, charging back in. Thinking to stop the specter of her blade the same way she did Umbra, Jen reached out with her magic to hoist the unicorn into the air. It worked…for a moment. Then Heart summoned her own magic and broke the hold the girl had over her, bringing her copy of Mercy down in a powerful overhead swing, using her falling momentum to lend strength. Jen managed to get her shield in the way but the blow staggered her, sending her to her knees. Heart landed smoothly and spun, driving her hind hooves into the girls armored stomach sending her flat on her back with a groan. Gently the mare rested the tip of her blade under Jennifer’s helm.
Dinky had to resist the urge not to charge to Jennifer’s rescue, her fears were swiftly banished when Heart sheathed her sword and stepped back. A grumbling Jennifer sat up, banishing her armor. “I almost had you that time!”
Of course. Thy strategy of flopping about the ground akin to a beached flounder was quite inspired. Very nearly did I fall for thy ruse.
Dinky yelped now. “I heard her!”
Almost as if they had forgotten they had an audience girl and ghost turned to Dinky. “Oh…yeah when she’s outside the sword anypony can hear her. Dinky, this is Bleeding Heart.”
Tis a pleasure to make thy acquaintance Dinky Doo. I am Dame Bleeding Heart, Knight of Harmony.
The little filly seemed stuck somewhere between excited and terrified. This WAS a ghost after all, but it was a nice ghost. She had to be if she was friends with Jen. She dipped into an awkward little curtsy. “N-nice to meet you Miss Heart.”
Jen eyed the spirit curiously. “I didn’t know you were like a noble or something.”
Dame is merely the title of a lady knight Jubilant. Were there an actual knighthood remaining t’would be thy own title in time. Excellent useage of thy magic by the way. It took me by surprise; truly thou art growing in skill at an acceptable pace.
Smiling thinly Jen dipped into a sarcastic little bow. “Your praise means all the world to me. Speaking of magic…time to go back. I’m getting worn out.”
Inclining her head Heart vanished into Mercy once again. Dinky stepped closer curiously. “D’you come all the way out here because you make so much noise practicing?”
Jen shrugged and rolled her neck and shoulders. “Partly. The other part is while I was trying to harmonize with Mercy I needed it to be very quiet. It took a lot of sitting still and concentrating to get to where I am now. Speaking of, Heart has something new to teach me so I need you to be quiet again Dinky.”
Eyes wide the filly hastened back to her previous seat and settled down calmly. Jen settled into her familiar kneeling position with Mercy spread across her lap.
Thy mastery of Mercy be nearly complete. Only one ability remains before a rune of thine own can be added. Tis the most simple, but dangerous of the abilities of the Arms of Harmony. The blade can be used as a focus for thy spell casting. While thou are clearly no sorceress, thy magic reserves are mighty and can be focused through the blade to produce spectacular results. There is only danger if thy power wrests itself from thy control. Do not fear overmuch, the only harm that can be caused is to the landscape about us.
Alright…so the can’t hurt innocents extends to this? That’s good to know. So what do I have to do?
Tis simple. Summon thy magic; though instead of focusing through thy horn, use Mercy as the conduit for release. For now t’would be best to use as little as possible. Thy reserves are formidable to say the least, and a full release would be most devastating to the countryside.
Dinky Doo was watching wide eyed as the girl knelt in the snow, her blade glowing brightly and a similar glow surrounding her eyes. She gasped yet again as the glow suddenly vanished and Jen blinked her eyes open, getting to her feet. Still not saying a word the human girl held Mercy’s tip pointing into the distance away from herself. Again her eyes closed as her horn began to glimmer to life. The verdant green aura snaked down her arm and into the sword much to the filly’s surprise.
Slowly the glow around the blade began to intensify so much it was hurting Dinky’s eyes to look…but she refused to look away. The aura started to lick and twist away from the sword, covering Jen’s arm in roiling magic. Without warning she snapped her other hand to the blades hilt and drew the sword back, slashing the air with a shout. Still refusing to shut her eyes Dinky watched, mouth agape as a wave of roiling green magic ripped from the sword and tore its way across the field, leaving melted snow and scorched ground in its wake.
Woozily Jen blinked her eyes back open and fell back on her butt in the snow. “How wuzzat?”
Wild and unrestrained, but impressive. Ten more than we can go home.
With a disgruntled huff she got back to her feet. Repeating the act again and again. While it didn’t really get any more refined she managed to belt out the requisite ten before thudding back onto her rear end.
Dinky didn’t approach until she had sheathed Mercy. “…that was amazing!”
Jen gave her a sleepy grin. “Yeah? It feels uh…draining. And I didn’t even put all my juice into it.” Sprawling out on the snow the girl settled down to gather her strength again. She was already feeling her mana slowly filling itself back up.
The little filly crept closer settling in the snow by Jennifer, almost touching Mercy’s shield with her nose. “I think I figure out what I wanna do when I grow up.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
Dinky just smiled softly, not answering. “Hey Jen?”
“Mmhm?”
“Did you have any brothers or sisters back home?”
Jen turned her head to regard Dinky. “Nope. It was just my mom, dad, and uncle. I didn’t even have any cousins. It was a small family. My grandparents were dead before I was born and Uncle Derek never got married.” Lifting her wrist with the bracelet to eye level she sighed at the comfortable feeling that came when her noticeably depleted mana filled itself. “What about you?”
“Nope, it’s just me and momma. I never met my dad, and momma doesn’t like talking about him. She has a stallion friend who comes over a lot but they both say he’s not my dad. He’s really nice, and brings me presents and stuff…but I believe them. He doesn’t FEEL like a dad you know?”
Jennifer shrugged. She was definitely not the person to talk to about forming deep familial bonds. “I guess. I’m sure if he were your dad he’d say something. So is that why she’s not around a lot? She’s running around with that guy?”
“Sometimes. She works a lot too. Usually she’s gone before I wake up for school and when she does come home it’s not until after dinner time.” The little filly’s voice grew softer. “Miss Cheerilee told me I shouldn’t get upset with her. When momma was a filly something heavy hit her head and hurt her real bad. They tried to do healing spells but they couldn’t fix it all the way. That’s why her eyes go wrong sometimes and she runs into stuff a lot.”
Jeez this wasn’t exactly where Jen had expected this conversation to go. She eyed the frowning filly from the corner of her eye. “Well. Since I came to Equestria I’ve been getting a bit of a family of my own y’know? There’s Pinkie Pie of course. And me and Echo have been getting really close the last few weeks.”
Dinky giggled now. “Kissy face close?”
With a smirk Jen flicked Dinky’s nose. “Maybe. And there’s this one filly who follows me around a lot. She’s kinda like a little sister.”
“Oh? Do I know her?” Of course the quick witted filly was wise to Jen’s game, but she was happy to play along.
“Probably. She’s in Miss Cheerilee’s class.”
“Hmm…Scootaloo?”
“Close.”
“Oh! It must be Sweetie Belle.”
“Getting warmer.”
“I know! Diamond Tiara!”
“Yup. Diamond Tiara is the little sister I’ve always wanted. You can tell by how close we are right?”
Dinky giggled again and inched closer, resting her little body against Jen’s arm. “So are you gonna turn into a dragon or what?”
“Why not?” Swinging her legs into the air, she brought them down using the momentum to heave herself into a sitting position. “Step back a little. I dunno if I’m gonna like get huge or something.”
The filly scampered a little ways away to give Jennifer plenty of room to try out her newest charm. Jen eyed it a moment before she gripped the dragon shaped charm. She felt the familiar rush of magic roll over her body. It faded with the usual quickness. She noticed the lack of weight on her head. Her hair was gone. Slowly she raised a clawed hand to her head running it along her scaly scalp. She felt a somewhat wild growth of spines adoring her head. Craning her neck around she saw they ran the length of her back and tail and were the same crimson color her mane became when she was a night pony. Her scales were the same blackish-green as her night pony coat too.
A grinning Dinky Doo trotted over. “I don’t think you’re an adult dragon Jen.”
The little green dragon blinked at suddenly being eye level with Dinky. With a grimace she looked down to find the same pudgy belly Spike sported. She was indeed a baby dragon. She might be a LITTLE taller than he was but not by much. “Oh man what a gyp!” Even her voice squeaked out higher.
Dinky lost it at that, falling on her back and flailing her hooves in the air as she squealed with laughter. Jennifer felt a spectacular pout coming on, and only through sheer force of will did she keep it from coming out. She settled for sticking her tongue out at the filly, squeaking at the alien sensation of the slender reptilian tongue snaking out and waggling in the air. She hastily pulled it back in.
Dinky’s giggles finally subsided as she rolled back to her hooves. “You’re so cute! Like a girly green Spike! I like the spines on your head though, they look a little like a mane!”
Jen ran her hand through them again. “Yeah? Well let’s get back to town and I can see what I look like.”
The filly pranced circles around the much slower moving dragon. Jen found if she broke into a waddling little run she could move quicker but Dinky’s renewed giggling put a stop to THAT right away. Slinging her shoes over her shoulder they made their way back to Ponyville. “Hey can ya breathe fire?!”
Jen cupped her hands over her belly. “I think so. I feel something really warm in here. Want me to try?” At Dinky’s excited nod she furrowed her brow and rubbed her little snout in thought. Grinning at the sudden inspiration she took a deep breath and belched as loud as she could. A sudden gout of vivid pink fire leapt from her mouth and spiraled into the air.
“Woo! You did it! And it was pink like your sword!”
With a grumble she snapped her mouths hut. “It’s a pale red, not pink.”
“It’s pink.”
Mercy is pink. I specifically had it altered to be so.
“Pale red!”
Neither filly nor ghost was listening.
***
Jen dropped Dinky off at her house then headed out in search of Spike. The normally dependable little guy hadn’t shown up for the switch back to his dragon self and Jennifer was a little worried. She’d gotten a few curious looks from the ponies still about in the evening, but she was a small enough dragon no pony seemed to be overly concerned with her presence. Then once they spotted Mercy on her arm they shrugged it off to another of the human resident’s eccentricities.
She didn’t have to go far to find the dragon turned colt. He was talking and laughing with Sweetie Belle. Jen ducked back around the boutique’s wall and peeked out at the chatting ponies. Both seemed to have that vaguely tense but excited feel she had around Echo lately. Rarity finally poked her head out.
“Sweetie Beeeeelle, say good night to Spike and come inside! You can see him tomorrow after school. It’s bedtime!”
Reluctantly the young pair parted, and Spike was practically floating as he made his way passed Jen’s hiding spot. With a huff she took off after him pumping her little legs. “Spike!”
He turned and jumped at the sight of her. “Whoa! What happened to YOU?” He squinted suddenly. “…am I that fat too?”
With an indignant squeak Jen clapped her hands over her belly. “It’s not fat! It’s-it’s insulation! And yes you are!” Smoothing her ruffled spines she stared up at Spike. “So it looked like you and Sweetie Belle were having a nice talk.”
Spike blushed and scuffed the ground with a forehoof. “W-well…Rarity kinda um, shot me down. She said I was very handsome and a true gentleman, but her heart was promised to somepony else. I bumped into Sweetie Belle on my way out and we got to talking and well…I have a date tomorrow!”
Jen laughed a little. “Well congratulations.” She dangled the bracelet at him. “Now change back.”
The colt immediately adopted a defensive stance. “What? Why? I have a date! What if she doesn’t like dragon-me!?”
“That’s the REAL you Spike, she knows that. If she didn’t like dragon-you she wouldn’t have asked you out tomorrow. Besides we had a deal.”
Grumbling all the while the young unicorn allowed the dragoness to slip the bracelet over his foreleg. With a heavy sigh he changed, leaving a pair of baby dragons in the middle of the street. He handed her bracelet back. “Huh. You’d think I’d find you cute but…I don’t.”
Brow furrowed huffily she refastened the bracelet around her wrist. “Gee thanks.”
“No no! I didn’t mean it like that. Just…I guess I like ponies over dragons?”
His fellow reptile shrugged. “Maybe? I mean you’ve lived around them since the second you were hatched. I guess it’d make sense. Maybe you’re just a pony at heart.”
Spike gave a little nod. “I’ve kinda been thinking that for a while now. Ever since that disaster with the dragon migration.” At her questioning look he sighed. “Long story, ask Twilight or Rainbow Dash. Anyway…maybe think I could use that bracelet again?”
“I don’t see why not. As long as you get Twilight’s permission from now on. I don’t want an enraged Twilight Sparkle blowing the wall off my room looking for me cause I turned her dragon into a pony.”
“Heh she wouldn’t do that. …maybe. Yeah I better make sure it’s alright with her first.”
“I think that’d be best. If she gives the okay come find me tomorrow before school lets out alright? I’ll give you the hook up.”
“Will do! Thanks Jen, I’ll see you tomorrow then!”
With a little wave he waddled his way back up to the library. Grimacing at how adorably silly he looked Jen felt she’d had quite enough of looking the same and returned to her human state. She was pleasantly surprised to find a large pair of green draconic wings at her back. Less excited about the creepy lizard tongue and fangs. Her hair was intact though it felt heavier. Running a hand through it she found it felt similar to her spines, only longer and more abundant. There was still the warmth in her chest and stomach.
“Huh, now this could be handy.”
***
My fellows spoke little to me. None condoned my actions. They all understood why I did what I did, even if they didn’t all agree with me. Silent Step nodded her approval silently and Comet Streak just gave a resigned shrug. “The heat of battle.” He’d told me. It could make a pony lose his mind, seeing a comrade fall. Only Healing Touch was no mere comrade to me. She was my closest and dearest friend, and I had hoped something more once this war nonsense was settled.
I knew some healing magic but nothing near the level Healing was capable of. The spear had been removed and her wound bandaged, but the field medic told us it didn’t look good and suggested we take a moment to say our goodbyes.
They did. Comet and Silent together murmuring a few words over her far too still form. Abundance gently kissed the top of Healing Touch’s head before leaving her alone with myself and an unusually quiet Sunshine.
Words failed me. I simply had nothing to say. What could I say? That it was unfair? That we deserved a life together? That I had such big plans for the two of us? It all seemed so selfish. This wasn’t about me, it was about her. I again glanced at the other pony in the room. The young colt had been sitting in the corner quietly with his rapier drawn, resting on the ground before him. His nose was just barely resting against the hilt.
Without warning his eyes fluttered open and he rose, blade gripped in his magical aura he sat down by Healing’s head, and began to sing softly. I had to strain to hear the words.
“Hush now quiet now, it’s time to rest your sleepy head…”
A lullaby? I suppose it was somewhat fitting. The ever cheerful Sunshine was unlikely to have any funeral dirges in his musical repertoire after all. I turned my attention back to Healing, again trying to find something to say. To my astonishment the site of her wound was glowing in a pale yellow light. The same light as Sunshine’s own magic. I looked to the still crooning colt to find his blade was glowing brightly. Particularly one point along the metal just above the hilt. As I watched a rune began to shape itself in the blade.
Sunshine’s voice had been rising steadily until he was practically belting out lines of the supposed lullaby at the top of his lungs. Smiling all the while. His less than gentle singing had drawn the rest of our friends back, most likely to admonish him for his breach of etiquette. They all stopped staring slack jawed at the sight of the colt’s brightly flaring magic that surrounded both himself and our near-to-death companion. Ever so slowly Healing Touch’s eyes fluttered open, and she smiled softly. “I love that song.”
Sunshine finished and flashed her his biggest grin. “I know you do. Even though it’s a lullaby I thought it might be a good one for you to wake up to.”
I seized Healing’s bandages in my own magic and tore them away. There was no sign she had ever been wounded at all, save the smallest of discolorations in her newly grown patch of fur. I couldn’t help myself, I tackled Healing Touch off the table and to the ground in the fiercest embrace I could manage.
Confused and not realizing how close to death she had come she returned my hug, gazing at our happily crying friends in astonishment. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
We all shared a laugh and despite her protests the medic insisted she be left alone to rest. While reluctant to leave her side I had questions for Sunshine. “How did you do…what you did? That wound was terrible enough that it would have taken every spell Healing knew to remove it.”
The young colt shifted as we all stared him down. “Well…my sword told me I could add something more to it than I already did. Something…unique.”
“Your sword…TOLD you?”
He laughed a little. “I know how that sounds, but yes. Ever since the bit with the dragons I’ve been hearing the tiniest of whispers in the back of my head. While everypony was in with Healing Touch I decided to really concentrate on the voice. It um…helped take my mind off her.”
I nod, I can understand the need. “So then what?”
He shrugged. “I just felt…more in tune with the sword. I’m calling it Hymn by the way. I think it fits and he needs a name. Anyway, Hymn told me that I could make my mark on him, and give him a little something extra then just being a really fancy sword and second horn to shoot magic out of. So…I did.”
So simple an explanation, but of course Sunshine was not a mage. He didn’t study advanced magical theorem and wouldn’t really know any of the convoluted terms to describe an inanimate object not only gaining sentience, but enough awareness to impart advice to its owner. I look at my own weapon speculatively as the others are now doing. “So you…gave it what exactly Sunshine?”
He beamed. “A song of course! The lullaby, Hush Now. Singing the lullaby can bring out a really strong healing spell now.”
I chuckled. “Of course, a song.”
The journey back home was a quiet one. Five of the six of us intently focused on our own weapons trying to hear the mysterious voice Sunshine spoke of. Comet Streak was the only of us to manage it. His broadsword now named Corona, he could invoke the heat of the sun itself it would seem to set the blade alight.
Word of the devastation in the ape kingdom had spread quickly. The dogs and griffons had already abandoned their fronts to fortify their homes in preparation for our imagined attack. King Diamond Dust was more than pleased to say the least. With the treaty among the dragons, the apes wiped out, and the other two now chased into their various holes it seemed peace had come to our land at last.
We could not have foreseen the newest threat to our peaceful existence would come from within. Seeing the power we wielded against our outer threats, the king decided it was time to bring the other two tribes fully in line. The pegasi were willful and only worked with us when war time called for it. The earth ponies chafed at being treated as second class citizens and would be surly and uncooperative from time to time.
We were sent immediately to Pegasopolis with an ultimatum. Swear fealty to the crown or be destroyed utterly. The king reasoned that our magic was great enough we didn’t need pegasus ponies to control the weather, and If such was the case one of the smaller cloud cities would be elevated to their capitol’s former glory if they were willing to obey.
This mission sat well with not one of us. Perhaps before the ritual we would have thought nothing of attacking a fellow pony but now…now the racial barriers that seemed to important a few short weeks ago now seemed utterly inconsequential. I worked a simple spell to allow us cloud walking and we levitated ourselves to the grand city in the sky.
The pegasi were surprised to say the least at our sudden appearance. Surprised and wary. Many had been at the front when I razed the ape’s country to the ground and correctly suspected the reason we had come. Still none wished to actually engage us in open combat and we were ushered through the city with as much haste as proper decorum would allow.
The pegasus ponies were a rigid and militaristic tribe. That’s not to say they had no artisans or members of their tribe who followed gentler paths, but the military ruled here. Their current Commander was a fiery mare by the name of Lightning Streak. I’d only been in her company once when accompanying my master to a meeting of the tribes’ leaders. She was hard headed and stubborn, but cared deeply for her people.
Our guide halted us before what I assumed to be the Commander’s quarters. “Commander Lighting Streak has requested she speak with Starswhirl Lulamoon alone.”
This was a bit of a surprise. Not so much that she wished a one on one conversation, but that she knew my embarrassingly silly clan name. I could hear the others save Healing Touch snickering behind my back. Doing my best to salvage what little dignity I could I nodded my ascent. “Of course.”
The commander was certainly an imposing mare. Standing nearly as tall as many stallions she gazed at me with a surprisingly resigned look in her normally blazing magenta eyes. She had a deep blue coat and a rather striking yellow and red streaked mane. “Master Magi, it’s a pleasure to receive you and your valiant companions in our fair city. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I bow as deeply as if I were standing before my own king. “Commander, our thanks for receiving us and seeing me so promptly. I…wish we were here under better circumstances…”
She raised a hoof silencing me. “So Diamond Dust has sent you and your fellow warriors to bring us into line properly hm?” She sighed softly looking out the window of her office to the city below. “Despite my reputation Starswhirl, I am not some hot headed private eager for constant battle and bloodshed. Word of your deeds is spreading quickly from every town and settlement in the kingdom.” Now she turned back to me. “So, as commander of Pegasopolis and leader of all pegasus pony cities I pledge my fealty to you.” Now SHE bowed low.
I admit I was pleasantly surprised. I had expected the pegasi to put up a fight and was not looking forward to the ensuing combat. “Wonderful. I truly am sorry we had to meet personally for the first time under such circumstances. I’ll bring word of your compliance to King Diamond Dust right away.”
Now she raised her head, fixing me with a hard stare. “You misunderstood me I believe. I swear fealty to YOU, Starswhirl Lulamoon. And your fellow warriors. We respect strength in the pegasus tribe and you and yours have displayed a might never before seen by ponykind. Not only your military might, but your ability to peacefully mediate disputes as seen with your actions toward the dragons.”
The only way she could have surprised me more is by lunging across the office and driving her spear through my chest. “I…I see. I…appreciate your sentiments commander but…we are servants of the king. We hold no actual political power.”
Lighting Strike kept that iron gaze fixed on me, refusing to let me look away. “I am well aware of your position Starswhirl. But I believe you and yours are not here eagerly seeking the battle your king wishes. I think you wish peace. Peace between all three tribes. No doubt you travel to speak with the earth pony chancellor next. I believe he will feel similarly.”
Blinking dumbly I shook my head. “I…WE are not leaders Commander. We are…mages, soldiers, and cooks. Given great power yes, but still we were not bred and educated for such a role as ruling a kingdom.”
Her gaze softens now and she smiles faintly. “I believe you Starswhirl. But I am of the opinion that great leaders do not seek out their positions but have them thrust upon them. I have given you my answer Master Lulamoon. You may do with it as you will. I look forward to speaking with you again soon.”
I was too stunned to even bow properly, merely staggered from the office. The others were crowding around me, asking how it went but I didn’t speak until we were back on the ground. “Commander Lighting Strike said she ah…swears fealty to us.”
My fellows shared looks of confusion. “To us? To the unicorns you mean?”
I shook my head. “To US.”
Sunshine was already guffawing at the concept, and Abundance looked close to laughing along with him. Comet and Silent both had similarly speculative looks on their faces. Only Healing seemed to share my trepidation. “Surely she meant our king. WE can’t be in charge of anything!”
Comet Streak and Silent Step seemed to have reached an agreement. “Why can’t we?”
“We’re commoners for one thing. Mages and soldiers certainly but we’re not nobles!”
Silent Step spoke now. “Diamond Dust’s family wasn’t born nobility. Nobility is granted by a pony with a sparkly hat when one of his fellows kisses his hooves enough, or dumps enough wealth into his coffers. We can rule this kingdom just as well, if not better than he could.”
Healing was still shaking her head slowly, but she seemed to be considering it. Sunshine and Abundance both sat back silently. They were only cooks after all, a good deal further removed from the proposed position we take than the rest of us.
“We’re talking about committing treason here! Going against the pony we swore our lives and fealty too. We can’t just…just TAKE OVER!” The stress of the past few days was starting to weigh heavily on me I will admit.
Healing Touch finally spoke. “We don’t have to be rulers. We don’t have to seize power from the king to achieve peace. Instead we become peace keepers, protectors of all ponykind. Ensuring everypony is treated equally and fairly among the three tribes.”
Her words stilled our argument. The others were all nodding and smiling at the idea. “The king won’t like this.”
The mare I had come to love so dearly snorted in a most un-ladylike fashion. “He doesn’t need to LIKE it, merely accept it. I don’t like the idea of throwing our weight around anymore than you do Starswhirl, but it’s time for a change. The war among the other races is over, at least for now. It’s time we looked at ourselves and began tending to the problems among our fellow pony’s. Do you really think it’s fair the way the earth tribe is treated?”
With a resigned sigh I realized I had lost the debate. “Alright…we’ll try your idea. We’ll meet with Chancellor Rocksteady and see what he has to say about this…idea. Then we’ll speak with the commander again before returning to the king. Agreed?”
It was unanimous. The weighty discussion over Sunshine hopped happily to my side. “So what’re we gonna call ourselves?”
“Who says we need to call ourselves anything?”
He shook his head at me like I was a school foal asking an obvious question. “If we’re gonna change the whole kingdom ponies are gonna want to call us SOMEthing! I’d rather pick the name ourselves then just have them call us something like “The Super Six!” …actually that’s not bad.”
Abundance sighed and tugged him by the tail. “He’s right though Starswhirl. Not about that name it’s terrible, but if we’re going to establish ourselves as some sort of authority figures well…we should have a title if nothing else.”
“Alright fine. What do we call ourselves then?”
A few names were thrown around. Comet Streak was quite taken with the Warriors of Harmony. Healing Touch frowned gently. “I don’t want to be known as a warrior. Warriors seek out combat for the thrill of battle. That’s not what we’re doing here. We’re protectors, defenders of the peace. We’re knights.”
“Knights. The Knights of Harmony?” Everypony was unanimous in their happy nods. “Alright then. We’re The Knights of Harmony.”
“Jenny? Were you up reading all night again?”
Jen shrugged looking to the door to see a still drowsy Pinkie Pie on her way to the kitchen. “It’s a REALLY good book Pinkie. You should check it out when I’m done with it.” She set the book aside rolling off her bed to her hooves. Back in pegasus shape she followed Pinkie to the kitchen.
“Want some breakfast? I was thinking blue berry pancakes!”
“Sure Pinkie, that sounds good. How’d the party go last night?”
“Super-duper! You shoulda come!”
“Well I like my evening routine y’know? I’m almost ready to add my own rune to Mercy too.”
“Ooo what’s it gonna do?! You should make it shoot balloons! Or streamers! Or balloons and streamers!” She was grinning ear to ear now…it certainly didn’t take her long to wake up.
“I’m probably gonna try and think of something more in keeping with Mercy’s other runes. I doubt Bleeding Heart would approve of me shooting streamers everywhere.”
I certainly would not.
“Well I’m sure you’ll think of something great.” The conversation slowed some as Pinkie focused on her cooking. “So did you and Dinky have a nice night?”
“We did. I was thinking of seeing if she wanted to come with me to Canterlot this weekend. D’you think her mom would mind?”
The mare shrugged a little as she flipped three pancakes neatly onto a plate. “Nope. Ditzy loves her little Dinky a lot but she’s been looking after herself for a long time. It’s hard for Ditzy I think. With her head and all. Plus she had Dinky when she was so young. Ditzy’s the same age you are y’know?”
Jen blinked. “I did NOT know. It’s so hard to tell how old you guys all are.”
Pouring a couple glasses of juice Pinkie brought breakfast to the table and the pair started to eat. Pinkie Pie patiently helping Jen if she needed a hoof with her utensils or silverware. “You’re gettin’ pretty good with your hooves Jenny-bean.”
“Slowly but surely! So what’s the big celebration coming up? I heard somepony’s at the market talking about something called Winter Wrap Up?”
Pinkie gasped. “That’s right this is your first Winter Wrap Up! Oh you’re in for a doozy of a treat! Every winter we clean up the season with no magic. It’s tradition you know?”
Jen tilted her head. “Clean up the season?”
“Of course! Snow and ice don’t melt themselves Jenny-bean. We have to make bird nests and bring them back north and clear away the clouds! That’ll probly be your job since you’ll be a pegasus and all.”
“Huh. I knew pegasi made the weather but I didn’t think you guys like…changed the seasons and everything. You really have to do EVERYthing for yourselves don’t you?”
“Yup! It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun. You’ll see.”
Jen helped take care of the dishes and walked with Pinkie to Sugarcube Corner. “Whatcha doin’ today?”
The younger pony shrugged. “Dunno. Probly spend all day flying.” She grinned widely at the prospect.
“Just be careful! Try not to crash!”
They shared a laugh and a quick hug then Pinkie was heading in to work. With a little smile Jen turned from the doorway, got a running start and leapt into the air.