Chapter 43
The next day, Rick woke up bright and early, enjoyed a nice breakfast of leftover apple pie and surveyed the carnage from the night before. “I really wish I could clean with magic.” He decided to leave it for later. He walked out into the new day and started toward Fluttershy’s house.
As he came to the little cottage, he could see Fluttershy tending to the chickens in the coop. “Good morning, Fluttershy.” He waved as he walked around the side of the cottage.
“Oh, good morning, Rick. How are you?”
“I’m excellent, my house is incomplete disarray, but I am excellent.”
“Oh dear, I’ll help you clean it up.” She left the coop and started to head toward town in a hurry.
“Hold it.” Rick grabbed her tail as she went past. She ‘eeped’ and jumped, staying aloft with her wings for a few seconds. “The mess isn’t going anywhere. I’ll take care of it later.” He thought for a second, “of course, you can help if you reeeaally want to. I came here so you could help me with a pet.”
“Oh, right.” She giggled. “Let’s get started.”
Soon after, there were a number of dogs lined up. Every type from little terriers to medium sized shepherds and even larger dogs similar to a St. Bernard. To see so many dogs lined up and so well behaved was a bit of shock but compared to all the things he’d seen since he first arrived, it was the most normal.
“One of these days, Shy, you’re going to have to tell me how you communicate so well with all these animals.” She blushed at the comment.
“I-I’ve just always been able to. Besides, I just love all the little woodland critters.”
“ ‘Little?’ Last time I was over here, you were having tea with a bear. While I did enjoy myself, I don’t consider bears to be… little.” He grinned. “Now, how do we do this?”
“Well, when Rainbow Dash picked out Tank, she had a huge competition that ended in a big race.”
“Yeah, how about I just see which one I’m most compatable with.”
“Okay, that should work.” They both laughed.
Rick took time with each dog. He played fetch, they went on short walks, he even just sat with them for a short time. After hours of careful consideration and debate, he decided on a shepherd. The dog was male and came up to Rick’s thighs. The fur was standard in pattern and color. Rick decided to name it Paul.
“That’s an odd name for a dog.” Fluttershy said.
“True, but on Earth, Fluttershy would be a weird name for a person.”
“I suppose that’s fair.” After Fluttershy and Rick took care of the other dogs, he, Fluttershy and Paul walked together back into town to clean the disaster zone that was his house. Along the way, they met up with Twilight who was accompanied by her brother and, Rick learned, sister-in-law.
“Hey, everypony. What are you all up to?” Twilight asked.
“Hello there, Fluttershy, Paul and I are on our way to clean up the mess from the party. You are all welcome to join us. Three unicorns would make it a lot easier.” It suddenly dawned on him that he just asked royalty to clean his house, he winced. “I can’t believe I just did that. I’m sorry princess.”
She giggled, “it’s quite alright. It’s the least he could do after blasting you.” She turned to look at Shining who started to protest then thought better of it.
“Yeah, I’d love to help.” He told the dirt at his hooves.
“I’ll help too.” Twilight said as she nudged Shining and trotted toward Rick with her brother in tow. Cadence followed grinning from ear to ear.
Chapter 44
Rick swept the coffee table clear in one big sweep of his arm, brushing napkins, cupcake wrappers and scraps of wrapping paper into the trash can. Twilight loaded the rest of the dishes into the sink where Shining Armor was sentenced to dish duty. Cadence sat on a chair in the kitchen enjoying cake and Shining’s deserved misery.
“If I apologize again, can I please be set free?”
“Not my fault, I already accepted your apology. I think they just like watching you suffer.” Rick offered.
“You may be right.” He chuckled.
“I can help you know.” Cadence added.
“Absolutely not, Princess. I feel bad enough that I asked you in the first place. Please, just enjoy the treats and relax.”
“I set up Paul’s bed upstairs,” Fluttershy said as she came down the stairs. “I also made sure he had plenty of toys and left some treats in the kitchen.” Paul was following close behind with one of the aforementioned toys in his mouth.
Rick couldn’t help but notice something familiar about the ball. “I didn’t know ponies played tennis.” He plucked the ball from Paul’s mouth. “And judging by the look on your faces… you don’t.”
“What’s tennis?” The ever inquisitive Twilight asked.
“A sport, one I was never good at I might add. It’s rather difficult to explain, but a ball just like this is used. Coincidently, dogs love them.” As evidence, he threw the ball across the room and Paul ran headlong after it.
When the cleaning was finished, they sat around and talked. Rick was dumbfounded by the story of how Shining Armor and Princess Cadence’s wedding was almost ruined by a creature they called a changeling, a creature that could take on any form and fed off love. The whole concept terrified Rick, he did feel a little safer after he heard how they were defeated by Twilight, her friends and the royal couple in his living room. He was especially interested in the Crystal Empire. Since Shining and Cadence were going to be returning soon anyway, he offered to drive them there and they offered him a room in the Crystal Palace. He really was glad he wound up in this place.
Chapter 45
The next morning, Rick pack his backpack with a change of clothes and some toiletries. He loaded the pack in the back along with a bushel of Applejack’s apples and some toys treats and food for Paul. He was looking forward to seeing the Crystal Empire. Plus having a royal tour guide would be an experience that would be tough to beat.
“Good Morning, Rick.”
Rick turned and waved. “Oh, good morning, Twilight. And good morning, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence.”
“I thought we went over this last night, call me Cadence. There’s no need to stand on ceremony, especially if both Celestia and Luna feel the same way.”
He bowed low while holding one arm across his waist and the other extended to the side. “As you wish, milady.” Cadence and Twilight giggled. Shining was too overloaded with their luggage.
“Are you still punishing him?” Rick was feeling a good deal of pity for the pony who just two days prior, had tried to kill him. It was an odd feeling.
“He did try to kill you.” Twilight pointed out.
“No, he tried to slay a monster that turned out to be… not a monster. Besides, I think he learned his lesson, right Shining?”
“Unh… yeah. …I think… so.” He said from under the heap of trunks and bags.
“See, I believe him. Now, if you magically gifted ladies will help us load this ridiculously heavy luggage, I will tie it down and we can be own our way.”
“Fine.” Twilight was still upset with her brother, but she couldn’t hold something against him when the victim wasn’t even willing to. The bags started glowing different colors and they started to lift themselves off Shining’s back and were stacked neatly in the back of the truck. Shining dropped to the ground, relieved to be relieved of the burden.
Rick began tying it all down under a tarp. “Thank you. You doing okay down there, Buddy?” the response from Shining was a simple groan and a halfhearted salute. “Good, now on your feet, the Crystal Empire isn’t going to meet us half way.”
“True, come on Shining.” Cadence instructed as she climbed into the front seat, Twilight took the back and was joined by Paul and, eventually, Shining Armor.
Rick settled down in the driver’s seat with an apple in his mouth. After he removed said apple, he warned his first time passengers about the noise of the engine and then he cranked it up. Their reactions were fairly subdued compared to the reactions he’s received in the past, still, it was entertaining to see.
During the long drive toward the Crystal Empire, the three ponies pointed many interesting sights. They were especially excited to show Rick an overlook that allowed a person to see the entire Crystal Empire.
“Rick, stop the truck. You have to see this.” Cadence instructed.
He pulled the truck to the side of the carriage road. He reached across the front seat and opened the door for Cadence then climbed out himself. He opened the back door for the rest of the passengers. He walked over to join Cadence on the overlook.
The sight was breathtaking, there were colorful buildings everywhere and they all seemed to be made entirely of crystal. There was a large round building with a snowflake design on the roof; he was told this was the library. The roads in the town also seemed to be in a snowflake design with the palace in the center. But the beauty of the homes, library and surrounding area were paled by the palace.
The palace stood on four large pylons. There were elegant spires cascading from the center that was itself one huge tower. The palace looked like it was made not just from crystal, but from diamond.
“Well, what do you think?” Cadence asked.
“I think I’ve never seen a town so stunning in all my life. Absolutely gorgeous,” Rick offered.
“Why then… what’s that noise?” They were all alerted to a rumble that could be felt more than it could be heard. Paul ran and hid under the truck instinctively.
Rick looked up to see some rocks come rolling down the hill. He knew that these were only the beginning.
“AVALANCHE!!”
Chapter 46
There was no natural cover anywhere. Ahead and back the way they came were already being pelted. “Get against the truck!” Rick yelled. Shining was pleading for Twilight and Cadence to hurry. Cadence made it but Twilight wasn’t so lucky.
A cream alerted that there was a problem. A large rock smashed into Twilight’s temple and knocked her out cold. They all yelled to her, but there was no reply. Rick was on his feet and sprinting. He dove and wrapped himself around Twilight, covering as much of her body as he could. Rocks bounced of his back and collided with his head. He had to hold out, for Twilight.
“Shining, put up a force field, I’ll get them.” Cadence said as she flew up from her cover. Shining nodded and his horn started to glow, but he never got the chance. “Aaarrgh…!!” Cadence fell from the sky and tumbled. Her wing had been hit and she was out of control. Cadence hit the ground and rolled down a steep slope. She disappeared over the cliff’s edge, only her two front hooves visible over the ledge.
“Cadence! I’m coming!” Shining yelled.
“No! I’m okay… for now. Put up the shield.” Cadence told him from over the edge. He started to argue but reluctantly did as instructed. He concentrated and a pink bubble formed around them, boulders bounced off but failed to get through.
Rick took advantage as the break in the barrage and carefully picked up Twilight and placed her next to Shining. He then grabbed a rope and tied a bowline around his waist then fed the other end through the bars on the front of his truck, unraveling the rest down the slope.
“I’m on my way, hold on.” Rick carefully lowered himself down. He reached the edge and carefully dropped over the side. Taking care not to lose his grip, he swung toward Cadence. He got right up next to her and wrapped his arm around her. I need you to grab hold of me, I need to use both hands. Can you do that?”
“I-I think so.” Cadence released one hoof from the ledge and reached around Rick’s neck. She then did the same with the other hoof. She wrapped her hind legs around his waist and gripped tight.
“Too tight… need air,” Rick wheezed, she loosened her grip a little. “Good, up we go.” Rick slowly pulled the rope and walked himself up the steep slope. He could feel Cadence shuddering. “It’ll be alright, I promise.” His head felt wet, he knew it wasn’t sweat.
“Rick, you’re bleeding.” Cadence’s voice was dripping with concern.
“I know, I’ll be alright.” He was lying. His vision was starting to blur a little and his head felt like it was trying to be in two places at once the hard way.
He reached the carriage road and knelt down to let Cadence off his back. He looked closer at her wing. “I think it’s broken. Can you use your healing magic?”
Cadence winced, “no, I need to concentrate to do that and I can’t right now.”
Rick nodded in understanding. “Shining, can you make your shield mobile? We need to get these mares to a hospital.”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Good, we’ll need it to clear the road ahead.” Rick coaxed Paul out from under the truck and loaded him into the truck. “Cadence, can you watch over Twilight? I don’t want her to bounce around and the road is sure to be rough.” He gently lifted Twilight into the back seat.
“Of course.” Cadence climbed in behind Twilight and Shining sat up front.
Rick started to carefully traverse the road. He had to be extra careful with his head wound, he had bandaged it, but it was still hurting him a great deal. Luckily, the avalanche did little serious damage to his Chevy, only cracking the windshield, breaking a headlight and denting a few panels, and he was sure Twilight could fix that when she was better. First, he had to make sure she got better.
The avalanche had stopped, but there were still loose rocks getting loose and falling into Shining’s shield. He had put everything he had into strengthening it, he was determined to not let anything come between his sister and her getting healthy again. Cadence was doing her best to make sure Twilight didn’t get jostled on the trip. Paul whimpered every time a rock bounced off the shield.