Chapter 25
“You did WHAT?!” Rarity shrieked. “You took my little sister up in the sky and flew her around?”
“Now Rarity, just calm down, I had the whole thing under control, I wasn’t about to let them fall or anything.”
“Yeah sis, besides, it was a lot of fun, Charles would never let anything happen to us.” Sweetie Belle defended.
“Sweetie Belle, you stay out of this, this is between me and him. Now Charles, I can’t believe you put my little sister in such a situation, how could you?” Rarity scolded.
“Uh, Rarity, don’t you think you might be over-reacting a bit, Charles wouldn’t let the little fillies fall." Applejack defended. “I was there the whole time and the little ones certainly had a lot of fun.”
Rarity sighed in defeat. “*sigh* I suppose your right, very well Charles, I’ll let it go, but if you do do something like that again with the little ones, please be careful.”
“Of course Rarity, I know what I’m doing.” Charles answered.
“So does this mean you’ll be all right if Charles takes us flying angai?” Sweetie asked.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Rarity answered, the three fillies gave a cheer.
“YAY, we get to go flying again!”
“So when can you take us flying again Charles?” Scootaloo asked.
“As soon as I get out of the hospital, I am hurt you know?” Charles said with a smile.
“Well then, is there anything we can do to help you get better faster?” Applebloom asked with a big smile.
“Sorry girls, but what I need right now is just bed rest, you’ll just have to be patient.”
“AWWE.” The three responded.
“I know, I know, your all very anxious to do it again, but don’t worry, you’ll get to once I’m all better.”
The three mares present smiled at the interaction between the fillies and Charles.
“Um, Charles, this may sound like a weird question and all, but, would it be all right if I could think of you as my big brother?” Scootaloo asked.
Charles looked at her curiously. “You….want me to be like your big brother?”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, it was a silly idea anyway.”
Charles looked at Scootaloo with sympathy. “Scootaloo, why would you want me to be like your big brother, don’t you have a family?”
“Sure I do, I got a mom and dad, and Rainbow Dash is like my big sister already, but I would like to know what it’s like to have a brother too. Like I said, it was a silly idea.”
Charles then smiled at Scootaloo. “Hey, Scootaloo, I would love to be your big brother…..little sister.”
Scootaloo looked at Charles with a big smile. “Really, all right, thank you Charles…….I mean, big brother.”
“Anytime, little sister. In fact, you two can think of me as your big brother too, you three are practically sisters already anyway aren’t you, with how close you three are?”
“You know, I never thought about it before, we are like sisters.” Sweetie Belle said “That means I get a big brother too, cool.”
“And I get two brothers, awesome, thanks Charles.” Applebloom cheered.
“You’re welcome.” Said Charles.
“Charles, that is very nice of you.” Rarity commented.
Charles smiled at Rarity. “Yeah well, I never had a sister, so why not? Besides, these three are just too cute.”
“You’re a real sweet heart Charles.” Applejack complimented.
“Yeah, I know, I’m a giver.”
*****
The next day came and Charles’s first visitor of the day was Fluttershy. “Good morning Charles.”
“Hey Fluttershy, good moring, glad to see you finally decided to pay me a visit.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, I’ve just been busy with taking care of my animals, please don’t be upset.” Fluttershy said worriedly.
“Fluttershy, relax, it’s fine, I was just kidding.”
“Oh good.” She said as she gave a sigh of relief. “It’s just that I’ve been busy caring for this fox I found with a hurt leg.”
“Really, how nice, I bet it’s real cute.”
“Oh it is, and it has a very unusual coloring too, I’ve never seen a fox colored like this one before.”
Charles grew curious about it. “Unusual coloring, like what, how is it colored?”
“Well, it has black fur and a white underbelly and purple eyes.”
Charles then grew suspicious. “Black fur, white underbelly, purple eyes? Interesting, what did you say was wrong with it?”
“Um, oh yeah, her left leg was hurt, the poor dear had a nasty cut on it, so I bandaged it up.”
“A cut on it’s left leg? Wait, you said her? The fox is a girl?”
Fluttershy grew nervous at Charles’s questioning. “Um, yes, why, is there something wrong?”
“Black fur, white underbelly, purple eyes, cut on left leg, THAT’S IT! GAH, OW!” Charles cried out when he realized what this could mean, then winced in pain at his sudden movement.
“Oh my goodness, are you ok, what is it? Why are you so excited about?” Fluttershy asked in worry.
Charles had one eye closed as he answered. “I’m fine.” Then opened both eyes. “Fluttershy, I need you to go get spike for me, there’s something the princesses need to be informed of, have him come by with what is needed to write a letter. While you’re at it, could you find Discord and have him come by too?”
“But what’s all this about Charles, does it have something to do with that fox I found?”
“I’ll explain everything once everyone is all together, please Fluttershy, this is important.”
“Ok, I’ll go get Spike and Discord.” Fluttershy then took off to follow through with Charles’s request.
Half an hour went by before Fluttershy came in with Spike and Twilight behind her. “Charles, what’s going on, why do you need Spike for?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, what’s all this about?” Spike asked.
“It will all become clear in the letter I want you to write to the princesses, but first, we need Discord here too.” Charles said. It was then that Discord walked in as well.
“Hello Charles, what did you need to see me for?” He asked.
“It will become clear in the letter I want to send to Celestia and Luna, Spike, I’m ready for you to begin please.” Spike raised up a blank parchment with quill, ready to write. “Princess Celestia and Luna, I believe I have found the shape shifter you informed me about, or rather, Fluttershy found her.”
“Shape shifter?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
Charles continued. “It seems the culprit has taken the form of a black fox that is currently at Fluttershy’s place, please come as quickly as you can, I have requested Discord’s presence here as well so he can provide additional backup in apprehending this shape shifter. Your faithful subject, Charles.” Once Spike finished writing the letter, he sent it on its way.
“Charles, what is all this about a shape shifter?” Discord asked.
“That dragon that attacked wasn’t a dragon, it was using magic in that fight me and Luna had against it. The princesses visited me this morning and told me about the meeting they had with Iron Scales on the matter. According to him, the dragon wasn’t a dragon. She must be something else, but what?”
“And you think the creature that attacked is currently in the form of that fox I found?” Fluttershy asked.
“I do, the description you gave of the fox matches the dragon that attacked, she had black scales, a white underbelly, and purple eyes, plus, during the fight, I cut her left leg.”
It was then that a bright flash occurred in the room and Celestia and Luna now stood before everyone. “We came as fast as we could when we got your letter Charles.” Celestia said. She then turned her attention to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, please take us to your cottage, we must make sure that what Charles says is true. If this fox is indeed the shape shifter we’ve been looking for, then we must make haste.”
“Of course princess.” Fluttershy said. She then led the princesses and Discord away to her house. Twilight and Spike stayed behind with Charles.
The four soon arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage. Fluttershy led the four in and to her couch where the fox lay. Dark Flash saw the four approach and grew fearful. Celestia, Luna, and Discord all stood in front of her now, glaring at her. “The game is over little faker, time to reveal your true colors.” Discord announced.
“NO, how did you find me so fast?” Dark Flash asked.
“So you ARE the one that attacked Ponyville and tried to kill my sister and a member of the royal guard.” Celestia announced. “Who are you?”
Dark Flash growled. “Know my name well, for it will one day be the name of the new queen of Equestria, I am Dark Flash. I will not give up without a fight.”
“Oh but there won’t be a fight.” Discord said, he then snapped his eagle claw fingers and Dark Flash was forced into her true form. “Well, that explains a lot, she’s an alicorn.”
“Acursed god of chaos, have you really sunk so low that you serve these pathetic princesses.” Dark Flash said.
Discord then snapped his fingers again and a silver ring with runes on them appeared on Dark Flash’s horn. “I am just fine with my position, I have real friends, unlike how I did things before, I’m quite happy with how things are for me.”
“This isn’t over, I WILL be queen of Equestria.” Dark Flash snarled.
“Dark Flash, you are under arrest for the attempted assassination and assault of my sister Luna, and the attack and assault of a member of the royal guard, Charles. You will be taken to Canterlot and placed in the dungeons to await sentencing.” Celestia said to Dark Flash. “Discord, would you please send her to the dungeons and make sure every precaution to ensure she doesn’t escape is taken.”
Discord gave a smile. “Of course princess.” He then turned his attention to Dark Flash. “Let’s go you, you’ve got a lot to answer for, after all, you did hurt a good friend of mine.” Discord then made himself and Dark Flash disappear.
“Thank heavens that is resolved.” Luna said with relief.
“Um, excuse me your majesties, but what are you going to do with her?” Fluttershy asked.
Celestia turned to look at Fluttershy with a smile. “Fear not my little pony, you need not concern yourself with such matters.”
“Oh, ok then.” Fluttershy said.
“Come, let us inform the others of the good news.” Celestia then led the others out of Fluttershy’s house and went back to the hospital to tell Charles the good news of Dark Flash’s capture.
*****
The rest of Charles’s days in the hospital were uneventful as he continued getting visitors during his recovery, Shining Armor even paid a visit once in a while to check up on Charles while his vacation was going on. Eventually though, he had to return to Canterlot. Charles also got visits from the guards of Ponyville. The day finally came when Charles was released from the hospital and Rarity presented him with a new set of clothes. This took place in Charles’s room on the day he was being released. “Her you go Charles, I made some new clothes for you.”
“Thank you Rarity, they look great.” One of the shirts Rarity presented Charles with was a white short sleeved shirt with four cutie marks on them, each were cutie marks belonging to his marefriends. Rarity’s was positioned at the top right corner, Applejack’s was at the top left, Twilight’s was below Rarity’s, and Pinkie’s was positioned below Applejack’s. At the center of the four were a pair of black wings. Four other shirts, matching the coat colors of his marefriends with their cutie marks on them as well. Four new jeans for him, one was tan, one blue, one black, and one white. Finally, two new pairs of shoes, one pair was white with black trimming, and one pair was beige colored.
Once the doctor removed all his bandages, Charles went ahead and put on the shirt with the four cutie marks on, the white pair of jeans, and the white shoes with black trimming. “Very nice, you did a wonderful job Rarity, as usual.” Charles then gave Rarity a peck on the cheek.
“Thank you dear. By the way, your things are in your room at the library, and Pinkie already has a party set up for you at Sugarcube Corner.”
“Great, I’ll fly right over, I want to stretch out my wings after having been in bed for so long. I’ll meet you there.”
“All right then, I’ll take your other new clothes with me and drop them off at Twilight’s.” Rarity then left with the clothes in her saddle bag, Charles followed her out.
“Thanks for everything doctor Stable, I really appreciate it.” Charles said to Stable before leaving.
“I’m just doing my job, you take care now.” Stable said, he then waved goodbye to Charles as he waved back.
Once outside, Charles took in a deep breath through his nose and exhaled. “Haaah, it’s good to be out of that hospital.” He then stretched his wings out and shook them up to loosen them and get them ready for use. “See you at the party.” Charles said to Rarity before running forward, jumped up into the air and started flapping his wings. “WOOO HOOOO, YEAH!” He cried in joy.
Rarity just shook her head with a smile as she watched him go. She then started for the library to drop off the clothes.
Before heading for Sugarcube Corner, Charles flew around above town and did a few loop de loops, barrel rolls and spins, enjoying being able to fly again and being free from the hospital. After a few more stunts, he came to rest and sat down on a cloud with his legs dangling over the edge. “Man it feels good to be out again.” It was then that a chill wind blew by that made Charles shiver. “Brrr, I forgot, its November, one of the cold months.” It was then that Charles had a thought. “November…..the month before December, which is when that holiday is……great.” He shook his head. “Well, I can’t worry about that now, besides, what are the odds the ponies celebrate THAT holiday, there’s a party waiting for me, I’d better get going.” He stood up and took off for Sugarcube Corner.
Upon arrival, the party was ready to begin, a lot of ponies showed up and were waiting for him to arrive. Charles saw Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all waiting for him as well, along with the cutie mark crusaders. He also saw Black Cloud, Lighting Thrash, Carbon, Stunner, Dawnfang and Duskfang, Fuse, and to his surprise, Shadow Fang.
Charles first made his way to the guards to greet them. “Hey there fellas, glad to see you all here.” Charles then turned his attention to Shadow Fang. “And why are you here Lt., I didn’t think you were the party type.”
Shadow Fang had a straight face as he answered. “Ponies were most persistent that I attend, especially pink one, she would have annoyed me to no end if I hadn’t agreed to come.”
“Ok then, and how are the rest of you doing?" Each guard gave good as an answer.
“Is good to see you up and about comrade Charles.” Black Cloud said.
“Thanks Cloud.”
“Nice shirt, who made it for you.” Storm Chaser asked.
“Take a wild guess.” Charles said as he pointed to Rarity’s cutie mark on the shirt.
“Not bad.”
“CHARLES!” Came a hyperactive pink ponies cry as she lept up and wrapped her forlegs around Charles’s neck, nearly toppling him over.
“*OOF* Hey Pinkie, good to see you too.” Pinkie released her grip and dropped down to the floor. Charles turned around to face her and was greeted with a pair of lips coming right for his. This surprised him again as it was so sudden, followed by his neck being wrapped up by Pinkie’s forelegs again. Charles just hugged and kissed back.
Pinkie finally released her love grip and looked Charles in the eyes. “Your all better now, this is great. Let’s get this party started!”
“Hold on Pinkie, let’s wait for Rarity, she’s dropping off some clothes she made for me at Twilight’s place.”
“No need to wait for me dearie, I’m right here.” Rarity said as she walked in.
“YAY, we don’t have to wait, let’s start this party!” Pinkie then rushed over to a Vinyl’s mix table, pulled Vinyl up from behind, and Vinyl started up the party music.
“All right all you ponies, lets party.” Vinyl Cheered. The music played and the ponies started to celebrate.
Suddenly, there was a flash at the center of the room and Discord appeared. “What, and start a party without me? I’m insulted.” He said with a smile.
“Discord, you made it!” Pinkie cheered again as she ran over to him, the two shared a quick hug.
Discord then turned his attention to Charles. “Hello Charles, glad to see you finally out of the hospital.”
“Hey Discord, and thanks, it’s good to be out. It wasn’t a lot of fun being cooped up in bed for two weeks straight.”
“I’ll bet, I can’t imagine how bored you must have been.”
“So Charles, you gonna perform another song for us at the party?” Rainbow Dash asked as she approached.
“Yeah, you always give great performances.” Pinkie complimented.
“The music you share with us is always wonderful.” Fluttershy complimented.
“Hmmm, maybe.” Charles thought. “Why not, I got a good one I think you all would enjoy. Besides, Discord never got to be around whenever I played for you all.”
“Wonderful, the others have told me about that performance you gave on Nightmare Night before the celebration was ruined by that awful Dark Flash.” Discord said.
Charles made his way to Vinyl to ask for her permission to use her setup. “Hey Vinyl, the other ponies want me to put on a show, mind if I use your equipment again?”
Vinyl gave a big smile. “Course not dude, your stuff is always awesome, knock yourself out.” Vinyl stepped aside to give Charles control.
Charles placed his hand on the machine and let his magic flow into it so it would play the music necessary for the song he wanted to perform. He picked up the microphone and made his way to the front of the machine and waited for the music to start. He also decided to make use of his new illusion magic and produced two other copies of himself and had them standing next to him. When it came time for the vocals, the two clones sang first.
When the song ended, he was met with applause. Every pony was cheering and Discord was clapping his claw and paw. “Bravo,bravo, that was magnificent, I’ve never heard anything like that before.” Discord cheered.
Charles dismissed his clones and gave a bow. “Thank you, thank you, I’m glad you all liked it.” Charles then just joined the party and enjoyed it with all his friends and mare friends.