Chapter 16: Feeling Blu and feeling good
Blubayou was broken. He had no idea what to believe anymore. As he wallowed in the large, wooden tub of water in his cell, the now grey amphibipony let his thoughts wander around what happened the last few days. He thought of how everyone avoided him back in Manehattan whenever he showed his face. He remembered Trixie being horrified during their first meeting. Worst of all, he brought the memory of all that food being tossed at him while he was helpless and in chains back into his mind. He clenched his teeth as he realized what all those ponies thought of him as. He was considered a monster. Blu began to feel thankful of all the warnings his master gave him of keeping his cloak on in public; now he wished he took more heed of that. But then he began to think of something. If was considered a monster, should he live up to those standards?
He quickly shook those thoughts away as he hopped out of the water, dried up with a towel and hopped into bed back first. He began to remember what was nice beyond his home on Phobos. Blubayou thought about that young filly he scared but convinced that he was harmless. He reminisced about the exciting show Trixie did at the theater. He reminded himself about the cute bunny he found in the grove of apple trees he named Hopz. How he hoped that Hopz was safe.
But then he thought about how much more minor those were compared to the bad of this world. He wondered about how his own parents could be so intolerable as to abandon him on an island. He was in such fine condition. He was in perfect health, he was understanding, he was loyal, and if anything, his form was a beneficial adaptation. He saw all those ponies without a horn or wings. He thought if anypony, they should be the one discriminated. Compared to unicorns, pegasi and…whatever he was, they bordered on unless. But yet, all of Equestria treated them fairly. He suddenly felt his anger boil up and rushed out of bed with a growl. He went up to the tub of water bucked it as hard as he could. He knew he was envious of those earth ponies. But then something hit him in the back of his mind.
As he watched the water from the overturned tub seep through the cracks on the floor, he began to realize that his conditions could have been much worse. He thought about this Princess Celestia fellow, who he thought was going to eat her, but she gave him mercy from his assailants. She even let him live in better conditions than he expected. He had a bed, a toilet, lighting and had some water to stay hydrated. The cell was surrounded by stone walls on three sides and the entrance/exit consisted of many bars placed vertically and closely together, with a few of them creating a door. He walked up to the bars to look around, noticing that there were no other prisoners. He let out a soft sigh and was about to turn away, but then he heard hoof steps from the stairs. He waited to see who they were patiently.
As he watched the stairway, he noticed two guard stallions, which was nothing special. But as he looked closer, he noticed that orange mare with the hat. Blu had no idea what to think of her. She was one of the many ponies who thwarted his mission, but on the other hoof, she was the one who tried to help when he was helpless. The incarcerated stallion had to admit, he was interested what she had to say, almost making a small grin. But then Blubayou noticed another mare and immediately grimaced.
It was that rainbow maned pegasus. She was the pony who knocked him unconscious. She berated him while helpless. He even remembered that she threw a lemon pie, a tomato, and a chocolate cupcake at him, and she was pretty accurate too. He didn't even want to look at her. Blu just slowly walked away from the bars and sat down on a puddle, facing away from the front. The stallion softly closed their eyes, ready to hear what they'd say to him.
"Blu? You okay?" Came a soft and concerned tone directed at him. Blubayou mustered the strength to look around and saw that it was the orange mare speaking to him. By how she looked, Blu could tell she was pretty desperate to start some sort of conversation.
Blubayou stared at both mares in complete apathy. "What's it to you…uhhhh…two?" Blu was trying to remember their names, if he heard them at all.
Applejack just let out a sigh. "I'm Applejack and this here is Rainbow Dash. We're here to talk to you about something important?"
Blubayou just groaned. "Is everypony still trying to force me to just land on what's right and what's wrong?"
Rainbow snapped a little bit at just how stubborn he was being at the moment. "Is it really that hard to figure out? Didn't Twi already tell you that you were taken from your parents and…" She was interrupted by Blubayou hopping up to her with a grunt, hitting the cage with his forehooves in the process, creating a loud clang. She quickly stepped back, slightly startled as he gave her an angry glare. She also had a feeling why he wasn't so keen on seeing her. Both guard stallions began to move, but Applejack stopped them.
"Look Blu." Applejack said compassionately. "I know all this has been hard for you. But Rainbow Dash is really sorry about what she did to you." But then she made a visible frown. "But…are you sorry for foalnapping?"
The imprisoned stallion slightly lowered his temper but looked at her confused. "For what?"
"Foalnapping."
"I heard what you said, but what is that?"
Rainbow just facehoofed. This frogpony's hopeless. But instead of saying what was on her mind, she decided to speak up as nicely as possible. "Foalnapping is taking another pony against his or her will. And did Scootaloo want to go with you or Trixie, or that metal pony thing?"
Blu helped her out. "Anvillain."
"Yeah Anvillain whatever. But are you sorry or not?"
Blubayou contemplated this for a while. He felt like he truly hurt these ponies and by the looks of it, they weren't the ones who started it. The amphibipony just looked down, a look of genuine remorse on his face. "I'm sorry for foalnapping this Scutagoo…"
"Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash chimed in.
"Scootaloo, Scootaloo." He then looked towards Applejack. "And…I'm sorry for attacking you." He then looked towards Rainbow once again. "I am willing to accept your apology. And sorry for my little…outburst." He then looked behind himself and made a loose grin. "Oh look! My breakfast's ready!"
He then used his tongue to grab an egg and cheese sandwich from the floor. To both mares' disgust, it was covered in ants and Blu knew it. They both made grossed out faces as Blu cherished the taste of his meal. He offered the sandwich in his hoof to Applejack, but she shook her head almost gagging. But she was glad to see his get a little less grey and becoming bluer.
But then she realized why she was here. She took a long, deep breath, ready for whatever reaction she may get. "So cuz, ah can see your really enjoying that meal there."
This made Blu pause and stare at her in confusion. "Cuz?"
Applejack replied. "Yes Blu I'm your cousin." She then made a smile and chuckled while shrugging. "Well second cousin anyways. But same thing to me."
Blu once again found himself not knowing what to say. "But…how?" He pointed to himself and then to her. "We look nothing alike."
Rainbow Dash answered him in a jokey manner. "Yeah I was shocked too buddy."
Blu quickly looked at the cyan pegasus in a perplexed manner, tilted his head down and softly repeated. "Buddy? What does that mean?"
Rainbow Dash looked around awkwardly. "Yeah it means friend." Rainbow Dash then felt relieved when she saw him begin to smile, and regaining some of his lost color once again, becoming a dull blue of sorts.
Applejack then began to speak up. "Great to see ya'll are getting along just fine. I expected this to be a doozy." She then turned to Blu. "Today Blu, me and Dash here are gonna take ya to your parents."
Blubayou nodded in agreement. He stepped away from the bars and let the guards open it. But before he could hug them, the guards put large weights on each of his legs. Before he can question this, one guard put a face mask on him. Blu assumed that that the guards didn't trust him just yet and didn't want him hopping around or lashing out with his long tongue. He understood why but frowned under the mask. Applejack walked over to him and gave him a small hug, not even caring that she got slime all over her coat. She then gave him a pat on the back.
"Don't worry cuz. You'll be seeing your parents in no time." She said keeping the stallion's hopes up. She then turned to Rainbow Dash. "Can you do the eency weency favor of flying us to Berrybash Bottom?"
The cyan mare just rolled her eyes in slight annoyance. "Fine." She said exasperated. "The packmule's getting to work again." She then walked ahead of them to the exit of the prison.
Applejack just shrugged and looked at Blu. "Eh. That's Dash for ya. Element of Loyalty but quite a slacker. Strange mix if ya ask me." Blu nodded in agreement and they both began to walk towards the exit. Blu's new weights made him significantly slower but his cousin waited up for him.
"Hey AJ." Blu spoke up to Applejack as they walked up the stairs.
"Yeah Blu."
"What is my Element? That Twilight girl told me I was one. But which one?"
Applejack just made a quick yet whole hearted answer. "Tolerance."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At the Carousel Boutique, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and "Scootaloo" were crocheting, making little shirts for themselves in another attempt to get a cutie mark. The earth and unicorn were quite bored while the pegasus filly was deeply focused in her work.
"Sis!" Sweetie Belle whined. "Can we please go outside?" She then looked at the pink lump of her shirt, making a deep sigh.
Rarity answered from her work room in a controlling manner. "I don't think so Sweetie Belle! You remember those things from yesterday! They can be anywhere!"
"Scootaloo" made shifty eyes as Sweetie Belle and Applebloom groaned in boredom. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Rarity got out of her work room and opened the front door, revealing Paramail with a letter in his hoof.
"Hey Rare. You got mail." The mailpony said to the mare in a friendly manner as he gave her the letter.
The unicorn quickly opened it, revealing a picture of Prince Blueblood in a red shirt and sunglasses on a skateboard in the air. It said "YOU'RE INVITED TO A GNARLY PARTY TONIGHT! CATCHA LATER!" in big red letters. Rarity tried to hold it in, but in the end, she couldn't help but burst out laughing on the floor.
Paramail just looked around confused, not understanding why she was laughing like a madpony. He picked up the letter and saw the picture, bringing a grin on his face. "Hey I got one too! But my picture was different! In mine, he was wearing jeans and carrying a boom box!"
That only made Rarity laugh even harder, tears beginning to become visible under her work glasses. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle came over and saw the picture. They stared for only a second and then also broke down into a hysterical fit of laughter.
The teal stallion was beginning to feel creeped out from all this laughing as he moved a few steps away. He then slowly and awkwardly asked. "Uhhh? What's so funny anyways Rare?"
The unicorn made tried wiped a couple of tears as she tried to speak up. "This unicorn...HA HA…was the most obnoxious…HA…stallion I've seen…HA HA HAHA HAHA HA…now look how desperate he is for attention!" She then started to uncontrollably laugh once more.
Paramail took a double take at the picture and began to feel himself chuckling to the relatively stupid picture. How can a prince change so suddenly and look so dumb? He fell on his back in laughter too. He managed to stifle a few word though. "Wow Rare! HO HA HA! To make a transition as desperate as this…WHAhahaha…he must have been..." He got the self control to make a dramatic pause. "…a royal pain!"
With that, all three female ponies stopped laughing immediately and processed in their minds what he just said. Paramail looked up at them as they got up, wondering why they stopped. Applebloom felt a shiver down her spine from that awful pun.
"I don't get it." Sweetie blunty told the bald stallion still trying to think about it.
Rarity just shook her head in disbelief as she spoke up in a surprisingly stern manner. "Please Paramail please…never… say that again."
Paramail got the message and slowly got up from the floor and picked up his mailbag. He put his hoof to his mouth in embarrassment. "Sssssss. That was awkward." He turned towards the door and made a quick good bye. "WellIgottago! Bye!" He then quickly flew off.
There was a moment of silence for a bit after the pegasus left. I was broken by Sweetie Belle turning to her sister. "I still don't get it."
Rarity was about to answer her when Scootaloo ran up to her with her beautiful purple sweater with a wide smile. "All done Rarity." As she was putting the sweater on, she felt a tingling feeling on her flank. As she took a look, the filly's eyes went wide open.
It was a cutie mark of two crochet hooks crossed together and a red ball of yarn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluttershy just finished taking care of her animals. She was at her table drinking some lunch with the two bunnies Angel and Hopz. Angel was devouring a carrot while Hopz was daintily chewing on some celery. As the pony was drinking some tea, she heard a knock on the door. Her ear perked up to hear who it was.
"Hi Fluttershy. You have mail here."
Fluttershy immediately recognized the voice as Paramail's. She felt her heart beat quicker and began to blush. She made a barely audible squeak as she hid under the table. She then signaled for Hopz and Angel to get the door. Angel rolled his eyes in annoyance while Hopz cheerfully clapped as they hopped towards the door. Angel opened the door to reveal Paramail with a letter in his hoof. He crouched down to be more at level with the two rabbits.
"Hello Hopz! Hello Angel!" The mailstallion greeted the two bunnies in a babyish voice as he petted both of them. Hopz snuggled with the hoof but Angel just grabbed the letter from him and pointed to the exit.
Paramail didn't get the message and got up, making a quick look around from where he was. While he was looking at the opposite direction, Fluttershy quickly crawled behind a vase with him not even noticing. He then shrugged began to speak to the two bunnies again.
"Well guess she's not around right now. But when she does come back, can you two tell her that my leg feels better already." He showed them his slightly bandaged leg. "Bet it'll heal by tonight. She did a great job." He then turned around and began to walk away, but then turned his head towards them.
"Oh yeah and one more thing! If you see her." He rubbed his maneless neck in nervousness. "Can you convey the message that I…sort of…" Angel made an "oh here we go" face while Hopz made an "awwww" face with both hands together. "Like her?" Paramail wiped some sweat from his brow. "Thanks." He then flew away to continue his job.
Angel almost gagged while Hopz was jumping for joy. Angel then shut and door and both bunnies hopped towards the vase they knew Fluttershy was hiding behind. They were met with a surprise though.
Fluttershy appeared to have fainted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trixie was being led into the archive/workshop room with two tentacles covering her eyes. She had no idea what Screameater was going to show her. When they entered, the alicorn uncovered her eyes, revealing Anvillain right in front of them. But when Trixie took a closer look, she saw that the iron equine no had a long, sharp unicorn horn and folded metal wings.
Screameater noticed the mare's surprised expression and spoke up with pride. "The new physical features are great and all. But the true adjustment is something completely new." He brought Trixie closer to him and whispered into her ear. "A personality."
Trixie felt very uncomfortable being so closer to her master, but didn't dare try to move. So she just nervously spoke up. "Trixie doesn't completely get what you mean."
Screameater just made a low chuckle as released her from his tendril. He then clapped both of his hooves together. "Adjusted amazing artificial alicorn Anvillain…ARISE AGAIN!"
With those words, the metal pony's ruby eyes began to glow red. It got up on its four legs and unfolded its wings, which were as big as her and appeared to be as sharp as swords. It looked at both ponies and then bowed down.
"Greetings Lord Screameater and Master Trixie." Trixie noticed that it's voiced still had a bit of a metallic sound to it, but it now spoke like a normal being, with pitches, "breaths", and pauses. Anvillain then got up, making a small chuckle. "I feel like I have been summoned for a mission. What is that mission exactly?" It made a sadistic smile. "I hope it involves crushing somepony's ribs or something else equally fun."
Trixie was disturbed by how real this new and improved Anvillain was. It looked twice as dangerous than it previously was and it appeared to be just as twisted as the dark prince himself. Screameater on the other hand was wiping tears of joy with a handkerchief. He then took a deep breath as six of his tendrils began to move around as if in dance.
"I do what I love and I love what I do.
But now it's time to make a move you two."
Anvillain pointed at both Trixie and Anvillain, who were both shocked that their master just started singling. He then teleported himself plus them to coastline of the beach, where they all saw mighty waves hit the black coral and the fins of giant red sharks. He tried to extend a hoof but an invisible barrier of sorts stopped him.
"You see I've been in this crazed coop for a bit too long.
But on the bright side this makes my plan twice as strong.
You know out there all those happy colts and mares.
I've been itching to give them a good scare."
He teleported himself and the group to a dark cave. Surrounding them were skeletons of various ponies in exploration gear. The alicorn used a spell to animate them to dance and wild dance full of spins and flips.
"You know I'm a pony who believes in personal choice.
I just only listen to only my own voice.
Look at these poor husks of a pony that has been.
But they never heard that I always win!"
He began to dance along with the skeletons as he used a spell to create flashing light and fog. All Trixie and Anvillain could see was silhouettes and the orange eyes of their master and skeletons. They also heard the skeletons singing as backup for him.
"I always wiiiiiin!"
"He always wins!"
"I always wiiiiin!"
"He always wins!"
"My stupid sisters thought they'd just seal me off then fiiiiiin!
But they are dead wrong!
I AM STILL GOING STRONG!
Reveling in my treachery and siiiiiiiiin!"
He then teleported himself and the other two to the throne room inside the Volcano of Hysteria. He then slid towards Anvillain, putting a tentacle around it.
"I know you saw many ones pure of heart.
And to choose one is quite an art.
But remember our schedule is tight.
For the pure one is the last one to be absorbed at midnight!"
The dark alicorn then used his magic to summon a net made of loose metal rings and passed it to the metal pony. He then summoned four cards, each with a certain pony.
"You can choose Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie or Paramail!
But don't forget this net of chainmail!
Have fun spreading fear and trouble!
But I must speak to Trixie on the double!
But you had better not fail!"
He grabbed Trixie with a tentacle and twirled her around as if they were in a ballroom. Naturally, Trixie just stumbled about on her two hind legs dizzy. But as she was about to fall over, the alicorn caught her with a forehoof, keeping her suspended in that positon, making her feel awkward. He then began to sing more softly to her.
"Now dear I have a special job for you.
Since you're one thousand times better than Blu.
You must disguise yourself as a pony from our Blueblood Mara's party.
This will be the part when things get…naughty."
After an uncomfortable five seconds for Trixie, she found herself magically lifted onto Anvillain's back, ready to ride off. Screameater then magically generated an invitation card with the Blueblood Mara with an afro on his head under a disco ball. Trixie and Anvillain just stared at the picture, trying not to laugh.
"Yes I know, I know my "son" looks like a buffoon.
But Trixie you need to meet him soon.
Enhance him with this teleport spell.
He'll grab a sister and then all is well.
FOR I ALWAYS WIIIN!"
He lifted a scroll into Trixie mouth. He then summoned ten Earth Mara, each with a drum to play vigorously. He then slapped Anvillain's flank and it took to the air. As they flew higher and higher, Screameater summoned over fifty Pegasus Mara, which began to fly around Trixie and Anvillain in a black funnel shape. The alicorn's voice then began to become demonic.
"I ALWAYS WIN AGAINST MY KIN!
THEY SHALL BE MY SNACK!
GO MY MINIONS, GO ATTACK!
FOR…I…ALWAYS…WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"
At the end of that final note, Screameater made laughed menacingly to the sun above as he teleported Trixie, Anvillain and all those Pegasus Mara to their next location one by one in a bright red flash. He then slowly walked to his throne and sat down on it. As the Earth Mara played the final notes, he teleported them all away with a mere wave of a hoof. Screameater then continued to laugh.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I...can't take this anymore." Rainbow Dash said panting and out of breath. She was carrying Applejack on her back and Blubayou in her hooves. Normally, this much of a load was not a problem, but counting Blu's weighted restraints, it required much effort on her part. She had no choice but to descend to the ground. As they got down, all three ponies saw that they were in a swampland area.
"Where we be?" Blubayou managed to say through his facemask as he looked around his surroundings in wonder.
Applejack hopped off her friend's back, causing the pegasus to lose her footing and falling face first into the mud. As Rainbow Dash looked up with an irritated and muddy face, The earth mare just smiled sheepishly. "Sorry there Dash! All that flying gets me antsy and such. Heights were never my thing." She then turned to answer Blubayou. "Well this here is Froggybottom Bog, the biggest swamp in all of Equestria." She sniffed the surrounding area and immediately covered her nose. "And also one of the smelliest places."
The dull blue stallion took a small sniff at the surrounding landscape, then took a breath of relaxation as he turned to his second cousin. "I dunno, I kinda like the all natural odor in this land."
Applejack cringed a bit as she got back on all fours. "Good for you cuz." She then turned her attention to RD, who was wiping the mud off of her face, still grumbling a bit. "Well I guess we're going the rest of the way on our hooves." Applejack then noticed a nearby crudely made road, complete with a wooden sign that read "Bonjour amis! Berrybash Bottom just 3 miles ahead!" written in a rather sloppy manner. Applejack then got ready to walk and pointed ahead in triumph. "Well fellas! Good new! Berrybash Bottom and Blu's parents are just this way!"
"Yippie." Rainbow Dash said in a monotonous manner as she wiped the remaining mud off her stomach. She was still panting a bit but managed to follow her friend.
Blubayou took one step with his restrained hooves and quickly fell flat on his face, making a small grunt. He struggled a bit to get up and tried to walk again, but just fell over again, making a low ribbit sound. Applejack and Rainbow Dash rushed to the slimy stallion as he struggled to get up once again, only to fall down again.
"We ain't going anywhere with them weights!" Applejack told Blubayou slightly mad at the concept of him even having his mobility limited. She lifted a hoof and was about to get a weight off when she felt a tap on her shoulder from Rainbow Dash.
"So what are you suggesting Rainbow? Leave these confounded things on? Do ya even trust him?" Applejack sternly asked her not even looking at her, still busy with removing a weight with her teeth.
Rainbow thought for a bit then answered in the most positive way possible. "I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but I've met some pretty two-faced characters in my life. Remember Gilda?"
Applejack nodded. "I remember her a bit. She was as she would put it "dweeby"." She chuckled a bit about the way that griffon spoke, but then got serious again as she got rid of a hind leg weight, earning a thankful nod from Blu. "But this is a much different story. Gilda had a choice to be mean; Blu had very little choice on the matter. Now can ya help me with these things?"
Rainbow Dash came to terms with what she said and went over to help the amphibipony. As they freed a forehoof, Blubayou grabbed his face mask and chucked it into the mud as he let out a breath of relief.
"Alright Blu one more and we're done!" Applejack assured her cousin who was already getting fidgety.
When the two mares got rid of the last weight, Blubayou quickly jolted up, laughing like a child. He then began quickly hopping towards the pathway and behind the trees. They can hear him shouting "YAAAAAAA HOOOOOO! IMA FREE AS A FOUR EYED FRILLED GATORBUG!" at the top of his lungs.
Applejack had no idea how to feel. He just bolted and left them. She just watched him leave her sight as she slowly lied down. From what she could, Rainbow Dash had a solemn "I told you so" face. Applejack just stomped a hoof in the mud in frustration. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. So this is how it feels being backstabbed huh? Ungrateful amphibian.
"I'll get him." Rainbow Dash assured the distraught earth pony as she flew up into the air, her energy renewed to catch him.
But as she was about to zoom away, Blubayou popped up from behind some trees, with a confused look on his face. "Somethin the matter cuz? I thought ya wanted to get there?" He then looked at the flying mare. "Why the long face? Ya look frustratingly angry."
Rainbow Dash landed back on the ground in relief as Applejack got up, both of them breathing a sigh of relief. Both mares were glad that Blu was more trustworthy than expected. They both galloped towards the path with smiles on their faces. Blu joined the gallop, excited for what was waiting for him in Berrybottom Bash.