Heir of the Storm
Chapter Six
The air within the Carousel Boutique was light for Sweetie Belle, much different than the first few days Sky began his tutoring sessions with her. Now several weeks had went by. Sweetie felt as though Sky was making good progress. Sky could at least keep a full conversation when he felt needed. She figured with a lot of practice he would be speaking in a normal accent in no time at all.
For Sky, the atmosphere was completely different. Weeks of preparation all waiting on one moment, one very precious moment. Sky recently had a 'talk' with Applejack, hoping for some help with his feelings. He remembered it took him nearly ten minutes just to ask his older sister his question.
"You gonna spit it out Sky, or just stand there flappin yer jaw with no noise comin out?" Applejack raised an eyebrow at her brother.
"Yeah, ah... I just wanted to... know...." Sky mumbled worse as the sentence drug on.
"Go on sugar cube."
"HowdoIaskamareout?" Sky blurted out as fast as he could, hoping to get this matter over with.
"Ask a, what? You want ta go askin some mare out on a date?" Applejack stepped back with a mild slack jaw. Her memory was fresh with the argument she had with Apple Bloom after catching her in town with a colt.
"Yeah, I want to... I want to ask Sweetie Belle out but I don't know how to talk ta mares."
Applejack took a moment to regain her composure, and then another to clear her thoughts. With a deep breath, she began.
"Well, ah don't know much when it comes ta talkin to mares... But Ah'd like a colt ta be honest, ta me and 'imself. He ain't no good if he ain't."
"So... I should just be honest?" Sky asked, glad this talk wasn't a repeat incident like Apple Bloom's talk.
"Be sweet sugar cube, but be honest too. Ah know ya ain't got a problem with bein sweet," Applejack winked as she nudged Sky's shoulder.
Be sweet, but honest too, Sky thought. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Him and Sweetie had a lot of fun over the years, now that they were growing up it just seemed natural to go for this. Sweetie was just finishing up her lesson, so the moment was close at hand.
"Now did you get all that Sky?" Sweetie asked with a soothing smile.
"Uh yeah! Definitely, uh... Can you repeat that last part?" Sky gave a smirk as Sweetie nudged him in the gut. "Oof! Ouch, that one hurt Sweetie!"
"Oh get over it!" Sweetie laughed as she leaned back into her seated position.
"Consider me over it then," Sky smiled. "So is the lesson done for the day?"
"I think so, I'm getting a little tired." Sweetie let out a small yawn, which drove Sky even closer to asking his question.
"Yeah, hey Sweetie..." Sky began saying a personal prayer.
"What is it Sky?"
Sky took a good long look at her soft green eyes. He already felt the beading sweat dripping down his forehead. The silence of the moment drug on for, what seemed like minutes. Long minutes of pure agony as he imagined every way this moment could go wrong. Finally he opened his mouth.
"Sweetie, I don't really know what to say here but... I'm going to be honest with you," Sky began but was stopped when Sweetie raised her hoof at him.
"Sky..." Sweetie sighed. "I know... I know how you feel, but..."
Sky felt the weight of a thousand words drop from his tongue and pile on his rear. His heart rate began to rise, well skyrocket would be a better word.
"This whole... thing... My sister... ugh..." Sweetie Belle took a deep breath. "My sister misread an entry in my diary. She took a comment way out of context... I'm so sorry Sky, but I don't feel the same way for you. You're my friend and I don't want to mess that up..."
Sweetie Belle held still for a moment, feeling her own weight lifted from her shoulders. She felt a subtle zap that made her jump, and shot her head around. Nopony was there, and the window was open wide. Thunder rolled across Ponyville's sky.
"Sky..."
The darkening sky around Ponyville hid the distraught pegasus. Sky wanted to fly away as far and as fast as he could. The static trail behind him dissipated into the dark clouds above. In moments he was out of Ponyville, and away from the boutique, yet he kept flying. He barely noticed the orchard beneath him when he started screaming. Incoherent shouts of despair were silenced by the booming thunder and the crackling lightning.
Sky Shard felt his chest sucking in and out, he had finally burnt all his energy, yet there was still emotions he had to shed. He found a dead apple tree, barren of any fruit or leaves, and perched on the hardened branches. There he broke down and wept, the rain dripping down his unfolded wings. Lightning struck the ground near the tree, briefly illuminating the pegasus' face. He made a half smirk as he thought, 'at least they can't see me cry'.
"C'mon Big Mac! That storm's brewin up somethin nasty!" Applejack shouted at her brother pulling in the last wagon of apples they bucked today.
Once Big Macintosh had the last wagon brought in, the two of them closed up the large door. After tossing several bales of hay on the door to keep it from bowing inward, Applejack plopped herself in piles of straw next to Apple Bloom. The young earth pony was quivering at every strike of lightning. Applejack patted her sister on the back which, much to her humor, made the young mare jump in surprise.
"Now now Apple Bloom, it's just a storm. Rainbow must'ave gotten a late memo or somethin." 'She better 'ave other wise there's a talk in her future', Applejack thought to herself.
"Ah know, ah know... Ah just don't like storms..." Apple Bloom
mumbled with her head buried in the straw.
"Ah know sugar cube, don't you worry."
Applejack wished she could stop her worrying. Even though she was certain Sky was over at Rarity's, she couldn't help but worry. Storms and Sky do go together after all. She pushed the thought back, as there was nothing she could do for him at this moment. For now, the three of them had each other to worry about.
The weak pegasus opens his eyes to a dark sky. The storm has subsided but the surrounding clouds still looked ready to erupt at any moment. A subtle rumbling in the sky hinted at more thunder, but there was no crack of lightning. Just the low rumbling. The clouds began to split open, revealing the darker horizon. A fury of black and white.
From the opening in the clouds, a long slender creature descended. The subtle rumble suddenly became a loud roar, filling the air with dense static. Sky felt the energy hit him, and without a thought rose from the tree and landed on the soaked ground. Absentmindedly, Sky flapped both wings hard. Water flew from the pristine feathers, showering the ground around him. Both wings folded in, Sky wandered towards the border of the Everfree.
The loud roar of the creature guided the mindless pony deeper into the forest. Plant and animal alike turned away from the black pegasus as he slowly trekked the path ahead. The storm settled overhead, yet the creature continued to roar further down the path.
Sky spent much time wandering the forest, but his trek was at an end. The mindless pony came upon a clearing, the creature lay in a coil before him. The beast had a long slender body, covered in scales. Each scale seemed to arc lightning, as well as the talons. The beast opened its mouth, revealing row after row of sharp teeth. Its eyes closed as its roar broke the spell on Sky.
A quick look around, filled with confusion, and Sky was ready to ask every question he could think of. Yet every word he could have said fell silent once he found his host. The beasts head lay on the wet grass. Its eyes were shut, and its breath lifted the long whiskers from its snout. Sky felt the need to retreat, to back away from this dragon like creature. His hooves remained still however, and the beast opened its bead like eyes.
Every arc of lightning from the beast danced across the body towards the head and into the eyes. Soon there was nothing but two bright lights flaring from the beasts eyes. Sky felt reality around him bend as a heavy mist enveloped around him.
The storm was now clearing over Ponyville partly revealing the blue sky, only the soft patter of rain drops remained. The streets were empty and the city was silent. In the distance, six robed figures approached. Nopony was out to greet these new comers, they simply entered on their own whim. The strangers did not knock on any doors, nor did they pause at curious eyes from the windows overhead. Finally they found their destination, the large home in a tree.
One figure stepped ahead towards the house, and with a nod of his head scattered his followers. They each rose into the air with great speed and split off into different directions.
Once they arrived at the library, the leader of the six raised a leathery claw towards the door. Pressing the claw on the door, it opened wide. The figure entered the room, and with a look around found naught what he was looking for. With a grunt, the leader turned towards the door. It was shut now before him.
"May I help you find a book?" The feminine voice spoke from up the stair well. The figure remained silent. "I guess not. Then may I ask why you have intruded in my home past closing hours? It's impolite to intrude on a princess, especially in her own realm..."
"The storm child... Tell me where he is..." The voice was rough and old.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." Princess Twilight Sparkle appeared at the base of the steps now. "Perhaps you may find this child elsewhere."
"I was not asking..." The voice crowed as a claw wretched out, revealing sharp talons.
"Neither was I" Twilight growled back, horn glowing.
The two stared off at each other, waiting the first move. Twilight could hear the figure making a growling noise. She also caught the orange extension escaping the figures hood. 'What would griffons want with the storm child... and what exactly is the storm child?', Twilight thought. She would need to do some reading once this situation was dealt with. She opened her mouth to ask, but the griffon was quick to leap across the centerpiece. Its talons spread as the griffon flew towards Twilight's neck.
The princess' quick reflexes saved her with a teleportation spell, but the griffon also shared these reflexes. He clawed into the bookshelf, tearing through a number of books. Then with his hind legs pushed himself towards the alicorn, leaving a trail of shredded paper behind him. Once again the princess' skill saved her as she created a force field to protect herself.
The griffon impacted the shield and rolled away. Twilight took the chance and exchanged the shield spell for a magical missile. As she charged the magical bolt, the griffon froze. He looked down to see his feet encased in ice and a fading white scribble beneath him. 'Gotchya', Twilight thought to herself as she readied the magical blast. Just as she was about to fire the bolt, the front door opened. The young orange mare trotted into the house.
"Hey Twi! Have you seen Sk- Uhmmm..." Scootaloo exchanged looks between Twilight and the griffon.
Seeing the magical blast in Twilights control and the griffon with talons pulled, she did what anypony would expect. She tried to run. The griffon took the chance to surprise Twilight, as his frozen bindings shattered and an electrical nova erupted through the room. The alicorn launched her magical blast but it was too late. The griffon flipped over the centerpiece once more and in a moment had the young mare in his grip.
"Whaaaa! Twi! Help!"
"Stop! Put her down!" Twilight shouted in fear.
"The storm child... Bring him to the castle ruins by nightfall, or this one dies in his stead..."
With that said, the griffon launched into the air and was gone before Twilight could react. The princess smashed her hoof into the floor, leaving an inch deep print behind.
The pattering rain faded on Fluttershy's edge of the city, allowing the timid pegasus to leave her cottage and check on her animals. After her first steps, she immediately saw something was wrong. Her chicken cage has a huge hole ripped out, and half of her chickens are missing. Her teeth clench in fear as she rushes to the pen. After a head count, she counted only three of her chickens are actually missing. She was still worried, as each of her animals are precious to her. Like her own children.
After assigning some of her other animals to keep the remaining chickens cooped up, she hesitantly made her way into the forest. She quickly caught the chickens tracks, but something about them seemed... off. She continued into the forest with great care. Hovering just above the ground to avoid leaving tracks herself, she followed the strange chicken prints. She was unsure why, but the tracks seemed... forced...
Several minutes of wandering the forest, Fluttershy finally spotted one of her chickens. It was peacefully pecking at the ground, completely oblivious to the mares presence. Fluttershy landed and took a step towards the chicken only to freeze at what she saw by her foot. White feathers, and...
"Bl-bloo... oh no..." Was all the mare could say before a tree limb snapped from above.
Fluttershy tried to escape the trap, but the netting was falling fast and she was frozen in fear. The net hit her with great force, all she saw were grey paws before everything went black...
Sky's vision dimmed as the thick mist surrounded him. Any attempts of navigation through the mist failed, he had no choice but to wait. The mist wanted him see something, something important.
The mist cleared, and Sky was hovering above a war torn field. The land was scarred from magical burns and bloodshed. On each side of the field were armies. On one end stood the equestrian ponies, side by side with griffon soldiers clad in golden battle armor. Behind their ranks stood two tall ponies. One stood tall and radiant in her midnight hued battle vestments. Her dark wings spread across her ranks like a blanket.
The other was also a pegasus, slightly taller than his mate. He was adorned in the royal armor of old, the very same style Sky had sitting at his home. He reared up and flared his wings as he pulled his blade. With a shout of valor, the lines of equestrian and griffon defenders raised their shields in an impenetrable shield wall.
Ont the opposing side of the battlefield stood vast numbers of griffon hordes. These griffons seemed wrong however, they lacked color. It was as if they had dyed their fur and feathers into a bland grey. Some had vicious red war paint on their faces. Standing in the front of all the grey griffons stood another griffon. One who stood three times taller than any other in his army. Beside him was a familiar sight, one of the sky serpents. It was huge, and looked to be over charged with lightning. A flaming chain bound it to its master.
Chain in one hand and battle axe in the other, the massive griffon gave the order to charge. The endless horde of grey charged the equstrian lines, then everything faded to mist again.
Sky waited for the mist to clear once more, which it did. Only now he stood in a courtyard of sorts. The tall pegasus mare stood before him, wearing royal adornments. She flared her wings, and folded one towards the front of her. The feathers were pure black save for the grey base. Sky felt a feeling of familiarity as he raised a hoof to his chest, grasping his feathers.
A short moment later, the pegasus felt his eyes water as he realized who stood before him. The figure itself even began to shed tears, but she remained regal even with the slivers of water shining on her face. Before the mist came again, Sky saw her mouth move. With no sound, he still caught what she said.
Stop the Thunder Lord...
"Twi! I can't find Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash shouted upon returning to the library. "Her cottage is empty, and her chicken fence was broke. I checked the Everfree but couldn't find anything!"
Rainbow was on the verge of a panic attack. She had sent Scootaloo to Twilights, she thought it was her fault the young mare was captured. Despite Twilights best efforts, Rainbow would not be convinced. Now Fluttershy was missing. They were down an element, and she had no clue what this 'storm child' Twilight was mumbling about was.
"Ok....ok.... Storm child.... No Fluttershy.... Can't use the elements... Gah!" Twilight raged at herself. "How did he break out of my frost rune!? That's like... advanced magic! Griffons are NOT magic resistant! UGH!"
Twilight paced back and forth outside her house waiting for the other elements to arrive. Her mind was full of questions, and they were driving her insane. 'None of this makes sense! Storm child? What the buck is that! And for that matter, why would a griffon even care!? What were griffons doing attacking her in her library? And why in tartarus were they so... grey?'
"Twilight! Darling!" Rarity's voice pulled Twilight from her mental meltdown, of which she would thank Rarity for later. "Twilight, where is Sky!?"
"Rarity, I thought Sky was supposed to be with you? Didn't Sweetie Belle and him have something planned?" Twilight asked, still waiting on Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
"Yes! But something must have happened and he left, no warning or anything! And my dear Sweetie Belle thinks he is responsible for that dreadful weather we had. Ruined one of my favorite hats you know." Rarity scoffed.
"Oh Rarity, I thought the storm was super fun-tastic!" Came the ecstatic party mares voice from behind Rarity.
"Wait wait wait. Sky caused that storm? Sky. As in Sky.... Oh...." Twilight felt the need to facehoof immensely. "We need to get to Applejack. Now..."
"Ain't a problem Twi, Ah'm right here. Brought Sky along with me as well. Found the little guy up in a dead tree shiverin like a barn cat in a waterin trough." The country mare finally piped in as she rounded the corner of the library.
"Great! You brought Sky! And he's out cold... great..." Twilight sighed. "Scootaloo gets foulnapped, Fluttershy goes missing, and the closest thing I have to answers is passed out on your back..."
"Wait, Scootaloo? And Fluttershy? Twi, what exactly happened!?" Applejack was more than concerned now.
"Long story short girls... We got a big problem..." Twilight sighed. "Come on, we need to get to the castle ruins before sundown!"
With that, the five mares and unconscious pegasus started their pursuit after the griffon foulnappers.