//------------------------------// // Shifting Tenses // Story: Bronze Hoof // by cowboybird //------------------------------// Shifting Tenses First Arc: Present Revelations The next morning was a hard one to start. Not only was I so comfortable that the thought of gettin out of bed seemed criminal, but my hooves ached more than I cared to say. I turned my head towards the open window of the hotel room that the group and I all stayed in. The sun was barely wakin itself, shootin rays of deep orange, and crimson across the retreatin night sky. I looked over to the couch where Gear was sleepin. One of his forelegs was splayed over the side, and drool was poolin under his chin. His mane was a mess, clumps of dirt and knots strewn about his once kept head. I looked to the bathroom where Quick was supposed to sleep, expectin to see the door shut. What I saw made me snuff a chuckle as not to wake everyone. Apparently, durin the night, Quick had went out and gathered a small cloud, and brought it into the hotel room window. He was in a similar position as Gear, the only difference was the small Pegasus layin on top of him like a cat on a dog. Toni was curled into a ball, and the steady rhythm of her back risin and fallin threatened to put me back to sleep. I glanced at the alarm clock, and found it to read 7:05. The walk to the castle would only take ten minutes or so, considerin how close we were to it. Toni’s surprise funds allowed us to buy into a very nice hotel room. I personally would have settled for a less flashy bedroom, and get two, or maybe three so that we all could have our own beds. I brought it up to the group last night, only to find that they all found that bein in each other’s presence when sleepin to be comfortin. Oh well. I still got the bed. I tilted my head to get a better view of how I had fallen asleep. I was a plank on the bed, arms and legs brought in tight to better keep warm. It was a habit I had developed when on a cattle run. The nights in the Colorado Rockies were cold ones, and since the fire would usually go out in the night, it was best to keep yourself warm. My legs were well past the limit of the bed, as my hooves touched the ground. It wasn’t the most uncomfortable sleep I’ve ever gotten, but it still wasn’t like back at my house in New Findings. I let out a homesick sigh, then realized that I was homesick for a home away from home. Homeception. I looked back over at the clock, 7:06. Damn, I might actually have to get up and do something. The child in the back of my head resisted my attempts to fully awake, whisperin things like, you’ll have to do things, and you’ll have to meet people. I noticed Gear stirrin in his sleep, and decided to quiet my childish self. I sat up, and cracked my various limbs and appendages, relishin the relief it brought me. No one else really cared for it, but considerin I was usually the first to rise, at least when we weren’t on the road, no one really noticed. I stood, and scraped my horn on the ceilin, carvin a line into the drywall. The rough sound woke my friends, as they each tumbled out of their respective restin places. Irritated groans were heard from them as they started to stand. I just stood there like a child reachin in the cookie jar. The looks that they gave me spoke volumes of their hatred for mornins. I still stood like a statue. Maybe their eyesight is based off of movement, and if I stay still long enough, they’ll forget about me. After a minute or two, Quick let out an irritated moan, and began to don his armor, and strap his sword into place. He was quickly followed by Toni and Gear. Damn it worked. I slowly started movin towards my stuff. Whenever someone would look at me, I would freeze like a cat, only to resume when they grumbled somethin and looked away. Eventually I got my armor on, and strapped my axe onto my back. As we left the hotel, I kept to the back, still afraid that one of them might snap, and attack me. In the market we found a coffee shop, or rather a donut shop that sold coffee. I bought everyone a cup with a few bits the town gave me, to which the group was grateful for. We once again traveled back to the castle, marvelin at the architecture of the great city. We gave our weapons to the guards, and entered into the main hall. This early in the mornin there were very few tourists, which meant makin our way to the throne room was easier. We arrived at the magnificent doors, and were let in by the guards. The throne room was one of the most glorious places I had ever been to. Its great arcades reachin to the vaulted ceilin were decorated with more gold and gems than were necessary, but gave the place a sparklin glow. Windows faced out into the city, and out towards the plains beyond. Some were painted glass, depictin various scenes from Equestria’s past, and even some shown in the show. I sqeed at the one showin the main six savin the crystal ponies, which, by the way it shined brighter than the rest, must have been newer. So that’s where I’m at in the time frame, probably near the middle of season three. The double doors we were let in sat in front of a raised platform where the throne was. The path up to the throne was flanked by nobles and guards alike, and led up to stairs that made way to the chair. Its cushioned seat was occupied by none other than Princess Celestia herself. She noticed us as the doors shut, and smiled. “Hello your highness. My name is Bronze Hoof, and these are my companions: Gear Head, Quick Beak, and Toni. We come seekin your help in a matter of dire importance.” I said, tryin to sound official. “I know who you are Bronze Hoof. But what is so important that you must see me so early in the morning?” She said, her motherly tone reachin me, and makin me miss home. “Well, your highness, our town of New Findings in the Southern Rainforest has been under attack from diamond dog slavers. They recently…came under new management thanks to Bronze here. Its new alpha let go of all the slaves they had, and set them to New Findings. The town, although grateful for their ponies back, doesn’t have the means to supply the refugees with food and shelter. We came here, through great danger, to seek your help in relocating the ponies.” Gear said, finishin with a low bow. Celestia took a moment to consider this. The room fell silent as the princess looked out one of the windows, all waitin for her response. I considered our plea as well. Even if the guards were to get the ponies out, where would they go? It would take a considerable amount of recourses to catalog, and find homes for the ponies, even if they had family. This would most likely strain the economy of Equestria, but would help hundreds of ponies. She rose, makin sure she had everyone’s attention in the room. “Everypony leave.” She ordered, “I have to have some words with Bronze Hoof.” I looked around as everyone, includin the guard, started makin for the exit. I glanced at my friends, who adopted defensive stances and stood around me. I caught Quick’s eye, and nodded to him. He sighed, and gathered Gear and Toni, and made for the door. Bein in a room with just the princess was uncomfortable. Although I dwarfed her in size, she could still kill me a thousand times over with just a thought. I was just a minotaur, she was a god. Celestia motioned me to sit on one of the cushions next to her. At first I was reluctant, but she gave me a reassurin nod. I climbed the steps, and sat next to her. “With all due respect your majesty, why do you want to speak to me? I’m just a no-body farm hand who cares for his town.” I said, confused as to why she would pick me, instead of one of her subjects. “Do you like bananas?” She said calmly. The question took me off guard. I recalled a youtube video I watched back on Earth where Celestia would ask if someone liked bananas, then shot them out of a massive canon. “Y…Yes?” I said, cautious of the floor. “You know where you can find bananas?” She said, gettin a mischievous grin across her muzzle. Fear began buildin in my stomach. I started shakin at the knees. “Please don’t shoot me out of a giant canon.” I pleaded, droppin on my knees and shakin my hands for mercy. She just laughed. A hearty laugh that wasn’t maniacal or devious in any way. It sounded like honey bein poured into some tea, or the crackle of a bonfire on a summer night. It soothed me, even though I still believed I was about to become Equestrias first satellite. “So that’s what he thought I did. I knew that’s how he found other humans, but why would I shoot someone out of a canon?” She asked once she had calmed down. “Wait, who? And how do you know about humans?” I was baffled by her questions. If there are more like me in this world, why did no one tell me? “Oh, just this griffin I know. But yes, I know about humans Bronze. By the way you hold yourself I could tell you were one right away. You are awkward around others, even more so than a regular minotaur. I wasn’t exactly sure until I saw you gawking at the window of Twilight and her friends defeating Discord.” She motioned to the stained glass, then gave me a warm smile. “I will help your town Bronze Hoof, but in return you must tell me your story.” She got comfortable on her throne, and looked at me expectantly. Should I tell her? Wouldn’t that break some rule of the universe? New Findings depended on me though, and if they were goin to get supplies than I had to tell her my story. Universal rules be damned. “As you know…” I cleared my throat, tryin not to sound like a cornered rat. “I wasn’t always a bulking mass of muscle rising 10 feet from the ground, 12 if you add the horns. Once I was a dashingly handsome man, gallivantin about in the dry plains of Colorado.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “And that’s how I ended up here, tellin you my story.” I finished. Celestia stared at me, eyes heavy. “You didn’t have to go into such detail, Bronze.” She said, standin up and crackin some joints. I recalled the detail I went into, and decided that she was wrong. “God is in the details” as they say. “You wanted to hear my story, and I told it to you. Now will you help New Findings or not?” I said with a lil anger in my voice. I didn’t spend the last couple of hours tellin her about myself for her not to help my friends. “Calm down Bronze, I was going to help either way. I just wanted to hear a story, and yours was a very interesting one. I can see why he picked you.” She said, motionin me to follow her. I stood, and we walked towards the doors that led into the main hall. “You and your friends are free to go, not that you were ever detained. I will send my guard to go help the town, and another contingent to reinforce the southern guard base. Know that everyone there will be helped, and thank you for telling me your story Bronze.” She opened the door with her magic, and I walked out. The door shut behind me, givin off a great boom as it closed. I saw my friends at one of the restaurants off one of the adjacent halls, and headed towards them. “Hey guys, how’s lunch.” I said, startlin Gear, who was in the middle of wolfin down some hay fries. He began to cough violently from bein startled. “Bronze! How’d everythin go mate? Is she gonna send help?” Quick said, slappin me on the back after I sat down. “Yeah, she just wanted to know my story.” I looked at the menu, and motioned the waiter to me. I ordered a vegiburger, and water. “Your story took five hours. What did you tell her?” Gear said after his coughin fit. “Everythin.” I said, settlin into my chair. “What do you mean ‘everythin’, like everything, everything?” Toni asked. “Yup. Every detail, every thought, everythin.” I said, and chuckled at the way Quick raised his eyebrows. “Why would you bore her like that? That’s just mean.” Quick said, givin me a wry smile. “Hey, I have had an interestin life. Besides, she asked for it.” We all laughed, enjoyin the capitol’s food as much as we liked. As we left the castle, some guards that Celestia sent gave us each a bag of bits for our heroism. The funny thing is, I didn’t feel like a hero. All I had done was what was necessary to help those I cared about. Does that make you someone to be admired? Does doin somethin that is necessary make one great? Do savin those that needed to be saved make you a champion? What good are titles anyway? They never seemed to capture the person’s feelins or thoughts, only their deeds. I recalled the various expressions on the princess’s face when I told her about the diamond dogs, the young drakes I killed, and when Emerald saved my life. She thought I was the hero of the story, but in reality, it was those around me that caused me to take action. My whole time here seems like a bedtime story where the hero gets the girl, and the hero was the one tellin it. Today, I stop tellin my story, and start livin my life.