//------------------------------//
// Preparations 
// Story: Fighting Never Ends 
// by Tx Avenger 218 
//------------------------------//

Sitting on a bench and staring into the sunset is always peaceful. After I talked to my friends and the ponies I needed, we went back to Ponyville. It’s been four days since we got back. I’ve prepared  all I can for now, but I still need more to get myself ready before I am sent on my way to the residing provinces around Equestria. First, to the Griffon Empire and then on to Zebrica. Those are the only two that are close enough to Equestria where they won’t be hindered too much by travel expenses. The griffons are just across the ocean from us and they can fly, so it seems logical they could attack if need be. Plus, they aren’t really too fond of ponies.
 
Zebra’s don’t necessarily hate ponies, but I don’t think I should take the chance of missing something with them either. They are slightly hindered by the ocean, but it is possible to cross it. They would also have an easier chance of going around it than the griffons.
 
Another place close by is the badlands, home to various different kinds of creatures that would put most of the ones in the Everfree forest to shame. That is including the massive herds of dragons that reside there in clans. We figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to try and ask them anything like that, lest they take offense and either attack or stop giving Celestia their eggs. Plus, they shouldn’t have a stake in the matter of harming this country if they both have a standing truce what with the egg transfers and all.
 
I may seem like I have a cool head, but inside I am a complete train wreck. I am about to jump head first into these new country’s for me with not a whole lot of knowledge to go on. I thought about asking Zecora for some info about her country… but then I realized on the prospect that she’s here and not there. I never realized the concept that maybe something might have happened to her there. Better not press the subject.
 
My friends told me they encountered a griffon awhile back before I appeared, an old friend of Rainbow’s that ended being not as good of a friend that she was made out to be. Let’s hope that bad blood doesn’t screw with my trip there. Oh man, my friends…
 
I already told them of what I’m going to do. They weren’t really… thrilled at the idea. I don’t have much of a bearing of the landscapes and all, but I’ve already pulled through more than once since I’ve been here when it comes to situations that don’t go my way. They even opted to go with me, but I strictly told them that they can’t. This isn’t some sort of frilly vacation for me. Equestria hasn’t had any sort of relationship with any these places in years, decades even.
 
As I travel to these places, so does the standpoint with Equestria. I am the ambassador of Equestria as far as I go there. An attack on me is an attack on Equestria from what the princesses told me. I have to be extremely careful and, as much as it loathe it, diplomatic in these places. Otherwise, a war may ensue. That means the company I bring will have an impact as well. A unicorn who’ll probably get wet at the sight of a whole new culture on literature; a fashionista who wants to examine, touch and relish royal drapes or attire; a pegasus with a former best friend of a griffon; another pegasus who’ll get too excited at the sight of new animals and pull off another Grand Galloping Gala event; a farm earth pony with a stubborn attitude; And Pinkie Pie. ‘nuff said.
 
I love my friends and all, but there are some things I have to do alone. This is one of them. I just hope they’ll understand and not try anything brash to screw this up.
 
“Hey Swift!” I don’t flinch at the sound of this new voice. Turning my eyes slightly to the side, I see the familiar purple with a hint of green colored dragon walking up to me. Spike… a good friend. The only male friend I’ve hung out with on a regular basis. Sucks that he’s young, in dragon years.
 
“Hey Spike. How you been?” I say, not taking my eyes of the sunset.
 
“All good. Just a few days ago Rainbow was suddenly modeled as a superhero for a bit.”
 
I raise my eyebrow in question as I turn to him. “Really?” My curiosity peaked.
 
“Yeah. After she saved a filly from almost falling a cliff and saving another from a well, suddenly autographs, fan clubs, and praise were being thrown at her from left to right.” He expresses by waving his arms around. “Then it started to get to her head.”
 
“Hehehe, that sounds about right.”
 
“Anyways, after a while the others got more than annoyed at her boasting and cocky attitude toward the whole thing. So with several different costumes provided by… Rarity.” He says her name dreamily. Seriously, when the hell is he going to stop dreaming and just fuck her already?! “They all banded together and played the part of the Mysterious Mare Do Well. You know, to teach her a lesson.” Spike snaps out of his love struck daydream and finishes the tale. He hops up onto the bench next to me.
 
“Mare Do Well… I think her name was mentioned in a few reports that were sent to me from the soldiers stationed here. A black tight clothed pony with a purple cape and hat? Reported to have been an alicorn? And even single-hoofedly repair a demolished dam?” I try to recap the reports that were given to me at the time.
 
“Yeah, that sounds about right. Twilight was the one that repaired the dam.” Twilight… I look opposite of Spike and spot the dam that is placed at the main choke point of the river. Out of all the unicorns I know, only she could have the power to repair an entirely destroyed dam in the heat of the moment.
 
 “Sounds like something she could do.” I mutter. The little dragon nods in agreement with me.
 
With nothing else to talk about, we sit here in awkward silence for a couple minutes. “Spike?”
 
“Yeah?”
 
“Rarity’s working on something for me at the moment. Do you think you can deliver a message to her and ask her on behalf of me on the progress she’s made?” I ask him. Although you’d have to be pretty stupid to not already know his answer.
 
“Oh boy would I! I’ll be right back.” He excitedly says and jumps off the bench before starting to run.
 
“Hey Spike,” the dragon stops to look at me. Remembering his ability, a question springs forth in my mind, “That flame thing you use on those letters to send to Princess… is it tailored to ‘only’ sending things to her?” I ask. I know Spike grew up with ponies his whole life but with how big, long and tall dragons can grow up to… seems kinda sad to permanently give him that ability to only send things to the Princess.
 
He goes to say something but stops before the words can leave his mouth. “Hm… actually, I’ve never tried anything like that before. Never really had a reason to. When the Princess sent us here for Twilight to learn more about the magic of friendship, whenever we’re done writing a letter, I just… think of sending it directly to the Princess and… poof. It’s sent.” He explains. Hm, interesting. I look around the area to see if anything comes to mind on how we can experiment with this. The Beretta in my holster catches my attention. I pull it out and look at it for a second, pulling out the magazine, inspecting its rounds and pulling the slide back slightly to see the bullet in the chamber.
 
“Hmmm, alright then.” I get up from my seat and make my way a foot away. “Hold on a second, Spike. I wanna try something.” I look around for a suitable target and lay my eyes on a lone thin branch on the tree. I take the magazine in my pistol out and putting it in my pocket, “Heads up dude.” I quickly say before pulling the slide back and ejecting the round out. The little dragon fumbles with catching the round for a few seconds before finally catching it. He looks up at me with a curious look.
 
“What do you want me to do with this?” he asks while holding the 9mm bullet up in his claws. I kneel down, let the slide move forward and point to the chamber.
 
“I want you to try and teleport that bullet into here.” I say while showing the chamber itself and having him see it from all angles. A more than worried expression appears on his face.
 
“A-Are you sure? I-I don’t want to do anything to hurt you or-!” I silence the worried dragon with a raise of my hand.
 
“Easy, just relax and do what you can.” I take a few steps back and aim at the branch. “Whenever you’re ready.”
 
I wait in my firing position for a few minutes, the unique little dragon doing his best to remember the destination of the object in his claws. With the sound of a huff-and-puff and green fire, I feel the weight change of my gun. I aim directly and pull the trigger.
 
*Bang*
 
The branch makes an audible crunch as it snaps right off the rest of the tree and hits the ground. I smile and holster my gun, “Nice, now that’s what I’m talking about.”
 
“Wow! I didn’t know I could do that! That was awesome. Wonder what else I can send?” the eager young dragon begins to ramble off a bit while I walk over to my target. Hmmm, that power… my gun… wonder what can I do with that combo?
 
“What you thinking Swift?” Spike asks from behind. I think for a few more seconds.
 
“Nothing concrete yet, but something with potential.” I mutter. Maybe, just maybe, I can find something useful for this. I didn’t become Champion of Equestria for being oblivious and stupid.
 
“You think you can come up with something from all this?” he gestures to the demonstration I made right now.
 
“Possibly.” Is my only reply.
 
“Oh… well, I’m glad I could help Swift. I’d love to stay, but Twilight will probably need my help with something back at the library.” He takes a few steps before stopping, “But not before I stop by Rarity’s to ask her. Then I’ll send you a letter on what she said.” He adds before continuing.
 
“Hold on.” He looks back, “After you're done with that, get a letter to Steel Verrier at the local inn. I need to talk to him as soon as I can.”
 
“Sure thing. Bye!” he waves and runs away. I sit back down on the bench and watch him.
 
“I’ll be here awhile.” I shout to him as he walks.
 
When I told Steel he would be coming out of retirement, he opted to rest in the hotel here in town till my departure. Afterall, Rarity needs his help in order to finish up my order.
 
The sun hasn’t moved in the slightest since I started talking to him. For now I guess I’ll just continue to enjoy it.
 
*Slam* “Boo!”
 
But only for so long.
 
“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” I nonchalantly greet the rainbow-maned pegasus. Blunt, brash and fastest pegasus I know. Her tomboyish attitude and rough demeanor makes her a ‘considered’ male friend, when in reality she’s a female that I wouldn’t mind getting in bed with.
 
…What the hell did I just say?!
 
“Hey Swift, you okay?”
 
“Huh! Wha’?!”
 
“You blanked out for a second there. Did I scare you?” she asks with slight anticipation in her voice. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I smile.
 
“Nope.”
 
“Aw! I could have sworn I got you there.” She grumbles in annoyance and falls onto her back on the bench.
 
“Hehe, sorry Rainbow. You got to do a little better than that if you want me to soil myself.” I chuckle. She blows a piece of her hair out of her face in annoyance.
 
“So what are you doing out here anyway?” she asks me. I turn to answer her but I quickly turn right back around at the position she’s in.
 
“Oh, I… uh… just wanted to clear my head.” I stammer out.
 
“Because of your new journey in one week? The one where you will be leaving Equestria?” She grumbles.
 
*Sigh* “Yeah, that trip.” My saddened demeanor returns.
 
“Ugh! This is stupid! Why does the princess have to send you out there all alone?!” she angrily yells at me.
 
I let out a breath of air, “Because if I don’t… then no pony will.” I lowly say.
 
“What are you talking about? If this is so important, why doesn’t the Princess just go instead?! She’s the one that’s supposed to protect us. Not you!”
 
“And how would you feel if an immortal accusing you of something of a threat on her country?!” I yell at her. She recoils a bit at my sudden outburst. Seeing her like that, I calm down a bit and stare forward again. “If she or Luna were to go and ask them, words can easily be twisted on both fronts, which could lead to rumors spreading about and somepony or someone else will probably say that ‘the princess threatened us!’ or something like that. Plus, I have no doubt in my mind that at least one pony, griffon, zebra, minotaur or whatever will probably try and attack her. She can take care of herself, however the slightest threat to the princesses face can lead to immediate execution of that individual, and full on war with Equestria.” I bluntly say.
 
Rainbow cringes audibly at my bluntness on the situation as she rolls onto her stomach, facing me. “I may have almost as much power as both princesses, but I’m not immortal.” I look at her. “I’m not the son or daughter of the creator. That’s something others will take into account plenty of times over. With my power and authority, coupled with my mortal life, they’ll feel… comfortable around another that can die as easily as them.” I grab my Berretta and reload it before taking aim at a passing bird in the distance. “But it doesn’t mean I will make it easy for them to.”
 
“… Wow.”
 
I lower my gun and look at Rainbow. “Yeah, hectic I know. But it’s something I gotta do.” I finish up. She twists herself around until she’s laying on her side and looking out towards the sunset with me. No matter what happens, every time I look out to the sunset things always seem to calm down for me. Like the heated texture of the sunset itself, all my just seem to melt away at-
 
“Oof!” Something large and blue lands on legs. I look down to see none other than Rainbow Dash lying on her side, while sprawled along my legs. She looks back up at me with a giddy smile on her face. “Rainbow…” I say with a hint of annoyance in my voice.
 
“Hey.” She nervously says.
 
“Why did you do that?”
 
“I was bored.”
 
“… That’s it?”
 
“Yeah. C’mon, why don’t we just go do something to make you never ever forget your time here in Ponyville?!” she proposes while looking up at me. I admire her idea, but I already know I’ll never forget Ponyville no matter how hard I try. It’s my home here in Equestria and has done so much for me beyond anything I can do to repay it.
 
“He he, sorry Rainbow. Chances are I’ll already never forget Ponyville as it is. I mean, the Everfree Forest is right next door, the house you girls built is between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest, not to mention it was right in the middle of town square that I battled the god of chaos and wielded one of the most powerful weapons ponies have to offer… statistics say I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.”
 
She goes to say something… but stops at knowing that I’ve bested her. Through my time here, things have pretty much run their course here. Not much left to do.
 
She huffs and places her head back down on my legs. Looks like she opted to sit here with me.
 
If there’s one thing I know, Rainbow Dash hates being in one place for too long. But I guess when it comes to good friends, I think she’s just as willing to make things okay with them as me. After all, she is the Element of Loyalty.
 
I gently place my hand on top of her head and glide my fingers through her rainbow-mane. “Mmm, your fingers make a nice comb.” She quietly says. From the gentle glide of my fingers against her, to the warm embrace of us close together, and in her words ‘a boring place to be’, she’s probably falling asleep. As I feel the pegasus long hair in between my fingers, I take note of their rough texture and strength. From the all the flying she does all the time, her body’s adapted to the high gusts of wind that bat her form constantly. Her mane must have grown tougher with how long air continues to hit her. Even her wings seem much more firmer than any of the other pegasi I’ve seen so far. The only thing that could come close to her is probably the Canterlot guards, but only close.
 
Except for that one feather out of place. I grab her wing and slightly open it. “Uhhh- Swift! Wha-what are you-“ I decide to do her a kindness and help arrange that one feather. I grab it.
 
*Plink*
 
It easily pops right off when I try to move it. “Oh crap, I’m so-!”
 
“Ohhhhhhhhh!”
 
My entire body freezes up at the long throaty moan that the pegasus in my lap gives out.
 
“Uh, Rainbow? Are you alright?” I ask her.
 
“Ohhh! Thank you, soooo muuuuucchh, Swift!” She writhes a little in my lap.
 
“Uh, sure no problem.” I nervously say at how she’s acting. Seriously it sounded like she was having an orgasm or something. Thankfully, the lack of liquid against my leg proves false on the matter.
 
“No really! Thank you!” she places her hooves on both of my shoulders and looks directly into my eyes. “Pegasi have to preen their wings to keep them strong and healthy.” She holds up my hand with the feather still in it closely between us, “This one has been stuck there, for days. The next feather was already growing underneath and this itch was driving me insane!” she practically yells the last part. She flexes her wings a couple times, most likely enjoying the feeling of that itch finally gone. “I didn’t want to ask the others for help, so I just left it there.” She grumbles the last part. Damn, sort of like having a chunk of meat stuck between your teeth for about the same amount of time. Once that piece gets out, you feel like heaven.
 
“Oh, well. Your welcome.” Even after I say that, she continues to stare at me. I slowly lower my hand but she still stares. “Rainbow?” I gently tap her on the forehead.
 
“Huh?! Oh sorry, zoned out for a second there.” She chuckles nervously and rubs the back of her neck.
 
“Hehe, that’s quite alright. Although if you could get off me, that would be alright as well.” I nervously say to her. She looks at me confused, before she looks down to see the exact position we are in.
 
She blushes hard. “Ahh!” she yelps and jumps into the air. “I’m sorry, Swift! I-I-I didn’t mean to-“ she goes a little hysterical.
 
I hold my hand up so she can be quiet. “It’s fine. Just as long as you’re willing to not make this go public.” Once I say that, my eyes widen and I jump behind the bench and look behind the tree.
 
“Uhh, sure but what are you-?” she tries to ask me but I grab her and pull her to the ground. I put my finger to her lips and hope she gets the concept to shut up. I look around the surrounding trees, bushes and boulders to catch an sort of glint, flash or rustle.
 
After a minute, I conclude that nothing is there.
 
“Phew.” I breathe a sigh of relief and drop back onto the bench.
 
“Soooo,” Rainbow trots up and jumps onto the other side of the bench. “What was all that about?” she curiously asks me.
 
I sigh, “… Paparazzi.” I grumble.
 
She tilts her head to the side, “The press? What about them?”
 
“Can you imagine the idea ponies would get if the press got pictures of us like that?” I ask her, quietly.
 
She taps her chin with her hoof for a bit, trying to come up with an answer. But like the power of imagination, her cyan coat turns red again as the same thoughts I have run through her mind. “Yeah. Exactly.”
 
“Alright, alright. I get it. Do you have to deal with stuff like that a lot?”
 
I shrug, “For awhile I did, but after I threw a knife at one of their cameras they sort of backed off.” I look back to the tree to see it’s still there. “But you never know when they are gonna pop back up like roaches.” I slowly turn back to the front.
 
“Wow, I never pictured celebrity life so… invading.” She says. I chuckle loudly.
 
“Well, it’s probably because you never knew one before.”
 
“I guess I better get ready to deal with that for when I join the Wonderbolts then, huh?” she asks me.
 
I smile, “Probably.” I mutter. She places her head back down on her front hooves and looks at the horizon with me.
 
“Hey,” her ears perk up, “What do you want to do with this?” I point out the feather still in my hands grip. She leans forward, prepared to grab the feather with her mouth so she can probably take it back to her place and dispose of it properly, but she stops just from closing her mouth. Her eyes glaze over my hand and up to my face. She looks back to the feather and closes her eyes.
 
She pulls back and lays her head on my lap again. “Actually, why don’t you keep it.”
 
Surprised is kinda what I’ll say right now. “Really? You sure?”
 
“Yeah! I mean,” she perks up to me at first but lowers her head back down. “I-If you truly have to go and do that stupid quest or whatever of yours… then maybe you should have something to actually remember us by.”
 
I look at the feather and examine it from all sides. Unlike the usual feathers you would find on birds and such, this feather right here feels a lot tougher and stronger than at first glance, plus it’s plenty lighter as well.
 
“I’m guessing the others are already working on getting you something before you leave. I’m not into the whole sappy gift giving type of stuff… s-so why d-don’t you go ahead and keep it… to at least remember me by.” She finishes stuttering a bit.
 
I look at the feather yet again to try and deduce something about this situation. It’s a nice gesture and all, especially by her standards, but something feels… different by this. “Is there something else to this? I can’t shake the feeling that this is supposed to mean something else.” I ask her. She turns back away from me.
 
“W-well, like a really long time ago, pegasi would give one of their primaries, that kind of feather your holding, to somepony they… um… love.” She jerks back around and leans into me. “But don’t think I love you! I just don’t want you to die!” she yells.
 
… Now that I see, I’m surprised to see on just how big pony eyes are, compared to the ones back home. With these giant saucers pushed right up against me, it’s kind of intimidating.
 
“Um, sure Rainbow. I get it.” I try to calm her down. She leans back and turns right back around.
 
“Anyway, it used to be that they would be a symbol of ownership… but then that ran out of style pretty quick.” Damn! Ownership?! Like… like slavery? …Hell. “Then came the idea of giving it to somepony you love… and want… to be with.” She tries to not make it sound like what she’s implying. She’s trying really hard to make it so that I don’t get mixed feelings about her like this. She scratches her hoof nervously along the wood board of the bench. “III… don’t know what to get you. And seeing you holding that pesky feather that was bugging me for too long… just seemed…”
 
“Right? Or appropriate?”
 
“Yeah, that.” She looks sternly at me. “But don’t think it means what I was saying earlier. I just want you to keep something of mine so you remember…!” she places her hoof on my chest, “Where it is you live?” she sits back down and stares at the sun, “And the others who are waiting for you here. Plus you also saved my life that first day we met, don’t think I haven’t forgotten that either.” She finishes up.
 
Looking at the feather, I can’t help but feel elated at the gesture Rainbow has given me. A piece of herself so I can remember her specifically by if anything dire happens wherever I am gone. I mean, Rarity is going to give me some new clothes, and Fluttershy gave me Ferus. It’s still gonna be awhile till I have to leave so maybe the others might come up with something.
 
Not that they need to in my case, but I’m pretty sure they would insist on it ten times over if I try to keep them from giving me anything.
 
“Rainbow.” I calmly call out her name. She turns to me, where I turn to her with a smile on my face. “I love it. No one I have ever met has given me something like this to remember them by. Even if it doesn’t represent what it usually does between the two of us, I still like the gesture. Thank you.” I reach out my fist so we can bump. She stretches her hoof out to return it, but she does something taking me completely by surprise.
 
She hugs me.
 
She wraps her forehooves around me and pulls me into a tight embrace. I’m stunned at first, but I slowly close my arms around her, mindful of her wings. “Just don’t die on us, you hear me?
 
I nod, “I promise.”
 
“Good.” She mumbles and pushes us away from each other. It’d be stupid to not notice the awkward situation we are in right now.
 
Still, this is so unlike her. Am I really that important you her? “Rainbow Dash… I’ve never seen you act like this before,” She cringes a little, “Why now?”
 
She lets out a deep frustrated sigh, “Because out of everypony I’ve ever known in my life, you have got to be the coolest, strongest, smartest… I don’t know what else –est I can think of but it’s all true! You are just… too awesome to deserve anything less than what you have now! You don’t deserve what it is that happened to you before you came here to Ponyville!” she yells at me. Shocked can be stated just a bit right now, still surprised on the idea of the feather and all, plus the hug, but no one verbally said what it was I did or didn’t deserve what I got. It’s just… Thank you.
 
“But you also live a dangerous life.” The determination she just awhile ago turns to a hint of sadness. “You’ve had too many close calls as it is. I just want you to actually look at something,” she points to the feather. “And remember how much you mean to us.”
 
“Yeah, you’re right. Having memories is one thing, but actual proof is another. I’ll keep it close.” I say.
 
“Thanks.” She smiles as she says.
 
I twirl the feather a little, admiring it’s sheen. It definitely shouldn’t come as a surprise that Rainbow Dash is one to take good care of her wings. “Hey, do I need to keep this somewhere specific or what? I don’t want it getting damaged anytime soon.” I ask her. I don’t have to worry about Philomena’s feather because she’s a phoenix.
 
“No, not really. Pegasi feathers are pretty much indestructible. There have even been reports of pegasi who were trapped in collapsed caves and buildings dating all the way back to even before Nightmare Moon came into the picture where their primary feathers were still in perfect condition. Unlike the powdered bones that laid right next to them.”
 
Now that is an awesome trait for pegasi, true controlling the weather is still a feat beyond even my kind and all its tech, but growing feathers that can last thousands and thousands of years beyond some ponies lifetimes is pretty cool.
 
“Sweet. That’s good to hear. I don’t know the first thing about taking care of feathers.” I joke with a slight chuckle. She lets out a small laugh with me as well. I take the feather and place it behind my ear, sort of like how you do with a pencil.
 
With all the awkwardness and feelings expressed in this moment, it’s quiet now.
 
“Well, I better get going. I need to make sure you’ll have clear weather for your trip and all.” She jumps and hovers in the air.
 
“Thanks Rainbow. I’d appreciate it.”
 
“See ya later!” she shouts and zooms off.
 
*Sigh* “See ya.” I say to myself. I didn’t matter to anyone for a time, I guess the concept of actually mattering to some individuals is hard to get used to.
 
“Hey Swift.”
 
I look towards the sound of a new voice and see the familiar farm pony trotting right up to me. I wave her over to me. “Hey Applejack. Over here.” Applejack, tough strong earth pony that has the mass and bulk to take down just about anything if she puts her mind to it. Can only imagine her as the dominator when it comes to being in bed.
 
…Seriously what am I thinking?!
 
Is this trip starting to make me go crazy and realize something about the girls I never did before?
 
“…Was that Rainbow?” In my daze, I missed the most of what Applejack was saying, but I got the last part. I turn back in the direction Rainbow took off in to see the fading streak of her trail.
 
“Yeah, it was. We were just talking for a bit.” I decide to try and leave out any details pertaining to any personal events that transpired between me and Rainbow.
 
“Talking eh? Then what’s that?” she points a hoof at me. I look at myself to see what exactly it is she means.
 
“What’s what?”
 
“That feather?”
 
...Ohhhhh, so much for being quiet. I reach back and pull the feather off me. “Oh this? Considering I would be heading into unknown territory, Rainbow took it upon herself to give me something tangible to instantly remember who I have waiting for me back here.” I explain. Unless Rainbow has secret feelings for me and did her best to try and make sure I didn’t catch on, I’ll treat this as something to at least remember my friends by.
 
“Really?” she smugly says with a wry smile. She even crosses her hooves. Sounds like she doesn’t believe me.
 
“Yeah, really. Considering my… reputation for danger and all, it’s nice to have something next to you to remember what you're fighting for when you are about to die.” I try to convince her.
 
“Y’all sure about that?” she keeps up her attitude. I groan and place the feather back on my ear.
 
“Well unless Rainbow is secretly in love with me and actually wants that old custom of giving your feather to the one you love to be true, then I’ll keep it as a memento.” I sternly say.
 
“Hmm, Fair enough.” She finally finishes interrogating me. She trots up to me and sits on the bench next to me. “So… you ready to go?”
 
I don’t answer her instantly. I take a moment to think. Rainbow was pretty steamed as it is on me leaving, wonder what Applejack will be. “Honestly, I have no idea. The idea of going out there all by myself is scaring the hell out of me.”
 
“Hell?” Oh right. They have something different.
 
“My kind’s version of your Tartarus.”
 
“Oh. You were saying?”
 
“Right, like I said. It’s scary, but I would be alright if I was just going to learn about some… things.” My friends haven’t been told on the threat that was made on Equestria awhile back. Even if they are the wielders of the most powerful weapons in Equestria, they aren’t the most reliable when it comes to sensitive info. Especially Pinkie Pie.
 
“Would be?”
 
Hehe… for a farm life style pony, she sure catches on to the little things. “If I wasn’t proclaimed Equestria’s Champion and its voice and arm while I’m visiting these places.”
 
“Tarnation. Sounds like y’all have a lot riding on yer’ shoulders then huh?” she tries to joke a little to lift my spirits. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do much.
 
“Yeah, I do. Princess Celestia and Luna may run Equestria, but if my trip goes south just as soon as it started, they’ll be the ones picking up the pieces for my folly.” If you run a country, you know how it works and can keep it balanced to the best of your ability’s. When you meet a new country, you don’t know how it works and can end up bringing a war between the two provinces. It’s not a position most would like to be in, especially me.
 
“There anyway y’all can relax about this?” she asks me.
 
I sigh, “Honestly, just knowing that I have friends back here that are waiting for me is something that’ll keep my mind at ease.” I say. Even with all the torment I’ve gone through here in Equestria, it’s always come back to the fact that I’ve had friends nearby for me to protect. That’s something I can work towards when on this trip.
 
“Ah’m glad to hear that Swift.” She pats me on the back for reassurance. Small but it helped. “But if ah know anypony, or human, who can pull this off without a hitch,” She places her hoof on my hand, “It’s you.”
 
I smile. Element of Honesty… I can’t not take her word for it. I pat her hoof, “Thanks Applejack. I appreciate it.” I say sincerely.
 
“Think nothin’ of it pardner.” She replies.
 
With all the heartfelt conversation we just had, I failed to realize something, “What are you doing here anyway? I’m pretty sure a mind easing conversation wasn’t something on your agenda.”
 
“Well ah-“
 
*Fwoosh*
 
She gets cut off by the sounds of what small gust of wind. I look around and I spot a scroll on the ground nearby close to the tree.
 
I jump over the bench and walk up to the scroll before picking it up.
 
“Where’d that come from?” Applejack asks.
 
I smile, knowing that Spike’s ability is working perfectly. “Spike.” I open up the scroll.
 
“Spike? But he’s not-“
 
I hold up my finger to cut her off. She pouts as I read.
 
                    Dear Swift Wind,
 
                    Spike here, Rarity said she will be done with your new clothes soon. Steel Verrier was there as well so I was able to tell him to meet you at Twilight’s Library.
 
The Library? Why?
 
You may be wondering, “Why the library?”
 
Smug bastard.
 
Well, Twilight also wanted to show you something as well. She picked up a few things while you were in Canterlot and decided that maybe now would be the time to show it. From what I’ve seen, I think you’ll be surprised and happy to see these from just the appearance alone. Anyway, hopefully this letter actually made it you and not somewhere else.
 
Anypony else reading this that’s not Swift Wind, kindly tear this letter up and forget what you read here.
 
If this is Swift, please come to the library.
 
                    Your friend,
                    
                    Spike the Dragon
 
I smile and roll the scroll back up. “C’mon. We’re heading to the library.” I motion to Applejack as I walk past her.
 
“The library? Why?” she asks as she trots up right next to me.
 
“I’m meeting Twilight and that scientist looking pony named Steel Verrier at the library for… some things to discuss I guess.” I mutter.
 
“Wha’ kind of things?”
 
“Not really sure. I’m just sort of winging things for a bit.” I answer. I have an idea of what I’m going to ask Steel Verrier but I’ll see his opinion on the matter. And Twilight needs to show me something that wasn’t at my house. Either she thinks this stuff is too important to leave out in the open of my house, or maybe she was just being cautious about them. I don’t know really. Hopefully it was nothing to be too disturbed about.
 
“Fair enough.” Applejack decides to not press the subject further. We soon make our way into town and pass the barracks that was made. It’s a simple design, really, of tree and wood construct along with a watchtower right next to it, dawning the Equestrian flag as well. A couple of guards are training outside with the new moves. One of them manages to grab the other and flip him over his shoulder and making him land on his back.
 
“Argh! Damnit! How do you keep beating me?” the soldier on the ground writhes a little.
 
“I don’t know. Just skill, my friend.” The other smugly says. It isn’t until I reach out with my hand to help the one on the ground up that they notice me. The one standing immediately salutes me while the ground just looks up at me before slowly placing his hoof in my hand.
 
I pull him up onto his hooves with ease, “Feign an attack.” I whisper to his ear just as it passes by my mouth.
 
“What?”
 
“Keep up the good work you two.” I casually say and turn back to Applejack who was standing a few feet away.
 
“Thank you sir!” the soldier that won replies before relaxing. “C’mon, let’s go again.”
 
“Oh, uh, sure.” The soldier who lost agrees after he’s hesitant a little.
 
“Wha’ was that about?” Applejack asks me as I make it to her and we continue walking.
 
“Just some advice.” I smile. A few hoof strikes can be heard behind me, followed up by a satisfying slam to the ground.
 
“H… how did you beat me?!” the first winner asks in disbelief.
 
Just before I round a corner, I look back and smile to the winner as he looks back to me. I walk forward. “I don’t know. Just skill, my friend.” The last thing I hear is the winner replying the smug comment his friend gave him when he won before.
 
“Your just full of surprises, aren’t ‘cha?” Applejack asks me with a smile.
 
“I know. I surprise even myself sometimes.” We both share a laugh for a brief moment before we continue walking in silence. It isn’t long till we pass by Sugarcube Corner that something has been bugging me for some time now. “Where’s Pinkie Pie?”
 
“You know… ah’m not even sure myself. No pony’s really seen her all that much since we got back.” Hm, that’s strange. I hope she’s not upset or saddened about my departure. I don’t want another Pinkamena episode after she thought we all didn’t want to go to her party.
 
I brush the thought aside and continue onward. Before we know it, we are standing in front of the library that Twilight has associated herself with for so long.
 
“Alright, let’s hope for the best.” I grunt.
 
“Oh come one Swift,” Applejack reaches for the handle, “I reckon nothin’ will happen here.” She opens the door.
 
“What is wrong with you?! Of course Star Swirl the Bearded was the best during his time!!”
 
“He may have been good but there was no way he was the best.”
 
“How can you say that!?!”
 
Me and Applejack look at each other as we see both brainiac ponies going back and forth with their argument as Spike seems to have nodded off. I give Applejack a ‘you were saying’ look. She smiles embarrassingly in reply.
 
I shake my head and step in. “He also-!”
 
“Eh-hem!” I grunt loudly, catching their attention and breaking their argument.
 
“Ohhh, Swift Wind! A pleasure to see you again!” Steel Verrier happily greets me.
 
I smile and we shake hand and hoof, “Good to see you again Steel. Hey Twilight.” I greet Twilight as well.
 
“Oh… hey.” She answers me in a low but sad voice. I raise my eyebrow in question.
 
“Twilight, you okay?” I ask her.
 
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” She still sounds sad.
 
“Are you su-“
 
“Didn’t you ask him here so you can ask something?” she cuts me off as she points towards Steel Verrier.
 
“Yes. Her dragon assistant told me you wanted to discuss something with me?”
 
I look at Verrier, then to Twilight but she has her head turned away from me. Applejack notices this as well. Like a telepathic message, we both nod in understanding. “Yeah… I wanted to ask you something.” I warily start and give one last glance at Twilight. “But let’s discuss this in private.” I walk towards the stairs.
 
“Uh, okay if you think that is best.” He agrees and follows me up the stairs.
 
It is best. I’m pretty sure that if Twilight were to hear my plan, she would get curious. If she got curious, she would investigate. If she investigated, she would find out my end plan.
 
I close the door to Twilight’s room.
 

<<<>>> 

 
“Sugarcube, you alright?” Applejack goes over to her friend and places a hoof on her shoulder to console her. Twilight shifts a little at her touch.
 
“I’m fine, AJ.”
 
“Twiiiiliiiight… Ah’m the Element of Honesty for a reason. Now what’s wrong girl.” Applejack pushes a little harder to try and get her friends to talk.
 
Twilight looks at Applejack for a second before finally caving in.
 
She sighs, “Uhh, it’s just… The princess knows he has next to no knowledge of the lands outside of Equestria. Why on earth would she be so inclined to send him out there with no help whatsoever?!” she angrily states.
 
Applejack looks down for a second, “Ah don’t know Twi.” Twilight looks down in disbelief. Applejack puts her hoof under Twilight’s chin to make her look up. “But I know this, Swift didn’t have any knowledge of Equestria when he first came here right?” Twi nods. “And he survived that didn’t he?” AJ says with a smile.
 
Twilight scowls and brushes Applejacks hoof away from her in frustration. “Out there isn’t like here in Equestria! They have bandits, they have wars, they groups that outright hate ponies!! If they find out if he’s the Champion of Equestria, who knows that they’ll do to him!!” she emphasizes champion as she yells. “It’s dangerous out there Applejack!” Twilight shouts the last part in AJ’s face. Through Twilight’s rant, Applejack does the one thing that Twilight was not expecting.
 
She laughs.
 
“He he hehehe.”
 
Twilight looks turns to anger at her friends laughing of the matter.
 
“And the Everfree Forest isn’t?” Twilight’s open mouth and raised hoof slowly close and lower at the thought. “Twilight. Ah’ know you care for him and his safety and all, but let’s face it. Ah’ don’t know what it is in this world that can take down that boy.” Twilight calms down a little more. “He saved your life when he didn’t even know who we were, he saved Fluttershy from a falling building, lives right next to that dern forest, tried to take on that… creature from the Everfree Forest when y’all two were going to Zecora’s-“
 
“Cockatrice.” She remembers that creature all too well.
 
“Right, anyway. He did that, not to mention… he defeated Discord.” Twi’s ears twitch at the mention of Discord. “He’s also leader of our military, Twi. Ah’ don’t know about y’all, but ah’ still believe that if anypony can handle anything our world has to offer, it’d be that human right there behind that door.” Applejack finishes as she points towards said door.
 
Twilight looks at the door and ponders a bit. Throughout all the time that Swift has been here, Swift has proven time and time again of his resilience, skills, abilities and knowledge. Even though he may be somewhat young, he’s clearly proven his mettle.
 
“Better?” AJ asks Twi.
 
She smiles and nods to her friend, “Yes. I’m fine. Really.” She says to make sure that she doesn’t sound like she’s lying or anything.
 
“Glad to hear that, Twi.” Applejack says with a smile and sits down on the floor, followed by Twilight. “So, what do you reckon they’re talking about in there?”
 
She shakes her head, “Honestly, I don’t really know. Anything can be said when it comes-“
 
“Is there any chance you can get it done before I leave?”
 
“It’ll be tough… but I think I can get it done.” Twilight gets cut off by the last of the conversation between Swift and Steel.
 
“Heeeee… good, good.”
 

<<<>>> 

 
I open the door the rest of the way and slowly walk down the stairs. After I was done discussing what it is that I wanted from Steel, now it’s time for Twilight.
 
“Alright Twilight, we’re done talking. You also wanted to see me for something?” I ask her. She perks up and looks at me.
 
“Yes, I did! Right this way.” She happily jumps to her hooves and walks over to the door leading to the guest room where I stayed in last time. Haaaa, that was an interesting day.
 
Thing is, now she looks a lot happier than from before me and Verrier started talking. She was left alone with Applejack. I look over at the farm mare in question and give her a raised eyebrow. She gives a triumphant smile and waves me to continue following Twilight. I turn back to Twi and see her opening the door with her magic.
 
“The equipment I found is spread out on the bed. I hope you like it.” I give her a smile and walk in. I see something on the bed but it’s a little dark for my taste.
 
“Hey Twilight, some light please?” She responds by lighting a candle on either side of the bed.
 
My eyes widen at the spread before me. This… this I… I think…
 
“Swift? Are you alright?” Steel asks from outside the door, along with Twilight and Applejack poking their heads to see as well.
 
Slowly I turn around with a wide grin on my face. This stuff… I think Twilight may have just saved my life.
 
“Ohhh, I’m fine.” I turn back around and go for one of the cases, “I’m perfectly fine.”
 

-------------------------------

 I feel good on how quick this one came out as well. Extra time at the college is really paying off. Plus I’ve already chosen my classes for next semester that should help out as well in this case.
 
I hope y’all still think this story is good and will continue to be good for a long while. Thanks everyone.
(Sorry if things may seem a little… mellow or something like that. Haven’t been feeling like myself but hopefully that won’t make you hate my work anytime soon.)