//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: David // Story: The Return of the Humans // by DaringWizard //------------------------------// A knock came at Rarity's door. "Come in!" She called, the door opened to show Mordred standing there. "You wanted to see me, Rarity?" He asked. "Indeed, come this way." She said, she lead Mordred through a room full of ribbons, cloth, and other fashion supplies. Amongst them, many mannequins with completed or semi-completed dresses and outfits. Mordred stopped to look at one. "You sure are quite the designer... I am impressed." Mordred said, Rarity smiled. "Thank you, it takes some practice, though. You have to hyper-vigilant at times." She remarked, Mordred returned to following her. They came to a small room with six boxes laid spread across the table. "Princess Celestia sent me a letter some time ago- she said she wanted you and Merlin to look at what's inside these boxes, she told me to wait until you came by to open them." She told him, Mordred stepped forward and opened one of them, inside was a white crystal star, glowing with bright, fiery light, Mordred stared in awe and shock. "Woah... I know what this is." Mordred said. "What is it?" She asked, very intrigued, Mordred looked at the other boxes, back at the star, then at the boxes again. He set the star down, and opened the others- each had its own white star inside. "Where did Celestia say she found these?" Mordred asked, he looked half-horrified and half-astounded. "She said some workers found them while mining in a cave... the 'crystal cave', I think it was?" Mordred looked to her. "What are they?" She asked, Mordred stopped and stared at each one of them, then, he answered. "These are crystal stars... properly used, you'd be able to harness the five powers of nature- fire, water, earth, air... and magic." He said, Rarity looked confused. "For instance- if Merlin could use one of these things- he could level a building by causing a massive Earthquake or starting a bon fire, all with a snap of his fingers." He explained. "Or part the sea and cross untouched by water- or be able to fly by propelling himself with air alone." Mordred continued. "Just one of these things could make you seem God-like... I am glad you called me with such haste- I must take them back to Merlin. He'll find a safe place to put these." Mordred took each of the stars and put them in his bag. "Are those... things really that powerful?" She asked. "Oh yes, and from what I know about these things- powerful isn't a strong enough word in itself." Mordred said. He sat down in one of the chairs at the table. "If it's that important, let me be of assistance." She said, she walked very close to Mordred, she put her front hooves on his chest so she could stand up on her hind legs- and be at eye-to-eye level. "Wh...what are you doing?" Mordred asked, his face went red, Rarity rolled her eyes, -still smiling though- and touched her horn to Mordred's head. A flash of light illuminated the room- and Mordred and Rarity found themselves standing outside Twilight's library, Rarity backed away from him. "Good Lord!" Mordred said, Rarity smiled. "A spell that powerful- you must have exhausted all of your magic doing that!" Mordred exclaimed. "Oh no, no, it's quite all right! Besides, It's not much trouble walking back home." She said, and she began to walk towards the door. "R-Rarity?" Mordred called. "Yes?" She asked. "Uh... Thank you for that, I guess..." He said, he scratched the side of his head. "Oh, not at all- the pleasure is mine." She knocked on the door. "Twilight?" She called. "The door is opened!" a voice called. She opened the door and walked inside- there, lying on the couch... was another human? Merlin was standing next to him. "Oh, hey Rarity." Merlin said. "When did he get here?" Rarity asked, Ezra looked up from his book. "A couple of hours ago. Name's Ezra." Ezra said. "My name is Rarity. A pleasure." She said, Ezra smiled and closed his book gently. "Merlin- can I talk to you for a second?" Mordred asked. "What about?" Merlin asked, Mordred motioned for him to come outside, and Merlin followed. When they got outside, they could be seen talking, and that Mordred was opening his bag to show Merlin some objects- and Merlin staring in amazement. "Merlin and Mordred... what a mystery." Ezra said, shaking his head lightly. "Oh- might I ask, is there another human here by chance? Specifically- one that can fly?" She asked, Ezra rolled his eyes. "That must have been Joseph you saw back there... he's got these jet-boots... apparently." Ezra said, Rarity gave him a surprised look. "I didn't know humans were that far on in technology..." she said, wondering what else humans may have in their fields, a short pause came between the two. "Speak of the devil, here he comes!" Ezra said, the sound of Joseph landing could be heard from inside the house, he walked in. "When'd you get here, Ezzy?" Joseph asked, Ezra frowned. "Oh, don't bring up the old nick-name... You know it annoys me!" He said. "Yeeeah, but, it just motivates to me do it more, then." Ezra growled at Joseph, giving him an icy glare that almost made Joseph's heart stop. "All right, all right! I get it! Just, please- don't do that- that's really freaky!" Joseph said. Rrrrrrr.... "I said I get it, knock it off!" Joseph exclaimed. "That wasn't me!" Ezra answered. "Then where's that coming from?" The portal sparked. "Watch out!" Twilight exclaimed, the portal flared with multiple white sparks, then, a flash of light illuminated the room. Coming out of the portal was a boy dressed in a long, red coat and a white shirt on a motorcycle. "Uh-oh!" He said, and skidded to a halt as he neared the wall in Twilight's library. He looked around. He gave a sheepish look towards Ezra and Joseph. "What the heck was that!?" Merlin shouted, he and Mordred ran back inside. As soon as they saw the boy, their arms dropped to their sides. "David... someday your going to get hurt doing that..." Mordred said, he looked very annoyed. "Yeah, man, you scare the life out of us even more then when Joseph comes flying through!" Merlin said. "Hey!" Joseph protested, but he was met with only a blank expression from Mordred, Merlin, and Ezra. David hopped of his motorcycle. "So, what realm is this? Alabastia, the land of the crystal hillsides? Or is this Pangaea, the land of infinite Earth, again?" Twilight stood up, and David's eyes went wide in surprise at the miniature Alicorn. "...No way..." David said, Merlin smiled. "No way... impossible... those were just legends!" He continued. "We thought the same about humans until recently, ironically." Rarity said, David shook his head in disbelief. "To think I ever doubted you Merlin... you're the magic expert, I should have listened to you." David pressed a button on his bike, and it began to fold up into the shape of a suitcase. "So, you probably heard, but, my name's David. Who are you, by chance?" "Her name's Twilight- and she's Rarity." Merlin said, Twilight smiled at Merlin. "Huh. Well, sorry for crashing into your library like that... I didn't know that's where the portal opened up. Most of the ones we've been through open on planes or grasslands." "Well, I'm getting used to it, actually." Twilight answered. "I get the feeling someone nearly got themselves killed again on their way through...?" David answered, he flashed a look at Mordred. "Why is it people keep pestering me about that?" Mordred asked. "Well, those scars on the back of your neck still haven't faded, y'know? Nobody wants you to get that badly hurt again." David continued. "I was eight years of age! It was five years ago!" Mordred retorted, Merlin got between the two of them. "Guys, please! Enough!" Merlin exclaimed, an awkward silence befell the group. "Mordred, Joseph?" "Yes?" Mordred answered, Joseph looked over at Merlin. "Prince Androme- I mean, Achilles wants you guys back at the palace- he didn't say why." "Yeah- and don't kill yourself on the way there." David continued, Mordred looked like he was going to erupt from anger. "I'm just messin' around! Ease up!" David said, he punched Mordred in the shoulder (in a friendly way), and Mordred smiled a little uneasily. Joseph and Mordred walked over to the portal- and disappeared into the rift. David turned to face Twilight. "Uh- seriously, sorry about my... rough entry." He said, half smiling. "Oh, no, Seriously, you don't have to apologize." Twilight answered, David smiled, he looked around the room. "Seems you have quite the collection of books here. Uh- forgive me- might I?" He asked, pointing to a book on magic, Twilight nodded, and he plucked the book off the shelf. "Still looking for that one spell, huh, David?" Merlin asked. "Six points was ripped out of the spell books a long time ago- once we find it, the changelings won't stand a chance." Merlin rolled his eyes. "And you think you'll be able to cast it? That spell is so powerful even Achilles would kill himself trying to cast it!" Merlin exclaimed. "I didn't say that. We could find someone who can, though." He answered, he took the book and put it back on the shelf. "'Six points'?" Twilight asked, Merlin looked down at her. "It's a light charm that can engulf an entire square mile- it forces your enemies to turn and run... David here has been obsessed with finding it.. it was lost a long time ago." Merlin answered. "Don't lie- you share the same feelings as me, right?" He said. "Can't deny that." Merlin said. "Don't you guys have really powerful Equine mages on Earth? Wouldn't they know spells like that?" Rarity asked, Ezra, Merlin and Joseph all gave her a weird look. "...No... what are you talking about? ...If you don't mind me asking...?" Ezra asked. "I was told that Ponies were a real common species on Earth." Rarity explained, Ezra, Merlin, and Joseph looked at each other confused, then, David spoke. "Ooooh... Uhm... Actually- the ones we have on Earth... their very different from you guys." David explained. "How so?" Rarity asked. "Well... to put it simply... they aren't sentient, can't cast magic, have a much longer face -quite literally-, their bodily proportions are different... and can't talk." David finished. "That sounds very... strange..." Rarity muttered, trying to think of what they might look like, Merlin put his face in his palm, then looked up. "Ezra, David, I need to head back with them- there's something I need to give to Achilles." Merlin turned and entered the portal. Twilight and Rarity stood there with Ezra and David for a while, then a knock came at the door. "C...can I come in?" A very quiet voice asked. "Fluttershy? Is that you? Come on in!" Twilight called, Fluttershy quickly opened the door and closed it. "Oh, my!" She exclaimed, staring at Ezra and David. "W...what?" Ezra asked, somewhat nervous. "I didn't know there were more of you." She answered. "Oh." Ezra answered. "He's Ezra, and the guy over there Is David-" Fluttershy stepped forward. "-they got here a while ago." Twilight finished, Fluttershy walked up to Ezra. "And your name is 'Fluttershy'? A pleasure." Ezra said, closing his book. Fluttershy walked up to Twilight, she looked nervous and somewhat afraid. "What's the matter?" Twilight asked. "Uhm... Rainbow Dash asked me if you knew where Joseph was." She said. "He just left. Surprised he didn't fly through the portal like usual." Ezra said, pointing his thumb at the spiraling vortex of light. "Uhm... I was wondering... if it's no trouble- could I take a look at what it's like over there?" Fluttershy asked, pointing at the portal and speaking very quietly. Ezra looked over at Twilight, she nodded. "As you wish, come with me." Ezra said, he got up, put his book in his pack, and walked Fluttershy over to the portal. He held onto her front hoof. "Hang on tight, this is going to be a rather bumpy ride!" Ezra said, they jumped in- and disappeared into the waterfall-like vortex. A silence befell the library, David looked over to Twilight. "Well... now what?" David asked, the ground began to rumble. "Now- would be a good time for you to hide!" "What's going on?" "Just hide!" She urged, pushing him towards the stairs, David ran up them, and hid in Merlin's room, he looked through the crack of the door, holding it with his left hand and the 'suitcase' in his right hand. The front door opened. "What are all of you doing here again?" Twilight asked, trying to sound cheerful, but the crowd sounded impatient. "Come on, Twilight, we know your hiding him here! We just want to meet him!" A Minty-green colored unicorn said. "I keep on telling you guys- I'm just as oblivious as to where he is as you guys are!" "We saw you walking with him and Celestia- you do know him, don't you?" another said. "And what about that thing on your wall- don't tell me that isn't what I think it is!" "Oh no, no- I'm just trying out a new spell Celestia instructed me to try out!" Twilight answered. "Really?" One asked, sounding annoyed. As David watched he looked around the room, thinking of some way to help out Twilight. Then a thought so crazy he at first struck it down, entered the fortress of his mind. He opened the window and jumped into the backyard, and set the 'suitcase' down on the ground. "We don't blame you for keeping him a secret, but you really don't have to." One said. David appeared behind the crowd, he motioned to Twilight, Twilight looked at him surprised, but then understood what he had in mind as he pressed the button and the suitcase turned back into his motorbike. "If I'm really trying to keep a secret- then what's that over there?" Twilight retorted, trying to sound annoyed. The crowd turned around and David mounted his bike, looked back at the crowd- and took off. The crowd rambled uncontrollably at the engineering marvel he was riding on. They didn't notice that he wasn't the same human, so they chased after him. ---------------------------------------------------- David bolted away from the crowd as he reached the other side of town, he turned and drove straight past the crowd- and booked it to get back Twilight's library. He was running out of gas, and would need to pick up the pace if he were to make it. He lost sight of the crowd and pulled up to Twilight's library, turning it back into the suitcase, he picked it up and walked inside, looked at Twilight- and collapsed on the floor. "David!" She exclaimed, she ran towards him. "Yeash... I've never gone that long on my bike before..." He said, sitting up with a sheepish smile. "Eew... what's that smell?" Twilight complained. "Gasoline. It's what this thing runs on." David said, setting his case down, and he sat down. "I think my little diversion oughta' keep 'em busy for a while." David said, putting his hands behind his head. "...Uhm... thanks." Twilight said. "No prob." David answered, he brought his hands down and saw the gasoline he had gone through had formed a thin coat on his hands and legs. "Uh- I better get washed up." David said. "The bathroom's upstairs." Twilight answered, David got up and ran upstairs. Wow... pretty lively guy... he's kinda' like someone else I know... Twilight thought, and chuckled lightly.