//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Oddball // by The Infinity Doctor //------------------------------// "Silent, what is your advice for marriage?" Refract asked offhandedly, the both of us idly watching Big MacIntosh fling a pumpkin through the air. The pumpkin was hurled across the field and hit its mark on the target. Both of us had decided to take part in the Nightmare Night celebration going on in Ponyville, needless to say, I quickly discovered it was just like Halloween back on earth. "What do you mean?" I asked, confused. "A mare and I have been together for a few weeks...I have thought of proposing to her..." "Is she important to you?" "Yes, I just feel...well, you know, don't you? You have a special somepony" "That important, huh?" He nodded eagerly. "Does she know you're a changeling?" His ears fell against his head. "No..." "Don't you think you should wait a little longer? I mean...it's only been a few weeks" "I suppose you're right..." he sighed. "Tell you what...you have my permission to show her" His jaw dropped. "Bu-bu-but highness!" I quickly shushed him and beckoned for him to follow me into the library. Once we were alone, I started the conversation again. "You heard me, Refract- when you propose, you need to show her your true self" "But-but why?!" "Because" I sighed again "you can't have a relationship like that while keeping that big of a secret...you can either tell her, or just continue dating" The changeling looked deep in thought, I walked closer and put a hoof on his shoulder. "But highness, that goes against everything we were taught as hatchlings! Isn't the whole point of being disguised to collect love?" "But you're not collecting love, you're with her because you genuinely care for her" "I'm still not sure..." "Refract, I'm telling you this not as your king, but as a friend-" His ears swung forward. "-pony up and do what you think is right" "I-I- think you're right, highness" he conceeded "I'll give it some more time, and when the time comes...I'll tell her" "Good man" His ear twitched in confusion. "Oh, pardon me, good stallion" Understanding dawned on his face and he trotted to the door, his mood a little lighter. "By the way, what's her name?" I asked. "Sundrop, highness" "Ah- well, take things slow, I'm not an expert on the subject, but that's about the best advice I can give" "Thank you, highness" He and I trotted out of the library, and just as we did, a pegasus drawn chariot streaked across the sky, the only indication it was there was when it passed over the moon. Ponies stopped and stared up at the chariot, it touched down, and a hooded figure stepped off of it. The figure pulled its hood down, revealing Princess Luna. 'Well...she looks a little older now...' I thought. The night princess then opened her mouth and let loose an incredibly obnoxious[/] thundering speech. I couldn't hear anything, because my ears were ringing throughout the whole thing. I swear it even interferred with the hive mind. X X X X X X X I trotted behind the group proceeding through the forest, Mirror and her friends bouncing excitedly as Zecora appeared in a thick fog. Alicia had opted to stay in town; wanting to trick-or-treat, I left her with Pinkie, assuring me that she'd be safe. Zecora had finished her story, just as an apparition of Nightmare Moon dissipated. Each of the foals put some of their candy at the base of the statue of Nightmare Moon. A pair of slitted pupils shone through the trees, scaring the hay out of the foals, causing them to stampede back into town. The eyes then turned a more familiar color. "R-Rez? What are you doing out here?!" I practically shouted, spying the nymph and her younger sisters walking through the trees. "Just wanted to visit you, cutie" she smirked. "You couldn't have visited another time?" "Let me think- no" "Well, the next group should be here soon, I need to-" "What happened to the little ones, I wonder- surely it wasn't your blunder?" Zecora asked, trotting into the field. 'Have to give her credit, she's taking this a lot better than I thought she would' "Pony!" Rez hissed. She ambushed Zecora, pinning her to the ground as she charged her horn. "Rez! Stop it!" I shouted, pulling her off of Zecora. "Are you bucking crazy?! She's seen us! We need to wipe her memory" "She already knows, Rez" I sighed. "What!? How!?" "I'll explain it to you later" "How many?" she asked lowly. "What?" "How many other ponies know about you?" "None" 'Actually, no ponies know about me, Zecora's a zebra' "Are you absolutely sure?" "Yes" "Fine..." Rez grumbled, shooting a glare at Zecora. I helped Zecora to her hooves as Rez trotted back to her sisters. "Nice seeing you again..." Rez shouted over her shoulder, walking deeper into the forest. "Okay, see you later...I guess..." 'What's with her?' "Of me she was no fan, can I assume she was of your clan?" "No, we've met before" She nodded, and picked up a plastic spider that had fallen from her mane, she placed it in her mane as she trotted back to the statue. "For the next group I must prepare, I gave the last one quite a scare" 'I think that was more because of Rez, but...whatever' "Alright, I need to go find Mirror and Alicia anyway" I said, trotting past the statue. "GREETINGS! WE FINALLY MEET!" I jumped back as Princess Luna revealed herself. 'Oh hell...' "A PLEASURE TO MEET THEE! WE HAVE WAITED FOR THOU!" "Um, could you please stop shouting?" I asked, covering my ears. "FORGI- *ahem* Forgive Us, We are used to using the Royal Canterlot Voice" "No problem" I said "So, you said you've been waiting to meet me...why?" "We have not forgotten our encounter in the Everfree" I could've done a spit-take. "Oh...well...it's over...isn't it?" I asked, ears slapping against my head. "Quite the opposite" she replied. "What?" "We have sensed thee since Our return, thou cares for thy friends and family, We would not do such a thing without proper reasons; contrary to popular belief..." "Bad time with your subjects?" "Verily, they flee in terror at the sight of Us" I grunted in agreement, and Luna stared up at the moon as we talked. "We have heard of the draconequus child under your protection" she said. "'We' as in you, or 'we' as in 'Celestia and I'?" "Celestia and I are both aware of her prescence, how she came to be under your care is a mystery to us" "How did you know about her?" "We sensed her magic, and we have visited her dreams on more than one ocassion" "Have you now?" "Oh yes, she has quite the active imagination" "...you won't take her away, will you? She's already been through so much- please, I beg you!" "Calm yourself" she replied "As We have stated before, We have no plans for disbanding thy family" "That's a relief..." I sighed. "However, We must evaluate her" "...evaluate?" "Indeed, We shall spend time with her, and discover her personality" "So...like a playdate?" "WE ARE THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT!" she boomed "WE DO NOT HAVE 'PLAYDATES'!" "Princess Luna?" Twilight asked in the distance. "Quickly! Make haste! Do not let her catch thee!" she said, shooing me into the forest. I took heed (oh god, she's rubbing off on me...) and bolted into the forest, going the long way around, until I found myself back in Ponyville. Mirror and Alicia quickly located me, bouncing giddily as they each carried a pillowcase, candy no doubt inside. "Hey girls, how did trick-or-treating go?" I asked, hugging both of them. "Great! Pinkie showed us the best routes to go" Mirror said, dropping her bag. "That's good" "Yep! We got lots!" "I'll bet you did" I smiled. "Can we watch the *yawn* party games for a little longer?" "No...I think it's getting late, time for you to get to bed" "But daddy-" "I'm sorry, but it's already past your bedtimes, and tomorrow's going to be a headache enough as it is..." "Alright...can we sort through our candy when we get home?" "Yes, but only eat a little tonight, you can save the rest for later" They both nodded, and we headed home.