As Sly sprung into action, Onyx was about to come to DG’s aid when he stopped and saw how Sly only seem to run around DG barking happily. “I think he’s happy to see you.”
“You think so?”
“What in the world is going on out here?” Rarity asked, as she walked to the entrance and found DG standing slightly uneasy as Sly barked happily. “Oh dear, I think he might smell the surprise I was going to give him at the sleepover.” DG looked at Rarity for a moment and then smiled.
“Oh right, I completely forgot about that.” Rarity smiled as she walked over and reached into one of the saddle bags and pulled out a puppy size bone. “Now then Sly this is for only well behaved puppies, so you’ll have to calm down before you,…HEY!” before Rarity could finish what she was saying Sly ran behind her up the wall did a back flip in the air landed on her flank before jumping and snatching the bone out of her hoof.
“That was so totawwy AWESOME!” Rainbow Dash cheered as the other foals started to clap while Sly enjoyed his new bone.
“Now Sly that wasn’t very nice.” Fluttershy said, as she looked at Sly who stopped chewing for a moment. “Rarity got that special just for you don’t you think you should at least thank her for it?” with that Sly looked at Fluttershy for a moment and then at Rarity before he got up and walked back to Rarity with the bone and placed it in front of her, then sat down and lowered his head a little, while letting out a very low whimper.
“Oh now there is no need for that Sly, I forgive you. You just got really excited that’s all, we’ve all done that once and a while, so enjoy your new bone.” with that Sly jumped to his feet wagging his tail and gave Rarity a lick on the nose before getting to the bone once more.
‘Well at least he’s chewing on that bone and not one of mine.’ DG thought to himself as he started to head for the kitchen but then stopped as he felt the saddle bags get lifted off his back.
“DG, darling I know you’ve just gotten back but could you please be a dear and help Fluttershy get all the little ones to Twilight’s, I would do it myself but I need to keep an eye on Pinkie Pie to make sure she cleans up her mess.
“As you wish.” As DG and Fluttershy walked with all the foals to Twilight’s, they smiled as Sly seem to walk between them proudly with his new bone in his mouth, but the part that made it really adorable was the fact that on his back sat his squeaky toy, with a little help from some ribbon Rarity used to tie it in place. “So Sly, are we friends?” DG asked getting Sly to look at him and nodded a few times, which wasn’t very helpful since DG could still see his little sharp teeth holding onto the bone in his mouth. “Well that’s good to know, hey that bone sure looks good is it?” Sly nodded again and DG smiled. “Cool, hey maybe one day you can teach me that little trick you did to get it away from Rarity, Rainbow was correct about it being awesome.”
“Now DG, I know you mean well but don’t go encouraging little Sly to misbehave, he’s a good little fox and he’s going to keep being good.”
“Good grief that beast should be on a leash.” a voice said, from behind getting Fluttershy to stop and turn to the pony that had just made the comment. No one was going to insult a youth under her care and get away with it.
“Mommy, mommy that’s the monster that tried to attack me at the castle.” Diamond Tiara said, as she pointed at Sly who spotted her and then started to hide behind Fluttershy remembering the pain she had put him in during their last encounter.
“That horrid beast is that thing that tried to attack you; in that case it should be muzzled and locked away.” Diamond mother said, as she glared towards Sly. “An out of control beast like that should be ether thrown into the Everfree forest or put down.” Fluttershy was about to unleash the full power of her stare but was stopped as she heard a flute start to play.
“MOMMY, IT’S HIM IT’S THAT THING THAT KEEPS ATTACKING ME!!” Diamond Tiara yelled, as she pointed at Kit who was now dressed like Zenaku except kept his head uncovered.
“Is that so, YOU THERE, I DEMAND YOU GET DOWN HERE!!” Kit raised one eye brow, a little surprised that this mare was brave enough to demand anything of him, before he vanished in a flash of black lightning and then appeared behind the two snobs.
“You’ve already over stepped your bounds several times this evening lady Diamond, do you truly wish to see how far your luck can protect you?”
“How did you know my former title?”
“Lady Precious Diamond Rich, daughter of a coal miner near Gryphon rock, a mountain range that borders the pony and griffon realms, a young Filthy Rich came by one visit of his coal mine and saw you, both fell instantly in love, and married the following summer, three years later you gave birth to the brat that now stands next to you, I know a lot about you ma’am, I make it my business to know information about my enemies.”
“Enemy, and just how do you see me as your enemy?”
“I didn’t until a few minutes ago, I was talking about your daughter, on several counts I have seen her bully her fellow class mates, in fact I would find it hard press to find one day she didn’t call them a name, then during the last nightmare night she tried to steal candy from two foals, she didn’t get away with it because of a fellow creature of the night that was in the area, I did however take great joy in attacking her pride at those times, then came the day you sent your husband to request the royal sisters to do something about me, she started to bully the foals that where under my watchful eye, she then struck the youngest breaking his jaw, that little fox that you have the nerve to call a beast. That’s when I decided to give her a little taste of what happens when I don’t mess around.”
“Yeah, you sent those clowns after me.”
“No I made you think Clowns were after you, trust me I can do far worst.” Kit leaned down to Diamond Tiara and made sure she was looking him in the eye. “I have done far worse when it’s come down to it little one, do not test me.” with that Kit stood up straight and then turned to Mrs. Rich. “What I did against your daughter in the past was to try and give her a sense of humiliation, to break her of her better then though attitude, in hopes that I don’t have to face her in the future, in the hopes that I don’t have to do worst, because I have seen many walk down the path she is walking now, and at one point and time I have to face them in the future, and in most cases I have to destroy them.”
“And what makes you the one that gets to decide what’s right and wrong?”
“Decades of fighting monsters, tyrants, terrorist, and demon lords. I have stood against many things Mrs. Rich, I have seen the fate of those that walk the path your daughter is walking down, and I want you to look at her and tell me that you want a fate for her that will most likely end with her alone and no one loving her because she’s cruel to everyone.” Mrs. Rich looked at Diamond Tiara for a moment and then turned to Kit.
“How do I know this isn’t all just a lie?” With that Kit held out his hand and caused a window to open and showed Mrs. Rich every mean thing the Diamond had down in the past. “I,… I didn’t know.”
“Your Husband loves you both very much, and he doesn’t like to make Diamond Tiara sad, or to see you cry, he’s a good stallion that only wishes to see the two ponies in his life happy, but sometimes as the parent you have to say no, and you have to correct your offspring when they misbehave so they might learn right from wrong.”
“But what you just showed me.” Kit knelt down and placed a hand over Mrs. Rich’s mouth stopping her argument.
“There is always time for redemption, and always time to get a child back on the right track to a better future, it’s not to late for her, or her friend, but with this being said to you I must also warn you that this will be the last warning I give. I will no longer be holding back, and the next time she attacks some creature and causes them physical harm, I will be full filling a sentence that I know she will not like.” with that Kit stood up and then looked to Fluttershy and the rest of the group. “You carry on your way nothing is left to be done here.” with that Kit turned and started to walk away as he started to play his flute once more. As he vanished into the darkness. Mrs. Rich turned to Diamond Tiara and looked her in the eyes.
“Honey tell me what I saw wasn’t true, tell me all those things I just witnessed was just made up.”
“Of course, mommy.” Diamond Tiara said, as she looked away and just waved one of her hooves only to have her head brought back and made to look her mother in the eyes.
“Look my in the eyes and tell me the truth, Diamond Tiara.” nothing was said, Diamond Tiara tried to tell her mother the same thing but couldn’t and as the silence went on longer her mother knew the truth. “Alright, I understand, but he said there is still time to turn this around and I promise that’s just what I’m going to do.” with that Mrs. Rich walked Diamond up to the group who still seemed slightly stunned at what had just happened. “Diamond I want you to say you’re sorry for what you did to that poor little fox.”
“But mommy.”
“Diamond you will do as you’re told.” with that Diamond Tiara looked at Sly who still remained behind Fluttershy.
“I’m sorry.”
“Say it like you mean it.”
“But mommy.” Mrs. Rich rolled her eyes and then looked at Fluttershy.
“May I, please?”
“I guess so.” with that Mrs. Rich leaned down and looked at Sly.
“Little Fox, I would just like to say I’m sorry for my actions a few moments ago and the actions of my daughter, if I had known the truth I would have never said those things, can you ever forgive me?” Sly looked at Mrs. Rich for a few moments and then slowly moved up and place his bone on the ground so he could give her a small lick on the nose. “Thank you, and can you forgive my daughter as well?” Sly looked at Diamond Tiara who was now pouting, but as everyone watched Sly walked up to her and then nuzzled her slightly getting Diamond Tiara to look at him funny for a moment and then start to smile. Elsewhere Kit stood at the edge of the Everfree forest and watched from a distance with a smile on his face.
“Not bad.” a voice said, from behind getting Kit to look over his shoulder. “You might have actually given that Filly a new lease on life if her mother takes an active role in her up bringing now.”
“This world is full of chances Slender Mane, I just wanted to make sure one of them found it’s way to her.”
“And why is that?”
“Because she’s still young, and even though she has used up a lot of chances, I think she should get at least one more, and this time I think I found away to make sure it gets a good head start in turning her around.”
“You really think it’s never too late for redemption?” Slender mane asked, as she put a hoof on Kit’s shoulder, only getting the smile on his face to vanish.
“Luna’s been talking to you, hasn’t she?”
“She only worries about you my friend, as do many others. What happened that day wasn’t your fault, you had no other choice.”
“I tell myself that every night, Slender, but it never makes it easier.”
“You want me to be honest?”
“Sure, let’s keep with that streak alive.”
“It never gets easier, we just learn to deal with it.” Kit smirked slightly and then looked up as he heard Diamond Tiara laughing as Sly started to lick her face.
“Maybe, but let’s do our best to make sure they don’t have to live with that kind knowledge.”
“Agreed.” as the creature of the night and Kit walked deeper into the woods they acted like old friends reunited after a long period of time. “Would you like to play a game of Equestrian Risk?”
“Sure as long as your tentacles don’t count as other players again.”
“Oh but where is the fun in that?”
“It’s not fun when you already hold most of the board.” a few minutes later the group arrived at Twilight’s where they were greeted by the CMC, as well as Applejack, Granny Smith and Winona.
“Well it’s about time ya’ll got here.” As the foals started to play, the adults let the CMC watch over them while they talked a bit.
“Twilight, has Celestia or Luna told you anything about Kit, I mean like where he came from?” Fluttershy asked, as she thought about Kit.
“The only thing I know is what we learned at the castle, something happened to Kit’s clan, and to recover he was aloud to stay with those other beings from another dimension, though Princess Luna did mention that he has bad dreams about something that happened in his past.”
“Yeah but what about all that stuff Loki was saying about him being a clan slayer a legend and all that stuff.”
“I’m not sure, maybe it was a rival clan that attacked his, all I know is that he has been acting a little more distant lately, as if he’s been preoccupied by something.”
“That brings up something me and Futtlershy’s been wondering about, Pinkie Pie goes to his castle ever chance she get’s to party with all those clock work ponies, but has recently been telling us that a part of the gardens been closed off, now ya’ll got any idea of what he might be doing in that part of the garden?”
“No, but I can ask Princess Celestia and Luna when they get back from their trip.”
“Ah suppose, but what if we just go and take a peak for ourselves.” DG suggested as he looked at Twilight who pondered the idea for a moment and then looked at the foals.
“We really shouldn’t. Besides if Celestia and Luna trust him we should also, and who knows he might just be making a new attraction for the castle.”
“True.”
“Or maybe he’s started to take wicked ponies and turning them into trees to teach them a lesson.” DG added as the thought back to a past Chapter of the story. Only to get funny looks from the girls before they started to laugh.
“Oh my, you sure do have a wild imagination DG, you might want to lay off the fictional stories. Besides I’m sure if he was doing that Celestia and Luna would put a stop to it.”
‘Better not suggest that the royal sisters aloud it, besides those two jerks did have it coming after what they did to Sly.’ DG thought as he only smiled and nodded towards Twilight.
“Hey Twilight look we taught Sly a new trick.” Scootaloo said, as she pointed at Sly who was now balancing his new bone on his nose.
“That’s amazing Scootaloo.”
“Yeah, but we still didn’t get our cutie marks for it.”
“Well who knows if you three keep trying you might just get a cutie mark of a Jack playing card.” DG suggested getting the attention of the CMC.
“Now what in tarnation would that Cutie mark stand for?” Applebloom asked, as she looked at DG.
“Well it could stand for you three are Jacks of trade.”
“A Jack of what?” Scootaloo asked, as she scratched her head.
“A jack of trade, or rather a jack of all trades, we’ll be good at many things but not a master of any of them.” Sweetie Belle asked, as she looked at the other two CMC.
“Well I guess that would be alright, kind of like Applebloom when she had cutie pox, only not so much out of control.”
“Yeah.” with that the three girls ran off smiling getting the older ponies to smile. It was an hour later before Pinkie and Rarity showed up, after Rarity made sure that Pinkie Pie cleaned up ever scrap of party canon after math from her home.
“Hello girls, has my little Onyx been a perfect little gentle colt?”
“Oh yeah just look at him over there.” DG said, as he pointed at Onyx who was watching as Trixie and Sunset seem to be watching over Sly like two mother hens. Somehow they got it in their heads that they could win Onyx’s affection by showing him that they would be perfect little mommies, of course it didn’t help that Rainbow told Sunset and Lightning told Trixie this information and sat back to watch the show.
“Girw, I’m sure you both make good mommies when you grow up, but I don’t think Swy wikes being put in baby cwothes.” Onyx said, as he could hear the very low growl already starting to build in the little fox’s throat. That was at present clothed in a baby blue onesie. “In fact you shouwd take it off him wight now.”
“Good heavens what have you girls done to poor Sly?” Rarity asked, as she walked up and levitated Sly off the ground and removed the onesie off him earning her a few quick licks from the very happy pup. “That color just isn’t him, and you should have noticed that he didn’t like it, forcing him to wear such a horrible thing shame on you.”
“We’re sowwy.” both fillies said, as they hung their heads slightly.
“It’s alright girls, but in the future you shouldn’t force others to do things they don’t like, how would you like it if said you couldn’t use magic anymore.” both fillies gasped, and Twilight nodded. “Well Sly didn’t like it very much that you made him dress up like that.”
“We’re sorry mommy.” both fillies said, again this time letting tears start to form in their eyes.
“You shouldn’t be saying sorry to me you should be saying it to Sly he’s the one you forced into those cloths.” with that the two fillies turned and saw Sly over with Winona playing with his squeaky toy. As they started to crawl towards him Winona stepped in front of him preventing them from getting any closer.
“I think you’ve done enough to him tonight girls, you need to leave him alone for now.” Winona said, as she looked at the two fillies, but from the adults point of view it only looked like Winona was making a few dog sounds.
“Pwease we just want to say sowwy.” Trixie said, as she looked at Winona who remained firm.
“You forced him into something he didn’t like, and he restrained himself from biting both of you while you were doing it.”
“We know, but we weawwy want to say sorry.” Sunset said, as she started to whimper, getting Winona to look behind her at Sly who was now sitting up and looking at the two fillies. “Pwease we sorry.” with those words Sly walked up and licked the two fillies on the face getting them both to hug him before crawling away, before Sly turned back and looked at Winona.
“Did I do good?”
“You tell me, do you think you did the right thing?”
“I don’t know, I mean they made me mad and that thing they put me in really hurt my fur.”
“And yet you forgave them.”
“Well they said they were sorry.”
“And that’s what a good doggy does, we forgive our masters for their mistakes, we remain loyal to them.”
“But they’re not my masters, I don’t think I got masters.”
“But you have a mommy.”
“Yes.”
“She is your master, or rather the one that takes care of you.”
“Oh,… we forgive a lot don’t we?”
“Trust me when that one was younger she used to pull my fur and tail a lot, not to mention the times she threw mush at me.” Winona said, as she pointed at Applebloom. “But I forgave her and she is just as important to me as the rest of my family.” it was a few hours later as everyone was hunkered down in the living room of Twilight’s library to sleep, that the CMC found themselves having trouble doing just that.
“Hey Scootaloo you asleep?” Sweetie Belle asked, as she nudged Scootaloo slightly.
“No, and stop nudging me, what do you want?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Well nether can ah.” Applebloom said, as she sat up and looked at her two friends. “Any ideas on what we can do?”
“I got one.” Scootaloo said, as she smirked slightly. “I over heard the others talking about Kit’s castle.”
“Yeah Rarity talked about it a lot after they got back.”
“Well it seems that Kit’s been acting funny I say we go exploring and find out what’s going on.”
“I say that’s a great idea.” Rainbow Dash said, as she looked at Scootaloo.
“Thanks Rainbow Dash,… wait Rainbow Dash? Why are you still awake?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Neither could a few of us with you youngins gabbing like that.” Granny Smith said, as she crawled up and looked at the three, soon the girls found that all the foals had waken up and where now very interested in going with the CMC. “Now Applebloom this is a plum loco idea and ah can’t let you even think of trying to do it unless you had an adult watching out for ya.”
“Yes Granny Smith.”
“Which is why ah’ll be going with you.” this only kicked off a faint whisper of the other foals wanting to join in.
“Hold on we aren’t taking any of you with us.” Scootaloo said, trying to put her hoof down.
“Well it’ll be hard to go yourselves if everyone else wakes up.” Rainbow Dash said, as she looked at Scootaloo with a smirk.
“You wouldn’t.” in response Rainbow took in a deep breath but before she could let out a loud cry Scootaloo covered her mouth with her hooves. “Alright you can go.” a few minutes later the CMC was walking through Ponyville with a wagon full of foals. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“I can’t believe we just got black mailed by yearlings.” Applebloom’s comment only earned her a bonk on the head as Granny Smith was ridding on her back. “What it’s true you’re all yearling right now.”
“Maybe so, but ah taught ya better on showin’ respect to your ewders, and ya three know that we’re aww reawwy owder than ya.”
“Except for the Cake twins.”
“Ya’ll given me sass missy? Ah ain’t so young that ah can’t tan this flank of yours.” Granny Smith finished her statement with a slap to Applebloom’s flank getting her to jump a little.
“Hey cut that out, ah don’t want to drop you by accident.” Applebloom argued as she looked back at Granny Smith.
“Ya do and ah’ll take a switch to yer hide.” with that the other two CMC snickered slightly getting Applebloom to scowl at them.
“Hey are we almost there?” Scootaloo asked, as she looked at the foals getting Rainbow Dash to jump on her back and smile.
“Yeah just past those trees you’ll see a bridge and across that you’ll see the castle.” As the group made their way to the castle after following Rainbow Dash’s instructions they found the main gate was down.
“Drat, looks like we can’t get in.” Sweetie Belle said, as she looked at the gate, but then watched as Rainbow and Lightning started to pester Onyx slightly who reluctantly crawled towards the gate. “Uh, what are you doing Onyx.”
“You’ll see.” Rainbow said proudly as Onyx started to push the gate up slowly.
“WOW! Rarity said he was strong but I didn’t know he was that strong.”
“Sweetie Belle, not so loud we don’t want anypony to find us.” Scootaloo hissed, as she scowled at Sweetie Belle for nearly blowing their cover. As the group made it inside the foals started to guide them around showing them all the sights they had seen the last time they had visited, but as they walked past the old training grounds they could see Kit standing between one pony and what looked to be a small force of tribal ponies.
“Is that Ahuizotl?” Rainbow Dash asked, as she looked down at the scene.
“Hush so we can hear what’s going on.” Down on the training ground Kit stood fist clinched and eyes glaring at Ahuizotl.
“Stand aside freak, my business is not with you but that mare behind you.”
“You break into my castle, cause trouble for one of my guest, insult me, and oh yes all this because you want to gain control of a section of land to make others suffer, you really don’t know what your up against.” Kit said, as he raised one hand and snapped his fingers causing the spears of the tribal ponies to fly away from them and then towards Ahuizotl causing the creature to flinch as narrowly missed him by inches. “That was me showing mercy, now leave this place or I will personally take great pleasure in feeding you to the beast of the Everfree Forest.” Ahuizotl looked behind him at the spears and then growled slightly as he glared at Kit.
“You might have found a safe haven from me this time Daring Do but he won’t be able to protect you all the time and when he’s not around, I will find you, you’ll never be able to be alone with out looking over your shoulder with out wondering if one of my soldiers are about to” *CHOKE!* Ahuizotl stopped talking as he reached for his throat, just before he was slammed against the stone wall behind him.
“Your leader seems to have lost the will to speak, I would suggest the rest of you leave before you loose a great deal more.” Kit said, as he kept a hand raised getting the tribal ponies to look at each other in confusion. “In other words run before I decide to turn my anger on each of you.” with those words the ponies ran off leaving Ahuizotl at Kit’s mercy. “Now you’re going to keep the threats out of this, you’re going to explain why you are here, and if you don’t keep a civil tone, I’ll be glad to beat one into it.” with that Kit let Ahuizotl go, leave the beast gasping for air.
“How dare you, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!?!” in response Ahuizotl was slammed against the stone wall several times before being let to drop back to the ground.
“What did I just say about a civil tone.” As Ahuizotl got back up off the ground growling he wanted nothing more then to attack Kit, but decided against it as he saw the look on Daring Do’s face of shock at the power the creature before he wielded.
“I am the rightful ruler of the land that, that mare has been interfering with.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of the things she’s done to keep you from what you think belongs to you.”
“She destroyed my temple, and stolen my rings.”
“Yes I am aware of that also, I have read the recent installment of her book series, only you’re half correct.”
“What do you mean half?”
“She didn’t steal those rings.” with that Kit snapped his fingers and the golden rings that Ahuizotl was speaking of appeared before them. “After reading the last book I knew that most likely you would be looking for them, so I teleported them here, in other words for the past year you’ve been having your thug digging in the ruins of that temple of yours for no real reason.”
“GIVE THEM TO ME!” his out burst earned him another slam to the wall, as Kit turned and looked at Daring Do.
“I really don’t think he get’s the concept of keeping that ego of his in check.”
“He never has.” Daring Do said, as she got up but laid back down as her front legs gave out.
“You rest, as I promised a few weeks ago you are welcome to stay and rest here as long as you wish.”
“It’s been nice to get a few nights sleep without being concerned about getting attacked.”
“And so you shouldn’t. Now then what should we do about this rude little pest.”
“LITTLE PEST!” Kit turned back to Ahuizotl and snapped his fingers causing the rings to vanish once more as he took a step towards the beast only to gain a foot in stature, as he kept walking towards Ahuizotl he kept growing in size until he was looking down at the beast.
“Yes Little Pest, care to argue with me again.”
“Uh,… no sir.”
“Good, now then about your crimes, we’ll keep these simple, you invaded my castle, endangered one of my friends, and that’s just for starters, the most serious of your crimes is the countless attempts of trying to force your will upon others.”
“But it is my destiny.”
“Fools seeking power, take all their failures together and call it destiny.”
“YOU WILL NOT STAND IN MY WAY!!” in a flash Ahuizotl jumped at Kit only to be caught in mid air and slammed into the ground.
“You will listen to reason or this will be your final resting place, as long as she is here she is under my protection and you will leave her alone, if you persist on being a rude guest in this castle then I will have to teach you some manors.” with that Kit let go of Ahuizotl who had a mixture of shock and terror on his face. “Now you have overstayed your welcome this night, leave while you are still able to do it under your own power.” As Kit changed back to his normal size Ahuizotl slowly got back to his feet and growled slightly as he lunged at what he though was a helpless target until Kit snapped his fingers and a pilled of stone shot from the ground and sent Ahuizotl flying into the air away from the castle. “When he lands he’s going to be very sore.” Daring Do smirked slightly as Kit knelt down to her and started to use his magic to heal her injuries. “Try that.” As Daring Do got to her feet she smiled as she looked at Kit.
“That feels much better.”
“Glade to hear it, now then WHAT MAY I ASK ARE YOU DOING HERE!?”
“Why are you shouting? I’m right here.”
“Sorry I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to a group of foals that are up way past their bed times.” Kit turned his attention to the over looking balcony where several little heads where pocking out and looking down at them. As Kit snapped his fingers all the foals and CMC teleported in front of them and looked up at Kit and Daring do. “Now then by the location of the moon in the sky I dare say it’s past midnight, care to explain why you’re here?”
“Uh,…” all the foals said at once as they started to look at each other uncertain of what to say. “I’m guessing that since I don’t see any adults here they don’t even know that you are here is that a safe guess?”
“My Granny Smith is here.” Apple Bloom said, as she pointed to Granny Smith on her back.
“That doesn’t count.”
“And just why the hay not?” Granny Smith protested as she looked at Kit.
“Let me put it like this, when you’re so small that you can be swallowed by a Timberwolf whole, you are no longer considered an adult pony.”
“Are ya given me sass, ya young whippier snapper? I’ll have you know I was plowing fields long before you were a twinkle in your mother’s eye.”
“I highly doubt that Ms. Smith but non-the-less, you’re a foal now, which means these three should have known better then to bring a wagon full of yearling out into the Everfree Forest at night.” with that the foals hung there heads and Kit rolled his eyes. “It’s far too late to take you all back, and I’m far to tired to teleport all of you home, so for tonight you can stay here, but I am going to be giving your guardians notification on where you are.” another grown from the foals. “Don’t give me that they must be worried sick about where you’re all at right now, if they’ve woken up that is, I should put you all in corners and have you think about just how worried sick your making them each feel if they have woken up and found that all of you are missing, they might get some funny idea about a pipe playing nut job lured you away to the pits of Tartarus.” Kit took a deep breath to try and calm down as he looked at all the foals and shook his head. “I expected better from most of you, mostly the used to be adults, and certainly expected more from one of you.” Kit shot Onyx a glance and then turned away. “All of you together have more then enough since to pull this full hearty stunt, and yet you did it, and I want you to give me one good reason why I shouldn’t be angry right now.”
“Well Pinkie said you’ve been acting funny, so we got worried and wanted to make sure you were alright.” Trixie said, as she was on the verge of tears.
“Yeah, you helped us a lot during the last time we were here and that mean jerk tried to hurt us, we just wanted to make sure you where alright.” Sunset added as she started to sniffle. Kit could hear as the other foals started to sniffle and cry.
“Alright, I get it.” Kit said, as he took a deep breath and turned back to the foals. “And thank you for your concern but you have to understand that putting yourselves in danger for my sake was completely fool hearty and very dangerous, what if one of you got hurt, I could never forgive myself is that happened, now before we start the water works up again I think it’s way past time for each of you to be in bed.” with that the foals nodded and was lead to one of the larger bed rooms where Kit snapped his fingers and several cribs appeared.
“I think I’ll stay with them tonight.” Daring Do said, as she walked in and laid down on the bed. “I’ll make sure they don’t pull any more crazy stunts.”
“Alright, but before I go does anyone want a glass of water?” Kit shot Onyx a look getting the little foal to wave his hand. “Alright I’ll take you with me.” as the two walked Kit took Onyx up to one of the towers and looked out at the Everfree Forest at night as the lightning bugs and several incandescent plants lit up the forest. “Care to explain yourself?”
“Well I was a little concerned that you might be going coo-coo for coco puffs.”
“You know Rarity does still have that brush of hers.” Onyx gulped as he looked at Kit. “Listen to me, I get it you and the others got worried, so you risked your lives to get out here to see if I was alright, but don’t ever do that again.”
“But we’re friends aren’t we?”
“Yes we’re friends but don’t risk your necks for me got it.”
“Why not, we’re friends and friends help friends.”
“Onyx, for Celestia sake, now I’m saying it, listen something is coming I can feel it, it’s big it’s mean and it’s already started to cause trouble all across Equestria.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember that darkness that possessed Luna all those years ago.”
“Only through stories.”
“Well that darkness is returning, it’s feeding right now, but it also hasn’t been very discrete about it’s actions.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s been attacking the other nations creating dark pawns all across Equestria.”
“Why haven’t we heard about it, or rather why haven’t the main 6 heard about it yet?”
“They have, they fought a dragon a while back that was under the dark force’s influence.”
“So it moved on?”
“It’s been moving on, in the Minotaur lands it possessed one of them that wanted nothing but wealth and power, changed him into a ragging monster calling itself stamped.”
“And what happened.”
“Shadow Moon cut the beast down to size.”
“What about the other lands?”
“It’s had a presence in each, and the only thing I’ve been able to figure out is that it’s searching for the most powerful host so that it will be able to take control of the lands.”
“So why not just go after Luna or Celestia?”
“Because it knows that though the host is strong it’s love for their family and friends is stronger and will break it’s hold, it tried to break up the main six once but failed.”
“Then what about Discord?” this only got Kit to smile as he looked at Onyx.
“Oh it tried, trust me it tried, and I will have to admit that was the most interesting possession.”
“How so?”
“Discord drove it so nuts that it fled on it’s own with Discord running after it wanting to play some more.”
“Alright so what about you?” Kit stopped smiling and turned his attention back to the stars.
“It can’t.”
“What do you mean it can’t? This thing was able to take control of Luna, and Discord two really powerful beings, what makes you think it can’t take control of you?”
“Because it already tried.”
“When?”
“Years ago, it tried to take control over me, and I expelled it, I thought I had destroyed it but somehow it survived and came here.”
“Wait that would mean?”
“I’m not that old, time works differently here.”
“Alright so you can fight it.”
“Yes, I’m one of the few cases. This means that it might be looking more towards you or one of the others.”
“What about one of the already evil ponies?”
“If you’re talking about the queen of the changelings, Shadow Moon is already keeping a very close eye on her.”
“How has he done that?”
“By gaining her trust.”
“And how has he done that?”
“Be providing a form of food to her subjects.”
“I see, is there any way it can get a hold of us?”
“Not really as long as you’re all young, it can’t get a hold of you, innocents of youth and all that.”
“Right,… anything else you want to pass on?”
“Yeah when the day comes that this thing shows it’s face I’m going to need you to trust me, you understand?”
“Trust you.”
“I’ve already fought this thing once, I’ve even fought what it spawned from, so I’m going to need you to trust that I have and idea of how to deal with it, but should I fail it’s going to fall down to you and the others to defend Equestria, make more friends because I think you’re going to need as many as you can get.”
“Fine, but you’re Batman.” Kit looked at Onyx slightly confused by this statement. “What we already have Super-Stallion, a Green arrow, and a Green lantern and you have this nice brooding thing going on so that makes you Batman.”
“I’m a rider.”
“Fine then, you’re Bat-rider.” Kit looked at Onyx and then down at the ground below the tower.
“Just to clarify you do have all of Superman’s powers correct?”
“Yes.” Onyx said proudly as he looked at Kit.
“Good.” with that Kit shoved Onyx off the edge getting the little foal to cry out in shock before he stopped himself an inch from the ground and flew back up and glared at Kit, who was smiling at him.
“That wasn’t very nice.” Kit just kept smiling as he looked at Onyx who started to pout. “I wasn’t scared.”
“Right, that’s why you sounded like a little filly all the way down.”
It was early the next morning that all the foals sat in the courtyard with their heads hung low as the older ponies sat opposite them with very stern looks on their faces.
“We want to thank you Kit for keeping them out of anymore trouble.” Twilight said, as she kept looking at Trixie, and Sunset. “And we’ll be making sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again, am I right, girls?” with that the adult ponies nodded as they started to take their little charges away, even Pinkie Pie didn’t look very happy as she walked away with the Cake twins on her back.
“Ya’ll jut wait until ah get ya back to the farm, ye're both going to be sorry for pulling this plum loco stunt.” Applejack said, as she had Applebloom walk in front of her with Granny Smith on her back.
“When we get home you’re both going to time out so I can think of a proper punishment for this crazy stunt of yours.” Rarity said as she led Sweetie Belle and Onyx away.
“I don’t want to hear one word out of the three of you until we get back to the library.” Twilight said, as she carried Trixie and Sunset on her back while Scootaloo walked in front of her.
“Rainbow, Lightning I’m sure you both know what’s going to happen when we get back home so you might as well just start thinking about what you did and why you’re going to get punished.” Fluttershy said, as she gave both fillies the stair. As the last of the guest left Kit turned to Daring Do who just shook her head.
“Poor kids, they remind me of me when I was around that age.”
“You did crazy things like this?”
“Oh yeah, all the time, can’t tell you how many times I got a whoopin’ for it.”
“Yeah, well most of them are yearling so I doubt that the girls are going to be that heard on them, as for the CMC yeah I think they might have a little harder time.” Later in the day Fluttershy smiled as she watched Winona walking up to her cottage with Sly close behind happily squeaking his toy.
“Thank you Winona for looking after Sly this morning, it was rather hectic when we woke up and found all the foals missing only to find a note.” Fluttershy turned to Sly and smiled as he was wagging his tail as he looked at Fluttershy. “Have you been a good boy today?” Sly nodded and squeaked his toy several times. “That’s good to know, now why don’t you both come in and get some rest before Winona has to head back to the barn?” with that both dogs walking inside, but the first thing Sly noticed was Rainbow and Lightning sitting in to separate cribs on opposite sides of the room. “Rainbow and Lightning did a very bad thing and are being punished Sly, so you can’t go play with them right now.”
“But Fluttershy we sowwy honest.” Lightning said, as she started to sob again.
“You two still have five more minutes to think about what you did, but I want you to think about how much trouble you’ve also gotten the other three girls into for this stunt.”
“But it was theiw idea.” Rainbow argued only to get a stern look from Fluttershy.
“But you’re older then those three and should know better, you should have tried to stop them.” with that the two fillies went back to sitting quietly while Sly and Winona followed Fluttershy into the kitchen to get something to eat. After Fluttershy left some food out she returned to the living room to keep an eye on her two fillies leaving Sly and Winona alone in the kitchen.
“Ms. Winona.”
“Yes Sly?”
“Were Applebloom and Granny Smith in trouble this morning, is that why they couldn’t play?”
“Yes, they misbehaved and were punished, I’m sure you’ve done something wrong in the past and got punished before.”
“Well aunty Celestia yelled at me a lot for doing something that I didn’t know was bad at the time, and she has hit my backside with a rolled up scroll once.”
“Well did you learn from those experiences?”
“Yeah scrolls hurt.” Winona smirked as she looked at Sly.
“Anything else?”
“Not to do those things?”
“And that’s what they’re learning right now, they’re learning not to do bad things because it could get them hurt, now why don’t you finish eating and I’ll stay with you and keep you company until the others are aloud to play.” with that Sly nodded and started to eat.
“Ms. Winona?”
“Yes Sly?”
“I don’t like seeing my friends being sad.”
“I know Sly, but they won’t be sad for long, you’ll see once they’re aloud to play they’ll be happy again.” with that Winona smiled then lapped some water from a bowl and watched as Sly eat.
A few days later Luna and Nightmare Moon arrived and picked Sly up, he was beyond happy to see his family as he tackled Nightmare Moon and started to lick her face getting the little Filly to laugh, but as he knew that he was going to miss his friends when he was back at the castle, most of all he was going to miss Winona, seeing that she was the closest thing to a mother of his own kind that he could remember.
When night fell upon the castle, Sly kept looking up at the star filled sky and started to truly wonder, where was his real mommy, but as Nightmare Moon put one of her little wings over him he curled up close and smiled as he nuzzled her slightly, that was a question he could wait until tomorrow to worry about, for tonight he was back home with his big sister and his adopted mother.
While back at Kit’s castle he sat upon one of the thrones and seem to be staring off into nothing as Luna appeared beside him. “I heard you came to his aid again.”
“I come to a lot of creature’s aid, you’re going to have to be more specific.”
“You came to Sly’s aid.”
“I protected and innocent creature, and gave a filly another chance to turn from a dark path.” Luna nodded and then let out a sigh as she lowered her head slightly, as if she was saddened by something.
“Are you ever going to tell him?”
“If I can avoid it I will.”
“One day he will want to know.”
“And when that day comes I will tell him, but he’s too young to know now.”
“Is that why you’ve stopped dreaming and have been focusing on ensuring that his dreams do not remind him of what happened?” Kit looked at Luna, as a tear started to role down his cheek.
“Yes, to prevent him from knowing what kind of monster I had to become that day.”
“You aren’t a monster, you did what needed to be done.”
“Some of the greatest natrosoties through out the multi-verse where committed with words like that Luna.” Kit looked down at his hands and then sat back in the throne as took a deep breath. “I can still hear their screams as the darkness took them, I can still see the panic in their eyes as they realized that they were being turned.”
“And you set them free from what the darkness would have forced them to do, Remember I was once turned by the nightmare force, and I still regret the things I did while under it’s influence, even if you would have been able to find away to save them do you honestly think they would have been able to live with themselves if they had taken just one innocent life?” Kit looked at Luna, he could see the worry in her eyes and reached over to stroke her long blue hair.
“Luna when it shows itself please trust me in my actions.”
“I will.” with that Kit smiled stood up and started to walk away. “Where are you going?”
“For a walk.”
“Seems rather normal for you.”
“On the moon.” with that Kit vanished and Luna was left in the throne room alone.