//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Together Again // Story: Children of Chaos // by shirotora //------------------------------// Chapter 13: Together Again Razor stared at his quivering paws. After the adrenaline wore off, the gravity of what happened set in. It was the first time he had ever been in a real, life or death fight. Sure, he used to be entranced with his dad's stories of dark gods and demons, but they were just stories to him. He had always been safe and comfortable, never having to be put in those situations. Now though... “Razie?” Surprise placed a hoof on his shoulder, comfortingly. “I-I'll be okay,” Razor stated flatly. “Do you want to talk about it?” “What's there to say? We could have died, but we didn't. We got lucky. Damn it, why did I leave the sun shard Kataya gave me in here?” “Hey, it's not your fault,” Surprise pulled her boyfriend into a hug. “You didn't know that zebra guy would be there.” Razor returned the hug adamantly. “But I should have been ready. I could have died, or worse, I could have lost you. Why can't I be more like dad? He wouldn't have been caught off guard like that.” Surprise giggled at that. “Have you ever really listened to your dad's stories? He was caught off guard and lucked out a lot.” “Still, he's a natural at this. Me... I’m not a fighter.” “Maybe not, but neither was your dad,” Surprise said, earning a confused look from Razor. “Your dad was just a guy trying to protect his loved ones. He never went looking for a fight and only resorted to violence as a last resort. Back there, you were just a guy protecting your loved one. You weren't looking for a fight and only resorted to violence because you had to. You're more like your dad than you realize.” “Thanks,” Razor said quietly. “I'm lucky to have you, you know.” “Damn right you are. Now get ready to land, we're almost there.” Razor nodded and took the controls. He turned off the autopilot and guided the craft the rest of the way in himself. When they were over the crazy old dragony's hut, he put it in hover and slowly started descending. The transport touched down, but before he could even power down the engine, the door flew open and two big bags were thrown in followed by Kataya. “It took you long enough,” said dragony complained. “Nakara didn't give you too much trouble, did he?” “Who?” asked Razor. “The zebra, Solaris' general that you fought,” Kataya replied as if it were obvious. “Wait, you knew he would be there?!” Surprise asked, her anger showing. “Why didn't you say anything!?” “If I did, would it have made a difference?” The older mare asked. “Yes, it probably would have. Now you two take it easy, I'll drive.” “Drive where?” Razor asked. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- “... That was the first time I made a stallion pee himself without even laying a hoof on him,” Snow finished her story proudly. “Wow,” Specter gaped. “That's amazing. I mean, I know you're a strong mare, but I didn't realize you were good at ending conflicts non-violently, too.” The demon and tigony were relaxing under a tree just outside the resistance HQ chatting. Specter found Snow's stories of Equestria, before Solaris, to be fascinating. Ponies partying all night, not worrying about getting arrested for 'being suspicious' sounded like paradise. Snow blushed lightly at his praise, “Aw, it's not that great. I mean, that's all I'm really good at, hurting ponies. I'm not like my dad or brother, they can do a lot of useful stuff. Me, though... I got my cutie mark for beating up a filly at school.” “Why did you beat her up?” Specter inquired. “She was picking on this colt that lost a leg to a quarry eel,” Snow answered. “She was calling him 'tripod' and stuff. I just hate it when ponies pick on others that are smaller and weaker than them.” “Well, it sounds like your talent is pretty noble. You stand up for those that need it, like you did for me with your friends.” Snow thought for a moment. “I guess that's one way to look at it. Heh, you know, for a demon, you know just how to cheer up ponies... Specter?” The demon in question was listening, but not to her. His attention was in the distance on something too far for even her predator senses to pick up. Snow may not have heard what he did, but she knew that look. It was the same look her father got when he sensed something he wasn't sure was dangerous or not. Snow jumped to her hooves when the sound reached her ears, ready for a fight if need be. Her hostility turned to confusion, though, when the large metal flying machine came into view. “Why's there a picture of Kat flipping us the bird on that?” asked the striped hybrid. “Really?” Specter asked, giving her a questioning look. “I thought that was the norm with her.” “Are you kidding? Look out!” Snow shouted and pulled him out of the way of the rapidly descending aircraft. The massive metal contraption landed hard, somehow missing every tree nearby by as little as a few inches. Snow recovered from the sudden, likely accidental, assault and got ready to punch the pilot in the snout. The door burst open and a familiar voice rang out, “I don't care if we're still alive, Kat, you aren't piloting again.” “Aww, but it was fun, and it wasn't bad for my first time.” came another familiar voice. “First time? Really?” The figure that stepped off the ship first brought a huge smile to Snow's face. “Watch out for the glomp.” The winged tigony looked back the way he came. “What glo-oof!” “Big brother! I missed you!” Snow shouted as she squeezed her tackled sibling. “S-Snow? How are you not hurt?” Razor managed. “My new friend fixed me up,” Snow said, pointing a hoof toward the nightmare. Razor looked up at the demon in confusion. He recognized it right away, but one thing about it was different than everything he had read. It was quaking in fear. “Specter, what's wrong?” Snow asked in concern. “He-he-he looks l-like...” Specter managed. “Oh, right,” Snow replied, an uneasy edge to her tone. “He looks like dad.” Specter just nodded. “Is he what I think he is?” Razor asked. Snow nodded, “Specter, this is Razor, my brother. Razor, this is Specter. He's a nightmare that Kataya gave a body to with one of her songs.” “The Derat Tagal can give corporeal bodies to incorporeal beings?” Razor asked in shock. “Yes,” Kataya said as she finally stepped off the plane. “Affecting and manipulating the incorporeal is its original purpose.” “And how, if you don't mind me asking, did you get to work for the resistance?” the winged tigony asked. After Specter told Razor what happened, the others came out to see what was happening. After warm greetings and a bit of gawking at Tiriel (he was just a colt in their own time), they shared their own stories of what happened while they were separated. “Holy shit, dude,” Blaze gasped, “Your dad tried to kill you?” “That thing isn't my dad,” Razor snapped. “Its nothing but a puppet that monster Solaris made from him.” “Alright, alright,” the dragony tried calming his cousin. “So anyway, you mentioned these crystals getting us home?” “Yes,” Kataya spoke up. “They can power the divine element and send you back.” “But Solais' and his goons got most of them?” Autumn pointed out. “Which means we have a similar goal,” Tiriel figured. “Looks like we're going to have to help you fight, lil' bro,” Blaze concluded. “Problem is, Snow is probably the only one of us that can really fight.” “I wouldn't say that,” Oak said. “My father is Gentle Stone.” The name alone was enough to cause the dragony to gape. “Gentle Stone? As in, the inventor of the Flowing Earth style?” Blaze asked, rhetorically. “Dude, you dad is like, the most dangerous earth pony in Equestria.” “Other than pa,” Autumn corrected. “Gentle Stone's great and all, but until he can crush an ogre's skull like an eggshell, he's number two.” “The point is, as his son, he trained me,” Oak said quickly to get the conversation back on track. “If you would like, I can help train some of your soldiers.” “It would be an honor,” Tiriel accepted graciously. “Though, I will need a demonstration.” “Of course,” Oak agreed. “Alright, if you'll follow me,” Tiriel started to lead the group down into the cavern that held the resistance base. Everyone started to follow, but Snow was stopped by Surprise. The changeling waited for everyone else to be out of earshot before speaking. “So..?” the bubbly 'pegasus' said expectantly. Snow looked at her brother's girlfriend, waiting for the rest but it never came. “'So' what?” “Oh, come on now,” Surprise chided. “I'm a changeling. I can sense emotion, even yours. So are you going to just tell me or do I need to pry?” “Um... I, uh, still don't know what you're talking about.” Snow knew exactly what she was talking about. “You know exactly what I'm talking about.” The changeling looked at the tigony expectantly. Snow sat down with a groan, “Fine, yes, I think I kinda do.” Surprise let out an excited squee. “This is so exciting! Our little Snow Angel is finally in love!” “Hey! Not so loud,” Snow said as she shoved her hoof in the other mare's mouth. “And don't call me 'Snow Angel'. I hate that name.” “So, did you tell him yet?” Snow sighed, “No. It's... weird.” “Weird?” “Weird.” “What's weird?” Surprise scoffed, “You just go up and say...” in a flash, a copy of the tigony stood where the pegasus once did. “... Oh Specter, you are my hero. I love you.” another flash revealed... not quite an exact replica, but obviously an attempt at recreating the nightmare. “This is such marvelous news, for I too have these feelings for you.” another flash and the not-Snow was back. “Then let us make sweet, sweet love under the moonlight” “Okay, that's enough,” the real Snow interrupted. “I should have known it would devolve into sex, you damn nympho.” “So, what's weird about it?” Surprise asked. “It's just... it couldn't work. We could only be together for as long as it takes us to get home, anyway. Plus, I doubt he feels the same. No pony ever does,” Snow said with a dejected tone. “Most ponies think I’m a freak because I look like a zebra, I’m as strong as an earth pony but I have unicorn magic. The few that get past that, run the second they find out I eat meat. They think I’m a freak.” Surprise giggled, “Well, I doubt the friendly demon who was given a body by a dragon song would think you're a freak.” “W-well, it's still not a good idea,” Snow insisted. “I mean, I probably only feel that way because he saved my life. I don't even know him very well.” “Then ask him out,” Surprise said as if it were the most obvious answer. Snow growled, “Don't tell me what I need to do! Now let's drop it and find the others.” With that, the tigony stormed past the changeling and stomped into the cave. Surprise could only sigh as she followed after, wondering what was really bothering the younger mare.