//------------------------------// // The mesmerizing proposal. // Story: The relics of Obedientiam // by Furious Thestral //------------------------------// The four cutie mark crusaders were hugging each other; Sweetie bell was hiding behind Apple Bloom and Babs behind Scootaloo. "W-what d-do y-yah mean, with solving our problems?" asked Apple Bloom, trying to hide her shaking as she held tightly to Scootaloo. "You still dont get it?" asked Azrael, thinking that he had been very clear, "I’m here to give you the ability to control your sisters." as he finished his sentence, the sly grin returned to his face. "I dont think that we should trust you" Sweetie Belle protested. She had a bad feeling about that grin that Azrael was wearing. The other Crusaders nodded in agreement. "Yeah we think that you may be dangerous" continued Scootaloo she stopped shaking and took a step forward to demonstrate that she was not afraid. "I am not dangerous. I admire that bravery of yours…” Azrael grinned all the wider, “...but don't you dare to try be brave in front of me" Scootaloo suppressed a scream of terror, rooted to the spot as the strange pony began to walk foward. "We don't need your help" yelled Babs to stand along with Scootaloo like a good friend. Emboldened by Scootaloo and Babs, Sweetie and Apple Bloom joined the two fillies. "Yeah, just because our sisters are being mean and bossy doesn’t mean we want you to mess with their heads!" yelled Apple Bloom, daring to the stallion in the eyes. “We don't really want you to hurt our sisters mister." said Sweetie Bell, almost begging and with a beautiful puppy style eyes. Sweetie thought that if being aggressive wasn't the answer, maybe being nice would do the trick. "You think that those eyes would melt my heart and make me go away? Well sorry but that doesn't work either," replied Azrael trying to not laugh at another failed attempt to make him leave ""Besides who said that i was going to hurt them?" "Then what are you going to do to them?" asked Apple Bloom, relieved that he wasn’t going to hurt Applejack. She might be bossy, but that didn’t mean Apple Bloom wanted to see her sister hurt. "Me? You are the one's that will do everything" Azrael replied with a smirk. "What do you mean?" asked Babs, intrigued. Now that the danger had passed, she wanted to walk closer to see if he was really a three horned unicorn. "What I mean is that all I’m going to do is give you the power to control your sisters." replied Azrael, walking around the clubhouse, examining it with passive interest. The four fillies didn’t take an eye off him for a moment. " But how?" asked Scootaloo, trying to distract him before he touched something. "Oh, with the relics of Obidientiam" responded Azrael, taking a teacup from the table. Though it was empty a moment before, when he sipped from it, it was filled with warm tea. "With the relics of who?" asked Babs, coming over to the other side of the table. "Obidientiam," responded Azrael, taking another sip of tea. "Mm, this is a good tea. To answer your question, Obidientiam was a powerful mare, she was…” he laughed, shaking his head. “Well I don't think that you all are interested in history lesson. Basically, she had the mystical ability to create objects that could make ponies obey" explained Azrael. The other three crusaders walked to the table and sit around it to listen Azrael then lifted the teacup and served the tea to all four crusaders. Even though he filled each cup, his own didn’t empty. Feeling a bit more trusting, the four fillies sipped the tea. "So, we’re going to use those relics to make our sisters obey us?" asked Swetie Bell. "Exactly," responded Azrael, clapping his hooves as they finally understood the reason he was here. "You four are going to have the power to take control of other ponies" he went on. The four fillies were very surprised to even think of having the power to take control of other ponies, to make them do everything they wanted unquestionably. "But what if we refuse?" questioned Babs, seeming to have some trouble believing Azrael. "Yeah I don't think that it would be nice to take advantage of my sister like that." said Apple Bloom, standing alongside her cousin. "Well i'm not going force anypony to participate, of course, but do you think its fair enough to be considered lazy, even though you work very hard? Or being called a good for nothing just because you forgot to close the pigpen? I don’t think so" replied Azrael, not losing that big grin in his face. "How did ya know?" asked Apple Bloom surprised. "Oh please. I’ve seen the problems that you four have been having. First, Sweetie Belle. Your sister makes you feel like you’re useless. Wouldn’t it be nice to be more needed?” Azrael asked, turning to the other fillies. “Babs, your sister doesn't even talk to you unless she tells you to do her chores! Don’t you want her to treat you with the respect that you deserve? And you, Scootaloo. Aren’t you tired of just watching Rainbow Dash from afar? You could have a whole day with her, a good, quality, sister-like day!" Azrael sat back with a smile, watching the reactions on the crusaders face. They were surprised at how much he know about their problems, and they had to admit he had some good points. "Can we think about this?" asked Sweetie Bell, with anxiety in her face. "Very well but make it quick" answered Azrael while he gave his cup another sip. The four crusaders walked to their thinking spot to plan their next move. "Do yah think we can trust him?" asked Apple Bloom "I don't think so, do you see how strange he is with those three horns? I don’t know if I can trust somepony who looks like that." said Scootaloo looking at Azrael, careful to not be caught in the act. "We could at least give it a try. Who knows? We might actually have a good day and be treated nicely and with respect for once in our lives" responded Sweetie, trying to convince the others. "But what if he's lying? Who know's what could happens if we fall for his trick?" Babs chipped in, making a valid point. "Well...he did know about our problems with our sisters. And I think he really wants to help us." Sweetie Bell replied thoughtfully. "That doesn't prove that he's here to help, that only proves he’s a stalker" said Apple Bloom. "We should make him prove that he is telling the truth about the power. If he can’t, we’ll know we can’t trust him." said Babs whispering to the other three fillies, looking back to make sure Azrael wasn't listening in or sneaking around. "Well that's a good idea. We should make him prove he is telling the truth." proposed Scootaloo. "But how?" questioned Apple Bloom, "I got it," said Sweetie bell, a little too loudly. She covered her mouth, lowering her voice to a whisper, "What if we make him hypnotize somepony? I heard from Twilight that hypnosis spell's are the most impossible ones because a pony needs large amount of magic to take control of someponies mind. Even therapist ponies have a hard time with it." she added. "Is that really true?" asked Babs. "That's what the book in the library said." responded Sweetie. "Wait, you tried to hypnotize before?!" Applebloom asked, surprised the Sweetie Belle would do such a thing. No wonder she was so willing to trust Azrael. "Yeah, but that was just for curiosity! I never really wanted to hypnotize my sister." responded Sweetie scrunching her face trying to not reveal that she was lying about that last part. "Yeah, right." said Scootaloo, not believing her for a moment. "Annnnyway, I believe thats a good way to make sure he's not lying." With the discussion ended, the CMC broke their formation and faced Azrael. "So what's the decision?" asked Azrael lowering his tea cup towards the table grinning towards the fillies. "We accept, if you first prove that you are not lying" said Sweetie Bell. "Very clever," said Azrael, "It seems that somepony knew that it isn’t easy to hypnotize a pony. Even for hypnotherapist it takes days, even weeks, to achieve." he added with a slight nod towards Sweetie. "Well then prove yah' ain't lying then" said Apple Bloom trying to be assertive and not falling in fear again. "Very well then, who is going to volunteer for this experiment?" asked Azrael looking between the four ponies. "W-well you go Apple Bloom" said Sweetie Bell, not wanting to be a test subject if Azrael really could hypnotize ponies. "Wait ah minute, why me?" Appple Bloom protests, looking atSweetie. "Well you said you wanted to make him prove that he wasn't lying" replied Sweetie. "But I didn't say I wanted to be the one to be hypnotized!" countered Apple Bloom, stomping her hoof in anger. "Then who volunteer for the demonstration?" questioned Sweetie Bell looking to the other two crusaders. "I'm not going" said Babs, looking away and raising her chin in defiance. "Me neither" said Scootaloo shaking her head. "How are we supposed to prove he isn't lying then?" said Sweetie Bell, worried and disappointed that nopony offer herself for the experiment. "Relax, Sweetie, there is no need to feel that way," said Azrael, inviting her to drink more tea, "I know why all of you rejected the idea.” He gave a little chuckle. “It's because you all four think that you'll end up doing something embarrassing once you’re hypnotized, right?" he asked. "Well yeah, I don't want to end up being hypnotized and then having you make me do a chicken dance" said Scootaloo, serious about the subject in question. "No need to worry. We’ll just find somepony else to do the test on and thats all." said Azrael giving Scootaloo a tea cup making sure she drinks it all up. "But there is nopony around!" said Babs while she blows her mane out of her front. "Yeah, only the Apple family is allowed in the orchard" added Apple Bloom. "Relax, everything will be fine," said Azrael lifting with his magic two cups of tea for the two earth ponies, "Besides, I just saw a mare pulling a wagon" he finished. "Really!? Where!?" asked Sweetie Bell, happy that she didn't need to offer herself for the test. "Right over there." Azrael pointed outside of the clubhouse. The four fillies ran outside and went down the ladder where they saw a blue unicorn with a lavender wizard hat and a cape with stars pulling down a wagon through the orchard directly to Ponyville. "Thats Trixie!" pointed out Apple Bloom recognizing her at once. "Calm down the Apple Bloom," said Azrael putting a hoof in her shoulder, "We don’t want her to see us, right?” "Sorry." said the little filly. Azrael then teletransported himself and the four fillies near the great and powerful unicorn. Trixie seemed to be taking a break sitting beside the wagon while she finished eating a hot carrot. "Well, after all this time, The Great and Powerful TRIXIE! will return to Ponyville! Trixie wishes to see Twilight Sparkle and how she became princess so that Trixie can be a princess too!" said the blue unicorn. "Okay kids, watch closely and don't make a sound" said Azrael as he walked out of hiding, a magical aura covering all his body as he transformed. *snap* A branch on the ground cracked. "Who's there?" asked Trixie, searching for the source of the sound. She really wanted to surprise Twilight with her appearance, which is why she went through the orchard. "It's me, Bon Bon." said a mare that appeared from the right of the wagon. Trixie was confused when she saw the mare, since this mare was a unicorn with a green mint coat and a green mint mane with a white stroke. She walked approaching towards Trixie with a trustworthy smile. "Trixie may not been in Ponyville for a long time but the Great and Powerful Trixie remembers that your name is Lyra." replied Trixie suspiciously. In the distance, there was a faint sound of four small hooves hitting four small faces. "This one was Lyra? They’re together all the time, so it’s hard to tell them apart..." the mare mumbled to herself, "Oh well, I didn’t come here to show you my transformation abilities." with that, the mare proceeded to say some indecipherable words. Behind Trixie, four sets of eyes were watching closely. "What are you saying to... the ...great.. a-and... p-p-power-" Trixie tried to finish the sentence but it was more and more difficult for her. Her eyes were blank and her jaw was clearly open dripping some saliva. "You all can come out now" said Azrael transforming back to normal. The four crusaders walked towards Trixie and Azrael. "Is she really hypnotized?" asked Scootaloo, waving her hoof in front of Trixie. "Of course she is," responded Azrael, "Why don't you tell her to do something?" he added, putting his hoof on Trixies shoulder. "Why don't we make her act like a chicken" said Apple Bloom. "Thats pretty simple, don't ya think?" replied Babs, blowing some strands of her mane out of her face. "Well then what can we make her do?" asked Sweetie Bell while she poked Trixie making sure she was hypnotized. "How about making her eat that rotten apple?" suggested Scootaloo pointing towards the rotten apple near them. "Well, if she did that, it would certainly prove she was hypnotized." laughed Babs. "But what happens if she gets sick?" asked Apple Bloom. She was an expert on apples, and knew how dangerous rotten ones could be. "Relax Apple Bloom. If that happens I will take her to the hospital," said Azrael smiling to the filly. Of course, the wicked pony had no such intentions. "Besides it´s not like she is going to die, right?" the three horned pony added. "I guess you're right, besides Trixie never liked me or my family since she humiliated mah sister in front of of all those ponies.” "Well it's settled then. The rotten apple will be" said Azrael. He leaned in, whispering indecipherable words in Trixie’s ear. "Thats right... Trixie is a bit... hungry... she would love to eat that... apple" said Trixie in a monotone voice without an expression in her face. Azrael stepped aside from Trixie, stomping a hoof. Trixie regained consciousness, she scratched her head and looked over the rotten apple. "The great and powerful Trixie is a bit hungry and that apple will be perfect to satisfy Trixie´s hunger," said Trixie she then turned towards the apple, "If you all will excuse Trixie she will eat it now" she finished, going over to the apple. "How come she wasn’t surprised to see us?" asked Apple Bloom looking towards Azrael. "Simple. I made her believe we were here the whole time instead of Harp. If I hadn’t, she would have been so surprised that the hypno-suggestion would been broken. Remember that some hypno tricks are mind based and if the pony gets startled that would break the hypnosis itself" said Azrael to the crusaders, already teaching them despite the fact they hadn’t agreed to his deal yet. "Uh, don't you mean Lyra?" asked Sweetie Bell a bit confused. "Does it really matter?" replied Azrael with a dark grin. "Look," interrupted Scootaloo, pointing towards Trixie "She´s eating the apple". Trixie was eating bite by bite the rotten apple as if was a fresh one. "What a delicious apple," said Trixie with a face of satisfaction, "Now what do these little fillies want with the great and powerful Trixie?" she asked, walking back to the crusaders. "She doesn't see you?" asked Sweetie Bell, looking at Azrael. "Nope, I told her that she couldn’t see or hear me. Look, she is looking at you like you’re a crazy filly, since all she can see is thin air." said Azrael pointing towards Trixie, as she was looking to Sweetie Bell a bit confused. "Trixie wants to know to who you're talking to?" she asked, her head tilted in confusion. "Well... I.... u-um" Sweetie Bell stammered, not sure what she could say. Luckily, she was interrupted by Azrael whispering in Trixie´s ear, the showmare going once again in a deep trance. "Well then now you four belive me?" asked Azrael, turning to grin to the crusaders. "That was awesome, I totally believe you now!" said Scootaloo flapping her wings in excitement. "Yeah, totally" added Babs with a smile "Yup, I do, too" said Apple Bloom nodding with trust to the pony. "But how did Trixie hear you? I thought you said you told her not to." asked Sweetie Belle. "Well, what I really said to her that she could not see me or hear me normally, but she could hear my hypnotizing voice" said Azrael playing with the face of Trixie, "You see some rookie hypnotist always say to their patients to not hear them or see them but never have safe word in case they want to undo a suggestion. Since for the ponies eyes and ears they don't exist, they have to get another hypnotherapist to make the pony return to normal." explained Azrael. "Wow, that sounds very complicated" said Scootaloo. "So then where are the relics you promised us?" asked Babs "We will have to go to where they are, to The Chamber of One Thousand Relics!." said Azrael, pointing to the sky dramatically. "So where is this chamber?" asked Apple Bloom. "It´s so very far away, it would take one full week to get there..." said Azrael. The crusaders dropped their jaws in shock, about to complain they couldn’t go that far, before Azrael went on "or we could be there in a moment using this!" A golden key with a spiral on it appeared in his hoof. "What is that for?" asked Sweetie Bell "It’s the key for the chamber of course! It allows me to go straight to it , no matter where I am." responded Azrael, "So are we ready?" "Wait, what about Trixie?" asked Apple Bloom pointing to the mind blanked unicorn. "Yeah shouldn't we do something about her?" asked Scootaloo. "Oh, sorry. I almost forgot.” Azrael laughed. “I once left a blank pony by herself and she almost ended up in big trouble" he explained, walking towards Trixie. Once he reached her, he whispered some more commands in her ear. "Yes... it´s... wonderful to go... to the foal mountains in this.... season" said Trixie in a monotone voice, she then woke from her trance and picked up her wagon, setting off. "Where is she going?" asked Sweetie Bell. "Well to Foal mountain of course," responded Azrael pointing to east towards the mountains. “I’m doing you four a favor.” "What favor?" asked Babs looking to Azrael with inquiry. "The favor of when somepony talks to Trixie she might end up saying something about seeing you four, and me as well" replied Azrael to Babs while he played with her mane. "But you said that she couldn’t see you" said Apple Bloom. "But she saw Banjo." answered Azrael. "Lyra" replied the crusaders at once. "Whatever, If she says that to somepony and finds out that Banjo wasn't there, they might get suspicious and go ask you four about it. Then they find out about the relics I gave you and then TERRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN!" said Azrael lifting his hooves in the sky dramatically. "If you put it that way well i guess we should be thankful" said Scootaloo smiling to the red unicorn. "It´s ok, now shall we continue?" said Azrael as he put the key into thin air. A door formed around it and opened, revealing a corridor of dusty marble with torches illuminating the walls. The crusaders followed Azrael through the corridor until they reached a door with a giant spiral in the center. The crusaders nervously stood before the door, waiting for Azrael to open it. Azrael stood off to the side as the crusaders looked up at the door. The longer they looked at the door, the more they could feel their consciousness fading. Just as they started to go blank, the doors finally opened, and Azrael pushed them onward, waking them. "What happened?" asked Apple Bloom shaking her head to worn off the dizziness, as the other crusaders did the same thing "It´s only a protection from the door to keep the relics from being stolen," responded Azrael, walking inside the chamber, "It’s very effective; I had to get Daring Doo to forget this place as well as Relic Hunter and Ahuizotl" he continued as he was smiling he seemed to be bragging. "You have seen Daring Doo!? Cool," said Scootaloo excitedly, "how she was?" the pegasi asked. "Well she doesn´t make good conversations when she is submissive." responded Azrael laughing. The crusaders looked to Azrael, wondering what was so funny. Azrael then cleared his throat, proceeding to the chamber with the crusaders close behind. The chamber was filled with all kinds of artifacts spread across the room, some were small, like a pocket watch laying on a table, and others big, like some sort of gem sculpture in the corner. There so many but the chamber wasn't entirely filled with 1000 relics. "This place doesn't look like it has 1000 relics, right?" aske Babs walking around the chamber looking to all the relics with the other fillies "To be precise, there are 251 relics in total, including the broken ones" responded Azrael. "So then why this chamber named “The Chamber of One Thousand Relics?”" asked Apple Bloom curiously. "Because the Chamber of One Thousand Relics sounds cooler than The Chamber of Two Hundred and Fifty One Relics Including Some Broken Ones." responded Azrael with a little laugh while he walked to the center of the chamber. “Besides, I’m not sure the builder could count to ten, much less two hundred. Now which relic will you take?” he spread his hooves out, the smile back on his face. “Before you choose, I must warn you: not all these relics are as simple as ‘swing side to side’. Some of them are dangerous, and some may not even do the things you expect.” explained Azrael, his smile turning into a smirk. The crusaders had be careful to make the right choice. While they still trusted Azrael, they were starting to get a little afraid of him again. They would have to be very careful with whatever relics they chose.