Inside the Golden Oaks library, laughter and light filled the air. The promised dominoes tournament had come. Sakura and the Wesley Fanclub were playing against Scootaloo and the Rainbow Fanclub.
Outside, it was dark and cool, a crisp of autumn faint in the night. I was pacing back and forth before the door, muttering to myself and watching the stars twinkle through the leaves.
Frustration and anger warred inside me. I stopped abruptly as I reached the sign, but instead of turning stalked fiercely around the building, stepping over roots and shrubs in the dim light from the windows. I glanced inside, and my stance softened slightly as I saw the players, heads down over their game, chattering and laughing. Rainbow glanced out and caught my eyes. She shrugged slightly, sympathetic. I turned back to my pacing.
Halfway around the trunk I nearly tripped over Onyx.
The black bug was nigh-invisible in the dim light. I only saw the glint of his carapace because he moved. My knife flashed into my hand, but his movement had deliberately alerted me, and I sheathed it when I recognized him.
"What are you doing here?" My voice was harsher than intended.
"Watching."
"For what?"
"Danger."
"What would attack us here?"
"No idea." He shrugged. "That's why I'm watching."
"Pfaw." I spat.
"You don't like me much." He gave me a flat look.
"I…" I stopped, struggling with my emotions. "Sorry. I'm not in a good mood. I'll go."
"Wait."
"Yes?" I turned back.
"Don't worry about it. I don't like you much either, but you've tried to be fair to me."
"…thanks." My voice was softer. "Again, I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing." He gave me a hard glare. "You're stronger than that."
"Apologies aren't weakness!" I flared, slightly.
"Even if they're selfish?"
"Bah." I turned away from him, leaning against the tree. "Fine. I'm not sorry. I should have killed you when I had the chance."
"I'm glad you didn't." He gave me a wry glance. "But I never deserved the mercy Celestia showed." He studied me a for a little. "Did Bit say something?"
"Yes." I rubbed my eyes. "No. Maybe."
"Cover all your bases."
"Heh." I gave a bitter laugh. "Sorry. Yes, Bitterbloom was being himself. No, I'm not angry at him. Maybe my frustration is justified, and maybe I'm letting old wounds bleed all over my psyche. Either way, I need a breather."
"Why does her devotion sting so much?"
"Because I don’t deserve it!" I said loudly. "It's not even a matter of being worthy or not. Fluttershy set me straight on that; I'll never be perfect, and Bit will have to deal with that when he's ready. All I can do is my best, and bewailing that won't change anything. No, what stings is that Bit had no choice in the matter. 'I can do it,' Tezeca said. And then she did! Aaaargh!" I clenched my fists. "She disgusts me, Onyx. Your pretender."
"You wrong her."
"Buck no! The mind is a precious thing, and she just… used Bit. As a test, as a pawn. She took its free will and gave it to me. And you wonder I writhe under his gaze! I swear, if I told that foal I needed a hoof, he'd ask to borrow my razor!"
"No, you wrong her. Listen to me, Wesley Kilmer!" Onyx stood, and lifted quietly into the air on his gossamer wings to look me in the eye. "You know nothing about my Queen. For all your pain, you know nothing about changelings!" He dropped to the ground, and started pacing fiercely. "You bemoan Bitterbloom's fate. You rail against a perceived injustice. But tell me this! Do you know how old Bit was, when she was assigned to you?" He glared at me. "Well?"
"…no." I was slightly taken aback by his outburst. Onyx had always been taciturn, content to let my dislike wash past him.
"Hours. Not even a day old. Would you expect a newborn foal to act like an adult? To make its own decisions, decide its own fate? To judge its parents?" He turned in his pacing. "Answer! Would you blame the mother for having such a weak child? Are you angry they're not given a choice on who they're born to?"
"Never," I said softly. I rubbed a hand through my hair. "But she-"
"And you say she disgusts you, that she's a pretender." He sneered at me. "Again, you wrong her. Do you really think a changeling who values loyalty above all else feels nothing for her hive? For her child?"
"Then why do it?" I shouted back. "Why do this to me? To Bitterbloom? If she loves him, even a little, then she should take responsibility for him, instead of sending him with a visitor after five minutes! Is that loyalty?"
"You think I don't feel the same?" We were both yelling now. "You have no idea how much your attitude galls me. Fool! You take this so lightly! You have no idea what an honor you've been paid!"
"Then tell me!" I waved my arms, wildly. "Tell me, if it means so much! Tezeca could have!"
"And would you have believed her? Even now you spit over her name!"
"Fine." I took a deep breath, trying to bring some calm back. I couldn’t afford to let my control slip so much, no matter how good it felt. Every little piece eroded progress I'd been making. "Fine. Tell me. I know more now, about Bit and about you. Tell me why I've been honored." I glanced in through a nearby window. "Not that Bitterbloom is anything but wonderful. But an honor?"
"Changeling Queens can have no children to themselves." He gave a sigh, trying to calm himself as well. I wondered if my anger had resonated with him or something. He surely sensed it, as strong as it was. "They have the Hivemind, and they have Agents."
"But you said-"
"The Hivemind, for all intents and purposes, are extensions of the Queen. They don't… can't think. If you scan one, there's no intelligence. They're biological machinery, nothing more."
"Soldiers?"
"Are autonomous, not independent. Soldiers have limited and specific intelligence, above and beyond drones. That's why you were given orders to kill everything in Wraith's fortress; you were systematically dismembering her. Weakened, she could be killed, and the job would complete itself. Unguided, drones and soldiers die within a matter of days. Like a cut off limb. All agents start as drones. All generals start as soldiers."
"Gash."
"What?"
"I killed one of Wraith's generals. He hated me, ever since our first fight."
"You probably woke him. He likely feared and hated you his whole life."
"What?" I gave him a sharp glance.
"We all start as drones. Even Bit, for a few hours, because the connection is automatic and irresistible for an unformed mind. But we don't all stay that way." He gave me a searching look. "You have no idea what it's like, to be part of a greater whole. It's something only changelings ever experience."
I paused at that, thinking of my link with Twilight and what we'd done to assemble Arglefraster. There had been a strange euphoria there, a draw of unity and power I'd instinctively distrusted.
"Maybe."
Onyx gave me a speculative look, but continued.
"Every day, Tezeca checks her hive for signs of intelligence, thought, life. Each awakening is a wild chance. Some agents start young, some old. I was a drone for fifteen years." He gazed into space. "I don't remember much of it."
"And you're OK with that?"
"Is anyone OK with being a child? I had no choice in the matter! Do your hands have a choice? Drones are part of the Hivemind, and the Queen is the guiding intelligence. The rest is just instinct, reaction, scurrying."
"So, agents just…sort of…wake up?"
"No." He gave me a searching look. "No, they don't. The start waking up, for one reason or another. At that point, the Queen has only one choice. She has to force them out of the Hivemind, or the drone dies."
"What?" I blinked. "Just like that?"
"Force them out. No bug wants to leave. Thinking is hard. Tezeca does it by assigning a keeper to replace the Hivemind. Usually an experienced agent, someone who knows what's going on and has done it before. The keeper takes them far from the hive, and tries to train them into something useful. It. Is. An. Honor."
"So, you were once…" I glanced in the window.
"I was once like Bitterbloom. I had a teacher, very different from you. He turned me into what I am now, and I'm an asset to the hive because of him. You wrong my Queen, you wrong me, you wrong my teacher, and you wrong Bitterbloom. Now you know. Straighten yourself out, Wesley. You're a better than this." His voice was thick with emotion, although I couldn't tell if it was disgust or rage. I sighed, trying to dissipate my anger, but it wouldn't fade. Here was a bug, lecturing me on hate, and I still couldn't swallow it.
"I still think she could have been more responsible."
"Are you so awful, then? Do you mistreat your ward? Does Bitterbloom suffer or lack because of you?"
"No!"
"Are you spiteful towards her? Do you take out your anger on her, defenseless?"
"No, never!"
"Than stop whining, and make the most of what you've been given!" Onyx shouted, one last time. "Queen Tezeca said Bit's what you make of her. That's more true than you know! Gather your responsibility up in both hands, and own it! You've been honored with a precious gift! Realize that, and fill your heart with gratitude instead of anger!"
"Fine." I crossed my arms, and forced myself to breath slowly. Eventually, I calmed down, my breathing regularized and my fists unclenched.
"Why…" I rubbed a hand across my forehead. "Why couldn't you just be evil?" I gave a hollow laugh.
"Because we're more than just insects." Onyx said slowly. "The hives that forget that deserve their reckoning." There was a wash of real bitterness in his voice. "But we won't let our hunger rule us, any more than you let your anger rule you."
"Right." I breathed deeply. "Right."
"This is great." I yawned, lying in the sun.
"Yuuup!" Vinyl, in a nearby chair, agreed heartily.
We were enjoying our hard-won vacation at Horseshoe Bay, with beach loungers set on a wide strip of white sand, drinks within reach. Palm trees waved in the breeze. The sun was brilliantly bright even at mid-morning; Celestia had gone all-out for us. The sound of the ocean was soothing and constant. I could see Luna, now openly an alicorn, floating on the breezes far out over the ocean. A little down the shore, Bitterbloom was investigating 'fun' by hesitantly building a sand-castle, also without a disguise. Its pearly eyes watched calmly as its latest attempt slumped under a wave.
"I'm still not used to that." Vinyl gave Bit a considering look. We'd introduced them earlier.
"Just…don't judge a bug by its cover." I crossed my arms behind my head.
"Oh, it's not a bad thing." She smiled at me. "Your assistant is pretty hilarious. But you still confuse me, Wes."
"Sorry." I shrugged. "I don't try to be secretive and mysterious. It just happens." Mostly because explaining is such a pain.
"Heh, if you say so." Vinyl sipped her drink, a tall glass of iced pineapple juice. "But the more I discover, the more I wonder. No pressure, but things like Celestia seeing you off at the train station surprise me."
"Um." I thought about that for a second; I could explain, actually. Everyone would know soon enough. "She's planning to reform Discord, and wanted to let me know, since I wouldn't be around for it."
"She's planning what? No, wait; she just… checks in with you? Who are you that the Sun Princess does something like that?"
"I wonder." I absently sipped my own drink. It was limeade; the bungalow we were borrowing was fully stocked, and if we'd asked, would have even included the butler. We'd voted for privacy instead. "A friend, maybe."
I absently rubbed the stone in my chest, barely feeling my habitual frown. There was a little more to that, honestly. We'd discussed the idea for a while by letter. She'd checked with me personally because she planned to mobilize the Elements, and wanted to ensure I was okay beforehand. I'd suggested acting during our vacation, because the distance might mitigate the side-effects. She'd easily agreed, since I wasn't central to her plan. I was glad of that.
"We have circumstances, I guess." I shrugged, slightly.
"Oh." Vinyl gave me a long stare. "Ooooooh."
"What?" I returned a puzzled glance. "Why the knowing sigh?"
"You're in the guard, right?"
"Um, sort of." I rubbed my forehead. "It's…complicated."
"So, she's your 'it's complicated'?" Vinyl gave me a tiny leer.
"What?" My eyes widened as I suddenly remembered what Twilight had said, about the rumors of Celestia and her guard. "Wait! No way. You don't honestly think-"
"The guard? Or should I say the Battle Harem?" Vinyl smirked. "She's your 'friend', huh?" She made air-quotes with her hooves. "I see. No wonder she 'checks in' with you."
"No! Nonono! You're so wrong, it's not even-" I stopped as she burst out laughing, barely suppressed chuckles erupting into full-on guffaws that left her gasping for air. "-funny." I narrowed my eyes, crossed my arms with a harumph, and turned my back on her. She finally calmed down, and noticed my irritation.
"Aw, Wes. Don't be mad, it was only a joke!" I refused to look at her. "Hey, come on now. If it really bothered you, I'm sorry, OK?" She honestly sounded a little contrite.
"Don't be angry at your friends, sir." I looked up at Bit, who was coming over, carrying a sandy pail in its mouth. "It leaves a bad taste."
"Flavor-based morality, little one?" I gave Bitterbloom a smile, and huffed a sigh. "Fine. If my number-one assistant commands, I'll forgive you." I rolled over so I could see her again.
"Good. It would be a miserable weekend if I screwed it up this early. By the way, have either of you seen Lyra?" In response, Bitterbloom pointed out to sea. "What's she doing out there?" The unicorn shaded her eyes, and lowered her sunglasses. Far out in the waves, a small green figure was skimming along quickly.
"She stole my surfboard," I grumped. "I made it myself, with only a little help from Applebloom. It's my own design and everything, with a hollow interior and laminated walls! I even made the fins adjustable! I never got to try the thing. This morning she took one look at it, and swiped it off the veranda!" I pointed back to the luxurious cabin we were staying in. It was mere yards from the beach, and had a spacious roofed deck.
"She does some freaky standing-wave thing with her arts, and I swear she's hitting jet-ski speeds on it!" We watched as she jumped off a wave, catching ridiculous amounts of air and turning a complete backflip before flubbing the landing with a huge splash. She came up spluttering, and Luna swooped down to check.
"Looks like she's having fun, at least." Vinyl shrugged.
"Jet-ski." Bitterbloom carefully mouthed the words, recording them as English. It had become fascinated with my past. I'd decided trying too hard to be secretive would be counter-productive, but I wondered just how much it was managing to glean from my casual carelessness.
"So, wait." The DJ slid her glass up, and lay back. "What's this about reforming Discord? That guy's the worst."
"The Princess' has a plan." I shrugged. "She's going to sic Fluttershy on him."
"What?" Vinyl scoffed. "That's ridiculous."
"Maybe." I shrugged. "I thought the same, at first. But Celestia's quite certain it will work. Something about the magic of friendship, the element of Kindness, the fact The Stare won't work on him, and nopony looking past his pranks. Either way, though, the Harmony Cannon's there if things get out of hand."
"I guess." She grinned up at the sky. "Well, I'm glad to be out of that, at least."
"No kidding." I relaxed in my chair. At the beach, I'd miss aaaaaallll the excitement. And that was just fine.
"Lyra, go away. I'm listening to the waves." I cracked an eyelid, giving my green instructor a glare.
"Come on, Wes. You've been lying there all day." Lyra put her front hooves on the edge of my beach chair, and leaned even closer to my face, filling my vision with green mane and golden eyes. The sun was starting to set, and a breeze was coming in off the ocean. The waves still crashed calmly, and the seagulls still drifted lazily as the wind ruffled the palm trees. A few stars had appeared, and it was definitely starting to cool.
"I know. I've been working on my tan." I'd actually moved into the shade to keep from burning. Sunscreen was unknown to Equestria.
"Pish, you and your made up things! Anyways, the sun's going down."
"It's true!" I held up an arm. "look, I change color if I stay in the sun. For real." I'd definitely gotten enough to start. My arms had a noticeable flush.
"Hah, yeah right. Come on, give me a backrub! Rainbow says you're the best!"
"No."
"Pretend it's training! I want to see the magic thing you tried on her!"
"This isn't a training camp, Lyra. This is a relax-at-the-beach camp!"
"Well, at least come inside." I looked up the beach, yawning. I'd taken a good three-hour nap this afternoon. The bungalow had warm lights shining through the windows, and my friends were standing in the kitchen, talking and laughing.
"Alright." I stretched, and stood up. "Do we have plans for supper?"
"Luna's teaching Bit to make simple salads."
"Oh."
"What, don't like salad?"
"No, no. Salad is fine, as long as it's got plenty of nuts and cheese. No, only, I've held off teaching Bit to cook, in an attempt to retain control of my kitchen. He already organizes my schedule and helps me with my work and experiments. If I let him, he'd clean the house spotless every day. He needs to be socializing, not working." I sighed. "Well, maybe I'll split with him."
"Really?" Lyra gave me a puzzled look. "I'll never understand you and Bon-Bon. Cooking is boring."
"Hey, don't knock it." I stepped up to the door of the beach house and swung it open. We slipped into the warmly-lit room. "You like eating enough-Ow!" I stopped, leaning against the door, as jets of pain swept over me, emanating from the gem. They were gone in moments, but the sudden sharpness staggered me for a second. "Ow." I rubbed my arms. "Maybe I should stay out of the water tomorrow."
"What was that?" Vinyl gave me a hard stare. Bit looked vaguely worried, and Luna apprehensive.
"Long story." I shrugged. "Nothing to worry about." The distance from Ponyville had helped, and I don't think the Elements had really activated. But still, if that hit me when I was swimming, I'd need a lifeguard.
"Now hold on a second." Lyra gave me a sharp look. "Privacy is great, but I could tell that hurt you, whatever it is. Give me your word it's not dangerous, or we're headed for a doctor."
"Lyra, I-"
"Your word."
"He's fine." Luna stepped in. "It is, indeed, a long story. But I know some of it, and if he needs a doctor, I will try to suffice."
"Thanks." I stepped closer to her.
"I also have some idea how much that hurt," she muttered. "Those gems are no mild remedy."
"I guess you'd know." One of the few beings to take the power of the Elements head on; no wonder she'd worried.
"But enough solemnity!" She spread her wings. "Bitterbloom and I have researched FUN in the kitchen, and we have prepared… salad! Please, build your own." A swarm of serving bowls, filled with chopped, grated, sliced and slivered vegetables, cheese, nuts, and even a little fish, floated out of the kitchen.
"Alright, you're next." Lyra motioned to Luna. We were sitting on the veranda, talking and enjoying the cool air. Night had just fallen, and Bitterbloom was already asleep; sun and sand had left the little bug exhausted.
"Hmm." The princess rubbed her chin. "Try this one, then." She hummed a few bars of Led Zeppelin.
"Ah, no fair." I waggled a finger at her. "No way are they going to recognize-" I cut off, as Vinyl whistled the next few notes perfectly. "What? Please don't say it's - "
"Magic." She grinned. "I can't always do it, but even a talent like mine is impressive if used right."
"You silly ponies." I shrugged, and flopped back onto the grass. "You and your magic butts."
"Oh, speaking of magic." Lyra stepped into the bungalow, returning with the two remaining bottles of zapplejack. "I thought maybe we should finish these together. Since we did win and all."
"Excellent idea." I saluted her. She passed glasses around, and started prying at the cork, before passing it to me.
"Here. Make your fingers useful, since you won't give me a back rub." I nodded stoically, and was about to break the seal, when Luna stood.
"Princess?" I glanced at her.
"I'll only be a minute." She smiled. "I need to raise the moon."
"Oh." All of us exchanged glances.
"Um…"Vinyl hesitantly stood as well. "If you don't mind, could we watch?" Most ponies had a chance to see Celestia raise the sun. She regularly moved the Summer Sun Celebration around the country, just for that purpose. Luna, however, hadn't been back for very long. And during most of that time, she'd been extremely reclusive. Her balcony was high, curtained, and in controlled airspace. We might be the first besides her sister to witness this.
If she let us.
"…very well." She nodded slowly, and we grinned. "However… I was planning a little excursion. You can only come if you trust me, and promise to carefully follow my lead."
"Yes, ma'am!" Vinyl nodded.
"Sure." Lyra gave a sloppy salute.
"As you command, my Princess." I bowed. She smiled at us all. We followed as she turned to the beach, walking until she was up to her fetlocks in the surf. The salt-water lapped slowly up the sand, the regular swish of the waves soothing and pleasant in the night.
Luna lowered her head, and wisps of magic curled off her. I heard her muttering calculations for phase and orbit, before lapsing into a sing-song whisper that might have been gibberish or ancient spell-language. As she cast, her magic coiled tightly together, and an image of the moon glimmered at the tip of her horn. Lyra and Vinyl froze with astonishment, and I touched a finger to my wand, carefully trying to sense what they were picking up. The aura nearly floored me.
The Princess' spell-casting was unbelievable. Her output was ridiculous and her finesse was astonishing, but her speed was absolutely stupendous. She was casting the equivalent of several dozen spells a second, and doing each one with perfect poise and grace. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. A choreographed dance might have come close, if it had been perfectly improvised and flawlessly performed by an entire troupe of artists. I caught a glimpse of spells to stabilize, adjust, monitor, spin, counterspin, balance and report before I completely lost track.
It was over in moments. Luna raised her head with the barest sighs, and I marveled she wasn't sweating and puffing. As she did, the moon slid over the horizon, quickly clearing the ocean but hovering just above the waves. Its gibbous shape cast a bewitching light over the beach, washing the color from my friends and highlighting them in a cold splendor.
"Come!" Luna urged, never glancing back. The moon threw a glimmering trail on the surf, and she carefully moved right towards it, solemnly stepping into the waves. I confidently followed.
As my feet touched the moon-trail, the water fizzed and rippled, supporting me. Astonished but determined, I took another long pace. Luna was already drawing away. Behind me, Lyra gasped and Vinyl whistled.
As soon as we all stood on the silver highway, Luna's magic surged. There was a dimensionless lurch and the moon leaped huge, the planetary system swinging around us. I had no sensation of flight, or even movement, but in moments the gray orb swelled and twisted so I stood above it, surrounded by an barren and alien landscape. The axis of reality returned with a crackle and a pop, and I stumbled onto a rocky gray path.
Numb with astonishment, I looked up.
Equus hung motionless in the sky above, a crescent of green and blue adorning one edge. It was impossibly far, impossibly beautiful. I swayed as my mind flashed to childhood dreams of being an astronaut. I gasped, realizing that despite the expected vacuum, I had no trouble breathing. The sun, harshly brilliant, hung suspended on the edge of the sky. We were right on the edge of the umbra, where the dark shadow cut the silvery disc.
"Princess…" Lyra's voice was faint with astonishment.
"Hurry!" Luna called. I looked ahead. She was still moving with purpose, trotting with sure strides down the path. I reluctantly tore my eyes off the planet above us and jogged to catch up, the lighter gravity sending me bounding with long steps before I adjusted.
We were only on the path a short while. The moon around us was desolately beautiful, but in moments we twisted downwards into a gulch, and then wormed our way through a small canyon. We emerged in an oasis.
There was no other name for it. Hidden in a cleft of the barren rock, a small pool of water had accumulated. Looking up, it seemed to condense on the slick stone above and trickle down in drips and drops. Silvery vegetation grew around the pool, plants and grasses that matched the surrounding rocks. They had metallic leaves and stems, but grew with the grace and profusion. A single white tree arched over the pond, its light trunk rushing upwards before swooping back to trail long, willowy fronds in the water.
Luna barely glanced at the garden, but strode onwards to a small door set into the cliff. She swung it open with a confident motion and looked in, giving a sigh of relief before stepping through.
"Luna, what is this?" I followed. Inside, a sparse apartment had been thoroughly destroyed. Furniture was splintered and scattered on the floor, blankets were shredded and tossed about, a mattress had been kicked until it ruptured. Deep gashes and gouges marked the walls. Books, pages crumpled and spines broken, drifted across the wreckage. Bookshelves were shattered. A thick layer of dust covered everything. The paper was crumbling and yellow, and the wood was mouldering in places despite the dry air.
"In a minute. This won't hold long with all four of us." She brushed me off, and lit her magic again. This spell was a simple one; just a drop of magic floated off the end, and touched an apparently blank piece of the wall. At her impetus the stone dissolved, revealing nearly a dozen glass bottles in a honeycomb rack, each the size of my clenched fist. She scooped them up with her aura and tucked them under a wing.
"One thousand years, and they're still here." She gave me a smile, before looking around and frowning slightly. "This place? My retreat."
"What happened?" Lyra stepped inside, followed by Vinyl. "How are you doing this?"
"Nightmare Moon happened." Luna gave the room a sad glance. "She was determined to destroy everything I loved, and this was all she could reach for a millennium. I only withheld my most insignificant secrets from her, but I'm glad I managed even that." She carefully re-sealed the opening.
"She trashed your digs for revenge?" Vinyl lowered her glasses for a better look.
"Something like that." Luna nodded. As she did, the room we were in seemed to flicker and drip. "Oh, here goes the projection. Give it a second, and - " As she spoke, our surroundings wobbled and shattered like ripples in still water. When it finished dissolving, we were back on the beach. My feet weren't even wet. The moon hung above, innocent in the darkness. " - we'll be back."
"How did that work?" Vinyl gazed around. "Was it real?"
"Real enough." Luna stepped out of the surf, shaking her damp hooves off and turning back to our circle of chairs. With a flourish, she produced the bottles she'd snagged. "That was a fulcrum projection. Since I balanced us against another moving object, transfer energy was much lower. However, it only works for as long as your fulcrum is in the right position. Since we were going fast and far, that didn't last long." She shrugged. "Still, I got what I wanted."
"Those bottles?" We re-settled on the grass, and I picked up the stone bottle I'd been opening. "Something to match the zapplejack?"
"Indeed." Luna gave a slow smile. "Vinyl, you said you wanted to see something I'm proud of. Here." She floated a small bottle to each of us. "I call this moonshine."
"You made this yourself?" I turned the bottle in my hands. It was bulbous blue crystal, with a wire-wrapped glass stopper. The liquid inside splashed thinly against the walls, foaming and settling with each movement.
"Yes. I learned how from the moon people, an eclectic and abstruse bunch if ever there was." She shrugged. "It begins as the sap of a particular tree, but I've made my own refinements. It concentrates some of my unique magic, the aura of the moon."
"May I?" Vinyl held up her bottle.
"Please." Luna smiled back. "There's a reason we each have one."
I carefully unwired the stopper. As it slipped out, the liquid suddenly frothed. But as the bubbles reached the top, instead of spilling over they floated into the air where they twinkled like stars. I gave the drink an apprehensive look, but dared a sip.
"Mmm." A chorus of appreciative voices sounded. If the zapplejack was autumn, this was spring. Where the apple liquor warmed and relaxed, this refreshed and rejuvenated. A sense of peace and well-being suffused from the cool drought. It tasted like fresh flowers and wild, rolling hills. Bubbles tickled my throat, and when I breathed, my breath sparkled.
"Wow." I held up the bottle. "So, was that intentional?"
"Hmm?" She sipped her own drink. "The fizz? Yes, I researched alchemy extensively for this. Re-balancing an existing drink into something that could actually catch and hold moonlight wasn't easy."
"No, no. Not that. Although your pride is merited. Do you know what you were humming, earlier?" I waved a hand, returning to Led Zeppelin. <"And she's~buuuying the stairway, to heaven.">
They gave me blank looks.
"No magic? None at all?" I sipped my drink again. "All right. Let me try a translation. And…she's purchasing the staircase to the skies? Not quite right. Hmm, the connotations just aren't there."
"Really?" Luna gave me a speculative look. "No, I picked the song at random. All I remember is that it was famous in your country."
"Eh, I thought maybe it was cutie mark influence or something." I shrugged.
"You sure find them interesting. Do you feel left out?" Lyra glanced my way. "Not having a mark?"
"Not really." I thought for a second. "Ok, I took the Crusader vow, but I'm not bothered. I'm sure one would be useful, but I've got more magic than I ever dreamed of, and I don't feel a pressing need to be more special. But it's interesting to learn about."
"It might have been some sort of effect, if it were Vinyl or Lyra." Luna shrugged. "Many musical cutie marks have been classified as precognitive by thaumotricians."
"Cool." I lay back in my chair. "So, what are we doing tomorrow?"
"Does it matter?" Vinyl yawned. "We're on vacation."
"Huh." I crossed my arms behind my head, and grinned. "No, I guess it doesn't."
This time, the screech of brakes jerked me out of a light nap. I sat up and glanced around; Lyra and Vinyl were snoozing in the seat across from me, while Bit, wearing its normal disguise, watched me silently. Luna had winged her own way home.
"How's your reserve, Bit?" We'd introduced Bit to Vinyl and Lyra as a changeling for a few reasons. One was the fact that if I gave the okay, Tezecan's would start appearing more openly in society. Bitterbloom was a test case, so I decided to make the test. There were no problems, likely since my friends were already open-minded and ready for weirdness.
The other reason was because three days without using its disguise meant emotion could be stored for later. After it had gifted me with a drop of loyalty, Onyx had carefully instructed Bit to be sure it wasn't depriving itself of what it needed to grow. I'd wholeheartedly agreed, and ever since, Bit had been consuming nearly everything I supplied. This chance to gain a reserve relieved a bit of my anxiety, although the reserve it gathered wasn't pure loyalty.
"It has reached projected levels." Bit nodded back. "I've gained sufficient power for several days of solo operation, if such is necessary." Although it wasn't really emotive, I was starting to read Bit's expressions. Its look clearly said it didn't relish the idea. I didn't care. Living day-to-day was bad planning. a backup was needed for emergency. Emotion was an essential nutrient for changelings. A grown agent could live on normal food for extended periods, but Bitterbloom was still young. Not to mention the extra drain from its metamorph ability.
"Good." I yawned and stretched. "Hey, Vinyl, Lyra, wake up. We're here." I gently shook my teacher, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Oh, ponyfeathers." She smacked her lips. "Vacation's over, back to work." She stretched carefully, waking Vinyl, and we started gathering our bags. I let Bit take mine. I'd packed light, and it enjoyed helping.
"At least we missed whatever went down with Discord," Vinyl added.
"Heh, yeah." The Elements had activated again on the second day, but they'd never actually fired. I'd cautiously tried surfing on the third day, although I'd asked Luna to watch me from the sky. I fell off a lot. "Speaking of which, I wonder if he's still around." I rubbed my chin.
"Why? Curious to what he looks like?" Lyra grinned.
"No." I stopped there, trying to keep apprehension out of my voice. I'd been thinking about this for a while now, ever since Celestia mentioned the possibility. "You know I got here by magical accident, right?"
"Yeah." She smirked. "Or so you say." As one of the few who actually knew I was from another world, she liked to revel in the secrecy of it.
"Lyra, be polite." Vinyl gave her a dig in the ribs. "That's why you've no idea how to get home, right? Think Discord could tell you something?"
"Maybe." I shrugged, uncomfortable. "I mean, he's not helpful. But he is powerful." We stepped out onto the station platform.
"True." Lyra yawned. "Maybe he knows about humans. I mean, Lord of Chaos and all."
"A lord? You make me blush!" I whipped around, surprised to hear a deep, smooth voice from the empty train. We all stepped back, as a… a something stepped out of the carriage.
"Discord, I presume?" I warily tucked my hands behind my back, wrapping one around the hilt of my dagger.
"Of course, of course!" The creature had a head like a horse, mismatched horns, the claws of a lion and an eagle, the legs of a dragon and a stag, and the tail of…a fish? Also, tiny, silly mismatched wings. All in all, he looked like three-and-a-half creatures thrown into a blender. Or maybe like a five-year-old had assembled their own action figure from used parts.
"So, you must be…Wesley. It's nice to finally meet you!" His manner was pleasant and his voice was charming, but his smile and mismatched eyes made my skin crawl a little. He flowed away from the train, moving lithely through the air as if drawn through a tube. I froze as he slunk up beside me, throwing a griffon's arm around my shoulder.
"How do you know my name?" I released my knife; it wouldn't help against him anyways.
"Oh, one hears these things." He yawned. "Well, truth be told, Fluttershy may have mentioned it. <I didn't read your mind, or anything.>"
Vinyl and Lyra gave confused looks. Bit's ears twitched curiously. I tried my best to hide my shock.
<"How do you speak English?"> I stepped away from him, brushing off my shoulder. <"Do you know about Earth? Can you get me home?"> I tried to keep my voice level, but I was having trouble.
<"English? What? I have no idea what you mean. I'm not talking; I'm just making mouth noises."> He raised a finger to his lips, and went "B-b-b-b-b-b" to demonstrate. <"If they mean something to you, that must be a coincidence! I could sooner solve the riddle of stars than learn a foreign language, by, say, determining the velocity and position of the electrons in your brain."> He tapped my head. It made a hollow sound.
<"What."> I stepped away from him again, not sure what to think. <"Wait. Fluttershy told you my name? Are you…">
<"Reformed!"> He waved his arms spontaneously, and balloons and confetti appeared. <"This visage, no veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the villain I once was! I've promised to use my powers only for good! Mostly.">
<"Or awesome?">
<"Hmm?"> Discord pulled one of his ears off, and shook it. A pile of sand, a prickly pear cactus, and a very confused looking lizard fell out. <"I'm sorry, what was that?">
<"I said, you've promised to not use your powers for evil. But can you use them for awesome?">
<"Interesting question."> He stroked his chin, and gave me a speculative look. <"I like the way you think. It's…twisty. Maybe even twisty enough.">
<"Thanks."> I shrugged. <"But, honestly, I'm just looking for a way home. Any chance you could give a fellow a lift?">
<"Oh, no no no."> Discord grimaced. <"Even if I had the power, I don't think so. It takes more than just snapping my claws - " he demonstrated " - and dropping you on the second rock from Sol." For a moment, a tiny orrery spun above his palm. <"You might be discomfited if I missed. Though it wouldn't hurt for long; not with a bang or a whimper, as it were. Still, I'm trying my best at this friendship thing."> He gave a hesitant smile. <"I do hope you'll give me a chance.">
<"Not that you need my approval. It's the third rock."> I tried to grin. He'd handily crushed my hopes, although I'd carefully kept them low. I wasn't entirely convinced he couldn't do it…I wasn't entirely convinced he was on the level. I wasn't entirely convinced he was level, in his head. Still, if Fluttershy vouched for him, I'd be polite as long as I could. <"Still, I'll give you a chance. It's… chaotic to meet you, Discord."> I held out a hand. He wrapped it in his lions paw, and we shook firmly.
<"Why, thank you!">" He grinned back. <"I do try. How's it been?">
<"Disconcerting, but not painful."> I shrugged. <"I've had worse introductions. Still confused about the English, though. Can't you tell me anything? If we're even on the same timelines?">
<"Sorry, old boy, I'm genuinely not interested in dimensional magic."> He smiled. <"What's the point of infinite chaos, if it causes itself? Not to say I need rules to break. Still, I prefer it here. As for timelines, maybe I could help with that. What day did your flight? March fifteenth? November fifth?" He produced a giant adding machine and a pair of glasses, peering over their half-moon lenses at me. I grimaced.
<"I…don't know actual dates."> I frowned. <"It wasn't important at the time, and I forgot. Not that I had a chance to check a calendar after arriving."> I sighed. <"But, if you know how to calculate it, can you teach me?">
<"Of course not!"> Discord gave an affronted sigh. <"Chaos magic isn't something you can teach. That would completely defeat the purpose! It's something you simply do! Like a children's rhyme, it's magic itself!"> He grabbed my hand, and spun us in a circle around the cactus he'd produced earlier. <"Here we go 'round the prickly pear, prickly pear, prickly pear, here we go round the prickly pear at three o'clock in the morning!"> He released my hand and I spun in place for a second, before grinding to a halt, extremely dizzy and even more confused and disappointed.
<"You can't teach us anything? Not even Twilight, or Celestia?"> I rubbed a hand across my forehead. Discord was giving me a headache.
<"Teach Celestia? Or Twilight?"> He gave a horrified gasp. <"How could you suggest such a thing? The one's so straight-laced I break out in hives from being in the same room as her, and the other is merely a miniaturized palette swap! Trying to teach them to love chaos would be torture! My mouth is zipped!"> He loudly zipped it, but continued conversing by summoning a scroll that typed itself as it unrolled. <"She means well, but Twilight can be so very controlling! You have to watch your back around that one, or you'll be turned to stone for your own good!"> He sneezed, and his mouth returned. <"Well, maybe your case isn't that extreme. But you know what I mean. Don't take it too hard!"> He elbowed me and winked, before vanishing in a puff of smoke and drifting away. "Anyways, tell Her Royal High-Horse I said hello. Oh, and Luna too, if you see her. My work here is done!" His voice faded into the distance.
"What…" Vinyl lowered her glasses, and shook her head slowly. "Do I even want to know?"
"Um." Something about what he'd said last had cued in my brain. "Three... Four... Five?" I counted slowly on my fingers, and quirked an eyebrow.
"Wes?" Lyra gave me a concerned look.
"I…I think Twilight's keeping secrets from me." I tucked my hands in my pockets, and lowered my head. "Discord… I'm not even sure." I turned slowly away, and left them standing there. Bit followed me as I paced slowly home. This would take some thought.