//------------------------------// // Initiation // Story: P.O.N.Y. // by SAmaster //------------------------------// At crack of dawn they were risen from their slumber. Drearily they packed up their sleeping tools, had their breakfast, went about their hygiene, changed and went down to the armory. “Good morning…” Spike sleepily, waiting by Twilights Rocket Locker. “Good morning Spike, surprised to see you up this early.” Twilight said with a smile as she input the code to open her locker. “Celestia wanted me to accompany her, and thought I may as well wish you good luck.” “Well thank you very much.” Twilight said, taking out her weapon. It was a small foot-long brass wand with a purple gemstone at its tip. She only needed that, the holster tied at her hip, and her Scroll and she was good to go. “Surprised to see you in such a good mood…” Spike yawned. “Unlike you, I know how to get up in the morning.” Twilight retorted, closing her locker. “No, I-“ Spike paused to yawn. “I mean you’re not freaking out.” “Spike, this is the moment I’ve been preparing for half my life now. If there’s one point where I can feel confident I know what I’m doing it’s now.” Twilight explained. She turned briefly to watch the other prospective Hunters and Huntresses gear up. As bad as her first impression was of her potential classmates, most of the girls and boys here seemed as determined or as confidant as she was. Without much more fuss, one of the instructors, a man with mussy brown hair and a tie, instructed the students to follow them, and soon enough they were at the top of the Great Barrier Wall which overlooked the looming green of the Everfree Forest. They were instructed to stand at regular intervals at what appeared to be a set of mechanisms on the floor of the wall, Spike stood to the side. Once everything was set in order, the Headmistress appeared before them all. “Can you all hear me?” She spoke into an earpiece. “Good. Today you will all be tested. I do hope all of you received sufficient rest. All of you are being assigned a simple retrieval mission. Spread throughout the Everfree Forest are various relics. You are to retrieve one, and make your way back to the Academy before nightfall. Along the way, the Forest will do its best to end you. And you, I hope will do your best to survive it. This will be a chance to showcase your skills, we will be watching you, but we shall not aid you, if you find yourself in a situation you cannot get out of, you will fail.” Twilight tried her best to stand tall this is why she was here. “However-“ Celestia said. “You will not be in this task alone.” Wait. “Attending this academy you will learn that you cannot stand on your own.” Wait a minute. “As such you shall complete this task together.” Wait just a minute there. “The first person you meet eyes with shall be your teammate. If you both pass your initiation, you shall be sorted into teams of six that you will stay in until graduation. Any questions?” “What!?” Twilight cried. “Yes Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked, causing all heads to turn to her. Twilight blushed, and wilted under the attention. “N-Not to undermine your decision Headmistress-“ Twilight said, trying to gather her courage. “B-But what if you, say worked better alone, or didn’t get along well with others, or say found a bad-teammate you didn’t get along with?” “Well in that case, you better learn.” Celestia said with a devious smirk. “No more questions? Good. Begin.” And before Twilight could let off a word of protest, the mechanism beneath her feet catapulted her and the other students around her into the air, all throughout the forest. Spike whistled walking up to the Headmistress. “What are the catapults for?” He asked. “They were for getting into the forest quickly if you were lacking a jetpack or helicopter.” Celestia explained once she turned off her microphone. “Nice work on the forcing them to work together thing, I bet Twilights having a fit.” “You like it? I got the idea from the Headmaster at another academy.” Celestia said, as she gazed as her future students free falling through the air. *** As blindsided as she was by the idea of forced cooperation, as she hurtled into the air, Twilight already began using her expansive brainpower to work on the problem. She could hardly judge many of the students by look alone, she could deduce that most were likely reasonable fighters, capable of holding their own, they wouldn’t have come here otherwise, if they weren’t then they’d simply be eliminated. What she would be looking for was weather or not they would be able to leave her alone, and if they could trust them to do their fair share of work. Of course she couldn’t grab a random partner and hope for the best. She ran through a list of people she had met, she didn’t particularly know anyone coming here. There were all the girls at the statue. She shuddered. The hyper one was out of the question. She bet she could hardly trust her to do anything, least of all leave her alone. There was the one who was part of the Apple Family. She was gruff, and she seemed like a slacker. The fussy one, she doubted she’d even last five seconds out here, more concerned with appearances than learning or fighting. And then there was the small loud one, and the tall quiet one. Neither were particularly appealing. There was Lyra whom she bumped into. She didn’t particularly like her, but she didn’t particularly dislike her either. At least she knew her, and while she wasn’t ideal, she was certainly the best of all her prospective candidates. And so with enough thinking, Twilight took out her wand, the Caduceus Sidereus. Free-falling, she cast a spell with a simple wave, and she was gliding down to the forest floor on a shaft of hard-light, until she gently landed inside the Everfree Forest. It was dark, green, and overgrown, an oppressive presence all around her. But she had a goal and a plan. She was searching for a relic, nonspecific-term, no description, so logically it must be an object that stands out from the rest of the forest, probably held in or around something easily identifiable, in a place she would logically find before the end of the day. She would set out looking for a teammate, it was entirely possible obtaining the relic required two people, in which case a partner would be necessary to even pass the test. If she could find Lyra that would be good. Though as Twilight thought more about it, so long as her new partner wasn’t crazy everything would be fine eventually. “WAATCH OOOOOOUT!!!!” Twilight was flattened by a girl in oversized sneakers and a grenade launcher. Said girl popped up to check everything was intact. “Am I okay? Arms, check. Legs, check. Body, check. Head… check! I am A-Okay!” She gave another thumbs up. “Hey look it’s my new best-friend!” “NOOOOOOO!!!!!” *** Spike chuckled, looking at the video-feed from his scroll. “So how do you have this set up?” “Drones.” Celestia said. “I may take a sink-or-swim approach to the welfare of my students, but I like to make sure they’re not in any true danger. At first.” “You must feel like a god, being able to peek in on so many people like this.” “At times.” Celestia said with a smile, flipping through various video-streams. “But I only use my powers for good.” “That’s boring.” Spike said. “Looks like some of the first teams are forming though.” *** Fluttershy hurtled through the air as gracefully as she could, she caught onto a branch with her Butterfly Knife and managed to land on her feet in the forest, where it seemed all the creatures of the forest were staring her down, waiting for her to falter. “Okay Fluttershy, don’t panic.” She whispered to herself making sure to keep moving. “You and Dashie planned for this. Just stay alive until she can find you, and don’t meet up with anyone else and you’ll be fine.” She gripped her Butterfly kKnife tightly, which lay heavy in her hand as she walked. If it weren’t for all the monster who wanted to eat her, the possibility of being split up with Rainbow Dash, and the prospect of having to work with strangers, the forest would be almost pleasant, but as it was, it was terrifying. It was several minutes before she heard signs of movement. So far she had been trying to stay in the clear, where Rainbow Dash could see her from above. “Rainbow Dash is that you?” She asked timidly, hoping it wasn’t someone else. Seconds later with a roar a bone mask appeared followed by a mass of shadow in the shape of a bear. Fluttershy raised her weapon do defend from the Ursa’s strike, but with it’s mighty strength it easily knocked her and her weapon to the ground. At the monsters mercy, Fluttershy scrambled to get her knife, and grabbed on to it just as the beast was about to bear down on her. But at that moment it stopped, struck by two swords that had descended from the heavens. With a grunt, their owner steered the Ursa from crashing down on fair Fluttershy, and dismounted with another grunt. “I swear, I leave you alone for two minutes.” Rainbow Dash snarked. “Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy cried, appearing by her side instantly, nuzzling her. “Alright, alright, I’m awesome, I know!” Rainbow Dash said. “You ok?” “Uhum.” She nodded. “Good, let’s not waste anymore time. Coming?” “Yes!” *** Rarity hacked away at the dreadful foliage with her weapon, but the more she advanced, the more of it there was, fraying at her dress and her nerves. Talk of teams had surprised her, but she quite liked the idea of working with someone pleasant, doing work together, and sharing fashion tips. She wondered how long it would be until she encountered another student. It’s not like she had gotten a chance to know anyone for the brief time she had been there. She cut down another shrub before her question answered itself. “Howdy.” “Oh dear.” Rarity said, upon meeting the cowgirl from earlier yesterday. “See ya wiped that mud from yer face.” She noted. “Yes…” She said, continuing on. “I suppose this means we’ll be working together then, won’t it?” “Stay outta my way, and I’ll stay outta yers fussypants.” The Cowgirl said, following, her spurs clinking with each step. “Lets try this again, my name is Rarity, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rarity said, extending her hand. The cowgirl looked at her hand briefly before roughly shaking it with her dirty glove. “Applejack, howdy.” “Good, now since we’ll be forced to work together, I suggest we try to be nice to each other. Doesn’t that sound nice?” “Well you can suggest it all ya like.” Rarity smiled outwardly, while thinking to herself how she had a long journey into the foreseeable future. *** “-And then!” “QUIET!!” Twilight yelled. The girl had not stopped yakking since they bumped into each-other. “I need a moment to think.” “Oh okay…” The girl said, trying to stand still, and failing. “Watcha thinking about?” Twilight groaned, and took out some of her frustration on some nearby foliage with an explosive spell. “About how to find the relics, and finish this as soon as possible.” “Oh.” The girl said. “How’ll we do that?” Twilight did her best to calm herself. “We want to look for something easily identifiable in this forest. Logically the relic would be in a place easy to differentiate from the rest of the forest. Did you see something like that while you were in the air?” “Hmm… let me think…” The girl said, pursing her lips. “I saw what looked like a castle! Does that count?” “A castle?” Twilight asked. “Maybe it’s a ruin from a previous era. Fine, yes, something like that is probably where the Headmistress would place them for us to find.” “Great!” The girl said with a hop. “Now where is it?” “Where’s what?” “The castle you saw.” Twilight said. “Oh um….” “You don’t know do you?” “I was free-falling in the air!” She defended herself. “Whatever.” Twilight continued to think, using telekinesis to keep her Scroll open by her side. “Come on, let’s keep walking, no point in standing around, if we keep walking, hopefully we’ll hit something. If we climb up the trees we might see something to head towards, but I couldn’t see anything from the treeline.” “What about any monsters?” The girl asked. “If- when we come across them we deal with them.” Twilight said. “Okey-dokey-loki then!” The girl said brightly. *** One thing Rarity was finding was that she was not enjoying herself. They hadn’t come up against too much trouble yet, but the forest seemed to be doing everything in it’s power to make her miserable, and her companion served only to heckle her every time she opened her mouth. Out of politeness she refrained from commenting on her attitude, hoping to get out of this dreadful forest as quickly as possible. “So-“ The Cowgirl said, after a long period of silence. “What do ye figure these relics look like?” “I haven’t the foggiest.” Rarity said, watching her step, making sure she wasn’t stepping in anything unsavory. “I do wonder though if we’ll get to keep them as memento’s? Something to remind us of our accomplishments?” “Nah, ain’t Celestia’s style, they take em back when you return.” “Oh, what a shame.” “When my brother went here, they were a set of old weapons. Supposin we should be looking for something like that?” She suggested. “Well it does give us something look for.” Rarity said. A few more moments of silence before they heard movement in the forest. “Hear that? Ready yourself.” “GANGWAY!!!” The two were flattened by another two set of girls, Applejack by a soft Pinkette, and Rarity by a short girl with Technicolor hair. “What is this!” Rarity asked indignantly, shoving the girl off her. “You again! Have you no manners whatsoever!” “I said gangway!” The girl defended herself, while Applejack picked up her girl off her feet by the collar of her sweater. “Mind explainin’ to us what that was all about.” “Um, um!” The sweater girl mumbled. “Outta the way!” The short girl tackled Rarity to the ground. “Watch the dress!” Just then a Beowolf smashed into the tree behind Rarity. “That’s what! Now shoot it!” Six shots rang out riddling the body of the Beowolf, the last striking it in the center of it’s bone-mask, collapsing it. “That all?” Applejack asked, reloading her bladed revolver. “No!” The sweater girl said, as they found they were surrounded by the pack. Rarity and the rainbow girl both got up, and all took out their weapons. As one of the Grimm roared, Applejack shot off her revolver, downing one, and they closed into attack. Rarity and the sweater girl fended off any who came too close, whereas Applejack and the short one unloaded on the closest ones. Beowolves were swiftly falling, when a dreadful roar of the Alpha Beowolf, almost twice the size of the others, lumbered in. It charged stright for the girls scattering them. The rainbow-haired one extended her weapons into two jagged cavalry swords. She sliced at the Alpha, gaining it’s attention. It swiped at her with it’s massive claws, she dodged each with a strike of her own until it struck at her feet, she jumped to avoid it, but was struck with an uppercut in the air, and was sent sailing far into the sky and out of sight. “Rainbow Dash!” *** “I spy with my little eye-“ “A tree.” “Right!” Pinkie Pie stated. “How’d you know?” “How indeed.” Twilight said, as they walked past tree after tree. “What happened to being quiet? How’s this for a game, the quiet game, ever play that before?” “All the time on the farm!” She volunteered. “Let’s play that.” “That’s a boring game.” Pinkie muttered dejectedly. Of all the students attending this school, why did it have to be this girl? Twilight was beginning to think fate had it out for her. She had yet to even come across any other student, not that she really wanted too, but it would be nice to know that there was another intelligent being in this forest that wasn’t the girl she was forced to be with. “GANGWAY!!!” Twilight was immediately toppled by a rainbow-streaked blur. “Seriously! Why do people keep smashing into me!!” “Hey you!” Pinkie Pie said grabbing the offending smasher. “Smashing into people like that is rude! Apologize for smashing into my best friend!” “Yeah whatever!” The girl said rudely, none the worse for wear. “Now let go! My friend’s in trouble!” “Not until you apologize.” “Fine sorry! Now let me go!” “Not to me, to Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said, turning her around to face Twilight, still smashed into the ground. “Fine, I’m sorry I smashed into you, happy?” “Ecstatic! Now where’s your friend?” “That way, if you’re going to help, come on!” “Wait a minute, wait a minute!” Twilight cried, getting on her feet, and dusting herself off. “Look, we have find these relics, not help every person we come across.” “Fine, I don’t need your help!” The flying girl claimed, she sprinted off, before she was stopped by Pinkie Pies grip on her shirt. “Twilight! This girl needs our help!” She exclaimed, keeping a firm grasp. “And what do we do when someone asks for our help?” “Say no?” “We help them! What if it was you?” “I don’t ask for help, I don’t need it, I can do things on my own.” “Exactly! So we should do our best for others if we want them to do the same!” Pinkie Pie said. “Can you even hear the words coming out of my mouth?” “Help or don’t! Just let go already!” The captive girl yelled. “Now that we’ve decided to help you, lead the way!” She said, dropping her. “We didn’t decide anything!” Twilight yelled as the two run off. “Hey! Don’t leave me alone here!” *** Meanwhile Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy stood surrounded by felled Beowolves. “Alrighty then…” Applejack said, holstering her revolver. “Whelp, ah’ll admit, ah was expectin’ things to be tougher.” “Right, because what we need just now is more fighting.” Rarity said. “I’m quite happy that nasty business is simply over.” “Um!” “You managed to hold your own there. Surprised.” Applejack said. “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t handle a few ruffians. Oh, look at my dress, I have dirt all over me, and my hairs an utter mess.” Rarity said, looking over herself with a compact mirror she kept in her sash.. “Now that there was what I was expectin’.” “Um!” “Just because I know how to fight, doesn’t mean I don’t care about appearances. Unlike some people…” “Now, what ah don’t get is that you don’t look any funnier than you did last night.” “Um!” “I guess I can’t expect you understand what it’s like to be a lady.” “Ah understand just fine, what ah don’t is what a fussypants like you is doing here, when you seem more preoccupied with appearances, than you do surviving.” “Um!” “What happened to ‘staying outta each-others business’, hmm?” “Fine-fine, Ms. Fussypants.” “Um!” “Yes?” Applejack said, turning to the girl. “Eep!” She withdrew into herself. “Don’t mind her darling, I’m more than happy to have someone new to talk to, what’s on your mind? I don’t quite believe we caught your name.” Fluttershy played with her fingers, turning to the side, and mumbling into her scarf. “I’m sorry what was that, I couldn’t quite hear you?” Rarity said, stepping closer. In response Fluttershy froze up more, and repeated herself, no more clear than before. “I’m sorry, once again please?” “F-Fl-Flutter-s-shy…” She said slowly. “Fluttershy? Is that your name?” She slowly nodded. “Howdy.” Applejack said loudly. “Now that introductions are outta the way, lets say we leave the mute and be on our way? I reckon you an’ ah wanna be done asap?” Rarity scowled but relented. “Alright. You’ll be fine without us, right?” “Um!” Rarity and Applejack went back on their way through the forest, in mutual silence before Fluttershy returned to appear before them. “Yes?” Applejack asked. “Is there something else?” Rarity asked. “R-R-Rain…” “Looks clear to me.” Applejack noted. Fluttershy shook her head. “R-Rainb-b-bow…” “I don’t see one of those either.” “Let her speak.” Rarity said. “R-Rainb-bow Da-Dash.” “Is that a name?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy nodded. “Of your teammate from earlier?” She nodded again. “And you want us to help you find her?” She nodded vehemently this time. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yer wantin’ us to be helpin’ the mute?” “Could you please not call her that? She has a name you know!” “Fine, all ah’m sayin’ is that if we’re to be doin’ somethin’ ah’d rather we go ahead and do it than just standin’ around.” “I believe your teammate went off in that direction?” *** “So, by the way-“ Spike asked as he munched on some rock candy. “What is it that they’re supposed to be getting?” “Relics.” Celestia told him. “Doesn’t tell you much, does it?” “No, I suppose it doesn’t.” Celestia said with a chuckle. “They’re a set of semiprecious gemstones. Sets of six, each about the size of your fist. Easy to identify and transport.” “Oh really? How easy?” “Well, they’re always a group of failures each year. Many students apply to my academy first before seeing if they’re interest lay elsewhere. Only about half of the student body are training to become Hunters.” “So how many flunk out?” “About one eighth of the applicants.” Spike whistled. “Harsh.” “You have to be.” Celestia said. “Living in this world of ours, it requires diligence and sacrifice. The world will easily consume you if you let it. If you are not strong enough to handle it, you must stand aside, or be blown away.” She said solemnly. “Hmm… candy?” “Don’t mind if I do.” *** Twilight and company ran through the forest and were quickly going nowhere, not finding a single soul, let alone the one they were looking for. And they were certainly not getting any closer to completing their initiation. A thought occurred to Twilight. “Hey, you haven’t seen any of the relics we’ve been looking for, or anything they might be in, have you?” “Not at all.” The girl said. “Well in that case, how much farther until we get to your friend?” “I don’t know, I wasn’t paying too much attention while I was trying to recover from a monster punting me a mile away.” She retorted. “Okay look, I’ll fly up, see if I can see anything. Tree covers pretty thick, but it’ll probably be more effective than wandering around like this.” “You can fly?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Of course, I’m a winged-type Semblance. That’s what the jet-pack is for.” She said. She turned her eye skyward, and the blue-metal pack on her back extended into a pair of mechanical wings, and with a jump and a jet-stream she was off into the air. “Wow!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed her eyes wide with amazement. “Can you do that?” She asked Twilight. “No.” Twilight said. “I’m a horned-type aura. I’m a battlemage.” “That’s cool too! I’m a hoofed-type.” She stated, even though Twilight didn’t ask. Seconds later she was knocked over by the flying girls crash-landing. “WHAT IS IT THIS TIME!?!?” Twilight yelled. “Okay, good news I found them, bad news is there’s a monster.” “Goodie we get to kill it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed twirling her weapon. “That’s something we already knew.” Twilight said, knocking the girl off her. “Different monster. Bigger monster.” She said, sprinting off. “This way!” “Bigger just means more fun!” Pinkie Pie said following after her. ‘This girl is going to get herself killed here.’ Twilight thought to herself. They headed towards the sound of gunfire and fighting, coming across a open patch of the forest where they were fleeing from a great black winged monster swooping down on them with a terrifying screech. “I’m coming Fluttershy!” Said the rainbow girl. Her wings unfolded once more and she took to the sky shooting at the beast only to be driven aside by a flap of it’s wings. ‘Okay Twilight, analyze the situation here, six here including yourself, all unknowns, fighting what seems to be a Lesser Nevermore.’ Before she could finish the thought Pinkie Pie leapt into the fray, dragging Twilight by the hand. “Hey wait!” “Come on Twilight! Lets go save the day.” Fluttershy was quickly tiring herself out, clutching on to her knife, making her knuckles go white as the Nevermore kept diving at them, meanwhile Applejack was unloading her revolvers into it with little effect. Explosions sounded off as Pinie Pie entered the fray, armed with a baby-blue and pink grenade launcher, she succeeded in garnering it’s attention, it turned and unleashed a razor-sharp feather volley at them, causing her and Twilight to split. “Who’re they?” Rarity asked. “Who cares? Keep fightin!” Then Fluttershy was knocked over by Rainbow Dash coming to save her. “Rainbow Dash!” She exclaimed, nuzzling her. “You okay?” “Okay?” “Good, let’s finish this.” Rainbow dash said. Meanwhlie the Lesser Nevermore continued to fly low, knocking off the treetops, chasing after Twilight who was doing her best not to trip. Fluttershy wings unfolded from her pack, and she took to the air with Rainbow Dash to redirect it’s attention. They slashed at it’s armored feathers to ill-effect, Rainbow Dash landed on it’s armored beak, trying to stab at it’s eyes, causing it to crash into the ground, leveling part of the forest. While Applejack reloaded Rarity rushed to the fallen beast with her weapon bared she leapt and unfolded her scissor-blade catching the things neck to the ground, and she tried to squeeze them back shut with the monsters head between but was struggling to do so. “Kill it already!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “Can’t you see I’m trying?” Meanwhile the rest of the monster was thrashing about, struggling to get free, it’s wing knocked Fluttershy straight into a tree, and Pinkie Pie had to tackle Applejack to keep her from being knocked out by it’s tail. Meanwhile Twilight dusted herself off and adjusted her glasses. She summoned her Scroll and pulled up her spell pages, and with a push of a button on her gem-tipped wand it extended into a seven-foot staff, it’s gemstone tip expanding into a spiked star. She muttered an incantation and the gem began to glow. She swiped her staff back and forth and a ball of magic began growing at it’s tip. “Hold it’s moth open!” Twilight yelled. Rainbow Dash took her jagged cavalry-swords and used them to keep the Nevermore’s Beak open as it screeched and struggled and Rarity struggled to hold on. Twilight then shoved her glowing staff down the things throat, and with a push of another button, she let loose the spell and within the beasts belly a great explosion was let off, shaking the ground around them, killing the beast and it’s struggles. It’s red eyes slowly dimmed as all life drained it. “Are we done now?” Twilight asked, adjusting her glasses. *** “Alrighty then, how ‘bout we all try this again. I’m Applejack. Howdy.” “Oki-doki-loki! I’m Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet y’all!” “Howdy.” “I’m Rainbow Dash, this is Fluttershy.” “Howdy.” “Rarity.” “Howdy.” “And you dear?” Rarity asked Twilight. “This is Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said saddling up to her. “Howdy.” Applejack remarked. “Yes, ‘hello’, all that. Has anyone seen any of the relics we’re supposed to be looking for?” Twilight asked. Most of the girls shook their heads. “Too busy fightin’ Monsters quite frankly.” Applejack. “They do appear to be quite endemic here, don’t they.” Rarity remarked. “Well if not, then I suggest we get going.” Twilight said, heading back into the forest. She looked back to see everyone was following her. “Yes?” “What?” Rainbow Dash asked, Fluttershy right behind her. “Is there a reason you’re all following me?” She asked. “You seem like you know what you’re doing.” She told her. “Sides, safety in numbers right?” Applejack said. “Does seem more sensible that way, doesn’t it?” Rarity said. “And it’ll be more fun!” Pinkie Pie punctuated. “Fine, whatever…” Twilight said. She was having enough problems just dealing with the one of them. ‘Well may as well put them to good use.’ “You, and you-“ She said pointing to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. “Eyes in the sky, look for anything that stands out of the forest, that’s probably where the relics are, look for one, and warn of us of any Grimm you see.” “Huh?” “You heard me, get going.” Twilight ordered. “Fine, fine, come on Fluttershy, let’s go.” With that, the flew above the treetops. “Rest of us let’s keep moving.” “Ah’m sorry, I don’t remember putting you in charge.” Applejack said. “What? Is there a problem?” Twilight asked. “No problem. Just sayin’ is all.” She said, walking past her. ‘I can’t wait until this is over.’ *** They hiked through the forest for several more minutes, during all of which Pinkie Pie had yet to even close her mouth, when Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy landed in-front of them. “It looks like there’s an old castle behind a gorge a ways away from here. That sound about right?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Sounds like what you were saying, yes, come on let’s go.” Twilight said. “Ooh! Do you think there will be any monsters for us to kill when we get there?” Pinkie Pie asked. “I hope not, I’ve had more than enough of this rough business for one day, than you very much.” Rarity said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if there was something guarding the relics. And it would surprise me if that Nevermore was the last thing we fight today.” “Yay!” Pinkie Pie said. “Oh poo.” Rarity moaned. “Watch your tongue Ms. Fussypants.” Applejack commented. Soon enough they hit the gorge that Rainbow Dash mentioned on which the other side was a crumbling overgrown castle, easy to mistake for the forest from a distance. The only thing connecting the two sides was a rickety rope bridge. “You expect us to go over that?” Rarity asked aghast. “I don’t, the Headmaster does.” Twilight said. “Wow that’s deep!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed peering over the foggy edge. “I wonder how deep?” She spit over the edge and listened. “Wow that’s about ten-seconds deep!” “Not that ah’m not for getting’ the day over with and everythin’,” Applejack said. “but how can we be sure that there bridge is going to be able to take all of us?” “Alright, you two can fly, no worries about that, worse comes to worse we can have you two just fly us over, if not, let’s go two at a time, have those two catch us if we can fall, think you can do that?” Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” And so they crossed the bridge, Twilight and Pinkie Pie first, since she wanted to finish today as quickly as possible, with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hovering nearby. “So where’re you from?” Pinkie Pie asked Fluttershy. “Um…” “Yes?” “We’re from Cloudsdale.” Rainbow Dash answered. “Wow! That’s so cool! I’ve never been there! What’s it like?” “Um, windy.” She said. “It must have been so cool growing up there.” “Yeah, it was kinda awesome.” Rainbow Dash answered. “Excuse me, can we just focus on the mission, rather than idle chit-chat?” Twilight asked. “Okay Twilight, we can talk later, right Rainbow Dash?” “Um… sure.” Rainbow Dash said. Without too much trouble they reached the other side, and the fliers were sent to bring over the other two, while Twilight and Pinkie scanned the outside of the castle. “So what are we going to do, blow open the doors?” Pinkie Pie asked, searching through her satchel and producing a variety of demolitions. “How about we look for a less explosive means first?” Twilight asked, scaling the steps. “This place is quite impressive. It almost looks as big as the Canterlot Castle. It can’t have just been a forgotten fort, so what’s it doing here?” “I don’t get it, it’s just a big old Castle.” Pinkie Pie said. “Look, obviously someone used to be here, and now they're not. The Everfree Forest has been unsettled for almost the entire last age, Ponyvilles only been settled here relatively recently, and we’re pretty far from the border, and this place is much older than the city is obviously. So what’s it doing here?” Twilight mused. “Whatever, help me open the door.” “With explosives?” Pinkie Pie asked, bringing out her weapon. “No. The doors here are too thick and strong for anything you have anyway. Just come here.” Twilight took her wand and formed a machete out of hard-light with it, cutting the vines covering the iron doors. She then used her magic to budge the door wide enough to make an opening, and tried to pull it open. Pinkie Pie grabbed on to help, and they were soon joined by the others, and together they pulled the door open wide enough for them to enter. “My it’s awfully dark in here.” Rarity remarked. She took out her sword, and used it as a medium to cast a light spell, and Twilight did the same resulting in a set of light-orbs that illuminated the high and intimidating crumbling hall they were in, whereas the others took out their scrolls and used the light function on them. “Wow, this place got thrashed.” Rainbow Dash noted. “Think monsters did this?” “Maybe, it’s not important, we’re not her for archeology. We need to find these relics.” Twilight told them. “Spread out and start looking.” “We even sure what the dang things even look like?” Applejack asked. “No we don’t, so it’ll have to be something that we’ll know it when we see it.” Twilight replied. “Hey guys!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed from a balcony. “Check this out!” She disappeared behind a doorway. “May as well see what the fuss is about.” Rarity said. They headed up the stairs to where Pinkie Pie had disappeared and found themselves in another hall, where daylight pored in from a gaping hole in the rooftop. They saw Pinkie Pie resting in one of two regal thrones at the back. “I Pinkie Pie the First declare that from henceforth: Every day shall be pancakes and maple syrup day!” She stated, using her weapon as a scepter. “Haha, very funny.” Twilight stated drolly. “Really you think so?” Pinkie Pie said. “Whelp, color me impressed.” Applejack said. “This place it’s so… regal.” Rarity stated. “Yes, it’s all very impressive, could you come down from there already?” “Why do you suppose there are two thrones?” Rarity asked. “Maybe they couldn’t share?” Rainbow Dash commented. “Oh come on.” Twilight marched up to Pinkie Pie. “We don’t have time for this clowning around, we need to find these relics!” “Relax Twilight, take a seat!” Pinkie Pie stated, pushing Twilight into the second throne. As soon her bottom touched the ancient cushion of the throne, a great mechanical clanking was heard, dust from the rafters shook and fell, and the center of the stone floor was raised. The floor slid back, and from it rose a cracked marble podium, on which were six gemstones, one in the center, and five surrounding it. “I think we found the relics.” Rainbow Dash said. Twilight immediately righted herself, and sprinted to the podium, as did the others, as they started grabbing them. Applejack picked up a piece of amber, Rarity grabbed the green alexandrite, Rainbow Dash took the topaz for herself and the rose quartz for Fluttershy. Meanwhile Twilight Sparkle took the amethyst in the center leaving Pinkie Pie with the aquamarine. “Well, these are lovely, aren’t they?” Rarity remarked, polishing the dust off hers. “I do hope we get to hold on to these, they would make such nice keepsakes don’t you think?” “Well, whatever, we’ve got what we’ve come for, now we just need to head back to the Academy from here.” Twilight said. “And I suggest we get going as soon as possible-“ And then the entire castle around them shook like there was an earthquake, and a thundering screeching roar echoed from outside. “-before anything goes wrong.” Twilight sighed. “Gear up!” Each of the girls armed themselves with their weapons, and filed outside. Twilight took her wand, the Caduceus Sidereus extending it to it’s staff-form, Pinkie Pie had her Party Canon in her hand, Applejack had a pair of bladed revolvers, the Apple Roses, in each hand, in addition to the five clanking like spurs at each of her feet. Rarity had her diamond-edged scissor-blades, Le Tailleur de Diamant, ready, Rainbow Dash her Astrapios Mahaira, her jagged cavalry-sword pistols, and Fluttershy her Butterfly Knife. Out from the gorge they crossed reared a giant Grimm. It could swallow them whole with it’s mouth filled with fangs, it’s bone mask was horned from the tip to end, and it clambered out of the gorge with a white hoof that dug into the earth. “Looks like we’re dealing with a Warg.” Twilight noted. “And it’s a big one.” “Maybe it hasn’t noticed us?” Rarity said, while it’s next hoof knocked down the rope bridge they used to get in. It then turned it’s flaming eyes towards them and gave another terrifying roar. “It’s noticed!” Applejack stated. “Everyone go! Flyers in the air! Try to get across the gorge!” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy ran over the edge as their wings came to life and carried them into the air. Twilight did likewise, summoning a stepping-stone of hard-light for each step she took. “So what do you think we should do to get across?” Rarity asked. Pinkie Pie behind them unfolded the sights on her grenade-launcher, placing her foot on it, and fired a shot, exploding her high into the air, landing on the creatures back. “Follow the leader?” Applejack answered. “If you think I’m climbing onto that beast, you’re as crazy as she is!” Rarity said. “Well, it’s not like ah was asking you’re permission.” Applejack said, walking towards her. “What are you doing?” Applejack picked her up, carrying her over her shoulder, and without waiting for her to protest ran towards the edge, the revolvers around her feet fired helping launch her into the air, where she pierced the Wargs hide with her bladed revolver, and used it to help climb up. Meanwhile below Twilight did her best to dodge the Wargs bladed hooves as she crossed the canyons, and their flyers hassled the beast. The thing shrieked, and lifted itself out of the gorge with it’s second set of bladed hooves carrying it’s passengers high into the air. “Okay, now what?” Rarity asked, when she could barely stand on the beasts back as it took each lumbering step. “I doubt you or I can really pierce this things hide.” “No…” Applejack said, checking her ammo count. “But we are across the gorge. One second I got an idea.” With that she ran across the things back and leapt off, using her blades to slow her descent as she rode her way across it’s side and down one of it’s legs where she had to avoid being crushed to death as it stomped the trees into pulp. “Don’t leave me here!” Rarity whined. “We’re supposed to be a team!” She was then passed by Pinkie Pie running by, through the spines until she jumped and climbed up it’s neck until she leapt over it’s face, grabbing onto one it’s many fangs as it roared. “Say ah!” Pinkie Pie said firing a grenade down it’s throat. The pain from the internal explosion only served to anger it, and it thrashed it’s head back and forth as it clambered it’s last pair of bladed hooves out of the gorge, finally dislodging the girl and sending her careening into the sky. “Hey, you! Bookworm!” Applejack said upon catching up with Twilight in the forest. “I have a name you know.” Twilight said annoyed. “Sure you do. Listen, you got a plan for this thing here?” Twilight thought for a moment. “Kill it.” “That much ah figured.” Applejack said. “I’m thinking, okay!” Twilight said. “The Wargs ginormous! And I bet you it’ll just keep following us if we run, but I’m betting we don’t have the hardware to take it down.” “Ah figure we ride it.” Applejack said. “You what?” Twilight said. “WATCH OUT!!” Pinkie Pie slammed into Twilight, knocking her off her feet. “Get off!” Twilight said, shoving her off. “I’m beginning to think someone has it out for me.” “Am I okay?” Pinkie Pie asked, starting her check-up. “We ride the thing like a rodeo.” Applejack restated. “All the way back home.” “Are you nuts?” Twilight asked. “Have you ever ridden something that big before?” “Honestly? No. First time for everything though.” “I am A-Okay!” Pinkie Pie punctuated with a thumbs-up. “Lookie-here, ah know you don’t know me, but trust me, okay? I know what ah’m doin’, and if not, it’s better than no plan.” Applejack said. Twilight ran the scenario in her head. They obviously needed to keep the thing distracted, and room to hide. The Warg could easily pick them off if they let it, and staying in one location would level the tree-cover, not to mention they needed to make progress back to the Academy. Bereft of a better idea, she relented. “Fine, fine, if we’re going to do this we’ll need to start leading it back. We need to tell our fliers.” Twilight said. “I can do that!” Pinke Pie stated, saluting with her weapon. “What am I doing?” Twilight didn’t bother to roll her eyes. “Tell the fliers to lead the Warg to the Academy.” “Oki-doki-loki!” She said, then mounting her weapon like a pogo-stick. “You might want to stand back for this.” Applejack said, taking Twilight a few steps back, as Pinkie Pie exploded high into the air. At the arc of her jump she got a brief view of the battlefield, and spotted one of the fliers. As she began to descend she switched to an airburst round, and fired herself straight into her target, smashing into her and onto the ground. “Heya!” She said, seeing she crashed into the quiet girl with the same hair as her. “Okay, so I’m supposed to tell you that we want the two of you to get the monster going towards the Academy. Got it?” The girl mumbled something from underneath her. “Um what was that?” Pinkie Pie asked. The girl tried to repeat herself, but was drowned out by the monsters roar. “I can’t hear you!” Pinkie Pie said. “Y-Yes…” She stuttered. “Okay then.” They stayed like that for a while. “Um…” “Yes? Oh! Right, silly me!” She said, sticking her tongue out. “Here let me.” She got off Fluttershy, and helped her to her feet. “Now go get’em tiger!” She said, slapping her on the bottom, and she took off with an ‘eep!’ into the sky. Meanwhile Twilight and Applejack continued to avoid the stomping of the Wargs six massive hooves. “Now for us, we’ll wanting to be getting on the Wargs back.” Twilight said. “No prob. Need a lift?” Applejack offered. “I can handle it.” “Fine.” With that Applejack clicked her heels, and fired herself into the air, landing on a tree branch, she jumped and fired off of tree after tree until she landed on one of the Wargs middle legs, impaling her dagger-revolvers into them. Twilight likewise ran into the fray, firing a magic bolt into the jaw of the creatures head, gaining it’s attention. It swiped at her with it’s fang-filled mouth, but she dodged easily, she then cast a spike-trap around her feet as one of it’s hooves bore down on her. She leapt out of the way, shaping the magic at the tip of her staff into a hook, the ground shook around her as the hoof struck the earth. The trap was sprung and a massive magical spike struck the underside of the Wargs hoof. The Warg recoiled at the pain, and Twilight leapt impaling the side of it’s foot, riding it as the Warg raised it’s leg past Applejack. Twilight then ran up the leg, impaling its skin with her magical hook as she needed to climb until she landed on it’s back. “It’s about time you showed up.” Rarity said, as half of her scissor-blade was used to anchor her to the Warg while Applejack climbed to the top with them. Fluttershy flew past them towards Rainbow Dash, and gave her their instructions. “We need to lead the monster to the Academy!” Fluttershy said as they weaved through it’s legs. “You sure?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Yes!” “Fine, leave it to me!” Rainbo Dash then flew to the beasts back, avoiding it’s bony and spiked tail, and flying onto it’s pack, she unfolded her cavalry swords, and swiped as it’s back as she ran, jet-assisted, up it’s spine, past Twilight, Rarity and Applejack, up it’s neck to it’s head, she leapt off and electricity crackled across her swords, she flipped in air, and unleashed a lightning blast at it’s face, before unfolding her wings again and going into the air. The three on the Wargs back had to hold on as it was forced to it’s feet. But soon it got back up, and with a preemptive shriek it took step after step until it was full gallop through the forest. “I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea!” Rainbow Dash cried as the Warg began snapping at her. Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, was on the ground trying to keep up. “Hey guys! Don’t leave without me!” It was clear she wasn’t going to catch up with them on foot. So she stopped on a tree felled by the Warg, and went into her shoulder bag, pulling out a two-foot long rocket. She flipped over her blue and pink grenade launcher, switching it out to a missile launcher setting. She flipped the handle, and the barrel extended over her shoulder. She pulled out a glass sight that was on the other side of the grenade-launcher sight, and attached the missile to the receiver, she also took from her bag a cord, clipping one end on the rocket, and the other to her belt. Through the sight, she locked onto the Grimm, and with a smile she fired, and was soon pulled forward, literally rocketing towards the monster, she unclipped herself from the projectile, and fell on the Wargs back, tumbling until she reached the others. “Hey guys! What I miss?” She asked. “Did she just get here tied to a rocket?” Rarity asked. “Yep!” “Ah’m more concerned about where the rocket went.” Applejack said. “It’ll come back.” Pinkie Pie said. “People!” Twilight cried. “Back to the monster-slaying! You two, get on either side of it’s head, I’ll need you two to steer.” Twilight said. “You-“ Indicating Rarity. “left, you-“ Indicating Applejack. “on the right.” “Understood.” Rarity said. “Fine.” Said Applejack “What do I do Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked. “You, uh…” Twilight thought. “Stay here.” “Oh, but that’s boring.” Pinkie Pie muttered. Meanwhile Rarity and Applejack climbed the Wargs long neck, while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy continued to lead it. Applejack to the left impaled it with both her revolvers on the right, and Rarity with her scissor-blade to the left, both where the ear should have been. “We need to be going more to the left!” Twilight yelled. On cue Applejack fired her pistols, causing the beast to recoil, turning to the side, altering it’s course. “Too far, we need to go a little more right!” Rarity used on her own spell, drilling magic into the left of the Wargs skull steering it back on course. “Watch out!” Pinkie Pie yelled, tackling Twilight down. “Stop that already!” She yelled back as the Wargs spiny tale whipped above them, knocking off Twilight’s witch hat. Getting angrier and angrier as they went on, the Warg stopped, the inertia almost knocking the girls off, and it began bucking back and forth, rocking worse than a hurricane. Rarity and Applejack held on dearly with their weapons, Twilight summoned a hook on the end of her staff again, using it to hold on, while all Pinkie Pie could do was hold onto Twilights waist, until she was thrown off and into the air, where Fluttershy flew to grab her, and Rainbow Dash continued to pester the Warg like an annoying fly. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy crashed into the ground, but none the worse for wear. “Fluttershy you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked from the air. “Rainbow Dash, watch out!” Fluttershy cried out. Turning her head, she saw the fanged mouth of the Warg about to consume her. She turned to fire, but was swallowed in one mouthful by the Grimm. “Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy cried, her eyes filled with fear one second, and then righteous fury the next. She took our her Butterfly Knife, the tip of it’s blade extending several inches, and handle extended back doubling it’s length. She took grip of the trigger, and fired off several rifle rounds, garnering the attention of the Warg. Her weapon then unfolded in half again, with a spike at the bottom of it’s handle, she took a drum magazine, and loaded between the axehead. She unfolded her mechanical wings, and took flight with a mighty flap of them, straight into the face of the Grimm, she smacked it with her axe-head, and let loose a torrent of bullets from the LMG half. She the sliced at it with both ends of her halberd, the Warg slowly relented under her attack and she managed to wedge the knife-head at the bottom of the handle between it’s fangs, with surprising strength she began trying to pry open it’s mouth. She succeeded in snapping off one of it’s fangs which were about half the size she was. The Warg smashed her with the side of it’s head, sending her into the trees, but she soon rocketed back hitting even harder, she went back to work, wedging the axe-head into it’s gum, she fired on full-auto forcefully trying to open it’s gaping maw, the Warg eventually relented to groan in pain, and it’s mouth opened enough to give the flier-girl enough leverage to wedge her weapon into it’s jaw and keep it from closing. Inside she could see Rainbow Dash apparently wrestling with the Monsters tongue. “Rainbow Dash! Come on!” Fluttershy said, extending her hand into the Wargs mouth, she helped pry Rainbow Dash out, and with a last thrash the Warg threw them off and the two fell to the ground. “Rainbow Dash you’re okay!” Fluttershy cried ecstatic. “Yeah, I think so… yuck!” Rainbow Dash said, covered in Grimm drool. A pounding of one of the monsters great hooves but a few inches from them reminded them there was no time to rest. It’s head peered down on her, and gave a bloody roar. Pinkie Pie however came to the rescue, firing several grenades at the beasts face, giving Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash enough time to get out of the way of the Wargs stamping. They headed towards Pinkie Pie as the monster lumbered towards her, and took flight, carrying her into the air as it tried to eat her. “Ah’m a thinking this thing is getting awfully annoyed at us!” Applejack stated. “What makes you think that?” Rarity said, her hair still somehow immaculate. “Have we decided on a plan on how to finally kill this thing?” “Working on it!” Twilight yelled. “I can see the Barrier Wall! We should be there soon!” But Twilight did need to work on a plan. They were certainly making it bleed, but they needed away to finish it off. Twilight figured she would just have to use her biggest spells to wear it down when they reached the wall. Which after a bit more steering they were almost upon it. “Hey bookworm!” Applejack cried. “What!?” Twilight asked. “You come up with how we’re gonna be stopping and not smashing into that thing?” “…No I have not.” Twilight said. With that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash scattered as they came across the wall, and the Warg crashed headlong into it, launching those on it into the air and against the wall. Twilight again used a magic-made hook to cling on to the wall, and both Applejack and Rarity used their blades to do likewise. The Warg shook itself off, and with a roar that shook all around them, it placed it’s first set of legs on the wall in an attempt to climb up, snapping at their heels. “Climb!” Yelled someone, advice that was ignored by no-one. Rainbow Dash left off Pinkie Pie on the top of the wall, and flew back down to slow down the monster as much as she could. Pinkie Pie switched her Party Canon back to it’s missile launcher setting, she stared down the glass sight at the beast. It almost got Applejack, but she fired off the revolver as her feet, giving it a nose full of lead, propelling Applejack further up the wall as she continued to climb. It then tried to snap at Rarity, whose mobility options were much more hampered, just as it was about to swallow her, the high-powered rocket that had propelled Pinkie Pie earlier smashed into the side of it’s face, cracking it’s bone mask. Twilight propelled herself to the top using hard-light stepping-stones, and Fluttershy helped Rarity to the top, and soon they were all assembled far above the Warg. “Well!” Rarity breathed. “Am I happy that’s all over!” “Hate to ruin the party-“ Rainbow Dash said. “Party!?” Pinkie Pie asked. “But-“ She pointed down over the edge where the Warg was still climbing. “I have an idea!” Twilight told them. “Just slow it down while I charge up a spell, got it?” The girls assented, and checked each of the weapons, as the second pair of the Warg legs landed on the wall. Over the edge, they took aim and fired. Rainbow Dash unloaded her pistols and hurled lightning, Applejack gave six-cracks of her revolver accompanied by a seventh blast before grabbing her next gun at her boot, Rarity cast spells of magic to throw at the Warg, Pinkie Pie hurled explosives, and Fluttershy gave constant fire with her Butterfly Knife. This barrage of attacks piled on the Warg, but it didn’t relent, it got higher and higher, it’s black-hide bloody, pieces of it’s bone-mask cracking and giving way, but it was eventually level with them at the top of the wall, and it gave a might roar that almost knocked them off. “Get back!” Yelled Twilight who had a ball of swirling energy at the end of her staff. She swung it in the air and it split into seven and flew into the air before coming back down striking down at the Warg like half an artillery strike, half a meteor storm, gouging deep into it’s shadow flesh. Twilight summoned her magic around her staff once more as the Warg lost it’s footing, and it fell, it’s head smashing into the wall. Twilight with a flourish of her staff brought all the energy she gathered, and struck right where the Grimms mask had cracked and unleashed all of her energy, the Warg reared back on it’s hind legs, and fell on it’s back, finally dead. Twilight panted slightly but soon regained her composure, she pressed another button on her staff and an empty dust canister was ejected. She turned to see the other Huntresses-in-training looking at her almost awestruck. “Now it’s over.” She said. *** Assembled back in the Auditorium the accepted freshman students waited in the wings to be called before their upperclassman as Headmistress Celestia presided. “Lyra Heartstrings. Bon-Bon Sweetie-Drops. Vinyl Scratch. Octavia Ostinato. Minuette Colgate. Darlena Derpinski Doo.” The Headmistress called out as the assembled sudents tried to stand professionally, a few failing, on stage while holographic screens projected their profiles above. “You now belong to your own team, and to each-other. You shall be led by Darlena Derpinski Doo, as part of team Doo.” Some of the team seem surprised, but they bowed, and exited stage left. “Rarity Belle. Apple Jacqueline. Rainbow Daring Dash. Fluttershy Gentilles. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Twilight Sparkle.” Each of the girls walked onto the stage as their names were called. Some of them were proud, some of them were withdrawn under the attention. Twilight Sparkle stood as regally as possible, happy and proud of herself to reach this point. “You now belong to a team of your own, and to each-other. You shall be led by Twilight Sparkle, as part of team Twilight.” Twilgiht wasn’t surprised in the slightest, but bowed anyway, and the headed stage left. She caught Celestia beaming at her, and she returned a shy smile of her own. *** After the day was done, Celestia returned to her office to complete all the paperwork that needed filing as the sun grew long. She diverted her attention when Spike entered without need of permission. “Yes dear Spike?” “You called for me?” He said. “Yes I did.” Celestia said, shuffling some papers and giving her fingers a rest. “How’s Twilight been since the ceremony?” “She won’t stop complaining about what she had to go through, but she also won’t stop smiling, so good I think.” Spike informed her. “Excellent, and I trust the living arrangements I’ve set for you in town are acceptable?” “Nice work making Twilight sleep in a library.” Spike snarked, to which Celestia grinned. “Would have been nice to get my own room. But the bed I have is really soft, so it’s not all that bad.” “Good, I assume the both of you are looking forward to your years spent here?” “Eh, I don’t look forward to anything, except getting new comic-books and stuff.” Spike said. “I know Twilights ecstatic though.” “Well Spike it’s getting late, and I shan’t keep you from your sleep much longer. I’d just like you to deliver a letter to Twilight for me.” She said, producing an envelope from one of her drawers, and handing out to which Spike took from her. “Can’t you just email this to her?” Spike asked. “Forgive me for being old fashioned.” She said. Spike shrugged. “Is that all.” “Yes, now go on, I’m sure the both of you need your rest after today.” Celestia bade him. “Fine. See you later then.” He said, turning to leave. “Oh, hey, I forgot to ask, how’s your sister?” He asked, halting at the door. “You said that she was sick earlier. Has she gotten any better?” Celestia’s face faltered for a moment. “No, I’m afraid she’s still quite ill.” “Well I hope she gets better then. Bye.” He said. “Goodbye.” And with that he left. Celestia tried to get back to her paperwork, but after thirty seconds of staring at nothing, she got up to one of her shelves, and opened a small chest which contained the relics Twilight had retrieved from the Everfree Forest. Six semi-precious gems about the size of her fist. Each glowed with a small light as her hand approached them. “I’ve underestimated…” She muttered to herself.