//------------------------------// // Chapter 30 // Story: Six wishes for six elements // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// "So... what do we do with this thing?" Slade gestured over to Spike. "If he regains consciousness, I don't have enough gas to keep him down." "I don't think that'll actually be necessary..." Twilight said. "I am working on a spell." "Alright Sparkler, but know this, if he wakes up and he's still as he was when he was awake, I am putting him down. Permanently." Slade said with the utmost degree of seriousness as he walked away, bumping straight into Rainbow Dash. "What do you want?" "And who gives you the right to just "put spike down"? And another thing... what's up with you and killing people anyways?! Do you enjoy doing that or something?!" "I don't enjoy it." Slade replied. "But if you favor getting barbequed alive and getting eaten, I suppose I'll just let him if that's what you want." "And hold just a second... who said WE need your help anyways?!" Rainbow Dash asked indignantly. "I can handle myself!" "Really now? I recall that Captain Star Spangle beat you in a footrace. You call yourself a race horse, skittles?" "Well that's cause he cheats! He doesn't even get tired! And what kind of name is skittles?" "Steve cheats? That's a good one." Slade said as he walked away. "Listen horsey, you probably shouldn't be acting so uppity lest you really want bad things to happen. Just a warning, just a warning." "Bad things to happen? I bet I can take you down Mr. "world's greatest assassin"." "Let's see it then." Slade said. No sooner did those words leave his mouth, Rainbow Dash flew at him like a multi-colored lightning bolt. Slade merely sidestepped to one side, causing the Pegasus to crash in a pile of rubble. "Fast on the wings eh? Not so fast in the head though." "So... about Spike... how long is this going to take?" Steve asked Twilight as he watched Rainbow Dash hit a pile of rubble. Serves her right. "I dunno... and that's what scares me.... what if he gets up? He may try to eat all of us or burn us all down again!" "I think Slade would probably blow his head off before that happens." Steve said, though something about that sentence wasn't really so reassuring. Perhaps it involved Spike losing his head... or maybe it was because a guy called Deathstroke was just involved to begin with. "Twilight... I have a question..." Steve began after a long pause. "Yeah... sure." "Why did you follow us?" "What?" "Why did you follow us? We were walking all the way to that... crystal empire or whatever it's called and yeah... it's going to take at least 6 days for us to get there. So why did you follow us?" "Because we thought you needed help. And that... well... maybe it'd be nice to get to know you... most of you at least..." Twilight said tentatively taking a look at Slade who was sharpening one of his swords. "So... you're a soldier and all... but don't you have problems of your own back at home?" That was true... and for that moment... Cap didn't know how to answer. He just stared at the ground awkwardly. "I... uh... yeah.... um... well you see... I've dedicated my whole life to fighting oppression and tyrants. If that's really true, then I got to do it not just back home, but here as well." "I see..." Twilight said as she continued to cast her spell. "So how is everyone?" "Well... Raynor is a great man. He's one of the most decent men I've ever met on that note." Cap said. "I worry about Armin and Sanya though." "Why?" "They're children Twilight. And yet, they're both soldiers in wherever they come from. One of them fights giants with nothing but swords while the other has to fight an advanced race of aliens. What the hell? Just how desperate are their people to start sending in their own children to fight?" "Well... I heard from Sanya that only the very young can use magic." "Regardless... it's just messed up! I... I... I kinda almost want to go over to help... if only I could... if I only I had a clue on what to do." "Well... that's very kind of you Steve... but what could you do? Perhaps you may not know it, but those two probably have the same skill as you do. At least, when it comes to fighting giants or aliens." "True... true..." Steve said. "Though Slade would disagree about Armin. Man, he hates that kid." "How so?" "He thinks he's useless. Calls him a coward, calls him a ball and chain, all sorts of things." Steve said. "Maybe he should just go off and pick a fight with someone who can actually hit back." His hands curled into two fists. It really didn't take a genius to spot out the dislike between the captain and the mercenary. "Slade really isn't the most pleasant of all things I had to deal with..." Twilight said in agreement. "But he's pretty skilled..." "Skilled? Of course. He's one of the best assassins in his world which puts him at an apex level. And he's a great fighter, but I'll be damned if someone calls him a great soldier. He's not a soldier. Soldiers work together, being a soldier means to be apart a family. Slade? He destroyed his own family, he fights for himself, and doesn't give a damn about the rest of us. If we all died, and he just made it out, I am certain he'll come out straight without any regrets. Hope he dies in a fire or something." He caught the mercenary stealing a glance off him. naturally, he scowled straight at the smirking assassin. "Twilight... perhaps we can move without you? I don't like the idea but..." "I would actually suggest you do... it's going to take a long time....." "Okay then. We can stay for five more minutes, if it's not done then, we get going. Okay?" "Okay." "And you see... every Witch has her own special ability. Mine for example, I can listen great distances." Sanya said as the magical antennas popped out. "For example..." The sounds of the woodland creatures chattering was more than enough to bring a smile on Fluttershy's kind face as she began to speak. "That's amazing! You see... everypony has their own special talent too... mine for example is with animals! I can talk to them." "Talk to animals?" Sanya asked with a bit of curiosity. "How so?" "I can understand what they want to say. And that's really useful since I take care of so many of them." "I like animals... especially cats." Sanya said. Hopefully the cat tail and ears didn't give it away... "I can get you one... or many..." Fluttershy offered. "Oh... really? I can keep them?" "Of course! There's plenty of creatures who would love to become a pet to anyp... anyone!" "Wow... thanks..." Sanya said. "But of course... that's when we get back... right?" "Yes." "Okay then." Sanya said. Their conversation continued, naturally going over to the subject of their companions. Sanya's opinion? "I think everyone I've met in my life was pretty nice and all... I have this friend, Eila... she's like an older sister to me." Sanya said as she thought of the rest of her squadmates back at home. "What about you?" "Oh my friends are just lovely! They're so kind... and so good to be with! But... I have a question. About the people you're with... what do you think of them?" "Well... Jim is very nice... he does get along with everyone... but I think Steve and Slade are rather... well..." She smiled for a moment. "They remind me of Shirley and Barkhorn... two friends of mine... they never get along... and probably never will... I do worry about Armin though... It seems as though Slade doesn't like him very much." "I see... I understand when friends fight a lot... but Slade... he's very scary." Oh I dunno whatever made you feel that way. The eyepatch? The swords? The fact that he's killed like a few hundred people? Yeah... "I don't think Steve and Slade call even be called friends..." Sanya began. She would say a few things about Medic... but the guy scared her and probably everyone else to the point that they wouldn't let him within 5 feet of them unless they were given a guarantee he was going to heal them with the medigun. That guy. There wouldn't be anymore time to talk however, as five minutes came up. As Steve came to everyone telling them to get up, Spike still hadn't returned to his normal form. Though many would express their concerns, Twilight assured them it was fine... "fine". Whatever the cause, they had to go. Every moment they dragged on what be another moment Feynaltdrog would use in his conquest on the world. Speaking of which... if anyone in Canterlot happened to have been using the observatory or on any high balcony... well...