//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Meeting the newcomers // Story: The Misfits // by Cyber System //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle slept peacefully as the morning sun arose, waking her up with the sunlight through her windows, only it wasn't that which woke her up. In reality she set an alarm to wake her in the morning because the train was finally fixed and she was ready to join the Misfits on their way to Canterlot. Imediately she got up and got herself ready for the day. "Mm... morning already?" she could hear Spike's voice come down the stairs as she ate her breakfast. "Oh, Spike, good morning, I'll be heading to Canterlot with the Misfits for a while, you're in charge while I'm gone!" "Yeah, sure... whatever," the young drake tiredly said. "Also, could you tell Rarity where we're going?" Spike's eyes shot open. "Really? Sure thing, Twilight." Twilight chuckled. "No problem, why don't you tell Applejack and Fluttershy about this too while I'll tell Rainbow, Pinkie, and The Misfits." "You got it!" Spike saluted before running off to do his duties. In no less than half an hour, Twilight was trotting to The Misfits' home to wake them up and remind them. "Cyber!" she called while knocking on the door. "Come on! You didn't forget, did you?" that was when the door was opened by Fang. "Oh, hey, Twilight," Fang said with a smile. "Cyber's here, he just fell asleep in his lab again working too hard, we were just starting breakfast, would you like to join?" "No thank you, I already ate, I just came to remind you about when the train will be here." "At ten thirty sharp, we know, wouldn't miss it for the world," said Fang. "We'll see you there." "Alright," Twilight waved goodbye to Fang as she went over to Rainbow Dash's cloud home. "Rainbow Dash, you up yet?" she said, knocking on the door, which was answered by Rainbow, extremely tired. "What's this all about?" Rainbow asked, yawning. "Rainbow, don't you remember? The train's fixed, The Misfits and I will be riding it to Canterlot, I just wanted to let you know." "Oh yeah, that," Rainbow rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Hey, Twilight? What do you think somepony like me could do to earn another pony's trust after they did something really bad but they didn't mean it?" "It's about Dusty, isn't it?" Rainbow nodded admittedly. "All I want to do is show him how sorry I am for what I did to him all those years ago, and three days ago, but the only thing he's given me is the cold shoulder." Twilight put a hoof on her friend. "I'm sure he'll warm up to you eventually, just give him time, now come on, let's tell Pinkie Pie." Spike aproached Fluttershy's cottage and knocked on the door, shortly the yellow pegasus peeked out the door before noticing Spike, then she opened it much more visibly. "Good morning, Spike," she said. "What brings you here?" "I just came to let you know about The Misfits and they'll be leaving for Canterlot with Twilight." "Oh, right, The Misfits... yay..." Fluttershy said weakly. "Is something wrong?" "It's just one of the Misfits, Fang, I'd hate to be rude but he really scares me, a lot." "Fang? How could he be scary? I mean, sure he has sharp teeth, eats meat, and has a whole tribe just like him," Fluttershy winced in fear and backed up a little with a slight wimper. "Oh, sorry." "It's alright, but Fang is just so ferocious, he ate a squirrel right in front of me!" "Don't you feed squirrels to your meat eating animals?" "Well, ok yes, but those are already dead! He ate a live squirrel. And just thinking about it makes me want to run away and hide or keep Angel away from him." 'What would things be like if that little stubborn ball of fluff was eaten?' Spike thought, but then shook away the temptation of wanting to know. "Hey, Fang's a nice guy, he was probably just hungry, Twilight said that his tribe's hungry because of a famine." "A... a famine?" "Yeah, not sure what that is either, but it must be something pretty bad." Fluttershy thought about it for a minute before reassuring herself and standing firm. "Alright," she said. "I'll stop being afraid of him... I hope..." "Alright," said Spike. "Anyway just came to let you know about where they're going, see you soon!" "So, The Misfits are coming today?" asked Solar Eclipse as the four ate breakfast, Celestia nodded. "Twilight Sparkle should be taking the Misfits on the train as we speak." "Who's Twilight Sparkle?" asked Moonlight Shadow. "Twilight Sparkle is Celestia's previous student, she is the newest princess and represent the element of magic," informed Luna. "Oh yeah, what happened to that other student last time I was here, what was her name again? Sunshine Glimmer, or something like that?" Celestia chuckled. "That's a story for another day, Eclipse," Eclipse was confused, but shrugged and took a bite of his oatmeal. "So, while we wait for these 'Misfits'," said Moonlight. "Tell me what makes her some kind of 'element'." Cyber System could barely hold himself as he and the rest of The Misfits waited at the train station. "This is so exciting I feel so... so..." "Nerve-cited?" suggested Pinkie. "I don't even know what that means, but I agree with you," said Cyber. "I see it coming!" Fang exclaimed, as out in the distance, the train's whistle could be heard and the train itself came into view, it wasn't long before the engine stopped at the station. "All aboard for Canterlot!" called the conductor and instantly ponies started entering the train cars. "Hey, Cyber," Cyber turned around to see Lyra. "Good luck." "Thanks, see you soon," Cyber replied, smiling. "Cyber, what are you waiting for?" called out Fang, Cyber waved goodbye as he got onto the train. 'Canterlot, here we come,' Cyber thought as the train left the station. 'I can hardly contain the excitement I am feeling right now.' Meanwhile, on a distant island, Chief Xanthos came back from his hunt, sighing with disapointment as he trotted through the main hall. "No luck again?" asked his wife, Deinos, Xanthos nodded. "This famine is taking a beating on us," he replied. "How many have died so far?" "Still none, thankfully, we're lucky the hippocampi are helping us." "Yes, but we can't rely on their fish forever, even that won't last a lifetime." "Don't worry, we'll find a way soon." "I'm not worrying, what I'm trying to do is keep this tribe alive." "And you will, I know it," she kissed him on the cheek, he couldn't help but smile. "So, where are the kids?" "Lampie is playing with her friend and Podargos is trying to fish again." Xanthos chuckled. "That colt is always trying to do what is right, he will make a great heir to the tribe," this was when Xanthos' best friend/ advisor, Lockjaw came in. "Chief Xanthos! Chief Xanthos, I have urgent news, King Trident requests your attention now!" Xanthos sighed. "Better than sitting around here starving," he said before trotting outside, then to the beach, where an old hippocampus with royal blue coat and baby blue mane and goatee waited for him. "Hello, King Trident," said Xanthos, "what do you need me to do this time?" "Nothing, I have extraordinary news. Do you remember Fang, the one you sent with his family to save us from the famine?" "Yes, I remember him clearly, I wonder how he's doing." "It seems he may have succeeded, we have visitors from the mainland," that got Xanthos' attention. "You better not be joking," Trident shook his head. "You know very well that I do not joke about these conditions. Now come, my daughter is speaking to them," Trident dove into the water and started swimming a certain direction with Xanthos following on the shore, some time later, they came across several ponies with wings, talking to the aquamarine hippocampus princess, Marine. "Thank you, Marine," said Trident. "We will take it from here." "Alright, Dad!" Marine said before swimming off, then the winged ponies looked towards Xanthos and Trident. "So, are you two the leaders of the tribes?" one of them asked, the two royals nodded. "I am Chief Xanthos, head protector of the predators." "And I am King Trident, ruler of the seas and the hippocampi, are you the leader of the winged ponies?" The winged pony shook his head. "No, I am Lieutenant Storm Chaser, I serve Princess Celestia. And I'm a pegasus." "Celestia? Who is that?" "We will inform you soon, but are you familiar with the pony known as 'Fang'?" "My daughter is very good friends with Fang," answered Trident. "And Fang is the volunteer to seek out and end my famine," added Xanthos. "Did he send you?" "Not exactly, but Celestia was told about Fang and sent my soldiers and me to find you. She wants to help." The royals looked at each other. "Should we trust them?" asked Xanthos. "It may be our only chance, what other option is there? Besides, Fang wouldn't help if it wasn't for a worthy cause." Xanthos sighed with defeat. "As always, Trident, you're right," Xanthos looked to the pegasi. "Tell your princess we're willing to accept her help." Twilight and the Misfits couldn't wait another second as the train pulled to Canterlot and they just headed straight for the castle, with Fang ahead by a long shot, Dusty making his way via underground, Mixy flew just behind Dusty, leaving both Twilight and Cyber behind them, but they didn't care, the castle was just ahead. Shortly they all skidded to a stop in front of the castle gates to ready themselves, and get past the guards. "We have business with Princess Celestia, let us through," said Twilight, making the two stoic guards look at each other, then step aside, allowing access to the main hall. As they trotted through the castle, The Misfits couldn't help but smile as they entered the throne room and sitting on their thrones were the princesses of the sun and moon themselves, Celestia and Luna. The Misfits politefully bowed as they approached, except Fang, who had no idea what he should be doing. "I suppose you are The Misfits?" said Celestia. "Y-yes, Princess, I am Cyber System, a technological unicorn with no magic. This is Dusty, a pegasus who is scared of heights and digs through the earth at insane speeds. Over here is Fang, a carnivorous pony who is part of a whole new species called 'predators'. And finally, this is Mixy." "And what would make her a misfit?" asked Luna. "I'm... I'm... a changeling hybrid," answered Mixy, nervously. Instantly the smiles on the princesses' faces vanished in place of an unsure look. "You're a hybrid?" asked Celestia. Mixy nodded. "Do your parents love each other?" Mixy nodded again. "Yes, they love each other a lot, and Mom knew about Dad being a changeling after I was born, I'm not really supposed to tell you that, though." "And why not?" "My dad's scared of you, he's scared of Canterlot after I was born, he has become a wanted fugitive," Mixy was unsure where the conversation was headed. "And what makes him scared? That he will be punished?" asked Luna. Mixy shook her head. "My dad would never do something like that, what he's scared of is if he's caught, you'll tear our family apart, separate us because he's a changeling, and you will keep us from being with the ones we love," Celestia thought for a moment. "What is your father's name?" "M-Mirror Shard." Celestia searched through her memory for the name. "I remember an arrest record for a changeling who impersonated a pony named 'Mirror Shard', who's wife was just giving birth to a filly, and if I recall correctly the changeling failed to foalnap the newborn and got away, but the mare and the foal were also gone the very next day... is this you?" "Depends, do you know the mare's name?" "It was Dandelion Meadow, is that your mother?" Mixy shakily nodded and was about to cry. "Please, Celestia, don't take my dad away, I love him so much." "Calm down, Mixy, your father is safe," said Luna. "We promise he won't be harmed or taken, but I would like to meet him sometime." Mixy smiled as tears came from her eyes, but not out of sorrow, but instead out of happiness. "Um, Princess?" Fang said. "I'm sorry I interrupted this moment, but I have a tribe that is in the middle of a famine, and I would like to know how they are." "Ah, yes," said Celestia. "Twilight told me about that, and I have sent some search parties to look, but I haven't received any info about them yet." Fang didn't know whether to be upset or overjoyed as Celestia and Luna looked at Dusty and Cyber. "And what would you two like?" "Hm? Us?" asked Cyber and Dusty, who looked at each other before Cyber spoke up. "If it's not too much trouble, I would request that you could help us, simply show Equestria that we are nothing to be feared." Celestia and Luna smiled. "Actually I think you already have," said Luna. Cyber was confused. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand." "You will soon, Cyber," said Celestia. "Just remember who started the Misfits and why. Anyway, what about you, Dusty?" "Only thing I can think of is that you needed help." "Oh yeah," said Twilight and Cyber, almost simultaniously as Celestia and Luna nodded. "You see, we have each met a pony who are in dire need of help, they don't know whether they can successfully chat with other ponies," said Celestia. "My sister and I believe that you misfits could help 'straighten them out' as it were," added Luna. "We have managed to soften them out a bit to come here and meet you." "Well, helping ponies in need is what we do," said Cyber. "So, who are they?" Cyber was answered by a glowing ball of fire appearing next to Celestia, before vanishing and leaving behind an albino white unicorn with burning mane. While also a piece of Luna's shadow broke off and moved next to the albino unicorn, then a pony wearing a hooded cape phased from the shadow. "Misfits, this is Solar Eclipse..." began Celestia. "...And Moonlight Shadow," finished Luna. "What's up?" said Eclipse. "Hey," said Moonlight. The Misfits and Twilight stared at the two ponies in awe, mouths agape. "I told you we shouldn't have done it," said Moonlight. "They're just like the rest." "Wait, so you two have been keeping ponies with you? Where was I when this happened?" asked Twilight. "Why don't we talk about it while the Misfits get to know Eclipse and Moonlight," Celestia said as Luna, Twilight, and herself left the room. Celestia mouthed 'good luck' before closing the door. "So, anyway," began Cyber. "What makes you two misfits?" "I control shadows," answered Moonlight almost monotone. "I sorta burn everything I touch," added Eclipse. "I can relate to that, I'm not really the best cook either," said Dusty. "No, I mean I literally burn anything I touch, go on, place your hoof on my back," Eclipse gestured to his back, Fang shrugged and did so. "I don't see what's so baaa-AAAAAHH! JEEZE THAT IS HOT!" Fang took his hoof off of Eclipse in a rush and started waving it about painfully, then Mixy came to his aid and wrapped his slightly blistered hoof in a bandage from Cyber's first-aid kit. "Yeah, also sometimes I set things on fire every time I'm angry." "So prepare for a campfire every half hour," said Moonlight as Eclipse shot her a glare. "And speaking of you," said Cyber, this time to Moonlight. "What can you do with shadows? Could you show us?" Moonlight rolled her eyes. "Fine, sure, whatever," then Moonlight concentrated as every patch of shadow within the room moved over and molded together before emerging from the ground as a large structure made of darkness. "This is amazing!" said Mixy. "Unbelievable," said Dusty. "My hoof still hurts, and that is not easy to do," said Fang. "Um, what does that all mean?" asked Eclipse. "Who cares?" said Moonlight as the shadows from her structure break apart and all the shadow fragments returned to their original places. "It means one of you is an outcast by society, the other is an outcast by pure choice and self proclimation," Cyber began as he smiled. "You'll make great members of the Misfits."