//------------------------------// // XLIII // Story: Baen of Equestria // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// Two weeks passed by for the barbarian before he was released back into the public. The doctor’s insisted he try not to exert himself too hard at least for a few days, just in case. Baen for once was quite reasonable on the matter and agreed as he left for Ponyville. He was surprisingly chipper despite the fact of almost dying; it showed since he was happily munching on a chocolate bar on the train. The doctor had suggested he try to eat a good amount on his first day out to get his strength back up, not that he was complaining. After a while, the train whistle alerted him to his arrival back to Ponyville. Standing up and sheathing his axe, he walked off the train….and was then tackled to the ground by a multicolored mob. Baen shook his head as the small stars cleared from his vision, glancing down he noticed the girls were plastered to him. The barbarian chuckled lightly as he pat each one of them on the head, shaking his head as they giggled. “Is this the welcome I’m going to get every time I leave Ponyville for a week,” he smirked, “because if it is, I think I can get used to it.” Twilight gave a mild stare and chuckled, “Well we thought it would be a good way to welcome our friend back from the hospital,” she and the girls released him and stood. Rainbow flew to Baen’s side, “So how was the hospital food, hero?” At the word ‘hero’ she playfully nudged him with a cheeky grin. Baen gently brushed her off, “I’m no hero, and I just did what I had to. Nothing more.” Applejack shook her head, “Now come on sugarcube, no need to be modest,” she tilted her head with an encouraging look, “You earned this.” “YEAH! I mean you should have seen it,” Pinkie exclaimed, “you were like, bang, slash, crang. And we were all like, ‘whoa!’ And then you saved everypony before you collapsed!” Baen started trotting beside them with a look of mild uncertainty, “Well I mean….Shining helped didn’t he?” Twilight nodded with understanding, “Yes he did,” she draped a wing over her friend, “we’re all just happy to see you back on your hooves alive and well.” Baen prodded her with his hoof, “Hoping that I passed away so you could get my house?” Twilight blushed, “WHAT?!” Baen broke out into a fit of laughter which she puffed her cheeks out at. Rarity giggled lightly, “Oh Twilight you look so adorable like that.” Twilight stopped her cheek puffing and grumbled, “I do not…” “Oh be calm Twilight,” Baen nudged her lightly, “I’m merely having some fun.” Fluttershy blinked for a moment before she gasped in realization, “Oh, Twilight! Remember we were going to tell Baen about….,” Baen looked at her at the mention of his name and her words went off into a string of mumbles. Twilight perked up and stopped, “Oh yeah! Thank you for reminding me Fluttershy,” she turned to Baen, “Baen, how would you like to come and spend the night at my castle this evening with the girls and I?” Baen’s eyes widened ever so slightly and he pointed at her with a look of mild worry, “Will there be drinks involved? Because the last time that happened,” he shuddered, “I still have cravings for sun hats.” Twilight shook her head and raised a calming hoof, “Not this time. I had enough trouble nursing my headache the following morning. It will be strictly cider and or punch.” Applejack smirked with mild pride, “Apple Family Cider, I think you’ll find it a fitting substitute to wetting your whistle Baen.” Baen grinned at the farm mare, “I’ll believe that when I taste it.” Rainbow Dash glanced at Baen with mild skepticism, “Just make sure you don’t drink it all if you do start to like it,” she shot him a warning glance at the last part. Baen gave her a mischievous grin, “I make no promises.” Twilight tapped Baen on the shoulder to regain his attention, “I hope you don’t mind, but since she and Shining are still in town,” she smiled with exuberance, “Cadance will be joining us. She thought that if you said yes it would be a good chance to thank you and maybe bond,” she was visibly hopping in contained excitement, “Oh it’s going to be a good night!” Baen shook his head as the girls talked amongst themselves about the coming events, Baen could only smile. But something lingered behind his gaze….but what was it? * Baen stood on the threshold of Twilight’s home, the massive structure casting a long shadow in the setting sun’s light. Sighing and bracing himself, he knocked. Baen had prepared himself for anything, except what came next. The door opened to reveal Princess Cadance, minus her regalia, and she planted a smooch on Baen’s lips. The warrior froze as still as a statue as Cadance giggled, but she placed a hoof on his muzzle. “Don’t read too much into it Baen,” she smiled with a hint of mischievous glee, “it’s just my way of saying thank you.” Baen raised a hoof with his stunned expression still on his face, “Can…you thank me one more time?” She bopped him on the head with a snicker, “Sorry Baen, everypony that’s not my husband gets one.” Baen pouted as she led him inside. After a while, Baen came into Twilight’s study. Many of the furniture had been moved around to make a decent amount of space. A large circular rug was laid out on the polished floor, placed strategically on it were beanbag chairs which were currently occupied. Twilight smiled as Baen entered, though he stopped for a moment when his gaze wondered to an adjacent room. He tilted his head as he glanced in; it seemed to be her library. But what caught his attention was the fact that there was something at the far end. “Twilight,” he stated, “why is The Crystal Mirror here and what is all this….,” he prodded the machine parts. But then there was a snap as a bolt of red energy surged from him, up through the devices and into an odd book at the top. The machine parts whirred to life for a minute before dying. Twilight gently pulled him away from the mirror with her magic, “Oh that,” she rubbed the back of her head, “You….might have missed a few things while you were in the hospital.” Baen raised an eyebrow, “Liiiike?” Twilight gestured to a beanbag chair, “Well as luck might have it, I was just about to tell everypony the story.” Baen trotted into the room and stopped. Rarity tilted her head, “What is it darling.” Baen sighed, “One moment.” Baen reluctantly reached up, his hoof lingered for a moment under his left shoulder pad. But then a click was heard. Soon another click followed it and Baen’s chest plate was deposited on the ground. Soon his armored grieves joined the chest plate as he seated himself. Rainbow blinked, “Dude…you took off your armor…., you’ve never taken off your armor around us.” Baen shrugged and smiled, “Well friendship is all about trust right?” The girls smiled warmly as Cadance nodded in respect for the barbarian. Applejack then leaned forward, “Alright Twi, so tell us what happened when you went over there. It’s been eatin me up not knowin!” Twilight nodded, “Alright,” she glanced at Baen, “just to tell you, this happened a week ago.” * The story went on for a good hour before Twilight reached its conclusion. “And ever since, I’ve been getting notes from Sunset,” she took a sip of cider, “and I’ve sent her notes from time to time.” Baen’s eyes lit up in wonder, “This world….to think,” his ears drooped, “I missed it….” Twilight gave him a pat on the back, “Hey none of that. When we get the chance, we are both going over there,” she hoof bumped him, “pinkie promise. The only reason I’m not taking you now is because I thought I’d give them some time to recover before I do an actual off the books visit.” Baen nodded, “Understandable.” Twilight gave a knowing grin, “Pluuuus, I might have dropped a few notes to Sunset about you.” “Really?” Twilight nodded, “She can’t wait to meet you the next time I visit. Just a warning though,” she suppressed a giggle, “she used to be a student like me so she might bombard you with a lot of questions.” “I’ll prep myself,” the barbarian cited. Cadance sipped her drink before looking at Twilight, “Oh that reminds me,” she lowered her cup, “Celestia wants me to take the Mirror back to the empire for some study. Just to ensure that your device didn’t destabilize it or anything. I’ll bring it right back when the tests are done.” Twilight nodded at her fellow princess. Soon the room descended into silence, but it was broken by Rarity clearing her throat. “I have to say it,” she glanced at Baen, “I had to wait two weeks, so I’m going to say it.” Baen gestured for her to do so. “Well back at the cave when we were talking about dreams,” Baen’s face fell slightly, “I never got a chance to say my dream.” Baen gave a half smile, “What is it?” Rarity looked to the side for a moment, “Well it’s rather unexpected….,” she twiddled her front hooves, “But….my dream is to not only become a successful mare. But to inspire others to become successful and help them in their endeavours whenever I can.” Twilight smiled, “Rarity that’s a beautiful dream.” Rarity shrugged, “Well It’s something right?” Baen nodded. Rainbow had stayed silent the whole night during the story, and eyeing Baen, but now she decided it was time to speak. “Alright, if we’re all telling things, there’s one thing I really wanted to know about you Baen.” Baen tilted his head. “Well I mean, I think I might speak for everypony but,” she gestured to Baen’s eye, “how did you get THAT scar?” Baen froze up. Rainbow shrugged, “I heard that every scar tells a story, but what’s that one’s story hm?” Baen’s look became forlorn, something flashed in his eyes. Twilight gazed at him in concern as Applejack leaned forward. “Cmon sugarcube,” she looked into space, “Ah bet its some amazing tale of you slayin some beastie.” Rarity nodded, “Come on Baen, spill the beans!” Pinkie nodded along with Fluttershy. Cadance raised a hoof as Twilight did the same, “Um girls….” Rainbow tilted her head as Baen’s face became overshadowed, “Come on! Don’t hold out on us.” “IT’S NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!” The rainbow mare was taken by surprise as Baen glared white hot rage into her eyes. For once, RD felt really small. Baen spoke through gritted teeth, his hoof jabbing her, “Do not EVER, ask me about this scar again. UNDERSTAND!” Rainbow nodded slowly as he burst from the room, “I’m going outside to get some air.” Rainbow looked after him, “Did…did I say something wrong?” Cadance looked at Twilight and nodded as both princesses. Both princesses stood and walked to the balcony where the barbarian stared down at the darkened streets below. His necklace’s stone in his hoof, but what surprised the two alicorns, was the sounds of quiet sobbing. Baen’s body trembled as sobs wracked his body. “Baen?” Baen straightened up as Twilight approached a hoof extending, “Is everything alright.” “DON’T TOUCH ME,” he growled. Twilight flinched back as Baen continued to sniffle. Cadance reached out with a wing and gently nudged the barbarian, “Baen, what’s wrong? You can talk to us.” Baen inhaled shakily, “I….I’m sorry that I ruined your evening….” Twilight shook her head as she and Cadance flanked him, “its fine Baen, you just gave Dash a little scare. But why did you react so harshly when she asked you about…well…you know what? I mean I understand if all of the questions got to you and you don’t want to talk about it.” Baen faced her, “Twilight….just know….,” he ran a hoof absently over his scar, “When I got this….someone was taken from me. I might tell you all one day, but please, just don’t ask. That is all I want.” Cadance nodded, “Alright.” Twilight smiled and nuzzled him in support, “I’ll be patient.” Baen smiled as he wiped away tears, “Thank you both.” Twilight led him back inside, “Trust me Baen, we’ll always be here for you, if you need us.” Baen stopped for a moment, “I know….” He quickly caught up. * Celestia stared at Baen in seriousness, “Are you sure this is true?” Baen nodded as he stretched his legs after rolling out of the hospital bed, “Yes. After looking over the locations of the Harbingers emergence,” he placed a piece of paper on his bedside table, “I traced the ley lines from their emergence’s and discovered they all converged on Canterlot. If Malachi is going to emerge, it will be there.” Celestia covered her mouth but quietly added, “How long?” Baen shook his head, “I’m not sure. But I have a plan,” he looked to the side, “I’m going to go into Tartarus and stop Malachi before he even reaches the surface.” Celestia shook her head, “I can’t allow that Baen, It’s…” “Dangerous, I know,” he stared at her with a steeled resolve, “But I’m going. If you try to stop me, I’ll go through you if need be.” Celestia sighed, “What….what do I tell Princess Twilight?” “Nothing….,I….” * Baen stood on the threshold of Twilight’s study looking back at the happily snoring friends. He smiled sadly. “I care too much for you all to take you with me,” tears fell from his eyes, “be safe and merry.” Baen then wandered into the night, dropping a note beside Spike.