Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
Void of light.
[New Canterlot, 4 years after the War of Gods. Two weeks after Hearth's Warming]
It was the beeping that got to him.
He could deal with the waiting, he was used to that. He could deal with the worry in regards to her, that was something he often did. The stress of the situation weighed heavily on him as he sat there, but he was used to stress as well. He could deal with the anger he felt too, he could push that aside and hold it in a small ball to unravel later when he had the time so that he could direct it better. Even so, he knew this was the calm before his storm, when he finally did focus and could feel anything he was going to have a great deal of anger. That was not something he was used to having or holding onto, but he knew he would this time, there was no way he couldn't.
He had heard from her friend and some of the others who had been there seen what happened. Most of them even thought she deserved this. To be taken down a peg or three, he knew she was an issue, often times insufferable even to him. But he loved her regardless, he had worked on trying to change her with little to no success unfortunately, but there was still time, she was young yet and had all the time in the world to change. Or she did.
He worried every day that she would come home bruised or bloodied after some pony she had tormented had had enough of her. He expected one day to get a message from the hospital that she had been in a fight and hurt and was there crying for him. He was ready for that, he was ready with comforting but firm words to make her see that she had been in the wrong, and that this is the sort of thing happened when you pushed some pony too far.
He did not however expect when he received the message to come in to find her like this.
His little girl, his little Diamond, strapped to a plank on a bed, bandaged and on a respirator, laying unconscious in a hospital, partially crushed and unmoving. She was pale,her fur a mess and covered with dirt and blood save a few spots where the doctors had cleaned her up before bandaging and setting her in body braces. Several of her ribs were shattered along with her rear legs and her hip. One of the broken ribs had punctured a lung and the tubes going into her mouth were draining the fluids building there while helping her to breath as well. Her back was heavily bandaged from where they had pulled most of the stone splinters from where she was driven into the wall. Her fore hooves were remarkably undamaged, but with her ribcage in the state it was in even if she was able she wouldn't be allowed to move them.
A number of surgeons were looking over the best way to go about fixing her, or even if they could help her. His wife had been led off by his sister in hysterics and he was left alone with his little Diamond.
He said nothing, he wasn't sure she could even hear him at this point, so he simply waited and watched. The only sounds in the room were the rise and fall of the respirator making sure she could breath, the soft hum of the healing crystal that was set low enough to keep her from getting worse, and the beeping of the device monitoring her faint heartbeat.
Filthy Rich couldn't handle the beeping, but it was better than the alternative.
===========================================================
[Manehatten, Current day]
“You better make it to the next reunion Babs, or ah'm gonna have tah come and drag you there maiself.” Applebloom threatens her cousin.” It already feels weird without Granny there and you not being there didn't halp last time either.”
“She'll do it too.” Pip chuckles.” Granted I would pay to see her hauling you all the way from Manehatten.”
The group of them were all standing on the platform at the train station. They had only stayed with Babs for a day, though the entire time the CMC had been trying to convince her to tag along with them on the trip. Pip had even offered to pay her way, though he most likely just wanted another pony with some sense with the group despite the torment he would endure from all of them together. Still she had refused citing that she had a lot of work to do and couldn't simply up and run off like they could.
Sweetiebelle was already in the train, with a mass of new purchases she had made. To be honest Pip wasn't sure what she did with everything she bought, but he was fairly certain her baggage fees were beyond what most of the group had brought with them bit wise.
“Nah, no need for all that cuz. I'll be there.” Babs grins wide ,suddenly looking at Pip who had a very bad feeling about that grin of hers. “Sides Ah gotta make sure this un's keeping his end of tha bargain. So I really need tah be there.”
“What bargain?” Scootaloo asks ignoring the flailing and head shaking Pip was suddenly doing in Babs general direction.
“Oh that's simple Scoots, he agreed tah bring his sweetie tah tha next reunion!”Babs grins
“I DID NOT!” Pip yells out, suddenly turning red faced as every pony in the train station suddenly looked at him from his outburst being a little too close to the Royal Canterlot voice.
“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww” Sweetiebelle, Scootaloo , and Applebloom croon behind the flustered colt. “ Lil Pippy's got a filly friend? That's adorable!”
Pips ears flatten and he lunges at the larger mare his hooves flailing as the other three drag him into the train car.
“You will rue this day Babs Seed. Mark my words! You will rue it!” Pip rants as the three girls drag him inside as the door closes blocking his path to the cackling Babs. “ RUE IT! WELL GO ON! START RUEING!”
==============================================
[Current Day, Tartarus]
“So where were we?” the voice softly rumbles from the great beast.
“SoMe WhErE bEtWeEn OuR nOoN dAy CuDdLeInG aNd OuR oNe O'cLoCk mAkEoUt SeSsIoN.” a smaller figure stretched out on the beasts belly chuckles.
“Ah I was hoping it was that time.” The massive dragon lightly growls as he stretches out on his back , feeling the zebra mare laying on his chest shift a little.
Time and even reality flowed strangely in this place. He knew how much time was passing on Equus, only six years had passed there. On this side of the gate however it had been closer to six thousand.
There had been a few visits from those on Equus, most often the zebra god Zecora who had made friends with Grace when they were trying to free him from his host. Though often the flow of time was not constant. The last time she had come in for tea and stayed perhaps a hour, and a month had passed on Equus. Grace had a great deal of control over this place, but even she wasn't sure what Tartarus really was. To him it seemed like some sort of nexus where a great many realities converged. There were rules of course, and if you played by them you could do an visit any when you wished. If you didn't or one of the denizens decided they didn't like you the place could become a prison formed of the worst fears and pain of the one who was trapped. Still even if trapped in such a state if one was strong willed enough they could still get free. This had happened before and would probably happen again. Grace had been cast out here when she was pulled free of her Element and the rifts into Equus opened as a result.
Still aside from something to occupy his thoughts if Grace fell asleep before him the only thing he kept track of was time, and even that was primarily so that he would know how long he had been back together with her. Other wise time meant nothing to him.
He had seen his former host once since they split, while that had been interesting , neither of them were upset when that meeting was over. The only one who came about as much as Zecora was the current Bearer of Magic, Twilight Sparkle.
The first time she arrived it was only to ask questions, very few of which either of them really felt like answering. Certain knowledge should not be shared with mortals, she seemed to accept that and afterward focused most of her questions on the other first ones and the books.
He was wary of that, some what concerned with the idea she might seek their power and given her already impressive abilities, she would be a great threat if she fell.
At least he thought like that until the last time she visited, three of her years ago and brought some of the other bearers of the Elements with her and Celestia, and the Elements themselves. The reason for why became clear when the four ponies willingly allowed the spirits of the Elements to possess them again.
There were no words created in any tongue he knew that he could express the feelings of seeing a group of friends that he had only glimpsed briefly since the beginning of history of this world. Even if they could only remained as they were for a few hours as none of them would risk injuring their bearers.
The first part of the reunion was spent getting Bonnie to stop apologizing for everything. Then there was a bit of time getting Mirth to calm down enough to stop trying to hug everyone to death. A bit more time getting Bonnie to stop apologizing again, although that was quickly turned into heavy blushing as Munificence tried to get her and Forth together finally
It barely seemed like a heartbeat and they had to leave again. The circumstances that brought he and Grace into being were too horrific for the others to even think about trying them. Though Bonnie and Forth did put a dampener on the meeting by revealing that Troph and Grace's forms would not last forever. Time would eventually mend the rift that separated them from the Elements. When the bodies they were in finally faded they would return to how it was before the Jade Scroll separated them from the others.
It was a sobering end to a joyous meeting, though Mirth seemed to act as if she knew more than the others did about something. As usual her taunting and teasing drove Forth and Bonnie insane as they tried to figure out what the griffon was on about. No amount of prodding or questioning would get Mirth to reveal what she knew however and they all had to leave before they could pry it from the griffoness. She simply told them not to worry about it.
He felt Grace's tears as the others faded away. The zebra mare had spent most of her time pressed against him almost the whole reunion and after ward she had not let him be more than a pony length from her.. That was hundreds of years ago for them, and she still clearly worried about it.
He had considered bringing it up, trying to figure out how, or at least how to prepare for the time when they would have to be apart again. He had decided against it, better to enjoy the time they had left , rather than dwell on how it would end. Was this what mortals felt? He had new appreciation for his Host and others at that point, they continued to live despite knowing it would all come to an end one day.
His musings were interrupted as Grace suddenly jerked up right with a scream and tumbled off his chest to crash to the ground. The pair where in a place that was similar to the grasslands of the Zebralands, so her landing was not harsh, but he still worried as the world around them changed.
Troph had never bothered to memorize most of the places they had been in this place, nor had he bothered to remember the visage or names of those others that actually lived here, though that was for sanities sake in some cases. He did however know very well the cavern that the gate connected to and as the grass lands faded away that was where they wound up, a massive cavern of limestone and gems lit by the glow of the gate to Equus, which was set into a massive blank stone wall at one end of the cavern.
Only now it was dark, there was no gate.
Grace was scrambling across the cavern floor her hooves striking against the rock wall as if searching in a panic for the gate. He moved closer to where she was striking and pulled her aside with his tail before cutting loose with his claws and digging trenches deeper than his love's body in the formerly unmarked stone. There was nothing behind it but rock.
He glanced down at Grace, his six eyes blinking at the mare as she reverts to her skeletal state.
“What is going on love?” he mutters.
“ThE gAtE. SomEoNe ClOsEd ThE gAtE.”
“Is that possible?”
“No, No It Is NoT.”
“That is clearly no longer the case, can you open it?”
“I dO nOt KnOw. It WiLl TaKe TiMe To FiNd OuT.”
“We have time.”
“I aM nOt SuRe Of ThAt. WiTh ThE gAtE cLoSeD wE cAnNoT gIvE oUr PoWeR tO tHe ElEmEnTs. WhOeVeR dId ThIs MaY hAvE kNoWn ThAt.”
“ Zacherle? Or his lot? I would not put it past our 'creator' to do this.” Troph growls.
“I dO nOt ThInK sO. iT dOeS nOt SmElL oF tHiEr StInK.”
Troph looks down at the mare again with more than a bit of worry. He had not considered what would happen if they were isolated from the Element they were supposed to inhabit. At the very best, it was likely they would simply not work if needed, at worst, …. at worst it would be likely better for the ponies if Avianna had won the war.
============================================================
[Sweet Apple Acres, 4 years after the War of Gods. Two weeks after Hearth's Warming]
Applebloom buried her face deeper into her pillow, trying to cover her ears from the screaming going on downstairs. Applejack had completely lost it when she heard what happened. Fluttershy couldn't even calm her down and it was only the intervention of Granny, Big Mac and Fluttershy that Applebloom had been allowed to go to her room at all despite the fact it was approaching midnight.
Guard ponies had been around all day asking questions of everyone. To her they all seemed ready to drag her off at a moments notice and throw her in jail somewhere then lose the key. That was bad enough, but then once they finally left, Applejack had laid into her. That was the worst part, Applejack was furious enough when she found out Applebloom had learned how to access Dragon magic. Now that she had actually used it, and hurt some pony, her sister had become unhinged. Granted that pony was Diamond Tiara, so she almost didn't feel bad about it, and that made her feel worse.
She wasn't even sure what happened. One moment she saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, picking on Ice Berry and the next Miss Cheerilee's desk was imbedded in the wall and covered with blood. Silver Spoon was screaming and the only part of Diamond Tiara any pony could see was a bent and broken silver tiara on the floor and a lot of blood.
There was a pause in the screaming, the sudden silence nearly as deafening as the yelling. Applebloom briefly wondered if her sister had finally passed out from all the screaming. It only lasted a moment before it started up again before it started right back up again, but it seemed it was directed at some one else as there was a counter shouting match going on now with some pony with a deeper voice yelling back at her.
It wasn't Big Mac, her older brother knew better than to try and argue with Applejack when she was on a tear. She was still trying to identify the voice when her door was pushed open slightly and a dark blue pegasus colt nudges his way in closing the door behind him before pushing a lock of his red hair out of his face with a wing tip.
“Yer supposed tah knock before entering a young ladies room Brush.” Applebloom tries to joke, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears.
“First off you would need to be a lady, which I know you are not. And second I could hear you crying from outside even over your sister's screaming.” Paint Brush Lily sighs. His voice was calm and fairly mellow with a few changes in pitch here and there that colts of a certain age tended to experience.
Brush was an odd little pony. He almost always seemed calm and collected in any situation. The only exception to this was when his sister Berry was concerned. He had gotten into a number of fights because he thought some one might be insulting her, granted Pipsqueek was the same way, but the younger colt tended to have more success in his fights than Berry did.
Berry often seemed humorless, not laughing at things others thought funny and seemingly unphased by what should be moving music or stories. He reminded Applebloom a great deal of Pinkie Pie's sister Maud in truth, though she was pretty sure the pair were not related. Were it not for the effort and emotion he clearly poured into his paintings and interactions with his sister, most would likely consider him devoid of any feeling at all. Most ponies were ready to chalk it up to the same trauma his sister experienced, but those who knew the colt before the war said he hadn't changed much.
That said the young pegasus was considered a savant in his paintings. Some ponies had taken interest in his work at first, simply because he was Princess Luna's son, but it didn't take long for the experts to find he was an insanely gifted artist already at his young age. Applebloom was a little jealous of him as he already had his cutie mark despite being younger than she was. He claimed he hadn't even noticed when he got it as he was busy working on something. His cutie mark was strange as well, it was an easel with a pot of brushes and paints around the bottom of it . Though there was a canvas on the easel with a painting depicting a moon lit field. The image was so close to the same style he painted with that he was often accused of painting his own flank, an accusation he tended to ignore. Still such detailed cutie marks were very rare, and his was the most detailed any pony had seen in some time, though no one was quite sure what it meant until they saw the depth he put into his paintings. Then it became clear that his talent was shown by the detail of his cutie mark, not just what the image was.
“Why are you here?” Applebloom manages to utter, watching the colt pull the chair away from the desk in her room to sit down.
“I came here with father. He has a suggestion or two of what to do in this situation.” Brush states flatly.
“He does...... oh no......” Applebloom bemoans. “Ah didn't want this.... and now tha Princesses are involved.....”
“No they are not. Despite mother and aunt Celestia wishing to, they cannot get involved with this without any issues arising politically, Princesses cannot play favorites in situations like this. Fortunately father neither cares for nor bothers with politics. Because of this no one really pays his actions any mind any more in truth. If your sister would calm down I am sure she would see the merit of his and uncle Rhede's suggestions. Unfortunately I believe she is hysterical, and I doubt my father would wish to try and snap her out of it in the usual way by striking her, so he is simply trying to out yell her. He does a fairly good impersonation of the Royal Canterlot Voice when he try’s.”
“That ain't good news either.”
“I did not claim it to be. Father and uncle Rhede are willing to pay for the medical bills to prevent Sweet Apple Acres from shouldering the burden, neither of them really have much use for bits given their respective positions. When I left to came up here your sister was screaming about not taking a handout while father was trying to convince her it wasn't a handout if it came from family.” Brush sighs. “ I do not expect that argument to end soon, so I came up here.”
“So what's going tah happen to me?”
“I do not know. It primarily will hinge on whether or not Diamond Tiara survives the night. I have heard that the doctors are hopeful however, Orange is one of the nurses helping out and she had kept us informed. As it stands you will likely be heavily restricted in what you can do for some time. And then there will be what ever Applejack decides to do as punishment. You will also be given training to help you better control what you know from Grandpa Rose. Despite your sisters requests neither my mother, aunt, nor Miss Sparkle are willing to wipe the information from your memory.”
“I wish they would .. ah dun wanna know this any more. Now mai sister hates me...”
“I doubt she hates you or she would have simply been rid of you. She is mad, loud, and upset you know what you do. However she has yet to blame you for sticking up for some pony who needed it. I want to thank you for that as well. I might not have done as much damage as you did, but I am sure I would have hurt her as well if I had seen her picking on Berry.”
“Really?”
“You know my temper when it comes to Berry. If I was a stronger colt I would have done considerable damage in the fights I entered on her behalf.”
“Ah seem tah recall you losing most of those until Pip showed up.”
“ Yes well, fighting is more my brothers thing, not mine. Still I also do not have the control he has either. He undergoes enough teasing about his size as it is, even with most of his bullies knowing he could wipe the floor with them. I do not think I could deal with that when it only takes a snide remark about Berry before I want to hurt some one. Better I just paint than learn to fight, despite how much I might want to.” Brush comments as if he is reading off a menu. “Still, however, I am surprised at you Applebloom.”
“About what?”
“That you did not get a cutie mark for finally shutting Diamond Tiara up. I would think that would be something impossible enough to warrant a cutie mark.”
Applebloom stares at Brush, far more unnerved than she was before, Brush had just cracked a joke, no wait he had dropped several over the course of the conversation, yet his face was as impassive as it had been when he first came in. Brush, was making jokes.........
“Tha worlds gonna end......”Applebloom whimpers.
=================================================
[Current Day, Train to the Crystal Empire]
“TELL US!”
“No.”
“Tell us!” the three singsonged again, being joined by a small pear colored filly, a few seats up in the common car, who was thankfully silenced by her mother. The trio, and the small filly, had been pestering him for the last four hours of the ride. Considering that the Crystal Empire was still a good ten more hours worth of travel, despite the girls insistence that it took less an hour from Ponyville, this would be a horrific trip. He would likely have a less difficult time if he just told them, but he was afraid of their reactions to it. No, better they just pester rather than know who.
“No” Pip growled back, crossing his fore hooves over his chest as he stared out the window. Oh yes Babs was going to get it.
“Now now girls, lets give him some space. If he dun wanna talk about it we dun need tah force it.” Applebloom finally states waving her hooves placating.
“Thank you Applebloom, at least some pony sees.....” Pip starts
“Ah'm sure we ken figure it out on our own any way” Applebloom finishes.
“Okay Braeburn is now officially my favorite cousin.” growls Pip.
“So who do we know that's in lil Pippies class, that's got to be a good start.” Sweetiebelle asks.
“Yeah well Applebloom's the only one who might know that.” Scootaloo states.
“Not really, It's been years since ah went tah that school. Ah only remember a few of tha filly’s in class. Let's see there's at least six of um I know of that might be a good start. Graceful Obsidian,
Sandy Comet, Sugary Sprinkles, Spring Concert, Kiwi Sun, and Misty Anvil.” Applebloom states.
“ So what are they like? “ Scootaloo asks. “ I figure he'd be like his dad and not want some fru fru girl.”
“I dunno, have you SEEN Princess Luna in a dress? She makes my sister look like a pig in a potato sack smock.” Sweetiebelle points out.
“Hmm. Well I dunno if any of them count as fru fru, though Misty is probably the least girly, but ah think she's dating some pony already. I bet it's Sandy, she was tha adventurous sort.” Applebloom comments.
“Sandy moved to Trottingham with her family two years ago Applebloom. Misty and Stained Glass are off and on again like a light switch.” Pip grumbles. “ Why are you digging like this when you don't even know who's in my class?”
“Ahh maybe Sugary then? Applebloom asks causing Pip to growl and bury his head in his fore hooves again.
“Would you three seriously stop this?” Pip sighs.
“That's who it is!” Sweetiebelle states suddenly.
“What Sugary?” Applebloom asks.
“No no Scoots remember who we saw Pippy with when we were walking through the market a couple of days ago?” Sweetiebelle asks.
“Oh yeah .. WAIT HER!?!” Scootaloo asks. “Crap, don't say anything!”
“Don't do this Sweetiebelle Bunny Reignolds. Do not go there.” Pip growls getting an odd look from Scootaloo that he knew Sweeties full name.
“What who was it?” Applebloom asks.
“Diamond Tiara.” Sweetiebelle states chipperly. “There were doing something in the ally and we couldn't see what, but she wasn't picking on him and he wouldn't talk about it. Maybe they were making out!”
Scootaloo blinks as a sudden silence settles over the group when Sweetiebelle finishes speaking. She glances over to Pip seeing the colt had had darted off and covered the ears of the little filly who had been listening, despite the odd looks her mother was giving Pip.
Looking back over at Applebloom, Scootaloo slid a little further back in her seat away from the earth pony, as her friend seemed to develop a rather nasty twitch.
“Uh oh.” Scootaloo mutters as the oblivious Sweetiebelle finally notices something isn't right.
========================================================
A pair of phoenixs glance up as the train rattles past their nest, though they pay it little mind otherwise as the strange pony device went by so often that it was normal to hear it now. Besides it was at the bottom of the hill and far enough away that it was just a low rumble with the occasional whistle.
The pair were looking at the nest they had built and putting the finishing touches on it when a cry rang out that sent both birds soaring into the air as the very forest shook with the outrage in the cry.
“PIP IS DATING DIAMOND MOTHERBUCKING TIARA!!!??”
===================================================
[Current Day. Location Unknown.]
“This is getting tedious, I am starting to wonder why I brought any of you into existence.”
“Hey I did my part asshole, don't even try to blame me for this!”
“zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”
“Teal you don't say 'z' when you are asleep so stop faking it.”
“Our calculations about her were incorrect. I do not like being proven wrong.”
“......”
The former griffon, now the Book of Orbsh known as the Jade Scroll was getting tired of this. They had been arguing like this since their flight from Canterlot as it fell, carried away by troll minions. As the only one of the books that had possessed any sort of autonomous motion in centuries he was quite annoyed with needing to be carried around by a mindless thrall every where. The trolls were useful in truth, but they were foul and stupid. At the moment the entire collection of them was in a cave somewhere placed on an alter of animal bone the trolls built. All the others had done since then was bicker, for the last ten years they did nothing but argue non stop. He admitted he had joined in as well until Silver had blamed him for the failings one to many times and he simply stopped talking to them. He was used to being alone with his thoughts and didn't need any sort of contact or discussion as the others seemed to.
He was debating getting a couple of trolls to take him back to his cave in the badlands when a sudden flash of power washes across him like a splash of cold water. The energy back lash was enough that he was sure the others felt it as well. Unlike them, he knew what had caused it and for the first time since he became a book he felt fear.
“Jade. What was that?” Gray asks directly, the others going silent as the first tome spoke over them all drowning out their chatter with a weight his voice didn't normally carry.
“What makes you think I have anything to do with it?” Jade snaps back defensively.
“I recognize your magical taint, while it is faint, that magic carried it. Another of your crimes against nature I assume?”
“Should have guessed you would notice that. And yeah, you could say that used to be mine.”
“What is it then?” Purple buts in, the gluttonous fool not wanting anyone to know something he didn't. Infuriating really, but he still wished he had even half what the Purple book had in terms of knowledge. It still felt good to lord the information over them however.
“Are you going to tell us this century?” the Silver script curses.
“Just shut up a moment bitch.” Jade snarls continuing before the prissy bint could say anything else. “The gates of Tartarus are closed.”
“Really , no big loss there that place was a hole.” Red states with a menacing chuckle.
“That should effectively seal two aspects of the Elements away as well. So we should not have any more problem with those in our efforts. I do not see why you seem worried. This will work to our advantage.” Purple points out.
“No, no it doesn't not with that thing.” Jade admits.
“What closed the gate Jade? What did you do?” Gray asks seeming to be the only one of them who recalled some of the things Jade had done in his time apart from the others. Jade couldn't help have a little bit of amusement in that the Prideful book knew he did this , though that feeling was fleeting.
“It wasn't supposed to still be alive. “ Jade mutters. “I even helped kill it myself.”
“What is it?” snaps Red.
“Just the start of the end of the world.” Jade comments. ”That's all.”
=======================================================
[Current day, Train to the Crystal Empire.]
“So on a scale from one to ten how pissed off is she?” Pip questions as Scootaloo comes back into her and Sweetiebelle's train cabin. He and Apple Bloom had their own room and Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo shared another with all of Sweetiebelle's luggage.
“I'd say some where around thirty six.” Scootaloo sighs.
“Maybe I can just tell her I'm not dating Diamond Tiara.” Pip grumbles.
“And what happens when she finds out other wise? She won't believe you.”Sweetiebelle points out.
“But it.......” Pip begins before Scootaloo cuts him off.
“Shut it Sweetie, it's because of your big mouth that this even happened. You know how Applebloom gets when Diamond Tiara is brought up. Even after all that happened she still manages to make Applebloom suffer and now it's without even trying.”
“But.....” Pip protests.
“Oh like you were doing anything! I didn't see you try and stop me from saying anything and we already talked about this. One of us was gonna have to bring it up at some point..” Sweetiebelle rants.
“Yeah, but gently rather than like a freight train which is how you did it.”
“Better to yank the bandage off and loose a few hairs than pull it off slow!”
Pip sighs, rising from the bed and heading to the door as the two start to bicker. It would probably end in a fight, but despite Sweetiebelle's martial arts training , and Scootaloo's Wonderbolt training it would probably devolve into a slap fight or hair pulling before any pony got hurt. He just felt bad for any stallions who noticed and came to watch or any one who tried to interrupt it. The pair often turned on a third party during their fights if one presented itself. At least they were in their room so interruptions were not likely to happen.
He slipped away as Sweetiebelle tackles Scootaloo beginning the brawl. Applebloom had left to their train compartment not long after her outburst and aside from Scootaloo checking on her the three of them hadn't managed to build up enough courage to go after her before the fight broke out. Seems he was on his own, which given how the other two were , was probably for the best.
He pulled on the door finding it locked before he pulled out his copy of the room key and opened the door.
“Scootaloo ah told yah tah leave me alone.” Applebloom growls from her bed. Pip couldn't tell if she was crying or trying to rip the pillow in half , best to start this off bluntly.
“She's terrified of you, you know that? Won't even come into the same shop if she thinks you might be visiting it. It took her about two years before she would even come out of the house alone.” Pip sighs.
“What......?” Applebloom turns glaring at Pip with red eyes. .
“Diamond Tiara. She's absolutely and utterly terrified of you. It's been six years and she's still jumping at shadows. She can't even talk to any pony with a coloration even close to yours. She went through a year being unable to move as she healed and nearly two after that in physical therapy recovering from the damage done. Another year after that was spent in therapy. Her nightmares got bad enough that Ma needed to get involved so she could actually sleep with out hurting herself by thrashing around at night.”
“That supposed tah make me hate her less? Cause it don't. I went through two years being hated by mai sister, a year getting yelled at by Brier Rose away from every thing ah knew, another four years not even able to attended a proper school and prolly tha rest of mai life being hated by tha entire Rich family, despite tha fact ah have tah work closely with um fer a month every year.”
“No it's not supposed to make you feel sorry for her , and to be honest compared to what she went through you got off light.” Pip says, hopping up onto his bed. “ That said you know I don't blame you for hitting her with the desk. She deserved it, it's forced her to become a better pony. She's no where near perfect mind you, but she's nothing like she used to be. It took her a long while to have anything to do with Brush or myself either because we were related to you. She didn't even want to go back to school if you were there. That's why you were moved to the other side of town and the others were sent to Canterlot's district.”
“Figured that was punishment fer tha noodle incident. That place was a hole.....” Applebloom mutters.
“Partially. ah mean you spent a year with Grandpa Rose in the Crystal Empire training. And the moment you got back and had that party, the Noodle incident happened. Seriously did you expect they wouldn't send you guys to different schools after that? Some of us are surprised they didn't send you to different planets”
“Wasn't out fault.” mutters Applebloom.
“Give it a rest. I know yer mad and pissed at me. Would it help any if I told yah I wasn't dating her?”
“No....”
“Yeah that's what Sweetiebelle said.”Pip sighs.
“So where are they at?”
“Still fighting in their room I expect.”
“They break somethin they ain't getting the deposit back.”
“That's their problem.”
Applebloom chuckles, though goes silent quickly. 'Yah know spend half my time worrying a'hm gonna hurt some pony else Pip. Ah get reminded of that every time ah hear her name. D'yah know what that's like?”
“Not the reminder of hurting some one , but yeah, actually ah sorta do. I may not be able tah tap into tha power of tha earth or whatever, but that doesn't mean I've not trained myself enough that it wouldn't take me much tah hurt some pony. That's what you did fer a year after all, worked on managing yer anger and trained how to control yerself.”
“It's not tha same.”
“Isn't it? Yah can accidentally kill some pony if yah get mad. I can intentionally kill a pony if ah get mad.
Either way some pony is probably dead and ah got a better chance than you of making sure they really are dead. Ah bet unicorns feel tha same way. Probably doesn't take much tah stop some ponies heart with magic or liquify a bone or three.”
“There's too many calculations needed fer a unicorn tah do that unless they planed ahead far enough or are insanely powerful......”
“Or Guard trained. Pa's had to track down a couple of rogues from his training. One of them was using what he learned tah murder ponies. Da was depressed fer a while after he came back after that. “ Pip snorts “All tha stuff he's seen and done and one sadistic deranged pony upsets him. Every pony's got the potential tah be a dangerous monster. That yer this worried about it means yer less likely to let it happen.”
“Ah guess.”
“ Good now that this is settled lets go stop tha others two from putting each other in tha hospital..... I’ve got 5 bits on Scootaloo, though.” Pip snarks.
“Pfft sucker bet. Sweetie'll get distracted by something shiny mid fight.” Applebloom gets up wiping her eyes with a fore hoof. “ Still upset though, and ah have issues with your taste in mares lil cousin.”
“But I’m........ fine whatever, so long as you don't mope or become pissy the rest of the trip I don't care any more. Lets see if they've stopped yet.” Pip growls hopping off his bed and walking out the door.
================================================================
[ Current day. Canterlot General Hospital.]
This was ridiculous, what the buck were all these ponies doing here any way? This was not a some stupid speech or award ceremony.
Starfall had brought him the news, before going to find Bleu and he had galloped here from the Guard training grounds where he had been running some new recruits though exercises. The last year since the annulled wedding had been bad enough and the last few months had been filled with false alarms and sleepless days.
He was still taking flak from Celestia and a number of nobles with some of his actions, though at least Celestia's issues were made in good humor now a days. Though the Sun Princess was clearly not happy about her derailed wedding plans for her sister.
Bleu and Starfall had caught up to him already, clearly there were advantages to flight, though in the packed hall way there was little hope that would be a help. This may call for something drastic. He snarls, fangs bared at the mass of reporters and minor nobles hoping to be here for what they considered the event of a lifetime.
“Oh crap... I know that look, Boss calm down.... we got this. No need to lay into any pony.” Bleu mutters changing size suddenly and and standing over the unicorn glaring down the hall way, her form taking up most of the cavernous pathway.
“EVERY PONY GET THE BUCK OUT OF THE WAY!”the dragon roars over the mass of subjects gathered.
Jer'rahd smirks slightly as all of them stop suddenly looking back at the dragon, then at the angry unicorn under Bleu, before diving for cover with out any more prompting. He loved that his reputation proceeded him at times like this. Still there were a number who didn't move fast enough and found themselves flung aside as he barrels through the hall. He felt Bleu land on his back as Rhede stood at the door sporting a rather large lump on his head and the twins in saddlebags on his sides. Rhede and Velkorn had been in Manehatten when all this started and Celestia and Twilight simply teleported them here to make sure Velkorn was present being the only expert on alicorns alive, Orange was with her as well though she was still learning about alicorn physiology.
“You're late Jer, Celestia's gonna murder you for sure this time.” Rhede chuckles closing the door behind the galloping pony. Jer'rahd glances back experiencing the strangest sense of deja vu before skidding to a stop near the hospital bed.
Celestia, of course, was glaring at him for being late, and he, of course, ignored her. Twilight was watching Berry and Brush, though neither really needed a baby sitter at their age, it was still part of the agreement made for when this happened. He managed to make it to the bed side just as Velkorn was pulling back from Luna who lay on the bed looking exhausted and panting. Still it was the soft cry of the newborn foal that had his full attention.
“Before you get your tail in a whirl,”Velkorn smirks.” I suppose I should tell you, that it is a healthy baby girl...”
“ A baby girl what though is the thing....” Orange comments getting a glare from Velkorn and a questioning glance from every one else.
Luna shifts a little as Velkorn finishes cleaning the baby up and gently lays the bundle in Luna's fore hooves. Luna blinks curiously peering at the filly as Jer'rahd leans closer to look at his new daughter.
The first thing he noticed was she did not have a horn, this really wasn't unexpected given Luna was technically a full pegasus and he was only a half unicorn. The second thing he noticed was her coat coloration was almost a perfect match for his, though the little wisps of wet mane he could see matched Luna's silvery platinum hair from when she wasn't an alicorn. The next thing that both he and Luna noticed at the same time judging by her soft gasp was a small pattern of orangish scales around her eyes and little hooves. The small filly suddenly yawns showing a tiny set of fangs, before she nuzzles against Luna's chest.
Celestia and Bleu lean over as well as the two new pony parents stare down at their half dragon daughter.
“Hmmm, I was wondering if this would be the case.” Celestia sighs. “ I suppose I owe Bleu twenty bits now.”
Bleu simply grins before looking at Luna and Jer'rahd's confused expressions.
“Hey don't blame me boss, you're the one with the weird ass family line.”
“Not to rush you if it's all the same,” Velkorn interrupts. “But I don't suppose she has a name?”
Jer'rahd doesn't respond simply staring at the tiny foal like he can't even hear any one else. Luna however manages to speak.
“Dawn....” Luna smiles. “Her name is Dawn Star.”
======================================================
[Current Day, former location of the gates of Tartarus.]
He looked out over the countless graves as he rested against a rock panting heavily. This had cost him greatly, but it was done. He had spent centuries since he escaped, hidden among the wretched masses,
doing nothing, but sealing bits of that place off from this world. There had been many rents in the fabric between the worlds, and he had painstakingly tracked them all down and sealed them.
There had been several times he thought himself captured or found out by the Ferrymare or what ever the local authority was, but luck had been with him and he was never caught. Still it would have taken him another thousand plus years to collect enough power to close the main gate if not for the war ten years ago. The amount of power flowing around made things easy for him. He could simply pluck it like a ripe fruit from the air itself. Despite that he was unable to gather it as efficiently as he normally did so a great deal of the energy was lost, but he gained enough to do what he needed.
Even so, if the Ferrymare had not been distracted by the dragon, or that mutt of hers was still alive, he would not have succeeded. It had taken all the energy he had gained from the conflict to seal the gate, but the last thing he feared was no longer an issue. He doubted this would hold the pair of them forever, but by the time they got out he should have enough power to claim them them as well, particularly after having claimed the others.
Not to say there would not still be obstacles, but he had planned for them, there were a number of creatures he wanted to meet now. But he needed to start small again before he went after them. He was in no condition to go after gods like this.
Still a smile crossed his face, it wouldn't be long and once he was back to his old self, he would of course make his play then. Celestia and Luna could not stop him, and with his brother long dead they could expect no aide from him either. But even those two were low on his list compared to the others he wanted first.
The strongest unicorn mage in Equus, and the one known as the Demon of Dullahan were prime on his list, the pair of them had power to spare.
“We will meet very soon Twilight Sparkle and Jer'rahd Kaisur. Very soon.” Tirek smiles.