//------------------------------// // Completeing the List // Story: The Magic and Mysteries of Friendship // by The Stainmore Phoenix //------------------------------// “Those guards are something else!” Rarity huffed indignantly. “Telling us how to handle ourselves! They’ve no business butting in here!” “They mean well,” Fluttershy reminded her. “They’re accompanying us, as it is orders. The stallions are also here, as an added shield.” “Pah!” “Come on, be sensible,” Rainbow Dash said. “It’s awesome! Two guards who were in with the princesses! Think of that! And now, we’re friends!” Rarity considered for only a minute. Knowing them as she did, it wouldn’t be out of place for Ex-Royal Canterlot Guards, especially with the wide range of knowledge that they had, to act as their protections. Deciding that an argument was going to get her nowhere, she continued on with the group. However she was too far lost in the seas of thought, that she didn’t notice the they had stopped and she ran into Dragonstorm’s flank. He didn’t seem to notice, but she became aware of something. “Mr. Serpent!” Dangersignal called. Managing a peek, she saw a river in a state of turmoil and a sea serpent flailing about, wailing over his lost half of his moustache. Dangersignal seemed to have trouble getting him to calm down, despite his rank and pony type. “How Can a Field Marshal Alicorn NOT control this situation?” Rarity thought. It was then that she remembered that these trials were not trials for the whole team, but for each individual, as Dangersignal had said on multiple occasions. It soon dawned on her that Dangersignal’s failing to calm the sea serpent meant that this wasn’t his trial and that he didn’t have the tact to handle something this delicate. “May I?” she asked, coming alongside the Alicorn. “Be my guest,” he said and bowed himself away to watch the spectacle. “Such fine scales,” Rarity commented. “Thank you,” The dragon sniffled, tears streaming down his face. “That must have been one fine moustache,” she continued. “Your right!” he said. “Well, I have a way to fix this fashion crime,” she said. Walking up, she plucked a scale from the sea serpent. “YEEE-OUCH!” he bellowed. “Now you wait a few minutes,” Rarity said. “While your waiting, can you at least answer my friend, the dark red Alicorn’s questions?” “Certainly,” came the sea serpent’s reply. Dangersignal took that as his cue. He stepped forward while Rarity checked the scale over. “What happened to cause you to go into this fit?” he asked, calmly. “I was minding my own business when a blue mist sliced my moustache,” he said. “Hang on,” Dangersignal said. “You said that a blue mist came through here?” “Yes,” he said. Leaving Rarity to her genius, Dangersignal went back to the others. “Chaps, we’ve got a villain who’s standing in society is lower than that of dirt,” he said. “She’s getting desperate and from experience, anyone getting desperate is bound to want to eliminate Everypony who stands as a threat to her.” “Are you saying that we’re the first ones to go if we lose?” Pinkie asked, her eyes widening in horror. “Yes, but she’s playing it strong with one card, and that one card’s a joker,” he said. “We have a full fledged team and we’re going to see this throw to the bittersweet end.” “Bittersweet?” Gemstone asked. “Yes, because we have to hurt a princess in order to save her from her evil side,” he said. “If that makes any sense.” “It does,” White Orchid said. “But it twists all logic that we have to save a princess from her own evil.” “Yes,” Dangersignal said. The group then turned just in time to see Rarity slice off her own tail and intertwine it with the sliced off end of the sea serpent’s moustache. The group was startled, but the sea serpent was pleased and began to thank Rarity to no end. Once all the gratuities were given out, the group made their way to the water, where the sea serpent made himself into a bridge. “Thank you for helping us,” Rarity said. “No problem,” the sea serpent said and went back to swimming peacefully. Rarity shivered and stuck close to Dangersignal for warmth. He told her to hang back with him and let the others go on ahead. She was curious as to why he wanted her to hang back, but she could see what he planning. With his magic, he gripped his utility knife and sliced his own tail off to give to Rarity. “You’re sacrificing your tail?” she asked. “I can’t stand seeing you shiver, so, in the name of honor, I give you mine to circumvent the cold. I can take it,” he told her. “You’re sure?” she asked. “Yes,” he said. Rarity accepted the gift, then they galloped off to catch up to the group. It didn’t take long at all, which was a surprise, but they were standing around. They seemed to be frozen with fear. The trees had all sorts of faces on them, scaring everyone in the group. Even the guards found them unsettling. Dragonstorm stuck close to his older brother, acting as moral support as well as being scared. Dangersignal gulped himself, for the faces meant something else to him. Something he was afraid to say or even do-face himself and fight his demons. Before any of the mages-Alicorns and Unicorns could use any magic to rid themselves of the faces, Pinkie Pie began laughing. Shaydefire raised a brow and looked at Pinkie. “Don’t ask,” Dangersignal said, chuckling at Pinkie’s randomness. “No pony could understand her mind. It’d drive any sane pony insane in three seconds flat.” “Well, you’re right,” Shaydefire said. “Wait, why are you chuckling? Don’t tell me-you’ve gone insane trying to understand her?” “Nah,” he said. “Just seeing her laugh, well, it reminded me of me and Dragonstorm when we were younger. She seems to have captured the essence of his innocence before the tragedy.” “I see,” he said. “Shaydefire, Can I trust you with a secret?” Dangersignal questioned. “Sure, just tell me…” he began, but was cut off by everyone else laughing so loudly, it could have been heard at Horseshoe Bay. It seemed that Pinkie was really onto something. Shaydefire and Dangersignal both gave a hearty laugh, joining in. In a flash, the faces disappeared and everyone became straight faced and hard set on the mission again. It was quiet, too quiet for Gemstone, who was not exactly one for stifling silence. It seemed that something was bothering the group, and she realized that the whole thing bothering the group was Nightmare Moon and who she really was. “I know it’s going to be hard, but a bitter pill is better to swallow than no pill at all and let the pain of your conscious run your life,” she said. “Nothing in life is ever sweet and painless.” “Wisdom at it’s finest,” Twilight thought. Something was still bothering the others and Amplitude voiced the thought on everyone’s mind. “Guys, we only have four unicorns and two Alicorns and the Alicorns are the only ones in with a chance to do any damage to her and even stop her,” she said. “While I know that we have a job to do and we can do it with everyone, and I sincerely know that we can do it, I don’t really believe that Celestia’s mind was working properly.” “Well, sometimes, my dear instrument fixer and choir leader,” Soundstar said. “Seeing is believing, but sometimes, not seeing or not having the faith to believe is in itself believing.” “Sincerity and Believing,” Applejack thought. It was now down to the last few-Storm Blast, Hurricane, White Orchid, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The tests they had to face would either be easy or difficult, but no pony knew those what those tests were. They’d get to see Storm Blast’s test. Continuing on to the middle point of the forest, the group could see something that got them thinking that something was off indeed. The weather manager’s office in Ponyville. More precisely, the weather manager’s office a few blocks from the large junction station of Ponyville. Storm Blast was on nerves and ends. He knew what that meant, and he didn’t like it one bit. Just then, a dull white Pegasus with dark blue mane and tail burst into the office. “Storm Blast!” he snapped. “You’ve never shown any pride in being a Pegasus. Any good Pegasus would have pride in being a Pegasus from the grandest town-Cloudsdale!” “I show my pride in my work, sir,” Storm Blast huffed. “You’d know that if you were real!” Hissing at the sharp comeback, the manager snarled and flared his wings in an agitation. “I should’ve known you were a failure!” The manager roared. “I have pride then and now, and my pride is standing behind and beside me-my friends!” bellowed Storm Blast. “They know that I have my weaknesses and my pride dictates that I get help when I need it!” Everything faded into the darkness of the woods. Once again, the unsettling feeling that they were nearing their greatest battle. With, hopefully, no more time wasted, the group headed onwards and upwards. The group now came to a small canyon in the middle of the forest and noticed that there was something off as, there was a shadowy shape standing in their pathway. Dangersignal stopped and signaled the group to the same. “Guys, there is something ahead and it looks like a Manticore, but I can’t be certain of my facts just yet,“ he said. Before anyone could say anything to give the Alicorn a solid answer, there came a roar of pained anger and out jumped a creature with the head and body of a lion, lion’s paws, a scorpion’s tail and dragon wings. “Definite answer to your idiot question,“ Rarity snapped at Dangersignal who was looking flustered and had one thing going through his mind-“Me and my big fat mouth. I need to get better at not opening my fat trap at the wrong time.” Of course the group went into fighting stance, with Fluttershy looking concerned. Dragonstorm could see that Fluttershy knew the problem, but she was having a bigger problem-getting the group to listen to her, but because of her timid nature, no pony took her into consideration. “Fluttershy, why don’t you let me do the attention grabbing?” Dragonstorm said. “At least I can give orders, being a Brigadier General.” Fluttershy agreed and Dragonstorm conjured up two ear plugs for Fluttershy to use. Once they were sitting comfortably in her ears, Dragonstorm used his Royal Canterlot Command Voice. “STAND DOWN!” he bellowed. The group didn’t even notice the order. Dragonstorm grinned to himself and Fluttershy watched his horn glow lime green and she watched at the others were pressed to the ground. Dragonstorm gestured to Fluttershy to take out her ear plugs. She did so and walked up to the Manticore. “Oh, please, calm down,” she said. “I can help you if you calm down.” The Manticore stopped thrashing around and growled uncomfortably. She inspected the front left paw of the Manticore, which had a giant black thorn stuck in it. “Hold on, this will hurt a little bit,” she said. “But it’ll be better than driving it deeper into your paw.” The Manticore braced itself. The others, being held down to the ground, watched in horror. Fluttershy pulled the thorn out with no trouble at all. The Manticore roared and gripped Fluttershy and began licking her gratefully. Once the Manticore wasted thirty minutes of their time, it flew off and the group was soon let up and they continued on. “Who was that who used the incapacitation spell?” Twilight demanded. “I did,” Dragonstorm stated. “Because you didn’t listen to my order of “Stand Down”.” “Oh…uh…well…we…erm…uhm…ehh…oops?” Twilight said. “Anyway, we now have two more known elements,” he said. That was agreed to, heartily and with pleased cheers. Now, they needed to get the last elements and quickly. However, they were going to get the last elements in no time at all. As they headed onwards, there stood a lonely cloud. Hurricane stretched his wings and prepared to take off when he was stopped by Applejack. The Pegasus snarled at the earth pony and after getting his tail free from her mouth, he once again prepared to take off and get rid of the cloud when she was stopped again, by Rarity. “Cannae ye let me dae mae job wit’out interferin wit’ mae werk ethic?” he demanded. “We appreciate the fact you want to take care of that cloud, but it has the appearance of being tampered with,” Storm Blast said. “Ye’ve gone mad!” Hurricane retorted. Dangersignal went up to the cloud. “Get back! This thing’s gonna strike a random target!” he called. The group ran back. Dangersignal bucked the cloud and the lightning bolt struck the Alicorn with a fury like no other lightning bolt could ever muster. The blast was enough to knock him for a loop and send him spiraling into a tree. “DANGERSIGNAL!” the group cried and galloped over to where the injured Alicorn lay. He was a sight. Singed fur and wings, black eye, several bruises and several cuts. Aquatis Storm came up to him and began to tend to the injured Alicorn. “Either you’re the bravest hero or the most perilous dunce we have ever had the pleasure to know!” he chuckled. “Watch it, mac,” Dangersignal teased back. The doctor wrapped a bandage around the Alicorn’s injured wings and gave them a light yank, making the Field Marshal wince. Once all was done, the Pegasus gave Dangersignal some pain relief medicine and a flask of water. “We’ll have to keep you at the back of the group,” Aquatis Storm said. “Any more beatings and you’re as good as buried.” “You mean that if he sustains more injuries, he’ll die,” Dragonstorm said. “Yes,” Aquatis Storm said. “You two already lost your parents and baby sister, so I’m pulling out all stops for you and your brother to stay together!” “Thank you,” Dragonstorm said. Aquatis Storm accepted the gratitude with pleasure, then ordered that Applejack and White Orchid stand alongside Dangersignal and catch him if he falls over. The orchid growing stallion decided to ask if Fluttershy could walk in front and act as a catcher if he should fall forward. “I want to make sure he doesn’t fall straight over, and this should help. I do care for him as well,” White Orchid said. “His loss would leave deep wounds on us all. I want to help him in any way possible. I know it may seem wrong to have a young lady act as a front cushion, but it’s the best course as a stallion would be too hard and would be an instant discard. I’m not chancing it. Fluttershy, will you?” “Of course,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to lose him either.” “Virtue, by showing that he was right in taking action to protect his friend,” Twilight thought. That left Rainbow Dash and by process of elimination, Twilight figured that Rainbow Dash must be loyalty, but how was she going to prove her theory? Where could the trial be? What could the trial be? Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when she saw a castle in the distance. Her eyes widened in surprise and then in happiness. “There it is! The castle!” she cheered and ran forward, only to find herself dangling over a cliff edge. Applejack pulled Twilight to safety. Everyone looked at the gap and noticed that the bridge was down on the other side. “I’ll go across and tighten the bridge,” Rainbow Dash offered. The group agreed and the cyan Pegasus charged off, dived down and followed the bridge to the moorings on the other side. As she got the end in her mouth, voices spoke out from the mist surrounding the other end. Just then, three pegasi appeared. The wore dark purplish blue flying suits, similar in principle to the flying suits worn by the Wonderbolts. Their goggles were a bright yellow and they wore malicious smiles. “We’ve been waiting for you,” the leader said. “We’ll consider you for our team.” “Really,” Rainbow Dash said. “Let me do this one task, then I’ll chatter with you.” “Ignore them!” the leader snapped. Back with the group, they could see that things didn’t look good. The leader of the knockoff Wonderbolts didn’t like the feeling that they were being watched and that Rainbow Dash’s friends were encouraging her to make the right choice. Her goggles twinkled and her eyes narrowed, summoning a thick fog to mute her friends’ cheers. “Now, who will it be?” the leader demanded, getting in Rainbow Dash’s face. “You…” she began. The leader smiled, but Rainbow Dash held up a hoof to stop the leader. “You need to think,” she said. “My friends need me more right this minute, so I’m going to have to decline your offer. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.” With that, Rainbow Dash pulled the bridge rope taught, which raised the downed end and made it safe to cross. She then tied it off, to keep it from dropping down. The knockoff Wonderbolts, or Shadowbolts disappeared and Rainbow Dash used the heavy fog to mask her arrival. When it cleared, there stood a very proud Rainbow Dash. After telling the group that she’d never leave her friends hanging, which caused the group groan in playful disgust at the bad pun, but she flew over to Dangersignal and stood beside him. The others looked and grinned, teasingly. “Your in love?” Rarity asked, giving them a teasing smile. “Not in love,” Rainbow Dash said. “We’re close friends and have been for a long while.” “Anyway,” Dangersignal said. “We have work to do. Now let’s get going. Celestia needs us.” The group made their way across the bridge, in a single file line and were soon across. Now, the only thing that stood in their way was the castle’s walls and stairs. They knew that once they were conquered, they’d finally put an end to Nightmare Moon’s games.