The Adventures of Damon Lipton
Chapter XXIX - At the Gala part VI
On their way back to the Gala, Twilight and Kalanar had ended up taking a small detour to visit Twilight’s old room that she studied in during her early years of being Celestia’s student. The princess had kept the room relatively untouched since Twilight left it and moved into her larger one a couple of years back, only having it cleaned on a weekly basis by the maids.
Twilight often came to the room even after moving out of it, for the sake of nostalgia and to reminisce about her past.
“May I ask what that crib is for?” Kalanar asked, indicating the small baby crib near the bed.
“Oh, that was Spike’s bed when he was still a baby.”
“But… aren’t you a few years older than him?” Kalanar asked.
Twilight nodded, “Even though I’m sorta his mum in the sense I did hatch his egg... He’s more like my little brother, Celestia was the one who really raised him. And when she wasn’t able to, Spike always had Nanny Blackberry.”
“I see,” Kalanar replied, “still find it strange that a dragon was raised by ponies of all things…”
“How is that strange?” Twilight asked, a little hurt at the statement.
“I wasn’t trying to cause offense, Miss Twilight,” Kalanar reassured her, “it’s just, in my world dragons are very solitary creatures. The only ones who do interact and socialize are the ones who work with the Templars and the Draynor, the Dragon-folk.”
“Dragon-folk?” Twilight asked.
Kalanar nodded, “Offspring of humans who mated with dragons years ago. They’re a cross breed, like half-elves.”
Twilight nodded, having heard of half elves before hand from Kalanar. Kalanar’s eyes drifted over to a nearby nightstand with a book on it, entitled ‘Photo Album’. Curiously, the mage walked over to the book and picked it up, opening it just as Twilight realised what he was holding.
“N-no, wait!” she quickly said with an extended hoof.
It was too late though.
Kalanar’s eyebrow arched slightly and a small smile formed on his face as he gazed over the pages. On the first page was a picture of a little filly Twilight, beaming happily up at him with two saddlebags either side of her frame that were bulging fit to burst with books, quills and other various equipment. On the opposite page was a small slip of paper with some writing on it.
‘Twilight’s first day of study under Princess Celestia’.
Twilight’s eyes went wide as a heavy, crimson blush appeared on her cheeks. She was so lost in her embarrassment, that her body went rigid and refused to co-operate with her mind. Kalanar smiled at the photo as he turned the page.
Before he could, the book was enveloped in Twilight’s aura and pulled from his grip. Twilight pulled the book over to her and hugged it to her chest, still bright red from embarrassment and pouting at the elf.
“Kalanar, these are my private memories, please don’t just nose in them. It’s really rude!” she huffed.
Kalanar gave her a little bow, “My apologies, Miss Twilight. I was unaware.”
The unicorn sighed softly, temporarily forgetting photography and the concept of a photo album was something Kalanar was not familiar with. Given in his world the technology didn’t exist. With a heavy sigh, she clambered up onto the bed and laid down, levitating the book back to the mage.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to pry,” Kalanar asked as he gently held the album.
“Well… it’s just a little embarrassing, that’s all. I don’t know if your parents, specifically your mother, did things to embarrass you. But my mother enjoyed showing her friends, guests, my friends, the post pony, the milk pony, the paper colt… basically anypony she saw her precious little Twilight in the forms of many, many photos from my foal hood.”
Twilight shuddered at the memory of her mother showing her then crush when she was a teen a photo of what her mother, Velvet, described on the page adjacent as. ‘Twilight’s first bubble bath’.
She never looked at the colt the same way after that.
“Well, whilst we don't have the same technology as you do… my mother did have her ways of embarrassing me…”
“Oh? How so?” Twilight asked as the mage sat beside her.
“I’d… rather not say, at least not yet.” Kalanar replied.
“Do you mind if I ask why?”
“Let’s just say… I have some scars…”
Twilight was silent for a moment. “You know… we have professional psychiatrists who can help you deal with any mental and emotional scars you—”
“No no, you misunderstood. I mean literal scars,” Kalanar interrupted, “all over my body, nearly.”
Twilight just blinked at him, trying to process what the hell the mage was even remotely talking about. More importantly, what the hell did his mother do to him?
She decided to not pursue it, at least not yet.
“Well, either way. I don’t mind you looking at the album… I know you're not going to be like Rainbow Dash and start teasing me.”
Kalanar chuckled and gave her ear a soft scratch, something Twilight had come to enjoy and sighed softly, leaning her head a little into his fingers.
“I promise I won’t tease you, Miss Twilight. Unlike Damon or Miss Dash.”
Twilight smiled and scooted closer to him as he started to look at the photos. The unicorn happily, if not slowly at first, giving the elf a little background on each photo. True to his word, Kalanar never once made fun of Twilight, only offering a sentence or two at each photo. Twilight smiled to herself and found herself resting against him, a light blush on her cheeks as she enjoyed his company.
After being told the story behind a photo of Twilight hard at work studying with a mountain of books beside her with an older looking colt, who she informed was her brother, asleep at the same desk. The mage then came to a stop upon turning onto the next page.
Kalanar had seen many things that didn’t phase him in the slightest. He has fought with Black Knights, stared down hulking giants and even killed a colossal black dragon. But nothing could prepare him for the photo on the next page.
The photo was of Twilight, still a filly, wrapped in a blue blanket with a stars and crescent moon pattern to it, snuggled beside a smiling Celestia who had her wing gently covering the filly. Her mane was a little eskew and her ears and eyes were droopy, her cheeks puffy and a light red, as was her nose and in her mouth was a small thermometer. Celestia herself was levitating a large book that had a picture of a white whale on the cover, clearly reading to the sick filly. Despite her obvious illness, Kalanar could tell the filly was enjoying being read to by her teacher.
His eyes cast over to the other page where the photo’s caption was and smiled at the words that he assumed was done by her mother.
‘Twilight’s first fever (Poor little dear had a spell misfire, was sick for a week).’
“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked, curious as to why the mage had stopped.
“Forgive me, Miss Twilight. But you do look adorable in this photograph,” Kalanar replied with a warm smile.
Twilight felt her cheeks heat up from the blush that was threatening to cover her whole face. “W-wha?”
“I believe the phrase Miss Pie used told me was, ‘adorkable’,” Kalanar continued.
The unicorn tried to speak but all that came out was a Fluttershy level squeak as she hid her face in her hooves to cover her blush.
OhmygoshhethinksI’madorable! she screamed in her mind. well… adorkable. But still!
Kalanar was about to ask if she was okay when they heard a muffled bang from behind them ,seemingly coming outside the room. They both turned to see fireworks going off and stared at the display.
“Shall we go outside?” Kalanar asked, raising from the bed and offering his hand to the unicorn.
“O-okay,” Twilight replied, shakily taking his hand with her hoof as he escorted her outside.
Kalanar led the two onto the balcony that stuck out from Twilight’s old room, coming to a stop at the railings. As Twilight rested her front hooves on the railing, now standing just under Kalanar’s shoulder, a series of large explosions covered the sky, making her gaze in wonder.
“Remarkable…” Kalanar said softly, “such a simple concept, yet so remarkable.”
“Fireworks are truly beautiful,” Twilight agreed.
“Not as beautiful as the mare in my company, I must say,” Kalanar said with a soft smile.
“Well, I don’t think that— wait wah?” Twilight asked, pausing mid-sentence trying to figure out if she heard him correctly.
She looked at him for a moment before the mage spoke to her.
“Something wrong, Miss Twilight?” he asked her.
“What… did you just say?”
“I said… ‘not as beautiful as the mare in my company’,” Kalanar repeated with a genuine smile on his face
Twilight felt her heart beating rapidly, her whole head boiling hot as her cheeks flushed red.
Does he like me? she thought to herself
Was he just complimenting me? Oh, buck it who cares. He thinks I’m beautiful! she mentally squealed.
As the fireworks started to settle down, Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat and decided to take a gamble.
“K-Kalanar?” she began, “There’s… something I’ve been meaning t-to tell you…”
“Hmm? What’s that, Miss Twilight?” Kalanar asked, turning to look at her with the smile she had grown to love.
“I…”
Twilight slowly leaned forwards.
“I… I lo…”
This is it! Now or never Sparkles! she screamed at herself internally.
“Kalanar… I-I lo—”
She was interrupted by the room door bursting open and three guards rushed in, clearly alarmed and startling the two.
“Lady Twilight, come quick!
Are you KIDDING me?! Twilight thought, rather than shout it.
“What's the problem?” she asked.
“It’s the Princess. She needs you and Elder Kalanar to come quick, it’s a matter of national security,” the guard replied.
Twilight nodded, cursing her chance had been ruined, “Okay, lead on.”
“I’m right behind you, Miss Twilight,” Kalanar said as he followed the ponies out of the room.
Celestia and Luna sat at the head of the council table where they would hold meetings that affected the kingdom as a whole, rather than in the throne room were talks about Canterlot would he held. Both of the alicorns sat in silence, minds racing with thoughts on how to approach the crisis that now befell on their kingdom.
The door opened, revealing a couple of guards being followed by the elements of harmony minus Twilight, Spike and Trixie.
“Please, everypony have a seat,” Celestia said with a soft smile.
“What’s going on, Princess?” Rarity asked.
“When the others arrive, then I will tell you,” the princess replied.
They didn’t have to wait that long, as the doors once again opened revealing Twilight and Kalanar who quickly made their way to a pair of empty seats.
“Does anyone know where my student is?” Kalanar asked, seeing Damon wasn’t present.
“They will be here shortly, Kalanar,” Luna replied, “the guards will—”
Luna was interrupted as the doors were slammed open revealing a very angry looking Damon being followed by Berry Punch, Colgate and Pinchy who was on her mother’s back.
“Luna! what the hell? You left me to deal with Berry and Colgate by myself?!” Damon angrily said at the lunar princess, gritting his teeth.
“I thought it would be best to… make a tactical retreat before the fireworks ended,” Luna replied with a sheepish grin.
“You teleported the instant I fell down!” Damon yelled.
“Don’t blame the Princess, Damon,” Berry said as she walked past him, “just because you’re a klutz.”
“A klutz with a wounded pride, and bruised bones,” Damon muttered.
“Oh, lighten up, you bag of bones,” Colgate snickered, “we didn’t rough you up that bad.”
“You smashed a plate on my head,” Damon replied bluntly.
“Details, details…” Colgate replied with a wave of her hoof.
“You did kinda slip up by yourself, Uncle bones…” Pinchy said as she clambered into his arms and was picked up.
“If you are quite done?” Celestia asked before turning to one of the guards, “Sergeant, where’s our nephew?”
“I’m not sure, your highness. We can’t seem to find him,” the sergeant replied.
“We’ll have to start without him, I shall fill him on the meeting later,” Celestia sighed.
She waited till the four had taken their seat before the princess then cleared her throat and looked at all of them with a serious expression on her face.
“I won’t beat around the bush, Dorian has broken Discord free of his prison.”
The mares all gasped as the two mages gave one another a quick glance.
“B-but how?!” Twilight said.
“Dorian grew tired of waiting for Damon to do it, so he did it himself,” Luna replied, “we think that Pinkie’s rather random and somewhat chaotic dance routine with Trixie was brought on by Dorian. Though we’re not entirely sure, we think this gave Dorian enough chaos magic he needed to channel into Discord to set him free.”
The group murmured to one another, a little uneased, Pinkie placed a reassuring hoof on Trixie’s and gave her a soft smile.
“Though, we do have a very vague idea of what they are planning,” Celestia said before turning to her sister, “Luna?”
The lunar princess nodded, “So far, we’ve cast some charms that can track chaos magic, hopefully they will—”
“Or, you know. You could just ask us?”
Everyone looked around the room to see who had interrupted them, though from the voice. They knew who it was.
“Show yourself, Dorian!” Celestia bellowed.
As requested, Dorian appeared with a flash on top of the table, giving the rulers a toothy grin.
“Evening!” he chirped.
Almost at once, the guards had drawn their weapons, unicorns horns had ignited with magic ready to attack. Damon put himself in between Berry, Colgate and Pinchy as did Kalanar whose hands were glowing with magic.
Dorian blinked and looked at them all and scoffed, “How rude.”
“Stand down, Dorian. Or we will use lethal force if you try—” Celestia started before being interrupted by the mad god.
“I’m not here to fight, Tia. In fact, I come bearing some sad, sad news.”
He clicked his fingers and Discord across the room in a hospital bed, his face droopy and a comically oversized thermometer in his mouth. Around him were three versions of Dorian dressed in doctor outfits. One in a white lab coat and blue scrubs, one in simple blue scrubs with a bouncy head of hair and a third in green scrubs and completely bald. They were each going over Discord and looking at charts.
“As you can see, Discord is suffering from the devastating effects of a little chaos withdrawled induced fever.”
“Oh, woe is me!” Discord wailed as he forced a long, throaty cough out.
“Such a shame… I don’t think he will be better for at least a day or two…” Dorian said sadly as violins played sadly in the room.
“In this state, I’m afraid we can’t show you our plans, don’t want dear Dissy to miss out do we?”
Before any of them could react, Dorian snapped his fingers, sending Discord and the other Dorians away.
“Anywho! Enough moping,” he said as he produced a small diary, “we can pencil you in for say… three in the afternoon tomorrow at the old mountain cave? Such a lovely place to play games.”
His answer came in the form of a dual blast of magic from Luna and Celestia, who had heard enough. The table exploded, leaving nothing but a smouldering spot.
“Temper, temper. Honestly, rulers these days!” Dorian’s voice chuckled around the room, “Ta-ta! Places to do, things to be… or something like that.”
With that, Dorian’s voice faded away, leaving the group alone in the room.
“What does he mean, ‘plans’?” Twilight asked nervously.
Celestia shook her head, “I’m not sure, Twilight. Whatever it is though, it cannot be good. I’m sending you all back to Ponyville with the elements and a squadron of the finest guards from the lunar and solar regiments. Call it instinct, but I believe whatever those two have planned. It will be in Ponyville.”
“Why’s that, your highness? Damon asked.
“Duh, nearly everything happens there! Don’t you guys read the stories?” Pinkie replied.
Everyone ignored Pinkie for being, well, Pinkie. Kalanar coughed softly as he looked to the Princess.
“Will you be accompanying us, your highness?” Kalanar asked.
“We won’t be. We cannot use the elements anymore due to them being bonded to you six, however, we shall remain in Canterlot incase Dorian and Discord attempt anything whilst you’re distracted in Ponyville,” Luna replied.
Everyone in attendance nodded.
“I’ll have a carriage to take you home immediately,” Celestia said with a nod, “this meeting is over. Good luck, everypony. May the ancestors watch over us all.”
The trip back to Ponyville had been silent. No one really knew what to say or do. Despite seeing some of his power already, none of them knew just how far Dorian was willing to go. Even Kalanar couldn’t give a definite answer, stating that Dorian was one of the gods who was very difficult to read due to his changing attitudes.
The elements had elected to stay over at the library for the night, to keep their receptive elements together. Trixie had also stayed over at the library, after being invited along by Pinkie. Kalanar, before returning to the library, spent a good hour placing charms around the town as to pick up on any chaotic magic.
Damon carried a sleeping Pinchy, who had fallen asleep on the chariot ride home, in his arms as he followed the two mares into their home, quietly making his way to the living room. He flopped onto the sofa, causing Pinchy to murmur in her sleep and snuggle into his chest more. Colgate and Berry slowly and silently climbed onto the sofa and cuddled into him and each other, the skeleton pulling them in closer as Pinchy stirred again.
“Will you be okay tomorrow, Uncle Bones...?” she said softly.
Damon gave her eara soft scratch, earning a little sigh of contentment from the filly, “Of course I will Pinches…”
“Everything will be fine, sweetie,” Berry added, kissing her daughters head a soft kiss, “go to sleep.”
Pinchy yawned again and nodded, snuggling into Damon a bit more, “Night night…”
“Night sweetie…” Berry said with a soft smile.
Colgate smiled softly as well, “Rest well, kiddo.”
“Good night, Pinches,” Damon replied softly.
The two mares quickly followed Pinchy and drifted off to sleep, leaving Damon to his thoughts as to what would happen the following day. He looked down at the three ponies surrounding him and he smiled softly.
“I won’t let anything happen to you guys, or anyone. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you…”
He yawned softly as he laid his head back against the pillow and slowly drifted off to sleep, hugging his family close to him.