//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Old friends, new problems // Story: The Scrapper // by J8ck78 //------------------------------// "Hey Twilight." said Scrapper as he entered the library, "You have a books that date back to a thousand years ago?" "No, but I know where some are!" she said cheerfully, "Canterlot!" "How does that help me?" he asked confused "Princess Celestia replied to my letter! She has sent for a Royal Guard chariot to escort you back to Canterlot! She's excited to see you again and hopes you will go see Princess Celestia!" "Wow, mail has really improved over the years!" said Scrapper in surprise "Now, I have spike to magically send them to her, and she sends them back through him." "It's not as pleasant and easy as it sounds." said Spike as he walked by "So, when is the Guard escort getting here?" asked Scrapper "Soon. Very soon. My brother is Captain of the Guard so he saw to it personally to get a Guard out here fast." "Your brother is Captain of the Royal Guard!? Is there anything else about you I don't know?" "Well, I am known for returning Princess Luna to her original form, and for defeating Discord when he was released! bragged Twilight "Discord!" said Scrapper suddenly "Yeah, King of Chaos and all that! he almost defeated the elements of harmony!" "No, no, while yes that is impressive and I envy you for it, there is a reason his name strikes a memory in me! something about him is why I froze myself, I just don't know!" "Well, he's defeated again! So there is no reason to fear now." "It wasn't Discord though, it was.... I can't remember!" "Well, maybe you could ask Celestia while your there. I'm sure you'll be welcomed warmly by her, I hope." "I was on friendly terms with Princess Celestia before I froze myself. I'm a inventor you see! Made all sorts of contraptions and what not out of scrap." "Oh. Well I guess-" A knock came at the door followed by a voice saying "Royal Guard" as Twilight and Scrapper walked over to it. "Wow, they got here fast." said Scrapper "Well, I did send the letter not long after you left, and flying to Canterlot is much quicker than going by train." They opened the door to see a brown coated blue haired Pegasus standing there in Guard armor. He looked like he didn't want to be there and gazed over the two Unicorns before resting his sights on Scrapper. "So, is this the time frozen Unicorn?" he asked "Yes, yes I am." said Scrapper, "And you sir are?" "Staff Sergeant David, Royal Guard." "David?" asked a confused Twilight "Eeyup. I owed the Guards who normally do this a favor ever since the Wedding disaster." "You're in the Guard?" asked Scrapper "If I had a bit for every time some pony asked me that. Yes I'm the the Guard. We're not all a bunch of white and grey haired Ponies! Allot of us are, but not all of us!" "Okay, sorry." said Twilight breaking them up, "So, this is Scripted Swords, or Scrapper. You're taking him to Canterlot?" "Seems like it. Come on! Chariot is waiting! Got one of them new models that help Guards as they fly." he finished happily "After you sir." said Scrapper David walked away with Scrapper right behind him before Scrapper turned back to Twilight. "Thank you Twilight Sparkle for freeing me! I hope to see you again one day!" Twilight nodded her head as the Royal Guard Staff Sergeant spread his wings and kicked off the ground. The chariot flew off with Scrapper in it as he watched Ponyville shrink away into the ground below until it was a large dot in the distance. He turned back to the Guard pulling the chariot and decided to make conversation for neither had anything better to do. "So, you owed the regular guys who did this a favor?" asked Scrapper "Don't even get me started!" said David, "Those dang changelings impersonated everyone! I couldn't tell who was who!" "Changelings! I remember them! Ugly vile creatures!" "No kidding! Freaks went and impersonated Princess Candace, weakened Captain Shining Armor, broke through the shield! I still don't know why we had that stupid thing up! We could have taken them! All it did was put us in a false sense of security!" "So what happened?" asked Scrapper "Changelings broke through, terrorized the town, impersonated people! I broke the two ponies jaws i thought were changelings. Eh heh heh." "So how did you win?" "We managed to hold a few places. Once Captain Shadow of the Lunar Guard Corps gave the order to strike anypony who did not sound off when asked the hoof, we slowly pushed them back. Finally, Captain Armor and Princess Cadence managed to fix up the barrier and sent those Changelings over the horizon. A lovely sight!" "You encounter yourself?" asked Scrapper "Yep. Really helped hold off the area me and my squad were holding. Asked them if they wanted revenge on me for all the pain I put them through. Tore those Changelings a good one. Made me proud." "You're not like normal Guards are you?." said Scrapper "I'm married to Captain Shadow of the Lunar Guard Corps! You tell me!" said David as they flew along "You're married to the Captain of Luna's Guard?" "Long story! I got roped into it somehow! Meh, no complaints though." "Well, I guess it would be good to see Canterlot again. See how much it has changed!" "Not much from what I can tell. If what you say is true, you know the Royal Princesses?" asked David "Yes! I was a good friend of Princess Luna and by extension Princess Celestia!" "Well, they would be excited to see you! Most ponies from then, don't exist much anymore." "Yes. This should be a eventful visit I can already tell!" said Scrapper as he saw Canterlot getting closer ---- "Excuse me, Twilight?" asked Colgate as she entered the Library "Oh, hi Minuette! What brings you here?" asked Twilight as she walked over to meet the Unicorn "Uh, that new Unicorn dropped this when we ran into each other. I picked it up by mistake." She showed him a small blue orb that seemed to glow a dim light. She stared at it and looked it over Colgate held it. Despite her trained eye, she couldn't think of any reason why Scrapper would have it, or what it was for. "I was just here to return it to him and be on my way." "Well you just missed him. He flew back to Canterlot with a Guard escort." "Shoot. Now what do I do?" asked Colgate "Hmm, Spike, how's my schedule for the rest of today?" "Just a bunch of reading!" called Spike from afar "I'll take you to Canterlot!" said Twilight, "I get free train tickets so I can take you!" "Well, that would be nice, but I really need to get home and, well, I do have to get something from there as is, and well, Berry Punch would understand if Spike were to tell her. How soon can we leave?" "Well, I say now who nows what that Colt will do unpon getting there. Spike! I'm going to Canterlot! Tell Berry Punch Minuette is going as well!" "Huh?" said Spike looking down to see the door close ---- "Well, we're here!" said David as he landed at a large landing balcony on the palace. If I am correct, Celestia is away at a meeting." "Well, I guess I can wait awhile. After all I must not intrude on the Royal duties of the Princess!" "Well, Luna I think had the day off. If what Raven told me is true, then she should be in her room." "Raven?" asked Scrapper "Captain Shadow. My wife! Come on, I'll take you to Luna's room." The two walked down he large corridors of the palace until they saw Luna's room door, guarded by two of her Guards. As they walked up, they saw Luna enter the room from another hallway and close the door. "Well then." said David looking on, "Found her and we know she's in there. Why don't you go say hi there Scrapper. Scrapper? Scrapper? Oh Scripted Sword!?" He looked around and could not find a sign of the Unicorn anywhere. Getting bored fast he hit the side of a pillar and down came Scrapper falling to the ground. "How did you know I was up there?" he asked "I do this for a living." said David unimpressed by Scrappers hiding place, "Now then, why are you so shy all of a sudden?" "Did you see her! Did you see what she looks like!?" asked Scrapper "Looks the same as always." said David looking towards her door, "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you and-" He was cut off by Luna screaming at the top of her Canterlot voice for a servant to bring her a glass of water. Her voice echoed through the halls and rattled the windows. "Or somepony set her off and you're royally screwed." "She always use the traditional Canterlot voice in that volume?" "Not as much as she used to. My records ten seconds air time when she once addressed me. Guard record is a full minute!" "What?" "Huh? Oh, we Pegasus spread our wings and catch the gust of air that comes out of her mouth. It's fun." Scrapper huddled where he lay shaking violently as David sighed. "Here, I'll help you." he said lifting him up "No, that's not necessary. You don't need to-" "My orders are to escort you to the Palace, or escort you to the Princesses." explained David as he walked Scrapper to the center of the hall, "So, I may as well cover my rear and help you to at least Princess Luna." Scrapper was resistant to the Guards push and sat down with a force and would not move. "Maybe some other time." said Scrapper nervously "Look, allot of ponies are nervous to see their Princess of the night. I'll help you get a kick start to seeing her." "Kick start?" asked Scrapper still looking at her door, "Whatever do you mean?" "Well, have you ever flown before?" asked David as he walked behind him "I made myself a set of mechanical wings once. It was glorious!" said Scrapper "Perfect. Hope you can steer." said David lining up his hind legs "Steer?" asked Scrapper before he felt a sharp pain in his hind quarters Scrapper next felt himself flying through the air once again. It was magnificent! The air rushing past his mane, the freedom in his veins, the sheer thrill of-he was falling. The ground came at him with incredible speed, or more over he fell to the ground with incredible speed. He landed head first and bounced across the palace hall until skidding to a stop in front of the two Lunar Guards. They moved their spears to block the door and looked at him suspiciously. "At ease you two he's with me!" said David flying up "Oh, Staff Sergeant." said one of the Guards, "If he is with you then never mind." "Well then." said David to Scrapper, "You got this far. Might as well go in." "But, but, but-" stammered Scrapper "I can always kick you in again." "No, no, no. I, i think i can take it from here. Nice meeting you Staff Sergeant." "Well I can say you are one of the more peculiar ponyfolk I have ever met. Catch ya on the flip side." Scrapper took in a large breath and walked through the doorway. Inside was elegantly designed and dark, all the tidings and trimmings for the Princess of the night. Luna herself was standing over a balcony looking out over the horizon as Scrapper shut the door. It thudded against it's latching and Luna turned to see who it was. "Put the water on our stand and that will be all." "Uh, I do not have water." said Scrapper nervously "What!? Who are you and why are you in our room?" yelled Luna angrily "Uh....... Hi?" said a nervous Scrapper Luna walked up to him, ready to do everything in her power to make his life miserable until she decided to call in her Guards. Whoever this Unicorn was, showing up unannounced on today of all days was probably the worst thing to happen. She wanted to be alone, and he was going to receive her full fury. Scrapper felt himself rise up as she brought him closer and he braced himself for the worst. Just then, the door opened and Staff Sergeant David stuck his head in. "Whoops, sorry I forgot to announce you there Scrapper. *ahem* Princess Luna! This Unicorn here is Scripted Swords, some unicorn from a thousand or so years ago who was frozen in ice and is here to say hi. I'll se myself out." With that he left and closed the door. Scrapper looked on confused as to why the Guard had forgotten to announce him, how Scrapper himself let it slip by, and that he just saved him from certain pain. Suddenly, he felt himself rotating around in the air as Luna looked him over to see if the claim was true. Scrapper felt himself getting queasy in the stomach through being moved so quickly and violently before having all the air squeezed out of his body. "Scrappy! You're alive!" "Scrappy!........ That's a name I haven't......heard in a long time!" said Scrapper with some difficulty Luna continued to squeeze him as hard as she could. After being locked away for a thousand years all the friends or associates she once knew outside her sister were long gone. The sight of one of her old friends was too much for her to handle, and she wouldn't let go. Scrapper meanwhile felt the last bits of oxygen leave his lungs as he struggled to make words. "Luna, can you......stop trying to....... break me in half?" Luna instantly let go as Scrapper dropped to the floor with a thud. "Owe." "Sorry. I'm so excited to see you again! Celestia told me you went off on some quest after Nightmare Moon was imprisoned and were never seen from again." "Yes I apparently froze myself in ice." said Scrapper cracking his back from the hug he received, "I don't remember why I did it though." "Strange. How did you escape." "Some pony named twilight-" "Twilight Sparkle. A dear and close friend of mine!" "Yes she seems to know both you and Celestia." said Scrapper as he gave his back one final twist, "Owe." "Oh, I cannot believe this is true! You standing here in front of me! Right now! I can't believe it-er, what happened to your wings?" "Huh? Oh they broke off when I came out of the ice. 1000 years tends to do that to frozen metal." "Well, we must get you a new set! Come! I wish to fly with you once again like old times!" "I guess I can whip up a new pair. Would be nice to go flying again. By the way why were you so angry earlier?" "I don't want to talk about it." said Luna darkly "Okay then." said Scrapper nervously quickly changing the subject, "So, how has your new found freedom been?" "Oh I have loads of stories to tell you!" said Luna as they walked off ---- Meanwhile in Ponyville Derpy landed at her house. She had finished early today and Dinky and Dizzy was not yet home from school so there was no little Unicorn and Pegasus to greet her. Sparkler wasn't back either from where she went, all that was left was her good friend the Doctor, who was out back working on some strange device before his magical time box. She skipped merrily over to him and tried to watch him with both eyes, but one ended up looking at the TARDIS. "Hello Doctor!" "Gyaaa! Oh, hello Derpy! How are you today?" "I met another time traveling pony just like you!" she said happily Doctor Whooves dropped his sonic screw driver and nearly fell over before looking back up at Derpy. "But that's impossible! Your kind wont be figuring out how to develop time travel technology for another few millennia! Unless of course you use magic but even then it's only for a short time!" "Well, he did say he was frozen in ice or something." "Oh, that makes more sense, cryogenics. That explains everything!" "Why would one want to cry over genetics Doctor?" asked Derpy "Huh, oh no Cryogenics is the process of-" "I keep forgetting how strange you are Doctor." said Derpy happily "No wait you-" "Ohmygosh! I just forgot! My after work Muffin! See you later Doctor." She quickly flew off to her house leaving the Doctor just standing there bewildered. "*Sigh* Might as well get back to fixing this device. Wait a minute a thousand years ago!" The Doctor stopped what he was doing, picked up the device he had in his hands and ran to the TARDIS. He jumped through the doors and ran to a panel that he had undone a few nights ago. he plugged the device in and ran over to the central station. "Set this big red red lever here, slam this squishy button here, hit this wibbley thingy here." "Doctor? What are you doing?" asked Derpy as she walked in holding a Muffin "Oh, hello again Derpy. You see, a few nights ago the TARDIS picked up a massive vortex of energy that didn't make sense. I traced it back and saw that it was left over residue from a massive blast a thousand years ago that had been transcending through time and space. Now at first I thought it was maybe a bidirectional mid-stellar surge that just happened to pass by your planet, but it didn't read on he right charts. So, then I thought maybe it was a cross-dimensional giga-plex super-" "Okay you're not making sense." said a confused Derpy, "but was it?" "No." said the Doctor "So what was it?" "I thought this device here was broken so I tore it off and tried to fix it!" he said putting it back on "So was it broken?" asked Derpy "Nope!" said the Doctor cheerfully, "Not at all! This little device here is working just fine! Better than ever I should say actually seeing it picked that up!" "Wait, so what was it?" asked Derpy "No idea! However, if what you say is true, then if that particular Unicorn was from a thousand years ago it had to be him!" "Now hold on a minute Doctor. There were allot of ponies 1000 years ago. Just because some random pony appears from then doesn't mean he's responsible!" "Yes, but this particular vortex had the markings of ice all over it! That's why I thought it was space because, well, space is cold. But if this pony was cryogenically frozen that means the vortex came from him! That explains everything!" exclaimed the Doctor finishing with laughter as he jumped around the TARDIS "Okay Doctor. I'm just going to finish my muffin now." "Oh can I have one too?" asked the Doctor, "It's been quite awhile since I ate!" "Okay!" said Derpy cheerfully