Someone once told me you can measure the worth of a man in the tears he causes. Not his own, but by those around him. The tears of the pain he inflicts, the happiness he inspires, and the ones shed by eyes that will no longer see him. If that’s true then you could measure my life in oceans.
2.3
There were a lot of things awesome about being a pegasus. First, you could control weather, which was a freaking superpower if anypony took the time to think about it. Second, you literally had six limbs which was cool all by itself, and the feathers just sweetened the deal. However, if Rainbow Dash had to name the best thing about being a pegasus it was that you fell only when you wanted to.
Rainbow Dash felt the wind whip through her mane as she spiraled to the earth below. All of her muscles limp, she spun like a rag-doll. All pegasi have an innate sense of altitude, almost like a weight in the back of their mind, and Dash could feel that weight increasing with every second. She tensed her wing just enough for it to grab the air and roll her around. Without opening her eyes she straightened into a dive, wings still tucked to her side. The weight continued to grow, pressing down harder, yet she remained angled down with a confident grin etched across her muzzle.
Wait for it.
She could smell the earth now. It wasn't the most interesting smell, but it was dirt. Sitting around and being boring was pretty much all it did.
Not yet!
The weight pressed down harder, screaming at her.
Almost... now!
Rainbow opened her eyes and spread her wings. A large swath of green appeared before her. She pulled up and watched the earth slip by beneath her. Extending a hoof, she felt it drag on the ground just below. It wouldn't claim her today.
Better luck next time!
She angled up towards the Apple family lake pumping her wings hard before pulling them to her sides and sending her arcing into the water. The warm air vanished and was replaced by the brisk coolness of the lake. It sent an invigorating tingle down her spine as she used her wings as oars. Flying and swimming had a lot in common in Dash's opinion. They were basically the same thing. Although you could still breath while flying, so it was naturally the superior of the two.
She angled back towards the surface, wings beating harder to gain speed. As she breached she quirked her wings just enough to send her spiraling out of the water in a dizzying pirouette. Her mane and tail were drenched, but the water on her wings was effortlessly flung off. Pegasi wings didn't get wet. Twilight had told Dash they were hydro...er, hudro... they were so awesome they scared water right off them!
Dash hovered in the air shaking the water from her mane as the sound of cheering reached her ears. Glancing down, she saw Scootaloo wading in the lake waving her arms in the air as she whooped in excitement. The other ponies floating beside her, while not as enthusiastic, applauded with her, Big Macintosh's deep chuckling providing the bass.
“That was awesome!” Scootaloo shouted as Dash came to a hover above the filly.
“That was nothing, Squirt,” she said, mussing up the filly's hair, “Once we get you going that will look like child's play!”
Scootaloo beamed, “Really?” Her eyes twinkled at the thought.
“Absolutely,” Dash said, though she did catch the disapproving glare Applejack threw at her.
I'll get her there, AJ, just you watch! I keep my promises.
“I can't wait!” Scootaloo said.
“Good,” Dash said, “so are you ready to get started today?”
“I thought we were still waiting for...” Scootaloo paused and smiled, looking past Dash. “Ike!” Dash turned and found the human walking down the path.
'Bout time that slowpoke showed up.
He brought his hands up and slowly started clapping as she flew up to him. His lazy grin graced his face as she was coming to expect, and a wild assortment of gear hung from him. She eyed his sword warily. It gave her an uneasy feeling she didn’t like, but she grumbled and pushed it to the back of her mind.
Weird sword, she thought.
“Hail to thee, blithe spirit,” Ike said once she was close. He gave her a half bow, “Bird thou never wert.” Rainbow hung in the air and stared blankly at the human.
“Uh, was that supposed to be a compliment?”
Ike shrugged, “I think Shelley meant it as one.” He held up his camera. “You mind if I…?”
Rainbow Dash, still trying to figure out who in the hay Shelley was, grinned as she saw the camera. “Did you like what you saw? Told you I was good.”
“I won't argue with that, however...” he took off his sunglasses and examined them. He turned them over a few times before shaking his head. “Nope. Sorry, Dash—you failed to penetrate the glasses.”
Dash laughed. “I guess I'll have to try harder next time. Now, where would you like me to be?” she said, striking a pose.
“Anywhere is fine,” Ike said focusing the camera. He paused, looking up from the viewfinder. His grin widened. “But I think we might want to do this some other time.”
“Huh, why?”
“Well, let's just say I'm not in the mood for collecting blackmail at the moment,” he said, as his smile scrunched up and he tried to hold in laughter.
“Hey! What's so funny?” Dash said, dropping to the ground.
“Nothing, but I gotta ask. Did you happen to stick your hoof in an electrical socket?” Ike couldn't contain himself anymore and crumpled over laughing.
Dash stared at him, a mixture of confusion and anger bubbling up within her.
What in Equestria is that supposed to mean?
“Erm, sugarcube?” Dash turned and to see Applejack behind her. She was holding a hoof to her mouth and a blush lit up her cheeks. “Don't ya remember how your mane reacts to water?”
“What do you-” Dash froze as realization dawned on her. She raced past AJ toward the lake. As she looked at her reflection in the water her stomach flipped. Pegasi feathers were waterproof, but their manes were not so lucky.
Her reflection showed a massive poof ball that sat on top of her head. Cold water and dry air had never mixed well with Dash's mane, and now she looked like a rainbow colored cotton ball.
There was an explosion of laughter behind her. She glared backwards and found Applejack rolling on the ground. “A little makeup, RD, and you'd make a perfect rodeo clown!” Ike collapsed next to her and beat a fist against the grown in between his belly laughs.
"Find her a barrel, and we're all set!"
Dash snorted and opened her mouth to tell the two off. “What's so funny?” She heard a young voice say. Dash yelped and without thinking thrust her head back into the lake. She felt somepony poke her in the side and heard the muffled sounds of her name being called.
“What was that?” she said, pulling her head from the water.
“What are Applejack and Ike laughing about?” Scootaloo said. The filly shook the water from her coat and smoothed her mane with a hoof, something Dash had forgotten to do.
“Hm, I don't know. I didn't hear it,” Dash lied as she made sure her mane wouldn't try to embarrass her to death again. “Must have been some human joke.”
“Cool!” Scootaloo said, turning to Ike. “Hey, Ike, could you tell it again?” Ike straightened up, and Dash gave him a death glare.
Say one word and you'll be skydiving without a parachute.
“Maybe later,” Ike said. “It was a bit hair-raising.”
Applejack snorted again and wiped a tear from her eye. “That was horrible.”
“Eh, you still laughed,” Ike said, shrugging.
“Anyway!” Dash said, being irritated did very little to help her patience. “Now that Ike's here can we finally start training today, Scoots?” The filly brightened and all thoughts of human jokes vanished from her mind.
“Yeah, so what are we doing? Flat-spin recovery? Aerobatics? Night-time flying?” Scootaloo was vibrating with excitement, and Dash placed a hoof on her nose to settle the girl down.
“Whoa, slow down, Squirt!” Dash said, chuckling. “I was thinking we’d start small. Like some strength training and stuff like that.”
The filly’s enthusiasm deflated slightly, and Dash could sense her disappointment. “Oh, okay,” Scootaloo said, “I wanted to show Ike something cool, though.”
“Hey,” Ike said, kneeling down. “You’re an eight-year-old learning to fly. That’s cool enough for me.”
Instead of cheering up shame flashed across her face at Isaac’s words. “Hehe, right,” she said, trying to bury it.
Dash glared at the human.
Thanks for reminding how her how far behind she is, idiot.
He may not have known, but it still hurt to see Scootaloo be reminded of her shortcomings. She bit her tongue desperately wanting to say something. She was caught between not wanting to cause a scene and her temper which was never a good spot for her. Thankfully, her saving grace pulled her flank out of the fire. Applejack intervened.
“Now wait a minute, Sugarcube,” she said to the filly, “don’t you and your friends have somepony to introduce Mr. Ike to first?”
Scootaloo’s mood improved once again, “You’re right! Ike, come here.” She and the human trotted toward the lake’s shore. Applejack watched them go before eyeing Dash. Though no words escaped her lips Dash heard her friend’s lecture clear enough.
“He doesn’t know. Give him a break.”
Dash sighed, letting the last of her anger melt away. She nodded to Applejack and the other mare smiled. They followed after the other two and arrived just in time to see Big Macintosh and the rest of the CMC pull themselves from the water.
“Big Macintosh,” Applebloom said, “I’d like you to meet our mascot, Ike, and Ike, this is my big brother.” For once Big Mac was the one looking up during an introduction, though if Dash had to guess the stallion was still a bit larger than the human by weight. Mac, with his usual zen-like calmness, didn’t fidget or blink at the strange creature being presented to him.
Ike took the initiative and knelt down holding out a fist to Big Mac. “Isaac, at your service.” Big Mac cocked his head curiously glancing at the fist before a small smile spread across his muzzle.
“Eeyup,” he said, pressing his hoof against the fist.
A chilling breeze swept across the pond that put all the damp ponies’ fur on end; even making Dash uncomfortable, which was unusual for a weather flier. This was the wrong kind of weather for this time of year.
This is what I get for letting Thunderlane coordinate gusts for a day.
Everypony was shivering, and Mac moved over to the picnic baskets and started pulling out towels. Dash watched everypony follow him except for one. Ike was still kneeling at the water’s edge, fist held out, and eyes glazed over. She raised an eyebrow and poked him in the side.
“Hey, bushy-brow!”
Ike jolted as if spooked and then seemed to notice her. “Sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “Yes?”
She eyed him quizzically, “You okay? You looked… weird.”
Ike smiled wryly, “So normal then?”
Dash frowned, “You know what? Forget it.” She turned away from him with a huff, lightly whipping him across the nose with her tail. “Next time you look like you’re having a stroke see if I care.”
“Oh!” Ike groaned in mock pain, placing his hand over his heart. “Your words! Must they sting?” Dash flashed him a devilish smile in reply.
They can do much more than that, bushy-brow, trust me.
“Okay Scoots,” she said to the filly, “Enough distractions! Let’s get started.”
The two began with some quick stretches, and then moved on to the more basic strength training exercises. Dash had actually taken the time to add some youth fitness manuals to her usual reading list. They were no Daring Doo, but she was going to pull out all the stops to help Scootaloo. They were a slog to read, but she stuck to it especially when she found some that dealt with Scootaloo’s “situation”. Normally she would play this kind of training by ear like she had done with Fluttershy and other pegasi from the weather team. However Scootaloo was going to take a lot more work than that, and even that might not help much. Dash paused in the middle of a wing-up to shake her head.
No! Don’t think like that!
She glanced up and saw Scootaloo hovering a few inches off the ground. The filly's eyes were screwed shut, and her wings buzzed at a furious rate, far faster than most pegasi would need. Sweat rolled down her forehead as she grimaced from the effort. After a few seconds of hovering the filly dropped back to the ground with a dull clop.
“Twenty-three” she huffed. Without opening her eyes she jumped in place and started hovering again. A few seconds later she was back on the ground. “Twenty-four.”
Dash’s book had said the routine was good for developing wing muscle for foals too young to do a proper wing-up. It was supposed to be a simple exercise, a warm-up, but it was the best Scootaloo could do. Dash would have been driven mad by the mundanity of the exercise, however Scootaloo had taken to it quickly and never complained. When Dash had first started Scootaloo on the exercise she could barely do ten. Today she was shooting for fifty.
“Twenty-eight,” the filly said as she landed. She took several deep breaths, perhaps lingering on the ground for only a moment longer than she had been, before she was back in the air.
Dash smiled.
That’s how I know she’s going to be fine. That filly doesn’t quit.
Looking back towards the lake, Dash saw the rest of the Crusaders with their new playmate. They had apparently formed a team against the older Apple siblings in a game of soccer. Dash had to admit that it was impressive that such a tall, lanky creature could dribble the ball on only two legs without falling on his face. A couple of empty cider bottles had been set up as makeshift goal posts, but the two teams didn’t appear to be keeping score. The fillies mostly passed the ball back and forth, scoring a goal only as an afterthought. Likewise, Ike liked to keep everypony entertained by seeing how long he could keep the ball in the air by bouncing it off his head. As far as Dash could tell he was only succeeding at developing a hexagon on his forehead.
She still had no idea what to think of the human. He seemed nice enough, but she couldn’t shake this feeling like there was something wrong about him. The weird part was that it didn’t feel like a bad kind of wrong like she figured Twilight had felt about phoney Princess Cadance. It was annoying that she couldn’t place the feeling. For now, she figured it was best to be cautious.
By Celestia, I really am starting to think like my dad.
“He’s not bad, Rainbow Dash.”
Dash jolted and found Scootaloo standing beside her. She also realized she was still holding herself up in a half finished wing-up.
“I know,” Dash said, settling onto her haunches. “It’s just the last three strange creatures to suddenly appear from nowhere were an evil emperor, the Spirit of Chaos, and an emotion-sucking pony... vampire... bug thing.” Dash wiggled her hooves in front of her muzzle like they were fangs to emphasize the point.
Scootaloo chuckled, “He’s not a bug pony.”
Dash sighed, but nodded. “No, he’s definitely not that.” She smiled at the filly. “What makes you so sure he’s not bad though?”
Scootaloo shrugged, “I dunno. It’s just a feeling.” Dash hummed in agreement.
It seems like we both have a feeling about monkey-boy.
Dash shook her head. “Well, if he does cause trouble, and I’m not saying that he will!” She added before the filly could protest. “The girls and I’ll take care of it like usual.” Dash mussed up the filly’s mane again, and then began working the kinks from her back in a cat-like stretch. “So how many did you get to?”
Scootaloo beamed. “Fifty-two!”
“Good work,” Dash said. “Come on, let’s try some fine control training. Go get the balance ball from my saddle bag.” Scoots nodded and trotted off to the group’s picnic baskets and bags. As the filly left, Dash felt another odd feeling pass over her. She started to look back towards Ike but stopped when she realized she recognized this feeling. It was almost like she was being watched. She casted a few glances around but shrugged when she saw nothing out of the ordinary.
I need to loosen up. Before long I’ll be more paranoid than Twilight.
She got up and followed after the filly.
Thomas was disappointed.
From his position in one of the trees next to the Apple family lake, he could see the group of ponies and their alien companion without any trouble. He slumped against the tree’s trunk, one hoof dangling over the side of his branch. Every few minutes he would adjust himself to keep the bark from digging into his flank. He glanced back at the field and watched the pegasus filly take a red balance ball from a bag and start rolling it from wing-tip to wing-tip while the older mare gave her pointers. A little ways off from them the game the rest of the group had been playing had evolved into a goalkeeping competition with the alien as the keeper. Thomas sighed, raising his camera up. He contemplated taking the picture before deciding it would be a waste of film. He lowered the camera and slumped further into the tree.
Is this really all I’m going to get?
When he had first arrived, it had taken every fiber of his being to not scream with joy about his good fortune. The alien had gone to a small field by a lake where there was not one, but two of the other Elements of Harmony! For the first fifteen minutes, the shutter of Thomas’s camera had been practically blinking at the scene. After a few more minutes, he concluded that it was safe to leave the group for a while and attempt to locate his other targets. This time he actually did find a cloud to hide himself on while he laughed like a madpony at his continued good luck when he found two more of them on their way to Ponyville’s local spa.
He worked his way into the building without the owner’s noticing with no trouble. The first floor was a single room that held the reception and waiting room which he crept through with ease. Hovering down the stairwell in the back to the spa proper, he found a wide shelf that contained a vast array of beauty products which fortunately had a bare nook on the top for him to position himself. Settling himself in, he resumed his reconnaissance.
The white unicorn and butter-yellow pegasus were chatting amiably—though it was obvious the unicorn was doing most of the talking—while the spa staff attended to them. Thomas took more of his photos and settled down to wait. He had enough glamour shots, which by themselves were worth a fortune, but it was time to get something more spicy for his buyers. He relaxed and admired the two mares as the were massaged. The view was definitely enough to keep him occupied.
However after an hour-and-a-half even Thomas’s amorousness had grown bored, and the soothing atmospheric music that was being played throughout the room was not helping. Once or twice he felt his eyes begin to droop, and he began to wish he had gotten some sleep the night before. The two mares were still there doing nothing that was beyond innocent. It wasn’t like he expected them to suddenly start making out the second they thought they were alone—he knew his luck wasn’t that good—but he still couldn’t help but feel a bit let down.
Perhaps he’d grown to used to Canterlot nobility. It wasn’t hard to catch them doing something devious. Some were so bad they hardly cared, and the trend usually followed that the more important a figure was the more they had to hide. Images of Prince Blueblood came to his mind, though the Princeling had all but dropped off the radar in the last year. Yes, Canterlot Nobility was a paparazzo’s dreamland filled with opportunity.
Except for his “Lordship” Fancypants. That stallion is so squeaky clean I’m surprised he doesn’t slide right off the mountain.
Following that logic, he, like many paparazzi, had let his imagination run wild at the possible activities of the Elements. These mares were the most famous ponies no one knew anything about. Their status-level was mythical, but he doubted anypony could have picked them out from in crowd. He had wanted to shatter that. He was going to reveal to the world the secret meetings, rituals, and lives of this evil-slaying group of mares that his imagination had convinced him must be real.
Therefore he felt perfectly justified in feeling let down by finding the lack of all of those things. Instead he got a demure pegasus and a unicorn that couldn’t not stop gushing about gossip and her plans for her upcoming fashion line in the Fall.
He frowned.
Time! All I need is a bit more time.
Though time wasn’t a resource Thomas had in abundance. His real assignment was simply to gather intelligence, and his allotted time only lasted until the end of the week. Seven days might sound like a lot to the laypony, but a good paparazzi—and he was the best—could be on a tail for months waiting for the shot that made them famous.
He had those shots by now. He knew that. But they were mundane. He would get his money and infamy by submitting them, but they would be remembered as a letdown. Candid camera shots that any normal peeping tom could have gotten. Who could say that somewhere down the line some lucky kid wouldn’t get the shot that overshadowed his?
He couldn’t even trust his shots of the alien to be that world-shattering. Ponyville had a small paper, and somepony was surely preparing an interview. Their pictures would be nice, clean, and printed first. His pictures would make it to the bigger papers before that story had time to spread, and he would get paid handsomely for them. However by the next week the shots from Ponyville would squash his into oblivion. If he was lucky his legacy would remain as a trivia question.
No! He didn’t want just any shot. He wanted the Shot. The picture that would be reprinted in history books for eons to come. He wanted that notoriety, and the immortality that came with it.
To be remembered for all eternity, that’s the prize here.
“So, are you going to include the pieces you plan to make for Ike in your Fall line?” asked a quiet voice. Thomas jolted awake realizing he’d been close to nodding off.
Damn that elevator music this place has on loop!
He shifted himself around and perked his ears up. He wasn’t a reporter and didn’t usually care about the conversations between his targets, but he was technically on an intel gathering operation. He already pieced together that Ike was the alien’s name, so he figured he should fulfill the “observe the effects subject has on populace” clause of his contract. Plus, what pony wouldn't be curious about an alien?
“I would love to,” the unicorn said, “but that would require getting him to model for me, and I think he has other plans.”
The pegasus cocked her head. “Plans?”
“He said he was a traveler.” The unicorn lifted a hoof to her chest. “Who would I be to interrupt him in his travels?” She then raised an eyebrow, “Tell me what do you think of our guest, Fluttershy? You seemed to open up to him quickly.”
Fluttershy nodded, “I guess it was because he’s not a pony.” She added a nervous chuckle. “I suppose when he bumped his head like that I could think of him as being just like my animals.” Fluttershy’s face turned red, “N-not t-that I think that he isn’t as important as a pony.” Her face grew redder. “Not that I think my animals aren’t important either. Um… what I mean is…?”
The unicorn chuckled placing a calming hoof onto her friend’s. “Settle down, darling. I understand you perfectly.” Fluttershy’s face faded back to its yellow color, and she smiled in such a gentle way that it almost made Thomas swoon.
“Besides that,” she continued, “He seems nice.”
The unicorn nodded, “And what about Applejack’s statement?” Fluttershy frowned and glanced around as if unsure how to answer.
“I would never call Applejack wrong,” she said, hesitantly, “but I don’t see it.”
The unicorn nodded, “I agree. He seems like a charming fellow. Very well mannered, if not a bit strange, but given his nature I honestly don’t know what else to expect.”
“What do you think Applejack saw then?”
“Our dear Applejack may be in a league of her own in empathizing with others, but she’s not infallible,” the unicorn said. “I think she’s having trouble reading his face. With no muzzle or ears to work with it can be difficult. I think he just likes to smile. If I had the opportunity to travel to such exotic places at my leisure as well I would feel much the same way. Besides if there is a problem, then I don’t think it matters, really."
“What!” Fluttershy said, shocked.
“Applejack said that whatever his problem was—if there even is one—he needed friends.” Rarity smiled wryly at the Fluttershy. “I think that should be easy enough.”
Fluttershy nodded, “I suppose so.”
The conversation drifted away from there, and Thomas decided he should take the opportunity to slip away. He made it back out of the spa as easily as he’d made it in and took to the air. He puzzled over the conversation he’d heard. Apparently the elements were of mixed opinions about the visitor, however it didn’t sound like it was a question of trust.
Does one of them think he’s crazy?
Thomas shrugged to himself. Xenopsychology was well outside of his area of expertise, and he’d leave it to the experts to figure out.
He made it back to his tree and was happy to find that the group was still playing in the field. The rainbow maned pegasus was training with one of the fillies while the rest where watching the alien bounce a ball off his skull. Thomas settled onto the branch and leaned against the tree trunk. It didn’t take long for his boredom to return as he watched the two pegasi switch to balance training.
Is this really all I’m going to get? He thought a second time.
Perhaps he could find some extra coverage just to spread out his net. A smile broke across his face as he knew exactly what he needed. The mares were only half of the Elements of Harmony anyway. The rocks, talismans, idols, whatever it was that granted the mares their power, were a part of the equation as well, and few had seen them. To the best of his knowledge not a picture of them existed. Those would be his next targets. It might take a little snooping, but he’d find them somewhere.
Thomas’s scheming halted when he heard a commotion coming from the field. He glanced up and saw the alien, dancing in apparent triumph.
“Ha, none can get past me!” The human said, gloating in the hammiest voice Thomas had ever heard. It appeared none had managed to score on him. “I was trained by powerful mystics in the ancient art of grabbing balls.” He paused for several seconds while everypony stared at him. “That did not come out right!” He added with the same hamminess.
Thomas held up his camera and zoomed in just in time to see the orange earth pony mare smirk.
“You think you’re quick, huh Ike?” she said. “ I bet you can’t handle our secret weapon.”
“Throw whatever you have at me and tremble at my unstoppable blocking skills!” He punctuated the last few words with a set of ludicrous blocking stances.
Thomas rolled his eyes.
This guy really knows how to play it up.
The earth pony nodded and whispered something to the red stallion beside her. He eyed her skeptically, but shrugged without argument. The stallion then positioned the ball at his mark and faced away from the alien. The red maned filly off to the side gasped as she realized what was coming.
“Ike,” she shouted, “He’s gonna use the Macintosh Meteor!”
“The Macinwhat?”
The stallion tipped the ball into the air with his back hoof, and as it ascended, he reared onto his forelegs. Once the ball had fallen into firing position everypony and alien found out why it was called the Macintosh Meteor. The stallion bucked the ball with both his legs, and Thomas swore it turned into a fireball as it cut through the air.
It turned out the human was quick. Quick enough to dive to the ground to avoid being hit by the glorified cannonball. His foot did clip the projectile, but not quite enough to knock it out of bounds. Actually, Thomas could swear it was getting closer to…
Oh buck-
The ball impacted with the front of Thomas’s camera lens which in turn slammed right into Thomas’s face. He saw stars while he fell from the tree and the occasional celebrating alien dancing around his head. Thankfully he landed in something soft instead of the rock his camera managed to find. Thomas’s last sight before getting the sleep he had missed out on the night before was his film bursting out the back of precious camera like the entrails of some mutilated animal. It was at that moment Thomas realized he’d yet to change his film.
“Buck,” he said as he passed out.
“That could have hurt him,” Applebloom said giving her sister an ugly look.
“He dodged it,” Applejack said which only made Applebloom frown more. “Mac knows his strength. It would have hurt his pride more than him.”
From across the field the splayed out human raised his head, “I beg to differ, and this dirt still doesn’t taste any better!”
Applejack chuckled, “Go get the ball, Applebloom. I think it’s time for lunch.” Applebloom huffed but did as she was told, though she did ask Ike if he was fine as he picked himself up.
The human waved it off, “I played soccer when I was little. I took worse hits than that… I think?”
Applebloom shrugged as that seemed to be the best she was going to get. She walked over to the edge of the woods and picked around the foliage for the ball.
“Applebloom!” she heard her sister shout.
“Yeah?”
“I forgot to tell you. There’s a nasty patch of poison ivy over there so watch where you step.”
“Okay.” Applebloom went back to searching and happened to find the ball at the edge of the familiar three-leafed plant. She kicked the ball back out onto the field and saw a place where the plant had been trampled. The sight alone made her itch.
Whoever did that is gonna have a very itchy day.
She left the toxic plants behind not noticing the quiet snoring of the stallion passed out in them.
Rainbow Dash bit into her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and washed it down with a gulp fresh apple juice. It was technically cider, but she refused to hold it up to the same level of awesomeness as the Apple family’s more potent brew—still, the crisp drink was refreshing all the same. After Big Mac had nearly taken Ike’s head off with the ball Applejack had decided it was time for everypony to take a breather. Scootaloo had begged for a few more minutes of practice, but Dash had talked her out of it.
“You don’t want to work yourself into a workout high,” she said. “If you work too hard you could damage something and not know until your muscles relax later.” Dash felt her wings twitch as she remembered the times she had done that to herself. Scootaloo quickly decided that stopping for lunch was probably a good idea.
She sat with her friends, and they all chatted with their new friend while he ate next to them. Most of the time they’d ask him questions about where he came from and of places he’d been. After they’d finished with their meals Applebloom asked him to follow her. She lead Ike to the shaded spot her group had left their wagon. She reached into it and pulled out a few drawing utensils and a piece of paper. She motioned for the human to remain still. When he was seated the filly took a pencil in her mouth and gave him a long calculating stare before starting. Her friends moved beside her but were shooed back whenever they tried to look over her shoulder. After a few failed attempts and a number of swattings by Applebloom’s tail they resigned themselves to wait for the artist to finish. Dash watched the human eat up the attention he was getting. He didn’t revel in it like she had a tendency to let herself do, but his eyes had a certain contented shine to them.
“There it is again,” Applejack said. Dash looked over to her friend who fumbled an apple core in her hooves.
“There’s what?” Dash asked.
“That smile,” she said. “That boy’s peculiar.”
“He’s an alien monkey,” Dash said, dryly.
Applejack shook her head. “I mean besides that. I can’t get a read on him as much as I’d like to say I can. He looks fine right up until he smiles.”
“AJ, he’s always smiling,” Dash said rolling her eyes.
Applejack frowned. “That thing he does with his lips ain’t a smile. Though it fakes being something its not better than any changeling could hope to do.”
Should I remind her only Twilight knew something was up with the only changeling we’ve ever seen.
“No,” Applejack continued, “he smiles with his eyes.”
“Are you sure that it’s not because his flat face is throwing you off?” Dash asked.
Applejack threw a glare at Dash. It was hard and unyielding. Applejack believed she was right, and apparently it was more important than Rainbow Dash had thought.
She’s serious about this.
“I know that look, Rainbow,” Applejack said. For a blink she glanced away from Dash, and the hardness in her eyes melted into to something somber. “Trust me.”
Dash followed her friend’s gaze, but only saw the road that led back to the farm. It was the one Big Mac had taken after he’d finished eating. He’d left to go check on the farm and help Granny Smith with some marketing.
Applejack stood and stretched. “Oh well,” she said, “we’ll get plenty of time to figure him out.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “I thought he said he’d be traveling.”
Applejack shrugged, “Apparently, he’s decided to stick around for a little while from what he told the girls. Even offered to pay Twilight rent.” Applejack started cleaning up their picnic area.
“He’s staying with her?” Dash asked.
“It’s the only place big enough for him.” Applejack smiled, “Although I suppose the barn’s bigger, but not as comfortable.” Dash nodded, getting up. She’d retreated to the barn a number of times for a nap and had never felt satisfied with the hay bales.
Of course, nothing beats a cloud.
She helped Applejack clean up before she hovered over to the girls. As she landed Applebloom rose up from her drawing and nodded to herself.
“Are you finally done?” Scootaloo asked.
Applebloom shrugged, “As done as I can be.” She held out the picture. “It’s not my best, Ike. I’m sorry. I’m used to drawing ponies.” Ike took the picture and a look of confusion spread across his face as he examined it.
“You’re joking, right?” he said, chuckling. “This is great!” Scootaloo peaked over Ike’s shoulder at the drawing and nodded in agreement. Dash worked her way around and peered at the picture as well.
Ears are a bit pointy, but the rest looks right.
“She’s always like that,” Sweetie Belle said. She sat back on her haunches. “Don’t look, it’s garbage!” She said failing to mimic Applebloom’s accent, raising a dramatic hoof to her forehead. “I swear I’ll never touch a paintbrush again!”
Scootaloo appeared next to her and said in her own badly mimicked accent. “What drawing? You mean this? This ain’t even fit for use as toilet paper!” The two fillies collapsed against each other in a fit of giggles while Applebloom gave them both a flat glare.
“Ya’ll two do wonders for my confidence,” she said. Applejack walked up beside her sister and pulled her into a half-embrace.
“Ignore ‘em, sis. Besides,” Applejack said, “it’s a compliment in a way. Your art is beautiful, and who knows, maybe it will take you somewhere.” She added the last part with all the subtlety of a brick to the face.
A blow that missed completely as Applebloom sighed and said, “Nah, it’s just something I like to do.” Applejack slumped as her sister worked herself free of the hug. “Will you keep that, Ike?”
Ike smiled, taking back the drawing. “Always.” The fillies smiled and trotted off. Ike kneeled down beside Applejack and admired his portrait. “Oblivious, isn’t she?” He said without looking up.
Applejack groaned as she rubbed her temples with her hooves. “You have no idea.”
The fillies trotted back pulling towels along with them. “We’re going to get back in the lake,” Sweetie Belle said. “Do want to join us?” She asked Ike who hesitated for a moment. His smile never faded, but Dash saw a brief flash of uncertainty.
“Maybe, later,” he said, tugging his shirt sleeve down. “I don’t really feel like getting wet today.”
“Oh,” Sweetie Belle said, “alright.”
Applejack laughed, “Let him rest, you’ve run him ragged for the day.” The filly relented, and Ike nodded a thanks to Applejack.
“Rainbow Dash?” Dash turned to see Scootaloo shifting uncomfortably in front of her. She was glancing from Dash to her friends. “Are we going to keep practicing?”
Dash smiled. “Ya know, Scoots, doing some paddle exercises might be worth a try.” Dash winked, and Scootaloo nodded understanding. She turned around and started to walk to the lake but paused.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
“Nah,” Dash said reclining on to her back. “I felt like napping for a bit. You go have fun, and keep at it. You did great today!”
“You really think so?” the filly asked, beaming.
“Of course,” Dash said, “you’ll be off the ground in no time with me training you.”
Scootaloo’s wings buzzed so hard in excitement that she nearly did lift off and bounded after her friends. Dash smiled to herself and leaned onto the grass, spreading her wings out onto the soft, warm blades. She closed eyes and relaxed beginning to drift off almost instantly. That was until a hoof jabbed her hard in the side.
“Ow,” she said, rubbing her sore barrel. “What the hay, AJ!” Dash saw her friend giving her that disapproving glare again only this time there was a bit of fire behind it.
“What have I told you about doing that to the poor girl?” Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash snorted and tried to close her eyes but was met with a second jab. “Don’t you dare try to ignore me! I asked a question, and I expect an answer!” Dash felt her blood heat up. This was not the first time she and Applejack had gotten into this argument.
“What do you want me to say that I haven’t said already?” Dash answered, trying not to let her voice carry over to the splashing fillies. “I promised to help her, and I’m going to do it.”
Applejack’s jaw tightened. “You know full well that you’ve promised her something you can’t deliver.”
Dash continued to redden. “I would never lie to her!” Dash hissed. If she had been standing her wings would have been fanned out, twitching with agitation.
“I’m not saying you did,” Applejack sighed, her glare softening. “I just think you might have bitten off more than you can chew.” That accusation almost stung worse than if Applejack had called her a liar.
“She can beat this if I help her. I won’t let her los-”
“This ain’t a competition, Dash!” Applejack said through gritted teeth. “There ain’t a trophy to win, there’s nothing to beat, and everything to lose.”
“There’s a chance!” Dash said, defiantly.
“A chance for what?” Applejack retorted. “That she’ll be able to fly across a room someday. That isn’t what she wants, Dash. She wants to be you, and you know that won’t happen. I’m not saying you can’t train her, but bring down her aspirations a little. At this rate all you’ll do is build up her dreams only for her to see them shatter to pieces!”
Throughout the argument the two gotten closer together until they were nose-to-nose glaring at each other. Dash was seeing several shades of red and was close to blowing up. She only held herself back for Scootaloo’s sake, though her patience was near to the breaking point especially with Applejack’s ironclad will barring down on her. The tension could have been cut with a knife. Thankfully for both of them that knife came.
“Um, excuse me?”
The two looked away from each other and towards the human they had both forgotten about. He was still there sitting directly across from them in the perfect place to hear the whole thing. He gazed at the both of them concern creasing his brow.
“The confused alien is confused,” he said. “Am I missing something?” The mares stared at him for moment before staring back at themselves. Applejack leaned off of Rainbow Dash, and Dash sat up, a brief feeling of shame washing over her.
That was close to turning messy.
Ike looked from one to the other his eyebrows raised expecting one of them to answer him. When nothing was forthcoming he sighed and settled into his cross-legged position reaching over to the side and pulling his guitar into his lap. He fiddled with the knobs of the instrument, tuning it, and his eyes wandered to the fillies playing in the water who hadn’t noticed the brawl that had nearly taken place. He paused, mid-tune. His mouth parted and his smile faded as he pieced it together himself.
“At what age do pegasi usually learn to fly?” he asked.
Dash sighed. “Some can fly unaided a few months, sometimes weeks, after they’re born.”
Ike stared ahead his expression growing somber. “Bad wings?” He asked.
“The girl’s wings are fine,” Applejack said. “With how much she uses them they’re probably stronger than most pegasi her age. Scootaloo’s problem is a bit more complicated than that.” Ike tilted his head only more confused.
Dash groaned, wishing Twilight was there.
I hate giving this lecture.
She held out one of her wings. “Pegasi, griffons, dragons, and many other magical creatures that can fly don’t actually have wings big enough to carry them.” Fully extended her wing was barely half a size longer than she was from nose to flank. “So we get a little added boost.” She flapped her wing sending a disproportionately large gust of wind at Ike that blew his hair back. Dash folded her wing and continued. “It’s magic that’s innate to all pegasi.” She looked at her hooves. “Well, almost all pegasi.”
“What’s wrong with Scootaloo’s magic?” Ike asked.
“Absolutely, nothing,” Applejack said, “or at least there wouldn’t be if she had a horn.”
“What?”
“It’s a very rare disorder,” Rainbow Dash said. “Mostly random though there is a tiny bit more chance of somepony getting it if you have a mixed heritage like Scoots, but most ponies do these days. It happens when the pathways that channel magic inside somepony are… confused. Part of her magic thinks she’s a unicorn like her mom. She can still cloudwalk, but nearly all of the magic that could help her fly is going straight to her forehead where it just sits there.”
Applejack shook her head. “Just one tiny little mistake.”
Ike let out a humorless chuckle. “Those are usually the worst kind.” He twisted the ring on his right hand. “So I take it she can’t fly?”
“She likely never will,” Applejack said and shot a quieting look at Dash.
Dash frowned. “I can do it, AJ. Just let me try.”
Applejack stared at her friend. Her anger had evaporated and what was left behind looked a lot like resignation. “Alright, but be careful.”
Dash nodded.
She’ll fly. I believe in her.
“Have her parents tried to help her?” Ike asked. He was resting his head on his steepled fingers, his brow furrowed in thought. Dash could see something working behind his green eyes.
She shrugged, “There’s not much they can do. They’re good ponies, but they don’t get see her a lot. They both work in Canterlot. Her mom’s some sort of ambassador and her father’s a guard.”
“She lives here with her Aunt’s family,” Applejack said. “They were worried she’d be bullied in Canterlot, so they sent her to Ponyville.”
He sat quietly for awhile. Not looking away from the girls. He was considering something. Dash could see that, but she had no idea what. Finally he grunted seeming to make up his mind.
“I think I agree with Applejack.” He cut Dash off before she could interrupt. “Not about stopping, but be honest about what is realistic. Don’t tell her she can’t be a great flyer, but let her know it’s going to be very hard.”
They don’t get it!
“She’s been told she can’t since she was born!” She gave the human her best challenging look. “You think she doesn’t know it will be hard? The whole world’s been telling her she can’t be what she is. They gave up on her, but I promised to get her off the ground. That’s more than anypony else ever gave her, and I think that’s all she’s ever needed. I’ll catch her every time she falls. I’ll be there every time she doubts herself. I’ll be the one to have faith in her.” She looked away from Ike to Applejack. “All I’m asking is for you to have a little faith in me. You think she wants to be me, AJ? I guarantee you she’ll be better. Even if she only ever gets a few feet off the ground, she’ll still beat me at every race, and she’ll be the only pony that ever does.”
Applejack smiled sadly, but Dash could also see pride. “Do you think it’ll mean the same thing to her?”
Dash didn’t yield. “It will to me.”
Applejack closed her eyes and nodded. “Okay, I won’t bother you about it anymore." She looked out onto the lake and smiled. "She’s in good hooves.”
Ike’s smile was back to its usual bright form. He relaxed and plucked lazily at his guitar. “You know, Dash, you have a knack for pep talks.”
“Heh, stick around, Bushy-brow, you might actually see something really impressive,” she said, reclining back onto the ground.
“Eh, I could actually go without all the drama,” he said. He played for a moment until he looked back at Dash with a confused expression. “What’s with the nickname by the way?”
Dash shrugged, “You sing with your eyebrows. I noticed that last night.” Ike crossed his eyes as he tried to look at his own forehead. A twiddled one eyebrow and gave it a few inquisitive pokes. His other hand still managed to play his instrument even without its partner.
Ike dropped his hand and shrugged. “I blame Benjamin Burnley.”
“Who?”
“Eh, just a singer.”
Dash rolled her eyes. “Well besides, I doubt you’d like me to call ya Scarface.”
“I don’t know,” he said, adopting some strange accent. “I wouldn’t mind pretending to be Tony Montana for a while.”
Dash didn’t even try figure out who he was talking about this time. She looked to Applejack who simply shrugged looking just as lost as Dash. She decided to just forget about it and closed her eyes.
Weird, alternate world references.
Everything went fairly quiet except for the distant splashing of the fillies and Ike’s guitar playing. He seemed to be improvising as he flowed naturally from one chord to another and gradually became softer. Eventually his playing faded away entirely, and Dash cracked open an eye finding she missed the sound. She saw Ike sitting still as a statue yet even more blank. She started to ask if something was wrong when she saw his eyes slowly close, and he really started to play.
There was a definite purpose to his progression this time, and she wondered when he would start to sing. It quickly became apparent, however, that he didn’t have to. He made the guitar sing for him. It was a subdued jangly tune, that had him bobbing his head and tapping his foot in time. She gazed at his forehead and, as she expected, saw his eyebrows caught up in their own little dance.
The rogue idea of him holding the instrument up to his face and playing it with those caterpillars nearly made her snort. She covered her face and did her best to stifle it. She turned away from him and looked to Applejack who had a wistful smile on her face as she listened to the music, her own head swaying from side to side like a metronome. Dash settled in and listened as well. The song kept to a recognizable melody but sped up and slowed down at the apparently random places that in their own way seemed to make sense.
Weird alien or not, he knows how to play.
The song slowed, and Ike played a final flourish of notes. As the music faded away, and Dash realized she could hear the wind again, the rustling of trees heavy with leaves, and the droning of insects. Summer noises. They had always been there, but it was like the music’s absence made her realize how loud they were. Despite that the music had cut right through them with no trouble at all. For a brief moment, it had been the only sound there was.
Music makes the rest of the world seem silent. Dash frowned and shook her head. Since when was I ever poetic.
“Well, it seems Bloom wasn’t joking.” Applejack said, standing up and stretching. “You really can play.”
Ike smiled and rubbed the back of his head a sheepish blush coating his cheeks. “Was last night’s performance not enough?”
“It was good,” Applejack said, smiling wryly, “but I prefer a more earthy sound.” She reached out and plucked one of Ike’s guitar strings.
He nodded. “I can understand that.”
“You should have played when Big Mac was still here. He’s a pretty good musician as well.”
Ike raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Applejack nodded, “Music runs in the Apple family just about as well as apple-bucking does. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a decent fiddle player, myself.”
“Decent?” Dash saw that the cutie mark crusaders had pulled themselves from the water at some point during the music. “Sis,” Applebloom continued, “you’re amazing at the fiddle.”
The earth pony filly had pulled her bow from her mane and was wringing water from it. Without the ribbon Applebloom’s mane didn’t resemble a pom-pom as Dash was want to do, but instead looked like a red-colored beast that had decided to set itself on top of the filly’s head in an attempt to eat it. She smoothed it back with one run through of her hoof and secured it in place with bow once again returning it to the delicate ponytail it pretended to be. Dash frowned.
Why can’t mine behave that well?
Applejack waved off her sister’s comment. “I’m alright, but I won’t make it to Carneighgy Hall anytime soon.”
“D-did you say... ‘Car-NEIGH-gy Hall?" Ike stammered.
“Yeah, why?”
The human shook his head looking like he was developing a headache, “It’s nothing. You’re going to have to let me hear you play sometime.” He grinned, “Maybe we could have a jam session.”
Applebloom beamed, “Maybe you can start a band together.” Her smile grew wider. “And we can be your managers.”
Dash didn't get a chance to cover her ears before the trio shouted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS BAND MANAGERS!”
“Ow,” she muttered, rubbing her ears.
Applejack shook her head. “It might be fun,” she said, “but I don’t think I’ll have the time.”
“Aw,” the fillies said, deflating.
“Time?” Ike repeated.
“What is it, bushy-brow?” Dash asked. The human pulled something from his pocket and looked at it. It was a black rectangular object and for a moment a clock face appeared on it.
Ike grumbled. “I still haven’t switched to local time." He put the device back in his pocket. "What time is it, Dash?”
"What?" she said, minding still wondering about the little gadget. "Oh it's... uh?" She glanced at Applejack who groaned and looked up shading her eyes with a foreleg.
“Looks like its a little past noon,” she said, squinting at the sun.
Ike groaned. “I guess running late is my theme today.” He stood up and started gathering his equipment.
“Where are you going?” Scootaloo asked.
Ike shouldered his guitar. “Rarity wanted to see me at her Boutique,” he said, hanging his camera around his neck. “I should go.”
“Oh, do you have to?” He smiled, kneeling down to scratch the filly behind the ear. Dash chuckled as Scoot’s leg gave a few reflexive kicks.
“I made a promise,” he said, “besides I’m not going anywhere.” He stood up and nodded to Applejack. “Ms. Apple.” She nodded back. Rainbow Dash laid back down on the grass. “Dash.”
She raised a hoof. “See ya around, bushy-brow.”
He chuckled. “See ya. See you later girls.”
“Bye, Ike,” said the crusaders as he tromped off. Dash closed her eyes finally free to take her nap and listened to the sound of the human’s footsteps fading away.
Nice guy—weird, but nice.
Suddenly the footsteps became louder again, and a shadow fell over Dash.
“Um, would anyone be willing to show me where exactly Rarity’s store is?”
Then again only somepony very evil would keep me from napping.
Of course all three of the Crusaders volunteered which led to Applejack going with them, and Rainbow hovering alongside the group with a sour look on her face. They passed few ponies on their way into town, but ones they did meet either stopped in place to gawk at the strange member of their party or moved aside in fear. For what it was worth Ike greeted all of them with a smile and a wave.
He thinks this is hilarious.
They reached the Boutique and were surprised to find they weren’t the only ones arriving at the store.
“Twilight?” Ike said as he saw the unicorn. She waved at everypony and so did the stack of groceries by her side.
“Spike, I told you to put those down,” she said.
“You kiddin’?” said a strained voice from somewhere within the pile. “I’ve got these perfectly balanced.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want me to carry a few?” she offered.
“Nah, its alright. This is nothing.”
The quivering display of bravado was met with six looks of incredulity, while Ike simply smirked and continued to study the boutique; Spike, of course, missed it all from behind his precariously perched pile.
"Uh… guys?"
"So, out shoppin’, Twi?" Applejack asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, my new house guest has a big appetite,” she said, eying Ike who was making a pointed effort to look fascinated with the design of Rarity’s store. “He should really thank me for going to Tranquil Bay’s booth for him.”
Dash perked up. “You went to Tranquil’s?” Twilight grumbled looking none too happy about the experience.
“Yes,” she said, “and how pegasi can stomach the smell of dead fish is beyond me.”
“What’s this about dead fish?” Ike asked. Twilight’s horn lit up and a bag floated free of Spike’s pile. It teetered treacherously for a second but settled with a grunt of effort from the dragon. The bag floated over to Ike who took it and looked inside. His eyes widened.
“Is this cod?” he asked.
Twilight nodded, “Tranquil said it was their specialty.”
“I thought ponies were vegetarians?” he asked rifling through the packaged fillets.
“Well, most ponies will eat eggs,” Dash said, “but I’m not sure if that counts. Pegasi on the other hoof love seafood. I think it comes from hanging out with griffins.”
“That’s partially true,” Twilight said, and Dash’s lecture senses started tingling.
Here she goes.
“You see,” she started, “during Equestria’s tribal days pegasi were isolationists. They prefered to remain in their cloud cities and associate with the other races as little as possible. They took it to such an extent that they started anchoring cities over the ocean to distance themselves even more. They soon found out that the bounty of the sea allowed them to be practically self-sustaining. Actually, it was when the Windigos started to feed on all of the hatred between the pony races and caused the fish to migrate elsewhere that pushed the pegasi back to the mainland.”
Dash nodded, “Yeah, but the taste for fish stuck.” She licked her lips remembering her dad’s grilled salmon. She went to Tranquil’s whenever she could afford to buy from her, but she could never get the meal to taste as good as her father did.
There must be a secret ingredient he adds. I’ll have to ask him sometime.
All the other ponies, even Scootaloo who hadn’t been raised with that certain racial quirk, grimaced.
“What?” Dash said. “It’s good!”
Ike folded up the package and held it under his arm. “Thanks, Twilight, but you didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
She shook her head. “You’d get ill without protein.”
“Actually,” he said, “I can survive on a vegetarian diet. I’ve had to plenty of times before. A few vitamins I’m certain I could find at an apothecary, and I’d be fine.” Twilight brightened, apparently relieved at the idea of not having fish in her house. “However,” Ike continued, tapping a thoughtful finger against his chin, “it has been a long time since I made my Aunt Ester’s fried cod.” Rainbow Dash felt her stomach rumble as she saw Twilight’s hope for a fish free home shatter. “And of course, you can have some too, Dash.”
“You’re the best,” she said.
“Naturally.”
“Darlings!” The group turned to see Rarity and Fluttershy approaching them. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise!”
Dash landed and nodded to Ike. “Someone had to show this lug how get to your place.”
“I told you you didn’t have to come, Rainbow.”
Dash shrugged. “Nah, watching Rarity pick at you should be entertaining enough.”
Even if you have thrown my sleep schedule completely out of whack.
“Oh, don’t make it sound so bothersome, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said as she opened the door. The group filed in with the mountain of groceries that was Spike at the rear. “Spikey, do you need any help with that?”
“Nope,” he said, puffing, “I got it handled.” Rarity shot a concerned look at Twilight who shrugged in return.
“Well,” Rarity said, choosing her words carefully, “you are such a strong dragon.”
“You bet!” he said, trying to straighten up beneath his load which only made his knees wobble more.
“Just, don’t over-exert yourself,” she said, trotting into her store. Spike took a shaky step after her and his pile started to crumble. Rainbow shot up alongside it steadying it from the the top. She saw Ike had done the same for the other side, and Sweetie Belle had helped brace from the bottom.
“We gotcha, Spike,” she said.
“Yeah,” he muttered, “thanks. Scales, I almost had it.”
Ike looked up at Rainbow Dash raising an eyebrow. She nodded to Rarity then to Spike and made the best impression of goo-goo eyes that she could. Ike chuckled with a knowing grin and nodded. They maneuvered the pile through Rarity’s door, Isaac being the thing that required the most bending to get inside. Shimming over to Rarity’s kitchen, they left the groceries there. Spike pulled himself out of from underneath the mountain and wobbled out of the room, Sweetie Belle rushing up beside him to give support.
“Thanks,” he said again.
“No problem.”
Rainbow Dash moved to follow them when she spotted Ike examining something on the kitchen table.
“What ya looking at, Bushy-brow?” she asked.
“Just the paper.” He held up a copy of the Canterlot Chronicle. “The headline caught me by surprise.” Emblazoned on the front page of the paper in big stylized lettering was the headline, Burglary Attempt at Cirrus Industries R&D. “I was wondering what kind of person robs a refrigerator company?”
“Whoa, wait somepony tried to rob from Cirrus Industries?” Rainbow Dash took the paper and read over the article. The details were sketchy, but the gist of it said that a coordinated band of thieves had tried and failed to break into one of the smaller weather research facilities the company owned. A few guards were injured but, thankfully, with nothing more serious than a few concussions and bruises.
“I didn’t know you were a fan of refrigerators, Dash,” Ike said.
Dash rolled her eyes. “They make a lot more than just refrigerators, monkey-boy. If it uses weather magic C.I. has their hooves in it somewhere. This company owns over half the clouds that make up Cloudsdale.”
“You can own clouds?”
She simply stared at him for a moment. “I live in one. Who do you think owns that?”
“Oh, right.”
“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked, poking her head in through the door.
“We just saw today's news,” Dash said, hoofing the paper over to Twilight. She looked over the headline and nodded.
“Yeah, I heard ponies talking about it in the market.” She looked over the article. “I wonder if it was Thunderhead?”
Rainbow Dash blew a raspberry. “Those dunderheads wouldn’t know a lightning bolt from a thunderclap. No way it was them.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The paper said the thieves were ‘coordinated.’”
“They apparently didn’t get what they were after.”
“Yeah, but they still got away,” Dash said, “Thunderhead’s lackeys wouldn’t have made it through the front door.”
Twilight cocked her in thought and then nodded. “True,” she said.
“Um.” The two turned to find Isaac staring at the both of them. “One of you want to fill me in?”
“Thunderhead Inc. is Cirrus’s ‘competition,’” Dash said.
Though, I think a Chihuahua rubbing two balloons together would be better competition against C.I. than Dunderhead.
Twilight nodded, “They’ve been corporate enemies for years, and there’s a lot of speculation that some of their best products were stolen from Cirrus.”
“I doubt those, idiots, could ever get away with it,” Dash said.
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Am I sensing a personal vendetta between you and this company, Dash?”
Dash flushed and looked away. “I’m not talking about it.”
Thunderhead: Mane and Tail Curler, more like Thunderhead: Shock Baton! Who uses lighting to curl hair, anyway? It straightens it! I still need to get back at Flitter for convincing me to try that. “Add some life to your mane, Dashie!” Horsefeathers, bucking horsefeathers!
Dash had descended into grumbling, and Ike didn’t pry her further. They moved into the foyer and found Rarity rummaging through her drawers for supplies. Several swatches of material were piled on the floor, and she was lining up a series of thread spools on her desk. Across the room the Crusaders sat next to Fluttershy and Applejack on the throw pillows Rarity had laid out.
“Ah, there you are!” Rarity said, as Ike entered the room. Rainbow followed Twilight over to the pillows. If she was lucky, perhaps she could still get her nap once Rarity got into her “zone.” “So, you said this was all you had?” Rarity said, pointing at his clothing.
“Actually, I do have a bit more.” Ike looked to Twilight. “Miss Sparkle, do I have permission to show them my magic trick?”
Twilight sighed, “Go ahead. You might want to shield your eyes.”
Applejack raised a confused eyebrow and Dash tried to say, “From what?” before something went off like a camera flash. She faced Ike and saw that there was now a stack of bundled clothing on the table he’d laid his hand on.
“What? How did?”
Ike smiled, mischievously, holding a finger attached to a dimly glowing hand to his lips. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”
Twilight huffed. “He has a storage device.”
Ike’s shoulders slumped. “Way to be a killjoy.”
“Well, you’re just full of surprises,” Applejack said. “Ain’t that right, Flutters… Flutters?” Everypony turned to Fluttershy’s now empty pillow.
“Um,” a small voice said causing everypony to look up, “c-can we get a bigger warning before you do that again, please.” Fluttershy was wrapped around the lamp that hung from the ceiling. It swung gently back and forth with its sudden occupation.
“Er, okay,” Ike said.
While the girls worked to coax Fluttershy down Rarity—who had completely ignored Ike’s conjuring—had immediately unwrapped his bundles and begun to examine his clothing with a critical eye. She went through few coats and scarves. Many of his shirts were the same as the one he was wearing, so she skipped over those, and examined a finely made gray cloak for several minutes. However eventually she paused and held up a strange piece of cloth. “What is this?”
Ike flushed, “Oh, uh, that’s called underwear.”
“You have quite a few pairs of them.”
“Yes,” he said growing redder. “They’re important.”
“And you certainly seem to favor denim,” she said, looking at the stitching of some of his trousers. “It is sturdy, but wouldn’t it be coarse against more, um, sensitive areas.”
“That,” Ike said, taking a deep breath, “would be what the underwear is for.”
“Oh,” Rarity said, blushing as lifted a hoof off another pair of the underwear. All of the girls, save Twilight, giggled, but Dash could see the unicorn was fighting it down. Spike had buried his face in his pillow in an attempt to muffle his laughter.
Rarity cleared her throat. “Well, let’s get down to the real business. Ike, if you could stand over by the mirrors and strip down, please.”
Ike froze. “Do what?”
Rarity smiled. “Well, I need to get your measurements, darling, and it’s much more accurate if done with your clothes off.”
Ike looked across the room at his audience. Dash smirked, thinking they’d finally found something that had unnerved him. That was until his eyes fell on her. They didn’t hold any fear or embarrassment. If anything they looked ashamed.
Ike’s gaze finally fell on the three fillies and baby dragon in the room. He fidgeted, his fingers twisting his ring. “Maybe we can schedule that in for another day?”
“I’m afraid we can’t,” Twilight said. “I wrote the Princess saying I’d like to introduce you to her in a week. I thought Rarity would like to make you a suit for the occasion, but she’ll need the time to make it.”
Rarity waved a hoof at Twilight. “Oh, Twilight, I may not like to boast, but can surely make a suit in less than a week. If he wants too we can do this tomorrow.” Ike visibly relaxed.
“Actually,” this time it was Spike who interrupted. “We have to leave in four days.”
Twilight turned to the Dragon. “What do you mean, Spike?”
“You remember how it’s the Summer Sun Celebration in a week?” Twilight nodded. “The trains are kinda booked. I could only get tickets for the day before the festival.”
“How are the trains booked?” Twilight asked.
“Uh, sugarcube,” Applejack said, “they’re booked every year around Summer Sun Celebration. They hardly run at all on the day of the festival, and the day after they’re usually taking folk home to Ponyville. That was why we had the Apple Family Reunion early this year.”
“I never left Canterlot during the festival,” Twilight said, flopping on her pillow, “except for when Spike and I came here, but we flew then. This really messes things up.”
“Hold up, Twilight,” Applejack said, “I assume you want us to come?”
“I got eight tickets just in case,” Spike said.
Applejack nodded. “Well I’ve always heard Canterlot has the best festival out of any city regardless of whether Celestia raises the sun there or not. I’d think it be fun, right Dash?”
“Sure, Canterlot super-festival. I’m game.”
“Hey!” Spike said, an idea occurring to him. “We could spend the festival with mom and dad like we used to, Twilight.”
Twilight seemed to brighten at that thought. “That actually sounds like fun. I guess I could write them. Wait, I can host a sleepover in my own room!”
“Oh, that sounds like it could be fun,” piped in Fluttershy.
Out of the corner of her eye Dash saw a forlorn expression creep across Ike’s face as the girls discussed their Canterlot plans. Rarity tapped her hoof against her cheek, eyes glazed over as she mumbled some calculations.
“Well, if that’s going to be the case,” she said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to get started right away, Ike.”
Ike said nothing. He straightened up, his glasses catching the sun’s reflection blocking his eyes from Dash’s view. She couldn’t read him while the rays shone off them. His smile had dropped to an imperceptible line.
What’s got him thinking so hard.
Ike sighed, drawing in a deep, resigned breath. “Alright, just give me a second.” He walked over to the girls or more precisely, Fluttershy. The pegasus grew nervous as Ike knelt down to her, but the nerves changed to confusion when he whispered something to her. When he finished speaking he looked at her and their eyes met. He looked like they were pleading to her. Still looking confused she nodded to him.
“Girls, Spike,” she said, looking to her side. “Why don’t we go to Sugarcube Corner and get a snack?”
“Okay, are we going to get something for everypony else?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Ike smiled. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll meet you there later.”
“Besides, Rarity may decide the three of you need new dresses,” Fluttershy said.
Scootaloo jumped to her hooves, “The flower-girl dress was one dress enough for me! Come on, girls.” The Crusaders walked to the door, and Ike nodded a thank you to Fluttershy.
Spike paused for a moment. “Are you sure I can’t-”
Fluttershy cupped her wing around the baby dragon “Come along, Spike.” As gentle as a mother duck to her chick she guided him out the door. Isaac relaxed when the door shut, exhaling a held breath.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “Was that it, Bushy-brow? Didn’t want the kids to see you strip?”
“Partially,” he said, sounding drained. “My species, my culture really, doesn’t like being nude at all.” He stood in Rarity’s measuring spot and grabbed the hem of his shirt. “The truth is I don’t think they should see this.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “See wha-”
Ike lifted his shirt, and the silence that followed would have been too quiet even for the dead.
Rainbow Dash's first impression had been that Ike was a twig. A long, lanky creature that was possibly flexible but easily broken in half like a piece of wood. That impression had been wrong. What she saw now was a creature that resembled a steel cable. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on his torso anywhere. His twitchy muscles were easily visible beneath his furless skin, pulling against each other creating the balancing act that kept him on his feet. He was fit to the point that it was disturbing. Of course, that impression could have been because of the scars.
By Celestia, they’re everywhere!
They criss-crossed his chest in a macabre web of slashes and cuts. Dash had enough scars of her own to know that these weren’t caused by crashes or scrapes. These had a pattern like someone had used Ike’s skin as practice for whittling. Some overlapped each other, some spiraled across his belly around his back and appeared again on his chest, and many did both. He’d been filleted.
His right shoulder, however didn’t have a scar. It had a depression. The flesh sunk in beneath his collarbone, and the muscles around the wound spasmed unnaturally whenever he moved his arm.
Doesn’t that hurt?
Rarity walked mechanically around him, her mouth hanging open in shock which mirrored the other girls. When she saw his back she had to sit down or risk falling over at the sight. Her hooves covered her mouth and tears misted her eyes.
“You poor thing,” she said. “Even your cutie mark!”
“What?” Ike said, confused. He reached behind his back, half-turning when he did. His back wasn’t more torn up then his front, that wasn’t possible, but on it, carved to as many pieces as the rest of his skin, was the remnants of a symbol. It was a black intertwining figure, or at least at one point it had been. Now it was just a couple of mangled strands broken apart like a piece of pottery.
“Oh, that,” he said, “That’s not a cutie mark. It’s a tattoo, a drawing imprinted into the skin.”
“Zebras do that,” Twilight said sounding robotic. Her lecturing tone was absent. She had said the words to simply give her mind something to do.
“What does it mean?” Dash asked, stupidly. She had wanted to ask who had done this to him, because in the back of her mind she wanted to be angry. Anger was a much easier and less complicated emotion to her. This shock was disturbing, and she didn’t know how to get rid of it.
No, with anger all I have to do is find the monster that did something like this and punch him really hard!
She looked at the scars on his stomach.
A lot!
The muscles at his shoulder twitched again.
In the balls!
Despite the scars Ike smiled. “It’s just a silly thing I got from a friend.” His fingers twisted his ring. “Two symbols for infinity laid on top each other.”
It was Applejack who asked the important question. She had been sitting quietly, her eyes wide and haunted. “How?” she said. “How did you get all of those?”
“I…” Isaac paused searching for the right words, “hesitated.” He didn’t offer anything else.
“They aren’t covering each other.” Rainbow Dash looked to Twilight and saw the horrified expression on her face. She continued speaking though Dash doubted she was talking to anypony in particular. “New scars form on top of old scars. They’re all on the same layer.” Twilight’s voice hitched. “They’re the same age.”
Dashed turned back to Ike, staring dumbfounded at the scars. She couldn’t see one that interrupted the path of another. Even slashes that were perpendicular to each other shared the same scar tissue.
He got them all at once!
The tension in the room was unbarely thick. Dash was beginning to come down from the initial shock, but the room remained deathly quiet. Until the sound of the door opening and closing shattered it.
“I know you said not to worry,” Fluttershy said, “but I felt like I had to get you some-”
A bag of freshly baked Sugarcube Corner confections fell to the floor when Fluttershy saw Ike. Just behind her the door burst open.
“Fluttershy don’t-,” Pinkie froze when she saw the pegasus staring at Isaac, “look.”
Fluttershy’s eyes terrified Rainbow Dash. They stared unblinkingly all over the human, examining every mark on his body trying to comprehend what could have done this. When nothing came, her face fell to the floor, and she started to tremble.
Isaac stood in the center of the room, and despite his height, looked small. He never frowned, but he didn’t smile either. “Shy, I’m-” he was cut off when the pegasus leaped across the room. Her wings barely flapped once before she collided with his chest and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.” Ike slowly brought his arms up cradling her even if didn’t matter. Dash had seen reactions like this before, and once Shy was on somepony like that she was on like a vise.
“I’m so, so sorry.” Fluttershy repeated the words several more times before they dissolved into quiet sobs, and Ike held her like a father holding his foal after a bad dream.
“Now look at what I’ve done,” he said, stroking her mane. “I’ve gone and made an angel cry.”
I am a professional, she reminded herself.
Her measuring tape wrapped around Ike’s midriff taking great care not to stare at the scars that covered it. She did the same around his shoulders, arms, and inseam. Thankfully, most of his scars ended just past his shoulders though the longest did reach halfway to his right elbow. She’d take a measurement, write down its figure, and reposition to start again. It was completely methodical and professional. It was also completely unlike how she liked to work.
She liked to chat with her clients: gossip, small talks, even life stories. She didn’t care. She just liked the conversation. The night before she had thought of a million different things to ask the traveler, and now she could not find it in her to ask any of them. Twilight had likely milked him of information already, but she wanted to know about his culture. She would have asked about history and science, but Rarity wanted to know about his art, music, and culture. If what Twilight wanted was the backbone of society, than she wanted the life blood. However, if it was his culture that had allowed something like this to happen to him, did she really want to?
Her measuring tape wrapped around his neck, and she made the mistake of looking down. Just like its twin on his front, the mark on his shoulder unnerved her. The skin was warped, bulging outward in some places while sinking at others. He’s been impaled through that shoulder.
Rarity shook her head and averted her eyes.
Professional, Rarity, you are a professional. If you can clothe a minotaur unfamiliar with bathing you can clothe this poor thing.
“I’m sorry,” he said. He hadn’t stopped smiling she’d noticed. It wasn’t the happy carefree smile he’d had since she’d met him. In its stead now existed a pitiful, sad smile. That had always sounded like a paradox to her, a sad smile. However, if tears could mean happiness surely a smile could mean sadness.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” she said, climbing down from her stool. She had needed it to get the best measurement of his shoulders. “Our Fluttershy is a very sensitive mare, but she'll be fine soon.”
After the incident it had taken awhile to pry poor Fluttershy off of Ike. After some coaxing her into she finally letting go she was lead outside. Ike had remained silent for the most part except for asking to take a shower before starting. He was back soon after having stripped down to a baggy pair of undergarments he called boxers. He’d been adamant about leaving them on.
“I already apologized to her,” he said. “I was talking about you.”
Rarity paused in gathering swatches for her test passes. “I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t let,” she made a vague gesture towards him, “that bother me so much.” She levitated some material over needle and thread working to find the right patterns for his shape.
He shook his head. “I don’t think I would want to know someone who wasn’t bothered by these.” He shrugged his shoulders, and Rarity made certain not to look at his wounded shoulder. He stood still as a statue as Rarity worked. She was impressed by his angular features, but he wasn’t all that different from a minotaur. His shoulders were broad on him but tiny compared to a full grown bull’s. She’d be able to save on fabric for his clothing.
“Do they hurt?” she said, focusing on her needle work.
“Sometimes,” he said. “A few of them sting every once in awhile, and my shoulder likes to cramp up.”
“You talk about them so plainly.” She untied a seam and made a few notes in the sketchbook floating beside her.
“Eh, everyone has scars.” He looked at her with a light smile. “I just have a few more than most would like.” Rarity looked into his eyes. He’d laid his sunglasses on top of his clothing, so she could see them clearly. They were warm, welcoming, and sincere, and she could even see a spark within them. However, it looked like a spark fighting against a hurricane in an effort to stay lit.
Applejack, I’ll never doubt your skills again.
The door to the boutique swung open, and Pinkie Pie strolled in with the usual bounce in her gait. Her beaming smile had been trimmed down a notch looking almost motherly. Pinkie may have been hyper, but she knew when jubilance should yield to comfort.
“How’s it going?” she asked, plopping down on the vacant throw pillows. All of the girls had escorted Fluttershy out and made sure the fillies and baby dragon didn’t barge in.
“We’re almost done,” Rarity said, making a few more stitches. “I should have more than enough to get Ike’s suit ready by time we have to leave. How is Fluttershy?”
Pinkie Pie smiled. “Fine now. She wasn’t upset really just kinda sad, maybe a little mad too.”
Rarity shot Pinkie a questioning glance. “Fluttershy, mad?”
“Well, wouldn’t you be mad if you knew some meanie-pants did that to somepony?” Pinkie waved at Ike who looked a bit uncomfortable being talked about like he wasn't there.
“I tried not upset anyone,” Ike said. “Some take it better than others.”
Pinkie waved it off. “Don’t worry about it, Iky. I don’t know about other ponies, but from me when you get scrapes and scars you get cakes and cards!” From whatever place Pinkie kept her seemingly endless party supplies she produced a small cupcake, complete with burning candle, and a ‘Get Well Card’.
“Get Well?” Ike asked, picking up the card.
Pinkie shrugged, “I thought ‘Get Well’ sounded better, than ‘sorry some jerkface sliced you to ribbons.’”
“Pinkie!” Rarity said, bring a hoof to her mouth.
Ike simply laughed. “I don’t know. Can you imagine the other cards you’d find with it? ‘Sorry your finger got caught in the garbage disposal!’”
Pinkie snorted a laugh. “Enjoy the hemorrhoids!”
Ike nearly doubled over. “Have fun at you colonoscopy!”
Rarity rolled her eyes.
Well she did it in her own Pinkie way, but at least the mood’s improved. Really, Pinkie can be so considerate when she’s not acting so… bonkers.
Pinkie wiped a tear from her eye. “Alright, now have your cake!” Of course, instead of giving him the cupcake she crammed it into his still laughing mouth.
Oh well. It’s not like it was going to last much longer anyway.
Ike was jostled by the sudden force feeding and stepped back. Rarity felt her needle catch on something soft, and the fabric she’d been working with was torn off Ike’s leg. Rarity saw a small, red drop catch the light as her sewing came undone.
“Pinkie!” She said. “I’ve told you not to do that while I’m stitching!”
Pinkie grinned, sheepishly. “Sorry. So... you like the cupcake Iky?”
“Uhm muh huhm,” was all Rarity could make out as Ike removed the still lit candle from between his lips. He chewed for a second and swallowed. “It’s a vast improvement over the dirt I’ve been getting a lot of recently.”
Rarity frowned. She walked over to her cabinet and started fumbling around for a first aid kit. “I was about to remove that anyway, but stay there for a moment, Ike, while I get you a bandage.”
“A bandage for what?”
“My needle got you.”
“No, it didn’t.”
Rarity sighed as she levitated an alcohol pad and band-aid out of her drawer. She looked towards Ike skeptically. “There’s no need for bravado, darling. Getting a little help won’t diminish your stallionhood.”
“If he’s proportional, I don’t think he has anything to worry about,” Pinkie said.
Rarity flushed while Ike gained a cheesy grin. He pulled on an imaginary shirt collar. “Miss Pie, I’ll treasure that comment for the rest of time.”
“You’re welcome!” she said.
Rarity shook off her blush and cleared her throat. “Regardless, let me clean that up. I don’t want to be responsible for adding another mark to you.”
“Rarity, there’s nothing there look.” He turned his leg to her.
She eyed him. “Other leg.”
He huffed and turned, brandishing the other leg. She saw nothing. The leg was fine. Besides being a bit hairy—what counted as hairy for a human—it had no mark made by her or anyone else on it anywhere.
“But I could have sworn-”
Ike chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.” He started pulling his clothes back on.
Rarity shook her head and picked up her sketchbook and measurement pad. “Alright then, I guess it was my imagination. Your suit will be ready in no time, darling. Are you heading out?”
Ike nodded as he fastened on his sword which he’d left propped against the wall next to his clothes instead of stored in his “drive” as he called it. “Yeah, I figure I should check on the girls after the shock I gave them.”
“They’re at my place!” Pinkie said.
“Then I guess that’s where I’m headed.” He walked over to Rarity and picking up hoof, giving it another genteel kiss like he had the day before. “Thank you for your charity.”
“Thank nothing of it, darling,” she said as he and Pinkie left the shop. They both waved as they went out the door.
Strange creature… poor creature.
She walked over to her measuring area and started cleaning up the space. She levitated the notes she’d taken and read over them, packing things away at the same time.
Military jacket, maybe? No, too intimidating. It needs to be stylish, but simple. He likes simple.
She started towards her Inspiration Room when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. Looking away from her notepad and down to the floor she saw a single red spot.
I knew I hadn’t imagined it! Stallions, you’d have to cut their heads off before they’d admit they’re in trouble.
She frowned and lit up her horn. The cerulean aura pooled on the floor around the blood drop, and she pulled it up. Her aura moved, but the blood stayed. Rarity cocked her head and knelt down. Surely it hadn’t stained already. As she got closer she saw that it couldn’t have. A part of it was still shining from the fading light of the sun. She tried a few more times to lift the drop, but each time it stayed.
“How-” she started to say, but as her breath left her lips the drop disintegrated. Puffing away like a mote of dust or dash of glitter. Her breath alone had been enough to blow it away.
She stared at the spot before looking up and out her boutique’s window. She saw Ike and Pinkie nearing the end of the street. Ike had the back of his head cradled in his hands almost if he could lean back while walking. He was laughing as Pinkie tried and failed to stand on her hind legs and walk like him. Before they turned at the street corner Ike had gotten behind her and steadied her by bracing her shoulders. The result was a stumbling gait, but she remained upright. They continued that way until they turned out of Rarity’s sight.
She smiled, shaking her head. It had been a long day, and a drop of glitter wasn’t worth getting frazzled about.
Strange creature indeed.
