//------------------------------// // Explanation (fixed) // Story: The Twilight Citadel // by Pyrestrike //------------------------------// "Are you certain it was her's?" "Yup, I could recognize that cutie-mark anywhere Rarity. I know she's out there, somewhere." Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity were walking to the dining tent. While they were walking they were contemplating what to do with the stallion in the infirmary tent. "I still don't get why her cutie-mark is on that stallions' armor in the first place. Let alone her being alive after all these years." "Me neither Fluttershy, but if there's a small chance she might be alive still then we have to look." "Don't we have other important things to attend to? I mean we have to make sure that we keep our little angels safe from those ruffians. By the way, how are your daughters doing Applejack?" "They're a wild bunch, always wanting to go outside and play with the snow. Katy Apple is doing great with Cheerilee and is learning what she can these times. Fireside on the other hand... She's just like Applebloom, almost too adventurous for her age. I mean I know she's already 15 and all but these are dangerous times for a young mare like her to go off on her own." "Well I'm sure you'll manage, I mean I had to raise 2 colts! You don't know what kind of horrible things they can do to you darling, and I'm pretty sure that Crowntop and I agreed not to have anymore. But have you seen Rainbow Dash's daughter? I swear she looks like and exact clone of her! And to think what she'll start acting like once she reaches her teenage years." "Nah, Sky Specter's okay in my book, in fact I think she was the most reasonable one in the family you know." "Thank Faust I haven't had any fillies with Mac yet, who knows what'll happen with you talking about them as such a bad thing." "Oh, don't worry darling, you're the most kind pony I've ever known in my life. You're strict when necessary and kind as well. I'm sure that if you had children you'd teach them a lesson and they'll turn out proper." "Thanks girls, but I wonder. What would happen if we met Twilight's children one day. What would we say? What would we do? Should we apologize? Or should we leave them alone? I just don't know!!!" "Calm down Fluttershy, I guess we'll never know unless we actually do meet her children one day." They approached the large tent and saw nothing but darkness. Cautiously, Rarity lit her horn and nudged Applejack toward the table. There was a giggle underneath the table which confused the ponies in the tent, Applejack looked underneath the tablecloth and saw a grown mare and a young filly with a wide smile hidden inside. "SURPRISE!" Just then the room exploded with party supplies as Pinkie Pie and one of Applejack's daughters tackled her to the ground as the room lit up suddenly and everypony in the tent started laughing as they got up. Applejack smiled wide as her daughter continued to hug her while on the ground. The little orange bundle of adorableness had tiny bows in her golden mane that she tied herself to look nice for her mother on her special day. "Well I thought something was under that table! But why are you doing this? It ain't somepony's birthday yet is it?" "Well it's your birthday mommy, don't you remember?" "Yeah, It's your birthday silly! Unless you're a Changeling, which I would immediately blow your head off with my party cannon by the way. But I highly doubt that scenario ever happening in the first place. Am...I...Right...AppleJack? Pinkie put on a dark smile as Applejack backed away and nodded sharply at the crazed party-mare. "Pinkie! There are foals in this room you know!" "I'm sorry, I just had to make sure. Can't be too careful these days, now let's get this party started people!" While the small party had gotten into full swing, Applejack couldn't help but wonder where her second daughter was. "Hey Pinkie! Where's Fireside?" Pinkie put her hoof to her chin for a moment before answering. "I honestly have no idea!" Frowning at Pinkie's answer Applejack replied. "Gee, thanks..." Just then Rainbow Dash burst through the entrance of the tent with an amazed look glued to her face. She was holding the chest plate of the stallions' armor in her mouth and set it on the table in the middle of the tent. "You girls won't believe this! I was just about to take this to the armory when one of the trainee units accidentally blasted me with an energy bolt!" "WHAT!" "It's okay though, thanks to this bad boy. I checked the armor and I didn't see a scratch on it! "Rainbow Dash please be careful next time, and you said it was a trainee that hit you right? "Yeah, he did. Then I asked some of the veterans to hit me with the armor on. They used so many spells and curses on me but the armor here still looked brand-new! After they were exhausted using magic I put the armor on one of our training dummies and let them have fun letting loose on it." "What happened?" "Oh, the armor gave off some sort of magical pulse that knocked them back every time they hit it. Trust me, it was hilarious! The rest of the elements except Pinkie rolled their eyes and stepped toward the armor. "Whoever made that must be a very good blacksmith then." "Well not just any blacksmith Applejack. In order for somepony to forge armor of this kind of durability would require alloys which can only be made with both unicorn, pegasi, and earth pony talents combined through magic." "You're right Rarity, and I can only guess that a certain unicorn had something to do with this." "It might be her or not. A handful of great scholars and mages can do this." "Hey! Is it just me or did I just miss a party. Who the hay forgot to invite me! I see this cake and it's delicious, I know one of you tried to deny me a treat but I'll find you!" The party continued as Pinkie entertained the guests and the elements talked more about their lives and parenting. Applejack sat in the corner writing in a journal until Katy interrupted her. "It's time to do the birthday song mommy!" "I know, I know, just give me a moment to finish this entry." All of a sudden, Nurse Redheart burst into the tent with a worried expression on her face. She panted a bit before raising her head to face the elements. "He's awake, and he's asking questions." The elements turned to face Nurse Redheart and waited for her to continue. "He wants to know where he is and what happened to the armor he was wearing." "All right, but we'll need some answers from him first. Katy, I want you to enjoy the party with your friends while I settle this okay? Can you be a good apple while I'm gone for a bit? "But what about your cake, and the wish, and the blowing out the candles?" "I know that, that's why I need you to watch the cake and make sure it isn't stolen by any Changelings ya hear?" "Yes mommy, I'll stay right here and guard the cake!" "That's a good filly. Let's go girls!" Redheart and the elements galloped through the cave and stopped until they reached a large tent with a big red cross on the front of the entrance. They walked in and Redheart guided them to where the pony was and gestured to them. The stallion took notice of his visitors and turned his head slowly to face them. He smiled softly and sighed, coughing as he did. "I see that the ponies in charge of this place want to question me I presume?" "That's right, now you answer our questions and we promise Redheart and Fluttershy will take good care of you. If not, you'll be tossed outta here without your fancy shmancy armor." "Well if you want honesty I would like the same thing. You tell me the truth, and I'll do that as well." Rarity took a glance at an object on the stallion's foreleg and grabbed it with her telekinesis. The stallion noticed this and tried to hide it but to know avail as it was ripped from his arm. "Uh-oh, It seems my vow of honesty has been bent a bit." The appearance of the stallion warped as it shrunk from a muscular and well-built stallion to a meek teenage colt as the Element's eyes widened and stepped back. The dark red that had first made up his coat was quickly being replaced by a lighter shade of grey. His mane had also changed into a bold navy blue and his eyes changed color into a deep lavender. The colt grinned sheepishly while the elements glared at him with confusion and suspicion. "How the hay did you do that!" Applejack questioned. "Um, magic trick?" the colt replied. "Don't play dumb with us! Are you a Changeling? Where's your hive? Did you follow me and Applejack? Are you a Spy?" "Please don't let her hurt me! I'll answer your questions just don't let her get near me!" The other elements then pulled Rainbow Dash away from the colt and set a chair for her to sit on. "Look sugarcube, I know you're just a nice colt who got lost, so answer the questions and nopony'll get hurt. Understand?" The colt nodded sharply and awaited the first question. "What's your name to start this off." Another teenage filly overheard the conversation and stared into the tent undetected as she saw the colt on the bed and looked around the room to find if others have noticed her. She crawled under the tent and leaped for a bunch of stacked crates filled with red apples to hide while the interrogation continued. "Comet Shard, ma'am" "A nice name you have there. How did you do that trick where you changed your appearance?" "I an advanced illusion spell that my mom taught me when I was eight." "But darling, if what you are saying is true then it would have drained your magic reserves trying to maintain it." Rarity explained. "He must be lying then! I knew it!" Rainbow blurted. "Shut up and let me talk Rainbow Dash. How did you manage to keep that disguise on for so long?" "Powerband, it triples the magic of the user to perform more complex spells with less effort. Another thing my mom made." The colt pointed to the bracelet in Rarity's magic, the others slightly impressed by it. Rainbow Dash sat with a disapproving look on her face while Applejack thought for a bit about the info she was receiving. "Alright then, next question. So do you have a home somewhere or are there any towns or cities nearby?" "One that I know of, it's where I ran away from and the reason why I had that disguise on. The elements' eyes widened and nudged Applejack to continue. "Would ya be kind enough to tell us where that is?" "Nuh-uh, my mom told me never to give ponies you've just met personal information like that." The teenager said, the Elements deflating slightly. "Alrighty then, Where are your parents?" Comet looked down to the floor of the tent for a moment before answering. "My dad died when I was only six and my mom is too busy doing stuff up in the castle, so why should I care? It's not like they love me anymore anyway." "Hey, I know that's not true. Your mom would never stop loving you no matter what you do." "But I have a plan though, I'm gonna join the Stardust Guard and become a hero like my dad was and she'll never ignore me again." Comet threw his forelegs in the air to emphasize this and dropped something onto the floor. Applejack noticed this and picked the object up. "Hey! Give that back it's mine!" Applejack examined the object much to Comet's chagrin and saw that was a silver and lavender colored badge which read, "protector vitae crepusculum, bellator lucis, et peperit iniquitatem , et mittere ad vesperam" Struggling to understand it, Applejack turned to Comet for him to answer. "What the hay does any of this mean?" she asked. "It's Satin for "Protector of Dusk, Warrior of Light, Bring forth evil and send them to Night." It's the creed of the Stardust Guard, and that was my father's badge he wore before he died in battle with the Changelings. It's the most precious thing I have left of him." Applejack handed the badge back to Comet, which in turn snatched the badge away from her grasp and turned away from the elements. "I'm sorry about your father Comet, but I can promise you that we'll get you home safely after this. All you need to do is tell us where you came from." "But what if he's lying!" Rainbow interrupted. "He's just a teenager Dash, nothing wrong ever happened when we stopped to help somepony." "But what if he is a spy! What if he's trying to lead us into a trap! Don't you remember the Crusaders!" Applejack and Rarity froze at that name and they both turned to face Rainbow with malice in their eyes. "Don't you EVER disgrace that name! They kept fighting even though they knew they'll never make it out of Manehatten with us! Do you know how many times their faces have haunted me every time I try to sleep! Every time I see how peaceful their faces looked before they were captured by those things!" "Um girls, should we really be fighting at this time?" Fluttershy asked, only to be ignored. "Sweetie Belle never deserved that fate! She could have escaped with us but instead she stood with Applebloom and Scootaloo fought back just to buy us time to escape! I'll never forget that day Rainbow, never. "Hey! You two think you're the only ones suffering, well I am too you know. Ever since Scootaloo got captured it's like a part of me died back in Manehatten. She was the closest I ever had to a sister and those bugs ripped her away from me." The trio of mares stared at each other in a cold stalemate of tension. Finally Rainbow Dash broke and sat down on the floor, she sighed heavily and looked up to see the two other elements looking at her with neutral expressions. "I'm sorry girls, it's just that it's been so stressful lately ever since Sky got sick. She's been coughing and wheezing at times and I just don't know what to do. I'm just doing what I think is right for my daughter, because I've already lost two ponies special to me, and I don't want to lose a third." "Rainbow, I know you want to be as careful as you can but you can't overdo it okay? I want what's best for my children too but I also want to make sure that they get enough freedom without restriction once in their lives." "Darling, Sky's going to be fine. I'm sure it's just a little cold, that's all." "Thanks girls. You all seem to understand parenting more then I ever will." Rainbow said. The sound of clanking armor was heard as several guardsponies entered the tent with alarmed expressions. "Ma'am, there are other guards dressed in lavender armor outside the tunnel entrance ma'am." "Uh-oh." Comet said. "Whaddaya mean by Uh-oh?" "It looks like they found me." "Who found ya?" Applejack asked. Before Comet could answer the sound of an explosion rocked the cave as the sound of clanking armor suddenly stopped only to be replaced by the magically amplified voice of a young mare." "IN THE NAME OF THE AURORA EMPIRE I DEMAND THAT YOU SHOW YOURSELVES!!!" "My sister found me..."