//------------------------------// // In Which There Is a Startling Occurence // Story: The Usurper King of Equestria // by UsurperBronyZant //------------------------------// *Location: My House, Ponyville, Equestria, Equus, day after party...* I woke up the next morning with the sun shining right in my eyes. "Celestia, why must you do this to me?" I thought. Reluctantly, I got out of bed. Then I smelled something nasty. Unfortunately, it was me. ~Twenty Minutes Later...~ After taking a quick shower and magicking the nastiness off of my clothes (because they were all I had until Rarity finished the ones she was making for me), I went downstairs for some breakfast. Lilium wasn't up yet, and I wasn't about to wake her--I knew what could happen when waking up females who thoroughly enjoyed sleeping, and given what I'd seen Lilium do at the party last night, it seemed like an even worse idea than usual. I looked in the fridge to see what was available. I still had some fish from Fluttershy, but I REALLY didn't feel like cooking. Other than that, there was some milk and a bit of fruit. I made a mental note to go grocery shopping later. With nothing much in the fridge, I turned my attention to the pantry and struck gold in the form of DONUTS! "Awww yeah," I thought. I grabbed the box of donuts and the milk from the fridge and went to the table to enjoy my feast. I was working on the second donut when Lilium finally came down. "Morning," I said. "Good morning," she said in return, in her typical quiet voice. "Sleep well?" I asked her. "Yes," she replied. I went and got a couple of plates and glasses from the cabinet. I put the remains of my second donut on one and a fresh donut on the other, and filled both glasses with milk. I put my half-eaten donut and one glass of milk where I'd been at the table, and gave the other foodstuffs to Lilium. She took them in the grasp of her invisible arms and took a seat across from me, putting her meal in front of her. We ate in silence before I asked her, "So what's up with your powers there?" She took a gulp from her drink before speaking. "When that terrible stallion was holding me captive," she began, "he'd test my powers. He and another one, a green one with a strange voice. They called them vectors. I can use them to cut through metal and lift really heavy stuff." It was clear that these so-called "vectors" were no joke. "I take it that explains the unusual image on your flank?" I asked her. She simply nodded in reply. "So what do you know about Diclonius ponies?" I asked her. "Well...I'm pretty sure they all have horns like mine, and vectors," she began. "I overheard the bad ponies say that they're all mares. And they all have red eyes. There might've been something else, but I couldn't hear exactly what the bad ponies were saying." "Curiouser and curiouser," thought I. I filed all Lilium had told me away for later and finished my meal before saying, "Well, thank you for telling me all this. You truly are a brave mare, having endured all that." She blushed upon hearing that. "Anyway," I continued, "we can't survive on donuts and milk forever, and I'm sure there's something else we need, so howzabout we finish up here and go run some errands?" "Okay," replied Lilium. We finished our food and went upstairs to finish getting ready. The ponies had really though of everything, even toiletries! Fortunately Lilium hadn't been held by Ghirahim and co. so long that she forgot how to do simple things like brush her teeth. Once we were all set, we went out to run various and sundry errands to buy various and sundry goods. *Location: Ponyville Market, Ponyville, Equestria, Equus, fifteen minutes later...* Lilium and I had run our errands and gotten just about everything we needed. We'd gotten some fruits and vegetables, various cooking ingredients, and other foodstuffs (including some more taboo edibles from Fluttershy). Celestia had been kind enough to set us up with a royal gift card (valid at any and every Equestrian business!) after she'd heard about the whole thing with Argorok, so we were good money-wise for a good while. We were about to head home when I saw something, or rather someone, unusual. I knew just about everyone in Ponyville, but I'd never seen this pony before. She was a slightly-taller-than-average unicorn with a tan coat. Her long purple mane and tail were pulled into ponytails (irony at its finest). Her light-blue eyes were full of courage and kindness, and her golden jewelry, combined with the genie lamp on her flank, gave her a certain air, like she was mysterious and powerful. She also looked a bit lost, like she didn't know where she was or where to go. I turned to Lilium and, pointing at the new mare, I said, "Hey, let's go help here out." My shy companion looked at the new mare, then at me, and nodded in response. Lilium and I walked over to the new mare. "Hey there," I said. "You look a little lost. Need some help?" I asked. She looked at me in surprise, then noticed Lilium, who shied away a bit. "Oh!" said the new mare "Yes, thank you! I'm trying to find Princess Twilight Sparkle, could you show me the way?" "Of course!" I said. "I'm sorry, we weren't properly introduced. I'm Zant." "Lilium," said my meek friend. "I'm Desert Gem. Nice to meet you both!" said the new mare. "I'm afraid I've never seen anything like either of you. If you don't mind me asking, what type of creatures are you two?" she asked. "Well Ms. Gem, how forward of you!" I said. "Asking such personal questions before the first date?!" Desert Gem, looking thoroughly embarrassed, said, "Oh, well, um, I'm sorry if I offended you-!" "Don't worry about it, I'm just messin' with ya," I said, cutting her off before she dug herself into a hole, metaphorically speaking. "And to answer your question, I'm a Twili." "I'm a Diclonius pony," said Lilium. "Wow, cool!" said Desert Gem. "I've seen some crazy stuff, but never anything like you two! Well, I suppose since you told me what you are, I should tell you what I am. I'm a half-genie." "Really?" I said. "Now THAT is interesting!" "I've heard of genies," said Lilium, "but never half-genies." "Well, I'd love to tell you about my geneaology some other time, but I'm afraid I REALLY need to talk to the Princess, so if you'd take me to her, that'd be great," said Desert Gem. "Okay, okay, I can see you're in a rush," I said, "so instead of walking, let's do something quicker." I placed a hand on each of the two mares who were with me, and teleported us to Twilight's castle. *Location: Inside Twilight's Castle, Ponyville, Equestria, Equus, now...* The three of us materialized inside Twilight's castle in the flurry of small rectangles characteristic of my teleportation. There was a sudden flash of magenta magic as Twilight teleported in front of us. "You do know there's such a thing as a door, right Zant?" she asked rhetorically. "Well yes, but where's the fun in that?" I replied. "And besides, I have someone here to see you. Now if you'll excuse Lilium and me, we have to put away some groceries. Lovely to meet you Ms. Gem, bye now!" And with that, I teleported Lilium and myself home. *Location: My House, Ponyville, Equestria, Equus, later...* Lilium and I were putting away groceries when suddenly, we heard a scream from across town. "Did you hear that?" she asked me. "Yes, and it sounded like Twilight!" I said. I dropped the produce I'd been putting away and went over to Lilium and whisked us away to Twilight's castle. *Location: Inside Twilight's Castle, Ponyville, Equestria, Equus, now...* We arrived in Twilight's throne room to see a shocking sight: Desert Gem standing over Twilight, a wicked-looking dagger encased in a fiery green aura, just like her horn. "Okay, yeah, I'm not sure what is going on here," I said, "but it is NOT OKAY!" I equipped my helmet and conjured my scimitars. Lilium seemed to share my feelings as she instantly looked ready to fuck shit up. Desert Gem turned to look at the two of us, and hissed. It was a horrifying sound, but nowhere near as bad as what happened next. The green fire expanded to cover her whole body, and slowly, her coat was replaced by a black, chitinous endoskeleton. Her extremities were full of holes, and her eyes were solid blue. She had insectoid wings that were also full of holes, and her horn was sharp and jagged. "Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, I'll have to deal with you as well," said the being I'd thought was a pony. "Such a shame, I'd wanted there to be as little mess as possible. Oh well, just something else to charge that creep for." "Yeah, not gonna happen," I said. I teleported behind her and took a swipe at her with my blades, but she dodged and flew away... Right into Lilium's vectors. "DAMN, Lilium is FAST!" I thought. She'd gone the distance of at least half the throne room in the blink of an eye! "Anything to say before I end your pathetic existence?" said Lilium to the insectoid pony, a deadly edge in her voice. "NOOOO!" called a voice from across the room. It was...Twilight?? "Don't kill her! Please!" the alicorn mare continued. "But...she tried to kill you!" I said. "We have every reason TO kill her!" "Then how are you any better than her?!" said Twilight. I had no reply to that, and neither did Lilium. Instead, I went over to Lilium and teleported her and the would-be murderer to the town hall to lock the insect in the dank town jail cell until the Guard could arrive to take her to a proper prison.