//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 - The Best Night Ever, part 1 // Story: Nothing Is Impossible // by Horizon Prime //------------------------------// On the train arriving to Canterlot from Ponyville, in the corner of the section by the window, was quietly sitting Darin Do as her alter-ego, miss A.K Yearling. A newspaper covered her face helping her remain unseen by the other passengers. But that was just an added bonus, for the glint of her eyes reflected her full immersion in the Equestrian Times. The newspaper read, Chaos Spirit Not Guilty! The infamous Discord escapes justice due to insufficient evidence once again. Given the verdict, the small town of Ponyville, is forced to endure the slow repairs, and the insurance company, Oh Boy Insurance, is to shoulder the bills. Among many other accusations, Discord was indicted from allegations of misconduct for using his chaotic magic, to un-dress, disarm and disperse the dispatched guards from Cloudsdale and Canterlot, to end the out of control party in Ponyville. The testimonies, were all disregarded for each of the guards were found heavily intoxicated on salt or cider while fraternizing with the locals, some even were involved in the hijacking of the train that "crashed" the party into Appleloosa, and many couldn't remember most of the events. The so called, Chaos Lord, couldn't be forced to clean up the disaster, but you can still see him in page 3 being consoled by animal caretaker and bird trainer, Fluttershy, who defended him from the crowd of reporters outside the court room. This is what she had to say regarding Oh Boy Insurance accusations: "You shouldn't be so quick to judge, just because he made some mistakes before doesn't mean he hasn't changed." Discord also commented: "This is just a personal vendetta on my perfectly reformed-self by the Lunar-prosecution. They keep bringing charge after charge despite the fact that I'm always found not-guilty; and they say I'm insane," he said crying on Fluttershy's shoulders while the meek yellow pegasus padded his back. On the other side, party planners: Pinkie Pie, and Cheese Sandwich, were found guilty of public disturbance, but given Pinkie Pie services to the realm, she was sentenced to a 150 bit fine, and a public apology in Ponyville. "Sorry for, Party~Rocking!" miss Pinkie Pie shouted to a cheering herd as they stomped in approval a day ago. Apparently, everypony in Ponyville is Pinkie Pie's friend, so she was instantly forgiven—even rewarded—as all attending the public apology donated 1 or 2 bits, and the fine was taken care by an improvised town collect that leaved her some small earnings. However, Cheese Sandwich has refused to apologize or paid any fine for his activities and still at large. He is now an outlaw, and he and his parties are considered seriously, and dangerously, funny. Any information on his whereabouts or one of his illegal parties must be delivered to the authorities— Daring snorted and laughed while folding the paper and storing it under her wing. "Why did I leaved Ponyville so soon," she said as she got out of the train with her mind on the secret mission, Princess Twilight has made her a part of, and how best to keep it secret. ~~<<0>>~~ The backyard of Twilight's castle was a big space covered by a cool green grass carpet, mildly secluded from town and free of prying eyes. The enormous building blocked the view and provided a refreshing morning shadow which make it a semi-ideal place to train your body and mind and exercise to the fullest. However, that was not exactly the case with Rainbow Dash and Rarity. "Rainbow, stop. You're going too fast," Rarity said as she observed the pegasus in the air making strange strain faces, while exhorting a not too impressive rating, of nine wing power on the anemometer set on the ground. "Flying this slow isn't that easy, y'know?" Rainbow responded. "How hard can it be? You just have to fly like everypony else." "But I'm not like anypony else; I, am awesome. This feels super weird and awkward and... ugh! Irritating!" She slowed herself back to a more conservative five wing power while coursing around Rarity. "Have you ever tried walking slow, like really slow, like not trying to move at all; it's driving me crazy!" Rarity taped her chin in contemplation. "Mmm—no I haven't, but you'll have to." She then returned her critical eye to Rainbow as she sized her up. "And another thing, you're also, not acting properly." "What?" "You'll pardon my intrusion, but what little I know about... outdoor sports, is that it requires a lot of smelly sweating and panting—and you're not doing any of them," she said gesturing to all of Rainbow's body. "Not to mention how strange you're beating your wings—it looks more like a slow flutter than anything else." "Ugh!" Rainbow stopped flying and thrust her nuzzle into Rarity's personal space."I can't help it! If I beat them any faster I couldn't go that slow." "Well, you'll have to figure something out because everypony will know that you are throwing away the races." "That's the thing. Why do I have to lose? It doesn't make any sense." "It makes perfect sense Rainbow Dash. This is Canterlot underground race betting we are talking. We need to stack the odds against you so when you win the Equestria Cup we'll make a killing, so to speak." Rainbow shook her head. "I don't know Rare. I just don't trust that Filthy guy." "Fret not my darling. Through his daughter, and my boutique, I have come to be very acquainted with Mr. Rich. You don't have to worry about a thing. And racing and gambling was the only idea he could come up with to rise some of that money." Rainbow sighed and slumped. "If you say so, I guess." "That's right, I do say so. But you still must act like you're tired, so go now—" She ushered her away waving her hoof daintily "—start panting." "Dang it. I hate going slow. I hate this plan. I hate losing," she grumbled as she kicked some of the grass walking away. "Good morning girls," Twilight said next to Rarity as she exited the castle. "I trust everything is going well?" "Not so well, Twilight." "Why?" "She's trying hard, but I don't think she can convince anypony that she didn't lose on purpose—she may even be incapable of losing. She can fly slow, but it just looks too unnatural." "Rainbow?" Twilight called. "Could you show me what you'd managed?" Rainbow avoided Twilight's eyes. "Eh... it's not perfect yet." "That's okay, just show me." "O-okay..." Rainbow got some distance and began circling the air, evading some clouds, trying to fly slow, but the way she moved her wings and her overall performance made her seem as she was gliding, or just statically moving forward, like a statue being pulled that sometimes flapped its wings. "Hmm... I see... it is as I suspected, it's not a problem with her moves. It's just like when I had absorbed Luna, Cadance and Celestia's magic, her wings now exhorts to much magic." "Oh? So she just needs to control the output?" "Is not that simple, Rarity. She can control her power, but when she does, it looks... like that. But I have an idea. Rainbow? Come down for a moment." Rainbow sighed and landed. "Did you see?" "Yeah..." Twilight said rubbing the back of her head. "This is all horse-apples. Now that I have this speed, it turns out that I need to go slow? What kind of twisted joke is this?" "Listen, Rainbow. I may have a spell that could help you with that." "Really? Why didn't you say so in the first place! Come on Twilight, I'd been dying up there," she said flaring her fore-hooves up in the air. "It's not that simple. It's a binding spell," Twilight said with a serious expression. "Uh? A binding spell? As in, 'you are under my control' binding spell?" "Noo... yes, not exactly. You all know about the magic surges ponies get when they are babies, right? Well, when a baby is a pegasus and the parent is not of the same tribe, it could led to serious injuries; like if the foal starts flying then loses its magic and falls, or fly away and gets lost since the parent can't follow. Similar things happen with unicorn babies when the surges are severe; they can injure themselves or their families. So for those extreme cases, they developed a binding spell to limit the output of their magic. "I want to cast that spell on you. However... the spell was devised for babies, you're a grown up; your mind and magic channels are all set, and not very moldable like one of a foal. Furthermore, I think I'll have to modify the spell to handle your level of magic among other things." "Excuse me Darling," Rarity hesitantly said, "but... what does that mean?" "It means, that I'll cast the spell trying to access Rainbow's mind, and modify her power, but it won't be pleasant. Rainbow? You'll have to give me permission and allow me to control you." "What!? So I'll do whatever you want? Like some kind of zombie-slave!" "What? No, that's not—well, I mean, I could—but I would never do that to you. I'll just bind your wing power a little so you'll fly slower and that's it! I promise!" "You promise, huh?" Rainbow said watching her sideways while squinting her eyes. "Okay..." "Twilight, is this safe?"—Rarity placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder—"You don't sound very convinced..." "It'll be alright," Twilight said nodding to Rarity and stepping forward. "Now Rainbow, whatever happens, you need to stay calm and let me into your mind. Unlike a babies mind, we have lots of barriers, secrets, complexes and insecurities we don't want to share. You just have to relax and let me do my work; the more you fight the more painful this becomes and the less likely is that the spell will succeed, got it?" "Don't fight. Relax. Got it." Rainbow nodded; then, saw Twilight sat down, and motion for her to mirror her move by tapping lightly the ground in front of her. "Now close your eyes and relax." Rainbow did as she was told. She then heard a mild buzz and felt Twilight's horn touch her forehead. A warmth spread from the top of her head to all of her body. She had an unbalance sensation and felt herself suddenly pulled forward, speeding up till she opened her eyes. She saw a white ever-reaching emptiness all around her. She couldn't distinguish up from down or if there was a roof or a floor, so the best she could come up with, was that she was in the middle of an endless white sky. In there, she was being watched; she could feel it. It was Twilight. Twilight could see her. Rainbow couldn't lie to her. She couldn't hide from her. She was next to her, behind her, above her— "No! Get away!" Rainbow panicked and pushed herself away from her spot in front of Twilight breaking the spell and falling on her back. She breathed fast and heavily while dragging herself back in fear of her. "Rainbow, it's okay you're safe," Twilight said and tried to close the distance but Rainbow jumped behind Rarity like a little kid seeking her mother protection from the monster in her closet. "Rainbow, darling, are you okay? It's just Twilight dear," Rarity asked confused watching Rainbow hide behind her tail. Rainbow looked at Rarity then at Twilight confused. She shook her head and rudely pushed Rarity aside. "What the hay was that, Twilight? You do that to babies!?" "Take a breath and relax Rainbow Dash. Like I said, this is only frightful because you are an adult. Babies don't have this problem; it's very easy for them—fun even. You need to relax and let it happen." "Ugh! Gosh, give me a moment." Rainbow took a few steps away while inhaling deeply. "..." "Okay, I'm ready." They resumed with the spell. Rainbow was again in the empty white field and could feel Twilight intense gaze upon her judging. She resisted the urge to run and felt herself getting warmer and her head spinning and hurting. She sensed Twilight getting closer, as if she was next to her heart. She felt vulnerable. It was comforting and dreadful at the same time, like if a single word or opinion Twilight could say, no matter how insignificant, could sent her a bliss or tear her apart; she was holding her heart. Twilight pressed harder. Rainbows memories flew over: loving memories of her dad, memories of her distant mom, the times she wet herself, the times she was scowled, the time Twilight held her after AJ died, the time she lashed out to Twilight, the time she cowered at the best flyer competition, the times with AJ on the running of the leaves, the nights she cried alone in the last years, and all others shames and failures. They were all floating there for Twilight to see. "No! Don't look!" she said. "It's alright Rainbow, don't pull back, I'm almost finished," Twilight said. Rainbow held there but the memories were getting darker and darker, until there was the one she was most scared of. Twilight was seeing it. The moment she hated herself the most for. She was seeing the moment, AJ died. The moment Rainbow shut her eyes and turned her face away. In her memory, AJ was seeing her with pleading eyes full of fear, imploring her to save her, but Rainbow knew she couldn't make it. She knew what was coming and couldn't watch. She shut her eyes for a moment and turned away her face... she let her friend die alone. "Please, Twilight, don't look at me, not anymore, please..." she said with tears falling from her cheeks. "Rainbow, you have to say it," Twilight implored. "Say you give me permission, say you allow it." "I... I... I allow it." Two entwine chains of raspberry light came from Twilight's horn, flying briefly in the air, then embedded themselves into Rainbow's back. They became solid grey color as they traveled through the surface of her skin, like two snakes going for her cutie marks. Each one of the chains surrounded their own symbol binding it. A small lock with Twilight's own cutie mark appeared and closed on top of Rainbow's. The chains and the lock slowly faded, completely disappearing, leaving only Rainbow's cutie mark visible. A strong wind began flowing and encircling the three ponies forming a small tornado for a few seconds, then resided, and the spell was complete. Rainbow opened her eyes and turned her back to Twilight and cried. Rarity tried to reach her when Rainbow shouted, "Stop! Don't touch me, get away." Rarity held her hoof up her chest as she said, "Darling, are you okay? Is there anything I can get you?" "Just leave us alone... Please..." she said looking back at Twilight. "... Alright. I give you two a moment. I'll bring you something to drink." Rainbow nodded to Rarity. Rarity left, but not without throwing a scowl at Twilight, who faced down remaining silent; Twilight hadn't expected this to be so painful to Rainbow. "You saw, didn't you?" "No, Rainbow. I didn't see anything," Twilight said shaking her head profusely. "The spell doesn't show me anything, just your magic channels as I work on the bind." "You really didn't see?" "No... I just felt your emotions, your fear and anxiety, nothing more." "Y-you're telling the truth... right?" "Yes." "Okay... alright, that's... that's, good," she said with a forced smiled. "I'm sorry Rainbow. I didn't think it would be this painful to you." "It's alright, Twilight it was only... me." "Rainbow, do you want to talk about it? I could help—" "No. If you didn't see, then... I don't want to..." "... Okay." Rainbow ran and hugged Twilight, then said, "Thank you, Twilight." Twilight was stunned. Rainbow wasn't one for such displays; the spell most have really stir her up. She sighed relieved and said, "I love you too." They separated and look into each other's eyes for a moment. Rainbow took a deep breath then fell to her back on the grass and sighed. The exhaustion she felt made her want to lay there and stare at the passing clouds all day. Twilight watched her curious until she decided to accompany her on the grass watching the sky. Rainbow playfully bumped Twilight with her wing to which she quickly reciprocated. They both giggled of their silliness for a while. After a minute or so of cloud watching, Rarity came back with a couple of refreshment. "Is it alright now?" she asked peeking out of the castle back door. "Yeah," Rainbow said sitting up, "We are cool. Sorry for making you leave." "Ha! Nothing to worry about, I just hope you're okay. Here"—she passed the drinks—"you must be thirsty." "Thanks," they said. Rarity pulled her picnic coach and joined them watching the sky for a few seconds. "Well? How did it go? The spell, I mean," she asked. "Oh? I don't know," Rainbow said looking at Twilight. "Why don't you try it?" Twilight said. Rainbow flapped her wing and took off. She flew a couple of laps at an impressive speed, blowing strong wind currents wherever she passed. Seeing that display, Rarity and Twilight thought the spell hadn't worked at all. When Rainbow landed, she said, "Hey, this works pretty well, I can't remember the time when I was this slow or heavy." "Slow? To me it looks like you are the same," Rarity said. "Nah, my ability to move through the air is gone. I'm almost like a normal pegasus now. See?" Rainbow took a few slow laps around her friends, at a speed that maybe even Fluttershy, could keep up with. "Hmm... that does look better, but you still need to pant Rainbow Dash," Rarity said. "Oh, right. Anyway, this worked pretty well, but how you stopped the wind from helping me? I didn't think you could control something like that," she asked Twilight. "You are correct. Although you conceive that ability as a sort of collaboration that it's part instinct, part skill, there is also a part that controls its shape. I couldn't fully prevent this innate collaboration you have with the air, but I could reshape it. I stretched your air field from an sphere, into a thin tread or rope that ascents into the sky. That way, you can't use it to move," Twilight said confidently smiling at her own cleverness. Rainbow looked directly above her to the sky and said, "I don't think the wind likes it." As if to prove her statement, a powerful gust passed through them messing Twilight's and Rarity's manes and throwing them to their faces. "Ha! Hejeje," Rainbow laughed. "Don't worry he's just being big baby." "He?" Twilight asked while Rarity desperately composed her mane. "He, she, it. I don't know. Sometimes it feels like a he, others like a she—" Rainbow shrugged "—Right now, it feels like a he." "Well, I for one, don't know how you put up with it," Rarity said slightly insulted while adding the finishing touches of her mane. "If it was me, I'll never get used to having something so rude like that around, much less having a he watching me all the time; a lady needs its privacy thank you very much." Rainbow smirked. "Oh yeah? You say that now, but I know, you'd really love having a he ogling you in private." "Rainbow!" Twilight said. "Well—" Rarity allowed herself a mischievous leer "—If he was cute..." Rainbow said, "Rarity! you sl—" The blue aura from Rarity's horn promptly closed Rainbows muzzle like a zipper as she said, "Rainbow. Language..." ~~<<0>>~~ The night had a strange stillness in the air, a lonely and empty emotion of need and longing for something that will never come. The orchards of the Apple family were submerged in this feeling. It oppressed creatures into silence, and yet, draw them to it. Fluttershy, it appears, was one of them. She had just returned late in the afternoon from her trip to Canterlot, after Discord legal problems were taken care of. Darkness had already fallen upon the farm, so it was the perfect time to tend to some neglected animal friends. The Vampire fruit bats needed their health and numbers checked; Fluttershy had promised Applejack. The grass crunched loudly beneath her hooves as she moved into the silent dark orchard. That terrified her greatly, but living on the edge of the Everfree forest had build her endurance for such sights. What scared her the most her wasn't the loneliness or the night creatures, animals had never scared her, it was the eerie silence and deformed shadows. This oddly quiet night, the shadows followed her. She bore the unusual silence on her way, sighing with relieve as she entered the bat sanctuary. She thought herself safe among friends, yet the strangeness seemed to have infected the bats. Now, at the time of their feeding, they did it so delicately, and minding to not make the slightest sound even as they spat the apple seeds. They walked on the ground and climbed the trees instead of flying, in a strange display that Fluttershy could only described as consideration; but why? What happened when she was out? They never did this for her. She felt a ominous presence on the trees. She turned up and watched, but there was nothing except for the wind ruffling the leaves. She began counting and examining the bats and their newborns very gently, but every occasion she spend too much time in one place, the shadows seemed to stretch to get her. Again she turned, but found nothing. This was proving to be too much for her frail nerves; she turned back and decided to call it a night and go home, when she heard a branch creak, up in a tree. There, standing on a branch before a full moon, was a pale white vesperali staring at her. Crimson leathery wings bordered in white fur were full on display; tinting the moon rays that came thought them of bleeding red. The cold night wind the song in which his long, silk white mane and tail waltzed to. On his chest, laid an emerald-cut ruby, set in the middle of what appeared several converging light rays' made of gold, forming a sort of flower cross, and held from the top by a slim gold chain around his neck. She could feel the intense stare of his blood red eyes move through her fur and be drawn to her eyes; plunging into her soul with ease. His form, though young and striking, appeared dangerous, fierce, intimidating, but somehow sad; a lonely wild animal. As the tiny gasps of cold night air entered her body, Fluttershy stared back at him with a frozen heart that burned. He tilted his head to the side curious. He then spoke in a beautiful and clear low voice, that felt tired and breathless at times, in a clipped foreign accent that slightly rolled his R's. He said, "You... hamadryad. Are you not afraid?" Time passed in silence. Fluttershy was so entranced she didn't remember the question. She just felt flustered for staring. "Sorry..."—she lowered her head and hid behind her mane—"I... um, didn't mean to..." she said in such a low voice and so ashamed she couldn't even hear herself. Still, he answered, " 'Tis all right... this night... I welcome you." "Um... thank you," she said surprised he had hear her; normally ponies never hear her. "Pray tell. Do you tend to this creatures?" he said looking at the bats. "Oh... um, yes," she answered lively, "I make sure they are happy, healthy and have plenty of food and room to grow." "Admirable," he said, "to find a kindred spirit so far from home. The vampire bats are always repudiated, misunderstood. For their behavior. For their appearance..." he ended on a sad tone as he faced away. "Oh no—" Fluttershy shook her head. "—I don't think they are ugly at all. And the way the papas and mamas care for their families is very tender." She nodded smiling. He jumped from the branch, quickly falling down and folding his wings as he landed before her. "Yes, they are protectors," he said thrilled with a glint on his eyes. "They destroy the orchard, rip out the fruit, so they can spread the seeds; help the orchard grow wider, the trees stronger. Secure a future for family." "You're right," she said, "It is like you say; their kindness is just, misunderstood." "Hmm... misunderstood kindness..." He settle down watching the sky in thought and sighed. He said, "I am glad we met." He turned back and took off. "Wait!" Fluttershy called before he could get far. "You don't have to leave. It's really dark and lonely, and I was wondering if you would keep me company, while I check on the bats. That is, if... um, you don't mind." "You want me to stay?" "Um... yes?" she said hopefully, yet disconcerted as to why. "I stay." Fluttershy smiled and motioned for him to follow. She tended the remaining bats and their families while the stranger sat on the grass watching her work. Not long, all kind of different night creatures, such as owls, possums, moths, fireflies, rats, bats, even an orthros and a manticore, gravitated the place where he rested. Like her, they were entranced by his regal voice and presence. Fluttershy couldn't help to stare as the two headed dog got close to him. "Here Child. You'd been good have you not?"—He ruffled one of its heads—"Yes, you're beautiful and strong my children. Come, rest tonight at my side. I will keep you safe till the morning," he said gently stroking its head and gazing at the moon, while the big dog laid dozing off safe and soundly. The stallion turned his head and caught Fluttershy staring. "Um... sorry, I didn't mean to pry, but... I never met somepony that was so good with animals; specially the big ones," she said getting closer and petting the other head of the beast dog. "I have come to understand all night creatures, big and small. And learned to enjoy my time with them. As they are the only ones that not judge or fear me." "I understand. I'm always scared of ponies judging me..." He turned to the slowly descending moon in the sky and said, "I must go now. Dawn, approaches..." "Ah... um... okay... if you really have to." "Farewell, hamadryad. May your trees grow, and your children prosper." "Um... hama-what? ... Children?" she asked herself before noticing him opening his wings and rising. "Wait! Will I meet you again?" He slowly descended next to her ear and whispered, "I hope we do not." Fluttershy quickly backed away scared, feeling taken as a fool, but his hoof held on her own preventing her from running; forcing her to look into his eyes as he continued, "For my greed is never ending... and I'll be tempted to take you away for myself." The colors of her cheeks turned pink as she watched how his passion red eyes stayed on hers while he gently kissed her hoof. He then flew away and disappeared into the dark of the night. The heart locked inside her chest ran a mile and back while she remained still. As the sun slowly rose from the horizon, she felt the warmth from his kiss traveled from her hoof, and pleasantly spread all over her stunned body. She said, "Oh, my..." ~~<<0>>~~ The hot steam clouds, from an afternoon train arrival, disseminated their heat thorough the blue clear sky around Ponyville's train station. A well known Pink pony slowly swiped the station's plank floor while her body was dragged, collecting dirt and dust in her coat, tail and fluffy mane along the way. "Come on Pinkie Pie, let go of my leg," Rainbow Dash complained, as she was incapable to shake the grip her tugging friend had on her fore-leg while moving forward. "Aww... but you promised to stay, and now your leaving again," she said mustering her saddest blue eyes and pout; whining like a puppy as she looked up to her quivering. The attack was ineffective. "I'm sorry that you can't come," Rainbow said. "But I'm only goin' for a week to Canterlot, to help Rarity with her line. We'll be together again before you know it." "Come on Pinkie," Fluttershy said offering a hoof; helping pinkie to get up, "I'm sad too, but you promised to take care of Pumpkin and Pound while their parents are on vacation; besides, I'm also staying. So after I take care of my little animal friends, I'll come by and visit you, and play with the kids. Wouldn't that be fun?" "Aww... I only promised because I thought Rainbow would stay," Pinkie said. "First, is the whole trial thing and now this... is like you don't spend time with us anymore—just with Rarity and Twilight." Fluttershy also looked sad as Pinkie said this. "Aw, come on. You know is not like that—" Rainbow wrapped a fore-leg around Pinkie's shoulder "—We just have to plan things better next time, right Twilight?" "Right," Twilight closed her eyes nodding, then recited from memory, "Organization is the key to a happy and productive life. That's why I had planned ahead and got all of us tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala—train travels and lodging included—so after Mr. and Ms. Cake return, you can meet us in Canterlot! We'll have a great time together," she said distributing the tickets with her magic. "This is wonderful!" Rarity said fixing her mane under a pink kerchief and readjusting her traveling sunglasses. "We'll meet in a week's time dears. And Fluttershy?" "Yes, Rarity?" "I have not forgotten about our little conversation; about your, night encounter with the mysterious stallion with the sexy voice." "I never said that! I just think his voice is very, um... nice," she said hiding in her mane. Rarity rose an eyebrow while looking at her from the top of her sunglasses. "Uh-hum...well, I advise you to be prepared, because when we meet again, you'll have to tell us every little detail about this stallion." "Um... okay." Fluttershy coyly smiled from within her mane. "Are you ready, Rarity?" Twilight asked. "Spike?" "Just loaded the last ones, Rarity," he said dusting his hands as he came out of the train having finished storing her luggage. Twilight said, "Okay. Canterlot, here we go."