//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight: The Bandit // Story: The Redemption of King Sombra // by DrewCarriker6231993 //------------------------------// Chapter Eight: The Bandit Days later, Babs Seed went home. Applejack started planting her new apple seeds in the empty spots of her apple garden. Then she planted flower seeds in some flower pots and made a new garden for her new fruit and vegetable seeds. She wiped the sweat from her head, "Phew! Good day's work!" She then spotted Big Mac with a stallion walking down the road. The stranger's coat was orange, his mane and tail were dark brown; he wore a white cowboy hat, a dark blue flannel shirt with a brown vest, and blue jeans with a brown leather belt and gold buckle; his eye color was brown; his hooves were white; and he wore a red bandanna over his snout and mouth. Applejack ran up to her brother, "Apple core!" she said. "Baltimore!" he answered. "Who's your friend?" Applejack asked. "I would like you to meet our new neighbor, Bandit." Applejack looked over to him, "Howdy neighbor! I'm Applejack, Big Mac's younger sister. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!" she shook Bandit's hoof fast. "Nice to meet you...." he said in a deep raspy voice. Apple Bloom walked up to the new neighbor, "Howdy neighbor!" Bandit looked down at her, "Howdy little lady...." "I'm Apple Bloom, the youngest sister." "I see...." He lowered his bandanna and sniffed the air, "The air here smells fresh...." he said. He then took out a toothpick and put it in his mouth, "I reckon yal are very good workers...." before Applejack could answer, Pinkie Pie's voice yelled, "They're the best!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing down the road and stopped in front of Bandit. "Hi! Haven't seen you here before! I'm Pinkie Pie!" "Pinkie Pie? Heh, the name suits you...." "Why don't you come over to the barn tonight, especially you guys?" Applejack smiled, knowing what she has planned. "Sure thing!" Bandit thought and said, "Sure, why not?" "Oh! Oh! I almost forgot! My sister is coming next week!" Pinkie Pie told them jumping up and down. "Maud Pie?" Applejack asked. "Yes! Maud Pie! Just thought I let you all know! Bye!" Pinkie Pie bounced away. "Maud Pie, huh? I take it she's much like Pinkie Pie?" Bandit asked before Applejack shook her head. "Nah, she doesn't show much emotion, and she is an expert in rocks." "Rocks? She must've grown up on a rock farm...." "That's right." Bandit moved the toothpick in his mouth. "Must be mighty fine to have a family...." "You don't have a family?" Apple Bloom asked. Bandit shook his head. "I'm a loner. Yal might as well call me an orphan; I never had a family...." Apple Bloom looked sad. "Oh, I'm sorry...." Bandit put a hoof under the filly's chin. "Thanks little lady...." "Why don't you stay for brunch?" Applejack asked. "That's mighty kind of you ma'am, but I have to go find a job since I just moved here. It was nice meetin' you...." he turned around and left. "He's a nice fella. A little dingy, but nice." Applejack said. "Eyep! Oh yeah, that's reminds me. I have to go and pick up flowers for my girlfriend." "Ms. Cheerilee?" Apple Bloom asked. "Eyep! If you haven't used that love poison on us I never would have met her...." he smiled and left. "I still regret using that on them...." Apple Bloom told her sister. "Awe, it's water under the bridge! Yal turned out okay." Sombra's Castle Sombra was taking a nap. He was tossing and turning in his sleep. Inside his nightmare was right after Cadance's throne burst into flames and a shadow resembling Sombra was seen. The shadow laughed the same way Sombra laughed when he was evil as the shadow began to take the appearance of a dragon! Sombra woke up, "Just another bad dream...." he said to himself. "Yet, it sounds like I'm trying to be told something...." his horn glows and his crystal ball comes into the room. He looks through it and see's that everything in the Crystal Empire is just fine. Relieved, he lays back down, "Was THAT really me? Or is it a part of me?" he asked himself. His Luna Medallion glowed and Princess Luna appeared. "Sombra, those dreams you have been having are very bad visions...." Sombra sat up, "Visions?" "Yes, from what I can tell you did something to the Crystal Empire before you were defeated. Because that memory is not full restored, I can't make out what it is either...." "Do you know when It'll be fully restored?" "No, I'm afraid I don't. But I have a bad feeling about this. Please be careful...." Luna kisses Sombra and then vanishes. Ponyville Big Mac, with a bouquet of roses in his mouth, trotted through Ponyville and came to Cheerilee's house. He knocked on the door. Cheerilee answered, "Why, hello Big Mac." she greeted happily. He presented the roses to her, "How lovely! Are those for me?" "Eyep!" after holding the roses for a second, Cheerilee sat them down, wrapped her arms around Big Mac and kisses his face again and again. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw this and smiled. "You know, I think we did Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee a favor. See how happy they are?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, you think they'll get married?" Sweetie Belle asked back. Bandit appeared behind them, "If they keep seein' one another, it's quite possible...." the two fillies jumped and turned around. "Did I startle you? Forgive me, name's Bandit. I'm Big Mac's new neighbor...." "Oh, I'm Sweetie Belle." "And I'm Scootaloo! We're friends with Big Mac and his family. And Ms. Cheerilee is our teacher." Bandit put a new toothpick in his mouth, "I see. She is a mighty handsome pony, gotta give her that...." "You mean pretty?" Scootaloo asked. "Yep...." Big Mac, who had kisses all over his face, walked over to Bandit and the fillies. "Howdy neighbor...." Bandit greeted, handing him a handkerchief. "I take it your visit with your girlfriend went well?" Big Mac wiped his face off, "Eyep! We're going out for dinner tonight. My heart's a poundin' like a jackhammer!" Discord's House Discord was in the shower with a blue bath hat and hairbrush when one of Celestia's guards walked in. "La da dee, la de daa. Huh?! Do you mind?" Discord asked before he closed the bath curtain. "Discord, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna need you!" "Okay, tell them I'll be right there." the guard leaves. Discord gets out of the tub, and dries himself off before he teleports. Canterlot He came into the throne room and see's Sombra. "Oh, Sombra old boy! Nice to see you again!" "Nice to see you, too. But I think we got a problem." Sombra explains the dreams he has been having. "Sounds like nightmares to me...." Discord said. "I know, but they sound so real. It feels like there's something in the back of my mind." "Sombra, I've been told that in your dream that something came from below the Throne Room." Celestia said, and then a memory came back to him. "Wait I remember, there is a secret safe under the throne but I can't remember what I put in there. I'm going to have to get to the Crystal Empire!" he turned into a shadow and left Canterlot. Crystal Empire Sombra appeared in the throne room and bowed to Shining Armor and Cadance. He explains that there is something dark in the kingdom and it has to be removed. "The only thing I remember is before my defeat I placed something in this Throne Room." "Where?" Shining Armor asked him. "You might have not known, but there is a secret safe under your thrones holding it. With your permission, I need to move them." Shining Armor and Cadance looked at one another and got off. They watched as Sombra's horn glowed and the thrones were lifted in the air and moved. And to the Prince's and Princess's surprise, right where the thrones were was a keyhole in the floor. Sombra zapped it with his magic, melting the lock and opening the safe in the floor. He looked in and saw what appeared to be a black egg with red fire designs around it. He picked it up with his magic, "This is it?" Shining Armor and Cadance approached Sombra with the egg and took a look at it. "A dragon egg?" Shining Armor asked. Cadance was just as confused. "Why would you put a dragon egg below the thrones?" she asked. "I-I don't know...." Sombra answered, closing the safe, cleaning the mess, and putting the thrones back with his magic. "But I sense darkness from inside of this egg. Something evil and shouldn't be awakened, but I can't explain it." "Can it be changed?" Cadance asked with concern. Sombra shook his head uneasily. "I truly cannot say...." Canterlot Sombra appeared in the Throne Room with the egg. He showed it to Luna, Discord, and Celestia. "An egg? Must be very important...." Discord said. "I can feel a dark presence coming from this egg. It feels somehow familiar...." Sombra told them. "I can feel it too. We're going to have take extreme caution with this egg. Sombra, I'll put you in charge with this egg." Celestia ordered. Sombra bowed. "As you wish...." he turned into a shadow again and left with the egg. Sombra's Castle Sombra appeared in his bedroom with the egg and a domed glass case. He sat the egg in the case and sat the case on his night table and sealed it with his magic. He nodded and left the room. As soon as he left the room two evil looking green eyes opened up on the egg! Fluttershy's cottage Fluttershy and Easter were taking care of the animals; feeding them, washing them, and playing with them. Yykees' animals seemed to be getting used to their new home. Fluttershy just got done feeding her chickens and saw Easter playing with the squirrels. She giggled when one of them jumped on Easter's head. She looked around and saw how happy the animals were. She sighed happily and began to sing: "Animals.... my friends.... all so precious to me.... Without.... them all.... I don't know where I would be.... I.... love them.... with all of my heart.... We would never be torn apart.... Even.... when far away.... our friendship lasts.... Everyone.... can be friends.... even when we're on different paths.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we can still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what I recommend...." She flies to the front of her cottage. Easter stands beside her, smiles, and sings: "Love and friendship.... is so very strong.... All that is right.... it is never wrong.... Love and friendship.... it never dies.... That.... I can see.... in your eyes.... If everyone.... can understand.... the world would be better place.... For you.... and for me.... and many other races.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we can still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what I recommend...." Fluttershy and Easter held hooves, and didn't notice Bandit and the CMC walking down the road, together they both sing: "If we can all see.... eye to eye.... the world would be a better place.... For you.... and for me.... and many other races.... Love and friendship.... it never dies.... That.... I can see.... in your eyes.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we cans still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what we recommend.... That's what we recommend...." Fluttershy and Easter held one another and slowly kissed. The CMC and Bandit applauded. "Bravo!" Sweetie Belle yelled. "Encore!" Scootaloo added. "Whooo-eeee!!!" Apple Bloom shouted. Fluttershy and Easter let go and blushed. "Oh.... uh.... hi girls...." Fluttershy greeted quietly. "Where.... where did you come from?" Easter asked. "How long were you here?" "We just got here buckaroo...." Bandit answered having his bandanna covering his mouth and snout. "These here girls were showin' me around and we heard yal singin' and we came to listen. Fluttershy is it?" Fluttershy nodded. "Well, I have to say this here town has quite a diva and a partner...." Fluttershy and Easter blushed at the compliment. "Do forgive my manners. The name's Bandit. I just moved here...." "Oh.... uh.... welcome to Ponyville. My name is Easter." he held out his hoof and Bandit shook it. Bandit looks around and see's the animals. "Yal have a love for animals, or so I'm told...." "Yes, we do...." Fluttershy answered sheepishly. Bandit looks up. "What are you youngins' doing up there?" Easter and Fluttershy look up too. The CMC climbed the highest tree fluttershy had! "You could get great view from up here!" Scootaloo yelled. Horrified Fluttershy yells, "Girls! Get down from there before you hurt yourselves!" "Okay Fluttershy!" they said together before they started to climb down when Scootaloo slipped and fell! Fluttershy gasped and was just about to fly when a rope came for the falling filly and caught her! Bandit pulled the rope and Scootaloo came right towards him and landed in Bandit's arm. Fluttershy, with her mouth wide open, put a hoof to her head and fainted. She woke up. Her vision was blurry at first but when it became clear she saw Easter, who was holding her, Bandit, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Angel Bunny around her. "Are you okay Fluttershy?" Easter asked caringly. "W-what did you say?" she then gasps and gets up quickly, "Girls! Are you alright?!" "We're fine." Scootaloo assured her. Fluttershy wraps her arms around them. Bandit sees this and puts a toothpick in his mouth. "She's good with kids too...." Carousel Boutique "What kind of a place is this?" Bandit asked the trio. "This is the Carousel Boutique! My sister lives here and she runs a business." Sweetie Belle said to Bandit. "What kind of business?" "She's a fashion designer and a seamstress." "I see...." Sweetie Belle opens the door and they all inside. "Very fancy...." Bandit said. "Rarity!" Sweetie Belle calls out. "Yes Sweetie Belle?" Rarity answers back. "We have a visitor!" "Be right there!" Rarity walks out of her work room and approaches them with her eyes closed. "Welcome to the Carousel Bou..." she opens her eyes and sees Bandit and what he's wearing, "Tique!" "Hi Rarity! This is our new friend Bandit." Sweetie Belle said. "Howdy my lady...." he walked over to Rarity , took her hoof into his hoof and kissed it. Rarity backed up a bit with a shocked look on her face. "Name's Bandit. I'm new here...." Rarity straightened out, "My name is Rarity. Dear sir, feel free to look around but please don't touch anything." "Much obliged my lady...." Sweetie Belle took Bandit's hoof, "Wait till you see the costumes she's been working on!" she led him to a nearby room. "He is not good looking, but he is gentlecoltly." Rarity said looking down at the hoof Bandit kissed. She used her magic and got a handkerchief and wiped her hoof clean. Thanks to the blueprints Yykees gave to Rarity she was able to make a dozen costumes for both adults and kids. What really caught his eye was the cowpony costume. Except for the red shirt, brown hat, and the gems around the cuffs, collar, pockets and belt, it was very similar to what Bandit was wearing. "She must make a fortune...." he said. "Yeah, she would work all night if she wanted to just to make a dress, shirt, or costume." Sweetie Belle replied. "Must be a very busy pony...." "Yeah, sometimes to busy to spend time with me...." Sweetie Belle said with a frown. Bandit placed a hoof on her back to comfort her. Rarity came into the room. "Sweetie Belle, I got your favorite cake in the kitchen!" lit up, Sweetie Belle runs out of the room. "Hey, save some for us!" Scootaloo yelled running with Apple Bloom to the kitchen. "Hmm, kids...." he looks back at the cowpony costume. "This somehow takes me back to when I was a colt...." Sweetie Belle came back in with a little bit of cake on her face. "Come on, join us!" she runs back out. Bandit groaned, "I hate sweets...." Bandit walks out of the shop with a sigh of relief, "Way to fancy...." he looks to his left and sees something coming right towards him! "What in tarnation?!" it crashes right into him. Bandit opens his eyes and sees Rainbow Dash on top of him. "Hey, watch where you're flyin'!" "Oh, sorry!" "Can you get off of me?" Bandit asked scornfully. "Oh sure!" he flies in the air and Bandit stands back up and brushes the dust off him. "You must be the new guy everyone's been talking about. I'm Rainbow Dash!" Bandit looks up at the flying pony, "Name's Bandit, and I've heard of you Rainbow Dash. Rainbooms, dare devil and all...." "Yep! That's me! Would you like to see a Sonic Rainboom?" Bandit spat out the toothpick in his mouth. "That'll be fine...." Rainbow Dash smirked and flew to the sky. Once he was far enough he dash down leaving a Rainboom in her wake. Rarity and the fillies heard the noise and came outside to see. "Awesome!" yelled Scootaloo. "Dazzling! Very Dazzling!" Rarity said. Rainbow Dash landed and bowed. "Thank you! Thank you!" "Impressive. Very impressive...." Bandit told Rainbow Dash. Friendship Rainbow Kingdom The free fillies were jumping and trotting while leading Bandit. "This is our last stop! The Friendship Rainbow Kingdom!" Apple Bloom said. Bandit looks and sees how big the place is. "Golly...." Twilight Sparkle walks out, "Hi girls!" she notices Bandit. "Hello, I don't think we met. My name is Twilight Sparkle." she said politely. Bandit lowers his bandanna. "Twilight Sparkle? The princess?" "Yes, welcome to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom! What can I do for you?" "Awe, nothin'! These fillies were just showin' me around. I must say that Ponyville is a very nice place your majesty...." Bandit tips his hat. Twilight smiles at him. "You may call me Twilight Sparkle, or Twilight." "All righty then, Twilight, I have been lookin' for a job. Is there any spots open for a sheriff?" Twilight Sparkle scratches her chin, "Wellllll, I think the mayor might have something. If you like I could talk to her." "That'd be mighty fine, thank you...." he puts a toothpick in his mouth. Later that evening.... "Well, here we are again. Back in Sweet Apple Acres...." Bandit said spitting out his toothpick. "Isn't it great?" Apple Bloom asked. "We also have a surprise for you!" Sweetie Belle told Bandit. "It's in the barn!" added Scootaloo. "That's mighty thoughtful of you kids, but I don't get surprised easily...." they walked over to the barn and Apple Bloom opened the door. "SURPRISE!!" Almost everypony in Ponyville was in the barn! There was a banner saying "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!"; a yellow cake with candy cacti, tumble weeds, and in light yellow frosting it said 'Welcome Bandit!"; and there were a few barrels full of apple cider; instead of party hats there wore cowboy or cowgirl hats. "Golly! This is for me?" asked Bandit, still keeping his cool. Pinkie Pie bounced towards him. "Yep! We do this for everypony that starts living here!" Bandit grinned, "That's mighty nice of you...." "We even got you something!" Pinkie Pie said. Two ponies carrying a box walked over to him and sat it down. Bandit remained silent for a moment and then opened a box. Inside was a shiny brown guitar with the name BANDIT in gold letters on the dark brown neck. "Well, al be darn! And just in time, too. My old guitar is gettin' pretty wore out...." he picked up the guitar and tried out the strings, "Perfect...." "Why don't you play it?" Applejack asked. Everypony in the barn agreed. "Well, if you insist. I have a song in my head about today....." he began strumming his new guitar. After everypony gathered around, Bandit sat down and began singing: "Comin' here to Ponyville, all the way from my hometown I trot. Travelin' through deserts, and forests for a new home I sought. Fightin' through harsh weather, and seein' how tough I am. From climbing rocky mountains, to dangerous rivers I've swam. Ponyvillllllllle, Ponyvillllllllllle. The name of the town I arrived to, is Ponyville. Once I got settled in, I met my new neighbor Big Mac. Then I met his sisters, then Pinkie Pie who said her sister is comin' back. I started lookin' for a job, but I found none. Then I met two more fillies, and they showed me their friends one by one. In Ponyvillllllle, in Ponyvilllllllllle. I met all of their friends, right here in Ponyville. First I met the Diva Fluttershy, and her friend Easter. Singin' and carin' for animals, is two of their best features. Then I met the gorgeous Rarity, and saw all her new costumes. Then Rainbow Dash crashed in to me, and demonstrated a Sonic Rainboom. In Ponyvillllllle, In Ponyvilllllllllllle. I even met the Princess, of Ponyville...." Then he started strumming his new guitar slowly and started singing slowly: "The job I seek is to be a sheriff, in hopes of doing good..... Keeping Ponyville safe, is somethin' I would and could..... Why would I want to do good? If somepony asked me or you..... And if somepony asked me I'll tell you: 'A stallion's gotta do what a stallion's gotta do.....'" He started playing his guitar fast again and continued singing: "In Ponyvillllllllle, in Ponyvillllllllllle. Is where I live happy now, right here in Ponyville. Is where I live happy now, right here in Ponyvilllllllllllllle! Yee-haw!" He lifted his hat in the air as soon as he said the last part. Everypony cheered and then the party started; Square dancing, hay throwing with rope contests, bobbing apples, apple pie eating contest, and a game of finding out which filly is in the right barrel. Bandit stepped outside with his new guitar and looked up at the stars, "I think I'm gonna like it here...." then he stuck a toothpick in his mouth. (Song 1: That's what we recommend....) (Song 2: Here in Ponyville) parody of the Batman: the Brave and the Bold song: Grey and Blue