//------------------------------// // IV // Story: Mark of Baen // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// “I can’t do this!” Baen was curled up in a shivering ball on the train. Though he was filled with excitement and determination before boarding the train, it had all but quickly melted away when the locomotive left the station. Thoughts started to invade his head, thoughts of self-doubt, nervousness, and the fear of rejection. It all accumulated in Baen attempting to leap off the train, which was miles out along its route, via the caboose. It caused quite the commotion amongst the other travelers when he bolted past everypony like a school filly who just saw a Star Spider for the first time. It took every bit of strength from all six of the girls, including Twilight’s magic, to pull him back inside and keep him restrained. Right now he was curled in a tight ball on the floor muttering that same phrase over and over again as Fluttershy and Rarity attempted to reassure him and calm him down. The others could only look on with concern. Twilight shook her head, “I still can’t believe Baen lost his nerve so quickly,” she stared at her quivering friend, “he was so sure of himself.” Applejack nodded, “It’s just nerves Twi, and we just gotta help him calm him down.” “I just think he’s overreacting,” Rainbow Dash grunted, “Baen’s a tough stallion; he’s just asking Coco if she wants to get hitched with him.” Rarity looked at Rainbow in shock and trotted over as Pinkie took her place at Baen, “Just asking? Rainbow Dash have some compassion, dear Baen here is going to put his heart on the line. Therefore he has every right to be nervous.” Rainbow Dash deadpanned and gestured to the jabbering mess, “There’s being nervous, then there’s being scared stupid.” Rarity glanced over at Baen and sighed, “If you recall Rainbow Dash, you acted the same way at the young flier’s competition remember?” Rainbow stood up and stared in straight in the eye, “And if YOU remember, you caused that.” Rarity backed down with a sheepish blush, “Right…..” Twilight raised her hooves in a calming manner, “Girls, please.” Rarity nodded as Rainbow Dash nodded, but then she looked at Baen and snorted with a steeled gaze. She approached Baen and gestured for the other girls to move aside. Both Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other with uncertainty, but they complied. Rainbow stared down at Baen who was now looking directly at her and still whimpering. Rainbow shook her head and picked up the armored stallion so he was sitting on the floor staring directly at her. Then with a smirk, she delivered a swift hoof punch to his jaw, knocking him to the floor. Everypony was gasped collectively as Baen got to his hooves and shook his head, but Dash was already in his face startling him further. “Look at yourself Baen! One second you’re the toughest of the tough and the next,” she starts pacing around him in the fashion of a drill sergeant, “You turn into a whimpering school filly. Grit those teeth and buck up soldier!!” Baen watched her as she was muzzle to muzzle with him with a fierce scowl, “Where’s that fire in your eye?! Where is that resolve of yours!? Where’s that courage everypony knows you for!? “ Baen was about to speak as the train passed out of a tunnel and Manehattan came into sight but Rainbow placed a hoof on his mouth, “If the next words out of your mouth are ‘I can’t do this’ or some other excuse as to why your scared, I’ll buck you off this train myself! Do you love Coco?” Baen nodded. Rainbow leaned in with her blazing eyes, “I can’t hear you!” Baen’s mouth was uncovered, “Yes.” “That’s better,” she trotted away then turned around pointing straight at him, “Does she love you!?” Baen nodded with a firmer voice, “Yes.” Rainbow then spoke louder, “Are you going to ask her to marry you?” Baen’s eyes lit up, “Yes!” Rainbow approached him fast and screamed in his face, “Can you do this!!!!!” Baen yelled back, “Yes!!!” Rainbow pushed her head against his, “Yes what?!” Baen yelled out loud and proud, “YES, I CAN DO THIS!!!” Rainbow nodded and proudly strutted back to her seat as the girls gawked at her, “My work here is done.” Baen sat in his seat with a renewed fire in his eyes. Twilight could only shake her head bewilderment, “What in the hay just happened?” The girls could only share in the feeling as the train pulled into its stop. * Baen stood before Coco’s parent’s house, the familiar front door was there to greet him. He was frozen to the spot, his body refused to move. The girls were on either side of him, Twilight draped a wing over his back and gave him an encouraging smile. “We’re with you,” she stated, “just breathe.” Baen inhaled through his nose and exhaled calmly out his mouth as he knocked on the door. There was silence for a good three minutes. Rainbow gazed around at the property, “Am I the only one wondering why Coco’s parents are so loaded?” Rarity nodded as she tapped her chin, “I am rather curious as well, to be honest,” she waved a hoof though, “But it’s best not to pry.” Baen shrugged, “Coco’s father Masquerade is an actor, and her mother Ginger Bread is a caterer to high society events. It’s fairly simple.” Twilight glanced at Baen, “Well you didn’t go into much detail after your first meeting with them.” Baen nodded with a chuckle, “Fair enough. Ginger Bread is a nice mare once you get to know her. Although she can be a bit….rough around the edges when family is concerned.” Applejack trotted to the door and knocked again, “What about her Pa?” Baen rubbed his chin, “Masquerade is….funny, but a tad….unusual.” “Unusual in what way?” Fluttershy inquired. Immediately after the question was asked, the doors flew inwards and a massive gust of wind billowed out. The wind knocked Applejack’s hat off her head as the roaring wind continued. Standing before them was a stallion with a large wooden mask carved in the fashion of a demonic animal with blood red fangs and glowing red eyes. The pony wore tattered fur robes on its body with a sharp tooth necklace and was hefting a massive tribal like spear as it screamed and flailed it’s forelegs. “WAKA JUKA PLAKA FUKA UKA!!!!!!” Everypony screamed in fright and Baen stood stoic as the masked pony got right in his face. “Hello Masq,” Baen stated with a small smile as he gestured to the outfit, “very interesting tribal look. Sorry though, not scared though.” The pony lowered his arms as the sound of a switch being flicked behind him was heard. The wind died down immediately as the mask was removed to reveal the dark yellow coated Pegasus Masquerade. Although, he wore a disappointed expression as he stared at Baen. “Drat, I thought I had you that time,” he stated flatly, “the Lion Pony of Cratak was one of my most frightening roles,” he then noticed the other girls frozen in terror and chuckled sheepishly, “Oh…sorry there my dears. It’s just a little bet I and Baen have going, if I can scare him during one of his visits, he owes me several drinks. But where are my manners, my name is Masquerade, it’s nice to meet you all. To have the Elements of Harmony grace my home, truly this is indeed an honor of the highest order.” The girls slowly and cautiously walked past Masquerade into the main lobby of the house, though they did take notice of the large stage fan positioned toward the front door. Fluttershy was frozen in complete terror still, almost like her whole body had been converted to stone, Rarity attempted to rouse her from her petrification. “Baen! Girls!” Baen looked to the top of the stairs and smiled as his marefriend bounded down and leapt at him, they both embraced and gave each other a loving kiss followed by a warm nuzzle. Coming in from the sitting room door was Ginger Bread. She smiled at her daughter and nodded at Baen and the girls, then glowered at her husband. “Really Masq? Can’t you go a few hours without giving somepony a heart attack?” Masquerade looked at his wife and smiled as he draped a foreleg over her, “My dear Ginger, my acting ability is both a gift and a curse; I can’t stop being who I am.” Ginger mumbled under her breath, “Why do I put up with your tomfoalery.” Her face then lightened up and glanced to Baen, the note she had received from him making the situation quite clear to her and her husband. She ushered the girls into the next room for some refreshments. Baen and Coco were left alone in the lobby as they both awkwardly glanced around. Coco then decided to break the ice, “So Baen….why did you want to see me today? I thought you might be busy with something.” Baen turned a deep red and stuttered as Baen then inhaled to calm his nerves. He then looked to the side thinking it over in his head. “Coco….we’ve been seeing each other for almost a year now,” he stated as he started to pace back and forth, “and I’ve enjoyed every waking moment with you.” Coco smiled, touched by the sweet words as he continued, “Which is why I’ve been giving this….a lot of thought,” he shook his head with a nervous smile as he facehoofed himself, “I mean, it almost drove me crazy.” Coco raised an eyebrow, “What drove you crazy?” Baen inhaled once more and faced her, looking deep into her eyes, “Coco…you know I’m not a stallion with a lot to offer,” he looked to the sky, “Tieg knows that I should start making a proper profit instead of having the Two Sisters grant me wages,” he looked at her once more, “Though I can’t offer you bits, or stable profession. What I can offer you, is this,” he kneeled before her, “I offer you all the love I can give, my heart, my soul, and my oath as a warrior that I will always stay by your side and be faithful to you. I’ll be there to warm you in the cold, to nurse you when you’re sick, and I will also be beside you in your bed, always.” Coco was shocked at these words, as Baen reached into his armor and produced a small box, “Which is why on this day, I lay my heart bare before you. Coco Pommel, the star of my life,” he opened the box, “would you do this lowly warrior the greatest of honors, and be my bride?” Coco stared on at the ring tears welling up in her eyes as she then stared at the smiling Baen. From the doorway of the sitting room, all ponies were tearing up at the display, even the ever awesome Rainbow Dash was succumbing. Coco shut the box slowly and nodded with a choked voice, “Yes,” she sniffled, “and you’re not lowly,” she embraced him in a warm hug as both ponies’ cried happy tears, “you’re my husband, the knight of my life.” Ginger broke down into happy sobs as Masquerade was dressed in a silver outfit making him look like a tin pony. Masquerade hugged his wife happily, “I know I have a heart.” Ginger chuckled and lightly slugged him, “Shut up Masq and be happy for our daughter.” Twilight smiled on, “Good job Baen.”