//------------------------------// // One Of Many // Story: Pony Quest // by Ponyzzar //------------------------------// -Charmtail Road- Twilight had hitched a ride with a group of traveling performers. They laughed and joked during the journey, but she had refused any amount of their games to enter her mind. She was far off, thinking about Rainbow. She had left her in the middle of the celebration to purchase supplies. She had spent most of the time gathering them, but had taken extra time to buy some things for herself. If I hadn't have been so greedy. she thought. She allowed herself to drift off further. She brought into her mind a picture of Rainbow in her tunic. The Dash in her mind was walking over a field leading a troupe of soldiers. Each soldier bore a suit of armor and a variety of weapons, but she paid them little attention. Her fixation was captain Dash. She stopped and stood to attention. Then, with a wave of her hoof, she dismissed the soldiers. She stood for a while before looking Twilight's way and smiling. Twilight couldn't help but blush as she sat on the field. Dash approached her and bent down. She nuzzled up to Twilight and laid her head on Twilight's mane. Twilight only had one wish in the world. She had long ago dreamed of being with a mare as strong and brave as Dash, but the only mares she knew had all been bashful and fragile. She had fallen in love with the captain that was laying her head on her from the moment she crashed into her. She remembered the day she found out her attraction to other mares. It had been with her friend Violet. Her and Violet had often practiced magic and played in the backyard of Twilight's home. They had both been building a sand castle when Violet took the role of a knight and made Twilight the princess. They had pretended Twilight was captured by a great vicious dragon. Violet pretended to slay the dragon and then rescued Twilight. Twilight had in the heat of the moment kissed Violet as a way of thanks for being rescued. Violet was shocked, but assumed it was part of the game. Twilight never got over that fact. Dash had raised her head and turned to look at Twilight. Twilight stared back into the deep dark pink eyes. She felt herself quiver as she slowly inched forward. She could almost smell Dash's breathe. Suddenly a pole smacked Twilight on her flank, causing her to snap from her dream and jump. She turned around to see one of the jester's holding the stick. He laughed as he jumped and landed next to her. "Tis odd, you," he jested. "You lack the tools of a traveling player, yet you have with you clothes meant for a great many travels. What be your business?" "I'm going to see the prince about a friend then get one with my journey," Twilight responded in a semi-sharp tone. She was still bitter about being woken from her daydream. "Oh... Tis a pity," he said as he walked round her and looked at her face. "Going to talk to the prince about a friend you need. No, a friend you love." He couldn't have hit the nail any further on the head. "Mind your own business," Twilight said as she pushed him away. "Tis also I traveling to the castle to talk to a friend. Her name be Trimina. She be the prince's personal court magician," he said, as his voice dropped from humor to something a little less merry. "She incurred his wrath many years ago and was locked in a cell. She performs for her freedom, but time has robbed her of her skill." "A traveling magician angered a prince? What did she do, make a joke that wasn't funny?" Twilight asked with a grin. "She did stage shows, that is a fact, but Trimina is not just a performer. She was once a great magician. She could invoke storms and cure many ailments. She even traveled to Airmane and greeted the pegasi there." Twilight turned her head to the jester's words and looked at him with a stare sharp enough to pierce steel. "Nopony's been to Airmane for over several hundred years." Twilight responded in disbelief. "But she did. Ohh... How I fear for her powers and for her skill. From what I hear, all she does is lay in tears." He told Twilight sparking a thought. He just said she lies in tears and that here powers have weakened over the years! She must be the first hero me and Dash have to recruit! We would have missed her if Dash didn't get caught. Maybe it's destiny drawing us. The thoughts just stormed through her head. She jumped and hugged the jester. "Oh... Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she cried, almost in a state of euphoria. "Miss, mary, please release mine neck. Thine can hardly breathe," the Jester pleaded. Twilight let go, embarrassed. "To be hugged with such force. Be you interested in what I said?" he asked raising a brow to the now blushing unicorn. "More than you could know," Twilight replied. She pulled out a journal and quickly wrote down the events that had transpired over the day, as the jester got up a walked into the front, still smiling as he had grabbed Twilight's rump during the talk without her noticing. -Castle Charmton- Twilight was amazed. She had never seen a castle this close up before. All she had known was her family's manor, but even that could not compare to this. She and the cart of performers were ushered through the gate by the guards. She joined them as they went inside. The inside was a stunning as the outside. Golden chandeliers decorated with rubies and sapphires hung from the ceiling. Thick tapestries, rich with colour, hung from almost every wall. Prince Blueblood sure did enjoy the riches he controlled. She thought to herself. She slipped past some guards having a quick drink of some cider and traveled down one of the passages leading towards, she wished, the dungeons. The halls got gloomy and lost all the rich color. She continued further and found several rows of jail cells. Inspecting each one, she failed to find Dash. She's not here, she thought and turned around. She bashed into something. After taking a few steps back, she saw the biggest pony she had ever seen. She could barely squeak before a group of guards descended upon her. Try as she might, it was all she could do to slow them. They simply were too much. After a few scrapes she had been grabbed by both her front hooves and had two spears pointed at the soft of her neck. She shivered as the metal poked her when they began to drag her. They dragged her through the halls, back the way she came and into the main hall. The doors burst open with a bang and the guard in front stepped forward. "My lord. A trespasser we found in the dungeon," the lead guard called out. Twilight saw the Prince. He was handsome, she had to admit, but he didn't tickle her fancy. He walked forward with a very angry look on his face. "Well, I for one can hardly believe that a mare as vibrant as you would ever dare set foot in that dank place. Why?" the Prince asked. Twilight wasn't able to answer before a familiar voice chimed out. "Twi?" it asked. Out from a group of people strode Dash, still intact and chain free. The Prince looked from Dash to Twilight. "You two know each other," the Prince asked. "Yeah, it's a long story, but currently we're traveling together," Dash told him as she rubbed a hoof through her mane. The shock of the situation finally abated enough for Twilight to talk. "Hold on a second. The prince didn't throw you in jail?" Twilight asked, her face a mixture of puzzlement. Both the Prince and Rainbow Dash looked at each other before breaking into fits of laughter. "Ahh... She must have told you about when she committed that act that sent her fearing for her life. It's true that I was angry for a while, but I see that I deserved it. It was rude of me to have done what I did," the Prince explained, sheepishly. He pulled on the collar of his suit to ease his embarrassment. "Yeah, I also apologized for hoofing him in the face," Dash added. She turned her head towards the Prince. "He's allowing me to roam free without fear of arrest. Now uh... prince. Could you see fit to have your guards let go of my friend?" The Prince nodded and Twilight was released. "So much for a heroic rescue," Twilight thought to herself, "looks like it's Dash saving me again." She sighed as she lifted herself up from the ground. Dash nodded for her to follow and Twilight followed Dash into the crowd. Just then performers filtered into the hall. Along with a unicorn dressed in a wizard style robe. Twilight realized this was the unicorn she was looking for. "Dash!" she exclaimed. "She's the third hero!" Dash gave her a funny look. "Her? She's a crybaby. I bumped into her by accident and before I could apologize she ran away in tears. I mean look at her. She looks like she couldn't usher anything more than sparkling dust," Dash huffed. "I know, but she's the third hero. She matches the words said to me by that strange woman." "Strange woman?" Dash eyed Twilight suspiciously. "Yes. She looked similar to a pony, but I could tell she wasn't. She told me a list of things. Each relating to one of the four heroes we have yet to meet," she said as she produced the papers to show them to Rainbow. After reading the words, Rainbow Dash cocked an eye."How the hoof did she know who you are?" Dash asked. "And how did she know about the princess and the other heroes?" Dash asked while her eyes flicked back and forth from the paper to Twilight. "You got me on that one," Twilight replied. "I have no idea" she finished ending with them staring at each other. Dash stared hard at Twilight, then pulled a face Twilight had seen before, then she shook her head. "Dash, is there something you need to tell me?" Twilight heart was beggining to flutter. Maybe Dash was attracted to her. She quickly thought. Maybe she likes me too. "Could you follow me for a quick sec?" Dash asked, but Twilight was already bounding behind her. They both left the room and entered the courtyard. It was lively and filled with flowers. A perfectly romantic spot. Twilight could almost scream. "Okay... I've needed to do this for a while." Dash began. Twilight braced herself for the words. Then suddenly Dash turned around and heavily pushed Twilight through the hedge. Twilight landed with a thunk. What was Rainbow doing! She thought to herself. "I've had enough!" Dash thundered. "I can't stand prissy girls like you. Ever since I saw you I wanted to take you away and beat some sense into you. Heck, I got jealous when the owl landed on you and dug his claws in making you wince. I know, I saw." Twilight was almost crying. "You and every other mare I've told this too. What is with you? Too afraid to be strong? Too scared to be brave?" She thumped the ground as she walked. "Dash... I-I-I..." Tears were forming in Twilight's eyes. "You don't like me." "I've grown used to you. I apologize if I'm being to rough, but it's the only way to get through to girls like you. The clothes that you're wearing. I mean, when I saw them I had a quick flash of myself wearing them and felt utterly ridiculous." Twilight's heart was slowly breaking in half. "Dash..." Twilight's head drooped. "I know it's hard for you to hear, but that's my opinion." She walked forward. "I felt like if I didn't say that I would explode and do something stupid. You're my friend. Go on, give me a sock for being rude." She held out her face and closed her eyes. What happened next suprised them both. Twilight couldn't control herself. In a spur of emotion she grabbed Dash's head and kissed her on the mouth. "Bleeehhhhh......." Dash took a few steps back. "Twilight..... WHAT THE HOOF!" She could hardly look at her. "Now you know how I feel."Twilight said. Dash looked at her and blushed. Oh... crap... She's like that. Great, now I've upset her and I find out she swings that way. What a way to finish a day, she yelled at herself in her head for being so rude. "Hello. It's a good evening despite the magician setting the carpet on fire," said the prince as he walked out and joined them. Twilight looked at him as he came round the corner. He hadn't seen or heard anything. She could tell by his airheadedness. "Prince. About your magician. I was wondering if you could allow her to travel with us," Twilight asked in a calm tone, masking her pain. "You want her?" The prince's face went priceless for a moment. "Well, you two could use the entertainment," there was a smash inside followed by crying, "and I could use a reprieve. Go on, inform her she's to go with you. She's totally helpless, so you'll have to look after her. It's what I've been doing for this past year," the prince said before turning to the garden. "Very lovely night." Twilight's mood made a 180 degree shift. She grabbed Dash by the wing and half dragged her into the castle. They found the magician laying a circle of crystals crying. She had caused a chandalier to fall. "Hey... ummmmmm...Trimina..." She tried. The blue unicorn jolted at the sound of her name. "Who are you?" she asked, tears still falling to the carpet as she continued to sob. "We're your new friends." Twilight told her, with Rainbow half trying to pull away from Twilight's steel grip. Twilight held on fast as the pegasus dug her hooves into the ground, trying to pull free. "Friends? What is going on?" she asked, confused. Her eyes drying for a second before seeing the mess of crystal and glass again. "Come with us and we'll explain," Twilight said as she held out a hoof. "But the prince," the unicorn sobbed and returned to crying. "The prince said it was okay," Twilight almost screamed, but the unicorn wasn't listening. with a sigh, Twilight grabbed the unicorn by her horn, and dragged both Dash and her out of the hall. Many of the guests watched and then resumed their conversations. -Charmtail Road- "I don't see why we had to leave there so fast, Twilight," Dash told her, rubbing her sore wing, "with all that food." She looked at the unicorn they had brought with them. She was bouncing with glee. "I never want to go back there!" she screamed, "Outside is much more fun and beautiful." She stopped hoping and walked over to Twilight. "How can I ever thank you enough?" she asked, showing as much joy in her speech as in her bounce. "You can thank us by helping us rescue princess Rarity of Bravehoof," Twilight told her. Rainbow smacked her hoof against her face at her partner's straightforwardness. "I CAN WHAT!" The blue unicorn yelled in response, almost fainting in shock. "Read this," Twilight said, pulling a copy of the prophecy and the pages of words that the wise woman had said. The unicorn read these while she walked around, using magic to levitate them. "Well I never. The lord of the underworld? Six heroes." She stopped for a second. "A hero, not just a powerful magician. Can Trimina be that again." "Did her voice just change?" Dash asked to nopony in particular, having noticed the change in tone and pronunciation. "I swear she just switched her speech style." "Can Trimina be the Great and Powerful Trixie again..." She thought for a second. "YES!" She screamed with a long and loud bellow, causing Twilight and Dash to cover the ears. They both watched as the unicorn's appearance changed, but yet didn't. She seemed stronger than before. Her cape and her hat she pushed into a position that to her seemed perfect. "I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, shall aid you on your quest." She turned and opened her eyes. "Please tell me your names, new friends." "I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Rainbow Dash," Twilight explained before Rainbow could open her mouth. "Please familiarize yourselves with me," Trixie said with a wave. "Dash was a captain in princess Rarity's army, and I'm a training magician," Twilight responded. Somewhere inside Twilight a certain thought started ticking and went on it's way, causing a smile to tick into the corner of her mouth. "Great to meet you Twilight Sparkle. I shall teach you some of my magic on our journey," Trixie responded. A wave of her cape followed and she took a bow. "That would be great," Twilight said with enthusiasm and Rainbow made a gagging expression, but stopped when Twilight looked. They both walked for a bit chatting about magic before Twilight was pulled to the side by Rainbow Dash. Dash's face was a mix of emotion, but Twilight wasn't interested. "Dash please, if this is about earlier, I apologize for kissing you. Now I know you hate 'prissy' girls, but you're going to have to live with me on this journey. I don't care what you have to say, but please, don't try to make me feel any worse than you did back there," Twilight told her giving her the worst look Dash had ever seen. "Is something bothering the prestigious Twilight?" Trixie asked, turning to her new companions. "No everything's fine," Twilight told her and resumed walking. "Twilight I..." Dash said to empty air. Inside her head to voices were fighting. They clashed around smashing this each other from one end to the other. "Did you hear what she said to you? You should go and give her a smack for that. 'You're' the leader of the expedition." "We deserved it. We insulted her and hurt her feelings. Can't you understand others' feelings?" "She was beyond rude and she dresses funny." "I think she was right." "Ohhh... Boo!" A third voice almost invisible said. "Why doesn't she want to listen? We should tell her..." It railed off and was sent deep into Rainbow's mind. Rainbow could hardly get up and follow after them. Her head hung low and her wings dragged on the ground as she plodded forward sadly to the group. They stopped for the night with Dash hardly saying a word all evening. She just mooped and hung her head low. She didn't eat any of the soup that Twilight had prepared and was cleaning her sword for the 237th time. She looked at it's blade and at the words. She stabbed it into the ground and hung the bandana she took from the pirate on it and walked off into the night, leaving Trixie and Twilight chatting. She walked to a tree and fell to the ground in front of it. "Why do I have to be so different from every other mare?" She asked herself. She then began to remember her childhood. -??????- The young filly was running through the house, wings spread wide open. She ran into her adopted sister's room and jumped on her bed. There was a doll laying there. She looked around at all the dolls and stuffed animals her sister kept there. She walked over to one and prodded it. She smiled. She was suddenly hit over the head with a pillow. "Leave. Go. I don't want you in here." She turned and saw her sister who was as old as she was. "But I wanted to pway with a doww and you have so many." She said. "Go play with a stick or a rock or something else. These are mine!" Her sister told her. She ran out of the room. "I don't want your stinking dowws," she called back. She ran into the kitchen and smacked into the cuboard, causing a pot to fall out.She looked at it for a second and then with a spark of inspiration, she put it on her head. She ran through the kitchen picking up utensils and other things and ran back to her sister's room. "Wook, I'm a knight!" she called out. "You look stupid." Her sister called out. The filly raised her spoon. "I'm at weast twenty perkent coower than those dolls." She swung the spoon around. "I'm a brave knight and your the smewwy princess," she said with a rasp. Her sister yelled out at the top of her voice, "MOM!" Dash smiled at the memory and dozed off to sleep. She felt a bit better now that she remembered why she hated prissy girls. They reminded her of her sister. Her stupid, dim witted, self absorbed sister. She didn't feel all well inside and a painful dream filled her sleep. She woke up to the night still wide and open, and the two unicorns asleep. With a huff she made a decision, and took off into the night.