//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: The Weekend Part 2 // Story: Tale of Soarin McLighting // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Tale of Soarin McLighting Chapter 14: The Weekend Part Two The wrecked plane was brought into a part of the Crystal Empire Palace with the aid of the guards, Daring Do and Applejack. It's been hours since it rested in a heavily guarded empty room, Twilight was the only one inside going through the ins and outs of the plane to figure out much about it. But never removing and touching the pieces of it. The doors opens via the guard with Daring Do and Shining Armor entering with the doors soon closed behind them. “Twilight have you found out much about this thing?” Shining Armor about to touch it but a shield went around it instantly. “Twily?” He was taken back by the action from his little sister. “It in bad enough condition from the crash and getting here. I don't want anypony to touch it, from what I learnt about this plane. It's far more advance than the spitfire that sits in Ponyville. I managed to pull out the flight log book from the cockpit.” Twilight explained and shows him the log book without opening. Daring Do flying around the shield taking a good look at it without being covered in snow in most places. “From the way the wings look if they were in perfect condition I'd say this thing flys much like a pony glider for non pegasi to use and experience a little bit of what it's like to be a pegasus.” Twilight grinned. “Your correct Daring Do and this one can even hover or even take off and land virtually too!” Twilight opening the book up flipping through the pages. “Not completely sure how our spoken language and written language is identical to their world but...” “Their world?” Shining Armor instantly interrupted Twilight. “Are you saying this is from the mirror portal world?” Now Daring Do cuts in landing in front of him. “What's this about a mirror portal?” “Oh erm... It's a mirror Princess Celestia had and gave to Cadence for protection, it open up about every 30 moons.” Shining Armor explained. “Twilight has been there.” Twilight sighed. “Maybe but I don't think it from that world. I never once heard of a runner by the name of Usain Bolt. Also from what I got off Soarin as well the skin tone was creamy pink to an very dark brown colour and most of their mane or hair colour is blonde, brown, chestnut, ginger, black and any shade between. His was dark blue like our Soarin the Wonderbolt because he dyed it that way.” Twilight explained to the two ponies all the differences between the two worlds in depth leaving both adventurer and brother just taking it all in. Daring Do glance over to the wreck. “So... Getting back on track and compare worlds later. Who does this belong to? I didn't see a pilot in it at all.” Twilight eyes shifted and didn't answer. “Twily, you know who it belongs to?” “Y-yes but sh-she wasn't at the crash site so it means so-something bad or worse! She could be dead! Or even frozen or lost in that snow out there! If Soarin found out he would flip out and be here in a blind search for her without any of our help!” Twilight continue to mutter and panic setting it. Shining Armor used his magic to freeze her in place with him now standing before her. “Twily! you're getting worked up! Tell me and keep it calm! Breathe and chill!” Twilight blink a few times and what she could nod a few times, he undo the spell. “Now what is her name?” “Mist...” The picture she showed of a two pegasi together. “The magic of the fog she entered changed the photo of what they would look like as ponies. But when I do this.” She cast a beam of magic holding it over and the image changed of two humans in the same location in a egg like glass shell with buildings in the distance, endless slight of a massive city. The beam leaves the photo and change back to a pair of ponies. Daring Do took the photo looking at it closely. “Amazing... This magical fog you speak of. It must have been created here in Equestria and something must of happened back then to create a link between us and this other world.” Daring Do taking the details of what she saw in the picture. “They do look like a couple and the city is nothing like Equestria apart from Manehattan.” Shining Armor took his turn to take a look at it. “At least we got a picture of what Mist look likes. I will take this with me and begin asking ponies around the Crystal Empire.” Shining Armor carried the photo with his magic to the door. “Twily, be careful ok?” “Sure thing big brother.” Shining Armor left the room leaving the two mares alone inside. Daring Do noticed something when she was doing another round of looks at the wreck. “Twilight...” Daring Do spoke out and pointed her hoof to the cockpit's edge. “Have a look at this and tell me what this look like to you.” Twilight flew up to Daring Do to take a look at what she was pointing too. “Hmm, I did notice it before but didn't think much of it. But from what I-” She saw a spear edge wedged into the crack. “Wait that's a spear head!” “Did you notice any broken spear heads anywhere in the empire?” Twilight shook her head in reply. “I've only seen a spear head like this before.” She tap the bubble. “If you may?” “Oh right.” Twilight lower the shield and let Daring Do pull the spear head out. Daring Do took a good look at it and sighed. “Should of knew he be here too...” Twilight only knew one other being she could be speaking of. “You mean Ahuizotl! That is really bad!” Daring Do sighed heavily. “The problem is...” She stared at the purple alicorn. “Where is Ahuizotl right now? The Frozen North is not exactly the best place to just blindly start looking around for him.” Twilight thinking about it moving her eyes to the left and right with a big frown on her face suddenly widen with a gasp. “I got an idea! Cadance knows almost everything old related to Equestria this far north! Princess Celestia would of let her know it!” “Are you sure?” “It's the only lead I can think of right now, unless we take a train back to Canterlot and ask the Princess herself. We both know that the library came out empty on trying to find out if there were any ruins near by.” Twilight lands by the door turning to the hovering adventurer. “The more time we waste gives Ahuizotl more time he needs to do whatever he's up to.” Soarin The sun was starting to set. Soarin and the crusaders enjoying the picnic, they were sharing tales of what they've been up to during the time spent in the woods from one thing to another as they tried to find their cutie marks. Soarin pouring out what was left of the tea from the flask into a cup. He put the empty flask down closing the lid up. He took a sip from the cup. “From the way you three been going about it, I say you've had a really good time today.” Applebloom swallowed her sandwich and answered. “We have Soarin, thank ya for takin' us to Whitetail Woods!” “Yeah it was awesome! Even if we didn't find our cutie marks!” Scootaloo buzzed in mid hover with excitement. “I like the part were we built that boat together and rowed around in the lake!” Sweetie Belle said, turning to the wooden canoe sitting there on the beach of the lake. Soarin smirked coming up with an idea for what to do tomorrow. “How about we take it back to my home and give it a whole new look? What do you say?” “Yes!” The girls cheered. “It won't be simple, it'd be bloody hard work. Not only do we got to paint it, but gloss it over with some stuff too so the paint never runs when it get wet.” Soarin drunk the last of the tea placing the cup on the flask and putting it in the basket. Scootaloo got up walking over to the canoe. “We worked together to make it Soarin. So it shouldn't be that tough to do all that!” “Ah'm in!” “Same here!” Soarin putting the remaining plates and cups away with the bottles. He put the food waste in another bag using his mouth to do most of the work. “It's your canoe girls. I only helped.” “It ours?” They said together. “Indeed. Now how do you think we get this back to Ponyville?” “I know!” Scootaloo ran over to her wagon. “With this!” Soarin rubbed his hoof on his snout staring at the small wagon. “I am not sure that would hold.” “Do you want to bet on that?” The two other crusaders looked uncertain. Soarin shrug. “Sure, name your price.” The girls whispered among themselves and spilt giggling to each other. Soarin was now worried seeing these fillies look very confident... Ponies in Ponyville were winding down for the night but soon they were dodging a canoe speeding by being dragged on a wagon with Scootaloo pulling it along with her scooter and wings buzzing. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle acting as counterweights for the canoe as she turn around corners. Soarin flying above them couldn't believe it eyes, he seeing these three girls working together as one team, a smile crept to his snout seeing this from directly above. It reminded him of Team Spitfire as they flew as one, a team that knew exactly how the other thinks so well that they were practically one with one another. Spike walking to Sweet Apple Acres to see how Soarin was doing with the fillies when he saw Scootaloo and the girls zoom by with the canoe. “Whoa!” Soarin lands beside. “Tell me about it. Scootaloo said they could get it back to my home with just the wagon and I bit more then I chewed...” “You made a bet with them didn't you?” “Bloody did and now I am glad I did.” “How?” Spike looked up at the pegasus. Soarin chuckled lightly. “Because I can see that when they do get this cutie mark of theirs it will be well worth the wait.” Soarin lowered his wing. “Care for a lift?” “Erm...” “Don't worry I'll take it easy. You have the word of an RAF pilot.” Spike took hold of the wing and with a flap he flipped right onto Soarin's back. “Let's do this before I decide to jump off.” Soarin takes off into the sky flying after the children to the hanger. “Care to join us for some dinner?” Spike groans. “Let me guess, you want me to cook...” “What?” Soaring turn his head around to get a look at the little dragon. “Your a bloody guest! Why would I make a guest cook for me?” Spike smiled happily. “Then I'll come!” “That more like it! And...” Soarin eyes shrunk. “Oh no...” Spike saw why Soarin was worried. “They going too fast!” “Spike hold on tight, this is going to be bloody tight!” Soarin dives for the canoe. “I got one shot at this!” Scootaloo look back and saw that the canoe was travelling faster than her now, it was closing in on her scooter. “Ahhhhh!” The girls also screamed holding themselves together in fear as it was now a runaway canoe on wheels. “Hurry Soarin! They're heading right for the hangar doors!” Spike yelled out pointing right at the hangar getting closer and closer by the second. Soarin narrowed his sight on the end of the canoe as he closed in on it, with his wings reopening, he grabbed the end of either side with his front hooves. With all his might he held onto it and with a tilt of the wings he flapped them hard and fast, with every beat he gave it all he could to stop it. “Come on you bloody thing slow down!” “I can't watch!” Spike buried his face into the back of Soarin's neck and mane holding on tight with his claws. Soarin flinched from the claws digging into his fur and skin. But he stayed focused on stopping the canoe and saving the three fillies. Scootaloo notice that it was slowing down and she was pulling away, turning in front she screamed turning the scooter and hitting one hind hoof hard on the ground. Skidding with wheels screeching and hoof sparking the scooter came to a dead stop only less than a foot from the door, her snout almost touching it. Scootaloo felt a shadow pass over her as she was about to sigh in relief and turn to the canoe front coming ever closer to her, she frozen in fear watch it come closer and closer to her. It was almost on top of her when it finally rested to a stop. “Scootaloo are you ok?” Soarin yelled out from the other side of the canoe. Scootaloo shaken up slowly got her nerves back. “Hehe yeah, just great... Erm, how about we call it a tie?” Soarin sitting on his rump breathing heavily replied back. “Indeed kiddo it's a bloody tie...” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both sighed heavily seeing they was fine. “Let's not tell mah big brother or sister of this ok?” “Yeah I'm not going to tell Rarity, she would ground me forever!” Sweetie Belle agreed. Soarin whispers to Spike. “You can let go now, it safe.” Spike let go. “Hehe oops. Sorry Soarin...” “It's fine. I should be sorry to you, I said I'd take it easy and promised.” “Nah it fine, saving the crusaders doesn't count.” Spike waved it off. “Cool canoe though!” He took a good look at it. “Did you make it?” Soarin got up on his hooves taking a few flaps of the wings. “Never knew I had that much strength in these wings.” Soarin got side tracked and turn to Spike. “Sorry. Got a bit side tracked. Hehe, so to answer your question. I did some of it, the crusaders helped and they tested it.” Applebloom jump down from the canoe with Sweetie Belle. “Eeyup we sure did! Ah can't wait to paint it tomorrow!” “You want to help Spike?” Spike shrugs. “Sure why not. Maybe we can drag Big Mac from the fields to help too.” “Mah brother! Sure ah think that'd be cool!” Scootaloo pulled off her helmet. “Yeah and no more pulling something bigger than me! That canoe almost squished me!” Soarin sighed rubbing his head. “Children do you know why this happened?” “Nnope.” “Not really.” “Beats me.” Spike took this time to hop of Soarin's back as he took a few flaps with his wings to get in the air and do some tricks before their eyes as the sunset rays disappear with the night drawing in and the moon coming up. He timed it just perfect and got the shine from the moon behind him as Soarin went up. “Now what was I doing?” “Doing awesome tricks!” Scootaloo blurted out. “That twist, that turn and those rolls in the sky was totally awesome! Including that incline with the moon! It really made you shine!” “Yes... But what exactly was I doing?” Sweetie Belle tapping her snout with the hoof a few times and answers. “Showing off?” “Exactly! And what was you three fillies doing?” They look at each other and realised. “We were showin' off and didn't think how to stop when we went to fast...” “And because of that we lost control at the end and it went faster then Scootaloo can move on her scooter.” Sweetie Belle realising their mistakes as it sunk in. Scootaloo rubbing a right foreleg on her left. “And we all could of gotten seriously hurt and you would be told off as well as we would because you weren't watching us carefully enough...” Soarin was about to say something and didn't he raise a hoof, placing it down be look down at the dragon. “You just got burned Soarin.” Spike chuckled. “That I did... Too shay Scootaloo, too shay!” Soarin rubbed her head with his hoof. “Well everyone lets go up and I'll begin cooking some grub!” Spike pulled on his tail. “One problem.” “And that would be?” “No cloudwalking spell.” “Ah bloody hell!” Soarin cursed under his breath. “Ok time to get the tents out, we be having a camp out!” “Yay!” The crusaders cheered. “But...” They looked directly at him. “Canoe in the hanger girls, Spike you get the firewood and stones while I get the grub and tents. Fair?” “Yes Soarin...” They answered. “No fun without some work crusaders.” Soarin turned towards Spike and says, “There are stones and firewood by the east side of the hanger wall in a set of buckets. Big Mac put them there in case we did have a camp out.” Spike salutes, “Aye aye captain!” He runs off to get the stones and firewood. The girls giggled and went to open the doors and push the canoe inside. Soarin was about to call out but shook his head. “Now I know how Ruby feels.” With a push off with his wings he head up to the cloud house. “At least that bloody bet is off, geez if I lost that, it would have been the wall of embarrassments for life!” Mist Night and everything is silent, most ponies asleep with their leader also taking a snooze with his felines, Ahuizotl cuddled up to the tiny white cat muttering to himself in his sleep. Only a few stallions was awake making their rounds, a few in winter clothing leaving to the entrance to take over the others that stood watch in the snow. Mist had been keeping count of this for days now, she knew the change overs to the littlest detail. “Right on cue, the change over went over as smoothly and that loud snoring freak show kept up the usually guards that watch over me, none had that well of a sleep for the last few nights.” She grinned noticing one of them dropping off a little and shaking his head rapidly to keep awake. “It show time...” She whispered with a dark grin creeping up on her snout. “This ridiculous plan better works...” The guards almost closed their eyes to drift into slumber land when chains started to rattle and shake with the sound of somepony in serious pain all the sudden. The eyes of both stallions snap over turning to see Mist having a form of fit with her banging her back the head against the stone wall wings twitching and flapping unevenly. They quickly panicked with one stumbling to get the key. The other was in front of her with hooves press trying to hold her from fitting out and causing self harm. By the time the first guard got his key she stopped moving altogether, they looking at each other for a moment. The one holding her put his ear to her chest. “Sh-she not breathing! I can't hear a heartbeat!” “This isn't good! Ahuizotl will have us for this!” The key was placed into the chain locks and she was unchained from the wall onto the ground. “Wh-what do we do!?” “I do-don't know!” They had their backs turn to her talking to each. “Maybe we can say that she escaped and died in the snow?” “Yeah that could get us in less trouble!” Her eyes snap open, standing up behind them she coughed. “Oh Boys?” They instantly froze and slowly turning their heads looking into the eyes of Mist. “Uh oh...” “Nighty night!” CRACK! WHAM! POW! The two guards woke up groaning and finding they been chained up against the wall gagged, one of them notice a ring around his snout, it was the same one that held the key to the chains. Mist stood calmly in front of them with one of the winter gear on, she was on her hind legs leaning on the wall leading out of the room with a smirk they saw moments before she KO'd both of them. “Since you gentlecolts were kind enough to get me out of those chains, I thought I'd be nice enough to leave you the keys.” They struggled to get free. “Careful boys, if those keys fall you may not be out of those till the freakshow wakes up.” Falling onto all fours she hums a little and leaves them. They looked at each other wondering how the heck they was going to get the key into the locks. Putting the hood over her head cutting almost any view of her and covering up the wings inside the coat. She trots by a few guards keeping her head down, the tribal ponies not even checking part from one that looked at her flank. “Gees these tribal idiots are really dumbasses... It's so comical it could be from practically a comic or movie.” She step outside into the snow testing the hooves against the snow and feeling the cold sharp wind blow outside. “Guess being a pony and having my jacket and this coat on is enough, even if it's short towards the backside. Whoever designed these not to completely cover one's bloody ass need to be shot twice in the eyes” Walking out of the entrance Mist turn to one of the guards with a nod, in return he leaves heading back inside not even checking if she was one of them. Leaving her with the other looking out into the blizzard. “Pretty cold huh?” “It is...” “So... How far do you think we are from any town or city?” He point a hoof to an general direction. “Crystal Empire just a few hours walk in that direction. Other than that nothing.” “One more question, who do you think you'd be talking to you bloody idiot.” His eyes shrunk instantly and slowly turn to the pony now next to him. “Aw nuts...” “Oh you won't be feeling those right now!” She dives right under him as he jabs his spear and hits where- CRACK! “EPP!” The stallion falls onto his side with forelegs over his lower half. Mist walked around and lowers herself to his view. “Now is there a sled?” “Y-yes...” He squeaked, with a shaky right front hoof lifted points to it. Mist grab him by the coat with her mouth and with a twist throws him into the mountain of snow beside the sled, he slowly gain his senses from the impact looking up at her as she trot over to him. “Good and now be a dear and get on that bloody sled!” “Wh-what if-” “I'll just have to kick you harder in the royal jewels till you pass out.” She replied calmly and was close to his snout with hers. “Trust me, it won't bloody make a fucking difference for me. Either way you're coming with me. Your freakshow boss pissed off the bloody wrong mare.” He gulped loudly nodding rapidly. “I'll go! Don't hurt me!” He begged as he stumbled onto the sled. “That a boy.” She put some ropes over him tying him down to it and covering the tribal pony with a blanket she finds. “Oh is there something to help me walk through this snow?” “Snow shoes there...” He point his head to the dozen or so lying neatly together. Mist grinned. “Oh this is perfect.” She put four on her hooves and the rest she put with the stallion. “Now tell me everything the freakshow is up to?” She put the harness on and start to pull the sled away from the outpost ruins to the Crystal Empire. He begins to tell her everything, and all that went through her mind was, “That freakshow is going to be soooooooo pissed when he wakes and it's going to be totally worth it.”