The Fanatic
“How could I have been so stupid. I don't have time for friends. What if I am right about Nightmare Moon?” Twilight said as she piloted the Charun in the direction Applejack pointed out, south from Sweet Apple Temple.
Twilight, I have known you since I hatched, what is your deal with making friends? Spike asked.
“Friends waste time. Time, that can better spend to furthering knowledge. In this case, if I am right, I can come up with a means to stop Nightmare Moon.” Twilight answered somewhat dismissively.
Spike wanted to comment in his usual manner, but this is something for him to actually speak. “You're going to drive yourself insane if you don't take breaks.” He 'said' in Draconic. Spike longed for the day when he could speak in Basic, but that is at least a year out. “Why do you think Celestia bans you from the Library and puts a spell on your books so that they won't open one day every week. You cannot keep studying and worrying about things you cannot control.”
“What about all that time I spent at Sweet Apple Temple? I would be ahead of schedule.” Twilight pointed out speaking in Draconic as well. “And have everything likely down by now.” Twilight continued.
“HEADS UP!!!” Twilight turned and saw a... rainbow... coming right her and Spike. After doing some quick math Twilight realized that the rainbow can't avoid her, but she could just dodge it.
“Dah!” Twilight screamed as she was successfully able to pilot the Charun so that the rainbow would miss it. However, the skyboat was still hit by the wake of the rainbow. Fortunately, the wake didn't hit the broadside and there was very little shaking. Spike clung on to Twilight's clothes as tight as he could, but he wasn't screaming in fear.
After the skyboat was corrected, a figure landed on the deck. She was a young woman about Twilight's age. She stood a little shorter than Twilight with a build of an athlete-acrobat. Her hair was the rainbow Twilight saw earlier, and was done in a high ponytail, clipped with clip decorated with a cloud and three-colored lighting-bolt, those colors were red, yellow and blue. She is dressed in light leather armor, feathered pauldrons, dark teal gauntlets with malachite stones on the back of the hand, and long, similarly colored boots, with tiny ethereal wings floated next to the ankles. “Sorry about that. But skyboats aren't to fly at this altitude.” the woman said as she looked around the skyboat.
“What were you thinking? Do you know how fast you were going? You could have killed me!” Twilight shouted at the woman that almost crashed into her.
“You don't look dead to me.” the young woman commented unphased.
“That's not the point. You were reckless and could have collided with me. I should report you.” Twilight almost screamed.
“Yeah, but um part of that report will be the altitude you're flying at and at this altitude, you would be breaking the law.” the woman retorted.
“Regardless. What were you trying to do, break the sound barrier!” Twilight was not really asking, the idea of one breaking the sound barrier is just too fantastic to believe.
“Well... yeah. I am trying to perform a Sonic Rainboom.” the woman answered matter-of-factually.
“A sonic rain-what-now?” Twilight asked not familiar with the term the strange woman used or much of Skyborn folklore.
“Sonic Rainboom, it's a sonic boom that gives off a rainbow. Only the best elementalists can do it as the old stories go. If I can pull it off at the Flyers Competition, I can leave this Weather Management behind once and for all.” The woman said too caught up with herself.
“Weather management? You're Rainbow Dash, aren't you?” Twilight asked.
“The one and only. What have you heard about me?” Rainbow Dash asked a huge smile on her face as she sticks out her chest as a conquering hero.
“That when you do your job you're the best, but I fail to see how that is possible, Magiville is scheduled for clear skies this afternoon, not partly cloudy,” Twilight commented as she looked around.
“I'll get to them later.” Rainbow Dash said dismissively.
“La..la..later.” Twilight said as her left eye twitched.
“Yeah, once I finish training for today.”
“What could you be training for, besides the impossible?” Twilight asked at a lost.
“Well, let's see, I am a Skyborn Elementalist, I am trying to perform a Sonic Rainboom... I must be aiming to be the next big music icon here in Mystika.” Rainbow said sarcastically clearly not hiding that she rolled her eyes. But as she placed her hand on her chin. “Although that may not be a bad idea. I think I can convince AJ to play the base, Rarity is differently the piano, I am so over the guitar. But what about the drums?” Rainbow muttered the last bit as if she's giving her sarcastic comment some serious thought.
“So you want to be a Wonderbolt?” Twilight concluded.
“Not just A Wonderbolt, I am going to be THE Wonderbolt, I am going to break every record in the book and make so much more!” Rainbow answered a little too proud of herself.
Twilight looks around and then turns to Rainbow Dash. “I doubt the Wonderbolts would accept someone who doesn't take their job seriously.” Twilight all but challenged.
“Two.” Rainbow Dash said holding up two fingers.
“What?” Twilight asked.
“Two shots and the skies will be cleared,” Rainbow said as if she's done it a thousand times.
“Impossible.” Twilight challenged.
“Get a mop, because I am going to awesome all over this place,” Rainbow said as she took her bow off her back and readied it with a big grin on her face. Rainbow colored lights glowed from her fingertips and a string of matching colors appears on the bow as well as similarly colored arrow manifested as if it was knotted. She aimed and stroked one cloud not far away caused it to transform into a twister. “One” Rainbow Dash counted and readied her next shot. “Two” she aimed and fired at the twister. This caused the twister to ricochet off each of the clouds clearing the sky. Once the twister died out the skies were clear. Rainbow turned to Twilight. Rainbow could not help but gave a triumphant smirk.
Twilight's and Spike's jaws hang open in utter stupidity at what they just saw. After shaking herself out of it. “Well, that was...” Twilight is at a loss for words.
“I am awesome, I know. That's why I am the head of Magiville Weather. So you still think the Wonderbolts won't accept me?” Rainbow asked rhetorically while high on herself.
Twilight conceded the point. “Alright, you made your point. There is still the issue of you nearly colliding with me.”
“It was a near miss and technically you're at fault.” Rainbow pointed out.
Twilight cannot argue with her. “Fine. But watch where you're going.” Twilight conceded.
“So where ya heading next?” Rainbow asked.
“I am looking for the druid in charge of the music,” Twilight answered.
“Fluttershy? I forgot she's in charge of the music. Either Vinyl or Octavia, heck the two doing an instrumental duet would have made more sense if you ask me. Oh well wasn't my call.” Rainbow Dash said dismissively.
“Who and who?” Twilight asked.
“You'll meet them soon enough. I can give you directions to Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash offered.
“Sure why not, Applejack gave me directions to you.” Twilight acknowledged.
“See that tree line. Let's see,” Rainbow looks at the watch she has. “When you see a cottage, take a left and when you hear like fifty birds singing in harmony you'll find her. Or you could wait at the cottage.” Rainbow directed.
“Thanks, anything else I need to know?” Twilight asked.
“Three things, 1) You'll want to travel on foot, you'll miss Fluttershy if you fly. She's a Skyborn like me, but she's not that great at flight. 2) She's really bad at meeting new people, so try not to sneak up on her. 3) You might want to keep your familiar on your shoulder, Fluttershy's main companion, Angel Bunny, is a monster, while no one really cares what happens to that rabbit, your lizard is kind of cool.” Rainbow… complemented Spike.
“Spike's a dragon,” Twilight commented before Spike could say anything to her.
“Correction, it is cool. You might want to cast some sort of spell that makes him look like some kind of real lizard, well catch ya later, pal. I got two more attempts for a Sonic Rainboom in me today.” Rainbow said as she jumped off the skyboat very much like a scuba diver before pulling up before she reaches the ground.
That's two...
“Don't say it, Spike. I doubt she counts, she almost killed me.” Twilight said as she landed the Charun. After putting the boat into her tome, Twilight head in the direction Rainbow Dash pointed.
It has been a point of pride that Mystica's crime rate is practically non-existent, sure the nation has experienced the occasional collateral destruction of property, but that has often been the result of accidents. Every once in awhile a Skyborn may attempt to thwart the passing of the seasons, or a Magicborn may use their power inappropriately typically due to a mental breakdown, but in Celestia's reign there has only been one true criminal... a former Wonderbolt, and of the corps she truly lived up to the title before her fall. Her name was Nightshade and while others 'officially' hold each and every record, it was only because of her imprisonment that her titles were stripped. She was in the only true prison in Mystika, the Stonlingrad Penitentiary and was likely going to be the only permanent 'residence'. The former Wonderbolt looked to be in her late thirties almost forty, starless night black hair, skin fair but paling due to lack of sunlight. She has red irises and to be fair, she's a fairly attractive woman. Despite everything she was still as fit as she was when she arrested.
Currently, she's counting the tiny holes in her ceiling of her cell, it was either this or another four hundred pushups until her next meal arrives. “359, 360, 361, 362, 363...” she said out loud, bored out of her mind.
“364...” Nightshade hears a man's voice. “Good Afternoon...Nightshade, I assume.” Nightshade gets off her bunk and saw what looked like a man that was one with the shadows in her cell.
“Hello, shadow creeper that got into my cell. What do you want?” Nightshade said neither amused nor shocked nor surprised nor angry if anything she sounded more bored than she did before.
“To the point I see. There is going to be a dynastic change within the next twenty-four hours. But before I go on, I want to know, what do you know about the Maiden in the Moon?” the figure asked.
“Some old bedtime story about some mage, a shadowcaster I think, that tried to destroy the sun or something ludicrous like that. Got blasted to the moon for her troubles. What about it?” Nightshade asked un-amused.
“Well the story is true and my mistress, the Maiden in the Moon herself, is looking for skilled elementalists for an elite flying corp for the...” the man was cut short.
“I kill you if you say 'entertain the masses'.”
“You will try… and fail, but I'd have to give you an A for the effort. However what I was saying, to keep the masses in line.” The shadowy figure said knowing better what both he and Nightshade are capable of than the elementalist.
“So like the MP? As tempting an offer, I got to wonder why me? I don't know if you are aware, but I am not known to be the best team player.” Nightshade commented knowing her past actions.
“You are currently the best elementalist and flyer in all Mystika and actually a great commander. If the Wonderbolts cannot see that, then well at least six of them deserved to die...”
“And that janitor. Don't forget the janitor.” Nightshade pointed out as most people only focus on the Wonderbolts she killed. “Everyone forgets the janitor.”
“Regardless, you are the first Wonderbolt Ace in over 900 years and have successfully killed more people than the entire ESM have in the last 880 years. My mistress needs people willing and able to... well you get the idea.”
“And if I don't join?” Nightshade asked, wanting to know all the facts she can.
“Well murderers cannot be tolerated and you being Mystica's only real criminal, your public execution would send a stronger message to others that would attempt similar actions than continuing your current life imprisonment.”
“So let me get this straight, I can either wait out the storm and beheaded if you guys win, or I could join you guys and remind Spitfire why I was her mentor...” Nightshade paused. “Tough choice,” she said supersaturated with sarcasm.
“Well, when...” the shadow-man said as he started to slip into the shadows.
“Oh, for the love of...! I was being sarcastic! I am in, you daft twit!”
The shadow-man smiled as he opened the cell just by touching it and conjured a new bow and flight suit, “I will see you on the outside.” The man then vanished into the shadows.
Nightshade quickly got out of her prisoner suit and into the flight suit the man left, it’s a perfect fit. She then picked up the bow, it felt like meeting an... yes it was her old bow, but it clearly has been upgraded significantly since Nightshade has held it. “Well old girl, you’ve seen better days than me. How about we have some pleasure before we get down to business?” Nightshade said as her fingertips and the bow start to glow a black-like purple. “GUARDS!” she cried like a frightened woman as if someone was trying to kill or rape her. A smile crept as she heard the guards’ footsteps coming towards her.
The Hermit
After walking for about ten minutes Twilight and Spike reached a cottage. Nice place. I was expecting some sort of hut made out branches and leaves in a grove, not this.
“You should never assume anything when dealing with druids,” Twilight said to Spike when they took a good look around the area.
Um... you were surprised that this druid, Fluttershy, is in charge of music.
Twilight gave a sigh of frustration. “Well, maybe she has a good...” Twilight stopped as she listens. There is a faint “ahahahaaaah” sang (Imagine Fluttershy's singing in 'The Ticket Master'). Twilight headed to the sound and as she got closer she heard a...chorus... of songbirds singing the national anthem of Mystika. She arrived near a clearing where they saw a woman dressed in a yellow robe, with a short cape of blue and green and a hood covering the top of long bright pink hair holding up what looked like a branch-like staff with what looks like a butterfly engraved on the top glowing the same shade of pink as the druid's hair. She also has a bag that looked like it was made of wood and not leather, fur or hide as most bags are made. Around the ankles of the druids were a set of ethereal wings, much like Rainbow Dash's, but while Rainbow Dash's were clearly 'exercised' and use for speed in travel great distance like a falcon, these looked more like they are used to float or hover like a hummingbird or butterfly. Looking around, Twilight and Spike saw there are fifty songbirds of different species all singing in harmony.
I see why now.
“Why what?” Twilight asked her familiar.
Why they went with the druid, take a good look at all their birds, their eyes are the same shade of pink as the staff.
“She's enthralling them. Wow. I knew druids could enthrall several animals at a time, but I never imaged that half a century of birds can be enthralled by one druid.” Twilight said as she noticed what Spike pointed out and took a moment to admire the feat in front of her. As the song ended the druid lowered her staff and removed her hood.
“Alright everyone, that was perfect. We're going to take a half hour break and we practice one more time today just to be ready for tomorrow morning.” The birds all flew off. The druid smiled to herself unaware of the audience for the most recent rehearsal.
“Wow, I haven’t seen anything like it,” Twilight said to the druid, complimenting her.
However, the druid gives a loud scream of horror and jumps almost 9 feet in the air before she cowers in a bush “pleasedon'thurtme!” she squeaked hiding her face.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash weren't kidding, she's is bad with meeting new people. I think she may have agoraphobia or something. Spike thought.
Twilight glared at the dragon for a second and then turned to the cowering young woman. Slowly lowering herself much like how Celestia did this morning. “I am sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you.” Twilight said trying to match Celestia's usually calm and soothing tone. “The Druid, Fluttershy, I presume.” Twilight continued.
Fluttershy slowly opened her right eye and scanned Twilight. After a few seconds, Fluttershy opened her left eye, likely convinced that Twilight would not hurt her. “Yes, I am Fluttershy,” Fluttershy answered gaining a small amount of confidence.
“I am Twilight Sparkle, Apprentice of Princess Celestia. I am here on behalf of the Royal Court to check on the preparations of the Summer Sun Celebration being hosted in Magiville.” Twilight said as she extended her right hand. Cautiously Fluttershy took the offered hand. “That was one of the greatest druidic feats of power I have ever seen.”
“Um... it was nothing,” Fluttershy said humble and timid as the two end their handshake.
“Nothing! You enthralled over fifty songbirds at one time! Usually, druids can only enthrall about a dozen or so! You have to be one of the most powerful druids in all of Mystica!”
“Um... thanks,” Fluttershy mumbled almost inaudibly as she hid her blushing face. An awkward silence fell between the two when something charging through the thicket, hissing angrily as it neared. Soon it emerged from the undergrowth and stopped right between Twilight and Fluttershy.
A white rabbit.
“Wai...” Fluttershy started to say but the rabbit charged Twilight as if to draw blood. Before the leporid could make contact with Twilight, it is met in battle with Spike. Each hissed and growled as they sized each other up. The rabbit assumed it had the advantage until it's fur was nearly burnt by Spike's fire breath.
As it hid behind Fluttershy, Yeah you better hide, you stupid mammal. Spike thought as he held his head up in triumph for defending his master. As he walked back to Twilight the rabbit came out and bit Spike on his tail. While Spike actually was not injured due to his draconic scales, the act was a declaration of war. Spike turned back to face the rabbit, his pupils thinned to slits and iris yellow with wrath.
Now it was a fight.
“Spike! Don't! It's...” Twilight tries to stop Spike only to have her hand scratched by the rabbit. “OW!”
After seeing Twilight's hand bled, “STOP!” Fluttershy yelled at the top of her lungs. Everything seemed to have stopped, the grass, the leaves, even the sounds of other animals. Both combatants stopped fighting but they still growled at each other as they each hold the other's limb in their mouths. “Angel Bunny, let go of Spike,” Fluttershy ordered, reluctantly the rabbit obeyed. The rabbit still scowled at Spike, Spike returned the look as he too let go of the rabbit. Fluttershy then turned to Twilight. “I am sorry for Angel Bunny.” Fluttershy placed her hand on Twilight's wound. “He has... anger management and anxiety issues.” Fluttershy continued lowering her voice so that only Twilight could hear her.
“Never could have guessed.” Twilight commented dripping with sarcasm. “Now I see why Applejack and Rainbow Dash said I should be aware of that rabbit,” Twilight said.
“A lot of what everyone holds against Angel is the natural behavior of rabbits when they are the main pet a person has. Most people have dogs and cats so they don't understand rabbits.” Fluttershy said, as a pink light, the same shade as her hair, flashed from her hand over Twilight's wound and it vanished. “There you go. Again sorry about Angel and also for healing you without your consent.”
“It's okay, the healing I mean. Next time I’ll bring a carrot, maybe that will smooth things over with Angel.” Twilight commented as Spike gave a smoke-huff towards Angel.
“Don't do that! The root of carrots, that's the orange part, is actually fatal to rabbits, it's the green that is good for them...” Fluttershy paused as she turned and took a good long look at Spike. An ear to ear smile grew on her face. “OH, MY!!! IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS!” Fluttershy shouted in bliss. “A baby dragon, AWWW He's so cute. Let's see,” she said as she picked up Spike and examines him. “Hmm, ten years old, he seems to be getting the right amount of meat, but is on the low end of the healthy intake of gems and quartz spectrum and he's been eating too many vegetables and fruits at each meal. That’s not good, dragons are carnivores and gem eaters. They take their minerals straight from the rocks and gems they eat and they did not evolve stomachs for digesting plant life.” Fluttershy informed.
“I feed him gems and such as treats.” Twilight commented a little sheepish.
“Oh no, you mustn't do that either, gems and other stones are part of their regular diet. You're lucky he's a Northern Mountain dragon, they are very adaptable and resilient. If he was a Western River dragon, he'd only be half as big as he should be, if a Southern Jungle he can’t support himself on his limbs and if an Eastern Forest dragon he would never be considered a potential mate when he is mature with how dull his scales would be.” Fluttershy pointed out as she handed Spike back to Twilight.
I pegged her for being almost mute, but she’s talkative... much.
“I have so many questions to ask about raising this little fella. Can I ask them?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well... Spike and I have an itinerary to follow and we need to meet with a 'Rarity of Carousel Boutique' to check the status of the decorations.” Twilight said trying to wriggle her way out of this.
“Oh I can take you to her, I know this area and actually a lot of Magiville. We can walk and talk,” Fluttershy offered Twilight. Meanwhile Angel Bunny hopped onto Fluttershy's left shoulder.
Twilight and Spike shared a look. Twilight gave a sigh of defeat. “Sure, but you have to let me answer a question before you ask the next question.” The two get up and start walking, Twilight going deeper into the woods.
“Deal. So... Um Twilight?” Fluttershy called out to Twilight.
“Yes,” Twilight answered before stopping.
“I don't know if you are aware or if you are doing it on purpose but you're going deeper into the woods, Magiville proper is the other way.” Fluttershy pointed out.
Twilight turns around and with her eyes shut and a large fake grin, “I knew that. I was just checking your knowledge and you passed.” Twilight lied.
Fluttershy believes it, “Yay!” she squealed happily. “Oh, my questions.” She said a little shock in realization.
“What's your first one?” Twilight asked, little knowing of the floodgates she has opened until she saw the sparkling in Fluttershy's blue eyes, putting to shame those of a little child on Hearths Warming Day when they see the presents.
Mystica was home to a wide array of humanoids, creatures, and plants. Among them werewolves, wolves that have mastered human magic and become humanoid wolves. Normally werewolves obey only other werewolves, but the pack that has taken up residence within The Everfree Forest, better known as the Diamond Dogs because of their ability to mine precious stones, were servants to a what appeared to be a female anthropomorphic feline, often called cat-folk. Her name was Catrina, she stood about five and a half feet, with red hair in addition to her tan-brown fur, and is dressed in a long dark red robe. Currently, she was looking out of a cave in the Everfree toward the remains of the palace of the Two Sisters. “What a pretty place, once it's cleaned up,” she said to herself, a bit of a purr in her voice. “Well Celestia, soon you shall...” Catrina was interrupted by the sound of wolves fighting each other. “Great yet another one of these,” Catrina said to herself in annoyance, with a bit of a cat-like yowl to her voice further undercutting her annoyance. She turned into the caverns to address the annoyance that cut short her monologue. After arriving at the source of the commotion she saw what it was and she was not pleased with this at all.
Contrary to popular belief werewolves were not stupid creatures, in fact, they tend to be smarter than most humans. However, compared to Catrina, the Diamond Dogs were not the brightest of bunches. Currently, three of the pack were involved in a fight, most likely for dominance. One was shorter than the others and while he may not be as strong as all the other werewolves, he's fast and nimble. One was much larger and clearly the strongest of the pack in terms of strength but is slow. However besting both of them is one that happens to be, for lack of a better term a balance of strength and dexterity. “Beg!” the winner barked triumphantly.
Catrina has had enough of this nonsense as she took out from her robe a bullwhip. With one rapid and fluent motion she stroke the victor in the face, right in between his eyes, and in doing so sent out a loud shockwave that practically guaranteed the rest of the pack has its attention on her. All the werewolves went to the walls of the cave with their tails tucked and ears flat on their heads. Save the victor. His tail and ears remained defiantly high, standing his ground and growled at her. “Down, Roo-var!” Catrina ordered with a fierce feline growl.
“No. We will not submit to cat-witch any longer.” Roo-var challenged his lupine snarl very clearly helping further demonstrate his disdain for the cat-like woman.
“Must we do this again?” Catrina asked as her annoyance turned to ire. “Tonight She returns, and this defiance is just as fruitless as all your other attempts.”
“I cha..” Roo-var started only to be struck in the face with the whip yet again, this time right on the nose causing him to whimper and go to his knees in pain.
“Do you really want to do this?” Catrina asked as she towered over the now cowering werewolf with her cougar like form, Roo-var only growled in defiance as he ignored the watering of his eyes. After almost a minute of staring Roo-var down, Catrina elects to play her trump card as the wolf clearly refuses to see reason and submit. “Oh Rep!” Catrina called out, not breaking eye contact with the one challenging her authority, and from the shadows deeper in the caverns came a deep dragon-like growl. Soon a figure emerged, it looked like a humanoid reptile with draconic wings coming from it's back. It was scared all over and had armor embedded into its scales. All the werewolves, including Roo-var, turned to see the misshapen creature arrive. “Rep, remind Roo-var why it is not a good idea to interrupt me when I start a monologue, or you'll get fifteen lashes.” the creature, Rep, turned to Roo-var and growled again as it closed the distance to the lupine. Roo-var gulped as he surrounded by Rep’s ever-increasing shadow.
Catrina returned to her spot and restarts her monologue again as the sounds of a werewolf in pain is heard in the background. “Soon Celestia, I shall take back the formula for witchweed and I shall avenge my humiliation at your hands all those centuries ago, starting with your precious niece.”