//------------------------------// // Taste the Rainbow // Story: Team Friendship 2 // by Carnival //------------------------------// Medic spent the rest of his short trip scribbling in his notebook, training himself to use his newfound magic to write. So far, he had made notes on how he could have become an alicorn pony in this world. Was it his way of playing god, bringing people back from the dead, or transferring souls to inanimate objects, or even the ubercharge he deployed on himself as he passed through? He couldn't pinpoint an exact reason, unless they ALL contributed. After askin Junebug about her cutiemark, he decided that they were a mark of a pony's talent, like his medical history being responsible for his red cross. He also built up another ubercharge by using his magic to aim the medigun at himself. Normally he wouldn't be able to do this since he's the only one who can use the gun, and his arms are too short to aim it at himself properly... Spy, being the slippery bastard he was, already mastered his abilities as a colorful quadrupedal equine. He thought it was strange that he could use his tail as another arm, considering it should only be hair. Then he realized that nothing would make sense in magical ponyland. He snuck his way into what looked like the castle of sorts, and made himself a home within the wall passages. They were dusty and broken, and he could tell that they had stopped using them. They made for a perfect hiding spot for the time being. The ponies in the kitchen had specific rotations which gave him barely enough time to grab a meal and retreat back to the walls. Being caught wasn't a problem, he could always disappear. He would walk around the hallways, but they echo too much to not cause suspicion. Now was one of those times where he would stare out of a crack in the wall and just think, examining the pony way of life in this castle. He knew he couldn't backstab any of them, they likely do not have the same respawning devices that their team does... Besides, the ponies hadn't done anything bad yet... Spy glanced down the hall to see two very familiar looking ponies accompanied by the princesses. He frowned slightly and took a puff from his cigarette, now watching the ones he assumed were his team members... "And so now you understand why it is such a big deal that we find your companions?" "YES I DO!" "Alright, do you have any questions?" "YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION." "What is it, Soldier?" "I UNDERSTOOD NONE OF WHAT YOU SAID." Scout nudged Soldier harshly again and said for the both of them, "Sorry about him Princess, he's slow. We understand fine." "I DO NOT." Scout rolled his eyes and pulled Soldier down, whispering into his ear. "OH. NOW I UNDERSTAND!" The princesses smiled, as did the other six ponies. Spy slid out of the wall, still invisible, and began to follow them in the shadows. "We need to find your seven other teammates now. You said they were... Heavy, Medic, Pyro, Demo, Engie, Sniper, and-" "Ze spy?" The group of ponies abruptly stopped and spun around, gasping. Scout and Soldier groaned as Spy stepped forward from the shadows, moving his cigarette from his mouth. "Gentlemen?" "Oh for the love of crap Spy, how long have you been here?!?!" "Longer than you, Scout. I landed on ze ozer side of ze mountain, and zen I crawled my way over. I've been living in ze walls for ze past few days." "It's already been a few days?!" "We arrived here at night, zen all of you but Soldier and I were knocked out and didn't wake up for maybe two and a half days. Ze ozers have probably been wandering around aimlessly like the imbeciles zey are. Ze only ones I know ze location of are Heavy and Demo." "WHERE ARE THEY?" "Some forest out zat way." Spy nudged towards the window with his head, and stepped up to Soldier and Scout. He stared up at Celestia and Luna, his eyes narrowing but not in a rude way. "Sorry, Mesdames, for popping in unannounced. Zey call me ze Spy, and it is pretty obvious why." Celestia and Luna gently recollected themselves, losing their initial shock of the stranger appearing there. "We're so very glad that you're here to help, Mr. Spy. Do you suppose you can lead us to this... Heavy and Demo? We would appreciate anything they have to offer as well. It will take all nine of you to defeat this magic." "I'm afraid ze only things those bumbling fools have to offer is idiocy and alcohol. I can lead you to Demo but Heavy will mostly likely not come without finding Medic first. If we find Medic, we can find Heavy. Simple as zat. Pyro on the other hand will be attracted to zat bonfire outside. She will be around shortly." "Wait, She? The pyro is a fricken SHE?!" "You did not know? I suppose it is hard to tell zat someone is watching you when you're invisible, hmm?" "You're a creep, you know that Frenchie?" "I am aware. It is also a notable factor zat I couldn't care less. Now, Princesses, if you will allow me I will take control of my teammates. You may order your ponies to do whatever you want, but we are our own business." Applejack glared at him and leaned towards him, speaking in a low voice. "Ah don't know who you think you are Mr. Spah, but y'all are bein' awfully rude to our princesses. They rule Equestia ya know, they can ask you to do what they please!" "Zey can, but we won't listen." "They're way stronger than you could ever be!!" "Zey wouldn't last a minute where we're from." "I bet ya they could! I bet ya we ALL could!" "Not without ze Ubercharge." "What in the hay is a-" "Ponies, please!" Spy and Applejack stopped and turned to face Princess Celestia, both shutting their mouths. "I understand that you have your differences, but Applejack, Mr. Spy is correct. We cannot control their actions because while they may be ponies now, the Scout has explained that they definitely are not where they come from. They aren't from our kingdom. Mr. Spy, you know how to operate your team. Please, do so." Spy took another puff from his cigarette and raised a cocky eyebrow at Applejack. "Very well. Scout, you take to ze skies. Remember ze ground patterns we all came up with during ze war against Gray Mann? Use zose in ze sky. Fly in ze Delta pattern but move your head in ze Yankee pattern. Got it?" "You got it Mr. Baguette!" Scout flung open the window and launched himself out of it, spreading his wings and taking to the sky. "Soldier, Beta pattern through ze forests West and North of zis spot exactly. Understand?" "TEN-HUT! HOORAH!" Soldier aimed his launcher at the wall, and blasted himself through the open window. Spy smirked at the confused and awed expressions of the ponies around him. "We're men of war. Zis is normal. I have... unfinished business to attend." Spy waved to them slightly and disappeared. He trotted down the hall quietly, off to continue swooning a chamber maid. "Alright, well, we'll follow their lead then... Rainbowdash, please follow the Scout and do what he does but maybe a bit of distance away so that we can cover more ground. Fluttershy, I would like you to ask all of your animal friends to help us on this one as well. Applejack, you and Rarity go north of here. Pinkie, take south. Twilight, I would like you to go East and West. Luna and I will travel to different towns and ask the ponies if they have seen anypony who looks... out of place. If you find a team member, bring them back here and show them to a room in the same hallway where we put the Scout and Soldier. No go my little ponies, the fate of Equestria depends on it!" After a little while of following Scout's complex flight patterns, the two pegasi stop on a cloud for a little break at Rainbow's house. Scout leans over and dips his hoof into the liquid rainbow, sniffing it. Rainbow tried to contain her excitement as Scout licked the liquid. Shockingly, he didn't have any reaction. "Huh. Tastes like hot wings." Rainbow gaped, and stared at Scout like he was crazy. "Seriously?! No horrible burning?! No kick to the gut?! ANYTHING?! How?!" "You kiddin'? Back where we come from, we have stuff with like a hundred times more spice, like Ghost Peppers. Sniper can eat some of the hottest crap on the planet without a problem, so this rainbow stuff would be pretty easy for him to take." "That's impressive... Actually, now that you've learned some stuff about Equestria, care to tell me a bit about where you come from?" "Oh sure. Earth is some fresh hell. Where we come from, we're omnivores." "What's an... omnivore?" "It's something that eats both plants and meat." Rainbow's face went green, and she covered her mouth with her hooves. "You eat... meat..." Scout grinned and added, "I still have meat cravings in the pony body, but I don't think I can eat it."