Weeks after Starswirl was less recognized as a genius but rather an enemy and after I.Q. became the seventh most popular pony in Ponyville everyone had been able to return to their normal lives or as normal things can get with two alicorns and a draconequus living in town. However I.Q. could never return to his life in Ponyville, he had many responsibilities even if he wasn’t to become royalty. For some strange reason he was called on by the map, he also had to fight against that accursed demon for control, and every time he got even stronger. I.Q. had done his best to stay under the radar of many ponyville news companies and very rarely managed to get to his daily lessons with Twilight, now needing flight lessons from Rainbow Dash and Neo, he also needed to juggle foalsitting for Bolt and Rarity long story along with a part time job at Sugarcube Corner. He only had time for fun when Bolt was off duty which rarely happened.
~~~
I.Q’s alarm went off with multiple blaring buzzes, “Please be Sunday…..” He yawned. I.Q. got up and put on his shirt and glasses to look at his calendar , his wings threw themselves upwards when he saw what was written on today’s date, “Nononononononononono that’s not possible, already?!” he frantically paced around trying to find his savings bank. Bolt stepped into the room with a small filly with a red mane and white coat suckling on a pacifier in one hoof and his other on the floor.
“I.Q. are you okay? Why are you throwing your things everywhere?” He asked in a hushed voice careful not to wake the sleeping filly.
“Yes found it.” I.Q. said not noticing his brother enter the room as he flew out the door holding a small pouch, and towards the Ponyville marketplace.
At the market he looked from stall to stall for a jeweler. “C’mon are there no jewelry merchants here today.” He asked himself. He perked up when he saw a sign with a gold bracelet on it with an earth pony working, as he dashed over to it making sure not to bump into anypony. “Excuse me... do you have any lockets for sale?” he panted to the owner,
“Why yes, and in various styles too. Trying to impress your special somepony?” she kindly replied, I.Q. felt heat rise in his cheeks,
“Yeah. Do you happen you have an apple shaped locket?“ He asked frantically,
“Why yes we do.” She looked under the table and when she came out she had a gold necklace with a small apple shaped locket,
“that is beautiful. How much for it?” he asked,
“Two-hundred bits.” I.Q. dug through his saddle bags, pulled out the pouch and pulled out the required amount. The vendor was stunned, “I was not expecting that, well here you go, hope she likes it.” She pushed the necklace to him and he levitated it into his bags and trotted off relieved.
He neared Sugarcube Corner to work when he saw Apple Bloom leaving Carousel Boutique with a bag on her back looking around before running towards Sweet Apple Acres. He was confused for a moment, but he knew how to ease his curiosity.
After he finished working he trotted over to Carousel Boutique. The bell above the door chimed at his entrance and Rarity began her welcome phrase, “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic unique and magnifique, how may I help you.” She announced gleefully, “Hey Rarity, How’s business?” I.Q. asked mischievously,
“Why if it isn’t my brother-in-law, why ever do you ask?” she exclaimed,
“Business seems to bloom during this time.” He joked,
“Well Hearts and Hooves day does make many ponies go shopping for loved ones, you have that scheming look on your face darling, what really made you come here.” She asked suspiciously. I.Q. had no way of getting out of this, he is the element of harmony and in turn honesty,
“Okay, I saw Apple Bloom come out of here when I was heading over to Sugarcube Corner.” He confessed,
“Is that what you are here for? Why darling, I can’t tell you what she bought. Customer confidentiality and all, not to mention she made me pinkie pie promise not to tell you.” Pinkie pie promises, the strongest promise in Equestria. His ears drooped in defeat,
“Well whatever it is it must be important to her.” He smiled faintly at his last word remembering to put others before himself,
“I’m sure it is,” she said, lifting his head with a hoof, “Well you better get home darling, Bolt is likely wondering where you are.” She said, ushering him towards the door,
“Don’t worry he doesn’t ever expect me to be home in time.” He started towards the door and stepped out into the cool afternoon air.
okay now what else do I need for a perfect night. he kept going over any possible problem that might arise during his date and planning a counter to it. Changelings, easy, discord, no need for the elements, parasprites, easy peasy cider squeezy, “this night will be perfect.” He congratulated himself. He suddenly felt an intense pain in his entire head bouncing from his brain to his horn, he cursed under his breath, one thing he didn’t plan for. He trotted towards home to find aspirin, the moment he opened the door he collapsed only seeing his brother running towards him before blacking out.
He awoke to see Bellatrix and Titan with worried and concerned expressions on their faces, “I.Q. we are so sorry we didn’t tell you before.” Bellatrix trembled; I.Q. was even more worried now than he was about his plans,
“What’s wrong?” He said slowly,
“I.Q, we have another story, one that isn’t quite finished.” Titan told, Bellatrix had an even more worried expression on her face at his words, they had a whispered conversation but I.Q. couldn’t make it out Bellatrix backed away with a face of worry, however Titan kept his expression firm, “We should have told you this before but we didn’t want you to be overwhelmed, when Starswirl placed the curse he created a prophecy, it said ‘In many millennia every darkness to plague this land shall return, led by the very first to conquer, but one pony with the strength of an earth pony, the flight of a Pegasus, and the magic of a unicorn, who faced one demon and lived, shall rise from the ashes of the old kingdom of ponies to triumph or join the darkness.’ We first thought that the pony mentioned would be Twilight, but after seeing you we knew who it was. Sadly we didn’t know that the prophecy would come so soon.” I.Q. became even more confused and worried,
“What are you saying?” he asked,
“You are the one that will determine the fate of Equestria, you are the chosen one.” Titan said his voice firm. I.Q. couldn’t help but snicker at how cliché that phrase was, but he immediately regained his composure at Titan’s piercing glare.
“Wait but what do you mean by ‘we didn’t know it would come so soon’” Titan nodded and turned to his right as his horn began to glow and an image of the stars appeared, with the Orion constellation glowing brightly. A bright flash appeared and the constellation was gone. The image switched to Luna screaming as her body morphed back into Nightmare Moon, I.Q. wore a terrified expression, “Send me back!” he demanded with urgency, “I need to warn them.”
“It is too late to warn them, but you can and must protect them.” I.Q. merely blinked and he was in his bed with only Rarity by his side,
“Thank Celestia, we need to go.” He took no hesitation and flew out the window pulling her in his magic.