Baen of Equestria

by CrypticMetaphor

XLII

Author's Note:

A short but sweet update with more bonding for Twi and Baen. The reason for the short? Because the next one is gonna be a doozy. Also, Malachi hype!

(Music for the chapter)

The mood was somber. Baen had been transferred to Canterlot royal hospital and was currently in the magic recovery wing. Nopony knew what had happened, though one certain princess had a good idea. Celestia exited the barbarian’s room with slightly downcast expression. The girls perked up as she entered the waiting room, but their faces dropped when they saw her expression.

Celestia steadied her nerves and remained as stoic as she could, “He’s….in stable condition,” she glanced back to the room’s door, “but he’s not well.”

Twilight sniffled lightly, “What’s wrong with him princess?”

Celestia sighed and draped a wing comfortingly over her fellow princess, “I looked over him with the doctors and nurses assistance, it seems using his Wrath ability two times in a day followed by his Ruination ability put a great strain on his body,” a great sigh escaped the monarch, “this also caused a great strain on his heart. If I had known Old Magic could be this dangerous I would have kept a closer eye on him.”

Rainbow Dash looked at the princess hopefully, “But…he’s going to be okay right? I mean, Baen’s a tough pony,” she waved a hoof; “there’s no way something like this could take him out of commission.”

Celestia shook her head, “I am unsure. We don’t exactly know the full extent of the damage done or for that matter if he’ll recover at all,” she glanced to his room once more, “all we can do is wait.”

The girls sat in silence. But the silence was interrupted when the doors to the wing burst open to reveal a familiar…and distressed mare.

Coco looked around frantically, “Where is he?! Is he alright?!”

Rarity approached her colleague and friend and gently led her to a chair, “Coco you poor thing, please just sit,” Rarity smiled warmly at her friend as she complied abet reluctantly, “We have to be patient. Baen will be fine.”

The thing was though, Rarity was unsure if she was lying or speaking the truth.

All heads turned once more when a unicorn mare trotted in with a small smile, “You can see him now if you want….,” her smile shrank, “he’s not awake yet though.”

The ponies slowly filed into Baen’s room and stared on sadly. The barbarian, their friend Baen who had always been strong and determined had never looked more vulnerable in his entire life. He lay perfectly draped by white sheets on a medical bed, his head propped ever so slightly with fluffy pillows. His face was calm and serene, but a mask was over his mouth as a machine pumped and wheezed beside him. Another machine beeped and booped in tune with his heart rate monitor. The machine had a series of graph papers with steady lines tracing in steady rhythm upon each one, almost like a lie detector.

Twilight glanced to Celestia, “Why is he hooked up to an Arcane Scanner?”

“It’s a precaution,” Celestia calmly explained, “it’s to ensure that he didn’t receive MP.”

Applejack tilted her head with a raised eyebrow, “MP?”

Twilight looked to her friend sadly, “Magic Poisoning, sometimes a unicorn or in rare cases, other ponies, will get exposed to a large influx of mana. When this happens, the pony in question runs the risk of contracting MP. When that happens, it could have long term, or developing overtime, side effects. Most of which are quite lethal.”

Coco slowly approached her coltfriend and placed a hoof on his, “Baen, please be alright,” smiled with tears in her eyes, “The performance went amazingly, they loved my costumes….I wish you could’ve seen them….*sniff*….I don’t want to….,” she then broke down in front of everypony.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie gently helped her to her hooves, “Come on dear,” she gave a comforting expression and gently pat Coco on the back, “How about we go get something to warm to eat. I hear their mushroom soup is delectable here.”

Coco gave a small smile, “I’d like that very much…”

Pinkie smiled, “There’s our favorite pony.”

Soon the three ponies left and everypony stared at Twilight who was just staring wordlessly at the prone Baen. Celestia looked at the others and gestured lightly to the door with her head. Understanding the gesture, the girls and solar princess silently left the room. Twilight looked after them and shuffled uneasily. Inhaling shakily, she approached her friend and seated herself on a chair. Soon her hoof found his and she looked at the unconscious barbarian. Sniffling lightly, she looked away, refusing to look at him.

“I…I’m so sorry Baen,” she choked out, “If I had stopped you….no. If I had jumped in to help, you wouldn’t be like this. Why,” tears dripped from her eyes, “why couldn’t I help you when you needed it? Why was I so afraid? I mean, we helped you against Rath’Gor and I just stood by while you fought Olf’Ric….,” she buried her muzzle in the sheets, “I’m such a failure as a princess and as a friend. I don’t deserve to be called your Blood Sister!”

Twilight’s body was wracked with sobs as she let it all go into the sheets. Her sobs rocked her body, her friends listening to every word from outside. But then she froze when she felt a hoof touch the top of her head, looking up through teary eyes, she saw Baen, sitting up without the mask smiling down at her warmly. The smile a family member would give their sibling to calm their nerves and ease their troubles.

“Twilight,” he said calmly, “You are no failure,” he said as he wiped away a tear, “and no tears. I haven’t earned them yet,” his smile brought one to her face as she gently reared up and embraced him.

Baen widened his eyes, but smiled as he shut them and embraced her in return. Both ponies allowed tears to fall as they held each other. Baen’s body warmed Twilight and eased her nerves as her breathing steadied.

“You had me so worried,” she silently stated.

“I told you,” Baen stated, “I’m too stubborn to die.”

Twilight chuckled lightly and pulled away, kissing him on the forehead, “I’m just relieved,” she smiled warmly at him, “we’ll help you with your recovery anyway we can.”

Baen glanced behind the Alicorn mare and noticed several smiling faces. A smile spread across his own.

“And I welcome every moment.”

The group entered his room and embraced in a warm group hug….Coco planted a loving kiss on his lips which he returned. But then he licked his lips.

“Do I taste mushrooms? What exactly did I miss?”

Comments

[OtakuBr0n1]

awww

[Moongaze14]

This chapter is cute.

[Arachne the weaver]

Here's a theory on Baen's Ruination and Wrath.

Wrath: just like the name implies this 'spell' of sorts enhances tremendously ones own physical abilities, but it also puts the body in a tremendous amount of stress and strain. This is like a super steroid. It doesn't seem to affect the heart, brain and lungs as much as it does the rest of the bodies muscles.

Ruination: this 'spell' makes the entire magic of an individual to 'cloak' the entire body, this enhances every ability of said individual. Reflexes become sharper, both speed and strength are increased etc etc etc. BUT unlike Wrath, Ruination puts in overdrive ALL the organs in order to pump both blood and magic throughout the body. The activity of the brain skyrockets in order to keep the body active with the tremendous amount of information it's receiving from the senses, the heart pumps almost the double of blood/magic per minute (80 bpm to 150-190 bpm) this is tachycardia, and yes, it is deadly. If Ruination is abused (like in Baen's case) the side effect can become critical: from a loss of conscious to organ failure, even a coma/vegetative state can happen if the damage done by Ruination is too much to handle.

These are my thoughts though anyone can add their thoughts to this theory of mine

[SageBrony07]

Great chapter. I love the nice feelings in this chapter. Good luck with the next one. I wonder what is going to happen next.

[Emerald Knight]

Nice

[Lucky424]

He hasn't seen Coco in how long and that's what he asks? I hope she slaps him!

[Atlaes]

Holy shit the timing on that song was perfect!!