117 - Wake me … When you Need me
Extended Holiday
Ch 117: Wake me … When you Need me
Act 17
Vital stared back out over the sleeping city of Canterlot as the sun began to peak over the mountains. The cool, fluffy sensation of the clouds beneath his hooves left his fur feeling moist, but not entirely damp as he worked to get his bearings on the new surface. The egg hung from its pouch on his side as the vapors of the cloud mixed with the cool mist from the egg’s radiant icy shell.
“Are you ready?” Grif asked he stood. For the first time in Vital’s memory, his friend wore neither weapons nor armor. He was totally exposed, standing on the clouds before a large archway.
“No, but as a famous lion once said, that’s usually a good sign that you are,” Vital said nervously. “We should probably get going, before I lose my nerve.”
Grif nodded, and stepped forward, making sure to keep a step ahead of his friend as, for the second time in his life, he entered the vast chamber filled with birds of every color and variety, each with a mate next to it, all singing softly in birdsong. Unlike last time, he noticed a few actually sung to him directly, as if some change in his life had changed their judgement of him. He cooed back gently in return, before turning to the Bird of Paradise, and lowering his beak.
Vital stared up at the thousands of mated couples as they each stared down at him. Some cocked their heads, others simply ignored him, and one or two let out a few curious trills as he stood nervously, and rubbed his hooves together. The great bird herself was a truly magnificent sight. Her feathers seemed to radiate a gentle light in every color of the rainbow, and her eyes emanated a kindness and wisdom born from a mother’s love blended with the fierce protective instinct of one who would protect what she holds dear. Her great head feathers arched backwards to flow down her back as her tail feathers spread outwards to drape the floor of the cloud structure. Vital gulped as he did his best to remember Gaia’s advice about talking to deities, while simultaneously doing his best to follow Grif’s advice, even as those emotions of uncertainty, worry, and impulsiveness from the previous night raged through his system. In short, he felt like a tattered mess.
“Hmm. Potential. It has a spice to it, and a thrilling bouquet, but I feel as though these feelings still need to age.” The voice spoke to him, through him, from him, all around him. He heard it inside his head and out. He felt it in his bones and in his chest. “Do not fear, child. None of your like have ever graced my presence. I find you interesting.”
“Um … thank you,” Vital managed to stutter. “I know this is a tad unusual, but these are somewhat unusual circumstances,” he said as he locked his magic around the egg’s pouch, and levitated it into the air, being careful to maintain a thin envelope to protect his horn from the cold the shell exuded. “I … believe this is supposed to be one of your children, if what Grif tells me is true. He or she was found abandoned on a mountain in Neighpon. I’ve been trying to figure out how to help it hatch, but none of us has a clue, since cryophoenixes are so rare. I was able to keep it alive, but barring that, I don’t know what more can be done.”
“You would risk so much for something not yet even born?” she asked him.
“I was raised to believe all life is precious, especially the innocent. Back home … well, I won’t tell you some of the things people have done, but suffice it to say, it’s helped me to value the potential an unborn child can have, if that makes any sense.” He sighed. “Sorry. The emotions are … complicated, to say the least.”
“Complicated is who I am,” she said, before laughing in deep melodic tones. “You have done well. The egg is healthy, and the chick is nearly ready. However, there is still what remains.” Feathers appeared in the air as wind filled the chamber. They danced and waltzed through the space, then, ever so slowly, drew together. Their stems flattened and softened as the feathers melded into a blanket that shone much like herself. “This blanket would ensure the egg remains cold enough to shatter when the time comes, for that is how cryophoenixes hatch; they shatter their own eggs. This blanket will provide you with what you need.”
“And what would you have of me in return?” Vital asked. “Grif tells me I must make an offering, but I don’t know what you could possibly want, or even need, from someone like me,” he said truthfully.
“I need nothing, except love,” the voice returned, laughing again. “But one such as you is an oddity. For ice you are, and so commonly ice does align with my brother, allowing only for cold and cruelty. To be ice and to not be cold. It is a curious precipice.” She cocked her head in thought for a time, then fixed her gaze on him once again. “Very well, I have decided. For this blanket, I will accept nothing less than love. You will take my blanket, and you will take my mark. When the time finally comes for you to have a family, you will make it a large family, and you will fill it with love and all that springs from it. This is my price.”
“Your mark? Like a tattoo?” Vital asked uncertainly.
“It is not so different than what you already have. I will alter your destiny sigil, and place my own mark within it. It will not harm you, and it will not be so different from what you have.”
Vital looked worriedly at his cutie mark. “There’s … something else you may want to know before we agree to this, Ma’am,” he said respectfully. “I’m not exactly your average Pony. That is to say, this form isn’t the one I was born in. A spell allows me to shift between the forms freely. I wanted to warn you, so there isn’t any risk of crossing wires, so to speak.”
“You speak of … magic, the Pony manipulation of aura, yes? I am not of the aura. I do not have this magic. I do not work by these spells. I shall attach my mark to you from the point when your mark came into existence. To all but the three of us, it will have always been present on you.”
Vital Spark gaped. “You can actually do that?”
“My mother was a goddess, young Pony. There is little I cannot do, less still after a feast such as I had last evening. The emotion then was sweet, finely aged, mixed with newly minted. Many pairs found their mate. Others rekindled old passion. Many chicks were conceived last night. I have grown fat from the power that is within me now.”
Vital gulped as he considered the demi-deity’s words, including the impact of the offer. To make a pact such as this would allow the new life to enter this world, and give him the opportunity to raise the chick to the best of his ability. It would also look pretty cool to have a phoenix as a familiar and friend, once he’d raised it. On the other side, this was essentially a covenant to be formed with a separate deity. It would go against just about everything he had been taught since birth with regards to loyalty to the god he had chosen to serve. It could lead to some very serious consequences back home. He closed his eyes, and sighed as he lowered his head for a few minutes as his brows furrowed in deep thought. Finally, he nodded his head, raised it, and opened his eyes again. “All right; I’ll accept.”
“Very good.” In a rustle of feathers, a large piece of parchment covered in bird foot language with a dark creepy-looking quill floating beside it appeared. “Now, if you would sign in your own blood, please.”
Vital deadpanned. “Seriously?”
She laughed “Forgive me. I saw how you feared I would request something more personal, and dark images of you signing a similar scroll with a dark looming figure came to the forefront.” The scroll fell apart into feathers as she leaned forward and, in a single fluid motion, pecked his flank. There was no injury, but it still stung as, on either side of his flanks, the shimmering silhouette of the Bird of Paradise appeared in the background with its tail and crest feathers billowing in an invisible breeze. After a moment, the marks solidified, and the blanket folded itself and moved into his saddlebags beside the egg pouch. “I am satisfied with you. However–” her gaze turned to Grif “–you must still pay the toll for bringing him across the threshold. I allowed it before, because it was your mate, but you brought him here this time with a full knowledge. And despite your good intentions, I must require payment.”
Grif had figured this would happen, and lowered his gaze in submission. “What must I do, my lady?”
“How many directions?”
“Uh, four?” Grif asked, confused.
“How many of me and my siblings?”
“Four,” Grif answered again.
“How many winds?”
Four.”
“What is the imperfect number?”
“Three … oh.” Grif’s eyes widened slightly as something clicked.
“Four is perfection, and four it shall be,” she said with a nod. “Your penance is set. You may leave, Avatar.”
“Of course, my lady,” Grif said with a quick about face. He looked at vital, and gestured it was time to go, before heading out the arch.
Vital levitated the egg back into the satchel, and bowed to the mother of phoenixes. “Thank again you for your help, Ma’am. I’ll do my best to care for the chick, when it hatches, and to fulfill my promise. I’m a man of my word.” With that said and done, he left through the arch, and let loose an explosive sigh as his legs began to tremble while he approached his friend.
“She’s quite an experience isn’t she?” Grif asked.
“Let’s just say I feel a lot like I did after a massive spiritual exertion back home,” Vital replied. “I feel both warm and cold all over at once.”
“I hope you really like foals.” Grif chuckled as he laid down to let his friend get secured.
“Or kids. She never said I had to have foals, just that I had to have lots of children,” Vital countered.
Considering you’re doting on two different mares, I’d say foal is currently the safer bet,” Grif teased. “You did good, but keep an eye on that blanket, and tell no one where it came from. Relics have a tendency to vanish, even in as trustworthy a place as New Unity.”
“You know, if I weren’t nearly exhausted, and didn’t need you for the return flight, I’d smack you so hard right now.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Casanova,” Grif chuckled. “Secure?”
Vital rolled his eyes. “Secure.”
Grif hopped off the cloud, and spread his wings, gliding on a gradual downward incline towards the courtyard.
“Say, Grif?”
“Grif.”
“You know that was a question, not a command, Grif,” Vital growled. “But, since you’re in such a compliant mood, why don’t you explain about what she meant with the imperfect number?”
“You know how seven means perfection for Christians back home?” Grif asked in Draconic, “and six is imperfect, because it’s so close to seven, but incomplete? In Gryphon religion, we have four gods, four embodiments of those gods, four directions, so Gryphons see four as perfect. And what's one down from four?”
“Three.”
“I’m married to Avalon and Shrial. I’m engaged to Genevive. How many wives does that make?”
“Three.”
“So, according to her, if I want to be forgiven, I need to find another girl.”
In a moment that would remain forever branded on Grif’s memory, Vital’s eyes widened, and he uttered a phrase that, until quite recently, had been solely Grif’s. “Nani?”
Grif chuckled. “So that’s how it feels to watch it,” he said as they touched down in their house’s courtyard. The large cloud formation that they glided from began to glow and shimmer as the breeze carried faint traces of avian song and music. It shone in the colors of the rainbow, and colors that had no words, before a giant rainbow that would outgun any produced by Cloudsdale shot from the top of the cloud formation, and headed South over the castle, passing by the windows of the Newlyweds, and those reaffirming their love to their wives, before continuing on as the clouds slowly faded from the eyes of Grif and Vital. Vital had a sinking feeling that next time he would see this formation would be at his wedding, and it wouldn’t matter which world it happened on.
Rarity gaped at the veritable mountain of gift boxes, packages, and bags that had been stacked so artfully in Canterlot’s main square that they completely obscured the statue of Celestia that had been built there. Ponies from all over Equestria and the Crystal Empire had come to witness the event, and wish the lovers well in their futures. Celestia and Luna stood on either side of the pile with Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadence, the element bearers, and Rarity’s parents. A veritable swarm of Ponies crowded around the square’s many intersecting streets, trying to catch of glimpse of the couple, and perhaps get a quote or two for an article.
“It’s … this is. Well, I don’t know what to say,” Rarity said as a heavy blush rose to her cheeks. “There are so many.”
“Why not start with your teacher?” Grif asked as he handed her a small box wrapped in emerald green paper with a silver bow. “I’m sorry, Hammer Strike, but I couldn’t find anything for you, so it’s just a gift for the bride.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” Hammer Strike replied with a smile.
Rarity undid the bow in her magic, and raised the lid of the box to reveal several long pieces of fire-hardened darkwood, all carefully carved to a point. The tips were coated in ebony, giving them a needle sharpness capable of piercing most mail. They thickened the higher up the wood one went, and flattened out with carefully carved facets. At the top of each lay a single piece of blue crystal in the shape of a diamond, not unlike one of the diamonds on her cutie mark.
“Oh, Grif,” Rarity gasped. “They’re beautiful!” She rushed up to hug his neck, even as she held the gift in her telekinetic grip. “Thank you.”
“They’re also useful,” Grif said as he plucked one of the pins out of the box. He tossed it towards a pillar, and it buried itself inside it. “Ritan,” Grif said. Instantly, the hairpin vanished from the pillar, and appeared in the box amongst the others.
“Does it call them back to the box, or back to me?” Rarity asked curiously.
“It returns to the last place it was stationary for more than two seconds,” Grif explained. “In this case, it would be your mane.”
“And what if I can’t say the word before the time limit is up?”
“Oh no, I should have spoken more clearly. After they’re thrown, they’ll wait for the command indefinitely.”
“Clever. Very clever,” Rarity said with a smile. Then she kissed the Gryphon on the cheek. “Thank you, Grif.” She closed the box, and laid it next to Hammer Strike. “So who next, then?” she asked. “The way these boxes are stacked, I get the feeling we’ll be at this all morning.”
“Agreed,” Hammer Strike replied.
The newly wed couple were presented with a matching pair of fine silver goblets studded with blood rubies from the Gryphon delegation, in the name of His Holiness, Emperor Daedalus the First, long may he fly.
“This next one is from me. Clover gave me some help designing the runes for the enchanting, but I was able to finish the job using my magic … mostly.” Vital chuckled nervously as his horn ignited, and a very familiar couch floated out from behind the pile. “We thought we’d add a few features, since you liked the spa so much. Now it has climate control settings. Just press the ruby or the sapphire that’s been embedded in the frame to make it warmer or colder for you to help soothe your muscles and ease tension. We also enchanted the cushions to give you a basic rubdown, should you need it. It’s not the same as Lotus and Aloe’s hooves, and definitely not the same as Bulk Biceps, but we hope you’ll enjoy it anyways. It seemed the best option, given how much you love to carry it with you.”
“Oh, Vital Spark.” Rarity wiped a tear from the edge of her eye, and sniffled. “It’s beautiful.”
Vital Spark blushed. “You can thank Clover, then. She’s the one who helped me with the research.”
“I will. Where is she, anyways?” Rarity asked as she looked about the clearing.
In the very very back, sitting at a small wooden table, Clover smiled as she took another slug of cider from her stein.
Vital chuckled. “She’s around here somewhere. Though it looks like Pensword wants to present next,” he said as he pointed behind the mare to where the commander stood in a newly pressed dress uniform. His mane had been carefully styled for the event, and shone brightly in the sunlight in contrast to his dark blue coat. Lunar Fang and Fox Feather flanked him with equally wide grins, and Moon River giggled atop Pensword’s back as the three young colts stood in the front with Day Moon in the center, and his brothers on either side.
Pensword smiled as Lunar Fang fetched two items from the pile: a long rectangular box covered in gift wrappings, and another smaller wooden box that had been painted an olive-green. He continued to smile as Rarity used her magic to open the larger of the two packages. “For any game nights you might have. I have a feeling you might just have the skill to beat Hammer Strike. Also, this is a limited first edition. Congratulations, Rarity. You are the proud owner of the very first copy of Equestrian Defense.”
The board game started by Matthew, Twilight, and Spike had finally been finished, and fully furnished with a map of the world, and a list of races ranging from Dragons to Ponies to Changelings, Minotaurs, and Kitsune. “Mind you, this special edition was used with some common metals owned by Lord Hammer Strike, so enjoy.”
“Oh, what a charming little game,” Rarity gushed. “I think I remember when Matthew first talked about this. What do you think, darling, should we try to play a round later?”
“Definitely,” Hammer Strike agreed as his usual neutral expression widened into a smile.
Pensword watched as Rarity lowered the gift, and shifted her attentions to the wooden box. She opened it with a curious expression that quickly grew confused when she pulled out a simple scroll. Curiosity soon turned to astonishment as she perused the contents, before gently lowering it to stare at the commander and his family. “Pensword, darling, I am grateful for the sentiment behind this, but shouldn’t you be holding a bid for this sort of thing?”
Pensword glowered. “Because of some items that landed on my desk this morning, I am exercising my right as Equestrian Commander to pick the designer for the dress uniforms. Let it be known that Lady Rarity shall be our top uniform design consultant for decades to come. Her clothing shall be known as not just the best garments for nobility, but also the best military uniforms in all of Equis,” Pensword announced with finality. “Anypony got a problem with that?” Several fashion designers and nobles shifted nervously in the background, but otherwise remained silent. “Congratulations, Lady Rarity. You now officially have the contracts for all branches of the military.” He smirked in satisfaction as he watched the faces of several nobles and fashionistas alike fall. Rarity held the contract high, revealing the seals of Pensword, Princess Luna, and that of the new Lunar Court’s militia.
The Minotaur delegation approached with a slow, deliberate pace. The guards and lead bull followed two steps behind the cow as she approached them. “Many wishes of good fortune and happiness to you on this day, my child.” She bowed her head to Rarity. “You have picked a very fine mate.”
“Thank you, Lady Shamaness. It is an honor to have one of the Priestesses of the great Earth Mother here to witness our union,” Rarity returned.
“Amongst my people, it is tradition that a gift be practical as well as valuable to a new couple,” the cow explained as she waved her free hand. Yellow mist emanated from her staff, and gathered into her hand, forming a dried gourd bottle. “The milk of a she-elephant after her first calving, mixed with honey and lotus blossoms. Drink a cup before going to bed, and it will help you conceive a healthy heir,” the cow said, smiling in a grandmotherly manner as she placed it before them.
“Oh my.” Rarity blushed at the thought, then giggled like an excited filly. “Thank you.”
The old cow gave her a wink, before turning and leaving, her husband turning only after she had passed him, then the guards.
Saphira stepped forward with Thorne and Fírnen. Her blue scales shimmered in the sunlight, even as her form and bulk caused the ground to shake beneath her feet. “Greetings, and well met, daughter of Faust.” She nodded her head in acknowledgement, though was careful not to let it be mistaken for a bow. “As you are doubtless aware, our species are a proud people.” A hint of a smirk pulled at the edges of her maw. “We are also incredibly stubborn. However, one of the greatest things our species admires and respects is strength and cunning, something your new mate has no small abundance of. We cannot offer a means to make you his equal in battle; however, we can offer you this,” she said as she motioned to her compatriots. Each trundled forward with a large chest held in one of their hands, before lowering them, and touching their snouts to the lids. With a single spark-filled exhalation of colored smoke, the catches on the chests came free, and the lids snapped open to reveal a veritable rainbow of hard, thick, radiant scales.
“These are a contribution from the eldest of our race. Your mate earned their respect long ago. Their inherent ties to the magic of this world has had long to strengthen and empower these scales. Knowing your unique gifts from Garble’s less than flattering accounts, we believed that these would serve you best, and help to guard you as you follow your mate into battle. Show your foes the strength and cunning that so easily snared the heart of Soul Fire,” she uttered the last name in her native tongue.
Rarity nodded her head gently in turn. “I thank you for this precious gift. They will be put to good use,” she promised.
“They had better,” Sapphira returned. With a curt jerk of her serpentine neck, she and her fellows retreated to join the crowd of delegates.
The block of Dwarves approached as one single unit, bearing between them a large chest lined with polished brass and platinum. A blue cobalt lock swung with every step. In a swift motion, they turned as one to face Hammer Strike and Rarity, and set the chest before them. When it was safely on the ground, the Dwarf with the longest beard walked forward and spoke.
“It is our life's honor that we should be allowed to come to the wedding of the Blue Lard, but ye’ll have ta forgive us, as we only got the news recently. We only had enough time to put together this wee bit of candy for you,” he said with an apologetic bow, before drawing an equally blue key from his beard, and unlocking the chest. “Long live the Blue Lard and the White Lady,” he called, opening the chest as his compatriots echoed his words. Light swam into the room as it shone through the facets of a chest filled to the brim with gemstones of all kinds.
“My eyes!” one Pony shrieked near the back of the square.
“We hope you will accept it with our best wishes, your honors.”
“This is quite nice. Thank you,” Hammer Strike replied.
Rarity’s eyes practically sparkled as she gazed on the gems. “Oh, my word. You gentlemen will have to show me the caves where you mine. Why, these gems are positively exquisite, some of the highest quality I’ve ever laid eyes on!”
The Dwarves looked to Hammer Strike, genuinely confused. “Highest quality she ever laid eyes on? These rocks?”
“The gemstones closer to the surface aren’t of the same quality as those down at the elevation of the Dwarven Capital,” Hammer Strike replied.
The Dwarves nodded, before turning and leaving. Several guards went to move the chest, and several more came to help them as they slowly managed to drag it to the side.
“I’ll have to take you to their capital someday,” Hammer Strike whispered to Rarity.
“I’d like that. After all, you seem to make friends in the most unlikely places, and I’d like to meet them all,” she purred seductively as she kissed him on the cheek.
The next delegation walked forward in silence, saying not a word as they hopped on their powerful legs. The Kangaroos had a simple bag they had borrowed from the castle. Inside it, a hand-carved sample of every instrument from their culture, including the rain stick and the didgeridoo, which were then laid out for the couple to see. Each had been brightly colored with designs and images that bespoke their culture and their land. With the gifts given, the two roos that had presented bowed, performed an about face, and hopped back into the collective of delegates.
Fancy Pants stepped forward next. “The Solar Court feels that, as you are a house, and yet don’t have a home here in Canterlot, well, as you know, some of our … fellow nobles have recently lost or had to sell some assets. That is why we of the Solar Courts have chosen to pool our assets to gift you the manor next to the home the Bladefeathers purchased, so that you may always be close either in New Unity or the capital. May it be a happy home to you and yours for generations to come.” He cleared his throat, and smiled as he leaned in to whisper in Hammer Strike’s ear. “Fleur and I have a little something extra, a house warming gift, if you will. I believe the game is called darts, if memory serves. Also, the manor on the other side of the Bladefeather house is empty. Word is the Bluebloods might be looking to purchase the property.”
Fancy Pants levitated the package, along with the card that held the title deed for the new estate. When said dart game had been opened, the face of Baron Blueblood stared in absolute horror and outrage. “My compliments on the excellent work you performed during your bachelor party. I simply had to immortalize the occasion, and, well, I must say, it’s some of your best handiwork.” He smirked, and winked. “The painting is completely indestructible, and has a repair spell enchanted to preserve its lifespan. The runes may need recharging from time to time, but so long as you keep up the proper maintenance, this board will stay with you forever.”
Hammer Strike’s smile grew faintly. “Thank you, Fancy Pants. This’ll be put to good use.”
Flurry Fang walked forward, dressed with a metal band that had been carefully forged and engraved by Luna’s hooves as a symbol of his station wrapped around his head. He flared his wings in a greeting to Rarity and Hammer Strike. “I bring the blessings of the Lunar Court, and come as the representative for the gifts which we, as a people, wish to present. For Lord Hammer Strike, let it be known that the Lunar Court shall honor your wishes, and we shall only call thee Hammer Strike when we speak.” He ignored the gasps of horror from the Solar Court with natural aplomb.
“That works,” Hammer Strike nodded.
“We are glad this gift has pleased you, Hammer Strike.” Flurry Fang smiled gently as he turned to Lady Rarity. “During the war that brought Thestrals and Pegasi together as brothers, the war that brought us into the moonlight without fear for the first time in centuries, we found great joy and great hope. To us, it is known as the Revelation War. Equestria knows it as the Third Gryphon War. In honor of your courage as the first Unicorn noble to hear and accept our titles, we present you with a cloak made from the left paw of an ursa major, and to Hammer Strike, one made from the right paw of the ursa major. Let it be known that as the paws were its power, so, too, have you become a paw to our High Chieftess, Rarity. As Hammer Strike was her right paw during the true unification war. Just as the Ursa cannot travel without both the left and right paws, so, too must a marriage require function and unity, two parts working to move the whole forward. May it always be that the left knows what the right is doing, that they may travel well, and attack with dexterity and strength.”
As Flurry Fang retreated, the Crystal Pony guards marched neatly up the aisle in two parallel lines, each dressed in polished armor, and carrying a banner as a familiar yellow-and-blue Pegasus led them. Upon reaching the front, he cleared his throat, and called, “Presenting Queen Mi Amore Cadenza, Prince Consort Shining Armor, Prince Bellacosa, and Princess Alto!” Flash Sentry had announced with all the pomp that was normally expected, but it seemed this time had been filled with a little more enthusiasm than was strictly necessary.
“Congratulations, you two,” Cadence said as she gave a short bow. “It’s great to see you together at last.” She chuckled as she winked mischievously at the pair. “I was half tempted to authorize a love potion, just to get you two to move things forward.”
Rarity winced. “Fortunately, that … wasn’t necessary.” She still remembered the fiasco that had happened between Big Mac and Miss Cheerilee. Young Sweetie had been grounded for a week, after that little incident.
“Oh, relax, Rarity. I was only joking. Besides, I’m the Alicorn of love. I don’t need a potion to help get things moving in the right direction.”
“Hey, Hammer Strike!” Cosy and Alto chorused together.
“Congratulations on the wedding. We wanted to make something special, so Alto and I put our heads together with Comic to make you this!” Cosy said.
The two levitated a small box that had been engraved with the symbol of the Crystal Empire's national treasure and a silhouette of Rarity’s gems surrounding Hammer Strike’s crest, which Hammer Strike rested carefully on one of his hooves.
“Go on. Open it!” Alto said excitedly.
Hammer Strike opened the box to reveal two metal bands surrounding a layer of clear crystal. As the smith took a closer look at one of the bands, he could just make out the tiniest hints of the spell circuitry involved in the artifact’s construction.
“One for you, and one for Rarity,” Alto said. “I helped forge the metal, and Cosy helped carve the crystal with Comic’s help.”
“They’re like my band, only Comic said he wanted to update them somehow. We didn’t really get all the techno mumbo jumbo,” Cosy said as he rubbed the back of his head. “Go ahead, put them on,” he encouraged.
Hammer Strike held the box over for Rarity to take one, then slipped his own on his hoof. When Rarity had done the same, the two bands flashed, and the crystal shifted, taking on a blue color to match Rarity’s magic in her case, and a veritable kaleidoscope in Hammer Strike’s as the rainbow continued to morph and change, sparkling all the while in a slow and steady pulse of patterns.
“That’s … not supposed to happen,” Shining Armor noted as he stepped forward somewhat awkwardly. “Oh, and Comic sends his regards. He said he wanted to wish you a … psychedelic wedding. I … suppose the band is supposed to be what he meant?” He shook his head, disrupting his mane to focus on the pair. “Anyways, the bands are just part of the gift.” He smiled as he motioned with a hoof towards the crystal guards. The crowds parted as a large box decorated with all manner of constellations and celestial bodies was carried in with the help of a good twelve Ponies. They dropped the box carefully, before stepping back. With a flash from his horn, Shining dissolved the box to reveal a giant Pony sculpture. Its expression and features were blank, and it had neither armor nor weapon, but it was clear from what Grif and Pensword had described what this statue likely was.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Alto grinned with a knowing look. “What do you think it is?”
“A remake of those golems from earlier this year. Albeit with their differences, and potential upgrades?”
“That will depend on the two of you,” Cadence said with a smile, “but yes. It’s been programmed and updated with new innovations Comic was able to create after a careful examination of the original prototypes.”
“Oh … I’m going to run this thing through so many trials,” Hammer Strike purred. More than one Pony was a little unnerved by just how much excitement their normally neutral lord was putting out.
“Not until after we’ve had ours, darling,” Rarity said with a smirk, and a kiss.
Pensword looked over to Grif. “I’m suddenly very, very worried. I would be terrified if Hammer Strike pulled a Twilight and bounded around the golem yelling yes over and over again.”
“Never going to happen,” Vital said. “Hammer Strike’s too serious for that. If he ever started acting that way, we’d all know something’s wrong for sure.”
“Either way, it might be best if you order it to wait somewhere out of sight, Rarity. It seems like a bit of a distraction,” Grif said with a smirk directed towards Hammer Strike.
“Why, I don’t even know how to command it,” Rarity objected. “And besides, I trust my Strikey Wikey to restrain himself till after we’re done here. After all, he and I still have a honeymoon to go through,” she said as she flashed him with her big eyes and long eyelashes.
“Indeed.” Hammer Strike smiled at the thought.
“It’s been modified from Cosy’s,” Shining explained. “Either of you will be able to command it as you see fit, and it’s capable of taking on a variety of templates according to your preferences. It will take time to get it up to its full capacity, though,” he noted, “but we gave it a bit of a boost with some help from the crystal heart.”
“That will make one heck of a gargoyle,” Grif laughed.
“I thought gargoyles were normally bipedal with wings and fangs and claws and the like,” Vital said as he cocked his head confusedly.
“It’s a giant statue that comes to life to attack or defend when ordered,” Grif said, rolling his eyes.
“Yes, most often portrayed in the shape I described previously,” Vital countered.
“I was describing the golem,” Grif said with a mischievous smirk.
Vital facehoofed. “You really need to clarify more with me, Grif. Seriously, the way you phrased that sentence clearly implied you were talking about gargoyles, as you did just a few sentences earlier.”
“And yet I was comparing the statue to a gargoyle in those sentences, so your inability to understand my meaning is your fault.”
“And yet your troll face clearly indicates you’re just trying to get a rise out of me. Seriously, Grif, after all this time working with Clover, did you really think I was going to be such an easy target? … Don’t answer that.”
“You’re learning.” Grif chuckled. “So whats next?”
“Judging by the progress with everything here, I’m guessing a few smaller gifts from various entities in the court, maybe something big from the princesses, then round it out with a massive gift that comes with a big showy musical number.”
Rarity found a rather poorly wrapped box with a messily painted CMC logo on top. Hammer Strike chose to open it, just in case, and the two were pleasantly surprised to find a stack of ten plates that had been carefully painted by each member of the CMC, showing an event or memory they each remembered and liked about the couple.
Applejack gave Rarity and Hammer Strike their own hats to decorate as they saw fit, a blank canvas for the new step they were taking in their lives together.
Rainbow Dash gave Hammer Strike a giant mason jar filled with liquid rainbow. “Thought you’d like something that might actually give you a challenge with your food,” she said with a wink. “This stuff even made Pinkie go crazy. Well, crazier than usual.”
Twilight levitated a book-shaped package, which Rarity opened with a kindly smile, before gasping in surprise as the cover parted to reveal the name of the famous Okrah Whinniefrey’s grinning face winking from an altar. As was the case with many of her products, this one focused on bettering one’s life through careful steps. In this case, the book focused on tips to help maintain a strong foundation for a lasting marriage, including a detailed, laid-out plan. In other words, this present was Twilight to a T. Not only had she managed to get ahold of the copy, but Twilight had gone above and beyond the call of duty by getting this first edition signed by the poofy-maned mare with the style and flare herself.
“Aww, thank you, Twilight,” Rarity gushed as she hugged her friend. “It’s so thoughtful!”
“Glad you liked it, Rarity,” Twilight said as she returned the embrace, and added her wings to it.
Fluttershy smiled as she snuck into the group, and nervously hoofed over a box wrapped with simple brown wrapping paper and a tiny blue bow. “I ... I hope you like it,” she whispered.
“Fluttershy, you know I’d like anything that comes from you,” Rarity said as she hugged the blushing Pegasus, before undoing the package to reveal an ornately decorated teaset. Each cup and saucer within had been carefully painted to represent one of the faces of the six friends with the accompanying pot, sugar, cream, and other containers fashioned to look like Hammer Strike, Grif, Pensword, Lunar Fang, and Vital Spark respectively. She gasped. “Why, Fluttershy, I don’t know what to say. It’s … it’s perfect!” Rarity smiled as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.
“It’s quite lovely,” Hammer Strike replied with a smile.
“Me next! Me next!” Pinkie cried excitedly as she placed a small handmade booklet in front of the couple.
Hammer Strike picked up the item in question, and opened it up, revealing a number of coupons for free hours of “Pinkie Silence.” He chuckled at the gift, before giving her a smile. “Thank you, Pinkie, but I have doubts as to how much we’d want to use this.”
“Never say never,” Pinkie giggled, and then proceeded to leave out the side of Hammer Strike’s vision. Quite literally, as soon as she left his field of vision, she vanished from the crowd.
“She’s getting stranger,” Pensword whispered to Grif as he shuddered.
“She’s Pinkie.” Grif shrugged. There wasn’t really much more to say on the matter.
After much time spent opening gifts, the sultan stepped forward with the two mares. His long white beard and mane shook in the wind, and he chuckled to himself. “To the Djinn of Fire, and his radiant bride.” He bowed. “My wife, my daughter, and I thank you for the invitation, and the opportunity to share in the joy of your union.” His eye twinkled with a suppressed mirth as he motioned to either side of him, where the two mares bowed in similar manner. The younger mare had a dark blue coat with a black mane and starry eyes that shone like sapphires. Her mother bore similar traits, though her eyes were a deep brown. The only other trait the princess shared with her sire lay in the star-shaped white mark on her forehead, which matched her father’s pure white coat.
“We have already given a valued treasure to the Djinn, but on this day, we thought it appropriate to grant something that would not bore him so much,” the sultana declared.
“So we brought a friend along to provide some … entertainment,” the princess finished as she produced what appeared to be a simple brass oil lamp. “His jokes are … difficult to understand, but he means well, and his musical talents are second to none.”
“Grif … are they about to do what I think they’re about to do?” Vital whispered as his eyes widened at the glint of the metal.
“If he sounds like Robin Williams, I’m out,” Grif said.
The lamp was rubbed, the sparks flew, smoke rose, and the form of the genie coalesced in the form of a bright blue pony with a smoky lower end. It groaned and stretched as its ethereal mane swayed back and forth in the air, as though suspended by water. He took a moment to take in his surroundings, then gasped when he saw the wedded couple. “You brought me to a wedding, and you didn’t even tell me? I’m not even in my best suit! Oh, what’s a guy to wear?” He poofed up next to Rarity, and a clothes rack suddenly appeared with nigh-identical tuxedos built specifically for the blue spirit. “Blue, turquoise, aquamarine, azure, sapphire, or ocean?”
“Well, if you want a fashionista’s opinion, darling, I’d go with the azure. It brings out the color in your eyes.”
The genie squeed. “Oh, honey, the things we could talk about,” he sassed as a wig poofed onto his head, and he waved a hoof back and forth coquettishly, before poofing back into proper wedding attire. “But seriously, movie tropes and stereotypes aside, what did you need me here for, anyways, Al?” he asked as he rounded on the Sultan.
“I told you not to call me that in public, Genie,” the sultan said as he winced.
“But it’s so adorable when you blush,” Genie said with a smirk. “And besides, if I’m going to be bound in eternal servitude, I might as well have some fun while I’m at it. Just be glad I like you. Your great grandfather got so much worse.”
The sultan’s daughter cleared her throat.
“Yes, Scheherazade?” the Genie asked. “I’m all ears.” Even as he said that, his ears inflated to ten times their size as they swiveled effortlessly in the air, before returning to normal again.
“Genie, this is Lord Hammer Strike,” she said as she pointed over to the groom. “The Djinn of Fire. We were wondering if you would be willing to grace him with your unique talents and showmanship as an offering on his wedding day.”
“The Djinn of Fire? Really?” Genie poofed up in front of Hammer Strike, and began to scrutinize the Pony. “I thought you’d be bigger,” he hummed to himself. Then he crinkled his nose. “You reek of aether, though. There aren’t many I know that’ve been pulled through time and space like that,” he mused. “However, before I choose whether to entertain you properly, I must be sure. A test, to prove you are who you say you are.”
With a snap of his fingers, a board covered in blue screens appeared, and Hammer Strike suddenly found himself standing behind a contestant’s booth flanked on either side by an exact copy of the blue Genie.
“...What?” Hammer Strike questioned.
“Who’s ready for a final round of Jeopardy?”
A studio audience appeared made up entirely of blue Genie replicas as they began clapping, cheering, hooting, hollering, and whistling. The Genie raised his hooves, and his clones calmed down, before he turned to face the “contestants.”
“The real Djinn of Fire earned his title from the sultan, after defeating an entity entirely made up of sand by using what substance? The clock is ticking, folks. Your time begins now.” A familiar song began to play over the the air as the light somehow faded around them to lend a tone of seriousness to the event. When the song finally ended, Hammer Strike rolled his eyes as the answers were brought up on the screen. The two clones had each written the obvious answer: What is fire?
“Oh, I’m so sorry, you two. While the answer was partially correct, you can’t win a match with half a racket. Let’s take a look at what Hammer Strike wrote, shall we?”
The final answer came up on the board, and Hammer Strike shrugged as he said what he’d written aloud. “What is … thaumic fire,” he answered simply, even as he rolled his eyes.
A series of bells and whistles went off as confetti rained down from above. “That is correct! Congratulations, Hammer Strike. Tell him what he’s won, Genie!”
“With pleasure, Genie,” another copy of the Genie said in a deeper voice as he held his tail like a microphone. A plaid jacket adorned his upper body to add to the overall impression of announcer. “He’s won an all expenses paid over the top musical number to round out his festivities as the couple parades through town, and back to the castle, where festivities and a final chariot back to their abode in New Unity await!”
“Thanks, Genie. Now, in the immortal words of a mischievous pink creature that’s neither Pony nor Spirit, let’s get this party started!”
With a great flash of light and a swirl of smoke that consumed the square, the sound of drums and trumpets began to sound through the air as, suddenly, the guests, bride, and groom found themselves being borne on litters while a smirking Genie began to dance around and sing to the music. Ponies were conjured out of thin air to join in, and encouraged bystanders to do the same.
Make way for the mighty,
Hammer Strike, so exciting!
Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar
Hey you!
Let us through!
It's a bright new star!
Oh Come!
Be the first on your block to meet his eye!
Make way!
Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy!
It is he, Hammer Strike, the lord in Equestria!
Genuflect, show some respect,
Down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your sunday salaam
Just stay away from his coat or be sorry!
Yes, it’s he,
Hammer Strike, the
Lord in Equestria.
Strong as ten-thousand stallions, definitely!
He faced the great Gryphon hordes,
their spears and maces and swords.
Who sent those goons to their gods?
Why, Hammer Strike!
All the wealth that he owns runs in channels
And he gives it away just for free
When it comes to exotic animals
Has he got a zoo?
I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie
Yes, it’s he,
Hammer Strike, the
lord in Equestria.
So unique! Tres magnifique!
Lord of Everfree!
Well, get on out in that square
His enemies best prepare
To give lip service, then glare maliciously.
He's got favor from Princess Celestia
(Aw, look at her blush.)
Princess Luna just can’t disagree.
(That’s right, princess, wave to the crowd!)
He's got troops, servants, spies, mercenaries.
(Proud to work for him)
They bow to his whim, love serving him,
They're just lousing with loyalty to he! Yes, to he!
As you can see
Awesome is he, so easy to best ya.
Hard as stone, till he found one true Rarity.
And that, good people, is why the two got hitched and dropped by,
With three fainting Ponies, gifts and guests galore
With his phoenix, scorpions,
and big manticore
With this new life he’s chosen, he’s not beholden.
Who knows what the future will bring?
Make Way! For Strike and Rarity!
Hammer Strike remained completely impassive as he took in the sudden change in scenery while the Genie pulled out all the stops. “Well, that’s half the special effects budget gone in one fell swoop.” He chuckled as Rarity kissed him.
“I love you, Hammer Strike.”
“I love you, too, Rarity.”
Pensword and Grif followed Hammer Strike as Celestia and Luna led them towards another of the smaller ballrooms. “Now, teacher,” Luna started, “I know you don’t like the stuff, and, frankly, with the amounts stored here you could open a fine restaurant and not want for decades, but the delegates insisted all the same.” She sighed as she opened a door to the ballroom. The curtains had been shut to prevent any light from shining into the room, while the steady hum as they passed the threshold indicated the charms maintaining the suddenly cooler temperature.
Barrel upon barrel had been stacked in racks from the floor to halfway up the walls, and wrapped from the left of the double doors all around the room’s outer wall, then back to the right side of said double doors. But that was only the beginning of the show. Several tables had been lined up in the middle of the room with row upon row of bottles containing all manner of alcohol ranging from whisky to vodka, scotch, and even a few bottles of sake, each with varying years, vintages, and fanciful labels to indicate their value. Then, next to the tables, two positively gargantuan racks towered above them, with each shelf filled to the brim with colored glass holding various types of wine ranging from white to red to champagne.
“That’s … a lot of alcohol,” Hammer Strike stammered, unable to think of anything clever to say.
“That. . .” Pensword gaped. “What do we do?”
Hammer Strike shrugged. “Drink, and hope the dwarves didn’t bring their best.”
Pensword nodded. “I doubt that hope will come true. They most likely gave their best, and then some.”
“But it is a nice thought,” Hammer Strike noted. “Good thing I burn off most forms of alcohol almost instantaneously.”
“There’s enough here to blitz out an entire frat house,” Grif noted in Draconic. “Hell, there’s enough there to blitz out every frat house.”
“And then some,” Hammer Strike added. “I … think we have a space in New Unity that can store all of this?”
“Knowing the Dwarves, it will be when you get back,” Pensword muttered. “Actually … could it blitz the Demos?” he asked as his ears perked upwards, and the beginnings of a cunning glint shone in his eyes.
Hammer Strike shook his head. “I don’t want to kill them. Plus, this’ll be saved for both special occasions and when I feel like trying to forget something, which will likely fail spectacularly, but it’s the thought that counts.”
Celestia looked at the gathering. “I wouldn’t be opposed to spending some time testing our limits with you.” She smiled. “Frankly, I never did see how much I could handle either.”
Luna snorted. “Thou art a lightweight, but it would be fun to see how thou acts with this tonic in thy belly.”
Celestia chuckled, and her expression suddenly grew very dark. “Oh, it is on, Sister.”
“So, my little whisper in the night, do you understand what I’m asking of you?” Baron Blueblood’s voice was cool and collected, effectively hiding the embarrassment he faced with having to acknowledge one of his own ancestor’s embarrassments. He looked upon the pony before him, his … spawn, and the filly who had claimed his dear wife’s life. He loathed her with every fiber of his being, but right now she was a liability which could be turned into an asset. He leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his scotch.
The night sky-coated filly nodded her head, a fang-filled grin on her face as her tufted ears flicked back and forth, while the maids dressed her in a fancy dress that only a month ago she had been in charge of keeping clean. “Yes, Papa.” She moved her leathery wings. “Those fools might have forced your hoof, but after seeing me, how can they deny what a good influence you are on the children of the night?” Her blood red eyes narrowed in a happy squint. Her Grey mane and tail had been groomed to perfection. “Do you want me to find out what happened to any of our misguided brothers and sisters being raised by those … ruffians?”
“No, my dear. Those ruffians, as you put it, have a fortress, and the princesses’ ears. They have caught me off guard too numerously of late with ... unexpected action. I need my own pieces in this game, and you, my dear daughter, will be a key player. You will go to them with a well-practiced sob story. It will be up to you to use your divine acting skills to make them think you are in danger. Considering the record our family has had in previous generations, there will be little room for doubt or skepticism; however, I will expect you to be prepared to address such things all the same, should the need arise. Be prepared. Once they have accepted you, you will be my eyes and ears in New Unity,” he explained.
Internally, he didn’t understand why the servants hadn’t already explained it to the little monster. He’d have to find out who had been coddling her, but first, the mask. After all, much though he hated to admit it, she did have talent, and those acting skills didn’t come from just anywhere. He shifted his features into a perfectly crafted smile, just tained at the corners with a hint of sadness. “In short, my child, you must become my spy. It will be a dangerous task. Should you be found out, I cannot guarantee what they might do to you.”
She smiled joyfully as she flared her wings, and bowed her head in the manner of the Solar court, then did so again in the manner of the Thestrals. “Forgive me the impertinence, my lord. I wanted to hear my papa give the order personally. As you have said so many times before, your staff and fellow nobles are not always trustworthy. Better to hear the full mission from your lips than risk the jealousy of another spoiling the charade. After all, some might have even gone so far as try to remove my stain upon yours and Mama’s bloodline, rather than allow me to further the goals of House Blueblood.”
Blueblood gaped at the foal. Intelligent and a competent actress. Were it not for the unfortunate nature of her species, he might have named her heir, rather than that good-for-nothing boy of his. Still, positive traits aside, the girl deserved no sympathy. She was a means to an end, as all her kind were meant to be. She would never have a place in his heart. She would never replace her mother. It would never replace its mother.
“I will think of some great story that should get me into the walls of the Fortress itself, and not the homes being built outside the inner wall.”
“And when you come home, my dear, you will, of course, receive your own crest to wear proudly, as promised. You will be openly acknowledged for all to see and admire for your service.” He smiled kindly, even as he struggled to hold back his revulsion. As if he would let that filthy creature sully his family crest in such a way. No, when its usefulness had run its course, he would see to its disappearance.
“Thank you Father. And with that crest safely secured, I will remove myself from your home and live in the Night woods, as Princess Luna has forced you to do.”
She seemed almost to spit at the thought. Loyalty, too. A pity to lose such a winning combination, but dogs were loyal too, and he couldn’t risk this dog going rabid.
“Do you have all you need?” Blueblood asked her. “Have you been educated in what you might need to know?”
“I know bits about Thestral knowledge. I can bow correctly, I know the political standings in their nobility, and that I might have to dirty my hooves to get what you want. I know I’ll even have to–” she scrunched her face in distaste “–wield a blade or bow. But I feel ready. It unfortunate that I will have to allow myself the indignity of becoming semi-corrupted to help you, Papa.”
Blueblood nodded as he lifted a dagger from its place on a pillow that would be burned shortly after this conversation completed itself. The blade had been carved from the finest ebony, and the handle had been wrapped with blue leather. A matching sheath soon followed, held together by old, but powerful looking leather cords. He struggled not to shudder. “Take this. It was passed down from a time many centuries ago. It is one of the families … less honorable heirlooms, but it should gain you some respect to carry it. We’ve only kept it, because it dates to the founding of our noble house. Such things, much like a third spouse, can’t be given up so easily, you know,” he chuckled.
“Of course, Papa. Do you want it back when I return?” She asked as he allowed the maids to place the dagger on a belt, and then tie it around her waist.
“I don’t care. It’s a mere trinket. Keep it, if you like. Get rid of it, if you want. But, for now, it is a resource, and we must never waste resources, my child.” His eyes lock on her with carefully calculated kindness mixed with the false air of wisdom. “One never knows when their value may shine through.”
As he had hoped, the manipulation had the desired effect. The revolting little creature smiled, and a hope he’d seen so often on the mongrels that begged for scraps in the streets now shone in this thing’s eyes. “Thank you, Papa. I think I will keep it. It was never my desire to take anything from the estate, but any gift from you is precious. And as you said, who knows when its value might shine through. At the very least, should I fail, House Blueblood could try again in another few generations.”
Ah, there it was, that ruthless nature her kind were so well known for in battle. He’d wondered when it might surface. “Very well,” he said as he cleared his throat. “You know what I need you to do. Go with my blessing, Night Terror Blueblood, second born of my house, third of her name.” He gave her a cunning grin. “Go, and show our foes what softheartedness brings”
“Of course, Papa. I will bring this to them, but first, I must show our support of this union. I’ll make sure to request a meeting with the commander. From what I’ve been able to glean of the gossip from his servants, he has a soft spot for Thestrals of mixed blood. It will most likely be the easiest way in.” She rubbed her hooves together as a chilling smirk crossed over her face that put chills down Blueblood’s spine. “I can hardly wait.”
“So… Grif, who is going to bring these gift back? Should we call the Giant? I doubt we would be able to ship all the gifts back by rail. It would take too long,” Pensword said as he sat down at a small table a few days later to share a meal with his old friend.
“Send them back with the Rohirrim. I’ve had the older members carrying large bags of rocks during morning jog for the last week. This should be nothing for them,” Grif chuckled.
“Right. You have a good point there. I’ll have the Demon Slayers help also. Fox Division should at least help with the lighter stuff, but I still think the Giant will be necessary for all that drink left over from last night. By the moon’s light, Celestia and Luna both drank themselves to sleep, and there was still plenty to go round.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Still, I hope Hammer Strike enjoys his honeymoon with all that alcohol.” He trailed off as he caught sight of another Pony entering the room, then looked to Grif. “So you think he’s going to do it now? This is his last chance here. Wish Vital was here.”
“Give him a minute to psyche himself out. It took you months to make the move,” Grif laughed. Pensword chuckled, but said nothing more as he let Button Mash do whatever it was he was planning.
Meanwhile, Button Mash continued his trot, completely oblivious to the two warriors’ casual observation, and hastily hoofed over a box that had been wrapped messily in gift paper. He blushed heavily as he looked off to the side. “I ... I thought you might like this.” He was somewhat comical in his appearance, since he still hadn’t gotten rid of the chestpiece from the wedding ceremony, though his normal propellor beanie was once more upon his head, where it belonged.
“A present? For me?” Sweetie Belle asked, surprised.
“Uhuh,” Button muttered. “I ... I hope you like it.” He brushed a hoof nervously down his mane as Sweetie Belle undid the wrapping, and opened the lid on the box to reveal the pendant in all its glory. She gasped as she took in the sight.
“Oh, Button Mash, it’s so pretty,” she beamed. “It looks just like something my sis’d wear to the Gala.” Without so much as a word of warning, she rushed in, and hugged the colt. “Thank you so much. Now I won’t have to bother Rarity for jewelry when I’m playing dressup.”
Button Mash was speechless. He gulped as he finally noticed Grif and Pensword mouthing to each other. It took the young foal a few moments to get through the shock, before he slowly and awkwardly returned the hug. Unbeknownst to him, the propellor on his beany had begun to spin as the flush in his cheeks deepened.
“Shipping accomplished,” Grif said as he leaned back in his chair, and folded his arms.
“So it would seem,” Pensword agreed with a wry smile. “So it would seem.”
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Once again, another outstanding chapter!
(A possible future scene?). Pensword: Baron, if it wasn't for Thestrals, there would not even BE a House Blueblood. Your ENTIRE line is the result of a unicorn stallion and a thestral mare. Of all the noble houses, Blueblood should be the one most accepting the return of Thestrals into Equestrian society. Instead, YOU are the one who is trying the hardest to destroy us. As Commander of the Equestrian military, I hereby charge you with willfully committing and aiding in treasonous acts against Equestria and her allies.
an the plot thikenes
Well, I finally found what I think I could offer as a worthwile wedding present for Hammerstrike and Rarity.
A simple looking rectangle of silvery plain thin material, the size of of a small book, with plain black text.
We Deliver
Touch
[#]
Here
Voucher for One(O(1)) Delivery.
Lets see who picks it up.
Vital finally gets heavy assistnace with his cryophoenix, in such a way that the sub deific retcon not only lets the phoenix egg respond to Vital in the first place, but gives Discord a case of the Blue Flu when he got it previously?
Grifs present, very nice, given compressed carbon is diamond and crosslinked carbon is nanotube, a collection of hatpin knitting needle harpoon missiles with manually triggered auto return. That is going to lead to so many intresting future or even past strategies.
Penswords gift of what can end up being the best selling board game in the world, hopefully with at least semi regular expansion packs as new realms, and new civilisations are discovered. And then Rarity gets to go all out with all the various forms and acoutrements in design, hopefully given how good she is at form and fuunction of style, she will make a very specialist collection of function of abilities personel to help with the more, arcane, parts of the uniforms creations?
Given how fast the usual couch moves, has Vital managed to get The Couch to travel in style, have racks for the hatpins, and even come with a thermally controlled cup holder or even the complete teas maid, courtesy of MeMe?
I suspect the Minotaurs have some very happy elephants staying over.
The Dragons gift really announces to anyone actually listening that Hammerstrike has been in the deep past, and given its the eldest, quite possibly he is the reason the dragons survived, or even existed in the first place, depending on Rarities harem preferences and chaotic setup?
The Dwarves work in areas where world conditions lead to the normal formation of mineral depositions of high purity and great size over long periods of time, which in geodes cna lead to creation of strange new gems and minerals that cant form without lots of complex and exhaustive effort at the surface? Wonder if they have in their vault any Dreaming Stones from Ulru Ujurr. Pinkie would really get on with Maybeso.
Fancy Pants managed to get hold of the rights to not only Toilet Blueblood mansion but also third party by association only blueblood mansion due to how effiicient Vital was for the stag do?
From Cadence and Shining Armor. Highly complex command bracelets linked to a polymorphic non organic semisentient magic dense guardian form created, coded and initialised by a crystal bound soul form? I can see how Hammerstrike can be looking forward to so much fun, especially if one of the templates is, or can be created as Nack or various equivalents, and certain enhancements taken from the MoonSeed research line can be considered over time. Maybe even a bit of Pushing Icedeep time and far tech consideration.
Aww, how nice of the CMC. Rarity and Hammerstrike finally got Round Tuits.
Fluttershys gift of a tea set is because her personal version is so adorable noe she just couldnt part with it. And singing herbal suffuse pouches aint everyones cup of tea?
Pinkies vouchers for peace and quiet only aimed at her, or for any situation theyre called upon. Apart from that. I dont lead, I follow. With assistance. As such. thank you for the idea at all Pinkie.
If youre going to have Genie throw a parade, get Genie. As for Lets Get This Party Started, lets see who can work out which Star Trek reference Im using, or which others turn up. Yaay, Monkeys.
So much Booze. Going to have to scale it according to concentrationa nd other effects so that mortals find what theyre looking for loong before reaching the Dwarves, Immortals,a nd Hammerstrikes personal stashes at the back. At least a lot of entities are going to be happy for a decent length of time.
Teh Baron is really looking to have a bad weekend ther, starting with Saturday, but just how wel has his daughter been trained and treated, as in is she going to be a backstabbing double dealer and throw him on Rarities distinct lack of Mercy just as soon as she walks into New Unity, given Penswords Ghost squad and Grifs Black Clerks have a good chance of seeing right through her pretense, never mind Applejack? Or even Sunset can read it right out of her mind, voluntarily, which is why she wanted it right from the Barons mouth, while giivng a perfectly valid reason for him to speak?
Button finally gave Sweetie a pendant? Looks like Vinyl will have to put in an offer for greatly improoving, upgrading the Gants sound system but depends how much Hammerstrike would consider it unless he wants it Carved In Stone.
If theres going to be shipping, lets celebrate, with some Durandana Ice.
I always comback for the new chapters, always a good read
Oh and the genie added in was so awesome, now you just need to ship the reat of the mane 6. The great and powerful Trixie will now be known as the great and fertile Trixie, bearer of Vital's foals.
Blueblood Senior may find out that he has just launched a torpedo that will curve around and hit his own vessel... he even notes that she's a good actress. What makes you think she's loyal to -you-, y'old fraud?
8292942
Glad I'm not the only one banking on this outcome.
8289178
Yes, yes it is.
8297360
lol now i just notised why you had that halo refrens cause it's episode 117 OMG how did i miss that? and you guys keep strong
oh now where have i heard that *Cough* Miles *Cough*
Anyway nice chapter need more
Halo 3 reference.