The Six Million Bit Stallion

by tony1695

Chapter 2

Three days had passed since Nimbus Strike had been ‘discharged’ from the hospital. He was still in the process of adapting to his new body. So far he had broken three doors, five windows, a mess hall bench and was now barred access to the guards’ gym. He hadn’t meant to send that sandbag through a wall. He didn’t even know he was capable of that. As a pegasus, his wings had been simpler to become accustomed to. He had already smashed the guard record around Canterlot by ten seconds, surprising everypony. The commander had refused to put his time down though, stating that it would be unfair to the others, given Nimbus’ unique position. He couldn’t help but agree, though he was still a little upset that the time wasn’t listed.

Nimbus shifted uneasily. It was close to three in the morning, Princess Luna had called him for a private audience, and his mind was abuzz with the possible reasons. He took a deep breath before knocking on her door.

“Enter.” The soft voice of the lunar goddess drifted through the door, and the bionic pegasus stepped in as it swung open of it’s own accord. He looked at the princess, who was lying on her bed, reading something by the light of a single lantern.

“Your highness?” Nimbus asked timidly.

“Please, Nimbus, drop the formalities. I got sick of being constantly referred to as ‘princess’ or ‘your highness’ two weeks after my return.” Princess Luna looked up from the scroll she was reading, one eyebrow raised as she gazed at Nimbus over her glasses.

“Of course, your high - Luna.” It felt really strange referring to a member of royalty by their name instead of their title.

Luna smiled warmly as she set the scroll down. “Now then, as for why I called you. You remember how I said that some situations can only be solved through intimidation or force?”

“Has something of the sort happened?” Nimbus asked.

“Well, of course,” a third, bored, female voice said from the shadows. “Why else would she have called you?”

Nimbus had jumped at the voice and now he was looking around trying to find its owner. “Where are you?” he asked.

“Really? He doesn’t know that eye of his can detect heat signatures?” There was a sigh and the sound of hooves on the marble floor as the voice’s owner stepped into the light of the solitary lantern. “Didn’t Cog tell you what you’re fully capable of?”

Nimbus regarded the unicorn mare as best he could. Because of her dark coat and deep purple mane, he found her features regularly slipping into the darkness. On the other hoof her cutie mark, a stylized white eye with a black border, stood out vividly. “No, he didn’t get a chance,” the pegasus answered carefully.

“Or he just couldn’t be bothered and decided to push the responsibility onto somepony else.” The mare rolled her eyes, a brilliant red that stood out in the darkness. “And now it’s up to me.”

“Nimbus Strike, this is Shadow Figment. She is currently researching various illusionary magics.” Shadow Figment nodded, simply acknowledging the moon goddess’ statement. “She is here to assist you.”

“Assist me?”

“Seeing Cog couldn’t come through with the stockings to hide your bionic legs, and he can’t figure out how to disguise your wings anyway, it’s up to me.” Her horn, which looked to Nimbus as though it had been sharpened to a point, began to glow. “Stay still.”

Within a matter of seconds, all three of Nimbus’ bionic legs appeared to be covered in the same white coat that the rest of his body was. His wings were feathered again, and when he unfurled them they seemed just as natural as before the explosion. As he began to hover, all he said was “Wow.”

“That’s all you have to say? Really? Not even a thanks?” Figment let out a groan. “I don’t even know why I agreed to this...” she muttered.

Luna decided to ignore her. “You look splendid, Nimbus.”

Nimbus found himself blushing profusely. “O-oh. T-thank you, princess.”

“I thought I asked you to drop the formalities?” Luna stood up. “Anyway, as Shadow Figment was so polite,” one could almost hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice, “in mentioning before, something has arisen that only you two can manage.”

“What?” the unicorn mare asked. “Both of us?”

“Yes, both of you,” the princess answered serenely.

“You have got to be bucking me,” Nimbus said before putting both fore-hooves to his mouth and going wide-eyed, remembering just who it was he was addressing. Luna simply raised an eyebrow, amused at his language.

“You cannot pair me with this... this...” In her frustration, Shadow Figment was struggling to find the right words, and she just gave up after a few moments. “You cannot pair me with him,” she said defiantly.

“I can and will,” Luna replied, wearing a sly smile. “Are you willing to defy a direct order from your princess?” She couldn’t help but chuckle at the looks of discomfort on their faces. Sometimes being in charge was really fun. “I’m not doing this to be unpleasant. I’m doing this because you’ll need each other for this.”

“Really?” Nimbus had trouble believing this.

“She’s right,” Figment muttered unhappily. She turned to the pegasus and explained. “If I’m not around, the illusion won’t last long. And your ‘condition’,” Nimbus could hear the indentations being dropped around the word, “is still a secret to anypony who’s not on the guard or helped put you back together.”

“So that means I’m her bodyguard?” Nimbus asked the princess, ignoring the mare’s rather insolent tone.

“See how easy it is to talk to me like a normal pony?” Luna responded, smiling warmly. Nimbus looked at her, unamused. “And yes, you’ll be making sure she doesn’t get hurt.”

“What are we doing, anyway?”

Luna mentally berated herself for losing her focus. She had been too entertained by the ponies’ interactions. “Of course, your mission.” She cleared her throat and began to explain, Nimbus’ jaw dropping and Figment’s eyes widening in disbelief.

“What?” was all Nimbus could say when the princess had finished.

---

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Tia, you worry too much.”

“You haven’t had to worry about ruling Equestria for the past one thousand years.”

Luna raised an eyebrow at her sister. “Maybe, but I know you well enough to know that your worried about this in particular.”

“True,” Celestia sighed. “But truthfully, I’m more worried about Shadow Figment.”

“Oh?” Luna was curious. What was it about this pony that had Princess Celestia, the alicorn who controlled the sun and had ruled the land of Equestria for the past millenium, so worried?

“She has a... history.” Celestia watched from the balcony they stood on as a sky chariot took off from the front of the castle. “I’m not sure she was the best candidate.”

“Oh that.” Luna waved a hoof dismissively.

“Wouldn’t Twilight Sparkle have been a better choice, Luna?”

“Your student doesn’t have the skill in illusions required. Besides,” she added, “I’m sure she blames herself for what happened to Nimbus. Has she sent you a letter on the matter?” Luna inquired, trying to sound innocent.

“Several,” Celestia answered carefully. Luna began to snicker. “I’m just not sure that Shadow Figment can keep her emotions in check.”

“Sister, do you think I would have picked her if I was sure she couldn’t?” Luna implored. “You need to loosen up a little. I think a surprise visit to your prized student is a good idea,” the lunar goddess said slyly.

Celestia regarded her sister for a moment before she began to smile as well. “Oh Luna, we couldn’t...” She turned and began to walk back inside.

“Sister? Where are you going?”

“To arrange transportation to Ponyville,” the solar goddess answered.

---

Nimbus Strike stepped off the chariot, taking a look around. “I’ve never been to Manehattan before.” He had never seen anywhere this crowded, not even during the Grand Galloping Gala. The sheer number of ponies was almost overwhelming, and the height of towers he had seen in the distance made him want to stretch his wings and fly between them.

“Neither have I,” Shadow Figment replied. “But we’re not here for sight-seeing. We’re here on a mission from Princess Luna.” She watched as the chariot disappeared and turned to the brown earth pony next to her. “Come on, we should find somewhere to stay.”

The earth pony, Nimbus in disguise, shrugged and followed. “Whatever you say, Figgy.”

Figment stopped walking, nearly causing Nimbus to walk right into her rump. “Call me that again,” she said, not turning around, “ and you’re going to wish that you had been left to die.”

The sheer anger and force in her voice was enough to make the former guard pony take a few steps back. He knew that to do so again would be to tempt fate. The simple white eye that adorned her saddlebags and flanks suddenly seemed a lot more intimidating. “O-okay,” Nimbus stammered.

“Glad that you understand,” Shadow Figment said, turning around. She was wearing a very disturbing smile, one that seemed to scream malevolence. What really scared Nimbus though were her eyes. Where before they held indifference and irritation, they now burned with dark fire and seemed to promise a world of pain. She turned around, leaving Nimbus very shaken. “Come on, we won’t find a hotel just standing around.”

As he followed, Nimbus could only think one thing: Why couldn’t Luna get somepony nice?

---

Figment had gotten them a simple room on the fifth floor of a relatively cheap hotel. With two beds, an en suite and a closet it was more than enough. The view from the window allowed them to see the harbour and the great statue of Lady Radiance. It had cost them 100 bits, but given the view it was more than worth it.

Nimbus Strike lay down on his bed. He was amazed at how much more comfortable it was compared to the one at the barracks. “I could get used to this,” he said happily.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Shadow Figment warned from her bed, levitating a quill and jar of ink from her saddlebag.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did,” Figment replied as she removed a small bundle of paper and set it neatly next to her.

Nimbus rolled his eyes. “Why do I look like an earth pony?”

“A lot of pegasi tend to hover, and I don’t want to get a sore neck from looking up at you all day.”

Nimbus couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes. Great, he thought, incredibly selfish and arrogant. This is worse than dealing with Blueblood. At least Blueblood goes away. He regarded his false cutie mark. “Why an hourglass?” he asked.

“No idea,” Figment replied distantly. “It just seemed appropriate.”

“How is an hourglass appropriate in any way?”

“Probably something to do with how it’s only a matter of time before you do something you’ll regret?” Figment shot back. “I’m trying to concentrate, so do me a favour and shut up.”

Nimbus knew he should have shut up there and then, but curiosity got the better of him. “What are you concentrating on?”

“I’m trying to figure out what would be the best method to store an invisibility spell so any unicorn can use it without having to learn it,” she answered distractedly, scribbling something down that he couldn’t see.

“Why?” Nimbus asked, intrigued by the concept.

“Why not?” Figment replied, still scribbling. “It’s an incredibly useful spell. This way it won’t be limited to just those who have it as their special talent.”

“Isn’t that kinda the whole point, though?” Nimbus began to hover. There was no way anypony could see them, and if somepony walked in it was likely they would assume that Figment had a part in it. “Having a special talent that is yours and only yours?”

“My special talent is illusions. I’m not giving them everything, am I?” Figment answered smugly, still scratching away with her quill.

“How long do you think it’ll take for whoever you develop this for to alter it for any illusions, though?” Nimbus set himself down on his bed again, raising an eyebrow at the unicorn. “What’ll you do then?”

Shadow Figment didn’t answer. Instead, her horn began to glow brighter. She smirked when she heard the pegasus-in-disguise yelp.

“Hey! Not funny! Get rid of this blindfold-thing!” Nimbus yelled, trying to pull at something that wasn’t physically there. Figment began to snigger, not able to contain her amusement. A thunderous crash from outside caused her to lose her concentration, removing the illusions on the pegasus. “What was that noise?” Nimbus asked nervously.

Figment went to the window, and her face turned a pale grey. “It’s here.”

Just past the statue of Lady Radiance half a dozen grey tentacles, each one three times as thick as a pony and as long as some of the towers were tall, had extended from the water and were flaying about.

Comments

[CoastalSarv]

Nice going so far. ("He's a bionic royal guard, she is a jerkwad illusionist! They fight crime!")

The only thing that disturbed me at all in chapter one was that first it is clear Luna is supporting this project because she feels guilty that her work is killing him, then she very quickly goes over to "oh and we are making you a government superhero and 'coz you OWE US you have to do as we say!" I know deities are supposedly capricious, but it comes off as strange to me.

[thewaffler]

This was fun to read and well written, my only complaints are that there wasn't a slightly comical light hearted training/ability acknowledgement segment like Nimbus busting through a wall like the Mutha Fuckin Koo-Aid man or causing any other type of slap stick medium scale destruction like accidentally cleaving a mess hall table in half. I say this because it feels like this is supposed to have more comedy elements in it and it would be a big mistake to play this story too serious. My minor nit pick is that you didn't make a horse related pun on the name, "Steve Austin."

Anyway kudos to you and I hope the rest of this is good with minor tweaks here and there.

[tony1695]

19780
You're right, this does need some slapstick. Expect edits when I next can.
19769
Yeah, I did rush that a bit, I admit. I've just been sitting on this for... what, a month and a half? I just wanted to get it out.

[Meta Knight]

♫♥I look forward to reading what happens next in your story♥♪