Tempting Offers
Daring’s wings buzzed on her back, the tiny appendages letting her sail around her family’s study. Circling around a statue of a Zebrican warrior, she laughed her head off.
“Daring, you’re clear for landing,” a smooth masculine voice chimed, compelling her away from the carving. With a small *plop*, she landed on a stallion’s shoulders. “How are you doing, honey?”
“Fine!” she chirped, burying her face in the back of his head tightly and spitting out bits of spiky brown mane for her trouble. “What dat?” she asked in return, pointing at the table her father was standing in front of.
“A curious little birdy aren’t we?” he asked, reaching up to ruffle her mane. “Well, this is what your mommy and I are working on.”
“Mowe old stuff?” she inquired, poking her head out for a better look. There were several maps on it with various regions having pins stuck in them. What stuck out the most though was a scroll bearing an odd symbol on it. The shape was a lot like an eye, though the iris was shaped like a flame or wisp.
“Very old stuff,” he agreed, putting his hand on the scroll. “And this is some really old stuff!”
“Owder than mommy?” Daring asked with a giggle.
“I heard that!” A young mare stepped into view, clad in a pair of jeans and red jacket. “I’ll have you know young lady, I’m not even thirty yet.” Reaching over, she tickled Daring’s chin. “Keep that up, and it’ll be tickle time for you!”
Letting out a cry of surprise, Daring squirmed under her mother’s sudden attack. “No, mommy! No tickle!”
“Ah, there’s the mare I was looking for!” Daring’s father beamed, pulling his wife close. “I just got the scroll out. Have you managed to figure out what language this is yet?” he asked, tapping the top of the paper.
“You owe me twenty bits because that,” she tapped a finger to the writing, “is Mesoponaryan. Took me a while to figure it out. Must have been written before they interacted with Equish speakers.”
The stallion whistled, gingerly picking up the scrolls. “The Historical Society will love this! So, don’t leave me in suspense; what does it say?”
“This mark is the mark of spirits. It was given to those the spirits deemed worthy, allowing the bearer to gain the powers of certain souls,” Daring’s mother explained, pulling out her notebook. “Too bad we couldn’t find any other instances of this symbol at the dig site. This sounds fascinating. Can you just picture the rituals done for these spirits?”
“Based on that symbol,” Daring’s father started, pointing to the iris on the drawing, “I’d hazard a guess that fire played a prominent role in most of them.”
At the mention of fire, flames erupted around the room, eating away at everything as easily as if it were made of paper. Daring tried to scream, but no sound would escape her lips. She was forced to watch as the fire consumed everything, the last thing to burn away being the completely unaware smiling faces of her parents.
With a jolt, Daring awoke covered in a sheen of sweat. She hyperventilated, needing a moment to realize she was in her home in Ponyville. “Faust, I hate nightmares...” Reaching out, her hand hovered over a bottle of booze before grabbing a bottle of water. Taking a long swig, she managed to ease her mind slightly. “When was the last time I even dreamed of them?” she muttered, putting the bottle down.
She was surprised she even remembered their faces. Maybe it had something to do with their sudden deaths? Something like that was bound to stick with a pony, even if they were barely old enough to form memories.
Getting out of bed, Daring made her way over to her mirror. “Why is your life so screwed up, Daring Do?” Running a hand through her mane, she sighed. “Maybe my family picked up a curse from some artifact?” Tsking, she turned away from the mirror and headed towards the shower.
Shedding her bedwear, Daring stepped into the shower. A contented sound escaped her lips as the warm water sprayed down on her body. “At least hot showers haven’t been taken away.” Even after she was done cleaning herself, Daring was happy to stand under the nozzle and chase away her morbid thoughts.
Scrubbing off the remains of the nightmare, Daring sang a song she had picked from her father. She moved to what she thought the beat of the song would be, her scrubbing becoming more vigorous.
“Madness reigns!” she belted out, turning the water. “In the hall of the mountain king!” She thrashed her head, sending her mane flying this way and that. Water droplets went flying around the room, something she knew she’d have to clean up later but in the moment paid no mind to.
What she did pay mind to was the flaming eye symbol painted onto her bathroom mirror. Her singing abruptly stopped and she jumped out of the shower to look outside into her room. Nothing seemed off; everything was in place and yet... something was there.
There was no sign of an intruder, not even an open window as a sign of entry or exit. Either there was someone still in her home, or she had been visited by the stealthiest graffiti artist ever. Grabbing a towel to cover herself, she armed herself with the baseball bat she kept under her bed and set off to search the rest of her home.
“Well now, if it isn’t the filly who lived.”
Daring spun around, bat at the ready... only to find nothing. “Okay. So you’re invisible. Big deal.”
“I’m so much more than invisible, little filly,” the voice taunted, a sudden chill going through her. “As are you.” An unseen force grabbed her arms, restraining her. “Ah my dear child, you’ve certainly grown haven’t you?”
“Who the hell are you?!” she spat, kicking and squirming in a desperate attempt to free herself.
“All will be clear soon enough.”
Daring barely held in a scream as some seared into her shoulder. She struggled feebly against her assailant, her knees threatening to buckle. “The fuck are you doing to me?!” Clenching her teeth, she kicked her leg backwards in a hope of hitting whoever was grabbing her. “Get off, asshole!”
“As you wish.” The force shoved her away, wafting the scent of burnt fur and skin through the room. “I do hope you like your new markings. I’ve been perfecting the design for decades!”
Daring stumbled over, her towel draping over her body. Before she could return to her hooves, the chilling presence vanished, leaving her alone in her home. His final words didn’t sit right with her and she rushed to her bathroom to get a good look at her back and shoulder. The same flaming eye had been burned into her skin, staring out at the world.
“Why is this symbol following me?” she muttered, letting her fingers trace over the brand. “Mom, Dad, what the hell did you discover?”
“Why are we out here again?” Trixie inquired, digging her hoof into the ground. Heaving slightly, she pulled the heavy cart over some rather large roots. “I mean, couldn’t you get the drake to do this? He’s stronger than me!”
“The drake has a name,” Maud said, ignoring Trixie’s complaints as she led the mare through the woods. “It’s Spike. And you still have a lot to answer for after taking over Ponyville.”
Trixie grumbled, glaring at Maud’s back. “What are we even doing out here anyway? Adding more rocks to your collection?”
“Something like that,” Maud answered, continuing along the path. “I’m looking for things that I can synthesize Gaia Memories out of. Spike collecting his medals made me realize how Pinkie and I’s arsenal needs to be rounded out more.”
“How much longer until we can satisfy your fetish, rockophile?”
“Insulting me isn’t going to get you out of work,” Maud pointed out, finally turning to look back at Trixie. “I don’t remember you complaining this much on the farm.”
“That’s because I needed money!” Trixie snapped, letting the cart come to a stop. “I was blinded by a stupid revenge plot and wasn’t even thinking of complaining.” Her eyes roved down Maud’s backside, resting on her rear. “The view wasn’t that bad either...”
“I agree, the mines have a great view of serpentine veins. That’s a rare thing in Equestria,” Maud replied, nodding to herself. “Rarity gets her gems here. There should be a memory here, somewhere.”
Trixie rolled her eyes, keeping her gaze locked on Maud’s lower half. “Alright, boss, lead the way.” Under her breath she added. “At least her obliviousness gives me a free show.” Her agitation grew as they reached the cave. “This the place?”
“Yes, we should be able to find something here.” Maud moved back to the cart and pulled out two helmets with spotlights on them. “Here, we’ll need these if we want to see what we’re doing.”
Taking the helmet, Trixi slipped it onto her head. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let’s just find you your stupid rocks so I can go do more important things.”
“This is important,” Maud corrected, putting her own helmet on and leading the other mare into the cave. “This will help us in our fight against the monsters terrorizing Equestria and the forces of Dai-Shocker.”
“Right... saving the world from ponies from another world. You know how dumb that sounds, right?” Trixie pinned her ears to her head, trying to block out the sound of wood on stone.
“It’s real,” Maud countered, putting a hand on the cave wall as she walked deeper into the darkness. “I’ve seen at least two doppelgangers of ponies; one that was Twilight’s brother, and the other a version of my sister, Pinkie.”
Maud reached into her smock, producing a small tuning fork. Tapping it against the wall, she flicked her ears about. She walked over to the other wall, and repeated the action, listening intently. “There’s something in this cave, let’s keep going.”
“The Tartarus is that thing?” Trixie asked, following after Maud. “Why are all you Pies nuts? The only one in your family that doesn't have something wrong with them is your mom!”
“This is a tuning fork,” Maud answered, returning the object to her frock. “The sound it makes differs based on what it’s struck on. If you know how a certain rock or object will resonate with it, it becomes easier to find things like Gaia Memories. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult my family.”
Trixie snorted, glaring once more. “Would it kill you to be mad at me? Faust, how are you not pissed I turned you into a rock!? A rock Maud, I turned you into a rock and you blow it off! That Yearling mare knocked me on my flank, but you just ignore it like nothing happened!”
“I actually wanted to thank you for turning me into a rock,” Maud replied, blinking slowly at Trixie. “It was an illuminating experience. As for what you said about my family, that did irritate me. I’m just not as expressive as Pinkie.”
“That’s an understatement...” Trixie grumbled, glancing off to the side. “Next you’re going to tell me you caught me looking,” she mumbled, moving her light over the rock. “How long are we going to be in here?”
“As long as it takes us to dig out what we need,” Maud told her, moving deeper into the cave. “Which means it will go by faster if we don’t complain.”
‘I’d rather fight a fangire without transforming,” Trixie thought to herself, keeping her eyes on Maud’s back. “Well, if she’s going to be like that, she shouldn’t complain if I undress her with my eyes.’ Smirking to herself, she imagined the grey mare without the frock. Her mind continued to wander, picturing herself finally getting a reaction out of the stony mare.
Maud checked the fork again, taking a left at the next branch. “This way.”
Trixie followed after Maud, continuing her line of thought to keep from complaining. Eventually, Maud stopped and struck the fork once more.
“I think we’re here,” Maud stated, putting away her fork and grabbing a pair of pickaxes. “Let’s get digging.”
“Why not just punch it?” Trixie disconnected from the cart, pulling her Ixa Knuckle. “I bet a few good whacks will get us what we need.”
“That could cause a cave in and get us stuck in here,” Maud told her, giving Trixie a pickaxe. “And that would keep you from those important things you’re so desperate to get to.”
“Fine.” Stowing her Knuckle, Trixie gripped the pickaxe. ‘Dear Faust, you better give me a good show, Maud. If only to dissuade me forming some kind of hatred for rocks.’
“At least you have plenty of experience with one of these,” Maud noted, striking at the rockwall. “If my estimations are correct, then what we’re looking for is three feet deep into the stone.” Maud’s thoughts focused on the memory buried before them. The prospect of more research tickled her interest; the hours of poring over every little detail, delving into the knowledge of the very world itself. She could hardly contain her excitement, digging even faster with Trixie finally taking a swing at the rock.
For her part, Trixie was paying just enough attention to avoid clashing pickaxes with Maud; instead letting her focus to the rock loving mare’s breasts as they bounced in her frock. ‘I’m such a perv. But damn if she doesn’t make it easy to stare. Gotta say, the Pie girls might be nutty, but they’ve all got giant boulders for chests.’
The two continued to work for some time, chipping away at the rock little by little. They built up a sheen of sweat on their fur and Trixie had to call for a break about halfway through. Eventually, something was slowly revealed inside the cave wall, causing the mares to quicken their pace. With one last strike of Maud’s pick, a brilliant grey crystal was unearthed. Setting her tool down, Maud grabbed the grey crystal and turned it over in her hand.
“Beautiful,” she commented, holding the crystal closer to her head lamp. “I can’t wait to see what this can turn into.”
“That’s it?” Trixie frowned, raising an eyebrow. “All of that work, for that?”
“I’ll need to do some work in order to make it look like this.” Maud pulled her Joker Memory out of her shirt, showing it to Trixie. “What were you expecting, a magic sword?”
“I dunno... a whistle?” Trixie offered, letting her pickaxe rest on the floor. “Why the Tartarus did you make me bring the cart if that thing won’t even take up a quarter?!”
“Because we’re not done.” Stepping over to the cart, Maud lifted out a circular container. “We’ll be scouring the rest of the cave.” Placing the memory inside, she replaced it in the cart. Pulling her tuning fork out once more, she tapped it on the wall. “Besides.” Her tail moved, flicking against Trixie’s side. “I don’t give free shows.”
“You knew?!” Trixie gaped at Maud, a blush blooming across the bridge of her muzzle. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?!” Trixie’s blush only grew as Maud kept walking. “Maud!! Answer me, damnit!”
“You’ll get your answer when we’re done here,” Maud told her, striking her tuning fork against the nearest wall. She put a slight sway to her hips, deciding to throw Trixie a bone. The tiniest of smiles formed on her face. Ponyville was certainly getting more interesting.
Trixie adjusted her hat on her head, covering her blush. She grumbled to herself, but followed close behind anyway.
Wyatt stood in the dark room of the Ponyville Gazette, developing the photos for the next issue of the paper. Humming to himself, he carefully picked the photos out of the fluid and hung them up to dry. Before he could take his gloves off, there was a knock on the door. He cracked open the door to avoid ruining the pictures to find his boss’s face staring back at him.
“Oh hey, Fine Print,” he greeted, slipping out the room. “I just put the photos up to dry, they should be ready way before we need to print the next issue.”
Fine Print, an older mare with a seafoam green mane, smiled back at him. “Always ahead of schedule, aren’t we?” Gesturing with her head, she moved towards her office. “Follow me kid.”
“Are ya finally giving me a raise, ya cheapskate?” Wyatt teased, following the mare into her office and taking a seat across from her desk. He blinked, noting Spike standing by the desk. “You hiring out of schools now?”
“To answer your first question, you are getting a raise of sorts,” Fine Print told him, sliding a manilla folder towards him. “In fact, you’re going to be our field reporter. That means you get to travel around Equestria to give us stories about what’s going down in other cities. And I thought Spike would make a great stenographer for you.”
“I take great notes,” Spike offered, wearing a prideful grin. “You can just ask Twilight.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a rather nice looking notepad. “I won’t miss a single detail.”
“Wow, this sounds like a pretty sweet gig,” Wyatt replied, leafing through the folder. “But why are you offering us this job? You usually only care about news outside of Ponyville when it’s earth shattering.”
Fine Print leaned back, folding her hands on her lap. “The two of you need to be able to move around the country. A legitimate reason to be where the action is happening.”
“Plus, it’ll let me find the medals.” Reaching into his other pocket, Spike produced a compass. “Twi enchanted this thing to pick up medals, which means this job is perfect for us!”
Staring at the compass, Wyatt said, “Huh, she probably used the compass’s natural ability to pick up the magnetic pole of the planet as a starting point and altered it to detect the specific field given off by the Core Medals.” He paused, taking a moment to realize what he had just done. “Ok, I think I’ve been listening to Twi talk about magic too much. Anyway, I’m more than happy to accept this job, boss.” Standing up, he offered his hand to shake. “Thanks for this, Fine Print.”
Reaching over, Fine Print took his hand, giving it a shake. “Hey, I have to do my part for the country, ya? Just don’t screw it up, got it?”
“Are you kidding? I’ll be bringing in juicy stories and busting monster heads left and right,” Wyatt boasted, grinning at the mare. “Ponies are gonna be chomping at the bit to read the articles I give you.”
“That’s what I like to hear, kid!” Fine Print beamed, returning to her seat. “You two can start next week. I’ll arrange your travel expenses by then.”
“Is there anything else you need from me, boss?” Wyatt inquired, letting the folder hang at his side. “Some leftover projects here in Ponyville?”
“No, the others are taking care of the rest of the articles,” Fine Print assured him, waving a hand lazily. “Just be sure those photos of yours get on my desk before we print tomorrow.”
Wyatt nodded, moving towards the door. “I’ll make sure everything is ready. You coming, Spike?”
“Sure thing,” Spike agreed, following the young man out of the office. “So, how do you think Twi’s gonna react to this?”
“I have no idea.” Wyatt put his hand in his pocket, leading the drake out of the building. “How’s that compass actually work? Wouldn’t it just point to the medals you already have?”
“Nope, Twilight enchanted my medal case to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Spike assured, patting his pocket. “She thought of everything.” He leaned in, snorting. “She’s spent most of her time with the eggs though. I think she’s turning into a chicken.”
“I hope not, can’t exactly date a chicken,” Wyatt retorted, chuckling. He took a moment to picture Twilight as a mother hen, which only served to prolong his laughing fit. “It’s probably some kind of dragonic maternal instinct, sorta like a crocodile.”
Spike flashed him a flat look. “Please don’t compare my species to crocodiles.” Shifting topics, he kept the flat look up. “On the subject of parents, I can’t believe you told Sombra to just ignore bullying.”
Wyatt groaned, rubbing the side of his head. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been kicking myself over that one. I’m gonna sit down with him and give him some better advice. Namely, always alert Cheerilee the instant someone like Silver Spoon starts their crap. And, that defending himself is okay if another kid starts it.”
A sigh escaped Spike’s lips. “If you’re gonna tell him that, why’d you tell him to ignore it in the first place?”
“That was in the context of name calling,” Wyatt retorted, his brow furrowing. “Sombra was the one who brought it to a physical place there.” Craning his neck, he returned the drake’s flat look. “Look, must be nice criticizing me from where you’re standing, Captain Hindsight.”
“I aim to please,” Spike responded, wearing a mischievous grin. “So! What do you want to do with the rest of the day, Mr. Reporter?”
Rolling his eyes, Wyatt took a breath to let his nerves settle. Closing his eyes, he took a few seconds to think. “Well, I think telling Twi about our new job is the first priority. Knowing her, sitting on this news is just asking for one of her famous freakouts.”
Spike laughed, his tail swishing in mirth. “We should sell tickets. We’d get a bigger crowd than a Sapphire Shores concert!”
“Or we’d get more of her messing with the timestream,” Wyatt replied flatly. “And seeing Twi in that bodysuit again is not worth the headache that incident caused.”
“Yeah...” Spike shuddered. “I don’t want that headache again... or that stomachache...”
Chuckling, Wyatt slapped Spike gently on the back. “Hey, that’s Past Spike’s problem now.” He only laughed harder at Spike’s groan. “Relax, will ya? The only time’s we’ll have to deal with time travel is if an Imagin shows up.”
“Which knowing your luck, means we could be dealing with that a lot,” the drake pointed out, putting his hands behind his head. “I seriously think you should invest some time looking for a four leaf clover or something.”
“Yeah, yeah, yuck it up, Scales.” Wyatt opened the door to the library, stepping inside. “Hey, Twi! Where you at? Spike and I need to tell you something!”
“Sombra and I are in the basement!” Twilight’s muffled voice called back. “My hands are a little full right now so can you come downstairs?!”
“Must be with the eggs,” Wyatt commented, making his way downstairs. “Hey, babe. Spike and I got something to tell you and Sombra. Think you can take a break and listen?”
Twilight turned from the table where the eggs were resting, setting a clipboard down on it. “Of course I can listen to you. Oh!” Her eyes lit up and she patted the board. “And I made a discovery I want to share with you two as well.”
“What’s that?” Spike asked, walking over to the table. He lifted one of the eggs up, instinctively cradling it to his chest. “Did you find out the genders or something?”
“While that would be interesting, no,” Twilight answered, pointing at Spike. “I discovered that there’s a faint magic field around the eggs. If I were a betting mare I’d say that if I dispel that field then I can safely hatch the eggs.”
Spike’s eyes lit up, clutching the egg close. “Y-you mean it!?” The thought of more family made Spike’s imagination soar. Thoughts and scenes of hatchlings of all colors danced through his mind. “When!?!”
“That part could be tricky,” Twilight admitted, picking up her notes and charts. “I still have to identify what kind of magic this is exactly. With how faint it is I’ve been increasing the sensitivity of all my equipment just to be able to get this much. But, once I do that then I can start working on a way to counter whatever spell this is.” Smiling softly, she put a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “We’re in the home stretch, Spike.”
“Yeah.” Spike nodded, holding the egg up to his face. “You hear that? You’ll be out soon! Grandpa’s gonna be so happy to finally see you.”
Twilight giggled, enjoying his excitement for a moment. “So, what was it you two wanted to tell me?”
“I got promoted,” Wyatt informed, holding up the folder. “Fine Print’s made me her newest field reporter, and Spike’s gonna be my note taker!”
Twilight’s muzzle scrunched up for a split second before she put on a smile. “I’m proud of you, Wyatt. Do you know if you’ll be popping in every weekend?”
“That I don’t know.” Wyatt shook his head, passing the folder to Twilight. “I’m surprised you're taking this so well. I sorta expected you to get a little possessive.”
Laughing sheepishly, she rubbed her arm. “Weeeell, the urge might be there. But your job is important, Wyatt.” Managing a smile she strode up to him and put a hand on his chest. “Plus, I think I see what your boss is doing. Giving you an excuse to travel and fight monsters. There are places besides Ponyville that need your help.”
Wyatt nodded, putting his arm around her. “I can finally get off my ass and actually get proactive.”
Twilight leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Just be sure to visit as often as you can. Sombra and I will miss you.”
“Hey!” Spike frowned, setting the egg back down. “What about me? What am I, chopped celery?”
Twilight chuckled and tousled his spines. “I guess I’ll miss you too,” she added cheekily.
Sombra stepped over, having been reading a book. “I’ll miss you both too.” A smile grew across his face. “Can you bring me back souvenirs?”
Wyatt grinned, hoisting the colt onto his shoulder. “Of course, buddy. I’ll try to find you something cool in every town we go to. Might be hard in small villages but I’ll think of something.”
“Even if this is a cover for your Kamen Rider duties, you’ve gotten this promotion so quickly,” Twilight commented, a proud smile on her face.
“Yup, only nineteen and I’ve got myself a sweet reporter job,” Wyatt agreed, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m moving my way up in the world, aren't I?”
Twilight blinked, looking up at Wyatt with a quirked brow. “Hold on, nineteen?” A moment passed before her look became serious. “Wyatt, did your birthday pass?”
Blanching, Wyatt’s eyes darted back and forth. “Uh, did I say nineteen? Must’ve been a slip of the tongue.” Failing to meet Twilight’s gaze, he set Sombra down. “Whoops!” He slapped his forehead unconvincingly. “I forgot to turn my photos in to my boss! Gotta run back to the office!” Without waiting for a response, he rushed up the stairs.
Staring after him, Twilight’s frown deepened. “Spike, did you know about Wyatt’s birthday?”
Spike shook his head, scratching at a couple loose scales on the back of his neck. “No, he’s never brought it up.” After a bit of thinking he added. “Actually, I know for a fact that he’s never mentioned his birthday. If he had, Pinkie’d know about it for sure.”
“He must be hiding it!” Pinkie exclaimed, suddenly between the two. “We have to investigate!”
“Gah!” Twilight cried, leaning on the table behind her to catch herself. “Pinkie! What have I told you about popping up behind us like that?” Her eyes contracted for a moment. “Especially down here with the eggs!”
Pinkie shrank slightly and chuckled nervously. “Sorry, once my Pinkie Sense picked up a birthday emergency I rushed toward the source.” Putting a pipe into her mouth, she pulled Twilight close to her. “Still, this requires investigation!”
“How are we supposed to investigate this, nopony knows his birthday,” Spike pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. “The only people that would live in a different universe.”
“That’s quitter talk!” Spike found himself pulled into her embrace. “The three of us are gonna get the the bottom of this, no matter what!”
“Or we could be calm about this and think about why Wyatt wouldn’t want to talk about his birthday,” Spike commented, suddenly finding something very soft pressing into his side.
“Pffft.” Pinkie waved her hand dismissively and pressed Spike closer to her. “Where’s the fun in that, Spike? No, what we need is to tail him like private eyes.” Dropping him unceremoniously, she beamed. “The birthday investigation begins.... Now~~”
In a split second, she tossed away her clothes to reveal a brown overcoat, the bubble pipe still in her mouth, a strange hat sitting atop her mane and a magnifying glass in her hand. “Let us away!” She grabbed both of their hands, dragging them up the stairs.
“Sombra, head to Rarity’s!” Twilight called out before they could be pulled out the door. “We might be gone a while!”
“Okay, Mom!” Sombra called back, watching them go. After a moment, he turned to the eggs. “Stuff gets weird in Ponyville.” Following previous instructions, he moved the eggs back into the chest, locking both it and the basement doors. That taken care of, he made his way to Rarity’s house, imagining what kind of crazy adventure his family was having.
Somber Shield stood by his throne, watching a distortion. The object of his attention was the scene of a throne room, not too different from his own. “Are you ready, Midnight? I’d rather not delay this meeting for too much longer.”
“I have all the relevant data loaded up onto my tablet,” the young woman assured him, stepping up to his throne with the device in hand. “Managed to find some universes I think Drakkon won’t be able to resist.”
Somber nodded, smoothing out his cape with a quick dash of magic. “Apollo! Bring the prisoners forward.” It had taken a bit of effort, but, he was confident Dai-Shocker had enough to entice Drakkon to their cause.
Apollo entered the room, two people bound and being led by a chain followed behind him. One wore a green and white suit, highlighted in gold. His helmet bore the image of a dolphin on either side. The second was a woman in a golden suit with a police badge bearing a dog’s profile on the helmet. Her left sleeve was entirely black while the right matched the gold of the rest of the suit. The only other notable features of the suit was a black “X” that stuck close to the left sleeve and a metal badge on her right shoulder that said, “S.P.D.”
“As you commanded, Great Leader.” Apollo grunted, taking his place next to Somber. “I await your command.”
“Excellent! Let’s make a good first a good first impression, shall we?” Expanding the distortion with a wave of his hand, Somber stepped through the portal.
Midnight and Apollo followed after him, dragging the prisoners through. In a moment, they were in the dark throne room they had just been viewing. In an instant, guards surrounded them and pointed weapons at their heads.
Said guards wore black armor; with helmets that bore the likeness of a mastodon. Military pouches hung from their chest plates, most likely holding extra ammo for their weapon; a rather slick looking assault rifle.
“Not many would be so bold to enter my domain uninvited.” Lord Drakkon sat on his dark throne, staring down at the newly arrived group. Though in his ranger form, he wore no helmet; his features plain to see. His chest was covered by a gold and green shield, a claw symbol at the center of it.
On either side of his throne stood red, tyrannosaurus themed soldiers. Sporting capes, the pair brandished staffs; both ends of which bore sword blades. “Shall we remove them, m'lord?” one asked, crouched into a stance.
Somber lit his horn, every soldier in the room being lifted into the air and being pinned to the ceiling. “I don’t think there’s any need to remove us.” Grinning darkly, he gestured to his prisoners. “I am Somber Shield, Great Leader of Dai-Shocker and I have an offer for you, Lord Drakkon.”
Drakkon rose from his seat, stepping down to their level. “And what could you offer me, horse?” Stopping in front of Somber, he stared down the stallion. “That I could not take for myself?”
“Powers that your world has never seen,” Somber stated, creating a distortion in front of him. Within it, a team of Rangers fought, none of which Drakkon recognized. “Even powers beyond those of rangers. The scene changed, showing Wyatt and Maud’s fight against Ambassador Hell.
Drakkon stared at the scene, his face an emotionless mask. “How are you doing this?”
Somber gestured with his fingers. “I can control the very fabric that separates one universe from another. Those in powerful positions in Dai-Shocker can do much the same. As I understand it, your chaos crystal works similarly.”
“And what do you wish in return from me?” Drakkon questioned, craning his neck towards Somber. “No one makes an offer like this and expects nothing in return.”
“But of course.” Somber nodded, meeting Drakkon’s gaze. “I require an oath of loyalty and a share of your resources. Any aid given to you is expected to be returned. Beyond that, you will have your autonomy, as long as it does not conflict with Dai-Shocker’s agenda.”
Drakkon’s eyes narrowed and he got in close to Somber. “An oath of loyalty? Does that mean you expect me to bend my knee to you?”
“No, Drakkon, it does not. What I expect is loyalty. It wouldn’t do for the leaders of Dai-Shocker to struggle amongst themselves for power. An oath of loyalty, only to ensure a stable power base.”
Drakkon’s expression softened, but he kept a skeptical eye on the armored pony. “I see, so, I help you when you ask, and you let me acquire more Ranger powers for my own army.”
“We’ll do more then let you.” Midnight spoke up, taking a step closer to Drakkon. “We’ve scouted a few worlds that might spark your interest.” Tapping at her tablet, she passed the device to him. “Take a look for yourself.”
Tapping at the device, Drakkon stared at it for a little bit. “These do look promising,” he stated plainly.
“As I knew they were.” Midnight smiled wide, adjusting her glasses. “I would hope this proves our intentions.”
“I accept, tentatively,” Drakkon stated, returning the device. “But if I feel this deal outlives its usefulness then I will end our arrangement.”
Somber nodded. “We can make do with a trial period.” Throwing up a smile, he clapped his hands together. “We did bring you a welcoming gift Drakkon. A pair of rangers from a rather obscure universe. Do with them what you please. Apollo, hand over the prisoners.”
Apollo tugged on the chain, presenting the prisoners and offering his end of the chain to the proclaimed lord. “Here they are, their morphers are intact.”
Drakkon took the chain, gazing down at it. “This is acceptable.”
“Excellent,” Somber replied, waving for Apollo to return to his previous position. Reaching into his cape, he produced a small crystal. “This will let you receive a contact from me when I call for a meeting of my generals. Midnight will also provide you with any other data you request if you find something interesting among Dai-Shocker’s forces or enemies.”
Taking the crystal, Drakkon closed his hand around it. “I believe our business is concluded then, Somber Shield.”
“I look forward to working with you, Drakkon,” Somber replied, snapping his fingers and creating another distortion. Turning on his hoof, he set the guards down gently before he and his companions disappeared.
It had taken several days of travel, but Agito and his companion finally could see an Equestrian village. The mare seemed like she had wanted to complain several times during their journey, but always stopped short. Agito didn’t care what her reasoning for it was, he just wanted to make sure she got home safely.
The bleak desert had given way to light foliage and certain tropical plants that almost reminded Agito of home. “Are you ready to go home?” Agito asked, glancing back at the mare.
She nodded, staring hopefully at the village in the distance. “Yes, I think I’ve had enough of travel for quite some time.” Agito had learned that her name was Midnight Rose, a ‘rising’ singer in her own words.
“Good.” Agito nodded, returning his attention to the village. “No more rations for you.”
“Pardon me if I sound rude, but I won’t miss those rations much,” Rose replied, managing a smile. “Thank you again, I can’t imagine where’d I’d be without you.”
“I don’t think it’s something you’d want to dwell on,” Agito agreed, glancing down at her. “From the way that overgrown fish filet was pitching you, it sounded like he was trying to sell you to a perverted asshole.” Stopping at the edge of town, he gestured with his head. “This is where we part ways.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come in with me?” Rose inquired, looking up at him with a thoughtful expression. “You could use a comfortable bed and warm meal as much as me.”
Agito shook his head. “Sorry, I have something I gotta do. The only thing I need is directions to Ponyville.” He liked Midnight, she was good company. But, he wasn’t.
“Okay but if you’re ever in Fillydelphia, look me up,” she said, taking a step towards the town. “I think a free ticket to one of my concerts is the least I can do after what you’ve done for me.” Waving back at him, she smiled. “I might even write a song about you!”
“I might take you up on that actually,” Agito replied, turning to put his back to her. “Good music is hard to come by when you’re in the wilderness. Besides, been too long since I’ve been to Filly. Last time I visited, the Harmony Bell wasn’t cracked yet.”
“Never too late to see it...” Rose blinked, watching. “Did you just say it wasn’t cracked?”
“Yup, fully intact bell,” Agito answered, swearing he could hear the gears in her head turning overtime. “See you around, Rose. Make sure you get on the radio for me. I could use a bit of music in my life.”
“I plan on it,” she assured, shaking off her earlier confusion. “Goodbye, Oni, I won’t forget you.” With that, she strode towards the village, a confidence in her gait.
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Okay, lots of goodies here. Hints of TrixMaud shipping, Drakkon, Dekagold and Gosei Green whom I admit took a minute for me to recognize and Spike and Wyatt getting a job that actually helps them keep their covers. You were right Shago, I would love this chapter!
I love how Perry White Fine Print is. She already leagues better then J. Jonah Jameson.
THANK YOU! That was my biggest issue with last chap.
*get to the
Overall, a solid chapter that does address the mistakes of the previous one while hinting to an awesome crossover mini series (which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed).
I do wonder though about the scene with Drakkon: Were those Gosei Green and Deka Gold from the Super Sentai universe, or the PR versions? Somber said it was an obscure universe, but I wanna make sure before I assume anything.
As usual, I cannot wait for the next chapter.
9127359
Those two were from an obscure PR universe where they existed
Oh, Pinkie, you sugarcoated goofball.
Question is if that shows you as responsible or not if you have a child at that age.
Wrong book franchise
Ok, serious question, when was the last time she talked about rocks without anyone else mentioning it because I can't remember a single time. I know Maud is obsessed with rocks, but this Maud doesn't seem to.
That, however, does not mean being the first one to attack. the only time you should get physical is if the bully actually attacks first, otherwise, you just make the situation worse.
I would more worry about the dad part, but oh well.
Or he just doesn't know when it is since I highly doubt that this worlds calendar is the same as in his world.
Oh, that nonentity actually appears in two chapters
9128257
I have to ask, just out of curiosity why don't you like Little Sombra and call him and I quote a little shit? Too cutesy for you, or is it the way he was forced onto Wyatt and Twilight in your mind? Personally, I think while he is a bit cutesy, he does help develop Wyatt's character more and helps him mature a bit more. This story does seem to have a lot of coming of age themes, now that I think of it.
9128326
There a few reasons. First, I find the idea in general stupid. Yes, I know from the comics, but it was stupid there too. Just not found of the idea in general, so personal taste really. It had to be pulled off near perfectly to let my like it and it sadly wasn't, it was just ok.
Then, the fact that Twilight and Wyatt just take him in after they just started dating and when Wyatt is only 18 or 19 is an incredibly stupid idea and feels rushed. While Twilight might have a little bit experience with Spike, I don't think Wyatt is in any shape or form ready to be a father and this would just hurt their relationship, or at least should.
Then there is the fact that I find his character to be absolutely annoying. He is the standard happy go lucky kid with a bit of timidness thrown in and I just find it boring. he just doesn't do it for me as a character.
And he kinda lessens the threat level of our big bad. Sombra Shield is just that little kid again. Kinda lets him come off as a kid with way to much free time and uncaring parents.
And while yes, he does help him in that regard, I think he had this angle already with Spike and maybe Diamond Tiara, also his relationship with Twilight would have caused that anyway. All in all, I just don't think he was needed.
9128257
I'm not sure how he's a non-entity. Sure, he hadn't appeared often but we've given snippets of his character in Daring's flashbacks
9128364
I would agree, at least one of them does anyways.
9128359
I get what you mean, but he appeared before the first other Displaced, or around that timeframe and then just disappears until now. Wyatt tries to get him to notice him but this also goes nowhere for ages. While we get snippets of him through flashbacks, it feels more like character development for Daring than any actual important development for him. It is specially wired since there is such an emphasis on finding him early on but then he is not really brought up again, only through Daring. While I appreciate the flashbacks, it still doesn't have him in the story, it kinda feels like he just took a really long nap and just woke up again. But again, my personal opinion.
9127731
So, an original universe.
I've been re-reading the story and something got my attention:
Are we talking about Ivan Ooze from the Power Rangers movie?
Now for this chapter:
I think we know how Daring is going to help later on.
9142865
OMG I never noticed, lol XD
9128378
Yeah, I have to agree. It could be argued they were trying to focus on other things for a while, but it's still weird that they put such a big emphasis on him around the beginning of the story and then just forgot about him for over 10+ chapters.
Hello I really like your story it's awesome and amazing I was wondering when is da next chapter