Twilight had heard the beating of wings that were flapping in uniform as they drew closer to her home a while ago. As such, when the sound of something large thudding into her front yard reached her, she wasn’t too surprised.
She still tripped over herself answering the door after using her X-ray vision to check on it.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight greeted. “Please, come in!” She moved back and out of the way, allowing Celestia and two of her Solar Guards to enter the room. “Would any of you like some tea? I just put a pot on.”
Celestia smiled at her student. “Yes, please. That sounds lovely right now,” she said. She looked at her guards. “At ease, gentlemen. You may relax if you wish and accept some tea.”
The two albino Pegasi with blue manes and golden eyes relaxed.
When Twilight returned, it was with four cups and a largish pot of tea held in her magic. She poured everyone their tea before sitting down with her own. “It’s good to see you again, Princess.”
Celestia smiled. “You as well, my student. It is good to see you up and about so quickly. Luna was telling me yesterday that you had recovered fully, even if Tender wasn’t convinced.”
Twilight sipped her tea. “I won’t deny that the small vacation is nice. Spike has been such a sweetheart and managing the library chores for me, even though I insist I’m capable.” She looked down into her cup and sighed.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Is something the matter with Spike’s attitude, Twilight?” she asked curiously.
Twilight shook her head. “No, nothing like that, although…” She trailed off, before forcing herself back on topic. “I just can’t get over how…” she paused, searching for a word, before sighing. “Stupid. I can’t believe how stupid I was during that fight with the Ursa. I did everything I shouldn’t have done when fighting it. I used magic against it, I used brute strength, and I got close enough for it to take me out in a single blow.” She growled. “I know better! I should have at least tried wrapping it’s legs up in null-chains, but it’s like all of the experience in my head just went out the window the moment the fight started!”
She sagged after a moment. “Princess Luna told me it’s because my memories are still settling. My pony memories are going to take precedence in terms of instinct until I finish getting used to all of this.”
Celestia hummed in thought. “I suppose it makes sense. I’ve rarely dealt with Hero Souls personally, so I only know so much. Luna was their guide whenever they cropped up throughout history.”
A silence, though it wasn’t uncomfortable, settled as the four ponies enjoyed their tea.
“What of Fluttershy?” Celestia suddenly asked. “How has she adapted to being a Hero Soul?”
Twilight frowned. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I haven’t seen her too often in the last few days, though whenever I do she insists she’s doing fine. She seems happy enough, so I don’t question it.”
“I ask because I’d like you to pass on a message for me if you get the chance,” Celestia said.
Twilight looked at her curiously. “Sure, but you could have just sent her a letter. Why go through me?”
Celestia put her teacup down and began refilling it. “Two reasons. The first is because the message applies to you as well. The second reason is because I do not wish to risk this mystery pony that sent the Ursa against you intercepting it.” She took a longer than normal pull from the freshly brewed tea. “I have had Doctor Tender stationed here at Ponyville as a private physician for you and Fluttershy, and potentially anymore Hero Souls that pop up. If you have need of medical service, go to him. He is the only person in Equestria with an up to date medical record on you.”
“Isn’t that a risk? Leaving documents like that for someone to steal?” Twilight asked.
Celestia smirked. “Who said he had documents?”
---
“So what’s it like?” Rainbow Dash asked, walking among the market stalls with Fluttershy.
“What’s what like?” Fluttershy responded, somewhat distracted with examining some tomatoes.
“Having the memories of another pony in your head,” Rainbow Dash said.
Fluttershy took a moment to pay for some of the tomatoes before smiling at Rainbow Dash. “Strange,” she said simply at first. “I really have no other way to describe it, other than to say it’s indescribable. Not entirely in a good way either.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“How do you think you’ll handle having the memories of being a man… I’m sorry… stallion?”
Rainbow Dash shivered. “Yikes. No thanks,” she stated.
Fluttershy nodded. “There are upsides, such as the Super-Soldier Serum somehow working on me.”
“Super-Soldier Serum?”
Fluttershy paused, considering how to explain it. “Steve Rogers was a weak and frail man. He was also prone to getting sick often,” she started. “He was often bullied for his weakness, and to make matters worse his family struggled to make ends meet.”
“He was a nerd?” Rainbow Dash asked in distaste, before frowning. “Wait, then where did you get all that strength?” she asked, speaking of Fluttershy’s bulkier frame.
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, Steve was just an unfortunate child born with a lot of problems in his body, problems that the medicine of that day and age couldn’t fix.” She smiled. “But that didn’t mean he didn’t have a strong heart. He was raised to know right from wrong, and always believed that you should offer help when you see someone who needs it. Even when his body made it difficult, he always tried to help people, always tried to stand up to bullies and the like. He believed in Justice.”
Rainbow Dash considered that, and could see how that would end for someone who was weak and frail like Fluttershy had described. It didn’t matter how many times you tried, you would get knocked down again and again. But the way Fluttershy talked of this Steve guy, it sounded like he didn’t quit, even when he probably should have.
Rainbow Dash could respect that kind of dedication.
“And then World War Two happened,” Fluttershy said with a dark expression.
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Wait, world war, as in a war that spanned the entire world?” she asked in shock.
Fluttershy nodded. “Humans are a passionate species, and often let their emotions guide them over their common sense. This has led to two world wars, but has also produced incredible people, people you would be proud to just know of. One such person was Steve. Even though he was weak, even though his own body seemed to be against him, he didn’t care. He tried to sign up for the army to help protect his home and country.” She sighed. “He was turned away due to his physical inability.”
“What?!” Rainbow Dash screeched. “They couldn’t have assigned him some kind of desk job? Maybe put him in the intelligence division of their army?” she asked.
Fluttershy smirked at her, and Rainbow Dash blanched upon realizing how nerdy she sounded. After a moment Fluttershy sighed. “As homesick as Steve was for that time, even he knew the world was a brutal and unfair place back them. He wasn’t entirely surprised that he got denied. Dismayed, yes, but not surprised.
“On his way out the door, he was approached regarding a chance to become more than just a soldier. He was told the procedure was untested, likely to kill him, and may even have mental side-effects if it did work… but he took a chance, and agreed.” Fluttershy placed a hoof over her heart, smiling. “He was injected with a chemical cocktail that enhanced his body in every way, pushing him to absolute peak of the human body. He was as strong, fast, and durable as a human could possibly be.”
Rainbow Dash whistled, impressed. “A Super Soldier, hence the name of the serum,” she concluded.
Fluttershy nodded. “And somehow, I have no idea how, that serum got in me as well when I awakened his memories, making me the same thing he was. I was pushed to the absolute limits of the Pegasus body.”
She turned to focus on her shopping again, never noticing the look that came over Rainbow Dash’s face at that declaration.
It's funny, but I'm getting the suspicion that maybe Dashie has a hero soul...
So, at the end, is that Rainbow realizing she's become the Bucky Barns to Fluttershy's Steve Rodgers and accepting it (at least until/if/when she awakens a Hero's Soul of her own...?), or is she becoming jealous because her childhood friend was basically handed what she's been pushing herself towards for her entire life?
Well Captain America: The First Avenger and the information in The Winter Soldier are great at telling his story before his transformation. I think none of us would complain if you used that information for his backstory. Rainbow Dash's knowledge is important and I think your idea for the Wonderbolts is a superb idea.
8171572 that's something seemingly a given....
Yay! Moar Cap'n Shy Pleeze!
no, you pretty much got the gist of it (or at least the MCU Heatcliff notes version...)
EDIT: Should have tweaked the serum to get peak Alicorn perfection... oh well, one of the dangers of outsourcing
I just realized that this is before Dash succeeds at repeating the Sonic Rainboom in this timeline. Poor Dash.
Hmm...
Rainbow Dash: The Flash
Applejack: Wonder Woman
Rarity: Iron Man (Mane? Mare?)
Pinky Pie: Plastic Man!!!!
8171664 Nope. DC and Marvel Universes are already accounted for, and if I understand what I've read from the comments correctly, then the Author doesn't intend to use more than one Hero/Villain pair from any given Source Universe.
8171779
8171664
I did however consider making Rarity Iron Man before I decided on that rule. My only issue was the technology requirements.
GIVE THAT MARE A SHIELD...! And use her as a promotional tool for the Diarchy... if you don't mind...
8171783
Magitech. And anyway, Tony Stark's genius is hardly constrained by the level of technology most commonly seen in his time. I could see how she might have had a hard time building things at first, seeing as she would probably have needed to brush up on the basics of magical/technological theory outside of her work as a fashionista, but once she established that baseline, especially if she and Twilight had collaborated, then building a new "Iron Mare" suit using magic to power and operate it would have been simple. Also there's the fact that Tony built his first Iron Man suit out of scraps in a cave, so even if you didn't go the Magitech route Equestria's technology level would hardly have been a hindrance. (And if Tony doesn't know how to MacGyver together an arc-welder I'll eat my three year old boots)
This is all kindof a moot point though, seeing as you made that rule. Just trying to point out that some things may not be as much of a limiting factor as you probably think they are if you put a bit of thought into the potential whys and hows.
8171783 Then hrms... Dashie needs to be somethng speed related, because her entire sense of self-worth seems focused on her speed. other than the classic speedsters, most of whom are DC, I'm not sure... unless she's Sonic?
8171827
I kind of want her to end up being Shadow or Silver, just to see how she reacts
"Challenge Accepted"; also, I'm calling it now: Rainbow Dash is the next pony to gain a hero's soul
That would have been also interesting, if Twilight had been Tony Stark's reincarnated.
Rarity <-- Batman?
8171818 You know, I had considered making the Minotaurs the high-tech kingdom and having Rarity go there to make her armor, but I like your idea of her and Twilight collaborating. I also hadn't considered magitech, just plain tech, but it certainly sounds more doable than it did before. Oh well, too little too late.
8171812 Please don't make tiny text. I can't read it.
8171947 Just remember... I don't give refunds.
8172213 Tatsurou already did it, and man did he knock that one out of the park. I would have felt like I was making some kind of cheap knock off if I had tried.
8172423
Did what?
8172485 Rarity as Batman. I admit, it's not technically the same, but in spirit it is.
Rainbow: Then I challenge you to a race, Shy.
8172598
There used to be a fanfic with Twilight becoming Iron Mare too, but sadly it was cancelled.
8172423 it was not meant to be read... But fixedededed
8172607 there's actually a couple Twilight as "Iron Mare/Mane" fics out there. I'd look them up and link them, but I'm on my phone with only 25% battery left atm.
8173025
Are they good? how many thumbs up?
8173029 don't know, and don't know... I saw them in the various feeds and added them to my read later shelf, and haven't gotten around to reading any of them yet due to focusing on older already completed stories right now.
8176455 Here you go.
8173688 she could try, but Superman is magically vulnerable... meaning that the kryptonian weakness to magic gets greatly increased with a body that is 95% magic (Think of it as living with enough kryptonite inside to turn the superman into a Kryptonian version of Captain America, as explained by FlutterCap)
Just replace Pegasus with
SeiyaKryptonian8176982
8173688
Twilight cannot use the Infinite Mass Punch because the Ascended have prevented her body from being able to channel enough solar radiation at once to do it. Her magic has nothing to do with it. The punch is frankly overkill and incredibly dangerous, as it can crack planets That kind of power isn't necessary in this story.
I've also already stated that Twilight's magic, and passive magic in general, will not hinder her. Any magic used on her with intent to affect her will not be blocked in any way.
Why give her Superman's power, only to take it away the next second?
8176990 I see... Very well...
I await your FlutterCap...
Gotta say I love this story. It's at once fascinating with the world building, and intriguing the way you meld the characters and tell their stories.
8189535 I'll be honest... I'm flying by the seat of my pants here. Blind at that. I have only a vague idea about the plot that I'll follow, most of everything else is on the spot "Oh this sounds good!" stuff. It;s only recently I started trying to nail down more solid concepts.
I'm amazed the story lasted this long...
I'm going to leave a line from a specific cutscene towards the end of a specific quest in a certain game, and I want you to tell me if you get it. Odds are, you won't get it, but it would be cool if you did.
"Dream, not of what you are, but what you want to be."
8259403
I want to say Warframe, but only because I've read fanfiction that uses that phrase. I've never actually played the game.
8259416
It is Warframe. I absolutely love that game. That line is something which comes right before one of the major lore reveals. If you read a fanfiction with that line, then you probably know what it is: the Operators.