Hennessy watched and waited as Flicker headed out the door, off to take a morning shower. He suspected that Flicker hadn’t slept much, as when he woke up, Flicker was standing and staring out the window. Spud had Flicker’s whole bed to himself. Feeling concerned, he elbowed Piper in the ribs.
“He’s gone weird,” Hennessy muttered, “well, weirder. I’m starting to think that concert was a bad idea. I’m worried, Piper, and kinda scared.”
“I’ll admit, I’m rather frightened myself. He had a weird look on his face this morning when he was just standing there, staring out the window.”
Hennessy nodded, but didn’t know what else to say.
“I need a shower myself,” Piper mentioned in passing. “Before I go… Hennessy, I think Flicker could use a bit of reassurance for his fencing test. I have an idea, a cracking good one, and I think you and I could pull it off.”
“Okay, I’m up for it, whatever it is.”
“Good… good… I’m going to go and shower.”
“Me too. I am going to watch Flicker shower.”
“Naughty!”
The rug had been yanked out from beneath Flicker and his world was filled with chaos. Flicker detested chaos. The rats were chaos in small, disgusting, wretched bodies, and oh, how he hated them for what they represented. Yesterday he had been flying high, or so it felt, having a wonderful moment of catharsis when he had shattered the training dummy.
Now, well, now he very much felt trapped within himself.
Last night, he had felt, and he didn’t like it, not at all. What he had felt unnerved him, almost broke him, and the awareness of the cavernous emptiness inside of him had almost unhinged him. He had a woeful lack of preparation to deal with what he had seen inside of himself. His self discovery had almost broken him. He was a hollow shell of a pony that wore a mask as his real face. Beyond the mask there was little else, just a machine for murder and mayhem that was made out of gristle, muscle, bone, and sinew.
Octavia’s music had echoed within the vast, empty space inside of himself, a haunting, unwanted reminder of just how meaningless his existence was. Kneeling before Princess Cadance’s statue had been like lancing a wound, only to find that everything was shriveled up, dessicated, and empty inside, because there was nothing for disease to find purchase on.
He couldn’t even understand what had driven him to Princess Cadance’s shrine, other than he had felt a powerful tug, a pull, he had felt something and it was powerful. Kneeling there, praying, Flicker had realised one horrible truth about himself, a truth so terrible that even now, he wanted to deny its existence.
There was no love for himself.
He was not a harmonious creature, no servant of order.
“Mister Nicker, are you having a problem?” Mister Balister’s voice was stern, harsh, yet still had a faint hint of worry.
“Yes,” Flicker replied, being honest as he realised that he had been staring at the same spot on the wall for an unknown period of time, and he probably deserved a good head-thumping from Mister Balister. “Yes, I am collapsing in upon myself, Mister Balister.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” Mister Balister’s voice softened a bit, but not much. “Since you cannot seem to study, is there something else that you would rather be doing? Something productive?”
“Could you hang me by my hind fetlocks so I can do a thousand sit ups? I need to sort out what’s in my head, Mister Balister.”
“Very well, Mister Nicker. I shall hang you, as requested, and you shall take some equinal time to sort out your head. A thousand sit ups it is, then.” Mister Balister’s eyes narrowed with worry as he watched Flicker rise out of his seat. It was never a good sign when ponies like Flicker began showing cracks and ponies with his level of training could do a lot of damage if they flipped their wigs.
Joined by Doctor Sterling, Piper and Hennessy watched their friend doing sit ups while hanging upside down, hung by his hind legs. Flicker had been going at this for a while now, and the three ponies watching all did for different reasons. Doctor Sterling watched with a look of worry that was plain to see upon his face. Hennessy watched with fascination, as there were just so many rippling muscles on display. Piper watched with envy, and wondered if she could even perform a single upside down sit up.
“Undone by a concert,” Doctor Sterling muttered. “I’ve heard that Octavia has rare and powerful magic for an earth pony. It seems that she has ensorcelled our Mister Nicker. I sent word to the Crusaders, maybe they can help. You say he went to Princess Cadance’s shrine?”
“Yes,” Hennessy replied, his head bobbing up and down in time to Flicker’s sit ups.
“Now, why would he go there, I wonder?” Doctor Sterling, perplexed, used his magic to smooth out his handlebar mustache. “Being a warrior, I would think that if Mister Nicker suddenly found religion or a need to be spiritual, he would go to Princess Celestia’s shrine or Princess Luna’s. What would possess him to go to Princess Cadance’s shrine, I wonder? She is enshrined as the Princess of Love and the Patron of the Arts.”
“Patron of the Arts?” Piper turned away from Flicker to look at Doctor Sterling.
“Each princess is a patron of various professions and interests,” Doctor Sterling replied, explaining their purpose to Piper. “Princess Celestia is the patron to soldiers, warriors, and wizards. She is also the patron of wainwrights, for some peculiar reason. Princess Luna too, is also a patron to those of martial professions, but her shrines are just now being reestablished, due to Prince Gosling.”
“Princess Cadance’s school focuses on the arts and the equinities,” Piper said, reciting her newfound knowledge.
“Correct, which is why artists worship her.” Doctor Sterling eyed Flicker, his worry increasing. “Princess Twilight Sparkle agreed to allow herself to be enshrined as the Patron of Scholars, but only on one condition.”
“And that is?” Hennessy asked.
“She demanded that her shrines, if she had to have them, be used as public libraries.” Doctor Sterling made a gesture at Flicker and then asked both Piper and Hennessy, “How many sit ups do you think he has done?”
Both Hennessy and Piper shrugged, as neither had been keeping count.
The earth pony colt drew in a deep, almost shuddering breath and then whispered, “Flicker could be the Patron of Ripped Abs.”
“He could indeed,” Doctor Sterling replied. “He does this when he gets stressed out over something, or bored. He exercises obsessively when he’s feeling high strung.”
“Those muscles…” Hennessy’s words came out as a longing hiss, accompanied by the trembles.
“You really fancy him, don’t you?” Doctor Sterling asked.
“From the moment I laid eyes on him,” Hennessy replied. “He’s handsome.”
“Love at first sight,” Doctor Sterling said, sighing. “Such a magical thing. You just look at a pony and feel that magical, electrical connection. It really is quite grand, isn’t it? Or maybe it is lust at first sight, but I really do want to be an optimist, in spite of how awful everything really is.”
“Oh, Doctor Sterling, before I forget, I need your help with something. We want to do something nice for Flicker before his fencing exam. Something to help cheer him up and make him feel good.” Piper tapped on the floor with her hoof and she squinted at the good doctor. “He’s been a good friend, and I want to do something nice.”
“Tell me about your plan, Miss Pie…”
Wicked’s office held a princess, but it was not the one that Flicker was expecting. Summoned by Mister Pepper, he had stopped doing sit ups and come to Wicked’s office right away, something he regretted. He wished that he had showered, that he had cleaned up, that he had made himself presentable.
The pink pony was impeccable, perfect, and it was all he could do not to fall to the floor and grovel, something she had forbidden him from doing the second she had laid eyes on him. He now stood, trapped, his backside against the door, wondering what would come of all of this.
“Some time ago,” Princess Cadance began, “I had quite a moment of alarm. I have some interesting danger senses as an alicorn and I am still getting used to them. Some of them do take me by surprise though, and you took me by surprise. Which is why I am here. Of course, I was in town anyway, to visit family, but I figured, hey, since I was here…”
Flicker gulped, terrified. In a creaking voice he asked, “Why are you here?”
Eyes-widening, Princess Cadance smiled. “Did you not ask for me to come into your life?”
Ears drooping, Flicker gave thought to the princess’ words; he had, in fact, asked her to come into his life, he had done so at the shrine, but he had not expected this to happen. He averted his eyes, feeling unworthy, the emptiness ached within him and he couldn’t bear to look upon such a perfect, beautiful creature.
“We’re still figuring this prayer thing out,” Princess Cadance admitted. “But last night, I felt you. I felt your sincere, heartfelt desire to be loved. I was right in the middle of lecturing Gosling for letting Flurry roll around in paint so she could make pictures with her body. I swear, that pegasus…” As her words trailed off, the alicorn rolled her eyes and whatever else she was going to say came out as a groan of frustration.
Flicker wondered if he had inadvertently spared Prince Gosling a terrible fate.
Returning back to the task at hoof, Princess Cadance’s expression became solemn. “You… you pledged yourself to my service and promised to be my devoted servant if I gave you some small measure of peace. You are the second warrior to have done this, and I must confess, I am baffled and a whole lot flattered.”
“The second?” Flicker asked, bewildered. He watched Princess Cadance take a deep breath and her wings flared out from her expanded ribs. She had a curious, serious look upon her face, and he could not fathom the emotion he saw in her eyes.
“Yes, the second. The first shall go unnamed for the sake of their privacy, which I respect.” Holding her head high, Princess Cadance studied Flicker, and with a soft touch of her magic, she smoothed out his mane and then gave one of his drooping ears a playful, affectionate tug.
“I looked into myself,” Flicker confessed, “and I didn’t like what I found.”
“We seldom do,” Princess Cadance replied. “Tell me, Flicker, do you love?” She already knew the answer of course, but she wanted to hear him say it. Self-actualisation was something she treasured.
Still as a statue, Flicker did not respond right away. Precious seconds passed and his blank stare intensified. More seconds passed, then a minute, and then about a minute and a half later, Flicker broke. He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and made an admission of the great sin he had committed. “My love is meaningless and has no warmth. It is something I use as an excuse for duty. I use it to justify my transformation into whatever it is that I am becoming. Of all of the aspects of harmony, of which love might be the greatest, I have exploited it. I have done so ruthlessly and without a shred of remorse. Of all of the alicorns, the manifestations of the will of harmony, I have sinned against you the most and I am undeserving of your forgiveness. I request penance.”
Her proud neck bent and Princess Cadance shook her head. “Oh, poor Flicker… it pains me more than I care to admit to hear you say that. Come here, Flicker.”
Seeing Cadance advance, Flicker panicked and his stoic mask, a thin shell indeed, broke. He tried to take a step back, but his behind was already against the door. She loomed over him, larger than life, a menacing, terrifying shade of pink. There was no escaping her, no fleeing, and Flicker let slip a gibbering cry as she wrapped her wings around him.
Flicker’s knees gave way beneath him, and he would have fell, but somehow Princess Cadance held him up with her wings. Her embrace was warm, soft, kind, and something about it made him think of his mother, Twisty.
“Octavia’s music woke something within me, it made me feel,” Flicker gasped as he squeezed his eyes shut. “I thought about it all night as I stared out the window, and I’ve been thinking about it all day today… she inspired me to make right the wrong that I had done and to atone for my sins.”
“Yes, she does that,” Cadance whispered as she stood neck to neck with Flicker, hugging him, and trying to console him. She felt a damp moistness, not much, but enough to know that the colt was crying. “Every now and then, she delivers a real zinger to somepony, and it hurts a lot. It sounds like she got you pretty good. She is one of my most powerful agents and she brings so many ponies to me.”
Sniffling, Flicker asked, “What happens now?”
“Well,” Cadance responded. “Now… now I help you get better and I get to figure out what to do with a second warrior among my growing flock. Your faith has touched me, Flicker, and I will help you with your penance. You will not go through this alone. Be warned though, I can be strict and I have peculiar demands. I am a harsh, jealous mistress. My love can be a terrible, weighty burden.”
“My life for you,” Flicker whispered, buried in a pink embrace.
“Accepted. There is no more succinct oath of fealty.”
So, does Flicker get spell slots now or does he have to wait three levels first?
7953260 Forget ´bout spell slots...do you realize that Flicker has more class then the basic D & D book can list ? Warrior, paladin, errrr, semi-lich maybe ? Rogue/Spy. Also, the ammount of patrons he have, alone, could fund an entire army !
Well what else do you expect the daughter of the Patron Princess of the Arts to do?
2 cadets now in the army of the Crystal Heart.
I read the author's note, followed its suggestion, and was enlightened thereby. I offer my thanks to the author for that note.
This chapter was so very touching. I mean, it was no chapter 32, but still...
I think Flurry is patron of Oatmeal. Or possibly Paint. Or both.
7953302
Nah. Patron of Adorable and Messes.
7953306 Oh Princess Heart, what a mess!
*reviews chapter 32*
Oh, so it wasn't Shining's Curry after all.
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Ah how humility takes real courage.
On the way to becoming a better pony Flicker is going to end up with more titles than Celestia at this rate.
I totally didn't expect him to swear himself to Love's service, but it does make a lot of crazy sense.
Was wondering why Luna hadn't snapped this bad boy up....
I highly approve of this degree of open honesty. No hiding the problems, here.
Ain't that the truth. At least those thousand sit-ups should keep him busy for a while.
Wagon making is very important. Civilization runs on reliable transportation and trade.
I like it.
Ooo, Cadance herself in for the consult about Flicker. Well, he does need a lot of counseling.
That's the thing about having actual physical gods to pray to, they might decide to respond in person.
A heavenly hug!
No, wait.
And now Flicker has hitched himself to yet another master. So, the Guild, Night Light’s secret society (unless I'm misremembering that bit), S.M.I.L.E, Lima Death (unconsciously), and now Cadance. Good thing all of those have more or less compatible goals.
I picture this as a good church of love song.
or
7953306 Probably have to wait to figure out what Flurry is patron of, unless you consider the storm at her crystalling so maybe she is the patron of the weather..
I would've though Luna would be the patron of soldiers and Twilight would be the patron of wizards as well as scholars
7953662
Princess Celestia: Established for well over a thousand years.
Twilight Sparkle: Just getting started in this patron business, and none too keen on it.
These things happen over time and it is the ponies, the followers who pick them.
Wow...
Gotta love how you presented Candance. *two thumps to the chest* That scene hit hard.
7953492
There's also the fact that Celestia has historically been very, very good at making wainwrights.
For the time being, perhaps. Of course, there can be a benefit to being hitched to a number of entities that have incompatible goals; the chief one is that they all decide to leave you alone because trying to actually make you do stuff would be more costly than not.
Although I must admit there is a kind of bizarre appeal to an Illuminati paladin exterminator who works for the BPRD.
Cadence has a bloody army. Not of just therapists either.
Well you damn sure got one now, motherbucker.
I can buy Lord Death of Murder Mountain being gay, sexual preference and martial ability aren't linked, look at the Brotherhood of the Sacred Band.
I can believe that Flicker, through conditioning, training, and perhaps a genetic preference for sociopathy could turn from an over protective brother into a monster slaying killing machine before he's finished teenagerhood.
And I can even consider that Octavia's talent through inspirational song gave Flicker the breakthrough of self awareness you had been building to this whole story.
I can't buy that he'd throw his lot in with Lovebutt. Sunbutt, sure. Moonbutt, definitely. But not Lovebutt.
7954034
What is more fierce and violent than love?
When passions run hot and the blood sings, violence is sure to follow, especially when those you love are threatened.
Besides, give Flicker a chance to explain himself. It'll happen. It is specifically because of Octavia that this happened.
7954041
7954034
Another thing to consider is that Flicker is trying to make himself better. He has realized one of his greatest failings... and what better way to help fix it than to dedicate himself to the living embodiment of what he lacks a connection to?
7954041
Oh I'll still read to see where you're going with this. But you and I must love in very different ways.
It could be that Cadence is by far my least favorite goddess, taking after her manipulator aunt Celestia, but when it comes to thankless protection in the dark places of the world I think Luna. Or even Twilight in her adventurous Pre-Princess days.
Cadence always struck me as the Cleric/Support Goddess, like a cross between Hestia and Aphrodite of greek mythos.
7954341
And you nailed exactly where i was going with this.
Flicker is practical and straightforward. Even with his awakening, he lacks imagination.
For him, he looked inward, saw the great big gaping hole and went, "Fuck."
Well now Flicker has his Princess under whom he will serve with fanatical devotion. As always this was an insightful chapter.
7954423
Well, we do seem to think an awful lot alike in many ways. It just seemed obvious to me.
7953492
It's Flicker. He doesn't do hiding, or subterfuge. Denial, at the most. He'll take truth, and probably use it as a blunt instrument.
I can't help but wonder if she married the first one.
7955459
Well, it is kinda romantic.
Flickers team is needed in Chicago!!
Wait, so how many factions has he joined now? Six? I think six:
Guild, Death, Smile, Mercenaries, Stiff upper Lips (or wherever that dagger came from) and now Cadence. I wonder if it all comes crashing down? Also did i miss some here?
It's not the relevant chapter, but I'd love to see a story about a Warden, how they are trained and their culture
7965760 Wow. The first one made me really laugh :-)
7984722
The Rat Catchers serve all of civilization by holding back the tide of pestilence.
Lucerna Perpetuum wishes to keep the light of civilization lit, thus their interests are the Guild's business (and they are one of the Guild's unspoken patrons <coughNIGHT LIGHTcough>.
The Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria (S.M.I.L.E.) hunts and kills dangerous creatures that again threaten civilization and ponies, so it is an extension of what Flicker does as a Rat Catcher.
Him joining with Lima Bean/Death is a simple business transaction - a unique type of rat, one that is undead and thus in violation of Death/Lima's desires, has arose due to Grogar's influence, and thus Lima contracted Flicker as her champion, her 'repossession agent' as it were.
Which brings us to Cadance. She has been said, in this chapter (65 for those reading from the general story comments section) to be the patron of the arts and the equinities. This means she could technically be the most suited to Flicker's unique issues AND to his need to serve to protect the arts, which are the lifeblood of civilization. She is also the one shown throughout the Weedverse stories to help wayward souls with emotional and mental ailments to recover - Flicker most definitely fits this bill, and the CMC's even said in their first meeting with him that they are being sought by Cadance for their expertise with cutie mark-related mental/emotional stresses.
And the Mercenary Alley thing was a magical contract and record keeping that basically solidified his right to openly carry arms, thus his right to enter Mercenary Alley and purchase for himself. Not a joining so much as it was a blood-linked contract stating he is a citizen that earned the right to carry arms.
Makes sense that Celestia is the patron of wizards. Canonically speaking, she was the previous Bearer of Magic (and Generosity and Kindness), as shown when the Sisters confronted Discord in Twilight's flashback.
Now I'm really anxious to see what sort of tasks Cadence might give. How will Flicker manage being a champion of death and an acolyte of love? That alone deserves its own story.
8503713
One is a religion, the other is a job.
8503723
My point still stands that the contrast is interesting, especially since the supervisor for his job has basically possessed him and can provide some witty commentary while he carries out Cadence's bidding.
8503732
True.
And from this comes comedy.
8503745
I would also like to add something about what happens later. Piper might not be too keen on being assigned as Flicker's asshole, but it could always be worse. She could be Hennesy's, and it's pretty clear what that fate will be like.
hmm, does discord have chapels in your verse?
That’s a lot of oaths for one not so little yet oh so shredded Flicker