Suited For Success
Dear Princess Luna,
I’m sorry to report that yesterday’s events have brought some troubling news to the attention of the Watchers. Our source for predicting future events is not as accurate as we originally thought. A small inconsequential detail was false in the translation from fiction to reality, but this raises a concern of what else may be false. Other than the order of events in an athletic competition held by Applejack,and Rainbow Dash all events proceeded as expected.
I am sorry to trouble you with this news Your Highness, but it was paramount to keep you informed.
Wishing you well,
Harley
I read over the letter once more in my head, and then close the book. I wrote it to Luna the night before, and she’s yet to respond. I’ve also just finished reading it out loud for the Watchers, who are now assembled in my living room, including my human friends. Slowly I look up to take their reactions.
“...So we no longer safe in keeping things perfect.” Mykee frowns before sighing. “And I just got here…”
“Well, sorta, I guess it's not a carbon copy, just an outline of the events.” Savanna says
“Still, the universe could’ve at least let me go through an episode or two to let me know what I’m doing before changing it…” Mykee grumps.
“How do you think I feel,” I mutter.
Bonbon clears her throat, “Alright… So the source of our primary objective isn't as accurate as we thought. That's still valuable information. This means now we’re better informed, and can plan accordingly.”
“We’re lucky the damage was minimal,” Doc mutters. “This is truly a puzzle… It could be that something has set events slightly askew from how your show recalls them Harley, or it could simply be a side effect of Ad Infinitum. We really have no way of knowing.”
“What’s Ad Infinitum?” Mykee questions.
“Multiverse theory,” I reply. “Let me put it in terms you might recognize… ‘I believe there are an infinite number of world's that, save a few differences, are exactly like our own.’ I think that's how Lex Luthor put it…”
Minuet shifts a bit in her seated position, “Troubling… If that's the case then your show might not be a record of our Equestria at all. But perhaps another that’s just a lot like it.”
“Who knows what else could be different,” Lemon Hearts comments.
Zecora walks in with a tray balanced on her back, the zebra offering us all some sweet smelling tea. “The answers that haunt us are certainly unclear, but it should not affect what we do here. We have our mission, we have our goal, to catch a Spector, and save a foal.”
I nod, and sigh heavily as I hold my cup. “She's right… We can still use the show as a general guide for certain situations. We’ll just have to watch more carefully. In the meantime we still have to deal with The Manifest, and find out if it's really in Sweetie Belle.”
“How exactly will we do that?” Mykee questions.
“Zecora, and I have been working on a sensor to detect it,” Minuet replies. “Took a bit longer than we would have liked, but we managed.” She walks over to the saddlebags she had brought with her, and pulls out a wooden box. Then she comes over to us, opening the box with her magic. Inside is a watch with a square face, but it doesn't seem to be ticking at all. With her magic she deftly hits a hidden switch, and it pops open to reveal some circuitry surrounded by several small jewels.
“It will operate like a normal watch,” Minuet explains. “However when the Manifest is in range it will vibrate once to alert the wearer, and the hand of the watch that counts seconds will point in the direction you need to go. We just need a sample of the Manifest to track it, which Harley was able to provide.”
She levitates the book I gave them out of the bags as well, and tears off the smallest bit of one of the corners. Then she sets it into a little groove in the center of the gems before securing the watch shut.
I hold out my hand for it, and then put it on after Minuet gives it to me. “We should get a chance to test it soon… What's the range on this thing?”
“Not long, about ten feet or so,” Minuet replies. “But we can just have you guys foalsit again, you'll get your chance.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “If memory serves the next episode is supposed to be Suited For Success. Rarity will be plenty busy making dresses for her friends to wear at the Gala so she'll be plenty busy. That means we could offer to keep Sweetie Belle out of her mane for a good while.”
“Sounds like a plan, so what do we do if it is in Sweetie?” Savanna asks,” Is there like a process we follow or...?”
“To break the Manifest from the host the host needs to be told a hard truth,” Bonbon replies. “Not something simple like ‘the sky is blue,’ or ‘Celestia raises the sun.’ It has to be a truth that will shock the host, and disrupt the connection. That will force the Manifest out of her.”
I levitate the book of the Manifest for us all to see, “Celestia said we had a 50/50 chance of capturing it in this…”
The room falls silent, and Minuet breaks it a minute later. “I don't see we have a choice.”
“So we’re gonna foalsit, and if it’s her, hopefully figure out a hard truth to tell her.” Mykee muses.
“Might be a few things I could think up,” I muse. “The fans shipped her with a colt named Button Mash an awful lot…”
“Worth investigating,” Bonbon reasons.
Pulling out my phone I find my download of the “Don't Mine at Night” MLP parody by JanAnimations, and show them the video.
Mykee covers his ears as he watches.
“I swear if that song gets stuck in my head I will duct tape you to a log and shove you into a river.” Savanna grumps and also clamps her hands over her ears.
“I’ll help.” Mykee agrees.
I roll my eyes, and mute it, “It was just for visual reference. His name might not even be Button Mash, but I've seen this colt around town. I just wanted everyone to memorize what he looks like. If this colt has a crush on her or something then that might be the truth we need.”
“I can do that. I think.” Mykee nods.
“And what if it's not?” Sav asks,” I mean, not to be negative but….”
“It's a fair question,” Bonbon says simply. “At any case, we need to be certain of Sweetie Belle does indeed have the Manifest. If she's just been using it for levitation like we've seen then we have some to work with. From how we understand The Manifest the more it's used the greater in power it grows. Sweetie probably isn't aware of her own power so hasn't tried anything more noteworthy, which is why we didn't notice it sooner.”
“That would give us more time to search for whatever truth would shock her into freedom.” Doc points out.
“...I think I might have one,” I inform them. “In a later episode in a far off season it's revealed that Sweetie holds a grudge against her sister.”
“Which might not be true,” Twinkleshine points out. “If your show isn't as accurate as we thought then it might never have happened. It's a gamble… And even if it is true, should we really bring it up to her before the time of that episode?”
“No we shouldn't,” I reply. “It's our ace in the hole, a gamble like you said… For now though, Watchers, we’re running recon. I want information on one Button Mash while Mykee, Sav, and I handle Sweetie Belle with the sensor…”
Mykee nods and stands. “I’ll get the leftover cheesecake. The CMC’s seemed to enjoy it. As did everyone else… amazing what you can do with a kiddie pool and 10,000 packages of Oreo…”
“How no one has died yet of a sugar rush is beyond me.” Sav comments.
“How I’ve survived without a consistent diet of meat and cheese is equally remarkable to me.” Mykee shrugs.
I roll my eyes, “We have our objectives Watchers, dismissed.”
The ponies in the room nod, and file out to get their day started.
We must find another way to meet. So many of the same ponies converging on the same point repeatedly… Ponies will ask questions.
I nod in agreement, and look up to my friends with a smile. “Alright, I'll go get the CMC. You guys wanna set up a day to keep them distracted?”
“Sure. I don’t know what exactly, but sure.” Mykee nods.
Savanna cracks her neck and nods, "You got it! Come on Mykee, I got an idea.”
Mykee obeys, walking after her.
---------------
Sure enough when I got there everything had been already in full swing, Rarity hard at work designing the dresses for the six of them. Lucky me I had our outfits preordered, and Rarity did an amazing job.
Honestly I couldn't help putting mine on at the boutique just to try it out. Hood, or top hat I have to admit this look suits me. I especially like how she had switched up the color scheme to my favorites of black, and dark blue.
“Rarity, you're a diamond,” I say in flattery as I look myself over in the mirror. “Really, how you don't have those other boutiques yet is beyond me.”
She perks her ears, “Oh? Other boutiques?”
I hesitate, and then sigh. “Well… Yeah… Okay, I recently learned the show wasn't a perfect copy of events here so I suppose there's not much harm in telling you. In the show you do end up setting up shops in Canterlot, and Manehatten eventually… In that order.”
Rarity gasps softly, and gives a tiny squeal. “Oh that's wonderful news! Oh I hope these gowns I'm making for my friends, and I will help set things in motion.”
“Probably,” I admit. “Not much to go on with abridged glances into this world with Windows only open for about half an hour, but it wouldn't surprise me.”
“Oh I hope Sweetie gets home soon, I could use the helping hoof.”
I blink, and glance from side to side in thought, “Um, probably not the best idea Rarity. In the show she has a track record of sorta getting in the way… How about we look after her for a bit. I could actually use her help.”
“Really? With what?” Rarity tilts her head at me as she looks up from her design drawings.
“Eh…” I scratch the back of my neck, “Well… That dragon hoard in the bank won't last forever, so I thought I might start introducing some money-making ideas from my world into this one. Little things like bestselling books, and board games, figured I might use her friends to bounce ideas off of.”
Rarity smiles, “Well then, I suppose I can manage without her. Best of luck darling!”
I write out the check for the Gala outfits, and tack it to her cork board, “Here you go, have a good day Rarity! Where is Sweetie Belle anyhow?”
“Oh I think she went to the arcade with her friends,” she replies dismissively as she starts gathering rolls of fabric.
Arcade? Huh…
What is it?
Just a feeling that fate is actually on our side a bit.
---------------
I carry the other outfits home in some bags, and as I step in the front door I announce, “Hey guys! Rarity finished our Assassin’s Creed outfits! Get ‘em while they're fresh off the line!”
“Well hotdog!” I hear Sav cheer across the house, and with speed that even I blink at she's suddenly in front of me, yanking her outfit out of my arms and bolting upstairs.
As usual, Mykee is incredibly slower at heading to the door, looking at his outfit as he takes it. “Thanks. After the Gala, Rarity can start making me regular clothes, right?
“Hopefully, she is a busy pony after all.” Savanna calls to him, “How do- what- I can't…..bah!”
“...Do you need help up there?” Mykee raises an eyebrow at the stairs.
I shoot him a suspicious look, “Hm?”
“Honestly that'd be nice, I can't reach this back zipper!” She replies.
Mykee heads up the stairs with his outfit on his arm. “Why would there be a back zipper? Men don’t use back zippers, and these are based on male outfits…” He disappears from view.
“Actually hers was based off of Evie Frye from Syndicate,” I call up after him.
“Don’t know who that is.” He calls back down.
“Oh my god your shame meter should be so high right now.” Savanna mutters through the door.
I hadn’t heard her at the time, but Mykee told me later when I started writing these up. Anyways I just started doing a few stretches to get a feel for my new duds. Surprisingly they’re very easy to move around it. Then up the stairs I call, “Speaking of video games though, Rarity said Sweetie was probably in the arcade, so once you’re both dressed how about we head on over?”
“Sure.” Mykee calls down. To Savanna he mutters, “Alright, all zipped up.”
“Thanks dude.” Savanna rolls her shoulders and then shoos Mykee out to finish changing.
Mykee returns downstairs in a few minutes in his outfit. It’s pretty much the outfit of Connor Kenway, just without the weapons, and put into some lighter hues as per his request. The boots had been a bit too long for his liking too, so Rarity made them shorter, roughly just below the knee.
But Sav hasn't yet.
“Why do women have to wear so many layers to look badass? Like what even….”
“Didn’t hear you saying anything wrong with it in RWBY, or Red vs Blue,” I point out. “Besides, the way I see it we’re in the eye of a shit storm, so live a little when you can. Heck I told Rarity this was formal attire in our world on account of most our nobility were seasoned assassins in the olden ages, so we wear stuff like this to formal occasions these days out of tradition… Total BS I know, but a harmless little fib.”
“Plus it’s either a lot of layers, or a skimpy suit according to badass female logic.” Mykee adds.
“Well fuck female logic and the desperate nerds who made it that way.” Savanna says bitterly and finally after a 35 minutes comes downstairs with the full outfit.
“It’s easier to kill someone when all they focus on is boobs.” Mykee shrugs.
“Oh please,” I mutter. “That would only work on the weak-minded. Plus it probably won’t work around here since in case you hadn’t noticed, despite a mostly female population in this world, Sav’s pretty much the only creature with tits in probably all Equestria.”
“So you’re saying we’re weak-minded, because we would definitely be distracted by boobs.” Mykee deadpans.
“Well… I guess when you put it that way…” I rub the back of my neck with a blush.
By this point in the conversation, Savanna is staring between us with a deadpan expression like in the office.
“There Sav, if you ever want to kill us, just flash us then while we’re distracted, stab us in the face.” Mykee smirks. “You’re welcome.”
I thrust out a fist, punching him in the chest slightly out of impulse, “Dude, I’m willing to talk tits with you from dawn to dusk, just not in the presence of a lady. Alright? My dad raised me better than that.”
“We’re all friends here.” Mykee points out. “By the end of this, if we’re not besties, we’re gonna be a fucking family. In the hypothetical sense. I don’t see the point of not being open anymore.”
I sigh, “...I suppose he’s got a point Sav.” I raise my hands in mock surrender, “With that being said, I’m not responsible for what comes out of his mouth. Just know that if you guys break anything when the wrong thing gets said, it’s coming out of your new weekly allowances.”
“Trust me, nothing in this house is going to get broken, well, except one thing if he doesn’t tread lightly.” Savanna hisses and gives Mykee a pointed look as she crosses her arms.
“You’re the one threatening me. I’m just giving advice, you two are the ones being defensive about it. Now let’s go.” Mykee heads for the door.
“There’s such a thing as a filter between brain, and mouth,” I state simply as I follow. “But back to what I was saying a second ago; new weekly allowances. The funds for the Watchers won’t last forever until I start setting up some income for it. If we dive too deeply into it Bonbon will make an angry Sav look like a girl scout. So just so you guys have some pocket money, every week I’m giving you guys fifty Bits. That’s about $50 USD from how I’ve seen spending around here.”
“Well, I don’t have people to PayPal commission while I’m here, so 50 bucks sounds pretty sweet.” Mykee nods.
Savanna just nods as she trails behind us.
Fun little bit of information… Don't ask me how, but apparently arcades are outdoors. So it amounts to several coin operated games in a row down a small trail in the less populated parts of Ponyville… And only now when writing this out do I realize how much of a hunting ground for pedophiles this sounds. Guess that's less an issue in Equestria.
But we find the CMC quick enough, apparently trying to get their Cutie Marks in Whack-a-Mole today.
Mykee looks around. “...This is fucking weird.”
“Why?” Savanna asks with a raised brow “ They're just games.”
“Yeah, outside. Where the fuck’s the power? In the trees?” He glances at her. “Also, no AC like a regular arcade. 2 out of 10, if there were better arcades, would not come back again.”
“You forgot the part where this world merges magic, and technology,” I point out. “Besides, the high ruler controls the flipping sun. Maybe they’re solar powered? I mean the chargers Doc made for us were solar powered.”
“True… but they don’t have AC, which with the three of us, we should create immediately.” Mykee wipes his brow.
“The Air Conditioner?”A yellow Earth Pony with a brunette braid for a mane, and a baby bottle Cutie Mark steps up beside us. “Oh we have that, the basic study is just getting children to act more outside in any manner will make them more active in the long run.”
“Like Pokemon Go,” I mutter, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. I know this pony, I just can’t place her…
“Hang on a sec…Didn't we save your kid when those weird sprite things started eating everything?” Savanna asks with a tilted head.
She tilts her head as well thoughtfully. “Well you both rescued the town, so I suppose yes you did, along with every other child in Ponyville. On that note though I’d like to say from my little Button, and I that we’re grateful.”
Little Button? Wait… waitwaitwaitwait! Oh no… Oooohhhhh Luna sit me on her horn, and spin me, NO! NO! NO! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!
What has you so worked-?
Explaining later! Now we disengage, grab CMC, and march!
Mykee meanwhile surveys the machines. “No video games? Darn… I hope this skill crane isn’t rigged…” He puts some bits into the machine, and tries grabbing a stuffed fish.
Savanna ignores Mykee and turns her attention back to the pony. “No problem, just doing my job.”
“Well, if you ever need anything then my door is always open.”
I laugh a bit nervously, and step forward between the two women. “Wow that is a lovely offer ma’am, and we will be sure to remember such gratitude. But really, just knowing a mother, and son can live happily is all the thanks a good deed needs.”
She chuckles, “Well how noble… Wait, how did you know I had a-?”
“Oh would you look at the time,” I say, “accidentally” cutting her off with a glance at my watch. “So sorry to leave such a nice lady hanging, but we have a full day ahead of us with some sisters of our friends. Have a nice day!”
I grab Sav by the hand a little tighter than needed, and elbow Mykee before I start making long strides for the CMC, my heart pounding in my throat.
Savanna yaps and gives the pony an apologetic look as I drag the two away, ”Sorry! Good bye!”
Mykee grabs his fish, following curiously. “I assume you’re gonna explain this later?”
“Less talk, more trot,” I say through my teeth, shooting him a near panicked look as I drop Sav’s hand, scooping up Scootaloo. “Hey kids! Guess who’s gonna be watching out for you three for the day!”
Scoots blinks, and looks me over, “...What are you wearing? You look like you stepped out of an old play.”
“Wow, rude,” Sav says then grins. “It's a thing back home we do to honor our ancestors.”
“Yeah, that.” Mykee picks up Sweetie Belle.
Applebloom takes one look at us, and accidentally releases the hammer on a back swing, sending it flying. “Whoa!”
I watch it fly into some bushes, “...That should really have a cord… Anyways girls, glad we found you so quick! We got some ideas how to get your Cutie Marks!”
Their eyes light up with joy, and Applebloom all but throws herself into Sav’s arms. “Really?!”
“Yup,” Sav says and catches the pony. ”So we've got a busy day ahead of us!”
Mykee simply frowns at me, but heads for our home. I’m really not trying to bother letting them keep up by this point, I’m just focused on making as many tracks between us, and that mare as I can manage.
Truly, you will need to explain. I’m in your mind, and your emotions confuse even me.
Not now!
Once we’re about twenty feet away, Mykee stops running and starts walking. “Enough, that’s my stamina.”
“So help me, I will drag you like Sadness from Inside Out if I have to,” I say over my shoulder as I stop to wit, eyes flicking around for any sign of… her… Such a line must never be crossed…
“Okay Harley, you need to calm down, why are you so shifty?” Savanna asks and also looks around, “There's no pony around except for that chick back there.” She jerks her thumb at the yellow pony.
“MOVE YOUR LEGS FASTER THAN YOUR MOUTH PLEASE!!!” I’m literally at my wits’ end by this point, so off comes the ring to get us home in the blink of an eye. Saves time for them, and it gives me the chance to burn some energy running so I can calm down.
Once that’s done I slip my ring on, and fix myself some lemonade, “Right, now… Girls, why don’t you three hit the pool or something while the grown-ups set up?”
They glance between each other with awkward expressions, and shuffle off without a word. With a relieved sigh I lean on a wall, and start taking large gulps of lemonade.
Mykee bops me in the face with his fish plush. “Spill, or I drop you like a sack of potatoes.”
An appropriate choice of words, the soft assault surprises me enough that what is left in the glass goes down the front of my outfit. I stare down in disbelief, and give him a gobsmacked look. “You ass! I spent a hundred Bits on this! You have any idea what I had to go through for that cash?! I LITERALLY FOUGHT A DRAGON!!!”
Mykee gives me the same cold stare Savanna gave him, cracking his knuckles. “I literally give no fucks right now. Unless you give me a good reason as to why we had to carry toddlers like footballs and lineback all the way back here, your outfit will be the least of your problems.”
Savanna steps up beside Mykee, also wanting answers with a pissed off look, though not as mad as Mykee as she straightens her back to look taller and crosses her arms.
I sigh again, and start getting off the heavier of my clothes so I can get them washed. “Alright… That woman was Ellena, an OC well known through much of the MLP fandom… Because she has a Rule 34 flash game involving her, and her son.” I look them both square in the eye, my jaw set. They wanna be angry? Alright, I can play that game.
Mykee raises an eyebrow. “What, like Babysitting Cream? Or what was it? Most incest anime?”
“Still wanna throttle whoever made the first one, but it’s mostly like that second one. With as much detail as I’m comfortable going into, Ellena is facing away making dinner, Button staring under her tail… Shit happens. Now keeping that in mind along with the fact we have no idea what Canon is anymore… Replay the last five minutes, and the conversation with her. Enough context for you two?”
“Hey, incest can be wincest according to the interwebs. I don’t see why you’re angry about it, this is a different culture. Plus you’re the guy who made me read JackxJune Darby fics.” Mykee frowns.
Savanna slowly puts her hood up and shivers, “Okay… Yeah, I'm grossed out. I'm sorry Harley, should of waited before I got mad….”
I step over to hug her softly, “All’s forgiven, I was a bit… Abrupt… And for the record Mykee, those fics had shit implied, but nothing ever happened. It was more Jack/Arcee, and June/Optimus than anything.”
“Same difference. I’ve seen Sonicxhis siblings and mothers. And also Luna and Celestia going at it, what with the whole Molestia thing I thought this wasn’t a thing to be concerned with.” Mykee blinks. “But, okay, whatever. Not really a reason for me to sprint though.”
“...If Doctor Wolf actually exists in this universe, you’re getting help buddy,” I state simply. “Seriously, getting down with a horse? You have nothing to say on that being a genuine possibility now?”
“You’re the Brony, you tell me.” Mykee crosses his arms. “Besides, you’re okay with kids screwing other kids, and kids screwing adults, so why not incest too?”
My blood runs cold… I slowly drop my hands from Savanna, and stare at him with what feels like a too-calm expression. “Care to correct yourself… Mike?”
“Lucy.” He returns the look.
It takes me a few seconds to figure out what he means, and then I clench my fists. “...I had her backstory as being saved from that kind of shit before anything even remotely happened because that is the most contemptible… Black hearted… Sociopathic BULLSHIT THAT I COULD THINK OF!”
I can feel my temper rising, and my eyes glowing hotter than they usually do when I use magic. It’s all I can do not to just flick my wrists, and to keep my feet firmly glued to the spot. Never pull a knife unless you have genuine plans to use it, that life lesson plays over, and over in my head.
Mykee keeps his stare, time seeming to crawl… before he disengages, looking away. “Alright. Whatever. We’ve written stuff like this, Harley. Don’t forget that.”
“Yeah, well if living here has taught me anything it’s that shit gets more complex when fiction is bullshit. Remember our talk about multiverse theory? Bottom line, there’s no such thing as fiction. Everything we wrote actually happened, someplace.” I lower my eyes, and force myself to step a wide circle around my friends as I head for the stairs. “At least one of us feels bad about that.”
“The point I’m making is, that really wasn’t a good reason to fucking run.” Mykee says simply, heading for the garage.
I just keep going, keeping my mouth shut. I don’t want to lose my friends because of something I said, and I have years of practice biting my tongue… At least I have one person to confide in safely.
Boo-fucking-hoo, so he had to sweat a little more than usual. That justifies child porn?! “Oh it’s alright Sonic, go ahead, traumatize the little rabbit so long as I don’t have to run any farther than 20 feet. I mean you of all people would know how terrible running is!”
Harley, this train of thought is quickly derailing, and may take what you hold dear with it.
I… Grrrr… You know I can’t argue with logic, unlike certain assholes who just can’t see, or admit when they’re in the wrong.
And were you in any way wrong back there?
I… I suppose I… I… I shouldn’t have raised my voice. I’ve always told myself that the first person to lose their cool in an argument is the one who loses. But I was trying to protect my friends. What if that Ellena woman is one of those slutty MILF types, or something? These ponies are stronger than any human I know, I’m just scared for them.
I know Harley, but you are not their keeper.
The hell I’m not. I put the roof over their head, and keep them informed on this world so they can survive.
Then this is not a safe place for them. Have you ever even considered sending them back?
I… Well yes, when Savanna had her breakdown.
Harley there isn’t much of an age difference between the three of you. They will gradually learn about this world as they experience it. You honestly think that they’re incapable of judgement calls that may endanger themselves? For instance, a single mother in heat?
Well… Sav no, I expect it’d be awkward for her… And Mykee… I’m honestly not sure. I mean he would never touch weird stuff like alien smut, and I suppose this falls under the same category. Still, the way he tried to brush it all off just leaves me thinking he’s actually considering it.
I doubt that Harley. You’ve brushed aside such things when faced with Luna whom you… “relate” to, and I’ve been in your mind when natural urges arise. I think perhaps you’re not giving your friends the credit they deserve.
...And if you’re wrong?
Well, once you claimed your best role as a friend was to be there to pick up your friends when they fall.
With a swift kick in the ass sometimes… But yeah.
With me now talked down enough to face my friends again I change into my swimming trunks, grab some sunscreen, and a notepad with a pencil. I take a minute to compose myself before headed for the backyard.
….
On the outside of the garage door door, Savanna takes a deep breath before she knocks on the door. “Mykee? It's me Sav, may I come in?”
She figured it'd be best to leave me alone to calm down a bit before she went to talk to him, so she decided to talk to Mykee first.
“Depends… can you tell me where the wire is?” Mykee grumbles through the door.
“Daaaa….That also depends? You're not gonna kill us with it are you?”
“Now that, milady, would depend on whether you think the internet kills us.” Mykee opens the door.
“Well, I mean it could.” Savanna grins small and steps in, “You look at the screen long enough it can burn your eyes….”
“True.” Mykee goes back to where he has a piece of scrap metal force-trimmed into a square shape, and tools are strewn about. “Since my opinions suck, I might as well vent it on the internet so more people can yell at me.”
Savanna sighs as she opens a small tool box and tosses Mykee a roll of wire. “Okay, so you two got into a argument, big deal. You guys are friends, you know he didn't mean anything by it, and besides, if you felt uncomfortable in a situation wouldn't you wanna leave too?”
He catches the wire and a welding tool, getting to work. “Maybe… but running looks a lot more suspicious than walking. If that lady saw us, there’s no question she’s gonna confront us.”
“Alright, I see your point, but still, me and Harley saved the city and her directly, I don't think she's gonna question us too much. And even if she does, we'll handle it.” Savanna says, “You really think something like this is worth being angry about? Just talk it out, it's been a long week, and since you haven't been here that long i’m sure Harley will understand.”
He stops and sighs. “Do you know why I give you guys such a hard time on running?”
“No, enlighten me.”
“Yes, mainly because I’m lazy. But in the military, you run for hours! Imagine how fun that is for a guy who doesn’t even run fast when he runs. I was the slowest in my flight, and what’s worse? They told me that they’d let me go if I didn’t pick up the pace, even though I was dying! You guys, okay, good, you can run. But running for four years, then the military fucking lets you go? Fuck running, it did no good for me, I don’t need it.” He growls and grabs the soldering tool, starting to solder the wires.
“Look Mykee, I get it. But this isn't the military, me and Harley aren't going to drop you all because you’re slow. All that matters to us is that you try.” Savanna says and leans on the workbench with her arms folded loosely.
“I know… but I just don’t like it. My dad insists I run because maybe I can go back into the military. It’s a fucking pipe dream. I learned just enough about my job that I can make internet…” He waves the motherboard around. “...But I can’t fucking pass a test. And because of that, I’m in limbo on the hopes that maybe they’ll let me back in, and then I can’t take the course again, I gotta choose another job, and since I’m lazy it might as well be a desk job.”
“Well alright then. If you wanna be lazy, that's your choice. But don't drag me and Harley down with you. And also, at least have the balls to go make things right and apologize, because remember, we're all you got in this world.” Savanna says and jumps off the bench.
He sighs, and stops wielding. “...Thanks Sav. I’ll be out once I’m done with this.”
She nods and pats him on the back before leaving.
He watches her leave with a gentle smile before turning to the board. “Alright... let’s see if I’m rusty…”
…..
While all that had been going on I’ve been occupied in the backyard. Drafting a list of moneymakers from our world, and glancing up at the fillies every chance I get. So far it’s a short list, but I got some of the best ones in my opinion.
Savanna walks up behind my chair and leans over the back of it, she's out of her Gala outfit and is in her swimsuit. “Whatcha doin?”
I hold up the list for her to see, “Just stuff that’s timelessly profitable in our world. Monopoly, Clue, a few bestselling series of books, the game of Life, the old game consoles from SEGA, and Nintendo… I figure with our experience with this stuff, and the know-how of Doc and Minuet, we should be able to make the profits we need off this stuff, then some. Imagine being grey-haired, and wrinkly yet well set for life because you invented X Box.”
I get an Email from Mykee, and when I open it, it reads, “Why wait? We have internet now. >:3”
“...How in the actual fuck…?” I looks over my shoulder back to the house, and then decide to try replying. “You never told me you knew anything about programming, or building computers…”
In two minutes, he responds, “Building computers, fuck all. Making the internet? If I hadn’t failed my written test, I’d probably be doing this for my job. And since I know programming language thanks to this… all I need is someone who can actually draw to make video games!”
I smile, and show Sav the email thread as I get to my feet. “Look at this… We’ll have all the funding we need by the end of the week to get this rolling. Then we’ll have money, influence, and everything else we need to make sure the-” I cut myself off as I glance at the fillies. Then I smirk, and state, “Another time… For now we have an… obligation.”
With a sigh I hold up my wrist with the sensor watch. Then I call out, “Girls… Mykee has some cheesecake left inside!”
That’s enough to get them scrambling out of the pool. I raise my watch closer to my face, angled horizontally… My heart sinks as the seconds hand tracks Sweetie Belle inch by inch.
I look up at Savanna… Pretty sure my face says it all.
She nods and looks after the fillies as they rush inside. “So what next then?”
Mykee walks outside in swim trunks, looking proud of himself as he rubs on sunscreen. When he does, Sav gives him a look much like a mother whose kids stole cookies from the jar.
He blinks, and frowns at her. “What? Is internet bad?”
Savanna gives him a bitch face and mouths to him, ‘Apologize’.
“Oh… right…” He murmurs. He walks up to me hesitantly and rubs his neck. “Hey… I’m sorry about earlier…”
I sigh softly from my nose, “It doesn't matter… We have worse things to deal with right now.”
“Is Sweetie Belle the user?” He frowns.
“Yup.” Savanna answers.
“So how will we stop this?” He asks, walking over.
“Welp, we give her the shocking news, and trap the Mano in the book, right Harley?”
“Maybe,” I reply. “There's no sure way to know if the book will do the trick. I'd say we can only pray, but God-horse has officially said it’s a fifty-fifty chance… Besides, before we do anything we need to prepare.” I look square at Mykee, “Can you two keep the CMC occupied for a few hours at least? I need to take care of some urgent business.”
Mykee nods. “I have some ideas…”
“Of course….Er, what should we tell them?” Savanna asks.
And with that I stand, and reach for my ring. “I'll be back by sundown, and bringing Minuet. I'm not comfortable letting Mykee run around empty handed anymore, so we’re going to see what can be done with that Green Lantern thing. That's what you named off Mykee, so I'm betting that's what you could use best, which is all that matters here.”
“Alright. I’ll start working on keeping the kids distracted with Sav.” Mykee says.
---------------
As it turns out, this whole situation is easier than expected. I suppose young girls are easy to entertain if left to their own devices with only supervision to keep them from getting hurt. With Sweetie showing no ambition towards trying more complex magic we have some time to make sure we’re properly prepared. And on the note of preparation, Minuet is only too happy to get her hooves on a new project as usual.
The next day when she arrives with Bonbon she's fully prepared to start drafting Mykee’s weapon.
“Now, Harley gave me the abridged version of what you're wanting,” she says as she uses her magic to scribble a pencil over a sketchbook. “Now I don't know about cosmic power, but constructs of light motivated by emotion is ridiculously within the realm of possibility. See, most magic has an emotional trigger, usually our basic levitation like what I'm doing now is our willpower, and only a small bit of it to move objects. Practically a casual spell. Using a more potent, condensed version to make constructs of light? I could pull that off with enough time, and materials.”
“Sweet! I don’t know what emotion I’d naturally channel, since normally I show a lack of emotion…” He sweatdrops.
Minuet’s pencil comes to a stop, and she freezes. I just shrug, “Well I just want you to have what you can use best. If you can't use that we can just-”
“Nope,” Minuet says cheerfully, and looks to me with a smile. “This is happening.”
I blink at her in confusion, “But…”
She stands, and walks over, putting her front hooves in my lap. “This… Is… Happening!” Her cheery attitude never drops, but that just makes it all the more unsettling. I don't question her further on it. She leaves me alone, and then trots over to Mykee, “Still, a spell triggered by willpower is pretty easy to use. Just look at me levitating this pencil. It's a simple matter of applying greater upwards force than gravity can apply downwards. But in a laypony’s terms in contrast to this spell, my will for the pencil to float is greater than gravity’s to keep it down. So is yours, I'm just giving you a means to enforce that will.”
She sits, and turns her attention back to the sketch pad, “Now, the only issue… I can't make it a ring. The frequency of a magical battery of practically any size would burn out the spell matrix of that size in under a minute. But your friends seem to like their arm-bracers so something of that size can be managed with a glove as the focus point. It will take a bit of tinkering, but with Zecora’s help, and perhaps help from Doc then I should be done in a few days. I would like to get my hooves on some Astrium like for Harley’s arm guards, or perhaps Celestial Gold.”
“Basically Mithril, and Adamantium,” I explain for Mykee. “Or Vibranium… However you wanna look at it.”
“Well, a bracer would be good. Preferably the same size and approximately the same weight as my watch?” He unhooks his watch and offers it to her.
“Why settle for that when I can give you full arm protection-Oh! I said bracer, not bracelet. it's a piece of armor usually forged from iron, steel, or crafted with leather on occasion. See, I've noticed both Sav, and Harley favor the bracer design so I figured it was common for your kind. Plus it gives me more space to make larger power storage, probably last you a few days, perhaps longer if you're not constantly using it.”
“Well… how would I recharge it, first off?” He tilts his head.
“Interestingly enough, fiction is even more convenient in that case,” she declares, and shows him what she had been sketching. It looks like a square train stop lantern meant for holding a candle, but bulkier, and only one window. “Since the magic we’re harnessing for you is commonplace we can just use a few unicorns to fill this portable charger up when we need to, maybe once every few months to once a year depending on your use. And what’s more, there's the matter of security…”
“You'll like this part,” I chuckle.
“Let me guess, the Lantern oath.” Mykee smiles amusedly.
Minuet giggles, and nods. “Yup! See, anyone with fingers could use the bracer too, but without knowing the limitations of it they’ll probably deplete the power. Harley told me about the oath, so I decided I want to use it as a phrase to allow access to the pool of power in this lantern. By the time it's done you can just press your fist to the lantern… And you know the rest.” She smiles widely, and wags her tail as if expecting praise.
“I would think the phrase should also be coded to my voice alone, anyone can know the phrase by random chance.” Mykee says. “Or at the very least, just us.”
“‘In brightest day, and blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. May those who worship evil’s might beware my power, Green Lantern’s light,’” I quote. “Not that easy to guess. Plus you can loan it to one of us if need be.”
“Like I said, code it to us. There’s still nerds out there.” Mykee points out. “And if one of us says it in front of anyone, then they’ll know.”
“Celestia said anyone else that comes through will probably be a friend of mine,” I comment. “And yeah, most would know the oath… But… I don't think we would need to worry about them.”
Mykee crosses his arms. “Alright, let me clarify. The bracer is going to be coded to us three, because I’m not giving a fucking macguffin to some dick because you decide it’s easier. Clear?”
Colgate tilts her her head at me, “A what…?”
“I honestly have no clue either,” I shrug. “But it's his gauntlet so if you can manage it then go for it.”
She taps her chin thoughtfully, “...That’ll make it take a smidgen longer… Probably around a week I'm afraid. Spells like that are very complex so I'll need time to research, and practice.”
“Remind me to tell you the definition later. And sure, a week is fine.” Mykee nods.
“With that squared away, what about the… Other project?” I raise an eyebrow at Minuet, and glance up the stairs to indicate there’s company in the house.
She takes the hint, and folds her ears back. “...No progress yet…”
“...Other project?” Mykee questions.
“Button Mash,” I remind him quietly. “Fun fact, the lady we were linebacking from yesterday? His mom.”
“Ah.” Mykee nods.
I sigh, and fold my hands together, “...I want him, and Sweetie Belle within five feet of each other. I need to see his reaction to her. Hopefully the universe will continue to be kind to us… Otherwise I might have to screw over a future episode to save her life.”
“Can’t we just blow her mind with amazing 3D graphics?” Mykee smirks.
“No,” Minuet sighs. “Harley, how did the spell to bind the Manifest in the first place go again?”
I touch two fingers to my forehead to help me concentrate. Luckily Nightmare Moon has a better memory than me.
“‘From in the head to put in the world, every thought to action. Hold close this book, and through its spell you'll start a chain reaction. Projecting forth whatever beauty you see, only when true words are spoken will you finally be set free.’” I drop my hand with a frustrated expression.
“...I got nothing then.” Mykee frowns.
“We’ll think of something… We have to,” I state as I get to my feet. “For now we just play it by ear.”
“Because that does us good so far…” Mykee sighs and stands. “Anything else?”
I shake my head, “No… I do have an appointment set up at 3 PM with the Rich family though. You, and Sav are free to come with, help me pitch one or two of our moneymakers. Figured we’d start with the Internet… How did you even pull that off in so little time? Wouldn't you need some kind of modem, or transceiver to have sent me that email?”
“Yes. And guess what I’ve been trained to do in a very short amount of time?” Mykee smiles. “If the military hadn’t let me go, setting up internet to places with none would have been my job. I just need the materials. Of course, phone lines are a different problem, so unfortunately we can only use Skype or something, not our actual phones. And also, I only made the one box, I’m gonna need your time control to actually make sure there are no dead zones in the house and any house we install it into.”
Minuet gasps, “That reminds me! I've been dying to test something out!”
I raise an eyebrow, “Yeah? Like what?”
“Well, have you ever tried using your phone while your ring is off?”
I scratch my cheek, “Um… Once or twice I think.”
“So it's possible?” She prances up to me, giddy as a school filly. “Then… What if you had your ring off while touching another person prior to the removal?”
I blink slowly, “...I think I get what you're getting at, but continue…”
“Well, if you're the source of that time-bending magic then it stands to reason that when you remove your ring the magical aura that you project takes effect over whatever items you have on your person. That's why your clothes don't combust despite moving so fast, and you can use your phone. But what if you were touching someone else when you did it, or they were touching you? Would the aura effect them too?”
I frown, “Sounds dangerous… Cool, but dangerous. What if they slipped out of contact with me during the time-bend?”
She taps her hoof to her chin, “Hard to say, but it's not as dangerous as you think. You're the source of the magic so whether they can remain in the bend after losing contact or not, once you've sealed the spell off with the ring the effects will end for them.”
I scratch my head, and look up to Mykee, “Just think, if she's right then we might have been wasting a lot of time.”
“Wouldn’t doing that also increase the aging rate of the person in the time-bend though?” Mykee asks thoughtfully.
Minuet tilts her head thoughtfully, and mutters quietly to herself for a minute. “...Nope. See, if anything this would be stretching the influence of the spell. The aging thing is a side-effect, but if the spell meant for one person is affecting three then it might be stretched a bit thinner. If anything those involved would age, and move slower than someone experiencing it solo.”
“...So we’re basically saving Harley’s life by enduring hell with him? Well then, I think I can do that.” Mykee smiles.
I give him an amused look, “Enduring hell? It's not that bad Mykee, if anything it's just trippy. I mean to me I don't feel like I'm aging any differently, I just know I am when the spell is sealed off again.”
“Still, you know Justice League Flash’s nightmare. And I don’t want that happening to me.” Mykee shrugs. “Saving you from enduring that alone is fine.”
I lick my lips, and swallow. “...You really want to try it?”
“Just be aware, even in quick-time, I’m still fucking slow, and once we’re there, there’s no more excuse for me to not make you slow down.” He smirks.
I chuckle, “Hey, in quick-time I have to take it slow. The force of 200+ pounds touching anything that quickly? It's like the world is made of glass, and paper mache. Even just a casual touch could feel like a punch, plus gravity is slower too… Maybe we should take this outside, see if this works without breaking anything.”
“Oh! One second!” Minuet rushes to the garage, and comes back with a long length of wire in her magic, and a marker.
“Quoting Superman doesn’t make you cool, by the way.” Mykee smirks and heads for the door.
“Superman said it was like the world was cardboard,” I retort as I follow. Minuet meanwhile is marking a thick ring periodically down the cord. “...What are you doing there?”
“Preparing just in case this works,” she replies. “Naturally we’ll start with skin contact. If that works then we’ll try with him just touching your clothes, so your shirt maybe. If that works I want you to take ahold of this cable, and have him trail it as far as possible from you. That way we can see when/if the effects wear off on him before you put the ring back on. I've marked it off at every foot, so it’ll be easy to tell.”
She offers me the cable once done, and I take it. Then I walk over to the road. We walk a decent distance from just about anything we might destroy by accident, and I turn to my friend. “Alright Mykee… Ready?”
“Nope. Let’s do this.” He grabs my arm.
I swallow softly, and take a breath as I hold my ring, ready to pull it off. “...I'm scared buddy…”
“If anything, I’ll still be frozen and you’ll be normal. Now do it. Don’t let your dreams be dreams.” He gives me a smile.
“First puns, now memes… You're terrible,” I say with a laugh, and before I can second guess myself again I take off my ring. The weightless feeling of the time-bend rolls over me, and slowly I force myself to look to my friend…
“...Fuck, this is weird.” Mykee blinks, looking around. “I feel like I’m underwater… but I can breathe.”
“Holy shit, tits, and gravy,” I breathe. “It actually worked?” I look down at Minuet to see her staring right at us like a living statue. Taking Mykee by the wrist I make a soft hop to my right, taking him with me. I watch her silently for a few seconds, then notice her eyes starting to move as if to track us. “Okay, that's new… Usually nothing here moves unless I touch it.”
“You’re slower because I’m here.” Mykee muses. “...So what happens if I let go of you?”
I stiffen, “Let's not find out please…” I take one end of the wire, and offer the rest to him, “Let's just get this over with.”
He nods and takes the wire. I wait with baited breath for him to start walking. I'm scared shitless right now, but a part of me wants to know the extent of my curse.
Mykee hums and starts walking. Meanwhile I count as the distance between us grows… Five feet… Ten… Fifteen… Minuet only gave us twenty feet of wire to test though, and soon we’re both at the limits.
Mykee stops and turns to face me. “...Should I let go?”
“Don't you dare,” I respond immediately. “Now get back here, I'm gonna put my ring back on.”
“Don’t let me go, Jack!” Mykee smirks and walks back.
“Not funny,” I grump as I take his hand, and slip my ring back on. Immediately Minuet jumps on Mykee with a wide smile.
“So how was it?! Tell me everything!”
“Like being underwater, but I could breathe. I didn’t try much though, spoilsport didn’t want me to let go.” Mykee smiles.
I frown, “Spoilsport? Mykee, your life would be over in a matter of days, probably taking all of Ponyville, and most of Equestria with you now that I think about it. Just imagine what you would have to do for food, can't cook because you couldn't operate anything… Not a risk I'm willing to take.”
“So what If I let go, and when you’re gonna turn time back to normal, I grab you again?” He suggests.
“Let's not risk it,” I reply. “We got enough to deal with on our hands with the little girl with untapped godlike power.”
“Still, if she unleashes it, being able to separate and work together in slow time would help.” Mykee comments.
“We can do that with cords on our belts or something,” I reply. “Speaking of Sweetie Belle though, been awful quiet… Maybe we should check on them.”
Minuet retrieves her sketch pad, “In that case, I'll be off!”
“Can’t wait to see that bracer!” Mykee smiles.
….
When we get back home….It's, well, it's a large mess. Everything you could think of in a normal house is scattered about all over the yard, there's even things hanging in the trees.
It takes us a couple minutes to find Sav, who's almost as much as a mess as the yard.
“Holy fucking hell. I made the mistake of having an extreme scavenger hunt….” She slowly rolls into fetal position and whimpers.
My jaw drops, and I look around in shock. “I… What?”
Mykee lowers to a knee in front of Savanna, shaking her slightly. “Hey, how many fingers am I holding up?”
“I don't know, and I don't care. Harley’s gonna kill me when he sees this mess.” she responds and curls up tighter, with her back to us.
“...He’s seen it, and he’s not yelling yet, so maybe take some deep breaths, and calm down.” Mykee tries.
“I am calm jerk.” She says, clearly not calm.
“Mmhm… Well, if Harley wants to start yelling, he can yell outside alone in sub time, and I can make you some tea.” He offers his hand.
Savanna looks up with groggy eyes and slaps her hand into his.
“Okay…”
Mykee pulls her to her feet. “Do you need me to carry you, or are you good to walk?”
“Well I mean hey, if you're offering….” She into his arms and clings to him.
I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration, and then set off to find three little fillies who need to learn that if they're going to make messes then they're going to have to clean them up again.
---------------
The trip to Filthy Rich’s had gone wonderfully smooth with just the introduction of the Internet. He agreed to help us secure the patent for it once we explained how it could benefit him in particular, using digital information to send financial notices to all his associates, keeping in instant contact from over massive distances. Then the applications for recreational use promised a mint Bit, he almost couldn't wait to sign the check for us.
Spoiled Rich however was tight-lipped through the whole meeting, constantly glancing at my hands warily. Not that I could blame her, but it made me curious about their daughter’s well-being. A time-bent jaunt around the house though hadn't turned up anything though, so I figured she was out with Silver Spoon probably harassing other foals.
At any rate, all we needed was to provide some schematic plans, and to start locally in Ponyville as a focus group to see how well ponies take to it. He would get laborers, and engineers to set up the receivers, and telephone lines for the town as his first investment. We all agreed that if it made a hit here then word may spread like wildfire, and we could start branching out all over Equestria in good time. Advertising it as from the three of us humans seems the best way to get local ponies interested, and no skin off Filthy Rich’s nose if it goes under.
Sadly the rest of our business doesn't seem to be doing as well. Nothing out of the ordinary about Button Mash, and Bonbon discovered by spending a few days with Ellena under the pretense of considering motherhood herself. From what she learned Button Mash, and Sweetie hardly ever interact, and barely have any idea the other exists… It doesn't bode well, but we’ll succeed another way.
As for the Lantern Gauntlet… Well, as promised Minuet has it delivered to us within the week. At the moment the three of us are on the outskirts of town, just getting ready to try it out.
Mykee slips on the gauntlet, studying it. “Nice and light!”
“ Yeah yeah yeah, now get to the fun part!” Sav says while jumping from foot to foot happily.
Myke smiles and picks up the lantern, holding his gauntlet up to it. “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!”
The smooth gem on the back of his hand glows softly with the lantern. Thin circles of green light surround his fingers, and down his wrist to the armor on the back of his forearm. Minuet had told us that there were rods of pure diamond embedded, not just to hold the charge, but to help take the blows the Celestial Gold may receive. The glove itself has the same metal over each knuckle, though not in any way that inhibits. In the presence of magic the metal certainly seems sleek, and strong.
I rub both my bracers of the light blue Astrium, maybe feeling the slightest bit of envy, but content with my equipment. Out loud I ask, “How does it feel now?”
He shakes it curiously. “...About the same. Let’s try it though.” He aims the bracer like a wrist-mounted launcher, thinking hard as he looks at the field in front of us. “...Okay, drawing a blank, any ideas for me to make guys?”
I glance to Sav, and then back to him. “Uh… Start simple? Like… A baseball bat?”
Mykee shrugs, and opens his palm. Almost instantly, a glowing green baseball bat appears in his hand. “How would I… oh, holy shit that’s efficient!” He looks it over, impressed.
“Do a Amy Rose hammer.” Sav suggests with a grin and takes a step back. “Extra points if you act like her too!”
“Joy, arbitrary points that don’t count towards any sort of reward!” Mykee sticks his tongue at her, making the bat disappear before flicking his wrist, Amy Rose’s hammer the size of a van landing in his grasp.
I laugh softly, and nod to myself. “Okay, here's one to try… Fly. Like, just hover, or something. You hate exercise so wanting it shouldn't be an issue.”
He frowns and concentrates, trying. After a bit, he sighs. “Fuck, my brother would have this in an instant…” He perks. “Hold the phone…” He looks down at his shoes and tries again, green glowing hover skates cladding over his feet. Then with more concentration, they slowly spurt to life, lifting him up on emerald flames.
My eyes go wide, “Wildfires!”
“Pretty sure Sega has trademarked those…..” Savanna says with raised brow.
“Well, I want them, so I’m having them.” Mykee sticks out his tongue. Then he looks up and blasts away, flying with his skates, whooping happily.
“Uh, think you take it slow before you faceplant?...” Savanna asks and follows him with her eyes as he skates about.
“I’m more worried about him actually starting a fire. I Had to put out dragon breath right in the mouth, not easy, and not something i want a repeat of.”
“It’s technically fake fire.” Mykee slows and lands between them.
“Hence why I have no concern.” Sav shrugs and throws a friendly arm around my shoulders. “No worries bub!”
“Bub? Thought I was the one knocking off Wolverine,” I joke, feeling a slight blush on my cheeks from her being so close.
Mykee makes the skates disappear, and tries flying without them, pulling it off this time. He has a green aura around his body, flying like Green Lantern.
I clap my hands, taking a step forward to get out of Sav’s grasp. “Now that’s what I'm talking about! Way to go Mykee!”
“It’s fucking weird… also, like being uncomfortable around animals, heights are equally terrifying.” Mykee lands.
I look over my shoulder to Sav, “See? A little sense! I mean I'm all for riding the flying chariots, so long as they got seatbelts, or safety harnesses.”
“Don't be a bitch. Heights are awesome!” Savanna says with grin,” Ever been bungee jumping?”
“No, but if you want to, I’m more than willing to point and laugh at you.” Mykee deadpans.
Savanna stares at him with a blank face. “Challenge fucking accepted.”
“Greeeeaaaaat… Yeah, I'll be sure to get you both ready for that next episode,” I say lightheartedly. “But since we’re out here with our toys… Who’s up for some training? Don't wanna be rusty when we need them, right?”
“Sure, I’ve been getting limber for this.” Mykee stretches, throwing some impressive high kicks.
“Wowowowowwowowow, wait! You actually got up to do something?!” Savanna mocks playfully and slaps her hands to her face with her jaw open.
“I hear the moon would love a personal chat with you. I can toss you there now.” Mykee replies testily, his fist glowing.
“Okay,” I say loudly as I step between them. “First off, being sent to the moon is a joke about as old as the ‘Over 9,000’ thing. Second, we’re not going to have to hurt each other to get some training in. The way I figure it Mykee is probably already ready for hand-to-hand while the most experience I have is an MMA class in highschool, and Sav… Eh, I got nothing. Anyways, we need practice with our equipment. So here's my idea… Mykee makes constructs, and we break them. Simple as that. He gets practice at making them, we get practice at bringing hurt. Sound like a plan?”
Mykee pouts. “Fine…”
Savanna huffs and nods, flipping her glasses down and flicking her arm out to bring to life her sword.
“And just to let you know, if one of you tries to hit me on “accident”, you’re gonna go for a flight.” Mykee sticks out his tongue, stepping back and concentrating.
He starts by making two standing crash test dummies. I look them over critically with a raised eyebrow, “Eh… Most of what we’ll be fighting around here will probably be smaller, and pony shaped…”
“Good for you. Hit them.” Mykee deadpans.
Right after his words, a energy sword flies between us, nailing one of the dummies in the chest area. I jump, and blink at Savanna. “...Nice toss… Good thing that sword’s a glorified stun baton, huh? I mean, I've stressed the No Kill rule enough by now, right?”
“Yeah yeah.” She waves me off, “ If it's one thing I'm good at, it's throwing and shooting.”
You know Harley, you have more than blades that you need practice with.
I do?
Yes, you do. Need I remind you your curse is sparked with Alicorn magic, and I carry the memories of every spell Luna has ever cast?
Uh… Guess you do. Why bring it up now?
Because contrary to what you might think… Life as a voice in your mind can be boring at times. So I would like to make myself useful.
Hey, I'm not complaining. Whatcha gonna teach me? How to shoot lightning from my fingertips?
If you wish.
...Wait, I can DO that?!
Among other things. What you've seen Luna, and I do you can do on a lesser level. Think of yourself as a Demigod of sorts.
Oh awesome sauce!
Quite. Now, focus all your concentration into your fingertips, and push with your magic. The energy will be guided to your target on instinct.
Turning to my construct I smirk as I decide to give it a try. I call upon my magic, and feel my eyes glow as I point with two fingers, and grunt with effort. A small spray of blue lightning jumps from my fingertips, engulfing the construct dummy for a few seconds. When it ends I shake off my fingers with a surprised expression. “Whoo… When’s the audition for Star Wars?”
Mykee frowns. “...How’d you do that?”
“Well, when my ring is on it kinda focuses the power of the curse into normal magic instead of letting it run rampant,” I explain. “So I can use magic like unicorns can… Plus the curse was put on me by Luna, so technically it's Alicorn magic I'm using. Alicorns are considered godlike here, but I don't think I'll ever get near their level.” I put my hands on my hips, “Shame too, I was hoping to pull off a Lunar Eclipse on Nightmare Night, scare the tails off a few ponies when the moon turned red.”
“And how did you come to that conclusion?” Mykee asks suspiciously.
“Luna told me,” I reply, which is technically true. “I just never really stopped to think about it till now.”
“Great! Now we can defeat the fire nation.” Savanna says and trots over to pluck her sword free.
“So when are you gonna go into further detail about your Crazy?” Mykee concentrates, creating what he can recall Changelings to look like.
“Who, me?” Sav asks with a blink and walks back over to us
Mykee looks pointedly at me. I raise an eyebrow, my heart picking up a bit. Not sure how, or why but it seems like he suspects there's someone in my head talking to me…
But they're not ready to know yet.
“Dude,” I say incredulously. “I'm not crazy… Well… Alright, all joking aside. I'm severely ADHD, I've told you guys that. Sometimes I zone out, most times without realizing it. And yeah, sometimes it's like I'm talking to myself in my head. I wasn't very sociable as a child, and old habits die hard. There's nothing else I can really tell you.”
A master of wordplay at his craft it seem…
“Are you done spouting bullshit? Good.” Mykee holds up his phone. “I record shit, dude. One thing I picked up from video games and life, pictures or it didn’t happen.” He pulls up his video app, and shows it to us. I’m already gonna deny as I watch, but then I notice what only he noticed… I look aside, like I’m talking to someone. Or listening.
“You do it every once in a while, but I notice it, dude. It’s different from your normal zoning out.” Mykee states. “We’ve lived together for a week, you don’t think I won’t start calling you out regularly if you don’t start talking? Because I will.”
Could this be a problem? It's not like they wouldn't understand.
I'm getting a bit angry now. It's not their secret, or right to know. “Look buddy, I don't wanna fight again, and I don't know what you think you're fishing for… But it's not an issue, alright? Let's handle our business one mission at a time.”
Watch out behind you! Dodge!
The first thought that comes to mind is that Mykee is attacking me. Three choices before I can fully register them; Blow Nightmare’s cover, take the blow, or pull something out my ass… I guess I end up with the last one because I catch my foot on a stone, and fall flat on my face. A small price to pay. “Ow! Son of a…”
A second later, one of Mykee’s green Changelings slashes the air where I was. At first all I saw was the glow, until I turned over. Looks like I was right, and pissed off I pop the claws on my right hand, shoving the blades of titanium into the chest of the manifestation. Then I shove myself to my feet, “The hell was that?! And don't even try to say it was an accident, that thing’s run on willpower!”
Mykee leans in and states, “Just testing Crazy. He’s got a reaction time on him, don’t he?” He raises his phone, and replays the reaction of me ramming my foot into the stone to “trip”.
I scowl, and point my claws at him, “The hell are you getting at? All you're doing is pissing me off pal, and if it's a whooping you're after…” I sheathe my claws, and narrow my eyes, “I've got more experience than you with magic, and I don't want to lose a friend this way. So with all the brotherly love I hold for you… Back. The. Fuck. Off.”
“Then stop hiding. What, you think we’re gonna think you’re insane if you have a voice inside your head and leave you? We’re in a magical world of gumdrops and rainbows, preparing for fights. I’m not stopping until this is discussed.” Mykee crosses his arms. “You wanna pretend to be innocent? Then maybe I’ll leave.”
I snicker, “Yeah right, and go where exactly?” I relax my stance, and put my hands on my hips. A battle of wits, and words I have no guilt stomping my friends at.
“You’re afraid of us leaving, thinking you’re crazy or some bullshit. So I guess I’ll leave, since you don’t trust me.” He makes the constructs disappear, the glow enveloping him as he floats into the air. “As to where… I think I’m gonna catch up on Equestrian history at the library. Or, start making the internet happen all over town. That should keep me out of your hair until… I dunno, next week?”
Harley, if you let him leave he may take these suspicions to the right ponies… Twilight, who could give him a way to find out for sure. Or the Princesses, who no doubt will think I'm trying to use you… He's your friend, and as another of your friends I'm begging you to tell him.
It takes me a minute to realize… But that's the first time Nightmare has called me her friend so openly. So with a sigh I step forward, and wrap my arm through his before removing my ring, sending us both to the time-bend.
Sav goes to stop us, but I just continue, I know she's much more understanding of certain situations than Mykee is, so I'll explain later, but for now, she can wait.
“Look,” I say simply. “It's not that I don't trust you guys, I do… But it's a backup plan. What if we fail to catch the Manifest? What if it invades another host? My secret I know for a fact would shock it out of anypony, or anyone. It's my ace in the hole in case someone else ends up bonding with it.”
“And you think Savanna or I will be affected by the Manifest?” Mykee scowls. “Cool, you can trap us in time purgatory. Hell, if I get controlled by the Manifest, I won’t need this gauntlet, I’d drop it. Then you can use the gauntlet to keep me contained.”
“It would destroy you, don't you get it?! Even in ponies who are biologically suited to house magic in their bodies, that thing grows in strength every time it loans power, and eventually destroys the host. It never started affecting my judgement, so I'm less worried about it controlling one of us humans… But I'm not going to give up my best chance to save the life of someone I love just because you're curious. Am I making myself clear?”
“Hm? I’m sorry, another one of my cool powers is the ability to let words go in one ear and out the other. Try again, maybe I’ll hear you this time.” Mykee rolls his eyes.
One hand at a time I take ahold of his head to look him dead in the eye. This I'm not budging on, that time I had been completely honest with him. “I. Can't. Tell. You. If I do then it'll spread, intentionally or not. I promise, once the Manifest is contained then I'll come clean, I swear on my life, but until then I'm begging you to trust me Michael… Please…” I think I hear a bit of a plea creep into my voice.
He considers for a bit before he growls and jabs me in the stomach with a finger. “If you don’t, I’ll force it out of you. Clear?”
I smile with a relieved sigh, and pull him into a hug. “Crystal, bro… I never break a promise.”
“Just so we’re both clear though, you didn’t deny this time there’s a voice in your head, so I know there’s one there.” He states with finality.
He got you~!
I stiffen, and say, “Please don't think on it anymore… I know how smart you are, and if you figure it out then I can't use this to save you if I need to.”
“Except, you know, I don’t know the names of fuck anyone in this godforsaken land except main characters and the sister princesses.” He states. “So any revelation on revealing a person is lost on me, similar to spoiling a non-fan about a series they couldn’t care less about watching.”
He may have a point…
“Which is why I need you to keep it all under wraps,” I state. “If it got you then I would explain first… I can't give any more details, you're too smart.”
And with that I slip my ring back on, add an extra squeeze to the hug, and then release him.
Mykee lands, crossing his arm again with a huff.
“Welcome back asshats.” Sav sasses as she lays on the ground with a piece of grass between her lips.
“Thanks for waiting up for us.” Mykee snarks back.
Savanna smirks and winks as she clicks her tongue. “No problem.”
Mykee creates constructs of Changelings again. “Alright, let’s get back to this.”
Bought myself some time… Not much, but hopefully enough. It frustrates me that I couldn't just be taken at my word, but then again Mykee always had scary good intuition. I mean Sav’s been with me for over a month now, and she never suspected enough to pressure me like that. Fortunately I have some shiny green objects to focus my aggressions on for the next thirty minutes or so.
…
After two hours, Mykee can’t construct things anymore. “...My brain hurts…” He grumbles. “I need a break…
I sigh, and sit hard on the ground, panting. “Yeah… Me too… Shit, magic is harder than you’d think…”
“Literally for me, I’m the one actually using it.” Mykee smirks.
Savanna clicks her sword off and flips up her glasses. "Well….That was a thing.”
“Oh get off your soapbox,” I pant as I lay on my back. “I was using it too…”
“Why don’t you use it some more, combined with your speed, to get us some water?” Mykee sticks out his tongue.
I can teach you to form a rain cloud, see if that suits him.
Nah, rather leave tampering with Mother Nature to the ponies if it's all the same with you…
Mykee snaps his fingers at me. “Yes or no, if you don’t I can get some, I don’t care.”
“I'm not a dog, don't snap your fingers at me,” I whine, and roll to face away from him.
“Stop zoning out then.” He sticks out his tongue.
“You're the one barking and whining Mykee….” Savanna says and plops down in the shade with a groan.
“Like I said, he’s the one with speed.” He grunts.
“You can fly,” I say incredulously.
“Yes, I can. I asked you if you wanted to get it or me, since you’re faster, then you “zoned out”.” Mykee states.
I sigh, “I’d rather sit tight for a few minutes… Also there's something I wanted to talk to you both about. I got talking with Spike so it's confirmed.”
“What is it?” Mykee asks wearily, laying down next to Savanna.
Savanna rolls onto her back and looks up at me. “Well, we're listening so shoot.”
“A fashion critic is coming to town to see the show Rarity is putting on with her friends’ Gala outfits… It's going to bomb. Not like, explode, but it will nearly ruin her career as a designer.”
“Oh, tranquil…..” Sav says then blinks a couple of times. “Wait, isn't that the one episode with the thing?.....And the other person?.....Because like, I remember an episode like that….”
“That made no sense,” I reply. “Can you remember any details?”
“There was this old chick, gray mane and tail, kind looked like Ozpin from RWBY. Everypony was scarred for life at said fashion show, and Rarity was about to burst into tears.”
I try to think of anypony that looks like Ozpin, and it hits me. “...Hoity Toity? You thought…” I bust up laughing, and after a minute I say, “Hoity Toity’s a guy!”
She blinks with a genuinely puzzled look. “What?.....Goshdarn it….” she sighs and facepalms.
Mykee snickers amusedly. “So… we’re gonna watch or something?”
“Unfortunately,” I reply. “I mean… Rarity’s been one of the greatest friends to me since I got here… I just… It pains me to let this happen to her, it really does… But at least I know how to fix things by the end of this…”
“Can we like… just attend the second? Or comfort her afterward? I’m imagining dresses that are horrifying right now....” Mykee sticks his tongue out.
“Yeah, the ones on display will be terrible,” I reply. “But… Well, if we don't at least make an appearance then who knows how she might take it?”
“That's worth wanting to scoop my eyes out.” Sav shrugs, “ When is the show again?”
“After dark, I know that much,” I say as I glance at the late afternoon sky. “Might as well head back to town, probably find out from Rarity herself. See if we can't at least calm her nerves a bit before the show.”
“...Okay seriously, can we get water first? Maybe change out of these sweaty clothes?” Mykee asks.
“Yeah…..And I wanna take a shower…..and cake on deodorant…..” Sav says and smells her shirt with a harsh recoil.
“Weh! Gross!”
“Wow, you're both wusses,” I deadpan. “I lived in a tent for the better part of a year, no showers. Didn't make hygiene any less important, but it's not like it'd kill me… But yeah, showers all around. Ladies first.”
“You said it yourself, I’m not an outdoors person. Also I’m a compulsive washer, if I leave my house, when I come back I’m taking a shower, even if I did jack squat.” Mykee states.
Savanna points a finger at me, and says firmly, “Hey! If you were yelled at and made fun of for most of your childhood for ‘smelling’ then you become self conscious of it. So shut it mister!”
“Actually I was,” I reply with a raised eyebrow.
“Plus a week of military camping has made me altogether despise dirt, hence making me an even more paranoid showerer.” Mykee comments. “Do not ask what the difference is.”
I sigh, and get to my feet, “And the fate of Equestria rests on our shoulders… Yeah, we're doomed.”
“Wow, thanks Harley. Your faith is much appreciated.” Sav deadpans then grins. “Whatever though, let's go.”
Mykee stands and starts walking. “Let’s go before I faint.”
….
Now, I'd like to say that the return to Ponyville was uneventful up until we got to the boutique… But then I'd be lying. We see Hoity Toity himself in a chariot being pulled through town. Somehow Doc ended up getting drafted into towing duty.
Savanna leans into me with a tilt of her head. “He got stuck doing that because the guards got fed up with him, right?....”
“Probably.”
“And we’re stuck doing this because guilt.” Mykee sighs, wearing formal clothing.
“And because we're not assholes, well, some of us at least.” Sav slowly looks over to Mykee with a raised brow and a small smile.
“Again, guilt.” He deadpans.
“Again, and.” She deadpans back and opens the door for us. “Ladies first.”
Inside the boutique is quiet… Save for Rarity’s upset cat pawing at discarded spools, and cloth.
“Hey, has Cubby met Rarity’s cat?” Mykee asks amusedly.
“Yeah, Cubby’s met Opal,” I reply. “They're still deciding on a pecking order.” I watch as the fluffy white cat walks up to Savanna, and nuzzles her leg.
“I wonder who will come out on top…” Mykee muses.
“Hey troublemaker.” She coos at the kitty and bends down to scratch the cat behind the ears.
Mykee subtly eyes her ass as she bends over.
Savanna doesn't seem to notice as she scratches Opal on the base of her back, swaying slightly as the cat lays on her side and rolls over. “Awe……” Sav squeals and does a little hop. “I fucking love cats!”
“Me too… most times.” Mykee chuckles softly.
“Most times? That should be all times dude.” Savanna says and straightens up to look at him.
“Not when they try and sleep on my face, eat my food, and scratch my shit.” Mykee sticks out his tongue.
“They just wanna cuddle, and eat…..And mark their territory…...Most aspects of me actually.”
“Maybe, but I find you much cuter than a cat.” He realizes what he just said, and turns away quickly. “...Where’s Rarity?”
Sav blinks at that as her cheeks go red softly. “Uh, yeah. She's probably in the back.”
Harley, I can feel your jealousy, even if it is faint.
It's just hormones…
I head farther in, and peek into the dining room. Rarity is sitting there in an anxious daze, a bowl of melting ice cream sitting before her. Her usually elegant curls of mane, and tail are disheveled by stress. Even from this distance I can see her shaking a bit.
“Holy hell she looks like she needs a hug.” Savanna mutters to me and steps out. “Rarity? You alright girly?”
“Oh!” Rarity jumps more than a bit, and turns to us with a nervous smile. “Oh yes Darling, quite… Peachy… Oh Mykee, you're here! Excellent news, I finished your entire wardrobe last night. It's in the next room in the large red box… Or was it the Cherry one? Cinnamon? Rose?” She looks up, and blows a stray hair from her face.
My heart goes out to her, and I step in around my friends, “Looking forward to your fashion show! Wish we could participate, but I'm not sure ponies understand human fashion very well.”
“Oh nonsense, you all probably look absolutely dashing in your Gala attire,” she says with an anxious chuckle, and hops out of her chair. “Would anyone like some ice cream? I still have enough Vanilla Oat Swirl to share…”
“No thanks….Uh, when's the last time you had a nap…..Or sleep Rare? “ Savanna asks and glances at me, then diverts her eyes back to the pony.
“And also a shower.” Mykee adds. “And like, breakfast?”
Rarity blinks, “Oh my… Do I really look that frazzled?” She levitates over a mirror, and one look at her reflection makes her told her ears back with a whimper. “Ah… Not to worry dears… It's just stress. I mean, Hoity Toity only heads the most popular line of fashion magazines in all of Canterlot, seen by the elite, perhaps even the princesses themselves. And he's coming here… To see…”
She trails off into a loud whimper, and then throws her head back as she openly sobs. And then she flops to her belly, burying her face in her front legs to muffle her anguish.
Savanna gives the pony a sorry look and sighs. “I got this guys, I think a girl-to-girl pep- talk is in order.”
“Good luck! I’m gonna try these on…” Mykee finds the box containing his clothes and makes a quick exit.
I nod to Sav, and step out of the room. But I stay just around the corner, to listen in. Rarity is one of my closest friends after all. And just listening to her wailing is making me die inside.
Savanna sits on the floor by the pony and pats her back. “Hey now Rarity, come on. Just take a couple of deep breaths and look at me.”
Rarity sniffles, and looks up at her, her mascara running with her tears. She levitates over her ice cream, electing to eat there on the floor.
Savanna hands her a paper towel of the counter and hands it to her. “Alright, wipe your eyes, take a deep breath, and repeat after me. I got this. Simple, but it works.”
Rarity dabs at her eyes, and sniffle. “That… Is terrible grammar… It should be ‘I have this’... I'm not even sure ‘got’ is even a word…”
Typical Rarity, ever the proper, and ladylike.
Rarity closes her eyes, and inhales shakily, “...I have this… I have this… I… Have… This… This terrible abomination for all things fashionable!” She wails again, and turns into her back, “I won't ever be able to show myself in Ponyville again! I'll be a laughingstock! Ruined! Besmirched! A pariah to all things fabulous, forever to be remembered as the pony who couldn't tell a sewing needle from a toothpick!”
...And the drama queen, forgot the drama queen. At least she hasn't pulled out the Fainting Couch yet…
Savanna sighs and then cracks her knuckles then slams her hand on the counter as she springs to her feet. “Alright chica, listen here and listen good. You're one of the most fabulous designers in this flippin town, hell, probably the state or whatever. So what? You had a bad day or something didn't go right. Big deal, move on and get over it, or learn from it. Because you can't improve if you're stuck on one little thing. And besides! You're the one who made our kickass gala suits! And our regular clothes, I don't think many designer can pull that off, especially for humans! We're weird when it comes to sizes.”
Sav takes and deep breath and lets it out slowly. “My point is, you’re going to do great, and even if you don't, that's okay because Me, Harley, and Mykee will be here for you.”
Rarity looks up at her, and blinks. Then she smiles softly as she sits up, running a hoof through her mane as she attempts to reclaim her ladylike dignity. “Thank you Savanna… I needed that.” She stands on her rear hooves to hug her softly, “You're a gem, Darling.”
Savanna smiles back and hugs her. “No problem, anything I can help you with?”
Rarity sighs as she drops back to her hooves, “I wish, but sadly my dear with everything this far into the works the show is beyond help…”
Mykee walks up to me. “Are they still in there talking? I wanna thank Rare for the great job she did…”
I look Mykee over to get an eyeful of his outfit, “Yeah, the hard part is over… Rarity could use a confidence boost.”
So, Mykee knocks on the door and peeks in. “Hey, um… thanks for the outfits, they feel great!”
Rarity looks up at him, and smiles, “Oh thank you dear, you look very presentable too if I might say.”
“That’s saying something, since most days at home I’m not presentable at all.” He smirks.
“Guess new clothes makes anyone look nice,” I subtly tease with a smile.
“It can, depends on the clothing.” Mykee shrugs.
I say nothing, wishing I had a stopwatch to time him, see if he ever registers what I just said.
“Pfff!” Savanna clamps a hand to her mouth to quiet her laughing, but failing drastically.
“What? I usually wear shitty baggy clothes.” Mykee shrugs obliviously.
“Oh trust us, we know.” Savanna says and gets the last of her giggles out before sighing.
Rarity is amused with our banter, and giggles. “You're all wonderful friends… Are you attending the show tonight?”
“Indeed, we are! We’re gonna cheer you on, and you’re gonna need every bit of it.” Mykee says energetically. “...Ow, I think I pulled a muscle.”
I snicker, and walk over to kneel by Rarity so I can hug her sideways, “Don't worry Rarity, all will be well.”
She looks down a bit, and then nods. “Thank you… All of you… I just wish I had the courage to tell my friends what I actually feel about those horrid outfits… But they like them so much, and I worked so hard to give them exactly what they wanted…”
“Well then, let them see what their actions cost them. And then say Harley made the dresses.” Mykee smirks.
I frown at him, “I can shoot lightning now Mykee…”
Rarity perks her ears, “What? Since when?”
“About 30 minutes ago,” I reply casually.
“Oh my,” she says in surprise. “That… Well, I'm no magical expert, but that is a difficult spell for anypony, even those gifted in magic.”
“Pretty sure Harley was cheating though …..” Savanna says with a grin as she looks at me with a raised brow.
Rarity waves a dismissive hoof, “Oh darling, you can't cheat at magic.”
“You say that, and yet I’m sure there’s an episode or two of that happening.” Mykee comments.
I think, “...Eh… Technically I suppose, but it's through very black magic, or forbidden relics. But even then, you can't cheat the know-how to use it.”
“I was making a joke guys….” Savanna says and puts a hand on her hip.
“We get very literal. Now you know.” Mykee smiles.
“I honestly thought it was a serious question,” I comment.
“Whateves dudes.” Sav shrugs and hops up to sit on the counter.
Mykee comes in. “Well anyways, we’re all here to support you, alright Rarity?”
“Thank you,” she says with a smile. “So… How about that ice cream?”
“Sounds fantastic.” Savanna pips.
“What flavor is it again?” Mykee asks.
“Oat…...Eh, swirl, I think it was?” Sav replies.
He wrinkles his nose. “...Eh… fuck it, I’ll try it.”
Rarity fixes us all a bowl with three scoops, and I have to admit it puts human ice cream to shame. I suppose when you have people, or rather ponies, who devote great talent to a craft then you get a better product. It's so much richer, and sweeter. The oats in it are few, giving it a slightly different texture than I’m used to. Over all though all though all I really do to mine is add some caramel sauce on the top.
Mykee enjoys it more than he expected to, finishing it and asking for seconds. Rarity only slightly admonishes him for gluttony, but does provide him with another bowl as I promise to pick up some for the house.
Savanna leans back once she's finished and stretches with a yawn. “That was good.”
“Yes, it was…” Mykee finishes his second bowl, licking his lips.
“Well, it was nice having you all over,” Rarity says with a smile as she collects our dishes. “But I think it's time I see you off. I have some last minute things to take care of, and I'm sure you three have your own needs to attend to… Thank you. For being here. Really, it means the world to me.”
“Anytime.” Savanna replies with a smile,”And holler at us if you need anything.”
“Well… mostly anything.” Mykee corrects.
I shoot him a frown, but then smile to Rarity as we see ourselves out. Rarity waves goodbye, and closes the door to the boutique behind us as we start carrying Mykee’s clothes back towards the house.
Mykee picks it all up after a bit, using his Green Lantern powers. Up ahead we spot Doc sitting at a cafe, still hitched to the chariot as Hoity Toity enjoys a latte. I raise an eyebrow at that, “...Think he's getting paid?”
“Probably not,” Sav says
“Probably forced against his will.” Mykee suggests.
I start to head over that way when suddenly a blur lands in front of me, wings spread. “Just keep moving folks.”
I blink, and look down at the speaker. A yellow/orange Pegasus with a dark blue mane. Something about him nags at me, but it's brushed aside by the expression of restrained hostility pointed up at me. I raise a hand in greeting, “Um… Hi?”
“Hello,” he replies. “Now, move along. Mister Hoity Toity doesn't have any appointments with… Whatever you are. So I'm afraid this is as close as I can allow you three to get.” His eyes flick towards the aura of green coming from Mykee, then back to me.
“It’s okay, we’re not here to see him. That brown pony hitched up is our friend, if he can come here we don’t need to go over there.” Mykee says professionally.
“Sorry, he's on the clock,” the Pegasus replies simply. “Whatever you have to say can wait until later.”
“Eh, it probably could. But since he’s being paid to sit there, I think Mr. Hoity Toity would save money by letting him go on break, unless he plans on leaving within five minutes.” Mykee shrugs. “Maybe you should ask your boss if he wants to pay that. Five minutes times minimum wage is… oh wow, 7.50 bits!”
“Mister Toity can afford it, and have you any idea how given to impulse the celebrities of this land are?”
“He's got a point,” I admit. “Just wait until you meet Photo Finish, mare can't stand still to save her life.”
The lips of the Pegasus quirks a bit, “So you understand. Please move along folks.”
Savanna blinks at the pony and glances at us before she puts a hand to her mouth and backs off, deciding to keep her mouth shut.
“Alright, just one question, then we’ll leave… how much is our friend making right now?” Mykee raises an eyebrow.
“Not a clue, but probably not enough,” the Pegasus deadpans.
“Right,” I sigh. “Well, when you have the chance tell him that Sav, Mykee, and Harley were hoping to talk to him, Mister…?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Sentry,” the Pegasus replies, and turns to take off again. I get my first look at his Cutie Mark then… You'd think after a while you’d expect life to throw you curveballs like this, but no. His Cutie Mark is a blue kite shield with a yellow lightning bolt going across it.
“...Sentry,” I echo. “...Flash Sentry?”
The Pegasus frowns at me, “...Yyyyyyyyyes…?”
I take a step back, my voice jumping an octave, “Well then, best we don't hold you up, busy day as a bodyguard, huh?”
Flash nods, and takes off with a frown. I watch him go, a little gobsmacked.
“Why are bodyguards always dicks?” Sav asks and then notices my expression. “Uh…..What's wrong Har?”
“Just… That… I'll explain when we get home, still need time to wrap my head around this…”
“Okay...?”
When we get back I sigh, and put my hands on my hips as I crack my neck. “Okay… Flash Sentry. To be honest he's got the right amount of screen time in this show that I'd qualify him as a Watcher. I guess I never thought of him since… Well… The very mention of his name sets off Pompeii level flame wars in the fandom.”
“Why?” Savanna asks.
“Well the pony version of him doesn't have much screen time,” I clarify. “The most characterization we get for him was from his human counterpart in the Equestria Girls movies. And there he's just so generic, and Gary Stu… Not to mention he's been branded a Waifu Stealer because Hasbro made him the canon ship to Twilight Sparkle.”
“Wait, they canonized it?” Mykee blinks.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I mean Flash made his debut in the first movie, so having him show up in Season 1 like this is… Unsettling. Pretty much I figured he was made to be her love interest, at least the human him was. The pony version…” I frown, and pace while rubbing my chin, “The pony version was a Royal Guard, not some rent-a-cop bodyguard to celebrities… But Cadance had said he was a new recruit in the first movie, and by then the first three seasons are done… The pony version has the crush implied, but they really don't interact much on camera…”
“I fail to see how that’s canon…” Mykee comments.
I roll my eyes, “Mykee, the ship with her, and the human Flash is Canon. The pony one… Up in the air. But trust me, it's Canon. You’ll see it when we eventually get there.”
“That’s kinda like saying Yamcha got Bulma because you only watched Dragon Ball.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Welp you've lost me, so I'm just gonna leave the convo…..” Savanna says and awkwardly scuttles out of the room.
Mykee watches her leave curiously. “...She doesn’t know Dragon Ball Z?”
“Doubtful,” I reply. “But no, this is different. This is more like seeing Vegeta in the original Dragon Ball, and knowing that one day he was going to get married to Bulma.”
“It’s really more like saying Peter Parker will marry MJ in every continuity. Sure, the love is there, but in at least one he’ll get Gwen Stacy instead.” Mykee sits, manipulating his clothes upstairs to his room.
I think on that one, and cross my arms. “...Probably, yeah. I mean if the show isn't as accurate here as we thought then maybe we’re dealing with a completely different Flash Sentry… At any rate, the more I think about it… The more I think we ought to recruit him to the Watchers.”
“We need to catch him off duty then, when he’s not all business.” Mykee muses. He frowns and concentrates for a little bit. “...Drawer… open… there.” He waves his hand and points it back at the box, lifting more clothes to go back upstairs. “...I guess I promoted myself to dishwasher and clothes folder.”
I roll my eyes, and lay on the couch to think. I mean the Watchers is short on wingpower, and he might be destined to be a royal guard. Fandom prejudice aside, the Watchers could use a guy like him on the team. But how to persuade him…?
Then again, with Sweetie in danger, should we really divert our attention to new members? An extra set of hooves could come in handy yes, but we hardly know anything about Flash. We need time to recon, and assess. I suppose I can ask Bonbon to look into it while we focus on the episode, and the Manifest. It really pays to have a seasoned agent on the team.
Mykee glances at his remaining boxes of clothes, then at his watch. “I’m gonna go ahead and start on dinner. Any requests?”
“Anything pasta?”
Mykee nods and looks up the stairs, calling, “Hey Sav, I’m making dinner! Harley wants pasta, anything in particular you want?”
“I guess so. Unless you have meat, then fuck yeah. But yeah…...pasta is fine.” Savanna calls from her room.
“Just eggs. Until we can figure out how to make meat for ourselves…” Mykee muses and walks into the kitchen, getting to work.
“Considering this is a world where cows talk, I don't see that happening anytime soon,” I inform them.
“Nature, man. We could eat birds.” Mykee suggests, boiling water.
“Oh man, couldn't look Fluttershy in the eye if that happened,” I moan. “Fuck…”
“Dude, if it’s for our survival, I think she’ll understand…”
“She can talk to animals,” I reply. “I don't think she’ll see any animals as anything less than people, or ponies.”
“And yet she’s fine with everyone eating eggs?” Mykee frowns.
“...Touché,” I blink. “I hadn't considered that… I'll have to talk with Twilight about omnivore customs with ponies, see what can be done.”
“That’s all I ask. I need bacon in my life. Or at least turkey bacon.” Mykee smirks, boiling the pasta.
“Never had that,” I comment. “But months on end with no meat… Wonder if I should write to the princesses to get shipments of steak, and shit from the griffon kingdom. Worth every Bit…”
“It fucking would, and I don’t eat steak, so you can tell I want meat. Also, turkey bacon is like… fatless bacon. Serviceable, but if real bacon is an option, fucking get bacon.”
On that note I head up to get my book to write to Luna, and get some info on this, probably get the ball rolling.
-----
The fashion show itself was… About as bad as you could imagine. It was painful to watch, and when Hoity called those outfits a mix-mash of everything but the kitchen sink what hurt most was on the inside I agreed with him. And Rarity’s walk of shame… I never really had a moment to really resent Spike until then, listening to him urging Rarity onto that catwalk… Nightmare had made a promise to remind me to swap the little pest’s bath salts with chili powder first chance we got.
“Well, that was about as cringey as I thought it’d be.” Mykee comments slowly.
“Yeah……” Savanna swallows hard as she stares at the stage.
I spot Bonbon out the corner of my eye, and she nods as she heads for an alleyway. I nudge my friends softly, and head for the alley. Once there we find her sitting on a barrel. “What's the word,” I ask.
Bonbon sighs, “Well… Flash is a no-nonsense buck when it comes to his job it seems, and he's good at what he does. I've seen cues in his movements that suggest prior training, just not recently. He's seasoned, but I don't see killer in his eyes when provoked.” She smirks, “Learned that by telling Ditzy that Hoity Toity was giving free hugs.”
Mykee snickers. “Well that’s one way to do it.”
“That's mean,” I mutter. “Anyways, do you think he could join us?”
“Could he? I think so. Would he? Probably not,” she replies. “I don't see him being very patriotic… Without some means of motivation I wouldn't recommend him for the Watchers.”
“Well, anything else you can think about him, Harley? Something minor that may help us?” Mykee asks.
“No,” I shake my head. “I… Well… His human self was pretty well off… High school student with his own car with a custom lightning paint job… Rock musician… So he had some sort of financial stability. I don't know how that would translate to his pony counterpart.”
Mykee taps his gauntlet thoughtfully. “No friends or family we can talk to?”
I jerk at that, “First Base!”
“Uh, what?” Savanna says and looks over at me with a raised brow.
“First base already? I’m so proud of you two, I knew it would happen someday! The writing was all over the wall. Congratulations!” Mykee says happily, patting our backs proudly.
I elbow him hard in the gut. “No you dunce, the fandom has long speculated on an Earth Pony colt that looks almost just like him being his younger brother, we call him First Base!”
“Ow. Okay, so we’ll talk to FB?” Mykee rubs his gut with a scowl.
“I don't know, guess so.” Sav shrugs.
I'm about to respond when Bonbon interrupts, “I suggest we run recon. We learn what the deal is in their dynamic so we can approach without risk of conflict.”
“...Yeah, what she said,” I agree. “Maybe we start by talking to the CMC. I know he goes to their school.”
“Alright then. ...Should we comfort Rarity again first, or are her friends gonna help her?” Mykee asks.
“In the show her friends wait a few days,” I say thoughtfully. “Plenty of time for us to get our business taken care of.”
“That long, huh…? Ouch.” Mykee winces.
“Chill out dude, we got this.” Sav asures and stretches with a long sigh.
“Yeah… alright.” Mykee straightens. “Well then, let’s go.”
...
The next day or two is a bit tedious, subtly trying to learn what we can about First Base, and Flash Sentry without being discovered. The CMC lead turns up dry, which is a let-down. Flash Sentry himself is too busy to approach, and the only times we get to talk with Doc are late in the evening when he’s super tired. In the end we’re forced to one last straw to grasp at…
We stand outside the mansion of the Rich family for the second time in our lives, this time under the guise of trying to check on the progress of our internet relays. We’re greeted by a butler pony who doesn't offer a name to call him by. But he leads us to a study where Filthy Rich joins us within minutes.
“Well if it isn't my newest friends,” he greets us warmly. “So glad to see you three again… If I might, please extend my sympathies to your unfortunate friend the other day. I don't know what got into Miss Rarity with those outfits. We certainly have always received top-notch attire from her.”
“I don't doubt it,” I reply. “I think we saw her work at Diamond Tiara’s Cute Ceñera.”
“Oh yes, my daughter was pleased beyond belief,” he replies. “I mean she kept her composure in public as a proper lady of her standing should, but after we got home she only took it off to spare it of dust, and to eat.”
I glance around, “Is she here by chance? I wanted to get the opinions of the younger generation for a line of games from our world.”
“Oh yes, she's out back with her friend Silver Spoon,” Filthy Rich replies. “I'll gladly show you the way after I've brought you up to speed on the progress for your Internet.”
Since Mykee’s the one who made it, he takes point on the discussion. “How is it going along?”
“Well the materials for these… Pylons, did you call them?”
“Yes.” Mykee nods, biting back a smile.
“Yes, well, the materials are easy enough to collect. Trustworthy ponies of engineering however… Well, the most difficult part of this is trying to find ponies that won't copy your designs, and modify it to pass them off as their own. So it's a rather slow moving progress as of this moment. I do hope you'll find it within yourself to be patient with me. If this is as great an invention as you three have let on then I would like to think it’s well worth the wait.”
“We are willing to wait, once it is all set up, it will be like sliced bread was just discovered again.” Mykee smiles.
Filthy Rich chuckles, “I'm looking forward to it. Now, according to my numbers, we will be able to set up roughly two dozen pylons in Ponyville. Is that enough, or too many? Perhaps not enough? I'm still not clear on how they're meant to function…”
Mykee pulls out his phone, studying some charts. “I’d say it’s more than enough. With the extras, we’re guaranteed to have fast internet from the get go. Heck, probably faster than the ones we have at home.”
“Great. I'm in a completely different universe and I don't even have my xbox to use with said internet….” Sav grumps and crosses her arms with a pout.
Filthy Rich raises an eyebrow, “An ‘X Box?’”
“It's a best selling gaming console from our world,” I explain. “Once the Internet is running properly, and we make it a bit then we can start scouting our ponies software savvy. We’ll render arcade consoles obsolete with a wider selection of extraordinary games, the most realistic graphics you could imagine, and new methods of gameplay barely conceived in the fiction of Equestria.”
Filthy Rich claps his hooves softly, “It all sounds most promising… But please, forgive me if I don't count my chickens before they hatch. We still have our first step to take in this enterprise of yours, and rest assured I am devoting my full effort to each step, sparing no expense.”
“Which we fully appreciate. Thank you for making our dreams come alive.” Mykee bows softly.
“Yeah, if not for you, we'd be stuck in a bind.” Savanna says with a smile and nods a thanks.
“Yeah,” I agree. “I mean our portfolio of other ideas are easier to manage, but only collectively would they be about as profitable as this. Speaking of, your daughter, and her friend…?”
“Ah, right, of course,” he says as he stands.
I hold up a finger, “One thing though. Children often pick up cues from their parents, and for most of our other ideas we want to pick her brain for purely her opinion. So if you don't mind perhaps we could get some time without you present to bounce ideas off her?”
He rubs his chin, “Well when you put it that way then I suppose it's reasonable. Alright then. The garden is just down this hall to the left, and down the stairs. You can't miss the glass doors leading outside.”
“Thank you.” Mykee smiles and offers his hand to shake.
Filthy Rich shakes each of our hands before we head off. After we've descended the stairs, and approach the outdoors I whisper to my friends, “It's too damn easy to get away with this kind of shit with these ponies…”
“ Don't Jinx it.” Sav mutters back and slides the glass door open.
Outside the two fillies are alone sipping tea as a short round table with a pond nearby. As we approach Diamond Tiara spots up. The little pink Earth Pony spits in her cup, and coughs before looking right at me with fear in her eyes. Then she masks it with what I think is her best angry face as she storms up to us.
“You,” she says, looking right up at me. “I don't know why you're here, but mother hasn't done anything wrong! So if that’s what you're here for then get lost!”
Savanna blinks in mild surprise. “Uh... No...?”
“Wow, stalker much?” Mykee raises an eyebrow at me. “What’d you do?”
“I gave Spoiled Rich a reality check in regards to grinding her daughter’s face into the pavement,” I state, raising a hand, and closing my fist in such a way my knuckles audibly crack.
“Shut up!” Diamond Tiara snaps at me, “It's none of your business!”
Savanna widens her eyes and glances at me before she looks back at the two ponies. Pretty clear she now understands why I told her to a close eye on DT.
“Good for you. But you also gave this kid childhood drama. Maybe you should step out, let me and Sav handle this.” Mykee suggests.
“I'm not the one who traumatized anyone,” I reply evenly, in a tone suggesting my temper is starting to rise. “I know abuse when I see it.”
“Stop saying that!” Diamond Tiara rushes in at me, and tries to kick me in the leg. On reflex I pull it back so I'm on one foot, letting her flop to her belly as I step away. I'm not about to fight a six year old… Eight year old… Somewhere in that region.
“Harley. Just trust me on this one, okay?” Mykee asks gently.
“Help yourself,” I reply with my arms crossed.
He moves with Diamond back to the table, and Mykee introduces himself. He explains that we’re looking for a pony, or info on him, and explains why it’s important. He keeps his voice calm and trusting.
And… Well… We all know Diamond Tiara.
“I don't see why I should care,” she says like the brat she is. “I mean, what’s it matter to me if the loser’s an orphan?”
“So what you’re saying is, if you’re an orphan, and you needed help, we shouldn’t care about you?” Mykee asks amusedly.
She blinks in surprise, “What? I'm not an orphan, that First Base kid is. My daddy tells me that he used to live in Canterlot, but his parents were killed by something. Nopony knows how it happened, too many rumors for a straight story. I hear he's got a big brother someplace, if you want to know anything why don't you stop being a stupid monkey, and go ask him?!”
“Well, because like you, he doesn’t want to talk to us. But, I think you’ve been a good help.” He stands and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a homemade taffy. “Here. Take this for your troubles.” He offers it to her.
Without changing her expression in the slightest she takes it from him with a hoof, and tosses it over her shoulder into the nearby pond. She then crosses her forelegs with a scowl, giving the three of us a contemptible look without a word.
Mykee shrugs. “Just remember, when you’re down on your luck, friends will only help you if you let them. Even if they’re not rich.” He walks back to me. “That was… refreshing.”
I raise an amused eyebrow, curious to see what he makes of his first encounter with the number one brat of Ponyville. “Oh yeah? How so?”
“You know when you have a mom who’s on her period, and even though you’ve done nothing wrong she still hates your guts? Felt like that a little.” Mykee grabs a deep breath. “But, that’s why I grew apathy to most things.”
“Eh, I never had that chance,” I reply. “My mom was in jail most my childhood, and spent the time before that trying to be a mother to a toddler. I was roughly five when she was taken… Anyways, we can start a band with our collections of the world’s smallest violins later. For now we have our first lead on Flash Sentry. Deaths in Canterlot, definitely worth looking into.”
Mykee nods. “Let’s go.”
Savanna shakes herself and nods as the events that just played out sink in. “Yeah…..”
Mr Rich meets us part way on our way out. “Done already?”
“Yeah, I'm afraid we need to revise our portfolio a bit,” I lie smoothly. “It would seem we need to work on an abridged delivery to avoid losing the interest of the younger audience. I'm afraid we left Diamond Tiara in a somewhat irritable state…”
Filthy Rich smiles, “Oh no matter dear friends, a good saying passed between father's in my family is to keep moving forward. When you fail you learn much, but not so much with success. When you feel ready to try again just send a letter, and I'll have you penciled in for another visit.”
I offer a polite hand to shake, “Hopefully by then the Internet will be up, we can just email you.”
He chuckles, and shakes my hand, “Indeed.”
After we’re off the property I slip my thumbs into my pockets with a sigh, and turn to walk backwards, facing my friends. “You know, I'm never comfortable with how easy it is for me to flaunt my talent with lying. Mom’s side of the family was always like political infighting so I picked it up along the way someplace… Speaking of, nice work getting DT to spill the beans Mykee. How long did it take you to come up with that?”
“I may not be as professional a liar as you, but keeping a straight face always helped me get out of a pickle. My only problem is I’m slow at coming up at awesome retorts, just okay ones…” Mykee shrugs.
“Well, I give your performance an A+... Just don't take DT’s attitude personally. She's a dick to everyone up to Season 5, and besides, in most cases of abuse the victim is so rooted in denial they think they're to blame.” I look behind me real quick to make sure I'm not going to trip, or run into anything before looking to Savanna. “Sorry I didn't tell you sooner, it's not like I meant to hide it… Every time I even thought about it I was just so angry…”
“I understand, just… Just give me a heads up next time alright?” She nods at me and yawns.
“Didn't get enough sleep last night? That's alright. You guys head for that cafe a few blocks from Sugarcube Corner, I'll head home and write to Luna, see what we can dig up about those deaths. See you there in about 30 to 45 minutes.”
Mykee shrugs and turns. “Let’s go, Starfire.”
Sav blinks at that,” Starfire?”
“You’re Star Splice online, right? And you’re always yelling at me. It’s either gonna be Starfire, or Salty, take your pick.” He smirks back at her.
“Well I do like Teen Titans…..” She says, then shrugs, “ Starfire is pretty catchy, and I have the hair to got with it.”
“Starfire it is, then.” Mykee starts humming, walking to the brightly lit cafe.
As for me, I’m about ready to slip my ring off for some time bending to make it faster… But then I get an idea. Mykee’s gauntlet has about as much magic as me, so maybe I…
“Always wanted to fly,” I mutter. I have more experience with levitation than him, so all I do is direct it back on myself, wrapping my body in a deep blue aura. Carefully I will myself upwards, and stop after a few inches. I'm almost scared to move, never having done this before.
It’s alright Harley. Levitation is an almost casual spell, and you’ve had time to get used to it. You got this.
Quoting Savanna are we? Thanks Nightmare.
I go slow at first, maybe only walking distance. But as I get used to it I can't help experimenting a bit, going just a bit higher… Then higher… After I clear treetop level I'm both excited, and frightened, but confident in the strong hold of my magic. So I decide to try speed a bit, gradually picking it up.
It takes some practice to level myself out, but then I’m flying, and yeah… I was humming what I know of the Superman theme song. No wonder Rainbow Dash acts like this is the best thing in the world.
So it takes me only a few minutes to get home, and slip in through my window. Not exactly graceful, I made the mistake of releasing my magic too soon, and dropping with my thighs in the window, just barely catching myself before I faceplant, and wiggling in the rest of the way. Learning curve, no big deal.
After I've gotten my book, and written off a letter to Luna asking her to look into the deaths of Flash’s parents, and First Base’s then I ease myself out the window with my magic again, deciding to clock more flight hours to go meet my friends in Ponyville.
When I get there both Mykee and Savanna are sitting at an outside table, Sav has her head slammed to the table, rather from laughing or crying it was hard to tell, and Mykee, he was just doing his own thing.
His own thing being, playing with his 3DS. I haven’t seen that thing since he arrived here…
“Doc finally put that back together, huh?” I hover by the table, book in hand. “So did he just make the charger for it, or did he put in some upgrades?”
“For now, just the charger. I’m just collecting play coins and playing the games I have on it.” Mykee smiles and closes it, putting it away.
“Oh great, yay, good for you….” Sav mutters and flops her head up and rests her head in her hands as she take a large drink from her coffee.
I raise an eyebrow, “...No one is going to notice, or comment on me flying?” I knock on Mykee’s head twice with the spine of my book.
“Nothing surprises me, dude. You saw me fly, you figured it out. It’s not hard, just scary.” Mykee shrugs.
“...Eh, fair enough,” I say as I touch down on the ground, and extinguish my magic before taking my seat. “Has the waiter been by yet? I'm craving a caramel frappe.”
“Yeah, Sav got a coffee and I got some mozzarella sticks.” Mykee sips his soda.
“Yeah….she's a nice lady.” Sav says and puts her head back down on the table.
I'm about to ask who Sav is talking about when suddenly my book glows blue, and vibrates like a cell phone. “That was fast,” I comment as I open to read, curious to see what Luna could have learned so quickly.
“Sav, you okay?” Mykee glances at her. “Too much caffeine?”
“Probably. Also maybe because my inside are ripping apart.” she say and groans lowly and clenches her cup.
“...I think I’ll give you some space.” Mykee scoots his chair back a little.
I glance up at them, “Hey guys, if you think you could be serious for two minutes, this is big.”
“ Fine…..I'm all ears….” Sav says and looks up again.
“S'up?” Mykee asks.
I look around, and frown at how public our setting is. There aren't many ponies around, but still I lean in as best I can to whisper. “Turns out recruiting Flash will be easier than we thought… The agency Bonbon used to be a part of? Flash’s parents were head of the agency. They went on a mission in the Canterlot caverns under the city, details are classified, but their bodies were discovered three days later.”
“...How does that make our job easier?” Mykee raises an eyebrow.
“Flash obviously got his training from his folks,” I explain. “A chance to fill their shoes? Bonbon said he wasn't patriotic, but it won't take much for us to convince him working with The Watchers is better than slaving after asses like Hoity Toity as well as the rest of Canterlot nobility.”
“Okay then. Next question, how will we convince him?” Mykee tilts his head.
“Of what? I'm sure Bonbon can get him onboard for the Watchers while we handle the episode.”
“That would probably be best.” Savanna says,” We can get two things done at one time “
“Well then, now we have a waiting game until Rarity’s friends apologize, comfort her, and remake the costumes. What do we do until then?” Mykee stretches.
I close the book, “Well… I suppose we could check on her ourselves?”
“Eh, sure. Should we get her a muffin or something?” Mykee suggests.
“How about no.” Savanna says quickly,” I'm already triggered thinking about it.”
“...Cake slice?” Mykee suggests instead.
“Double chocolate, all around,” I agree.
“Wanna buy this one, buddy? I paid for our stuff, and that coffee was expensive.” Mykee sweatdrops.
“....I'm okay with that.” Sav says and brightens up at the mention of food.
I roll my eyes as I fish out my Bits pouch.
“ Thank you Harley.” Sav says and leans back in her chair with a smile.
“Thanks bud.” Mykee smiles.
So I place my order, and we each get some cake. I also get my Frappe so I'm happy. I'm about halfway into my slice when I feel a pat on my leg. Looking for I see Silver Spoon looking up at me with a nervous expression.
Savanna looks down at the pony with a mouth full of cake and waves a hello.
Mykee looks curiously. “Hi!”
Silver Spoon climbs onto a nearby chair. “Um… I wanted to ask you three to leave Diamond Tiara alone. I'm thankful you stood up for her Harley, but… She's been having nightmares. I mean, she usually has nightmares about her mom, but ever since her Cute Ceñera she's been having dreams about you over her mom’s body… So… I'm not asking you to stop protecting her… Just don't bother her.”
“What about me and her?” Mykee points at Savanna.
“Well… Since you're associated with Mister Harley she considers all three of you bad news,” Silver Spoon replies. “She’d be upset if she knew I talked to you, but… She's my only friend…”
He sighs. “Noted… So can we send someone who’s not us to talk to her?”
Silver Spoon folds her ears back, “...Can't you just stay away from her?”
“If we could, we would, kiddo. But we can’t. Sorry. Unless you can help us instead.” Mykee suggests.
I frown, and speak before Silver Spoon can. “Speak for yourself Michael. I'm not about to let another childhood be ruined by terrible parents. There was too much of that in our world, I'm not letting it slide here at all if I can help it.”
“And if in turn, you become what you’re trying to prevent?” Mykee deadpans. “In that girl’s eyes, you’re no better than her mother!”
“And? Hardly matters what she thinks of me,” I reply. “If it's a choice of having an abused filly in my fan club, or being hated while doing the right thing… Guess which helps me sleep better at night. If you can't figure it out, ask Batman.”
“Knock it off guys this isn’t about you two and whatever you think, and yes, I mean you Mykee.” Savanna snaps and glares.
At that I raise an eyebrow, not seeing how Mykee could be trying to make this about him. Did I miss a chapter someplace? Does she know something I don't?
Mykee crosses his arms. “Apparently you two aren’t hearing me. Harley has pretty much single-handedly made that girl traumatized by two people instead of one. If later her comeuppance and snooty attitude are muted by this, you’re the one that fucked it up. You’re right, this isn’t Earth. But by that logic, she now thinks that all humans are inherently evil and violent, and it’ll be her that’ll start the hatred for all humans that show up here. And since she’s the daughter of the richest pony on the planet, she’ll soon have all the influence of the world. So tell me, how does that help us, Harley? Tell me how “saving” that girl the way you did will help us in the long run.”
I drum my fingers irritably on the table, and scowl softly through his entire lecture. When he's done I keep my voice low, quiet, to suppress the sea of anger that's been in me most my life, and usually surfaces when I feel the need to be defensive.
“Buddy,” I say simply. “You picked the wrong guy to try preaching any virtues of humanity to. We are inherently violent, and evil, or haven't you ever opened a bible? As for Spoiled Rich, I never hurt her. I physically can't strike a woman of any species. A show of claws, and a bluff, that's all it was. And it's kept that mother scared, which is what I want. Diamond Tiara isn't stupid, eventually she’ll figure out I'm protecting her, and maybe she’ll feel safe around me. So long as she has a friend like Silver Spoon here to support her she’ll be able to put the abusive past behind her, and move on with her life. That is how it will help her.”
I pause to take a sip of my coffee, holding up a finger to let him know I'm not finished. “Plus, if things get out of hand, we answer…” I trail off with a glance to Silver Spoon, mentally chastising myself for almost giving away the secret of the Watchers. “...We know very important ponies, if the day ever comes where I would have to make good on my threats then I'll just have Spoiled Rich arrested. I had my mother taken from me by the law at Diamond Tiara’s age, so I know what that brings about. If anything I'm giving Spoiled Rich a chance to turn her life around.”
Mykee sighs. “You’re protecting Diamond like Superman protecting Lex Luthor. Helping a lot more than she cares to admit, and she will always resent you, and in turn, us.”
I raise my hand, slowly rubbing my index finger on my thumb, “Know what this is? This is me playing you a song on the world’s smallest violin. Now if you ever want to cultivate a friendship with Diamond Tiara, that's your choice, but last I checked Time Travel was tricky business in Equestria so what's done is done, Bub.”
“Hey Harley? I’m going to keep this recorded. And next time we argue like this, I’m going to tell you to fucking drop your ego for ten goddamn seconds and stop thinking you’re saving people when you hurt others in your wake.” Mykee glows green, and floats into the air. “I’m done for the night. I’ll see you guys at home. Say hi to Rarity for me.” He flies for home without a second thought.
I want so badly to just spark him with a little lightning, or to fly after him to inform him I haven't hurt anyone since coming here. But I hesitate as I think over the honesty of that train of thought, and in that time he gets away.
Looking to Savanna I ask, “...Do I really have an ego?”
Savanna looks around with a small sigh at the small crowd that has gathered because of our dispute. “Now isn't the time Harley…” she says softly, “ How about just for now you get a clear head, and we'll talk later?”
I notice the onlookers, and also notice that we seem to have scared off Silver Spoon. Sighing I slide the last of my cake over to her, and stand. “Yeah… I'll be out practicing magic. See you tonight Sav.” I stand, and softly hug her head to my chest with one arm before floating off.
“Okay, be safe.” she calls to me and plops back into her chair with a heavy sigh.
---------------
To be honest… I didn't go to Rarity’s place after that. I spent most the day sitting on top of town hall watching the ponies. Back on Earth that's what I did whenever I got stressed… Watched ponies.
Harley?
Hm?
I’m sorry to see you nearly in constant conflict with your friends…
You didn't do anything, so don't be. I mean you get a couple of smart, reasonably handsome guys in a house with the only girl they're likely to see for a long while… Hormones rage, specifically testosterone, and heads will butt… I just… I don't want to lose my friends, but it's like he's trying to undermine me. Why did he say that I have an ego?
Well from the outside looking in you were talking down to him, mocking him even. I may be no expert on the matter, but that isn't how a friend is traditionally treated. Perhaps things are different in the human world?
Well… Kind of. I mean when friends are close enough insults become jokes…. Though I suppose my timing has always been terrible save for when my ADHD runs rampant.
So perhaps an apology is in order?
...Yeah, probably… Why do I have to be the one that's wrong though? I mean I honestly think Mykee acts so apathetic because he probably doesn't care about this world at all. He just plays along to feel better about himself, and not disappoint me.
Perhaps, but perhaps not… Ask him.
That's increasingly difficult to argue with. So I take another few minutes to watch some foals playing hide and seek in the market before I fly off for home. I have a bridge to save before it burns forever.
I find Mykee in the backyard by the pool, using his ring to juggle balls of water before launching them as projectiles at the fence. He then points to the center of the pool and flicks his finger up, creating a geyser.
I reach out, and grab a piece of a nearby cloud. After coming to terms that I can actually do that I toss it at the back of his head, landing on the ten foot brick wall around the yard for a seat. Probably not my best choice, but I'm not perfect.
Mykee creates a shield, blocking the cloud and turning to me. “What? Gonna argue more?” He states.
“...Jolt… If we had been sucked into the world of Transformers, pretty much any generation but Prime… I'd be terrified. I'd be so fucking scared for my life that you, and I would probably be glued together at the hip…” Looking off to the side I continue, “I guess I was expecting that with you for a lot longer, but… Maybe the sunshine, and rainbows around here are blinding you… I'm sorry buddy. Sorry for acting like an asshole… I just… Knowing what I do about this world, having these powers at our fingertips… It makes me feel like we have a purpose beyond writing some plagiarized fiction… I mean, with great power comes great responsibility, I figured you of all people would get that…”
“That’s not my beef, dude. My beef is you saw humanity as a general evil, and as such treat everything like it should be solved like that. But if humanity is like that, we’d all be dead right now. Realistically, yes, there are bad people, and the average joe won’t necessarily go out of their way to be nice to you. But there’s a flipside, dude. There are great people, who try their best to help when they can, however they can.”
He looks at the moon. “You’re more of a pessimist, I get that. That combined with your take no bullshit mentality is great. But as a guy who sees things through grey tinted glass, I see just as much good as bad. Yes, there’s more bad people, but isn’t the capacity for good more than the capacity for bad? If it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be tales of fantasy, heroes saving the every man. Does any of this make sense?”
I pat the wall beside me in an invitation for him to join me up here. “I get what you're saying man… It's just from what I've lived through… I can enjoy the flower garden, so long as I don't see the weeds. Humans in my book are a lost cause, because for every Superman there's a Doomsday. For every Green Lantern a Sinestro. Every Flash a Reverse Flash. Humanity has the spectrum of good, and evil in a tedious balance that just wore down on me. Half my family was batshit psycho… Okay, a bit more than half. Say… Six tenths… But here?”
I wave a hand up to the sky, “Here? This whole place, I hold out so much more hope for it. Anything that even resembles the dark side of humanity here I see like a poison, a cancer that needs to be cut out right away. When shit hit the fan on earth this was where I turned to forget it all for precious minutes, so I could face the darkness of our world again. There's so much hope here Mykee… And I want to be a part of it. If I can use what Fate dropped on me like a Looney Tunes anvil to keep this place the world of Sunshine, and Rainbows even just a day longer then I'll do it.”
I offer him a smile, “To quote one of my favorite authors, ‘Darkness is not always the equivalent of evil, just as light does not always bring good.’ I have spent so long in my life suppressing, and forging my inner demons into armor, and tools to combat the world… So that's what I plan to do if I need to. To use them here, and make some good come out of all the bad.”
“And in doing so, you’re destroying it.” Mykee sticks out his tongue as he floats up, sitting next to me. “Okay, not really. But you can’t go about here like your darkness is a savior. We’re all these ponies know about humanity, and we need to be the good things about it. Earth wasn’t great, but if we treat this world as a restart, we need to forget the bad over there. You’re bringing your pain, anger, and attitude here, and it’s not healthy. You’re gonna hurt people if you keep going an eye for an eye. We’re humans, we can’t show off the good of Earth and complain about the badness of Earth at the same time. ...Well, we shouldn’t.”
I mull over his words for a few minutes, then nod. “I… You're right… We’re better than this… I'm not taking back what I said to Spoiled Rich, but… What do you think I should do about Diamond Tiara?”
“Well, it’s too late to apologize, so we need to get the Watchers to slowly convince her we’re not bad. Because we’re certainly not gonna be able to do that with what you did.” Mykee sighs.
“All I did was throw Spoiled Rich into a hay cart, and point a knife at her… Okay, a couple knives, but still!”
“You threatened her, Harley. Batman level threatening. That’s fucking scarring, dude.” Mykee deadpans.
I sigh, and rub my face. “...You're right… But we shouldn't be getting the Watchers involved. We have more important things to deal with than one little girl. I'll handle this myself… Somehow.”
“A spark creates a wildfire, man. And you tossed a match. You’ll make things worse if you try to make things right with her. You need an outside influence to convince her we’re good people. And no, I’m not gonna let you try to take this matter into your own hands.” He crosses his arms. “You did the jumpscare without me, and now one pony is afraid of us. There is no way in hell you’re gonna drop that back to zero, whatever you plan to do.”
“Nothing ventured nothing gained Mykee,” I state as I float myself to the ground. “Besides, am I just supposed to have her think I'm the only bad human? I made this mess, I'm the only one who can fix it… You don't know ponies like I do. They're nice, a bit naive, and just the slightest bit dense. I'll get through to her.”
“Then I’m coming with, to make sure your anger doesn’t control you again. Seriously, we need to have anger channeling classes for you.” Mykee comments, hopping down.
I grin at him, “Ever notice I'm usually just angry around you? Besides, I'm not about to lash out at a little girl of all people… I mean ponies. And I do exceptionally well channeling my anger, it's just everyone has a boiling point. Seeing what I saw that day was just the last straw… Which now that I think about it is kinda funny since I was in a hay cart at the time.”
“So what you’re saying is, you’re gonna have a talk with a whiny bitch, such as myself, and not get angry?” Mykee asks amusedly.
“Hey.” I put an arm over his shoulders, and pull him into a bromance hug. “Don't go putting yourself down like that. You're one of the best people I know. Case in point, God-Horse Sunbutt believes you're a good enough friend to me it yanked you across the multiverse with the magic of friendship…” I press my lips together, and nod slowly, “And I cannot believe I just said that with a straight face. I must be going native.”
“Still, I kept a straight face with Diamond due to sheer willpower, and because I can hold a dead expression. How exactly are you gonna talk to a pony that hates your guts, and won’t talk to you? I’d like to know now, so I can tell you how exactly that’ll go.” Mykee states.
“I'll just keep my eyes open for when the time is right,” I reply. “Until then… Let's get some rest. Pinkie told me she, and her friends are planning to visit Rarity in the morning, and I wanna be there.”
“Yeah, sure… Is Sav back? I think I’m gonna try and beat her to the shower tonight.” Mykee heads for the house.
When walk in, Sav is laying across the couch with her hands folded behind her head. “Did you two kiss and make up so we can get on with our lives?” she says playfully and cracks one eye open.
“For now. Are you gonna shower, or can I go?” Mykee sticks out his tongue.
“Yeah, wouldn't want that in my mouth either,” I quip as I head over to the couch, and pretend to go to sit on Sav to give him a head start for the shower.
“You would, horny boy~” Mykee smirks and winks, heading upstairs quickly.
“Hey! I only take so long in the shower because I have to do frickin yoga to shave my legs! So shut it!” Sav yells after him and then turns her attention back to me. “Don't even….”
“Imma do it,” I chuckle as I put about a quarter of my weight on her belly.
She groans and shoves a pillow in her face as she wiggles under me. “Motherfucker no!”
I laugh, and lift myself off her, then start to tickle her sides. “Imma getcha!”
She giggles and grabs my wrists as she wiggles even more. “This is a very easy way to get yourself hurt!”
“Wanna bet?” I grab her arms, and start dragging her off the couch.
She thuds to the ground with a laugh. “You’re on! Come at me bro!”
I spin on a foot, and straddle her hips while I try to pin her hands in one hand. “Gotcha sissy!”
“Bah!” she brings her knee up to slam it into my back and then headbutts me in the chest. “I shove around half-ton animals. You're not a problem you soggy lampshade!”
“Yeah, but they don't got thumbs!” I laugh as I hug my knees to her sides, and start wiggling my fingers into her neck. “Plus when I was eight I was constantly treated like this by bodybuilding uncles, at least two at a time. I can take what you can dish, with extra onions!”
“Ew! Onions!” she makes a grossed out face and grabs my wrists again and pulls hard, pulling me to the side on her.
For kicks I keep the roll going, pulling her on top of me. Then I lock my legs around her legs, and start to tickle what I can reach.
She bursts out laughing even more and thuds her head to my chest. “This is extremely un-!” she cuts herself off with more giggles.
I give mercy to let her catch her breath, and hug her close, “Wow… Been awhile since I played with anyone like this…”
“Well it happens when you get sucked into a completely different universe.” she says and cuddles up to my side.
I unlock my legs from around her, and hug her softly, kneading my fingertips in her hair.
She groans and smiles, “ Now you’re just racking up the brownie points…..”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I chuckle, and pat her back. “Move it it to the couch?”
“I suppose.” she shrugs.
I scoop her up, and carry her to the couch. I've always been a glutton for affection so I just lay on the couch with her on top of me, relaxing with a smile.
Sav hugs me around the neck and lets out a soft happy sigh as she cuddles back into me. I rub my hand softly on her back, holding her like a living teddy bear. I'm fixing the desire to just fall asleep like this almost overwhelming.
Sav lets her eyes droop and yawns as she hugs me tighter.
“I'm not moving for a while…..”
“No arguments,” I mumble.
“Good….”she mumbles back slows her breathing.
I stroke her hair softly, and levitate a blanket over the two of us… Drifting into the most peaceful sleep I've had in awhile.
---------------
The next day, Sav and I are awakened by the violent clanking of pots making into each other in our ears. “Wakey Wakey lovebirds!”
Savanna jerks awake with a squeal and jumps off the couch, slamming into the floor.
“Motherfucker!”
Now I know we had a brotherly moment the night before… But I had been in a good place, a really good place. So before I can even fully wake up I bolt to my feet, and tackle him right in the gut, trying to grab one of the pans from him so I can beat him over the head with it.
But he was prepared, standing by the door on the other side of the room. He had conjured a green clone with the pots, snickering. “Man, you two are heavy sleepers, you know that?”
Savanna rubs her eyes and slowly stands. “You are dead to me right now….”
“Which is why in exchange for robbing you of that precious moment, I made all the breakfast I could without meat.” He motions to the table, a buffet’s worth of breakfast ready.
“I'm not crazy about breakfast foods…...Maybe like, toast and cereal….” Sav says
“Made fresh from scratch.” Mykee smirks, motioning to the selection.
I give up trying to get one of those accursed pans, and sigh. “I'll have more strength to strangle you after I eat…” Then I head into the dining room for French toast.
“So… are you two a couple now, or was that a friendship hug?” Mykee asks amusedly.
“Shove it,” I reply irritably. I am not a pleasant person when I'm hungry.
Savanna just ignores us and stretches. “Well, since I didn't get one yesterday, I'm gonna take a shower…”
Mykee nods and sits down at the breakfast table. “I’ll save you some cereal and toast.”
I just quietly stuff my face as I mentally prepare myself for the day ahead.
Mykee says nothing to me, letting me wake up. He occupies himself by concentrating, finishing up his clothes unpacking using his powers.
“...Today we visit Rarity. And when we get there, follow my lead guys. This is a delicate op.”
“Gotcha.” Mykee nods and frowns. “That doesn’t go there…” He waves his hand. “...There.” Then he moves more clothes. I decide to eat in silence until Savanna returns.
Mykee checks his watch. “...It’s almost an hour now… did she get lost?”
“Uh….Hey guys, did one of you two asshats take my clothes? And towels?” Sav calls from upstairs.
“We’ve both been down here.” Mykee calls, blinking.
“Well they're both gone. So…..” she calls back sassily. “Give them back!”
Mykee raises an eyebrow and stands. “Uh… alright?” He heads upstairs curiously. “You’re joking, right? Clothes don’t just disappear.”
“Well clearly they do. Fuck it. I'll get them myself.” Sav says bitterly and throws open the bathroom door, wearing a oversized white shirt that's basically a dress and lace panties.
Mykee freezes, jaw dropped as he can see pretty much everything through her soaking wet and clinging clothes.
Sav stares at him with a death glare. “Turn around, and walk right back those stairs or so help me….”
“...Righty-o!” He turns quickly and zips down the stairs.
Sav sighs heavily and bitterly struts to her room.
Mykee scurries back to the table, swallowing. “...I can’t believe I saw that. And damn, she’s hot.”
I wonder if he would turn green with envy if he learned you've more than seen…
“Shut it,” I mutter, and stuff a blueberry muffin into my mouth.
“Sorry.” Mykee peers at his phone. “Saving that little moment…”
“Both of you,” I say directly, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Oh. Right, mind voice.” He puts his phone away.
“...Hey… Just… Curious though… Eh, Nevermind,” I say as I go to drink my milk.
“Curious about what?” He asks.
I swallow, and lick my lips, feeling a blush crawling up my cheeks. “...I… Uh… Wh-what color was she wearing?”
He slowly smiles and winks. “White… but clear. I can show you later.”
I groan, and bury my face in my hands. “I'm terrible…” Then I slowly take my hands away as I look at them. “...Holy shit I forgot to take off my gauntlets yesterday…”
“C’mon, we’re guys… we’ve discussed this before. Anyways, I’m gonna suit up, and maybe get hit.” Mykee stands. “You should change.”
Sav walks down the stairs with a towel on her head and pops her back with a refreshed sigh.
Mykee gives her a wide berth as he heads upstairs to change. I smile up at her, “Hey Sav… Eh… Having fun this morning?”
“Define ‘fun’.” she says with a raised brow and crossed arms.
I snicker, “...I ever tell you my dad was a nudist? He was all for it, said it was an expression of folks being comfortable with their bodies. Plus we’re all practically family by this point so… Well, if you wanted then I'd be fine with any of you running around in your skivvies, or even nude… I'm just not quite that comfortable in my skin yet.”
“Just saying, I’d only be comfortable with that if you guys were.” Mykee comes downstairs in light but rugged wear. “Though we’re in the land of ponies, I doubt they even know the significance of clothes to us…”
“I think we stressed it enough to Rarity. But if you're thinking about us going around town naked buddy, I can guess they can guess what our genitalia looks like. I'd rather avoid anything like that.” I levitate over some milk, offering some to Sav.
“True… though I’m not saying in public, we have guests over what, every other day?” He looks at his watch automatically, even though as a watch it can’t tell him that information.
Savanna just closes her eyes and leans on one foot as she whips the towel off her head and….Well, her hair was red, cherry red instead of the faded Maroon it once was. “I'm just gonna ignore what you guys just said, mainly because Mykee has 2 strikes already and it's not even 10:00 yet.”
Mykee sighs. “Okay, I apologize for the second one, I’ll repay you however you want. But the first one, I tried alarms, I tried the smell of food, I tried shouting, you guys were dead.”
I frown, “Just trying help you feel less embarrassed about it…”
Savanna sighs and rubs her eyes. “Yeah….Okay, I'm sorry, thanks…”
I stand, and smile as I pull her into a soft hug. “No problem… I wasn't kidding though, nothing wrong with nudity. I heard Jolt call you hot, and frankly you're not bad to look at. Just saying.” I wink, and kiss the side of her head before releasing her.
Her cheeks flare red before she looks away. “U-uh, thanks!”
“No really, I’m sorry.” Mykee looks down. “If you feel like hitting me or making me do something stupid, I’m willing to pay.”
I put my hands on my hips. “You gave me a free pass Sav. Remember when I accidentally felt you up? Think we could let this one slide?” I tilt my head with my best attempt at an adorable smile.
She blinks at me with a straight face and says coldly. “No.”
I sigh, “Please? He's a good friend, and I don't want us tearing each other apart over trivial stuff.”
The corners of her mouth twitch before she breaks out into a wide smile. “Of course I will idiot. I was just messin around.”
I smile, and hug her again. “Thanks… By the way… I just thought of something, but… I'm not sure how you’d take it.” I think the whole morning has my hormones raging, but I need to at least get this off my chest.
She tilts her head back into my chest to look up at me, “Okay…...What is it?...”
“Well, it comes to my attention that out of the three of us I'm the only one that hasn't ‘tasted the rainbow’ yet. So to even the playing field, I would like to offer you a deal. I will drink an entire vial, or eat one of Derpy’s murder muffins… Given one condition.”
“Go on….”
I take a deep breath to steady myself. “...All I want… Is for you to spend some time around the house in just your underwear. Maybe just an hour, a day or two, we can negotiate that.” I fold my hands over her belly, and squeeze softly. “Probably just hormones raging, but I just wanted to get the offer out there… I've said it for years, I'm a pervert, and I'll only apologize when I've stepped over the line. If I did, please tell me.”
“...Does it just have to be my panties, or can I wear a shirt?....”
I blink in surprise, I hadn't expected her to even consider it. So numbly I reply, “...I was picturing bra, and panties…”
She hums and rolls on her heels, “Let me think about it…..Heh, and maybe if you both behave I might even forget the bra all together….”
Mykee perks and straightens. “...Seriously?”
I hug her tighter, and smile as I rest my cheek on top of her head. “I'll be good~!”
“Me too!” Mykee nods quickly.
She rolls her eyes and pats my head,” Of course you will.”
I release her, and sigh. “Sorry… I just… Guys, you know?”
“Yeah yeah, I get it.” she says a stabs a fork into a pancake and takes a big bite.
I give Mykee a narrowed-eye look warning him not to screw this up.
He sweatdrops and crosses his heart, sitting straight in the chair beside us. “S-so… the reason I woke you guys up… shouldn’t the ponies be heading to Rarity’s house right now?”
“Uh... Idk.” Sav says with a mouthful of pancake and shrugs.
“We should head over ASAP just to be sure,” I reply.
“Well then Harley, freshen up while Starfire here eats. I’m gonna stretch and wait outside.” Mykee excuses himself, and walks out. That being some sound advice I jog upstairs to get my shower in.
---------------
We meet up with Rarity’s friends partway there, all of us a bit hesitant to see Rarity’s state after these last few days.
Mykee pauses at the door. “...Ready guys?”
“Just go in and wing it.” Sav says and throws open the door, walking in.
“That works…” Mykee sweatdrops, following.
We all head in, and not finding her right away we head up the stairs to the living area. With the bedroom the last place to look Pinkie knocks on her door.
“Rarity? You okay in there? You haven't come out for days!” She presses the side of her head to the door to listen, but we can all hear Rarity’s reply.
“I’m never coming out! I can't ever show my face in Ponyville ever again! I used to be somepony… I used to be respected! I made dresses! Beautiful, beautiful dresses. But now everypony is laughing at me! I'm nothing but a laughingstock!”
We all cringe at the sound of Rarity’s broken sobbing inside. Then Twilight tries to assure Rartiy. “You're not a laughingstock Rarity…”
“She kind of is,” Rainbow Dash corrects her a bit too loudly.
“Shh,” Twilight admonishes her with a scowl. Then to the door she coaxes, “Come on out, and talk to us…”
“Leave me alone,” Rarity sobs. “I want to be alone! I want to wallow in… Whatever it is ponies are supposed to wallow in! Do ponies wallow in pity? Oh listen to me! I don't even know what I’m supposed to wallow in! I'm so pathetic!”
Now normally I wanna shake some sense into someone feeling sorry for themself, but personally I feel like she's justified. Her dreams, ambitions, her whole reason for being just got sent down the drain of a very filthy toilet. So I stay silent as Twilight asks her friends, “Now what do we do?”
Fluttershy suggests, “Um, panic?”
“That's your answer to everything,” Rainbow replies.
“Well we can't just leave Rarity like this,” Applejack reasons.
“She’ll become a crazy cat lady,” Pinkie declares.
“She only has one cat,” Twilight deadpans.
“Give her time,” Pinkie replies in a tone of trepidation.
“...So now what should we do?” Mykee glances at me.
“Well, as it turns out Fluttershy knows a surprising bit about fashion,” I reply as I slip off my ring. I take a quick trip into Rarity’s room to get a few design sheets, and a pony mannequin with an unfinished dress on it, presenting it to the assembled ponies after I slip my ring back on. They catch on right away, and take it downstairs to get started. I cross my arms as I look between my human friends. “So we are going to to lend some hands, and get this resolved ASAP.”
“I’m game.” Mykee heads downstairs.
“Same yo. What do you need us to do?” Savanna asks me and rests her hands on her hips.
For the next few hours we follow Fluttershy’s lead… Well, in relation to me anyhow. That trick where I can share the time bend comes in handy because it means I just need to hold the tip of Fluttershy’s tail, and she can sew faster than any of the machines Rarity has lying around. I also made time to invite Hoity Toity to the second show, though he shouldn't be here for a while now.
When we’re done Rarity’s elegant Gala outfit stands before us. Truly, something I would expect royalty to wear if it were done in human dimensions. So with my ring on I dust off my hands, and state, “Well, that's phase one… On to phase two. Where's Opal?”
“Here!” Sav says as she walks up to us with the white kitty on her shoulders.
“Goodie! Now we just need to put her in a tree outside to lure Rarity out of her room.”
“On it,” Rainbow says, flying over with hooves outstretched for the cat.
“Hang on don't-” Sav is cut off as RD grabs Opal, the cat clinging to her shirt, as well as her skin. “Mother- GAH!”
“Oh my,” Fluttershy whispers as she floats over. “Um, excuse me Miss Opal? I know cats hate being in trees, but it'll only be a few minutes. We just need to get Rarity to come out, and see the dress. And since she just loves you so much…”
Opal blinks at her as so work to dislodge her claws, and then she retracts them, allowing Rainbow Dash to carry her off out a window.
“Huh, so that’s how you get a cat to stop clawing you?” Mykee muses.
“Only in Equestria,” I reply. “I always got the feeling that here animals can understand almost anyone, it's just Fluttershy that can understand them back.”
He snaps his fingers and sighs. “Four cats at home… and only two of them won’t avoid me…”
“Very much in pain.” Sav says and holds her shoulders, “Owie….”
Mykee creates a rag out of light, dipping it in cool water and offering it to her. “Here, stop the bleeding.”
“Thanks….” she takes it and slides it under her shirt to lay it on her skin.
He pats her back. “No problem.” He turns back to the dress. “Now we alert Rarity that her cat is stuck in a tree?”
“Opal will do that part for us. Let's get this outside,” I reply as I pick up the dummy with the dress, and carry it out with the ponies in tow.
Sav follows after us and rolls her shoulders. “This will be fun….”
“Or at least amusing.” Mykee smiles.
It's actually a relief how the scene played out after that, exactly as it did in the show. Rarity came running out with a “hang on, mama’s coming” line, then when she saw the dress she treated us to the classic “don't like it, I love it” thing. Really the only thing different was when Hoity Toity arrived.
With him is none other than Bonbon who offers us a smile with a discreet nod, and the waifu stealer himself Flash Sentry. While Hoity is distracted with the others Bonbon brings the Pegasus over to us Watchers.
Mykee nods. “Hi.”
Flash looks us over, “...Bonbon here said you had something you wanted to tell me… About my parents?” He doesn't look convinced, but at least he's talking to us now. The fact he showed up in spite of his disbelief makes me think he really wants to find out anything about his folks that he can. Given the classified nature of their demise I can understand him being in the dark.
“Right… yes.” Mykee looks at me.
I sigh, and kneel to look him in the eye. “Alright… Your parents. Were one, or both of them gone for extended periods of time?”
He raises an eyebrow, “You tell me.”
I smirk, “Smartass… Yes, they were. They worked directly for Princess Celestia as the heads of a monster-hunting agency stationed in Canterlot. They had gone into those mines to explore disappearances of the local ponies… I suppose they found what had done it.”
He frowns, “I don't appreciate you trying to jerk me around…” I block out the rest of what he says as I open my book, flipping to the missive sent by Luna through it, and holding it up under his nose. He looks it over, and his expression slowly turns to shock. I let him hold the book as he reads through it once… Twice… On the third time he looks up to us. “Why are you showing me this? What do you want from me?”
“...We’re putting together a team of unique individuals?” Mykee copies Nick Fury’s speech.
He furrows his eyebrows, looks down at the book, then back up at Mykee. “Why?”
“Because Equestria is in danger,” I reply. “Our source gives us faint glimpses to future events, but it's not as precise as we once thought. So we need the best operatives we can find. Flash, you help us out, we’ll make sure you, and your brother are well taken care of. You can do meaningful work, and not have to scrape at the hooves of celebrities.”
Flash considers, not looking completely sold yet.
“Yeah, plus, you'd be helping out big time, and building on your skills. It's a win-win.” Sav pips up with a small smile of reassurance.
He chews his lip softly, and then carefully asks, “If I join this… Is there a chance I could learn more about what happened?”
“We answer directly to the Princesses, so yeah,” I reply.
“...Alright then… I'm in,” he says, handing me back the book.
“Welcome to the team then.” Mykee smiles.
With that said and done, we still have an episode to wrap up. So I speed home, and grab our Gala outfits. “Figure there's no harm in joining in the last bit of this scene…”
“Eh, if you’re game.” Mykee grabs his outfit.
“Fuck yeah! I'm not gonna be one of those Victoria Secret skin and bone models!” Sav cheers and snatches her outfit from me and runs into a changing room.
I chuckle, and slip off my ring for an instant change before putting it back on. “I never get over how cozy this outfit is, I could live in this outfit,” I comment as I dust off my top hat, slipping it on with a smirk.
Sav comes back out not to long, dusting herself off. “I will never get sick of seeing myself in this.”
Mykee creates an opaque room around him, making it disappear when he’s fully changed. “There, now we’re all handsome/beautiful.”
“Yep!” Sav says happily and slings her arms over our shoulders, pulling us close to her. All in all, definitely one of my happier moments.
The second fashion show goes off without a hitch, leaving Hoity Toity rather excited with Rarity’s work. I hadn't expected him to think much of us humans’ outfits, but he was thrilled all the same. Bonbon, and Flash had watched in a corner the entire time, offering applause once it was over.
A few minutes afterwards Hoity drops his bombshell of wanting several of each dress she made by the following Tuesday, and Rarity nearly faints on the spot. But I whisper to her about my ability to share the time-bend, and it's like someone lifted the sky off her shoulders. After that I spend several hours of my time in the time-bend playing solitaire while Rarity works, a long rope of cloth tied from my ankle to her tail. Interestingly enough she can still use her magic in the bend, a fun fact I file away to share later. But the next time I put my ring on Rarity has the dresses ready, and Hoity pays out double the asking price for such a prompt delivery. Personally I'm glad for her, she's earned it.
And so after that we head home to rest, and grab lunch. Flash, and Bonbon elect not to join us however, too caught up trying to figure out where he's going to stay. I warn them to make sure Flash doesn't interact with the Mane 6 though, lest what I know as Canon be thrown off course.
I hang my hat, and coat in the entryway as we walk in the front door to home, and start removing my bracers. “Well that was fun, who’s for Chinese?” I smirk at my friends, wondering if Mykee in particular will recognize the quote.
“Yay, MSG.” Mykee gags, apparently not getting the reference.
I roll my eyes as I flop on the couch, and pull out my phone. “Figured you'd recognize the Joker’s lines anywhere bub…” I stare at my phone as I start going through my iTunes.
“I don’t know his lines, I can just sound like Heath Ledger Joker.” He shrugs. “Why so serious?” He snarls, mimicking The Dark Knight’s Joker.
“That movie was complete shit.” Sav says with a huff,” Three hours of my life wasted at a drive in.”
“Well, don’t watch it at a drive in.” Mykee smiles softly.
“Better than a stuffy theater with a bunch of sweaty pervs who don't know what a stick of deodorant looks like.” Sav sasses playfully and crosses her arms.
“I dunno, sounds like movie night.” Mykee jokes back with a snicker.
“Well, we already have the perv part down so why not?” Sav laughs and leans back on the couch so she's upside down, her legs hanging off the back of the couch.
“Speaking of, I have Dragon Ball Z Abridged up to Season 4 downloaded. Want me to set my phone up?” Mykee smiles.
“Sure,” I reply. “...But first, a funny little observation. Events so far have happened in the same episode order as the episodes were released in the show. They even had a winter episode before an autumn one… I wonder…” Curiously I look up the episode after Suited For Success… Then I blink, and bust up laughing, hugging my phone to my chest.
“Uh…..Why’s that funny?...” Sav lifts her head to look at me with a raised brow.
I treat them both to my best evil smile, “Oh… This is gonna be fun…”
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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Tanna point out, that mlp series could be accurate, but due to interactions with the world around them, also important and powerful figures in the world, would have an effect where more and more pieces would fall away from mlp cannon, and thereby slowly total episodes and then seasons would never happen... unless you go the route of them supposed to be there, just out of shot in mlp episodes? I enjoyed this story, might return to se if there are any more chapters that rope me in
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But thank you for taking the time to Comment. It always feels nice knowing people are reading my stories.
Not sure I followed all of that.
This is a pretty fun read so far and I honestly can’t wait to see more! Keep up the awesome work!
When i finally reached the last Part and noticed that Harley began to laugh over whats to come i checked my phone data storage DCMI of my Micro SD Card and began to laugh aswell for the next episode
"Feeling Pinkie Keen"! FUCK YES!!! If it weren't for the fact that this 28k word chapter here was released 3 years and 2 months ago(rougly) which makes me assume it's perhaps abandoned, however this story here is very big which makes it equal to a different stoy where there are several Humans in Equestria with Weapons to fight evil aswell, further ahead in time by that point like i dunno, having discord already beaten lol. Let's all wait atleast 2 more years and then call RIP to this here, i read a story during the last 2 months were a chapter was released 2 years after the story was presumed dead, so we can just wait for the best!