Ch 28: Friendship is Magic
Aurick placed his hand on the tree with a frown. After a flare of magic, a gem became embedded in the trunk. It was unlikely to be moved through any natural causes, and anything that would want to remove it would never come close to it.
He scratched his beard as he looked at the various other trees he had done this to. It encompassed a long line of trees that ran behind his house. A task that had taken the better part of the day. Letting out a breath, the cold air making it visible, he began to head back home.
He had finally taken the time to set up the monster wards, now that he didn’t have that job for the princess. He didn’t necessarily need it yet, but it would be good to have once the monsters came out of hibernation. At the very least, it would make visitors more comfortable, knowing there was a barrier for the monsters of the Everfree.
Upon entry, he found that something was very wrong. Namely, there was smoke billowing out of the kitchen. He didn’t waste any time, rushing into the room, his cloak brought up to cover his face from the smoke. What he found seemed even more wrong.
Ashwyn was frantically flying around, opening the windows and occasionally using a towel to fan the fire in a failed attempt to extinguish it. The fire originated from a pan, but had flared out of control. Aurick was suddenly extremely glad that his home was stone in make, and most of the pieces in the kitchen were some form of rock as well. The only wooden piece being the table and chairs, but that was at the other end of the room.
As soon as Ashwyn had seen him, she froze in place. A look of panic crossed her face as she looked from him to the fire, back to him. She bit her lip and looked back at the fire. “Not know what do! Water no work. Make worse!” She exclaimed, her voice full of panic.
If water made it worse, it could only be a grease fire. Rubbing his temple, he walked over to a cabinet and grabbed the container of salt that they had. He unceremoniously dumped a heap into the pan, smothering the fire. Once he was sure that there was a sufficient amount, he turned around and used his magic to make a gust of wind clear the house of smoke. A moment later, the pair were in a relatively unchanged kitchen, with a pan filled with salt.
“The fuck happened?” He asked with a scowl. At least the mare looked embarrassed about the thing, as she looked away and scuffed a paw on the floor.
“Hungry. Not here. Try make food. It go bad. Fire.” She sighed, a small frown on her face.
“Couldn’t you have just eaten it raw?” He asked, his scowl reducing to a small frown. It was partially his fault for not feeding her. Still, she was a grown mare, there was no reason she should be setting a fire in his kitchen.
“Not taste good like cooked. Try do. Not want rely on Alpha.” She lowered her head. “Not good cook.”
“I’d say not.” He sighed and turned around, bringing out a new pan. “Let me handle the food, and if you get hungry like that again, come get me. Especially since I’m just outside.”
“Not like outside. Safe here. Forest safe. Open plain… not safe. He come.”
With a newfound frown, he turned back to the mare and kneeled down. He cupped her face in his hands and made her look into his eyes. “He is in jail.” She scowled at this, her brow furrowing.
“They lie.”
“Why!?” He threw his hands up in exasperation. “Why do you not trust the princesses!? Give me a fucking reason other than ‘they lie’!” He shouted, standing up to his full height.
“He work for. Make me soldier. Make army. Obedient weapon. For them.” She told him, her voice filling with more toxic hate with each word.
“Who told you this? Was it him?”
“Yes. He tell plan. Equestria conquer. Pony better other race. Princess want rule all. I made obey. Made want. I not want.” Aurick looked down at her like she was one of the stupidest people he had ever met.
“And you believed him.”
“He have proof!” She growled. “He… he…” She trailed off as a look of confusion washed over her. “I not remember.” Aurick rubbed at his face, getting down to his knees again.
“Ash, he messed with your brain, remember? He could have implanted those ideas in there to make you not go to them for help.” Her eyes widened, panic threatening to take her again.
“But… No. I…” That panic quickly accompanied by horror as something struck in her mind. “What else do? He mess head. What he make think!? Me like kill. He make? No like pony. He make? What-?” She was cut off as her head was firmly pressed into Aurick’s chest.
“Don’t think about that.” He told her firmly. “That’s a slippery slope, Ash.”
“But… Who am?” The question brought a heavy frown to his face. That was a question that he had trouble answering. She was an amalgamation of monsters and animals thrown together inside a mare. A host of different instincts must have raged inside her, on top of her tampered mind.
She was a mare he had taken in. A mare he had comforted to sleep numerous times. A mare he had fed, and healed, and cared for over the past week and a half. Over that time, she had irritated him to no end, but to say that he disliked her would be… wrong. He certainly enjoyed the companionship. In fact, when she wasn’t pushing his buttons, she kind of reminded him of home. He had gotten used to her presence in the house, and had grown to care for the damaged mare. She was…
“You are my friend.”
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moist.
Awwwww.....
9410479
Mosit?
9410484
Yes moist
9410486
... very well?
9410488
I liked the chapter by the way. See you next update
This gets a "DAAAAAW."
Love the storyline and characters
By chance is there a sketch or something of Ashwyn?
9410506
Sadly not. I have thought about commissioning an artist, but I don't have the money.
The power of Harmony compels you!!!
Ah much better, now we are starting to have some idea about villains motivation. I wonder, As i recall Celestia did not seem to enthusiastic about going after the Pony, it was more of a Luna's search as it seems. Could be she is actually involved in it on some level? Maybe just not bothering to check too closely how her domains peace is kept.
Also could be just an attempt of false-flag, or like the pointy ears mentioned attempt of control. But Celestia surely has been quite hooves off about the matter.
9410560
Within my head, Celestia does her best to make the country look like it is in a state of peace at all times. So as to prevent panic from her ponies. Luna is the one who deals with the dark underbelly of Equestria, being more inclined towards it than her sister. Celestia is kept informed and can help, but generally allows Luna to do as she must to maintain the peace.
I'm not entirely sure if this is going to be explained in the story at some point, so I thought I'd clarify that.
It was at this moment, the doubters knew...
The retcon worked.
9410578
I think both Princess function like that, Luna being much better at handling the darker dealings to keep the veneer of Sunshine and rainbows up. Test Tube strikes me as the fanatical worshipping type, doing things he thinks will make the princesses happy, getting his hooves dirty so they don't have too.
If I could throw another like on here, I would...
Great story so far, keep it up!
This. This chapter is the strongest argument so far that the change in direction is for the best. Gives Ash some time to properly heal. Also...I think part of why Aurick likes Ash's presence is that she reminds him of...Agni, I think her name was.
So he’s a fanatic of think the pony race is superior or he was given or inspired by the princesses to great some kind of armor... or he lied and he just wanted an army of monsters. Either of what I said could be true but I doubt the princesses wanted this
9605166
Honestly? I have a feeling that we're dealing with some sort of a secret organization or outright cult. I think he believed what he said, and they all probably believe that when they present their "army", the princesses will immediately grant them life everlasting and go to war... At least, I wouldn't be much suprised if something like that was the primary motivation...
Besides, such organizations/cults are very convenient tools, if you happen to want an army... ;] Be it manipulation or even outright mind control, if you can take the leaders over... So I'm not dismissing the idea that they're making an army that was requested, just by somepony else...
Sombra?
9410578
So Celestia is the "face" of the party and Luna the one who handles the dirty bits.
My heart🥺😔