The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds

by Kamahido

Preface - Volume 18 - More Mystical Mayhem

In our previous volume, Arc was attacked by the leader of the Griffon Liberation Army as he attempted to rest aboard the Lunar Destiny. He was able to best his opponent, but collapsed before he could finish them off. Awakening in the Infirmary, he unmasked his injured opponent.

Discovering the rebel leader was none other than Lady Ashe, Lord Gestal’s daughter, Luna broached the subject of getting rid of her over the ocean. Arc disagreed, and was able to convince Luna of the error of her idea.

Landing back in Canterlot, Doctor Whooves met Arc and Luna in the Hanger to administer the antidote to Arc. He then examined Lady Ashe to confirm her physical condition.

Placing a call to the Griffon Kingdom, Arc informs Lord Gestal of his daughter’s presence aboard his ship. Promising to return her home, they begin the trip back to her homeland. However, unbeknownst to her father however Arc had convinced Ashe to tell a falsified version of what really happened. In return he would keep her secret identity from Lord Gestal.

On the way back across the ocean Arc questioned Lady Ashe on her organizations plans and beliefs. Recognizing Ashe as a spoiled child, he refused to give into her demands.

Rousing Ashe for breakfast, she refused to accompany him. Arc and Rose waited in the corridor for her painkillers to run out. Coercing Ashe to have another medical exam in exchange for more pain medication, she begrudgingly agreed. After an examination the proceeded to the Cafeteria. After verbally abusing Rose, Arc proceeded to dump the contents of his plate on the spoiled brat’s head before leaving the room. Rose assisted Ashe in cleaning herself up before they land at the Aviary. Lord Gestal meets them as they touch down. As father and daughter are reunited Ashe was rushed to the medical facilities. As her father was called away to attend to other matters Ashe reaffirms her pledge to stick to the plan.

Returning, Gestal is told by his daughter that it was the rebels whom injured her. She convinces him that Natalya is not the rebel leader. Arc accompanied the pair to their home and offered to take Natalya out of the country to settle the matter. He received a powerful, and very sharp, dagger made of pure Guardanium as a reward for Ashe’s safe return. Heading back to the Lunar Destiny, Arc found Natalya tied up in a sack in her quarters. After she was examined by Redheart, Arc returns her to his quarters to clean her up.

Revealing to Natalya that she had been given to him as a slave Arc was quick to allow her freedom to chose her path. Putting her to bed he reported the success of his mission to the princesses in Canterlot via telephone. Then next morning the pair arrived at Cherry Hill Ranch. They disembark and enter the farmhouse together. Natalya met Eidolon’s Ward (aka Cherry) for the first time. They share a meal with Ruby before returning to Ponyville via sigil.

Returning to Light’s Hope, Arc and Natalya headed to the Orphanage. Arc threw Filthy Rich out of the Matron’s office several times due to his attitude toward her. Informing Coco Pommel and the rest of the staff of the successful negotiations and the new peace treaty, Arc then headed to the Cafeteria with the others to help make lunch for the school foals.

After seeing Gallus off on his mission to relocate the Griffon’s Gate orphans to Equestria, Arc and Rose head to the Golden Oaks Library to speak to Twilight. Asking if Rose’s directives could be safely removed. Agreeing to oversee the process, Twilight instructed Rose to lie down as she began.

Failing to restart, Twilight began the process of reinstalling Rose’s operating system. Refusing to leave his friend’s side as Twilight continued working on her, Arc held Rose’s hand. Bringing the android back online in Safe Mode they verified the directives were indeed gone. Reactivating her, Arc took Rose back to his quarters in Light’s Hope. He explained to her that she was welcome to stay with him for the time being. She accepted.

Returning to Earth, Arc protected Rose from slamming into his house’s wall due to a turbulent portal ride. Taking Arc upstairs to rest, a sexually frustrated Ember all but throws herself at him. Cherry’s cries for her to stop jolted the young dragon back to her senses. After resting the pair ate lunch and informed the squad of the new lead from Sunburst regarding Frank’s location.

Later that night Arc, Ember, and Sereb headed to the first location on the map. An abandoned gas station outside Angel Grove. Approaching the building they found Snake, Wolf, and Jackal inside. Rose informed Arc of a strange substance underground. Obtaining a sample Arc and company return to his house.

The next night Arc and Ember head into an abandoned factory as Rose, Sereb, and the squad do the same to an old warehouse. Rose organizes a plan to scare the Shards from the warehouse. Meanwhile, Arc and Ember engage Mio and her bodyguards at the factory. Ember is knocked unconscious as Mio pulls down an overhead crane, effectively burying herself and Arc.

Arc awakened in a series of natural tunnels under the factory. Finding Mio injured and trapped he helped her escape the caves to the man-made tunnels under Angel Grove. Eventually the pair emerge in the Town Hall. Arc calls for pickup from his squad as Mio does the same.

Returning home, Arc and the others compare the night’s activities. Heading to be he and Ember speak of Arc’s antics in Griffonstone. Sereb consuls Rose on her internal struggles.

The next morning Arc and company inspect the items taken from the Shards at the warehouse. Finding a number of number of papers and a safety deposit box key, the group surmises that the instructions are useless without the corresponding chemicals.

Rose and Arc sit in a Café across the street from the bank as Xenos and Max go inside. Signing up for safety deposit boxes of their own, they are taken back to the safes to make their deposit. Finding a satchel, they leave the bank along with Ember. However, as they part ways a cloaked Stingray grabs the bag from Ember. Sereb is able to retrieve it and give the others time to make themselves scarce.

As Arc rests before the night’s mission, Ember again speaks of her desire to have Arc’s eggs. Arc tells her of her own worth as more than an egg maker, and is able to comfort Ember’s troubled mind. As they eat supper later that evening the phone rings. Arc answers it to hear Snake’s voice. He reports that all the Shard members have been recalled to the base for some unknown reason.

As night falls Arc, Ember, and Sereb head to the old farmhouse. Scouting ahead, Sereb is captured by Hammer. Stingray get the drop on Ember to shift the odds in her favor. Trying again to convince Arc to join them, he decides to fight. Taking on both Hammer and Stingray, Arc is able to stall them long enough for Ember and Sereb to awaken. Chasing away the pair, Arc and company break into the farmhouse to find a large number of crates. A woman appears from a portal and approaches them. Identifying herself as Diva, she too tries to get Arc to see her point of view. Failing, she sets the farmhouse on fire with magic of her own. As our heroes chase her outside, she reveals Frank’s location. The basement of the farmhouse. Sereb rushes to a storm cellar and carries the young man to safety. Arc opens a portal to safety and steps through as Diva makes an ominous phone call to someone regarding her intention to deal with the failures known as the Shards.

However, many questions still remain. What will Ashe do next? Will she keep her end of the bargain? Will Natalya be able to coexist with the Equestrians? How will Gallus fare in his mission to Griffon’s Gate? Can Rose continue to function without her directives? What were the Shards doing with chemical notes and those strange substances? How is Mio doing after her misadventure with Arc? And whom is this strange woman known only as Diva?

Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.

Comments

[Velvet Blossom]

18 volumes already? How many are there in total?

[Kamahido]

10325648
I am currently writing Volume 22 - Chapter 11. As of now, I estimate the story will end (probably) around Volume 30.

[Truthseeker]

Arc needs to get serious and start killing fools. You cannot keep letting your enemies off so lightly... or let them off at all.