The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds

by Kamahido

VOLUME FINALE - Chapter 22 - Making Something of Oneself

Ember helps Arc sit up. Sereb frowns.

“Arc, are you certain about this plan?”

“No. But I never am.”

He turns to Ember.

“Do you disagree too?”

Ember shakes her head. “While I admit this isn’t exactly the norm… even for you Arc, we have to do SOMETHING!”

Rose nods. “Right. We all heard Sunburst’s words of wisdom on this.”

Arc coughs. “Y-yeah. Now, I didn’t want to worry you Ember, but…”

“But what?!”

“I… think I’m getting worse.”

“WHAT?!”

Sereb sighs. “Calm yourself, Ember. As Arc said earlier, he has an idea.”

Ember turns quickly to Rose. “Is there ANY chance he could turn into that… THING from last night?!”

“As Sunburst said, inconclusive, but unlikely.”

Sereb narrows his eyes. “Please elaborate.”

“Arc inhaled a small amount of the gas. Bloodletter, or John Smith if you prefer, was injected. It stands to reason his was a much more potent version.”

Arc turns to Ember. “I know you think this plan of mine is dangerous, but…”

“Dangerous? Not at all. It’s just… I don’t know. Really out there. That and we don’t really know if it’s feasible.”

Arc goes into a coughing fit. He rides it out before being able to talk again.

“I understand, Ember. But this is what needs to happen. Now then, are you going to help with this or not?”

Ember sighs. “Yeah, I’ll help.”

Frowning, she helps Arc stand up. His legs shake as they walk to the center of the room. Sereb looks to Rose.

“What is your analysis of this plan?”

“Chances of success are unable to be determined due to a lack of pertinent information.”

Ember looks to Rose. “It won’t hurt him though, will it?”

“Unlikely. The chances of death are very low.”

“DEATH?!”

“If this fails, I surmise that nothing will happen. However for the sake of safety, perhaps we should give Sunburst a chance to come up with something.”

Arc winces as he holds his chest. “I’d… kinda like to get this over with.”

Ember nods soberly. “Me too.”

Sereb turns to Rose. “There is no harm in waiting, is there?”

“Most likely not. The only question is how long?”

Ember sighs. “How about until after supper? That should be plenty of time for something to come up, right?”

Arc nods as Ember helps him back to his bed. “Fine. I was getting cold anyways.”

Meanwhile, back at Minerva’s apartment she and Cherry go over her notes.

“Be sure to use the proper tone when asking that question.”

“Like this…?”

Minerva clears her throat and starts. She sounds slightly bored.

“What can you tell us about the history of our town, Mister Mayor?”

“Not like that! Try to sound a bit more interested.”

“Why? I mean, who really cares about how things got started? Almost everyone who was there is long dead after all.”

“All the more reason to try and preserves what knowledge is left.”

Minerva frowns. “I’m more of a futurist then a historian.”

“To know where we’re going one must sometimes look back.”

“Come again?”

“I understand your desire to live in the present and look to the future. But you should have a working knowledge of what happened in the past so you don’t make the same mistakes as your ancestors.”

Minerva rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t ever tie my horse to a streetlamp, or forget to boil my drinking water.”

“History can be interesting! It’s not just facts and outdated knowledge mind you.”

Minerva sighs. “Tell me then, what does a helmet know about their past?”

“A bit actually. For example, my grandparents worked very hard to build up our family farm. My parents took it over and ran it for many years before my sister and I took the lead.”

Minerva laughs. “Your family?! Do you mean the rest of the Hero’s armor?!”

“No. That’s just inanimate metal plates… or something.”

Minerva shakes her head, still chuckling. “I’m trying to imagine helmets and hats working the soil. What did you grow?”

“Cherries.”

“…and?”

“That’s all.”

“Just cherries? Nothing else?”

“We specialized.”

“That couldn’t have been too profitable.”

“It paid the bills for three generations.”

Minerva sighs. “Look, I’m not a tycoon by any stretch of the imagination, but I did take some business classes in college. While it may be tempting to do one thing only, it’s much safer to diversify whenever possible.”

“Diversify?”

“Right. Let’s say you do nothing but grow cherries. If you have a bad harvest due to poor weather, or some other scenario outside of your control, you stand to lose your income for the year.”

“We did have that happen in the past.”

“Find a way to fully utilize the land. Giving tours and showing what goes into your business is a good way to make some extra income and promote your brand.”

“I see. Tell me, where did you learn this?”

“Like I said before, in college.”

“From a teacher?”

“They’re called professors.”

“And these professors were experts in business?”

“Some may have been, yes. But most of them were just teaching what they learned from reading and studying their subject.”

“Reading? Tell me, who wrote those books?”

“Are you going somewhere with this, Cherry?”

“I’m assuming those books were written by business experts from years ago. Where do you suppose they acquired their knowledge before the books were written?”

“Probably from the previous generation passing it down.”

“That makes sense. You see? History is everywhere!”

“Maybe. But I just find it really boring. I can’t tell you how many times I feel asleep studying it back then.”

“Well, you must’ve taken your schooling seriously.”

“I did. It was the best way to achieve my goal.”

“Of being a reporter?”

Minerva shakes her head. “No. I didn’t JUST want to report the news. I’ve always wanted to be the absolute BEST in the business!”

“Really?”

“Yes! You see, when I was in elementary school we were tasked with writing a paper on influential people from the past. Our teacher was pretty old and chose names for us from her generation.”

“And who did you get?”

Minerva smiles. “Walter Cronkite.”

“I don’t believe I’ve heard of him. Was he a reporter?”

“Kinda. He was a news anchor for many years.”

“A what?”

“Someone who sits at a desk in front of a camera in the station and reports the news on television.”

“And that’s what you want to do?”

“More than anything! But only the very BEST make it to that point.”

“So what’s your plan?”

Minerva looks confused. “Plan?”

“To become an anchor.”

“I need to make a name for myself. Break some big stories to the public!”

“Like the apartment fire?”

Minerva frowns. “Small potatoes. I need something HUGE! Something that we can run with for days at a time. Weeks even! The antics of a hero could certainly make that dream a reality.”

Cherry continues warily. “And you think my friend can help you do that?”

“It’s worth a shot. He’s the biggest thing to ever happen to this town. Other than the Shards, that is.”

“Why do you want this so badly?”

“Because of what I learned about Walter Cronkite back then. Everyone looked to him when something big happened. He was a very influential man, you know.”

“And you want that same level of recognition?”

“Yes. I want the town… no, the country to be able to look at me and say ‘Minerva Moore is the face of the truth’!”

“Well, it’s a goal I suppose.”

“But it won’t be happening if we don’t get these interview questions hashed out!”

“Agreed. Let’s get back to it.”

Hours pass. The sun lowers in the sky and the smell of supper wafts into the room. Arc slowly opens his eyes and looks over to see Ember snuggled up next to him. He gently nudges her.

“Hey.”

“I’m not asleep.”

“Really?”

Ember sighs. “I couldn’t, what with your future so… uncertain.”

“While I don’t feel any better than when I went to sleep, somehow I don’t think this bug will get the best of me.”

He looks around the room.

“Where’s Rose?”

“She went downstairs to make you something to eat. Apparently you haven’t eaten much of anything yet today, remember?”

“I… haven’t?”

“You don’t even remember not eating?! Arc, you’re worse than I thought!”

Arc sighs. “Humans don’t usually feel like eating when they’re not well.”

“I know that! But I just thought you of all humans were different in that regard.”

Arc shakes his head as he brings a hand to his forehead. “Nope. But it might be due to this terrible headache I have.”

“Rose detected some rather strange things while you were out.”

“Oh?”

“You’re temperature is fluctuating wildly!”

“That would explain why I feel cold, but smell sweaty.”

“Yeah. One minute you were holding onto me shaking. The next I was getting pushed away.”

“Sorry.”

Ember sighs. “It’s fine. Rose says she can still monitor your condition from the kitchen. So I’m not TOO worried.”

“How are my guys?”

“Still resting. They’re not as bad as you, but have similar symptoms. Sereb is keeping an eye on them.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Ember is silent for a time.

“You’re still worried, aren’t you?”

“Of course! I mean, I know I don’t have any reason to be. Either Sunburst figures this out, or we go to ‘Plan B’.”

Arc nods. “I do hope he figures something out. This plan of mine isn’t my best work.”

“Yeah. Uh… should we call him?”

“He said he’d contact us if he made any headway, remember?”

Ember looks at the clock. “Well, time’s about up on that.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Arc reaches for his earring.

“Arc to Sunburst.”

“Sunburst here, sir.”

“Any luck?”

“Sadly no, sir. This substance has a rather strange chemical makeup that should simply break down on its own.”

Ember frowns. “Then why isn’t it?”

“That is unknown. Every test I’ve done under every condition shows it breaks itself down naturally. Whether this was intentional or simply a shortcoming in the chemical’s design is also unknown.”

Arc sighs. “So any idea what I should do?”

“While I advise against it, I believe you have no other choice at this point but to follow through on your earlier idea.”

Ember looks nervous. “No other ideas at all? Nothing?”

“I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, miss. But I’ve done all I can at this point.”

Sunburst is silent for a few moments before continuing.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“Right before you called I did make one more discovery.”

“Good! Maybe it will help!”

“I don’t believe so, no.”

Arc sighs. “Well let’s hear it anyways, Sunburst.”

“Yes sir. The residue on the inside of the container you sent me appears to be… created from that mixture I showed you in my office recently.”

Ember frowns. “The multicolored stuff?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you said that stuff would kill anyone who used it!”

Sunburst sighs. “Yes. In its liquid form, that is. The gas appears to be a less potent version. It’s usable… possibly.”

Ember puts a hand on her friend’s sweaty forehead. “Well, it’s not working so well on Arc!”

Arc coughs into his hand. “That it isn’t.”

Sunburst grimaces. “Do you feel any different, sir? Other than being sick, that is.”

“No. If I didn’t know any better, I’d just say this was a bad case of the flu.”

“How about your abilities?”

“I feel physically weaker and my magic is no more powerful than before.”

“Most curious. I’ll keep studying my samples to see if I’ve missed anything.”

Ember lashes out angrily. “That’s IT?! You don’t have ANYTHING else?!”

Arc sighs. “Calm down, Ember. I’m sure Sunburst is doing all he can. He’s actually learned quite a bit in less than a day of study.”

“Forgive me for not being able to learn more, sir.”

“It’s okay. Just keep trying. I’ll… try my other idea.”

Sunburst nods soberly. “Yes sir. Please be careful.”

“I will. Arc out.”

Arc touches his earring and looks to Ember.

“It looks like there’s no other option.”

Ember nods. “Right.”

“Could you go get Rose and Sereb please?”

“Sure.”

Ember gets up and walks slowly to the door as Arc begins coughing uncontrollably.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t move!”

She closes the door behind her as Arc smiles weakly and lies back.

“If this works, it will certainly be the most… unique thing I’ve done yet.”

A few minutes later Ember returns with the pair. Sereb sits down on his haunches at the foot of the bed.

“How are you feeling, Arc?”

“Not any better, sadly.”

Rose looks him up and down. “My scanners agree with you.”

Ember nods sadly. “I think we really have to do this.”

Arc coughs into his hand. “Yeah.”

Sereb sniffs the air and frowns as he hops off the bed. “More so than before it would seem.”

Ember looks to him, confused. “’Sereb?”

“Let me show you what I mean.”

He returns to his normal form. His horn aglow Sereb uses his magic to pull a number of wadded up tissues from the bedside waste basket. He unrolls them to reveal bloodstains. Ember gasps.

“Arc! Are you hurt?!”

“No. I’ve been coughing that up for a bit though.”

“You’ve been coughing up BLOOD?! And you didn’t think to SAY anything?!”

Arc puts a hand to his forehead. “Can you please not yell, Ember? It’s not really helping my head right now.”

Ember glares at him. “Fine! But you and I aren’t done with this conversation!”

“Okay, okay! Just help me up, will you?”

She helps Arc sit up. He slumps toward her chest clumsily. Ember blushes.

“A-Arc?!”

“Sorry. Just… don’t have the energy to do much right now.”

Ember holds him up. “It’s okay. Let’s get this plan underway.”

Sereb looks to Arc soberly. “Are you absolutely certain this is what you want?”

Arc nods. “Do it.”

“Very well.”

Ember takes Arc’s hand. As Sereb’s horn glows, the wolf takes a deep breath and channels a spell.

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

Just how many volumes will this story have?

[Booster Spice]

One OP Dragonarc arriving at platform Kill Virus?

[Kamahido]

10425955
Estimating thirty.