• Published 27th Apr 2019
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The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds - Kamahido



Twilight accidently brings a human from Earth to Equestria. Will he be able to coexist with the equine inhabitants of this new land?

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Chapter 20 - Be as the Butterfly

Arc appears on the sigil in his basement. The others hurry over to him in their armor and robes. Max is the first to speak.

“Sir! We…!”

All of them stop dead in their tracks as Arc turns to face them, an unconscious Minerva in his arms. Xenos gasps.

“S-sir? Isn’t that…?!”

“Yeah. Minerva Moore.”

Ember glares at Arc. “You idiot! Why?!”

“Diva knows where she lives. I was worried if I took her home she’d be recaptured.”

Hugh sighs. “That make sense. But why here?”

“Because it’s safe, and no one suspects us.”

Rose shudders. “That may change when she wakes up.”

Arc nods. “I’ll have to think of something a bit more permanent. In the meantime everyone needs to keep their faces covered when around her, got it?”

Max adjusts his own helmet. “Yes sir.”

Ember sighs. “Well, if she’s going to stay here, we should probably get her cleaned up.”

Cherry gasps as the glow from the overhead lights gives her a clear view of Minerva’s battered body. “Yes. Diva and her cronies certainly weren’t gentle with her.”

Arc sets Minerva down on the nearby table. Removing the knife from his ring he quickly cuts the ropes holding her wrists and ankles. Cherry calls out to him.

“Might I bathe her?”

Ember steps forward. “I’ll give you a hand.”

“She might respond better if I was the one she woke up to.”

Arc nods. “Agreed. We’re all masked vigilantes, after all. That and she already trusts Cherry.”

Ember shrugs. “Fine. I’ll wait outside the door though in case she tries to escape.”

“Might I borrow your armor, Hero?”

Arc chuckles. “Sure.”

The armor melts away to allow Arc to step out. As it rematerializes Eidolon’s Ward turns to her friend and carefully picks her up.

“I got you, Minerva.”

She slowly walks toward the stairs with Ember as Arc turns to the others.

“No one use anyone’s real name, alright?”

Hugh appears confused. “Sir?”

Max nods. “It could link us back to the commander.”

Rose sighs. “Yes. Better safe than sorry.”

Xenos turns to his commanding officer. “So what happened after the signal cut out, sir?”

Arc chuckles. “Where do I begin?”

Meanwhile, Eidolon’s Ward lays Minerva in the tub. She turns back to the open door and Ember.

“Do you think you could do one little thing for me?”

“What’s that?”

Eidolon’s Ward holds up her gauntlets. “I don’t think I can undo her buttons with these fingers. Could you help with that?”

“Sure.”

Stepping into the room Ember kneels down and unbuttons Minerva’s dirty blouse and her skirt.

“Thank you. I can take it from here.”

Ember nods and stands up before leaving the room. She turns back momentarily.

“Hey.”

“Yes… Dragon?”

“I… um… I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“What happened to her. Even Minerva didn’t deserve that kind of abuse.”

The armor nods as Ember leaves and closes the door behind her. Carefully, Eidolon’s Ward pulls Minerva’s clothes off and tosses them in a corner. Getting the water temperature set she picks up the shower nozzle and begins rinsing the dirt and grim from her friend’s naked body. Minerva groans softly as she does so.

“It’s okay, Minerva. I’ll take care of you.”

A few minutes later Minerva slowly opens her eyes a crack.

“What…? Rain…?”

Moaning slightly, Minerva puts her hand over a sizable bruise on her stomach. Not feeling her blouse, the young woman’s eyes fly open and dart around the room fearfully as she screams in terror.

“Please stop! Don’t hurt me!”

She flails about seemingly at random as she feels two cold gauntlets push her back down.

“Minerva, calm down! It’s me, Cherry!”

“Ch-Cherry?”

“Don’t worry. You’re safe now.”

Minerva looks around the room. “Why are all the lights off?”

“But, they’re not.”

“What? Then why can’t I see anything?!”

“I… I don’t know.”

Minerva continues, fear evident in her voice. “Am I… blind?!”

“I think it’ll be temporary.”

“How do you know?!”

“There was a big flash of light and your eyes were wide open. They probably just got overloaded or something.”

“I… kinda remember. It hurt quite a bit, but I was too scared to do anything. Even close my eyes.”

Eidolon’s Ward pats her friend’s arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you until your sight comes back.”

“We?”

“The hero and I.”

Minerva puts a hand to her face and winches. “Ouch!”

“Are you okay?”

“Everything hurts.”

Eidolon’s Ward sighs as she looks Minerva’s bruised body over. “Yeah. You’re pretty banged up. The hero will want to talk to you about what happened later, I’m sure.”

Minerva sighs and puts a hand on her midsection as Cherry continues.

“I’m going to get you cleaned up now, okay?”

Nodding silently Minerva let’s her friend get to work. Taking a bar of soap in her gauntlet she works up a lather in a washcloth. Starting at the top, she begins gently washing away the dirt and grim from the young woman’s face. Minerva winces in pain.

“Sorry. It’s hard to tell what’s dirt and what’s a bruise.”

“It… it’s okay. I know you’re doing your best, Cherry. But can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Where are we exactly? Not my apartment, I hope!”

“No. The Hero took you to his house.”

“So I’m… in his bathtub?!”

“Yes.”

Minerva blushes heavily. “Is he… here?”

“No, it’s just me. Dragon’s outside the door waiting for me to finish though.”

“Um… okay. But… am I… you know…?”

“Are you what, Minerva?”

“A prisoner?”

“Not… exactly. I mean, I’m sure the Hero could take you somewhere else if you really wanted to leave. But you can’t exactly take care of yourself at the moment without your sight, can you?”

Minerva sighs. “I suppose not.”

“Do you have some family that you could stay with for a while?”

Minerva sighs and shakes her head. “No one locally, no. I don’t really want to impose on you or the Hero though.”

“While we certainly appreciate the thought, our only other option is to bring you to the hospital. Somehow I get the feeling you should probably stay away from the one nearby for a while.”

“I suppose so.”

Eidolon’s Ward giggles as she begins rinsing her friend off. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take good care of you.”

Minerva smiles weakly as the warm water washes over her. “Thanks, Cherry.”

A short time later there is a knock at the bathroom door. Eidolon’s Ward stands up.

“I’ll be right back.”

Minerva silently nods. The armor steps over to the door and opens it a few inches to see Ember standing there.

“Cherry?”

“Yes?”

Ember holds up a pair of pajamas. “I brought your friend some clean clothes. Do you need any help in there?”

“We’re fine. Thank you though.”

“How is she?”

Eidolon’s Ward sighs. “Not the greatest.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Um… the, ah… Hero was kinda hoping to be able to talk to her tonight.”

“Tell him that’s probably not a good idea. She could really do with a good night’s sleep first.”

Ember nods. “I’ll pass that along to him. And he also wanted me to tell you to put Minerva to bed in his parent’s room tonight.”

“Thank you, I will. Can you put those clothes in there please?”

“Sure.”

She closes the door and turns back to Minerva in the tub.

“That was Dragon. She put some pajamas for you in… one of the bedrooms.”

“Oh. Um… that was nice of her. But I don’t mind putting my old clothes back on.”

Eidolon’s Ward sighs. “Trust me. You don’t want to.”

“Oh? Did something happen to them?”

“Kinda. They’re filthy.”

Minerva shudders. “Yes, well… I…”

Eidolon’s Ward puts a gauntlet on Minerva’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe here with us.”

Minerva puts a hand on the gauntlet and sighs.

“I… just feel so alone right now.”

“Minerva?”

“You don’t know what it’s like. Not being able to see what’s going on around you.”

“Truth be told, I do.”

“Cherry?”

“As I told you before, after my death my soul merged with the gem in the Hero’s chest plate. His armor stays in his ring when not in use. While inside it, I couldn’t see, hear, or make a sound. Truthfully, it was the most lonely time I’d ever known.”

“That would have driven me crazy.”

“It almost did. But probably not for the reason you imagine.”

“Oh?”

“My every moment was filled with a single knawing question. What would become of my love?”

“I… I’m sorry, Cherry. But I don’t really know what to say to that. Caring so much for someone that you think of them above everything else is a very new concept to me.”

Eidolon’s Ward giggles as she turns off the water. “Don’t worry. You’ll get there.”

A moment later two gauntlets carefully pat Minerva dry before picking her up and calling out.

“Can you open the door, Dragon?”

The door slowly opens and Minerva is carried down the hall to the bedroom. Ember turns to the armor as it passes her.

“You need anything else?”

“No, thank you. I’ll dress Minerva and put her to bed.”

“Okay. I think I’ll turn in as well.”

“Good night, Dragon.”

Ember nods as she closes the door behind her. Heading to her own room she sighs.

“Never thought she of all humans would be our guest. Arc was nuts to bring her here.”

She smiles and lies down on her bed.

“But I suppose his Kindness is one of the reasons I’m attracted to him.”

Meanwhile, Eidolon’s Ward carefully dresses Minerva in the pajamas.

“Thanks, Cherry. But I suppose I don’t really need these if it’s just the two of us.”

She looks around instinctively.

“Uh… it is just us, isn’t it?”

Eidolon’s Ward nods. “Yes, we’re alone. Do you need anything before bed?”

Minerva shakes her head weakly. “Nothing. I… I just feel so tired.”

“I understand. After all, you had quite the day. I should let you sleep.”

“Are… are you leaving?!”

“Not if you don’t want me to.”

“Please stay! I… um… don’t really want to be alone right now.”

“Okay. I’ll sit by your side tonight.”

Minerva appears relieved. “Thanks!”

Meanwhile, Arc, Sereb, and Rose sit on the couch downstairs. Arc looks up.

“Sounds like Cherry just put our guest to bed.”

Sereb pricks up his ears. “Indeed. She will stay by her side tonight.”

Rose sighs. “After what happened, Miss Moore will need all the help she can get.”

Arc sighs. “Yeah.”

Sereb turns to his friend. “Arc?”

Rose does the same. “Is something wrong?”

“This is all my fault.”

“How so?”

Sereb shakes his head. “You blame yourself for Miss Moore’s condition, don’t you, Arc?”

Arc nods. “I could’ve investigated this matter myself. But I wanted to see if she could really be trusted with something important.”

Rose takes his hand. “You couldn’t have known about the tracking device in the laptop, Arc.”

Sereb nods. “Yes. Our adversaries are certainly cunning beyond what was originally perceived.”

“That they are, Sereb. And I underestimated them.”

Rose smiles at him. “One might also look at it this way. Had you removed the laptop here in the house, our enemies would have known exactly where we lived.”

Sereb sniffs the air. “It would have been a paltry task for them to ambush us as we rested this very night.”

“I suppose so. But that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

Arc leans back on the couch and stares up at the ceiling.

“How could this have been avoided? There had to be a way!”

Rose clears her throat. “Theoretically there are an infinite numbers of possibilities. Perhaps some of those would have ended more favorably.”

Sereb nods. “That may be. However one might also say that it could have gone the opposite way.”

Arc puts a hand over his face. “While I know that’s true, it doesn’t change what happened. Nor mitigate any lasting repercussions. “

Rose looks to Arc soberly. “You mean her future?”

“Yes. Now that Diva knows where she lives, Minerva will be in constant danger of kidnapping.”

Sereb sighs. “She can hide here for a time, yes?”

“Of course. But she can’t stay here forever. That and her job isn’t one she can do underground either.”

Rose winces. “The first live report she does will most likely result in her disappearance.”

Sereb turns to Arc. “I may have the solution.”

“Oh?”

“While it would need to be her choice, could you not extend amnesty to her?”

Rose raises an eyebrow. “In Equestria?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose I could talk to the princesses about it. If I took full responsibility for her, I’m sure they’d be willing to let her…”

A familiar voice rings out nearby.

“That will not be necessary.”

The trio look over to see Wiseman standing before them. Arc frowns.

“Can’t you ever knock?!”

“I suppose. But I get the feeling you would not let me in.”

Sereb growls. “Most likely true.”

Rose purses her lips. “Arc told us of tonight’s altercation.”

Wiseman nods. “Good. Then that will make this easier.”

Arc raises an eyebrow. “For whom?”

“Everyone, I would imagine.”

Sereb frowns. “Do tell.”

“I come with good news. Minerva can safely return home when she recovers.”

Arc rolls his eyes. “Unless you’ve destroyed Diva and all those with her I highly doubt that’s true.”

Wiseman shrugs. “Such a task is actually easier than you might think.”

Rose appears surprised. “How so?”

“Well, all I had to do was inform Diva that she was no match for my magical and physical prowess.”

Arc sits forward. “And…?”

“And show her that I could easily dismantle her entire organization with a few well-placed blows. Like a house of cards, if you will.”

Sereb shakes his head. “How could one human accomplish such a task?”

Rose frowns. “Right. As capable as he is not even Arc could do such a thing.”

Wiseman chuckles. “By talking.”

“Wait… what?”

“Arc, you of all people should understand the power of the spoken word. After all, did you not use such things to your advantage as Lord Regent and as the Hero of Light?

Sereb growls. “Arc is not a manipulator!”

Rose nods fervently. “Right! His tools are reason and logic!”

Wiseman shrugs. “As were mine. Following Diva through her portal and back to her base of operations, I simply had a little chat with her and the one in charge over there as well. It was very fruitful too.”

Arc appears skeptical. “Care to let us in on the secret?”

“Diva’s orders were to get the laptop back at any cost. Hence the kidnapping. However, her superiors are usually very concerned with ends and means.”

Rose frowns. “You mean doing things that might draw attention to them?”

“Precisely.”

Sereb turns to Arc. “Creatures of evil do not like the light of truth.”

“So how does that keep Minerva safe?”

“By interrogating her they had hoped to learn your secrets, Arc. However they now know that Minerva is as in the dark as they are in certain regards.”

Arc breathes a sigh of relief. “Good.”

Wiseman clenches a gloved fist. “They now understand that recapturing her would serve no purpose other than earning them my wrath.”

Rose looks hopeful. “So they won’t be attacking anyone else?”

“Oh, I didn’t say that.”

“Huh?”

Wiseman looks to Arc. “They’re still very interested in you joining them.”

“And you think I should?!”

“No. They’re not the type whom should be in charge.”

Sereb turns to Wiseman. “For what purpose?”

“That Arc will have to figure out for himself. But know this. They have been made aware that should Minerva be taken again, I will personally lead you to their hideout and straight to their various… secrets. Needless to say, they didn’t like that.”

Rose smiles. “That will be of great comfort to Minerva and Cherry. But I still don’t understand. Just who you are and why you’re doing all this.”

Arc nods. “Yeah. If you’re so powerful why not just take Diva and her cronies down yourself?”

Wiseman shakes his head. “I am an old man, and this is not my fight.”

Sereb growls menacingly. “This is everyone’s fight!”

“That may have been true many years ago. However, it’s time for the current generation of heroes to step up and do what must be done. Should I fix everything for you, how would you learn? How would you gain the knowledge and experience needed to train the generation that comes after you?”

He looks Arc in the eye.

“You once told a story to a young mare about a butterfly’s need to escape their cocoon on their own.”

Arc nods, confused. “Sassy Saddles after the Cherry Festival? How do you…?”

“If I were to offer to solve every problem, you and this current generation would be ill prepared to protect the world someday when my time is done.”

Rose frowns. “Then why are you helping us now?”

“The key word in that sentence is ‘help’. In the end, it is you whom must make a stand for what is right, Arc.”

“Yeah… you’ve made that fact abundantly clear.”

“In any case, I have faith that by the combined might of you and your friends, along with a dash of, shall we say… intervention, you’ll be able to accomplish you goals.”

Arc looks coolly at Wiseman. “I just want to go on record as saying I don’t like or trust you in the least.”

Wiseman shrugs. “Hate me all you want. But in the end you’ll see that all I’ve done has been for the betterment of all concerned.”

Rose looks to Wiseman as he heads for the door. “All of Earth?”

Wiseman stops. He pauses as his hand touches the doorknob.

“Earth, yes. But also… for Equestria.”

Sereb tilts his head to one side. “Eh?”

Without a word Wiseman opens the front door and steps out. Rose turns to Arc as the door shuts behind him.

“What do you suppose he meant by that?”

“Not really sure. But if the past is any indication, he’ll end up being right.”

Sereb sighs. “I am not sure how. After all, we control the only device capable of traversing the transdimensional barrier between these two worlds.”

Rose nods. “Right. At least I hope that’s true.”

Arc frowns. “So do I.”

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