- - -
Blackthorn
The negotiations with the Princesses had been long and difficult. His king was already exhausted after his battle with the human and the Elements, near the breaking point. Yet he had carried on, long into the night, working out the details... Of their surrender.
Blackthorn had stood at his side, scowling deeply the entire time. He made no secret of his displeasure with this entire situation in his body language, and frankly did not care if he offended the delicate sensibilities of the Equestrians. Having to endure their King's pleading and grovelling... The humiliation!
Yet he had held his tongue, all the way into the near morning, when they finally broke for rest. He escorted the king himself to his chambers. King Aspen carried Prince Bramble atop his back, the young fawn having fallen asleep many hours before and no one had had the heart to wake him. Even he, Blackthorn, Captain of the Royal Guard, was hesitating in expressing his outrage.
But it had to be said.
"Your Highness," he said, softly but firmly, "how could you allow the Equestrians to dictate terms to us like this? It was not your fault!" He glowered deeply. "And that human caused more harm to Thicket than we did to them!"
The King was tired and weak, but his glare still carried great weight.
"What would you have me do, Blackthorn?" Aspen asked, "demand reparations after we devastated all of Equestria?"
"It was the fault of the Nightmare, not you, Your Highness!" Blackthorn argued, stepping around in front of the king. "If anything, it is Equestria's fault!"
"It was my vanity, my arrogance, my fears and insecurities that attracted the Nightmare," Aspen stated, his eyes narrowed and gaze firm. "It fed on them. We have devastated hundreds of villages and towns across Equestria, ruined hundreds of thousands of lives. That needs to be paid for, Blackthorn! Or we shall have a real war on our hooves! A war we will not win."
Blackthorn gritted his teeth. "And how shall we repay them then, Your Majesty?" He asked. "With the meat of our people?"
"We know the Everfree Forest better than almost anyone," Aspen said. "We will find the means to pay them back. In return, they will help us rebuild. What more could you demand, Blackthorn?"
"That the Elements and their pets pay for their crimes!" Blackthorn growled. Aspen shook his head.
"The crime of saving all of Equus from the evil that had taken me over?" He asked, "or the crime of doing what you should have done in the first place?"
Blackthorn's eyes slipped to the door, his shame practically radiating off him. There it was: He had failed in his duty as the Captain of the Royal Guard. He had gone so far as to nearly imprison his own Crown Prince!
Aspen was silent for a long moment, before he reached out a hoof to rest on his captain's shoulder.
"We have all failed this day, Blackthorn," he said, as gently as he could manage, "but let us not compound this failure by allowing our arrogance to make it worse. We will pay our debts. We will work with the Equestrians. And we will build a friendship with them." He opened the door to his chambers, and headed in, making sure not to dislodge his son from his back.
He looked back over his shoulder at Blackthorn, utter finality in his gaze.
"Those are my orders," he stated, "we cannot ignore the reality of our situation. Now go. Sleep. We have much to do next we awake."
He trotted into his chambers, and closed them behind himself and his softly snoring son. Blackthorn stood there alone, his teeth threatening to grind themselves to dust.
He had failed, yes. But he would not accept this. His king was exhausted and weakened from the Nightmare, but if he did not stay strong, they would just be absorbed by the Equestrians. Like so many other cultures before them, becoming nothing more than vassals to the Princesses. They had seen it happen, again and again. The ponies were a weak, easily herded race: All too eager to bend their knees to whoever had power or would keep them as pets. No wonder the Princesses had one of the abominable humans as their thugs!
Well. Blackthorn would do his duty. But he would never surrender to weakness.
Not even the weakness of his king.
- - -
Shepherd
We awoke to the sun shining out over Ponyville, and a Royal Guard entering the chamber and telling us we had arrived. He had departed as quickly as he had appeared, leaving all of us to look awkwardly at one another. Pinkie sucked in a breath.
"Sooo... Orgy?" She asked. Much blushing and sputtering ensued. Twilight made to cover Spike's ears with her hooves.
"Pinkie Pie!" Twilight hissed. Spike rolled his eyes.
"I already know what that word means," Spike sighed.
"Wha-?! How? When?!" Twilight demanded. Rarity flushed, just before Spike did the same. Twilight glared at Rarity. "Rarity! How-?!"
"It's a very long, complicated story that I'm sure nopony wants to get into," Rarity said quickly. She smiled around, her eyes very intense. "Right now, anyway."
"So, orgy's on then?" Pinkie Pie asked. I sighed and patted her on the head. She beamed cheerfully.
"Little snot," I said affectionately. I shook my head, "listen, all of you. You helped save me. Again. And well... I've realized that I've been kind of a dick."
Twilight's eyes widened, but Spike again shook his head.
"Heard it," he stated. Twilight scowled, but looked over at me attentively. She gave me a warm smile.
"We understand better why," she said, "after being in your head."
I blinked.
"About that," I began, "how much did you see?"
"Enough," Applejack said, as gently as she could. "Ain't like any of us are gonna blab about that."
"Yeah, I know," I said.
Fluttershy had been quiet for a time, but finally spoke up.
"This... Um... This is complicated for all of us," she said. "If... If you don't mind me saying so. So maybe we just... Um, you know... A trot at a time?"
"Yeah, we should probably just take things slow," I said, feeling relieved. There was a fair amount of agreement at this. Spike looked crushed, but Rarity smiled and nuzzled him.
"I understand this may be a bit confusing and upsetting, darling," she said, "so don't worry! I'm in this for the drama more than anything else."
"R-Really?" Spike asked, gasping hopefully. Rarity nodded.
"Yes! After all, there's already someone I have my eyes on," she said, giving him a glittering beam and wink. Spike then passed out, his tiny legs going up. Rarity blinked and looked back at the rest of us.
"Why would he react like that over my affections for the Prince?" She asked, confused.
Rainbow Dash groaned, and covered Applejack's muzzle with her hoof.
"Don't," she said, "she needs to find out for herself." She looked up at me and grinned. "Slow huh? I might be able to handle that... If you're fast in the right ways."
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight gasped, blushing hard.
"What? Spike's passed out, he can't hear any of this," she said. She grinned. "And since he can't-That orgy idea might be fun!"
I sighed, and scratched her behind her ears. She crooned happily.
"One day at a time," I said.
"That's not a no~," Pinkie sang. I looked her right in the eyes, cool and calm.
"It isn't," I said.
I finally got a blush out of her. Twilight and Fluttershy both blushed too, and even AJ and Dash were a bit red faced. Rarity fanned herself with her hoof.
"We should have sleep overs more often!" Rarity declared happily.
- - -
We disembarked, and had breakfast at Sugarcube Corner. It was already back in operation and providing food for not only the citizens, but also the numerous workers all going about and repairing the damage. Pinkie Pie immediately got to work, cooking food and delivering meals with happy smiles. I helped Applejack set up a brick grill and stove in the town square, and soon she and her family were busily grilling apple pancakes, frying apple fritters and donuts, and baking apple scones and muffins for the population. On our table were papers and letters and designs from all over Ponyville, and Twilight was furiously sorting through them and directing work crews where they were needed. Fluttershy had her birds running messages back and forth, while Rarity was leading a whole army of ponies in sewing replacement clothing, bedding, and other items that were lost in the disaster.
I collected my tools from my house and immediately began helping the crew working on the Town Hall. It wasn't long before a familiar brown stallion and an equally familiar zebra trotted up to me, Ditzy Doo hovering next to them. I beamed at them, and gave into the urge to hug them all.
Hugs they returned.
""The airship that we took broke down, delaying when we'd get to town," Zecora explained with a smile.
"And my ride wasn't exactly cooperating," the Doctor said. I nodded in understanding.
"I didn't get to say it before, but thanks guys," I said. "You really saved the day."
"It's what I do," the Doctor said with a proud smile. Ditzy, digging into a muffin, rolled her eyes.
"And get lost a lot," she mumbled. The Doctor coughed, and looked aside.
"Yes, well, that too," he admitted. He shook his head rapidly. "Anyway," he continued, "all four of us are here and we're all pitching in!"
"Wait, all four of us?" I asked. A giant shadow covered me, and a moment later I was in the huge arms of the manticore. He hugged me... And licked the top of my head affectionately. His hot breath washed over me, making me wince in disgust.
"UGH! Chewie! Come on! Knock it off!" I struggled hard, "we're supposed to be fighting to the death! Stop hugging on me!"
Fluttershy flew over, no doubt at the urging of several concerned ponies over the huge monster licking me. She smiled happily.
"Oh! Chewie likes you," she said cheerfully. "He's happy to repay and aid you in any way you like, as you are now both battle brothers!"
"Wait, that's his actual name?!"
"Yes!" Fluttershy said happily, "you already knew his name! In his eyes, it was fate! He will work and fight alongside you forever, as is the custom of Manticores the world over!"
I sagged as Chewie snuggled me in his musky fur.
"Lucky me," I sighed.
- - -
You'd be surprised.
Chewie becoming a recurring character is the best part of this chapter
Not for Blackthorn, it seems.
I love the Chewie reference!!
Keep it up!
Haha, great twist with his name actually being Chewie.
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I'm not saying I dislike the story it's just in the chapter Shepherd act like a whiny 15 year old and it's kinda gross.
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That's why he's getting better from now on. It's a character arc.
Now he needs the worlds biggest cat flap
great chapter. I'm looking forward to the next one.
For Spike knowing what an orgy was, I would have gone with:
Cadance.
Why would Cadance tell you about orgys?!
It was part of her sex-ed lecture. She was pretty thorough.
I already gave you sex-ed!
Twilight, your lecture was filled with nothing but technical terminology.
So?
So, it was like someone going to a cooking class, but getting a chemistry lesson instead.
Cooking is chemistry!
Maybe so, but knowing chemistry doesn't make you knowledgeable about cooking, Miss I-frequently-set-the-kitchen-on-fire.
👦That explains a lot.
Concerning Rarity, it's weird to me that she's still aiming for Bluebood considering, well, everything with Shepherd. Also, please don't string Spike along with Rarity. You would think any crush he had would have ended with seeing how Rarity acts with Shepherd, allowing him to move on. I always thought Spike and Apple Bloom would make a cute couple.
Well, that was all very satisfying. Admittedly, I can't help but feel like Luna would scan every mind involved in that little confrontation for traces of the Nightmare, which may well detect Blackthorn's intentions regardless of whether it caused them or not, but I suppose that's for later. Either way, a fun little arc, even with the occasional bit of questionable verse.
On that note, I've got some more suggestions for Zecora's rhymes for you to take or leave as you wish:
"Extent-wise, this is quite impressive. Its users must be most aggressive."
Wow, difficult to pare down that second line into eight syllables... I'd probably either split it into two couplets or go with "The problem, then, becomes twofold: Attract them; keep the chase up. Bold!"
Oof, that rhyme. Still, might work to say "There might be means to meet your goal, among this trash and old offal." (or possibly "if we look through this trash-filled hole" if you wanted to change the rhyme word on the second line.
Actually, that one's almost perfect, just needs an extra syllable in the second part: "Judging by the evidence, young Bramble here is a prince."
Hmm... well, "hurry, quickly," is inherently redundant, so I'd go with "We must make haste now, without fear; our time's alloted end draws near."
Again, that's pretty close, just needs a bit of reworking: "The airship that we took broke down, delaying when we'd get to town."
Again, sorry if this is presumptuous, pushy, hubristic or just obnoxious. Like I said, you're free to ignore me if you want. I just figured it couldn't hurt to offer some suggestions since, while I don't consider myself especially good at writing closed verse, I at least have a good enough feel for it to bug me when done improperly, so I might as well make use of it.
Conversely, if you or anyone else reading this ever want someone to look over your rhymes, Zecorian or otherwise, please feel free to PM me. Like I said, might as well make use of one of the few minor talents I have.
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While I agree that they'd make a cute couple, probably best not to go into that in this fic, since it isn't really about either of them or their relationships, so they probably wouldn't get much focus. And, let's face it, shoving a ship into an otherwise unrelated fic rarely turns out well.
10366981 It doesn't need a lot of focus, but it's nice to see how Shepherd's presence affects people besides the main six . Also, helping Spike get a fillyfriend could be a nice bonding experience between him and Shepherd.
Well, that's a better fate than the daily sparring matches in the original story
Remarks and corrections:
> Pinkie Pie imemdiately got to work
immediately
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Please avoid its/it's errors when making suggestions for improvements
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...
Right, yep, screwed that one up royally, sorry about that, fixed now.
In fairness, my suggestions were entirely focused around the rhyme and metre, so hopefully the spirit of them stayed true. Also in fairness, that doesn't make it okay and certainly doesn't make me look any less stupid right now.
Thanks for pointing that out.
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It's all okay. It happens.
Again with the harem stuff. It pains me to see him going along with it and qcting like they're friends. Them being so deadset on sex with him to the point of it being rheir ulterior motive precludes any sort of forming of an actual romantic relationship or even friendship.
Correctly spelled Wrong word. you want "son".
Poor Rarity, she has no idea what Blueblood is really like. Good thing her true prince is safe with her friends. When that does happen though, fingers crossed Spike moves on to Sweetie.
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Nah, his child transformed into a small mass of brilliantly glowing nuclear energy. Haven't you heard? That's all the rage with the kiddos these days. They call it Nuking.
Well, it is kind of his shtick, right? He doesn't go where he wants to go, he goes where he needs to go.
... which, now that I think about it, sounds like something a Universe that abhors paradoxes would demand of a time-traveller, isn't it? He literally can't go anywhere else but where he must be.
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To be even more fair, his ship is also his wife... and about as obedient as that implies.
And thus was born the team of Chewie and "Hands" Solo. (try getting THAT mental image outta your head )
Battle Brothers!!!!!
He gets a friendly manticore as a buddy?
Aw hell yeah!
Haha! Andrew shot first
Now they only need a Airship named Millennium Falcon
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I guess the manticore is Chewie Baka? You know, because same-y sounding different names?
Getting Starwars & Spaceballs vibes here
One epilog of many to come? I can imagen who will be Nightmare Moon 2.0, o Deer...
Pinkie Pie has the best ideas
+=
Pinkie sure is a thirsty mare
Lucky Shepard ♡
Romance and bromance to be continued... never...