A unicorn is allowed to keep his secrets and keep his past unknown, right?
A unicorn by the name of Keen Eye has traveled far and wide to find a place to start his life. He decides to settle in Ponyville and open his very own magic shop to teach magic and sell magical items and books. Sure, a few things are alittle off about him. He wears black tinted goggles all the time, has a hard time understanding colors, and doesn't let anyone touch his personal collection of books, for ANY reason. But with such a gentle colt, he must have his reasons, right? No harm in keeping a few secrets. At least until those secrets and history comes back to find him.
As Celestia set the sun to the horizon over Equestria, a unicorn stood over a hill looking down onto the city of Ponyville. The pony in question put his pitch black goggles on and smiled. "I hope this time, it is different," The pony said to himself as he walked down to the town, tugging a cart along behind him. As he entered town he looked around to see if anyone can direct him. As he looked around he found an alicorn with a dark blue mane with purple and pink high lights still walking around at night. "Excuse me ma'am, I was told that my shop was in this city, can you help me in pointing me to the right direction?" The pony asked respectfully, although he found it odd to see an alicorn in a town like this. Normally you saw them in castles and places of royalty. He did not dwell on that thought for long, she must have her reasons. She looked at him carefully and then smiled.
"Depends, what is the store?" asked the magenta unicorn politely.
"It is a magic store ma'am, it is a fairly nice plot of land. I believe the business before cleared out, leaving the building at it's place bare," explained the mystery pony. The other pony was alittle confused for a moment as she thought about the description and her eyes lite up.
"Oh yea, I know what you're talking about now. Yea, there is an empty building near Sugar Cube Corner. I'll take you there. My name is Twilight Sparkle by the way," explained the pony.
"My name is Keen Eye ma'am. It is a pleasure to meet you," introduced the other unicorn. Twilight turned toward the opposite direction to lead the way and Keen followed. After a short walk they came across an empty building with boarded up windows and a sign saying sold. Twilight turned to Keen and smiled at him politely.
"Well, I think this is you, right?" Twilight asked, looking back to the empty building. Keen looked around the building and inside one of the windows and smiled.
"Well this is most likely me. Thank you so much ma'am for guiding me here. I do not know much about this town, so this was awfully kind of you," Keen explained gratefully, pulling his cart next to the building. Twilight took a glance at the cart and noticed a few training dummies and some old books.
"So, what kinda of business are you opening?" Twilight asked curiously, taking a step closer to the cart. Keen chuckled to himself.
"I am opening up a magic training and tutoring facility ma'am. There was a deal on this place and I just could not say no to it. So I bought it, a little smaller than I hoped, but it will do just nicely. I also sell things for potions and rent out books for ponies to read at home." explained Keen with a calm and polite tone in his voice. Twilight looked back over to him with a friendly smile. 'Wow, he is such a gentlecolt. Such manners as if he was a prince or something.' Twilight thought to herself impressed.
"Well, I would like to visit your store some time, and maybe take a look at your tutoring as well, if that is ok of course." Twilight suggested. Keen turned to her and smiled kindly.
"Why of course ma'am. I would be more than happy to receive you as a customer in my store." Keen said with a kind hearted smile. Twilight looked up at the moon and then back to Keen.
"Well, I need to get some sleep. I will see you some other time then." said Twilight as she started to trot away. Keen waved her good bye.
"Very well miss Twilight. I wish you a safe trip back home and a good and restful night." called back Keen as he waited till she was around the corner. He unlocked the door and walked in. The insides was a eye sore for him. His horn started to glow ever so lightly in the darkness of the room, making it the only light source in the darkened room. Keen took a deep breath and pulled out a broom and dust pan. "Well, this place won't clean it'self now will it?" Keen asked himself with a cheerful attitude. As Keen started to sweep off the floors and dusting everything he started humming a little tune to himself.
Keen was tall and lean for a unicorn. He has long sky blue mane with a coal black trim that he normally slicked back past his shoulders. His eyes were always hidden with his midnight black goggles. His fur was navy blue and a little thicker than most with a cutie mark of a book and quill. His horn always seemed to glow a faint blue. His hooves where a darkened blue, but appeared to be light blue at one point. As Keen looked inside the store he smiled. "A brand new start, maybe I can be useful once again." he said cheerfully to himself as he continued to hum his little melody.
The morning sun rose from the horizon and Keen was asleep on his floor, holding the broom and dust pan close to himself. He felt the warm rays of the sun graze over his body that shuddered at the sudden touch. But that is not what made him wake up, but instead a tapping at the door. Keen quickly got up and fixed his goggles over his eyes properly and rushed to the door. A cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane was at the door with a look of curiosity on her face as she peered through the boards of the window, which some of them was taken off. Keen opened the door and poked his head at the pegasus who was hovering in front of the window. "Good morning miss, can I help you with anything?" he asked with a cheerful and polite tone, wearing his usual heart warming smile. The pegasus turned to him with a look of confusion.
"Yea, what is this place supposed to be? I saw the cart outside so I thought someone was trying to open this place up or somethin'." the pegasus explained. Keen came outside and looked at the front of the store.
"Well, I guess it does not look like much now does it? But I plan to fix that up. Might take me a fair few days, but I am sure that I can turn this place around. I plan on turning this place into a magic training and tutoring facility. I will also being selling some magical supplies as well. But I never knew that it would take so much work to clean this place up. The store is in a dreadful state." explained Keen. He turned around to see her looking through his cart.
"Yup, definitely looks like magical do-hickies and what nots." she claimed as she came out of the pile of boxes. "You look like you have a lot of work ahead of you. Now I normally do not offer this to just any pony, but you seem alright. But I will help you unpack all this stuff for you." the pegasus offered with a smirk.
"I am sorry, but I can not accept such a kind offer ma'am. The very idea to have you working for me for free is just-" Keen started bashfully.
"What? Oh no, no ,no. I ain't working for free now. I plan on getting paid for my hard work if you do not mind." she interrupted with a smirk. Keen smiled and lightly face hoofed himself.
"Why silly me then. If you offer your services in exchange for currency, then I would be more than happy to do that miss. My name is Keen Eye. What is your name?" Keen asked politely as always. The pegasus flew up to him and puffed out her chest.
"The name's Rainbow Dash. Nice to meet you." she said with a high self esteem, lending out a hoof to shake. Keen smiled and lightly chuckled to himself as he raised his hoof to meet hers and shook it.
"Like wise. How about four bits an hour, work as long as you want by the half hour, sound fair?" asked Keen. Rainbow Dash tried to contain her excitement as she failed to hid a joyful smile.
"I guess that will do. So what you want me to do then, boss?" Rainbow Dash asked respectfully with a quick salute. Keen couldn't help but broke into laughter.
"I like you miss Rainbow. You are such full of joy full energy." Keen complimented, trying to contain his laughter. Rainbow Dash looked away, slightly blushing.
"Well, don't be weird about it or anything. I-I was just trying to be polite." Rainbow Dash explained, trying to not show her flushed cheeks. Keen didn't notice her cheeks as he stopped his laughing.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to make it seem like I was laughing at you. I just love that energy of yours. Now if you wish to start right now, I could use some help in clearing away those broken boards inside so I can sweep properly." explained Keen, keeping his gentle and kind smile.
"You got it boss!" Rainbow Dash said with a final salute and took off inside, never placing her hooves on the ground. Keen shook his head and smiled. 'What is with this one. She is a strange one and a little full of herself. Still, working with her is gonna make this a lot more interesting. It might even get fun." Keen thought to himself as he grabbed his dust pan and broom again as he went back into the store.
"Ether way-" Keen stopped and looked up at the sun. "-I have a feeling that this is the start of something beautiful." he said to himself as he went into the store and started his clean up in his brand new store.
Keen looked around the store to see it really coming around. The boards were taken off the windows and thrown out. The inside was completely dusted off and polished. Things were really turning out well thanks to Rainbow Dash's partnership and assistance. She flew left and right, moving stuff here, sweeping over there. She was so fast and full of spunk, it made Keen laugh from time to time. "So, anything else? That was pretty quick if you ask me." Rainbow Dash claimed as she wipped her forehead of the sweat. Keen smiled and turned back to her.
"Well, I need the supplies outside in here so I can start placing things appropriately. Think your up to it miss Rainbow?" Keen asked teasingly. Rainbow blushed alittle and puffed out her chest in confidence.
"Of course, a few boxes ain't gonna slow me down!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she dashed outside to the carts and started to bring the boxes inside. Keen couldn't help but smile at her as she struggled to lift some of the boxes.
"Do you need some assistance, ma'am?" Keen offered. Rainbow Dash looked at him with a stern look and continued moving the box.
"! I got this, this is no sweat. Light as a feather." Rainbow Dash grunted, struggling with the box. She placed the box inside next to the others and let out a huge sigh of relief as she looks at the boxes that are already inside. "What the hay is in all these boxes?" she asked in frustration. Keen levitated a box inside and turned to her.
"A lot of these are boxes and potion supplies. Some of them have parts to build training dummies and what not. Sorry if they are too heavy, I will get those-" Keen started. Rainbow Dash turned to him, flew up to him, inches away from his face, and looked at him straight into his goggles.
"Nothing is too much for me! I can get those boxes in here in 10 seconds flat!" Rainbow Dash declared in a challenging tone. Keen was startled and fell over backwards, backing away. Rainbow Dash looked at him confused, lowering herself but still hovering near him. "You ok?" she asked concerned. Keen slowed his breathing back to normal and smiled up at her who offered a hoof to him. Keen accepts the hoof and helped himself to get back on all hooves.
"It is alright. I am ok, I am just alittle uncomfortable ponies getting that close to my face is all. You didn't know, so it is fine." explained Keen with a slight hint of panic in his voice. Rainbow Dash looked at him carefully but shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, still, sorry about that, you gonna be alright?" rainbow Dash asked concerned. Keen smiled kindly to her, making her blush again.
"Yes, I am quite alright, thank you for your concern thou ma'am." Keen said respectfully. Rainbow Dash looked away, feeling shy all of a sudden.
"Well, your paying me, so I just want to make sure I am gonna get paid is all." Rainbow Dash said, trying to hide her embarrassment. Keen smiled and headed for the supplies that were already brought in, chuckling to himself.
"Of course miss Rainbow. Which I guess your break is over, or do you need more time?" Keen said teasingly, but Rainbow Dash took it as a challenge.
"Heck, I didn't even need that break! I am on." Rainbow Dash announced as she headed back to work. Keen tried to hold in alittle joke but couldn't help himself.
"So, 10 seconds flat huh?" Keen added with a hint with a teas, which made her stop in her tracks, well, if she was on the ground. She turned to him as he turned to her with his kind smile.
"Yea, what, you think I can't do it?" Rainbow Dash said with a competitive tone in her voice. Keen laughed to himself.
"I am not saying you can't, I am just saying it is a lot of boxes left, and some are fairly heavy." explained Keen playfully as he continued to unpack the supplies in the boxes. Rainbow Dash looked at him with a glare and raise her hoof and pointed it at him.
"I bet you 100 bits that I can do it!" Rainbow Dash declared with enthusiasm. Keen shook his head as he dug into a box containing pieces for the book shelves.
"If you had that much, why would you have offered your services to me?" asked Keen, slightly puzzled. Rainbow Dash smirked with confidence in return, crossing her hooves in front of her chest.
"Maybe I am saving up for something big. You don't know." Rainbow Dash replied with a slightly rude tone. Keen shrugged his shoulders as he started to put together the book shelves.
"That is true ma'am, but their is no need to do something like that. You may take your time with your work, your gettingh paid by the hour, so it would not be wise to rush through it, right?" Keen asked politely.
"Well, I would easily make for it with 100 bits. But hey, if you are scared to loose, I understand, I am pretty awesome. I wouldn't bet against myself either." Rainbow Dash replied, trying to make him break. She looked away with a cocky grin. Looking back at him with one eye, waiting to see what he would do next. Keen chuckled to himself as he turned to her and smiled his heart warming smile.
"Very well, I do not plan on making you pay me, but I will go along. If you can bring in all of those boxes outside and bring them in here in one piece and with out breaking anything. I will pay you 100 bits right out of my own pocket. If you beak anything, you have to pay for it, sound fair?" Keen asked, drawing out the deal. Rainbow Dash smirked to him as she rushed over and spit on her hoof and lent it out to him.
"Sounds like a deal to me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed excitedly, hyped up for the chance to show off her mad skills. Keen looked at her hoof and then back to her. shrugging his shoulders, he returned the jester by spitting in his own hoof and connecting it with hers to shake on. As soon as they let go, Rainbow Dash took off with blinding speed right outside and started flying back in and out, only leaving a rainbow blur where she goes. Keen watched dumbstruck as she traveled back and for, bringing in 2 or 3 boxes at once with each trip in less than a second. Once she brought the last box came in she dropped to the floor panting wildly, her limbs going limp. She looked up to Keen and managed to spread a smile of victory on her face. Keen just stood there with his jaw hanging down, still unable to believe what he just witnessed. "So. . . . how. . . long. . . . . was. . . . .that." Rainbow Dash panted out, trying desperately to catch her breath. Keen finally snapped out of it and shook his head, trying to see if he was dreaming, which he realized that this was indeed reality.
"I have to be honest, I wasn't counting, but no matter what, I am gonna give it too you, even if you failed, that was still highly impressive." explained Keen, still slightly in shock as he walked over to the counter and levitated a large bag from behind the counter and opened it up. "We agreed on 100 bits, correct?" Keen asked, turning to Rainbow Dash as she was still trying to catch her breath. All she managed to do was nod her head. Keen chuckled to himself and counted out 100 bits from the bag, putting it in a smaller bag. He put the big bag away back behind the counter and levitated the smaller bag over to Rainbow Dash. "You can leave now if you wish, you helped me very much today. I can do the rest." Keen explained as he turned back to the boxes.
"What. . . are. . . . you. . . talking about. I. . . still. . . got some left. . . . in me." Rainbow Dash panted out as she slowly got up from the ground, back on all four hooves. Keen laughed to himself and walked up to her.
"I really like you miss Rainbow, You are so kind, in your own way that is. Feel of heart and strong. I admire ponies like you. But even the greatest ponies of all time need to know when it is time to stop. You should rest. I will need help tomorrow if you still wish to assist me." Keen offered. Rainbow Dash felt her face warm up again, she turned around facing away from him as she felt frustration build up in herself. 'What the hell Dash! Why are you acting like this? This is not like you. So he is charming, and those goggles make him look 20% cooler, but come on! Smarten up and calm down' Rainbow Dash thought angrily to herself. She took a deep breath and turned back around to face him.
"Yea, maybe your right. Not that I need rest or anything, but I just remembered that I have some other stuff I need to do. So I will come over tomorrow, ok?" Rainbow Dash agreed and she headed out the door, waving back toward him. Keen waved back and went back to work. He looked at the the boxes containing the book shelves and realized that it did not come with a manual.
"Oh my, how do I put this together?" Keen asked himself as he looked at the wooden pieces in confusion. Rainbow Dash was walking back home, limping a bit as she went.
"Oh howdy. Ya look like ya hurtin there partner." called out a voice from behind Rainbow Dash. She stopped dead in her tracks (this time on the ground) and turned to see her friend.
"Oh, uh, hi Applejack. What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying to redirect the conversation. She turned to her friend who was leaning on a white fence while she wore a confused look on her face.
"Well, ah sorta live here." Applejack replied with a slight hint of sarcasm. Rainbow Dash looked behind Applejack and saw that she was passing Sweet Apple Acres.
"Oh, hahaha, I have been alittle out of it, sorry, I guess you could say I am alittle sore. I sorta worked alittle too hard." Rainbow Dash explained, feeling alittle embarrassed. Applejack gave a short laugh as she looked at her friend.
"It's fine Rainbow, we all get tired now and then. Don't worry about it. But how did you tire yourself out? You normally don't do anything strenuous." asked Applejack puzzled.
Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders and shook her bag of bits. "Well, I found this new store out near Candy Corner and this cool guy is getting ready to open it, he paid me four bits an hour and I got to work for as long as I want, and I got this big bad boy from making a bet with him that I won of course. Although I ended up hurting myself in the proccess, but it was so worth it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in happiness, shacking the bag again attached to her hip, making it jingle together. Applejack looked at her with an impressed look on her face.
"Well I'll be, that is quiet a pay, maybe I'll go over there and give him a hoof. Heck, I got nothing better to do this after noon since I just got down with mah chores early." said Applejack with some excitement in her voice, jumping over the fence. "I am gonna go see this pony then, I could use a few bits. See ya later then Rainbow Dash." added Applejack as she headed off in the direction that Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"Hmmm, well, alrighty then, see ya!" Rainbow Dash called back and started walking back home. Applejack found the store with some ease and noticed him in the store. By the looks of it he was trying to assemble something, but it looked like he was failing at it, badly.
"How does one put these together with out instructions." Keen asked himself with some frustration in his voice. Applejack chuckled to herself as she watched him. She took a quiet step to him and he smiled. "I am sorry ma'am, but I am not open at the moment. You will have to come back on a different day." Keen explained. Applejack stood there alittle shocked.
"How did ya know ah was here?" Applejack asked in confusion. Keen turned to here and smiled.
"I have very good hearing. Can I help you with anything else ma'am?" Keen asked respectfully.
"Well, ah heard ah can get alittle work around here. Ah'm usually working on the apple farm and ah got some time off today from chores. Ah thought ah could come here and get some hard earned bits." explained Applejack proudly. Keen smiled.
"I see, shouldn't you be spending your day off with your friends or maybe with family then, ma'am?" asked Keen politely. Applejack smiled at his manners.
"Well, normally yes, but today everyone is busy with somethin', so I thought ah shoot, ah should be workin too then. Ah know what ah mean?" explained Applejack with a bit of enthusiasm. This made Keen start laughing.
"You remind me of that pegasus that just left. I am assuming you are her friend, and that she guided you to me?" Keen said with a hearty laugh. Applejack chuckled to herself.
"As a matter of fact, why yes she did, and she is a good friend of mine." Applejack explained. Keen calmed down a bit and looked back to her.
"If you are a friend of hers, you must be a hard worker as well. Ok, I will offer you the same amount. Four bits per hour and you can stop when ever you wish, does that sound fair ma'am?" Keen asked with a joyous smile on his face. Applejack smiled and nodded her head.
"Ah recon that sounds mighty fair to me there partner." agreed Applejack. Keen shook her hoof as she walked over to the pile of wood. "Ah'm Applejack." she greeted with a determined smile. Keen chuckled to himself and returned the jester.
"My name is Keen Eye, it is a pleasure to meet you ma'am." replied Keen. They let go of their greeting hoof shake and Applejack look down to the pile of wooden boards. "So, shall I start with making them book shelves for you?" she asked, raising an eye brow at him playfully. Keen smiled embarrassed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yea, that would be nice, thank you." replied Keen. With a nod she got right to work on it, and the new partnership started.
The sun was high up as Keen was setting up his room up sleeping bag on the floor behind the counter, brushing the dust off of it. With a cough he placed it down nicely and looked back to see how Applejack was doing. She managed to fix up five book shelves and placed them near a wall for him to place later. Keen walked over to her as she organized which pieces goes with which set since most of them were different sizes, so mixing them up was pretty easy. "How are you doing there miss Applejack?" Keen asked checking up on her. Applejack wiped some seat off of her brow as she turned over to him.
"Ah'm doing swell their Keen. You got some high quality wood here for your book shelves. Strong wood so ah have to hit it in pretty good. Some of these book shelves are pretty good sizes too. So for what I am working on, ah think ah'm doing pretty good. Thanks for checking up on me thou." explained Applejack. Keen walked over to a box and pulled out a few kitchen supplies using his magic. He pulled out a silver tray and a pitcher. Applejack looked over to what he was doing with a slight puzzled look on her face. "Whatcha doin over there partner?" She asked curiously. Keen smiled as he pulled a few more items out.
"Preparing some beverages for us. Do you prefer tea or lemonade?" asked Keen as he pulled both out. Applejack looked at the lemons and sugar as she slightly blushed.
"Ah shucks there sugar cube, ya don't have to do that for me." Applejack said slightly embarrassed. Keen chuckled to himself.
"So, your friend is, how to put it bluntly, slightly full of herself. While you on the other hand are humble. Both are interesting personalities. So I am just assuming you would like some lemonade then?" Keen offered with a small smile on his face. Applejack looked over to him with a slightly surprised look on her face.
"Wait a second, how did you know I wanted lemonade?" Applejack asked surprised. Keen laughed a bit to himself.
"I didn't. I had a thought that you may prefer lemonade over tea, and now it is confirmed." Keen explained as he prepared Applejack's lemonade and himself tea. Applejack blushed to herself embarrassingly, knowing she just got out smarted so easily.
"So, what gave ya the idea that I like lemonade more than tea, if ya don't mind me asking?" Applejack asked politely. Keen turned back to her as he levitated the tray of their beverages. He pulled over a sturdy box and placed the tray on the box and two more smaller boxes over in front of the boxes as he sat down. Keen pointed at the other box closest to her, making a jester for her to sit down. Applejack sat down and sipped at her lemonade, staring into his goggles, trying to see his eyes.
"I made the assumption that you would prefer lemonade over tea by observing you. Your attire suggests you work on a farm of some sorts. Judging by the scent that comes off from you, you work at a farm growing most likely fruits of some sorts, judging by your name that fruit would most likely be apples. By your accent I can tell your blood line is more southern or that you were raised by them. A common drink favored by them after a hard days work is lemonade due to the fact that it is sweet, all natural, and still able to quench one's thirst effectively. Judging by your humbleness and your tone you were brought up by a loving and caring family who did well at their job. A common drink for family house holds would be lemonade as well. So judging by all of those assumption, I tried to make an accurate guess based upon the information I could gather with out asking and poking into your personal . Did I get close miss Applejack?" Keen finished as he sipped his tea calmly, savoring the flavor before swallowing it. Applejack almost dropped her glass as her jaw almost dropped to the floor if it could as she was completely dumb struck.
"How in the hay did ya figure all that stuff out just by looking at me?" Applejack asked puzzled and highly confused. Keen chuckled to himself as he looked into her emerald green eyes. with a kind smile.
"Well miss Applejack, observation is just something I picked up from my travels. It comes in handy from time to time." Keen briefly explained as he continued to sip at his tea. Applejack shook her head, hoping to shake out the confusion inside her thoughts. She looked back up at him as she felt herself blushing.
"Well then, you have some mighty fine eyes then, sugar cube." Applejack said bashfully as she sipped her lemonade. Keen's smile dimmed down a bit but still remained.
"My eyes aren't that good these days. I learned to a different form of observation. Some times, looks can be deceiving." explained Keen with a lowered tone as he took a swig of his tea. Applejack didn't notice his tone change as she drank down the lemonade in one big gulp.
"Wohh wee, that was the best lemonade ah have ever had in mah . Where did you get this stuff? Ah have never had lemonade that tasted anything like this before!" Applejack exclaimed, looking at her now empty cup. Keen looked back up to her and grinned at her expression.
"Care for some more?" Keen asked politely. Applejack looked up and nodded her head, handing over the empty cup. Keen levitated the pitcher over and poured more into her cup and sat the pitcher on the box with them and took another sip of his tea.
"The lemons used for that lemonade are grow in my home town. If you can time the picking just right, they come out very well and have their own faint taste to it. Some of the best lemons in the world. Same goes for tea leaves, although I must say they are not quite the best." Keen explained, finishing his tea and pouring some more into his cup.
"Oh, where are ya from?" Applejack asked innocently. Keen's smile disappeared quickly as he stared into his cup. Applejack noticed his new facial expression and frowned herself, feeling that she hit a bad subject. "Oh, shoot, sorry. You don't have to answer that if ya don't want to." She quickly added. Keen looked back up into her eyes and smiled softly again.
"Thank you. I am sorry, but that is something I wish not to talk about. It's not you, it is just that I moved here in Ponyville to get away from my past mistakes and start over. So I hope you understand." explained Keen as he took a sip from his new cup of tea. Applejack felt awful, making her new friend feel uncomfortable.
"Gosh, ah'm sorry, ah didn't mean-" Applejack started apologizing but Keen lifted his hoof in front of her and showed a friendly smile.
"You didn't know, I do not blame you in any sort. Now, do you wish for another cup, I have enough lemonade in the pitcher for one more cup." explained Keen. Applejack looked down at her cup and noticed she drank down the delicious beverage once again, this time with out realizing it. Alittle embarrassed, she raised her cup to him as he happily filled the cup again. after some more small talk, they finished their cups off and went back to work.
"So, what else do ya need me to do?" asked Applejack with some spunk. Keen took a quick look around the room.
"Well, there is some more shelves that need to be made.After that some of the windows are still boarded up, so after the shelves just take those down carefully. Once you made the shelves, just leave them their, I will put them where they need to be. Sound good?" Keen asked Applejack. She looked at the piles of wooden planks and then at the boarded windows and then back to him.
"That sounds mighty fine with me partner." Applejack smiled as she trotted over to her work station happily. Keen shook his head smiling to himself. 'I think I am gonna enjoy living here in Ponyville.' Keen thought to himself.
The sun started to set over the horizon as Applejack leaned onto the wall, panting a bit as she looked over at her work and smiled to herself, feeling proud of herself. "You did an amazing job there miss Applejack!" exclaimed Keen happily from the other side of the room. As he walked over to Applejack, she looked over to him. She could tell she was not the only one hurting. During their working session, Keen had to stop using magic for he was starting to loose magic power. So he had to resort using his muscles, which he does not due very often, in return, he was not use to physical labor.
"You did might fine work for a unicorn not using his horn." Applejack replied playfully. Keen chuckled to himself at the joke as he brushed off a good amount of sweat from his forehead.
"I must admit, I am not use to using my muscles. But I made sure to work on that alittle, just to make sure that I would be prepared to some extent in case I were to run out of magic, as I did." explained Keen. He took one last look around the place, looking at everything that they accomplished. The store was nice and clean, the windows unboarded and opened. All of the book shelves were made and placed where they were supposed to be. All that was needed was a new paint job, replacing the roof, set up the merchandise, and advertise and his shop will be fully opened. Smiling to himself, feeling accomplished as did Applejack, he turned back to her with a kind smile that he normally wore. "Well then, I guess that will be all for today. Thank you very much for the help." said Keen as he turned back and went behind the counter. He pulled out his large bag of bits and started to count them up, placing them in a different bag. Once finished he walked back over to applejack and placed the bag by her feet. "their you go, 40 bits, you did such a good job today, thank you for your hard work today." said Keen politely, looking at Applejack. She rubbed the back of her head and her cheeks redden alittle bit.
"Oh, come on now. Ah didn't do all that much, and ah am getting paid for this. So ah should be saying thanks to you." Applejack explained bashfully. Keen laughed to himself as he walked her out. "So, if I can get down early tomorrow, do you want some more help?" asked Applejack with a hint of hope in her voice.
"Well, there is still alot of work to be done, so I guess so. I will see you tomorrow then if you by chance get your work done early back home." explained Keen with a friendly but tired smile. Applejack chuckled to herself as she started to leave with her bits on her back.
"Ah look forward to working with ya partner. Catch ya later." called out Applejack as she waved Keen good-bye and walked back home. Keen watched her for alittle bit as she walked towards home. Once she turned the corner, Keen closed the doors and locked it. As soon as the key was out of the key hole, he turned around and collapsed onto the door, letting himself fall down slowly to the floor.
"Now that was hard. I almost lost all of my magic." Keen said to himself as he slowly walked to his bed and fell down upon it. He turned to his back and looked up onto the ceiling and smiled. "If you could see me, I know you would be happy and proud. After all, it was your dream to own a shop like this. I hope you are happy now, where ever you are." Keen said to himself as he smiled up at the ceiling. A single tear fell down his cheek as he closed his eyes, exhausted from the day's worth of work and wanting to fall to sleep. He was granted his wish as he fell into a deep slumber shortly after that.
Keen woke up and felt very sore through out his body, which made him chuckle to himself. "I guess I am out of shape. Well it has been a few years since I ever needed my muscles for anything." Keen said to himself. He slowly got out of bed and stretched out every muscle in his entire body as the morning sun light greeted him and his store. Once he was done stretching, he reached into his personal belongings and pulled out his coffee pot and his coffee grains onto the counter. Before he could set it all up, he heard a knock on the door, which startled him, almost spilling his coffee grains all over the place. With a sigh of annoyance, he put on a polite face and walked to the door. Their was an purple alicorn at the door, but Keen was still trying to wake up so he had a hard time telling who. Keen opened the door a bit and looked out. "Good morning ma'am. How may I-" Keen stopped himself as he noticed it was Twilight. "Miss Twilight? What are you doing here?" Keen asked surprised. Twilight giggled to herself as she tried to look over his shoulder.
"Well, I was passing through, and I noticed some work was already done, so I wanted to take a closer peek at it to see how much you got done." Twilight explained. Keen's face still wore that of shock for a few moments longer and his normal, kind hearted smile returned.
"Well why didn't you say so miss Twilight. Come on in, and let me show you what has been completed so far." replied Keen friendly as can be. Twilight lightly bowed in appreciation as she accepted Keen's offer. She scanned the store and noticed huge changes. It was all cleaned off, the windows were no longer boarded, all the moving boxes were inside leaving the cart parked by the side of the building, the cash-register was setup. She looked over by the walls and noticed that the book shelves were already placed as well with a small selection of books already on them. Something bothered Twilight about the books on there, she couldn't put her hoof to it. As she moved closer to the book shelves, she noticed that the books were not in alphabetical order, or in any order for that matter. Twilight stared at this for a few moments and felt her frustration swell up inside of her. Keen looked at her confused and puzzled as she stared at his books. "Is there something wrong, miss Twilight?" Keen asked respectfully with a slight hint of fear. Twilight turned back to him quickly with an embarrassed smile on her face.
"Oh, sorry, I sorta got carried away with a thought, I'm alright." Twilight replied,. even thou it wasn't quite the truth. Seeing those books there like that really bothered her, but she tried to ignore it.
"Well, if you say so miss Twilight. I know I still have much to go, but I believe that it is coming along nicely." explained Keen as he walked over to the counter, his back turned to her. She watched him for a brief moment until she believed he was out of ear shot. Once that moment came, she quickly pulled out all the books and started putting them back in alphabetical order by title, brushing alittle dust off while she was at it. As she did this she heard a chuckling coming from behind the counter. As Twilight turned to see, she saw Keen staring right at her with a friendly but playful smile on his face. "I could have sworn that there was something bothering you, but I didn't think it would be my books." Keen explained to her. Twilight blushed embarrassed with herself getting caught of her old habit.
"I'm sorry, it's an old habit of mine I just can never shake off. I like things to be organized. No matter what, I have to make sure everything is nice and tidy." Twilight explained as she looked at the books again, looking at her half done work. Keen chuckled to himself again, this time louder and more noticeable.
"It is completely understandable. I too have old habits that can not go away. Everyone does." Keen explained with a chuckle. Twilight looked away from Keen and finished reorganizing the bookshelf. "If you want, I can offer you a position here, you know, as a permanent employee. I have always been bad with organization, so I know I would be needing some help. What do you say?" Keen asked Twilight. She stood there shocked and surprised. It was just kinda sudden, she didn't know what to say. Although she could use the bits, she felt another reason to say yes, even if she didn't know.
"I would love to work here, thank you, when would you like me to start?" Twilight asked with a cheerful smile. Keen gave out a hearty laugh.
"Well, today if you want. You should go back and tell everyone so they know you got work and when you come back, we can talk about your schedule and pay, sound good?" Keen asked with alittle excitement in his tone. Twilight nodded in return.
"Ok, I will go back home and tell everyone then. I'll be back in a few hours then." Twilight called out as she took off out the door. Keen laughed to himself as he went to the back of the room. In the very back, around a corner was two doors. One was his storage room to his left, the other was his personal living corridors to the right. He went down the stairs to the storage room to pull up some more boxes, but his magic was still weak so he had to do it by hoof. After a moment Keen smiled to himself as he looked at his coffee pot.
"Oh yea, I forgot. I still need some coffee." Keen said to himself, feeling alittle stupid. He walked over to it and finished setting it up. After fixing himself a cup, he pulled out alittle green sleeve from one of the boxes and looked around to see if anyone was looking. "I know that this can back fire badly, but I need the magical power today." Keen said to himself as he poured the pouch in his coffee and stir it up.
Over to Applejack
Applejack was already up as the sun was rising. Normally, she gets up right after the sun has already poked out, but this time, Applejack got up well before that to do all of her chores. She didn;t have too much that day as is, but she wanted to make sure that she could get them done early so that she could go back to Keen to help out. She smiled to herself at that thought. "Ah sure can't wait. Almost done here." Applejack said to herself as she moved the last few hay piles back into the barn.
"Why are ya so happy sis'? Ya look like you're gettin' ready for a date or somethin'." asked a voice from behind Applejack. She was alittle startled to hear the voice so suddenly but she turned back to look at the little filly who some how creeped up behind her.
"Now whatcha talkin about, Applebloom? Ah am just getting ready to go to work to get us some bits, that's all. Now why do ya think ah'm heading out for a date or somethin' sugar cube?" asked Applejack kindly to her little sister. Applebloom looked up to her big sister's eyes as if not believing her story as she said that. 'There's something goin' on here. She ain't this chippy when she gets up. I wonder. . .' Applebloom thought to herself, 'But then again, this is mah big sis we're talking about, she would never lie to me'. With that last thought, she walked up to Applejack and gave her a big hug.
"You're right. I'm sorry big sis. I should trust you more often." Applebloom explained. Applejack smiled down at the young filly as she playfully rubbed her hoof into Applebloom's mane, messing it up.
"You're such a good sport. Now I gotta be headin' to work, more hours, more bits. I will be back later tonight. Make sure to help Granny Smith with supper tonight, I recon am gonna be mighty hunger when I get back, tell Big Mac that I am gonna need him to do the rest of mah chores for me while I am gone. Tell him I owe him one." Applejack explained to Applebloom. The small filly smiled and nodded to her sister, who started lightly jogging to Keen's store. Applebloom smiled and waved to her sister good bye.
"You can count on me big sis! Ah won't let ya down!" Applebloom called out. With that she quickly turned around back to the house to look for Granny smith and Big Macintosh. As Applejack was getting closer to her destination she saw Twilight walking around the corner that Keen's store was located near, but she was smiling and humming to herself.
"Now what is that all about?" Applejack asked herself out loud. 'Did she just visit Keen?' Applejack thought to herself, feeling the smallest hint of jealousy. She quickly shook the feeling away as she continued down the street. "Ah got nothing to be jealous about, she was most likely checkin' out the new store. It does sound like a store she'd really get into." Applejack explained to herself as she smiled to herself in excitement.
Over to Rainbow Dash
As the sun's rays bathed over Rainbow Dash's sleeping body, she slowly woke up from her slumber. She wasn't a morning pony, that's for sure. She got up to stretch her wings and body to suddenly feel a large wave of pain wash over her and fell back onto the bed. "What the hay?!" Rainbow Dash yelp to the unexpected pain. She tried to think what she could have done to make herself hurt so much. Rainbow Dash slowly got onto the edge of her bed and pondered about this for a brief moment.
"How did this happen?" Rainbow Dash asked herself. She woke up like she always did, she had breakfast and right after sped off to get to her usual weather duty. Once she got that done, she was flying around till she saw this new store still boarded up and a cart right out side of it. Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof on top of her other as she finally remembered it all. That unicorn offered her a job sorta thing and she got paid to work there. After making a bet, she made herself sore. After placing all of the pieces together, she little out a sign of relief.
"Well, that's what I get. I better stretch all of these kinks then before I even think about flying." Rainbow Dash thought out loud. She got off her bed and started doing all of her usual stretches, just doing more of them. After about 30 or so minutes of that, Rainbow Dash poured herself some cereal and read the morning newspaper, to realize it was yesterdays paper. With an annoyed groan, she threw it back on the table. "I wonder if he still needs help? I mean he did say their was a lot more stuff to do. Maybe I should go back?" Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She then remembered his smile, his laugh. This made her blush to herself.
"Well, he his handsome, I will give him that. But. . well, I mean. . . Why do I feel so nervous?" Rainbow Dash thought out loud. 'Are you ok?' 'Yea, I just don't like ponies close to my face. It makes me alittle uncomfortable is all' Rainbow Dash remembered that bet that lead her to her condition randomly. "I wonder why? I am gonna have to ask about that some day" Rainbow Dash confirmed with herself. She finished her cereal, did some more stretches, put on her saddle, and took off to Ponyville. Right before she went to Keen's store, she thought for a moment and looked at Candy Corner, wondering if her hyper friend PinkiePie would have something that might be able to help her through today. She lowered herself to the store and entered. Of course she was greeted by her friend, PinkiePie.
"Hey there Dashy! I haven't seen you in here in awhile now. What have you been up to?" PinkiePie asked, jumping in circles around Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, uhh, well, I just got this little job thing-" Rainbow Dash started.
"Did you just say you got a job?! Like a job job? That is so hard to see. I mean you like to hang back and do everything at the last second. I can't picture you with a job." PinkiePie said bluntly and with a confused stare as she looked at her face, inches away from her's. Rainbow Dash took a step back and gave a nervous smile. 'I should have expected this.' Rainbow Dash thought to herself.
"Well, it isn't like a real job. I can walk in and out anytime I want. I just need the money, so I wanted to come in early today. So I was wondering if you have anything full of energy and might be able to settle down alittle bit of soreness from yesterday." Rainbow Dash explained. PinkiePie put her hoof under her chin as she gave her best thinking face. She pulled out a stone slab from no where and sat on it forming into a thinking position. 'Where the hay did the stone slab come from?' Rainbow Dash thought to herself. After a few moments a light bulb turned on in her head as she jumped off and threw the slab aside, turning back to Rainbow Dash.
"I think I know just the thing!" PinkiePie exclaimed excited. She dove behind the counter and started looking through all of the sweets she had in her arsenal. After a few minutes of PinkiePie looking around and Rainbow Dash tapping her foot and looking at the clock impatiently, PinkiePie let out a sigh of excitement. "Found it!" she yelled with joy. She pulled out a tray of fudge with one square missing and placed it on the counter. Rainbow Dash looked at the fudge with confusion, but noticed that this fudge had a tint of green to it.
"What is this?" Rainbow Dash asked with a puzzled face. PinkiePie looked up at Rainbow Dash with a disappointed face but then back to the tray of fudge with a joyous look on her face.
"This is an experimental batch of fudge. I tried to make this recipe in cupcakes, but it didn't work out all too well. So i tried it with fudge! One person has tried it so far and said it really worked well for her. She strained her back moving some boxes and needed to go to work and had no time for coffee. She had one of these and went right to work. Later when I was closing for the night, she came back and said it really worked well for her and ended up buying a batch of it. So it might work for you too Dashy." PinkiePie explained to Rainbow Dash. She looked at the tray of fudge, then back to her friend.
"Is it safe?" Rainbow Dash asked cautiously. PinkiePie shrugged her shoulders but then nodded quickly.
"Yup, I am very sure that your gonna be just fine. I wouldn't offer it if I didn't feel confident in it, silly." PinkiePie explained with a large smile on her face. Rainbow Dash sighed and looked back up at her.
"How much then?" Rainbow Dash asked, reaching for her saddle to pull out some bits.
"Two bits for each piece." PinkiePie replied, getting a small bag ready.
"Alright, ummmm, I'll take three of them then." said Rainbow Dash sternly while pulling out six bits and placing them on the counter. PinkiePie smiled and put three pieces in the bag and handing it over to Rainbow Dash.
"Have a good day at work! Oh, and tell me how well those work for you!" PinkiePie called out smiling. Rainbow Dash returned the smile and waver her good bye, leaving the store. Picking up one of the pieces of fudge, she looked at it hesitantly and then took a bite. it tasted like a usual peanut butter fudge bar, except it had a slight hint of mint, other than that, it was really good, as always. After the first one, she felt some of the pain in her body slowly melt away, not all of it, but a good bit.
"Wow, this actually works!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed while digging for another one. while she was eating the last one, she saw Twilight walking back home, humming to herself cheerfully. Rainbow Dash watched her for a second, confused. "Hmmm, that is an odd sight, for her at least." Rainbow Dash whispered to herself while she finished the last of the fudge. Shrugging it off she continued to go to Keen's place. The sudden thought of him made her smile alittle "Maybe Keen would want some of this, I bet he has some kinks too." she said to herself and turned back to Candy Corner.
Over to Twilight
Twilight got home and started packing a few things into a saddle, while bring a few books she didn't need anymore, thinking about giving them to Keen. Spike walked into the living room with a half cup of coffee and looked at her slightly puzzled. "Uhhh, Twilight? Where Are you going?" Spike asked innocently and slightly worried. Twilight looked up to him and smiled.
"Don't worry Spike, I am just going to work. I will be back later tonight." Twilight explained calmly as if this was an everyday thing.
"Oh, ok. I will just- Wait a second, work?! You have a job?" Spike asked alarmed. Twilight finished packing the few things that she was gonna need and turned to Spike.
"Yea, I sorta need the money, so I wanted to try working for a change." Twilight explained.
"But you have access to the Canterlot treasury! You have an unlimited source of bits in there, why do you need more?" Spike asked confused. Twilight walked up to the young dragon and dropped down to a knee down to him, smiling.
"Spike, one, the treasury is not unlimited, and two, I want to earn my money. I would feel terrible getting large sums of money that I didn't earn. I wish to earn my money through work, and that's what I plan on doing." Twilight explained. Spike looked down to the ground, looking alittle sad knowing she was right. Twilight put a hoof on her faithful assistant's shoulder. "And besides, now you get some time off, just get ready for some hard work when I get back, ok?" Twilight added playfully, which made the worried drake crack a smile.
"Oh alright, fine, you got me. I'll keep the place clean for when you come back from work then." Spike said cheerfully. Twilight smiled down at him and gave him a pet on the head before turning around and heading for the door.
"I'll be back when the sun is setting. See you later." Twilight called back before closing the door. SPike sat in the tree house now all by himself.
"I have never had a day where I could do what I want, today I don't have any tasks, I can do what I want for once." Spike said, the situation finally sinking in. After alittle while of thinking an idea popped in his head. "I wonder if Rarity needs some help!" Spike exclaimed with excitement and hurried off out the door.
And back to Keen Eye
Keen finished his coffee and continued to put things away. As he was setting up the dummies he heard the door open. Keen turned around to see a male earth pony with sky Blue eyes, a blue mane and red fur. "Hello sir, we are not open yet but is there any other why I can assist you?" Keen asked with a cheerful smile. The earth pony looked around and looked at Keen.
"Is there anyone else here?" the earth pony asked shyly. Keen shook his head.
"Nope sir, it is just me." Keen explained. The pony's mouth formed into a wicked smile as his eyes turned from blue to green and the iris narrowed.
"Hello Keen Eye, or should I call you, K-9"! the intruder said. Keen recognized that voice and stood there, his smile disappeared and replaced with an expression of horror.
"No, it can't be. Prince Capeskin?!" Keen exclaimed with fear.
Keen backed up a few steps in fear as he watched the new comer change forms. Where once the shy earth pony stood now was a tall changling, holes in his legs and horn just like the rest. He wore a cloak on his back and a amulet on his chest representing a line of royalty. He stood easily twice as tall as Keen. While spreading out his wings to stretch, he took a step closer, closing the door behind him and locking it. "It has been awhile, hasn't it K-9?" the intruder whispered menacingly. He took another step towards Keen and smiled down at him. "How long has it been since you left? Seven years? Eight years? Everyone has been looking for you. They finally gave up last year assuming you were dead. But here you are, right in front of me. I didn't believe the rumor at first, but I wanted to myself, just to make sure. Nice goggles by the way, what are you hiding?" he asked but with an insulting tone, acting like he really did know why. Keen stopped retreating and stood his ground. He gathered his magical power and and shot it at Capeskin, the intruder. The blast knocked him on his back but he quickly got right back up. "Wow, you got a lot weaker since our last. . . . . disagreement," Capeskin teased. Before he could say anything else he was grabbed by Keen's telekinisis spell and threw him across the room.
"I will not be your victim this time Prince Capeskin!" Keen yelled out, gathering more magic. He ripped out the floor boards around him and split them up in shards. With a strong push with his magic and a loud grunt, he shot the boards right at Capeskin. He got up and saw the incoming shards of wood. He quickly pulled some of the floor boards himself and blocked the incoming attack.
"Wow, wow, wow! Hang on a second, I am not here for trouble. I'm here to-" Capeskin started. Keen split the boards in front of Capeskin completely apart into tiny little splinters. The splinters then aimed right at him at shot down at all sides, piercing him at every angle possible. Capeskin took a knee as he locked up at Keen, his horn was glowing from blue to green and his stare, even thou blocked by his goggles, he could tell that hatred was burning behind them.
"I will not fall for your tricks! Not again!" Keen yelled out. He fired a magical discharge straight for Capeskin. Once it got close enough he teleported out of the way and behind Keen. The discharge hit the wall and disintegrated it. Capeskin looked at the wall shocked and scared.
"Wow, it's like your trying to kill me or something," Capeskin said playfully, but with a hint of fear in his voice. Keen rear kicked him in the face and threw a book shelf at him. It made direct contact with him and he was thrown into the wall with a loud crash. He slowly crawled out of the rubble and saw Keen standing over him.
"I am gonna end this!" Keen stated as he charged up the same spell the obliterated his wall. Capeskin shot out a quick flash of light that was brighter than the sun itself that filled the room. When the light faded away, Capeskin made a break for it but tripped on something. He looked back to see a vine that came out of the ground and grabbed his hind legs.
"What the hell, that was my strongest blindness spell, how the hell did you recover so quickly, that should have burned your eyes for hours?!" Capeskin questioned with fear. Keen smiled down at him as he pulled out another board and sharpened the tip of it and aimed it at Capeskin's throat. He smiled as he put it together. "Now I see what is going on, for a second, I thought you may have recovered. I guess you just learned to deal with it," he explained, with another blast of light, Keen was thrown across the room. Capeskin pulled out the shards of wood with a powerful telekinisis spell of his own and brought up four walls made out of stone around Keen and closed him off. He was in a small space about the size of him standing, but no more room that that.
"What is this? What is happening to me? GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" Keen screamed in fear. Capeskin laughed as he healed his wounds with his magic.
"Well, my theory is proven, I now fully understand. I guess you don't like tight spaces huh? I forgot what that was called but it does not matter. Now while you are in there, I have a few questions for you. That is the only reason why I originally came here. So relax and take deep breaths," Capeskin explained as he instructed Keen from behind the walls he made. He could hear Keen trying to slow down his breathing, but it wasn't working. "Ok, first off, where have you been hiding this time?" Capeskin asked calmly. Keen was shaking as he fell to his knees.
"I have been traveling from city to city, trying to find a place to call home," Keen answered quickly, trying to clam down but it only made his heart pound in his chest harder and faster. Capeskin nodded and looked around the store as he started putting it back together.
"Alright, why did you leave the castle?" Capeskin asked again as calmly as the first time. Keen opened his eyes in surprise and then quickly to anger.
"You know why! You took my purpose away from me. The one thing I was good at and you stole it from me. I couldn't do anything after that day!" Keen yelled back, slamming his hoof at the wall. Capeskin fixed the place up and looked back at him with a smile.
"That is true, I thought you would have forgiven me for my stupidity back then, but I took something very important to you thanks to my immaturity. I guess I have been looking for you these past three years to say I am sorry, and that I know you can't forgive me, but I wanted to say that. It may have taken me five years to be mature enough to realize what I did was wrong. So I hope you will forgive me some time down the road. Even if you don't, I still feel better that was able to say I was sorry. I was really starting to think you were dead. I am glad to see you alive and making a living for yourself," explained Capeskin calmly and sincerely. Keen could hear the regret and sadness in his voice and his breathing finally calmed down.
"I can't really forgive you yet, but I think now I can at least start to. I accept you apology, and know that I haven't yet moved on from it yet," Keen explained politely. Capeskin expected an answer like that and smiled to himself. The stone walls slowly lowered, releasing Keen from his prison.
"I sorta assumed that if I ever did see you again, you would say something like that," Capeskin said calmly as a tear ran down his face. "It is still nice to hear, thank you." he added. Keen looked around the store to see everything was restored. He looked back to Capeskin to see the single tear that managed to escape from his eyes.
"Thank you for fixing my mess," Keen said kindly. Capeskin looked down to him and smiled.
"I helped make it. So it was partially my fault, and besides, you got some ponies coming over," Capeskin replied as he changed back into his other form. Once he was in his traveling form he looked back at Keen as his eyes made the final change from green eyes to blue. "So now I shall take my leave, I will visit now and then to mend the wounds I have caused through time," he added as he headed out the door. Keen took a step towards him.
"Wait a second, how is that? The form you have taken?" Keen asked in wonder. Capeskin looked back and smiled, using the voice form his captured form.
"Oh this? it was simply a passing pony that I saw and decided to borrow his form as that I could get into Equestria with out any trouble. I didn't do anything to him, so relax," Capeskin explained with a calming and trusting smile. Keen still kept his stare on him.
"Changlings need love as a food source, right? So how are you getting it?" Keen asked with concern. Capeskin stared at the ground blushing.
"Well, uhmmm. I met this mare at a bar one night while I was in Canterlot. Well, things got pretty heated to say at the least. I mean I wasn't trying or anything, but she was really into me or something and we just sorta hooked up. Now and then she gets ahold of me by mail and I come on over, lately it's been every other day, so I am alright with that. I get my full share of love. Don't worry, she doesn't get hurt when I feed off of her, she kinda likes it. Like when I got her in this position where I put my front hoof across-" Capeskin started. Keen put his hoof in his mouth to make him stop.
"I get it. You have fun getting your food source, I get it. Now stop it already," Keen demanded. Capeskin smiled to himself as he starts to head for the door.
"Sorry about that, I get carried away sometimes. Anyway, I wish you good luck with your store, see ya later," Capeskin called back as he unlocked the door and walked out, letting the door close slowly behind him. Keen sighed as he settled down and fixed himself another cup of coffee. He made it and sat down on one of the boxes and stared off into space, sipping his coffee. A few minutes later he heard the door open and an all too familiar voice was heard.
"Howdy partner, ah managed to sneak out alittle early. So what is next?" Applejack said while entering. Keen smiled and slowly shook his head.
"Your very early miss Applejack, I just woke up," Keen replied back, finishing his coffee quickly and placing it back onto the counter. "But there is still work to be done, I offer the same pricing as before if that is alright with you ma'am," he added. Applejack smiled back at him and nodded her head.
"That seems fair to me. So, what's next partner?" Applejack asked with enthusiasm. Keen laughed at this response.
"I need a good laugh, thank you miss Applejack," Keen said softly, looking into her eyes. Applejack looked away and started blushing.
"Aw shucks, ah didn't do anything. Ah was just offering my services in anyway ah can help." Applejack explained, trying to be modest and trying to hide her flustered face. Keen smiled and looked towards the back of the room.
"Well, I do need the test dummies set up. And the roof needs to be replaced. so which one do you want to start with?" Keen asked, giving the option to Applejack. She thought about it for a quick moment and looked up at the ceiling.
"Well the roof will take awhile, maybe even all day, so ah think ah should start with that." Applejack explained as she looked back at Keen, who nodded in agreement.
"You make a good point. Ok then, go ahead and do that. I will bring up the supplies you need to do that with. I will continue to try to organize things till Twilight gets back," Keen explained as he walked off. Applejack took a few steps towards the door and stopped.
"Wait a sec, did you say Twilight was coming here?" Applejack asked confused and surprised. Keen stopped and turned back to her.
"Why yes, I decided to hire her full time to help me. She seems really good with organization, so I thought she could really help me out quite a bit. Do you not like this pony?" Keen asked slightly confused. Applejack shook her head.
"It's not that. It's just that I wasn't expecting it is all. She is normally too busy studying or something. I was just surprised to hear it," Applejack explained. 'But why does she get a full time position?' she thought to herself. Keen smiled and turned back, levitating a ladder.
"Well that is good. I didn't want you to be uncomfortable with it or anything. I want to make sure everyone can work together." Keen explained as he brought out the ladder and led Applejack outside. "So do you know how to do this?" he asked politely. She smiled a confident smile and nodded her head.
"Heck yea ah do. Ah've done it quiet a few times before back home, ah can fix this up in a jiffy," insured Applejack with a smile. Keen was about to say something but he stopped himself and looked up and smiled.
"Good morning miss Rainbow Dash. How are you doing today?" Keen called out to the cyan pegasus flying towards them. Rainbow Dash landed right in front of the two with an expression of surprise.
"Oh, Applejack, I didn't expect that you would be here." Rainbow Dash said surprised and shocked. Before Applejack could say anything, they heard a voice behind Rainbow Dash and they all turned around to see. Twilight stood their nervously.
"Ummm, what are you guys doing here?" Twilight asked confused and alittle embarrassed. They all turned to Keen with a stern look on all of their faces. He took a step back nervous, wondering why they looked at him that way.
"Well, boss? What's going on here?" Rainbow Dash said with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Yes, care to explain mister Keen?" Twilight added.
"Ah recon ah would like to hear this as well." Applejack chipped in, they both got closer to Keen as he backed up into a wall with a nervous smile on his face.
"W-w-w-what did I d-do?" Keen said fearfully. "Your all acting like I was cheating on all of you or something." he added quickly. They all turned their expressions from annoyed to slightly angry and got closer to him. 'What is going on here?!' Keen thought to himself with confusion.
Keen Eye took a step back as Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack got closer and closer, their eyes fixed on him with frustration built up in them,"I do not understand, what did I do wrong?" Keen asked in confusion and fear. Twilight stepped forward first, blushing.
"Why didn't you tell me that my friends were working here? I thought I was the only one working here?" Twilight asked with a bit of frustration in here voice with a sign of embarrassment.
"You are an actual employee. They are optional workers. They are helping me put the place together and I am paying them for their troubles," explained Keen in a panic. Rainbow Dash stepped up next.
"So we are optional, huh? Why can't we be real employees?" Rainbow Dash asked a little bit more threatening and more angry than Twilight, her face completely red.
"You girls never asked. I thought you only wanted the temporary work," explained Keen, starting to get more and more nervous as they fired questions at him.
"But you offered me the position when I came in," Twilight stated. Rainbow Dash turned to her.
"You didn't even need to ask?" Rainbow Dash turned back to Keen Eye. "Why didn't she have to ask about it?" she added.
"Please, girls, let's all calm down here, I do not fully understand what I did wrong. I mean the subject never really came up, so I didn't think to say anything. I never thought it would be so bothersome for you girls," Keen tried to explain. Applejack stepped forward.
"Well it would have been nice to have known about somethin' like this," Applejack added in quickly.
"But can you at least tell me why this is so upsetting?" Keen asked politely. All three mares backed away a couple of steps as they looked at the ground, too shy to say anything. "I see, I admit I guess I should have said something, I will remember that for next time if it ever comes to that. For now thou, I am sorry. Do you girls forgive me?" Keen asked innocently, giving a kind smile to them. They looked at each other as if to receive permission from each other. Applejack stepped up first and returned the smile.
"Ah suppose ah over reacted. I'm sorry Keen," Applejack apologized, lowering her head. Twilight stepped up next.
"I think I was in the wrong here as well. I had no right to act the way I did, I don't know what came over me. Can you please forgive me?" Twilight asked. Keen nodded to her with his kind hearted smile and turned to Rainbow Dash, who was kicking a pebble around with her hoof and staring at the ground.
"Well, I- uhh. I guess, I could forgive you, and I guess I could have. . . ummmm, been a little cooler about that. Sorry I guess," Rainbow Dash said hesitantly as her face burned red from blushing. "Ok, there, I said it, now stop staring at me!" she added looking at Keen and quickly looking back at the ground. Keen chuckled to himself as he looked at them all.
"Thank you, so shall we get to work?" Keen asked politely. The three mares looked at the shop and then to Keen, nodding their heads with a smile. "Then let's do this!" Keen exclaimed with motivation. The three girls put their hooves together and looked over at Keen. With a smile, he walked over and joined in on the group, adding his hoof in the circle.
"Then let's work our hardest on this one, together!" Twilight said.
"You can count me in!" Rainbow Dash added in.
"I'm ready if ya'll are ready." Said Applejack.
"Then let's bring this place up, together!" exclaimed Keen with excitement. On that note they threw their hooves in the air with a cry of joy and all went inside. "Ok, Applejack, you can work on the roof like planned, got it?" Keen asked
"Sure thing, sugar cube!" Applejack exclaimed as she started heading outside. Keen turned to Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash, I need you to fly to the nearest hard ware store and buy some paint. I am gonna put a lot of trust in you on this one, so don't blow it, alright?" Keen asked with some authority in his voice.
"You can count on me, boss!" said Rainbow Dash as she gave a crisp and solid salute. She took the money and flew off out the door. Then Keen turned to Twilight.
"Alright Twilight, for right now you can organize the books in what ever order you see fit. I am gonna start bring out some of the other merchandise out and set them up," instructed Keen. Twilight nodded her head with a smile.
"Of course, boss" Twilight said with a giggle on the word boss and she went over to the book shelves. "Oh, by the way, I brought over some books I don't really use anymore, so I brought them over if you want them," Twilight informed.
"That is awfully sweet of you, thank you. Just place them with the rest of the books, I will look at them later," Keen instructed kindly. Twilight nodded her head and went over to the book shelves. Keen smiled at them working hard as he went down stairs. Once in there he looked around some boxes and noticed something odd was out of place. "Something is missing, but what?" Keen asked himself. He looked everything over a couple of times and noticed a certain box was gone. "My personal box, I left it siting here next to the boxes of books that needed to be placed in the shelves, were did it go?" Keen asked himself again. He opened one of them and found it was full of books. "that's odd, why is there a box- oh no!" Keen exclaimed in fear. He ran upstairs as fast as he could.
"There we go, one box left!" Twilight exclaimed in excitement as she opened the last box. the first book had no words on it, no picture, nothing but a blank hard cover. When she looked into the box she found what looked like picture frames and other smaller boxes and books inside. "What is all of this stuff?" Twilight asked herself. She picked up the book with her magic and started to open it.
"NOOOO!!!!!" Keen yelled out. Twilight turned to him fast enough to see him dive for the book, grabbed it in mid air, and fell onto the floor, sliding till he hit the wall, protecting the book in his hooves wearing an expression of complete fear on his face. After Keen caught his breath he looked up at Twilight and his face started to flush a little.
"Ummm, Keen, are you ok? Is something wrong?" Twilight asked confused and concerned. Keen nodded his head and smiled.
"Yes, I am fine. This is my photo album. Lot's of embarrassing pictures no pony should ever have to look at. I mixed up two boxes down stairs and I brought the wrong one up. So I am sorry for the scene," Keen explained as he finally caught up with his breath.
"Are you ok Keen? It seems a little more than that," Twilight asked cautiously. Keen nodded as he got up to dust himself off.
"It is fine. It's just that if anyone saw these pictures, I do not think I could show myself to the world for weeks," Keen explained with a chuckle at the end and he looked back up to Twilight. "Relax, it is nothing to worry about, I promise," he assured her. Twilight looked at him for a bit longer as she finally nodded her head.
"Ok, I'm sorry for it then. I didn't mean to get you so worked up," Twilight apologized to Keen. He smiled and shook his head.
"It is fine. You didn't know anything. Now let me go get the other box for you," Keen offered as he headed back downstairs, carrying his personal box with his magic. Twilight waited at the top of the stairs for him and grabbed the box for him while he was carrying the box.
"I got it, Keen," said Twilight as she walked over to the shelves she was working on. "I just thought of something. Should I be calling you Mr. Eye or Mr Keen, Or maybe I should call you Mr. Keen Eye or boss, or am I supposed to call you-" Twilight started saying quickly before Keen put his hoof to her mouth to make her stop.
"Call me what ever you wish miss Twilight. I am more than sure that what ever you call me, I will be more than happy to receive the title," Keen explained in a dreamy voice. Twilight felt her heart melt right out of her body as she stared into his goggles. "Such a mystery, such an amazing voice, such a gentlecolt. My heart is pounding in my chest!' Twilight thought to herself. Keen took away his hoof from her mouth and smiled. "So please ma'am, do not worry about about it, sometimes you must slow the world down in order to take in the view, speed it up and you will miss it," Keen explained with a different tone in his voice. Twilight couldn't figure it out what that extra tone was. Sadness? Loneliness? Content? She just couldn't put her hoof on it. Applejack watched them for a moment longer before saying something.
"Hey Keen, I need a hammer," Applejack called over, slightly annoyed. Keen looked over to her with a smile.
"Of course, sorry about that. I will get the tool box right now," Keen replied as he went behind the counter and pulled out a blue tool box and brought it over to Applejack. "Here you go miss Applejack," he said politely. Applejack took the box into her mouth blushing and nodded her head.
"`Hanks `Een," Applejack said with her mouth full and ran back out. Rainbow Dash came back in with 8 paint cans tied around herself and she landed softly right out side of the door.
"Hey boss, I'm back!" Rainbow Dash called out. Keen met her outside, leaving Twilight to organize the books.
"Very nice, you are a very loyal worker, aren't you?" Keen asked playfully, helping Rainbow Dash untie the paint cans.
"well, yea, you can always count on me!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Applejack chuckled to herself.
"Well it is her element, so ah hope she is," said Applejack as she hammered away. Keen turned to her.
"Her element? What do you mean by that?" Keen asked confused.
"Well, Rainbow Dash is one of the elements of harmony, the element of loyalty," Applejack explained. Keen looked at her in disbelief and then teleported to Rainbow Dash, wearing a face of excitement.
"Oh my sweet Celestia, is it true Rainbow Dash?! Are you the legendary element of loyalty?!" Keen asked excited. Rainbow Dash's face burned red as she looked at Keen.
"Umm, yea, yes I am. Why?" Rainbow Dash replied.
"Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh, I can't believe this! I never thought in a thousand life times would I ever meet you in person, and your working for me! When I lived back at the castle, you were my idol! This is a dream come true!" Keen exclaimed as he hugged Rainbow Dash. Her whole face was blood red and her heart started pounding through her chest. Each pump was like an explosion in her chest. 'Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh, he's hugging me!!!' Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she started to feel light headed. Keen let go of her with a concerned look on his face. "Are you ok Rainbow Dash, your body is burning up, and your heart is racing," Keen asked as he placed a hoof to her fore head.
"Y-y-yea, I'm f-f-fine. I-I just flew here p-p-pretty f-fast, yea. So i'm a l-little w-w-worn out," Rainbow Dash struggled to say. Keen looked at her concerned but shrugged it off, believing her.
"Well, if you say so, take a seat then till you catch your breath, your stuttering like crazy from exhaustion," Keen instructed, which she did. Keen started to head back inside. "When you are ready, I need you to set up some flyers around town, I'll leave the stack by the door for you with some water, try to take it easy ok?" Keen asked as he turned to her with a smile and went inside.
"Wow, he knows how to make a mare's heart explode twice," Rainbow Dash whispered to herself. She suddenly heard Applejack laughing from the roof. She glared at her. "What are you laughing about?!" she asked defensively. Applejack simply looked back at her with a coy smile.
"Well what's wrong Rainbow? Feeling a little under the weather, are we?" Applejack teased. Rainbow Dash turned away from her stare.
"I'm fine, I just didn't expect that from him. He took me by surprise is all," she said annoyed. Applejack giggled to herself a bit more and turned back to her work. A by the end of the day, Keen put together the last test dummy and set them all up in the sparing room. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Keen looked around at the work he managed to do.
"Test dummies, check. Nature elements-" looked around at the pool of water, fire place, pebbles and boulders. "-check. Safety gear, check. First aid station, check. I think that is everything. This room is complete. Now let's go check on the girls," Keen said to himself as he closed up the room and walked down the hallway. Once he turned the corner into the main store, he saw everything was perfectly organized. All the aisles were perfectly spaced for two ponies to go down side by side. All of his merchandise was already in the correct aisle and neatly and tidy. It was as if he went away for a few months and came back to someone else running his store. "What is all of this?" Keen asked surprised. Twilight poked her head from the other side of the store and shortly after Rainbow Dash followed suit.
"Oh, hey boss. Great timing, we are almost done painting!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Keen looked confused for a moment and looked around.
"Painting?" he whispered to himself. The walls were mythic purple and dark pink zig-zag stripped. Keen focused on the walls, his horn glowing. Rainbow Dash already ducked down to continue painting. Twilight watched Keen for a moment longer.
"Are you ok Keen?" she asked worried. Keen turned back to Twilight and smiled, his horn stopped glowing.
"Yes, sorry, I was trying to use a memory spell on myself. I feel as if I have forgotten something," Keen explained quickly. Twilight smiled back.
"Oh, ok then. Anyway, Applejack is done as well, finished right before you came in, she hurt herself though and is in the bathroom," Twilight explained. Keen nodded.
"Thank you for telling me, I will see if she needs any assistance then," Keen replied back as he headed over to the bathroom. Applejack was fumbling around with the bandaging as she tried to aim it towards her upper leg.
"Come on ya stupid tap. Go were ah tell ya to!" Applejack said to herself agitated. There was a knock on the door. "Ahm good, come in," Applejack replied. The door opened and Applejack saw in the reflection of the mirror that it was Keen as he closed the door behind him. She turned around and he was staring right at her with a serious look on his face. "Uh, Keen. What are ya doing here?" she asked confused and worried. Keen picked up her hoof and looked up to the wound. It appeared that she cut herself on one of the tiles. By the looks of it, it got her good.
"Sit down," Keen instructed. Applejack did just that. Keen pulled out the first aid kit box and opened it, pulling out rubbing alcohol and a cloth. putting some of the cloth and placing it on her wound, which stung at the touch, he pulled out the bandaging and started patching it up, all while using his magic and wearing a stern look on his face.
"How do you know all of this?" Applejack asked as she watched him work. It was like every little movement he made was was done billions of times. His movement was fluid and swift. Within minutes, her injury no longer hurt and was completely covered up. Once done, Keen then looked up at her and smiled.
"Sorry, I had to focus. Medical magic is not my best suite," Keen explained.
"Well ya sure could have fooled me then. Ya did great, sugar cube," Applejack complimented. Keen blushed sightly at her comment as he put the box away.
"Well then, let's go back to the others, shall we ma'am?" Keen asked, opening the door for her. She bowed her head and walked through it. Once they got back to the store, they saw Rainbow Dash and Twilight looking around the place at their handy paint job.
"Why I'll be, you girls did a great job at the paintin'. It matches very well I reckon. What do you think Keen?" Applejack asked. Keen looked around with a nervous smile.
"Well, I think it looks amazing. I love it. I can tell you girls worked hard to do this," Keen said politely. Rainbow Dash did a flip in the air in excitement and Twilight looked around the room again, smiling to herself.
"Thank you Keen," replied Twilight.
"Thanks boss, you should have known I would have done an awesome job!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
"You all did a wonderful job. This place can now open two days early if needed. So thank you everyone, you really helped me out far more than you girls could know. So I have been thinking, maybe I could hire you all as full time employees. We can work out your pay and time schedules as you wish, so what do you girls say?" Keen asked with a little anticipation. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other in excitement and turned back to Keen.
"Oh buck yes!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed out loud in excitement.
"That would be mighty fine with me," Applejack said. Twilight looked at her friends excitement and it brought a smile to her face.
"Excellent, tomorrow we will work out all the details. Till then, you girls have the rest of the day off, not that there is much of it left. So go ahead and get ready, I'll get today's pay for you," said Keen with a smile on his face as he headed behind the counter. He pulled out his large bag of bits and three smaller bags as he started counting them up. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight were in the back room getting their stuff together.
"You did a really good job with the roof today Applejack. I noticed it when I came flying in after getting us some grub. You out did yourself," complimented Rainbow Dash. Applejack chuckled.
"Aw shucks, it wasn't that good. The roof was in fair shape anyway. Ah just fixed a few spots and straightn' other's is all ah did," she explained being humble.
"That lunch you brought over thou Rainbow Dash was delicious! Where did you get those burritos?" Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash was splashing some cold water on her face as she turned to face Twilight.
"A new food stand opened up a few days ago. They make food like super quick and it's not that bad. I normally get the bean sprout burrito with extra dandelions and swish cheese. Great way to get some good food while on a lunch break. You should check the place out sometime Twilight," encouraged Rainbow Dash, now putting her saddle on.
"It was some mighty good grub, ah'll give it that. By the way, what do ya'll think of Keen?" Applejack asked innocently. Once those words left her mouth, all three of them started blushing.
"Well, he seems pretty cool. Laid back, polite, cool. I guess I like him," replied Rainbow Dash.
"Well, I guess I am a little found of him. He's smart, kind, and handsome. I think he is a good pony over all," explained Twilight.
"Well, I reckon he is a good honest worker. For a unicorn he's strong, observant, and well mannered. Not many colts raised like that now," Applejack added.
"All though I have to admit, he can be weird sometimes," Rainbow Dash added as she finished setting up her saddle. Twilight and Applejack quickly turned towards her.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, now all her focus on Rainbow Dash.
"Well, when I first saw him, I offered helping him for a price. But during me talking to him, I got up close to his face and he totally freaked and fell away from me as if he was trying to get away," she explained.
"Well, that is understandable, not a lot of ponies will act calm when approached like that," Twilight explained calmly, turning some attention back to fixing up her saddle.
"Yea, but it happened at the flick of a switch, like as if he didn't know I was in front of him till I got up in his face or something," Rainbow Dash added, making Twilight freeze again.
"That is a little strange I guess," Twilight replied quietly, thinking to herself.
"He acted a bit strange with me too. When ah was working here yesterday, we were sitting down drinkin' some refreshments when he figured me out perfectly be looking at me. He picked up so many little things just to see if ah would perfer lemonade or tea. Ah didn't pick it up at fist but he said something about his eyes aren't that good or somethin' like that, but then he was able to patch me up as if he were a doctor or somethin'," Applejack explained. Twilight took all the information in and organized it in her head.
"Yes, and today I was about to open a book with no label, no title and he dove for it and grabbed it. He said it was just embarrassing pictures but I am not sure. He is definitely keeping secrets, but I just can't put a hoof on him. He sure is mysteries," Twilight thought out loud. They all thought about it all for a moment longer until Twilight shrugged her shoulders. "Ether way, we shouldn't be getting into his personal life too much. If he doesn't want to tell us right now, then it is fine, we will let him tell us when he feels he is ready," she added. Applejack looked to her friend and smiled.
'Ya know what, yer right. We shouldn't try to pry into his life. If he doesn't want to talk about it, ah reckon we should just leave it be," Applejack said in agreement. Rainbow Dash looked towards the main lobby where Keen was counting the bits and turned back to her friends.
"Yea, I guess your right. We shouldn't push him away. I mean, we shouldn't be rude or anything I guess," Rainbow Dash added. With a quick nod they go meet up with Keen who finished counting their bits and placed them into the three seprate bags.
"Hey girls, here is your pays. Hope to see you tomorrow. Have a safe trip back home," Keen said, handing them their bags, with a quick good bye they left for home. Making sure they were gone, Keen blew out all the candles and went over to his sleeping bag. "I need to work on my room tomorrow. Sleeping on the floor is fine but only to a certain extent," Keen said to himself. He walked to the back and grabbed some water from the back. A shadowed figure approached the door while he was in the back.
"How could I forget my ink and quills. I never forget them. I hope Keen doesn't mind. It looks like he is sleeping thou," Twilight said quietly to herself. She tried to open the door and found it unlocked. "That's odd, I think he forgot to lock up before heading to bed, I better do that for him before I left," she said to herself. She quietly entered and went into the back room. "It's pitch black in here, I can't see anything," she whispered to herself as she fumbled around. "I hope he doesn't catch me and think that I am breaking in to steal something".
"No, I didn't think that at all," said a voice from the darkness. Twilight jumped a mile high from the voice and fell down on Celestia knows what, making some slam and clang on top something else many times. Twilight tried to focuse her eyes but still couldn't see anything. "Are you ok miss Twilight?" the voice asked, this time, sounding very familiar.
"Keen?" Twilight asked puzzled. She lit up her horn and saw him staring down at her confused and concerned. "I thought you went asleep, why is it so dark in here?" Twilight asked. Keen offered a hoof for her which she accepted. once on her hooves, she saw she fell onto some cleaning supplies.
"Every night, I turn off the lights to save candles," Keen explained.
"How can you see in here?" Twilight asked puzzled. Keen smiled as he turned around and headed back to the lobby, signaling her to follow. She followed him around, lighting her way with her horn.
"I learned a spell long ago. I started learning it because my teacher at the time believed it may be useful at some point in time. At first I thought it be pointless. But then I found a use, so I focused and mastered it. Now it takes little to no magic for me to use it. The spell sounds out a small sound wave so faint only certain animals can hear it. The sound waves bounce around and come back to me and tell me all of my surroundings. I can see with out seeing sort of speak," Keen explained. Twilight stared at him completely amazed and astonished.
"Just like a bat. It's your very own sonar. With a spell like this, you could save up money on candles. Easily saving over 50% of your bits on candles since you don't depend on it," twilight said impressed. Keen chuckled to himself.
"I haven't bought candles in 6 years. I have had these very candles since," he explained while chuckling. Twilight looked around, they were a bit low, but to make them last that long is incredible.
"Wow, that is amazing!" exclaimed Twilight shocked. Keen handed her a small plastic bag.
"I believe these are yours, am I wrong?" Keen asked. Twilight looked into the bag and saw her ink and quills.
"Oh, thank you, I forgot these here," she replied as she placed them into her saddle. Keen smiled to her.
"Of course, no if you do not mind miss Twilight, I must retair for the night," Keen said politely. Twilight nodded her head and started to head out the door.
"Of course, I'll see you tomorrow," she called back as she left, locking the door behind her.
"Such a sweet mare, and I dare say, just is very attractive as well. Twilight is wise and intelligent, Applejack is such a hard and honest worker, and Rainbow Dash is full of energy and very amusing. I have a nice little team here now don't I?" Keen said to himself, ending with a chuckle. "Now, time for bed," he added. Keen went to his sleeping bag and laid down into it. Taking a deep breath and releasing it before allowing his body to completely relax and fall into slumber.
(This next part may get a little weird, so I am gonna use their initials, just imagine screen shots and the screen keeps switching between them, experimentation is all)
(AJ) "Oh my, such a hard day, but it was worth every bit"
(TS) "But what really made this day"
(AJ) "Was seeing him again"
(RD) "But Twilight,"
(TS) "Applejack,"
(AJ) "And Rainbow Dash like Keen Eye too"
(RD) "There is no denying it"
(TS) "I love him, But there is no way"
(RD) "That he returns the same feelings"
(AJ) "But for now"
(TS) "I don't want to loose my friends over a crush"
(RD) "So I'll keep my feelings to myself"
(AJ) "For now"
(TS)(RD)(AJ) "I just hope I can hide these feelings for now"
A few days later, Keen Eye prepared for the grand opening event for his magic shop. He decided to call his establishment âThe Mythic Owlâ, Twilightâs idea but Keen liked the sound of it. For the past few days, nothing has happened except a few blush moments. All in all though, the three mares have kept their feelings to themselves. Keen kept his focus in his work, as did the mares, but they always kept an eye on him, waiting for him to do something that may seem odd and/or different. Keen looked over some plans for their grand opening to the store, which Rarity and Pinkie Pie joined in to help preparations for the grand event. âAlright, so does that sound possible?â Keen asked the group around him.
âWell, last minute changes like this might be tricky, but I can do it!â exclaimed Pinkie Pie excitedly. Keen nodded and turned to Rarity.
âI will be ready on my part by the time the grand opening starts. The uniforms will look simply glamorous on you girls, and of course I have a suit for you that will make you simply dashing Mr. Keen,â Rarity explained. Keen nodded and turned to Twilight next.
âAll of the events are all planned out and organized. As for the displayâs and brochures are all placed exactly as they should be and ready for the ponies,â Twilight explained professionally. Keen chuckled to himself and then turned to Rainbow Dash.
âI spread all of the fliers all over Ponyville and some even managed to reach Canterlot by accident. every pony in Ponyville and every pony near by knows about it. So I think youâre gonna get a big crowd,â Rainbow Dash assured. Keen smiled to her and finally turned to Applejack.
âYa wonât have to worry about grub. The Apple Familyâs got your back. Weâll set up food and drink stands around for everyone. Ah reckon we should have enough for everyone to grab somethinâ,â Applejack explained. Keen closed his eyes as he thought everything through.
âNow I know this is irrelevant, but why do you wear those goggles indoors? It looks like you wouldnât be able to see anything,â Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight quickly looked at Rarity and then to Keen worried who simply smiled.
âOh, do not worry, I can see perfectly fine. These were a gift to me from my master. I cherish them very much. So do not worry about me. Now, as long as everything goes according to plan, everything should get along smoothly. I Now we just need to set everything up tomorrow morning. So get here around dawn and we will begin,â Keen explained. Rainbow Dash grunted.
âOh man, really? Do we really have to get up that early?â Rainbow Dash complained. Keen shook his head.
âYes, it is the only way to make sure that we will be able to have enough time to set everything up. I know it is early for you, but we have to have everything ready,â explained Keen. Rainbow Dash grunted again but nodded her head.
âFine,â she mumbled. Keen chuckled at her replied as she faced every pony.
âAlright, letâs meet here at dawn, any pony need coffee, I will provide coffee while Pinkie Pie will provide snacks. So go back home, get a good nightâs sleep, and get ready for a busy day. Got it?â Keen said politely but with authority in his voice.
âOkie dokie lokie!â Pinkie Pie exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement.
âIâll be here at dawn,â Twilight said confidently.
âYea, yea, I guess Iâll be here. You can count on me!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed, trying to sound excited but dreaded the idea on waking up so early.
âI will be here with the uniforms,â Rarity replied calmly.
âIâll bring mah family here with me when ah get here,â Applejack finished. Keen nodded his head with a smile as he escorted them to the door. After a few quick good byes, Keen shut and locked the door.
I really love this town. I wanna try really hard to make sure I never have to leave this one,â Keen said to himself. He blew out all of the candles in the store and went upstairs where he finally finished setting up his room. He looked up out the window next to his bed and smiled. âIf you could see me now, I believe you would be happy,â he whispered. After a deep sigh, he allowed his body to relax and fall asleep. The next morning the sound of birds chirping could be heard outside Keenâs window as they started waking him up from his slumber. âWell good morning to you too,â he called out to them, who chirped back in return. He got out and went downstairs to start making coffee. The sun was starting to rise from the horizon but has not poked over the land quite yet. Keen started the coffee machine and turned to look out the front doors to see Pinkie Pie pressed up onto the glass, trying to look in. Keen was a little surprised but happily walked on over to the double doors and unlocked them.
âGood morning Keen Eye! How are you this beautiful morning?â Pinkie Pie asked as soon as the doors opened and she walked on in.
âI am good, thank you for asking miss Pinkie Pie, and how are you this morning?â Keen asked in return.
âI am good. I woke up this morning and I was like âWhy am I up, I should go back to bedâ so I did. But when I did I remembered that I was supposed to wake up and make treats for every pony. So I jumped out of bed and rushed to the kitchen quietly, which is hard to do by the way since the Cakes were still sleeping, and then I had to make the snacks and bake them without making any noise and I was super duper excited so I wanted to jump up and down and just cry out in excitement but then that would have woken them all up. So I had to hold it all back till I got here so while I was coming here-â Pinkie Pie continued on explaining. Keen grabbed a hold on her shoulders and shook her a bit to get here to stop.
âPinkie PIe, breathe!â Keen instructed in a panic. Pinkie Pieâs face was turning a light purple till she remembered to breathe. After taking a huge inhale of air, her face returned to normal.
âSorry, I forgot to breathe. Happens when I get too excited like right now. So anyway, I brought the morning snacks for every pony,â Pinkie Pie said while jumping around excited. Keen laughed to himself as he watched Pinkie Pie jumping around.
âI see you are happy and full of energy as usual. It is nice, itâs like you bring a happy cloud with you wherever you go. Itâs nice to have you with us, and thank you for helping,â said Keen politely while bowing to her. She smiled and bowed quickly in return.
âOf course, your my friend, so of course I am gonna help you silly!â Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she bounced around Keen in a circle. Keen helped her bring in the trays of snacks in the store, waiting for the others to come on by.
âYou havenât started without me, right?â asked a voice from the doorway. Without turning around Keen smiled to himself.
âOf course not miss Twilight. We are simply setting up. Do you require any coffee and/or breakfast?â Keen offered to her.
âActually, some coffee would be nice,â Twilight replied back, smelling the coffee from outside.
âThen come on in, itâs still fresh,â Keen advised playfully. As Twilight started walking over, she heard a crash right behind her. As she turned to see what happened, Rainbow Dash was laying on the ground, not moving. Keen teleported to her.
âMiss Rainbow Dash, are you ok? Please say something, anything!â Keen called out. He could feel her breathing, which was good, but she wasnât responding to anything he was saying. When Keen focused carefully on her, he could hear her snoring. Keen couldnât help but smile down at her as he lifted her up and brought her inside.
âIs she ok?â Pinkie Pie asked concerned.
âOh yes, miss Rainbow Dash is just fine. She must have fallen asleep while flying,â explained Keen.
âThat sounds like her alright,â Twilight replied with a playful smile. Keen set Rainbow Dash down inside and turned to Twilight.
âWhat do you mean? Does she do this often?â Keen asked confused and slightly concerned.
âNot too often. Only when she really cares about the pony she is trying to be there for. Like she rushed over to come to my birthday party once and fell asleep at my door once she got there,â Pinkie Pie explained. Keen smiled down at Rainbow Dash.
âThen I am flattered. Thank you Rainbow Dash,â Keen whispered to Rainbow Dash, who mumbled in her sleep.
âAh hope yaâll werenât waitinâ too long,â called a familiar southern pony from outside. Every pony turned to see Applejack and her family coming up, pulling in wagons for the grand opening.
âNope, we were just getting everything started up. So this is your family?â Keen asked curiously.
âEeyup,â replied the big red pony pulling a wagon much larger than the others.
âThatâs mah big brother, Big Macintosh-â Applejack started.
âHey sis, what should I do about this one?â said a light voice from behind Applejack. She turned around to see a blond filly with a red mane come up behind her with a small wagon being pulled right behind her.
âOh, and this is mah little sis. Applebloom,â Applejack introduced. âAlright, bring that one over there, next to the boxes, you got it Applebloom?â Applejack asked a little worried.
âAh got it big sis. Ya donât have to worry about me,â the little pony said with confidence. She pulled the cart where Applejack instructed, next to the boxes stacked neatly outside of the shop.
âAlright, now all we need to do is wait for Rarity,â Keen said with a smile on his face.
âWho wants cupcakes?!â Pinkie Pie asked happily. Applejack chuckled as she was about to raise her hoof.
âMe, me, me, me!â Applebloom exclaimed excitedly as she ran over to Pinkie Pie.
âAh shucks, I guess me too, you want any Big Mac?â Applejack asked.
âEeyup,â Big Mac replied.
âIs Granny Smith up yet?â she asked. He turned back to the back of the cart to see an elderly pony snoozing away.
âEnope,â he called back. Applejack giggled to herself.
âAh should have known. Oh well, just bring the cart next to the boxes,â she replied, walking over to Pinkie Pie. Big Mac nodded and did as instructed. Every pony started digging into the cup cakes that Pinkie Pie made for everyone. As Keen was about to grab a cupcake, he noticed a familiar scent in the air. As he sniffed around for the source, he saw the fudge and the other end of the trail.
âWhat are these?â Keen asked curiously. Pinkie Pie turned around and bounced over to him
âOh, those? Those are my special fudge squares. They are packed with energy to help you throughout the day and help ease any pain you may be feeling,â Pinkie Pie said calmly and professionally. Twilight looked over at Pinkie Pie with an astonished look on her face.
âPinkie, you actually sounded professional. Iâm a little shocked. Good job,â Twilight complemented. Pinkie Pie just smiled at her friend.
âI can do that sometimes you know,â Pinkie Pie replied with a cheerful smile. Keen took a whiff of the fudge and noticed a very familiar scent to it. He has smelt it before and knows it very well.
âWhat is the main ingredient for this fudge?â Keen asked concerned.
âOh, these? I got some seeds from a passing merchant. He said that if I planted them, the leaves could be used for energy and as a natural pain reliever. Why do you ask?â Pinkie Pie asked slightly puzzled look on her face.
âThe herb used in these is a common plant only from my home land. Itâs very rare in the world and I am surprised that it found itâs way all the way here. Do you have more of this herb?â Keen asked curiously.
âWhy of course you silly filly. I grow it back home. I planted the seeds and I always take good care of them,â Pinkie Pie explained with her usual cheerful smile on her face and full of pride.
âI see, I would like to buy some of those plants from you someday, if you do not mind,â Keen offered.
âOf course not! Youâre my friend, so of course Iâll sell some to you!â Pinkie Pie exclaimed, giving Keen Eye a big hug, which he returned to her happily.
âHey Applebloom!â called out a voice from outside. Applebloom was the first to turn around and see two fillies walking up to the store. One was a white unicorn with a pink and velvet mane and the other looked to be a pegasus with a maroon mane, but her wings looked to be small, even for her size and apparent age. When the rest turned to see who called out, Applebloom was already trotting over to them.
âHey Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, thanks for coming over,â Applebloom greeted the two fillies happily.
âHey, anytime. We couldnât miss a chance like this to get our cutie marks, now could we?â Sweetie Belle asked with a smile.
âYea with *yawn* so many things to do to get this ready, there must be something that we are destined to be,â Scootaloo added, trying to wake up.
âToo early for ya there, Scootaloo?â Applebloom asked playfully.
âYea, Iâm not really use to getting up this early,â she explained.
âFriends of yours Applebloom?â Keen asked kindly.
âYea, ah told them ah would be helping ya get ready for your grand opening today and they wanted to join in, is that ok?â she asked, making a sweet an innocent puppy dog look up at him. Keen stared into her eyes and smiled from ear to ear.
âOh why not,â Keen replied back. The three young fillies jumped around in excitement like Pinkie Pie and he turned back, looking at the rest of them, snickering to themselves. âWhat?â he asked confused and puzzled.
âOh, nothing,â Twilight said first.
âYea, good luck with them three,â Applejack added.
âOh come now, they canât be that bad,â Keen replied with a pleasant smile, looking back at them.
âYou would be surprised,â said Rarity, standing in front of Keen.
âHello Rarity, we are happy to see that you have come. Would you like some tea?â Keen asked. Rarity looked at him with a coy smile.
âWhy yes, I would love some,â Rarity replied, pulling a cart from behind her. She brought the cart next to Applejackâs cart and walked on in. Keen already had some tea ready when she walked in and placed in front of her. She took it using her levitation magic. âWhy thank you Mr. Keen,â she said politely. She took the tea and took a sip. Her eyes widened in surprise as she pulled the cup away and looked into it.
âIs there something wrong miss Rarity?â Keen asked like the gentle colt he was. Rarity looked up into his goggles in shock.
âThis is jasmine tea, not just any kind of jasmine tea, but imperial jasmine tea. A tea with one of the most delicate of all taste. So fine, so exquisite, so amazing. âHow did you know this is my favorite tea? Only Fluttershy and Twilight know that this is my absolute favorite!â Rarity exclaimed. Applejack lowered her hat and smiled as Keen looked into Rarityâs eyes and sipped at his cup of coffee.
âI did not know, but now I do,â Keen replied simply.
âIt could not have been a simple guess, did Twilight tell you?â Rarity asked with in disbelief. Keen took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
âVery well,â Keen started. Applejack nudged Twilight and woke up Rainbow Dash and pointed towards Keen.
âWatch this,â she said, giggling to herself.
âI observed you yesterday in case of this sort of situation. Jasmine tea is very popular among ponies of all ages, sex, and classes. The taste is very smooth and delicate and also is known for inner peace and helps a lot with thinking and concentration, something needed since you work in the department of fashion. I too prefer this tea when I do drink it. When we met yesterday for the planning, I could smell your perfume on you, the brand in which you use is a brand for those that wish to smell sophisticated, but to those that have a keen sense of smell, they can tell it is the easier to get brand. You try to stay in the latest of fashions and you are most likely grown up this way in a life of fancy. A sophisticated family normal drink jasmine tea such as this. If one prefers jasmine tea, then imperial jasmine tea is usual their favorite, was I wrong in any part there?â Keen asked, finishing up his deep explanation. Rarity stood there blushing to herself and staring at the ground.
âYup, that sounds like Rarity alright!â exclaimed Pinkie Pie bluntly. Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared at Keen with open jaws and Applejack stood there with a smug look.
âyea, he did that tah me when ah first worked for him,â Applejack said, giggling to herself.
âL-l-letâs just get to work then, shall we?â Rarity asked, trying to change the subject.
The whole morning they worked hard to try to get everything ready. Pinkie Pie set up her party cannon and fired away to set up streamers and confetti. Rainbow Dash made sure that it was gonna be a clear day all day long. Applejack and her family were setting up the stands to sell their apples of all kinds with Granny Smith still sleeping soundly in the cart. The three fillies were putting up fliers and the brochures since they ended up causing a lot of havoc for Keen with setting up food, decorations, and anything else they did.. Rarity had Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash try on their new work uniforms, which they looked splendid in it, using the main colors of the shop (mythic purple and dark pink). Rarity had Keen going in the back and have him try on his new work suit. When he came out, Rarity started at him with her jaw dropped. Twilight, who was with her discussing about the mobility of the uniforms and asking if the skirt part was necessary, saw Keen and did the same. Keen wore a full black suit with eletric blue stripes.
âWell, how do I look?â Keen asked, blushing lightly. âIâm not really use to wearing so much, it's been a while,â he added. Twilight glanced over at Rarity who held a tissue to her nose.
âUmm, you look great, truly amazing,â Rarity explained quickly. â Now if you would excuse me, I need to use the restroom,â she added as she somewhat rushed over to the restrooms.
âWell Keen, you look dashing, and very handsome. You now look like a real gentle colt now,â Twilight explained as she slowly approached him, noticing they were all alone now.
âWhy thank you miss Twilight. I am glad to hear that this looks good on me,â Keen said humbly.
âTrust me, you look far more that good. I think you look amazing!â Twilight exclaimed, making him blush even more.
âWhy thank you miss Twilight, come on, letâs get back with the others,â Keen said quickly as he trotted out side. Twilight gave a frustrated grown and followed suit. The rest of the day went well. The grand opening exploded, one from the fire works that Rainbow Dash secretly set up near the end of the event and from all the orders they got. The Apples family got a lot of business and made an amazing profit as well as Pinkie Pie, which they were having a friendly competition about it. Even Rarity was able to get some credit for the outfits. Everything went along beautifully. All though a lot of ponies preordered a lot of merchandise, no one signed up for classes. By the end of the day, Pinkie Pie and Rarity left, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Keen stayed back to clean up the rest. It was getting late as they started closing, but as Twilight was about to close the doors to lock, a young unicorn walked up to her looking very tired and worn out.
âUhh, excuse me, are you guys still open?â the foal asked in a slightly derpy manner (donât get the wrong idea now), looking up at Twilight.
âWell, we are closing and cleaning up at the moment,â Twilight explained with a sadden expression on her face. It looked like he was caught up in something and tried to get here as fast as he could.
âBut we can certainly stay open, for just a little bit longer. Come on in,â Keen greeted kindly, showing the little foal his gentle smile. The young unicorn looked up with hope as he trotted inside, falling down on his face from tripping on the welcome mat. Before Keen could say anything, he got right back up and continued in. He was a little taller than most ponies his age and seemed, how to put it kindly, not so bright. He had a sea green mane and a goldish body. âMy name is Keen Eye, what is your name little fella?â Keen asked politely.
âMy name is Snails. I read on yer flier that you teach magic to unicorns?â the unicorn asked.
âHey, donât cha got to school with mah little sister?â Applejack asked.
âWhy yes I do maâam. She is really kind to me,â Snails replied, slightly blushing.
âYes I do teach, but I mostly teach advanced magic for students who wish to broaden their knowledge of the ways of magic. Elemental magic, advanced light magic, and summoning magic. You look as if to be still in grade school,â Keen explained. Snails looked at the ground shy and hurt.
âListen, I know Iâm not very smart. I know I am bad with magic. I know I am clumsy. I know Iâm not good at studying, but can you please give me a chance. I need to catch up with every pony in my grade. I thought that if I could learn from you, maybe I could make my parents proud fer once. I promise to train and study the best I can!â Snails exclaimed. Keen looked at him with a concerned look as he stared at him, looked at his figure, and then back to him.
âIt wonât be easy. The training will be very difficult and you will have to push past your comfort zone. You will need to train well over twice as hard as your whole class just to keep up with my teachings, But you already knew this, didnât you?â Keen asked with a confident smile on his face. âYou didnât come here to see if you could do it, you came here to see if I would let you in, isnât that right?â he added. Snails nodded with a determined look across his face.
âThats right, I know it wonât be easy, but that wonât stop me!â he exclaimed. With a chuckle he went around the counter and pulled out a clip board and hoovered it toward Snails.
âThen sign at the bottom,â Keen said, handing over the clip board. Snails happily took it and wrote down his signature with his mouth. Once done, he handed it over back to Keen with once again his mouth. âI can already tell this is not gonna be easy for the both of us, either way, I expect to see you Thursday bright and early. Understand?â Keen asked sternly but with a smile. Snails saluted up to Keen.
âI understand fully Mr. Keen!â Snails exclaimed with a solid look of determination on his face, as if looking more and more convincing as he stood there.
âGood, then go on off home, get some rest, eat good foods, and I will see you Thursday morning, good night Snails,â Keen said kindly and gently with a small bow. Snails returned the favor and walked out the door, first into it then pulled it open to leave. âHe is gonna be some fun,â Keen said sarcastically.
âHeâll be a lot if mah sisâ description of the young feller is true, but ah'm sure ya can handle it,â Applejack said confidently.
âI hope so, for his sake,â Keen whispered to himself. After the clean up, Keen sent his workers home early and locked the shop up. Once he blew out the candles, he went up the stairs in the back that led to his room, finally furnished. He laid in bed in the darkness as he relaxed his bed. âScarlet, what would you have done in my position?â Keen asked himself before falling asleep. A shadow moved away from his window and fell to the ground a good distance away from the building and ducked under a tree.
âWhat did you find out?â another shadow asked in a tree over the first shadow.
âThree workers. I donât know the other two, but one of them is Princess Twilight Sparkle. Any harm to her will start a war,â explained the first shadow.
âHmm, I guess it is time for war, tell Stain and Dagger to get ready, I need you to learn the other two, I need to know everything about them, and I need you to prove a theory of mine either right or wrong,â explained the other shadow.
âWhat is it, your highness?â the first shadow asked. A smirk formed from the other shadow's lips as he showed a row of sharp teeth and green eyes that pierced through the darkness and glared down towards Keenâs open window.
âTest how good his eyes are. Letâs see if they are as âKeenâ as his reputation claims,â ordered the other shadow.
âAs you command,â the first shadow said then ran off into the night. The other shadow stared down the Keenâs room.
âSoon K9, soon you will be reminded, of the darkness,â the other shadow said with a sinister smile.
(The music that I was listening to while I was writing this was 'FIGHT TO WIN' by Your Favorite Martian, 'Make a Move' by Icon for Hire, 'Disconnected' by My Little Visuals [at least that is were I was listening from it] and 'Proud to be a Brony' by SonicRainboomBrony [again, this is all from youtube, that is just my playlist from there] I hope that if you choose to listen to the music while reading that it makes it better for you, if not, enjoy the chapter through ether silence or your own music )
Keen woke up on a Thursday morning with the sun shining down on his face. He stretched out his sleeping kinks and got up to look outside. It was a bright and sunny day, not a cloud in sight. He heard a noise coming from downstairs. adjusting his goggles, he went downstairs and looked around. Twilight worked the counter, organizing prices and sales of the past few days as Rainbow Dash was leaning on a broomstick, chatting away to Twilight, both wearing their uniforms. âAnd then I came down like WHOOSH! When the dust cleared, every pony saw me with the young filly in my hooves, inches away from the ground. Once again I saved the day and that little fillies life!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she replied the scene with the broom. Twilight giggled as she watched her flying friend bragged about her fearless act of justice.
âSo, you girls are early,â Keen added in, waiting for Rainbow Dash to have ended her little play. Rainbow Dash dropped the broom and Twilight jumped a little by the sudden voice of her boss.
âOh, hey boss, I was just. . . uhh, cleaning, yea!â Rainbow Dash said quickly as she quickly picked up her broom and continued to sweep away as if she was doing that.
âMorning Mr. Keen. We were just talking about one of her amazing saves. We havenât been here long,â Twilight explained. Keen chuckled to himself as he came down and started to get some coffee ready, seeing that it was already made. âItâs still fresh,â she added. Keen smiled kindly towards her as he poured himself a cup of coffee. As he fixed his coffee just as he liked it, he heard a knock at the door.
âRight on time,â he whispered to himself as he made his way towards the door. When he opened the doors, Snails stood right outside, yawning to himself. âGood morning Snails, you are right on time. Are you ready to start training?â Keen asked kindly Snails looked up to him and smiled.
âYes sir, I mean master,â Snails said quickly. Keen chuckled to himself.
âGood, then come in,â Keen instructed. Snails walked in as Keen held it open for him. Keen guided him towards the back but stopped him before they entered the training area, lowering himself to Snailâs level. âNow, I have to ask before we start, and I expect you to be honest with me, understand?â Keen asked in a whisper, looking up to see if Twilight or Rainbow Dash was listening, which they werenât.
âOf course Master, anything!â Snails exclaimed. Keen looked directly into his eyes as he lowered his voice.
âWhy do you wish to improve your magical skills so much? I mean you must know that your skills with magic are poor, so why do you strive to become better?â Keen asked in a whisper. Snails looked towards the ground for a moment as his face started blushing.
âWell, thereâs this mare in my class that I really like, but she doesnât notice me at all. Iâve tried to write her a letter, but she thought it was a joke. So I want her to notice me and maybe, well, give me a chance, even though I am not very smart and I am falling behind in my magical studies, also, something happened-â Snails started to explain. Keen stared intently as he listened to every word the young filly explained. âShe was getting picked on at school when she was alone. I wanted to stand up for her, but I was too scared, but then they started pushing her around. I stepped in to try to defend her, but they started to beat me up. I donât know magic so I just rolled up into a ball and coward away. When they were done, they were all gone, even her. I made a fool of myself. So I wanted to learn magic from a real teacher so then I could protect her,â Snails finished explaining, a tear rolling down his cheek. Keen smiled towards him as he lifted his chin to look at him.
âIt is always important to protect those that we love and care for. I am touched by your story and I will teach you these ways. Know this, this will not be easy nor quick. You must study hard and train even harder. If you truly wish to protect the ones you love and care for, you must put everything on the line. I understand why you do this for that is the same reason why I trained so hard,â Keen explained. Snails looked into his goggles as a smile started to form on his face.
âReally?â he asked.
âYes, now be ready, a path opens before you. I can only show you the door, you are the one that must walk through it,â Keen explained.
âWhich door?â Snails asked as he looked around. Keen shook his head as he got back up.
âWe will work on that, for now, follow me,â Keen instructed as he guided him into the training arena. Before he could completely walk through it, he heard a commotion at the front door. âWait here,â he said as he quickly rushed over to the door. Two unicorns stood there, talking to Twilight.
âWe do not care if he is busy, if he has any honor, he will accept our challenge or he shall forfeit the title as master!â one of the unicorns exclaimed, with authority in his voice.
âIndeed, he will accept our challenge or face the consequences!â the other explained. Keen walked into the room.
âWhat is going on here, can I help you two?â Keen asked politely. The three turned to him.
âMr. Keen! These two just walked in and started talking about challenging you to some magic battle,â Twilight explained. Keen looked to the other side of the two unicorns and saw Rainbow Dash with a stern look on her face as if she was ready to pounce on the two.
âWe challenge you to a magic duel!â the one on the right exclaimed.
âWhat is your names?â Keen asked calmly.
âMy name is Skyfall!â the one on the right exclaimed.
âAnd I am Shadowface!â the other added. Keen looked at the two. Skyfall was a brown unicorn with a longer horn than usual. He had a black mane with brown highlights with blue eyes. The other was dark blue with a red mane and red eyes. Skyfall had a staff surrounded with sparkles for a cutie mark and the other had a dark mask shrouded in mist.
âWhat is the challenge?â Keen asked calmly and politely. Skyfall smiled.
âYou must duel against the both of us. If we win, you must shut down this establishment!â he declared.
âAnd if I win, you will kneel down before me and my workers and say you are sorry,â Keen declared.
âMr. Keen, even if you are better, two against one is very unfair!â Twilight stated.
âFine, then student against student, one on one,â Shadowface insisted, looking past Keen. He frowned as he turned to look behind him and saw Snails standing there.
âI told you to stay put!â Keen said with a stern tone in his voice, making Snails take a step back.
âIâm sorry master,â he replied. Keen sighed and looked back.
âI accept to these terms!â Keen declared with confidence.
âAre you crazy!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed. The two unicorns smiled and walked towards him.
âFollow me then, we will use my training area,â Keen offered, leading them to the back. Twilight and Rainbow Dash followed them. Keen walked in and lit the room. The two stood in the opposite ends of the room, smiling at him with a cruel grin.
âShall we begin?â Shadowface asked with a cocky grin. Keen prepared himself as he shifted his goggles.
âYou may have the first move,â Keen offered. Shadowface looked over to Skyfall and nodded, with him returning the gester. Skyfall gathered up a fireball the size of his head while Shadowface brought up wood from the ground and sharpened them into spears.
âKeen, watch out, these guys are seriously good!â Twilight called out. Snails hid behind Twilight as he watched his master. Rainbow Dash watched intently as she was starting to feel fear build up inside of her for the first time. Keen watched them prepare their spells calmly as he tensed his body, his horn glowing dark blue. Shadowface shot out his wooden spears as Skyfall threw his fireball onto the spear, engulfing them in fire. Keen smiled as the spears completely missed him without even moving.
âThat was supposed to be a direct hit!â Shadowface stated in anger. Keen smiled faintly.
âReally? It doesnât look like it,â Keen replied. Skyfall looked at Keen with hatred building in his eyes as he looked at Shadowface with a nod and charged up another fireball. Shadowface charged at Keen with his horn glowing green and teleported behind Keen. Roots shot out and grabbed him and threw him onto the ground, pinning him down.
âWhat?!â Shadowface exclaimed in question as the roots wrapped around his body, tightening their grip. Skyfall threw another fire attack, the ball of fire splitting up into eight arrows of fire and spread out, aiming right at Keen who stood still just like before. The arrows split off at the last minute and hit the ground all around him, setting off small explosions.
âHow is he doing this without casting a spell?â Twilight asked herself as he watched Keenâs every move. Skyfall took a step back confused before he stood his ground.
âFine! Close combat then!â he declared as he charged right at Keen, setting his entire body in fire. As Keen got ready, Shadowface broke the grip of the vines and head butt him into his back. Keen flipped around and landed behind Shadowface and his horn started glowing brightly. Shadowface turned towards him and started stumbling around as if he was drunk, unable to stand still. Skyfall continued to charge and suddenly fell to the ground, his fire suddenly going out. Keen stood over them, aiming his horn at them as they tried to get up.
âIt feels like, my brain is shaking in my head,â Shadowface stated as he kept falling down, trying to get up. Skyfall managed to get up and charged again at Keen with his body engulfed in fire again. As Keen aimed his horn at him but he teleported. Skyfall appeared about 20 feet behind Keen and smiled.
âBEHIND YOU!â Rainbow Dash cried out. Skyfall charged up the fire more and threw it, the fire wave easily bigger than Keen. The fire hit him directly and flooded the area around him in fire. âNOOO!â she cried out. Twilight froze in place as she dropped to her knees. Shadowface and Skyfall got up and danced around.
âWe got him!â they cried in cheer. The fire started stirring and swirling around Where Keen was. They turned to him and saw the fire go out with Keen untouched and his horn glowing even brighter.
âNo way?!â Skyfall whispered. Keen shot up wood from the ground and sharpened them quickly to make 12 spears and hovered them near them. Skyfall tried to charge up another fireball but he did not have enough time. The spears shot straight down from right over them. Once they landed, blood ran down the spears and onto the ground. Twilight, Snails, and Rainbow Dash stared in fear as they saw that the two unicorns didnât move. Keenâs noise started to bleed lightly as he looked at them without moving and a cold stare.
âHow, how could you?â Twilight whispered as she felt tears building up. Keen looked towards her.
âDo not judge some pony so quickly,â he replied and looked back.
âYou just killed them! How could you?!â Rainbow Dash cried out.
âDame you,â a voice said quietly from the two. Everyone looked over to see that they were alive.
âDame you Keen to the nine circles of hell!â Skyfall cried out, trying to get out. Shadowface opened his eyes and saw the spears just grazed him.
âI have won this challenge,â Keen stated as he turn his back, dropping to his knee to catch his breath, his horn stopped glowing.
âOh no you donât!â Skyfall whispered angrily as he pulled out one of the spears and aimed it at Rainbow Dash. With a burst of magic he shot it at her. Keen turned quickly to her but the spear stopped, it surrounded with a yellow aura. Keen looked over and saw Snailsâ eyes closed tightly and his horn glowing brightly. Snails released his magic grip and dropped the spear.
âGood catch Snails,â Keen commented impressed. He turned to the two unicorns with an angry glare. âNow I understand you can not accept defeat so well, but attacking my employees? Ponies I care about very much, itâs unforgivable!â Keen stated as he approached them. They shook in terror as they watched him. Keen pulled the spears out and shot them back into the ground. âLeave, and never return, you have overstayed your welcome!â he declared. They nodded their heads and took off, running off out the store. Twilight looked at Snails and smiled down at the frightened filly.
âThat was really brave of you!â she stated. he looked down at the ground and blushed.
âI couldnât let them hurt her. I didnât think I could do it though, but I knew I had to try,â Snails explained humbly. Keen walked up to him with a proud smile on his face.
âYou did an amazing job, great work,â Keen added. Rainbow Dash shook herself out of shock and looked down at him.
âThanks alot. If it werenât for you, I would be, well. . . you know. Anyway, thank you, I guess I owe you one,â Rainbow Dash said bashfully. Twilight turned over to Keen with a curious look on her face.
âHow did you do that? Those attacks were gonna hit you dead on, but they missed, and them falling to the ground like they were drunk, how did you do all of that?â she asked puzzled. Keen smiled at her.
âI used a spell that you know of already. My sonar spell,â he explained. She looked at him now even more confused.
âBut that only helps you see at night?â Twilight stated.
âYes, but when it is amplified, it can be used to send short ranged shock waves to disturb magical energy, making it unpredictable. Now guiding the shock waves, I can make them spread out or gather to either deflect incoming ranged attacks or to disorient close range attackers. I can sorta make their brains rattle around a bit,â Keen explained. Twilight stood there, mouth open wide as Snails looked up at him with a big smile on his face. âOnly down side is that it is not made for multiple attackers,â he added.
âWow master, you are really amazing! I mean that was so awesome!â he exclaimed. Keen patted him with his hoof and smiled.
âWith enough practice and training, a simple spell could be your greatest weapon. Remember that,â Keen instructed. Snails nodded his head up and down excited as he looked around the room.
âWhat are we going to do about your room?â he asked. Keen looked around and smiled.
âHey Twilight, Rainbow Dash, I have a project for you two,â he said calmly. Rainbow Dash grunted with annoyance as she went to go get the broom and Twilight looked around with a displeased look on her face.
âI understand sir,â she said as she started levitating debri around. Keen guided Snails out the room and into the front of the shop.
âNow, I guess today we will be taking it easy and study mentally today,â Keen stated. Snails nodded his head happily.
âIâm ok with that master,â he replied. Keen chuckled and brought him to the counter.
âYea, I guess you would be,â he added, laughing. They sat down at the counter as they started studying from the books. Keen trying to teach him the levitation spell.
âMaster Keen, why do I have to learn this one? I mean I thought we were gonna learn advanced magic and all of that,â Snails asked confused.
âBecause Snails, this is the foundation of all magic. If you can not master this spell, you can not learn any other. The basics of magic are the stairway to magic. You canât get to the top without climbing up,â Keen explained.
âOh, I get it,â Snails replied, looking back at the book, flipping to the next page with his hoof.
âAlso, for now on to this day, you can never flip a page like that,â Keen declared. Snails turned to him and frowned. âFor now on, you have to flip the page using magic, meaning inside and outside of here,â he added.
âOh crud, I canât do that, I barely know that spell!â Snails stated, panicking a little bit.
âThen try it, right now. You saved miss Rainbow Dash with that spell, I know you can do it. Just try to focus,â Keen instructed with encouragement. Snails looked into Keenâs goggles and nodded.
âOk master, Iâll try,â he said. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Keen watched as the young unicorn focused with his horn as it started to spark to life. After a few moments, the horn glowed yellow as he gripped the page with his magic and flipped it over to the next page. âI did it!â Snails declared happily.
âVery good, but just remember that this is only the very beginning. Many challenges are up ahead,â Keen explained. Snails nodded as he continued to work. The bell rang as it lightly swung open. Keen frowned as he looked up towards the pony who walked in. A male earth pony with sky blue eyes, sky blue mane, and a blood red body. âWhat do you want capeskin?â Keen asked sternly. Capeskin smiled nervously as he walked up to Keen.
âWell, I was wondering if you had any, well. . . . any sunflower seeds and improot. I am working on a potion and I noticed that I did not have. So since you just recently opened a magic shop, so I thought I would come on over, but I didnât want to come here on the grand opening day since you still do not like my presence, which is reasonable,â Capeskin explained with his head down low. Snails poked his head from behind the counter and looked over towards Capeskin.
âWho is he?â he asked curiously. Keen and Capeskin looked down to him and back at each other.
âSo, you really do teach. He looks like a challenge,â Capeskin said playfully. Keen glared at him but couldnât help but smile.
âYes, but he has heart and potential. I believe he will be great one day,â Keen explained, placing a hoof on Snailsâ head and rubbed his mane playfully. Capeskin smiled and nodded.
âHe looks like he could be great one day. I wish you the best of luck. So do you run this store alone or do you have help?â he asked curiously. Keen nodded back and looked around.
âYea, they are in the back room cleaning up a bit. Twilight helps keep things organized while Rainbow Dash does all the heavy stuff. I also have Applejack who comes around whenever she can and does some heavy lifting and repair whenever itâs needed. They are a really helpful bunch,â Keen explained. He looked around as a group of unicorns walked in, looking around. âWelcome to The Mythic Owl. Just tell me if you need anything,â Keen called out in a friendly tone of voice and turned back to Capeskin. âSo, what did you need?â he asked.
âI need sunflower seeds and improot,â Capeskin repeated with a kind smile. Keen nodded and pointed to a certain aisle.
âAnything I would have on potion making would be in that aisle. If you need help, let me know,â he instructed. Capeskin smiled and quickly bowed before walking over to the aisle that Keen pointed out. Keen looked down at Snails as he watched Capeskin walk away.
âDo you not like him?â he asked innocently.
âThat is not the case. He and I have a history between us, not the best of one. He feels bad about what he did and has said sorry, but I can not forgive him just yet,â Keen added. He looked at the book they were reading and smiled. âDonât worry about it, everything is fine. Now, go read pages 23 through 31 by yourself for awhile, come get me if you need any help, alright?â Keen instructed. Snails nodded his head and got down, grabbing the book with his mouth. âRemember, if you are picking something up, you are only allowed to use magic!â Keen called back. Snails stopped and dropped the book. After a minute of concentrating he picked the book up with his magic and continued down the hall, smiling with pride. Keen turned back towards the store with a kind and polite smile as he watched as more customers came in.
âExcuse me, do you have any cave spider eyes?â one of the unicorns asked. Keen thought for a moment and looked around.
âI believe dark arts studies would be the aisle you are looking for,â Keen explained. The unicorn nodded and walked on over there. Keen heard the bell chine again and turned to see Applejack. âMiss Applejack, it is a pleasure to see you. We could use your help,â Keen explained. Applejack smiled and nodded towards him.
âAhâm glad to be here Keen, sorry it took me so long,â she apologized as she went into the back room. Keen waited till she got back. Once she entered with her uniform on, she walked up to Keen with a smile. âSo, whatcha need me for sugar cube?â she asked with a kind smile.
âI need you in the training room, I happened to make a big mess and I need to get it cleaned up, can you give Twilight and Rainbow Dash a hoof with it and tell Twilight to come out when she is done,â Keen instructed. Applejack nodded and headed over.
âSure thing, sugar cube, be right back,â she called out as she went down the hallway. Once she entered she was greeted by her friends and a big room with a big mess. âWhy Keen wasnât joking when he said he made a big mess, phew. What happened in here?â she asked surprised. Twilight shook her head and continued to rearrange the room, moving the big pieces of burnt wood around. Rainbow Dash dropped her broom and started to reenact the battle.
âSo these two unicorns were all like âI wanna fight Keenâ and Keen came in like âchallenge acceptedâ. So he brought them here and they were fighting like throwing fireballs and these wooden spike things, but Keen was standing still all tough and stuff. They threw flaming spikes and fireballs but they kept missing. Then on of them charged at him like âIâm gonna kill youâ and Keen just stood there like âYea rightâ and just made him fall to the ground like BAM! Then one of them set himself on fire and charged at Keen, but once Keen got ready, the other one teleported behind him and was like ânow Iâm gonna throw a fireball bigger than youâ and I was all like âdude, behind youâ but he already knew and then he threw the-â Rainbow Dash continued. Twilight put her hoof in her mouth and looked over at Applejack
âLong story short, some unicorns picked a fight with Keen and he won,â she said bluntly and simply. Rainbow Dash took Twilightâs hoof out of her mouth and glared down at her.
âOh come on, I was getting to the best part!â Rainbow Dash whined, glaring at her.
âWell we have work to do, remember?â Twilight replied as she continued.
âOh right, opps,â she said as she picked her broom back up and kept sweeping away. Applejack chuckled to herself as she walked on over and started moving things around.
âBy the way Twi, Keen said when you were done here, he needs ya up front,â Applejack explained as she started cleaning up.
âOh, thanks Applejack,â Twilight replied as she kept cleaning.
âKeen really is somethin, huh? Ah mean, got into a fight and came out without a scratch. Ah reckon he could hold his own in a rodeo, donât cha think girls?â Applejack asked. Twilight and Rainbow Dash giggled to themselves.
âYea, you can say that again,â Rainbow Dash replied shortly.
âIâll tell you what, though. A lot of things are a mystery about him,â Twilight added.âI guess thatâs what makes him so attractive,â she added.
âWell, ah gotta admit, that does make me want to get tah know him,â Applejack agreed.
âYea, but I feel like he is hiding something, remember when he found out that I was the element of loyalty? He said something like âback at the castleâ it took me awhile to realize he said that, but do you think he is a prince or something?â Rainbow Dash asked out loud. Twilight and Applejack stopped for a moment and thought that through.
âWell, ah donât think that he is a prince, but-â Applejack started.
âBut that would explained why he acts the way he does. So modest, so polite, so kind and honest. He is good with words and is very observant. Do you think that maybe-â Twilight continued off.
âHe is like some runaway prince or something?â Rainbow Dash finished off. They all thought it over of the idea to see if it would make sense.
âYou know, the idea isnât all that crazy. How else does he have access and knowledge of herbs that are in a faraway land?â Twilight pointed out.
âWhy else would he act like such a gentle colt like no other pony we have ever met?â Rainbow Dash added in.
âAnâ why else would he have such a large sum of money as soon as he getâs here?â Applejack added on as well. They all thought it out till Twilight shook her head.
âGirls, we shouldnât be judgmental here. I am more than sure that he has his reasons for acting the way he does. We should just ask him about it before we assume something that may not be true,â Twilight advised.
âYea, I guess youâre right. Maybe we should talk to him,â Rainbow Dash agreed, grabbing the broom and continued sweeping. Applejack nodded and continued to pick up as well.
âAh reckon you got a point there Twi. We should ask him about it before we jump the hay or else things can get messier than Spike trying to help me out,â Applejack added with a chuckle with Twilight following suit.
âYea, that was bad, so after work, we will ask him about it, agreed?â Twilight asked her friends.
âYou bet!â Rainbow Dash barked out excited, flaring her wings.
âAhâm in,â Applejack added, flexing her arms, smirking up at Rainbow Dash. She smirked back down and looked Applejack into her eyes inches away.
âLast one to clean up their side has to get food!â Rainbow Dash declared.
âYou got yerself a deal there little missy,â Applejack agreed. they rushed over to their own sides and started to quickly clean up their own messes. Twilight face hoofed herself and walked out to see Keen if he needed any help since those two got it covered. Back up front Keen was running some items that a customer was paying for.
âHave a good day,â he called out as they left out the door. A few customers were still in the store when a grey and black zebra walked in and walked up and down the aisles before walking up to Keen. âMay I help you?â Keen asked politely. The zebra chuckled to herself.
âAn old friend is what I seek, I see your memory is still quite bleek,â she said in a rhyme. Keenâs jaw dropped down.
âNo, it canât be!â Keen exclaimed. Twilight walked around to see a familiar zebra and Keen talking, but he looked surprised.
âWhatâs going on?â Twilight asked herself quietly as she slowly and quietly walked closer to get a better view.
âLong it has been, since I last saw you, Keen,â she spoke again. Keen stepped out from behind the counter and got down and he got down and kneeled before her.
âMaster Zecora, It has been so long, I did not expect to see you in a place such as this,â Keen said humbly as he knelt down and staring at the ground. Twilight stood there shocked and her jaw dropped.
âWhat? Master Zecora?!â Twilight exclaimed confused and puzzled.
(Music that I was listening to while writing this was "God is a Girl" nightcore (do not have youtube user name on this one, sorry) "Punk Rock 101" by Bowling for Soup, "Life as we Know it" by Alex S., "Bruises and Bite marks" by Good with Grenades" and lastly "It's my Life" by Bon Jovi. If you choose to look up these songs I hope you enjoy it, if not, enjoy your reading in quiet or through your own selection of music )
Chapter 9: Wanted Alive
Twilight Stood there shocked and her jaw wide open as she just witnessed her boss kneel down before her zebra friend Zecora. âWhat?! Master Zecora?!â Twilight whispered to herself in question. So many questions raced inside her head, trying to understand how they know each other, and when they could have met.
âThere is no need to kneel before my presence. The times then and now have a great difference,â Zecora explained to Keen as her face turned a faint pink. He got up and looked into his her eyes.
âMaster Zecora, it is an honor to see you again. I am so glad to see you again,â Keen explained with a large smile on his face which she returned the gester.
âIt is indeed a pleasure to see you again. Time seems to be kind to you, my friend. Many years it has been, since I first found you by the river bed,â Zecora replied with her usual rhythmic speech. Keen chuckled to himself.
âYou havenât changed the way you speak, thatâs for sure. I missed it to be honest but what are you doing in Ponyville?â Keen asked with curiosity.
âYou still know how to bring me a smile. I have been living here for quite awhile. After your training was complete, the need to stay there became obsolete,â Zecora explained. Twilight watched them talk for a while longer before an idea came to her head.
âThey seem like they have known each other for a long time. They seem to be good friends. I wonder if Zecora could tell me something about him. Maybe I could learn more about him now,â she thought out loud as they talked. Twilight started walking quietly up to the two when Keenâs ear twitched.
âHello Twilight, I would like to introduce you to someone,â Keen called back to her. Twilight stood there confused for a second before walking up to the normally. âHow did he hear me while talking to Zecora?â she thought to herself.
âI have already met Zecora. We met about a year ago from now I believe, but how did you two know each other?" Twilight asked confused. Zecora was about to speak when Keen quickly turned to hear and she stopped, then looking back at Twilight.
âWe meet a long time ago. Around eight years or so. I was in need of help and so she taught me and helped me learn the magic spells that I know to this day. She helped me very much and thanks to her, I was able to become the stallion I am to this day,â Keen explained smiling towards Zecora.
âSadly I do not have much time and must take my leave, but I am happy to see all that you have achieved. I look forward to our next visit my old friend, just remember that this story does not yet end,â She spoke mysteriously and started to take her leave. Keen bowed respect, not questioning her motives and watched her leave. Twilight Hesitated for a moment and took off for her. Once outside, she called out for her.
âZecora!â Twilight called out. Zecora turned around to see Twilight catching up to her.
âTwilight? What is it?â she asked concerned. Twilight walked over to her and looked behind her to see if Keen went after her as well, which he was not.
âI was wondering if you could tell me anything about Keen Eye?â Twilight asked politely.
âKeen Eye?â Zecora confirmed. âWhat is it you wish to know about him?â
âI was wondering if you can tell me where he is from. Why he wears those goggles, why he came all the way here. There is just so much that doesnât add up about him, but he doesnât talk about himself. Can you please tell me something, anything, about him?â Twilight pleaded. Zecora thought for a moment but smiled at her, both apologetic and sympathetic.
âWell Twilight, I know that you mean well. Iâve known you since the blue joke virus from you fell, but if he does not wish to tell his story, then I should say nothing as well, sorry,â Zecora explained. Twilight sighed, somewhat knowing she would say something among those words.
âItâs ok, I didn;t think you would say anything anyway, I am just so desperate to know something about him,â Twilight said, turning back to her. âI guess I better get back to work. Thanks anyway Zecora, I hope to see you later sometime,â Twilight said, starting to make her way back to the store.
âI can not tell you his past, but there is something I can say. Something that will not reveal his secrets but put some light in your views of grey,â Zecora explained. Twilight stopped and turned around, listening intently and with a kind smile.
âThank you Zecora,â Twilight replied.
âI know you will not abuse the information I will give you. I know your heart will always be kind and true. Keen Eye has been through many events throughout the years. He shows confidence and courage when his heart is shrouded by fear. Betrayal and humility are not unfamiliar to his conscience. Although he has learned to ignore the pain through tolerance. It would be wise to tread carefully around his history. For now, that will remain a mystery. Now if you do not mind Twilight, I must take my leave. Heed my words carefully, because one feeling he hasnât felt in many years, is relief,â Zecora explained in her usual rhythmic and mystery manner. Twilight stood there, confused and puzzled after what Zecora said.
âThank you Zecora, although I donât understand now, I am sure I can figure it out. Thank you for telling me this. Have a safe walk back home,â Twilight thanked with a smile as she turned back to walk to the shop.
âGood night, Twilight,â Zecora replied as she left. Twilight smiled to herself as she stopped for a moment. Thinking everything over. What felt like a few minutes, she finally kept walking, thinking as she walked through the doors of the shop. âWhy canât she explain something normal for once,â she thought to herself playfully, lightly shaking her head.
âIs something wrong, miss Twilight?â Keen asked concerned. Twilight snapped into focus and saw Keen looking over at her. She put her hoof to the back of her head and looked away nervously.
âOh, itâs nothing,â she said quickly as she looked around and saw that everyone was gone. âWhere is everypony?â she asked slightly confused. Keen chuckled to himself.
âWell miss Twilight, itâs closing time,â Keen pointed out. Twilight stood there confused as she looked outside. He was right, the moon was already coming out. When she turned back around she saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack on the other side of the room, Applejack leaning on the wall and Rainbow Dash hovering over her, both snickering and looking at Twilight.
âHow is it already night time?â Twilight asked, confused and starting to panic.
âWell you were standing outside and just pacing around like an egghead, as always,â Rainbow Dash explained, still smirking at her playfully. Twilight looked back over in disbelief.
âI was? I thought that I was just standing out there for a few minutes. Did that much time really pass by?â Twilight asked, trying to figure out how much time really did go by. âI must have been out there for a few hours!â Twilight thought to herself.
âWell sugar cube, ya do tend to daze out like a Granny Smith trying to remember where her knitting kit is,â Applejack added. Keen looked over to her slightly surprised.
âA very interesting comparison there, Applejack,â he replied as he returned his gaze towards Twilight.âSo, will you be alright?â he asked again. Twilight blushed slightly as she felt his eyes on her.
âYea, Iâm alright, I guess I got carried away. Iâm sorry for ditching most of work today,â said Twilight as she lowered her head, disappointed in herself. Keen smiled and walked over to her and raised her face too meet his, still keeping a safe and friendly distance.
âTwilight, it is fine, we werenât that busy anyway. So calm down and relax. You worry too much Twilight,â Keen explained with a friendly smile. Twilight stared at him and felt all the blood rush to her face.
âOk, thank you Keen,â she said faintly as she looked into his goggles she saw something. It was very faint, almost unnoticeable but she could see a pair of ruby eyes looking back at her. She couldnât see too well because it was so tinted, but she could see red eyes. Applejack and Rainbow Dash quietly snickered to themselves as they watched Twilight looking into his goggles.. Keen let go and walked over to the counter.
âYou all did good, you may go home now, I will close up the shop,â Keen explained as he blew out the first candle. Applejack and Rainbow Dash already had their uniforms put away as they started to walk out the door.
âYo Twilight, we are gonna head out to Rarityâs for a bit, meet us up ok?â Rainbow Dash called out. Twilight waved them out as she headed towards the back room to change and grab her stuff.
âAlright, see you there,â she replied. She went into the back and heard her friends go on ahead to Rarityâs place. While she wa back there she took off her uniform and getting her saddle ready. she heard the door open and close and someone approaching. When she turned around to see who it was, she saw Keen with an odd look. âKeen? What are you-â she started. Keen put a hoof in her mouth.
âShhh,â he whispered. Twilight was confused as she felt her face getting red again. Keen removed his hoof from her move as he looked down at her, only a few inches away. âWhat did you and Zecora talk about?â he asked firmly. He was acting much different as she felt her face getting red, but it felt different from before, like as if it was a different reason for it.
âUmm, well. . . W-we, I-I-I mean I was asking about y-you,â Twilight asked, panicking. Keen leaned forward, pinning Twilight to the wall behind her, inches away from her face. Her face felt like it was going to burst into flames at any moment, getting scared but slightly aroused at the sametime.
âReally, what did you ask her then?â Keen asked in a whisper smoothly into her ear.Twilightâs ears went straight down as she struggled to break free from his grip but not trying very hard. If she wanted to she could just simply teleport away but she just couldnât make her body listen.
âI-I-I j-just asked her i-if she could t-t-tell me anything about y-you,â she stuttered, trying to get her emotions under control. Keen leaned in, only an inch away from her lips.
âAnd what did she tell you?â he whispered so quietly that Twilight almost didnât hear as he was breathing down her neck.
âN-n-nothing, just one of her usual r-r-riddles, saying she c-canât s-s-say anything a-about you,â Twilight tried to explain. Keen pressed his body onto hers for a split second as he lightly nipped at her neck, her body flaring up as he did. She felt herself relax a little as he let go. He looked into her eyes as he finally let go of her.
âI believe you then, you can go. Also, can you do me a favor Twilight?â Keen asked politely. Twilight tried to stand but she fell as her legs were too wobbly at the moment, but she looked up as she looked up at him, dazzed and light headed.
âO-of course, w-what is it?â she asked nervously.
âDo not tell anyone else about this. Keep this as our little secret. Iâll explain why tomorrow night, ok? Can you promise me not to tell the other two girls?â he asked with a kind but seductive smile. âAlso, if you liked that, I may present to you a little âbonusâ pay when no one is around. Either way, come talk to me tomorrow night,â he added. Twilight found her strength as she slowly got up and looked at him with a love struck and confused stare on her face.
âYou mean Applejack and Rainbow Dash? Of course, Mr. Keen. I understand,â Twilight agreed as she slowly made her way out.
âHere, I shall show you out miss Twilight,â Keen offered as he opened the door. While heading for the front door, Keen looked back cautiously behind him, scanning the room. Twilight noticed this, as she felt her blood return to her body.
"Are you ok?" she asked nervously. Keen quickly looked back.
âOh yes, I am fine, now hurry on home and please be safe,â he instructed. Twilight nodded and started walking out through the doors.âAnd remember, do not tell anyone about our little, fun, ok? We will talk about it tomorrow, I promise,â he added in a pleading tone, her face turned red again as she thought about what just happened.
âI-I promise,â Twilight called back, trying to calm herself down again as she headed for Rarityâs house. Keen stood there smiling as he started walking around back, smirking to himself as he did so. Keen opened the door from the basement and looked around the store.
âHow odd, I could have sworn that I heard Twilight talking to someone up here. Hmph, I must have been hearing things. I guess it is time to lock up then,â Keen said to himself. He blew out the remaining candles and locked up the front doors. Doing a quick check he went up the stairs back up to his room. Around the back of the store by a tall tree, Keen walked towards it, making sure no one was around.
âDid, anypony see you?â a voice asked from the tree. Keen looked up and smirked, kneeling down before the tree.
âNo your highness. I made sure no one saw me,â Keen explained. He took off his goggles and smiled his eyes turned green and his horn grow longer and curvier with holes in it. He grew taller and bulkier and his legs showed holes and insect wings sprung out of his back.
âGood work. You never disappoint me, Saber. Now tell me, what are their names?â the mysteries figure asked from the tree, looking down at the changling.
âThe orange oneâs name is Applejack and the other one is a pegasus is named Rainbow Dash. I watched them for a while from outside to confirm the names,â Saber explained, never looking up from his kneeling position. The figure chuckled as two more changlings of the same size as Saber ran up to the tree quietly and knelt down as well.
âStain and Dagger, reporting in my lord,â the first one said.
âSo, what happened?â the shadowed figure asked.
âJust like you instructed us, we let him win. Our ranged attacks did nothing to him. We aimed dead on and we still missed. Our attacks curved away at the last second,â Stain explained with a light almost squeaky voice.
âWhen we engaged in close quarters, we experienced severe dizziness and it felt like our brains were vibrating from the inside of our heads, as well as our organs in our body. Also, I sensed something the whole time, my heart was pumping wildly. I couldnât think all that well. Also my blood was rushing around my face, â Dagger explained, sounding a bit heftier and sturdier.
âExcellent, good work everyone. Now it is time to put everything together. I have heard that âsheâ is on her way to Ponyville with Alpha Company escorting her,â the shadowed figure explained. Stain looked up.
âThe princess? Why is she coming here of all places?â he asked confused.
âShe has heard a rumor that Keen Eye is here and is on her way. She comes from Surge City, so it will take three days to get here. We must move ahead of schedule and perform Operation: Cloak and Dagger tomorrow night,â the shadowed figure explained to the three confused changlings while Saber chuckled to himself.
âNice timing then, but my lord, why is Alpha Company with her? I thought they were a war group, not an escort service?â Saber asked puzzled.
âBecause she needed to travel in enemy territory to get here. Now enough about the princess. Stain, I need to you prepare the dungeon. We have four guests coming over for the night tomorrow,â the figure explained calmly. The changling got up and bowed to the figure.
âYes my lord!â he exclaimed and then teleported away.
âSaber, I need you to make sure our escape route is clear and ready for us for when we get there, understand?â the figure ordered. Saber got up and bowed before him.
âYes my lord, it will be done,â he said and then teleported away like the one before him.
âAnd lastly, Dagger. I need you to make the final changes for the sheath ward. Make sure it is ready to hold of alicorn magic by tomorrow, or else things will get ugly,â the figure explained. Dagger got up and bowed like the others did.
âOf course my lord, I shall make the last few calculations as you command,â he stated as he teleported away. The hidden figure stared back at Keenâs open window with a hatred glare from his green eyes.
âI have waited years for this day. To see your body lie dead before my hooves. I hope you are prepared for the darkness, for you will be begging for death when I show it to you yet again. Tomorrow night, will be your last,â he said to himself as he stared off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity sat around a table sipping some tea and talking about the store. âYou should stop by sometime. It is so awesome!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed excitedly. Rarity smiled as she sipped her tea.
âSo where has Fluttershy been these past few days? I miss her,â Twilight asked concerned.
âShe is in Cloudsdale for the week. She said something about an old friend of hers coming to meet up with her or something,â Rainbow Dash explained blankly.
âYup, thats what I heard too, I hope she brings them to Ponyville, cuss I wanna meet them too and welcome them to Ponyville!â Pinkie Pie exclaimed, agreeing with Rainbow Dash.
âRainbow Dash, I must agree. I only worked with him for a short while, but I must say, he is so dreamy!â Rarity exclaimed as she fluttered her eyes, dazing off. Applejack chuckled to herself as she glanced at Rarity.
âSo ah reckon you like him Rarity?â she asked playfully. Rarity snapped back to reality as she pouted at Applejack.
âWell, I am not afraid to admit it, yes I do. He is observant, smooth, polite and well mannered, well groomed, smart, and absolutely charming. I must say almost everything about him is a true gentle colt of my dreams. My prince charming,â Rarity sighed away as she returned to her day dream, giggling like a little school filly. Rainbow Dash couldnât help but laugh.
âSo what, are you gonna marry him or something?â she asked, messing around with her.Rarity looked at her with a coy smile.
âWell if he asked, I wouldnât refuse. I am surprised that you girls havenât made a move on him yet,â she stated. Rainbow Dashâs smile disappeared as she glared at her and turned away. Applejack shifted uneasy and Twilight looked at her cup. Rarity looked at her three friends confused. âWhat is wrong? Was it something I said?â she asked confused and slightly concerned.
âThey all like him,â Pinkie Pie blurted out. the three mares turned to her shocked and surprised.
âHow did you know?â Twilight asked confused. Pinkie Pie just giggled.
âI didnât need a hunch to know that, you silly fillies,â she said playfully. Rarity giggled as well.
âItâs true, I could see it when we were all working together when we were opening the shop,â she explained.
âTo be honest, I like him to,â Pinkie Pie added. Everyone turned to her surprised.
âPinkie? You are actually interested in dating?â Rainbow Dash asked shocked.
âWell yea Dashie. I have been. I just didnât see any pony that looked like fun to date. Lotâs of fun friends, but not dating fun, you know?â the party pony asked her friends. They all looked at each other and all giggled.
âSo, we all wish to date Keen Eye then, huh?â Rarity spoke up. They all looked nervously at each other, except Pinkie Pie, and suddenly burst out laughing.
âWow, we look so pathetic!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
âYea, ah mean all of us got the hots for the same stallion. This is as wild as Pinkie Pie in a cupcake factory,â Applejack added, slapping her hoof on the table, laughing as she went. Pinkie Pie turned to her at that comment
âHey, I was not that bad. I only taste tested a few cupcakes and only got chased out three times,â she explained, making everyone in the room laugh even more. Pinkie Pie glanced over at the counter in the kitchen and saw a single letter. âHey, whatâs that?!â Pinkie Pie asked curiously as she darted for the kitchen. They all turned to Pinkie Pie as she read the front of the letter.
âOh yes, I forgot that I asked Sweetie Belle to bring in the mail. Who is it from?â Rarity asked.
âIt says Fluttershy. It says urgent on it,â Pinkie Pie answered back sounding concerned. They all got up and walked over to Pinkie Pie as she opened it and read it out loud. âDear Rarity, I am at Cloudsdale at the moment but I should be coming back soon. I managed to meet my friend who is staying here for the night. She asked me to send you this flyer to see if you have seen it the pony in the picture anywhere and if so to send a letter back as soon as you can. Iâm sorry to make you stop what you are doing to look at it but my friend begged me to send it and I canât let her down. Love Fluttershy,â Pinkie Pie finished. Rarity took the envelope and looked inside to find a thick piece of parchment. When she turned it over, she gasped as she dropped it to the floor. She took a few steps back as she fell onto her sofa with her right hoof on her forehead.
âRarity!â Twilight shouted. Rarity jumped off the couch and looked with an embarrassed look on her face.
âSorry, old habits die hard,â she explained. Twilight rolled her eyes as she picked up the parchment and she gasped as well. She put the parchment on the table for them all to see. It was a wanted poster for a 80,000 bits reward. The pony on the poster is what surprised them all.
âKeen Eye wanted for 80,000 bits alive?! What in tarnation did he do?!â Applejack asked shocked and surprised. Twilight stood there in disbelief as she questioned the posters existence. Suddenly, Keenâs words echoed in her head. âDo not judge some pony so quicklyâ his words echoed. Twilight thought for a second as the others started wondering about the poster. Twilight looked at the poster again.
âBut it doesnât say what he did to deserve this,â Pinkie Pie pointed out. She was right, it was left blank. Twilight read everything on the wanted poster.
âIf found, please report the last seen location of this pony immediately to the castle of Savange in France by the order of Princess Scarlet. France? That is almost on the other side of the world!â Twilight stated as she read the poster. They all were shocked as they read that part over and over again, just to make sure they were reading it right.
âThis doesnât make any sense, what did he do? I mean we have been working with him for awhile now and he seems like such a gentlecolt. There is no way he could hurt some pony!â Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flaring her wings in frustration and confusion.
âSomethin ainât right here, and who is this Scarlet pony? Ahâve never heard of her,â Applejack asked getting riled up.
âIâm not sure, I will ask Princess Celestia about this tomorrow morning and find out what this is all about,â Twilight declared.
âWhatever is going on, I believe Keen is in trouble and may need our help,â Rarity stated.
âBut what should we do about Keen? I mean we have to do something, but what?â Pinkie PIe asked, mostly to herself, thinking out loud. Pinkie Pie smiled and was about to say something.
âNo Pinkie, no party!â Rainbow Dash pointed out before she could speak. Pinkie Pie slumped into her seat.Twilight looked out the window and stared at the moon.
âWhatever is going on here, we need to be careful. We canât be so quick to judge him,â Twilight whispered to herself.
(Music listened to for this chapter, well, some of it, 'Her Darker Side' 'Spirit of Chaos' and 'One Last Letter' all by Aviators. My sound card is fried so it took forever to try to write the rest of this. I hope you enjoy the chapter )
Chapter 10: Operation Cloak and Dagger
Keen woke up, slowly rising from his bed and looking outside. The clouds blotted out the sun this day unlike the usual morning sun that usually greeted him. He frowned slightly as he looked out, giving off an eerie looking morning. âWell, it could be worse,â he said optimistically. He got up out of bed, stretched a bit and headed down stairs. He looked down and noticed that his employees were not in yet. âHmm, shouldnât they be here?â he asked himself. He looked carefully and noticed Snails looking up at him with a smile. Keen returned the smile as he walked on over to the door, unlocking it, and letting the young foal in. âWelcome, youâre a little early today,â Keen pointed out. Snails walked on by happily humming to himself.
âThank you master, I woke up early and had my breakfast, so I thought I should just come on by,â he explained.
âWell I am glad to see you then. Shall we get to training?â Keen asked with motivation. Snails smiled as he nodded his head.
âYou bet I am!â he exclaimed excitedly. Keen started leading Snails to the back room when suddenly he heard the door open, he smiled and turned his attention to the front.
âI am glad to see you finally made it Twilight, you are normally the first one in,â Keen pointed out. Twilight smiled nervously as she made her way towards the back room.
âSorry about that Keen, I ran into a friend on my way here and she ended up talking my ear off,â Twilight explained. Keen chuckled to himself as a certain pony came to mind.
âLet me guess, Pinkie Pie?â Keen asked playfully, starting to turn his attention back to Snails.
âYup, you know her. Anyway, I happened to past Rainbow Dash and Applejack, they should be getting here shortly,â Twilight explained as she went into the back room. Keen stopped for a second and thought on her words for but shook his head and kept walking.
âAnyway Snails, letâs get started,â Keen advised as he led the young foal to the training arena. Once inside, he closed the safety door behind them. âAlright, now letâs see what youâve learned,â Keen said with a smile on his face. Snails nodded his head in confidence as he charged up his horn. A small rock by the makeshift river was shrouded in a yellow aura and very slowly started levitating off the ground. Snails squeezed his eyes shut as he focused on the spell to raise the rock. Keen watched in amazement as the rock raised but then fell sharply to the ground. Snails let go and rubbed his head with his hoof.
âIâm sorry, master. I thought I could do it,â he said disappointed, staring down at the ground. Keen smiled as he kneeled down to the tall foal and looked him in the eyes.
âYou did a great job. You went from unable to use magic to making rocks levitate. You canât control them yet, but this is a great start. Come on, letâs go back up front. Show me where you have gotten in your reading,â Keen instructed. Snails looked down nervously and gulped. Keen chuckled to himself. âI see you havenât gotten that far then, huh?â he added.
âYea, itâs just you told me I had to flip the pages with my magic, but I just canât do it for too long,â he explained with a pleading voice.
âCome on, let me show you a trick on it. While we are at it we can get a something to drink,â Keen offered. Snail looked up excited as they headed out for the door. Once they got out and got to the front, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were stocking up shelves while Twilight sat behind the counter. Keen smiled to see all of his workers here just in time for opening. Keen glance over at Applejack with a confused look. âApplejack, what are you doing here so early? Donât you have chores to do back home?â Keen asked puzzled. Applejack turned to him with a guilty smile.
âOh, ah sorta left early to come over. Donât worry though, uh, sugar cube, ah made a deal with Big Mac to do the housework when ah get back. So I decided to work now and leave later, if that is alright,â she explained. It looked like she was straining to talk. Keen looked at her carefully as he watched her facial expressions.
âAre you alright Applejack? You seem, tense,â he asked concerned. Rainbow Dash bumped her shoulder and winked.
âYea, me and Applejack here had an arm wrestling contest and she is still not accepting the fact that she lost to me!â She stated as she flexed her muscles to show off. âCause, you know, I am the best around,â she added. Keen laughed as he watched her for the moment and turned back to Snails.
âAlright, now stay here for awhile, I need to grab something from down stairs. Donât touch anything,â Keen instructed. Snails nodded his head with a smile. Keen opened the door and headed down the stairs to the storage area. Twilight turned to Snails with a kind and gentle smile.
âSo, how are your studies?â she asked. Snails smiled shyly back at her as he looked up at her.
âI guess it is going good. It could be better. I just need to get better at it,â Snails explained. Twilight nodded back at him.
âI understand,â she replied as she got back up to the counter. Rainbow Dash smiled as she looked around.
âI guess Iâm good then. I mean I got this down easy!â she explained as she flew around the room. Applejack frowned at her.
âWell heck, why do I have to have the hardest task?â she whispered. Keen came back up, levitating a box from down below.
âIâm sorry, what is hard Applejack?â he asked, placing the box behind the counter. Applejack turned to him sharply, starting to sweat.
âUhhh, well. I, uh. Well. . . You see,â she started, trying to think of something. Twilight face hoofed herself as she stared at her angrily. Keen stared at Applejack worried.
âAre you alright, youâre not acting like your usual self. You seem like-â he started. Applejack looked around, panicking.
âWhat are you talking about, I am just fine,â she assured. Keen looked down at her, taking a step closer.
âWhat happened to your accent?â he asked sternly. Applejack looked around nervously.
âWhat are you. . . ya talking about, partner? Ah reckon itâs right here, yaâll,â she said with an overuse of her accent, sweat coming down from her forehead. Rainbow Dash face hoofed this time.
âOh forget this!â she exclaimed annoyed. She flew straight at Keen and tackled him into the wall. Twilight and Applejack stared with eyes open wide in confusion and fear. Keen was taken back by the sudden assault as his breath left his body forcefully. When Keen got some of his breath back, he looked up at Rainbow Dash.
âWhy?!â he asked through his teeth. She smiled cruelly as she grabbed him and threw him back into the room. He slid back onto his hooves as he turned to her.
âGirls, get out of here, Iâll hold her off as long as I can!â Keen Ordered, taking a stance in front of Rainbow Dash. She hovered a few feet off the ground, looking down at Keen with murderous intention in her eyes. Twilight and Applejack turned to look at each other and nodded. Keenâs horn started glowing bright green. Applejack rushed over and kicked Keen straight into his head, sending him flying to the other side of the room. Snails hid behind the counter, shivering in fear, looking through a small hole in the counter.
âWell, I guess playtime was over anyway. Letâs get things fired up!â Applejack exclaimed excitedly, tossing aside the cowboy hat. Keen got up slowly, taken back by the sudden betrayal as he looked up towards Twilight.
âTwilight, please, run!â he ordered. She smiled down at him cruelly as she raised her front hoof and sucker punched him right in the face, cracking one of the lenses in his goggles. He crawled on the floor, trying to get away. His three employees, his only friends, stabbing him in the back. Twilight grabbed him with her magic as she lifted him right into the air and slammed him onto the floor, cracking the floorboards under him. A small amount of blood gushed out of his mouth as he made impact, paralyzed for the moment by the sudden impact, twitching on the ground. Applejack stood over him, smiling a sinister smile and with obsessive eyes. Keen looked up at her as a single tear ran down his face through his goggles.
âWhatâs wrong, âpartnerâ, canât handle a little rough housing?â she said sarcastically as she leaned down and started punching him in the face repetitively. Every hit brought out some blood that splattered onto the floor. Keen took every hit, refusing to fight back. âThey may betray me, but I canât raise my hooves at themâ he thought to himself. Applejack got off of him and threw him onto a wall, still smiling. She backed away and let Rainbow Dash have at him. Snails poked his head out, almost too scared to move.
âMaster, what do I do?â he called out. Keen looked over to him and saw him looking over from behind the counter.
âJust run, get out of here and run!â Keen shouted through the blows. Snails started to run but Twilight grabbed a hold of him with her magic.
âOh, and where do you think youâre going?â she asked harshly. She pulled him over to her as she was about throw him across the room. Keen saw this and teleported over to her. Once there he pushed Twilight aside, knocking her down.
âJust run Snails, I can hold them off! Just get out of here and get help!â he instructed. Snails got back on all hooves as he made his way towards the door. Twilight got back up and snickered.
âOh no you donâtâ she whispered as she charged up a fireball above her horn. âA fireball?â Keen thought to himself. He braced himself for the oncoming attack. Twilight smiled menacingly as she turned her aim and shot it right at Snails. Keen saw the fireball head straight at him. With a quick thought, he teleported right in front of him, taking the shoot and tried to redirect it. With lack of distance, the shot started to turn left but still hit the ground right next to Keen and was launched to the side, flying through some of the shelves. He slowly got up and looked over to the three mares.
âWhy are you doing this? What have I done to you? Why would-â Keen started. Rainbow Dash zipped over and tackled him through another line of shelves. Keen was covered in cuts and bruises as Rainbow Dash got up and threw him into the ceiling, Twilight catching him and threw him through the floor and onto the basement concrete floor. Keen spat up more blood as it ran past his lips and through his coat. He tried to move but couldnât find the strength or the will to. Rainbow Dash jumped down and smiled.
âWe donât have to tell you crap! Now shut up already!â she shouted as she kicked him. Twilight lifted him back up back on the floor they were on and slammed him into some bookshelves. As Keen tried to get up, Applejack jumped at him and kicked him, sending him toppling over another shelf. Keen crawled around a bit and looked up to see Snails walk on over to him.
âYou idiot! Get. . . . out of. . . her!â Keen ordered, trying to stand up. Snails looked at him with a sinister smile spreading on his face and his eyes turned green. He grew taller than Keen and his horn and legs grew darker and covered in holes. âOh no. . . . â Keen whispered in horror. Capeskin stood before him with a hellish and crazed smile as his wings popped out of his back.
âHello K-9! Iâve been waiting for this day,â he said, raising his hoof up and slamming it down onto his face.
(Alright, I listened to a lot of good music, so I am just gonna pick the best ones for this story, here we go. 'Memories' by Within Temptation, 'Make a Move' and 'Off with her Head' by Icon for Hire, 'Young' by Hollywood Undead, 'Courtesy Call' by Thousand Foot Clutch, 'Just let me Die' by Hollywood Undead, 'How to save a life' by The Fray, 'I feel alive' [I am unable to get the music artist for some strange reason, sorry] 'Fight to Win' by Your Favorite martian, and lastly 'Derpy's Dream' by Aviators. Lot's of music this time around for the final chapter, enjoy
Chapter 11: It All Comes Together
Keen started to feel his consciousness return as he felt himself being dragged around. Darkness flooded his vision as he could hear voices around him. He felt himself raised and felt cold metal clamped around his four hooves. His vision started coming back and he could see Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and twilight standing before him. âWhere am I? What have you done to me?â he asked faintly, his strength very slowly returning to him. They looked back at him, scared and worried. He looked at them with rage building in his eyes. Dozens of questions flooded his mind as he tried to steady his vision. He tried to move but found his movement restricted. He saw that he was chained to two stone posts, forcing him to stand on his two hind legs as he partially dangled from them. He looked at them carefully as he noticed they were chained up as well in the same manner he was. They appeared to be in some underground cave dimly light by a few dozen torches but the area they were in was quite large in size.. Twilight had some sort of sheath wrapped around her horn. It had glowing runes on it and it appeared to be draining Twilightâs strength. He was confused and scared as his memory started coming back. âCapeskin!â he whispered angrily to himself. A menacing laugh could be heard from behind Keen.
âYes, have no fear, I am here dear old Keen Eye,â the voice answered. Keen turned towards the voice and saw Capeskin standing a good ten feet away from him with Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight standing next to him, all of them snickering and staring at him with cruel stares.
âWhat is the meaning of this, Capeskin?!â Keen demanded as he started to struggle but felt pain wash over his entire body, crippling his movements
âOh, donât move around so much, you might make your poor wittle boo boos worse. So just sit back, relax, watch, and listen,â Capeskin instructed, making his way towards Keen. âYou see, my old friend, I have been waiting for this day for six years. I have dreamt of this day since the day you disappeared from the face of the Earth. I have been waiting, planning, and day dreamed this very moment, and here you are, chained up like a good for nothing servant that you are, waiting for his punishment to come,â he explained. A deranged smile spread from his face as he got closer.
âWhy are you doing this?â Keen asked, feeling his rage build up. Capeskinâs twisted smile disappeared from his face as he glared down at Keen.
âRemember when you were still a simple dog trainer for the princess? Remember when she choose you over me?!â he asked enraged, getting closer and closer to Keen.
âAre you still mad about that? I had no power over that, and you punished me enough for what you did to me!â Keen shouted back.
âSILENCE YOUR DISGUSTING MOUTH YOU FILTHY DOG!!â Capeskin barked back in a loud shout. Keen fell silent and the three imprisoned mares flinched at Capeskinâs shout. Satisfied with their reactions, he take another step closer, now able to reach Keen in arms length. âNow, I am going to show you what happens to those you makes a fool out of me,â he added with a sinister smile and murderous passion burning in his eyes. He pulled back his hoof and clocked Keen straight at his mouth, reopening sealed cuts. Keen spit out a little bit of blood, staring back up at him. The three mares behind Keen laughed hysterically as there forms changed. Where the three attackers were standing now stood three changelings, Saber, Stain, and Dagger. Smiling at Keen menacingly, snickering to one another.Keen stared confused and hurt.
âSo, my workers didnât actually attack me?â Keen questioned, shocked. Capeskin snickered at him.
âYes, today they captured your workers and brought them down here so they wouldnât interfere with our plans. I knew you wouldnât try to fight your own friends,â he explained. He stared into his goggles as his mouth twisted into the form of a deviant smile. âAnything else you wish to ask before we begin? You at least deserve to know everything that I have done,â Capeskin offered. Keen thought for a moment. âWhere to begin?â he thought to himself.
âAll this time about wanting forgiveness, was it all a lie?â he asked.
âYes, I only said that to get close to you without you questioning,â
âWhat happened to Snails? What have you done to him?â
âNothing. He was never part of your little group. It was me the whole time so I could get a closer look at you without being detected,â
âWhat about the two unicorns that challenged me? Where they your agents?â
âYes, in fact, I sent Stain and Saber to fight you to give me a full battle report on your performance. Which thanks to them, I know how to fight you and how to avoid all your little âspecialâ tricks,â
âYou came in and asked for ingredients. Snails was with me, so how were you in two places at once, and why did you buy those?â
âIn order, that was Dagger, my best impersonator. I showed him my traveling form and he just simply copied it. The ingredients he bought were needed to complete the sheath of Sombra. A device he created to imprison alicorns and unicorns, preventing them the ability to use magic so he could torture them later,â
âWhat have I done for you to do this?â Capeskin finally dropped his anger and psychotic personality and his face turned to that of regret and pain.
âWhen me and my father returned from that meeting in Savange, he punished me for my actions. I was locked away in the torture chambers along with all the other prisoners and treated equally as them. My own father came down and whipped me with a thorned bull whip for an hour twice a day. I was given just enough food and water to live, but just barely. I was treated like this for three weeks, my father making sure that I learned my lesson. After that day, I was brought all over the world, trying to find a princess to mate with and to combine forces with, trying to create an alliance of some sort. Everypony in all of the nations heard about what I have done, and refused to even see me. My father blames me for what you made me do, so I made sure that if you were still alive, I would kill you for the humiliation that you have brought upon me and my family!â capeskin shouted angrily at Keen. He looked at him with sympathy and turned away, closing his eyes.
âDo what you want, I donât care anymore,â he said, feeling defeated. Capeskin smirked down at him, looking at the three restrained mares as tears started to roll down their faces.
âWhy do you three cry, you donât actually care for him, do you?â he asked harshly. Rainbow Dash stared up at him and struggled violently with her restraints.
âWhen I get out of her, I am gonna clobber you into the ground!â she threatened. Capeskin smiled at her, returning his gaze back down at Keen.
âShe has a lot of spunk, huh? I can see why you developed a little crush on her,â he said with a cocky grin. Keen looked at him with rage and flushed cheeks.
âDonât you dare touch her!â he barked back with a threatening tone. Rainbow Dash stopped and stared at Keen surprised and her cheeks slightly flushed.
âOh please, you canât sound intimidating while chained up, you idiot,â Capeskin laughed as he kicked Keen in his side. He grunted upon the impact, trying to flex his muscles before the blow. Twilight stared at him with angered eyes.
âWhen Princess Celestia hears about this, sheâll-â twilight started. Capeskin came over and punched her in her mouth, grabbing a hold of her chin to force her to stare into his crazed eyes.
âSheâll what? Punish me? Go to war against me? Please, I am not afraid of her pathetic army. I have already planned on her going to war against me. Let her declare war, I donât care! I want her to. Killing Keen Eye AND gaining new territory for my hive? Sounds like a combo deal to me, and Queen Crysalis will more than happily join my army to destroy this pathetic piece of land. So silence your mouth, or I will do it for you!â Capeskin threatened, releasing his powerful grip from Twilight whoâs tears started to trail down her face shamefully. He smiled as he punched her right in the gut, full force, making her cough up a small bit of blood. Keen struggled again with his restraints, this time ignoring the pain.
âDonât you dare touch her!â Keen yelled. Capeskin chuckled as he spun around to him.
âI told you not to sound intimidating you worthless-â he started, flailing a back kick at Keen. The hoof stopped inches away from his chest.
âIf you dare hurt them again-â Keen started. A magical mist started to swirl around Keen, raising him an inch of the ground. â-If you threaten them again-â he continued. His chains rattled around violently as the air swirled around the room. The three changelings started to back away from Keen. Capeskin smiled as he backed away from him as well. The chains shattered as red light shined brightly through his goggles like lasers. He landed on the ground, his wounds very slowly starting to reform as his well groomed mane was messed up and started to glow faintly red. His hornâs aura changed from green to ruby red. â-I swear to the gods, IâLL KILL YOU!!!â Keen threatened in a booming voice that echoed in the cave. The changelings stared fearfully at Keen and glanced over at Capeskin, who started to laugh psychotically.
âThis is what I have been waiting for. I real fight to the death! I love it. Come my minions, let us take care of this foe!â he ordered. The stood frozen in place, unable to move. âRelax, this is a stage all unicorns have the ability to use. It makes their magic level spike up for a short while. So we have the advantage here for time!â he tried to encourage his agents. They hesitated but ran up to stand by their masterâs side. Keen stared the four changelings down with hatred in his eyes. âCome on, what are you waiting for, the clock is ticking,â Capeskin taunted confidently.
Keen charged his horn and fired off a powerful shock wave, launching the four to the other side of the room. stunned for the moment, Keen teleported over and grabbed two of the smaller changelings and threw them across the hard, cold floor. As he turned back to the remaining two, Capeskin came up and sucker punched Keen right in the face, cracking the other lense on his goggles. He backed off for a split second and came for a punch, Capeskin easily blocking it. âCome on Keen, kick his flank!â Rainbow Dash called out, cheering him on. Capeskin chuckled as him and Keen struggled for dominance.
âYea Keen Eye, kick my flank, if you can,â he said with a cocky smile. Keen jumped up and kicked him right in the face, and punched him in the gut. Capeskin quickly recovered and socked Keen back in the face, kicking him with both hind hooves, sending him flying. The two Changelings behind Keen lined up for a duel kick and knocked him back at Capeskin. His horn started to glow as he had a stone wall come up in front of him. Keen slammed his front side upon the side of the wall. The wall buckled over and fell on top of him with a satisfying crunch.
âThat was a bit too easy, donât you think my lord?â Stain said confidently. He walked up and stood on top of the fallen wall as he posed, flexing his muscles. The stone rock exploded, launching the unexpected changeling as he was launched into the ceiling. Keen stood up as his magic swirled, one of his lenses broke off completely but he kept that eye closed as he stared Capeskin down.
âCrap, he is a lot stronger now. What do you do my lord? Nothing is slowing him down!â Dagger asked as fear started to return. Keen teleported, but this time it was different. As soon as he disappeared, he reappeared in front of them both, kicking them in the face. they were launched into the air as they flew. Keen teleported again towards Dagger and gave off a series of quick punches and kicks while he was still flying into the air. With a final kick launching him into the ground, he quickly teleported again to Capeskin and gave off the same punishment, grabbing him in the end and slammed him into the hard stone wall, cracking it upon impact. Saber was on the other side of the room, backing away slowly. He watched him as a small stream of electricity was sparking around the room where Keen was teleporting.
âWhat the hell is all of this?!â he questioned fearfully. Keen turned to him with murderous intention and teleported to him. As quickly he vanished he reappeared in front of Saber and pounded him into the ground and throwing him to the other side of the room. He teleported in quick sessions, throwing the poor changeling all over the room. Capeskin got up and teleported to Keen and grabbed him, holding him tightly.
âThatâs enough of that now,â he said teasingly as he tightened his grip, squeezing the air out of his lungs. Keen was unable to move his arms or legs as Capeskin locked his joints, restraining him completely. His horn flared to life as he aimed it at Capeskin, he flinched but held his grip. âItâs no use, your little sonar spell is impressive, i will give you that, but it is easy to counteract against it once you do a little research on the subject,â he said, tightening his grip even more. Keen could feel his joints cracking from the pressure and his bones starting to strain. He thought quickly as he teleported, bring Capeskin with him. âYou idiot, as long as I am making physical contact with you, I go where-â he started. Keen teleported to the top of the ceiling and launched downwards at the ground, slamming Capeskinâs back onto the floor with a thundering crack. The ground broke apart as blood rushed out of his mouth. With a victorious smile, he shook off Capeskinâs limp arms off of him and stood back up, getting tackled by Stain, who had blood running down from the top of his head.
âThis needs to end, now!â He yelled as he raised his hoof. Keen smiled.
âSo be it!â he exclaimed back as he shoot out a shock wave of magic at him, launching him back at the ceiling. He crashed onto it and fell back to the ground with a loud thump. Keen jumped back onto his hooves and looked around for another target. Dagger charged up an attack, this time long range. He gathered up shards from the ground and aimed them at Keen. With a silent push, he launched them at him, flying at an accelerating velocity. The shards shattered before contact and broke apart into dust. Keen slightly turned towards Dagger with a sinister smirk.
âOh crap,â Dagger whispered, as he turned to run Keen was already in front of him, static sparked around his body and kicked him in the face, projectilling blood out of his mouth and the rest of the body followed, hurdling him through a stone pillar. Keen spun around to kick Capeskin who came at him. He caught the kick and smiled, grabbing it and throwing him. Keen teleported as soon as he let go and appeared behind Capeskin, coming in for a punch. Capeskin spun around and kicked him in the face, creating another crack on the remaining lense on Keenâs goggles. Keen teleported again to the side of Capeskin and came in for a kick to the side, which he grabbed with relative ease.
âHow?!â Keen asked confused and startled. Capeskin smiled a cruel and harsh smile back at him as he picked him up above his head and slammed him back into the ground.
âHighly impressive. I had no Idea you went to Surge City. I am surprised. How did you get them to teach you that spell?â he asked with a pleasantly confused smiley on his face. Keen got up and teleported again, this time in front of Capeskin, rearing up for a kick. He smiled side stepped and grabbed his other leg, throwing him back onto the ground. âElectrical teleport, if I am not mistaken. The spell similar to the teleport spell that a lot of unicorns learn through time, this version allows itâs user to teleport at the speed of light, or so they would have you believe. It is just a mimic. What the spell actually does it makes you move so fast that you appear to be teleporting, only works in short distances but as much as you want, no cool down. Down sodes are itâs lack of range and the fact that to use this spell, it needs at least seven times as much magic to cast. Also, once the opponent watches the user for a short amount of time, they can figure out the pattern and be able to easily counter it. Impressive, but if that is the best you got, then I have bad news for you,â Capeskin smiled as he looked down at Keen. Applejack tried to fiddle with the lock using a harden strand of hay. Rainbow Dash and Twilight looked at her confused.
âWhat are you doing?â Twilight whispered confused.
âDonât worry yaâll, I got this. I have seen this done so many times before, I think I got it,â Applejack whispered back with confidence. âOnce I bust out of here, ahâm gonna help him out,â she added as she felt something click. She smiled and pulled the strand of hay back only to realize that the strand broke off. âDarn it,â she said out loud. Capeskin looked over towards Applejack.
âI see, trying to escape huh? Letâs break a limb to show them that-â he started. Keen jumped up and kicked him in the face. Capeskin fell to the ground and Keen rose to his hooves. The red aura around him turned back to green and started to fade. Capeskinâs agents started getting up slowly, aching. They looked over at Keen and smiled confidently.
âNowâs our chance!â Stain called out as they charged at him, one by one. Keen turned back behind him and took a stance, his wounds started to reopen and the new ones started returning. âNo, Iâm out of timeâ he thought to himself as his aura started to fade away. Saber jumped up and went to super man punch Keen in the face, he managed to duck and shot a shock of upwards, launching him into the ceiling. As he came back down, Keen kicked him in the stomach and sent him to the ground. Stain tackled him to the ground and charged up a fireball on top of him. Keen spun his body onto his stomach and pushed off from the ground, throwing him off. Saber grabbed Keen and shoved him into a wall, having wooden vines come out of the wall, holding him in place. He smiled as he jumped out of the way as Stain charged up a fireball and launched it at Keen. He struggled to get out before the fireball hit him but was too late and it exploded on impact.
âKEEN EYE!â Twilight called out, struggling to get free from her restraints. Rainbow Dash and Applejack joined her, trying to break free, but to no success. Capeskin cast a similar shock wave to put out the flames. He laid on the hard floor, not moving, his fur burnt and a few small flames still ignited. He laid there still, not evening his chest moved to the rhythm of breathing. the three mares started crying as they saw his body. Capeskin laughed as he looked back at his changeling agents, and nodded his head towards Keen. They creeped up to him and pulled him up by his front hooves. He was breathing, but just barely. His goggles completely broken off, leaving his eyes bare but his eyes laid shut.
âWhat should we do your highness?â Stain asked humbly. Capeskin started to laugh at the seemingly lifeless Keen Eye.
âWe move to the final act. Place him at the altar, no need for chains, just get the final stage ready,â he instructed. The changelings snickered and smiled sinisterly as they wiped off their blood from their previous battle.
âYes, as you command, my lord,â Dagger said, bowing before him as him and the other changelings dragged him to his original chained position as they laid him down and held him still. Keen started to open his eyes but felt his goggles missing and closed them back quickly. Capeskin had him facing the three restrained mares. He walked up to stand in front of Keen and chuckled.
âAre you still trying to hide your eyes? Come on, show them those pretty ruby eyes that you are so proud of,â Capeskin taunted. He grabbed a hold of Keenâs face and forced him to look in their direction while pulling at his hair, getting a low grunt past his lips. He forced his eyes shut, resisting him. âOh come on, donât tell me you never showed them! Oh come now Keen, now is the perfect time to show them, while you still have life in your eyes,â Capeskin explained, trying to force Keenâs eyes open. He continued to squeeze his eyes shut as Capeskin continued to pull at his hair and shaking his head around. âGeez, he is stubborn,â he added. The three stared in fear, their eyes dried up from all the tears they have shed and have spread out all over into their fur. They watched with pleading eyes as they stood there helplessly watching Keenâs abuse.
âPlease, just stop,â Rainbow Dash whispered. Capeskinâs ear perked up by the sudden noise as he turned his gaze at her.
âWeâll do anything you want, just please stop it and leave him alone,â Twilight pleaded.
âHe is our boss, and our friend. We wonât tell no pony, just stop,â begged Applejack. capeskin looked at them with a crooked smile as he returned his gaze back to Keen.
âYou have quite the group here. I see they believe they are in love with you, just like the others did,â Capeskin said harshly.
âOthers?â Applejack asked confused. Capeskin didnât turn but he laughed out loud.
âYou didnât tell them anything at all, did you? Oh my, you kept all of your secrets to yourself this time. How cruel of you, keeping them in the dark,â Capeskin said, teasingly as he turned his gaze to the three mares once again. âThis isnât the first time one or more mares have fallen so madly in love with him,â he started to explain. Keen tried to struggle but the combination of the two changelings and all the cuts and bruises the cover his whole body made it very difficult to move.
âStop, donât say anything,â Keen pleaded.
âYou see, one of the side effects to the sonar spell that he uses causes any pony near him to have their blood start very lightly vibrating, causing flushed cheeks, rapid heart beat, and unclear thoughts. So many ponies are thinking that they are in love,â Capeskin explained. They stared back shocked and in disbelief, but Twilight shook her head.
âBut we are around him a lot during the day, he only uses the sonar spell during the night to see in the dark. We are only around him during the day,â Twilight protested. Capeskin snickered to the reply as he stared into her eyes.
âI will show you why, my dear âPrincessâ Twilight,â he said as he grabbed a gentle hold of Twilights chin with his hoof and smiled sincerely. He released her and went up to Keen, he aimed a hoof right at the center of Keenâs back and with all his force, stomped on it. A loud crack echoed from the cave which was followed up by Keenâs screaming. The three imprisoned mares flinched away at the sound as they squeezed their eyes shut for the moment, slowly opening them. âRelax, I did not break it, just need some reshifting is all, like this,â Capeskin assured as he placed his hoof at a certain part of keenâs back and pushed upward harshly, another loud snap echoed. Keen continued to keep his eyes close.
âPlease, stop it,â Keen begged. Capeskin snickered to himself as he looked up at Dagger he stood close by, awaiting his masterâs orders. He nodded his head at him. Dagger smiled cruelly as his horn glowed green. A sharp, flat rock levitated from a pile of rubble as it was slowly brought to in front of Keenâs head.
âWhat are you doing?!â Rainbow Dash asked, frightened and confused.
âIntroducing him back into the darkness,â Capeskin replied coldly as he turned to Dagger, nodding his head to him. With a cruel and cold smile, he aimed the sharp stone above Keenâs horn and dropped it. The rubble came down and with a loud crack and severed Keenâs horn. The cut was rough as it simply broke off at the end. Keen uttered an ear piercing scream of both pain and terror as blood started running from his horn and onto his face. Capeskin smiled coldly down at Keen as he signaled his agents to let go of the defenseless
This time, Keen opened his eyes widely which Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash dropped their jaws when they saw them. Keenâs eyes were a ruby red, but the pupils were a dark grey redish color.
âKeen, youâre. . . . youâre. . . youâre blind?!â Twilight exclaimed in disbelief. Keenâs eyeâs darted around, looking for the source of the voice.
"Why did you hide it?" Rainbow Dash asked confused and in disbelief.
"Most likely as an attempt to feel normal. He doesn't like special treatment, so I have heard," Capeskin explained in Keen's place, snickering to himself.
âTwilight, Rainbow Dash, where are you?â he asked confused and frighten. He tried to stand up but fell back down, his body was past itâs limits from all the blood lose and all of the injuries. His eyes continued darting around, desperately trying to find something in itâs sights.Twilight and her friends glared up at Capeskin.
âWhat have ya done to him?!â Applejack demanded. Capeskin simply smiled coy back at her.
âThis is why he had the sonar spell on the whole time. This is how he was able to see all this time, fooling every pony who came his way into believing his little act. I have done nothing but reintroduce him into the darkness. After all, I was the one who introduced him to it in the first place,â he explained with a harsh smile looking down at Keen. âWhatâs wrong old friend, you seem a little lost?â he added harshly as he kicked Keen in the face, laughing as he did it.
âWhy would you do such a thing to him?â Twilight asked, heartbroken. Capeskin turned back to her his smile turning to a calm one.
âBefore I kill him, I will tell you of his story. You mares deserve that at the least,â Capeskin started as he pulled a mound of stone from the ground using his magic and took a seat, signaling his changeling agents to take a seat as well and to watch Keen. âIt all started about eight years ago, in the grand castle of Scavange, all the way in France. . . . â Capeskin started his story
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was a bright and sunny day in the city of Scavange. As the Princess looked out from her balcony to see the rising sun, she took a deep breath to smell the crisp morning air. There was a knock on her door and she turned her head slightly towards the door. âCome in,â she said firm but kindly. An earth pony with a black tuxedo and glasses on opened the door and came in.
âMadam Scarlet, I have todayâs schedule if you would lend me your ears for just a few moments,â the earth pony announced, holding a scroll perfectly balanced on top of his head. The princess giggled.
âOf course Fire Hoof. Please continue,â she replied with a kind hearted smile. Princess Scarlet was the usual height for a sixteen year old alicorn. She had a scarlet red mane and a light blond body and deep ocean blue eyes. Her wings were a bit smaller than most alicorns but she was still as good as the average flyer. She was of age to be with a prince. Today was the day she met the two candidates, her fatherâs choice of course, but at least she got to choose who she would marry. She listened to the schedule which everything was already what she knew, but she pretended to listen otherwise. Once he was finished, she nodded, acknowledging that she was listening. âAlright, can you make some spare time for me to visit the dog breeder today? I wish to check on how Lady is recovering,â she pleaded with puppy dog eyes towards the Fire Hoof. The butler looked at her for a moment and sighed in defeat, smiling softly down at her.
âWell, I guess you donât need to see the grand art museum today. Itâs not necessarily going anywhere. I suppose we can push that back for tomorrow,â he said as he pulled out a pony and crossed it out on the scroll. Princess Scarlet jumped up and hugged him excitedly.
âThank you Hoofy, youâre the best!â she exclaimed. Fire Hoof was taken back by the sudden intrusion but smiled softly as he returned the gester.
âOf course Madam Scarlet. It is my job to make your daily duties a tad more organized. That is my purpose here in the castle,â he explained humbly. Scarlet giggled and let go of him. âNow I shall be down in the main halls to await your arrival and to introduce you to the newcomers,â he added. Scarlet rolled her eyes and went behind a thick curtain were only her shadow could be seen and undressed to put on her usual attire.
âSo, that really is today huh? The day I choose my prince charming?â Scarlet asked with a hint of sarcasm.
âMadam, I know you are not very fond of the idea of getting married, but every prince and princess at some point in their liveâs have to find a certain pony to share the throne room, sort of speak,â Fire Hoof explained. Princess Scarlet came out from behind the curtain wearing a dress that was both casual and elegant at the same time. âA beautiful choice, comfortable and graceful in the motion,â he added. Scarlet smiled as she playfully bumped his shoulder.
âCome on, I want to get this over with,â she said as she led the way. After she had breakfast she went to the throne room to find her father sitting in the throne.
âScarlet, here I have two fine princes, both have much promise, wealth, power, and both are sharp stallions. To my left is Prince Solar Frost of Serge City,â the colt in question took a step forward and bowed low and gracefully before her, but looked very shy. He was a pegasus who had ice blue fur and a deep blue mane Who stood next to his father he watched him closely, he looked a lot like each other except The king had an ice blue beard. âand to my right is Prince Capeskin from the Master Hive capital,â the pony in question wasnât even a pony, but a tall and toned changeling. He stood what appeared to be his father, they looked similar but the King looked cruel and cold, and watched Capeskin like he was about to commit a crime at any moment. He had a confident and charming smile as he bowed before the princess.
âMadam, it is a true pleasure, in meeting you,â he said, flashing bedroom eyes in her direction. She smiled politely but looked at her father like âReally?â The whole day was spent spending time with each of the princes, getting to know them personally. First was Prince Capeskin. He only really talked about himself and he great he was and he powerful his army was and all about his hunting trips. She dreaded the day spent with him as he seemed only interested to get up her skirt, which he made a few grabs from time to time, although they seemed harmless, she did not like that. Once their time was up, she bowed respectfully and went on to spend the day with Solar Frost. He seemed a bit too shy and let her do most of the talking, which she didnât mind. the sun was starting to set as she remembered the time.
âOh, I have to check up on my dog, come on, let me introduce you to my dog trainer!â Princess Scarlet exclaimed as she had him follow her as they jumped at the window to fly down. As they landed, by a barn with many separated wooden fences cutting off certain groups of dogs. âKeen Eye!â she called out. The unicorn came out with a bit of dirt on his cheeks as he poked his head out, his ruby eyes sparkling in the light of the setting sun.
âPrincess Scarlet, what a pleasant surprise, I am assuming that you are here check on miss Lady, am I correct?â he asked humbly as he kneeled before her. Princess Scarlet giggled as she playfully jabbed his shoulder.
âHey, come on, I told you to just call me Scarlet, now get up,â she instructed. Keen rose back to his hooves and turned inside. Prince Solar watched them interact the whole time. As he was explaining what was wrong with Scarletâs dog, as they both joked around playfully. He knew who she was gonna choose in the end. Solar started listening as they were talking about dogs again.
âIf you do not mind me asking, sir Keen, but how do you know so much about dogs?â Prince Solar asked humbly. Keen turned to him with a kind and gentle smile.
âWhy Prince Solar, you just have to look is all. Every little thing they do is a sign,â he explained, smiling the whole time. Solar looked at him confused. âThe reason I am good at what I do is because I observe everything. What you think is nothing, tells me everything I need to know,â he added, putting the little poodle that was Lady. Scarlet snuggled her nose up to her which the small dog returned the gester happily. Solar smiled at him.
âThose are some amazing eyes then. Your name is really fitting,â Solar complemented.
âMy eyes arenât that good, Prince Solar Frost. I just simply know how to use them to the fullest. For my job needs my eyes. Without them, I would no longer be useful to the family,â Keen said with a sad tone, even though he wore a smile. Solar looked at him, surprised at his humbleness and kindness. That night, Princess Scarlet said her goodbyes to Keen as her and Prince Solar Frost flew back up to the castle as everyone gathered to hear who she was choosing.
âSo, my daughter, have you chosen a Prince to wed?â The King asked Princess Scarlet. She stood before her father. As she looked at both Prince Capeskin who winked at her and Prince Solar Frost who shyly at her. She liked Solar Frost, but as a husband she just couldnât see. She wasnât opposed to a changeling for a husband, but Capeskin seemed full of himself but he seemed like he could provide for her and protect her, if he is as good as he says he is. Prince Solar could see that she was struggling with her choice.
âKing Crimson, may I say something to hear quickly?â he asked politely. The King looked down and nodded. Solar left his fathers side and rushed over to Scarlet to whisper in her ear. âIf I may be so bold to speak these words to you. Do not choose either of us, your heart as already decided on a certain pony, you love him. So choose a pony who will make you happy, since you are allowed a choice,â Solar explained in a faint whisper so that only Scarlet could hear. He pulled away and nodded at her, returning to his position next to his father. Capeskin chuckled.
âWhat, had to make some sort of last bride there, Solar?â he called over in a playful manner.
âI have decided!â Scarlet called out. All the ponies, and some changelings, in the courtroom looked at her. Capeskin smiled as he fixed his mane up. âI shall marry Keen Eye!â she announced. Everyone gasped in shock and surprise. Capeskin froze as he turned to her in disgust.
âThe dog trainer? Why this is an outrage! I lost the heart of a princess by a- ow, ow ow ow,â Capeskin complained. His father grabbed him by his ear and pulled him away.
âEnough, child. You will not make enemies here. Now shut your trap, we are done here,â he instructed as he pulled him away. Solar sighed as his father placed a gentle hoof on his shoulder.
âIt is fine, I am sure you did your best, come on, we will schedule another meeting in a different castle,â he said kindly. With a soft smile, they walked off, leaving the Princess with her father, who was mildly upset.
âNow sweetheart, I know this is your choice, that was our agreement, but marrying a peasant? It has never been heard of, please, I will find another set of Princes and we can-â he started.
âI am sorry father, but no. My heart already belongs to him. I wish to obey you, father, but I just canât be happy with anypony else besides Keen Eye, I beg of you to bless our marriage. Either way we will,â Scarlet demanded. Her father got up from his seat, anger building in his chest but then he smiled, softly chuckling to himself.
âMy my, you remind me so much of your mother. Stubborn as a mule and wonât take no for an answer, even if she had to go against her family. That is how you were born, so saying that this isnât possible would be contradictory,â he explained. He looked outside and then back to her. âThen tell him tomorrow, he is fast asleep by now,â he advised. Scarlet smiled from ear to ear as she rushed over and hugged her father tightly in her arms.
âThank you father!â she exclaimed. Capeskin watched from a crack with a sickening face.
âBy the gods, this is revolting. I must share some words with this dog trainer,â he said to himself as he teleported. Keen was down by his dog stables as he gave each and every one of them fresh food and water.
âThere you go guys. Enjoy while you can, you guys go into the guard posts tomorrow afternoon, so get a good nights sleep,â he said while petting a group of dogs in one pen, he gave them all a good pat down as he started making his way towards his barn for sleep. One of the dogâs ears twitched in a different direction that made Keen stop dead in his tracks. He took a deep breath and looked behind him, seeing Prince Capeskin walking towards him with a small group of changelings following closely behind him. âPrince Capeskin, it is good to see you this fine evening,â Keen said with a friendly smile. Capeskin flashed a smile at him as he looked at the dogs in their pen.
âSo, do you train these dogs yourself, peasant?â Capeskin asked harshly. Keen kept his composure and nodded.
âYes my lord. I have trained them all,â he replied. Capeskin nodded, slightly impressed, looking at them all.
âThey are lovely dogs, I must say. So tell me peasant, how often do you see Scarlet?â he asked, getting straight to the point.
âWell, Princess Scarlet comes by to check her dogs injuries three to five times a week. Miss Lady unfortunately twisted her ankle, so I am nursing her back to good health, for it is my duty to take care of all the dogs,â Keen explained.
âSo, you see Scarlet fairly often? I mean you saw her today, right?â Capeskin asked, circling Keen as his personal body guards formed a loose circle around Keen as well.
âYes my lord. I happened to see her today,â Keen replied bluntly.
âTell me peasant, do you love Princess Scarlet?â
âMy lord, it has never been heard of for a peasant to be with a princess, I would never corrupt her image by such deluded thoughts,â
âOh really? What if she was in love with you, hypothetically of course?â
âWell, I am not sure then, my lord. I have never thought about it,â
âI see. Then she really is nothing but filth,â Capeskin snarled as he started to walk away.
âPlease, my lord, do not insult her in such ways,â Keen pleaded, feeling a spark of anger ignite. Capeskin turned back to him with a cruel smile.
âOr what, peasant?! Are you threatening me?!â Capeskin shouted. He pushed Keen to the ground and glared down at him.
âI would never threaten you my lord, Itâs just that-â he started. Capeskin kicked him in the face, spitting on him.
âI care not of your reason. You and that filth of a princess fit well with each other,â he interrupted, leaving him on the ground.
Keen felt his rage built up out of control, he always had good control of his anger, but hearing those words, he lost it quickly. He grabbed a bucket with his magic and threw it at Capeskin. The bucket simply had water in it, but it covered the arrogant prince head to hoof. he turned with a murderous smile as he teleported to him and suckered punched him in the face.
âYou are going to regret that, you filthy swine!â Capeskin threatened as he kept clocking Keen in his face, over and over again. Keen tried to block and defend himself, but he didnât know any spells, so he kicked him off. He ran at Capeskin but he teleported behind him and knocked him back down. He would grab Keen with his magic and would swing him around, slamming him into the ground and into trees. The dogs started barking out loudly, trying to get to their master. Capeskin stood over Keen as blood ran down his face.
âMy lord, He must hurry before some pony finds us?â one of Capeskinâs guards advised.
âShut it Saber! He has some really amazing eyes, if you actually take a look at them, now tell me, what would happen if I removed your gift of sight?â Capeskin asked, staring down at him with a crazed smile. Keen started to panic as he tried to push the mad prince off of him, but to no success.
âPlease, my lord, donât-â he started. Capeskinâs horn glowed green as it shot green lightning straight into Keenâs eyes. He screamed in pain and agony as he fought to get Capeskin off of him. One of the guards finally rushed over and pushed him off of keen. A small group held their weapons towards Capeskinâs personal guards.
âHow dare you-â he started. Princess Scarlet grabbed him with her magic and threw him into a boulder in front of the house.
âNo, how dare you! You knew I choose him and yet you attacked him!â Scarlet yelled as she kept her grip on him. A guard rushed over to Keen and brought him to the infirmary. Scarlet watched Keen for a moment before returning a hatred gaze back at Capeskin.
âHe attacked me, I was defending myself,â Capeskin pleaded.
âIf you were defending yourself, then a curse mark is not necessary. You went too far!â Said a dark voice from behind the boulder. Capeskin looked to one side and saw nothing, then the other to see his father glaring him down as if death was looking at him.
âOh no,â Capeskin whispered. His father grabbed him and marched him off.
âPlease leave the punishing to me, there is no need for war. I will personally see to it that he will think twice about doing this ever again,â Capeskinâs father said, dragging him away by his hair with his magic. Scarlet nodded as she watched them pass. The next morning, Scarlet rushed over to see Keen. The doctor stopped her.
âPrincess, please understand something. I know of your announcement. I personally think he is good for you, but there is nothing I can do for him. The curse that was placed upon him has taken his sense of sight, for good,â the doctor explained. Scarlet stared back at him coldly.
âLet me see him,â she ordered. the doctor nodded and stepped out of the way. She walked on over to Keen and sat by his side. Keen had bandages wrapped around his eyes as he laid in bed, steadily breathing. Scarlet looked down at him with a worried stare. âNo matter what Keen, I will always love you the same,â she whispered as she leaned down to him, kissing his forehead.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
âSometime after that, I heard news that Keen couldnât take it anymore and he threw himself of a waterfall. They never found his body, and now I see why. You survived all this time and even learned to work around it. Very impressive,â Capeskin explained, finishing his story. Twilight, rainbow Dash, and Applejack looked at Keen with sadness in their eyes as tears started to form back again. âTo this day, Princess Scarlet is looking for him. She has been searching all over the world, but luckily for me, I found you first,â he added with a cold smile. He stood back up and stretched himself out.
âWhat now my lord?â Stain asked, holding down Keen.
âWell, story time is over and it is about time to end this once and for all. Saber, is our escape rout ready?â Capeskin asked quickly.
âYes your highness. Everything is ready. We would be able to get out of here without any pony knowing we were ever here,â Saber explained humbly.
âGood, letâs get moving then. Stain, Dagger, dispose of Keen. I am down toying with him,â Capeskin ordered coldly. Dagger and Stain turned to him with crazed smiles, slowly approaching him.
âWhat about the three mares?â Saber asked, looking back at them.
âThey are no problem. I have no quarrel with them. Let them stay right where they are, I am sure that some pony will find them sooner or later. Once someone realizes that Princess Twilight Sparkle is missing and nowhere to be found, they will finally do a search for her. Just kill off Keen Eye and we will get out of here,â Capeskin explained. Stain held Keen down as Saber levitated a shard from the side and raised it past Keenâs head. He didnât need his sonar spell to realize that this was his end.
âPlease, just be quick,â he begged. With a snicker, they looked down at him, smiling sinister smiles at him. Saber brought the shard high above Keen and dropped it. The three mares watched as time slowed down as the shard came down at Keen, who closed his eyes, accepting his fate. It came came and pierced him in the back, a small bit of blood running down his spine.
âHuh?â Stain said with a confused expression. The shard glowed red and seemed to have completely stopped. It rose out of him and was thrown to the side with a loud crack from it breaking apart. Capeskin felt a shiver down his spine as he looked behind him to see the shard.
âNo,â he whispered. He turned his gaze at the entrance. A mare stood there, hidden and cloaked as a light yellow horn could be seen glowing red. âNo, no no no no! Agents, attack!â capeskin yelled out in a panic. The agents turned to the entrance and charged at full force, each preparing their best spell. A large group a heavily armored pegasi of colors of crimson red and gold rushed past the cloaked mare and charged at the changelings. The changelings fired off their spells, but their attacks simply bounced off the guards armor. Before they could turn around, the guards tackled them, pinning them to the ground and aimed their spears at their throats.
âWhat is going on here?â Twilight asked puzzled but slightly relieved. Capeskin backed away from the guards as they turned their gaze to him.
âCapture him, alive!â one of the guards called out. Capeskin spun towards another exit down the other side and noticed that Canterlot unicorn guards rushed in from that exit.
âWhat the hell?!â he stuttered out. In a panic he skidded to a sharp turn towards a hole at the very edge of the cave. The cave led to the surface straight up. He smiled as he got to it.
âRemember this day as the day you started a war with the changeling armies. remember this as the day you destined all your lives to the grave, remember this day as the day you almost cau-â he started. A large figure fell down from the hole and landed on top of Capeskin.
âYou talk too much, you stupid fool,â said the figure. Capeskin looked up to see his capturer and gulped down fear.
âF-f-f-father?!â he stuttered in fear. He stared down at him with hatred burning in his eyes.
âThank you for assisting me, King Deathskin. I wouldnât have been able to capture him without your help,â the cloaked mare called out as she approached the three captured mares dangling from their restraints. âRelease them immediately,â she ordered. The guards in red nodded and rushed over to them. With a swift swing, they would sever the chains. Once they were on all four hooves again, they rushed over to Keen.
âKeen, are you ok?â Twilight asked worried. He was breathing but didnât say anything and his eyes remained closed.
âHey, come on now. Your tougher than that, boss. Come on, get up,â Rainbow Dash encouraged. he still did not respond.
âHey there, sugar cube. Are ya just gonna leave yes here or are ya gonna get us out of this gloomy place?â Applejack asked playfully. The cloaked mare stepped up to the group.
âPlease, if I may?â she asked kindly. They looked up to her and made room for her to sit by them and Keen. She cradled him in her arms as she slowly rocked him back and forth as she hummed a tune foreign to the others. after a few moments, Keen stirred as he slowly opened his eyes. They glance around as he suddenly remembered that he has lost his sight.
âThat tune, Iâve heard it before,â he whispered. He felt himself gently rocking back and forth, the heat that came off from the mare. âThis fur,â he inhaled through his nose as he looked up at her. âThat scent. . . . I know who you are,â he whispered. She smiled down at her as she pulled her hood down. âPrincess. . . Scarlet,â he added. The once cloaked mare sat there with him in her arms, her long red mane hanging down from her face as tears fell from her face.
âHello my love, it has been many years since I have last seen you,â Scarlet replied in a soft whisper. Keen tried to push himself away gently.
âPlease, Princess, I am covered in filth, I do not wish-â he started. Scarlet grabbed a hold of him and buried her muzzle into his neck, letting her tears out as she cried deeply into his fur.
âThe last thing I would care about right now is my attire. I thought you were dead for so long. I heard rumors of you walking from town to town all by yourself. I posted a bounty for you hoping that would get ponies to tell me where you were. I had an old friend of mine tell me that she thought she saw a changeling that matched Capeskinâs description, so I rushed over here as fast as I could. I am sorry that I was too late,â Scarlet said, crying out loud into Keenâs neck. He was frozen in shock. Twilight and her friends watched as they let a few last tears fall from their eyes as they watched the reunion of them.
âI, I donât know what to say,â Keen whispered, confused and yet, happy. He smiled as he slowly lifted his hooves around the crying princess, sharing her embrace. Keen felt himself drift off into slumber. He didnât know when but everything was fuzzy after that and he couldnât remember anything after that.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few days later, Scarlet received a letter from her father, it was him replying to her request to stay in Ponyville. It read:
âDear Princess Scarlet,
My dear sweetheart, now normally I would refuse this request in a heartbeat, but I know that this is what your mother would have wanted, if she was still among us. After thinking about it, I believe that you deserve it. You never really liked the life of royalty in the first place. I am glad to hear that you finally found Keen Eye, he may not be royalty, but he is quite the prince. I am coming down to Ponyville myself to help plan for the wedding if you so wish it. It has been many years since I have last seen you. Please take care. With much love King Crimson.â Scarlet smiled as she read the marking. She found it funny how he could never end it with âYour loving fatherâ or something like that. She sighed and placed the paper a side. She looked out the window from the hospital. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze traveled through with the wind. She turned back to see a sleeping Keen Eye who laid in a hospital bed, covered almost completely with bandages. She was able to convince the hospital stuff to allow her to remain by his side, and so she never budged. All though she has now given up her title of princess, her father ordered Alpha Company to remain in the area around her to protect her until he arrived.
âHey, how is he doing?â asked a shy voice from the doorway of the room. Scarlet turned towards the voice but knew exactly who it was.
âHe is good, come on in Fluttershy,â Fluttershy softly flew in and sat next to Scarlet, looking over at Keen.
âAny progress?â
âNone yet, you should have seen him, I got there right in the nick of time but I was still too late, I saved his life, but just barely. I am so happy to see him, but I am worried,â Scarlet explained, thinking out loud. Fluttershy turned to her with a concerned smile.
âListen, I know that it has been a while, but I am sure that he still cares about you,â Fluttershy assured.
âI never knew if he actually loved me. I mean he treated me so nicely and I was certain that he might have felt something back for me, but now I am not sure. Maybe he found some other mare to keep his bed warm and his stomach full. Maybe he already has a family. I donât want to break that apart from him,â Scarlet pointed out. Fluttershy looked at her with kind eyes as she leaned in for a hug. Scarlet leaned to her and embraced her.
âThere there, itâs ok. I am sure that everything is going to work itself out in the end. You just need to have some faith in yourself and talk to him when he walks up,â Fluttershy explained.
âI am glad that you have made a friend, Princess Scarlet,â stated Keen. The two mares broke their embrace and turned to Keen, who had his eyes open and was staring up at the ceiling, his eyes shifting around. âShe sounds really nice,â he added with a soft smile.
âHow long have you been awake?â Scarlet asked curiously. Keen chuckled to himself.
âI donât have a special somepony nor a family, if you were wondering if I was available,â Keen replied playfully. Scarlet looked away, blushing to herself.
âSo, that much, huh?â she asked nervously.
âHonestly, it just never felt right. Iâve tried to be with somepony else, but I just couldnât bring myself to do it. I have always wanted to be with you,â Keen explained with a heart warming smile. âHow are the others?â he added.
âThey are just fine, shaken up but they recovered and have been watching over your store. You have been napping for four days now,â Scarlet explain in a teasing manner. Keen chuckled as he turned towards her direction.
âSo, do you have a special somepony?â Keen asked playfully. Scarlet smiled as she leaned forward towards him.
âI have actually,â she whispered. Keenâs smile faded a little.
âOh, well, knowing you, I am sure that-â he started. Scarlet came in for a kiss while he was talking, interrupting him in mid sentence. Shocked at first but happily returned the kiss.
(I know I said that the last chapter was the final, but I thought for a moment and thought that I should post a little something for those few who might have been wondering what happened afterwards. A short little chapter just explaining what happened after the last chapter. Not much music this time, I wonder if any of you are actually listening to the music while reading, if it helps let me know, I love feed back Kiss me-Trance [not sure who the youtuber is again, but it has a crap load of views] and 'Heartbeat' by Stereo Skyline. I thought the last song would be fitting for the credits. I hope you enjoy this last and final chapter, )
Chapter 12: The Story Ends
Two years later Keen woke up with the sun in his eyes. He no longer wore his goggles for there was no longer a need. He started to get up to stretch but suddenly felt a pair of hooves grab a hold of him and brought him back to the bed. Keen was shocked for a moment but knew who they belonged to. âGood morning, my love,â greeted a beautiful voice from Keenâs bed. He smiled as he closed his eyes, rubbing the side of his face with her chest.
âGood morning, my Princess Scarlet,â he replied playfully. He opened his eyes to look into her, even though he knew he was blind. Scarlet giggled as his eyes looked for her.
âI thought I told you not to call me that. It is Scarlet Eye now, remember?â she said back, rubbing her wedding band to the side of his face. He chuckled as he leaned down and kissed her passionately.
âThat is true, I will try to remember that,â he whispered between kisses. She smiled as she playfully leaned away.
âShouldnât you be going to work now?â she asked, nudging him with her muzzle. Keen sighed as he got up and stretched.
âI guess youâre right. Come down when you are ready. Before I go, may I have a glance?â he asked kindly. Scarlet looked away from him shyly as her face flushed ever so slightly.
âI havenât even groomed my mane yet, and I didnât shower last night, Iâm a mess,â she pleaded. Keen walked over to her slowly as he felt around for her. Once his hooves found her cheeks, he held them gently as he tried to match his eyeâs to her face.
âNo matter what Scarlet, you will always be beautiful, I just like to be reminded what I work for once in awhile,â he said teasingly as he held her. Scarlet sighed slightly annoyed.
âYou are the only pony I know that can make such corny lines work so well on me,â She said as she got up on all fours and led Keen to a mirror. They stood in front of it as Scarletâs horn began to glow, touching Keenâs forehead as she kept her gaze at him. Keen closed his eyes as he saw it. He saw him and his wife standing in front of the mirror. Her mane was a mess and many strands of it covered her face as if she was trying to hide.
âCan you move your mane out of your eyes, I wish to see all of your beauty?â he asked pleadingly. She sighed and did just that, blushing as she did. He smiled as he saw all that she was, standing in front of the mirror with him. He turned his head back and kissed her one last time as she finished the spell. âThank you, my love. sixty-three seconds this time, new record!â He exclaimed as he equipped his walking stick and put on his his uniform. She smiled at him with bedroom eyes.
âI always loved a stallion in uniform,â she hinted playfully.
âWhoâs using corny lines now?â he replied back with an equally as playful tone. he glanced back at her with a kind smile. âOff to work, see you in a bit,â he called back as he headed for the door, tapping his walking stick as he went. He went downstairs slowly, making sure not to fall. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were already downstairs, working the store. They heard the tapping and turned to him, smiling kindly towards him.
âGood morning, Mr. Keen,â Twilight greeted politely.
âMorning boss,â Rainbow Dash greeted as well, yawning.
âGood morning indeed girls. It is a beautiful, sunny morning today!â Keen exclaimed happily. Twilight giggled as Rainbow Dash looked at him confused.
âBut boss, youâre blind. How can you tell it is sunny outside?â she asked puzzled.
âWhen I woke up, I felt the heat rays on my face,â he explained cheerfully as he tapped his way to the counter, starting to go astray.
âOver here, Mr. Keen,â Twilight called over. Keen turned towards her voice and came to the counter.
âThank you Twilight,â he said embarrassed. Twilight giggled as she left the cash register as that Keen can walk in.
âOf course, we are here to help you,â Twilight replied with a kind smile. Keen chuckled as he made his way behind the counter, staring off into the store, listening to all the customers looking through his merchandise.
âI will be in the lock up then. We are starting to run low on supplies and I guess I should go and take notes,â Rainbow Dash called out, making her way to the basement. A more graceful set of hoof steps approached Keen from the back room.
âIâll come with you. You arenât the very best when it comes to inventory check up,â Twilight replied, following her pegasus friend.
âWill you acquire any assistance, Mr. Eye?â a friendly voice asked who was now next to Keen. He chuckled as he turned to the direction of the polite voice.
âWell, if you donât mind Fire Hoof, I am expecting a shipment order coming in from the back, can you be outside and bring the supplies in when it arrives?â Keen asked kindly. The pony in question bowed slightly out of respect.
âOf course, sir. I shall attend to the matter personally,â he answered back. He turned around and went to his post.
Keen chuckled listening to everyone as he looked forward to the customers with a blissful expression on his face. âIt has been two years since the day I lost my horn, two years since Capeskin tried to kill me, two years since my life truly started. Ever since Princess Scarlet found me, my life has gotten only better as the days have passed. We ended up getting married. The day I asked for her hoof in marriage was the happiest day of my life. Her father attended of course, he strongly advised a royal wedding but she only wanted a small wedding, inviting only her father and my friends, as well as her friend Fluttershy. The wedding went amazingly but Scarlet seemed annoyed with her father for bringing too many gifts for them. I thought it wasnât that bad till she used the mind image spell to show me the leaning tower of presents that King Crimson brought. That was a shocker.
âThe store was fully repaired to itâs former glory and Scarlet even added a few things. She made it bigger and added an extra room for shipping and orders. She gave up her title of being a princess just to be with me. I still tease her a bit by calling her Princess Scarlet. Sometimes she giggles, sometimes she asks me not to do it again, but I still do it. She has been helping out the store as well, doing random things here and there, sweeping, cleaning, organizing special deals and new ideas for the store with Twilight. The shop has made it big. Almost every pony in Equestria has heard of it and half of them travel just to shop here. Rated number three magical supplies store in all of Equestria. I am really proud of my store.
âScarlet had a hard time hearing about Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack falling in love with me while she was looking for me. She hid it well, but even without my eyes I could still see that it really bothered her. They are back to normal now. They figured out that they werenât really in love with me and we started to become friends. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy visit from time to time to say hi and check to see how the store is doing. Rarity still flirts with me once in a rare while as a playful joke, which Scarlet is not all too amused about. They still work for me and help me out with the store and helped me adjust to my rediscovered blindness.
âAs for my blindness, I have learned to adjust to it. It took me several months to finally be able to let go of the idea, but I have gotten use to it. Life in general has been very pleasant. Scarlet and I have been living together since the event and I believe that we are doing blissfully. We get into small fights now and then, like last week we were fighting over who was gonna make dinner. That was interestingâ Keen thought to himself, entering a flash back.
âLet me make dinner, you shouldnât try such things while you can not see,â Scarlet stated.
âJust because I am blind, doesnât mean that I am useless,â Keen replied back, slightly agitated.
âLook, you are not useless, I just do not want you to hurt yourself. Please let me make dinner. I am the wife and it is my job to take care of you!â Scarlet pointed out in a pleading manner. Keen ended his flash back with a chuckle. âYea, she always gets her way.
âCapeskin has finally changed. I heard his punishment wasnât too merciful, but I heard he has finally given up on vengeance. He cleaned up his act nicely and is actually set up to marry a changeling princess, finally making him a king, and for once, his father is proud of him. He is trying to make it up to me by visiting once a year, apologizing for an hour at some point in our time together, never alone of course. Scarlet watches him like a hawk every time. He learned to write in braille just to send me letters and tell me how he is doing. I will never forgive him, but maybe someday I can learn to move on and maybe we can start over, not anytime soon, but maybe in the future.
âScarlet and I are at the point in our marriage where we are talking about starting a family. I learned from the doctors that since my blindness is due to the curse mark, it will not pass down to the newborn, which is good to hear. We have made love during our time together, that is inevitable. She has always wanted to start a family with the right stallion, which even though I think she may be able to do better than me, I am glad that she chose me for the part. For she is the mare of my life.
âThe cutie mark crusaders visits and helps out with a few small tasks. Nothing big, just things like spreading out fliers and sweeping up the shop after hours and setting up decorations for special events. Scarletâs butler Fire Hoof has decided to move to Ponyville with us to further serve Scarlet and has now considered me part of the family. He is really noble and very kind, always helping out even when not asked to. Master Zecora visits often as well, checking up on me. She always says that she is happy to see that I have found true happiness in my life. She is always looks out for me whenever she can. I can honestly say that I am very content and happy with my life. It is peaceful and full of bliss. I have a growing and thriving business, a beautiful wife who loves me and takes wonderful care of me, amazing friends, I live in a kind community, and have a place I can finally call home. What more can I pony ask for?â Keen narrated happily to himself, lost in thought and smiling like a fool.
âHowdy partner, howâs the shop comin along today?â Applejack asked, entering the store. Keen snapped back into reality and smiled in her general direction.
âThings are going very nicely. A beautiful day today with a nice start. I am glad to see you so early. What about your chores back at home?â Keen asked concerned. Applejack chuckled to herself.
âApplebloom and ah had a bet to see who could buck the most apples in one pickin. Needless to say, ah won. So she has mah chores and ah have herâs,â she explained, heading into to the back room. Keen chuckled as she left to change. He heard a familiar set of hoof steps coming up from behind him as he felt a pair of gentle hooves wrap around him.
âHello my dear,â Scarlet whispered as she kissed Keenâs neck. He shivered at the surprised forwardness of his lover. He turned to her and smiled.
âMy love, I didnât expect that,â he stated with a charming smile, kissing her in return. Scarlet giggled as she stared into his ruby eyes.
âI bet you wonât be expecting this as well,â she whispered cheerfully. Keen raised an eyebrow, expecting another kiss or a touch of some sort when instead she gave him a gentle but firm hug. âWell, not what I expected alright,â Keen playfully thought to himself. Scarlet leaned into him until she was right at his ear.
âIâm pregnant,â she whispered. Keen froze there as if time just suddenly halted all around him. She let go of him to see his reaction. He stood there, looking for her with his face frozen in shock for a few moments till a smile spread across his face. âAnd with recent news, I have a little one on the wayâ he thought to himself as he picked her up and spun her around as he cried out in joy in the middle of the store.
THE END (For Real This Time)
CREDITS
The story was completely thought up of by Masked_Frenchman with a few pointers from Randomguy8783.
Music listened to from Youtube
Original Writer: Masked_Frenchman
Special Thanks: Randomguy8783 insanitys rules Galloping Luna Perteks
and of course last but not least, you guys!
Thank you everyone for my best run so far, glad you guys gave this series a chance and made it my number one top story in my collection. I ask of you to check out the rest. They aren't as good but as time goes on, I slowly get better for you, and so the stories will get better as well.
)