At the end of all that he knows, a man rises once more to continue a battle already lost. Ending up in Equestria, he embarks on a journey to find the true meaning to the word; Consenquence. Join Sentinel as he attempts to find motivation to adapt.
Sentinels, while few in number, were the vanguard of humanities final defiance to the demon's onslaught on their world. As the one story ends, another can begin, if one would pick up the pen to write it. Or, if in a final act of defiance on another world just beginning it's turn, someone chucks a rainbow at you. So join Sentinel, who takes the name where his own cannot, as he attempts to navigate the proverbial highway that is his life in the land of Equestria. Expect random adventures, road trips, soul searching, pure and utter confusion and even moments of clarity that can come from growing up without any.
*No gore, rape, or clop. *Cussing will be kept to story driven excessiveness. *Romance will be used for conflict, but no active human x pony sexual relationships. *No "Great evil" overtone. Adventures will be small, and socially inter-connected. *Sentinel will never, ever, EVER.... get a element of his own, harmony or otherwise. *Sentinel will never become a Alicorn.
I wish to use this premise to explore relations that could come from such drastically different environmental factors effecting how someone, or somepony, grows up. Equestria is just like the show also. Fun loving and all that jazz, but as with the show, bullying and other social disharmony is going to be shown and highlighted.
Teen or Mature rating? I am still conflicted on this. I am strictly encouraging suggestions or critic on the rating. I was setting it to mature, but after checking out some stories that i've enjoyed here i've noticed they are mostly teen. Pretty much every mature story is about killing ponies with graphic details or very detailed sex/clop. Neither is going to be in this story. So going to shift it to teen for now.
Sex tag: Same as before, for sexual humor and situations, but no clop or graphic sex. At best, its going to be akin to talking the talk, and at worst, insinuated but left at that for the actual act happening. Just isn't what this is going to be about, and if anyone wishes for me to clarify this farther, ask.
Romance: I am entirely still unsure how I wish to approach this. All i can say is there will be no actual active and ongoing physical relationship between Sentinel and a pony as the current premise stands, human in equestria. Some moments, as such things are just going to happen along with emotion induced conflict, sure. However it will be a very slow thing if it goes towards something major, allowable only when certain conditions are met.
Alternate Universe Tag: No Alicorn Twilight, yet. About everything else, within reason to making a fiction based on the mlp fim universe stays. Some oddities that make it impossible to write it as anything but "I went into the TV" will remain out but otherwise the episode history is staying intact. So basically it heads up to the ending of season three then branches off without the final season 3 episodes. MLP in any form does/did not exist in Sentinel's world.
Will Sentinel stay a human? Unsure. If he goes the ponified route, its gonna be one hell of a rough ride and not just a "hey, magic!". Also, due to the possibility of romance actually opening up to something major if this condition is met, it will be much much later. I have no motivation to have him go pony in 2 chapters and snag a element of harmony just cause hes male.
This will also not be a episode to episode thing. The setting will be up until the last few episodes of season 3 and then it just stops. How when or what on when it moves further in canon will depend on several factors.
Also.. Sentinel is not an alicorn, will never be one, will NEVER get wings, and is not as powerful as Celestia or Luna. He is strong, but more of a Earth Pony, with some Point Blank Aura application such as healing and resistance. No long range, no air combat ability, and he is more of a tank than a offensive type fighter. AKA, he is gonna get his ass kicked quite a few times in Equestria, but he won't ever go down without a fight or leaving a scar.
He is proud, but firm, of humanity. This isn't going to be about proving humanity is better than equestria nor is it about proving equestria is better than humanity. Humans are NOT scum. One of the biggest concepts of this fic is consequence of choice, and that will go a very long way in approaching humanity and equestria's differences, and similar social ventures.
Additionally, from the prologue, I want it known that Sentinel is not going to be with any princess, at the time of the prologue, period. No Celestia, no Luna, no Cadance. I am going to maintain and try and even flourish every official relationship, be it romantic, sibling, or parental.
Finally, my form of writing is not for everyone. You are both free and encouraged to voice how you do like it or do not regardless. It will be a progress thing, as I get into the groove of the story myself. I figure i spent more time on the prologue just to get a solid foundation to use for the rest of the story, and is why it is so long for one go.
Finally, there with be some homage to certain media that I've watched, listened, or read. You will find little tidbits here and there, and by no means is it meant as anything but a kick back to the rightful owners.
My little Pony is owned by Hasbro Hellgate London is owned by... something... now...
“Even going with my own normally low standards, I gotta say...” Sentinel says as he gives himself a quick once over, “I look like shit.” he finishes nonchalantly before looking straight ahead.
“What do you all think?” he seems to ask the beings all gathered in front of him.
What he got in return was the same as its been, gibberish. They looked like some sort of equine, albeit not like any equine he'd ever seen before. Their faces let alone their eyes, were very expressive unlike the horses or ponies on earth.
“Well.. I guess compared to normal ones... those half mutated adornments of horse heads merged into those abominations were pretty expressive I guess.. “ he pondered out loud, “if you count a constant state of frozen perpetual horror.” he finished with a shrug, and shudder.
Going back to the eyes, he couldn't help but marvel at how much their Iris would reach out and grab hold. The shimmering, like a prism, was so much easier to see than that of his own kind, highlighting dilation several fold. He also took note of how wide the spectrum was for the hue of their fur, or hair, as he wasn't quite sure anymore.
"Well, given the possibilities..." He pondered for a moment. He was about to make another verbal observation to himself when something touched him. Had his nerves not been dulled he might of made what he would of forever regretted, striking a butterscotch colored equine who appeared to be trying to clean off all the blood on his bare skin.
"You're either incredibly brave," Sentinel said as he looked at the equine who looked up at him back, "Or just never had reason to know any better." he then softened his eyes, "And I don't know about you," as he noted tears forming in it's large eyes, "But I hope its not the former..." as the equine seemed to try and communicate with him to no avail.
“Hmm.. well that ain't no good now is it?” Sentinel asked as he shifted his eyes to examine the metal sticking out of his leg. Slowly reaching for the shard, he heard the butterscotch one yell out right as a orange toned appendage whip lashed his hand away.
"Look, " Sentinel said as he watched the orange equine mutter something, "If I don't get this out I can't exactly heal the wound." he tried to get across, but upon looking at the orange equine with a stetson in the eye, he knew the missing bridge made it impossible.
Figuring he was fighting a losing battle he did what any intelligent being would do when communications weren't possible. He pointed towards something behind the two, as they quickly turned around both saying something in surprise, before yanking the metal out of his leg.
"<Gibberish!>" the butterscotch one cried out as it turned back around to notice what he did.
"<Gibberish!!!>" the orange one yelled much louder, as she somehow bent her foreleg enough to take off the stetson and then smack him several times while having quite the angry look in it's eyes, before giving him a dead on stare.
"<gibberish...>" the butterscotch one softly said to the orange one as he lifted one eyebrow in observation.
"<gibberish!> the orange one seemed to reply as it took it's eyes off him.
"Well if that's over with..." Sentinel said aloud as he reached towards and gripped metal set into his lower abdomen.
"<GIBBERISH!>" one of the equines said, causing him to look up at an utterly pissed off orange equine with the hat in it's mouth, right before it proceeded to try and beat the ever living hell out of him with it.
"Creatures must thhhppppptttt," Sentinel started to say until he took part of the stetson to the face, "be thinking I'm hurting myself or something." He calmly said as he was starting to get annoyed, reaching up to grab the incoming stetson.
But before he could get himself into even more trouble, the butterscotch one unfurled one of her wings, wrapped it over his forearm, and brought it in taking his arm with it to her side. He felt pressure, and knowing a bit about birds applied none back.
Looking at the stetson wearing equine, “You win this round, Dixie,” Sentinel says playfully, getting a loud snort and head shake in response. With yet another distraction settled, Sentinel reserved himself to losing himself internally as to process what all had happened, and more importantly, how to move forward. But he was quickly brought out of his trance by some of the equines yelling at "each other?" Sentinel said aloud.
Sentinel decided just to sit back and observe as the cyan colored equine with a vibrant mane was seemingly scowling towards a pearly white equine with a purple swirling mane.
"Maybe they're fighting over who takes ownership of the new thing in their world." Sentinel almost chuckled if it wasn't an actual real possibility. "For all I know they think I purposely brought all of this down on their world." he surmised.
"All of which would of been done and over with had I just stayed...." Sentinel feels a mass of pressure and pain on the right side of his head as he clamps his eyes shut. "...stayed...." He reaches up and lifts his helmet off, letting his dirty brown hair fall free as the falling helmet makes a loud noise bringing some gasps and then silence.
Sentinel instinctively grapples the right side of his head with his free hand as bright flashes envelopes his vision. He attempts to shield his eyes by slamming his eyelids like vices but to no avail or relief. Images, much too fast to understand or memorize, slams through his vision like a runaway freight train as he feels blood flowing out, concealed by his neck guard with what his palm could not.
"...why...can't...I remember!" Sentinel growls out as his left eye opens to take in an image before him that he wouldn't soon forget. All of the equine before him were either outright freaking out with expressions of concern and worry, or looks of shock and guilt, as the largest of them all walked towards him.
"<Gibberish?>" the white equine with a mane that strangely moved on it's own, seemed to try and communicate with him. If he hazard a guess, it was asking if he was okay, as the look it was giving him read as nothing but. It then directed more of their strange dialect to the butterscotch equine who was looking worried, and very confused.
"<Gibberish>" The large white equine stated, looking directly at Sentinel, before lifting a foreleg and tapping a hoof to his hand.
"Trust me," Sentinel stated to the large white equine, "It's going to be best if I keep my hand here." he tried to reason, only for the large white one to once again seemingly state the same gibberish and stomp it's hoof into the ground.
Shaking his head back and forth, Sentinel hoped the gesture would somehow be understood. When the white one lifted it's head a bit, and the shocked looks of the others near it, he was confident that it had. He was about to go back to trying to understand why when he tried to remember he felt such pressure, when out of the corner of his eye he noticed his hand was enveloped by a golden glow.
"What the..." Sentinel barely had time to ask aloud when he felt his hand being forcefully pulled away, as if the golden glow was alive. Looking back at the large white equine he noticed the sharp horn like appendage out of it's head was glowing the same hue.
"I said no damnit." Sentinel declared to the equine, as he applied even more pressure on his arm to keep his hand over the side of his head. In turn, the golden glow grew in force as the white equine narrowed it's eyes as well.
"<Gibberish!>" it seemed to command, as it started to envelope Sentinel's entire arm now in golden glow.
The butterscotch equine lifted her wing to release Sentinel's arm as it backed up giving Sentinel the look of worry and fright of the sudden conflict. It then moved forward, trying to talk in a rather soothing tone before turning towards the larger white one and saying something a little louder.
"Okay I'm starting..." Sentinel had just started saying as the butterscotch appeared to scream at the larger white one causing the equine in question to come to it's senses and in it's shock flare the golden grasp yanking Sentinel's hand away.
"to get..." Sentinel continued as the equines all suddenly screamed and the massive pull of the golden grasp just vanished, leaving all of Sentinel's strength to slam a now closed fist into the side of his own head.
"annoyed." Sentinel could only mutter as he was now toppled over the debris he had been sitting on, face down, as he thought back to how he came to be in such a situation.
Roughly one hour ago
"..wha..." Twilight muttered in a daze. "How...how could the elements...fail..."
"C...c'mon girls.." She starting calling out as her vision was shifting in and out of focus, "We can't let it end..."
She would of finished, had the scene before her not ended it for her. All of her friends laid spread out around her, down and barely moving. Rainbow and Applejack, known as the heartiest of all of them, were giving small spasms as they had taken the negative feedback at the forefront.
"Applejack! Rainbow!" Twilight called out, tears starting to run down her muzzle as she tried to drag herself forward as she just couldn't find the strength to fully stand. "We..we got to get.. get up and..." she began to say as she heard the light thuds of two more to her left.
"Rarity..." she shifted her gaze to one of the most beautiful, both in and out, ponies she'd ever known who was now darkened in soot. "Fluttershy!" she yelled as she craned her neck just a little behind Rarity, the kindest and most gentle of ponies now collapsed onto her side.
As another explosion landed not far from them, Pinkie Pink managed enough strength to lunge forward and push Twilight out of the way of an incoming broken slab of marble.
"Pinkie!" Twilight barely managed to yell out before she watched the most energetic and free spirited pony she'd ever met get clipped by some wayward debris, sapping the last of her energy as she in turn met the ground with a soft thud.
As Twilight managed to crawl towards her pink friend, she used her muzzle to nudge Pinkie in her cheek, "Pinkie..."
"Twilight...if you can...teleport out of here..." Pinkie barely managed to get out, her visible teary eye somewhat enshrouded by her straight lined mane.
"I wont leave you!" Twilight yelled as she wrapped a foreleg around the back of Pinkie's neck, "Any of you!" but as she gently shook Pinkie no reply came, as the party pony had passed out from the pain sustained from her injuries.
"Help..." Twilight tried to scream out, as time began to slow all around her. She saw guards being overran by the unworldly invaders as citizens were galloping away for their lives. She saw the invaders attempting to destroy anything, alive or not, with maddening abandonment. But it wasn't until her eyes met the ones of another, somepony very important to her and she always felt secure and protected by no matter the odds, that she started to lose hope.
Princess Celestia, coupled with Princess Luna and Princess Cadance, were all fending off a wave of the invaders, or rather defending. Behind the three princesses were dozens of citizen ponies, screaming and crying, as the invaders went at the shield even at the cost of self injury.
Even in the maw of madness, Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle's eyes met, for a brief moment, as tears began to flow freely from both. Even as another highly concentrated black and red mass of energy was traveling towards Twilight and her friends, their gazes did not falter, and neither did the words either of them mouthed.
"I'm sorry", was all Princess Celestia could mouth, and in turn see mouthed by her student, as the black energy slammed into a small reflection of white light as it engulfed Twilight and the rest of the bearers. Even if for just a moment, she closed her eyes as the pain was threatening to send her into a rage as she squeezed out tears with gritted teeth.
"How dare you..." Celestia muttered through her clenched teeth.
"Tia..." Princess Luna directed towards her sister in a confused tone, even as Celestia didn't answer.
"Tia!" Princess Luna then shouted, pulling Celestia out of her borderline rage. "Look..."
The Princesses, along with the citizens who took notice, were shocked into silence and extreme unease. All of the demons had stopped, and lowered their weapons. Even demons who were about to finish off a guard pony, had just nonchalantly slowed to a stop as if they were suddenly shut down.
But what would cause fur on the pony's neck to rise was how the demons all slowly turned towards the swirling black mass of energy where the bearers had been moments before. A low buzz like sound was being emitting from within, along with the feint voices of the bearers themselves, as Cadance was the one to break the unnerving silence.
"Fear." Cadance said in almost a whisper, "They're afraid!" she then yelled louder.
"Of?!" Princess Luna shouted towards Cadance, who only lifted her foreleg towards Luna as a ear deafening clash of metal on what used to be flesh came from behind.
As Luna quickly turned her head forward, her shifting vision caught her sister's entirely surprised expression as her own soon joined in. Before them stood another bipedal creature that seemed covered in metallic armor, it's face bore a cross that split down the middle two thirds the way up that was illuminating a blue hue.
Upon one appendage it held a shield that was glowing a dimmer purple than the bright purple embers shooting outwards of where the upper body of the demon that once stood there, had been. Yet while this was for anypony else what captured all of their attention, for Princess Celestia it was what was not far behind the new arrival.
The bearers, all of them huddled together looking scared shitless but otherwise in good health, were also giving the new arrival much the same look of surprise.
"Look out!" Celestia shouted towards the creature, as all of the demons let out crazed screams and charged.
"Look out!" Celestia shouted towards the creature, as all of the demons let out crazed screams and charged. The metal creature, either by insanity or ignorance, seemed to entirely ignore the warning. Celestia's eyes started to widen as half a dozen demons leaped into the air, their weapons held high as they seemed to have entrapped the new arrival.
Crouching down even further, the creature seemed to bend one of it's lower appendages with the other outstretched for leverage, as the shield held by an upper limb seemed to start glowing an hue of purple much brighter than before. Just as six weapons were mere feet from the creature's head, it pivoted around slamming the shield into each demon, shattering them into glowing purple embers.
"Are thee friend," Luna's eyes slightly narrow, "Or merely here to make claim for thy own."
Another demon rushes up, holding it's over sized bladed weapon with both upper appendages as it slammed the edge down onto the right shoulder plate of the metal creature. As if annoyed, the scene demanded silence as the metal creature slowly turned it's head towards the demon before side stepping, causing the weighted weapon to crash down into the marble flooring. It then proceeded to lunge forward and grip the demon by the throat, lifting it up before slamming it down alongside it's fallen weapon, following by the brutal slam of it's shield upon it's head.
"...tired." Cadance whispers, "It's so tired." she says so again, earning the ire of Luna.
"Princess Cadance," Luna addressed, never taking her eyes off the metal creature, "Tired would most assuredly not be the word we would use to describe what is taking place before us." she then continues, "Thee appears most...energized."
As a single tear falls from Cadance's muzzle, "Its not that kind of tired, Princess Luna".
The metal creature then proceeds to move towards a fallen guard bashing away demons as it goes. When it is within ten feet, the guard begins to glow a light red hue before opening it's eyes, crying out from shock. All three princesses and other ponies still behind the protective shielding gasp is fear as the creature picks up the creature and proceeds to give it a small heave towards the shield, seemingly trying to direct it to flee. All of the princesses watch in fear as the pony seems to started to run past demons who prior would have immediately attacked it, only to see them rush the metal creature in crazed abandonment.
"Princess Cadance," Princess Celestia addresses her with a tone of authority.
"Yes Princess Celestia?" Cadance answers quickly and a little shaken up.
"I need you to assist Luna in keeping the shield strengthened." Celestia asks, in a softer tone.
"What about...?" Cadance began to ask, before she matched Celestia's gaze as six mares were trying to look as brave as a pony could when surrounded by crazed demons while huddled together for support. "I will do my best" she then confirmed.
"Tia!" Princess Luna states, "While too crazed to be distracted from this metal creature by our little ponies," Luna then looks at the metal creature, "Thou's larger stature may not be able to pass by without drawing attention to thyself," she then looks towards the bearers, "and to thy destination!"
Luna tries to warn her sister, whom as Luna finishes is already in full gallop as she passes through the barrier. Luna watches with frayed nerves as Celestia gallops in between rushing waves passing between them and the bearers on their way towards a orange glow in the corner of her eye, if not so focused, she might of acknowledged.
"Keep going Tia!!" Luna calls out, only to shrink back slightly as she watched as a demon slow down just after Celestia passes them, and then another and another, as they slowly turn towards the bum rushing Alicorn.
"Tia thou has been discovered!!!" Luna tried to warn her sister just as a long line of demons all begin to rush after Celestia.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel
"You all should've..." Sentinel states as he cleaves the upper torso off another demon, his long blade igniting both sections of it's body with intense flames, "finished me off when" he then shoulder checks a demon into one behind it causing it to become skewered, "I was all that's left!"
Sentinel dashes backwards a few feet as a bladed weapon swishes down in front of him, bringing the demonic wielder into a kneeling position, "Instead you decided to play with your food" he proceeds to slam his shield down, leaving nothing above the shoulders, "with conceited abandonment!".
As Sentinel is given a moment reprieve, "For all that you have wrought in the wake of passing through my world, I shall lament their passing into the darkness with denying all of you the light of yet another." he grips his sword and shield tighter, "even if I must be dealt the same."
However Sentinel begins to look about as the lapse of attacking demons brings him concern. "Surely more made it through the portal..." he says to himself as he scans the area. His attention is then drawn towards the sound of "...a galloping horse?"
Sentinel takes note of the large horse like creature in full gallop towards the group of smaller quadruped that he had saved earlier. The sight started to tempted him a memory from many years back as he watched a nun desperately try and get to some children, but the pull wasn't enough to overpower the realization of what was starting to give chase behind her.
Perspective Shift : Ponies
"Almost there..." Celestia whispered to herself, catching the looks of all six bearers as they quickly went from fearful to utter joy to see one of their princesses galloping towards them, then quickly back to fright. The quick recession caused Celestia to crane her neck to look behind her as her eyes widened at the sight of a long line of demons rushing diagonally after her.
"If you think I fear you..." she yelled, unfurling her wings as she shifted her weight and bore down on her gold clad hoof adornments, going into a half turn skid, "then let me show you the meaning of consequence," she angles her wings to help her skid to a stop right before the bearers, her horn ablaze with a golden hue, "for harming my subjects!" she screams as she lets forth a wide golden beam.
Celestia does not smile, even as all of the bearers rush up to her crying out for joy and excitement for being saved and surely impressed by her feat. She does not even blink even as the bearers,out of instinct, purposely make body contact with her through her fore and hind legs. She can only gasp as every single demon rushing them kept right on coming, regardless of their new superficial wounds.
"Hurry and get underneath me!" she commands the bearers, who while shorter, had somewhat of a rough time complying. Celestia began concentrate as her horn glowed once more, the faint shimmer of a golden hue bubble slowly expanding around her to do mass teleport. Yet in the span of her initial attack and brief warmup of this one, some of the demons had thrown small debris her way in an desperate attempt to wound her.
"Argh!!!" Celestia cried out in pain as something ricocheted off her horn, both causing her immense pain and loss of magical control, as the thin veil around them suddenly popped prematurely. She opened one of her eyes just in time to come to that realization that she no longer hadn't the time to do another warmup, only instant self teleportation, as the demons were almost within striking distance.
"I...I can't.." she softly whispered over the frightful gasps underneath her as they all clung to her legs, tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes as she faintly heard the screaming of her sister from behind the incoming wave of death. Just as the first endpoint was about to reaching striking range, Celestia clamped her one open eye as the glow of her horn suddenly stopped once more.
"I won't!" she screamed as her eyes flung open, and almost immediately shut again from sheer shock. A mere two feet away stood a crouched down, shield forward and seemingly smoking hot metal all over, was the metal creature. For those brief seconds, which in actuality were not even one, total silence enveloped the area.
Then, like the striking of a heavy hammer to an anvil, loud bangs equal to the number of encroaching demons rung out as it got impossibly louder when it finally reached the demon just before her as each one shattered like balloons in sequence.
"Are..what are.." Celestia tried to get out, but gave a gasp when her eyes took in his entire figure. Or rather, focused in on the blood oozing out over the metal where the bend was on it's lower appendages, "You're wounded!" she called out, causing several underneath her to gasp as Fluttershy tried to squeeze herself out from the entombed ball of fur.
"Oh, oh no!" Fluttershy gasped out, both from the sight of what had saved her and her friends bleeding so much and also from being half scrunched between Celestia and her friends.
"Fluttershy get back here!" Twilight yelled out as Fluttershy was just one entangled hind leg from being free.
The only thing that heard was the sound of something rather large traveling very fast through the air directly above them, and had they had the time, they would of screamed at the sight just about the largest sword anypony had ever seen almost silently cutting through the wind down at them.
"eek!" Fluttershy screamed out as she closed her eyes, feeling something splash all over her as a loud clash made her fall to the ground as other screams were all heard behind her. Peeking open her eyes as no other sounds were being heard, she was shocked into further silence and tears as she looked up towards the metal creature standing over her, protecting her.
It was holding it's shield, nearly gouged in half, up against the massive blade now dug deeply into it's shoulder as blood had shot over her and the others behind. It then lifted it's head and looked over the backside of Princess Celestia who in turn tried to do the same before the sickening sound of grinding metal emitted from the blade now being yanked out of the creature, pulling her attention back as the full severity of the wound became apparent.
"Hold on!" Celestia tried to communicate with it, "I'm getting us out of here!" she stated as her horn began to glow. But was once more she was interrupted as the creature moved forward and pushed her head down just as a massive tail slamming into it where Celestia's head would of been intercepted, sending it crashing into a nearby buildling.
"Noo!" Celestia cried out, having instinctively accepted this creature as an ally for all that it's done for her and her ponies. She also couldn't help but acknowledge that the bearers under her, still clinging to her legs, called out as well in the same manner. She quickly resumed her concentration as she craned her neck down and grasped Fluttershy by the scuff of her neck, eliciting another eek, as she finally caught a glimpse of the new assailant.
Celestia's eyes widened as she noted that this one stood at least twice as tall as all the others, and it was staring right at her with pure black eyes, it's blade lifting once more for a killing blow.
"I'm sorry..." Celestia muffled out over Fluttershy's extra skin in her mouth, as she teleported herself and all of the bearers away just as the weapon crashed down, creating a deep indention in the marble.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel
"What utter trash," the elite demon muttered as it side glanced towards the brightly colored shield where it's escaped prey had fled. Giving a uplifting heave, it uprooted the wedged blade from the marble causing debris to kick up. Lifting the blade, it pointed towards the shield as the quadrupedal animals within reared back and gave pitiful scowls it's way.
"You are not prepared!" It hissed in it's demonic tongue, right before twisting the blade's edge sideways and giving a wide swing back around just in time to catch a much smaller blade's fiery slash, making said wielder to be pushed back into a small skid as it's feet dug into the crumbling marble.
"But I am," Sentinel roared as he shifted his knees allowing him to better leverage both his hands on his sword, one on the hilt as the other midway up on the dull side in order to hold ground. "You should of killed me before you left!" Sentinel defiantly yelled.
"We did." coldly stated the demon, it's black eyes staring at Sentinel's one exposed eye through a partially broken faceplate.
The demon let out a sickly chuckle before speaking once more, “We covered your sky with ash. We burned the land. We even poisoned water! We culled not only your fittest, but the elderly, sick, and young!" it said before applying a bit more pressure on it's weapon before continuing, "You're all that's left of a dying breed belonging of a dead race!”.
The demon then sneers,“What can you do now that would even matter..." as it leans closer, "human."
Sentinel's Flashback
"Was this..." Sentinel muttered with a blank expression, "Also part of the plan, Father?"
He was kneeling on the barren dirt with his legs folded underneath him, his rear resting on his heels. Both of his arms laid stretched to the ground with his opened hands palm up. Behind him was a crumbling concrete wall that had had been heavily stained in the bloody silhouette of a anchored human. His breastplate and helmet were removed and strung to his side next to his battered kite shield.
Before him laid his signature long sword. Stabbed into the ground right where the demon had left it before leaving in the red portal just before Sentinel. Surrounding where Sentinel knelt as far as the eye could of seen, red portals had appeared and then started to fade away, each signaling the invasion of another world.
"Are we satisfied, now?" He then lowers his head to set his gaze upon the sword, a gift from his father. "You were placed in my hand, like a shackle, in the beginning," His hands begin to form into fists, "and through all these years we've not been able to accomplish anything aside from killing to survive as everything else died." his face then constricts.
"So I've been thinking, Father" Sentinel slowly starts reattaching his breastplate, "Maybe that was where we got it all wrong." He starts clicking all of the buckles in place, "We tried to win." lifting himself up to kneels up to put one leg onto the ground, "and in turn our people didn't." he says rather coldly as he reaches for his helmet just as the red portal started to show deterioration.
As he slides on his helmet, the cross upon it's front starts to glow, as does thin lines traveling all over his armor. "We tried it your way." Sentinel picks up his shield, anchoring it over his forearm, before yanking the sword from the ground as he starts walking towards the roaring red portal as it starts to collapse.
"Now we're going to try it mine."
End Flashback
Sentinel then starts to grin under his faceplate, "I'm going to help you."
"What?!" the demon yelled rather surprised, failing to notice where the edges touched both swords were starting to glow, with only one being designed to do so. "In what manner could a remnant such as yourself help ones such as our own?"
"That every beginning must have an ending," Sentinel pushes his blade harder against the demons as crackling and sparks begin to fly from the edges as the demon begins to falter his pressure as he starts to grunt in an effort to not lose ground.
"But don't worry!" Sentinel assures, "I'll be with you every step of the way!" he screams out as his sword breaks through the demon's, letting Sentinel's blade to cut into the demon's lower abdomen. However the demon steps back just enough to make the wound superficial as it returns fire in the form of an uppercut from the boney tip of a wing, launching Sentinel into the air, followed by a devastating downward tail whip sending Sentinel into a water fountain.
Sentinel picks himself up out of the fountain, reaching to the opposite thigh with each of his hands. A high pitched squeal is heard right before he tears off a hunk of metal from each thigh area. Pointing the metal objects at the demon, he fires two shots of highly concentrated red and purple energy. The demon is able to entirely dodge both shots by leaping to the side, but is caught in the explosions that go off right behind it, causing little damage.
Dashing forward, the demon waits until the last moment to slink left, bypassing another paired blast from Sentinel. However a low sliding tail is able to strike Sentinel dead in the stomach, sending him skidding back, knees bending to try and keep balance. However before Sentinel can recover, the demon leaps high into the air, wings giving it flight, before slamming those wings upwards and then aloft, causing a high speed downward spiral.
Sentinel is unable to move away as one of the demon's legs comes down on his shoulder, causing him to become off balanced. He then feels terrible pressure as the demon's tail wraps around his midsection, lifting him up and forward the demon begins to chuckle the it brings Sentinel up face to face.
It thinks back, to how many times it's brought a victim up, to get once last look at the fear in it's face, its very aura, before devouring it. Yet, like with the other of the same caste that it destroyed, this one exhibits no such trembling or fear.
Infuriated, the demon begins to speak, “Once again, human. What can you do that would even matter now?!"
The answer comes in the form of two high pitched screeches under both of their faces. The demon is allowed enough time to widen it's black eyes, before a massive explosion erupted between them, sending both Sentinel and demon backwards with skin, scale, and plate metal flying from both just as another blast erupts from behind them.
Princess Celestia teleports behind the barrier with all bearers in toe as she gently sets a very docile and blushing with embarrassment Fluttershy back onto the ground before giving her a very apologetic look for lifting her by the scruff of the neck.
"My apologizes Fluttershy," Celestia conceded, "I had little choice and even less time."
"Oh..its okay Princess." Fluttershy tried to give a reassuring smile up towards Celestia before she reverted her vision back towards where the metal creature had been sent into a building, "I hope its okay..." she said with tiny tears forming.
"Why the hay did it protect us?" Rainbow openly questioned, "Isn't it one of them?" she said as she looked at her fellow bearers.
"I fear," Celestia said, grabbing everypony's attention when she admitted she was afraid, "That unless we prevail through this threat, that whatever it is, we are destined to share the same fate."
"What do you mean Princess?" Twilight asked her mentor.
"We have come to believe that the creature did not come by accident," Princess Luna tries to elaborate, "but by giving chase."
"What else have we found out?" Celestia directs towards her sister, as all of the bearers also turn towards the Lunar Princess in case she was able to explain anything about the one that had saved their lives, twice.
"I've been getting...flashes of memory." Princess Cadance speaks up, causing all attention to now shift towards her as they all show expressions of concern and worry as her tone was not that of hope.
"Please, Princess Cadance." Celestia beckons Cadance to continue, "Go on."
"I...I think they killed it's world..." Cadance starts to say, her voice starting to break towards the end as her eyes also start to water, causing Fluttershy and Rarity to jump over and comfort her.
"I..." Cadance then does her best to steel herself, "I saw oceans like our own. I saw vast woodlands that would make many of our own look sparse. I even saw his kind who seemed to mass in the billions!" She continued as Rarity and Fluttershy nestled up against her sides for support and comfort, "...and I saw absolutely no life." she said in almost a hush, causing the others to think that they misunderstood.
"What do you mean you didn't see any life?" Twilight looked at her confused. "You just said..."
"That I saw billions of his kind." Cadance interrupts not to be rude, but to reaffirm.
"But that makes..." Twilight once again tries to question.
"They were dead, Twilight." Cadance states almost toneless, causing Cadance to not just feel the shock from the others, but the sudden jolts to both her sides as well.
Suddenly everypony's attention was shifted back around towards where the bearers and Celestia once were, as they saw the very tall demon pointing it's weapon their way as it just seemed to stare before saying something they couldn't make out.
"That means we just witnessed the extinction of... of..." Twilight stuttered near the end as tears started to well up.
"Did we now?" Princess Luna asked in a rather inquisitive tone, just the metal creature from before took a swing towards the demon's backside, causing it to turn in order to block the attack.
While many of the ponies seemed to be cheering or otherwise in better spirits, two princesses were thinking of how they would keep their world safe, and if it survived, what would they do with this metal creature who for all intents and purposes, had nothing.
"Luna I'm counting on you to keep everypony here safe, and if need be, fall back to the catacombs." Celestia then stated, or almost commanded, causing Luna to give the return look of shock.
"Are thou mad?!" Luna loudly questioned her sister, causing ponies to gasp as the display.
"Yes, I am!" Celestia retorted back, showing just as much agitation and causing all to remain silent.
"I am annoyed that so much today has been destroyed." Celestia stomps a hoof, "I am agitated that these things attacked us as if we were nothing." she stomps a little harder, "I am angry because I had I watch my precious little ponies almost die!" she then stomps hard enough to cause the marble to crack, "But I am absolutely furious that the one who came to help us is out there fighting not only for us, but without us!" she finally ends with one more stomp as it creates a small impact crater.
"It plans to sacrifice itself." Cadance softly states, causing gasps.
"What do you mean sacrifice?!" Fluttershy says in the loudest whisper she can.
"I can sense emotions." Cadance tonelessly states. "I can tell you that whatever it's called, its not just here chasing them out of anger. It knew what would happen here and it pushed forward." Cadance tries to explain, "I can sense pride. I can sense how pained it is. I can even sense the very urgency that it has placed on stopping these demons."
Cadance then softens her eyes as the others do the same, "But what I am not sensing is fear. At all." she then looks at Celestia, "and that means it knows it has absolutely nothing left to lose." she then looks out as the ensuring battle, "Its tired."
"Tia." Luna states as she also looks out at the battle playing out, "We will assist the bearers in preparing the elements once more." she then looks at her sister and slightly grins, "We look forward to seeing the Solar Princess in all of her glory."
"What!?" Twilight yells out, "Princess Celestia is going to fight?!"
"Shoo wee!" Applejack loudly calls out, "This is something I gotta see with mah own two eyes."
"Applejack!" Rarity gasped, "Why on earth would you want to see our lovely princesses fight?!"
"Cause!" Applejack replied as she repositioned her stetson, "They're my princesses."
"Please be careful" Fluttershy whispered out towards Princess Celestia.
"What if it don't want to be saved." Rainbow Dash uncharacteristically said, as she watched the metal creature fight, causing her friends to all give her a surprised look before she herself looked back at them, "Hey don't look at me like that!"
"This is our world." Celestia then stated, looking down towards Rainbow Dash as she slowly walked past, "Whether it likes it or not, it is going to play by our rules." She then gives Rainbow a smile, "Plus I know you all want to give it thanks, am I right?"
The bearers all look at each other before looking back up towards Princess Celestia, nodding in confirmation just as Princess Celestia teleported out from behind the safety of the barrier back into the battle to save their world, and what was left of another.
Flashback : Celestia
“I don't see why we have to come all the way out here father.” A much younger, and shorter, Celestia said, as she followed a pitch black equine even taller that her own in the far future.
“Celly...” said the tall equine, in a rather deep and grainy voice, “What did I tell you before we left?”, he asked as he stopped. The equine was was pitch black in the fur and feather, with silver strands flowing through the latter.
Letting out a huff Celestia stopped, puffed out her chest, and started to speak, “Little Celly, do you know the difference between learning and knowing the words?” she paused just like he had done, “Experience”. She finishes, raising a hoof towards her father, twirling it.
As testament to any father's patience for his young, he deadpanned.
Celestia proceeded to give the normal “hey you asked!” look.
Sighing, her father half closed his eyes and spoke dryly, “But father, how am I supposed to get experience if you never let me actually try it first?”.
Huffing, “Hey at least I tried to sound like you!” she yelled with a very high pitch.
Her father, once more granted an oppurtunity to represent fathers of teenage foals everywhere, slowly let his half opened eyes fully close. His breathing, slowed. His movement, like a stone wall.
“But DAAAAAAD!!” he cried out with such a mangled high pitched voice that birds and squirrels scattered, “I'm TIRED OF READING!!” letting his head and tone both drop to a grumble.
Unfurling his wings, he begins to prance around little Celestia, “Mom is actually nice! She lets me try out all of these spells in the books she gives me instead of wanting to always drag me out to the middle of the nowhere! Aaaaaaghhhh!!” he finished, in all of his high pitched and over dramatic glory.
As he stands there, dead silence. Look out to the rolling hills and open fields, he lets it build.
Slowly, he turns around, and as expected, where once stood a white little celly, instead stood a red one.
“AAAHHHHHH!” she roars as she lunges at him, sending them both to the ground. Peering down with a very sour look on her face, “I do NOT sound like that.” she says with finality.
Looking up with the well trained, and even more so practiced, look of agreement, he simply answers “Of course dear.”
Celestia hops off her father's chest, about ready to start another emotional tirade, when her father uses the voice and tone that causes any foal to stop and listen.
“Celly...” he says with a gentle tone.
Celestia looks back at her father. She turns, plopping her flank onto the grass, and gives him her full attention. Even if the strain of seeing him on his back, all legs bent, tested all her might.
“The difference between a spell and a shift, is the same difference between an Alicorn thats ascended and one that has not.” her fathered stated, but left the air open for more.
“The very notion of trying to shift back home, in our castle, is the very reason that you are NOT ready to know the words.” he rolls so that he is facing her, lifting his head as he props himself onto his forelegs.
“I brought you out here both to teach you... “ he looks down, before looking back into her eyes, “and to protect you.” he whispers.
“Protect me?” Celestia half tilts her head as she asks.
“All be answered with a single act, which needs some preparation on our part before it can happen.” he says as he stands back up, “Would you mind helping me?” he asks her.
Celestia simply nods her head, getting up and following her father further out into the plains. After a few hours, her father stopped and told her to help him clear some of the brush and foilage. After a few more hours of hard work, they cleared a small area, roughly 1km in circumference. Her father then took her to a hill not far from the edge of the cleared area, telling her to stay there. She watched, silently, as he turned around and walked back to the very center of the clearing.
Standing there, silent, he does his best to mentally prepare himself. Just like when his parents show him, he knew after this day, Celestia would never be able to look at him the same again. But to let her go any further, without leaving this scar on her heart, risks having her's ripped entirely out of her chest.
“..forgive me.” was all he whispered, before saying something in a long forgotten tongue.
What Celestia saw next, would forever be scarred on her very soul. There was no explosion. No noise. If one were to just arrive onto the hill, and look at what lays before her, they wouldn't know that anything in particular had changed. The reason was quite simple.. it was entirely gone.
Within the entirety of the 1km area, not a single thing remained. No trees, grass, or animals. Even the very ground had seemed to disappear for dozens of feet downward.
“wha..” was all Celestia could muster, eyes widening. It was then that she also didn't see her father anywhere, causing her to go into immediate panic mode.
“Father?!” she screamed as she galloped towards the crater before her. Reaching the edge, tear running down her confused face, she cried out again. “FATHER!?”.
The answer came in a small implosive shock wave of the darkest of dark purple. Before her stood some phantasm like abomination, half formed like a equine but too distorted to be called one. A dark purple mist swirled around this monster, rising like strands from it's hooves. But what scared her the most was the eyes, or lack thereof. All that came out of what should have been it's eye sockets was more mist, pouring out and then upwards into the air.
Sprawling out her forelegs, like into a battle stance, she yelled in a threatening tone “Wheres my father?!”.
“I'm right here, my little Celly” said the swirling mass.
“fa..father?” she calls out as she begins to shake. Her mind not being able to fully comprehend whats happening, almost causing her to falter to the ground. “What.. what happened to you?” she asked, tears starting to well up.
He looked on her, and no matter how much his own heart was breaking, he knew he still had hers to forever wound. “I shifted, my dear Celly.”.
Celestia looked around once more, taking in the absolute... nothingness. Trying to grasp what had happened, for her own sake, she started to grab at straws. “You teleported everything away?”
“I didn't teleport anything Celly” he simply answered.
“Then what...” she asked.
“I became the singularity.” he simply stated.
Her eyes popped open as big as they could. Her stare, as if something just struck her across the muzzle. So shocked, she couldn't even cry. “Th...the a..an...animals...an.. and...” she staggered out, “a...and...the...” she tried to continue.
“Erased.” he stated, as if he was simply replying to a nonsensical question.
“You...” she muttered, before her face went from shock to pure anger, “YOU KILLED THEM!” she screamed out.
“No, I didn't” he said once more, whether purposely or by inhibition, plainly.
She opened her mouth to yell again, but was interupted...
“I never put any thought or effort into directing anything towards anything around me. When I shifted, the very act itself ascends me into the utmost potential of my affinity. Gravity.” He stated, as the swirls began dissipating. “A singularity is neither good or evil. It is exactly what it is. An absolute, that wherever it exists, nothing else can.” he comments as he begins to fully shift back to his normal self.
Levitating towards the edge of the crater, he lands on his hooves without a sound.
“Horse apples! You had a choice!” Celestia screamed.
“Yes I did” he replied. Continuing, “My choice was to burn it into your soul, or let you do it on your own. You are destined for something important Celly, same as little Luna.”
He pauses for a moment as Celestia eyes acknowledge what he was saying, especially about Luna, “Did you not think that I wouldn't know that you were waking up during the mid night in order to gleam any details from those texts on shifting?” he accuses, but not in a cruel tone.
“What affinity shall you have?” he steps closer to her, “Not even I know that, but what you just witnessed was the shift of both experience and control, and you saw what was wrought in it's wake.”
“The very first shift will be the most powerful, and uncontrollable, that you shall ever experience.” he states as he trots until he is standing almost right on top of her. “The animals did not suffer, of that I can assure you.” he says as he lifts a hoof under her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
“But consider if this was our home, filled with thousands of ponies. Consider what would happen if your affinity is just as destructive, but not nearly as absolute.” he says, painfully, just as he was told ages ago. "The word I wanted you to know, not just learn, is consequence. To ascend, is to envelope the world around you in what you truly are. The only choice you have is how much and how far reaching that world shall be." he continues.
"Will it be just your enemies? Maybe your friends? Your entire home? Nothing shall be free of consequence, especially for one such as you and Luna, no matter what choice you make." he says, gradually dwindling down to a whisper.
Celestia places her foreleg on top of his, and pushes down, narrowing her eyes, “Well then I don't want to ascend! And neither will luna!” she yelled out as she turned and galloped away.
Letting his hoof drop back to the ground as he watched both Celestia along with her innocence disappear, “Beings such as ourselves, my little Celly,” he whispered, “have never been afforded such luxuries”.
End Flash Back
"Please..." Celestia softly spoke much against the strain upon her face as if some invisible force was baring down upon her, "Let me have the strength..." she mutters as strands of golden ethereal like energy flickers back and forth beneath her hooves, occasionally wrapping themselves along her body, anchoring her down. The sudden increase in pressure causing the heated condensed air to escape the marbled as it violently cracks.
"To weather the storm less I bring forth the..." Celestia is in mid sentence when super heated air spirals away from her stealing also the sound of her words, followed by all the marble within 15 feet around her to hiss and explode in the same manner. Even the very clouds above her seem to evaporate in a much wider radius as all of the ponies behind the barrier would later attest to seeing, just as the bastion that is her namesake erupts in a spiraling inferno reaching up and then through the clear night sky.
Where her white fur used to be, only white hot flowing flames remained, as if her fur just grew a foot and she was slowly sinking in water. Her original flowing mane had entirely disappeared. It was instead replaced by dozens of very long blue flames that behaved almost like her original mane and also replicated into a similar tail. As if to give another measure of her transformation to whom bore witness, she unfurled her white hot wings. Blistering white hot strands of condensed flames slowly rose from her wings like smoke rising from burning timber in a erratic but gentle breeze.
Celestia sent her gaze over towards the demon, who while even damaged, was standing up to full stature as if there was absolutely nothing wrong. If she had a brow still she might of quirked it before having her attention drawn over towards the noise something burst through rubble. The metallic creature wasn't entirely metallic anymore, it seems. Upon it's upper body, bore flesh. Bloody, scarred, and dirty.
Just as she were about to end this horrible battle, she is startled. The demon before her starts to laugh. Not just a chuckle, but overly loud guffawing. The metallic creature suddenly launches itself at the demon, only to be hit by some invisible shield, drove back towards Celestia onto the melted marble ground.
She quickly trotted up the metallic creature, in her haste, forgetting that she was literally living white embers. She got within a few feet when she gasped, realizing what she had done, before being startled again, as the creature's plate seems to be more affected than it's flesh.
"If you could actually understand me," Celestia said with a hint of a smirk, "I might have to compliment your resilience".
She couldn't help but notice that at least the general empathy of meaning got through, as the creature gave her a talon gesture of a stubby one pointing up with the rest of the longer talons closed in palm. Tilting her head, she stared at the gesture, and then did her best to mimic it in the flicker of flames, returning it. It was here that she first saw one of it's eyes. Turquoise gleamed through the darkness of the its helmet, cracked up the left just enough. Her left ear flicked, as she could of sworn she heard it mutter something.
"Tia!!! Watch your flank!" Luna yelled from far behind, "Something's happening to the dead demons!"
Celestia, and metallic creature, both turned around to notice that the dead and one still living demon were all beginning to glow a sick blend of black and red, while slowly rising from the ground before seemingly being vaporized in a red and black haze. "What in Faust's name.." Celestia muttered before ear shattering demonic screams erupted all around.
As she flapped her white ember ears down, as did every other pony, she couldn't help but notice that the metallic creature did not react at all to the sudden noise. It stood there, entirely still, staring at the seemingly nothing.
When she turned to face the same direction that the creature was, she had to stare for a few seconds before she gasped and realized her folly.
"The attack that happened when I was trying to teleport the bearers..." she said grimly, having to slightly lift her head to encompass the entirety of what was before her. Before her, as all demons both the one that had been still alive and those long since vanquished dissolved, was what could only be described as damnation itself, "it was a distraction!" she yelled.
She was able to get the last of her words out just as a ghastly halberd about as big as she was came down on her head, causing her forelegs to slightly buckle. From the demon's perspective, all it saw was thousands of tiny white and blue embers scatter under it's halberd, from it's 30 foot downcast. It's eyes twitched however as it felt something slightly push back, underneath the weapon's girth.
"You....dare...." came the feminine growl of Celestia under the blade held by her intensified embers, her forelegs straightened and locked, her white embers begin to glow with more purity.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Celestia screams as she parries the halberd, letting it slam into the molten composite underneath her, as she literally blasts herself towards it's center mass 20 feet above her.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel
As Sentinel was blown back from the force of the titanic impact on the white fire covered equine, he couldn't be rather impressed. This white equine was strong. Very strong. It fought on it's own four feet, or hooves, like he had had to do for so long. It was protective, and had shown the courage to put itself into harm's way for the sake of what he could only conceive as it's children, or very least, haven. It had tried to communicate with him several times, and while only gibberish, he had gotten several good vibes on the meaning.
"Hell, it even have me a thumbs up...hah, "he said as he chuckled a bit, given how confused it looked when it did so.
But he could tell the element melding it displayed by what was hitting him through his elemental equilibrium aura, as it shifted all the damn way to fire, with a little earth. He knew there was just no way that with what they were currently facing, it would be able to generate enough without vaporizing everything nearby.
"No..." he thought to himself, "not even that would be enough."
His people had tried the same, with their thermonuclear bombs. Sure, they killed a lot of demons, "and people," he internally added, but it did almost nothing to the more advanced ones. And this one, he knew from personal experience, was a purebred. It was never created using materials from where they invaded, but came from the actual source. This meant that it often gained powers and augmentations when visiting a new dimension, not adhere to it.
"Just like they hoped to instill in us..." he whispered, a little in anger, but more in moral conflict. He was brought back to reality as he saw the white equine, time and time again, last devastating blows only to see very little effect.
"Still," he says as he turns his hands palm up as clenches them into fists, "Even if today is the day that I fall, I can do it alongside one that I could call a Sentinel." he says with some under laying pride, and excitement.
Perspective Shift : Celestia
"Why won't you fall!" she yells as she lands several more flame touched impacts on the giant demon's weapon, and some on it directly. Neither showing anything more than mundane blemishes. The frustration wasn't from the lack of potential power, but the lack of options to use that power to save anypony but herself. The only pony who might escape alive if she were to push herself to full shift was Luna, and even then out of her own shift she would be horrifically wounded.
However if she didn't...."is that...Cadance?" she says to herself, looking back towards where all her ponies were behind a shield.
In the far off view, she could barely make out Cadance frantically screaming as the bearers and Luna are holding her back.
"...if you use that" Cadance screams, tears streaming down her cheeks, "you'll die!!".
It takes only a moment for Celestia to realize that she isn't screaming at her, but something past her, right where the....
"Sentinel!!" was the last thing Celestia heard before something of great mass. moving at speeds not normally afforded for such objects, dashed past her and right at the hulking demon.
"Sentinel?!" she both asked and directed towards, while different, the 20 foot tall being in front of her.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel
Hurt.
It hurt so damn much. He'd seen a Sentinel go down like this once before. He'd been warned by the few Sentinels that he actually held any amount of time around, not to ever do this. He knew it would hurt. He accepted that. He just didn't know it be this damn much. This thing, that one sentinel had called, shifting.
<Lunging forward, Sentinel sped past the white equine and latched both hands onto the pole of the halberd as the demon swiftly brought it back in defense, facing the one thing from it's time in Sentinel's world that was to be feared.>
In order for his body and armor to expand like it has, he had to change himself. During the war with the demons, they had used on his kind some form of phase based elemental application. What it did, they had found out through less than kind accounts of fortunate, or unfortunate survivors, was shifting the very molecules out of phase. Of the many applications, one of the most devastating was that it made defenses literally obsolete. It worked both on solid mass and energy signatures.
<Feeling just enough pressure against his own by the demon, Sentinel lets his knees fall loose for a fraction of a second, letting himself be pushed without resistance back and downwards. Sentinel then uses all the arm and chest strength he can to heave himself forward violently, putting his full force coupled with the demon's forward momentum into a devastating head butt.>
While the demons were much more proficient with it's range and application, sentinels specifically were able to at least apply it in small but highly concentrated doses. But what he was doing now, was entirely different. While sentinels could apply it externally in small ranges, they theoretically had no limit internally, since unlike demons they were already highly susceptible to phase shifting.
<With the demon still reeling from the head butt, Sentinel slightly crouches down on one knee to regain standing friction, while pivoting his body so that he gave a harsh counter motion as he shifted his arms holding onto the halberd, disarming the demon. He immediately smashes the weapon into the ground, shattering it as it seems to absorb some of the shimmering purple glow that was already enveloping his own body, at an alarming rate.>
Take a few scientists, a few sentinels who HAD steel clad balls, and you come out with using the shift to phase oneself to insanely augmented levels. Coupled with literally super charging the healing aura at the same time, and you had one minute of demigod like prowess. As a byproduct, it was found that being in a constant state of shift, the phase could be applied to other objects or energy via physical contact.
<As the demon sends it's right talon full of bristling black energy towards left side of his head, Sentinel tilts his neck, gaining only a twisted hue from the mixture of purple and black. He then sends a fist upwards using his left arm, striking close to the demon's elbow, while using the right hand to grab it's wrist both straighten the demon's arm and pull him forward. Sentinel lifts and brings down his left elbow above the demon's own, while lifting his knee below it, shattering the joint.>
Of course the disadvantages were that while you repaired faster than you destroyed yourself, you still were in a state of pure and utter agony. The next of course, was that there was no going back. Eventually, since your auras were then sustained by one's own life force rather than using the demon's that you killed, you ran out. Then...well... that's it.
<As the demon backs up in immense pain, Sentinel, putting his entire body into the motion, jets forward. At the moment of impact, he twists his hand clockwise while lifting up towards where the demon's diaphragm should be. As the fist begins to lift the demon up off the ground, the area of impact starts to crack with a sicken sound, rippling with purple sparks. While it happens within seconds, if slow motion, one would see the entirety of the demon's chest cavity and lower abdomen shatter into purple dust, before it immediately spread and does the same throughout it's entire body.>
As Sentinel stood there, before an empty courtyard where once a towering demon stood, he made no sound or movement. If he could still hear, he might of heard many of the equines calling out in cheers. It wasn't because of the demon's death directly, but because they had just escaped what should of been their own. If he could see, he might of looked back to a white equine slowly approaching him, the look of sheer appreciation and also great concern for him, as she spoke in a tongue he couldn't of understood.
If he wasn't already dead, he might of at least been able to acknowledge the silence when a bright rainbow hit him just as his entire being shattered, just like the demon's, signalling the same fate.
Setting Shift : If death was a rainbow..
Sentinel, maybe for the first time since he could recollect, had no where to be. He wasn't needed anymore in a haven, even if that only went as far as a summons up to, and only to, the gates. He had no battle that demanded his presence neither. His hovel, or home some would say, no longer needed packed up and moved to yet a new location, less he wished uninvited horrors in the new night. He even had to note that not even his most basic instinct to live needed him anymore, as he no longer required breathing.
He was... free.
Yet he did feel... something. He could feel himself lying in it, covering up to the side of his entire body. Slowly, he let his fingers explore, taking in the texture, until he lifted his arm in the air, and something like dust gently hit and ran along his face. Opening his eyes he was met only with the purity of white, his gaze taking in nothing else. So there he laid, staring, at the endless white expanse.
Funny, he thought, "I think I actually expected something more." he spoke aloud, cracking a half smile.
"Oh?" replied a easily male voice, gruff and low toned.
Shooting up, Sentinel couldn't help but be a little surprised, not only by the being behind the voice, but everything else had hadn't even been aware of. Before him stood a equine like being, like the others he had just met, but resembled most closely in both stature and appendage that white one from before.
But beyond him was the grand finale. The entire landscape was covered in pure white snow, so fluffy that it danced and skipped along instead of getting immediately dragged in. There was a small house, something just enough for one, surrounded by large oak trees, and nestled near a much bigger frozen pond. The equine seemed to follow Sentinel's gaze as he scanned before him, remaining silent to let the canvas sink in for a few minutes.
"Remarkable, in it's own way, isn't it?" the equine spoke as it too turned to gaze at the canvas like frozen landscape.
Sentinel's silence was an answer in of itself. But silence would not lead to the roads needing to be traveled..
"But if I may, wouldn't it be much more if the snow and ice were melted away? The grass and leaves would grow. The flowers, bloom. The pond, even if one can not deny the allure of the frozen in time contrast, would shimmer even brighter with the sun warming it's bank." he equine spoke, louder, but not enough to disturb the scene's melody.
"Heh, maybe" Answered Sentinel, before continuing, "But why wonder what could be when you can accept what you see right before you?" he aimed at the equine, who he was still quite unsure about, both in existence and intention.
Sentinel stood up, speaking as he reached his feet, "The ice on the pond protects the water and the life, even if dormant, hidden from the ever encroaching sunlight that steals away the water. The snow on the ground means that the grass, that still exists underneath, won't ever catch fire and burn away." Reaching one arm out, open palm with fingers outstretched, "The house..."
"The house," cuts in the equine,"remains so small as to accommodate only the little warmth needed to sustain the one life inside."
Sentinel just stares at the equine, an open invitation to elaborate why such a thing would be in any way bad.
"Would it not be better if the landscape melted away, also allowing for that small little home to be build onto? Surely one cannot easily expand something in such blistering cold, even if that cold has it's own true beauty." The equine questioned Sentinel for an answer.
"But with the blistering cold as a natural shield, no one else is ever going to even know that this is here." Sentinel retorts, "Why worry about expanding something isolated by the cold? Maybe they chose this, or maybe this was where they took their last stand." he shifts his open hand pointing to the house, and let it encompass in a wide swing all in view, "invading one's haven, even with good intentions, is still invading." he finalized.
"I just wish I knew where or what this...is..." Sinclair says as he looks around again.
"Its you, of course" the equine remarks.
"What?" Sinclair asks, figuring he misheard or mistook what it said.
"Its.." the equine says, as it lifts and with abnormal dexterity from Sentinel's perspective, widely twirls it's hoof all around, until pointing it towards Sentinel, "you".
Sentinel just continues to give the equine a stare.
Sighing, the equine taps it's hoof to it's horned forehead before speaking again, "You died, Sentinel. You're actually on the verge of spiritual death. The only thing holding you together, and thus letting me in, is the elements of harmony."
"So I died... and now I am on the verge of dying, while dead." Sentinel asks, getting a nod from the equine, before continuing, "I am now being held intact by some cutesy named thing that I have absolutely no idea about, while being visited by some equine creature giving commentary on my dying soul's future building plans." Sentinel finishes, tilting his open palm hand for confirmation.
"Correct." The equine says, nodding it's head in confirmation before adding, "Quite the good, or bad, luck you have."
Sentinel's reply is to close his hand, and lift only his middle finger, hovering it towards the equine.
The equine begins to take a deep breath, as if the tension in the air either left or got thicker, "I am going to be frank with you, Sentinel. You're a mistake. You should of died with your world. The demons that invaded your world are designed, in essence, to be like a river. They flow forward, consuming whatever is in their path, in order to form new rivers that merely continue to do the same." it says, getting a clenched fist from Sentinel.
"However," the equine continues, "you instead traveled to the next world in line, Equestria. Here you stopped where a branch off was to start once again, and like a river it will not flow backwards to reclaim, but just keep moving on. Yet in doing so, you pretty much exiled yourself from your people's destiny. You cannot go back, especially now, since you died in another dimension. You also cannot join this dimension's destiny since you weren't here long enough to come to mutual acceptance of each other." he finishes.
"So I'm basically on my own once more." Sentinel says, letting out a chuckle, "or is there some cosmic kicker to all this?"
The equine just stares at him, before speaking once more, "You saved my ponies..." It looks at him, with more sincerity and heartfelt than before, "...and they desperately are trying to save you, in return." when it's eyes glow pure white, and what could only be described as glass pictures of motion form and slowly play roulette before Sentinel.
He sees pictures of ponies calling out to him, the six that he healed when he first arrive glowing, the white one approaching him as if to thank him, the rainbow shooting towards him only for it to hit as he shatters, and the looks of shock on them all as he does.
The equine stomps one of its hoofs into the ground, sending a small shock wave uncovering some green grass, causing Sentinel to actually feel it deep down, albeit not painfully.
"You should of stayed down...accepted your fate!" the equine bellowed out, unfurling it's wings. "Instead you made a choice. You stood up and you followed damnation, averting it's seeding in another world, as the candled burned out for your own!" he continued to advance slowly towards Sentinel as he spoke, "Equestria is a land of peace and of harmony with itself. My ponies, even if they didn't know what or who you were, would still cry for you for what you've done to yourself FOR them!"
Much like the white equine, this one started emitting streaks of power upwards off it's body as it yelled out, "But invading another haven, even with good intentions, is still invading" it says, as it seems to let it's fury hold steady, "and you must atone for leaving your name in Equestria." it states, before narrowing it's eyes, "by living it, once more".
"Bullshit!" Sentinel yells right back, "I'm nothing but an island there!" he clenches his fist as he yells out again, "I won't even have a history to stand by anymore! What the hell do you expect me to do? Go back there and be another world's damned Sentinel?" Sentinel screams with anger, and frustration at the prospect.
"I expect nothing." the equine states, completely calm.
"Then..." Sentinel starts, but is cut off.
"I expect nothing, and neither should you. You will be returned as you were, with no memories of what has taken place from the moment you died until you arrive back. You will not be altered otherwise, nor shall anything be altered for you. There is no impending evil to face, nor some grand scheme by which you must live accordingly for the sake of Equestria. There is only one thing that you need to know, before you return." the equine states.
"And just what is it that I need to know?!" Sentinel demands, already noticing the snowy world going out of focus.
"There is a difference between learning the word, and knowing it." The equine says, as Sentinel is sent away, the snowy world fading away as the hue of a rainbow begins to overlap all around.
The equine looks back, as it too begins to fade away, before whispering "I hope the next time we meet, Sentinel, your house is big enough to invite me in for some tea..."
Setting Shift : Equestria
All of the equines who witnessed what had transpired were decimated. While some knew what it was, even if only a name and some history, they all saw how it saved the element of harmony bearers, defeated the demons, saved Celestia, and sacrificed itself to take down the colossus.
What many didn't know, between the the time it battled the smaller demons and the larger one that attacked Celestia, that it had been healing the mortally wounded royal guard ponies who had also sacrificed themselves to get as many ponies to safety as possible.
<BBZZZT>
The sound, much like what was heard when the large red portal first appeared, caused immediate panic. Guard ponies jumped in front of the white, dark blue, and pink equine and started shield the wounded and common pony folk still in the area. The bearers, no worse for wear, got in formation, even if their hearts were heavier if Sentinel's sacrifice was for naught.
The white one however, formerly burning embers, instantly showed not fear but anger. She leaped over the guard ponies and towards the sound and light of a portal ripping open, not risking delay like before.
"<gibberish>" yelled a familiar voice, to Celestia, who widened her eyes as something slammed into the ground before her. What also caught her eye was a single long black feather with silver strides through it landing in front of her hooves.
"It sure looks like crap." Rainbow decided to openly admit, gaining a nod only from Applejack.
"Rainbow!" Fluttershy chastised her friend.
"Ah think even it agrees with Rainbow sugarcube." Applejack makes note as she points a hoof towards the one they only know as Sentinel. As the others all followed the line of sight some couldn't help but giggle as it seemed to be looking over itself
"Hmm," Rarity hummed, "I think I know just what it needs!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"<gibberish?>" the creature called Sentinel looked at them all as it said something that they couldn't understand.
"I think what it needs is to learn proper equestrian." Twilight flatly stated as she deadpanned at Rarity.
"Well of course deary," Rarity said back to Twilight, "But in the meantime I think proper attire is in order."
"And how would you know what kind of attire is proper." Rainbow asked rarity, "for that?".
"Trust me Rainbow," Rarity lifts her muzzle with a smug grin, "He will look absolutely fabulous!"
Sentinel out of the blue seems to shudder, causing Rainbow and Applejack to laugh aloud. The creature then looked around, taking a moment to look into Rainbow's eyes who in turn puffed out her chest a bit as nopony noticed Fluttershy trotting back with a wet cloth in her mouth.
"Fluttershy?" Applejack questions her friend on what she was planning to do, only to watch her just keep right on trotting over towards the Sentinel creature with absolutely no hesitation. "Hey Fluttershy!" she then says louder, trotting over herself as her yell caused all the others to immediately watch Fluttershy might of been doing causing some of them a few tense moments.
They all watched as Fluttershy trotted right on up and immediately started trying to clean some of Sentinel's wounds, which by then, had turned into blood soaked scars. Applejack took notice of Sentinel's eyes immediately shifting towards Fluttershy.
"<gibberish>" Sentinel said in it's usual tone before they all took notice of it's one exposed eye slightly close, "<gibberish>" as it just kept looking down into Fluttershy's eyes.
Dropping the cloth on Sentinel's knee, "You don't have to hurt anymore okay?" Fluttershy tried to tell it just as it's eyes had shifted towards where the cloth landed, and then to the piece of metal sticking out as it took hold of it.
"Ah No don't do that!" Fluttershy cried out just as Applejack rushed up and batted the appendage away from the metal shard, giving her best "Behave yourself" look she could muster.
All of a sudden the creature jabbed what appeared to be long talons on the end of it's appendage towards something behind Fluttershy and Applejack, causing both to turn around to look, "...nothing there." Applejack muttered.
"What did you do?!" Fluttershy cried out as she saw blood rushing from the wound, making Applejack jerk her head back around and then narrow her eyes.
"Consarnit!" Applejack yelled out as she took her stetson off her head and proceeded to slap him on the lower unwounded appendage a few good times.
"Do you think it doesn't feel pain?" Fluttershy asked Applejack as she turned her attention away from Sentinel.
"Don't matter none its just making it's wounds worse." Applejack said back to Fluttershy, turning to look at her.
"<gibberish>" Sentinel muttered, causing both Applejack and Fluttershy to once again look back and freak out.
"Now ah know you're doing it on purpose!!" Applejack yelled out as she proceeded to start wacking him with her stetson, nailing him along the face a few times as he stuck his tongue out and blew to try and get out the dust.
Just as Sentinel seemed to be getting agitated Fluttershy rose up and unfurled one of her wings as she wrapped it over and pulled in one of the creature's upper appendages. The creature then mumbled something while pointing at Applejack who just snorted back.
"Now Fluttershy, be careful darling..." says Rarity with concern, getting a few side glances from the others. Quick to defend herself from misunderstanding, she attempts to explain "Its not that I think this... um... Sentinel would hurt our dear Fluttershy on purpose. But we saw just how much brute strength it had." she explained, hoping to get her concerns across correctly.
"In other words..." Rainbow cut in, "you think it's just a dumb brute."
Rarity gasps with shock, "Well I never!" She proceeds to stomp a hoof down, lady like of course, before turning up her muzzle. "If you must know Rainbow Dash, I am just worried that it might be too used to handling those demonic ruffians to know how delicate the underside of a Pegasi wings are." Rarity said, defending herself, yet again.
Rainbow slightly narrowed her eyes, "Yeah, still sounds like your calling it a dumb brute."
Rarity, easily aggravated with a tinge of pink in her cheeks, "Hmph!".
"C'mon you two. We've ALL had a very long and stressful day." Applejack says, attempting to diffuse the situation.
"But Applejack!" Pinkie yelled, "...all this happened at night!" she said in a hushed but playful tone, getting only a half lidded stare from Applejack.
"Its being very gentle with me girls. Please don't worry." Fluttershy whispers as she continues to mend what she can on Sentinel. So far, and she is clearly thankful for it, the being she is tending to is tolerating her touching it. When she first started to treat the wounds, she could feel it tense up whenever it was touched, and not just on wounds, but contact anywhere. She knew deep down, from having taken care of pets that weren't treated well, that this was on the instinctual level, not just related to her alone. She pushed back the sadness, to be dealt with later, and fluttered on.
"See you two?" Applejack states, "Now I think we've been through way too much today for you two to get into something petty over this." she continues, "Do each other right and apologize.."she finishes with a encouraging half smile.
"Why should I apologize!?" yells Rainbow Dash, "That Sentinel or whatever, may be a lot of things, and not all good!" she continues on her rant, "But the one thing it ain't is stupid, " she says lowering her voice. "Or cruel".
All of the ponies around her, including Twilight whose been entirely focused on Sentinel indirectly, gave Rainbow at least some of their attention now.
It was Celestia who broke the silence, giving encouragement, "Go on my little pony".
Rainbow dash looked down at the ground with concentration on written all over her face, as if to try and think and better form what she wanted to say, to just shake her head. She was never good at explaining anything but through the fire inside her at the time.
"Its how it fought those things." She just said nonchalantly, "It was one of the most honest thing I've ever seen," giving a look towards Applejack who in turn flicked her eyes open wider at the compliment, "Yeah it looked cruel and brutish, but if you've been trained in any form of fighting you know there is a lot of showmanship." She gives a moment to look at all the others.
"And just how," Rarity asks, but not in a condescending way, "does that show that it isn't cruel or brutish?".
"I think what Rainbow Dash is trying to say is that this Sentinel here, even if looking like it's attacks were cruel, were actually merciful since they were straight to the point." Princess Luna interjected, for Rainbow's sake.
"Um.. yeah..there's that..." Rainbow said to confirm what Princess Luna said, even if it was a bit too bookworm like for her tastes, and far less cool than what she was about to say.
"Was there something else, maybe a little more to heart, you wanted to say my little pony?" asked Celestia, in her motherly tone, hoping it would get the normally closed up Pegasus to keep going.
"Do..." Rainbow hesitated, but continued "Do you think you could of taken that big demon down, Princess?" she asked, directing through sight the question to Princess Celestia. Silence filled the air, as the question quite the loaded one.
"Yes." Celestia answered, but was quick to say more even as Rainbow was about to say something else, "But in order to do so would of brought great danger to all of you and nearly everypony in Canterlot." she closed her eyes for a moment, before continuing "many of our fellow ponies would of died if that battle hadn't end when it did." she finished.
Rainbow lowered her head a little and looked at no pony in particular before saying something even more loaded, "I think.. it knew."
Celestia's pupils dilated for a moment as Rainbow continued speaking.
"At first I thought it might just be another demon thing, fighting the others so that it could take their prize." Rainbow said, before shaking her head for clarity, "But after what Princess Cadance said about what happened to it's home I just thought it was after revenge." she said as she furrowed her brow a little, "Cause if something came here and took all of you from me, and literally destroyed my entire world... I'd come after them too..".
Rarity was about to speak but Rainbow, ever the brazen one, wasn't going to let any pony get the hoof up on her while leading the race. Rainbow raised a hoof, at best her own way of being lady like in asking Rarity to remain silent, which she did.
"But I think... if I was hurting that bad that I'd be going after the hurt." Rainbow remarked, grabbing even more of their attention, as it was quite unlike Rainbow to say something like this.
"Ah think I'm starting to get whatcha trying to say there Rainbow." Applejack injected into the one sided conversation.
"Like if I wanted some pie, and..." Pinkie says as she gasps,"Rarity had eaten all the pie!" Pinkie actually accuses, pointing a hoof and giving somewhat of a stink eye in the process.
"Pinkie, for the last time, I did not eat your Pie!" Rarity shrieks.
"But like, the reason Rarity ate my pie, was cause she..." Pinkie almost gets out before Applejack puts a hoof in her mouth.
Sighing, "Thank you..." Rainbow says to Applejack, who nods.
"The demons might of caused the hurt, but the hurt came from losing my friends. So If i wanted to stop the hurt I'd have to save my friends, but I wouldn't be able to because they were already gone." Rainbow continues her explanation.
"So all I would have would be to try and put the hurt on those demons." Rainbow pauses, "But if I was like that Sentinel creature and followed them to a brand new world that had ALL of the things that was taken from me..." she looks up at her friends and Princesses. "I think I'd try and save what little I had left, of me, by doing whatever had to do to save them from becoming like me".
"I mean the way it stood right before it shattered..." Rainbow let it hang with that. Every pony who heard seemed to take a moment to reflect on what Rainbow had said, and insinuated, on a personal level.
"aaaawwwwwWWWWWW!" cried out an ever impeding Pinkie, as she lunges into a huggle on Rainbow, much to the dismay of the latter.
"Pinkie Pie!!" Rainbow yelled.
"I think I have to offer my apologies Rainbow," Rarity said with true sincerity, before also latching on.
"Ugh, Rarity?!" Rainbow cried out, growing ever more uncomfortable.
"You surely didn't think you'd get away free from that compliment did ya?" Applejack, giving a wide goofy smile, before giving all three one of her bone crunching hugs. "Hey Fluttershy and Twilight! C'mon in, I don't think Rainbow has had enough!" she said, laughing along with all but Rainbow who struggled to get free, causing them all to topple over.
"Are you okay?!" Fluttershy yelled so low that over the commotion she couldn't of been heard.
"What if it hates us..." Twilight added in.
The comment was enough to take all the wind out of the fun before her, even if it wasn't at all her intention, but just openly commenting on her worry. The four bearers now grappled together on the floor were absolutely confused by the comment itself, as not one of them could find a reason why Twilight might worry of Sentinel hating them. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, however, had already been internally debating just how they would approach this potentially damning situation if it came to pass.
"S..Sentinel?!" Fluttershy once again shouted, her fore legs propping her up on Sentinel's knee as she was frantically trying to find out why the creature was looking so pained.
"It...it lost everything!" Twilight just blurts out, "We can't even say hello! What if our cultures can't co-exist?!" she started pacing back and forth drawing almost all attention to her. "What if we can't find a way to make it a good life? Or out of pain?" she continues on her frantic ramblings as another goes on behind her still unnoticed, "What if we can't even make it happy?".
The sudden clanking of metal on the marble behind them causes them all to look over, only to finally notice that their new arrival wasn't wearing it's helmet any longer. However worse of all was that it also looked like it was in terrible pain as it clenched the side of it's face. Scrambling over, all of the bearers and both princesses wore looks of concern, worry, or sudden guilt of not even noticing a crying Fluttershy or agonized Sentinel as they laughed and rambled on.
"Whats wrong?!" Princess Celestia asked the Sentinel creature, getting only a single opened but bloodshot eye in response.
Noting where it held it's hoof, "Show me." Celestia then lifted her foreleg and gently tapped her hoof against it's own.
"<gibberish>" was all Celestia heard in return with no movement of it's hoof.
"Now!" Celestia yelled a little louder as she slammed a hoof onto the ground, growing more frustrated at the very situation, "Is there no way to get something across?" she almost growled, just as she looked up in time to see Sentinel shaking his head "no".
"Yep!" Applejack declared, "Rascal is messing with us!"
Princess Celestia, ever the calm and gentle co-ruler of Equestria, then did one of the things only Princess Luna had the luxury of ever hearing. She growled.
"I command you to let me help you!" she almost yelled as she surrounded it's appendage with her golden magical hue doing her best to pull it away so that she could see what had happened.
"<gibberish!>" Sentinel almost growled back, narrowing it's one open eye as Celestia did the very same as the tug of war began.
"Oh oh, please calm down!" Fluttershy tried to reason after she release the creature's appendage from underneath her wing. Seeing that it was to no avail, she then did a quick turn towards Princess Celestia, "You'll hurt him!" she said a little louder.
"I said stop!" Fluttershy screamed at Princess Celestia just as the pony in question realized what she had been doing but in the process of shock sent a big push into her pulling grasp. The sudden influx yanked Sentinel's hoof free long enough for everypony to witness the blood soaked inner hoof, ear, and down the neck.
As everypony let out a scream, especially Fluttershy at seeing so much fresh blood, the magical grip popped out of existence, allowing the full strength of the creature's pull to blast him with a now closed hoof right into it's ear sending it over the pile of debris it had been sitting on.
"Oh no!" Princess Celestia called out as she literally galloped around the debris as Fluttershy flew over top of it, to check on their new guest. Tears were threatening to well up in both ponies, one from empathy and the other from frayed nerves, as they helped Sentinel up off the ground.
"I'm sorry..." Celestia, pushed past her usual ability to withhold emotions, was just about at the breaking point. This, combined with the worry of having injured an already injured creature under her care, was just not what she needed right now. But she was once again brought to her senses when she felt a small hoof pressed softly against her foreleg.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you Princess..." Fluttershy said trying to apologize as she hunkered down in shame.
Celestia craned her neck to nuzzle Fluttershy, "You have nothing to apologize for little one. It is I that should apologize to you and this Sentinel, for having let my frustrations get the better of me." she said as she heard murmurs from the others at the display of what they all loved about their princess. "Now I think..." but she was interrupted by the clanking of falling metal.
Celestia, along with Luna and the bearers, all looked over to see that Sentinel was checking it's plate armor in frustration. It would shake a part, say something in seeming frustration, and discard it.
"Ah! Don't throw it away like that!" Twilight, ever the curious one, was eyeballing each piece as something precious, instead of trash as Sentinel was now treating it as. She lifted up with her purple hued magical grasp a decent sized piece from it's lower barrel, holding it overhead and bringing it closer to inspect it.
The others watched as Sentinel checked itself over a few more times before pitching another piece from it's upper shoulder close enough to Twilight that she shrieked in fright, sending the metal in her grasp flying behind all of them.
"Buck!" yelled a white stallion with a blue mane, trotting alongside Princess Cadance, albeit now somewhat staggering as it shook it's head as Cadance looked as if she was fighting back rage, or laughter.
Twilight shrunk down, having instantly realized who the voice belong to along with realizing where the wayward armor now landed.
"Shining, it was an acciden...!" Twilight quickly said as she spun around.
"Twily!" the stallion called out, as he brought her in for a strong felt hug.
"I'm so mad at you right now..." he said as the hug tightened.
She shut her eyes, she was prepared.
"You promised!" the stallion yelled, not in anger, but in hurt and worry.
Twilight's eyes shot open as she barely mustered out, "Wha..?"
"You said you would be careful!" the stallion yelled once again, but a little softer than before.
Twilight merely, as she was somewhat barred much movement, looked around in an attempt to gather her bearings. She saw that her friends and three Princesses were all giving her both looks of thoughtfulness and sympathetic abandonment. Wait...
"You said that you'd be careful and if things got out of hand that you and the girls would seek shelter." The stallion pulled his head back so that he could look Twilight in the eyes, "We had just gotten all of the civilians into the caverns under the castle when one of the scouts looking for stray civilians reported that" he paused as if still reeling from it, "... the elements of harmony fell...".
She was prepared. To be a fool maybe. Did she really forget who it was that calls her Twily? So she pushed down all of her compulsive worry and did the only thing she could. She hugged him right back with an even stronger one.
"BBBFF!" Twilight called out, both from relief of her worry and feeling a bit giddy over her bigger brother showing how much he cared.
"Twilight?" the stallion, a bit surprised by the strength put behind the return hug, "Thank Celestia that you're alright. I was freaking out most of the way here" he elaborated.
"Wait. Didn't Cadance explain all of this to you?" Twilight asked, a bit surprised Cadance left him in the dark.
"Like I had time!" exclaimed a rather flustered Cadance, "I went over, he saw me, gave me a bruising hug, started to cry as he called out your name..." she rattled off giving no pony time to interrupt, much to the embarrassment of the stallion.
"Liquid...!" he yelled.
"I had to drag him away as so many ponies had already seen Shining Armor, Ex-Captain of the Royal Guard turned Crystal Empire Prince, have a mental breakdown." Cadance finished, sounding rather mean without the much needed but absent context.
"Cadance!" cried Twilight, releasing Shining from her death hug.
"Shining, dear." Cadance kindly addressed him, "What was the first thing that I said before you literally clobbered me to the cavern floor?"
Rubbing the back of his somewhat bruised neck, Shining chuckled as some red hued his cheeks, "You came and told all of us that everything was okay and that we won, along with every pony making it out alive." he let out a short chuckle.
"I think I might have totally ignored her....." Shining admitted, getting a disapproving look from Cadance before quickly adding, "But on the way here she reexplained everything that happened."
Peering around Twilight, Shining was finally able to acknowledge in pony the one he wanted to talk to most right now, just as they all heard a rather loud clank.
Everypony's attention was snapped towards the noise, save Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, Fluttershy whose attention was already. The creature, called Sentinel, mumbled something that came out as nothing but gibberish. He then proceeded to close it's extremity as it lifts a single talon, towards the sword now in it's lap. It finally looked to the side before mumbling something else and finally going as silent and unmoving as if in a trance.
"Is that...?" Shining whispered, somewhat on guard due to not knowing how to take this, "Normal?" he continued, both to himself and the others nearby, slowly bringing himself into an internal monologue.
Looking around, he took note that even from Twilight, who normally should be overly energetic in learning everything about Sentinel, even she looked as if lost on how to answer. Having been shown through a mental link with his wife, he was privy to more than just the words the other all heard. He was able to both feel the influx of emotion that had come from this Sentinel creature along with bits of distorted memory.
To say that Shining was conflicted would be an understatement. For the second time in his 28 years of life, he had found himself in a situation that he had absolutely no control, with a possible Pandora's Box sitting before him. Even as things stood right then and there, if this Sentinel hadn't showed up, his sister along with her five best friends would of died. Princess Celestia had shifted and while he was privy to just the bare minimal of info being the ex-captain, he knew enough to know that she had to of held back, for there were no shadows of ponies flared against the structures.
Yet this Sentinel had come after the demons finished culling it's world. The what of Sentinel could wait, but the Why was the much needed context that made Shining nervous. Very nervous. Cadance had showed him up to this creature being hit with the physical representation of the elements, only to seemingly perish regardless. Then, seconds and one rainbow implosion later, it was dropped back into Equestria, with a blessing no less.
But he had seen with his own eyes through the mental link Cadance and him shared on the way over Sentinel's relative life. It was, simply put, horrific. Some of the confrontations Sentinel would of had to of taken on made even he himself shudder.
But as he looked at the creature's eyes, which seemed focused on nothing but the ground, he couldn't deny that there so much more to him than the horrors his caste placed on him.
A pony's cutie mark could be easily misunderstood. Often times Griffons and Minotaurs thought that the cutie mark was random and chose for the pony what they would do in life. It was entirely untrue. A cutie mark only appears when a pony finds their true passion in life, and the mark is just a manifestation of those intense feelings. He almost shuddered when he considered it being the other way around, until an almost frightening prospect reared it's head.
"Maybe... he didn't get to choose?" He considered.
The prospect was indeed frightening to him. Whether it was just because it went against what ponies were or more of what he specifically represented, it mattered not. It would be like losing all control and being forced to see, hear, and act according to what somepony else wanted.
Like a puppet, used to further somepony's agenda, regardless of merit, was something he could personally understand. Understand the hurt. Understand feeling like you had betrayed yourself and loved ones. Understand that even when everypony else said it wasn't your fault, you often sat staring at a mirror still trying to convince yourself if that was true. Then, even when you almost did, you realized you might as well of just admitted how weak you were. Understand, that no matter what realization you came to, you lose.
"Maybe, if allowed the chance..." Shining thought, with some rising determination.
Perspective Shift : Ponies
"Even if we could ask em, " Applejack interjected, "How would we?"
"Nicely?" Pinkie sincerely asked.
"How do ya ask nicely to talk about everything behind ya that's dead and gone." Applejack said in a serious tone.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel's Internal Monologue
To say that Sentinel was conflicted would be an understatement. He had absolutely, for the first time in the entirety of his 23 years of life, nothing to do. If even the slightest hint of any of those demons still existed he would know it, literally, thanks to the same thing that made him into a Sentinel. He felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. And, therein, lies the problem. You never realize just how empty your cup is until you've taken the last sip. Now left in a world without demons, he had to accept reality.
"Yesterday, I was Sentinel, harbinger to the demonic horde." he internally proclaims.
"Today I'm the creepy thing, carrying an empty cup in the wrong backyard." he internally face palms.
With all joking aside, however, he had to consider his options. He was stuck in another world with creatures that for better or worse, were nothing like himself. The butterscotch one was really caring, mending him like this. The orange one with a stetson was pretty ornery, in a playful sort of way. The big white one somewhat put him off base with that whole motherly look it had given him while the butterscotch cleaned him up. Still it felt... genuine.
While it made him a bit uncomfortable he wasn't entirely against it. What he was against, and actually somewhat scared him, was the prospect of where his compass landed with a new set of rules. Back home, even though he wasn't welcome at the Havens, he was still mostly considered somewhat of a hero. A throwaway hero, but one nonetheless. Neither him or the other Sentinels ever felt like one, but all in all, were okay with the premise given the alternatives.
But here...
"...here..." he thought, "maybe I'm not that good of a guy." he grimaced.
He knew humanity had had some rough times. A lot of fighting, on all levels. But he always felt that the Havens displayed the very best that his people could offer. They worked together. They protected each other. They held rules and guidelines even in a world where utter madness above ground had taken hold. It felt that the less hope they had, the harder they fought to keep the lack of it from destroying what little they had left. They had reached the event horizon a little over a year ago as far as newborn against mortality rate goes, even if they kept building the inter connecting passages between Havens. It was...humbling.
Yet then again one would have to also acknowledge the bad as well. Sentinels. An act by a select few that brought back to light the potential for humanity as it's worst. Conventional weapons failed. Theoretical bleeding edge ones unreliable and unable to mass produce or maintain. Hell, each human that died became a weapon against other humans as the raw material was used by the demons for their abominations. So a few scientists thought if one could play that angle, why not us?
Perspective Shift : Ponies
Before the conversation went into full spring, Shining Armor walked past Twilight, the clopping grabbing everypony's attention.
"Shining?" Twilight asked, not getting any reply.
Shining trotted right up to Sentinel, who was looking down and seemingly at nothing. Fluttershy even stopped for a moment, looking out the corner of her eye at Shining and whatever he was going to do.
"Sometimes," Shining remarked, catching the attention of Sentinel by being so close.
"You don't ask." Shining and Sentinel's stares meet, while shining slowly lifted up a foreleg, holding his hoof out.
"You offer." Shining finishes saying while holding his hoof out steady, his eyes never shifting or faltering.
Shining and Sentinel held a gaze as if they were the only two on some desolate battlefield. Even when verbal communication is not applicable, if there is one thing that those familiar with the blade can always infer, its symbolic understanding.
The other ponies watched silently as Sentinel slowly slides his appendage out along the blade of it's sword and then gently nudges Fluttershy back away from him who was trying to mend him once more. As he stood, he reached over and takes up the hilt of his sword, raising the curved long sword into the air. Slowly, showing no other body language, he shifted the sword to pointing down edge out, right where shining was still standing.
"Shining!" yelled Twilight, before Sentinel drove the blade down, making a screeching sound as it drive into the melted marble. When Sentinel released the hilt, it stood eye level with Shining, the edge barely beyond his outstanding hoof. Sentinel then removed his left gauntlet and grasped the blade from the dull side. Letting his fingers wrap around the edge, he slid down from underneath the hilt to where the blade and Shining's hoof met, leaving a smear of blood along the once shining metal.
Shining hadn't moved nor even flinched, as didn't feel the intent to harm from Sentinel, but merely a message...
"Until this barrier is broken, we cannot come to such an understanding." Shining spoke, both to and for the other ponies behind him.
Shining let his hoof rise until it touched the hilt, as he gave a little pressure back and forth, noting not even the slightest budge. As silly as this looked, smeared blood notwithstanding, he was at the very least extremely impressed by how... poetic it was.
The range of looks and emotions being conveyed from the other onlookers, however, was a much wider spectrum.
Princess Celestia, for the better part of her poker face, actually looked very worried. Princess Luna, in contrast, looked quite amused and was really starting to like the bluntness of this Sentinel creature. Princess Cadance, having almost witnessed her husband's murder, looked bored.
Applejack however looked annoyed, almost thinking that he used this opportunity to hurt himself to spite her. Rainbow's "I'll take any challenge!" flared up and it showed. Fluttershy of course was crying, unable to process why it had hurt itself on purpose. Rarity surprisingly was leaning more towards Shining Armor on the poetic flare of it all while Twilight was downright pissed.
"What the hay is wrong with you!?" Yelled Twilight, getting looks from everypony.
"Twily, Sentinel had no intention of..." Shining started to say as he suddenly got tackled.
"I'm not talking about him! I'm talking about you!" she said, muzzle to muzzle with her older brother. "We can't communicate with him at all and you go and approach him and reach out your hoof!" she almost growls out, "What if he took it as some form of challenge!?"
Shining couldn't help but chuckle, making Twilight get even more angry, simply because she was starting to ask like his Twily again finally. "Twilight. He and I may not be able to speak words, but I can assure you that we were communicating exactly what we wanted to just now." he says as Twilight begins to back off so that he can get back up. "Now we know where we stand."
"What do you mean where we stand?" Twilight asked. "We need to get him checked out and start working on some form of proper communication!" she started to yell again.
"Why wouldn't we just walk around the sword?" asked Applejack.
"Do that, and you close a door that won't ever open again." Shining replied in a low and serious tone.
"<sniffles>..why?" asked Fluttershy.
"We can't..." Twilight says, sighing. "When he put that sword down, and put his blood on it, it was like a blood oath." she recalled from reading one of her many books on ancient pony history, "Unless we break that sword, he will refuse Shining's offer, which now..." she proceeds to narrow her eyes at her brother, "represents all of us."
"Not that I don't wanna break that sword just to show em I can!" Rainbow exclaimed, "But I bet if we waited it out, that Sentinel dude would come around." she confidently stated, "Not like he has anywhere else to go right?".
"Rainbow!" chided Rarity, before she looked over to see Pinkie batting the hilt of the sword with her hoof, "PINKIE!".
"Um...Twilight?" asked Fluttershy, "What else did that book say on this...blood oath...". Fluttershy immediately shrunk down and gave a nervous smile when she noticed the disapproving look from Rainbow.
Twilight, doing a 180, "Oh! Glad you asked Fluttershy!" she happily proclaimed, causing Rainbow to groan, "It talked a lot about how back then there were a lot of rules about engagement, honor, and how friendships were formed in and out of battle."
Twilight continued, "There was actually an example like this one. One group was attacked by another, that had just decimated another group that no one helped defend. A survivor from the decimated group came and helped stop the second group from being destroyed. When that group extended their hoof in friendship, the survivor drove his sword into the ground just like Sentinel did."
All of the ponies, even those who knew just how exaggerated this story was from the actual truth, listed intently. Even Rainbow, who enjoyed adventure, started giving her interest to the story.
"Well it was written that no pony could break the sword because the only way it would break, since the survivor only took it up after his home was destroyed, was to restore what was lost." Twilight flared her foreleg up and out to signal the end of the story.
"What happened to the survivor?" Fluttershy asked, actually feeling sorry for somepony that, for all chances, was made up. Given how Princess Luna's tongue was ever so slightly sticking out of her mouth during the entire narration, chances doubled.
"Uh..." Twilight tried to recall, "Oh!" she said as she finally remembered, "It said on the third day he took his own life with the very sword that wouldn't break in order to be with his family once more." She stated nonchalantly, while Fluttershy looked like she just watched a forest of bunnies burn down.
Silence...
Silence...
Boom!
Like a gunshot, all of the bearers save for Pinkie who wasn't really paying attention to the last part started to either freak out or declare how the sword was going to go down, as if it actually cared. Shining, however, looked about as constipated as constipated can make you look. Princess Cadance was shifting between the same look and wanting to double facehoof. Princess Luna, co-ruler of all of Equestria, just kept that little tip of her tongue sticking out as she pondered if she could instigate this further.
Princess Celestia, however, was actually getting very worried about this entire fiasco playing out before her eyes. While she knew the story was just that, a made up story for grandeur and poetry, she wasn't quite sure if the notion could be applied to this Sentinel creature. Then she had to worry about the bearers, who while adults and all competent, were still young and prone to rather rash decisions on the play. Pair a VERY sharp sword stuck in the ground of what is about to become a tug of war....
"OK pinkie, you push I pull!....Pinkie! Don't push you might get hurt!...Rarity get back here and help me pull on Rainbow!...Alright girls, on the count of three!..." many voices going off at the same time, huddled around the sword in question.
"Hnnnnnnnngggggg!!!!" come the united front of all six bearers.
Perspective Shift : Sentinel
He was pretty confident that what he just did displayed exactly what he intended. The white equine with blue hair had reached out it's hoof, and in return, he offered a compromise. He drove his sword into the ground before it, close enough to get it's attention but not enough to harm it. He removed his gauntlet and cut himself on the edge. All the equine needed to do was the same, and together, he would be willing to break his sword and take their offer.
"Now." He mentioned internally, "Show me the sincerity of your mettle, Equines."
"<Gibberish!>" the lavender yelled out as it tackled the white one.
"..." was all Sentinel could say, inwards or out.
Sentinel continued to watch as many of the equines suddenly started making strange faces at his sword. The cyan one looked like it wanted to actually fight it. The one with the stetson, like it tricked it. The butterscotch one was crying, again. But before he could make any observations of the others...
<paddle..paddle..paddle>
Sentinel looked back down at his sword to see the pink one with pink hair paddling the hilt of his sword with it's hoof. Confusion. That was what he had to settle for. Its not like he didn't try to find a better word for what he was watching, but like what was before him, he was not up to the task of describing any of it properly. So he just watched.
<gasps>
Shifting his eyes over to what sounded like shocked gasps, all he noticed was the pure shock and horror plastered on the face of the butterscotch one, as the lavender one looked quite proud of itself. Trying to process what he was seeing without jumping to conclusions his sight shifted for a split second back to the pink one, then back to the others, then suddenly back to the pink one.
It was smiling....right...at...him. <paddle...paddle..paddle..>
"You're purposely messing with me, aren't you..." he said to himself.
That was about all he got time to think before five other ponies all rushed and attacked his sword. At first he thought they were just playing around, making fun of him even, which given the sincere context that he had given when planting that sword into the ground, was slightly annoying him.
Yet before he could let it actually get anywhere in his head, he was brought back down when he noticed the look on their faces. They were concerned, upset, and more than just the butterscotch one looked like it had tears in it's eyes. They were all huddled, even pulling on the others tails, to try and bend the sword. To break it. But the one thing that only he knew was that the sword was specifically made to be next to unbreakable.
Hell, it was more dense and better purity than his body armor. Essentially, something that he had set up to be a symbolic gesture to a new beginning, using both his and the equine's combined effort, turned into setting up six seemingly overly friendly and happy beings for failure. He looked up, for a moment, to notice the large white one looking at the six with concern in it's eyes, before looking into his own with the very same.
"If there is a hell, I just bought my lifetime membership with this one didn't I...." he said, now annoyed with himself. He was about to reach down and help when he heard something that froze his stead, crackling.
"What the..." Sentinel said as he looked towards the noise.
He watched as near the base of the blade, where it met the melted marble, it started to spark and glow red. The six equines gave another unified pull, as more sparks started to fly and hairline cracks began to form. Then another, and another, and another. Finally, with what seemed like their best hoof forward, they all reared back...
<snap!>
At the same time, somewhere so close that no one can even see it, but at the same time so far away no one can get to it, another part of the frozen landscape changes. Where once laid a pond perfectly frozen in time...hairline cracks began to slowly form.
Perspective Shift : Ponies
Gathering for a group hug, all six embrace and cheer their accomplishment.
Pulled out of their moment, all six, along with the three princesses and prince, look over towards the clanking noise. What they see is Sentinel, slowly pulling off what remained of his armor. He was well built, and while his chest had given them a glimpse, they had to note just how hairless he was. When finished removing all of his plate, he stood there utterly naked save for what appeared to be some skintight materials from his lower abdomen to halfway to the knee.
But their innocent curiosity was short lived when without the armor the sum of life with demons left their marks, all over his body. But it was Princess Luna who vocally made the most damning observations of all.
"It was like he was always outnumbered." Luna gently commented.
The looks, especially from the six, was enough to get her to further elaborate.
"He has less scars on the front than on the side and back." she stated, "That means that he never had any pony watching his blindside." she then pointed with her hoof, "The long drag marks on the back of his legs to the bend, show how he was drug down by something on many different occasions, " she lifted her hoof up higher, "and the scars on the side of his barrel were moments where he was defending from something much taller than himself, only to be attacked while doing so by others."
Reading it like a journal, Luna continued onwards, "The deep gouges on his upper back and shoulders means that he often had multiple attackers latched onto him for extended periods of time."
"Luna..." Princess Celestia whispers, somewhat concerned with how the others will handle such details.
"If our intent is to help this being, then we need to understand it." Luna defended, but not harshly. "It let us break it's weapon. Now it has removed it's protection." she made sure to note, "Its giving us a all of the cards but we would be a fool to assume that it isn't used to always playing with an empty hoof." Luna finishes, giving explanation to the merit of her statements.
"Princess Luna, if I may, but why do you keep referring to it as an it?" Applejack asks, "Princess Cadance already called it a stallion."
"But Applejack," Twlight interjected to defend the notion, "Her observations are only that, observations." to further infer, "See? I'm rather confident that those are teats on the upper chest area." she says, pointing her hoof.
"Yeah, but I can tell ya now, observation or no, that this one here is a stallion." Applejack said with confidence.
"Okay...Well I see teats. That means female. What do YOU see that says male?" Twilight asks with a challenge.
Applejack only deadpans as she slowly lifts a hoof, allowing all of the others who hadn't already realized, to follow it's trajectory. Slight hues of pink spread across the audience, until Sentinel looks over, looks down, then slowly back up with an arched eyebrow. He just seems to shake his head, what appears to be laughter, and then place his helmet over the edge still sticking out of the glass marble floor.
Walking past his chest piece, he pulls out a small pouch before walking over towards the ponies, stopping in front of them as Princess Celestia comes to the head of the group. She nods her head, getting the very same back from Sentinel, before turning towards the large Castle not far away. With Sentinel and every pony else in tow, they all begin the start of what should be a rather interesting turn of events.
"Tia! We're late!" Luna exclaims.
"So much for a night of sleep..." Celestia comments, before both princess of night and day begin to concentrate, horns glowing brightly. While everypony else knew what this meant, Sentinel was proverbially still in the dark of such things. So one shouldn't blame him when he looked up and noticed the moon moving alarmingly fast.
<Gibberish!!!!> Sentinel yells and he seems to run for cover, just as the sun's crest shoots eye burning rays of light, causing him to go mostly blind since his eyes were adjusted for night. Sadly his legs did not get the memo, or the number of the half crumbled wall they slammed Sentinel into.
Princess Celestia held many official titles depending on where you asked across the globe. Co-ruler of Equestria. Ascended Alicorn. Solar Princess. Keeper of the Sun. All could be considered respectful in their own right, albeit not all originated in the most gentle of ways. She'd seen and experienced across her several thousand year life span enough to keep her searching the corners of her soul for thousands more.
She also represented much more personal ones depending on who you asked. Motherly. Protector. Negotiator. Tyrant... Her eyes clamped shut at the last one, as it always stung enough to hurt. It was a personal one from a thousand years before, when her hubris clouded her eyes until it was too late. A great calamity was averted, at an even greater cost. It was shortly after, as she addressed thousands of her subjects on how they should proceed, that she first heard it...
"You're nothing but a tyrant!!!" screamed an unknown Pegasi, "Princess Luna...."
"...was wondering if thy sister would entertain some company?" asked Luna, wearing none of her adornments, thankfully ripping Celestia back from where she always hated going.
"Princess Celestia," Celestia replied with a coy smile, "would enjoy that very much".
So Luna saw down on her haunches next to her sister, the brim of the burning sun setting the perfect mood for some much needed cool down from the day to night happenings for the royal sisters. While brought back together anew just recently, they could never find much time for relaxation, let alone reflection. Things had been especially turbulent these past several months with their unexpected, but over time very welcomed, addition to those they consider their subjects.
"I must say Luna," Celestia started to say, looking across the open expanse below the view of Canterlot, "you're looking quite refreshed for being up so early in the evening."
Luna slowly smiles, "You only have thyself and thy accomplice to blame". She slightly lets the smile fade as she looks over at Celestia, "Speaking of thy accomplice, is Sentinel still under the impression that I am unaware of his involvement?".
Celestia grins, "I've given him no reason to think otherwise."
"We are still unsure if it is wise to..." Luna searches for a nice way to say it, "leave him with such an impression."
"I never lied Luna," Celestia replies, "maybe just implied."
Some silence passed into the once mellow conversation, as the subject at hand while about one under their care and protection seems to easily bring out some of the more brash personality traits from either of them. The stretching of Luna's wings allows such a moment to quickly pass, however.
"Argh!" Luna exasperates, "He is just so....so...."
"Infuriating?" Celestia finishes for her while cocking an eyebrow and grin, one of her ears instinctively pivots around towards a mountain not far away, as it sounds like something slipped and caused a small rock slide.
"and selfish!" Luna almost yells in agreement as one of her ears also flickers towards the same mountain as she ignores what she thought she faintly heard as "fuck!".
"Thy does something nice..." Luna slowly goes back to her more mellow tone, "Thy should give proper courtesy to allow the receiver of such acts to return them!" she raises her tone once more for the last part.
Celestia decides not to speak, understanding that Luna rarely complains about anything, rightfully or otherwise. Generally, Celestia knew it was always best to let her sister get the entirety of it all before interruptions force her back into her proper royal shell. Besides. Secretly, she kind of enjoyed her sister's passionate tirades.
"Like the first day that thy was brought to the castle..." Luna continued;
Day One
All three princesses and one prince stood outside one of the large double doors to a bed chamber, usually reserved for Minotaur diplomats. They had been conversing about arrangements for their guest, and admitting questions that they all held on how best to approach them. They had left Sentinel in the care of the six bearers, but they were given pause when not a sound could be heard from within.
"Bearers?" Luna inquired, as she opened the double doors.
Instead of a scene of chaos like they always expected, they were instead met with an adorable one. Upon the larger than normal bed laid all six bearers, seemingly propped next to each other with the various covers and pillows arranged so none was without. Yet no sign of Sentinel could be found, causing some panic.
"Did thou think thy was a prisoner and attempt escape?" Luna asked aloud, somewhat uneasy.
Princess Celestia slowly trotted past the bearers, noting how all were placed in a manner so that all had some form of contact with another. Also, that Rainbow Dash was drooling on Applejack's hoof. Peering past and out towards the balcony, she was immediately relieved to see the silhouette of the one whose bed was now occupied. Yet it wasn't until she got closer that she swore she heard the feint sound of snoring. It was then that Celestia stopped and realized that he was standing so that nothing could get through the archway without passing close enough to awake him.
------------------------------------------------
"Then, not one week later..." Luna continued,
Day 6
Princess Luna has had enough. Every single day since this Sentinel has stayed in the castle, it has refused to take anything that they've offered. It has not once slept in it's own bed, choosing instead to sleep out in the open grass of the royal garden. Regardless of knowing he understood the invitations, he would never come to breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the royal dining halls. He kept pulling out little bread like squares from his pouch, eating them in one gulp, as if such puny helpings could sustain him.
Aside from letting the element of magic try and teach him their language, this creature has attempted to avoid any of their help. She even caught him sitting in a blasted tree during an scheduled thunderstorm, much to her screaming at the time. He helps the hired help around the castle. He tends to the landscape around the castle with other landscapers. He was even caught sneaking into the area where the invasion took place in order to help with the rebuilding.
Thanks to the plethora of witnesses during the invasion Sentinel has garnered a rather warm reception to their land. While some apprehension still exists, in the form of watching rather than try and approach him, no pony has really tried anything underhoofed.
"Today, thou is so getting paid..." Luna says with a little venomous determination as she proceeds to trot up behind Sentinel, who has his arms tucked behind him letting one hoof wrap around the opposite, admiring a painting.
Right as she gets close enough, she slaps the bit purse against the back of his head eliciting a rather loud jingling before flinging it against his chest as he quickly turns around, catching it.
She stares at him as he stares right back with rather impressive poker faces. Luna turns up her muzzle, closing her eyes in triumph before turning to trot away just as a maidpony is trotting past them, her mouth holding up quite the stack of rattling dishes.
Luna watched as the maidpony trots down the hallway, then back to Sentinel whose hoof once occupied, was now empty. When Sentinel merely places his open hand on her forehead between her eyes, she was about to flare up in rage before she looked into Sentinel's eyes. At first she thought he was doing this just to be difficult. Then she thought he was mocking her. But what she saw reflect back from his turquoise iris's said something else, but like the tongue, she just couldn't understand it.
"Why does thou refuse thee help..." Luna asked in a whisper as she continued to mask the real reason behind her rather brash push for him to do so. One riddled with guilt.
------------------------------------------------
"And then!" Luna lightly stomps one of her hoofs, "and then..."
Day 52
Princess Luna held many official titles depending on where you asked across the globe. Co-ruler of Equestria. Ascended Alicorn. Lunar Princess. Curator to the Dreamscape. All could be considered respectful in their own right, albeit not all originated in the most gentle of ways. She'd seen and experienced across her several thousand year life span enough to keep her searching the corners of her soul for thousands more.
She also represented much more personal ones depending on who you asked. Soothsayer. Shepard. Arbiter. Nightmare... Her eyes clamped shut at the last one, as it always stung enough to hurt. It was a personal one from a thousand years before, when her jealousy clouded her eyes until it was too late. A great calamity was averted, and the cost was felt deeper within her a thousand fold. Yet once again she is being brought down. This time however, it was not because of what others refuse to do for her but what she was suddenly unable to do for another.
But right now, most of all, she was just tired. As she struggled to keep her eyes open, she walked onto the balcony that she would share alongside her sister to transfer night and day. As she stood there, her head bobbing every few seconds, Celestia finally came trotting up and yawned earning a disapproving glare from Luna. Celestia was surely trying to mess with her as the Solar Princess always looked as revitalized as the rising sun each morning.
"Are thou re..." Luna started to say but gave pause as she looked at her sister, and especially the bags underneath her eyes. They were somewhat bloodshot, like her own, but from what she was unsure. Surely she had a restful slumber during the night.
"Long night, Tia?" Luna grasped, eliciting a slow but agreeable nod from Celestia along with another yawn.
Then, as always, both of their horns glowed and transition took place like it had each day, every day, for as long as anypony could remember. Luna bid her sister farewell before making her long rather slow trot to her royal chambers. As she approached the double doors her lunar guards seemed to look especially alert, as if anticipating something. Too tired to care, she just trotted on in to the same old room that shes always had. She used her horn to fling off all of her adornments, kicked her hooves to the same effect.
The last thing one would normally do is turn off the lights, or magical light orbs in this case, before laying down. However since Luna's bed chambers opened up to an extra wide full balcony, the incoming sunlight illuminated more than the orbs ever could. So after all of the orbs were magically dimmed so she wouldn't trip in the darkness she almost had to drag herself to the face of the balcony, peering out at the eye painful light.
"Just once..." she whispered to herself, "I'd like to sleep under the stars." she said as she magically slammed her curtains shut.
<POOMPH>
Said curtains suddenly flew open and an extremely wide eyed Luna peered out, painful or not, in confusion and shock. Turning around so she stood alongside the curtains, she quickly shut them with her magic as she looked up at her ceiling again.
"It's....my...night sky..." she said, agasp. She recognized the constellations immediately. Of course when you make them, one would hope that one's work would not be so easily hidden. Scanning, she could see even the placement of random stars that she put there just because she wanted to. It was so close to the real thing that she almost forgot that it wasn't.
"Do you like it?" Came the soothing gentle voice of her sister, Celestia, almost scaring Luna were she not already frazzled.
"Did you do this?" Luna asked, her voice pitching not only higher but also softer with each word.
Celestia had made somewhat of a promise to not allow Luna knowledge of who really did this. But when she looked into her sister's eyes, bloodshot or not, every single wall she had built up crumbled like dust.
"I helped with some supplies and then stayed up all night getting it all in place, but Sentinel" Celestia said, noticing Luna's eyes showing reaction at mention of the name, "was the one who designed and painted it after your night sky."
As Luna just stood there, Celestia decided to further elaborate. Even though in her stomach, she was unsure if what she was about to do was a good or bad thing, sometimes you have to tell the truth and let those involved decide how best to handle it.
"How did thou accomplish this in just...one night?" Luna asked, still scanning the mural.
"Three weeks," Celestia responded, getting another look from Luna in doing so, "was how long it took him to paint it."
Luna straightened her head, closed her eyes, and asked one simple thing. "Why."
"I'd just tell you, but I fear something of great importance would be lost in doing so." Celestia said, "So in place, let me show you." Celestia stated, as she pressed her horn to Luna's.
Three Weeks Prior
Celestia was trotting towards her royal chambers, ready to start a night of blissful slumber, when out of the corner of her eye she saw Sentinel approaching her. She'd been getting progress reports on him learning their language, and all were coming in positive. While not able to form common dialect perfectly, he was at the very least able to get the jest of what he wanted to say across.
"Why hello Sentinel, " Celestia said with a smile, "I hope the day has treated you well?"
"Good," Sentinel said back before looking her in the eyes to speak again, "Can..." he pointed to himself and then her, "talk?".
Celestia, since he started being able to properly communicate, hadn't the chance to converse with him. So of course, while tired, she was rather intrigued at what he might have to say that even caused him to seek her out. She did note, however, that she would have to keep the structure down to somewhat of a minimum so that he wouldn't get overwhelmed. So she merely nodded.
"Alone?" Sentinel asked, noting the royal guards that stood at the entrance of her chambers.
With another nod to both Sentinel and her guards, she lead him into her chambers, even more intrigued. When she turned around, her smile faltered when her eyes connected with his own. Whatever was to be said, it wasn't the idle kind.
"Need...help." Sentinel simply said before trying to elaborate, "L...L....Woona try help," pointing to himself,"can....no help," before finally adding, "No poohny can."
If this had been in any other context, Celestia might of been laughing her flank off. Calling Luna Woona, pony poohny. But this wasn't any other context. All she heard was help, her sister's name, and no one can, and she at the very top of her game if the lock latching on her double doors and curtains flying shut was any indication.
"Explain" she asked in the gentlest voice she could muster at the moment.
Sentinel looked somewhat frustrated. If one could look into his mind, they might be seeing an internal monologue of how the hell does he explain this better without looking utterly idiotic. But that was why he decided to talk to Princess Celestia alone, was it not? With what sounded like a sigh, before the big plunge, Sentinel began his terrible attempt at charades.
"...Woona...try help...night...." he then tilted his head, hands flat against each other, and closed his eyes for sleep of a HUMAN, before jolting his eyes open and trying to look in distress, "terror".
Celestia is able to understand now. She nods her head to show that she understands that part.
"No help...no terror." he tries to explain, "Terror fake." He points to his head, "Real".
Celestia hesitates to nod, but does so. It wasn't that she had trouble understanding, but the contrary. She wasn't truly anticipating that her sister would be fighting to stop what she thought was nightmares, when in fact, they were memories. They must be so unreal and horrific that her sister believes them to be otherwise. Such a sad notion meant that both her and Sentinel already lost.
"Woona sad," catching Celestia's attention once more, "sad sad Woona fail" as he reaches over and runs a finger where a tear could appear on Celestia's face somewhat startling her. While the touch didn't upset her, the prospect of what it meant did.
"Poohnies no save I," He tries his best to convey, being unable to find any body language to do so. "Save Woona!" Sentinel calls out, grabbing one of her fruit bowls and putting it on his head, no matter how utterly stupid he now looks.
Celestia, fighting to hold back an actual tear where an imagined one once was, "I can't..." she says looking right at Sentinel. There was absolutely nothing that she could do to bar Luna entry into her domain, nor if she could, would she.
Taking the bowl off his head, gaining 34% more dignity, he then pats his hand over his heart and holds the other downwards, letting the index and middle finger move like his legs, "I...go."
"No!" Celestia yelled, a bit too loud for the atmosphere in the room, making Sentinel raise an eyebrow.
Thinking, Celestia came up with something that might help, even if just a tiny bit.
"If you try and sleep through part of the day, and part of the night," she left it hang to see if he would understand.
"Easier, Woona" Sentinel said, receiving a soft smile from Celestia.
"Gift, Woona" Sentinel said, "Idea." as he pointed towards the closed curtains, peaking Celestia's curiosity. As Sentinel walked to the curtains, he flung them open, showing the night sky peering down upon them with the lunar glow. Sentinel then pointed to the night sky, then back inside to the ceiling of her chamber, and finally towards a painting on the wall.
"You want... to paint the night sky on Luna's chamber ceiling?" Celestia asked, but then wondering if she put too much into it. Sentinel shifted his eyes back and forth, as if trying to decipher what she said, before nodding when he looked back up.
Back to Day 52
"Afterwards, when I helped make magical paint that would be invisible during the day but absorbed light particles to illuminate at night, he inferred that he did not wish for you to know that he helped." Celestia elaborated.
A gentle sniffle and the lifting of her hoof to the underside of her eyes showed the effects the memory had on her, as Luna's eyes remained closed. Celestia wished she could remain silent, to let Luna fully absorb the moment, but while some might think underhanded she knew this was the best time to get the honest truth of what and why.
"Luna..." Celestia gently whispered, "Why did you push yourself to the edge of exhaustion?"
Luna said nothing. She wanted to say something, but she feared the truth would reopen a wound they both shared.
"Luna...?" Celestia asked again, approaching her, letting her wing drape over Luna.
"We..." Luna started to say, "We didn't..."
Celestia put a little more into her wing, embracing her sister for support.
Luna takes a gentle deep breath before slowly opening her eyes, "We didn't want to abandon somepony who couldn't be saved."
------------------------------------------------
"He really did look quite dumb with my fruit bowl on his head that night...." Celestia admitted straight faced.
Luna lets out a rather un-ladylike snort, "Tis a shame that we cannot do this longer, Tia." Luna commented, "Next time, maybe we should revisit those fabled days of Sentinel versus Prince Blueblood." shortly followed by a "oink oink".
Celestia ended up losing it, rolling over in laughter as she remembers the incident joined almost instantly by Luna. But like any amount of fun, sooner or later the moment must end and so much this one. Both Princesses stand up and stretch their wings, quite thankful for this well earned, if short, reprieve. However even that moment was disturbed as both of them instinctively pivoted their ears towards a rather unstable mountain top just a few hundred feet past their own, the sound of rocks falling echoing out.
"What...." Celestia questions, squinting her eyes to try and get a fix on something moving near the summit. Suddenly a pearly white telescope teleports right in front of her as she takes up the lens, acting not entirely happy.
"Tia?" Luna asks, slightly out of the loop.
"SENTINEL GET DOWN FROM THERE THIS INSTANT!!!!" Celestia screams in her royal canterlot voice, quickly followed by the echoes of many rocks impacting each other.
It was yet another perfect day in Canterlot. The sun shimmered in the sky. The humidity was almost perfect. He was having his favorite overpriced tea. Sitting in his favorite overpriced restaurant as he watched overpriced ponies do the same below "his"special balcony. His perfect golden blonde mane was perfectly styled in the latest fashion, his. His hooficure made them shine so much that you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between them and his porcelain tea cut. Today, was indeed perfect.
"Damn that Sentinel..." the stallion growled under his breath as his eyes narrowed.
Before the stallion laid a copy of the Equestrian Tribune. Normally, he'd never be caught dead with such a trifle thing of common life, but something had caught his eye this morning, along with his very name.
"Breaking news!!!! Prince Blueblood cracks under royal pressure!! Foal Abuser caught IN THE ACT!!" read the front page in ugly, but eye catching font, followed by "and unconfirmed reports that a innocent pot belly pig was also savagely attacked. No trace of the pig or it's body has been found in or around Canterlot Castle." He began to mentally mutterer curses about touring commoners when the memory of him bucking Sentinel through a stained glass window of one small balcony into the opposing one surfaced.
Blueblood began to seethe with anger. So much so that his vibrating hoof started to rattle the tea kettle and sugar spoon on the saucer. This... thing had come from elsewhere, into HIS home and HIS comfortable world. It showed him no respect while time and time again it would swipe it away from him just by it's very presence. The common hired help.. bah. They were overpaid for what they were worth. They would always shake enough to rattle their dishes when he blessed them with his presence. Now? Now that pig accompanied them enough that they started to think different. Like they were... important...
"I should of thrown that worthless foal off the cliff after I bucked it out the window!!!!" he yelled, forgetting that he was in public. Unlucky for Blueblood that wasn't the case for anypony else, in or out of the restaurant, as the streets were quite packed today.
Even if just a few understood the true context of the situation, it still did not merit any excuse for the actions that Blueblood had taken. It especially, without said context, wouldn't go down well with anypony else that heard.
"Monster!!" yelled one mare. Followed up by a few other names being called.
Blueblood...no... PRINCE Blueblood, has had enough with all of these things, pony or no, trying to be at his level. So in a mad rush to release some of his anger as it boiled over, he hoisted up his tea kettle and dashed to the window. Pitching the kettle as hard as his magical grasp could fling it, aiming only towards the voices that yelled monster earlier. With a shatter and a small scream, he cracked a small smile over his vic..tor...y.....
"YOU!!!!" Blueblood screamed out the window, nearly coming out of it as he leaned.
There stood the one who caused all of his pain and misery today. The one who did not belong in this world period, let alone next to even the filthiest earth pony farmer. This... thing... with Turquoise iris's, just stood there as the boiling hot tea scalded his skin having shielded the intended target. Yet it wasn't the royal guards who had rushed up to see if Sentinel was alright, or the common pony folk that had done the same that suddenly grabbed Blueblood's full attention.
"Blueblood!!!!!" yelled Princess Luna in her famous royal canterlot voice.
The day before
Laughing almost hysterically, "This will be splendid!" Prince Blueblood yelled out in glee. "You surround yourself with the lowest of the low, like a pig happily wallowing in filth." he merely grinned, "So lets see what we can do about that voice..."
Hovering before him was an old dusty tomb titled "Compulsions for everyday uses".
At the very same moment, far on the other side of the castle, a certain Princess Luna was doing something rather similar but entirely different reasons. She'd been putting so much effort into trying to help Sentinel that along with her normal duties for all of her subjects, she wasn't really able to be anything but utterly exhausted.
"We refuse to admit defeat..." Luna says in a rather sad but determined tone, "If thy ...hoomein... nightmares cannot be conquered by a pony goddess".
Take complete exhaustion, add in a lot of frustrations, and top it off with good intentions.
Luna narrows her eyes on a particular page of a research tomb, "then we shall remove the hoomein...".
Sentinel was rather tired today, but he'd been tired about every single day for 17 years.
"Comes with that special upbringing..." he would half joke half be damned to himself.
He used to say it aloud, but if he tried talking in this...equs....enus...this damn equine language then he was afraid of how butchered it come across. That and he might have to explain it. That meant charades. That meant looking really stupid. He could take involuntary stupid, but not volunteer stupid. Least not today, if he could help it.
He'd been working pretty much every ounce of free time he had trying to draw Princess Luna's night sky mural. It was going well, but at the same time, not so well. Drawings took time, he hated using trig, and the magical paint was hell to wash off himself. Couple that with spending time with the maids, butlers, landscapers, guards... he just mentally slapped himself.
"I forgot...." slapping himself again, "shit."
Today was the day that that one maidpony was going to have to do the workload on the wing with that blonde maned blowhard. He'd made it a habit to observe everything he could about these ponies and their ways, and that included the bad ones too. While the good had greatly outnumbered the bad, there were still quite a few things that seemed to keep a wall around truly trying to absorb into their culture. Some were almost... deal breakers.
The sound of someone yelling and dishes shattering brought him out of his self contained world, and eliciting a rather brisk pace towards it's origin. However when he arrived there was only the maidpony. She was doing her best, with a few tears in her eyes, to scoop up the broken shards of porcelain.
Gently poking the maidpony, "okay?" Sinclair asked in his broken equine dialect.
The mare just closed her eyes and nodded, before picking up a big scoop of shards in a dust pan as she slowly trotted off to discard what would most likely be taken out of her week payment of bits.
Sentinel just stood back up. He was rather agitated already. Now he was downright aggravated. Broken equine or not once he found either that blonde maned bastard or Celestia, he was going to give either of them a piece of his mind about this whole..
"Sentinel!" yelled Luna from the west entrance to the room. "Sentinel!" bellowed the blonde blowhard as it enter the east entrance to the room.
All Sentinel felt was something hitting from both east and west. It didn't hurt like any attack he'd ever been hit with, but it sure was... wait... why the hell are those porcelain shards suddenly so big? Almost as big as his entire body...
"Squeeeeeeee!!!!" squealed the 5 year old looking black foal with split down the middle piggy feet.
Princess Luna, without even a moment's notice, took action....
"TIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she frantically screamed out as she turned and took off full gallop.
Prince Blowhard, or rather Prince Blueblood, just wasn't in the mood to let such a perfect moment go to waste. He took his time as he slowly clopped his way towards the newly christened Sentinel. Just as he got within a few inches, he took in the air of how the height difference was now reversed. Not even lowering his head, he just shifted his sight down, before speaking.
"Even as a pony.." Blueblood commented as he stepped forward, kicking Sentinel back a little "You're quite ugly."
"oink <fuck you>" was all Sentinel could, or was willing, to reply with.
Realizing that as things stood he lacked the verbal confirmation of acknowledged humiliation, he instead decided to go for more physical means to elicit a definitive response. He hoofchecked the Sentinel right in the muzzle.
But as blueblood sneered in triumph at first, it slowly turned to a seething frown. Sentinel did take a full grown stallion's hoof to the muzzle. He was, physically, the equivalent to a 5 year old foal. He also had split pig like hoofs and sounds. But he wasn't a foal, nor a pig. He was Sentinel. So instead of crying out in pain or showing any sort of anger..
"oink, oink, <If it wasn't for giving Luna more nightmares to work with, I'd visit you tonight...>"
Just as blueblood is seething with anger once more, lifting his foreleg to send another blow to a defiant Sentinel, the maidpony from earlier enters from the east side unnoticed. But while they didn't notice her, the same wasn't true for the mare. As soon as she trotted in she froze. Before her stood blueblood and some small black foal that she'd never seen before. But what really stood out was the raised foreleg and the blood dripping from the foals face. So she did was any good pony would do.
She chest checked blueblood into a wall.
Sentinel was about to oink, his limited form of communication from his already limited communication, but he didn't. He was simply impressed. The stallion was a decent bit bigger than the mare but she charged right in and checked him nonetheless. Given how his life was prior to coming to this world, he had to merely hold back a lot of what he was for the sake of trying to adapt. Since that first day coming through the portal, he'd only seen three equines truly impress him. The three called Twilight, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.
The first was because the mare screamed defiantly at him when he'd just arrived, even though she was so near succumbing to her wounds. He liked seeing that defiance even in the face of hopelessness, as it reminded him of many living in the Havens. Then, that Celestia was truly something else when it came to his own element, fighting alone against the odds with. The way she dashed out to get to those six bearers, he was told, was a type of honesty he could trust in. He always knew she had held back, but regardless, what she had shown caused him to be rather intimidated of her ability, and thus, respect her for it.
Princess Luna, however, was on another playing field altogether to him. She walked into nightmares. Even though she was refusing to acknowledge that his own were not of the same, and that it was actually causing her real harm to witness every night, she kept trying. What got him most, was that deep down, he knew she knew that she couldn't help. She just refused to walk away. Even when that abomination... anchored those children that had followed him from that haven to it...and...
"....oink....<Why didn't you just walk away like I told you to...>" Sentinel said to himself.
<drip....drip drip...>
Sentinel's attention was drawn to the point. Even as he saw blueblood slowly getting up after being checked across the room and into the wall, it was the noise of water drops falling that garnered his all. A few more, and it appeared as though whatever was falling was doing so from right under the maidpony's head. Now walking on four legs vs two is one hell of a rough ride, so one shouldn't laugh too hard when Sentinel wasn't so much walking but crawling using his front two legs slash pseudo arms to get a better look at the mare's face. When he got a one sided view, even a foal could of understood what was happening.
She was scared. Right out of her mind. So bad it was enough to cause tears in her large eyes and her to look like she was shivering. Most likely not of Blueblood physically, but of what attacking Blueblood meant period. She would be fired. Jailed for attacking royalty. No more bits meant nothing to buy food or pay rent. She was already having such a horrid day, and she just wanted to get through it to go home to prepare for the next blowhard day.
Sentinel was still rather stupid when it came to the equine dialect, both sending or receiving. But under the mare's breath, low as could be, just as blueblood was locking all of his legs in place... he heard her say something..
"...regret.....not....", just as Blueblood jumped forward and was about to slam his hoof down onto her head with full force while for some unknown reason to Sentinel, calling her a horse?
"SQQQUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" cried the foal, in what might of been the best impersonation of a royal canterlot voice since many years prior, and many to come.
Today seemed as though it would be just another day like the one before, calm and relaxing. Orderly, even. Those three aspects were ideally what Princess Celestia wished to always be present within the confines of her solar throne room. But that was about five minutes ago. Five minutes before her sister, Princess Luna, literally burst through the double doors.
"Luna..." Celestia began to say.
"We know, we know..." Luna interrupted, "We... made a big mistake."
"Mistake?" Celestia replied, doing her best to remain calm about something potentially horrible. "Luna. We know next to nothing about Sentinel or his kind." she says as she stands up from her throne, "You intended to make him more like a pony in order to help him, this I understand." she slowly trots to Luna, keeping her understanding gaze as she does so, "but unless you know what point A was before going to B, how do you plan to make or in this case remake, it back?"
"Tia, do you take us for a fool?" Luna jousts back at the insinuation of her not thinking this entirely through, "We made sure to cast a imprinting before we tried the transmutation."
"Then why did Sentinel take on a form that you hadn't intended?" Celestia questioned.
"Because thy stupid nephew Blueblood casted at..the...same......." Luna slowly grew silent as realization sunk in.
"You/We left a foalized Sentinel in the care of Blueblood!? Both princesses of night and day yelled.
"SQQQUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
That was all that would prelude the wall next to the double doors from imploding into the room. Amongst the dust and mortar debris both Sentinel and Blueblood were going at it like they were two timberwolves.
One was physically what Luna had described, a very young black foal. It had funny pig like hoofs and was doing it's very best to bite or head butt into any part of Blueblood it could, squealing like an extremely disturbed pot belly pig. It was also bloody if the red smears when it would go skidding across the floor was any indication, but it defied all logic by showing no hesitation even against an opponent many fold it's size.
The other was a full grown stallion who was also adept at magic thanks to royal privilege and did not seem to hold anything back. It's first move after busting through the wall was to grab the foal in it's magic hold, slamming it into the ground several times before the foal somehow shifted mid slam and landed instead on it's hooves. Letting out what could only be described as the cutest/deadliest squealcry, the foal seemed to break the magic grasp before launching itself into the stallions muzzle.
But before Blueblood could charge forward after the foal that ricocheted off his face, two large white hooves slammed between him and his foe, protecting it. However the hooves hit hard enough to knock Blueblood back into the crumbled wall along with cracking the marble below them. They also sent out enough force to rattle the stained glass windows.
Princess Celestia, Solar Goddess, was so livid she wasn't even able to speak. She'd just witnessed her "nephew" violently attack a foal, maybe even to kill, and regardless of who that foal was it was still a foal. There a little openly touted fact of the Sun Goddess that all who stayed around her any decent amount of time can attest to as fact. She utterly loved foals. So it shouldn't come as any surprise when everypony in the room who while also extremely upset and disturbed at what they had just witnessed, went wide eyed and quiet as a mouse when Celestia acted.
"Don't. Move." Celestia mouthed through clenched teeth towards Blueblood, who shakily nodded as he just realized where he was and who he'd brought the fight to.
"Now Sentinel..." she began to say, somewhat calming down, before time just stopped for her and just about every other pony in the room regardless of whom. Sentinel, the foal, was pushing himself through Celestia's two forelegs, but only using his front hooves, dragging his back ones behind him.
In reality this was because Sentinel still hadn't gotten used to being a quadrupedal, and dragging with his front was easier than pushing with his back. However to everypony else, this looked very very different. Almost as if...
"LUNA!" Celestia screamed out of fear, snapping Luna out of her shock. "GO GET OUR PERSONAL DOCTORS!".
Celestia slowly dropped down onto both her fore and hind legs, letting her muzzle also drop to cradle alongside Sentinel who for all intents just oinked "<uh...>", as he was basically being comforted by one of the most powerful beings on the planet. The smell of ash and brimstone filled Celestia's nostrils as she began to weep on the foal she had found trying to crawl to safety, cradling it between her forelegs as she brought her muzzle alongside it. It was maybe 4 or 5 years old with a brilliant coat of red chestnut, of which was partially soiled with soot. She was so close that she could actually feel it's heartbeat, even as it started to slow down.
"I'm sorry little one..." Celestia cooed out between tears, "I wasn't able to make it..."
"...in time!" Luna yelled out as she teleported back into the room, several medical ponies in tow, along with what looked like both the flooring, partial wall, and a janitor.
Celestia quickly got up under the slightly surprised gaze of her sister as the medical ponies rushed in and started to examine Sentinel with as much gentleness that they could administer given the urgency. Celestia was slowly joined by Luna at her side who was, even if well hid, extremely upset at both herself and even more so at Blueblood who was also watching intently but for his own sake.
If he did indeed break Sentinel's back, regardless of the fact of him being magically changed into a foal, he wasn't going to talk his way out of this. However even if he didn't manage to break Sentinel's back, judging from the narrowed eyes from several of the guards who had already surrounded him to keep him from running, he was cooked regardless.
"Unless...." Blueblood thought.
"Princess Celestia!" called one of the doctors, "I have great news. His back isn't broken! He's rather bruised and all, but nothing that seems broken. If i hazard a guess, I'd say that he just does not know how to walk properly..."
Celestia said nothing but let out a long standing sigh of relief, along with pushing back several memories that she really didn't need to remember today. But just as a small smile crept upon her, it quickly faded, as she suddenly jerked her head up and gave Blueblooth one of the coldest looks anyponys ever seen of their solar princess.
"Explain." Celestia said, so toneless had any tears still been on her fur they'd of been frozen.
"Well...I...uh..." Blueblood stuttered, trying to come up with something that made a foal look like the bad pony, but was interrupted when a maidpony rushed in through the hole in the wall next to the doors.
"Sentinel!?" she was still calling out as she galloped in, skidding to a stop when she looked down near Princess Celestia's forelegs, "Sentinel!!!" she then rushed over past a still stuttering, and slowly freaking out, Blueblood.
"Fancy Demoiselle?" Celestia addressed the maidpony.
"Oh! Your highness!" Fancy Demoiselle acknowledged, quickly kneeling to show respect.
"That is quite alright, Fancy" Celestia said, "If I may address you as such."
"I would love that, your highness " Fancy said before looking back down at Sentinel, tears forming, before turning towards Blueblood. Her tears kept coming, but not from sadness but anger. She then, against her namesake, snorted at him.
"I can't believe you'd go after a foal like that you... you... blowhard!" Fancy yelled at Blueblood.
"Quiet you...!" Blueblood shot back as he etched forward, causing Sentinel to squeal and attempt to crawl in front of Fancy, only for Princess Celestia to gently pick him up in her magical hold and pull him closer to her.
Princess Luna, however as quiet as she may be, was not so within the inner workings of her mind. She'd been going on this entire time on what exactly transpired and why. It wasn't until Fancy had arrived that she started to get the real picture.
"Fancy." Luna addressed the maidmare, who quickly started to kneel to Luna "What we seek Fancy, if we may, is not your kneeling but the truth." Luna looked between Sentinel, Fancy, and then Blueblood. "Can you tell what thy witness..."
But Princess never got to finish.
"That.... " Fancy choked out, getting very upset, "It was my turn to do his part of the wing today. So as always I arrived on time but Prince Blueblood chased me down saying I was late and his tea was cold. He ended up smashing his tea cup into all of the dishes I had gathered and I screamed in fright..." Fancy recollected, causing both Princesses to tense up in anger. They'd both heard of such incidents but every time a pony was asked, they'd deny that they were abused by Blueblood.
"Sentinel has had a habit of escorting all of the maids and butlers when they do their rounds in the wing that Prince Blueblood resides in, since he's seen what kind of abuse we get." Fancy continued, "But today he was running late and I couldn't wait."
Both princesses gave silent nods for her to continue.
"I think Sentinel heard my scream as he rushed in right after Blueblood left. He tried to help me clean up but at that point I was so upset I kind of ignored him..." Fancy said as she gave a guilty glance to Sentinel, "After I finished putting the broken shards in the trash basket I came back to see Prince Blueblood kicking back a little black foal with a bloody muzzle!" she practically yelled near the end, getting angry once more.
"Was this when they started to fight each other?" Luna inquired, letting her emotions reside in wait for now.
Fancy merely shook her head no. "At the time It didn't register that the foal was Sentinel. But all I remember seeing was Blueblood raising his foreleg for another swing...and... I.... um..." Fancy for the first time hesitated.
"Go on my little pony, " Celestia said in her kind motherly tone, " You will not be punished, I promise you."
Gulping, Fancy shut her eyes and just threw caution to the wind, along with her inside voice.
"I chest checked him into the wall!" she yelled, or maybe squeaked, out.
"Yes!!!!" Luna cried out, before calming down just as quick, "Yes, please continue." This earned her a wide eyed angry glare from Blueblood, a slight deadpan from Celestia, and an almost unnoticeable nod in agreement from the guards.
"Yes...well um... At that point Blueblood came charging at me but the foal suddenly let out this... squeal?" Fancy rolled her eyes up, trying to rewind her memory before shuddering, "and that was when they went at it throughout the castle."
"May we ask, how did thee know it was Sentinel?" Luna asked, sincerely curious.
"The eyes." Fancy replied without hesitation, "Nopony else has eyes like those."
"oink oink<I wonder...>" was all Sentinel said, totally oblivious to what all was being said.
"Thank you Fancy for being hon....hehehehahahaha!!" Celestia, seemingly gone mad, started giggling then laughing.
With how wide everypony's eyes got watching Celestia just bust out laughing in the middle of such a situation, you'd think at least one would of noticed Sentinel wiggling and flinging all of his pig hooves against the inner wall of the golden magical grasp.
Well that was until the magical grasp popped back out of existence with Princess Celestia's mouth instead grasping the back of Sentinel's neck, before plopping him down between her jail bar like forelegs.
"Ahem....excuse me..." Celestia said, with a hint of red on her cheeks, "Thank you for your honesty, Fancy."
"Um, If I may Princess," Fancy started to say, "What exactly happened to Sentinel? Foal? Sounds like a pot belly pig?"
As Princess Celestia tried to compile what information she had, as to best answer, it was Princess Luna once again that took in an observation unseen by all but her own. Blueblood was grinning, and in turn, her eyes were narrowing.
"We may have a way to ascertain the information we lack to properly answer that, Fancy." Luna nonchalantly said.
Blueblood continued to grin, almost snickering as he had his eyes closed, until he felt what could only be described as a shadow looming over him. As he cracked open his one uninjured eye he let out a rather undignified shriek as Luna, inches away, towered over him.
Princess Luna, while the younger of the two royal princesses, was still considered just as regal and calm as Celestia. Normally, such a situation bode no different expectations. Some intimidation perhaps, but nothing over the top. But Luna had had a bad day, and a previous bad night, on top of the bad day and nights for the past month and half.
Lunging forward, pushing her muzzle against Blueblood's, backwards and into the crumbled wall debris that lay under him, she said absolutely nothing. Her eyes were wide open as piercing as the sharpest of daggers. Finally, after a few tense moments...
"You. Have. One. Chance." She growled out each word.
Blueblood, given the premise, was about to piss himself.
"If you consider all of us so filthy," Celestia's said, causing Blueblood's eyes to widen, "then it would be best if you made accommodations someplace else." She then proceed to turn her backside towards Blueblood as she picked Sentinel back up and slowly trotted back to her throne, as did everypony else.
Through the winding passage of a small mountain range, one of the few vessels used by the ponies for mass transportation chugs away. In an age of magic wonder, one might question the reason behind keeping such an antique going. Sometimes they would use fossil fuels like coal, other times pure horsepower in the form of sturdy earth ponies. But it was simple and comfortable, and as such, served it's purpose without fail. As some would say, there was nothing like a long slow journey to put things into perspective...
"But I wanna fly!" yelled Rainbow Dash, already trying to unlatch a window.
"Rainbow we already talk about this..." Twilight Sparkle tried to reason, where Applejack just tried to hold onto her rainbow themed friend's tail with little leverage or help. "We agreed that we would put our heads together on the way to Canterlot."
"And some of us agreed that we needed to take a kinder, GENTLER, approach to our unique problem." Rarity chimed in just as Applejack succeeded in pulling rainbow back in, much to the dismay and frustration of the latter.
"Yeah and..." Rainbow fussed about, picking herself back up and off Applejack, "maybe that's been the problem all along."
"Ah'm somewhat in agreement with Rainbow here, "Applejack said as she fiddled with her crooked Stetson, "We all know where that fella came from wasn't kind or gentle. And from what we've been hearing from the Princesses and Twilight's visits," she continues as she stomps a hoof on Rainbow's tail, "maybe we need to figure something too sweet too fast just gonna leave a bitter taste."
"Ahh!" Pinkie suddenly shouted out, "RARITY!", causing everypony to jump a little, and one a lot.
"Ahh!" Rarity shrieked, "Pinkie!".
"You said I couldn't bring my party cannon along because this wasn't that type of fun..." Pinkie said, still showing confusion on her face at the words fun and no party cannon, "And now AJ and Rainbow!"
"See what you two started?" Rarity deadpanned to the two in question.
"um... I think I agree with Rainbow and Applejack..." Fluttershy said, gaining the full attention of the other five, much to her own dismay as she shrunk down a bit.
"Good gracious, why?" Rarity questioned.
"Well.. um..." Fluttershy began to whisper, before entirely clamping down.
Applejack, the ever observant and more cut to the chase kind of pony gal, trotted over to Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, I think I got us a compromise," Applejack said as Fluttershy perked up a bit, "You tell me whats going on in your noggin and I will tell the others loud and clear."
Nodding, Fluttershy leaned up a bit and whispered something to Applejack.
"She said that maybe He can't hear us over all the noise." Applejack said, raising part of her brow.
"What noise?" Twilight asked, a bit perplexed herself, "Did you find something wrong with his hearing when you were mending or later when you checked up on him?"
Fluttershy shook her head, before leaning more towards Applejack who was still looking at the others.
"Fluttershy says its not it's ears but it's...mind?" Applejack, a bit more confused, resounded to the others.
"Telepathy?" Rarity asked aloud.
Fluttershy, shaking her head, finally reached over and pulled Applejack closer. After a few minutes of a one sided whisper, she got a few back from Applejack whose eyes seemed to have softened a bit, before nodding for final confirmation.
Before Applejack said anything else, she gave one last look back at Fluttershy who was looking less shy and more sad.
"Okay y'all." Applejack said, coughing to clear her throat for what appeared like quite the climatic translation from their shy friend, "Fluttershy went and explained to me everything and... " she paused "I gotta tell ya, I'm rather humbled by how much heart she has in it".
"Go on..." Rainbow twirls a hoof, earning several disapproving glances.
"Fluttershy thinks Sentinel can't hear something as soft as kindness. He grew up in someplace worse than Tartarus, and since none of us knows him that personally, none of us know how to tell just how much of him stayed there." Applejack explained, "But worse, nopony knows how much of that stuff came along for the ride."
"So you're saying he can't hear us because he's still fighting?" Twilight asked towards both Fluttershy and Applejack.
Fluttershy nods, but then gives Applejack a rather dismayed look, signalling for her to continue.
"Fluttershy says just cause something gets treated horribly don't mean that they turn out mean and vicious." Applejack looks around and notes she just tugged at some strings.
"They just keep trying to survive until they forget that they are trying so hard," as she loops those strings around her hoof.
"Just so that one day they might have a chance to lay down and let go in peace." as she finally cuts them.
Everypony was silent, even Rainbow Dash, whose brow was furrowed as she really didn't like the sudden taste in the air.
"That just means that we have to be as loud as we can so that when he lets go, he knows somepony is still holding on!" Pinkie says with a cheer that, given the premise, was both astounding and incredibly sad.
"That was such a wonderfully nice thing to..."
"And if that don't work, just blast him with the party cannon and drag him back screaming." Pinkie said, smiling even wider.
The only sound was Rainbow slamming against the window, desperately trying to unlatch it.
Meanwhile; Sentinel
He had forgotten just how long he'd been sitting there, staring at the wall, staring back at himself. The liquid on the tip of the brush had long since dried, ruining yet another instrument by which his heart was able to express itself. This hadn't been the first time he'd sat here alone. The princesses had expressed well over a month ago that he should find a proper way to express himself. Whether they knew it or not, such a request was already being fulfilled, deep inside Canterlot Castle where nopony even ventures forth anymore.
He'd taken notice at how ponies really enjoyed being constantly around other ponies. So slowly, every day, he would go forth and look for someplace that nopony would want to ever be. Empty. He had no misconceptions about the Princesses knowing exactly who was where at all times. He figured at the very least they were tolerating his solitude, or at the very best, respecting it. So it came to no surprise that when at first he felt he had to sneak to get to his little haven, he eventually found such efforts weren't needed any longer. Guards and maids who used to impede his secretive journey suddenly changed their routines and routes, giving him no more reason to do anything, but walk down. And down, and down.
"If any of those ponies ever find this place," Sentinel said aloud, "I'll deny everything."
Same time; Canterlot Castle, Royal Throne Room
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat upon their thrones, silent, as they both were in contemplation as they awaited their incoming guests. They had sent out invitations across Equestria for something reminiscent of the Gala, but not quite the same. The point of this ceremony wasn't so much of a mere social gathering but one for closure, some recognition, and hopefully accepted opportunities.
Completion of all repairs of Canterlot had finally finished after three long months. They'd been able to teach and get to an acceptable level of speech for Sentinel as well, much to the delight of Twilight, as her patience on asking him literally everything was at the breaking point. Speaking of Sentinel...
"Does thy sister believe this be the best course of action?" Princess Luna inquired to her right.
"This will be the first time all of us are back together again at the same time." Princess Celestia said to her left, "While he's made great progress, I am still greatly concerned about his state of mind." she then paused, "Are things improving..."
"Nay." Luna softly replied, "It is a battle to not let pity cloud our thoughts, as that is something we do not think he deserves." she said, getting a look from her sister, "We believe somepony whose traveled the road Sentinel has deserves more respect, than what pity would ever be able to grant."
Taking a minute to think to herself, she crooked her head a little before breaking the silence, "Well, what do all of you think of our rather unique citizen?"
"Nice..." the guard before her on the left said. "Respectful..." the guard before her on the right said. "Ornery!" yelled the guard facing her from the double doors on the right. "Hard worker..." the guard facing her from the double doors on the left said.
At each remark Princess Celestia had nodded thoughtfully, before her eyes sprung open and she looked towards the guard at the double doors on the right.
"Ornery?" Celestia questioned as she quirked her brow, along with Princess Luna.
"..." The guardstallion, unsure of how to explain, started to sweat a bit under both princess's gaze.
"At ease." Princess Luna said. "Thy is given permission to forgo usual decorum while in uniform if need be to explain."
The guardstallion relaxed a bit, sitting down on his flank as he seemed to search for a way to explain without sounding silly or insulting to Sentinel whom he actually thought was pretty fun to be around.
"Well, it a few days after he had arrived..." the guardstallion began to explain.
Day Three
"This. Is. So..." Rarity growled out, "Frustrating!"
"Whats wrong Rarity," asked Rainbow Dash as she grinned, "Having trouble getting your point across?"
Rarity proceeded to turn around, several pin needles held by her magical grasp as they too turned, causing Rainbow to take a jump back along with flaring her wings. She hated needles.
"Well, if you must know Rainbow Dash," Rarity said rather snooty, "Sentinel here is being absolutely uncooperative is all."
"If somepony who looked nothing like what a somepony should look like was yelling at me when I couldn't understand a lick of what they were sayin," Applejack interjected, "I'd be a bit unruly too."
"But he's just sitting there." Fluttershy spoke up her observation.
"That's the problem Fluttershy darling," Rarity says as she turns to Fluttershy, who hunkers down when all the pin needles do the same, "It's like he's totally ignoring me and all I wish to do is make him something fabulous to wear!" she nearly yells the last part.
Perspective : Sentinel
Sentinel was just sitting there perfectly still, minding his own and still grasping at the proverbial straw. While not by any rights afraid, he couldn't help but admit the strange mannerisms of these equines were... colorful. He also had to note that the guards standing near him, while not giving off anything but a sense of security, appeared to be perfect twins. But after he took note, he noted once again that there were two types of guards. White, and Black. All looked exactly the same.
However he was brought back as the white and cyan equines seem to be bickering, quite loudly. The white one seemed to be threatening the cyan one with needles, as the cyan flared it's wings as if it was some form of territorial posturing. ---------------------------------------------------
"...and I'm telling you," Rainbow growled back, "Stop trying to force it to wear what you want like its some pet!"
"I'm just trying to help!" Rarity yells back as Fluttershy hides behind an annoyed Applejack, "unlike a certain somepony!"
"Whats that supposed to mean!?" Rainbow Dash bellowed as she flared her wings up a little more.
"If you had your way you'd have it outside in a race," Rarity jabs low, "Just because its...new." then lower.
"...least I wouldn't treat it like you do spike..." Rainbow mumbles, but just enough for all to hear.
As Rarity and Rainbow grew utterly silent, giving cold stares to each other, Applejack and Fluttershy were moving backwards to the open doorway and safety.
"How....DARE YOU!" Rarity almost shrieks as she drops all of her pin needles, grabbing one of the guard's helmets to chuck it at Rainbow who is hunched down ready to dodge anything coming her way. But nothing does, as Sentinel suddenly grabs the helmet in Rarity's grasp, breaking it in the process.
As they all watch Sentinel staring intently at the helmet, they then watch as only his eyes moves towards the guardstallion whose the helmet belongs to. However, while normal for them and common knowledge, the guardmare who now stood there wide eyed...
"<Gibberish?> Sentinel seemed to question towards the guardmare,"<Gibberish!>" then back towards the helmet.
"Woohoo!" Rainbow explained, pointing a hoof at Rarity, "Denied!"
"Just what do you..." Rarity begins to say, as a helmet is put on her head, causing a fabulous transformation.
Back to Present Day
"...and that is where the legend of the fabulous white stallion began." The stallion on the left side of the double doors said only loud enough for the mare on the right to hear, much to the stink eye that replied.
"Ever since then, whenever he passes me, he stops and stares at me." The guardmare exclaims in frustration and just a hint of playfulness. "It's like he's purposely giving me the impression that he isn't sure its me, but then.. pluck!" she quickly lifts her helmet into the air as high as her forelegs will take it to show emphasis, before putting it back on and transforming.
When the guards all look back up to their Princesses, they are split down the middle along with the Solar and Lunar. Princess Celestia is holding a hoof to her forehead below her horn, while Princess Luna is outright laughing her flank off, eventually causing even Princess Celestia to giggle.
Just as they are both calming down, another guard enters the chambers.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, " he states as he kneels, "Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor have arrived."
Both Celestia and Luna stand up with Celestia speaking, "Please, show them in."
The guard nods before disappearing back through the double doors, before Cadance and Shining Armor enter shortly after. Both look just a bit tired from their long travel from the Crystal Empire, but still quite lively.
"We are pleased to welcome thee back, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor." Princess Luna gestures.
"It's good to be back," Cadance replies as Shining nods in confirmation.
But before official, or even casual, conversation can begin, another guard enters and kneels.
"My Princesses, and Prince." the guardstallion states before rising, "I'm pleased to announce that the bearers of harmony have just arrived to the castle gates."
Princess Celestia smiles, always loving meeting the bearers when its not because of some threat or emergency, "Please escort them to the grand dining room." She tells the guard, "Tell the cooks to begin preparations for ten."
"Only ten?" Shining questions, "Is..."
"Sentinel has taken a rather..." Princess Celestia begins to say, but tries to search for a word as to not cause worry, "solitary living arrangement as of late and we've decided to respect his decision." Celestia continues, "But rest assured, he will be here later tonight."
An hour later
With Princess Celestia and Princess Luna at the fore front of the long table, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor lined up on the left side, followed by Twilight and Pinkie. Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and finally Rainbow Dash lined up the opposing right side. While such a gather garnered casual conversation while food was still being prepared, it was the empty seats, or seat, that kept the bearers glancing and abnormally quiet. Princess Celestia, sensing the discomfort, felt perhaps an indirect subject might be best.
"Twilight," Princess Celestia said, gaining the quick attention of Twilight along with everypony else, "In your last letter, you mentioned that after doing some more research on Sentinel's Auras that you've come to some sort of conclusion?"
"Oh!" Twilight replied with a bit too much glee, "Well Sentinel was kind enough to let me run some tests on him when I came each time to see how he was doing on learning our language. Although he never seemed to give me any direct answers, he did at least help me confirm one conclusion."
"And what might that be?" Applejack asked.
"That for all intents and purposes, what Sentinel was doing was in fact, NOT magic based." Twilight beamed a rather dorky grin after stating.
"I dunno," Applejack replied, "what he was doing seemed awful lot like something you'd see a unicorn do."
"Normally that be true, but remember essentially magic is an internal or external energy source. You see," Twilight continued even through what sounded like a soft thump towards the mid right side of the table, "While both earth ponies and Pegasus are able to harness passive magic internally or externally only, unicorns can also harness actively in both."
"Yeah I get that sugarcube." Applejack confirmed, "But I thought everything used magic in some manner here."
"Well if you take Star Swirl's theory, " Twilight says as another soft thump is heard from the same area, followed by a soft thump and giggles to her right side, "about inter dimensional travel, then while something might be magic here, it wouldn't be in another."
"So what you're saying, darling " Rarity interjects, "Is that Sentinel's magic from where he's from isn't considered magic here?"
"Not entirely." Twilight says as she scrunches her muzzle, "What it means is that where he came from it wasn't magic but something else based on the rules of their dimension. However, since those rules can't be applied here, once he came here his abilities have adapted to another source in order to work."
"Have you been able to find out what the source is?" Celestia asked, genuinely intrigued.
"Well I...um..." Twilight's demeanor suddenly shifted, "I...want to explain a few things about the auras he used first..."
Sensing the change, and noticing the others all did as well, Celestia nodded her head.
"First, his auras are passive, like an earth pony's magic, " She says, noting that everypony is listening, even Rainbow.
"Second, is that at least for his healing aura, its not regenerative but repair based. That explains why he has scars all over his body." Twilight continues. "Third, the trigger seems to be when he is damaged. So essentially its a reactive aura that accelerates the body's natural healing that he has absolutely no control over."
Everypony either nods on understanding or waits for the end to ask questions, feeling something big is yet to be told.
"Finally.." Twilight lets out a deep sigh, "Since whatever source it used from where he came from does not exist here in ours, his auras have adapted to using another source entirely. However unlike the source of magic, which can be used until the user runs out of physical or mental stamina, the sourced used by his auras don't have the same fail safe."
Applejack was about to ask something, when she looked over and saw Twilight sniffle. While so far the explanation does not seem to be entirely without problems, nothing seems drastic enough to elicit such a reaction. Princess Celestia, wanting to get to the bottom of this, decides enough is enough.
"Twilight," Celestia gently directs to Twilight, "You're starting to worry all of us. What is it that you're not telling?"
"The source..." Twilight sniffs a little before going on, "is his life force."
While twilight got looks of worry and concern from her five fellow bearers along with Cadance and Shining, Princess Celestia and Luna wore very visible looks of shock. It wasn't until the other ponies looked towards Celestia and Luna that their look of concern and worry turned to something a little more fearful.
"Are you sure?" Celestia asked Twilight.
"StarSwirl the Bearded had experimented with different sources of energy to use in place of magic if the need ever arose." Twilight explained, "When I asked if he could show me the auras I casted one of StarSwirl's identifying spells, and it linked the source to Life energy."
"I thought you said he couldn't control it?" Rainbow abruptly questioned, "So how the hay did he show you if it only happens when he is hurt?"
Twilight suddenly got nervous, her ears drooping. Rainbow shot her a rather annoyed look in return.
"The big jerk went and broke his fingers..." Twilight muttered.
"What?!" almost all of them yelled.
"I said the big jerk broke his fingers!" Twilight yelled right back, already rather upset at remembering when it happened.
"Has thou been able to find his limit?" Luna bluntly asked, causing many to look at her in confusion.
"Limit?" Rarity asked.
"Basically, given how his abilities work and what they consume in the process," Twilight directed towards Rarity, "Sentinel has a limit once he starts getting hurt, until his auras kill him."
"Isn't that...the same for everypony?" Applejack questioned.
"No..." Celestia lowly answered, surprising everypony. "Essentially, if he were in a major confrontation or series of injuries, his life force might become dangerously low. If he were to suffer a non life threatening injury while in that state, something as simple as a superficial cut, his aura might activate and kill him."
Applejack started to say something, but then just closed her mouth and let her head sink as the realization sunk in.
"Is there anything that we can do?" Fluttershy, having been quiet all this time, said with tears threatening to emerge.
"The only way would for Sentinel to become something that would allow him to adhere entirely to the rules of our dimension." Twilight responded, "While his auras would still exist, and still be passive, they should be able to use the same magic we all can as a source rather than his own life force."
"Oh I know!" Pinkie yelled, turning heads "Why don't we make him into a pony?"
"No." replied Sentinel, who had been standing at the doorway for Celestia only knows how long, causing everypony to either freeze, gasp in surprise, or send him a dirty look for ease dropping.
"And just why the hay not!?" Rainbow yelled as she turned around to face Sentinel.
"Hello to you too, Rainbow Dash." was all Sentinel said as he walked to the far end of the table to sit down. Rainbow dash was giving him almost a scowl for passing off her serious question, while the others mostly bore the look of concern.
From the moment he answered no, Princess Celestia was internally debating with herself on how to proceed. She knew that Sentinel wouldn't be stronghoofed by anypony and that going about it in the wrong way could very easily alienate him from them. But she also knew that his abilities were essentially a deathtrap and one that had a solution and she wasn't about to let one of her subjects needlessly suffer just for the sake of it, along with how many would be hurt if something happened to Sentinel.
Steeling herself, Princess Celestia was preparing to put her best hoof forward to try and steer this situation to the best possible outcome. It would take a great deal of charisma and grace to convince somepony like Sentinel, but...
"Thou denial is denied." Princess Luna stated nonchalantly.
"Thou denial is denied." Princess Luna stated nonchalantly.
There were many reactions spread across the long table. Princess Celestia just stared, mouth agape, at her sister. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor along with Twilight in turn stared at Princess Celestia. Fluttershy and Rarity seemed to find something very interesting about the tablecloth as Applejack seemed to prep a hasty retreat if the standoff turned sour. Rainbow Dash held an triumphant grin towards Sentinel until he pointed towards something across from her. Turning, Rainbow's grin was perfectly replicated by Pinkie who decided to just stare at her as she slowly sunk underneath the table cloth, causing Rainbow to freak out and look underneath as well.
Sentinel might of held the most lackluster expression of them all. It was the look you give when someone stands next to you and comments "Is it just me or is the sun bigger today?". While only Princess was in the know of Luna and Sentinel having spent the most time together in the dream scape, no one or pony knew truly how much, as time flows at different intervals there. One might even say that Luna and Sentinel had developed quite the friendship. One of kinship, caring, understanding...
...of what the raised middle finger on Sentinel's hand actually means.
"We shall come across this table Sentinel!" Luna yelled as she slammed both hooves on the table, flaring her wings.
"You know I appreciate the thoughts behind the idea Luna," Sentinel directs towards Luna as still holding his hand pose, "But of anypony here you know most of all why I said no." He concludes as Rainbow is pulled under the table.
"And it is stupid." Luna states as she scrunches her muzzle, "Even more so than thy habit of trying to do nice things in secret."
"In secret?" Shining Armor inquires.
"I wouldn't pay Woona any mind, Shining Armor," Sentinel says, causing Luna to narrow her eyes as she applies more pressure to her hooves on the table, "She's under some misconceptions is all."
"Woona?" Cadance asks, somewhat forming a playful grin, causing Luna to to let her jaw drop in embarassment.
"Sentinel!" Rarity exclaimed, "That is no proper way to address Princess Luna!"
"Sentinel and Luna have become quite the pair actually." Celestia states, entirely forgetting what she meant and what she implied were up for serious debate, and reactions. Innocence meter is pointing at 63% in the positive.
"Princess Luna and Sentinel are together?!" Twilight yelled in surprise, causing somepony to slam their head under the table along with a muffled giggle.
"What? No!" Luna was quick to interject, "Thy relationship with Sentinel is strictly..."
"Dreamy?" Sentinel puts his two cents in, being quite amused at how the tables are turned and off himself.
"Oh!" Rarity said, placing a hoof over her muzzle, "oh my."
"Sentinel!!!" Luna screams out with enough blush to actually start showing.
"Well I am happy for both of you!" Fluttershy beams.
"You better be treatin our Princess Luna like she deserves," Applejack says as she points a hoof at Sentinel.
"He's only drove her to exhaustion in the beginning," Celestia casually notes. Innocence meter is reading 13%.
Betrayal! Had the Sun literally rose and back handed the moon out of the sky you would be hard pressed to surpass the look of shock, embarassment, and utter betrayal on Luna's face as she stared at her sister.
"But after getting used to it," Celestia slowly adds, "They can go all night without complications." Meter : -23%
...and surpassed, it has.
"Tia told me about you painting the night sky mural in my bed chambers!!!" Luna, desperate for straws, just tripped as she tried to throw her sister under the bus, going along for the ride.
After an epic battle, three words emerged victorious for most of the ponies at the table, the guards stationed nearby, and the entire cooking staff. Painting, bed chambers.
"What?" Sentinel questioned as he looked over towards Celestia who was getting the deer in the headlight look.
"I thought we had an understanding Celestia." Sentinel said as he looked at her.
"I may have lapsed under pressure." Celestia admitted with some guilt, "But because of you I was exhausted!"
Twilight and the others all took in deep gasps as the sound of porcelain shattering echoed from the kitchen.
"I don't know whether to congratulate you," Shining said as he stared at Sentinel, "Or attack you."
"Shining Armor this isn't something to congratulate." Celestia said with a disapproving look.
"Can...can we maybe change the..." Fluttershy whispered, obviously put off a bit by the revelations.
"The first time he made Luna cry." Celestia revealed, with the innocence meter twirling in confusion.
Applejack, having sensed no outright lie, was slowly starting to even feel herself a tad embarrassed no matter how tough and down to earth she was. She could only nod her head yes as the blush grew when Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy looked at her for confirmation.
Meanwhile; Under the Table.
"Darnit Pinkie," Rainbow growled in frustration. "I'm telling you something important is going on up there."
Pinkie, having put her second X with a marker in her mouth on the marble flooring, made some clucking noises.
"Screw it. It's most likely just some stupid egghead stuff," Rainbow surmised, "You're going down Pinkie!" --------------------------------------------------------------
All four bearers including Cadance sent Sentinel, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, very disapproving looks.
"Oh...." Shining started to say, already getting a nod from Cadance on what was going to be the needed tough talk.
"So the same thing happened to you too." Shining said as he looked at Sentinel while Cadance's jaw dropped.
"Shining...!" Cadance let forth a stern growl generally reserved for married couples in the privacy of their home.
Twilight, however the educated bookworm, knew exactly how to respond. She put her hooves over her drooped ears, closed her eyes, and hummed something about Smarty Pants. Fluttershy, however, was beat red and stuttering while Rarity was just giving the stink eye back and forth between Sentinel and Shining. Applejack just plopped her hat onto the table, signaling that she was done, and reserved herself to being fully entertained.
"Regardless..." Sentinel said loud enough to attract everypony's attention to himself as both Pinkie and Rainbow climb back into their seating, "I want it known here and now that I both acknowledge and most importantly appreciate the gesture to try and relieve such a burden placed on me."
"Then lets..." Princess Celestia begins to say.
"But," Sentinel interrupts, causing Luna to downcast her eyes.
"Everypony, and one, is the sum of all of their experiences both good and bad." Sentinel continues with holding his open hand towards the ponies, "I would be telling a lie to try and hide that I'm not worried or that I simply don't care."
"Yet I've always fought for every inch of my life since I can remember. I've always had the odds stacked against me, and not once did I feel ashamed of who I was or what was placed on my plate." Sentinels tries to emphasize.
"To be honest I've been rather worried about myself, and of losing myself, in your world. I know that not that long in the past turmoil riddled the land and essentially we walk on an apocalypse that happened so that everypony here today could live without constant fear." He stated, getting slightly widened eyes of all who knew the meaning to the word, but gently closed eyes of the two whom understood it.
"But I need that fear, to breath." Sentinel said, getting utterly confused stares. "I may be afraid of dying, but I am more worried of failing to make the choice that means the most to me." He closes his hand. "And in order to do that, I need to be afraid."
"I know your world has it's own set of dangers. I know ponies have enemies in and out of your lands. I know this because I know what it's like to be hunted." Sentinel elaborates, noting that that Celestia and Luna's eyes slightly narrow.
"What a strange way to word that Sentinel" Celestia whispers in a not too thrilled tone, "...what are you hiding."
"So while I would never ask any of you to walk with me on this and will hold no ills against any who decide to walk away," Sentinel says, noticing shocked expressions at him accepting their abandonment, "I just ask that you neither take it away from me."
"I..." Sentinel begins to speak once more, "I need this."
"But why...?" Fluttershy almost pleads, "I don't understand why..." she says looking at him with watery eyes.
"And that, Fluttershy." Sentinel says before turning to leave, "Is something that I am truly thankful for."
"Sentinel." Luna calls out. "Tomorrow we have a ceremony for celebration before the large city wide one in two days."
Sentinel merely stops, at the doorway.
"We wish to see you there." Luna gently adds, "Miss Rarity has spent a great deal of time on some attire for thee."
"I will show tomorrow." Sentinel casually replies.
"...and the next day?" Cadance interjects.
"Sure." Sentinel replies once more before leaving.
"I...um..." Rarity mumbles out, still a little rattled by Sentinel's declaration, "I better go and prepare two suits..."
"He lied." Applejack said, rather toneless, as she stared at the doorway Sentinel left through.
"About all the things he said about needing to be afraid?" Fluttershy asked, rather hopeful even if it was for a lie.
"He meant every single word of that sugarcube," Applejack confirmed, getting worried expressions from all.
"Then what did he lie about?" Twilight inquired.
"About coming to the big celebration." Applejack muttered, "He has no intentions."
Rainbow furrowed her brow as she also stared at the doorway Sentinel left through.
"Why would he come to the small one and not the big one?" Pinkie asked loudly, "The bigger one is more fun!"
The answer was never given as Princess Celestia abruptly stood up and walked out the double doorway behind her. She said not a single word to anypony, even Princess Luna, who even herself looked somewhat surprised at what he sister had done just as dinner was finally being served. Not much else was said throughout dinner.
Later that night
"Tia?" Luna called out towards the balcony of Princess Celestia's chambers.
"I'm out here Luna." Celestia replied back, not moving as she just kept staring out into the valley below.
"May we ask what might be on thou's mind?" Luna gently asked as she trotted up to and beside her sister.
"Riled up and very worried about trying to understand what they can't." Luna solemnly said back.
"I/We think it is best to increase security for the next few days." Both princesses said at the same time, earning a small one eye stare from each onto the other, "We/Thee don't want something/someone to get in/out."
This in turn had both of them give a full on stare, and had it been in any other context, at the very least giggling. However in place of silliness the last statement from both caused even more distress.
"Luna..." Celestia asked, "Why would Sentinel try and get out?"
"In order to prevent something from getting in." Luna said back in a very serious tone.
"But..." Celestia was about to question, but was interrupted by Luna lifting her foreleg to touch along the front right shoulder of Celestia, silently requesting for her to let he continue speaking.
"We are the haven, Tia." Luna calmly stated as Celestia slowly let her eyes peer downwards, before bringing them back up. "And he is the Sentinel." Luna continued, "Thou will not remain and involve a haven. Thou will seek it out instead."
"That's silly!" Celestia said, lightly raising her voice, "We are his friends!". Celestia stated, failing to see the very faint smile that for a small moment appeared on Luna's muzzle. "If he goes out there then he will be running blind like we were when those demons invaded."
Luna, keeping her foreleg touching her sister, let her eyes soften "We can take the Sentinel out of Tartarus, but we can't take the Sentinel out of thou. All thy can do is choose the course thy takes, like thou is about to. When Sentinel said thou needed it, thou meant that thy needed to be afraid in order to have the strength to choose, to meet the threat, alone." Luna elaborated, "Less thou risks temptation of a shield, ourselves and our ponies, by becoming one of us."
"But while I can personally attest to his ability, Sentinel isn't as strong and you or I Luna." Celestia tried to argue.
"We know this, as does Sentinel." Luna replied.
"Then I refuse to allow my friend to throw himself into needless danger!" Celestia yelled, starting to get frustrated, "I didn't go through all that I have just to let somepony else worry about another..."
Celestia pauses as she realizes something ironically damning to her own argument, "...scar".
Elsewhere at the same time;
The bearers, along with Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor, were all centered in one of the larger guest rooms as they were trying to make sense of what happened earlier, and what they were all going to do about it. Shining and Twilight appeared to be off to one corner of the room in an argument as the others were almost all on or around one of the beds.
"I say we all go at him at once." Rainbow challenged, "Maybe even zap him with the elements again!"
"We want to help him darling," Rarity chided, "Not..zap him."
"Besides," Cadance interjected, "The elements won't do anything to change him if he is in harmony with himself."
"I refuse to believe..." Rainbow started to say, before they all quieted down when Twilight and Shining's argument got louder.
"That makes no sense Shining," Twilight yelled at her brother as she lifted a foreleg, "You make no sense!"
"By no means do I have the same experience that Sentinel does," Shining declared, "But I've at least experienced enough in my life in the military and then Captain to understand what he meant by needing to be afraid!" He yelled right back.
"Horse apples!" Twilight yelled even louder, "Being afraid makes you make the wrong decisions because you're not thinking clearly! If that's the case then we need to do everything we can to make him see things our way!"
"That's the point Twily!" Shining tried to explain, "Who wants to be hurt? Nopony! You heard him when he explained in there, he's afraid and worried. That means he'd be more inclined to error on the side of precaution, and stray into safety rather than action."
"Are..." Twilight growls, "Are you even listening to yourself right now?!"
"All he's trying to do is face everything forward, not turned around running away." Shining tries to calm down as he states.
"More like he's trying to take AJ's plaque for most stubborn pony in Equestria!" Rainbow yelled over.
"Hey!" Applejack directs to Rainbow Dash.
"Wouldn't it be so more practical to do it side by side with his friends?" Twilight ignores Rainbow and argues towards Shining. "Rather than keeping himself isolated as he watches us from the outside?!"
"It's not us that he's trying to face Twily..." Shining further calms down, while coming at a new angle.
"Then what..." Twilight starts to ask.
"He said he was being hunted." Pinkie said, being situated between everypony in the room so all heard her. She was messing with some kind of party device, her hair wasn't as puffy as before but neither was it straight like some had worried.
"When he said that he knew we had enemies he specifically mentioned inside and out." Shining explains, "Then he mentioned how somepony like himself, how he grew up, knows what it's like to be hunted."
Twilight gasps, "We got to warn the princesses!"
"They already know Twilight." Cadance says while laying down on the bed, not even bothering to look up at anypony, but knew regardless that she had all attention on her for further elaboration.
"Why do you think Princess Celestia left like she did?" Cadance finally said, looking up at everypony. "She wasn't angry. She was distraught." Cadance makes sure to look everypony in the eye at least once, "She may be the Solar Princess, but even Celestia isn't immune to considering somepony, or perhaps someone, a close friend."
"...and the worst part..." Cadance continues, "Is that she had no idea something was hunting him".
"But if she knows now, then Sentinel's got nothing to worry about," Applejack said, "Especially if Princess Celestia considers him a close friend like you say, and I can tell you honestly believe that."
"He was saying goodbye." Pinkie, once again, said while messing with her little device. Sensing something was wrong, Fluttershy went over and sat on her haunches next to her pink friend and silently watched and waited, in case.
"What do you mean goodbye?" Rainbow questioned, "I never heard him say goodbye!" she said sounding frustrated.
Rarity, for all her ladylike demeanor, was starting to have somewhat of a trouble keeping her needle straight in her magical grasp as she continued to make a second suit for Sentinel. She, however, kept one ear pivoted to hear all details.
"I do not believe for even a second that Sentinel would of let something accidentally slip." Shining said across the room, "So the only explanation is that he was telling us goodbye, in his own way, and maybe hoping we'd only figure it out later."
"That was why Princess Celestia was so upset then..." Twilight put it all together, "If she showed it in front of us, then she would be going against Sentinel's wishes, so she just left?" she conceded, sounding sadder as each word came out.
"Well I don't know about ya'll but I don't think anything be dumb enough to try and get into Canterlot." Applejack surmised, "Especially during the big celebration."
"He's gonna jet." Rainbow said, not thinking of how wrong it came out.
"Rainbow!" Rarity called out, "Of all the ponies, you've been the most adamant of his character! How could you accuse him of..."
"Hey I didn't say he was running from it!" Rainbow yelled right back, "I meant he's gonna run towards it!"
Everypony save for Cadance, whose tiny smile at being glad that the impression Sentinel's left was truly being seen by some, just stared at Rainbow in either confusion or dismay, who proceeded to growl in frustration.
"Hellooooo?" Rainbow points towards the door behind her, "Sentinel was saying goodbye right? Then," Rainbow points towards Applejack, "AJ said that he was telling the truth so that means he honestly feels something is hunting him." and then jabs at Applejack again, "But she also said that he was lying about coming to the second city wide celebration."
"So that means..." Twilight tried to say it for Rainbow, who deadpanned.
"That means that he's planning to leave and go fight whatever it is that's coming after him tomorrow night after the smaller ceremony." Rainbow explained, "So all we gotta do is watch him like a hawk and not let him out of our sights!" she beamed.
Underneath Canterlot
While sleep came rather difficult for some, for one it never came at all. It wasn't like he couldn't use it. Quite the contrary, in fact. He really needed it. But after his less than splendid reunion with the ten equines that he basically made a pact with on his first night here, he wouldn't be in the right mind to get any anyhow. However bothered he was as he thought back on what all he had said and done at the dining room hall, what bothered him even more was how he felt his hand had a mind of it's own as he painted.
As he finally finished, he had the only magical orb for sunlight held in the hand without the brush. Almost like an firefly, he would flick the orb on, and then off after a few seconds, and repeat. Over, and over, and over.
"I refuse to believe that I've fallen so far that I'd let my own mind make up such..." Sinclair finally growled out, "lies". -----------------------------------------------------------
The Following Day, Start of the Formal Ceremony in Canterlot Castle.
Standing at a double doorway entrance, Sentinel took pause. He was wearing a rather sleek suit that had taken on the same color schemes that his plate armor had. His long dirty blonde hair was neatly brushed and then put into a ponytail, much to the snickering of some of the maids and guards that Sentinel had become good friend's with during his 3 month stay.
"This... is small?!" Sentinel asked no one, as he saw hundreds of ponies gathered in one of the largest ball rooms that the castle had, which up to this point, he wasn't even aware existed in the first place.
"Sentinel!!" waved a mare in a rather styled evening gown, trying to get his attention.
While it took a moment due to always seeing the mare in a maid's outfit, Sentinel finally recognized the mare as Fancy Demoiselle. Walking over, he noticed that at the table Fancy was sitting at there were two other ponies that he'd never seen before. One, the stallion, had a blue mane and mustache, and strange a monocle. The other, another mare, seemed to be almost the exact same as Fancy, but and even more fancy makeup than Rarity.
"Sentinel!" Fancy trotted over as she gave Sentinel a hug, much to his discomfort as he still hated being touched.
"It's good to see you Fancy," Sentinel responded, "and who might these two be?"
"Oh!" Fancy pepped up before looking embarrassed, "Sentinel, please meet my parents. Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis."
Sentinel shook both Fancy Pants and Fleur's hoofs as he looked them both straight in the eye, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both. Fancy here says quite a bit about you both," Sentinel said, "Good things". He made sure to add.
"The pleasure is ours, my good sir" Fancy Pants replied, with Fleur giving a genuine smile, before they gestured to Sentinel to have a set at their table so that they could have a proper conversation, which he accepted.
"I've been telling Father and Mother about all the trouble you get into at the castle," Demoiselle said, grinning.
"Have you now," Sentinel commented, quirking an eyebrow. "Do they know..."
"About my beautiful, hardworking, and talented foal checking that blowhard into a wall?" Fleur beams with pride more with each word, until scowling almost into a growl once she reaches blueblood's nickname.
"Yeah..." Sentinel confirms, checking the corner of his vision to notice Demoiselle is blushing quite a bit at being called a foal.
"She also told us of another tale." Fancy Pants went on to elaborate, "About a little black foal that rushed in when that...scoundrel... tried to strike my lovely daughter." Fancy pants continued looking at Sentinel, as Demoiselle was sitting there with her mouth agape from shock. "You wouldn't know where this little foal could be found so that I may shake his hoof?"
"Well I am not..." Sentinel tried to coverup.
Fancy Pants leans in closer to Sentinel, "Or would hand be more appropriate?" he says in a whisper, winking.
"Daddy!" Demoiselle yells as low as she can.
"Fancy, it's okay." Sentinel confirms, "I would say that the foal in question wouldn't require verbal recognition."
"How about friendship?" Both Fancy Pants and Fleur say at the same time, eliciting a facehoof from Demoiselle.
"I would say..." Sentinel began to say, "that he would accept."
"Good good." Fancy Pants nodded, along with Fleur who just smiled.
"How dare you show your muzzle around here, you horse!" yelled some blowhard deep in the crowd.
Various yelling can be heard, and many gasps that seemed to spread from an unseen focal point about midway into the ball room. Sentinel, knowing whose voice the one who first yelled was, openly signed before looking up. What he noticed was Demoiselle sitting in her chair, muzzle down and eyes halfway closed, as the word horse most likely brought back a painful memory. Fancy Pants and Fleur, on the other hand, looked quite ready to scrap, if ponies did that sort of thing, as they got up and made body contact with their daughter.
"If you would excuse me," Sentinel said to the family of three, as he stood up and walked towards the noise.
At the center of the noise was a group of 5 ponies, 1 stallion and four mares, all in rather colorful and well made clothing. Obviously, behavior aside, they were dressed to impress and to have quite the night save for one mare who had part of her dress ripped off her. The stallion seemed to be grinding his hoof into the fabric on the floor as the mares started yelling.
"Don't you call one of my friends a horse you piece of crap!" Yelled Rainbow Dash in a rather pretty dress.
"Now rainbow!" yelled Applejack as she tried to hold rainbow back, "Something like him ain't worth it."
"Yeah!" explained Pinkie, "Why don't you go something else you mean mr.meanie pants!"
"Now.. girls..," a rather teary eyed Rarity said, "Lets move on..."
"Thats right," called Blueblood in a very condescending tone, "Go back to your ugly little town for ugly mares who can barely keep a few ugly stallions around for breeding more ugly hicks." Blueblood says before swishing his crystal clear champagne around.
How many ponies does it take to hold back a raging Applejack? Three still wouldn't be enough.
"That's IT!" Applejack screamed as she turned around, taking a champagne glass of cheery red wine on her brown stetson. Or that is the last thing she saw coming at her head when something white seemed to jump up and cradle her vision away.
"How fitting," canted Blueblood as he began to chuckle at the sight of the bright red stained face of Rarity who was standing on her hind legs as she had used her upper body and head to shield Applejack's hat.
Rarity just slowly slid off Applejack, who gasped when she saw her friend's stained face, as Rainbow and Pinkie shot over to get between Blueblood and Rarity.
"I...wish to leave..." Rarity whispered.
Blueblood, seeing another moment of what he felt was weakness, was about to throw another insult when Twilight and Fluttershy came galloping through the gathered crowd, gasping once they reached Rarity and the others. Naturally, like the other 3, they started checking Rarity to see if she was okay, making sure to note the tears, smears, and tear along her gown.
But before Twilight and Fluttershy could do more than give Blueblood one of their hardest scowls, Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadance along with Prince Shining arrived at the scene. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna especially grabbed all attention when they slowly stepped between Blueblood and the bearers, facing the bearers.
"Element of Generosity," Luna directed towards Rarity, "We witness thou's act in protecting something very dear to Honesty at the cost of thy own dignity." Luna proceeded to lean closer, "A true testament to one's generosity it was."
Rarity, showing a little blush on the side not stained, "Thank you, Princess Luna."
"I wish to know what transpired leading up this," Celestia paused to lower her tone, "assault on one of my subjects."
"These..." Blueblood began to say, "backwater harlots," causing not only the bearers but the princesses and prince Shining to furrow their brow, "started harassing me when I was stating the truth."
"And what truth would that be?" Shining almost growled.
"That it was a mistake to use the Elements to save Sentinel." Blueblood states with a sneer, causing the bearer's scowls to become even more rigid, along with Shining and Cadance. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looked at each other, silently deciding on their course of action while Demoiselle screamed something from way back in the crowd.
"Rotten blowhard!!!" yelled Demoiselle over the crowd.
"What?!" Blueblood sharply turned his head towards the direction the insult came from, only to catch something out of the corner of his eye as his eyesight quickly shifted. Slowly, as he shifted back, he finally caught himself in the direct gaze of Sentinel.
"Ahhh!!" Blueblood shrieked, "What are you doing here?!"
Everypony near looked where Blueblood shrieked and then yelled.
"Sentinel!...Dude!...TinTin!!...Sentinel!!...Sentinel!" the voices of five of the six bearers all rang out, in either surprise or some form of glee at seeing Sentinel actually coming. However Sentinel's immediate attention was towards a a pink furred pink who just gave what should of been an even wider smile, but he settled for the smaller one.
"Oh my!" Rarity then trotted over, passing Blueblood like he wasn't even there, "This is absolutely stunning!" she said as she proceeded to trot around Sentinel as everypony near him backwards up a bit.
"I'm a bit surprised that you remembered the color scheme of my armor." Sentinel said as he let his eyes follow the circling pony whenever she came into view, noting how focused she was now.
"Yes, yes..." Rarity said into a muttering whisper, "The cuffs are just a tad too short I see," She then used her magical grasp to grab Sentinel's forearm and lift, turning it as she did. "This wouldn't of happened if you'd just let me dress you for this!"
"C'mon Rarity," Applejack said, "Give the fella some room." She said as she trotted over, passing Blueblood like he wasn't even there, "Besides" she then said, "Stallion's as sharp as a brand new axe if you ask me."
Sentinel began to open his mouth, maybe to thank or retort the compliment, before he was interrupted.
"Is that..." Rainbow jumped up and then flew over towards Sentinel, passing overhead of something formerly known as Blueblood, before she stopped a few feet from Sentinel's face. She proceeded to do two quick swoops around him, before opening her mouth.
"Rainbow." Sentinel stopped her by speaking, "If you pass on making fun of my hair, I will do the same on your mane." Sentinel compromised while giving Rainbow a raised brow of his own.
Rainbow hovered for a few seconds before lifting her foreleg, "Deal." she said as Sentinel took an awkward few moments before lifting his un-magically grasped arm to bump his fist to her hoof.
Whether it was a pony or the wind, a small gasp of air was heard right before Fluttershy came trotting over, passing by some pony with a blonde mane without a name. She honestly seemed like she was walking in a cloud from no noise coming from her hooves as she came over, to a halt just in front of Sentinel, looking up as Sentinel looked down.
"...hello." Fluttershy said with softness.
"Hello." Sentinel replied, unable to replicate the same tone level even remotely.
"You look nice." Fluttershy mentioned as she lifted one foreleg up off the ground.
"Thank you," Sentinel replied, "And you look very pretty in that nature themed gown".
But before Fluttershy could reply, or try to hide, Pinkie shot up behind her, scaring the ever living crap out of Fluttershy and about everypony else nearby.
"What did you do to your mane TinTin!" Pinkie yelled as she helped Fluttershy who was holding a hoof to her chest by rubbing one on her back, "It looks funny..." she finished with tilting her head.
"This is a style of hair from my people," Sentinel stated, "Called a ponytail." Realizing his mistake a moment too late, he looked straight ahead to the hovering Rainbow snickering like a fool.
Trotting over after hearing something about Sentinel's people, Twilight could of sworn she passed something resembling a pony but she paid it no mind. "What was that about your people?" She asked.
"Don't look like any kind of pony tail I've ever seen..." Applejack commented.
Rarity however, seemed to let go of Sentinel's forearm swiftly. Then, borderline brutally, snatched Sentinel's ponytail in her magical grasp pulling it along with Sentinel who had to let his right knee give out to stay standing, down for closer inspection.
"Rarity!" Fluttershy gasped out, "Careful not to hurt him!"
"Ideaa!" Rarity exclaimed as put a little too much into her magical grasp while at the very same time doing a yank. She opened her eyes when she suddenly felt no tension, and noticed the majority of the ponytail was hanging in front of her.
"Ahhhh!" yelled a surprised Rarity along with the other bearers, while Sentinel returned to his straight and rather rigid posture without making a sound. Tears started brimming in Rarity's eyes as she realized what she had just done, the night's stress leaving her with little reserve otherwise.
"Oh Sentinel I am..." Rarity cried out as the tears started to fall, only to be shocked out of her impending moment, by laughter.
Everypony gathered around were utterly shocked to hear Sentinel, for the very first time ever, laughing. It wasn't a hysterical laugh, but a hearty one regardless as he looked straight up to the ceiling of the ball room as nopony made a sound. Even Pinkie Pie, who would naturally be all giddy over hearing such laughter, was put into a stupor.
Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor almost galloped over after seeing what transpired, one somewhat concerned while the other was wearing a rather goofy grin.
"Sentinel?" Shining asked, somewhat concerned, along with everypony else.
"I can't believe it!" Cadance yelled in glee, causing shining and the bearers and even the princesses behind them to look at her like she was the next one to lose sanity.
"What?!" Twilight asked with great concern, "Oh now what if its a calming effect?!" Twilight started to freak out, having said that, making the others who knew what a calming effect was to worry even more, especially Rarity.
"He's just a little happy." Cadance said, genuinely smiling. "This... is the first time I've felt natural joy or happiness from him." Cadance said, gently wiping what might of been a tear from her left eye. "I've been so worried."
"I...." Twilight began, "Don't know how to take that..." Twilight looked down and then back up, "Natural?"
Just as it began, Sentinel suddenly stopped laughing and caught his breath, returning the same old Sentinel that day in and day out he'd been like since the first time they've all met him. If it wasn't for Cadance, they'd of been relieved, but when they watched her smile turn into what could only be described as sadness they too suddenly shifted to a different type of concern.
"That was rather..." Sentinel said, searching for the right word, "memorable."
"My dear Sentinel," Rarity pleaded, "What can I ever do to make it up to you?"
"You already did." Sentinel replied, waving his hand as to wave off any worry.
But worried they were, even if it wasn't over something that can easily be grown back. They had all heard the laughter, and it was genuine. However Cadance showing such emotion over seeing Sentinel display just some laughter, and to say it was the first time she senses natural joy or happiness from him was not going to just disappear like the laughter did.
However, while all of this excitement was going on, two royal princesses were standing back watching.
Internal monologue of Princess Celestia
"Damn that Blueblood. If I had my way I would have him cleaning the sewers of Canterlot but then I'd be no better than him." she thought, "Oh no, he noticed Sentinel..." but was surprised when she noticed all of the bearers calling out to Sentinel. She then watched as each one went over to greet him, as he did the same back, taking away all of the negative air without any effort.
"They truly do care for you Sentinel. I've come to accept that you were most likely facing the end, and tried to rise up in defiance for your people in a valiant last stand only to come out alone. I know, from personal experience, how having to make that kind of choice can make the most painful of scars..." She talked to herself, "But you don't have to fight alone anymore you idiot!" she thinks as she narrows her eyes in frustration, "Oh who am I kidding..." her eyes soften, "I'm still the same way myself.".
"Wait is he... is he laughing?!" she mentally yelled, "This isn't one of your forced laughs...wait what is that in Rarity's magic...Is that his hair?!" Celestia's eyes widen, "Why in blue hell is he genuinely laughing about Rarity tearing off his hair?!" she then raises her brow, "Maybe if I go over there and...oh I cant do that can I." she shifts her eyes towards Luna, "That leave Luna all alone standing here."
"Well then I will just wait for them to come to us, and then we will deal with my.." she grits her teeth, "nephew, properly".
Internal monologue of Princess Luna
"How the buck is this imbecile even our nephew?!" Luna narrows her eyes, "Had to of been because of some bureaucratic horsecrap!" she narrows her eyes even more, "When we locate the legal documents," her eyes then flare fully open, "Burn them we shall!", she relaxes her eyes, "Then no more prince Blueblood". Luna then notices Sentinel as all of the bearers flock over, in one form or another, to greet him as he does the same in return.
"Sentinel..." she looks sternly at him, "At first I thought of you as just some stupid stubborn stallion." she then looks down, "Yet through you I've found a kindred spirit in the pains that we both bare, even if not truly cast from the same mold." she looks back up, "But now I know you as just a stupid stallion!" she jerks her head in a nod, "A wonderfully nice, and painfully scarred, stupid stallion."
"What a strange style of..." Luna's eyes widen, "She broke it off!" Luna eyes then widen even more, "Sentinel, laughs?" tilting her head slightly, "I have never heard you laugh so, memory or not." Her eyes soften, "As long as I never have to hear you weep again so, I will accept any other," they then close, "...you stupid stallion."
"Argh!" Luna narrowed her eyes again, "Why must we stand here and not over there?" Luna huffs, "The fun is there!" huffs again, "But if we go then we would leave Tia here alone..." Luna finally concedes to her fate, sighing. "Now they shall burn even harder!"
Back to the reality
"Such trash..." Blueblood muttered, but just loud enough for the bearers and royalty nearby to all hear.
When what should of been the start of yet another screaming match, it would be Sentinel who would finally say something that would even shock captain blowhard into utter silence, not just willed.
"I'm sorry." Sentinel said to Blueblood, but not like a question or in a sneer, but perhaps one of the most sincerely gentle tones that anypony has heard him speak in, save for Princess Celestia when he approached her about Princess Luna. It was even enough for Rainbow to fall, softly, back down to the floor.
"I'm sorry that in such paradise," Sentinel looks around, "you've come to hate yourself so much that you'd do everything within your power to bring any around you not only down, but below, where you yourself feel trapped."
Blueblood, quite unsure of what exactly he was feeling right then and there, tried to speak but couldn't find the words.
"You and me," Sentinel pointed at Blueblood and then himself, "are not that much different."
There were so many gasps that you'd think they thought something would steal all the air.
"Have you gone mad!?" Applejack yelled in anger, "You and him ain't nothing alike!"
"Hubris." Was all Sentinel replied.
"Hub-what now?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Hubris," Twilight spoke for the answer, "It basically means excessive, and often out of touch with reality, self worth and ambition." Twilight explained, getting some nodding concerning Blueblood, but more bewildered expressions when it came to Sentinel.
"It also often ends in self destruction," Princess Celestia said across the ball room in a tone that seemed to come from understanding, and not just learning, the word. Once this was said, those who've been in the know about more recent developments flashed with context and then worry.
"But Sentinel isn't excessive in anything!" Fluttershy said, which coming from any other pony or in any other context could of very easily been considered an insult to Sentinel, but he took none.
"I..." clearly still rattled from someone like Sentinel telling him he was sorry, started what would of most likely been highly evasive banter, but before he could get past the first syllable...
"Nineteen years ago..." Sentinel softly spoke, "There was a man who was the same as us, Blueblood. He was a scientist on the bleeding edge of his field of genetic engineering after the invasion had been waging for five long years. We were losing, and for the first time extinction was not a matter of if, but when."
It was then that Sentinel did something that nopony ever considered. He let one knee fall as he held his forearm over the other with one hand grasping the wrist of the forearm across the knee. This put him roughly eye to eye, both literally and an attempt metaphorically, with Blueblood.
"Humans had no chance against something like the demons that came through the red portals. The only way to combat something that seemed to warp the rules that we thought held out universe together was to try and do the same. In an desperate attempt to try and save our race the scientist convinced himself that sacrifices had to be made. If not of him, then on others."
At this point, having only Princess Luna and Princess Cadance in partially in the know, everypony else either stood on all fours or sat on their flanks. There was little doubt that what was being heard came from the heart of somepony, or someone, that for all intents and purposes would be the only one able to ever tell it. Plus, for a select few, they felt they needed to.
"But to achieve what he wished to make, was the same as wanting to make oneself into the very status of an Alicorn." Sentinel said, knowing right then and there by Blueblood's facial reaction that it hit home so hard it hurt.
"So he was trying to make..." Twilight gently asked, "super humans?". Her answer came in the form of a nod from Sentinel.
"With each attempt came failure. With each failure came frustrations. With each new frustration came the need to convince himself that the sacrifices he was forcing on people, or ponies, was worth the cost. And in order to do that he had to convince himself all of the ponies he was killing to try and do this wasn't worth caring about." Sentinel gave pause when he heard gasps all around, along with some whimpering from behind him, as he dared not look back.
"He finally came to the conclusion that just being human wasn't good enough." Sentinel stated, turning his resting hand palm up, "That would be the start of his attempts to splice human and demonic genetic material together."
"Blueblood..." Sentinel genuinely inquired, "May I ask you a question, and in turn, you genuinely answer?"
Blueblood slowly nodded never blinking his eyes, but still not entirely sure what the hay was going on.
"When do you think we lose our innocence?" Sentinel asked.
"What?" Blueblood asked, genuinely confused.
"For a pony I guess, to simplify," Sentinel continued, "What age would you consider a pony going from being innocently ignorant of things such as consequence and say... actual morality?"
"I...uh..." Blueblood fumbled, "Maybe a foal at the age of...five?" he answered, taking the question as one of knowledge.
"Roughly the same for humans," Sentinel replied, "give or take."
"So." Sentinel continued on, "Demons are in harmony with themselves, as it has been stated as to why the elements of harmony did not work as many hoped three months ago. While I cannot fully explain it, it is also true for their DNA, or genetic material. This meant that even when spliced the demonic DNA would violently attack and mutate in their own image and mannerism anything foreign."
Twilight, along with the other bearers and princesses had, without making a noise, gotten even closer. Twilight seemed to be scribbling on a parchment while even Rainbow Dash seemed rather entranced by what was being said, even if alien to most of them either by lack of knowledge or context.
However it wasn't until the last bit was mentioned, along with the question Sentinel had asked Blueblood, that the parchment fell to the floor, along with a few droplets of liquid.
"To make 19 super humans, he murdered over 7000 foals between the ages of 4 and 6." Sentinel bluntly stated, looking dead into Blueblood's eyes to make sure the message had sunken in on what one's hubris can bring one to accomplish and destroy.
"In the wake of his hubris he made nineteen living weapons that would never know anything but, henceforth. They would be constantly hunted by the demons who now saw them as flickering candles in the darkness because of what was infused into their very blood. The nineteen would banish themselves from the safety of the Havens, who even in the face of enraged assaults tried to harbor the foals, and eventually each other." Sentinel slightly furrowed his brow.
"But the scientist achieved his legacy. To fuel his own ambitions he would even cast his very own son into the pits as one of the nineteen, as if not even his very own blood was any longer worth more than a stepping stone to his greatness in a dying world."
"...monster..." somepony stuttered out, obviously through tears, behind Sentinel.
Turning around he had to steel himself for in case that was directed personally at himself. He knew that as the last of his kind, and what was being said, that they might react...
"How could that monster kill his own kind....kill so many little ones..." Fluttershy was stuttering out, her cheeks wet with tears and a running nose as she was being held by four other bearers who all bore tears and devastation on their faces. Sentinel noted that Cadance and Shining, who while the later looked like he was holding back, were embracing Twilight who was looking just as distraught as the other bearers.
What happened next was something he had not prepared for...
"Is that what you honestly believe I'm capable of...?" Blueblood seemed to genuinely ask, and maybe even care.
"Yes." Sentinel replied bluntly but honestly, getting a rather hurt expression from Blueblood, "But we both know why..." Earning a shameful downplay in Blueblood's eyes, as Princess Celestia and Luna barely held their expressions neutral.
"But..." Sentinel then added, getting the attention of Blueblood, "That does not mean that I consider you too far gone." Sentinel elaborated, "Otherwise, I wouldn't of dropped to one knee to try and help you."
"Why?" Blueblood raised his voice, but not in anger, "I taunted you. Insulted you. I tried to kill you!" he yelled, earning gasped and angry glares that looked utterly horrible combined with all the tears. "Why the buck would you care!?"
"Because..." Sentinel stands back up.
"When 7000 became nineteen I wasn't given the choice," he then turned around and starts walking away.
"But when nineteen became one, " He felt the hoofs trying to hold onto him, and the yelling of his name.
"I was given the chance." He shuts the doors, leaving the ponies behind him.
It would be Princess Celestia and Princess Luna who would wrap the deathly silence around their hooves and stomp it out. With each clop, heads began to turn, until everypony in the room was staring at Blueblood. Or rather, who was behind him.
"Blueblood." Princess Celestia voice, neither gentle nor cruel, rung out.
Turning, ever so slowly, Blueblood never muttered a word, but under the gaze of both princesses, he lowered his head.
"Look at me." Celestia said, as Blueblood only did so for a moment before once again looking away.
"Look at me." Celestia almost demanded, this time, emotion leaking into her voice.
When Blueblood's stare met Celestia's, he couldn't help but feel only one thing.
"Shame" Celestia muttered out, "Is something that I wished never to teach you, my nephew." Celestia then closed her eyes, as if to steel herself for what was to come, both in words and actions. "When you were born, I held you." she whispered as she barely began opening her eyes once more, "Back then, you used to call me Auntie Cello." she then let out what looked like the mix of a chuckle and swallowing, "When you were too young to know what hatred was" before closing her eyes once more.
Blueblood had expected anger. He has expected to be yelled at. He expected all of the things that he would do is someone under his banner had they done such in his home. But like any foal, he could never anticipate the most hurtful reaction to any of such a age. Disappointment.
"But you are no longer the foal that used to fall asleep between the base of my wings," she said, her eyes opening to show tears forming, "Nor are you so young that in your anger you would only throw a stuffed toy." her voice starting to crack. "I love all of my little ponies. All of them!" she cries out, both in words and onto the floor, "and I still love you..." She whispered, "But I can't sit back any longer as you use me as a shield to hurt your fellow ponies that I love just as much." she loudly states.
Blueblood, having some tears of his own, could do nothing but feel about as small if he were still 4 years old.
"Your royal title shall be stripped from you." Celestia said with drying tears as gasps were heard around the ball room, "as will all privileges and monetary support that goes alongside it." she declares, noticing the utterly defeated look on Blueblood's face as it breaks her own heart.
"But..." Celestia says, earning Blueblood's eyesight once more, "I know of a place along the southern border. It is a rather small settlement of ponies who remain so far out that common everyday needs are often not able to be met." She keeps her gaze onto Blueblood's, "However there remains a need for stewards to watch over and support the needs of all ponies within the settlement on behalf of the Kingdom, along with myself and Princess Luna."
Celestia slightly tilts her head as she continues, "I love all of my little ponies and fear for their safety. Of them losing their way being so far. While there are risks and hardships to be endured, I also feel that being so far away can give one new perspective, and purpose." she then whispers, "Especially if one is in need of a another chance...".
Blueblood merely nods, his head not lowered but not quite held as high as usual. As he stood onto all four hooves, he made one request, "May I have the dignity," he said as he looked at both princesses, "to address the crowd before I go?".
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both nod.
As Blueblood turns, he noticed many ponies giving him scowls or hurt expressions. "I would apologize," the faces turned more rigid, "But in my current state, the words would not ring true." he continued, "So at the very least, I will not attempt to".
Several of the bearers were about to say something before Blueblood began to speak once more.
"Instead, I will reveal the hidden blade that I had planned to use tonight" Blueblood stated, earning defensive posturing of several bearers and the movement of the princesses between him and the others, "Below these halls, deep within the catacombs beneath us, lays secrets..." Blueblood passes them all as he slowly walks to the doors leading out, "of a very unique person's heart."
"Just remember to turn off the lights when you're done." he finishes just as the large double doors let out a low rumbling as they shut.
Meanwhile;
"Can't believe I just did that." Sentinel internally chastised himself as he walked down the narrow passageways leading through the castle, his destination being the royal gardens. Just as he was walking out into them...
"Sentinel!" yelled Rainbow Dash as she flew over alongside Fluttershy, above of the other bearers.
Sentinel, while already mildly agitated at himself and of what was on his mind, couldn't help but admit that it felt nice. So instead of ignoring them like he needed to, he slowed as to allow them to catch up.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash." Sentinel said but then had to note, "Where are all of your gowns?"
"After you left we ditched them!" Applejack eagerly stated.
"Because we were worried about you," Fluttershy said, causing Sentinel's finger to twitch.
"Plus," a pristine as always Rarity said, "We have something we want to show you."
"Oh?" Sentinel asked, "And what might that be?"
"Silly pants!" Pinkie cheered, "You have to follow us down there to see!" she pointed to the valley.
Turning, Sentinel looked down towards the valley as the gears in his mind started to do the same. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck almost tickled as the rigid skin tightened. This hadn't been at all how he had planned the night to go.
"So Twilight," Sentinel inquired, "I've never teleported before. Are you sure you can take all of us?"
"We will have to travel down the cliff side actually," Twilight noted, "I am afraid that I am having some migraines tonight from all the excitement." she gave a bright smile as she spoke, making Sentinel's gaze linger for a few seconds.
Before answering, Sentinel turned around to look upon the castle, earning very worried exchanges between all six equines behind him. He then closed his eyes, muttered something that nopony could hope to make out, before finally replying.
"Lead on".
Back at the ball room
"What a way to make an exit..." Applejack muttered, "Refuse to apologize and then say something like that." She grumbled.
"What should we do now?" Fluttershy asked, rather happy Blueblood didn't use his hidden weapon, but very put off by the notion that the weapon was Something hidden under Canterlot about Sentinel. "How was he going to use that against Sentinel?"
"We won't know until we go down there and find out." Twilight stated, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"You mean unless, darling." Rarity corrected Twilight, "Not all secrets are bad ones, but all secrets are hidden for a very personal reason." She elaborated on her angle.
"Maybe it's a big surprise that he wants to remain a surprise until he can surprise us?" Pinkie surmised, getting mixed reactions from the others on her proposed wisdom, "Oh but what if it's something really dark?" as she slowly twists it, "He did say turn off the lights when we're done!" into something different.
"Well!" Rainbow shouted, jolting all her friends nearby, "I vote for finding Sentinel, have Applejack lasso and tie him up, and then go down there and see!"
"No Rainbow. Rarity is right." Twilight said to Rainbow, getting a nod of approval from Rarity, "If Sentinel has made somewhere his sanctuary then unless invited we shouldn't disrespect his privacy that way."
"Horsecrap." Rainbow declared, giving as much of a glare as she was then given, "If it was all good then Blueblood wouldn't of called it a weapon." Rainbow continued her valid point, "Or did you all forget that already? And Pinkie's point makes sense".
"It did?" Pinkie questions to Fluttershy, who is unsure how to respond back.
The bearers all quieted down, some to try and hold themselves from becoming vested in another argument, and others due to considerations on all perspectives given. They all wanted to help Sentinel, but they also didn't want to lose his trust.
"My princesses, " called out an unknown guard, "We have news on Sentinel's whereabouts."
"Please," Celestia inquires, "Go on."
"He was seen leaving the ball room only to go into the royal gardens. When we were about to go in to follow, he suddenly came right back and then went straight to his room. We've stationed several guards near and outside like you commanded." The guard explained in a rigid posture.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Celestia replied, with a sigh of relief.
"Lieutenant," Luna also inquires, "If Sentinel tries to leave, please detain thee as gently as thy can." She then adds in, "However, if things were to escalate..."
Celestia then watches as Luna passes over to the Lieutenant a magical run of imprinting, showing a foal with pig feet.
"Luna!" Celestia yells in surprise, "Brilliant idea!"
Twilight then gasps, "Is that a imprinting rune?!" she asks in excitement as she trots up to inspect it but in turn frowns, "Why is there a foal with pig feet on it?" she says in a rather flat tone as she squints one eye.
"So what are we doing about the the secrets Blueblood was going to use to hurt Sentinel, or us?" Rainbow questioned rather impatiently.
"We've known about Sentinel's need for isolation, at times in great lengths, and of where." Celestia elaborates, "As for what is down there we have pushed aside our own curiosity and ordered all to do the same." She then closes her eyes. "And until further notice, unless there is deemed a reason to intrude, none shall." she commands with finality.
A flash of lightning was quickly followed by the low rumbling of thunder, causing Fluttershy to attach to Pinkie to just patted her head. The other ponies all looked up and around, noticing the sound of gusting wind and pelting rain along with more thunder.
"What the hay is going on here?" Rainbow questioned aloud, "The weather was supposed to clear all night."
"Perhaps a weather pony made a mistake?" Rarity chipped in some reasoning.
"Not something like this!" Rainbow retorted not in anger but agitated confusion. "It would take dozens of weather ponies and almost all day to put something like this together." She concluded, even as the wind was pushing hard enough to make windows creak.
Shining Armor then turned around started walking towards the doorway, leaving the princesses and bearers all giving each other looks of confusion before Cadance spoke up.
"Shining honey, where are you going?" Cadance asked.
"To see Sentinel." Shining replied, turning his head to look at his wife but not stopping.
"Honey," Cadance started to trot to catch up as they were just passing the bearers, "I think perhaps it would be best to leave him be after what all has transpired tonight." She tried to reason.
"Something is wrong." Shining replied, the worry easily heard in his voice, "Very wrong." but before Cadance could question him further even at the behest of the others who were starting to get a little freaked out, "...and please let it be wrong".
That was all it took for all of the bearers to follow suite after Shining and Cadance, with the Solar and Lunar princesses announcing their temporary leave from the ceremony as well. They both knew the consequence of forgoing such feelings, and joined the others.
Not wasting time, they finally arrived at the guarded doorway to Sentinel's bed chambers. With Princess Celestia and Princess Luna leading the group, they all took a small look around but noticed absolutely nothing out of place or of worry.
"Guards, " Celestia addressed the pair, "Report on any and all activity."
"Sentinel has not left since entering his room shortly after he left the royal gardens. He made one request for nourishment that was handled by the service staff." The left guardpony promptly answered.
"He ordered food?" Luna asked, a bit surprised and turning uneasy, and not entirely unnoticed by her sister.
"Luna?" Celestia inquired, now grabbing the attention of the others who saw the unease in Luna's expression.
"Sentinel only consumes those small cubes that thou stated served all of his nourishment needs." Luna then elaborated, "Thou requested, and was honored, that more be created using a replication spell."
"Maybe he just tired of..." Applejack was saying, but never got to finish as Shining shoved the double doors wide open.
"Sentinel?!" Shining called out, receiving only the gusting wind and pelting rain for a response.
"Shining!" Cadance charged in after him, along with the others, "He just ordered some food. Why would..." she then stopped, also noticing that there was no Sentinel in the room.
Princess Celestia looked around, trying to get a handle on the situation when all of the bearers spread out to look for Sentinel. Had things not been as potentially serious as they were, or if the bearers were not calling his name with such concern, she might of laughed at seeing them checking under his bed and barging into his bathroom.
"He's gone..." Twilight whispered, the silence of the others confirmation to her statement.
"Guards!" Luna yelled in her canterlot royal voice, causing the guards at the door along with several from outside the balcony to swoop in and stand at attention. However once all of the guards noticed the atmosphere within the room along with no Sentinel, even they started to worry and elicit confused muzzles.
"We request that the service pony who brought Sentinel his food be brought back and..." Luna was commanding, before some rustling inside the chest at the foot of the bed startled here and the others. The guards all swooped forward, poised for whatever may be inside, as one bucked off the lock and lifted the lid.
"That...thats the maid who brought the food!" One guard yelled out, as they all gathered around as one of the guards lifted the wet and scared out of her mind mare from the chest and untied her bound hooves and muzzle.
"But we both saw her leave with her serving tray..." The other door guard stated in confusion, as the maid started coughing to clear her throat, Fluttershy already going over to check her for any injuries.
"My little pony," Celestia stepped over and lowered her head as to speak softer, "Please, when you can, we wish to know what happened." She then stepped back as the maid nodded, a few tears still wetting her cheeks.
"I...I wa..was told to bring some food for Mr. Sentinel.." the maidmare explained, "B..but when I had t..tu..turned my back some green magical force kept my mouth closed as... as..." she started wiping tears again, "as something hit me in the back."
"Sentinel would never do such a horrid thing!" Rarity said in shock.
"Yeah Sentinel isn't some meany pants!" Pinkie added in.
"It couldn't of been Sentinel." Twilight declared, "He can't use magic!"
"I...um.." the maidpony started to speak once more, but stopped.
"Go on, if you can please." Celestia gently asked.
"It wasn't Sentinel." the maidpony stated as she went wide eyed, "From the moment I entered the room I felt unsafe! I've been around Sentinel and I've never felt that feeling around him. Not once!"
"Guards," Celestia commanded, "Please take her to the castle infirmary to be checked out, and place a guard on her at all times. Until further notice, the castle is under lock down. Alert all guards and send word to all barracks to be on standby until our return."
"Return?" Cadance asked.
"One of my subjects is now missing and another assaulted while under watch of guards whom I trust with my very life." Celestia said, her eyes narrowed with a deep frown on her muzzle, "The one missing may have left a message," she then continued, "and I believe we all know where."
"I'm going!" Rainbow stated, already headed for the doors quickly followed by the bearers along with Cadance and Shining. Glancing at each other, Princess Celestia and Luna then left Sentinel's room and proceeded to lead the others down into the catacombs of Canterlot Castle.
Within thirty minutes, they had finally come to the pathway leading up to where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna knew Sentinel spent most of his time, alone. They had been vastly curious themselves, but held back their own vices for the sake of their subject's peace of mind and privacy. However now that said subject was missing, most chances are kidnapped with no culprit apprehended, privacy was going to have to be an luxury.
"How could he come down here all the time?" Fluttershy whispered, "It's scary."
"Oh c'mon Fluttershy," Rainbow says grinning, "This is canterlot castle. Whats the worse that going to happen down here that's to be scared of?"
"Oh...I dunno. Maybe things like abductions, ponies getting stuffed into chests, and such...!" Fluttershy replies, while in her usual whisper, with just a bit more flare.
"Oh a snake!" Pinkie calls out, causing Twilight to freak out. "Kidding!" she then says, as Twilight gives the stink eye.
"I just have a real bad feeling about this all," Applejack said, "Like we're going to see something we were never meant to."
"Applejack dear," Rarity said, turning towards her friend, "While I hold the very same conflict as yourself, I have one other that is keeping me from walking away now."
"And that is?" Applejack asked, genuinely curious.
"That the message inside might be one asking for help." Rarity whispered, "Even if it wasn't meant to be." she then continued, "I do not think that I could ever forgive myself, if it was, and we only heard it after it was too late."
Applejack shifts her eyes back and forth a little, and then settles just for a nod, along with all of the others.
"We're here." Princess Celestia announces before a large singular door.
"Well then, lets get going I say!" Rainbow called out as she was feeling in adventure mode.
"Yes." Shining agrees, "Time is of the essence and we've little to spare if Sentinel was ponynapped."
As her horn glowed, Princess Celestia removed the locking enchantment that allowed only Sentinel to operate the door freely. As the magic overlapping the door fainted in glow to finally nothing, she pressed her hoof against it and gave a push. The sudden influx of bright light almost blinded her and all the other ponies behind her, as many gasped and tried to shield their vision. But if the light caused them to gasp, what they would see next would take their words away.
In what would appear to be a room roughly the size of their throne room, was an empty one. No chairs. No tables. No rugs or windows or anything of the like. All they could see was the bare dirty granite floor and some of the most detailed and beautiful paintings many of them had ever seen covering all of the walls. Of each and every one of them.
"What..." Princess Celestia said as the others were still trying to grasp what they were seeing.
"Oh no we ruined the surprise!" Pinkie yelled as she genuinely sounded upset.
As if moth to a flame, each of them started to walk, trot, or fly over to their respective mural reflections. Each of the bearers held upon them their respective elements, with their Cutie marks as a backdrop. Each painting contained a little flavor either in expressions, postures, or accessories.
Even the princesses and prince, all whom have had their paintings done many times over, were rather impressed at the accurate representation of their respective selves. The only one not showing much awe, was Princess Luna, who seemed more guilt ridden than anything at having invaded Sentinel's sanctuary, again.
"They're beautiful..." Rarity said in awe, "I'm beautiful!" and in vain.
"Oh...oh my..." Fluttershy stuttered out, somewhat embarrassed at the thought of being painted.
"The strokes are rather professional," Twilight noted, "and very accurate color schemes!"
"I...." Rainbow said as she held onto the word, "I'm only okay with this because he got my awesomeness down."
"Aha!" Applejack noted with glee, "He painted me all proper!" as she noticed her signature pose.
"I dunno..." Pinkie noted, getting shocked looks from the other five, "I think he forgot my cannon..."
As Shining and Cadance looked onto their own respective intertwined paintings, Shining eyes bulged when Cadance thought aloud, "I wonder how much it would cost to take this wall with us back to the Crystal Empire..."
But it was both Celestia and Luna who noted that at least to themselves that while the paintings while almost perfect, were exactly that, almost perfect. They each reflected on how many times some pony had painted them, either by request or requested, only to have them always come out in the same manner. Perfection. Like a statue, so set in stone, that it felt nothing but rigid and dull. But they both still smiled at the thought of having themselves painted.
"While I am rather shocked, and well complimented, I am also disappointed." Shining said, grabbing everypony's attention, "While this was something I never expected, I am more concerned that this is ALL we found."
Once the realization struck the bearers, they all removed themselves out of their stupor in order to rush around the room desperately looking for clues, only to find none. They were back to square one, and now, feeling utterly guilty.
"Please be okay," Twilight whispered, "Sentinel." as she gathered with the others at the only doorway in or out. Just as they were about to exit, however, Pinkie suddenly jumped and gasped.
"Oh now, we almost forgot to turn out the lights!" Pinkie reminded them of what Blueblood said, right as she also remembered that the single and very bright magic lightstone was too high for her to reach as though she stretched up on one hind leg to try.
"Pinkie!" Twilight yelled, mostly from being frightened yet again, "We shouldn't disturb anything else!" she then droops her ears, "We've already done enough..."
"But!" Pinkie tried to argue.
"Pinkie..." Twilight tried to reason.
"But maybe Blueblood left the light on!" Pinkie reasoned, with actually well thought out logic. "We should do the right thing and turn them back off so when he comes back he won't think we have bad manners!"
"Argh..." Twilight grumbled out, trotting over towards the middle of the room and underneath of the giant lightstone. "Fine!"
If the first impression robbed them of their words, then this one would even take away their breath.
As soon as the lightstone clicked off, the entire room illuminated in glow in the dark paint. However unlike before, it was as if they were in some endless expanse with only themselves lighting the way. Yet, what made them so shocked wasn't the glowing paint but just how personalized each of them had now become.
Gone were the elements. Gone were the crowns and adornments. Even the cutie mark backdrops immediately had ceased to exist even thought they still existed on their painted flanks. All the things that were standard about each of them in their respective everyday lives, were removed. Leaving behind only...
Twilight's Mural
Twilight was climbing a set of stairs, not much different from the time that she was battling Sombra. However watching her were not the eyes of some evil pony dictator, but the loving eyes of her mentor. She looked like she was struggling, the stairs taking their toll on her. Yet in the stead of burden, her muzzle bore one of eagerness and determination for even more.
On every step behind her, there laid nothing but bare white steps. However on each step her hooves stood upon symbols she understood as the basics to spell casting seemed to be glowing the color lavender. Like glowing lavender strands of energy, they swirled up her fore and hind legs and around her barrel until connecting to the stars on her cutie mark. Symbols on steps not yet reached remained grey, but growing ever more advance in complexity with each step upwards.
"We got a long ways to go..." Twilight whispered to herself, "but at least, never alone." before she looked up at the vacant spaces near Princess Celestia's eyes, "but still lonely..."
Applejack's Mural
Nestled upon a rolling grassy hill under two large apple trees, stood Applejack. She was standing tall with her chest puffed out as she cast her gaze out towards the horizon, with her blonde mane and tail unhindered and flowing in the wind. Her eyes were rather relaxed, giving off the expression of satisfied pride.
Yet underneath the golden strands flowing over her backside, was a yoke. It looked much too big for her, as if it was meant for a stallion. Her stetson, perhaps as much of a representation of Applejack as anything, hung off the side of the yoke. Held over her puffed chest, was an apron. It wasn't until then that Applejack stepped a little closer to get a better look at herself, when she noticed the bags underneath her eyes, and two saplings behind her, one actually taller than herself while the other barely reached up to the underside of her belly, still growing as she stood between them and whatever the shifting winds might bring.
"Now that's more like it..." Applejack whispered to herself as her muzzle started a wide grin until it turned upside down, "Just wish ah knew so we could move forward..."
Rarity's Mural
Cast within one of the famously popular boutiques in Canterlot, Rarity was working on a faceless mare in something like what the bearers wore to the ball. The body type of the mare resembled something closer to Fleur De Lis rather than the typical curvy body type most mares had. Yet, while faceless, the mare was so utterly perfect that in comparison Rarity looked less so.
But Rarity noted on her face there was not even the tiniest hint of jealousy. What she did see was just what she always hoped other would but often didn't, sacrifice. As she gazed upon her mural, Rarity couldn't help but stretch herself just a bit higher, and give herself an genuine smile.
"You go girl..." Rarity whispered to herself, but her eyes widened in shock as she noticed something nestled in the backdrop that had it not been so precious to her, she might of missed it. There was a bright red ruby, in the shape of a heart being buried under a broken hourglass, running out of time.
Pinkie Pie's Mural
Pinkie was, for one of the few in recent times, silent as she looked her mural over. She was painted trotting through a mirror, shattering it into large shards as what seemed to be hidden behind it was a saddened pony with dark clouds above it's head. The large colorful balloons she dragged along with her teeth seem to help shatter the shards into smaller ones, as her body seemed to do the very same. On one of the larger shards the saddened pony's face was shown split down the middle with one of the brightest smiles on it's muzzle.
"Thats right TinTin!" Pinkie said, beaming a wide smile, "No pony can hide from pinkie pie!" she then gave a rather determined grin, "Not even you." her grin remained even as her eyes just slightly watered, "Or myself."
Rainbow Dash's Mural
Rainbow stared at her mural with her head tilted to the side, still unsure what exactly to make of what she was seeing, of herself. She was standing upon a cloud with a stoic expression upon her muzzle as she seemed to watch as many faceless ponies laughed at a defiant little rainbow maned foal as it seemed to standing over a smaller crying butterscotch one with pink hair. The two foals were on a small cloud that looked as if it was slowly floating away from the other pegasi as one of the larger faceless ponies, also with a rainbow mane, had it's back turned to the two.
"Yeah, why don't you look at me now dad!" Rainbow loudly whispered, "Like you ever would..."
Fluttershy's Mural
Fluttershy silently wiped some tears from her eyes, as she strained to keep them clear as she looked at her mural. She walking across a room, much like her own cottage, with a big well fed white rabbit gently nabbed in her teeth by the scruff of the neck. She bore one of the happiest and sweetest looks on her face, clearly full of joy with the rabbit. But before a large mirror she was passing, there appeared to be a much younger version of her.
Within her mouth, again, was a rabbit but so small it couldn't of been but a newborn. The hardwood floor was replaced by clouds as she seemed to be running as fast as she can with a light tinge of red running from her nose. To her backside bore the silhouette of light from a doorway with a hoofing pointing out of it.
"H..how..." Fluttershy stuttered out as she wiped her tears, "I..I never told anypony except Rainbow.."
Everypony was admiring their murals, with Cadance being held back by Shining as she seemed to be trying even harder to dislodge their duo mural, when they were pulled out of their concentration when Luna called out to them all.
"A secret doorway!" Luna declares as she rushes to the blackness where a very thin line of light is seen bleeding through, "This must be what Blueblood meant by the turning off the lights."
"But how do we get..." Twilight began to inquire, before the doorway was enshrouded by a golden magical grasp.
"We've wasted too much time already." Celestia stated, as she ripped the doorway off, causing them all to be blinded by the sudden light as it bled into the darkened room they were in.
When they once more gathered their bearings all ventured forth into a much smaller side room. One by one, they stepped in and then suddenly stopped as they all stared in the same direction.
"Hey whats the big deal!" Rainbow said as she trotted into somepony's flank, shaking her head before seeing what the big deal was for herself.
Before them stood a painting of Sentinel himself. He was surrounded by all those within the room along with many of the ponies he'd met and formed friendships with in the castle and Canterlot. The six bearers were standing closest to him, as if guiding him away as they smiled and laughed.
"Look at how many friends Sentinel has now!" Pinkie declared with glee.
"I ain't buying it at face value sugarcube." Applejack stated with a neutral expression, "Every painting back there showed us what we expected to see, in the light." She then snorted a little, "But in the dark..."
"Let me, Applejack." Rarity stated as she used her grasp to deactivate the lightstone above them, causing all of them to call out in shock and sudden induced fear.
"What the hay is that!" Rainbow yells out.
Before them all, where before Sentinel stood surrounded by what any of them could only describe as friendship, now knelt a badly wounded one being ravaged by shadows with glowing green eyes. The depiction was one of being outnumbered, over powered, and on the verge of losing. The shadows had replaced all of the ponies as they assaulted him without mercy.
"Changlings!" Shining screamed, causing everypony to look at him in confused shock.
"Don't you see?!" Shining tried to explain, "One maid entered Sentinel's room and only one came out, but the maid was still in there!" He saw their eyes widen in realization, "That means what came out from the royal gardens only looked like Sentinel!"
"There ain't no way that one changling took down Sentinel!" Applejack declared.
"Maybe they didn't need to." Shining once again intervened, getting looks demanding explanation.
"Think about it, again." Shining said, trying to stay calm. "Every mural here is an abstract of what everypony normally sees, and then whats really underneath." he points one hoof to the mural behind him, "You six are trying to get him to follow you in the light, but attack him in the dark...".
"You mean right now there's changlings masking as the six of us leading Sentinel away?" Fluttershy grasps, looking worried, and maybe a bit angry at the thought.
"...and into a trap I bet." Applejack grimly adds in.
"Thou are truly aggravating, Sentinel." Luna stated, stepping past the others as she stares upon the mural, "To paint what appears to be one's own death, betrayed at the hooves of those that thou called friends..." Luna continues getting hurt expressions from all but Celestia who is glaring at Luna, "When in truth, thou purposely put thyself in mortal danger not to die, but to be saved."
All of a sudden, all of the bearers along with Cadance and Shining took off galloping out of the room, into the next, and finally disappearing into the darkness of the catacombs on the long climb back up, leaving only the princesses.
"Luna." Celestia said, her eyes closed as she shook her head, "That was cruel."
"It was honest." Luna replied.
"I meant that had you not caused them to freak out like that we could of just teleported all of us back to the throne room!" Celestia started to raise her voice as she near the end.
"Less we wish to lose Sentinel, and not just to mortal demise, we mustn't arrive too early." Luna started, as she started charging her horn.
"What do you know that you're not telling me Luna..." Celestia muttered, her horn also starting to glow.
"That, my dear sister, " Luna clarifies, as both their bodies become outlined, "you will have to ask Sentinel yourself."
Elsewhere in Equestria; Valley
"We're almost there." Twilight stated as they slowed down to a brisk pace.
As they traveled just a bit farther, the bearers all stopped and turned around to face Sentinel. They all wore friendly and happy smiles on their muzzles as Sentinel casually looked around. He had noted that some time ago that common noises such as crickets and owls had stopped. He also noted that Canterlot had disappeared from view due to a storm, which he knew while obviously not natural, was not something that would of been done on a night for a ceremony.
"And here we..." Twilight started to declare, but was interrupted.
"They always send the weakest if the ruse fails, you know." Sentinel said, giving the six ponies a rather cold stare. All six tensed up as a few actually took a small step back.
"And weaklings will just not make due, for what I need." Sentinel then removes both of his hands from his side pockets, slowly cracking the knuckles as he closes them into fists. "Leave. Now." He coldly demands, as all six seem to be engulfed in green flames as they shoot into the air and into the tree line nearby.
"Fascinating." Came a rather seductive sounding feminine voice from the treeline. "You suspected, and yet you came without any weapons." the voice continued, "Nor do you comfort yourself among the support of the ponies I see. Solitude is for the weak you know."
"Never heard of less is more?" Sentinel quips to the sound of the voice.
"Need to have something to begin with, no?" Replied the voice.
"I have me." Sentinel retorts. "What do you have?"
"A plan..." The voice says, directly behind him.
Sentinel only enough time to turn and see the glowing green eyes and razor like horn glow before he was blasted by some pseudo like teleportation. Or it had the ability like teleportation to send great distances, but unlike the former, it was more like being shot in an energy encased bullet with an credit giving landing. Of said landing, if it hadn't been for his aura's effects now having instant warmup, he'd of suffered death on impact. As it stands, he was having slight trouble making that achievement.
"Sorry for the rough landing creature," The voice, still not visible from all the dust in the air, said. "But I had to make sure that what I've heard about you was true." The voice started to giggle, "To the point if you ask me."
"...and if you ask me," Sentinel groaned out as his healing and reinforcement aura were not being nearly as potent as before, "I think I prefer the demons." He coughed up some blood ready to clog his voice, "They gloated less."
"Or perhaps you've started to realize that the demons were weaker than what has already proven to be stronger." The voice sounded more and more over confident with each word.
"Oh its not that you're stronger." Sentinel stated as he finally was able to stand up but still concealed in the dust, "Far from it actually," he added, "It's just that its just me now".
"What?" The voice asked, sounding a bit put off and confused.
"The reason my abilities were so strong against the demons," Sentinel began to elaborate as the bones in his left hand started cracking from mending back together, "Was because they used their life force as a fuel source."
"Basically," Sentinel calmly stated, "All I had to do was keep killing them."
"But I can sense your body mending!" The voice rang out, somewhat agitated, "That landing would of killed you otherwise!"
"They still work, bug." Sentinel informed, noting the sound of a growl from beyond the slowly dissipating dust screen, "Not as potent. Nor as long lasting. Hell, for every intent and purpose they are actually everything that a double edge sword should be." but then he gave a grin that nothing else could of seen, "But there is no question in my heart that they are better than ever before."
"By what madness do you come to such an conclusion, creature." The voice said, quite annoyed but genuinely curious.
"Because," he keeps the grin as the dust settles and for the first time he can see his adversary. They covered every position around him for as far as he could see. Not only like the ones he had seen in the books in the royal library, but even slightly larger ones that reminded him a bit of this kind of thing went back home. He was, even at his old best, relatively fucked.
"Its just me." Sentinel started to grin even wider as the first wave shot forward from all around, causing him to be enveloped by the darkness as he reached down to pick up the 6 foot long trunk of a fallen timber.
"Alert all stationed guards and awaken the barracks!" Princess Celestia announced as Princess Luna and herself traveled from the throne room towards the royal gardens outside, "Inform them that citizen Sentinel had been ponynapped by changelings and his last true known whereabouts were in and around the royal gardens!"
"Furthermore," Princess Luna also announced as several high ranking guardponies were having to fast trot to keep up with the stride of their princesses, "We are hereby ordering complete lockdown of Canterlot." she continues on, "Have all guards given orders to be on the lookout for infiltrators and to triple the patrols for all points leading to or from the city." she then adds in, "Make sure to staple in that our subjects are to be safeguarded no matter the structural or monetary cost that must be made".
"Sent word to Cloudsdale's Wonderbolts." Celestia added in, "Tell them that we have a missing citizen that anypony will be hard pressed to miss and that we require their immediate assistance in aerial searches". she concludes just as they reach the gardens, as she cranes her neck to look back at the captains behind her. "Go, and please inform of anything that you find without delay."
"Yes my Princesses!" The guards all salute before rushing off to their designated areas.
As both princesses stand before the royal gardens, their eyes are under stress as they try and ascertain any and all potential clues as to what had happened.
"Blast this storm!" Luna yelled in frustration, "The rain and wind has covered any tracks potentially made."
"Which worries me, greatly." Celestia voiced her growing concerns.
"Please explain sister as we were already greatly concerned." Luna slightly bites at the comment out of frustration.
"Last time the changelings infiltrated our city in the hopes of enslaving every pony." Celestia recites recent history, "Such a scale required equally scaled efforts which we saw through their very queen impersonating Princess Cadance". she continues, "While we have nothing to say that she is or isn't directly involved in this what we do have is very elaborate tactics being used to ponynap just one citizen". she slightly narrows her eyes, "Too much effort."
"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" yelled a distant Twilight, surrounded in a galloping herd of her friends save for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who were gliding and Pinkie Pie who hopped.
As the group finally reached the princesses, they were almost all out of breath in one form of another, except Pinkie Pinkie
"H...how did you...get here so....f..fast!" an out of breath Twilight questioned Celestia and Luna.
"Teleport." Celestia somewhat muttered as she gave a deadpan stare towards Luna, who seemed too caught up internally to acknowledge let alone react. Celestia then lifted her brow at her sister before addressing the others once more.
"We've alerted all captains to inform all guards of what has transpired, and placed Canterlot on lock down until the new changeling threat has been dealt with." Celestia told the 8 before her, as she noticed Shining flinch at the mention of Captain, causing her a tiny bit of well needed amusement.
"Well what are we wasting time here for?" Rainbow questioned them all, "Lets go find him and kick some bug butt!" she says with a grin as her takeoff is quickly denied by the stomping of hooves on her tail by Applejack.
"Woah there." Applejack yelled to Rainbow, who was scowling in return, "We got no way to know where they even took him" she tried to explain as she started to give a scowl back, "What if you go in the wrong darn direction and we need you?"
Grumbling, "Fine!" Rainbow yelled out of frustrations, "But the moment we know where they went, I'm flying!"
"What we also need is a plan for those ruffians," Rarity said to everypony, "Thankfully they couldn't of gotten far in such a short time."
"Rarity is right." Twilight said gaining a nod from Rarity, "Its been only a few hours at most since he was last seen entering the gardens. That means on foot at best he would be somewhere between here, and ponyville."
"why?" asks Fluttershy.
"Because..." Twilight looks over towards the nearby cliff, "That's the only way cliff face that has a path down and there been reports if Sentinel was seen inside Canterlot."
"Hmmm..." Pinkie hums as she hops over to the cliff only to stop moving in place as she looks out into the valley, "Oh oh I know what way they went!" She yells in excitement causing the others to rush over.
"What?!" Twilight asked Pinkie, "How do you know which way they went after they got down from the cliff face?"
"Oh that's easy silly!" She says with a wide smile, "TinTin couldn't of gone that way," she says as she points her hoof to a small glowing hue in the south, "Cause thats Ponyville!" as she then swings her hoof towards the west, "So would have to be that way!"
"Pinkie darling," Rarity tries to question as politely as she can, "That makes... no sense."
"Sure it does!" Pinkie lets her smile turn into a grin, "TinTin knows it wasn't us and TinTin wouldn't let some meanies get anywhere near Ponyville just like he left so nothing would happen here."
"Pinkie..." Twilight gently tries to reason.
Sighing as her muzzle tilts down, she then brings it back up to only give a rather serious and not so Pinkie Pie like expression, "Are you telling me that you saw what he painted down there and still think he wouldn't know if it was really us?" she turns the expression into a rather befuddled one as all the other bearers just return it with wide eyed ones.
"Very astute, Laughter." Princess Luna states with a smirk.
"What?" Pinkie keeps the befuddled look as she turns to Luna.
"We mean to compliment you" stated a deadpanned Luna.
"Hi!" Pinkie beams a huge goofy smile and high pitched tone to Luna.
"ahh..." Luna grumbles as she lifts a hoof to the base of her horn
"Guards!" Celestia shouts, causing several to swoop down in front of her, "Bring our royal chariots along with two more." She commands, "Also assemble an escort. We may have a lead on the whereabouts of the abducted citizen."
Perspective Shift : Sentinel vs Changelings
Sentinel's Internal monologue
"Maybe I bit off a bit too much to chew..." Sentinel thought to himself as he swung one pony sized changeling around like a baseball bat as two jumped on his back and dug in, "Or just assumed it would still taste the same" he continued his thought as he ignored the two on his back.
Barely jumping back to dodge a dive by one of the larger ones, he then steps forward to bring his elbow down onto it's back, only for one on his back to lunge forward to bite his bent arm to free the similar sized brethren. "But this is different, " he shoots his other hand over just in time to grab the foreleg of the lunging changeling, "maybe in the most dangerous of ways." as proceeds launch both changelings in hand at ones coming in from above, missing with one.
As Sentinel reaches with his right arm to his left shoulder where one changeling is still going to down on his exposed flesh, he fails to see another charging in to take send a headbutt into his ribcage, sending him into a dead standing timber. He rolls with the impact, imbedding wood fragments down the left side of his neck and peck, before coming to a stop facing another charging changeling. "This is no zerg." he reaches over and behind to the one on his back, yanking it forward along with some of his ripped shoulder as he uses it to cushion the ramming just as the incoming changeling diverts.
"They not only attack together," He raises the changeling up ready to slam it into the ground below as balls of green energy slam into him, "but defend each other with the same intensity." He dashes forward faster than any of the changelings could assume, tearing muscle in his already repairing legs once again. He is able to catch two smaller changelings in a clothesline from each arm right into some timber behind them just as one dive bombs him in the back of the head.
Bringing a leg straight up as he falls and pivots, "And here I am," striking the changeling underneath it's muzzle, he is barely able to hit the ground and roll over as another large one barely misses him as it barrels pass. "trying to prove to myself that I'm not too much of a weakling," He then flips up off the ground using his hands just as two opposing chargers slam head first into each other, "that I can't be me and still play by the rules here".
"Just as long as the me is still me, that is." Sentinel says aloud as more changelings come his way.
End Sentinel's Monologue
Perspective Shift : Changeling Hive Wavelength
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" screamed a changeling being swung around like a sword.
"Hold on 347!!" two changelings yelled in unison as they latched onto the creature's back as 347 stopped screaming long enough to think about what the others said with a sneer forming.
"Keep it distracted 873 and 384, I'm coming!" said one of the soldier changelings diving into the fray only to miss.
"Damnit you two DO SOMETHING!!" screamed 347.
"We are!" 873 and 384 scream in unison, "It don't seem to care!"
"Oh shit it's about to hit soldier 634!" 873 yelled out to every changeling.
"Oh....it finally stopped....thank Queen Chrysalis..." 347 sighed in relief
"HISSSSS" 384 lets forth it's battle cry as it lunges towards the raised appendage about to strike soldier 634.
"Look out 384!" 873 emits on the wavelength as it watches the creature grab 384 with it's nimble bendy talons
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH"-HHHHHHHHHH" 384 and 347 both scream out, one longer than the other, as they get launched into the air.
"It's got me! It's got me!!" 873 screams, "ahhhhhhhh!!" then cries out as it hangs on for dear life when the creature is sent flying through some trees.
"Sorry!" yells the random soldier changeling.
"This is bullshit!" 873 rages on the wavelength just as it is ripped off and used as a shield.
"Will all of you shut the BUCK UP!
The new voice causes immediate and utter silence across the wavelength as it watches the battle continue, taking in just how undaunted the creature appears to be. The wounds, while harsher ones linger longer, seem to heal in just enough time to not allow the onslaught sent towards it to gain anymore ground. It also noted that some attacks so far that should of at least brought it down long enough to capture it, had not. It just kept getting back up.
"This creature is proving to be more of an hassle than I initially realized." The rather unique and seductive feminine voice said across the wavelength. "But as entertaining as this may be we need it alive if we are to cultivate from it."
"Behemoths," The voice says with an unsavory tone of glee, "you're up."
Perspective Shift : Ponies
With Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's chariots leading the charge, four more chariots filled with the the rest of the ponies had been flying and scanning anything that they could upon the ground to no avail. Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies and was zipping back and forth at impressive speeds trying to help locate a pony that they all considered a friend.
"Luna!" Celestia called over to her sister, who in turn had her escorts bring her closer to Celestia's chariot.
"We know." Luna replied back, giving a rather concerned expression as she knew what her sister needed to say.
"We've held back the transition of night and day by an hour already." Celestia said only loud enough as needed, "We...we cannot throw the entire world into disarray for just one." she said as her expression faltered into guilt.
"We shall continue to search in thy stead with our Lunar Guards," Luna said, trying to calm her sister's rising guilt, "Sentinel would never ask of us to do otherwise." so she steeled herself as well, "He willingly place this weight upon thine own."
Their conversation was interrupted when Rainbow Dash zipped right between them with a look of fright, "I found something!" she said with a frantic voice, "We gotta go now!" she then zipped ahead and did a 90 degree turn, barely followed by the chariots.
As soon as the chariots approached where Rainbow Dash had landed, they all galloped over towards the hill that Rainbow stood atop of, slowing to a trot as they got near to the crest.
"Rainbow!" Twilight called out, "Did you find Sentinel?"
"I don't know." Rainbow's said as her voice verged on cracking up, causing the others to once again speed up.
Once they all reached the crest, their mouths hung open at the sight of a what appeared to be an explosion between their hill and another. They all rushed over with the Princesses leading the way as everypony, even the guards, were starting to become uneasy.
Rainbow then rushed over into the ground where not even a single blade of grass remained, instead replaced by charred dirt. She appeared to bend down, grab something with her muzzle, and then flew back over towards the princesses, dropping it down in front of them.
"I...I found this.." Rainbow said, as she backed up, fighting back the wetness in her eyes.
"That's...!" Rarity yelled in surprise, "That's one of the cuff clips I made for Sentinel!" as soon as she realized what she was seeing along with the scorched earth before them, she immediately shrunk back much like Rainbow had.
"Well if that's here then where is Sentinel!" Applejack, raising her voice, was replacing panic with anger.
"TinTin..." Pinkie muttered as her mane straightened out.
"M...maybe hes still here somewhere, hurt!" Fluttershy said in an trembling voice as she took to the air to circle around looking for an injured Sentinel that would not be found.
"Rarity..." Shining Armor, having been silent through almost all of this, finally spoke up grabbing her attention, "What kind of material this clip made of?"
"I..um..white gold." Rarity having trouble concentrating, finally answered.
"What purity?" Shining asked once more.
"10 karat, why would..." Rarity answered once more until it hit her hard enough to cause tears. "Oh no..."
"Our friend is missing and you're talking jewelry!?" Rainbow yelled out in a rage, held back only by a rather angry Applejack who while riled up by the seeming nonsensical banter, was at least willing to hear it to full before letting them have it.
"Rainbow!" Applejack yelled, "Ah'm as angry as you and less they have a good reason for talking of such things I will be right with ya in giving it to them good!" she then continued, "But I also know that neither would be bringing this up less it was important, now settle down!" she finally got through to Rainbow, who somewhat stopped struggling but not entirely.
"The melting point of white gold at that purity is higher than what the calcium in our bones can withstand." Shining elaborated, "The clip is mostly melted." he points his hoof gently against the clip causing the others to go wide eyed.
"You telling me those stinkin bugs wore our muzzles, lured Sentinel out here, and then murdered him?!" Applejack screamed out while stomping her hooves, causing Rainbow to make a fight or flight on calming her down or getting out of the way.
"AJ calm down!" Rainbow did her best to grapple, no matter how stupid of a move she knew it was, AJ into not going on a rampage. "You'll get yourself hurt if you lose your temper and charge out into the freaken darkness!"
"I...I couldn't find anything..." Fluttershy said with utter defeat, her landing showing how hard she was rattled.
"We think we know..." Shining started to say, before being interrupted.
"That wouldn't of killed him," Twilight said without any expression on her face, gaining especially the gaze of the princesses along with all of her friends as while without emotion, it also lacked any doubt.
"Twilight the explosion was enough to melt white gold and...!" Shining said, not wanting Twilight to give the others false hope.
"It most likely sealed his fate..." Twilight said still with no emotion, but tears still started to form, "but it wouldn't of killed him outright."
"But how?!" Shining asked, and truly wishing he was not the one that was right in this sibling arguement.
"He has two known auras." Twilight began to elaborate, "You all know of the repairing one, but he also has one for reinforcement that includes protection against the major elements; Air, Water, Earth, and Fire." she continues with drying tears, "A changeling however uses an innate subset of poison along with fire, creating the green flames." she then points towards the cuff, "That means that while he was able to survive the fire, his repairing has to take the poison component."
"That's good though right?" Rainbow asked Twilight.
"If his auras didn't operate like they did then maybe, yes." Twilight explained, "But with how the entire picture is right now for Sentinel, this is very very bad." she then points to Rainbow, "Rainbow. What would happen if you tried run as fast as you can fly?"
"Uh...nothing. Cause I can't?" Rainbow replies back with a raised brow.
"But what if you had to" Twilight pushed further.
"Twilight I'm saying that I can't!" Rainbow said showing her frustrations, "And neither can anypony else for that matter. What you're asking would pretty much break....me..." her eyes widen along with others on the realization.
"Sentinel's auras are like your wings and legs Rainbow. One, the repair, is your legs and is a gradual with a set topping out." Twilight explains, "The other, your wings, fluctuates based on external factors that allows the wings to put forth so much more than your legs because of that." she then tries to staple it down, "When Sentinel got hit by whatever he was hit by it also forced his repair aura to go into overload because it had to run in tandem with his reinforcement aura."
But before anypony could react, "Yet in itself, that wouldn't of sealed his fate." Twilight said as she was having to push down all of her emotions in order to openly talk about something so horrible. Something, for another day, to have a heart to heart with her mentor about among many other things.
Everypony started to freak out when they saw Twilight breath erratically before she put up her hoof as she was trying to use a calming effect to get through the next part, even if she still hadn't in her nightmares.
"We all were there when Sentinel died." She looked up with steeled eyes and a flat tone, "What we saw was Sentinel putting his body into it's utmost pinnacle in terms of the reinforcement aura's topping out, which also sent his repairing to the same ceiling." she said, making sure everypony was following even if they didn't want to.
"What we didn't see was him purposely switching his auras from using the power source that they had been back in his own world to using his own life force instead, much like what they are forced to do now." She forced herself to reveal.
"What?!" yelled everypony, even the guards who had been intently listening along with the princesses.
"Now hold on there sugarcube." Applejack did her best to address without her anger flaring up, "This isn't the same as what you were telling all of us back in the dinner hall!" and she was faltering, "Now you making it sound like it ain't a matter of if but when!"
"If we had known how severe this was we'd never of let him out of our sights." Rarity said, also sounding rather put off.
"Twilight..." Fluttershy asked twilight, putting her on the verge, "why didn't you tell us?"
Rainbow and Pinkie just held rather neutral expressions awaiting the answer.
"Twilight," Celestia walked a little closer, "Why would you withhold such vital information?"
"I..." Twilight then started to cry, "I didn't... didn't want everypony to look and treat him like he was dying." she cried a little harder causing those that had yelled to be filled with regret, "Cau..cause if these stupid flaming bugs hadn't done this he wouldn't of been!" she stomped the ground with her hoof as her face was spliced with anger and tears. "Whatever they hit him with would of drained a massive amount of his life force! If we don't find him soon and and they drain too low then he hits the event horizon!"
"The event what?" Applejack asks, her anger being replaced by regret.
"No pony knows how much life force Sentinel has. We barely know a rough idea thanks to research by Starswirl the Bearded what a pony might have, but not what Sentinel does!" Twilight begins to rant, instead of explain, "It isn't so simple just to not drain all of one's life force, but also not to reach the point where the entire structure collapses!" she almost yells as she starts pacing causing other ponies to slow back away.
"Um Twilight deary?" Rarity says trying to calm her down, "C..calm down now we don't want to get overly excited.."
"Let alone that this attack alone would of brought him back several weeks of letting his life force regenerate. Let alone that when he was transmuted into a foal and almost killed by Blueblood that he still wouldn't of fully recovered yet." Twilight says as she continues her tirade.
"But what if they just captured him and not hurting him?" Fluttershy asks with a hint of hope in her voice before looking around at all of the deadpanned expressions, "anymore, anyway..."
"Just by grasping him with their magic to drag him to a cell his auras would react to the fire and poison..." Twilight elaborates in a rather somber tone, "They're killing him just by keeping him near."
When she looked back, expecting the expectation of more damning explanations, she saw none, nor many ponies. She was rather surprised to notice how they were all spread out looking for anything to lead them to Sentinel. Even if the atmosphere was so heavy with gloom, she couldn't help but smile, and then rush to join them.
Yet just as everypony was getting into full search mode, a Pegasus flew down in front of Princess Celestia and quickly knelt, "Princess we have new information on what may be related to citizen Sentinel.", causing everypony that heard to rush over and gather around hoping for something positive.
"Please," Princess Celestia calmly directed, "time is of the essence. Tell us everything that you've found."
"We..." the guard hesitated for a moment seeing the look of hope in his princess's eyes, along with many before him, causing said expressions to also falter, "We received and confirmed a report of what would appear to be linked to the changelings." the guard then explained, "A pony setting up for stargazing said she witnessed an object being shot from near where we stand into the sky, surrounded by bright green flames."
All of the ponies started muttering between themselves, mentioning Sentinel's name and trying to see how this new information could be linked to him. Not much came from it until somepony looked up and gasped when they noticed both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna clenching their muzzles shut and strained expressions upon their faces.
"Did the mare mentioned how large the object appeared to be?" Celestia almost growled out.
"I...uh..she said that she thought it looked a bit longer than herself..." The guard said as he noticed both princesses starting to relax, "If she was standing on her hind legs". before both princesses went wide eyed.
Moving forward quick enough to startle everypony nearby, especially the guard messenger, Celestia broke normal decorum and let her fears bleed through her voice, "Did she say what direction that it was heading?!"
"She said it look like it landed deep in the badlands..." The guard muttered out.
Celestia could only gasp as she backed up, requiring herself to instinctively unfurl her wings to keep balance while Luna was now the one to lose decorum, much to the disarray of the many innocent eardrums nearby.
"They bucking sent him directly to their hive?!" Luna yelled with her canterlot voice, just as Celestia once more unfurled her wings as she shot up into the sky with enough push to crack the ground beneath her hooves, causing many to gasp and cover their eyes and ears.
As she climbed into what should of been already the night sky, she rose to a height with a speed that made even Rainbow Dash look up in shock and awe. As her gaze was set towards the distant Badlands, she narrowed them.
"Luna! We need to transition to night immediately!" Celestia called down using her own canterlot voice.
As both royal Alicorns concentrated, the sun began to set as the thinnest sliver of a moon rose, casting darkness as far as the eye could see. Which was just what was needed to see if a far away candle still flickered. Just as Princess Luna also soared up to her sister's position in the night's sky, she also looked in the same direction.
"There!" Luna called out bringing Celestia into focus, as a few very dim flashes of green lit up the horizon. As the royal sisters looked at each other, they then shot down so fast that the ponies below hunkered down and braced for an impact that never happened, even if the blast of grass and dust did scare the heck out of most the bearers.
"Sentinel is in the Badlands. He's been fighting, is still fighting, at this very moment." Celestia announces giving nopony time to, nor would they dare, to interrupt. "Princess Cadance I very much am in need of a proper Captain who can operate in my stead."
"I understand." Princess Cadance states, before looking at Prince Shining Armor, "Hon, you're fired."
"WHAT?!" Shining screams back.
"Shining Armor!" Celestia addressed an extremely confused ex-captain, "You're being conscripted back into the royal military for the rest of the night!"
"HUH?!" Shining screams again as his royal attire is removed and replaced with a Captain's, from Celestia knows where.
"I need only the best tonight, Shining." Celestia says as she softens her eyes.
Shining shifts his eyes, for a second, before giving one of the most rigid salutes seen since he left for the crystal empire, "Yes your majesty! What are your orders?"
"In order to reach the Badlands from this distance both myself and Luna will be required. No teleportation spell can ever hope to reach such a distance so instead we will need to use something else." Celestia explains to all near as some show signs of worry of their princesses going into danger.
"While we will not be able to go ourselves by doing what we plan to do, we will be leaving ourselves entirely defenseless to any personal assaults and will require our subjects to protects us." She says as she notes, with an internal smile, how many determined expressions suddenly appear.
"Furthermore we will potentially endanger our immediate vicinity as we will be opening a two way portal. Just as one can go through our end, something can come through into ours from the other." She explains, noting everypony seems to be following so far, "So we will have to do it right where we stand."
"What do you want us to do princess!" Rainbow Dash spoke up, both for herself and her friends who all bore determined expressions to help however they can both their princesses and their friend.
"I would be ever so grateful," Celestia gently spoke to the bearers, "If all six of you stood by Luna and myself." she then continued, "We need protection, and if need be, Sentinel might as well." she finished, hoping they would understand.
"Yes Princess Celestia!" all six said with equal passion and determination of their task.
"Shining," Princess Celestia walks up to him before giving him one of her most heart felt expressions of pain and sorrow for what she is about to ask, "I need you to go through the portal and attempt an rescue," she said as she stared into his eyes, "Your life will be put at great risk, as will the other ponies who will be joining you. But I have no pony else that I would entrust such a task with. Can you please, once more, humble the kingdom with your bravery?"
"Of course your majesty!" Shining states as he clicks his rear hooves together while saluting with one of his front. "Yet while I know every single pony here, citizen or enlisted, would bravely walk beside me into the badlands..." he says as he takes note around, "For the utmost success, I must insist that we await a battalion of more seasoned experience."
"Oh?" Princess Luna softly asks with a rather playful undertone just as she gently lifts her left fore leg and pings the royal hoof adornment against the other. It would take a few seconds before everypony who had been there to realize what happened, if they did at all. Where a few dozen ponies once were they now numbered in the sixties. Where golden plated ponies stood alone, several fold more with plate in the same hue as Luna's flowing mane now joined them.
"That...." Rainbow started to say, "was totally badflank." she cocked a impressed as hell grin as one of the solar guard privates let out a delayed shriek.
Captain Shining Armor, having been frightened just enough to remember why he deserved it for having forgotten the Lunar Guards, shook his head before addressing all of the assembled guardponies. After doing so, they all formed ranks into one impressive battalion of mixed Solar and Lunar guards and made proper formation before their princesses. "We're Ready." Shining stated.
"This spell creates initially a one way view of a destination. It may be a place, or to somepony specific. This means that the image of where or whom will appear before the actual portal completes." Celestia then takes a deep breath as to get the next part across as gently as possible, "This also means that for roughly five minutes, all of you will be able to witness Sentinel but not able to help him." She scans the guards to make sure she makes eye contact with as many as possible before continuing.
"It will be absolutely imperative that nopony attempts to jump through the portal until it completes. No matter what you see, no matter what your instincts command you to do, you must steel yourself and your hearts." she attempts to reinforce once more, "If the creation is interrupted, then the process shall fail and even as powerful as we are, we can only attempt this once."
"Understood!/Yes Princess!" came unison acknowledgement from both citizen and guard.
"Finally to once more emphasize," Princess Luna adds in, "During creation both casters are entirely muted, blind, and deaf as concentration requires such sacrifice." she raises her head a little, "Once we begin, thou will be entirely on thy own." she finishes as she does her best to push back her own misgivings. No mistakes could be allowed, and with such loss of control to interact, she had her concerns.
"Shall we?" Celestia directs over to her sister as she begins to travel towards the area where Sentinel was taken.
"Indeed," Luna replies as she begins the same journey, "However poetic it is, however."
"That from where one was lost," Celestia says with a determined expression.
"Thou is now destined to be found." Luna says with the same expression.
Nopony says a word as they watch perhaps for the first time for many the two royal sisters perform a feat that has long since been lost to the ages. Something so simple yet so complicated for ones such as them whose very beings conflict like night and day.
"Together, we shall take back that which was stolen from us." The royal sisters said in unison as they flared their wings and set their horns aglow. The mixture of gold and dark blue creates a bright emerald like unison of their magical extension between them as it slowly begins to grow in size until it becomes a 10 by 15 foot rectangle like doorway.
All of the bearers along with Cadance gallop up and split between Celestia and Luna as to fulfill their roles as Shining leads the formation just before the emerald doorway, holding but ready. They all onto the words of encouragement from their princesses, and especially onto each other, as they were trying to brace themselves to see their friend and fellow citizen hurt and in need.
Many there had seen or heard of the creature called Sentinel and of his initial venture into Equestria. They knew while he was about as physically strong as a fit earth pony he was also a much bigger target. He couldn't fly nor could he use any form of magic to battle from afar.
So they prepared themselves for the worst that they could imagine, and ultimately failed as the first scream rang out, followed by more and more as the emerald doorway came into full illuminated focus.
Sentinel was using both arms outstretched against the inside the sideways mouth of the biggest changeling anypony had ever seen as several smaller ones has dug into him both talon and tooth. But it was his eyes that caused the screams, as for the life of the ponies, they couldn't see anymore color.
"What did you say?!" screamed a voice on the other side of the doorway that many ponies knew.
"Chrysalis!!" Hissed Cadance through tears and now burning with pure rage.
"I said...." Sentinel spoke, albeit with difficulty as he choked up more blood causing Twilight and Rarity to struggle with all of their might as Rainbow and Applejack tried to get to the portal, with Pinkie crying as Fluttershy was screaming for her to let her go, "I win..." Sentinel finally got out, causing all of the bearers to suddenly just stare in shock.
"Are you so far gone you pathetic creature that you actually think you won?" Chrysalis says with a chuckle.
"I could of..hid behind the ponies..." Sentinel chokes out, the behemoth's jaws giving another push as his arms seem to spurt blood from the pressure, "But you would of killed them to get to me..".
"I said let me go pinkie!" Fluttershy screams out again.
"That was the original plan of course." Chrysalis stated with an undertone of glee.
"I could of killed..to survive..." he spits some blood on one of the changelings biting into his chest making it bite down harder, "But I...made a promise... to myself..." he seems to almost pass out but shakes it off.
"You have to stop or we won't be able to save him!" Twilight pleads.
"Oh." Chrysalis swoons out, "Was it to waste my time?"
"You ugly bug eyed bitch!!" Cadance screams out.
"I promised myself...that I'd put to the test....me..." Sentinel grunts as a new changeling rushes up and bites into the side of his bloody abdomen, "..that I'd find out...find...out if I was forced to be me...cause of what..what my father did to me..." he chokes up some more blood, "or...if given the chance...to not be....me...I would still choose to be...".
"Pff. Hah!" Chrysalis laughs out, "That sounds like something those ponies would say!"
"I...know.." Sentinel then lifts his head, "but I am still me...and...and at least...leas..ngh...at least I know that I could...make a home here now..." he then chuckles, "...too bad I have to die...to finally be able...to accept...their offer heheh"
"Kill it." A new voice commands, causing Chrysalis to express great annoyance.
"What a thing to command against another's claim," Chrysalis hisses as she turns to face the newcomer, "Aurelia."
"And what a claim to make so close to my hive," Aurelia deadpans back, "Chrysalis."
Aurelia walks forward, accompanied by several of her hive, as she gives another short glance towards Sentinel before closing her eyes and appearing to sigh. Chrysalis in turn reacts by expanding her wings as her changelings do the same, forming a small parameter between Aurelia and their captured prize. Aurelia does the same as many of her own changelings whose chitin reflects the same rust hue as their queen fly or dig their way up around her.
"Don't you dare interfere Aurelia!" Chrysalis warns.
"It's almost dead already." Aurelia merely lifts her foreleg and flicks her hoof towards the creature who appears to be trying to bite into the changeling clawed onto his chest, much to the annoyance of both. "...and quite upset with you? Of course after what you just put it through I would hazard I'd be rather sour myself." Aurelia states with a light chuckle.
"Such things are of no consequence." Chrysalis declares as she backs up to a high pitch scream, matching Aurelia steps forward.
"Disturbing my nursery has no consequence you say?" Aurelia continues to walk forward with her eyes drilling into Chrysalis.
"You were supposed to of been gone to oversee your little...pact." Chrysalis spits out in disgust.
"Oh I was." Aurelia states with a hint of annoyance, "But I had to hurry back when I received word that something was fighting my sister's hive right on my very doorstep." with annoyance turning to agitation, "So after alerting my hive to safeguard all of my little ones, I rushed over thinking we were being invaded by all of the destruction felt clear down in the nursery." agitation turning to anger, "Only to find you fighting against one creature!" she says as she slams her hoof into the dried rocky soil.
"This is none of your..." Chrysalis tried to bark back without success.
"Where did it come from." Aurelia almost hisses.
"I..." Chrysalis begins to panic.
"WHERE!" Aurelia demands.
"Where do you think..." Chrysalis growls out.
"This is no pony!" Aurelia states as her anger continues to grow thinking she was being deceived, "In fact I've never seen anything such as this anywhere across the land." she stomps her hoof once more, "So once again..." she seethes.
"I don't know where it came from!" Chrysalis finally blurts out, causing Aurelia to halt her anger after sensing no deception from her sister, but instead was replaced by borderline reservation.
"When you invaded Canterlot, and failed" Aurelia says with a piercing gaze on Chrysalis, "I could have killed you when I found you broken and defeated." her eyes slightly soften, "Don't make me regret that sister."
"All I know is that it came from the same place that those invaders did several months ago inside Canterlot." Chrysalis puts aside her pride in the hope of her life not being next, "During that fight even the royal sisters were pushed back on the defensive along with the infallible elements of harmony failing," Chrysalis explained noting the reaction in her sister's expression, "This creature then fought with ease that which the ponies could not!"
Aurelia scans the battlefield, noting the amount of destruction along with how long the creature had endured the onslaught of Chrysalis, while smaller and weaker than her own, hive. However she couldn't help but make a few keen observations that strongly conflicted with the account of it's arrival to their world.
"How many did you lose." Aurelia asks Chrysalis, who in turn looks slightly confused by the question's premise.
"Hah!" Chrysalis scoffs at the question, "Not even one drone."
"Exactly..." Aurelia notes with curiosity. "Which means one of three things."
"One." Aurelia steps forward again, "You're lying to me."
"Two." Aurelia takes another, "Something happened that made it inferior to your accounts."
"Three." Aurelia stops within a few feet of Chrysalis, "It chose not to kill."
"I speak no lies!" Chrysalis states with some anger, "Today!"
"Then it stands that it couldn't kill, which seems next to impossible given the injuries I see on your hive members," Aurelia says as she turns her gaze to the near dead creature, "Or it wouldn't." she concludes as she travels past her sister and towards it.
"Creature," Aurelia states in a rather nonchalant tone, "Two things are about to happen and the third and fourth will depend entirely upon you." she waits until it looks at her with it's rather disturbing milky iris's. "You will be released and then given just enough life energy to properly interact with me. If you decide to become hostile at any point you will be immediately executed."
"..won't...submit.." the creature says gritting it's teeth as it stares towards Aurelia.
"How far you fall is entirely to you." Aurelia says aloud as she looks at her sister, who while hesitant for many reasons, finally concedes and sends the command across her hive's wavelength. Just as the creature falls it can only use the bend on one of it's upper appendages to keep from fully collapsing onto the ground, lower bends quivering just above the soil.
Aurelia then motions to one of her drones, "Inject him with just enough little one, then have two others escort you back to our hive." she commands as the drone bites the creature who barely reacts to the pain as some life is transferred, causing the creature to rise as the drone almost falls as if severely disoriented before being picked up and flown away.
"Your name, or whatever you'd prefer labeling yourself." Aurelia asks.
Sentinel stands there silent as he tries his best to look about, while impaired, to take note of the newcomers especially. This new one, much like this Chrysalis, appeared to be the leaders of the changelings that he had read about a few weeks ago.
"Do not waste my time creature. You can consider this a reprieve if you must and not an actual truce." Aurelia stated.
"Sentinel." Sentinel responds with a bit of the milky expanse leaving his normally turquoise iris's.
"Name or Label?" Aurelia asks, genuinely curious.
"Both." Sentinel responds, before shrugging, "Now."
"You seem quite docile from the creature that was trying to bite the face of one of my sister's drones a few moments ago." Aurelia has to note as a jab against both for her own amusement.
"You've stepped within striking range of yourself," Sentinel notes, causing many changelings to tense up save for Aurelia and Chrysalis, "So If I go down I will at least get in one hit." he then decides to test his limits, "Which be worth more than a dozen on that bitch you call a sister." now causing Chrysalis to almost go into a rage as Aurelia just starts to laugh.
"Oh I like you." Aurelia states in a saucy tone, "But if I wanted to hear jokes I'd ask Chrysalis about her future plans." causing Chrysalis to hiss."So lets get straight to what interests me." Aurelia states to Sentinel, "What are you doing here?"
"I was bucked here, I believe." Sentinel says giving Chrysalis an raised eyebrow for confirmation, who was right now on the verge of flipping her lid. "After taking such a nice stroll with some rather colorful ponies..." followed by a raised middle finger.
"Do you take me for a fool Sentinel?" Aurelia genuinely asks, sounding almost offended, earning a surprised expression from Sentinel who was quite unsure on how to answer given his history Aurelia's sister.
"I know exactly how you arrived." Aurelia states as she becomes less playful and and more serious.
"I know about all your dealings in Canterlot Castle both in, out, and..." Aurelia leans closer, "under." before leaning back gaining even more of an surprised expression on Sentinel's face.
"Wait whats under..." Chrysalis asks in futility.
"Let me rephrase since perhaps some of my sister's idiocy contaminated you..." Aurelia says as Chrysalis expression turns to a scowl.
"What are you doing here without your fellow ponies." Aurelia asks with a flat tone.
"They're not my ponies, Aurelia." Sentinel says with a hint of agitation.
"Not from where I'm standing..." Aurelia says as she is waving her hoof in front of her muzzle like there is a stench. "You not only smell like them but you taste like them too." she says with a mock queasy expression. "Not as much as Chrysalis did however. Took me almost drowning her to get it all off her."
"You told me I fell asleep in the lagoon when I woke up in the infirmary!" Chrysalis screams as Sentinel lifts his arm up his arm and sniffs, now carrying a disgusted expression to contort the confused one.
"Tell me that you're not that dense to not understand." Aurelia gazes at Sentinel whose returned expression gives her the answer that she has to almost facehoof in order to recover from.
"Really thought it be that easy didn't you." Aurelia whispers to herself as she quivers her hoof almost to her forehead, "While it is your business how you perceive yourself, pony, in your own territory it is most assured not the case in my own." Aurelia then stares into Sentinel's eyes, "Especially when you're dealing with the one such as I".
"I'm really starting to get sick and tired..." Sentinel tries to interject.
"You know when Chrysalis was scheming this last time about foalnapping some creature in order to extract it's abilities to make her own hive that much stronger I didn't really worry." Aurelia half exclaims half complains as she begins to trot back and forth, "Did I?" she asks one of her drones who shakes it's head no, "I told myself that something that had absolutely nothing in our world but had somehow garnered the protection and friendship not only the ponies but also their royal princesses wouldn't easily be taken."
Sentinel begins to raise his hand to interject when Aurelia keeps on her tirade.
"But you bucking walked right to her!" Aurelia jabs a hoof towards Sentinel who is starting to become annoyed, "And in order to accomplish what exactly?" she directs towards Sentinel who was about to answer when he was denied once more, "That you think standing alone is something to be proud of?" she once more jabs another hoof at Sentinel who jabs an open hand upwards as he looks ready to scream out an answer when denial reproduced itself.
"You act like I couldn't of succeeded otherwise!" Chrysalis yells towards Aurelia who sighs in return.
"Two stubborn idiots set forth to battle each other, each refusing to kill. One in order to gain something valuable to the survival of her hive at the expense of her hive member's very lives had the adversary not been equally idiotic." Aurelia states in one deep breath while deadpanning towards nothing, and everything.
While Chrysalis fumes with her changelings doing their best not to openly agree with Aurelia, Sentinel looks as if in rather deep self contemplation, or just self conflict. Closing his milky eyes as he shakes his head, he opens then along with his mouth to confront the verbal assault when...
"So once more" Aurelia once more points with her hoof towards Sentinel, "I will ask you." she then lets her hoof drop as she stands before Sentinel. "What are you doing here?"
Sentinel stands there. His eyes shifting back and forth awaiting for another interruption. When he finds none he proceeds to mock open his mouth, once more testing the waters that seem intent to infuriate him. With all distraction aside, and taking into consideration of what was just thrown at him, he can do nothing but sigh.
"Earning it." Sentinel flatly answers, thinking what the hell considering the only things here want to kill or do something even worse to him. Knowing that none of the ponies would hear any of this put his mind at ease on venting.
"Elaborate." Aurelia almost demands.
"They scare me." Sentinel answers, and from the twitch in Aurelia's left eye, he continues, "The ponies. They scare the living hell out of me when by all rights it should of been the other way around." He tries his best to explain, "They treat me like we've known each other all of our lives. They freely offer me a bed that feels way too good, food that smells too damn good, and overall have tried to provide for me everything that they think I could ever need."
Aurelia, while somewhat annoyed at the complaints of easy comforts, remains silent.
"My auras have always ran on my own life force. However the auras came from splicing my DNA with that of the demons. So when a demon died that energy was in turn absorbed and used instead." Sentinel continues, "But whatever happened when we were altered also caused the demons to enrage and come for us, even if miles away. That was also....absorbed."
"So it would slowly drive you into madness?" Aurelia asked, genuinely intrigued, while Chrysalis also listened with a growing hint of guilt towards her hive against what she had planned to try and extract from this creature to use on her own hive.
"Dying hurts you know. Dying slowly across several days hurts more so you fight back cause It's instinct. But they never stopped so we never did either. Most of my brothers and sisters, who were like me, met an end that no one deserves." Sentinel then softens his eyes, "Even if I know its different now, I not sure that I understand that it's different."
"So you came here to prove what exactly?" Aurelia asks narrowing her eyes.
"I came here to find and deal with a threat. I just wasn't sure if the actual threat was Chrysalis, or myself." Sentinel said with complete honesty.
"Or yourself?" Aurelia asks with surprise and then laughter, "Are you sure you haven't deluded yourself into madness?" she says giggling until the laughter of the creature forces her to suspend her own.
"You'd be surprised at how far you may go when driven to madness." Sentinel states with sudden bitterness. "I came through that portal with the goal of not letting it happen again. Even if I went mad during that battle that didn't change my goal, just how far I was willing to go in order to achieve it. Madness and Insanity are not exactly the same."
"From accounts across the land the one thing that has been attuned to the creature that arrived was never madness." Aurelia says in almost an confronting tone, "So you would attest the entirety of your actions that day to something you could not control?"
"You know for a bug that seems to of had a much rougher life than the cozy one back with the ponies you sure don't seem to grasp simple concepts yourself do you?" Sentinel says with irritation, "My goal was to kill those demons and protect those who regardless of their merit in this world." he states, causing Aurelia an opening that she just couldn't refuse.
"Do you...remember saving some of the guard ponies during the ensuring conflict that day?" Aurelia asks, needing to be absolutely sure the account, and more importantly the context, was correct.
"There were several, and if you asked me that very day I wouldn't of known what you meant by a guard pony, but I remember healing one and trying to get him or her to escape." Sentinel raises his brow in remembrance, "I think i kind of pitched one to get it to finally run to safety." causing Aurelia's eyes to flicker, "Why?"
Deflecting the question for now, "So you came here alone in case Chrysalis was indeed the bigger threat, but you also refused to kill. How did you know that such a tactic would work out for you in the end?"
"I didn't." Sentinel bluntly replies.
"What if you were the actual threat?" Aurelia then asks while thinking no matter how stupid her sister was, that it was quite vain of this creature to think that it was the bigger threat unless it killed...
"As coldly as it sounds?" Sentinel took a moment before finishing, "Kill two birds with one stone."
"My sister was very intent on keeping you alive contrary to the means to her methods, and sadly, even if you had killed some of her changelings." Aurelia makes note to Sentinel as she switched her disappointed gaze to Chrysalis then back. "In turn that means that the only one in true danger was yourself".
"You say that as if I you haven't been listening this entire time." Sentinel states as he crosses his arms, "Besides if I had come here and killed a bunch of changelings I have no doubts that my end would come from a pony in turn." Sentinel says as if such a thing wouldn't of been a big deal. "But if you must know I expected an ambush at best, not being shot into the horizon."
"You actually think that the ponies would kill you?" Aurelia asks, quite surprised at the premise of those goody goody ponies doing such a drastic thing.
"I know for a fact that the princesses would of." Sentinel replied with confidence. "But given how things have turned out I think that I can at least breath a bit easier on a few things."
Aurelia tilted her head which told Sentinel to she wanted him to explain himself once more.
"The day it was done I will never forget, neither right before or immediately after." Sentinel further explained, "I haven't been myself for a very long time even if I can only remember it from the same day that it changed." before giving a small shrug, "But for the last several months thing have been..." he searches for the best way to describe, "more like back when".
"And yet you boasted that you were still the you after what your father had done to you." Aurelia questions, "That makes very little sense in even the dumbest of context." Aurelia places a hoof to her chin, "Wait." as she turns to Chrysalis, "Hey you understand what this creature meant?" earning a hiss and some colorful language in response.
"It's just that when it happened my equilibrium shifted so to speak. I would consider myself, even living around all that destruction and death, so happy as a kid it was almost sickening to reminisce." Sentinel continues to try and explain it better, "Maybe I just took it hard? Maybe the DNA did more than just change me physically from the get go? Who knows." he says as he shrugs.
"It's starting to sound less dumb. Keep going less I lose interest and just do what I came here to do." Aurelia states.
"Think of a house maybe. I was so young that all I had was the foundation and someone went and slammed a house on top of me that I had no say over and I had to support it the best that I could." Sentinel says as he sees what appears to be a faint smirk on Aurelia's muzzle, "Now the the entire house has been blown away and I am checking to see if the foundation can be salvaged."
But before Aurelia could make a smartass remark, "Just wish I knew what finally blew over the house." Sentinel openly questions.
"Perhaps it's from when you were hit by the elements of harmony as you died?" Aurelia taps his chitin hoof to her chin in mock consideration.
"What was that about being hit by the elements of harmony?" Sentinel asks, sounding somewhat surprised and concerned.
"You don't remember?" Aurelia asks, sincere in her surprise.
"I don't...ah..." Sentinel starts to say as like sitting on that pile after the fight, his head started to slam with images too fast to make any sense of, but just endure through but finally rob him of the last of his patience. "Why the hell are you even asking me about all this?" Sentinel says with a bit of bitterness in his voice.
"I find you weak is all." Aurelia states in a flat tone, "You display great strength as one entity but you also manage to weaken the entire structure in the process." she elaborates, "If you were to die today then my entire hive would be pulled into the consequences dealt to my sister's hive by association." her expression becomes rigid, "And such weakness is too much of a price to pay for even one of my drones!" causing sentinel to position himself for whatever may come next.
"But don't misunderstand me." Aurelia then adds in causing Sentinel to stop mid posture, "That is not the only reason that I am going to let you live." She steps so close that Sentinel was feel her hot breath on his face, "The guard you said you pitched to safety? Was mine." she then snorts in Sentinel's face, "Consider my debt repaid in full".
As if to tempt fate further, "Are you to have me believe that you're stepping in front of your sister over the life of one drone?" he confronts as he leans in to close the few inches to under one, "Or the farce that the ponies would go to war over the murder of one of their adoptive own."
"I would!" Aurelia screams with such fury that even Chrysalis backs away.
"Bullshit!" Sentinel screams right back, "The first thing you said was to have me killed!".
"It was the only way to get close enough to guarantee that I didn't have to fight my sister!" Aurelia hisses out, "She may be an idiot but she's still another changeling." Aurelia slowly lowers her voice as Chrysalis appears somewhat affected by the statement.
"I'm afraid that I must take my leave less I lapse into a coma watching even more idiots battle it out." Aurelia says as a sneer creeps onto her muzzle before entirely fading away along with her hive members. As all of Aurelia's hive is engulfed in rust hued flames the lingering embers reflect of metal numbering in the dozens behind the remaining unaware changelings.
"Back to square one..." Sentinel mutters as he gets into an defensive posture, slowly coming to terms with the notion that not only is his eyesight heavily impaired internally, but with nightfall and lack of equipment externally also. "Perhaps in more ways than one." he whispers as he does something he can't ever remember doing. He takes a step back.
"Oh?" Chrysalis says returning to her usual demeanor, "Cold feet after having tested the waters?"
"You might say that," Sentinel replies, "but it has nothing to do with you."
"Take them/him down!" Shining Armor/Chrysalis commands, earning a look of utter surprise from the latter before several dozen armored Lunar and Solar guards commence coordinated group assaults on the rather uncoordinated and wounded changelings, with at least half of the guards going after the behemoths.
"Well if it isn't..." Chrysalis starts to say with spite as something hits the back of her head with some timber as she turned to face Shining Armor, "Why you worthless piece...!" Chrysalis tries to scream at Sentinel as she quickly turns back to him, only to take another timber to the back of the head clasped in a pink hue.
"That's it!" Chrysalis screams as she does a point blank blast of green flame knocking both assailants back before regrouping.
"Shining what the hell are you all doing here?!" Sentinel demands as he elbows an incoming changeling, almost missing from both the darkness in and outside of his eyes, causing the changeling's horn to slice up his arm as it is deflected.
"Saving your flank!" Shining states as he lets forth a barrier that expands with blinding speed causing any changelings nearby to be catapulted away. "We have to hurry or we will be stuck here!" he states, trying to inject the severity of the situation just as a flying bolt of bright green flames does it for him, and almost him in, had Sentinel not taken it instead. "Sentinel?!"
Coughing up a bit of blood and trying to push back the urge to vomit from the smell of his own burning flesh, "You missed your chance Shining." Sentinel then says, "Next time I take a blow instead of worrying about me why don't you use that horn and hit what I am unable to?" he then turns back doing his best to give a smirk.
"You're almost dead!" Shining yells into a growl, "again!"
"Then..." Sentinel says as he catches an incoming soldier trying to ram into them both and in turn feeling the grit in his chest, "Get busy!" he yells as Shining materializes dual maces and swats the soldier away.
"Maces?" Sentinel asks a dead serious looking Shining.
"An suggestion from my wife actually." Shining says losing just a tad of his seriousness just as he swats back another changeling. "She thought it suited me better than swords."
"Sounds like she was afraid of you cutting yourself." Sentinel said chuckling, and joking of course, until he noticed the embarrassed expression replace the serious one on Shining's muzzle. "I was joking damnit!"
"She wasn't!" Shining yells out as he swats another changeling that had gone for his backside only to damage the other arm of Sentinel who blocked it, just as one of the Lunar guards gets slammed into the ground between them.
Shining rushes over to check on his fellow fallen pony when Sentinel stops him with the slamming of his foot, "He will be alright." Sentinel states as he rears back and punches another soldier that barely swiped past him just as the guard gets back up as a faint shimmering red hue fades away.
But before Shining or the Lunar Guard can thank Sentinel, "I say we go ahead and wrap this up..." Sentinel says lightly unlike the changeling he throws into another coming in from above, "and go home." before looking at them with eyes with only a hint of turquoise left, "I'm a bit tired."
"Retreat!!" Shining Armour yells out as dozens of ponies break off from their respective fights and charge into the darkness, disappearing one by one as Shining seems to be counting each and every one. "We're the last two Sentinel!"
"I've never retreated!" Sentinel growls causing Shining to become uneasy, "But there's a first for everything!" he states as he backs up towards where Shining is, causing shining to smirk a bit until a giant column of green flame erupts and engulfs Sentinel.
"Sentinel!" Shining screams out as he instinctively shields his eyes with his foreleg and tries to back away from the intense heat just as he hears Chrysalis voice.
"If I cannot use you for my own then none shall!" Chrysalis screams towards the horribly charred Sentinel as he falls towards the ground only for his arm to catch over something that his burned arm could barely register.
"You better run Shining..." Sentinel mutters as his eyes were starting to swell shut.
"Y...you're very....heavy...!" Fluttershy groans out causing Sentinel to turn his head towards her voice.
"Flutershy?!" Sentinel croaks out in surprise.
"Where did all of you come from?!" Chrysalis screams out in rage, just as all of the changelings around her are pelted by everything from fallen timber to scattered pebbles and rocks, causing them to flee.
"Where are you going?!" Chrysalis screams to her fleeing hive before turning back in time just to take two cyan hooves to the muzzle, "Blast you ponies!" followed by another pair of orange ones to her chest causing her to get shot back into a skid, "Every time!" only to stare forth once more after recovering to see the open end of a cannon, but not hear the boom.
"We're getting out of here now!" Twilight yells to all of them as they either grab hold of Sentinel with magic, a hoof, or bite onto whatever clothing is left back through the portal and back home just as it collapses.
Roughly two hours later
"Is all this really necessary?" Sentinel asks as he lays on an hospital bed. Along with the princesses, prince, and bearers the entire room is barricaded in by guards. But the only noise he hears is the nurse checking his vitals as the doctor goes over his readouts after been in magical surgery for at least an hour as the princesses themselves regenerated, not just repaired, his charred skin.
"I still am not sure on how to read your vitals laddy." The doctor says in something that reminded Sentinel of something Scottish.
"I'm perfectly well and the best medicine is to let me out of here." Sentinel states with a irritated undertone.
"You ain't leaving even if the doc said you were healthier than Celestia herself." Applejack stated in a dead serious tone. "Ah think ah speak for all of us here when ah say that too." she says, earning nods from everypony in the room.
"While I appreciate the notion Applejack," Sentinel says with sincerity, "I am entirely comfortable given what all I just went through to say," he says as he fumbles with his hand around the side of the bed while staring forward until he finds the safety rail, "that I'm no worse for wear." until his hand is grasped by who knows what pony and flung off the railing.
"You're blind." Twilight says like she is also in pain, "It'll be at least a month until you can begin to see the blurred outline of objects close to you and several more until your vision comes back to acceptable levels." she seems more saddened with each word, "It'll take you years to recover the life energy that you lost in one night!" until sadness is slowly replaced by worry masked in anger, "How can you say that you're no worse for wear?!"
"Well what I meant was..." Sentinel attempts to explain, and given what all has happened, wanted to.
"Is it truly too much to ask darling," Rarity speaks softly, "that you give us some peace of mind?"
"What do you..." Sentinel now attempts to question, and given what was said, also wanted answers.
"Or..." Fluttershy begins but hesitates, before closing her eyes, "Or that you talk to us about how you feel or what you think?"
Sentinel, having done this not long ago, just decided to shut up and let it all come his way.
"Instead of us having to find out through paintings or listening in through age old portals!" Pinkie adds in and in turn gets gaping muzzles from all of the bearers and shocked looks from the royalty.
"You know you can find such paintings all throughout Equestria?" Sentinel tries to deflect, "And what do you mean listening through age old portals?!" Sentinel asks in worry.
"Then we turned off the lights!" Pinkie says with excitement, much to the frantic clopping, "And we heard eeeeeeverything from when that Aurelia changeling said to kill you onwards!" followed by Pinkie's muffled giggles.
Sentinel merely sighs as he reaches up and pinches the bridge of his nose as he feels heavy breathing on his relaxed arm resting along the side of the bed.
"How did you know those things?!" Rainbow demanded, anger and confusion mixed together, but more at the situation at hand and stress of the entire day and night rather than focused on any one pony, or non pony.
"I wish I knew..." Sentinel mutters, causing Rainbow to flash a look towards Applejack who in turn gives a rather surprised one in return before nodding in confirmation.
"Why would you forsake us instead of come to us for help?" Princess Celestia asks in a solemn tone.
"If you all heard what me and Aurelia talked about then the question has been answered before it was ask." Sentinel says, trying his best not to sound rude, but just complacent.
"Actually neither Princess Celestia or Princess Luna could hear, see, or speak while maintaining the portal." Twilight stated, only to have Princess Luna walk forth with a rather guilty expression.
"While our physical bodies remained with thee, our astral bodies were placed on the other side as to anchor passage back." Princess Luna stated as if such knowledge should be common place, "We heard everything." she said with a rather worried undertone.
"Do I not deserve a personal answer?" Celestia asks once more, causing any off talk to immediately cease.
"You never would of let me bleed to earn it." Sentinel whispers.
"To earn what?" Celestia asked, thinking she already knew the answer.
"To live here." Sentinel replies, causing some of the ponies to gasp at the concept.
"That is NOT how one finds a home in our realm Sentinel!" Celestia states, showing some anger. "You earn it by displaying the very values that we hold dear. Which you did and have!" she slightly raises her voice, "Not by going out to face our enemies alone in the hopes of proving that you're not one of them!" she finally just succumbs to yelling. "I don't know what hurt me more. You refusing our help or that you ever considered I'd kill you if you were suffering from a debilitating mental illness!" she finally says with a lower voice.
"Then I might of misjudged you..." Sentinel said with a bit of sadness.
"Yes you did. Because I would never..." Celestia begins.
"I thought you were my friend." Sentinel interrupts, causing even the guards to look his way is utter shock and confusion.
"Once more. You've heard what was said between Aurelia and myself. Then you heard when I mentioned that some of my brothers and sisters met an end that they did not deserve." Sentinel says as he leans up into a sitting position on the bed, his open eyes fully clouded by a milky expanse, "Then you also heard when I said that the madness does not change your objectives just what you would do to achieve them."
"Please don't make me explain what happens when someone whose main lifeline is to try and keep little ones from suffering horribly cruel deaths finally is driven completely mad and in turn what those who they called friend had to do." Sentinel says, pointing towards where he heard Celestia's voice come from, without a hint of anger, but enough masked pain that some got through. "That was something that I truly felt only you or Luna could understand, and in turn, save me if it came to be."
"So I thought the very least I could do was bleed for it and earn my right to live here or be cast out." Sentinel says as he lowers his arm, "Least then I could be satisfied with myself regardless of how it went and move forward, either way." and finally sighing, "And that you could do what you had to do and also know that I made sure that you didn't have to ever doubt if it was without any ponies being harmed."
"Do ya really think that no ponies would be hurt if ya didn't make it just now?" Applejack sincerely asks. "Do ya also really think that if you had to be put down that no ponies would be hurt?!" she then demands. "Rainbow! Bite em or something!" which gets the rather offended expression in reply from Rainbow before she seems to shrug. "Ow shit!"
"Sentinel," Luna addresses the one who just called her what she's called him for awhile now, "Our friendship, along with yours with our dear sister, was kindled and set ablaze in the fires of pain and struggle." She then tries to breath some wisdom into the conversation, "Thou would call of us to put thou down if control was lost, and while we would never heal as we never have from each time before, we would not abandon thee."
"But..." Luna quickly says as to not lose any ground or speaking rotation rights, "Would it not be wise to forge friendships in order to have somepony that might be able to save thine life rather than save only thine honor?"
"I could never forge a friendship under such pretense." Sentinel concluded.
"Is that not thou did with us?" Luna said for both herself and her sister who was looking deep in contemplation.
"Luna..." Sentinel says as he deadpans, "I am just as surprised as you are that the only beings so far in this world that I could personally relate towards are both unimaginably older than myself, the inter dimensional portal hopping alien."
"You speak as if we are ancient!" Luna almost growls.
"You are" Sentinel replies, having missed having these sort of fun confrontations with Luna, "to me!"
"Utterly preposterous!" Luna exclaimed getting once again worked up, "What thou needs is to spend more time while in the prime of one's life around other ponies doing the same."
"I couldn't agree more, Luna." Celestia says as she looks at Sentinel with nothing but determination.
"What?" Sentinel said trying to get a handle on the steering wheel that was his current life.
"I am sending you to Ponyville Sentinel." Celestia says with a genuine smile as a golden hue grasp the hands suddenly trying to help pull one's self out of his bed. "To live and spend time with your fellow ponies and especially the bearers," as the hands start vibrating in vain struggle, "But I'm not a pony!"To learn the value of friendship and true harmony with one's self and in nature." she concludes as the struggle against her magical grasp starts to relent.
"I also expect friendship reports." Celestia adds in as the bed begins to chatter from renewed struggling.
"You can count on us Princess Celestia!" All of the bearers say with a mix of excitement, planned mischief, and determination.
Through the winding passage of a small mountain range, one of the few vessels used by the ponies for mass transportation chugs away. In an age of magic wonder, one might question the reason behind keeping such an antique going. Sometimes they would use fossil fuels like coal, other times pure horsepower in the form of sturdy earth ponies. But it was simple and comfortable, and as such, served it's purpose without fail. As some might say, there was nothing like a long slow journey to put things into perspective...
"Two months." Sentinel thinks as he sits upon the seat in the private car booth, "How the hell am I going to survive two straight months constantly surrounded by ponies..." he ponders to himself as he turns his head towards the wall where grinding metal sounds the most crisp, "Well, Blind or not, it isn't as if they can always have me lassoed".
"So how we planning to keep him from wandering without one of us watching him?" Applejack whispered.
...or help break them.
"I'm actually starting to think that is the least of our worries." Twilight whispered back.
"Well then talk to us darling," Rarity stated in a hushed voice.
"It feels like we're one hoof back from where we were on the train ride here." Twilight tried to explain to her five friends, "Before we were concerned along with the princesses as to his increasing self imposed isolation along with his refusal to accept our help. We came for answers and we though we got them..." she hesitated a bit, "I'm not sure what we should do now."
"We can be his friend and help him build a home like he said he wanted to." Fluttershy, not needing to whisper, spoke up.
"I'm just angry," Rainbow started to say as she got looks from the rest that she was too loud, "that he's scared of us."
"Why ever would that make you angry Rainbow Dash?" Rarity barely whispers from her surprise.
"Cause." Rainbow was about to leave it at that when Applejack leaned over and smacked her hoof against Rainbow's to keep going, "Cause I don't get why." She finishes, giving Applejack a slight scowl as she does.
"Were you not listening when he was addressing Aurelia?" Rarity further inquired, a bit perplex and annoyed at the notion.
"Well yeah but..." It wasn't the truth." Rainbow started to defend herself when Applejack interrupted. "Least not entirely." Applejack elaborated as the others exchanged even more worried looks at the prospect of lies, causing Applejack to sigh and elaborate further, "But he wasn't exactly lying either."
"Maybe AJ's broke from too much excitement?" Pinkie tried to whisper out, only to for everypony to miss the tiny smirk that quickly formed and then left Sentinel's lips as they tried to silently get Pinkie to lower her voice.
"Ah ain't broke Pinkie!" Applejack struggled to state without plain yelling. "The words he spoke were true but he wasn't being entirely honest about it. If ah could explain it better than ah wouldn't be so bothered by it myself."
As they all sat on the other side of the private car silence filled the inside until...
"I also want to know how the hay he knew all that stuff to paint down there." Rainbow solemnly whispered, "Don't know about all of you but I know for at least Fluttershy and myself there is just no freaking way he could of known." which slowly turned into a tone mixed between defensive and confrontational.
"I think I may have an answer on that." Twilight said to try and soothe the chaotic atmosphere slowly enveloping her friends, "I think it's directly related to when he was hit with the elements of harmony."
"You mean when we accidentally hit Sentinel?" Applejack questioned, "Ah mean all in all ah'm glad it did but you really think so?"
"I don't think it was accidental AJ..." Twilight confessed, "At least not from what I was feeling when we used it." garnering looks of surprise, "I know none of us want to ever go back to that day but If we want to get to the bottom of all this then we have to."
Getting nods from the others Twilight decides to lead off, "It didn't click in my mind until I overheard what Sentinel was telling Aurelia about being inflicted with madness." she explained making sure she had all of their undivided attention.
"The moment that we formed and let loose the elements of harmony on the giant demon the only thing going through my heart was for the madness to end." she confirmed as she waited for the realization to dawn on all of their muzzles, but missed seeing it form on a sixth. "I believe the elements knew where it needed to go".
"Ah...don't know how I feel about it being said like that sugarcube." Applejack said looking directly at Twilight, "Makes it sound like Sentinel was the bad pony in all of that." causing the others to look a bit conflicted as well.
"I think the elements just thought our dear Sentinel needed a good hot bath is all." Rarity spoke up getting Applejack's perplexed attention, "Applejack dear, think of it as getting ever more dirty throughout the work day on the farm." Rarity explained, "What do you do to get clean when you're done?"
"Jump in the crick!" Applejack replied with a shit eating grin big enough to knock Rarity out of her moment.
"I...is that why he did what he did knowing he might die?" Fluttershy asked as tears threatened to brim over. "Cause he didn't think he could ever get clean?" knocking the previous moment out of the park.
"Fluttershy dear.." Rarity gently said as she moved over next to her, "Sentinel already said that the reason he did that the day he arrived was because he was filled with madness." she then added, "I don't think he had much of a choice."
"I didn't mean then!" Fluttershy raises her voice a little, "I meant yesterday!" she exclaimed as she saw the looks on her friend's muzzles, "Remember he said then he didn't have a choice but now he was given a chance." as tears seemed to dry a bit under agitation, "The more I hear the less I seem to understand..." finishing in frustration.
"Oh that's me all the time!" Pinkie adds in with a smile, "But there's no way that TinTin wanted to die!" she seemed to express with bountiful innocence at the weight of the statement, "You taught us that!" she finishes with an even brighter smile.
"What?" Fluttershy asks with utter confusion also supported by all of the others.
"You said when we were on this very train on the way to Canterlot that sometimes you fight to survive until get the chance lay down and let go peacefully." Pinkie recollected with a rather goofy expression due to the confused ones. "Looked like he was fighting really hard to me." causing confusion to soften to slight understanding, "Cause maybe he wanted to finally live peacefully".
"I know I'm going to pay for this..." Rainbow states with a grumble, "But none of this answers how he knew very personal events in our lives without any of us telling him, or some even to each other."
"Emotional resonance." Twilight simply stated, earning multiple tilted heads in response, "I talked to Princess Luna about the elements when we used them on her as Nightmare Moon. She informed to me that she considered all of us a little closer than the average pony not just because we are the bearers but because she was able to connect to all of us for that moment in time."
"What?!" yelled five voices before six heads with worried expressions looked over towards a rather unmoved and docile Sentinel, before five looked back to one. "Why the hay wouldn't you tell us about something this big?" Rainbow demanded.
"Because I found out only a few hours ago myself Rainbow." Twilight replied with a notion of discomfort herself, "Which was in part why I needed to talk to all of you as soon as possible in regards to understanding Sentinel".
"I want to help him as the next pony here," Rainbow quickly interjected, "But can we maybe get a full recap of this conversation with Princess Luna?" Rainbow asked as nicely as she could at that given moment. "I think we deserve at least that much."
"Was already planning on it, Rainbow." Twilight said with a understanding smile.
Several Hours Earlier
"Personal belongings? Check!" Twilight spoke to none other than herself, her voice accompanied only by the sound of scratching onto the parchment held before her as she took once more gander at all of Sentinel's possessions. "W-well maybe a fourth check just to make sure..." she whispered, still put off by how little Sentinel considered his own.
She trotted, then almost galloped, about the private chamber's designated to foreign diplomats that has been turned into his temporary quarters. There be not one pony who could argue that fact that she herself was organized to a T, but she found her thoughts wandering as another check garnered no other objects to pack.
C'mon Twilight, he's just tidy and low maintenance! as she stopped back in front of three pairs of clothing and a small little pouch neatly organized upon his seemingly unused bed. He's been here three months not three years as she tilted her head, unbeknownst even to her the continued scratching above her. It's not like he was preparing to not be... as the tearing brought her back to her senses, and into an exasperated sigh.
"You seem troubled, Twilight Sparkle." Princess Luna gently spoke from behind Twilight, causing the lavender unicorn to yelp in surprise as she quickly turned to face the Princess of the Night.
"Princess Luna!" she bowed her head, "I guess I am just a bit weighted down." letting worry and stress shine through her eyes as she lifts her head to meet her Princess's gaze.
"If thou wishes we can have the current arrangement rescinded." Princess Luna carefully suggests.
"No!" Twilight almost yells before flattening her ears at having raised her voice to her Princess, "I mean that will not be necessary Princess Luna. Myself along with all of the girls are up to the task we've been given."
"Thou speaks as if this will be any mere task." Princess Luna kindly addresses to the bearer of magic, "And yet while this isn't as dire as confronting a trickster, corruptor, or deceiver thou may find the means to completing it to be just as troublesome."
"I....we...." Twilight narrowed her eyes in frustration at having trouble finding something to verbally reinforce her resolve, "Ugh!" finally relenting to her fears, "Its just that what he considers a friend is... is... "
"Depressing?" Princess Luna eluded with a raised brow.
"Yes!" Twilight quickly agreed before cutting off what the Princess was about to continue saying, "The first time he calls anyone a friend and it was about ki..." she closed her eyes as her ears flattened once more.
"Please, thou no reason to hide any feelings Twilight Sparkle," Luna gently spoke as the doors behind her were pushed all the way shit and magically locked for privacy, "Speak thou's mind if thy wishes."
"I can't find common ground with him." Twilight softly whispers with half lidded eyes laced towards the tile below. "He almost never speaks of himself and when he does it's never been happy moments. He has a roundabout way of approaching the very things that most ponies love to openly express! At first I wondered what his hobbies might be but now I wonder if he even has any." she steels herself as she looks up to Princess Luna, "And it seems to him that friendship is something tested through horrible nightmares that are actually," lightly shivering, "real."
Taking the cue from Princess Luna's continued silence, "When he questioned if Princess Celestia was truly his friend if she wouldn't kill him if the madness started again It felt like something bucked my concept of friendship with all of it's might."
"Thy fears that what makes a friend, a true friend in thou eye's, is of no consequence to a being such as Sentinel?" Princess Luna addresses Twilight, who gently nods. "Have thou discussed this with the other bearers?" as she receives another nod.
"We all had such high hopes on the train ride here days ago." Twilight remarked with a coy smirk as the memory, "But after all that has happened since then I am unsure if they still feel the same." as the smirk straightens back to reality.
"There seemed to be no hesitation on thou or thy friend's part to save Sentinel last night." Princess Luna tried to wedge into the barely crept open door.
"Even if he may not consider us his friends that doesn't mean we don't consider him ours!" Twilight once more raised her voice before flinching at herself for doing so. "Sorry." along with slight embarrassment.
"How can thee consider him a friend when thou has barely interacted with him?" Princess Luna presses her hoof into the barely wedged open door, hoping to creak it open a bit more. "Or does thou misplace friendship for gratitude?"
"What? No!" Twilight defends, "I mean for all that he's done for us the very least that we can do is..." but not without hesitation "...is do our best to..." at the realization, "Aw crud."
"Element of Magic." Princess Luna gently speaks as she uses the tip of her left wing to lift Twilight's muzzle, "Do not be so hard on thyself, for even we made the same error such as thou in the beginning."
"You mistook repayment of gratitude for the gesture of friendship too?" Twilight asked in astonishment.
"We tried to save him." Princess Luna said with a soft smile, "We mistook memories for nightmares. The mere prospect we refused to accept, and thus continued to confront such memories as a danger needing to be removed. Night after night we further alienated the one we wished to help by trying to rob thee from the very thing that thy valued most." as she moved her wing back to her side, "Eventually thou contacted our sister to try and entirely shut us out."
"Sentinel asked Princess Celestia to interfere?" Twilight flattened her ears at the prospect of the princesses once more in conflict, "I'm sure that Princess Celestia only inter..."
"She refused." Princess Luna responded with just a hint of pride, with lavender portraying less than subtle surprise. "We are the Princess of the Night. The dream scape is under our domain and to interfere would of done greater harm to both involved than to trust us to find our way."
"So what did you do?" Twilight asked with the sincerity that has always been one of her greatest traits to the Princesses, and just a hint of hope. "I would be grateful for anything that might help us."
"There was a pony whose nightmares continued night after night. Through one of the more horrible memories that we experienced of Sentinel's past we found something that not just chased the pony's nightmare away, but vanquish it at it's core." Princess Luna recalled as she drifted into a more solemn mood. "That was when we in turn shut Sentinel out." as a bit of remorse hinged on her tone.
"I..." Twilight looked down, "don't understand." before looking back up.
"We were ashamed." Princess Luna sharply inhales before exhaling into a more relaxed posture, "We felt like we had robbed Sentinel of something. Taking something that scarred so deep that it lingers in place of actual nightmares and used it to soothe another without permission. For almost an entire week we neither visited Sentinel in or out of the dream scape." closing her eyes at her foalish course of action.
"But you two seem like good friends at the dining hall!" Twilight grasped in confusion, "You were joking and acting like me and the girls do!"
"After one week had passed we were so riddled with guilt we once more entered Sentinel's dream scape and confessed our transgression. We told of how we had used something so precious and private to mend another without permission and awaited our rightful backlash." Princess Luna said through closed eyes. "But we never expected..."
Thank you
Princess Luna chuckled, "Nor the smile that followed." as she looked down at purple iris so eager to understand, "Does thou love thy fellow element bearers just the way that they are today?"
"Y-yes of course!" Twilight answered without hesitation, "I couldn't imagine my life without them. I mean we all have our little problems but I've come to love the bad just as much as the good." as her eyes flicker.
"Each and every pony is the sum of the entirety of thine life experiences. That includes the good, bad, and even what nopony else can understand." Princess Luna smiles, "While it is true that some of us carry more of the bad that does not mean it is to be cast aside."
"Because without the bad they wouldn't exist!" Twilight beams with realization.
"Once we stopped trying to destroy Sentinel we found it much easier to get to know Sentinel." As Luna's smile turns into a smirk, "And in time we rediscovered a few things about ourselves that we thought best to forget, in our folly. While one might not consider, Sentinel just might over think even worse than thyself."
"What? Really? wait..." Twilight stammered out before shaking her head to clear her thoughts, "Do you think I can ask you something that has been driving me and the girls crazy about Sentinel since you may know him the best?"
"While dependent on the question, we shall determine whether to answer." Princess Luna bluntly addresses.
"How does he know all those things that he painted about us?" Twilight asks with worry.
"Because thou and thy friend's told him." Princess Luna addresses with the same dull edge.
"No we didn't!" Twilight is quick to dismiss as if an outright lie, "Even you yourself asked how we could consider him a friend when we've barely spent any time getting to know him. Some of what he knows is very..." she searches for the right word, "intimidating."
"A rather strong word indeed." The Princess of the Night makes emphasis, "Does thou anticipate deeds running afoul on Sentinel's part armed with such personal information?"
"No..." as lavender ears droop almost as much as the tone.
"Does thou fear Sentinel making light of thy personal trials?" Princess Luna digs with her hoof, barely holding back a smirk.
"...no..." as a tail wraps around crouched forelegs.
"Does thou fear..." I feel vulnerable!" As the grinning moon finally heeds the lavender tide.
"I feel vulnerable okay." Twilight eludes with little enthusiasm, "I mean I didn't tell him. I didn't tell anypony! He isn't telepathic and has absolutely no magical source or aptitude." as she begins to show agitation where enthusiasm walked away, "So if I didn't tell him and he didn't gleam it magically then that can only leave reading it like you read some simple book for foals on the shelf!"
"And that couldn't be any further from the truth." Princess Luna almost chided.
"Then what is the truth?" Twilight chides right back, giving emphasis on how much it must hurt a pony who considers herself an intellectual to be read so easily. "That I'm easy to read as if a foal or is it just to him my struggle akin to one?"
Princess Luna merely stares at the lavender unicorn before her. I can't find common ground
Before moving in a gentle stride closer. my concept of friendship
As she veers off as if to walk past the troubled unicorn. easy to read as if a foal
Ending it instead along side her as a true friend would. my struggle akin to one
"The Elements of Harmony are an absolute in our world. As the bearers each must open thou hearts not only to your elements but also each other." Princess Luna soothes out, "But through personal experience we must now inform thee that such a profound act does not stop there." as lavender ears straighten and pivot to better focus on the sound of her voice.
"As if intertwining our hearts, the innermost experiences that each bearer holds dear along with thine own attempted harmony through true empathy." Teal and purple met once more, "There can be no lies, inequality, or contempt for only through true understandings of the heart can such unbridled connections be made."
"So we were able make true connections to you and Sentinel and that was why we brought you both back?" Twilight asked as gears began to lock in place. "And why..." and turn.
"And why when our sister wielded the elements we were banished, and Discord turned to stone." as teal took notice of worry anew, "Thou must remember that while one may not always understand that does not mean that such understanding cannot be afforded later and by another. Our being here, saved by the current bearers, attests to this."
"But we were able to bring Discord back from stone?" Twilight tried to wrap her thoughts around the prospect. "I mean he was reformed, mostly, but what could of changed in such little time between us and him?"
"For such an answer, one would need to ask the source." Princess Luna carefully diverted as she herself was not the princess to have such discussion with the bearers of Discord's reform.
"So that means that If my struggle is what Sentinel connected to..." as eyes widened once more, giving way to renewed vigor and confidence as a smile crept across her muzzle.
"That he truly understands, and acknowledges the struggle equally against one of his own." the widening smile almost causing Princess Luna pause on what needs to be said next, "But..." as she emits a slight sigh earning full attention once more.
"While the connection was without lies, inequality, or contempt no pony princess or otherwise can truly claim the same." Princess Luna softly warns as she cranes her neck down, "Pain may be relative, but empathy is not quite so forgiving."
"I...think I get it." Twilight answers honestly, giving way to a rather serene atmosphere of silent reflection.
"Ahhh!" Twilight screams.
"Gahh!" Princess Luna yells even louder, launching a lavender ball across the room as he wings shot open before catching Twilight in her magical grasp, "What is the matter Twilight Sparkle!?"
"I forgot to take any notes!" Twilight yells to nopony as she frantically tries to scribble everything she heard down before she forgets even as she floats back to a rather frazzled Princess of the Night rubbing a hoof below the base of her horn.
"We can merely show you how to magically inject the memory of our conversation to thy fellow bearers." Princess Luna mumbles out before grumbling what could only be something unbecoming of a princess.
"What? New magic! Really?!" Twilight responds with excitement as if any gloom from the conversation never existed just as she is released before Princess Luna.
"All thou needs to do is make physical contact, such as hoofs, like so..."
Present Time : Well Mostly
Having given in to the white noise, coupled with the abnormal silence given current company, Sentinel couldn't help but let wandering thoughts take him back through the years. As six pairs of eyes open once more in order to see what they hadn't before, another set had long since closed them in order to see in a different sense.
"Put it out of it's misery and lets keep moving." said as rather toneless but feminine voice as the constant low wailing almost overtook it, "Regardless shut it up before it attracts more."
"Damn bitch..." muttered one of the two armor clad beings who seemed bent down on whatever wounded creature called out in utter pain and agony. "Damn abomination...!" as the armored being punched the grotesque abomination beside them that seemingly was made up of various mutilated animals.
The other armor clad being seems to hold onto the wailing creature as if to comfort it. "My name is Sinclair." as the wailing stifles into quivering sniffles, "Whats your name little one?"
"...R-reb..ecca..." as a leathery deformed arm reached alongside the armored one holding onto the back of her head, "s-save..m...me?" as solid black eyes shift about.
"Yeah." as Sinclair is forced to lean down more as very little sticks out of the center mass, "We're going to take away the pain Rebecca." as Sinclair lifts his head towards his comrade who gives an hesitant nod back.
"..t-thank you" as the disfigured arm presses tighter against Sinclair's own just as he starts to take notice of puffs of hot air seemingly passing his faceplate and hitting him in the face. Even as the image of his knelt comrade heaving his claymore into the air tip down slowed to a still, the puffs of air got stronger in force and...cotton candy.
"pfffpfffffpffffffffpffffffffffffffffff" wh-what the hell?" Sentinel mutters as he snaps back to reality, reaching forward and taking in a hand full of bouncy hair followed by a trademark giggle and snort, "Are we entertaining ourselves at my expense Pinkie Pie?"
"Pinkie that was terribly rude." Rarity chided, "Our dear Sentinel seemed to be utterly relaxed and I'm sure waking up to you blowing in his face was anything but."
After giving off a set of more giggles Pinkie backs up, letting her two front hooves clop back down onto the train booth floor before turning around and bouncing away as if she just successfully brightened somepony's gloomy day.
Taking note of the utterly surprised look on Sentinel's face as he just continues to stare at where Pinkie's face used to be, "You get used to never getting used to Pinkie's randomness." Twilight speaks towards Sentinel, getting silent nods of agreement from the others. "Hope you're not upset." as she tests to the waters.
"I'm not so surprised at the randomness, but at the notion of that being anything but." As Sentinel lets his facial features relax, along with his once outstretched arm, "Regardless I am not mad in the least so no worries."
"Wha'tcha mean by that sugarcube?" Applejack questions across the private train car.
"Just rambling Applejack." Sentinel slowly answers, still on edge about something.
"Gosh darnit there it is again..." Applejack mutters under her breath.
"You think he's lying again?" Rainbow neither mutters nor under her breath. "lying?"
"Ah never said he lied Rainbow!" Applejack clarifies without hesitation. "Ah just said he wasn't being very honest about a few things..oof!" as she has to turn her head to the sudden dust flung her way.
"So either one of you opened a window or I have another up and close visitor." Sentinel deduced as he one again reached up with his arm only to find more coarse and shorter hair along with annoying grunts instead of giggles. "Rainbow, the biter."
"Start being honest with us and maybe I won't..!" Rainbow started to assert when something caught her eye, pulling all of her attention like salmon to the diving falcon. And being so unlike the cyan hurricane to pull any hoofs when so early in the fight...
"Whats wrong Rainbow?" Fluttershy is the first to voice what all, including even Sentinel, were wondering.
"N-nothing." Rainbow answers without any movement save for her abnormally gentle wings against the air.
"Dang nabbit not you too!" Applejack yells out in frustration before giving a rather disgruntled look to her other friends who bare the look of confusion and worry, "Getting the same vibe from Rainbow that I've been getting from Sentinel now!"
"Then what vibe do you get when I tell you that everything is cool and under control?" Rainbow is quick to turn about verbally and physically as if a whip is cracked behind her. "First you bite me..."
"Don't need no fancy ability to believe ya when you say something like that Dash." Applejack concedes, "Just callin it like ah see it and you and Sentinel better remember that." as a try and sneak it by me again expression forms on her muzzle.
Rubbing his hand on the side of his face, "Why isn't the train moving?" Sentinel questions.
"We arrived at Ponyville station ten minutes ago." Twilight deadpans, "You refused to wake up and I didn't want to teleport and maybe scare you."
"While somewhat unnerving, nonetheless, I appreciate the patience." Sentinel casually speaks as he haphazardly stands up, narrowly missing the drawn drawers for upper luggage, "Lead the way, if you will." as he swings his palm up arm towards a wall.
"Um...w-well now that you're awake I was just going to teleport us to my home." Twilight cautiously informs.
"You fear being embarassed?" Sentinel not so casually questions, but not in an accusing tone.
"Of course not darling." Rarity chips in, "We know that your current...uh...ailment might make the trip rather perilous."
"We just don't want you to fall or..." Fluttershy throws in.
"We all figuring that taking it easy till ya get used to the parts been best for ya." Applejack tries to reassure.
"So lets grab our..." No." As lavender is interrupted. "If I fall or walk into something and a pony laughs let them. Rather be embarrassed for trying than pitied for hiding." as Sentinel straightens his back, "Hey Pinkie Pie. You there somewhere?"
"Of course TinTin!" Pinkie responds with her usual cheer.
"Tell me." Sentinel openly asks, causing the others to tilt their heads or quirk their brows.
"Oooo what do you want me to tell you?" Pinkie perks up at the chance to talk to her friend.
"Everything." as muffled gasps ring out, "Also can you lead the way around Ponyville while you tell me everything?"
"You don't know what you've done!"
"Sure can do TinTin!" as Pinkie leaps to directly in front of Sentinel before doing a few spins, "Onetimetherewasthishugedragonwhowouldsnoresmokesowe..." as the Pink Wonder and her sidekick TinTin slowly made their way out of the private car.
"Did..did they just ditch us!?" Rainbow accused with a slight scowl as she flew towards the door, hovering for a second as if what lay ahead might be her undoing, before zooming out.
"Ain't nopony gonna call me yellow!" before Applejack looked at a rather annoyed Fluttershy, "Ah...hehe..sorry sugarcube." before she hoisted her saddlebags onto her back and galloped out of the train car.
"It. Is. On!" Rarity growled as she levitated her many suitcases, tromping her way out of the train car. "You're not getting out of being measured for new clothes that easily Sentinel!"
"Wait!" Twilight zapped her saddlebags onto her back as she also took off in full gallop, "We don't have enough time for everything!"
Letting a little giggle escape her muzzle at the display from all of her friends, Fluttershy couldn't help but smile, "What a nice way to make Pinkie's day..." as she slipped her saddlebags onto her back and fluttered out of the train car after her friends.
