When a metallic monster surfaces in Equestria, all clues point to the past...
When a metallic monster surfaces in Equestria, all clues point to the past... of Princess Luna and Celestia.
It nearly took a thousand years, but now that it is back, it will have its vengeance, once its task is complete. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are here to follow the swath of destruction and find out if there is more to this madness and how- if at all, it can be stopped, while Luna and Celestia have to relive their darkest hour...
I began this story many years ago and never got around to bring it to an end, but now the time seems right to close the circle. This story play's after Tirek's defeat, yet before Starlight Glimmer. Non-Canon Fiction with tense action.
This story contains; secrets, violence, regrets... and friendship.
The buildings hung from the ground down to the sky... pony's were glued to earth, otherwise, they had fallen of the planet into the unknown, while gravity worked backward.
“Ugh... sooo booooring!” Rainbow wailed, laying on top of a cloud, her hooves dangling down from its sides “Nothing ever happens around here!”
Then a mail-mare came from outer space, to land right in front of Twilight's Castle.
“OUH!” Rainbow snapped and rolled onto her tummy – now everything was back in place.
The gray mare hoofed a packet towards the princess, followed by a clumsy curtsy, which got waved off – to take off again, but not without changing direction, twice.
The purple alicorn was about to shut the door, when a blue stroke hit her “Uhggfff” and made her role backward over the ground.
“What in the...?”
Was this some sort of attack!?
A glance over her belly provided the unwelcome answer right away.
There was a pegasus sitting, holding her packet in hooves - about to tear it open “Rainbow!?” the alicorn got back on her hooves, but still got ignored. “What you think you are doing?”
The paper kept flying in all directions.
“Raainbow Daaash!”
The pegasus continued the paper tearing a few more seconds, before giving a first reaction.
“HU? What?”
“What you are doing!?” repeating the question, taking away the packet with her magic.
“Ey, give that back!”
“That's not yours, what just got into you!?”
“Oh, come on... I just wanted to read it first...!”
Twilight rose and eyebrow at that “Read what?”
“Your new book of course!” she grinned brightly.
The alicorn was utterly confused about this, but… she always wanted ponies to read more... and if Rainbow wanted to pick it up... odddd... but okaaay!
“... alright, but next time, just ask”.
“So cooool!” the pegasus squeezed out.
With that, the book got levitate back into Rainbows hooves, which doubled her effort to open the packet when her face dropped faster than a Sonic-Rainboom.
- Economic Geology: Issue 5# Principles and Practice –
“........”
“Something wrong?”
“What-is-this?”
The book got picked up and levitate in front of the princess “Oh I see...” she giggled “I guess you want to start with the first issue...”
Blue hooves stroked over the pegasus face, till they dropped back onto the ground “I'm outta here!”
The alicorn tilted her head “... but, I thought you wanted to read?”
“Yeah, the next Daring-Do! Not about boring rocks!”
Now the alicorn put a frown on her face “it's not boring.”
“For you maybe... but I need something a little more exciting!”
Twilight had a hard time to stay patient since Rainbow Dash never was it on her own... in this regard, they were pretty much like two magnets - pushing away from one another.
“What would you say, if I ask Spike to lend you some of his comics?” it came forthcoming.
“Oh please...” her eyes rolled “...flying mares with superpowers... phhhhwwwww” blowing some air through her lips.
“Than i'm afraid I can't help you... i already told you about a hundred times... -and with this, it would be a hundred and one times, that the next Daring-Dowont come out before next month.”
The pegasus sulked once more on this and let her head hanging deep “Well, thanks...” to drag her body out of Twilight's Castle and up into the air, with lackluster flaps.
“... be patient, but feel free to drop by if you change your mind!” the alicorn shouted after her, before closing the door for good.
“Sure...” she mumbled to herself and dropped back onto her cloud, silently cursing towards the sky... “...can't she just write faster?... maybe I should get over there and... ”
All of a sudden a gray blur rushed by – almost throwing Rainbow off her cloud.
“Sorry, my bad!” it shouted, while the blue pegasus struggled to get back up again, halfway hanging from the edge, while her back legs kept fidgeting around.
“Ey, watch where you flying!” Rainbow replied waving a hoof at her, but the mail-mare was way to busy to listen and kept flying.
Rainbow finally used her head and with a few flaps of her wings got back on her cloud, to watch what was going on.
Derpy landed in front of a door - picked up a newspaper she had just put down a minute ago and replaced it with a second one. Filling the first bag, to empty the second one she had along with her.
Rainbow noticed this and watched her for a while, repeating the process almost everywhere, till she had exchanged as much she could, to fly of again, probably to get ready for a second run.
“What just got into her?” Rainbow wondered and decided to take a closer look, what was all the ruckus about.
Jumping of her cloud, performed a quick loop and snatched herself one of the papers – just to return onto her cloud yet again.
It was just an ordinary newspaper.
“What's so special about that?”
With that, she snapped away from the rubber band and rolled it up...
just a few pictures... all black and white... with the boring story's beneath...
so she plucked it apart like the packet from before, to throw side after side careless of her cloud onto the earth beneath.
“Economy? Away!”
“Politics? Booooring!”
“Sports?” On this side she took a longer peek “What a bunch of losers!” to throw it away like the rest.
“Regional” this was the last remaining page, which almost ended up as confetti... if it hadn't been for one of the headlines, catching her eye.
- Super stallion robs bank! -
“Hmmm...” this one might be worth a minute.
“Yesterday afternoon a spectacular robbery took place, in the town of Galloping Gorge, when a yet unknown stallion entered the local bank and stole valuables in worth of over ten thousands bits...”
“Wohh... ten-thousand bits...” she said amazed, tapping hoof onto her chin.
That was enough, to hire her favorite author A.K.Yearlingfor an exclusive issue, just for herself! Making her grin by the pure thought, just before snapping out of the daydreaming and going back to the rest of the article.
“... according to over twenty witnesses, the stallion was able to break into the vault with bare hooves. It is yet unclear if the robber used some unidentified magic to accomplish this task. The stallion was described as followed: big, brown fur, dark brown mane, blue eyes, white hashtag as cutiemark. Anypony with further inf-...” the rest she didn't bother to read.
Rainbow got down from her cloud and rushed once more to Twilight's door, but this time she was the one to get tackled, right in front of it!
It was Derpy, which tried to get the last site back, but since Rainbow just didn't let go, it quickly turned it into a tussle.
“What's the matter with you!?” the blue one barfed.
“That's myyyyyy....!” it grizzled back stubborn.
“No, Twilight has to see this!” with that the pegasus pulled harder, to free her hooves of Derpy's grip, which was surprisingly strong. Carrying around heavy bags every day wasn't to bad a work out it seemed, but Rainbow wasn't out of shape either, so it was quite a close call, but than the blue pegasus had an idea.
“Look, a Muffin!” she shouted and pointed to her side, which distracted the gray pegasus for long enough to get her other hoof free.
“Ha! Looks like I win!” she grinned and kept some distance, while hiding the paper behind her back... but than Derpy began to sob and her eyes got all wet... then there was sulking and sniffing about the situation. This poor mare, she sure was sensitive about mistakes.
Rainbow might have been a little too harsh, but she sure wasn't heartless “Oh come on... you might win next time” she pleaded in a desperate attempt, but the Mail-Mare now began to cry, which made her feel even more guilty.
“I... I just...”
Now Derpy cried even louder, which already was drawing attention from some pony's nearby.
“Keep it down!” Rainbow demanded, but it was no use, the mare continued to look like the saddest pile of pony there is. She just could not look at this any longer and gave in.
“I'm sorry, okay!? Just cut it out already!” … on this the gray mare slowly got silent, but still sobbed, reaching with her hooves towards Rainbow.
“No way i'm gonna-” the sobbing got louder again and her lips began to shiver.
“Okay, okay! Fine...”
The blue pegasus stepped up to her and gave a short, but embarrassing hug, after which Derpy had big round cheeks and a smile on her face.
Rainbow checked a last time, if nopony had seen this “Just don't... tell anypony” she mumbled and got into the Castle to search Twilight.
“Twilight!?” she shouted through the entrance hall, but nopony was in sight.
The howl first floor seemed empty, so the mare tried her luck upstairs.
The first door “Twilight!?”
It was just a small chamber with brooms and cleaning stuff, so she got to the next door.
“Twiiilight!?”
Some kind of study-room, filled with bookshelf's, maps and a huge telescope, pointing through a gape in the ceiling.
“Twiiiillliight!?”
“Next room!” an annoyed purple dragon answered while browsing his comics.
“TWILIGHT!”
The unicorn jumped up and fell right onto the ground, while the pegasus made it's way up to her “You gotta see this!”.
“Uhhghh.....”
Rainbow stepped onto the bed and looked down on the purple mare, which was just about to recover “There was a robbery! Lets bust that guy! Come on, hurry!”
The alicorn quickly got back on her hooves and forgot the lesson about “privacy” she wanted to give Rainbow Dash... yet again.
“Robbery!? In Ponyville!?”
The pegasus slammed the paper onto her bed and pointed hooves “Galloping Gore, yesterday!”.
The alicorn's body lost a lot of its tension when her wings retracted and her stance became more casual.
“... yesterday? In Galloping Gore...?” she rose an eyebrow at her aroused friend,
which nodded excited, while the alicorn picked up the paper, to study what was all the fuzz about.
“Hu...?”
“Lets pick up the others and go!” the sports pony was almost through the door, when the bookworm stopped her.
“Rainbow, what is this?”
“What?”
“This” her magic levitated the page up and the alicorn pointed a hoof on it, which made the pegasus come back and give it a closer look.
Half the side was missing... and the rest was crumbled and wet. There wasn't much left to read.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“What!? NO!” How did that even.... “Derpy did it!”
Now the purple mare seemed confused “You mean, Derpy robbed the bank?”
“No! She ate the site!”
Her friend rose an eyebrow at her, but didn't say anything.
“I swear!”
Twilight sighed and reached the rest of the site back “Why don't you bring me a new copy...” the pegasus tried to get a word in but got silent, when Twilight rose her voice for a moment “...ONE I can read... and then we talk about it, okay?"
The pegasus clenched her teeth but gave in.
“Gah, fine!” with that Rainbow stomped out of the room and left the castle, to give the crumbled page a look. Why she even still carried this around?
a gray blur rushed by and the rest of the paper was gone.
“What the- !?”
Right above her was Derpy again, forcing down the remaining half, after which she sassy showed her tongue and blew some air through lips, before flying away victorious!
Rainbow just stared after her in utter confusion... “... what was THAT!?”
The blue pegasus shook her confusion off, got airborne and flew in a swift move across town to the next news-stand she could find, to search for a fresh copy.
There it was – today'sissue! Once again she plucked it apart...
“Ey, whatcha doing!?” a grumpy orange stallion asked.
“Duh, reading!” she pulled a face and kept plucking.
“That's no library, thus cost three bits!”
Rainbow gave him an annoyed glance “ugh!” and took off –
causing a harsh breeze, forcing the stallion to throw himself onto his papers
- to return about five seconds later -
Once again blowing almost his stand away, but this time into the other direction - and slam him three bit's onto his counter.
“There!”
Finally, the local part... now all she had to do, was to show it Twilight!
“See ya!” she casual saluted towards the sales-pony and took off in a rush – blowing away half his papers across the street and nearby roofs.
“Yar pay for those!” he yelled, but the blue mare was already gone.
About a minute later, Rainbow was back in front of the castle, giving a last look around, searching for gray blurs... but there weren't any. Alright, so far so good... only thing left was the delivery, but this was about to get tedious.
She just wanted some action! But right now she felt more like a dog, which was running after thrown sticks. Not quite the job for a mare awesome as her...
Rainbow slammed the door open, walked up to her friend and hoofed the site to her.
This time in readable condition and the mare studied it right away, while the pegasus kept tapping her hoof impatient on the floor, till Twilight had finished the article... giggling?
“Well, it wasn't what I had expected, but it sure is funny, thank you Rainbow.”
“W-what!?”
The site quickly changed hooves. It just looked like before, except for one thing:
her articlehad been replaced with a new one, which the pegasus hasty read.
- Luna in charge! -
“Earlier this morning, a seemingly minor argument got out of hoof, after which Princess Celestia was banished to the sun. Princess Luna stated “Thus cake was mine and she knew it!”. The banishment it expected to last a thousand years, but may will be reduced based on attitude.”
“What is this!?” Rainbow shouted in disbelieve.
“Don't you worry, it's just a duck” the alicorn stated amused.
“Hu!? A what?”
Twilight's hoof tapped onto the newspaper “A duck”.
“Why you are talking about ducks!?” it came hysteric.
Twilight sighed “it's a common word for made up articles... jokes... fakes.”
Rainbow still didn't get it “... but, that's not my article!”
The alicorn took another short glance onto the site.
“I can't find anything about a robbery, you sure it wasn't something else?”
“... but I.....i seen it...” she said thoughtfully, but began to doubt her own words.
“Maybe it was a miss-print?”
“... but...”
The alicorn shrugged “Those happen once in a while, that's why I assume they replaced it with...” she giggled once more “...this”.
“So... there is no robbery...?”
“If there was one, I had been informed, don't you think?”
“Uhm... I guess.”
The pegasus felt depressed right now... all the excitement for nothing.
“If you would be so kind and let me finish my book now...” Twilight hinted.
On which Rainbow dragged herself back to the door, but turned around the last time.
“... and you sure that'sa joke?”
With that the crumpled-up paper flew across the room and hit the pegasus on the nose, while Twilight already had her much weightier book in magic grip.
“Okay, okay... i'm going...” she sulked and left the Castle, but as soon she was outside, a bunch of pegasus stormed at her “Woah!”
They were talking wildly through one another and way to fast at that, so she could barely understand a word - let alone silent them for just a minute! They just kept going!
“We need help!”
- Cut it out!
“Where is – Hurry! - she - princess!?”
- Stop it!
“-ergency! Please!”
- I can't understand anything!
“-horri-le -train! - all gone!”
They gabbled in an unintelligible manner, which forced Rainbow to cover her ears, when she finally lost her temper.
“EVERYPONY - SHUT - UP!” Rainbow shouted, silencing them at once.
“Gee... finally...!”
Rainbow gave all of them a sharp glance to make sure it would not start again.
“Okay... and now one more time, what's going on?”
An orange stallion was the one to answer “The train -the one to Baltimare, it got attacked!”
“Attacked!? By who?”
“I...i don't know.” he admitted when a mare on his side tried to help out “I seen him! It was um.... an earth pony, a stallion! A big one...” she stumbled together.
“Yes a brown one!” it shouted from behind “A big brown one!”
“Got it!” Rainbow stated and braced herself for a quick start “You guys tell Twilight, I fly ahead!” - and the pegasus shot towards the sky and vanished into the blue.
She might could still catch that guy, if she was quick enough!
Since Twilight had become a Alicorn, she also had gained wings, but despite her great progress, she never would be as fast as Rainbow and therefore - slow her down.
It was for the best if she would go first, since there was no time to lose since the other pegasus sure had taken care of that... and then explaining everything to Twilight and might even gather the others... oh by the time they were done, it would be midnight!
It wasn't the time for words, it was the time for action!
The blue mare made her way quickly towards Baltimare.
The flight would take her just a matter of minutes since she pulled as much speed she could gather – only a Sonic-Rainboom could increase her speed right now, but if she would do so, she might overshot whatever she was looking for.
Watching the ground beneath passing by, looked like a blur painting...
...hills, rivers and trees became one, when a gray railway cut in, kept winding itself over the land, till there was suddenly a collection of derailed compartments standing in the middle of nowhere.
“Hu!?” the pegasus pulled into a sharp turn and began to hover over the area, giving it a closer look.
“What happened?” she wondered, observing the pony groups, which were gathered all around the spot and partial began to wander off towards Baltimare, when her sight followed the tracks further and her question was answered.
A rampaging dragon must have passed by! - the place beneath was wrecked!
The railroad was torn out of place – redirected towards a long furrow, which made it's way down a slope, through a group of knocked over trees and after an obliterated wall, straight into what looked like the remaining of a building – in which she finally spotted the locomotive itself; buried deep within, still blowing a smoke flag towards the sky.
Rainbow didn't waste any time and got into a dive, landing on the property, next to the train-wreck. At least what was left of it... parts were scattered everywhere over the property and looking around it, she pretty much could see from this side of the building - all across to the other side... and it didn't quite look like it was meant to be like this. Of course not! Hack! This place lacked at least three walls and some of it's floors!
No, scratch that. They all were here, but turned to powder like dust!
The pegasus was just starring all around, before noticing a bunch of stallions running up to her, all wearing black vests with a stitched emerald on its side.
“YOU! FREEZE! ”one of them shouted, pointing hoof.
“Maybe this wasn't that good an idea!” it occurred Rainbow rather quickly.
Blue wings began to flap in order to gain height and get out of there, but the stallion above foiled this attempt - jumping off the wreck and tackling her right in the back. They rolled once over the ground and a good tight grip got hold of the mare, which couldn't fight back. “Inform our boss, we got an accomplice!”
Tenet laid on his table when it gently tapped on his shoulder. It was her.
“How are you doing?”
“I think we can start the final stage tomorrow...” he replied, pointing tired on his papers.
“That's not what I asked for” she smiled at him “How are you?”
“Well, uhm... I think I'm fine.”
“Why don't you make a break? The others are waiting”.
“You know our schedule, why don't you go ahead and I follow later”
He tried to turn away, but her hoof grabbed his leg and pulled him along with her.
She wasn't strong, but as soon she touched him, he became too weak to fight back.
“Ahhh... there he is!” it cheered.
“About time” it grunted.
“No reason to be impatient, he made it in time.”
It came from three stallion's, which sat in a circle, waiting for the two gaps to be filled.
The last arrivals sat down and closed the gap around the dinner in their middle.
They were a group of five. Four stallions and one mare.
The first was himself... he was the mechanic and late, as usual, unable to put his work down for just a minute, without somepony forcing him to. He welcomed the challenge which laid ahead.
Going clockwise around came Bottle-Jack... he was the chemist here, a bright green stallion with cyan mane and dark orange eyes. He always had a playful smile on his lips and kept seesawing back and forth, unable to hold still for just a minute, as he would overflow with energy.
Swiftmovewas the next in line... he was the magician, a pale blue unicorn, with black mane and purple eyes. His second name was Ace, since his parents couldn't agree on a name, so in tradition with their family roots, they let fate decide – each of which picked a card from a stack.
His father pulled Spade Nine... his mother Ace Heart...and therefore, won.
Sledgecame right after... he was the steelworker, but unlike most pony's working in this business, he wasn't a bulky earth-pony, but a slick gray pegasus, with white mane and dark green eyes. He didn't just know how to craft metal, but also form arguments, which made him to the unofficial leader of the group.
Last but not least was Muse... a white earth-mare with a yellow mane and green eyes. She was the one responsible for the design work, which would combine all their talents, with the simple use of a sheet of paper and a piece of lead. She loved being around others, more than anyone else in the group. The more the better.
They shared a humble meal with one another, mostly consisting of crops while talking about work and once in a while; about the things they would do after this.
Tenet was zipping juice thoughtful while giving a few glances towards the pony sitting on the opposite side, which was busy talking to a stallion, showing a hoof-sized paper with one of her thousands of scribbles. Later, those would be turned into detailed drawing's, in different scales, but all with the same amount of love in detail given to them.
“... it's connected here and ...here... you think this works?” Muse pointed out.
The gray pegasus nodded thoughtful “It will, but you have to make this bow further, or it will block up – this- part.” a hoof-tip tapped.
“I know, but Jack told me he would need the space” with that she circled a small spot.
“Jack, why you need this area?”
“Oh, good question! Yes, really good! And I will answer this to you right away!” with that the chemist jumped up and ran a half circle, to sat down in between them, tapping one time onto the paper “it's... for the coolant!”.
The gray stallion gave him a disturbed look “You could have said this, without coming here.”
“Oh sure sure, but ... I like our, bonding” he grinned brightly.
“Your chemist jokes ain't as funny, as you might think” it came calmly.
“You don't like them!? He doesn't!” Jack gasps overly dramatic “What you think!?” turning to his right to find a giggling mare “But she does! She does!” it now smiled brightly at him.
Sledge rubbed his forehead “Than if you are already here and we got past your... humoristic attempt... tell us why you need thismuch space”.
The stallion rose his hooves in defeat and spread them up and to the sides for a long “Nooot myyyy faaault!” to whip them towards the blue unicorn, with an unspectacular “Ask him” shrugging it off.
The unicorn's head rose from his newspaper and considered if he really had to explain anything. It was so obvious already. So he ignored them and kept reading, till a green head rose over his shoulder to whisper “Tellll usssss Aceeee” into his ear.
The newspaper got crumbled and slapped the head, like a game of whack-a-mole “Don't-call-me-Ace! You -ain't -my -mother!” pronouncing every word with a hit onto his forehead, while the green stallion tried to cover himself with his hooves.
After the barrage was over, the paper got unfolded, but it was pretty much ruined, which made him sigh.
Sledge was the one to try it again “I thought we estimated the amount of heat to be expected correctly, if we have to adapt our construction, you have to let us know.”
The stallion rolled his eyes at this. Why couldn't they just go with it?
“Please Ace” it came sugar-sweet from Muse, which let his frown lose up a bit, but angered him even more. She wasn't his mother either, but her caring attitude reminded him at her.
“Hey, why she gets to call you Ace and you don-OUCH OUCH!” the paper struck twice. One for his use, one for her's. Now it was alright.
“Fine, but would you stop wasting my spare time then?” he frowned.
He got two affirmative nods on this, the third head was busy to be rubbed, while the mechanic just kept observing. He could adapt to anything, so why bother to get into the argument?
“As soon there is a certain level of stress on the core element, the heat will skyrocket, which could burn out the rest within days, if not cooled down appropriate”.
“Days?” the gray pegasus repeated, with a risen eyebrow.
“Ugh, do I speak some weird accent? DayZse” he spat.
“It wasn't considered to run for days to come.”
The blue unicorn just shook his head and tried to flatten his newspaper, so he could finish the article “Keep your naivety to yourself” he mumbled.
“I say we reduce the tank size by thirty percent” Sledge suggested “so we can keep a acceptable running time, while solving at least most of our design problems” giving Muse a glance, which nodded approving.
“Jack, you will need to change your formula I fear.”
“No problem my fine sir!” he cheered “And I think this time, I will make it... BLUEEEE” with that he leaned onto the side of his best friend, which grunted annoyed.
Now heads turned to the mechanic.
“Any mechanical concerns in this regard?”
He didn't reply while staring straight forward.
“Tenet?” he asked once more, which snapped him out of his thoughts.
“I... what was your question?”
“Any mechanical concerns in this regard?”
He blinked at him... at some point he must have lost track.
“Muse, could you show him?” the gray stallion asked politely.
The mare walked over to his side and broke down, what they were going for.
While she was busy pointing out the new schematics and began to draw sketches on the backside, he found a hard time to pay attention, until she looked up to him.
“What you think?” her thin lips formed.
Now he was blinking confused at her.
She gave a nod down and he gave it a quick look. It took him only moments to swap parts back and forth in his mind, to find a working configuration. Like a puzzle he could rebuild in a thousand ways, till he found the one working.
“Yes... works for me” he confirmed, trying to crack a smile.
The mare smiled at him and scribbled a fifth smiling pony-head below the schematic.
Her checklist, to make sure all sides agreed.
This all happened a long time ago... ... today, there were no smiling ponies.
Just the constant click-clack of a wrench, being pressed against a screw, to be turned a few degrees, before repeating the process. Turning time after time... till the bolt nut got stuck. “Ghmnnnnn.....” he grunted annoyed.
Tenet sat all alone in his dim basement, trying to fix their invention.
It had worked for many years, but it felt like most of the time was spend on fixing it.
More force was put onto the wrench to get it loose by force... and after some pressing, it nearly moved – just... one... m- the wrench slipped, the bolt broke and his hoof slammed against the workbench!
“LIGHT'S SAKE!” it shouted while holding onto his ankle “YOU PIECE OF JUNK!” after which, the twisted wrench was thrown against the wall, leaving him limping upstairs, to find something to stop the bleeding.
“Let me go, you blockheads! I didn't do anything!” Rainbow struggled, but it was no use, those stallions were well trained and outnumbered her one to ten.
As soon as she was tied up, the mare got thrown like a sag of potatoes over one of the earth-ponies backs, which carried this struggling pack along “Hey! Let me go!”
“Oh shut up.” it came back – but of course she didn't.
“I was just looking! You can't do that...! Come on, let me go!”
“Shut-up”.
The group made their way around the wreck and inside, climbing two floors up. The inside of the house silenced her for a moment since there were quite some things to look at! A lot of paintings, statues, exotic plants and all kind of fancy stuff, which reminded her on some boring museum or gallery... and hack if she knew which was which.
One of the stallions carefully knocked on a door, to wait for a response, while Rainbow kept struggling, winding herself left and right to get the rope lose somehow since it didn't seem like they would let her go any time soon, but all she managed was to fall to the ground. The stallions were about to load her up again, but a “Come in” was heard from the other side, so they simply dragged her along.
The group entered the room and two of the stallions threw her flat over the ground, in order to present their achievement to the ringleader.
“That's the one boss”.
“Yeah, the one kicking your flank!” she said and bit in his yellow ankle.
“Ouch!” the stallion quickly shook her off, squeezing a “You little brat!” through his teeth.
“Please, step aside” their boss waved and the stallions obeyed, forming a three stallion row to the left and right, while the rest left the room, returning to their duties.
The stallion in charge was a white slick stallion, with blue waved mane and a well-tamed blue mustache, wearing an elegant smocking, as well a monocle.
He bends down and gave Rainbow a close look, which now tried to bite him instead.
“Don't I know you?” he said thoughtfully.
“If you don't untie me, you get to know me!”
“I'm sure I know you” it came snobby “Yes, ain't you the Rainbow Dash?” it smiled at her.
This made Rainbow stop struggling “Huh?”
“What a joy to have you here!” he cheered, waving a “Be so kind and untie our guest” to his overly protective guards.
“Sure boss? She seems dangerous” one replied worriedly.
Rainbow kept her mouth shut for now since she planned to fly off, as soon the rope was gone.
“Oh, don't be ridiculous, she is friends with Mrs. Rarity, they are all well mannerly pony's, just like me”.
The guards glanced doubtful at once another, but if hesaid so ... and did as told.
Now even Rainbow scrapped her escape plan and waited to be untied, to stretch herself a few times after. The mare gave a last growl towards the henchman, to get them on distance, to get back on her new Allie “How comes you know me? Or Rarity? I mean - i'm awesome... but Rarity?” asking brash.
“We met on the Canterlot Garden Party, don't you remember my dear?”
Rainbow scratched her head “Uh, sure! You are....uhmm....” but failed to deliver a name.
The stallion laughed amused on this “Don't you worry, I also forget a name once in a while. May I reintroduce myself, my name is Fancy-Pants, part of the Canterlot high society.”
The blue mare was shaking and waving her head in all directions, till she gave up “Sorry, no idea.”
“Isn't she amusing!” he waved at his guards, which gave a forced laugh from them “But tell me, what brings you here of all places?”
“Hum!? Let me think...” she waved her hooves up in the air “How about that freaking wreck down there!? What happened!?”
“Oh, that incident. We ain't quite sure what happened. Isn't that so?” Now the guards nodded ashamed “But as it looks, my house was the target of a..” with that he swallowed hard like the word was foul “...robbery.”
“A robbery?”
“Yes, i'm afraid so. Right after the... the train broke though our walls, a stallion attacked my guard and took almost all of my precious artifacts, as well a noticeable amount of bit's with him.”
“Wohhh Wohhh wohhh... you say onestallion, beat up all those guys?” as she gave them a amused glance “quite some guys you got there!” she scoffed, to the displeasure of the stallions.
“Mrs. Dash, my men are only second to the Royal Canterlot Guard, I assure you! If this ruffian had been any ordinary stallion, they had caught him.”
Rainbow gave them a close look, on which she noticed a bunch of bruises and torn apart uniforms, as well a blue eye or two and other injuries. Most had returned home or in a hospital, looking like that. Tough...
“Sure” she shrugged “But where is that guy!? Spill it!”
“Well Mrs. Dash, i'm afraid he is long gone.”
“Oh come on!” looking around “Where did he go!? Hurry!” on which a yellow stallion replied “I think he... went north... but he has to muc-” the mare vanished in the blink of an eye, rushing away through a broken window, to catch up with the escape.
“Damn, that girl is fast!” another one gasped.
Fancy Pants laughed amused upon this comment “Of course she is, after all, she isthe trainer of the Wonderbolt's”.
Twilight just arrived at the property, to notice a rainbow-colored stroke rushing away, shouting “Rainbooow!” but it was no use, the mare was already nothing more than a spot in the distance.
The princess might wasn't as fast, but what really had slowed her down, was the conversation with the more than disturbed conductor and guests she had came across.
What they had told her didn't make much sense, but it was most likely, there were more answers waiting for her below.
As soon purple hooves touched the grass, she was greeting in common fashion “FREEZE!” it shouted, which got replied by a friendly “Oh, hi there”.
A few the stallions tried to tackle and overwhelm her, but a quick teleported to the side, let them crash head first into one another.
“Hey! I'm here to help!”
Than their leader came to the mix and began to shout as well, but not at the intruder, but his men for that matter“STOP YOU IDIOTS! IT'S THE PRINCESS! STOP I SAY!”
The gang immediately stopped their approach and after a short orientation look, threw them self onto the ground, showing their deepest respect towards the mare in their middle.
“Your Highness, we are terribly sorry!” “What bring you here?” “Can we be of any help!?”
It came towards her – a way more welcome way to greet her, but still it wasn't quite right “Please, raise...” she waved embarrassed “... and could anypony tell me what happened here?” winking a hoof towards the smoking ruins.
The second intruder was also brought to their boss, but this time without a rope and on her own hooves, as well with a tad more respect in their approach. Fancy-Pants was more than joyful surprised and explained everything in great detail to the princess, which listened carefully until Rainbow finally returned from her trip.
“Ah, Mrs. Dash! Glad you are back, are you alright? Do you bring good news?”
Twilight gave Rainbow a less warm greeting “Good question, are you alright? You can't rush of like this - it's dangerous to go alone.”
“Ugh, what ever, i just tried to catch that guy.”
Twilight just decided to play along, since she wasn't in the mood, for another debate “Okay than... did you at least find anything?”
“Well... not really, i mean – no, but it's not my fault! Those guys held me up!”
“That's to bad, because it seems we got a problem lying ahead.”
“Uh, what?”
“Fancy Pants was kind enough, to give me a detailed list of all things missing, some of which seem to be magical artifacts.”
“Sooo....?”
“I was able to recall some of them from my studies and they might be dangerous”.
Rainbow now turned to Fancy Pants “Why you even got stuff like that!?”
“Over the years, I grew an affection to the ascetics of certain artifacts, some of which were given to me as presents. I wasn't aware of their dangerous nature since I had no intentions to use them” he assured her.
“Can you believe this guy!?”
“I'm sure he isn't lying when he said he didn't know. Most of them are several hundred years old and only vaguely described. They might be dangerous, they might not”.
The sports pony rolled her eyes “Great, so what now!?”
“We must get to Ponyville and inform the other Princesses, so we can find this thief together before somepony gets hurt”.
“Alright, got it!” with that the pegasus once again shot through the window and was gone.
“Is she always this enthusiastic?” Fancy Pants asked polite, on which Twilight could only agree “I'm afraid so.”
“Most amusing!” he chuckled.
“I have to leave” she gave him a nod, on which he bowed “Of course, your highness”.
“You don't have to bow and... Twilight is alright”.
Once again the stallion seemed pleasantly amused “As you wish.” he nodded simple, but elegant.
“If only Rainbow could be this calm and sorted... than again, that wouldn't be the Rainbow she knew” Twilight thought to herself with a smile, before making her way back to Ponyville.
Twilight landed in front of her Castle and got through the door in expectation to find Rainbow “Maybe we should gath- oh” but was surprised to find the rest of the six to be there as well.
“Oh, Twilight, i'm so glad you are alright,” Fluttershy said in relief.
Applejack agreed “We sure came as quick we could” while Rarity was still wringing her mane, to leave a water puddle on the ground “It sure could had waited... uh my beautiful mane” she sulked “...it's ruined, isn't it!?” while trying to make something out of the mess.
Also, Pinkie Pie looked somewhat ruffled since she was still covered in what seemed flour.
“Twilight!!” the pink pony screamed before running up and shake her rough “it's horrible! Hoorrrriiibbleee!!”
“Calm down Pinkie! it's not thatbad...” the alicorn replied somewhat confused.
“...not that bad!? NOT THAT BAD!!?” it shrieked “BUT -!” with that the earthpony presented a cake-tin, which had some flat dough in it “My souffle! it's ruuiiinnnnned!!” and threw herself dramatic on the ground, to sob some more about her flawed baking.
“Pinkie, put ya self together, will ya?” Applejack stomped, on which the mare jumped up from the ground with a bright “Okey dokie!” before picking up the cake-tin again and stuffing the sweet dough joyful into her round cheeks.
“Everypony calm down! I'm not sure what Rainbow told you already...” with that she gave her an angry glance, which replied with a brash wink like she was proud on her quick reaction.
“... but it's nothing to worry about. At least not yet.”
This was when Spike ran into the room, both claws waving through the air “Twilight, Twilight!!”
“Oh” the purple mare put a hoof on her face “Not you too Spike...”
“But Twilight, Princess Celestia-”
“Yes Spike” Twilight cut him off “We will write her any minute, but first I will explain what happened, so we are all on the same page.”
“Uhm... is this a bad time to mention, that Princess Celestia answered already?” the young dragon asked somewhat ashamed.
“What!? Rainbow!” It came once more.
“Eh, thank me later” the pegasus waved off.
The alicorn took a deep breath, put a hoof on her chest and while exhaling -slowly stretched it away... “Uhfffff...” before coming back to the dragon and the scroll “Please Spike” with that her magic took over and grabbed the role “I'm sure Princess Celestia agrees when...” her eyes flew over the scroll and her tone changed to become more serious “She... want to see all of us in Canterlot, immediately?”.
Now even Twilight got quite worried.
The blue pegasus got picked up by purple magic and dragged back from the door just seconds later.
“Not this time – we travel together!” Twilight made clear “...now... could somepony tell me, what exactly you wrote to the princess? Spike!?”
“Hey, she said there is no time to lose!” pointing on the struggling mare “so I wrote, there was a train accident and that a guy stole a bunch of magic stuff”.
“That's it?”
“Uhm, yeah... was that wrong?” he scratched his head.
“No Spike it wasn't, but I wished for some more detail. We have to set up a second letter, so the princess doesn't get any wrong idea.”
“On my way!” the dragon saluted and ran of to get quill and paper, while the others were done watching this odd conversation.
“Could somepony explain, what the hay is going on?”
“I have to agree with Applejack, it seems a bit confusing, doesn't it?”
“I... uhm... Twilight, could you maybe...?”
“Okay everypony, listen carefully...”
“Ey, le me down!” Rainbow interrupted, which was still hanging in mid air, while slowly spinning around her axis “Sorry”.
The magic vanished and the pegasus plumped onto the ground with a -omphf-
“Uh, sorry again...”
Now Twilight told the story in great detail to all of the friends.
“... to sum it up, it seems there is a robber on the lose, which had caused a train accident.”
“Oh my goodness, how awful” Fluttershy snapped startled.
“- luckily nopony got serious hurt...” she assured everypony “...but it doesn't end there, since the thief also stole a number of artifacts right after, which might could be dangerous, so we have to find him and make sure they don't land in the wrong hooves.”
Spike returned as promised and purple mare gave him also the list of stolen items, which she had received from Fancy Pants, as well a more detailed break down from the entire story, all of which he sent away, using of his magic fire breath – to receive answer within a minute later, in form of a green flame he spat out, which fell down as a ordinary scroll.
“That was quick” Spike wondered, handing the scroll to Twilight, which rose a eyebrow on this one as well, since it read just like the one before: asking for all of them, to come to Canterlot as fast as possible, without telling any further details on the why.
“Something wrong dear?” the unicorn asked, while still fumbling around with her mane.
“Hmm... Princess Celestia is still asking for us to come to Canterlot.---”
“Uh, Canterlot!” Rarity cheered, to get concerned right after “Oh... I have to fix my mane first, I can't step in front of the princess like this! I look like a ruffian!”
“That's gonna be fun!” Pinkie chipped in, throwing confetti around herself.
“Looks like we, gonna get on a road trip”
“Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked worried since the alicorn looked really thoughtful.
“Yes, i'm alright... I just hadn't expected this. All I wanted was to inform her, so we could coordinate the search, but apparently, the Princess thinks this is even more important than that.”
“Well, then better let's not waste any time and settle up!”
“Yeah, let's go!” Rainbow agreed.
“You are right, we should hurry.” Twilight agreed “Spike!”
“Yes ma'am?” he saluted once more.
“You stay here, just in case something happens – you can send us a letter any time, got that?”
“No problemo!” he confirmed and made a few quick steps, like a marching soldier, till Twilight and made her way outside, followed by the rest of the group, than he took a checking look... got back to his seat and pulled out a hidden comic from below “Ah... peace and quiet...” he grunted, while licking his claw-tips to browse some more.
The group was running towards the train station since they didn't want to leave their non-pegasus friends behind, when Rarity made a quick bow into her boutique and barely managed to catch the train, in which the others already were waiting.
“Rarity, where have ya been?”
“Solving an emergency of my own!” she replied sternly, to open the traveler's bag she had brought along and get out a hairbrush, as well a dozen other things.
On arrival, the mane six were welcome somewhat different than usual.
This time two chariots were waiting for them, along with about thirty of the Canterlot Guard, securing the area like they awaited some sort of attack.
This on itself had been strange enough, if not the rest of Canterlot had looked similar: troops were scattered everywhere and even some heavy fire arms got brought in position on some of the walls. This rose quite a lot of questions, which Princess Celestia would hopefully answer rather sooner than later.
“Your majesty! Princess Twilight and her company have arrived!” a white stallion reported to Celestia, which was patiently waiting in her throne room, sitting on her golden throne.
“Please, send them in” it came with a heartwarming tone to it.
The guard nodded and did as told.
Pinkie was the first one to burst into the room “PAR-TEY!” she screamed, throwing streamers and some confetti around herself, to be scolded by Rarity right away “Pinkie, please! We are here to meet the princess!”
The mare shrugged grinning “Aw, sorry, cause of habit!” and followed the others, with small jumps over the red carpet, on which Rarity just rolled her eyes.
As soon the group reached the end of the carpet, they lined up and greeted Princess Celestia, everypony in their own kind of way.
Applejack lifted her hat “Howdy Princess”.
“Hiii!” Pinkie waved excitedly.
Fluttershy and Rarity performed an appropriate curtsy, followed by a simultaneous “Your Highness”, which Rainbow clumsy tried to imitate, but let go, sticking with a “Hey... Princess” waving her hoof a few times casual.
Only Twilight stuck to a simple, but elegant nod, since she was also a Princess – and therefor on the same level as the white alicorn.
Just being near Celestia made all of them feel a lot better already.
No matter how much time you spend in her near, you simply couldn't help to feel home, like a visit on your parent's house... meeting an old friend... or having the joy of a beautiful day, coming to an end. This was nothing new. It was like anypony felt, since Celestia was the one that was always there: ruling the land with wisdom and grace, to make everypony as happy as possible, giving all the love, one mare could possibly offer – asking for nothing in return.
“I'm glad you all followed my instruction's so quickly, I fear there is no time to lose” the mare made clear since her voice had lost it's warm touch all of a sudden.
“Is this because of the robbery? I'm not even quite sure about the artifacts...” Twilight said disturbed.
“Twilight, it's not about the artifacts...” the mare shook her head “... I don't worry about those, but the thief itself”.
Rainbow stepped in at this point “Hey, wasn't that the guy from Galloping Gore?”
The purple alicorn already gave Rainbow an annoyed glance but was surprised when the white one agreed on this one “Yes, I fear it's the same one” the princess made clear.
“What? Whats with Galloping Gore!? Applejack asked concerned “I got a family living up there!”
“Well, that guy got into the bank – and just BANG! Tore it apart!” with that Rainbow performed some fighting moves, how she imaged the how the incident, getting her friend all upset “Oh gosh, why nopony told me!?” the earth pony jumped up “I have to help them!”
“AJ, calm down! It's alright, this happened yesterday, he left town already, isn't that right?”
“Uh, ye, sure- he s gone! … didn't I mention that?” the pegasus wondered.
The cowgirl looked between the two back and forth “Y-you sure!?”
“My dear Applejack, the Canterlot Guard was sent there, to make sure everypony is safe and they confirmed the initial report, that he left town and nopony was hurt”.
Twilight had to wonder “Wait, if that article was right, why got it then removed?”
“Yeah! You made me look like a dork!” Rainbow added, to get all quite right after “... your highness.”
“W-what article?” Fluttershy asked confused.
“That one!?” with that Pinkie hold up one of the original newspaper.
“... where the heck did you get this!?” Rainbow wondered.
“Ponyville of course!” she smiled brightly.
“That's not what-… ah forget it” the pegasus gave up right away.
“This is why you are all here because this is more important than stolen riches or magical artifacts” with that the princess got up, to perform a short flight towards the right of the group. The white horn sparked up and drew something like a bow of light, which turned into a portal as soon the second end touched the ground, through which she then simply stepped away.
The others looked at one another and decided to follow right through, only Pinkie got to the side of the portal and took a closer look. Looking from the sides, it was barely more than a sparkling line. A look from behind revealed nothing more than the throne-room they been in- trough which she even dared to jump without any result... but from this side – the front, it was like a whirlpool of pitch-black fog. The mare stuck her nose in, the head- took another look and then the rest.
The corridor they found themselves in, looked like a dungeon, which hadn't been used in centuries. The walls were made out of thick and rough formed stone blocks, the ground was made out of gray stone plates, which felt like sandpaper below their hooves and from the ceiling hung stalactite, some of which dripping cold water into puddles beneath.
This place didn't seem like it was meant for any living creature. The only somewhat soothing thing about this depressing place were the torches on the wall, which sparked up one after another, to enlighten the way ahead, giving everything an orange touch of dancing light, like on a campfire, in some very... very dark forest.
The white princess stopped at the end of the corridor, waiting for the others to enter this most unwelcome chamber. It was barely bigger than a barn and hadn't any more to offer than the corridor had already given away. The air tasted pale and overall it looked more like a grave, than anything else - filled with cold, that tried to crawl right under your skin.
“This is why you are all here” the princess announced over her shoulder, before enlightening the last torches to reveal a collection of mostly destroyed statues lined up along the walls.
“What... are those?” Twilight tilted her head.
The princess made a comprehensive gesture with her hoof “Those... are our worst enemy.”
> A long time ago... nearby the mountainside Twin Peaks
Tenet rose his head and blinked a few times, to get the gray pegasus in focus while rubbing his eyes “How late is it?”
“According to this clock, you overslept. Working late i assume?”
He got himself up into a more comfortable position and pushed his back forward to lose it up a bit. “I... I had to finish this.”
“I know you try hard to fix your mistakes, but if would pay more attention in the first place, we didn't have to spend days in order to straighten them out.”
Sledge picked the clock from the wall, to put it down in front of him.
“How long it would take to repair this if i would destroy it?”
“... an unnecessary question.” he shook his head tiredly.
“Please, answer.”
Tenet looked on the clock. It was the bare bones of what was still functional.
“Assuming I got all spare parts?” he looked at him and back on the clock “Four... or five minutes?”
“Thank you.”
The brown stallion looked to his side, after a while of silence “Something else?”
“Same question. How long it would take you to repair this, if I would destroy it and Muse wasn't around?”.
The brown stallion turned frowning away “Don't waste my time”.
“Please, answer.” he asked once more polite, to add calmly “The door is locked”
The answer took a while, it was quiet, more than ashamed and bitter “Two.”
“Thank you.”
What was he just thinking?
He had to lean his head on his hoof, since it just felt too heavy right now.
“I can imagine it's hard for you to focus under this circumstances, but we manufacture here something, which is bigger than the sum of it's pieces – and yet, every piece does count.”
“That's why i'm here.” he said over his shoulder.
The pegasus shook his head slightly “Right now, i'm not inertly convinced, that this is the case. In fact, i had some conversations, which made me believe you are here, for some kind of challenge. Is this the case? Does your talent bore you?”
“That's not it.”
“Tell me, are you frustrated, that this challenge is to much for your ability's?”
“It's nothing I can't handle.” it came a bit sour “It's barely more complex than this” he nodded once to his side.
The clock got picked up by the pegasus, which hit it once upon the table edge and put it back onto it. Then he left the room, without any further comment.
Bottle-Jack was already waiting for the pegasus.
“Everything alright? Is he coming, is he? Maybe i should take a peek, just a peek or two...” it came joyful since apparently nothing could break this stallions spirit and glee.
“Please, don't disturb him yet. He will take at least five minutes, to be prepared for your entry.”
“Huh? Why five? Why not three of twelve? Does he hide something?” the chemist leaned down to the keyhole in order to see through, but could only see a brown back, leaning busy over the table “does he have cake in there? I would give my gold-teeth for some cake!”
“You don't have any gold-teeth.”
“I know! Just don't tell him!” he cheered, to clack a few times with his teeth.
“Certainly” the steelworker replied dry, without moving a muscle in his face.
“Oh... no smile? And I had hoped so bad for some kind of … reaction.”
“Almost amusing.” the steelworker admitted with a pull of his eyebrows.
“Knew you like it!” he smiled brightly, before rediscovering the key hole and peeking some more.
Sledge left him behind to get back to Muse, which sat in her room, trying to make new sketches, but a bunch of paper balls on the ground gave away it wasn't going to good.
“How are you doing?” he asked her, on which she took a deep breath and put her pencil down. It was no use anyway. Upset like this, she just couldn't work, so she gave her mind a rest and talked with him instead.
“Did you talk with him?” she asked grouchily.
“I did as promised. I think we can continue soon, without further issues.”
The mare picked a small bonbon, out of a bowl to her side. Sweets helped a lot, to calm her down. “Di- he at le-st apol-gize?” it came less understand able, since she smacked a bit while eating, before simply swallowing the bonbon as a howl.
“It wasn't part of our topic, but I think it's possible he will.
The stallion walked up to her, to see what she was working on.
The drawing was of a landscape, with a wonderfully crafted town in the middle.
“Interesting schematics” the stallion said, which made the mare smile.
She was one of the few, which got his specific sense of humor.
He gave her a glance and pushed the drawing aside, to reveal her real work beneath.
It was a technical drawing of highest detail. She must had worked all day on it.
“Does it work?” he asked, but she shook her head sadly and was about to crumble up this page as well, when he put his hoof onto hers, to stop her from doing so.
The mare looked upon him and let him take the page away, before he sat down next to her, facing towards the door.
Muse leaned on his side to watch what he was doing.
“It is an interesting concept you created, as well a piece of art” with that said,he folded the paper carefully together “It would be inappropriate to destroy it” he moved his hooves a few more times, but kept them to deep for her to see, what exactly he was doing “My suggestion would be, to modify it instead.”
Then there was a paper plane, gliding slowly through the air in a long bow.
Now the mare was giggling and even laughing a bit, till the elegant flight was stopped by the door and the well-crafted plane, landed with a crumbled nose on the ground.
“It seems, we all make mistakes once in a while.”
He took a look on his side and the mare was smiling as it should be, so he smiled back at her, before they kissed.
The two sat there side on side for a while, when she nudged him.
“Yes?”
“How is Ace doing?”
“Swift-Move wasn't affected by the problem.”
She gave him a more serious glance now.
“To answer your question, he does enjoy the spare time.”
The mare thought about this for a minute and nudged him one more time.
“Yes?”
“I want to look after him if you don't mind”.
“I do.” the pegasus said strict and put his wing around her, to keep her close “But if you insist, I will send Jack to look after him.”
Now the mare pushed him playful away while laughing from the bottom of her heart.
The chemist's nose was the first thing to enter the room. This wasn't one of his playful attitudes, but more cause of habit. If he would smell anything suspicious, he would shut the door and run for his life!
...but right now, he just smelled the oil and depressed stallion, so he dared to enter without asking, making a few quick and prancing steps to his most very best friend.
“Hey Tenet! Long not seen! Almost too long, how you doing, what you doing!?” it came rapidly, while leaned left and right over his shoulders.
“You spied the past ten minutes.”
“How you know!?” the stallion got quickly got around his side, to give him a suspicious look “X-Ray vision!? Tisk tisk tisk! Hiding such secrets with a mare around!” and shake his head in disappointment, about such a sacrilegious behavior.
The brown stallion sighed “I'm not deaf.”
“Oh! Oh! Oh! I'm sorry - dinnndn't mean it! And once more for the spying! Totally sorry! Will write it down, right away, won't happen again!” the stallion hold in for three seconds “Can I write it on your door?” he wondered, to add a whispered “My memory ain't so gooood ...or even average... in fact its...” at this point he forgot what this was all about.
The mechanic rose from his seat “Focus on our task” and made his way towards the main construction hall, followed by the green jitterbug... at least for a few steps, till he backed up to the table and bowed backward, to get an unobtrusively glance to his sides, to find nothing more than a pile of screws and gears.
“He must have ate it...” he mumbled thoughtfully “... but why would he eat a clock?”
If only eating a clock would stop time from trickling through his hooves.
Tenet sat on his workbench, staring upwards at the relic.
Life seemed incredibly short once you realized how much time rushed by without being noticed. When you were working or talking to somepony... hours could be gone before you knew.
Watching it made it seemingly go slower, but who had time to do that?
It was Princess Luna, she also had found her way into this realm.
The group looked confused upon this comment, not so much about how she had found here... wherever herewas, but more about what she meant by that?
“I don't understand, ain't those just statues?” Twilight said confused, to take a closer look upon them.
There were… about twelve crumbled stallions, all of which in another pose.
One stood on it's back-hooves, but was lacking its head.
The middle one looked like a predator, deep down on all fours, like it was about to jump something... but had a gaping hole on the side of its chest, as well the opposite site.
A few more to the right, there was one which seemed intact, except for a missing ear - one hoof risen high, like it was about to punch a hole into something.
The one thing in common were the black burn marks like somepony had tried to set them on fire.
Pinkie Pie was the first to get close and scrub with her nose over one of the stallion's sides, to knock on it a few times, while pressing an ear against them.
“Hey! Those are metal!” she said, before continuing her studies and look through one of the holes... “and empty” she blinked “Echooo...!” - she listened... but it didn't work, so she pulled a short frown and moved on.
Now it made even less sense. How should be an empty shell be dangerous?
“My dear sister doesn't like to talk about thou part of our past but it has become unavoidable... isn't that right...?”
Celestia's sight was saddened.
Applejack now also made it's a way to the statues, to get in front of the cowering one, giving it a kick, to get a “clonk” as a response “I don't know what ya talking about, but I saw scarecrows more frighting than dat!”
The metal horse suddenly exhaled some air in a long murmuring and rose his head, to take AJ into focus “WOAH!” the cowgirl quickly backed up three steps and fell on her flanks “What in tarnation!?”
The horse had stopped moving.
The others reacted in a similar fashion and backed off - except for Pinkie, which snuck closer like a stalking cat, about to fetch a bird “Pinkie, don't!” Twilight warned her, on which she stopped half a step away, but still fumbled with her hoof in the stallion's face.
The others braced them self- ...
No reaction.
“Hu... broken?” the purple mare shrugged and jumped on it's back, to knock some more on its head “Yep, bro-ken!” she confirmed again while wiping back and forth, like a filly, riding on her parents back.
“Could some pony pleeeheasese explain – what those are?” Rarity towards this unpleasant gallery, to add a squeaked “They give me the creeps”.
“They are scary” Fluttershy agreed while hiding behind the white mare.
“Meh” Rainbow blew, but kept a close eye on them.
“If you don't tell them, I will.” Luna made clear, on which Celestia gave in.
She had brought them here, but it turned out, that telling was a lot harder than showing.
“Those are weapons...” she began mournfully “...they are the remains from the Crystal Empire and the fight against King Sombra.” - this words made everypony hold their breath and even Pinkie stopped wiping, to slowly climb down and back of from the metal horse.
“He had used their strength to conquer the Empire. They were most freighting enemy's we ever came across...” it almost looked like a cold shower was running down the alicorn's spine, by the pure thought “... he had created twelve of them, the ones you see in front of you...” she gestured towards the destroyed exhibits.
“Ya telling me, that it just took those, to conquer an entire Empire?” Applejack wondered.
“Oh come on, what's so special about them? They don't look that tough!” Rainbow grinned, to perform a few quick jabs like she could fight them off herself, which angered one of the alicorn greatly.
Luna quickly made her way up to the mare and extended her wings to give her a serious stare, while pushing her backward “You say you fear em not? You seen em walk through fire...!? Withstand our magic...!? Fight, with boundless strength and speed...!?” she said forceful “With hatred, deepand cold, like the black between my stars!?” Rainbow now bumped backward against one of the statues, which slowly lowered itself, to look headless upon the pony, while she felt her blood freezing inside her veins, right before Luna stepped aside with a scornful “Than you are truly fearless!” on which she snorted, to make her anger space.
The pegasus quickly backed off in a crouching motion, to hide behind Rarity and Fluttershy, which also shook like falling leaves, holding on to one another, after this graphic storytelling. Even Pinkie Pie had her Party-Cannon ready, just in case.
Celestia looked ashamed on this demonstration since she could understand her sister's feelings better than anypony “Luna speaks the truth... we couldn't stop them, no matter what we tried. All we could achieve, was to flee and save our own life's.”
“... but they are wrecked!” Rainbow dared to add, before hiding again, from Luna's fierce glance.
“This wasn't our merit” Celestia picked up “A stranger came to us, which claimed he could help, that he could stop them... at least for a couple of hours and therefore give us a chance to fight...” the memories came back, clearer than she hoped for “...of course we were skeptical, since it could be one of Sombra's traps... but we decided, that we had to take the risk: after all, it was the last chance we had, before his troops would make his move on Canterlot.”
Her sight wandered over the rows, like overlooking the battlefield, so many years ago “The stranger spoke the truth. As soon our forces attacked, the stallions simply stopped moving and we destroyed all of them... banished the King...” to add sorrowful “... and the Empire vanished.”
Twilight had to think about this important piece of history “Is that, why you removed the article?”
Celestia gave a nod “Yes, it is. We decided it is for the best, to keep the Crystal Pony's unaware, if possible. They have been through so many over the years... and we didn't want to hurt them any further. Knowing any of this might cause mass panic among them, if they find out”.
“She is right” Twilight thought.
Cadence had talked to her in private about this issue. Some citizens still were afraid to leave their homes after dark; were frightened by their own shadows and at times: a surprising noise was all it took to let them run.
The Empire had been saved... but some scars would take more time to heal.
The purple alicorn tilted her head “But why you think, this stallion is one of them?”
“At first we weren't sure, but after the Guard confirmed, what had happened... we came here.” All eyes followed Celestia's sight to the stallion, which had kept raising his hoof unnoticed, up to this point – and let it come down like a sledgehammer, breaking the stone ground beneath with a -WHOMP!- making dust and stone pieces fly a few meters over the ground.
“They react on him.” Twilight almost whispered.
“We have to find it and destroy it!” the blue alicorn said strict “Don't show any mercy, it won't either!” leaving the group hasty, to get on her mission.
Now they understood, why it was so important to find him.
If this stallion would run wild... there was no way to tell, how much damage he would cause, before they could stop him. If, they could stop him.
“Princess?”
“Yes, Twilight?”
“If he is just a weapon... why would he steal all those items? And more importantly, why didn't he attack anything else?”
“I guess the pony in control, abuses his powers, to commit those crimes. Remember, he doesn't have a will on its own, he just follows orders.”
“Hm... we might be able to set up a trap and find whoever is behind all of this”.
“I agree, but we have to be careful. We have to defeat him together” the white mare let her sight wander over the remaining group, before making her way towards the exit.
“Lets go everypony.” Twilight announced and followed two steps behind.
“Ya know, I could use one of those for ma fields” Applejack joked to Rarity, which couldn't stop to stare over her shoulder “Please don't, they are horrible... and outdated as well” the mare pulled a face.
“Pinkie?” Fluttershy checked after her, which was slowly backing up, still pointing her Party-Cannon at them “Coming!” she shouted, but not before pointing on her eyes and then onto the statues.
Rainbow was left behind and dared to give the headless horse a nudge, to prove how brave she was. Nothing happened and the mare turned around with a big grin.
The nudged hoof fell off, hit the ground-
-clonk!-
-the pegasus jumped up – racing through the exit, before anypony else.
The pony's left the chamber and the princesses gave a last glance down the hall, which slowly darkened again before the portal finally vanished.
Twilight and her friends got into the library to search for information's, while Luna moved out on her own and Princess Celestia took control over the Royal Canterlot Guard, giving new instructions, while listening in to possible clues they have found.
Searching a single stallion, which barely anypony had seen, wasn't an easy task.
“That should be it” Twilight said and put the chalk away.
She had written down two large blackboard's, with all the stolen items. On the left all the items stolen from the bank, about forty in number and on the right the ones from Fancy Pants - respectable twelve in total.
“I asked the librarian to bring us every book, which is related to one of those item's, so we can figure out what they do and what they might have in common.
“Ughhh...” came as a group reaction, since they weren't anywhere near as much into books, as she was.
The mare frowned “I can't read them all on my own, so everypony gets a book and starts reading” she said strict, levitated everypony a thick dust-catcher to browse through.
It took them hours to find most of them while taking turns, so everypony could stretch one's legs or wings – whatever was the case or even have a snack.
The librarian didn't have this pleasure since he was the one to cart back and forth all the page-turners on his own.
“Guh, dere, de nexd lout” he gave from him and tilted the wheelbarrow, to make space for the read ones and load them up one hoof at a time. He was just done, when Rainbow threw one more onto his stack “Useless!” after which his cart wobbled from side to side and forced him to hold on to its side, in order to keep the balance “few... glose.”
“Uh! Nothing!” Rarity declared and the next book landed on the imbalanced stack.
“Oh shout” - the pile came down and buried the old stallion beneath, while the rest kept browsing.
“Ouh! ouh! I got one I got one!” Pinkie cheered and giggled “The Swamp-Witch Amulet! Legend says it allows to turn everypony into... a frog! Hihihi! Sounds funny!”
Twilight looked onto her blackboard and crossed this one out, while Pinkie grabbed her cup and pulled it upside down, to reward herself for the good work... but only a single drop fell onto her tongue “Ey! Where is my soda!?” she said disappointed “Uh... all empty!? I get new one!” it cheered “Berrryy sooodaaaa!” she screamed, while charging off.
“Uhm, i'm not sure, but I think I got one too...” Applejack said doubtful “Nebula Ring... it is believed that it can be used to cause hallu-..... hallucinata... ha-l-lu.. - it lets ya see strange stuff” the mare declared arsey and closed the book with a frown.
“Could be” Twilight nodded and made a cross in front of the name.
Now the alicorn paid close attention to the pegasus, which was laying in her seat, with a book on her face... snoring at that.
“Harump” she tried... but the blue mare was still sleeping, so she got a few steps closer “Harump!” it came louder... “Chnnnrreeeeeeezzsss”... - “Rainbow...?” still nothing “Rainbow-Da-hash...” ...sleeping like a brick...
She zapped her with a spark of magic and the mare snapped up “I'm reading! I'm reading!” she pleaded while holding the book upside down.
The purple mare rolled her eyes once “Did you find anything?” she asked patient, while the blue mare took a look in her book and turned it a few times, till she was sure it was right.
“I... uhm...” she blinked a few times, while her head began to tilt on the side.
“Looks like somepony needs glasses” Applejack hinted towards Rarity, which giggled “I know an excellent optician, he sure could make some special aviator goggles” it came classy, on which they giggled together.
“Ey! My eyes are fine, it's the book! It's broken!” the mare declared and threw it away, right in front Fluttershy, which picked it up, to give it the same confused look.
“I uhm... t-think she is right... it does look awkward” Fluttershy agreed while trying to figure out what she was looking at, before the book was taken away by Twilight, to be third with this expression on her face “You are both right... this must be some accent dialect...” she said, while her eyebrows could not decide, in which direction they were supposed to go.
“Ha! Who needs glasses now!?” the blue mare triumphed.
“Well gosh, guess you're a bookworm after all” the cowgirl gave in, with a straight face.
“Yeah right! I'm the bookworm!” then she thought about it “... ey, wait a second!”
Applejack dropped her the face and burst in laughter, accompanied by Rarity.
“Oh Applejack, how cheeky of you!” nudging the prankster.
“Shhhhhh” it came from the other side of the room, were the yellow stallion tried to sort in the lend books.
“At least I don't sound like a broken record!” with that said, Rainbow imitated Applejack's problems with big words.
“Ey, that ain't funny!”
“She is right, we didn't mean it like that, no reason to get scathing!”
“Shhhhhhhhh...”
“Why don't you use ur fancy talk on her!?” the pegasus said while turning her back on them.
“Girls, please calm down, we have to keep searching.” Twilight pleaded.
“I ain't do a thing before she doesn't apologize!” the cowgirl said stubborn, also turning her back.
“Puh”
“Rainbow, apologize to Applejack” Rarity snapped towards the pegasus.
“Make me!” showing her tongue.
“Uhhhrrr” with that a chalk sponge hit the pegasus on the flank.
“What the!? Did you throw-” and the next one her face, which left a white stamp on it – just before the blue mare charged down and wrangled with Rarity, to use one of the sponges on her “Lets put on some make up!” it came, while she powdered her cheeks, to make her look like a circus clown, since the sponges had more than white chalk to offer.
Shhhhhhhhh!!!
“Girl's! GIRL'S!” Twilight shouted and got into the mix, dragging the blue mare away with magic “Applejack, a little help here!?” the mare took action, since this really got out of hoof, to hold back Rarity.
“Dez enugh!” the librarian said loud and clear in his thick accent “Diz is a library, nud a blaygruont!” the mares now hold in and let go from one another, while he kept screaming from the depths of his lungs “Oud! Oud I sei!” he gestured towards the door.
Twilight was a princess. She simply could command him to leave them alone or even order in royal guards to provide the necessary space.
However, being an alicorn and therefore a real princess was still a quite new experience for Twilight, but what she really was – and ever would be to the core; was a bookworm. She had spent most of her life between shelf's like this, only accompanied by silence and singled out coughs echoing from the walls. Twilight respected those guardians of knowledge way to much to do such a thing so that not even the thought of it came to mind.
“Please, don't throw us out, we just have to find a few more answers” Twilight pleaded, while walking up to him “it's really important, we just need to read some more books and than we are gone, I promise. Won't take... let's say, an hour?” she smiled.
The yellow stallion scrubbed with hoof-tip through his gray goat-beard and tried to get a calm thought “Nhgnnn... feine... bud keip it duwn!” - barely turned around, he saw a pink flash charging towards him – holding a tablet on one hoof, while trying to hold balance with the others.
The tablets were crammed with soda, popcorn, berries and other threats, higher than the mares head “OUT OF MY WAYYYY! MUNCHIEEE EMERGENCYYYYY!” it screamed, just before they collided and the sticky mish-mash landed all over the stallion: from top of his blue mane... over the yellow body, all the way down to the black hooves.
Everything was covered in sweet, sticky, treats.
The pink mare laid on her tummy - looking up to the yellow victim, which let his face slowly turn into an interesting red tone “Oopsy...”
His hoof smudged some of the burning berry-juice out of his eyes, while Twilight tried to help him out, using one of the sponges.
“Uhm... good as new...?” she smiled less than convincing, while his face had gained a third color.
The librarian hold up a hoof to make her stop, while grinding his teeth.
A barrage of curses was only held back, due to the room they sat in, not because of her title or anything.
“Oud... ahl uff yuew!” out, waving his hoof towards the doors, as soon he could find the vague direction.
“Can we... come back tomorrow?” Twilight tried carefully, but he tightened his pose sharp, to add “OUD! UN LIFEDIME!”
“E-excuse me.” Fluttershy tapped his shoulder gently, to get his attention.
The pegasus had brought some paper and water, which she now used to carefully clean his face, while talking gently to this poor guy “I know my friends made some trouble...” his face lost stroke by stroke one color's and his eyes were freed from this pesky juice “...but could we please finish our work?”
A few more strokes around his neck and it also wasn't as sticky anymore... “I'm sure. they allare terrible sorry...” she said towards the trio behind, to give them a serious glance, on which they all realized how dumb they had acted.
“I'm sorry i made fun of ya...” Applejack started.
“Me too, darling, we really shouldn't have picked on you.” Rarity chipped in.
“Ye, I guess, I kinda overdid it too, sorry about that.” Rainbow shrugged.
Now Fluttershy turned to the pink one “...and surely will clean up this mess, right away...”
“Uh, Uh!” on which Pinkie charged away to get a mop and some more water, in less than no time. It wasn't any different from working in Sugar-Cube Corner... and oh boy, she had wrecked this place one or two times.
Now the yellow mare turned back to him, giving big eyes and sugar sweet “If- if you don't mind of course” with a few strokes of her big blue eyes, but not looking ashamed down in between.
The stallion shook and nodded a few times, but stuck with nodding in the end “fein... iv dey glean ub... and geeb it duvn”
“I knew you are a good stallion” she flattered him, on which his face became another tone of red “Vell... a guezz” he shrugged with a small grin on his wrinkled face.
“M-maybe you could even h-help us?” it came lovely enough, to gain Rarity's approving nod.
“Mhrrr... wat yu neet?”
“Twilight, would you?”
“Hu?”
“The book...” she pointed.
“OH, of course.”
The cause of all this trouble was levitated in front of the librarian, being asked quickly if he might know anything about it.
“Det? Eh, eazy! ... ids vrom ze Frouzn Nourths.”
“You can read it!?”
“I sbend ower fiwty yeirs in dhis libreary! I reat ahl ov dem!” he made clear, with a wide bow over the book shelves.
Twilight grabbed the chance by it's tail and brought the chalkboard's closer.
“Are some of this artifacts described in this book!?”
The stallion took a few minutes, before pointing the first time at the right board “Dat! - Helmed of Brawery – pard of ze undouchable armor!”
“Untouchable?” Twilight asked to make sure she had heard right.
“I zaid dat...! I zaid dat...!” he then nodded, while keeping his nose down, to point a few minutes later on the left side “Spheire of Endschendmend – greadet bei Fumbl ze Wize, whitsch uset id do gondrol helbvul bubbepts.”
The purple mare had no idea what gibberish meant and gave Fluttershy an asking glance “He said: it was used to control helpful puppets”.
“Eyp! I zaid dat! I zaid dat! … ed leazt sumbony lizens!” the stallion smiled, before searching some more, but without any further results “dez it.” to close the book after.
“Thank you, so very much” Fluttershy said kind and gave him a hug, which made him grin like a drunken mule.
“Aww... juo are welgome!” he waved ashamed, after she let go.
“Lady's!” Twilight declared, to get everypony's undivided attention “I think we found something...” the chalked tabbed on both blackboard's, to circle in the names she was talking about “Of all the items on our lists, those two have something in common and seem to be powerful artifacts... it might be a coincidence... but it's all we got.”
Pinkie rose a hoof “Uhhh uhhh uhh!”
“Yes, Pinkie?”
“Can I have your soda?”
“Ugh... yes, Pinkie.”
“Any non-soda related questions?”
Rarity hesitantly rose a hoof.
“You know, you don't have to raise hooves...” Twilight pointed out.
“Oh...” the white hoof lowered “Anyway, you know what this... thing- is up to, don't you?” she asked suspiciously.
“It's a little early to be sure, but... if he gathered more items like those...” Twilight paused to see if everypony was thinking the same thing. At least everypony, that wasn't busy with soda.
“Yar, not say'n that...”
“...whoever is behind all of this, might build more of his kind” Twilight took away, confirming their worst worries.
The stallion's struggled to move through the storm, taking slow steps to sink into the snow, all the way up to the chest.
All they could see was a wall of white, pushing against their body's – sticking to cloth; getting it wet, cold and even heavier than it already was.
“Keep moving, the storm is getting worse!”
“Hadn't noticed!” the unicorn barfed, but his words got lost between the mask and noise of cutting wind.
The earthpony wiped over his goggles, to raise his sight and make out what seems to be the hillside, before he kept going, since the snow was about to blind him again.
“Already see the hillside!” it came hoarse to add a silent “...almost home” to himself.
This time the sarcastic comment stood out, which made him quickly go back, searching through the white, abyss.
“Swift-Move, where are you!?” it shouted, just before almost tripped over the unicorn, which laid flat on his stomach, covered by a thin layer of snow. “Let's go, the others are waiting for us!” the unicorn rose his head, but struggled to get on its hooves.
A protection spell would have been the answer since unicorns weren't physical as strong, but the trip was even to long for that and had cost even more energy. Either way, the strain had been too much and he felt exhausted and sleepy, as well annoyed, listening towards those ridiculous cheering attempts.
Tenet saw how the unicorn put his head down again, before giving another look over his back. Even if he got the others, they would never find him in time... if at all.
“Ace!” let his ears twitch “Ace, how is your mother!?” the unicorn's head rose again, while his friend got distance between them “- whats the matter, Ace!? Tell me, how's she doing!?” the earth pony gave another look behind “I heard she eats to much hay, is that true!?” and then ran for it, chased by a blue unicorn.
The earthpony flew through the air, slid about two meters and bumped “-ugh!” painfully against the jagged walls. The unicorn followed right after, but walking on its own – the horn still charged, while the storm kept blowing into the room. Tenet sat up, while feeling numb pain on his frozen flank “-you... a-are you out of y-our mind!?” it shouted towards Swift-Move, which slammed the door shut, to then turn at him “Mind your own business and keep your hooves out of mine!”
“What!? You s-stubborn mule wouldn't have moved otherwise! - you would be buried!”
The magicians hoof got up to his face, clenching his eyes in order to focus “Listen: I didn't ask you for your help...” his head was buzzing like a swarm of bees “... just get warmed up and... forget about it”. Wet cloth was quickly removed and thrown near the oven, which he light up with a spark of magic “Just forget about it...” he mourned one more time, getting further into the mountain, but not without a “I sure will – next time!” thrown after.
Meanwhile, a welcome guessed arrived next to the pegasus, finding comfort under his wing, letting eyes wandering over their creation. A cold snout. Lose wires as tail... down to clunky hooves and one more time up to rigid ears.
Chitchat had turned into a dream, which would become a thought and at first: nothing more than an odd hobby to pass the bedtime hours. Sketches were made on napkins and a kid's toy became space-holder, till they would figure out the first measurements. Tenet was used as a template for the first blueprint since Jack wouldn't hold still. He was ticklish. A blurred blueprint was drawn. Too many numbers had been swapped around, so Muse had to draw it again... and ran out of space. Initial she split it into five pieces. Soon it would be over forty. A hoof-sized pewter figure was presented. Scale and proportions were right, making the four realize, what ridiculous task they had taken on. The day after Sledge presented a headpiece, causing utterly silence. Concerns rose, while bits and space became an issue. The forge was sold, to find someplace safe. A unicorn was hired. Progress stagnated, it wouldn't move. About three forty in the morning, Muse shook it out of his sleep, talking nonsense. Jack and Tenet moved in. They now were a group of five.
“... he is so much bigger” it whispered upwards.
A thoughtful nod was given “... we should re-scale it then, to fit your blueprints”.
The white hoof nudged his side, a gentle smile, leaning at his side, as the smile got bright when the others came in.
They looked rough. Traces of snow stuck in their fur, the manes covered with ice-crystals and the tails almost stiff. Every step left a puddle behind, while their body's still shook in order to get warm again. Their soaked cloth had been left behind in the entrance and replaced with dry towels hanging around their necks.
“We are glad you arrived. I hope the travel wasn't too strenuous?” they were greeted, while Jack provided some self distilled coffee. Hot, without any of that bitter aftertaste.
Swift-Move sat down on his flanks, taking zips from the levitating cup at his side, while ignoring the hopping chemist. He wasn't in the mood to exchange empty phrases with any of them.
Tenet took the cup with a thankful nod, feeling the brew running down it's sides, but didn't bother. Sticky hooves were the least of his problems. “... we are alright” rushing down half the cup, but clenching eyes and jaw right after “C-crap...” he caught, since boiling coffee didn't mix to well with cold insides.
Muse couldn't else to pull a frown, whispering something to her husband, which - to her surprise - shook his head slightly, before turning to the rest of the group and speaking up “... since we are all re-united, I would like to start, by thanking all of you... for your hard work” as he turned from one pony to the next, starting with the brown “Thank you...” to the green “Thank you” which shyly turned red “Thank you” this one kept its frown, but the last one made up for it “... and thank you” it whispered the last time.
The group had plenty reason to be proud; smiling and congratulate each other, one of which joyfully hopping in place, while others took it with more dignity.
Creating something from thin air... spending years to make it real... - this meant a lot of sacrifice and sleepless nights. Anger been thrown around, whenever something wasn't going to work, letting the project become ubiquitous. Be it during a common lunch, while trotting through the ever same hallway's... or even, when they tried to get away for a while, taking a visit to the valley. It always was already there. It might never be different.
“The sum of our talent's has become more, than any of us...” the pegasus announced one more time ”... and that's why I have one more thing to say: If everything is going according to plan – and I have no doubt it will... I will take this project...” as his wing made a complimentary gesture “... and entrust it to the Royal-Administrative.”
“You... what!?” was just one of many comments and questions going through the room.
“We were working our hooves off and that's what you come up with!? First thing: slapping a ribbon on it and giving it away!?”
“That's what its made for and that's what's going to happened.”
“I kinda thought we keep him, don't we? – he's a good listener! A bit taciturn, but I don't mind!”
“Alright with me.”
“Oh shut up -nopony asked you...” the hoof pointed at shoulder-shrugging “... what made you think that's okay excluding us like that!?”
“The question is, what you think would happen?” his wife threw in “... I thought we all knew what this is all ab-” Sledge interrupted her “Our work here is done. This project has eventually become too big for us to handle. It isn't just a question of bits or nerves at this point; but time. Even if we cut the process in half, we still would take another decade to get the necessary numbers” Sledge got up in order to face Tenet, which eyes were wandering through the room. It seemed that the others were quite accepting about the situation and then, there was this gray hoof offered to him “I'm not asking you as a leader, but i'm asking you, as your friend.”
Tall Tale probably was the most moderate town you could ask for.
It was about the size of Batlimare, but lacked the picturesque coast and harbor. It had a couple of skyscrapers, but not even close the jungle Manehattenhad to offer. It had some beautiful parks and a lot of green in between its simple apartment blocks, but wasn't a small town like Ponyville anymore, despite it's lack of landmarks.
A grown town of humble pony's, trusting the princesses to protect them from evil.
Speaking of which, one just entered the town.
However, it's route wasn't directly going from A to B, but rather weird and seemingly unfocused. Sticking closely to a zigzag path across streets to once again quickly vanish into shady alleyways. Narrow path's in between houses, running through all of town like veins inside your body. Simple passages in which garbage cans dominated ground level, while clothesline's above been taut from side to side. A good place to have a moment for yourself or having chatted with the neighbor living next window... - but just like a virus in your blood, crooks and criminals were always attracted by the opportunity of a hidden approach, leaving only two streets and a smudge of grass between him and destination. Leaving the dim hideout, the sun tried to blind him for a moment, but it wasn't too big of a deal. He didn't even bother slowing down, while steel-blue eyes adapted to the sight of the empty streets ahead. A path in which nopony could hope to stop him!
Once these sturdy legs gathered top speed, he would simply smash chariots, break through doors and push aside whoever dared to get in his way to then... to then... to... then... stop.
Standing in the middle of a crossing, an overlooked detail became unmissable.
A candy-store to his left had a sign with -open- hanging between treats, but not a single foal asking for a gumball?
Malls without mares trying to find the latest fashion... -not even a hustle over the bargain bin ...and a cafe with thirty empty seats, standing lonely beneath umbrellas.
As the horse spun around to search for a possible ambush... spun again!
… checking the sky... backing quickly into the alley he came from...
Barely a hundred meters further, Luna protested stomping “This is foolish! We should be out there and hunt it down!”
“Be patient my dear sister, it is only a matter of time till it will come to us.”
“Yes, he should send it here soon” Twilight agreed “I'm pretty sure he wants this artifact”
“Than we should destroy it and not serve it on a silver platter to our enemy!” Luna countered.
“No... than it wouldn't work” the mare shook her head “We don't know if somepony else is involved... if he finds out the artifact was gone, he has no reason to come”
The blue alicorn could see the logic behind that, but would rather make sure that the item was destroyed if there was even the slightest chance, that this was indeed the next target.
Luna stomped out of the room, she had to get some fresh air!
“Did I... say something wrong?” Twilight wondered.
“You have to forgive her, she never could accept, what happened.”
“... because you had to retreat?”
Celestia shook her head “It is the time before that, which is haunting her...” the princess stepped up to the wide glass front, which allowed for a good sight onto the museum below, as well more of the city and the land behind that “You have to know, most pony's try to forget what happened back then...when King Sombra ruled relentless above the empire. He forced pony's into slavery's to dig for riches ...punished the smallest violation of his rules harshly... and there were even reports, he did some of this for his amusement.”
“I read about this, but it wasn't your fault.”
“Twilight, you don't understand... it isn't about what he had done, but forhow long...”
Celestia's voice had become wild mix of anger and sadness, which was like a stab, into her former student's heart “He holds the empire hostile for over a year, while we couldn't do anything, then listening to news reports of his cruelty to come in... while even our own subjects began to doubt us.”
“I didn't...”
“Every day we tried to help the Crystal Pony's, show them, that somepony cared about their fate so that they wouldn't give up hope. We used our troops to sneak in additional food to help out on the Empire's spare supplies... and soon we even tried to sneak out citizens, mostly young ones... but it was just too many to bring all to safety... and when hefound out - he punished their parents, for ourdoing” she had to pause here, since it wasn't a welcome memory- it never would “We wanted to stop this suffering, not cause even more! ….and Luna... she hurt herself even more, with every failed attempt... but, she kept trying... and I... i did something horrible my self, I fear...”
Twilight tried to get eye contact, but the alicorn refused “...did you tell her to stop?”
Whispering both sorrowful and bitter “No... I helped her”
Just minutes later, an explosion tore them back into here and now! Flames and smoke rose towards the sky - a blue blur rushing straight for the source!
“It is here!” Twilight said excited and spun around, but was stopped by a white hoof.
“It's just a diversion” Celestia said, pushing aside those old feelings quickly. Emotions couldn't get in the way when so much was at state. A calm mind, would lead to victory.
“A diversion?”
Her mentor didn't move, keeping eyes on the objective while Twilight tried to adapt and think two steps further “... but Luna?”
“Don't worry about her”
Twilight walked back and forth a few times but tried to calm down to get on Celestia's side. A glance upwards revealed a stoic, face which didn't look familiar on the white mare.
For now, there was no time to worry about such trivial things, so both mares observed their objective closely when barely a minute later somepony caught their attention.
The purple snout pushed against the glass, while a black stallion ran into their general direction! …but ...it wasn't so much running at the museum... as much passing by in a hurry. The guard should have brought all of to safety... - a possible straggler? Could it be!?
“This looks like a civilian, just a second!” with that the mare teleported down, right in front of the pony coming to a sliding standstill.
“Hey there! Calm down! I will bring... y-ou...” this was when Twilight realized: his fur, had been blackened “!”
A hoof hit full force, half a second after the barrier-spell was up – letting the princess crashed painfully through several buildings behind -dunf!- pchhh- duchh! ...getting buried inside a toy-shop, beneath a shelf's worth of plush copy's of herself.
All of which having the wrong eye color.
The intruder took a look to the left and right, but nopony else bothered to show up, causing a quick motion towards the real goal nearby. In and out, sticking to the plan.
The museum looked like any other, as if there was only one way to built those.
An entrance room with free brochures trying to lure another visit before this one even had begun, followed by a long floor framed by thick stone pillars, connecting oversized rooms painted in plain white. A glass ceiling whenever possible let natural light onto the exhibits beneath, all of which behind thick glass and scattered across the room with no sense of order or aesthetic. On the further back there was also a gift-shop with a all sorts of kitsch one had to wonder who bought this kinda nonsense.
However, he wasn't here for cheap keychains or bobbleheads of Star Swirl the bearded.
Neither for highfalutin “art” or whatever the sculpture in the corner was supposed to be.
The real goal seemed a lot more common to the untrained eye. A stone exhibit... for kids.
Made for children to teach them the difference between crystals, gems and other minerals, using a bunch of examples to show them first hoof how they looked like.
Not just weren't some not labeled, but the main event was put next to a label reading sapphire. Sapphire!? Celestia allowed such a pressures crystal to lay basically in the open, hoofed from foal to foal and -degraded by a label fitting onto anything but!?
The vitrine got broken and the blue stone swallowed at once.
A shadow gave away the incoming attack from above! Throwing himself immediately to the side, while the vitrine, the stones and the ground below were molten to a puddle of slag – shreds send flying through the room like shrapnel's, getting stuck in whatever they hit!
He kept rolling two, three four times more, before jumping up again and dashing forwards, while white beams of light kept piercing the ground behind in an attempt to let the same happening to him.
His way lead straight through a wall to break the line of sight with the mare above when the second one appeared on his front out of nowhere! Shooting a purple charge towards him under which he barely managed to slide through across the marble floor, before ruffling up again a couple of meters in front of her – but the mare had learned her lesson and vanished right after with a -puff puff- noise to reappear on his side with more distance, going for another attack, but parts of a stone pillar were already thrown into her general direction, forcing Twilight to break off the attack and relocate once more.
After being shown the metal stallions for the first time and despite Luna's accurate description of their abilities, Twilight had never thought one of them could move this fast! They looked so bulky and heavy, causing her to expect them to behave more like Applejack'sbrother BigMac. The red farm pony also was big and bulky... and given; he could gather a decent speed on a straight line, but only after a couple of seconds passing by.
No. This stallion was nothing like that! Instead: quick as a grasshopper! Jumping, rolling and running without any delay in between, like Applejack at a rodeo!
It turned out, that not giving into her friend's protests had been a really wise decision since they had been in too great of a danger being near something like this.
The stallion burst outside, Celestia took a look above her shoulder and danced through the air in a half-circle to get crossfire going, while Luna just had returned- going right into a flat angle in front of him, approving collateral damage onto the building behind.
Twilight found herself in Luna's line of fire- reflecting missing beams with a forcefield while trying her luck with own blasts onto his back; but way more careful than her blue ally.
Celestia might tell her, that it didn't matter, if parts of the town would be destroyed, since everypony had brought to safety... yet she still tried to hit nothing else than him; forcing the alicorn to take aim longer than necessary, using smaller charges as well which didn't show any effect other than a bright flash bursting on his flanks.
Just a couple shots later the bookworm changed tactics, using a more creative approach.
Purple hooves got into a stance, the horn charged up and touched the ground.
The magic shot away in three blue purple bursts; jumping wildly over the ground, crossing one another, to leave slick spots behind wherever they hit – dancing beneath and around the stallion - jumping another gap of ten meters and vanishing into the concrete, after which out of nowhere a giant ice-wall shot straight up out of the ground, right in front of his snot, leaving no time to avoid it!
The stallion braced for impact and smashed right into the cold barrier, after which the spot was rained down on with spears of magic, melting the ice within seconds and setting the concrete beneath partials to flames.
At this moment Twilight realized, that if they were wrong... and this stallion wasn't who they thought... “STOP! - STOP FIRING!” it shouted to the big confusing of Celestia and Luna, which took a couple of seconds to react, holding huffing their fire, giving one another a curious look, why Twilight was asking for them to stop.
At first there was just a thick cloud of steam and dust... and which each second, the purple stomach felt the need to twist itself further, giving the feeling they just done something horrible – then everything seemed happening in slow motion.
Steam and dust swirled around and were pulled away in a draft, following the thing jumping out of its middle. Dust stuck in his brown mane and lost itself when hooves made contact with the ground. The blackened fur looked ravaged, with even more black and gray in between, wherever it had been burned off - revealing the dull metal skin.
From the shredded fur hanging from his snot, up to a bunch of lose wires, which were the leftovers of his tail... it was perfectly clear, that this wasn't a pony... but a THING!
This moment didn't even take a hoof-full of seconds and the thief was almost gone, rushing into an alley and out of sight, but Luna wouldn't let him escape this easy, being the first to fetch herself and continuing the attack!
“Luna wait!” her sister warned since Twilight just had become airborne and this wasn't going as planned. Their best chances were to fight him on open field, where they could use their range advantage and wear him down... – this was madness!
The night princess made a swift move between mid-sized buildings in order to cut it off- hopefully literally. Searching quickly along the ground for this loathsome monstrosity, luck shuns upon the moon, casting a sinister shadow of misfortune upon the fool beneath.
Huffing and coughing the four-legged anvil made its way quickly through town, head hung deep like a charging bull. Of course, the huffing was nothing more than a trick of the mind, a cause of habit... and sign that concentration slipped elsewhere... ughhhfff... otherwise one had noticed that shadows became a lot longer and sharp around the edges since Falling Stars was cast upon him!
A rapid scatter-fire consistent of flimsy, yet highly concentrated beams, flung hissing upon the ground. Shooting upwards from the horn, performing a high bow, to then land simultaneously onto the target area: covering the howl widths of the road. A spell made to surprise and devastate enemy's before they even knew what hit them!
Catching up with the furious pony, her friends couldn't see a thing; blinding flashes were wrapped in a thick cloud, allowing only for short blinks to overlook the situation.
Spraying blindly the entirety of the street with high energy charges; destroying stores, houses, windows, chariots and hydrants, street signs, lamps – everything and a kitchen sink in the process... the princess hold this rapid paste till her gasping body couldn't hold the tension anymore, breaking off the attack as sudden as it started, giving cramped wings a moment to relax. Salty sweat burned in her eyes and the mane kept getting in the way, but even without seeing a thing through smoke columns... she knew this was over!
“I will cast a wind spell!” Twilight announced, on which Celestia agreed “do so!”
Magic lit up once more, yet this time to propitiating the street with a strong breeze... and... it looked like two thousand blistering needles had sunk into the ground, leaving a landscape of tiny glowing holes, hissing being filled with water from nearby sieves, which used to be hydrant's. All of which causing steam, whenever those red edges were touched by the cooling liquid.
While eyes scanned the area for a puddle of molten metal, living-room window of a tidy mare exploded in shards above the surprised princess! - a monster sailing at her with swinging hooves! - swhoof! -barely missing the surprised princess which frantic tried to gather height, when the opposing building was used to change direction for another -SWHOOF! to deliver a devastating -DUNF! – sending a blue flash right into the Happy-Horse Motel, breaking through three floors! Two-UGH! One-GnAh! - crashing into the basement -unf! while chunks of ceiling followed on the way down, layered with the noise of raining concrete.
Losing no time to check the result, the construction bounced off the first building side and WHOMP!- landed hard, leaving an imprint on the perforated street to make a quick exit.
“LUNA!” Celestia was simply shocked for a moment “Princess! You follow him! I get your sister!” Twilight snapped - losing no time to hurrying into the ruins to find the victim jammed between concrete plates, which probably were a floor at some point “Hold still” she said gentle and teleported both out of the building, moments before the rest crumbled down onto the spot they just had been. Nearly creating an infamous urban tomb.
Luna seemed badly hurt... but managed to pull herself back onto her hooves.
Her right shoulder and leg were injured, which was shown by the fact she couldn't put weight on it and her wings hung deeper as they used to. The head also had a twitching to it – might be caused by a neck wound “Don't pity me! Keep fighting!” she announced stubborn and flew wobbly away “You are welcome!” Twilight shouted and followed quickly after.
Celestia meanwhile stood on the stallion's tail, but without engaging him on her own.
A glance over furrowed shoulders revealed the grace of Equestria was glued to his hooves, following everywhere, no matter how often he switched directions or broke through walls in order to create shortcuts concealed from purple eyes... but without to much of a success.
How!? -hammered in his head “How couldn't pony's see them for who they were!?” while heat seemed to reach the point, on which he basically crawled through the open desert, the sun literally following in his back “gah!” another beam hit the neck, causing the rushing hooves to tilt into a pole “powwwwnnn!” flattening it and stumble, which allowed for another zup zup zup! Of white fire to be cast; hind-leg, shoulder and barely missing an ear!
Celestia's aim had about a thousand years more practice then Luna's -and it showed! Every strike either let her target either stumble or hit directly on whatever she assumed to be weak points, mostly going for joints and the head – zup!
“GHN!” - another mark by self-righteous royals! “Gnnr-rwwwWWWAAAAAAH!”
A skyscraper was charged head first, rushing through the entrance-hall and several thinner concrete walls like hoof-ball players tearing through paper banners on the start of a game.
Breaking free, the horse flung around immediately to go for it again! Head first hitting the thick wall to smash even more dust and debris onto a stack of tables nearby, which then were knocked aside as the raging bull aimed for pillars in the middle of the room...
Princess Celestia didn't bother to point out the obvious towards her arriving friends. Chunks of glass flung rattling onto the street, as rubbish landed on the street. Stacks of wood and pieces of fabric flew in random directions, making it rather easy to follow the horse moving around, trying to chew through the building like a termite, leaving it ramshackle. A fact one could easily miss, but not for long.
Twilight gained distance, opposing to Celestia, nearby the shaky sister, when a growling noise echoed through the nearby streets “Huh... what was that?”
At first it was hard to notice, but then the office tilted more than a meter sideways and sped up in its decline, trying to gather speed as it happened “Oh no you don't!” but purple magic countered the process immediately, yet there was already an eight meter gap and the noise beneath signaled that it wouldn't get any easier. Twilight had to pull it back! ...or at least slow it down somehow! “Gnnhhh!”- using big chunks of energy to prevent the impossible, if only... the others... would help... to...
“Let it fall!” Celestia shouted.
“... but t-he City!” Twilight squeezed out.
“Let it FALL!” she repeated even more strict!
“-if I could ju-...” she tried to argue with flickering magic. Tons of concrete tried to slip away, while a glance revealed the angry expression on her mentor's face.
“NOW!” Celestia shouted – and the light vanished.
Twenty-two floors rapidly tilted – smashing minor houses nearby flat as pancakes, under constant rambling and dirt being thrown upwards; creating the perfect escape route, flooding nearby streets with a constant expanding cloud of dust, like a mudslide.
Despite the moderation, Twilight didn't let take it from her to cast another wind spell however, but adding a twist to it: instead of blowing the howl mess from A to B, air was pushed straight downwards alongside every bit of dust -instantly clearing the area within a hundred meter radius... for a start. This way he couldn't hope to sneak away in any direction.
A first glance checked right around the cleared radius, but instead of finding the horse running or even sneaking at its edge, the dull gray construction stood right in the middle of the crumbled skyscraper!?
Starring upwards, as if these steel-blue eyes tried to get into their heads.
The alicorn's circled slowly above, while sight followed the ones passing by in front. Like a duel on sunset, everypony waited for the opponent to do it's first move and it was once again Luna to go for the draw!
A beam of blue light shot down with a harsh hissing sound, which was quickly avoided and replied with a huge chunk of thrown concrete – forcing the mare to make a quick maneuver in order to avoid a devastating impact; followed by more charges of Celestia and Twilight with similar result; forced to dodge or vaporize whatever came flown at them. Stone, steel, wood and even bureau articles, such as a plastic plant!?
The war-machine didn't hold still for an instant, running zig-zag, performing jump roles and picking up whatever touched hooves; throwing it at them and rushing behind crumbled walls, while pesky alicorn's used a rapidly increasing amount of magic to blast everything to dust and ashes, while Twilight kept performing this handy wind spell once in a while, whenever the battlefield was to clocked up to see a thing.
“We have to corner him!” Celestia shouted, since for every three beams fired, only one or two actually hit. Continuing like this, they would be out of breath and magic long before they could rain on his parade, which meant either a lot more of his kind or something even worse they didn't want to find out! As much they knew; this could already be stallion two or even five! They were look-alike, so it wouldn't come to much of a surprise when another one would show up out of thin air, pushing the envelope to finish this quickly.
Then the tormented anvil slipped once more inside the remains of the skyscraper, after which all mares ceased fire, not willing to waste another drop of magic on concrete. All of which look at their sweaty companions, trying to fetch their breath.
“You fough-t them be-fore, do they... have any weak-nesses!?” Twilight gasped, but Celestia shook her head “-no, but maybe we can creat-e one!” the wise alicorn suggested “Twilight, I want you to cast Black Ice directly at him, after I used Phoenix Flame-” an idea which instantly made sense towards the student! The metal would stretch, retract and crack! If done right. Once the metal was through, they sure could destroy whatever kept this thing going, ending this nightmare for good. A thought causing both of which to smirk confident.
“ENOUGH!” Luna shouted enraged, unwilling to put up with magic-kindergarten “THIS- ENDS- NOW!” with that said, the mare got into a spiral diving motion, landing near where they had seen this piece of scrap last.
Legs were spread into a battle stance, one of which had to be dragged into position, as she prepared herself to cast a spell of her own. Not just any spell, but thespell!
The night-princess had created it just for this reason but never came around to actually use it in battle. Back then her all-knowing-sister talked her out of it, claiming it was “to dangerous” since you couldn't it cast on the fly... -the built up was too lengthy... -it would leave one open to attacks... and many more empty phrases coming from a mare, from which she clearly couldn't learn any more.
Crackling static began to dance around the younger sister, causing all her wounds and marks burning painful as if hooves worth of salt were rubbed into them “Grhn!” it grunted, despite strained efforts to contain such pitiful noises. Salty sweat running into her eyes didn't help either, but this too was ignored... trying to hold this stiff pose, while searching for signs of movement – feeling how might and vengeance built up in her horn!
It felt like an upcoming storm, which once it arrived, would tear her enemy's to SHREDS!
“Come to your sense sister! You are taking it to far!”
“Sacrifice has to be made” Luna mumbled in reply.
“What is she going to do?” Twilight wondered, irritated by Luna's stubborn behavior.
“She will cast Crescent Light, an incredible destructive spell!”
“... then... she can stop it?”
“She will destroyeverything – not just him!”
Celestia didn't waste any more time for explanation's and told Twilight to keep guard from above, before going down herself in order to talk, once more, sense into her sister.
“Luna! It's enough! I won't let you cast it!”
“Than sto-p me...” the mare replied bitterly through teeth, before eyes wandered back to the ruins, searching for signs of the tin-can.
“You will burn this town to ashes! We will find another way, but what you are doing is wrong!”
“...”
“Luna! Listen to me!”
No response.
“Princess!” a warning echoed from above, when they noticed the stallion, slowly stomping outside the ruins into the middle of the ravaged road.
“Yha!” Twilight shot a purple beam at his side! Spoof! - bursting harmlessly in strokes of blinding light, some of which leaving burn marks on the road.
The horse, however, didn't even flinch.
It was in this moment when magic flashed before the princess's eyes, she saw it!
For a fraction of a second, the world around the white mare turned black. The concrete beneath became a burned meadow. There were icy hills on the horizon, partial hidden behind columns of smoke, causing the air all around to be thick and rough. A soldier nearby cried a comrades name in vain, as the flickering mirage caught Celestia's attention. The Crystal Empire. It would be the last time before they wouldn't see it for another thousand years, when a sinister last laugh was given from the defeated King, laying it's shadow upon the land... - to vanish at the blink of an eye.
Thousand's of pony's torn out of existence.
Celestia often had felt that they could had done more to protect them.
Acted sooner, more distinct. The way Luna told her to... a mare, her sister... which too would fall to her struggles... turn into a monster... and vanish. It truly was her fault!
“Luna is right... there has a line to be drawn” it whispered assertive, as burning hatred charged forwards! “GYAAAH!” Celestia answered in the form of Prismatic-Lightning!
A wild mixture of magic; wattled into a single stream of constantly swapping colors, every one of which having another effect “-zush!” it hissed, as a first stroke hit like a flaming whip, causing sparks to fly in every direction “-zuosh!” metal has been covered in ice all of a sudden “-zuw-ush!” to be hit by flames again, shot away in crackling lighting to cover the horses entire body “-and this line shall be ME!” blue strokes caused a massive shortcut to unleash the built up electricity in a lightning strike to the sky!
Flashes of light being observed by pony's holding on to one another, hiding as told far away from town, as even the smoke columns couldn't hide the unleashed energy “I can't believe this is happening” a co-worker told a friend “Man, I wish I could down there...” another mumbled, feeling muscles tense “You have to stay here” a hoof gently reminded, bringing attention back to the son “I guess you are right...- and I bet they will show this monster” the last line was directed towards the young pegasus, with a rumble of the mane.
The purple mare landed next to Luna, quickly creating a powerful forcefield in order to shield them from collateral damage such as flying debris and misguided magic strokes, trying to break through the purple bubble and twist the pony's nature inside out!
Yet the horse kept fighting itself through this barrage of blinding lights, having to break free from the ground turning back and forth, as the color-swapping beam liquefying tar, racing strokes of light left behind strokes of quicksand framed by bushes of grass and made the horse walk across broken shards, when sand dissolved bubbling into Quicksilver and hardened! “GAAAHHHH!” just before Celestia's magic began to cancel itself out! -the beam-swapping gray – rainbow and black in an instant, blasting everything behind the metal rump into oblivion! Letting everything within a meter radius simply sees to exist, as the beam shot in a flat angle into the ground before fading a hundred meters beneath, trying to bury another monstrosity refusing to be buried and forgotten...
“I....c...ann't...” Celestia gasped, before she had to let go all of a sudden and swap to more conventional magic instead: quickly picking a four-meter steel beam out of the ruins and smashing it into his sides from left to right, like she was about to swing a baseball bat, till he got a hold on it and tore it out of the exhausted magic grip, throwing it right back at her- wiping the older sister of her hooves and against the forcefield, which broke upon impact “PRINCESS!?” Twilight shouted, kneeing herself to put her hooves around the mare “-p...pro-ect- .una...” it muttered.
He was not even ten meter's away, wading through the tar-pit, which Celestia had created, yet already getting quicker again, when a glance revealed Luna seemed almost ready!
Eyes shun bright white; a testimony of uncontrollable magic built up inside!
“ASIDE!” Luna shouted, as the purple alicorn did as told and vanished alongside the sister in a burst of purple sparks, leaving Luna on her own – his dirty hooves about to rise...
She had to cast it -now!
Luna was twice.
Once to the head – breaking the spell in a burst... and once to the chest! - sending the mare hard to the ground, causing fragments of the charge to be released in a rapidly expanding ring. A black ring with blue shimmer, harmlessly passing through everything like a ghost... leaving nothing more than fine slits... and scratches... followed by a flimsy whistling, carried away by the wind.
The stallion felt far more than pleased, grinning victoriously at the unconscious alicorn!
Finally! He had faced those monsters and defeated them! By the lights! This had to be the greatest moment of his life... -HA! … a thousand and three years he had waited for this... giving payback! GAH! … - nopony could conquer what he and his friends had built!
Laughable that a mare like... like this... c-coul... cou-l-l-ld treii to... t- his head lowered in a stuttering motion towards his chest, when the whistling from before returned, laying layers of noise over one another, like the first waves of a Tsunami approaching... to ramp up into a high-pitched shriek, which got through his skin all the way shaking metal bones, while all around things began to move by themselves.
A street sign began to glow bright red in its middle, after which the upper half tilted and fell rattling to the ground. Wooden pieces spontaneous caught fire. Buildings burst around the lines as if they were packed full with explosives and crumbled to ruins, while the high-pitched shriek echoed along with the noise of destruction, as the howl district sank into the ground beneath thick layers of smoke.
Every window in town had been shattered as the magic wave slowly dissolved outwards, reaching the town's borders, cutting unnoticed single blades of grass, before vanishing completely. The only sound after this was the ongoing roaring of buildings which weren't done collapsing, burying many memory's along with them... except the one supposed to.
After a while, the dust clouds slowly became thinner, giving away the dimension of destruction to everypony nearby. The entire area had been brought down to ground level.
Not one stone still stood on the other... behind that, many buildings leaned tilted at one another. A single skyscraper had been hit diagonal, slid a third along the cut line, but luckily stopped afterward. A third of Tall Tale ...mere ashes.
In the middle of it, a bulky hoof rose in disbelieve, touching the impossible.
There was... a deep cut in the middle of his chest, running almost all the way to his left foreleg!? She had... damaged him!? - HOW!? His outer skin... it was magic proof!?
He could feel the caused damage; this numb burning on the still red glowing edges... the broken parts inside... lose of liquids, pumping out of his artificial veins into a hollow chest... and worst of all, the realization to fail his mission, because of them...
- no, it wouldn't end like this! It couldn't end like this! No! Nonoo! NOT AGAIN!
The stallion huffed stertorous, while raising forelegs as high the jagged bones allowed, like a jumper from a set of chess, readying to bring down his entire weight in one stomp to set this mare: check-mate.
“Don't!” a voice reached his ear, freezing the body in motion, declining his every command.
“Gnaahh!” pain suddenly followed, like a sting piercing head and chest, causing the brown body to lose control, as it crumbled motionless onto the white abyss “GARKkkksh....” pain!? Metal couldn'tfeel pain...! This body wasn't... “Ghnn!” … couldn't be!
“... don't h-urt me...” - the voice returned shivering, as his own laid on the twitching on its side “!?” the sight rose, pushing away the pulsating agony, which kept kicking.
Eyes widened, as the second impossible moment happened in front of his eyes... “M-muse!?” it stuttered, as a hoof rubbed along the brown snot “It c-an't be!?” it gasped, starring at a shivering white body, with brown mane and blue eyes... ! IT MUST BE HER!
As joy washed across his face to see her again “How is that even possible!?” as the head sunk again “Hnng!” trying to deal with those unexplained impulses rushing through this realm they sat in “Don't go~ just... gimme a moment” it coughed, as he felt afraid to leave her out of sight, as the anguished face pressed onto ground. This was so exciting! How long he had waited for this to happen!? And now it just did! ... all without magic or machines or anything like that!? A miracle! Just keep your eyes on her, so she can't vanish again! – was a constant mantra going through his head. Repeating like a broken record.
Last time he had heard this voice, it was... when was it? ... so long... it must be... yes, after they gave the plans to Sombra's administrative... just before they would hoof over the prototype and... Muse would... did... was gone...- “Gnnn~!” the pain came back even stronger, as he glared upon the mare sitting idly nearby. Muscles tensed painfully, enough to press imaginary air out of the horse's lounges, as well coolant out of the real body “Muse!?”
The call was ignored.
It looked like the otherwise helpful mare drowned in self-pity... fears and... didn't care at all about his suffering... “Muse!? Wh~y!?” it gasped, trying to hold on to the though. The picture of this mare, the most selfless and strongest pony he ever met. He missed her so much, wished so hard to see her again... listen to just a few words. Advice. Direction. Anything!? … how could that be her then!? It was just a shell, an empty shell like himself!
“Y-ou ain't her!” Tenet barfed “The-real one... never woul~GARGg...” his jaw grinds to add a hissed “You ain't real- a me-mory... a fake!” adding a silent “...just like me”
“S~ister, where are~you!?” Muse whined, except that... Muse didn't had a sister.
A huffed “I knew- it!” was pressed out. It was just another one of THEIR tricks!
The head now tried to take focus away from the fake, searching for the endless horizon.
The picture was grainy, the colors were muted and the world seemed deaf.
Tenet could see the blue mare still laying in front of him. Dazed and barely able to hold eyes opened, mumbling nonsense and names, just like the fake did! A marionette!
Probably an attempt to get under his skin. Literally... “Twi-light!?”
- suddenly a bright flash let another one appear out of nowhere, yelling at him in anger and sorrow, before crackling magic let the mare vanish, taking the other with her.
“Ughhh...” as the pain faded away within seconds, allowing for the brown mechanic to pull himself onto his flanks. What a relieve! ... two hooves pressed onto the face to gather himself for a second “How- could they!?” it sighed “Lights be damned...”
“Huh?” hooves lowered to get on all four.
The fake, it was still here? It didn't give a sound, but it still sat there... silently. No strings attached. “Hey... you?” an attempt was made, which felt curious. Kinda like talking to your reflection.
Which was not too far away from the truth actually, given nopony else should be able to enter this realm... probably? It was, in fact, something they never tested. Why would they? Making it work had been tricky enough, even without trying risky nonsense, like sticking two pony's into one element. Might as well pour water and oil together! Lovely thought.
“You think this is funny!? You got any ideawho this was!?” anger rose quickly.
It was one thing to do what they did, but messing with his memory's – these in particular...!? Far over the line! As if those pony's hadn't the slightest decency in their body's! Torturing the ones he had loved the most... - MONSTERS!
“HEY! I'M TALKING TO YOU!” it barfed, frustrated that this thing wouldn't crawl back to it's master ...or subconscious – whatever! Just out of his sight! “I said...” “-Hahaha!” echoing laughter cut him off, as tone and mood changed drastically “WE SHALL- DESTROY YOUU!” it announced exactly like this darn princess! “Oh no you don't!” Tenet backed up a step, as the puppet already turned... “What in the -stars name!?” it gasped in horror.
Whatever it was, it had the night princesses face... yet slick like a snake, lacking many of the fine lines which would define this pretty face of hers... featuring black eyes and sharp green pupils, while fur began to ooze like oil of its body into a puddle beneath, like rotting off its flesh - disgusting! A stitched-together monstrosity- “RWAAAH!-AAH!” that suddenly jumped at the stallion, which snapped back and hooves upwards – feeling a sting as sharp teeth buried into damaged foreleg in an attempt to tear it off like a wolf, shaking head from side to side to the point green blood was splattered onto the concrete bits “GAHH- GET OFF ME! GET OFF!” his mighty hoof tried to bash the thing's head in, slamming against the metal surface “Pung! Pung!” while its body wound itself all around him like a snake would – causing rolling over the ground and smashing his back into concrete chunks! -punk,chrrk, ponk, chrrk- noise, before shuffling panting on his stomach for a couple of meters through half liquid tar... eventually coming to a halt “-what in the!?” brown eyes scanned all around, as did the steel blue ones in an attempt to ape his motions.
Left – right!? Two heads turned delayed to one another... - finding... : nothing. White concrete. A horizon of muffled – black? Gray? White? Wait, what? Why black all of a sudden... where did that come from!? Did he see double or tripled or what!? A motion scratched along his head, revealing shortly more of the gray horizon, which then went black again. All of which going vertical and split in half. As if... on his side?
“Ugh... piece of junk” it mourned.
At some point, they should have improved senses. Knowing that half your face was buried in boiling tar could been- maybe, just maybe- a useful information!? As if being cursed hadn't been bad enough... there were so many conflicting ones had to be aware of at all times.
The horse pulled itself upon the remaining pillars to give another glance all around.
Inside, as well outside... checking nervously for any sort of attack or twisted appearances.
These sick pony's! ...apparently, nothing was sacred... one just had to look at what they did to their own land! Turned to dust! Not to mention what they had done to his land... or him... his friends... maybe even... King?
It baffled his mind how these ponies could decent to such lows and be called rulers of anything! Being praised!? Celebrated and hold up as symbols of -what again!? Lights sake! This land was full of crazy idiots! He had to get out of here! Yesterday!
Gathering speed as fast as three hooves allowed for, admitting defeat, yet keeping sanity!
Dimmed light with strokes of blue, cast long shadows behind him, while he tinkered with one of the artificial muscles. Replacing the two-way, with two single-way valves... - which might mean more parts, but overall made for simpler construction and therefore higher durability. Theoretical. One way or the other, it helped to clear his mind.
“...what are you doing?” it asked gently, yet giving him almost a heart attack as parts slipped away and fell onto the ground “heaven!” he reached for his chest.
“I didn't mean to frighten you” Muse said, starting to put everything back on the chair, hoofing him the screwdriver last.
“It's alright... just wasn't expecting anypony...” fumbling screwing the second valve to the steel rod, the prototypes equivalent of a bone. After all, it had to hold a lot of weight to carry and had to be sturdy beyond that.
The mare sadly shook her head “You are doing it again...”
He took a long breath to keep his nerves. The day had been quite exhausting “Doing what...?”
“Its upside down” the white hoof pointed, which had drawn the blueprints for this.
“So, it's true, isn't it?”
Tenet shut his eyes, taking in the moment he had been so afraid of “I... yes...”
“Then... i'm sorry. I shouldn't be mad at you. I thought, you just didn't care about any of this. I never figured it is because of... me”.
Muse got close to tap him on the shoulder, searching eye contact. He tried to crack a smile, but it didn't turn out as good he hoped... and looking her like that – let him reach out for her cheek, to gently pull her close... allowing himself for a soft kiss on the lips, only after which she turned away.
His face seemed more than confused, as he thought about the sensation of her lips.
It wasn't unpleasant, but... didn't make him feel any better for some reason. He always imagined it being an incredible feeling - sending rushes down his skin, a moment he would remember all his life... but it was nothing near that and as if she could read his mind, as he looked at her in utter confusion, she replied “...it's because I love him”.
“I guess...” it sulked “... I just don't understand why?”
“Why him and not you?” the mare took a step and sat down, leaning against the metal leg. “I guess, it's because...” how to put it? “... why we are here. Doing what we are doing.”
“That isn't a real answer” it snapped, before trying again “We are just here to make it work. We want to help pony's – that's. Cause we like to help others? You know, I work here for free too, unlike Swift-Move, who-”
“Stop right there! Don't drag Ace into this – he didn't get one bit from my husband, just you know!”
“Oh, come on. I saw it... - I saw how he gave him a howl bag of bits... - and all he does around here is nagging!”
A grouchy “That's nottrue.” was thrown in.
“- why don't you just go down the hallway and ask him about it!? - or about today, when I carried his sorry flank back here, before freezing to death. Didn't mention that, did he!? … instead he-“You just won't listen”-he assaulted me!”
The mare stood up and got in half a hoofs distance, looking up to his face.
“Do you even know, why I have to look up to you? - cause we mares barely get to go outside!” it poked his chest “-we are the ones, waiting for you” poking him again “to come home - just like his mother does! SHE sits right now at her window... waiting every single day for HIM to come home – and I'm not just talking about Ace; i'm also talking about his father you insensitive clot!” as angry tears ran down her cheeks “...something, that isn't going to happen!”
“... I... I di-...”
“Because you don't ask! You just don't care, otherwise, you would!” her voice became more quiet, but not less bitter “... and... what about me? Go ahead, i can take it”
Tenet... had no answer for that either, clueless shaking his head.
“Thought so” it nodded, while she tried to smirk away some of those pesky tears, in order to see something “And Jack? ... don't you tell me, you don't know either?” it came even more sour, despite her attempt to fetch herself.
This one Tenet actually knew.
When he was young, Bottle-Jack lived next door. They hadn't any real contact since he wants to talk to other kids. He just didn't feel like it. Once in a while, Jack came over and knocked- asking something stupid... like, if he had seen his pet frog, or what he thought clouds taste like. He always had been a weirdo in that regard. Another reason he didn't want to talk to him. Not even the school bully's wanted to pick on him, since half the time he didn't get it... - which just wasn't fun if the victim laughed along. So they picked on him instead. The third reason, not to spend time with him, or in fact – a pretty good one to not like him at all...
Then... there was this one day on which he knocked. Tap-tata-tap. Always the same rhythm. Like nails on a chalkboard. Tap-tata-tap. Tap-tata-tap. - till somepony opened the door and said “Leave me alone” - to get a cheerful “See you tomor-” before the door slammed shut. So... he opened the door and found this glued on weirdo smile... holding a chemist set. “Look what I got! My mom said I can use it, when she comes back... but I thought we co-” the door slammed shut “See you tomorrow” it came muted. - ugh!
He shook his head one more time, over the naive nature of this blank flank... and got himself a glass of milk. Taking a quick look at the neighbors house from the kitchen window... hoping he might be to busy the next days, playing chemist. After this, he went for the stairs, in order to get back to his room, in which a half-finished windup toy sat. His parents had given him a book with instructions... he just had to follow the steps and make a hull after. Something to put in... like a mice or something. That would be the actual hard part since he was terrible with that kinda stuff.
Halfway upstairs, the house suddenly shook violently and threw him flat on the stomach, spilling the milk all over the place – including his face “What the-!?” it stumbled quickly down again, as he took a look around. Some stuff had been knocked over, which made him realized that the noise must have come from outside! As he ran for the nearest window and in fact- the neighbor's house was short one floor...
- after a couple more seconds of standing around with dropped jaw, he suddenly ran for the wardrobe, grabbed his scarf and tripped over it- wound it two more times around his neck and ran outside- “JACK!? - J-ACK!?” he shouted, stumbling along the frozen pavement to reach his door... which was laying a couple meters away, from the tilted frame. “JACK!? A-ARE YOU HERE?” he shouted into the house, but couldn't hear anything else than moaning coming from the walls, which tried to keep the house upright. “JACK!?” it shouted one more time, while taking first steps inside, looking towards the ceiling, watching as planks fell down, every now and then.
“... I then found him in his father's room, cowering under the table. Turned out, he had forgotten something downstairs” which made unwillingly laugh once “He hadn't even a single scratch on his body, but was basically deaf a month! Kept asking, why I was mute all of a sudden!?” almost like a broken record “... and then, he thought he was mute too!” It laughed hard, with joy fading away rapidly to end on a sorrowful “What a guy.”
At least his parents weren't mad, when they found him next door, eating cookies.
Tenet almost had forgotten about that... how his best friend had blown up their home, in order to take some work out of his father's hooves, just so he could spend more time with him and his mom...
“I guess, he got what he wanted. They never left him alone after that...” he had to wonder, why he hadn't cherished his own parents more. Obviously, he had loved them, but since been home so often... he might have taken them for granted.
“... you see? There is so much more going on around you... if you just... could-” the mare huffed “- look around for once and take some interest... - anything!” at one side, she would love to simply shout at him -and on the other, she felt awful for thinking about it. Incredible frustrating. “... if this isn't too much asked for. Otherwise put this thing back together, cause I want to make it move; if you are around or not” with that she tried to stomp angry out of the room, but hold in just one more time “... even if I'd like to have all my friends with me... good night”.
Twilight took a look at the badly beaten Luna, which was laying flat on her side, coughing and clenching teeth after in order to deal with the pain. The poor thing had been hit the hardest since there had been no way to dodge the attack without stopping her own -and by Star Swirls beard, this mare had been way too stubborn to do that. Celestia for her part had been hit too, but not nearly as bad, able to somewhat brace herself.
Feathers stroke along blue fur, engulfed in a soft yellow light by the elder's horn.
A simple healing spell, meant to stabilize the young mare. Twilight for her part kept peeking onto the street every now and then, onto the motionless figure down there.
He still stood there. Frozen in motion, surrounded by ruins... most of which caused by Luna's magic but, maybe it had been enough? They had won by the looks of it, at least he seemed broken?
It was hard to tell from up here, but there hadn't been a second to spare. Bringing everypony to safety was her first concern. Twilight hadn't even noticed, that he had stopped moving till Celestia had drawn attention to it “You think it is...?” “I'm not sure”
Suddenly the stallion threw himself on the ground and rolled around, swatting his hooves into thin air – jumping up, crashing into debris and crawling over the molten ground, while rocking from side to side, giving the impression he was fighting an enemy, which wasn't there! There must be something seriously broken! More then one loose wire...
The mares observed how it punched a pile of rocks, got his hoof stuck and after some pulling - tripped backward and fell onto his side...- stopped moving again for about thirty seconds. Maybe... now it was broken? Wait! No, it wasn't - it stood up again and looked around... -maybe searching for them? Turning a few times on the spot... - to just make a few swaying steps, turn one more time and run into a seemingly random direction. Huh.
“We must follow him!” Twilight snapped, about to jump out of the window and chase after, but got stopped by a white wing “We have to choose our battles wisely” making the mare think one more round about the situation. The city was hit badly and couldn't take much more before being uninhabitable ... they all were exhausted... and injured, especially Luna.
However lucky the next fight would go, somepony would pay a high price. Yet victory had seemed so close... a disappointment to say the least “You are right, we should bring-”
Luna was up again and looked angrier than anything else.
“Where – is - it!?” the warrior huffed with clenched teeth, her legs shaking and the right wing being pulled along the ground. Will, however, apparently unbroken.
The mares looked at one another and Celestia was the one to answer a short “It's gone”.
“Do we have destroyedit?” Luna checked still furious... but the white head shock.
Luna's face stood on fire, like anger could melt down the entire building “GRRRR-WAAAHHH!” as she blew a hole into the wall nearby and flapped wings! “Nrrg...” her teeth clenched but took of anyways. Pulling itself higher the alicorn drew a couple of jagged circles around the area, before giving up on it... heading towards Canterlot, but not without dropping in height several times. No goodbye, not caring for the damage caused.
It was up to Twilight and that beloved sister of hers to deal with that.
At least there they could play to their strengths since fighting clearly wasn't one of them!
Citizens were allowed to return as soon it was sure he wouldn't come back. They were led into the spared districts, while the Royal Guard kept a straight lock-down on the damaged areas. Only police and fire-horses were let in, as well as qualified workers.
The last thing they could allow for, was a pony to run into one of the insecure buildings. Those that were slanted, falling apart or as so often- still on fire. A cause the alicorn's tried to fix by channeling water from hydrants into the upper floors, letting it flood from top to bottom.
Not quite an elegant solution, but better than trying to save broken furniture, while fire spread onto surrounding buildings might worth saving.
Once the mayor fires were put out and boiling streets cooled with an icy-blast, it was time to get more organized. Pony's needed more than town had to offer right now, so...
A gymnasium had to be a school for a couple of weeks... local stores were ordered to give free food for those in need to be later compensated by the royal treasuries. There also were orders given to hoof out some basics like: blankets, toothbrushes with paste and even toy's for the children. Whatever would make the situation somewhat acceptable.
Towns ponies didn't blame the princesses. At least not yet. Everypony had a lot on their plate and many were just happy to been left out of this carnage. Apparently whatever had attacked the city must be as bad as this centaur back then... luckily nopony seemed to miss magic or flight so... good news? Didn't make them much happier, however.
Yet, helping the most was to see the princesses around. They really tried to pull things together and gave as much lead and advice one could hope. Clearing debris was nice, but what pony's really needed was somepony to look up to. Inspiration. Hope!
All of which Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight were willing to give to all those in need, which then again spread it themselves. How could you not feel humbled, once you saw this ravaged mares working hard in between common citizens? Using more than just magic, but getting hooves dirty when trying to pull up a knocked over a tree with nothing more than a rope and half a dozen earthponys? A picture kinda awkward to watch.
Last and most important was a personal thing the princesses asked in every street “Today had been a dark day for Tall Tale, but there are pony's that lost even more than that... the ones without homes, places to work... or in need of supplies. If you can help anypony in one of those regards, I know we can help everypony with all they need. This town isn't lost, as long pony's find the courage to help one another. Please, try to listen, give what you can... and be assured, we too will send all the help possible. Thank you.”
When the sun was about to set behind the horizon... and Celestia had made sure to take her time with that... the two alicorn's gave the last farewell to let their officials take over the crisis management. Needless to say, they basically collapsed once getting into their chariots and out of sight of the crowd. Today had pushed them simply over their limits.
“Hold still, this might burn a little...” the orange unicorn said, before tapping some blue paste on Twilight's leg.
“Ouch...” - the alicorn tried to keep her smile, but the doctor still backed off three steps, since the last time he had done this, a certain blue one had burned of two-thirds of his tail.
“I'm sorry your majesty! Its-” “-blue-fern, I know.” she took a breath “Used for accelerated healing, due to the helping nature in magical medical treatment; first discovered by Tares the great.” rattling down the facts, like a bored student.
“Absolute right!” it came baffled, after which he dared to get a phew steps closer again, continuing the procedure, but even more carefully than before.
“Well gosh, looks like ya got quite a beating” Applejack pointed out, being the first visitor.
“I have to ask you to leave, the princess is in no state to-”
“Its okay... they belong to me.” Twilight cut him off once more.
“...princesses” he sighed and continued, while Pinkie got on his side and sniffed on some of his bottles and pastes.
“Oh my goddess, Twilight a-are you alright?”
“Nothing serious” she assured Fluttershy “Will be back on my hooves in no time, isn't that right?” gesturing at the doctor.
“If you would hold still, I could agree”.
“...sorry.”
“... so, did you blow it to bits or what?” Rainbow poked.
“No, not at all...” she admitted and broke down what basically happened.
“Oh my, that sounds horrible, doesn't it!?”
“Yeah, you got your flanks kicked!”
“Thank you Rainbow, helps me a lot” it came sarcastic, since the last thing she needed, was salt in her wounds.
“What? It's true!”
Twilight's head landed flat on her legs- giving a disturbing long sigh off her.
“Hey doc, you got more of dat fancy blue stuff?” Applejack asked.
“Of course” the stallion nodded “The castle contains big reserves in case of an emergency.”
“Good” with that AJ slapped Rainbow on the back of her head “Ouch!”.
“Uhm... are p-princess Celestia and Luna are hurt too?” Fluttershy mumbled concerned.
He instantly waved this off “I can't give you information over one of my patients.”
“Oh... I do understand that...”
“They are alright” Twilight gave away, making the doctor sigh one more time.
If fixing their manners was just as easy as treating their wounds... oh he wished!
“Ueww!” Pinkie frowned, trying to spit out some yellow gel she had a nibble from his med-kit “I thouwght thats hownwy... hawne... whwaamny...”
“It's a narcotic. Please don't touch my medicine and... take – these” hoofing her a green pill.
“Twasdes liwge cwembwwawy!” it came excited with a lot of spit between words.
“Twilight, darling?” Rarity tried, to get some attention from the depressed mare.
“Huh?” her head tilted on the side.
“I know it might isn't the best time, but well... how do I put delightful? How we gonna... you know...!?” she spun her hooves a phew times “Get his flanks kicked!” Rainbow shouted.
Rarity gave her a disturbed look “Something, like this... yes”
Twilight ruffled her self up to her audience “I have... no idea” and let her head hang one more time “Its not like three alicorn used all of their magic without any result!” she suddenly snapped rapidly “...and he just took it - and ran off! I mean, what good is magic, if it doesn't work!? How we are supposed to st-” AJ put a hoof onto her mouth “Its alright Twi, we figure something out”.
The mare took a deep breath and lowered the hoof from the snot “I gOUHess!”
The purple mare gave the doctor a grouchy glance, but he just pulled the needle out and put it away, along with his other stuff. Hoofing a red lollipop, for being such brave patient afterwards “See you hopefully un-soon, your highness.” he bowed respectfully and left.
“HEW! WHAT ABOUT MEW!” Pinkie screamed, on which Twilight offered her the sugar-stick. This way, at least one pony's problems were solved.
“If you don't mind, I got to write a letter and try to think of something...” their friend sulked and shuffled away.
“Gosh, she sure looks depressed, what ya think?”
“We have to cheer her up! All it takews cake and balloowns and stweames and chooowolate milk!”
“Ehhhh... don't think that works” Rainbow threw in.
“Don't get me wrong, but you ain't an expert insensitivity, are you?”
“Hey, maybe i'm not that -sappy-” she quoted with hooves “- but I know how much it sucks to lose - and she sure lost big time!”
“M-maybe Rainbow is right... we could think of something else”
“Alright, what ya think, how we get her spirit up again?” AJ asked, looking at the blue pegasus, alongside the others.
“Hu? Woh woh woh- why me?”
“Its obvious, isn't it? You know best how she feels, darling.”
The pegasus looked grouchy “Do you say i'm a loser!?”
“W-hat Rarity meant was, that you uhm... maybe know, how to cheer up somepony, after they... lost?” it came whispered.
Rainbow let go of her suspicious look “If you put it like that...” she tapped her chin “I did made plenty ponies lose...” crossing her hooves and best-thinking face.
“...for starters: the winner could tell the loser, that he didn't do that bad... show some spirit!”
“Don't think gonna work...” AJ threw in “...sumething else?”
“Gimme a sec, will ya?” Rainbow grunted “...well, if I lost – which happened almost never- I think, it was nice... if...if...” than it struck her “My coach! Yeah, if my coach said something nice!”
“... but Twimight doesm't has Mhmhm am coach!” Pinkie said, while nibbling her lolly.
“True dat, she doesn't! - but she sure has a princess, she looks up to!”
“What an splendid idea darling!” Rarity agreed.
“Hey, that was my idea!” Rainbow snapped.
The cowgirl nodded “Right, that's why you are going”.
“Wait, what!?”
“Sure thing, we can't all bother her, after all - she also had quite a day.”
“Applejack, you really sure about... that?” Rarity asked overly careful.
“She sure is the best one for the job” it came without a doubt “Anypony against dat?”
One hoof rose.
“Somepony with me?”
For hooves rose.
“Oh- come on!”
A phew minutes later, the door to Celestia's room was opened, a blue mare pushed in and shut after – against which she then hammered “Hey! Let me out! You damn bunch of...”
“Can, I help you?” a heartwarming voice asked.
“Uhh...” the pegasus swallowed “Heyyy... princess, didn't know you were here!”
The princess was laying on a big red carpet in front of a fireplace, alongside bakery and some of her favorite tea – Morning Dew. Obviously meant, to help her relax.
“Those are my room's” she smiled at her.
“Right...” the blue pegasus nodded slowly, after which it hasty tried to pull on the door nob a few more times without any use. The door probably was locked from the outside.
“Is something wrong?”
The mare pointed at the door, before pulling a phew more times.
“Why don't you join me?”
Rainbow continued till the information was processed “Uhm... join?” she asked doubtful, still hanging on the nob, with the remaining hoofs pressed against the door. “If you like.”
There was something about her voice, which made it hard to resist. Even swallowing the urge to just get out of here... seemed to dwindle away.
“... i'm not to big a tea fan” Rainbow admitted shy while letting go of the door and going the first couple steps.
The princess considered this and gave a simple “Servant” from her – on which immediately a white mare stood in the door, behind which Rainbow could see her “friends” peeking.
“What do you like?” the alicorn asked towards the stunned mare.
“I... maybe, cider?” it shrugged.
“Anything else?”
There wasn't to much she could think of “I guess not?” it cam sheepishly.
The princess gave a well-mannered nod and the white mare closed the door carefully, to return not even a minute later with a cart, on which she had a selection of different ciders.
“Thank you” Celestia smiled at her and the servant left the room backward, still holding a humble bow.
“So... I can... uhm...” Rainbow pointed towards the cart and received a graceful nod as well.
Now she totally forgot all tension and grabbed a big glass of this rare joy! “Ghwwaa.... that's some good cider!” it came after the first, before fetching another one, this time from a bottle with a darker touch to it “Uhhh not bad, not bad!” she liked her lips, to look excited, which one to pick next. “I would recommend this one” the princess gave away, tapping onto one of the almost transparent ones.
Celestia had lived for many years and seen more than anypony else, but those were the little things, that gave her the most joy... like watching this mare rushing down half a bottle at once “Anything else I can help you with?” the princess said amused, about the sudden change of heart.
Rainbow hold in her cider consumes and put the bottle back down again, to give an ashamed grin, before swallowing cheeks full of delicious apple-juice “Ehh... yes... I...”
“Please, why don't you come closer and we talk?” The pegasus let go whatever she had in hooves and quickly moved closer, sitting down onto the same red carpet... which turned out to be very comfy. Soft and fuzzy.
So she rubbed her front hooves over it, like Rarity trying to guess a fabric.
The princess giggled amused, which made the mare raise an eyebrow at her.
“Something wrong my dear?”
“No, not really...” it shrugged “I mean, it is... but... you know?”
“Do I?” the head was tiled.
“I guess...” Rainbow thought about it “I hope... uhm... do you?”
The princess just smiled at her “Do I make you feel insecure?”
“Nooooo... of course not... why would I!?” her eyes going straight towards the wall behind “No reason to be nervous here.”
“Well, than it was nice talking to you”
There was a long pause and the pegasus stood up. The princess had closed her eyes and zipped some more tea. “... I go then.” - there was no reaction, till she was on the nob and remembered, why she even stood on the side of this door. “Wait a second!” now she marched back, in front of her majesty “How come you are so relaxed – have you seen Twilight!? She's - a wreck!”
The cup levitated down. Half of the tea missing “Do I make you nervous?”
“Not really, I just don't get - how you can sit here and zip tea... your highness”
An eye opened to look at the mare “So... what has changed?”
The blue eyebrows came together “I... don't get it...”
Now both purple eyes looked at her “When you came in, you seemed upset... and nervous... - something must have changed.”
“I... have no idea... - the others pushed me in and I just thought you would - be like Twilight and all that.”
“The princess smiled “Than there is your answer. Now go... we will talk later.”
When the pegasus left the room, the others greeted her eagerly “What did she say?”
“You have talked about Twilight, did you?” “Come on Dash... spill the beans. Is she talkin or not?” “Tell us, tell us, tell us!”
“She... didn't really say much... we just sat there and drank tea and some cider... and...” there was her thinking face again. Serious with hooves crossed in front of her chest. “... man that cider was good...” it mumbled. The pegasus wasn't of any use by the looks of it, so the others let go and made its way towards the kitchen “Shoot... and I thought thad be it.” “Don't be so harsh, we still got Pinkies idea.” “Lets make chocolate! Or cherry? Cherry-Chocolate! With creammmmmmm...!” she licked her lips in excitement.
“WAIT! I GOT IT!” it screamed down the hallway, before dashing forward, around and in front of them “Look: I was totally nervous when you threw me in and then there was cider and tea and I wasn't anymore and the thing different was me, not her!”
The group of three looked somewhat confused at one another “Dash, are you alright?” the orange hoof reached out to feel temperature, but was slapped aside “Just listen for a sec, okay? ...Celestia was absolute cool...- and she was right. Like totally! She gave me the feeling that I could talk to her – and that everything was alright and… -she didn't just say that, I felt it like in here... or there” it touched her chest “somewhere around there” circling the spot “- your tummy?” Pinkie asked.
“- whatever!” the hooves flew up “The point is: she just didn't tell me anything at all, but showed it to me! ...Celestia really believes that stuff will be alright and then I did believe it too…- and how are we supposed to give Twilight the feeling that we gonna kick that things flanks, if we don't believe it our self's!?”
Now the three of them seem to get it, giving a group “Ohhhhh...” from them.
Incredible insightful from a mare struggling to admit reading a good book once in a while.
“Usually Twilight is the one to keep her cool, using her head and all that... but now we have to! … aannnnnnnd... that's all I got” Rainbow shrugged to close it off, waiting if the spat out wisdom made any sense to them or if it was another dead end.
“You know what Darling, you hit the nail on it's... - where it's supposed to be hit!” the unicorn said confident “If Twilight can't be confident, it's up to us to fit the role!”
The farm-pony rose on her hind-legs, for a passionate “Yeha! That's the spirit!”
“Twiillliiight!” Pinkie screamed, charging ahead, followed by a group of overly confident friends!
Sledge sat on the edge of his bed, about to get up.
The mane was rough, the wings hung loosely from his back... and there was this odd taste in his mouth, making him smack a bit. Didn't taste like anything particular, just... odd.
His eyes were wandering to the dresser and the picture on top.
The mattress shook and a cup was offered “Jack made it... woke him up”
“You are aware, he likes to sleep through?”
Her slim shoulders shrugged “You are welcome... now take your cup”
Sledge looked after her, slowly emptying the appreciated brew... when Muse got in front of the mirror dresser, in order to tame this wild mane of hers. The brush got stuck several times, to get smoother with every try... until it, there were long strokes, all the way through.
“... did you consider my proposal?” he asked seemingly out of nowhere.
“Why do you keep asking?” she said looking at his reflection “You know how I feel about it.”
-pok- the cup was put aside “Than I will go on my own.”
“No, you wouldn't. You would miss me too much, to be that stubborn.”
The blacksmith got up, to sit down right behind the mare, reaching out with his wings, stroking along the contours of her back... - she had to giggle... it always tickled, when he did that. “...e-nough... you know I don't like that.” she wiggled, since neck fur was already standing up, letting a cold shower run down her spine “You know i'm serious.”
The mare's smile fell flat “... and it makes me sick. Do you want to find somepony else?”
His snot gently stroke along her neck, whispering “an unthinkable option.”
Muse slammed the brush down and spun around “What makes you believe, that if you wait long enough... I just come after you? -why do you just want me to give up like that?” her face was saddened and angry, whenever he brought it up.
It wasn't easy to see her like this, but up until now, he couldn't think of any other way.
“I will go. You will come with me” he said with a caring tone to it, grabbing one of her hooves, to put it in between his own “Even if this project exceeds our expectations, it won't be enough, to change the world around us.”
“This isn't about anypony else. Neither the two of us...”he continued, watching the mare's breath became heavy and faltering “...but this could be, about the three of us.”
“T-that's just not fair!” the white hoof pulled away, but was grabbed right away, causing a tug of war between the couple - back and forth, harsh to the left – to try it with both hooves of herself... but one he seemed to win, when Muse face dropped on his chest, crying bitter tears onto the rough ground, while still being held in a gentle grip.
The stallion stroke the back of her head, watching the two of them in the mirror “Hate me, as long you need to... I will always wait... till the last snow has fallen.”
Sledge let go.
Muse sat there, the face down to the side. Sniffing. Huffing. Sulking.
“I hope today will change your mind.” the mare was told, before being left alone, looking at the closed door. Left behind, trying to think on something else, other than a life without him.
Swift-Move was up as well.
Of all pony's, he always was the first to be up. Getting up and to bed like a clockwork.
Usually, he would make breakfast at this hour... but since he wasn't at home, he just sat there... licking his hoof-tip once in a while... trying to find something readable.
“Weather forecast: Cloudy, with high chances of snow” …some bonehead got paid to write this? .… another lick, followed by the sound of turning pages.
“I assume things are going according to plan?” Sledge skipped a couple of lines.
There wasn't any answer. The unicorn simply scratched his chin.
The blacksmith got around the metal stallion and grabbed his ear – twisting it about 180 degrees, to pull it down. The chest snapped open, after which the plates were pushed aside. He than got up to the magician, grabbing the small wooden chest sitting next to him, carrying it back to the horse, in order to place the purple crystal in its middle...
a last scrutinizing look... after which the chest closed again.
From there on in, hours seemed to fly by.
The others walked in and out - having breakfast next door, to come back again and talk things through. Jack chewed self-made licorice, offering strings to everypony...
Tenet explained tonight's changes in detail, while Sledge tried to lecture him, about last minute changes. Muse joined the group, asking if everypony slept well – some of which the second time today ...being offered some candy. A string or two wouldn't hurt.
When the magician put down his newspaper, the room got silent.
The white mare swallowed the last string “... thank you” before trotting towards the one waiting. Orange-, Purple-, Brown- and Dark-green-eyes were following. Some with more concern than others.
“You kept us going, now make it move.”
The mare nodded once and passed by, making her way up to the tank. It was about two meters in height and had a ramp on its side, so you could easily get up and into the nutritious goo. Jack followed along, helping with the respiration mask... before lowering herself halfway into this gel-like liquid. “Tastes like cherry, hope you like...” it whispered, on which she pet his cheek... before going down all the way...
The world got mute... pony's around become smudged shapes, behind curtains of red silk. As soon the fur was soaked through, it felt kinda awkward... and movements became slow.
The earthpony turned at the pegasus, which turned him down in an instant “- your considerations have been duly noted.”
“I get why somepony has to do it, but it has to be her?” it asked nervously.
Meanwhile, Jack tried to remember, why he holds a big glass of honey “Jack... the tank” the reminder came just in time, before shoving the first spoon into his mouth.
“Oh... right! right! right!” - the jar turned upside down and was shook, to it with the rest. Scratching every bit out of it. It would keep her heartbeat calm and the steady, which was vital. This was also the number one advice provided by Ace: Stay calm... and if you have to think of something, at least stick with it. Don't panic, so I can do my job.
“I need you for external diagnosis. Jack to monitor vitals. Swift-Move to perform the spell...” to be ignored right after “Proceed.”
Swift-Move already stood between tank and puppet. Rattling down the spell one more time in his head- moving silently his lips. The horn was charged and eyes shut, mumbling it one more time.
The brown head turned for a second, when the rest tried to follow but was fought down already. The pegasus nailed him to the ground – hooves clutched around chest and throat while being hit with the elbow.
“SHE IS YOUR WIFE!” it screamed while wiggling from side to side “Indee-d!” he squeezed out, while the magic began to spread across the room.
Blue shimmering strokes of light reached out for the tank to spin around its base, before crawling along its sides – when the earthpony freed himself, to be grabbed and pulled flat on his stomach, kicking blindly behind, hitting his face in the process.
A curtain of dancing firefly's reached into the tank, causing a numb feeling beneath her skin, while first strokes split up, to spiral upwards – above Jacks head, which was hiding beneath his hooves, unable to any of it – neither the magic, but mostly the fight.
The earth one got up and stumbled a few steps, about to interrupt the howl procedure, when the pegasus pulled his wings backward with all its might – sending it with a harsh body-check against a cabinet, battering the thin metal door. Tenet couldn't get up, tried to – was grabbed... and hit to the face, sending him back to the ground.
Sledge then saw it... - the brightness cast sharp shadows all across the room.
Canterlot Castle was built with more than three-hundred rooms, give or take a dozen, depending on which you would count as actual rooms. Fifty of which dedicated to royalty.
Twilight hadn't asked for it but was assigned to one of those fifty.
There were remarkable big windows with cherry-red curtains and golden cords.
A fireplace was a must have, as well an oversize chandelier crested with diamonds.
Some of the finest literature was carefully arranged in two massive bookshelf's, standing on the peach colored carpet. Everything was crafted to please the eye...
In the middle of all of it, stood a princess sized bed, with fur matching covers.
Twilight laid flat on the ground. Head on hooves, the levitating book's from the shelves in front of her face. A tiresome glance was given on the title... and than it was put back somewhere else.
“Twi, we gotta talk!” the doors slammed open when her friends burst into the room.
“Ouh... how divine...” Rarity said, following closely behind, glittering eyes on the exquisite crafting. “Yeah, looks like we got screwed with our rooms” “Is there room-service?”
A mumbled “Girls...?” brought them back on topic, as they gathered around the moping princess.
Books kept flying by... the limp body pulled its eyebrows up a bit... to put them someplace else in the shelf.
“Twilight, we gotta do something and you will help us!”
“Yeah, you think we let you sit here all day? No way!” the pegasus said, grabbing the next book out of the air, to be hit on the back of her head, by another one flying by, growling at it, while rubbing the spot.
The white unicorn stepped in front of her “Now now darling, I know it doesn't look too good...” and another book obscured her line of sight, before following the others “...but you just can't give up on it like that, can you?”
“S-she is right... if you give up, we all had to... we can't watch you like this, all sad and... - not the Twilight we know.”
“- but we never give up! NEVER!” it screamed, grabbing an issue of -Equestrian Culture- and throwing it into the fireplace... which luckily wasn't lit.
“H-? Hey!” the mare snapped up, on this crude handling of a clas-... okay, more or less quite boring, yet - valuable piece!
“Now hun, which one is it?” Applejack declared as they all lined up around her “Either you gonna help us, gett'n some work done, or a carry yu out here ma self!”
Fluttershy copied the others, crossing her hooves in front of her chest “... and we don't take -no- for an answer... unless... you really don't want to...”
“Harrumph” “I meant... we... don't take it... at all?” this one got approving nods.
“... it's nice what you try to do here... but i'm kinda busy right now.” as another book was pulled away and another one, which she tried to pull out of blue hooves, lifting Rainbow almost of the ground “You mind!?”
“You bet I doooo-!” as the mare was dragged across the room, still hanging onto the literature.
The purple face was grabbed, causing the pegasus to crash land on the bed, to be quickly joined by Fluttershy on its side “A-are you alright?”
The pegasus pushed herself up, to feel the blanket one more time “...- woah, check it out... soft as a cloud!” which the yellow one did, while the other pulled the blanket up for a sniff, shrugging it off “...kinda smells like your garden!” was pointed out “... that does sound lovely” the yellow pegasus agreed, carefully taking a sniff as well... “oh... that's nice”.
“Busy what? Sorting a bunch of baloney?”
“I let you know, that some of those are first print issues” levitating the ones from the bed to her side.
“Looks like first print nonsense to me” the reply came stubborn “Unless there is sumething in there, telling us what to do” one was grabbed, to be opened and pushed close to the alicorn's face, which swat it out of her hooves onto the ground.
“It's not! In none of them!” the second one was thrown with purple magic onto the ground, as the mare stood huffing in front of her shocked friend “They are all useless!”
Rarity and Pinkie bothered to pick them up... - Applejack took the one from Pinkie and opened it again, to read a line or two, showing it to the upset mare one more time.
“Look” the hoof tapped “-there” right onto a bunch of royals eating salad “... this one teaches yu, how to eat all fancy with forks...” the gave it then back and grab the other one, to do the same again “... and there you got some waltz... - wouldn't know how that's supposed to work” as she tried a few clumsy steps, which actually looked kinda funny.
Hoofing the book away “Ya see... those reams couldn't teach me a thing, but I still would use em to fix a rocking table or keep the door open, when its boiling hot on the farm...” than she gave Twilight a smile “... but that doesn't mean they are useless. They're good for sumething” the others put aside the books and jumped of the bed, to gather once more around the mare “... thanks. I get what you are trying to say. That everything has a time and place” she cracked a smile, before being center of a big group hug, one Twilight enjoyed more than a howl shelf of classics.
The group let go of the mare in her middle “Now, what ya say, if we all get some rest - and first thing in the morning, I make some of granny's first class super secret recipe apple pockets?”
“Sounds good to me...” Twilight agreed calmly, after which each one gave her another hug, to leave the room happily. “... good night and don't let the bedbugs bite ya.”
The alicorn had been up all day... - her body felt indeed like a bag of rocks... but this bed was soooo soft... and the pillow soooo... “Rainbow!?”
“What!? Mine is like half the size!”
“Ugh... alright, but no snoring...” light's all around the room were finally turned off in order to get the necessary rest.
Applejack had taken over one of the smaller kitchens. Sending away cooks and servants in order to cook solely for her friends. Loud protests were applied until it was mentioned, who one this special friend would be! From there on in it was smooth sailing.
“There you are...-oh...” it sniffed “...hmm... that smells delicious!”
“Morning! ...yeah, turns out: the castle has a lot good stuff...” putting first plates onto the wooden table on which four pony's eagerly waited to eat whatever was smelling that good!
“You sure want to stay here... it's so... humble?” Rarity wondered since next door was a lovely dining room with crystal plates and gorgeous silk curtains framing the windows “Nah, we would sit so far apart, couldn't even tell it was ya'all.”
-pok, pok- more plates were served and the silver next room quickly is forgotten.
Applejack sat down, looking at the hungry bunch “What ya'all waiting for?” causing Pinkie to stuff the plate into her face. The remaining ones also began eating, just not as hasty.
“Those are sooooooo goood!” Pinkie cheered, going for the second round with some whip on top, while the rest barely managed to empty half the plate.
“Granny's secret recipe...” the cowgirl announced proudly.
“It is a joy to eat. You wouldn't mind telling us how you done it?”
“Nah ah... wouldn't be a secret then.”
Pinkie being a baker no less, took more time to chew this time “I taste... apples...” giving away the obvious.
“Well, yes, but there's still a secret ingredient” it winked at her.
“... maybe...” licking her lips “... more apples?”
The orange mare looked baffled for a second.
“Just kidding! I got no idea! -but its - mphh - dweliciouws!”
“... uh... yeah... ha...haha... you got me there Pinkie” Applejack said clam, pushing her hat further down “Now... uhm, since we are here 'n all, does anypony got a new idea!?” topic was quickly changed.
A collective head shaking. Apparently lightning hadn't struck at night.
“All we know is, that whoever sends it, wanted this” a flash of light materialized a blue crystal falling onto the table, causing many eyebrows to rise.
Fluttershy sat closest and poked it before Rainbow took it “That's it!? Some lousy stone!?”
“It was the only exhibit coming from Frozen North.”
Rarity took over to give it a closer look, her sapphire eyes being not just as pretty as diamonds, but well trained through many years of experience with similar treasure's, able to distinguish simply devine from what she would expertly describe as 'meh' “Hmm... it isn't what I would call precious. Rather ordinary. No polish... but pure. I know just the jeweler that could do wonders on it”
“Waaait a second! You said he took it!”
The mare shrugged shyly “... I actually swapped them in the last moment...”
“YOU CHEATED HIM!? THAT'S HILARIOUS!” Rainbow cried out slamming hooves onto the table, before bursting into laughter “BWAHAHAH!” and hammering some more.
“It was pretty much a last minute thought. Luna was right, it was too risky to let him have it. So I used my magic in order to swap their appearance. I guess by now he knows.”
Applejack took the stone to give it a look “You gotta be kidding me, that's all fuzz about?” but then it was grabbed by Pinkie Pie, which leaned let it role from hoof to hoof, observing it closely from the table corner.
“I know. I couldn't even tell why anypony would want it after stealing the other artifacts.”
“Maybe he just likes how they look? I never seen anything like it...”
The marble rolled left and right... left and right... by gentle taps... send left... and right...
“Pinkie, your parents own a rock farm, right?”
“Sure do...”
“So... you seen a lot of rocks?” “Sure did...” - left and right...
“... but you never seen anything like it?”
“Sure didn't...”
“That's it!”
“Sure is...”
“He isn't after the artifacts, but the stones! Whatever he stole, he didn't do for the howl thing, but because of stones like this! They are something he can't get anywhere else...!”
“... and that helps us how?” Rainbow asked, being long done with laughing.
“For once, it tells us that he's up to something else and whatever it is, we are a lot closer to find out.”
“Ugh... so we have to read again?” Rainbow slammed flat on the table, letting the marble hop.
“Not at all, cause I know just the book!” the bookworm stepped onto the table edge, wings widespread “Economic Geology!” the alicorn announced triumphantly.
Rainbow tiled the head to glare upwards “... you know, that doesn't sound half as cool as you think?”
“I am...!” Twilight announced less ostentatious; stepping down, retracting wings whilst blushing.
Twilight later left for Ponyville, taking only the yellow pegasus with along, since the other one wasn't to keen on a study trip. The rest should stay and keep an eye at Celestia and Luna. Some company might help them to recover just as well.
The remaining four had split up, while Applejack and Rarity were going for Luna, Rainbow and Pinkie checked on Celestia.
“Trust me, it will be awesome! Celestia is like; actually really cool... now I get why Twilight hung out with her all the time. It will be a blast!”
“... you sure Dashie? Princess Celestia doesn't seem that kinda pony to me. I mean, she is like really super duper important... and might don't want to hang out with us?”
The two friends trotted down the hallway, passing by a couple of guards. Rainbow gave a wing salute to the white stallions, but got ignored as always. Being friends with Twilight and soon to be new BFF with Celestia had its advantages. Like access to most rooms in the castle... as long they didn't over do it.
“Why wouldn't she!? I'm awesome and you are the most fun pony ever! … besides, Twilight told us to check on her, why not have some fun!?”
“If you put it like thaaat... I guess you are right! Everypony needs some fun!”
“That's the spirit. Now let's get in there and...” they were ready to get in “...party!” the earth mare cheered and the door was pushed open to reveal... that nopony was here.
“Now, that's a bummer”
“Chill-out... i'm sure she is around. Like having a bath or massage... or asked the Wonderbolts for a show!” the thought already begins to drift away. Twilight never used her royal power, so it was tempting to see what Celestia could do! Bath-massage-private-show!? Ohhh yes that be absolute-!
“Rainbow?” it poked, tearing the mare out fantasies, wilder than she ever dared to dream.
“You... haven't seen princess Luna, do you?”
Meanwhile in the throne room a conference took place, called in by their visitor.
Twelve consultants, a bunch of clerks, ten guards and a publicist sat in front of three alicorns's having a debate and Princess Cadance spoke with compassion about this the latest turn of events.
“... most are hiding in their houses, but others are on the border of a revolt! How could I blame them!? My guard prepared our defenses long before Tall Tale happened... and when I had the chance to explain; tell them what we were up against... - I couldn't!
How am I supposed to lead my pony's like this? It's obvious to them that i'm lying... they cannot trust me right now! - and they ain't the only ones. This happens all over Equestria!” the mare pleaded towards Celestia “… is this the best we can do? Building a wall of lies between us and them?”
Luna didn't care for etiquette, starring vacuous at the polished ground and a sweaty reflection. Usual her place be next to the golden throne, sitting on a pillow of red silk.
From there the sisters could look down on guests, be seen by all of them... to may or may not follow gracefully the red carpet and join their ranks – blessing them with their company. A simple, yet persuasive gesture... but the younger alicorn hadn't even bothered to brush her mane or make any attempt to look like a true royal, lacking all insignia: neither golden horseshoes, nor collar... -the crone probably gone lost in some corner.
Some might say, Princess Luna looked like a stray. (If not to the face)
“I agree” Celestia said softly “We cannot undo one wrong with another. Pony's hopefully seen, that it wasn't our intention to-” “We... shall not... - be DISGRACED!” a royal voice shouted with earth-shattering results! Sending mere mortals onto the ground, as legs turned soft as butter.
“Sister, calm yourself! We can discuss this as it should be”
“Why would we!?” wings unfolded, during tripping steps into their middle “For those peasants to laugh behind our back!? What do they know about oursacrifice!? WE were the ones fighting! Facing unspeakable evil! Protecting the ones shivering like leafs!”
“... and we are thankful for that – all of us” Cadance threw in “... but those peasants” she quoted reluctant “... are confused, insecure -outright frightened!” pointing on the shivering mess nearby “Our citizen deserve better, we can't treat them as if their feeling doesn't matter!”
Luna tried to stare the brave princess down but faced a mare which spoke out for the common pony with one's head held high. So Luna was the one to blink first, while only her breath became heavy.
“Our intentions might be noble, but they can't justify the cause anymore... it would lead us all down a dark path without return” Celestia pleaded, causing Cadance to smile, as well giving a thankful nod... which got replied likewise “Publicist's, step up to me.”
The group crawled at first since their knees were still shaking, but managed to walk up to their white highness, yet eyes always peeking sideways... fearing all sorts of horrible consequences for their behavior. Luna starred angry at them as if thinking of personal punishment for every one of them... clenching the jaw to prevent words from coming out.
“We, the royal leaders of Equestria” the mare dictated towards the writers, which were hardly able to stop their feathers from shaking “...are saddened to reveal that the one behind the attack of Tall Tale... and the resulting collateral damage... is an ancient weapon ..” she knew Luna was looking at her, but paid no attention “...created by King Sombra. One we sadly, couldn't yet destroy”
Before the healthy citizens were even mentioned, a cry let feathers pull wildly across paper “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!” it screamed in pure frustration, having a similar effect to the first time if not worse – causing pony's to flee behind pillars, while even the royal guard nervously readied weapons “- YOU SHALL NOT - SPEAK FOR US! … you shall not! -we ain't weak! I will find and destroy it -no matter the costs!” - the hoof pointed towards the scribbler's as if demanding they should write this instead. Word by word.
“Enough!” this time was her older sister the one to raise her voice, even if not nearly as loud “Luna, I tried to be supportive as much I could, but this is was I have to draw the line! You act more and more irrational and put us in dangers far greater than necessary- a princess can't act this way! I would have expected better from my little sister, but now you leash out against our subjects!? When do you think will this end!? HOW do you think will this end!?”
“Don't you lect-!” “I SHALL LECTURE YOU!” it cut her off “What you think you are fighting for if not them!? For false honor!? For your ego!? To make up for mistakes made a thousand years ago!? What is your wrath worth, if you keep repeating the same mistakes, burning everything to mere ashes till even the last pony you love turned against you!?”
Luna couldn't believe it. What had just happened!?
Her mouth suddenly felt dry, just like her throat... not a single word could find its way out, while her eyes wandered aimlessly around... at the frightened pony's on the ground... as well onto guards gathering all around... and the pink mare which looked ashamed at the ground... back to the white mare... or ... whoever was sitting on the throne right now.
Did she... fear... her sister!? - looking at her dauntless expression... the widespread wings, shimmering in the sunlight... full of pride in her doing, as if her heart had more certainty than she could hope to dream of. It made her feel so insignificant and small... like so long ago... just before... the banishment.
The blue mare stumbled backward a couple of steps, turned and ran off.
There hung a more than disturbing silence in the room.
Nopony wanted to be the one to break it, other than Cadance giving a rueful “I'm sorry.” from her, looking towards the open gate at the end of the room.
“You don't have to... if anypony, it's me”
The white princess gestured towards the guards, which helped their citizens to leave the room, yet finding a hard time to walk themselves. Some had to be carried since they had been overwhelmed by Celestia's outburst and fallen unconscious. Usual one would this kind of aura on another warrior to break their will to fight... and leaving them open for attack... not using it on her sister to end an argument. Let alone with all those common pony's nearby.
Then the room was empty, except for the two of them. Cadance and Celestia.
“What you are gonna do about it? She seems destined to do something...” 'disastrous' came to mind but got swallowed in favor of “... worrisome”
Celestia got down from her throne to be on eye-level with the pink alicorn “When all this started, I hoped to close this chapter quickly, but I was a fool” the head shook “If only I had taken more care... if only I... I was stronger”
A pink hoof reached onto Celestia's back, spending sympathy “... and now... she seems to get worse by the day and even I got carried away. I don't -k-now what to do...” Celestia teared up.
“All you can do is your best. Don't be so hard on yourself. You care for her, because you love her! And even then you care for everypony just as much! I wish I could be this strong...” as words got softer “-the only one you don't seem to care about; is yourself! ...but your feelings matter too! Don't let Luna's insecurity's take over! Stay true to who you are and you can't do wrong”
The white mare began to sob, while tears rolled over the face “... can't do wrong!?” she wailed and cried even harder “- I can't do right! - whenever I try- try to... to do something... I just end up hurting her... !” Cadance pulled the crying princess to her chest “ - dou... during the war... or or – the banish-mm-ent... and even today... I hurt herrrrrrrr.....”
“Shh... it's alright... let it all out... - we will get through this, together... you, me, Twilight and her friends... and Luna. All of us!”
Yet neither words nor holding could contain how Celestia felt “Cadanc-e...” it then stuttered.
“I'm listening... what is it?”
A face of sorrow saw up to her “I couldn't do it...”
The pink mare didn't quite understand “do what?” it nervously whispered.
“I... just... couldn't...”
“Talk to me... please. What is it?”
“I couldn't do it again... I... just... can't... I can't lose her again...”
If there was a feeling similar to this, it would be dreaming.
Being weightless, floating through a self-created world... feeling your body somehow and yet, not really. Control was more a thought than fact. You could do things, which didn't happen... yet oddly enough you would remember so many details, it was hard to tell if it wasn't a memory after all. Many reasons dreams often sounded bizarre if you told them since they laid between fact and fiction. It's an out-of-body experience, one in which you don't even leave your body to begin with... and that's where this feeling became totally different; because she just had left it.
"... Mose, cen yoo heer me?" a dull voice reached through the abyss.
"YES!?" she shouted doubtfully, causing a vibrating noise to reach her ear. It was unpleasant, high-pitched and wiry... like howling of a wolf, copied by a bag of rusty nails.
"If yoo cen heer me, thet meens yoo cen see me tou. Open yoor eyes!"
Why open her eyes? Her eye's were open, but everything was pitch-black... darkness so deep you couldn't find your own hooves... but maybe those weren't her hooves anymore? Which meant...
The mare closed eyes again. Taking her time to not just do it... but do it, while being fully aware. Be aware of the motion... and as she did, there was something like a sunrise happening in front of her! Bright light flooded the void and a grainy picture of her husband came into sight, filling the entire horizon to the point the picture fainted on the far away sides.
Colors were muted and partial mismatched, but good enough. After all, she would recognize him even blindfolded. Sledge was and always would be part of her life, one you couldn't replace.
"Well done" the pegasus hoof reached somewhere beneath the horizon and then there was suddenly a feeling on her chin. Vaguely. It must be him? Muse tried to lift a hoof in order to check for it... but then the horizon – it tilted! A first reaction was to hold onto something, but made things even worse! -the picture suddenly spun away and sped up. The outside rushed by from right to left and despite the rapidly growing angle on the horizon, gravity seemed unaffected where she had thrown herself onto the ground, until an earthquake like shattering “WHOMcrkchhhdngPF!” - stopping madness barely two seconds later as quick it had started. A tool filled cabinet been turned into a pancake.
The pegasus bowed down and from... down here... inside? This realm...? -anyways... he looked giant “Use one hoof at a time. Don't. Haste. You ain't my wife, but a crude piece of junk”
Tenet instantly snapped “A what!?” the pegasus just turned at him with widespread wings – a clear gesture of his kind, which wasn't meant to be taken lightly.
Muse looked up, or more forwards...-at the horizon. One hoof tangling aimless through her vision. Blurry edges and colors were washed out. Voices were of, as if she tried to listened through a tin door. Moving was... like led was tied to ankles, using rubber bands. Sluggish and delayed. A rudimentary sense of touch seemed like the only reassurance... a thin thread in an otherwise empty world.
“Iew... trei-k...” it croaked, pulling a face over this unpleasant tone. Where did this noise coming from? It kept coming whenever she tried to... say something... - OHH!
“Ie treyw...” it repeated. It was me! And I sounds awful! This made the mare laugh.
The four legged anvil clattered as if it tried to change gears, causing Tenet to stop glaring. It wasn't supposed to make this kinda noises!? Maybe something was broken or put wrongly together? “Everything alright? It doesn't hurt, does it!?” it asked, without response, since the mare was way to busy with a quite complex task, that had to be done first.
A hoof came down...- down! Alright... that's one. One more couldn't do no harm – maybe not quite there, but that other direction... well done! Only two more. Oh, that was to greedy. Lesson learned... one, two... three... four! Ha...-on all fours in ten minutes flat!
Putting the world back in place, not bad for a start.
Some advice was given, while brown hooves tried to check the insides, but as the pegasus walked out of vision, Muse decided to follow.
One, four... uhm... two, three. Toddler like moves were made, while leaning from side to side like a sailboat, causing to crash into a couple of things. “You know, I also bumped into a framework once, no reason to be embarrassed, didn't crash into a pillar yet, but could happen... - i'm no judge, but chemist, fun job too, won't solve crimes, but, I can make licorice!”
Jack jumped in and out of vision, while she tried to hold a steady line, clattering between steps.
Tenet and Sledge kept a quite one sided argument going, one Muse tried to overhear, for now. At least until she had figured out some more basics, as she walked up to the talking duo, realizing that she was looking down at them. By the lights, they had shrunk in size!
The head turned stuttering, passing by the squabblers. Actually, they didn't shrink at all... she was just bigger then them. Bigger by a full head! This was incredible, like a role reversal. Years and years of putting once nose up, gone within the minute... wow.
It was like watching children having an argument, being the only adult nearby.
It felt odd and disorientating. Looking down at somepony... it was like... it felt like... could it be that... was that how they saw her?
Hmm...
The head turned back and the chunk stopped in front of the coathook's.
Muse picked a pink jacket and... it was about eight numbers to small. “Oh...” Right. Of course this wouldn't work. The hoof tried to hang the coat back, but jerked downwards, breaking the hook with a ~clink~ as well tearing a hole into the fabric, causing the construction to stop moving, while the mare inside took a moment to process, shutting the horizon to bring back the isolated abyss from before. A minute of silence to sort thoughts.
“Muse?” a call reached into the abyss “Muse...” it enticed grabbing the mares attention, which dropped the jacket as it was, turning towards the voice. The door stood wide open and snow blew into the room, right beneath and around the sturdy ankles. There was a lot of white on the ground, so the door must been open for a while. Pony's shook in order to stay warm, one of which hopping in place up and down.
Muse on the other hoof... felt nothing. Not when she crashed into the cabinet earlier or bumping along the walls. The bite of cold just had lost it's teeth, unable to pierce metal skin “Ei - dond - fiel - ainy- tss-ing”
“You feel how you are supposed to... untouchable”
The metal horse pushed forward. The steps seemed more confident and stable, as she pulled by the group and outside. First instinct was to keep the head down, like they been taught in school. “A storm could blow you away, over the mountains!” The teacher had exaggerated, which was scary for a foal, but not as harsh as explaining what actually would happen... always hoping none of their students ever had to learn the truth.
Everything went white for a second, since snow reflected the light and it took a moment to adjust, but even then everything remained shades of white, gray and black.
A blizzard must been nearby, wind constantly pushing snow against the mountainside and into her snout. Then there was a gray pegasus in a red coat... and a blue one, standing under what seemed a transparent bubble, protecting it from the elements.
The green threw himself into the snow, waving hooves, while the brown looked worried all around.
Sledge moved head down towards his wife, which stood upright – watching the landscape, being snowed on from the side. Once close enough, a hoof reached beneath the horizon, in order to turn the bulky head “We will wait for your return, take care of our body, we will take care of yours!” it shouted over the storm. Oh she wished so much to feel this how it was supposed to do, mixing the dull sensation with one of a comforting memory.
“Thang yue”
Excited, the mare didn't lost any time, turned away and made the first steps, sinking in deeper then the others, due to the massive weight of the body, yet shoveling snow aside as if it wasn't even there “Yeeeeiiii!” it squeaked high pitched, echoing through the mountains, while heading towards valley. Speed was gathered, snake lines were pulled – a jump downhill- running... jumping again, falling flat on the nose and burring herself beneath half a meter of white!?
Muse then lost control, trying quickly to pull herself out, pushing back with hooves into what seemed quicksand. The body seemed to respond less with every pull, trembling backwards through the void, all focus was lost. White had turned into black within the blink of an eye!? She was buried! She had to do something quick before freezing or chocking - turning all around the mare tried to find a way out, getting panicky for a moment... there was nothing here that could help her!
There was... nothing...! … she turned one more time around herself... nothing... all black. In every direction. Nothing. No snow. No light. No cold. No air. It was empty. Frightening so... it felt lonely... and cherry... wait... a hint of cherry came to mind? Why was she thinking about cherry's all of a sudden? She had other problems then... wait? Of course!
Muse nearly laughed about herself, after remembering the obvious.
Focus. Nothing is you... - feel it! Embrace it!
Legs jerked! A uncontrolled twitching then turned quickly into a constant shovel movement. It didn't seem like it was even working at first, since touch felt dull and other senses were basically blind, but then the void flooded with light again as the horse almost jumped out of the snow, sunk in again and kept running “WUUUEEEIIII!!!” the mare screamed joyful like a strangled organ almost causing an avalanche! ...one she could challenge ...and win.
“... you risk herlife, so she can play in the snow?” it came in utter disbelieve.
Sledge just looked in this calm fashion of his “Life should be more than being afraid... don't you think?” to then head back in, to take the role of the one waiting.
Gliding high above the clouds... worries seemed far away.
Wind tickled beneath the wings... birds flew gently alongside with you for a bit, happily chirping a melody to praise another wonderful day...
Equestria seemed completely silent and at in line with itself.
Harmony, created by a single moment of silence.
“T-twilight?”
“...hu!?”
“Oh... did I disturb you?” Fluttershy asked rubbing hoof-tips at one another “I'm sorry”
“N-o... not at all. Was just thinking of something else” it smiled “What is it?”
“I thought, uhm... if you don't mind... I really would like to visit my cottage... check on my animals?” puppy eyes were given, more or less accidentally.
A hoof waved “Sure. I won't need your help to read a book or two... but it's good to have some company” as the mare flapped a bit to keep the pegasus height “How about you take care of everything and we meet up at the castle?”
“That be wonderful!” it cheered a bit to much, as the mare's yellow cheeks turned red “I mean, I will try to hurry...” the two giggled a bit about this loosen up moment.
Soon enough, after an hour of flight Ponyville came in sight.
Nothing felt better then coming home after a couple hard days... oh and what kind of days those were! … ugh...
“So uhm... bye~!” it waved one last time and... one more after that, before the element of kindness turned into a long bow, heading for the house on the edge of town. Only on this remote edge was enough space to hold bunny's and chicken, ferrets and birds, as many well many many more, alongside a howl grown bear without disturbing neighbors day and night. Saying this shy mare had a hoof for animals, would been an understatement.
Twilight landed with flapping wings right in front of the castle, after which the first few friendly faces welcomed her with waving hooves “Hey, how are you doing!?” it smiled friendly. This town sure had grown to her... “I'm fine, but you know- princess stuff” it came casual, trying to not get hooked into a chit chat. Clock was ticking and a book wouldn't read itself. Unless she found the right spell... but where would be the fun in that!?
Twilight had picked up the untouched book right away. Barely able to finish the index, before Rainbow interrupted her -twice... or actually three times, since she hat left her behind to deal with a bunch of panicky passengers.
“Finally! Study time!” Twilight cheered silently, since Spike had fallen asleep in a comfy armchair nearby with a comic in his claw. How one could fall asleep during reading was beyond Twilight's understanding. The hoof tip then was licked, ready to add new vibrant knowledge into her arrangement.
“Twi... hey, Twilight?” it nudged.
“Uhh... S-Spike?” the mare rubbed eyes “Ho-owww...” it yawned “...late is it?”
Twilight's head rose, causing the dragon get a look on her face “Hahaha!” Spike burst into laughter
“Huh... what's so funny?”
“Oh nothing, really! - but you gotta lend me that book some time, looks like it left... quite an impression! HAHAH!” Spike laughed even harder, making her raise a suspicious eyebrow. A flash let a mirror appear to find an exact copy of what she had read last, printed all over her face. Apparently laying face first in a new book could do that “Ugh... very funny” it came a tad grumpy, but not without a smile. She could see the humor in that.
While Twilight was busy scrubbing stubborn ink away, the baby dragon took a curious look into the book. Apparently it was all about delicious gems! One of his favorite meals “Is that for my birthday?” it asked hopefully, despite the fact it would take another six months. Maybe his friend was planning just way ahead... not to far fetched if you asked him.
“Actually, i was looking for a blue stone” the cheek rubbing mare replied “I guess I must been fallen asleep after sapphires...”
“Slumberstone. The name refers to the raw nature of the stone. 1#Unaltered: these stones are commonly used in dreamcatcher's...” this rose an eyebrow “-w-wait!” the book was taken away to find exactly what she had been looking for all over “How you found this so quickly!?”
“... it was right on the next page?” the dragon replied sheepishly with a hand on his neck.
Flap... flap... - of course it was! As Spike hold paws onto his snot to not laugh loudly, about Twilight pulling a face about this rather underwhelming discovery to continue where Spike had left off.
“... since its believed it's natural magic ability's ease pony's into a restful and deep slumber, allowing the /sleeper/ to channel his spiritual energy's.”
“Just like this book! Ha!” Spike snapped into wild laughter “HAHhaaa!” continuing to the point tears of joy had to wiped away, before all funny had found its way out. Once the dragon had fetched his breath, he found Twilight to frown at him for the past two minutes “Oh come on, it was funny!” the dragon threw his arms up.
“Your so called joke contains valuable information!”
“Ye whatever! ...unless you plan to get me page twelve to twenty five in a bowl, I think i'm not quite hooked” it shrugged without caring about any of it, before heading downstairs. All this gem talk could raise ones appetite!
“2#Altered or 'awoken': this refers to Slumberstones in it's enchanted state. Crafted into an item the stone will bind it to the handler and protect it from foreign sources of magic as long the bond isn't revoked. Items such as, but not solely: amulets/wands/chests/armor.
“Binding... a magic bond? Hmm...”
“Uhm... Twilight?” Fluttershy peeked into the study, finding the mare beneath hooves starring holes into a book “Oh, you look busy” the door was about to close “Maybe I just... come back later” the coy mare mumbled.
“Huh? Fluttershy?” the face tilted before coming up entirely “It's fine, you can come in!”
While the shy pegasus quietly closed the door, Twilight's hoof smudged along the cheek to make sure the wasn't another copy printed across her face again.
“I didn't want to disturb your work”
“You didn't. In fact, I just finished... ” this and a nervous smile was all the answer the pegasus got before the mare tried once again to challenge the ink to a staring contest, which seemed rather unusual for Twilight the chatty student. A discovery... -any discovery, usually would cause an endless stream of information's linking into a hoof full sub-topics. Rattling them down in no particular order till clarity was out of sight, just to sum it up in nothing more then a hoof full simple words. Like she should to begin with.
“Twilight?” Fluttershy leaned in further to find a worrisome expression on her friends face “... is it something you found out that is worrying you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Uhm... well... y-es” it nodded shortly.
Leaning back on the purple flank, a hoof brushed along her mane in order to sort thoughts.
“Let's start with the good news then: I think I found a weak spot. I mean, I can't be a hundred percent sure till we returned to Canterlot, but if i'm right there is a pretty good chance we can... turn it off” the shoulders shrugged, since it all seemed so simple. The idea being to flick the switch and hope the lights go out. Not much harder then handling a night light. A revelation which seemed so obvious, so easy to exploit, one had to wonder why Sombra created them this way? Was he afraid they would get out of hoof? Was this his backup plan all along? It just seemed like a gamble the mad king would been more then willing to take! A pony willing to curse an Empire on the off chance of losing the fight.
“Now that does sound like good news!” the pegasus clapped it's hooves in order to cheer for a brief moment! Pok! Pok! Pok!.... Pok? “Oh” Now, that was awkward, apparently cheering all alone “I guess there are bad... news?”
“We will need Princess Luna”
“...”
“We ain't out of the woods yet” Twilight agreed on the silence “However, there is one more thing. Remember how I said there might be more?” the head turned towards the window through which you could see a wonderful sunny day, barely a cloud in the sky despite the lack of a certain weather-pony in Ponyville “I was wrong. There is just one of them” the pony turned back to her friend to start walking in a long half circle across the room and around the desk in their midst “Not just wouldn't it make any sense to send only one of those at a time, after the first stone was acquired, but its already past noon and nothing happened! The attacks were always in the morning and look-” the hoof pointed towards the window and the sun hanging high in the sky “We haven't received as much as a hearsay! No attack. No thievery or as much as a threat against us. I'm convinced that Luna damaged the one we saw so badly, it might bought us a day or two” the purple hoof suddenly knocked onto the table, causing the pegasus to straighten up “We might don't know what the puppet-master is up to, but for now his strings are cut and we have time on our side! And I got the feeling, he will be quite talkative once he can't hide behind his marionette anymore"
Twilight felt kinda smug about this one, apparent by the bright smile on display. It was one thing to terrorize pony's from behind the curtain, but another to face justice in person! The puppet-master, whoever it was, could consider himself lucky if Twilight was the Princess to lay the first hoof on him...
“T-then shouldn't we better hurry?”
“Indeed. We shouldn't waste any more time. Let's head back to Canterlot and meet up with the others” the princess trotted back the way she came to head for the door to stop on the handle “Don't you worry, we got this. Together!”
“Twilight!” it then echoed through the castle, causing the mares ears to twitch “Twilliiight!” the screaming got louder seconds the dragon failed to make the last turn and slammed on the stomach- sliding right past the library door “Ough!”
“Spike!? -are you okay?”
A purple glow picked up the baby dragon, which still held a tight grip on a scroll in his claw “Here... from the princess!” the loyal friend rose the paper, which wore a royal seal in its middle. A golden alicorn imprinted on it.
“Please don't tell me...” the magic faded away as the grip swapped from dragon to scroll in order to read it right away, sending the purple helper painful back to the ground “ughf!”
“S-sorry!”
Eyes flew across the paper, reading the message faster then the final chapter of Bygone Griffons of Greatness “Uhu... oh... now this is... hm!?”
“What does it say?” Fluttershy dared to peek over her friends winged shoulders, while Spike was back up on his feet and rubbing his snout which had taken most of the landing.
“Apparently Cadance needs our help in the Crystal Empire... - they revealed the truth about 'the weapon' and... sweet Celestia! No! - their citizens on the border of mass panic! Apparently many of them are forming riots, which the guard has to disperse... - the empire's can't deal with that! Not as long the royal guard has to protect their borders! Not just could that thing slip right past them, pony's could get hurt even without an attack!”
“Oh my! That's awful!” Fluttershy gasped for Spike to join in on the pegasus panic “What we gonna do!?” he ran two quick circles around himself, while the alicorn thought quietly.
“I got it” the hoof pointed at the purple baby to materialize a quill and paper into his claws “Spike take a letter! Dear Cadance, i'm sorry to hear that the empire is in such unrest and would love nothing more then being there with you... however, I can't”
“W-ait what? Can't? As in... you won't go to the empire!?” Spike looked up from the scroll, since he thought he hadn't heard that one quite right.
“No Spike, i won't. Me and Fluttershy must return to Canterlot at once. I'm pretty sure we found a way to end this madness from there. As much the Empire needs us, we have to deal with the source first”
“- but then the Crystal Pony's will descend into chaos!”
“Yes, that's why i'm sending you to go there!” the hoof pointed.
“Twilight, I know you trust me and all, but what can I do? I'm just a baby dragon! I can't possibly fight off thatS-sombrathing!”
A poof magic teleported the mare half a meter forward and right on the side of the shivering dragonfriend, which was barely half her size. One could easily be fooled to think this dragon was a pushover, yet found to be surprised that Spike-Wickey could hold his ground against most young stallions when it came to raw strength. Not to forget his thick dragon scales, which allowed him not just to walk through fire, literally, but also to absorb a lot of punishment without leaving as much as a mark, while possessing fire breath and remarkable sharp claws to dish out pain on its own! ...sadly, it would take Spike another one hundred years of aging to be a match, despite all these unique perks on his side.
“Spike, i'm not counting on you to fight a metal beast with your bear claws” a wing was spread and laid around the assistants shoulders in order to pull him close against the rather soft pony flank “- but you are an idol for the pony's within the empire. Ever since you saved them from Sombra's clutches, they knew they can trust you! Now, who would be better suited to take away their fears and remind them that they are not alone? This way the guard can perform their duty... and we can end this long before anything happens”
Purple cheeks turned red, while Spike couldn't help to feel proud that Twilight trusted him as much to play such an important part in her strategy. Being the foundation of order for an entire Empire... !
“Yeah! You know, I think I can do that!”
The little dragon hopped forward to face Twilight again and show of his biceps like the local albino bodybuilder Bulk Biceps “I will go to the empire and bring these pony's to order! ~ or my name won't be Spike the brave!” the finger pointed towards the ceiling in a half kneeling pose, trying to resemble a marble statue of some kind? Or just copying one of the comic covers... Twilight wasn't sure about that.
“Now there, don't get carried away” magic brought 'the brave' back on his feet “They do adore you, but you won't have any time to write autographs- you got that? - best course of action for you would be to meet up with Cadance or Shining Armor. My brother will probably know best where they need you the most”
“No problemo!” the dragon saluted one more time before running towards his room to pack a few things.
“~and don't forget to send the message!” it shouted after, which resolved in a bright green light flashing up a couple seconds later, as well Twilight roll her eyes for a bit.
“Uhhhh-” a hoof was put on her chest while taking in air “Ugghhhh!” to breath out long and deep with a moan. A relaxing method Princess Cadance had shown her a while ago. It did help a lot to get stress levels back down again!
“... let's better hurry back to Canterlot, before another disaster strikes!”
Disaster however was out of order, about to put itself back together one screw at a time.
“Urwrw~” the gray hunk mourned, trying to handle a crowbar. Ramming the crude tool with gusto – PowWngkchk! ...into a crack nearby the busted lock mechanic. This darn demon had burned the last bit of grace this machine hat to offer, leaving barely enough intact to stand upright. Most coolant had been vaporized in an instant and the rest of the acid containing brew spilled across guts, before it would leak through the holes in his chest onto the ground beneath. It was likely town's pony's would find the breadcrumbs and knock at his door eventually “Gruh~ nevermind!” the crowbar was thrown aside with a ~ponk!
Why even bother!? It's a wreck! “GAaH!” the remaining hoof wiped frustrated all tools of the workbench, sending them clattering to the ground. Two of which being twisted wrenches. A first failed attempt to unlock the mechanism manual, yet the darn thing must been molten inside. Not to mention the hoof eye coordination was busted, causing most tools to be utterly useless. All of which just the tip of the iceberg! Where to even start... !?
Oil was leaking out of every crack, the hydraulic pump was rattling loud enough to be heard upstairs and probably the reason the right hind-leg was out of commission. Stereo hearing was gone, an ear lost in the nearby forest. A trail of coolant had been left across the entire area and his voice box, which at its best had been at best 'capable' – now delivered a tin wiry buzzing on every syllable uttered! So once pony's from the nearby town would follow the green breadcrumbs to his doorstep he was done for. No hiding in synthetic fur, since the last one was burned of his skin with the might of the sun itself!
“Ughhhhhhh~ ponk!” the bulky head plunged grunting onto the desk, tilting slowly to the side. Not intentional. Spine or muscle... who cares. Yet coming into focus was the cause of more trouble then the entire rest combined. This darn left hoof! Always: this hoof! This piece of junk, clinging to this body on nothing more then a broken joint “Y-~ouw know... thiz darn hoof “Ie nevaur could get it touw uw~ork properly...” it was the same hoof on which he had screwed the valve upside down. The one breaking after the cliff jump of Galloping Gorge! … and despite seeing it coming, checking everything twice: went limp minutes before the attack nearby Blatimare, forcing him to 'improvise'. It was cursed, what else could it be!? “~huh...haahuhuh hahaww... gettwing up withz the wrong hoof?”
History being thrown off rails. Empires falling. Years of misery, spend in a lonesome basement. All of which caused by something mundane as getting up with the wrong hoof!
“Hahahahuhhfhffchhh~” the hoof scratched along the side of his cheek, trying to take in this rare moment of bittersweet joy, before it came to rest on his forehead since the amount of relief was hardly enough to cancel the buzzing between his ears.
It took a hefty pull on 'the strings' to lift his remains of his thick metal flank. The broken hoof was dragged along. The right front and left hind ones did their job. The right hind-leg had been locked in place, like a crutch. Lucky he had install those valves! All it took was to close the outlet and it was good to go! Good for the circumstances of course. On the way from the left to right he had leaned against the edge of the counter, shuffling along the workstations to bend or break drawer handles once in a while, over which he now had to step back using the same method. Closely followed by a trail of chestnuts red oil and unicorn blue coolant.
Falling onto the flank, the good hoof reached for the pearl. A slick marble waiting in a bowl, bathing in a mild cleaner during the pointless attempt to ~ … the horse blinked.
Gray? … the head turned in a staggering motion to give a glance towards a nearby lamp... which still had a blue glow to it. Then came back to the pearl.
Gray. Dull gray. Not... - ho- wa~hy... !?
…
… !?
Realization took a minute to materialize, but it did. First slow and gentle, like a snowflake landing in your hoof, yet the picture – the vast dimension of the betrayel grew rapidly, like a snowball to the face! And before the horse could do as much shake off the first painful sting~ the rest had found its way into his consciousness and there was no escape! Rushing downhill with a ROOooaaAAR! Quickly covering the entire horizon to built itself up in front of his hooves and crush the pony to pieces in the blink of an eye, wiping away everything in its way...
“Gr~a....AARRrhhhhhhh!” ~PFAMWRRCHH!” the desk exploded into splinters and the gem into dust! Swatting a shelve halfway across the room by a swing of the hoof and grabbing during a half turn onto the next best thing: a vice on the ground – blowing the blue light out! “YARR!” Causing the vice to get stuck in the wall as splinters and sparks rained onto the floor as the light source had died “Gah~” Hastily sitting up ~ to fast to find balance, the horse quickly tilted and stumped a couple meters- couldn't find anything to hold onto and crashed heavily into a cabinet! Ckrrrrchhhieeekk-FOMP!~tschhhhhhhhhh.... flattening it to barely more then a pan, before finally coming to rest. Muscles hissing as the last spats of air were pushed out his body.
…and then there was silence. Silence in an otherwise blank landscape.
Nordestern was by far the largest town in all of north. Hiding its own supply gardens, between houses and protective walls. Walls so high, you had to put your head in the neck in order to see where they eventually ended and the magic barrier started. A barrier, holding out cold and snow, shimmering in lovely minty green which got reflected by the slick black stone used in all of town. Travelers often compared it to the Crystal Empire, while telling story's about the wonderful sunny land of Equestria. A land in which pony's decided, when it was time to snow... instead of it just 'happening' the way it did. Clearly, nothing more than citizens bragging about their home, since it was impossible to even attempt controlling the wetter above Nordstern. The cutting wind quickly froze wings and magic no matter how strong couldn't hope to pierce the thick cloud layers... - so it was either hiding or wearing a thick coat. The third alternative is rather unpleasant... - the main reason for pony's to travel in large groups and only if they really had to.
Muse shuffled through town, away from its center where the caravan had dropped her off.
Snow got pushed aside, whenever the hooves brushed forwards, letting her necklaces shake beneath the thick coat, covering chest and head. The white mare stopped to orientate herself. There were the cracked walls... a patch of black earth... and a building, wrapped in dirty gray. The red shimmering town was left behind, to make her way around this misfit. A group of coughing stallions came towards. Must have to do with the snow... neither cold nor natural. Having its origin in the factory ahead.
Massive statues covered the gate, staring straight forward. Muse was heading for the river, which not just fed the factory, but also the rest of the town. Water fresh from the glacier.
Hulled in shadows, she reached an emergency exit, also with a posing statue posing.
“Hello. I'm Muse. I was sent to inspect the implementation process.”
The head creaked during the move “Pass.” and the tiny mare obeyed, reaching for the necklaces. It took almost a minute until it was rejected. The letters seemed to wash from side to side. “Something wrong?” she asked innocently “-i j-just got it. Please, don't send me away! You know what happened if I don't do my work!”
“Can't read. No entrance.” the voice repeated mindlessly.
“Oh! Seems I'm just in time. Must be lost wire! Let me fix that for you.” she offered, reaching out for his ear, but got pushed away “They will turn both of us into scrap.” it came more eagerly, grabbing the ear in a quick twisting motion “Trust me, I just have to...” she reached into his chest, pulling out the crystal in its middle, letting the horse sink on its knees, to fall flat on its side with a -WHOMP!-. At this point the countdown ran, just as fast the mare did. Stomping the crystal had awoken the pony, as well every statue in a ten-mile radius. Alarms hauled through palace and factory, causing the workers to flee.
“RUN – ALL OF YOU- OUT!” the mare screamed to some disorientated workers, pushing them the first steps “GET OUT! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE!” till they ran on their own, before heading deeper into the labyrinth. She then ran down the hallway, stopped halfway and back into a corner. The breath was held, while two figures stomped by- after which she immediately hasted down the floor.
The main assembly chamber was huge. Furnaces took most of the space, constantly spitting boiling strings of white and orange into molds, which would be cooled by water, to then drop onto assembly lines. The tar-like remains were lead into the outgoing river, poisoning land and nature as far the eye could see, which still was one of the lesser crimes, this place had committed.
The mare kept ducking, whenever she heard this familiar stomping, pulling every leaver she came by, in order to keep the factory going- speeding up the assembly lines, increasing the furnace temperature way over the limit and closing every safety valve she got her hooves on.
“IN KING SOMBRA'S NAME: YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!” it shouted in collective unity when suddenly two black giants spotted the traitor.
Muse immediately crouched into cover, desperately pulling herself along the dirty ground. Outrunning them was no option. They were was faster and kept jumping over the belts, closing in from all sides, only stopping to listen in, since the spot she had been in turned out empty, except for a jacket.
“Hfhfhfhf...!” the mare panted, holding both hooves onto her snot, while watching massive legs moving back and forth in front of the slit she was peeking through. The crate she sat in, was picked up, almost causing her to scream, while praying to the polestar to spend his light... - the horse looked into the niche, dropped the crate on its site and the stomping withdrew.
The mare silently cried for a minute, crammed in a box half her size. For once, she was scared, shaking all over her sweaty body, while the thick dirty air robbed the little breath there was. The other thing was... even if they wouldn't get her... she wouldn't see her husband or the others, ever again.
A sharp whistling was the sign, she squeezed herself out of the oppressive hideout, kept the head to the floor and followed the rattling lines, performing zig-zag and pressing herself at every corner, to peek around- hasting towards the stairs for the main control room, when her head got pulled painfully on her mane “IN KING SOMBRA'S NAME: YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!” the mare bucked and tore out the strand, grabbing swarf from ground, throwing it into his face. The horse immediately stepped forward, swatting blindly around to grab her again, but only managed to smash the metal drill behind, pulling even more attention- while the white horse fled upstairs, chased by seemingly every monster in town. They flooded in from all sides, ignoring the half-completed cousins and shouted the ever same phrase.
Muse managed to climb the stairs, kept slipping off some of them. Her body was exhausted, only hold upright by adrenaline rushing through her veins. This and the hope, she could take out all of them. Every single one of those... BATARDS... had to burn!
Clattering got lost beneath the deafening noise, caused by the sharp whistling of alarm signals- overheating, speed alerts, blocked mechanism and plugged pipes and many more- as well the rattling and hissing, stomping and shouting of over twenty stallions rushing towards the mare above, standing on a grit platform with a wonky railing.
“IN KING SOMBRA'S NAME: YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!” it echoed like a broken record, as one of them came out of the control room, while four of them stood already on the other side. All this happening ten meters above the ground, hanging on threats above a boiling fire-pit.
There was nowhere to go... -patump...-patump...-patump... they already closed in, marching straight at the pony which wished for nothing but a pair of wings...
Sledge.
“... and in my name: farewell!” the mare declared loud and clear, stepping onto the railing... -and jumped!
The factory was torn apart! - bricks and glowing iron pieces send flying in every direction, some of which landing on roofs and setting them on fire, other chunks landing hissing in the snow or being washed away from the nearby river. The pony's nearby were send harsh to the ground, while the ones further away couldn't miss the roaring noise as the monument of oppression crumbled to burning ashes.
Smoke was carried away by the wind, taking the thick smoke columns of Nordstern along, as all over Frozen North new snow fell into unaware hooves.
The stained-glass room wasn't quite in the center, but given how spacious the castle was, probably the easiest room to find. This was why the group gathered here to report in.
“Any of ya found her?” Applejack asked worried.
Rarity's took the time to correct her mane after all this 'egregious running' “I fear we did not, did we?” as Pinkie Pie gave a way to happy “Nopi, doki, loki”
“Oh great, Twilight will be back any minute and we spend an entire day searching-” as the flapping Rainbow Dash cut herself short to put a hoof onto the face as she noticed the purple alicorn approaching “Ughh... -great!”
“Hey girls, we are back!” the princess announced seemingly excited, accompanied by Fluttershy which could hold the excitement back a little better “H-ello, i'm back too”
“Hello...” was the modest group answer. Not what anypony would call excited. Not even Fluttershy.
“Something wrong?” the mares looked at one another “We kinda lost Luna I guess... and can't quite find Princess Celestia either” the cowgirl admitted, sheepishly pushing her cowboy-hat forward to hide the guilty expression.
“We searched everywhere! Poof! Gone! We can't find them ANYWHERE!” the pegasus added, not bothering with 'talking through the flower'.
Twilight's hoof rose to calm the crowd “I fear I have a pretty good idea where to find Luna. Rainbow; I want you to go get Princess Celestia and meet us at the throne room- the rest comes with me!”
“Wait! I have no idea where she is!” the pegasus shouted after the group about to rush off.
“Try the private study!”
“Her what-now!?”
“... -the highest tower!”
“Oh, on it!” a quick salute was given, before becoming a blur.
Rushing off with near rain-boom speed, the blue speedster pulled a harsh draft through the corridors, knocking over pretty much everything nearby as well a couple surprised guards.
“HEY-PRINCESS-HEY!” the pegasus hammered, dancing nervously on the spot like having had a glass to much apple juice “C'mon! Twilight needs you!”
Then the hoof missed the piece of wood, since the door was pulled open by a golden glow. Princess Celestia stood in it, majestic as always. A white alicorn as beautiful as a golden morning. All it took was being close to her and your heart couldn't help to feel fuzzy, as the rest of your body turned into a foal: week knees, unable to fly straight... and even the most basic spells slipped your mind.
“Twilight you say?”
Gulping once heavily, Rainbow felt somewhat disrespectful and unworthy to disturb moth-Uh-...Celstia like this “I... y-yeah. Twilight- she wanted to meet us... in the throne room. I mean... if you can?”
Celestia's eyes wandered off the pegasus and towards the sky, as the alicorn's heartfelt anything but fuzzy. Rather heavy.
“I understood”
“Then let's g-” before the pegasus could finish her line, a light flashed up all around her. Fur tickled for a fraction of a second and the pony's body felt like getting pushed from every direction at once, as she had to stop herself from flying into one of the colorful windows “What in the-!?”
“Princess, you need to open the portal. We must enter the chamber”
Celestia did as told, as magic sparked up along the white horn. A hole was torn into thin air as the alicorn was the first to feel a cold draft pulling around the ankles. A draft coming from a sealed chamber.
As soon the portal was open Twilight went through, followed by the curious crowd.
They materialized on the other side to catch a wild rambling, neigh's and flashes of light.
“I knew it” Twilight simply said to follow the dark corridor as quick she could, alongside the curious crowd right in her back. Surprisingly enough the corridor wasn't as dark as last time, despite the lack of lamps framing the walls. There were only deep cracks and lamp fragments on the ground, yet a bright light seemed to...
“DOWN!”
Just as Twilight shouted, dragging everypony to the ground, a flash of magic whizzed right above the heads – slicing glowing edges into the walls, letting it rain stones and dust upon them.
“Oh, my mane!” Rarity whined.
“-better your mane then your head!” Applejack scolded the misguided concern, causing a nervous laugh from the white unicorn, which somehow became even more pale.
Applejack had to stop and prop the butter boned diva to follow the rest, which already had moved on, entering the cold main chamber.
This is where they found Princess Luna. Standing in the middle of rambling statues: blasting waves of high concentrated light into them! Four of which already molten to a mush.
“GRRRRWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” a blinding charge sliced the next victim!
Crescent Light's buzzing rang in their ears as the horses neck began to glow bright orange and the metal head rolled of the pony's shoulders -ponk!- landing ears first on the ground.
Six pony's held their breath, one fading into the cowgirls hooves.
“It's enough!” Twilight commanded, stepping between Luna and the rest of the mindless horses “Az-SItE...SParkel!” Luna stuttered. As if it wasn't hard enough to stand on three shaking legs, now there were a bunch of mares blocking her way; most of which being dancing purple alicorn's! Alicorn's which couldn't synchronize demands with their mouth's.
“I toL... ol.....d......” the blue alicorn performed a wonky step to the left, tripped... - and spun to the ground.
“Sister!” Celestia snapped -hurrying to the young sisters aid to check for her vitals.
Suddenly one of the tin-targets raced straight into a nearby wall! “PHOMP!” nearly breaking it's own metal neck, shacking the howl cave to the point stones rained from the ceiling.
“What in tarnation!?”
A wake up call for the white diva. As pony's observed a raging rodeo horse in front of their snots: bucking, jumping and swatting uncontrolled in every direction as it trampled remains of a colleague to mush “A-applejack!? Whatshaaap-pening!?” the shivering mare clung to the earth pony.
“I honestly have no idea!”
Like to underline those words, Rainbow had to dodge a headless horse which kept charging at the next best thing: a colleague with hole in its chest, through which the mechanic insides were pulled out by the attacker. The two trying to destroy one another!?
“I said- its: ENOUGH!” Twilight's magic blew the metal horses into the far end of the room, as the rest of her friends instinctively searched for cover beneath their hooves.
Rainbow peeked from under her wings “G-osh! Twilight, calm down!”
Twilight felt a certain satisfaction watching the war-machines being piled onto one another. It wasn't quite the real deal, since those dummy's wouldn't know to react to anything... but it was at least something. Probably the best stress relief in the given situation.
“AJ, Rarity, Pinkie: help Princess Celestia to get Luna to bed. I will stay here and... check up on something”
The mares did as told. The still wailing Luna was loaded on the farm pony's back.
Rarity walking ahead while Celestia made sure the patient wouldn't fall off. Pinkie meanwhile hopped along as moral support and curious for more delicious “honey”.
Remaining were yellow, blue and purple. Cowering, wondering and glaring.
Standing in the front row, the others had taken cover behind the alicorn which talked over her shoulder “You two should go-..”
“Oh that be wonderful!” the yellow pegasus wanted to crawl away, but was hold up by the blue one “No way! We gonna bust those scrapheap's and show them who's boss!”
One of the stallion which had manage to get all four hooves down, turned towards the noisy group. Made a step. Another one. Three, but stopped – and jumped right into a rush of pounding hooves which let stones dance in front of Fluttershy's cowering nose.
Rainbow got into a deep battle stance: widespread wings and hooves, while Twilight didn't move at all. Standing still like one of these windup dolls on their first visit, while a raging bull quickly covered the few meters in between.
Yet mere meters before the horse would trample the group Rainbow became second thoughts, trying to pull away the stubborn alicorn which rejected the help.
“Watch out!” was all Rainbow got out before covering the nearby Fluttershy instead. Wings wrapped around the mare which was pulled into an embrace, so she wouldn't see what was about to happen.
A loud “thud!” was heard, alongside rambling of colliding metal as a twisted squeal reached their friends. Rainbow tried to cover Fluttershy's ears, as the noise cut of barely two seconds later.
There was a moment of silence in the room, during which pony's held their embrace.
Silence eventually being broken by Twilight “...just as I thought.”
“W-what just happened!?” Rainbow asked baffled, trying to orientate herself.
“You see in a minute” Twilight smiled confident, trotting nonchalant around the attacker and towards the remains of a sliced soldier, followed by puzzled expressions.
Obviously the horse had come to a sliding standstill right at the alicorn's hooves, leaving the mare without a single scratch. The colossus just laid there flat on it's snout, which had buried itself into the dirt. The puppets invisible strings apparently cut by the princess.
“... how you done that!?” Rainbow kept wondering, as Fluttershy dared to peek around the blue wing. A big relief to see Twilight unharmed and... - apparently all of the horses being lifeless again?
How did Twilight do it!? They hadn't even hears so much as the sparkling of magic, let alone a spell being cast which usually would have some static crackling to it. Did they miss it or had the bookworm a new kind of spell in her sleeve... figurative spoken. Twilight rarely wore any kind of cloth, not even royal insignia.
“Lets see what we got here” it nearly cheered as magic gripped into what could had been a twisted chest piece; tearing out wires, hoses and artificial rips – soaked in some kind of green goo dripping from the 'insides'. A sour brew you could smell all to well even from a great distance. Disgusting! Especially if you heard this slobbering and sloshing as those parts were thrown over the shoulder to land with a splash on the ground. Uewww!
Fluttershy had to put two hooves onto the snot to prevent anything coming out, while Rainbow couldn't help to pull a frown at the morbid behavior “I don't want to ruin your fun, but don't you think it had enough?”
Magic tattled a last hoof mechanic guts aside, as the princess had found satisfaction.
“I'm done here. Lets go meet up with the others”
With that said, Twilight simply trotted out of the chamber, followed closely by her friends.
Nopony would want to stay here. In fact, that they had to return more then once felt bad enough. This chamber wasn't just creepy and outright dangerous, but filled with so much evil... bad memory's and pain... it should been dug and forgotten for another thousand years. If not forever.
As the remaining pony's had stepped through the portal, Twilight used a whiff of magic to break the spell and close the portal, to then be approached by the fashionista Rarity.
“Oh dear, there you are. The others are already gone ahead. Princess Luna seems in awful condition”
“She had to put up with a lot of things lately, but I fear this is not over yet. We will need Luna's strength one more time”
“-but Twilight dear” Rarity rose concern “You saw how... displeased Luna was. I'm not certain it is a good idea to leave her anywhere near those disgusting thingy's”
“Yeah, Rarity is right! We all saw it: Luna has gone nuts! She almost got us all foal-sized” as the hovering pegasus hoof quickly went from left to right in height of her neck.
“I know Luna can be difficult at times, but she still has a good heart. She didn't mean to endanger us and we will need her strength if we want any chance of winning. So please, trust me when I tell you to trusther... I know we can change things around, together!
“I do trust you Twilight” Fluttershy said proudly, receiving a warm glance from the alicorn.
“Ugh...” Rainbow grunted “That's no fair! You know we always stick to you Twilight!”
“Then we will give Princess Luna the benefit of the doubt” Rarity nodded nonchalant “Anypony deserves a second chance...”
Friendship was magic indeed, but this wasn't why a purple glow surrounded the friends. Twilight was the one pulling them close for a hug, with little to no resistance.
“Thank you. I knew I can always count on you”
A hug which Pinkie Pie and Applejack would receive too, just a few minutes later. They didn't exactly know why, but they took it non the less. A gentle 'thank you' for all the strength they had lend Twilight during this mess.
Now all the young alicorn had to do, was to pass this strength on to her former mentor: Princess Celestia. The white alicorn which kept walking impatiently up and down in front of Luna's room.
The doctor had told Celestia already five times Luna would fully recover, before asking very politely to wait outside. Surprisingly enough, Celestia did as told without bothering to complain... which made the treatment something between a lot easier and somewhat risky.
Having a relative step on your hooves didn't help to concentrate, but on the flip side, she might protect him from having the rest of his mane to be burned off by the the patient.
Then one of the double doors opened a crack, as the orange unicorn quietly snuck outside and pushed it every so carefully shut, before putting the medial bag down and allowing himself for a long “Phewww.....”. Luckily his nerves had held without any sedatives.
Turning on the spot, the doc had almost run into the white mare in front of him!
“Oh- y-your highn-” “How is my dear sister doing?”
Since family was the one asking and nopony else was near, the medic was willing to tell right away “I treated her wounds properly and administered all necessary antibiotics. However, i'm afraid she has a mild fever which will take about... a day or two to be cured...” the unicorn tapped nervously his forehead, removing cold sweat with a handkerchief “I guess this is caused by... due the lack of earlier... proper medical attention... on my behalf”
Princess Celestia wasn't anywhere near as impulsive as Princess Luna, but given the rumors over a certain outburst... and just knowing how important the younger sister was to the eternal ruler of Equestria, one could rightfully assume that doing anything less then the best would end up anger the immortal mare anyhow. Being a doctor who failed to provide for the well being of said sister... -how could it result in anything then punishment by: embrace?
“Thank you so very much for your efforts” Celestia whispered into the surprised stallions ear, which felt a tingling feeling racing down from snot to tail and back up again, bringing tingling static along. All over his body fur rose as warmth of this cloudy soft embrace sunk into his mind, making the doctor hope that this was indeed some kind of punishment. Oh please oh please, let the sentence be: life! -shot for through the unicorns head, while Celestia shared motherly love with one of her subjects.
“Princess, how is Luna doing?”
Twilight interrupted the comforting moment, as the hooves let go of the heavily blushing doctor and attention was directed towards Twilight “I just received word she will recover shortly” it smiled warm enough to bring tears of joy into one's eyes.
“Glad to hear” it nodded, as the alicorn stopped to smirk shortly along the cheeks, while the doctor just remembered the fact that he was on duty and... apparently in a castle?
“P-princess” it bowed once with a indelible smirk on his face, before wandering off happily humming a tune... - returning one more time to pick up the forgotten medicine bag and leave yet again, already planning for a house visit at his mothers house.
“Seems like the fever is spreading” Twilight mumbled, since pretty much everypony nearby was blushing for one reason or the other.
“... yes. It appears so” Celestia replied polite, as thoughts already began to drift away.
“Princess, I know this isn't the best time but, we need to talk about Luna and what will happen next. Time is running through our hooves and another attack is more then likely”
“Indeed” it shortly nodded “-this isn't the time to let our guard down, even if not all of us will continue the fight” the purple eye glanced towards the door behind which Luna slept in her sickle moon bed. Cuddled into a dark blue pillow and blanket on which star signs were stitched with shimmering silver threat. Held company by Tibbles, the royal possum plushie.
“Princess by all due respect, we cannot expel Luna from the fight. As I said; there will be another attack and unless we have Luna, we won't see it coming or be able to stop it"
“Twilight, as much as I wish this to be different, Luna hasn't been herself lately. It was a difficult decision to make, but if I let her wander down this path: somepony will get hurt. This could been Luna, this could been somepony else... and as ruler of Equestria I cannot allow this to happen. Whoever will get hurt, i'm the one to blame; because I couldn't separate my feelings from my responsibility” the hoof gestured towards her chest, yet tapped onto the golden horse collar, which was alongside crown and horseshoes insignia for her royal status.
“If the safety of Equestria is in question, then we need Luna. Luna needs us!”
This smug answer wasn't anywhere what Princess Celestia was used from Twilight. Her former student had always valued her every word and the wisdom within, but now all of a sudden she dared to question such clear reasoning!? Did... Luna rub off?
“Maybe I haven't made my self clear. I won't let my sister leave this room until we are done” it came more pronounced, gesturing a white feathered wing sideways.
“Then might as well open this door right now, because the both of us know how this is going to end. Our magic hadn't had the slightest impact! -and even if; we couldn't possible reach it in time before having another Tall Tale on our hooves! One we couldn'tpossible hope to evacuate in time! … we cannot take any chances. Not at this risk”
Baffled upon this emphatic protest, Celestia eyes widened as she took half a step backwards. Did Twilight just turn on her too!? Taking sides her sister? How was this happening... Twilight Sparkle was her faithful student! She shouldn't doubt her wisdom.
“Of all the pony's, I thought you would understand Twilight Sparkle!” the answer came cold and almost bitter. Like a slap on the hoof.
“Princess please...” Twilight sat down to lower her sight as well voice, since the message didn't seem to reach her mentor, getting lost in the tension “-you are listening and yet you are not. Can't you hear what i'm trying to say?”
“What you propose is to risk something Icannotrisk!”
“No, that's not what i'm saying! Letting Luna fight isn't the answer. Locking her up like a bird in a golden cage either! You really think your sister will simply obey and stay behind?”
“Y- I... my sister... Luna must understand that... we...” Celestia had taken a deep breath to brush aside the question, yet the words refused to leave the snout. They crumbled as she spoke them. Picturing them didn't help either and years of diplomatic speech became a fading blur. The princess had hold so many speeches and at times 'bend' the truth in order to nudge pony's into the right direction... nothing her heart wasn't absolute convinced of being the right thing to do. Yet, as she looked upon Twilight, trying to declare Luna would just sit back and wait on her command? It would be a nasty lie and from there many had to follow, causing a bitter taste on royal tongue and a gust of shame rustling her stomach.
“No. She won't”
Twilight didn't had to say anything, neither had her mentor. The purple mare simply stepped forward and laid a hoof around the mare's chest to lay the head upon her shoulder, while the Princess Celestia did alike. A huffing reaching Twilight's ear
“It will be alright...” Twilight assured towards the sobbing mare “... I promise”
The white mare had to swallow. It was ridiculous... she of all pony's... a mare with more than thousand years experience in diplomatic talks and more won battles under her belt, than anypony could even imagine... was nervous to talk with her own sister.
Celestia stepped into the room, while Twilight would wait outside, just in case she would need moral support of any kind. Not that it was likely... but that's what friends are therefor.
The room was furnished just for princess Luna. No detail being left to coincidence.
It was a nearly round room with different blue accents scatters all around it. A calming color many would agree and even more so a fitting theme for the princess of the night. One of which being a dark purple carpet with red circling breaking the pattern. Blue/dark blue walls, covered in waves on the bottom and star like patterns from there on upwards. The windows being hidden behind thick ruby-colored curtains, leaving the illuminating to two black lanterns which looked like trees in the night, five white light-bulbs adorn the end of the 'branches' and in between a crescent-moon shaped bed with lantern atop, hanging above the mare like northern star would guide a traveler.
Luna laid in her bed, for once she looked very peacefully. Her mane was rough, since she must have rolled from side to side. The forehead seemed a bit sweaty, but her breath was calm. A towel got picked up, to remove the sweat carefully, waking up the mare.
“W-who... is there?” it came weak, when cyan eyes opened, wandering around.
“Shh... no worry. It's me, your sister...” the towel was put aside and a rag dipped into a bowl of water, standing on the nightstand. Luna tried to get up, but was carefully pushed down again.
“You have to rest...” the cool rag was put onto her forehead “... you still have some fever.
“We shall rest, when evil is ban-” once again she was carefully pushed down. “That's what i'm here to talk about.”
The young sisters face became grouchy, since she had heard enough lectures and this sure would be one of it “This is foul play, you motives are seen through!” the rag flew onto the wall and Celestia hold back, to touch her again, giving a glance to the door slid.
“Luna... we ain't fighting. Not without you.” the sisters response was a contempt “pah!”
“I'm sitting right in front of you and I ain't going anywhere, till you are better again.”
“Better you say?” an angry glance was thrown “We trained hard! Pity the fool, which dares to stop us!” it came glorious like a knight raising the moral of his cohorts.
“T-that wasn't what I mean! I want you to get well again... to be normal and-”
“You dare to call us crazy!?” it snapped.
“NO- I... I...” it whimpered “I... j-just want you back Luna... but I don't know what to dooo...” it then cried hard.
The blue mare looked away, but kept glaring at her every now and then “Hold in your doing, it befits not to show your weakness... a minor could come in.”
“... I can't! I'm just trying to tell you, that- that i'm sorry... and I don't care if all of Canterlot sees me like that!” it sobbed even harder, making Luna very uncomfortable, holding onto her blanket.
“YOU HEAR ME CANTERLOT!? I'M A FOOL...!” it screamed equally loud to Luna's royal voice, causing all kind of guards, gardeners, servants and guests to turn their heads towards the window, to than look at one another in utter confusion. “W-was that the princess!?” one asked, but nopony could tell. Celestia never would yell like that! That's unheard of... her sister for sure... but Celestia? THE Celestia... that's just unheard of!
A hoarse “... i'm nothing without you...” was given, sinking down on her bedside, head onto hooves, ruining the perfect polish of her golden horseshoes.
Luna still looked around, as if she tried to find guidance... but the one mare she looked up the most, the one she thought knew the answers – the one that seemed unbreakable in will... was broken. Was clueless. Lost.
As if this constant floating mane could be something breakable, the blue hoof tried to touch it carefully “I... also shall, admit mistakes...” it bit her lips, but it shook beneath her touch.
“No... you ain't to blame... Hng... - I... tried to make you somepony, y-ou aren't... and... we both paid the price.” it sniffed and huffed.
“Fear not... I shall destroy evil. I- I trained- i'm certain our magic will prevail...”
“No! That's not what I meant... not what they need-” It pointed towards the window “- we have to work together... we have to be sisters again! Not a...-puny princess and a stubborn warrior... we can be so much more... together!”
Celestia pulled deep breaths, in order to calm down, while Luna stroke absent her mane, trying to think hard how this was supposed to work.
“What if... may we... us thought that...” for once she was in her sisters horseshoes. Usual she was the one, coming up with cunning plans, while she would carry them out – charge into the enemy's flanks, to taste the glory of victory!
“I fear... we ain't a strategist, as sharp minded as you are...” it admitted “... dear sister.”
A small smile was given “... that wouldn't be you.” they eyes met “As much, as I am no warrior.” the princess shoved herself further onto the bedside, to lay onto Luna's chest, which blushed- still keeping an eye on the door “This is- quite... unsettling.” the mild protest came “... than we have to do it more often.” the mare cuddled up, like a oversize stuffed animal.
“... remember... we used to sleep every night like this...?” Celestia said quietly “We stood up all night... and you were brave – fought the monster under my bed all by yourself” “Pshhh!” it hissed, to shut her, since that was just embarrassing “You also taught me to sneak by our maid... -remember the cookie jar?”
The younger tried to, but there were only vague images. They were both so young and it happened so much till today “Do you?”
The older gave a nod “I do... it was on the very top left, in the cabinet and... since magic was to bright and we could barely fly, you got onto my back and tried to steal it.”
Now the bit dropped... “y-yes... I grabbed it, but it was to heavy and we fell!” it snapped “i broke a wing, but you told them, I just tried to stop you...!?” - she must haven't thought about that for a millennium. Luna then also remembered, how she got a cookie, for her bravery, while her sister had to take over her duty's.
“You shared your cookie with me... -it was the best I ever had.” the white one sniffed.
“Restrain your sentimentalism -” it also sulked, smearing over her face.
Those were the times, when the world seemed innocent. Everything seemed easy and there was no wrongdoing. Breaking a jar wouldn't end the world. Telling ghost story's after midnight, didn't mean to miss a meeting in the morning... and they had to ask their maid for an extra juice, instead of having servants chase away, to get a selection of imported cider. How she missed those simple times... -when all this had changed? She couldn't even tell. One by one... had changed so silently, it seemed like it always has been that way.
“... I assume, you got a plan?” Luna wondered, willing to listen for what she has to say.
“I do not, but I know somepony very special who has” the door opened a slit and Twilight Sparkle dared to peek in. The young princess couldn't help to smile at the picture of harmony between the sisters.
The brown stallion was in a rage, yelling in rage at his comrades while a bad feeling grew rapidly “Where is she!?”
“I don't know.”
“I looked in every chamber twice! She isn't in any of them!”
An confused looking green stallion came back in with a glass of white held in a hoof “Wasn't in the basement, only mayo... did we look for mayo? You know, Muse makes great sandwiches! Maybe we should ask her!?” the head turned all around till hooves followed for a full circle “Huh... so... no sandwiches?”
As confused their friend might been, he couldn't had overlooked the mare.
All Bottle-Jack could think of was the last thing spiking his attention... and his nonsensical rambling about fat pastry left only one conclusion: Muse wasn't anywhere within the complex.
It wasn't possible for a pony to stay outside for a while, but a mare!? - all alone? This had been tricky during good weather and a storm had just kicked in a couple hours ago... so... leaving all on her own wasn't possible. She couldn't had done it. Unless...
“-by the lights!” Tenet gasped as his suspicion turned onto the unicorn “... you didn't...!?”
Purple eyes gave a merely bored look “Uhh...” it grunted “... leave me out of this”.
“Just tell us that you didn't do it! Spit it out already!”
“I don't have to explain anything” the stallion replied dryly without looking anypony into the eyes.
“Be so kind and share your thoughts” Sledge asked, his voice seemingly thinner “Four stallions. Two of which wouldn't let her leave with a storm on the horizon. The third...” as he gave the chemist a glance which struggled to open his glass with bare teeth “...” his sight came back to the ignorant “...which leaves only one left.”
“Ace. Look at me”
“...” the horse remained mute, giving a bitter glance towards the pegasus.
“Excuse my disrespect, but we have to know... -which was the last spell you cast?”
Pulling the lower lip up the horse simply frowned “she is an adult and i'm not her baby sitter”
This was enough! Tenet simply jumped at him and got into a fight, slamming his hoof right in his face, but quickly received three counter hits into the ribs and was fought back as the two stallions got into a wrangling rolling over the dusty floor.
Sledge quickly got in between them, pushing Swift Move away and kept Tenet in his tight grip. He might was just an slick pegasus, but much stronger than Tenet due his life long work with heavy objects.
“Do you want to kill her!?” the mechanic shouted, while trying to get out of his grip.
The unicorn tapped his bleeding lip “It was her decision. Not mine”.
Tenet was pushed backwards and a hoof got pointed at him, to keep him on distance.
Sledge attention shifted to his side “Ac... Swift Move, when did she leave?”
Now since the pony was out of the box and given the head start “... about six hours”
This meant Muse had left in the middle of the night while they all were still dreaming of better days, crushing their hopes to catch up in time, there also was a storm coming in and who knew if she even made it stumbling through the dark.
“Why!? Doesn't she mean anything to you!?” Tenet barfed.
Bottle-Jack didn't get it. Why where they fighting? It was just one glass but they could share it! He hold on the glass so it wouldn't break and spill the sweet nectar.
“I'm here for the pony's that matter. To earn bits. Not to make friends”
“You heartless – bastard!”
This word had crossed a line “Nopony insults my mother!” he shouted and threw himself on the stallion, to beat the crap out of him – letting his hoof smash down onto him again and again, but not without receiving some in return.
Sledge was still out of commission. The stallion was frozen.
Only Jack slowly got what this was all about. Not quite, but... hitting one another wasn't good, that much he knew for sure! So he put his glass on the ground and quickly got over to them to pull the magician away.
“Let me go!” the beat up earthpony demanded and Jack actually let go.
The magician was done anyway. The mechanic had got a good beating, so family honor was restored. Quick hooves were key for every magic act and this time they got the drop on the physical stronger mechanic which couldn't keep his temper in check, leaving big parts of his body open for attack. Blindly swatting, while taking twice the amount in return.
Tenet on his side still wasn't done. He got up and charged one more time towards Ace, stubborn as a mule “You want more!?”
The horn sparked up bright blue and blew the charging bull right of his hoofs against the wall behind, after which he fell flat and lifeless to the ground to get burried beneath clothing, falling from several hooks above. The chamber had one hook for each of them, yet one hadn't any close to fell off it.
A last checking glance was given if he finally would stay down... - apparently.
Ace grabbed his newspaper and left the room, heading towards his private chamber.
Those pony's and their problems... why ever was he dumb enough to agree!?
The magician should had known that this would backfire on his family somehow... he just should had known that caring for 'friends' caused nothing but trouble! Now he could take his precious bits and pretty much threw them away! They were useless once you were chained up. It wasn't like he could use them to flee with his mother anyway. Mom never would leave their house... and even if he lied to get her moving... it would make him feel so rotten.
Jack took a short look on Tenet, which was winding himself painfully.
The chemist ran for off and came back with a bunch of bottles just a minute later to drop all sorts of funny looking and bitter smelling liquids over him. Cold, burning and stinging! “Arg!”
“That's good, its good!” he cheered and combined something yellow and green to once again rubbing on one of the wounds “Better? Better!”... the stallion got up and ran back and forth a phew times, till he was satisfied with the result. Mixing disinfecting and pain allaying medicine within minutes. Now the wounds were clean and could start to heal, allowing for bandages to be put on. If only he could remember how to move hooves now?
Chemistry was so easy. It was so fun! But a ribbon... ughh... under... over... around... and... then? He shrugged and just did it one more time... and... ended in a tight knot. Eh.
Now all he needed was some smelling salt. Luckily he always had a hoof full hidden in his mane. Just in case. He hold it right under Tenet's nose and the stallion's eyes snapped wide open! The head went up and hit just the edge of the table for another “Ouch!”
“Are you okay? Maybe hungry? Mayo?” the nurse rapidly asked.
Tenet got up and dragged himself around his friend, towards the door.
It almost looked like he didn't go to his room. His room was somewhere else, wasn't it?
“You want to go? Like outside? Out in the snow... I... i don't think... uh...”
“It's okay Jack... I- be back eventually...”
His cyan eyes blinked a phew times and his head tilted.
This sounded kinda familiar. “... be back...”... he could had sworn a mare had said something like this, not to long ago. Of course. Bonbons, she had given him bonbons. That was nice. A nice midnight snack... Hmnn! To bad they were gone and the bonbon Mare too.
A last glance was given towards Sledge “Don't you come with me?”
The pegasus sat silently on his flank with wings hanging loose from his back. A vegetative state of deep thoughts, yet this time it wasn't so much looking for an answer, as more trying to accept the one given. Taking in the news that Muse was long gone, knowingly that it was most likely his fault. If only he had paid more attention towards the signs given.
“She is your wife!”
The answer came depressed and muted “You heard him. Six hours. There is a storm outside and we got work to do” Sledge got up and felt the cold wind blowing from behind, as he made his way back to the work chamber.
The snow layer outside was knee deep. The temperature far below freezing point and the wind cut harsh over the land causing the air to feel three times as cold. Thick cloud layers blocked out the sun and even more snow was blowing into his face to get stuck in fur and mane causing it to stick wet and soon after frozen to his body. It was so cold! Tenets body felt numb within moments and sight could helped with glasses! But there was no time for any of that! If only he could push through long enough and reach the borders of...
... a bright flashlight up in the distance. Wind changed direction. Snow stopped falling.
Like a wave of realization the effect of the explosion washed over the freezing stallion, before the world began to turn again and time moved on. Snow landing once again on the horse, as if the world already had forgotten.
“No..... ! NO! NOOaaaaaahouw!”
The brown stallion lost all hope. Stopped fighting the storm. Legs gave in.
He landed on his knees and fell flat on his side. There was no point in going on.
The same noon, they all gathered at one of the shooting ranges of the castle.
It was basically just a big meadow, with a lot of holes in the ground and targets lined up in the distance. Here guards could improve their skills, on everything – ranging from crossbows, magic or even the use of catapult or trebuchet, all with the appropriate targets set up in the distance: hay dolls, wooden changeling cut-outs and some cheaply put together brick houses in the distance, as well something under a blanket right in front of them. Could be a secret weapon of some sorts?
Today Twilight had got into the spirit of things and hold a crop in magic grip, causing the first smirks. Twilight being some kind of military leader? Kinda sounded like a prank played by Pinkie Pie or Rainbow, talking her into this cliche to have a laugh on her expense.
“Now listen up! I'm here to turn you filly's into stallions!” she marched from left to right, causing all of her recruits to laugh “- do you got a spell for that!?” Rainbow barfed, holding on to her stomach, letting their admiral quickly lose her serious face “haha... no, I don't... -i might could find one however...” the hoof tapped thoughtful, wondering which ancient book might held such a powerful magic, causing a lot of eyes to roll and the general to blush.
“Uhm...forget that...” she loosen up and threw the crop away “Still, i'm teaching you the ways to defeat – this!” the blanket was pulled away and one of those metal machines was revealed.
“Oh come on, its getting old! We saw those like a hundred times now!”
“Yes, but this is how we learn; through repetition. As you can see, the chest plate is missing on this one” the hoof pointed nonchalant on the gaping hole “also you might noticed, it isn't moving” the hoof now knocked it a few times on the shoulder, eliciting a dull -pung, pung-
“Now watch and learn” one of those dull marbles popped into existence and filled a hole within the gap, after which that metal thing tilted its head jeeringly to the right, causing most of them to move back half a step before the stone got removed “Don't worry, everything is under control!”
“We know darling. You told us, didn't you?” Rarity said somewhat confident, but nervous.
“Than I have to step up my game it seems” the mare said confident and charged her horn- “Luna, I need you to trust me and hold still for this one” a flash of light shot towards the blue alicorn, which suddenly sat isolated in a purple magic bubble “Now, lets see what happens now” the stone was plugged back in- pony's braced themselves aaannnd... nothing happened. The war machine just stood there, not moving a muscle, not twitching ear, making pony's wonder why the statue wouldn't give into the urge to come alive!?
“Eh? EH!?” the princess gestured excited over her discovery and heads turned back and forth between the night princess and the statue – at times sticking to Twilight, but without putting the pieces together it seemed. Casting a spell on Luna? Why in Equestria would this stop the horse to their right from moving!?
The cowgirl put down her stanton-hat “Well gosh, put me on a chimney and call me stork! How in the world did you figure that one out?”
Twilight's chest swelled a moment with pride, but the princess practiced modesty “I basically stumbled over it, but that's beside the point”
“Uhm... T-twilight” Fluttershy rose a hoof, pointing at the trapped mare.
Apparently the spell was a notch to good, leaving the mare trapped and muted beneath the bubble. Gesturing an upset hoof while lips moved without being heard.
“Sorry” the field vanished once the stone was plugged out of its socket.
“- than I am the cause for this mischief!?” Luna repeated indignant, but not without getting petted right away by her sister “I'm sure you are not... isn't that so?”
“Absolutely not! They are by all means marionettes!” Twilight assured with hooves risen in defeat to wave off this theory “This isn't your fault in any way! However, they do react on you like nopony else”
The blue mare pulled a frown and rolled eyes “great, makes me feel a lot better”
“Luna, don't you see!? Those horses are nothing else but marionettes! Whoever created this spell, probably couldn't figure out how to do it otherwise. It's make-believe! Other spells- real control spells would taken over all of the body. Every single screw!” the hoof gestured up and down towards 'that thing' “- but there would be no way to turn them off. Not with this kinda skin!” the hoof hastily now tapped against the thick metal they couldn't penetrate earlier. Not even with all their magic combined “- and even if, it would be a nightmare to maintain such a spell. The pony would need to constantly tell every piece what to do!” which implied something like a line of sight “This way however, its controlled from within and all it takes is to have one of these gems – and inject it with somepony's essence” magic levitated the black marble across “and zap! You got yourself a daydreaming hunk of metal!” and right into Luna's hoof, which couldn't help to stare onto it as gears began to turn ”I mean-” the Twilight snorted with an excited laugh “it is actually kinda clever how they solved that one, if you think about it!”
Luna rose an skeptic eyebrow “You say, those ...dream?”
“Exactly!”
Celestia too suddenly realized where this was going “Sister, do you think...!?” but Luna was already way past that “O-OF COURSE! I SHALL FIND IT WITHIN THE DREAM REALM!” Luna jumped up, but was stopped by a flash of light materializing Twilight before the alicorn, preventing Luna to break into a gallop “Wohh...- hold your horses! Where you think, you are going?”
“It will not escape us this time! We shall find and destroy it at once!” the mare declared proudly and stubborn, stomping confident a hoof onto the ground.
“...”
A collective frown was facing the princess of the night, which couldn't quite understand why.
“Luna!?” Celestia worried, causing Luna to turn and blink utterly confused at the herd. Until the bit dropped... “I- i was talking about 'us' -as in all of us, of course! We-” the hoof gestured towards the group, before raising it like a warrior would its sword to inspire his platoon “-shall bring it to its knees!”
“Oooh!” pony's exclaimed in union, nodding heads agreeing to one another.
Not much later pony's gathered in princess Luna's private chambers. The mostly blue room seemed like a good place to start the mystical journey, despite suggestions to stay near the majestic fountains in the royal garden, beneath an umbrella and surrounded by servants, holding fancy odeuvre or inside the 'cozy library', which held so many useful books!
Yet Luna's chose to keep it simple. Her room wasn't just spacey, but neither crammed with dusty shelf's, nor irritating servants, asking for one more request!? Slimy worms trying to obtain a glimpse of admiration by offering sweets, blankets and a message. They would do and say anything to see a princess smile, knowing it was their doing all alone.
No. What Luna wanted to be surrounded by were friends, not sycophants. Pony's she could trust on. Help her in times of need. Not because of personal gain, but because she mattered to them. They wouldn't tell her what she wanted to hear, but what she needed to hear, even if it hurt at times to be reminded of your mistakes. This is how learned and grew to be a stronger pony then the day before that ~ and might even a better sister too.
"Sister, does your cushion suite you? You can always join my side" Luna offered to share the spacious crested-moon shaped bed. The blue sheets were made of finest silk and the mattress a mixture of wool, magic and clouds – comfortable as one could get.
“Thank you, but I will stay here. Remember what happened last time we shared a bed?” the white mare teased, hinting at their youth in which the blue mare had kicked her beloved sister out of bed, accidentally, because of a nightmare the filly couldn't control. Thousands of tiny attackers crawling across the (back then) mauve colored body to use even tinier claws to bite the pony! Those nasty black bugs even tried to crawl into Luna's pointy ears! It was outright horrid!
“Th-ous wasn't my fault! I tell you~ it was a basket worth of spiders attacking me!”
“Kihihi~” the white mare giggled into a hoof “Let's just hope our string-puller isn't one of them”
Luna's face became expressionless for a moment, trying to picture a nasty looking spider -eight-legged, black, hairy and big as a horse! ~ but it was kinda ridiculous. The princess was an adult and the fear or spiders vanished eons ago “my only fear, sister, is to be trapped beneath your dearest rump” the reply came sharp and snippy.
Celestia now was the one with the baffled expression, causing pony's in the room to hold their breath, since nopony in their right mind would dare to talk towards the princess like that! Yet the white mare began to giggle and laugh ~ as well did the younger sister and the rest of the group as tension finally vanished into thin air.
“I'm glad you two get along so well, but I fear there is little time~” Twilight reminded, but couldn't help to smile bright as the others. Might could had to do with the 'royal' cushion she was sitting on “So unless~” Rainbows hoof waved, interrupting the alicorn “Ugh. Yes Rainbow?”
“How comes your pillow is like three times the siz!”~POFF! The mare was hit by red silk, after which the yellow one was pulled away from under her to “thump!” land on the floor. A quick and (almost) painless exchange of comfort. Twilight then took seat on the smaller, yet still quite comfortable pillow to take a look around “Now, if there ain't any other requests!?”
Silence.
“Gre-!” “Totally worth it! Wanna feel how so~” “Hrrm” a sharp glance was given to silence the blabbermouth, which finally sat down and enjoyed the fabric... silently “...grrreat...~”
Upon Twilight's approving nod~ the mare on the moon shaped bed began to cast her spell, while the pony's sitting nearby kept an eye open. Luna might thirsted for action, but her body hadn't fully recovered yet and casting advanced magic, or any magic, would drain her energy even faster because of it. It was vital for the mare to make this trip as short as possible or she might pass out before the mission would be truly over.
A slight glow of the horn guided princess Luna into the world of slumber. Breaking through darkness and into a purple realm, populated only by glowing orbs slowly passing by. Falling from the sky to slowly descend into the abyss beneath. This might be the reason dreaming often felt like 'flying' to pony's. A gentle fall from light into deep slumber, after which the bubble touched the ground -burst- and the dream was over, as simple as that.
Dreams, so many dreams passing by. Hundreds, if not thousands!
Pony's having a nap. Resting after work. Filly's and colts fallen asleep in an embrace, after racing around the playground. Most of which having wonderful dreams, with an occasional bad one in between.
Was Luna looking for a nightmare? Having a look around, there was indeed a suspicious pulsating orb nearby. Radiating in pulsating fashion and dark blue tone. It was like the dream was calling out to the princess, the dreamer yearning for Luna's aid.
Like a fortune teller having a glance into the future, so did Luna have a glance into the orb. Holding it between hooves without touching, its secrets were revealed... ~inside she saw... saw... a board meeting? A... black stallion wearing a tux stood in front of the highest bosses which sat around a long wooden table. They didn't look particular amused, since the numbers of this particular season were in decline, making the pony explaining the statistics quite nervous. Not even an attempt to work in humor seemed to loosen up the tension “I know we missed our goal t-this quarter, but since we ran an above average last quarter... - I guess you could say we are where we wanted to be?” a nervous grin tried to bring across the weak joke and in fact! The big blue boss sitting on the opposing side began to laugh, causing a lot of heads to turn back and forth to join into the laughter! For about five seconds the statistician felt relieved, pulling a handkerchief out of the chest pocket to wipe away sweat running down his forehead, to notice the handkerchief was tied to another one... - four more? A dozen!? The head tilted towards the chest pocket to find the tux had turned into a sloppy sewed red overall! Fitting red shoes stuck on his hooves and upon the white painted face sat a red ball on the end of his nuzzle! Squeaking upon the curious touch of the confused horse – reason enough for the crowd to throw themselves onto the table or slip of chairs. Laughing about this fool in their middle! “GHAHAHA~ who hired this CLOWN!? Plea~ahease! Gahahaa- Get him out of here!” the chef laughed heartily, as security quickly entered the room, grabbed the horse which tried to hold onto the standee, but was dragged this fool out of the firm. Yet not before being seen and laughed at by every other of his co-workers... and this mare he always wanted to ask out for a date! - of course. A classic case. So much so Luna rolled eyes.
No. This wasn't what she was looking for and there was no time to resolve this nightmare.
Letting the orb slip out of hooves, it too gently descent into the abyss beneath. All those dreams passing by far and close... like searching a needle in a haystack. Another dream found its way into the mares hand. A good one it seemed- as a young brown/white colt rescued... oh~ actually herself, from a dragon by the looks of it. How very noble ...and cute.
This one too was let go, heading slowly towards oblivion to find a soothing end.
An end? Wait. A dream would end- yes. Dreams ended! What did Twilight say earlier!? 'Its made believe – day-dreaming' ! … HA! Of course! She had it all wrong. This wasn't a dream she was looking for, but a state of dreaming.
Luna knew what she was looking for, racing away in a spiral motion faster then she could ever within the real world. A speed unimaginable for pony's; faster then a shooting star hissing across the night sky – faster then even the blue one could hope to dream off!
A glimpse was thrown at each dream passing by, which at this point were mere strokes of light once the eye was taken off them. Luna didn't bother to look inside any of them, because she wasn't looking for what was on the inside. She would judge this book by the cover!- the orb! - the orb! Where was it... come out! Luna could basically feel its presents. A dead spot pulling her closer, like a nightmare would... -w-what!? Had she just seen what she thought she saw!? A sharp curve was flown to stop right in front, holding her height “...huzzah!” -the orb! She found it and it just liked like all the others, except one mayor difference: this one wasn't moving. Wouldn't descent. A dream which wouldn't end.
How could she overlooked this for so long? Luna would like to say it seemed obvious, now that she knew, but it wasn't. She never had thought that one of these orbs was anything different then all the others! That's why she never had taken a look beyond what she knew, only responding to outcries in the dark. This however made her curious? Wondering how the puppeteer would react? Probably not amused, because this would be one unpleasant awakening!
“Hey, look!” Pinkie pointed onto the grinning mare, squeaking: “Looks like she is having fun!”
“Pfff~” Rainbow blew air through her lips “Wrooong~ she clearly found something! I know that grin and this means somepony is about to get it! And get it goooood!”
“Ksssh~ will you be quiet!?” Rarity hissed to silence the troublemakers “This is a serious matter and the Princess will need all the concentration she can get! Don't you see~?”
Luna's face had in fact turned more serious and even curious. Right now the princess couldn't see hoof in front of her face, since the fog bank she was passing through was simply to thick. Given how easy it had been to enter this realm, she had to wonder if this was some sort of trap? Maybe she was already caught? Damned to pass endlessly through this limbo... oh- apparently not! In fact: yes she could make out a shape beneath. A figure sat not to far away from where she would land, silently, causing no more noise then a falling feather would.
Having past the last layer of fog the figure turned out to be a regular brown earth pony.
Making sure of that the head turned left and right, just to come back to the center once more, confirming what she already knew: this place was empty otherwise. It was just her and him, an earthpony of above average height like the brother of the Applejack family. Could it been? Could this... farmpony... be the cause of all the trouble? A commoner!?
A rather disappointing thought for the princess, given that she had hoped for something more. A challenge of sorts! Maybe an evil ghostly shadow creature? ... a crazy scientist and his split personalities would been fine! …at least an powerful unicorn of sorts!? Even a combination of those came to mind! A truly unseen monstrosity you can only hope to find within the deepest of nightmares imaginable! A nightmare so ugly and twisted, the tales of his defeat could frighten any sane pony out of its mind!
This however? Hardly worth mentioning. Discovering your arch enemy was neither, seemingly not even a warrior type, this you could only be described as a let down. Might as well get over with and force this peasant out of this realm for him to face punishment.
Stepping closer the mare was about to inhale a draft of 'air', not like any inside this realm was real -barely more then a reflection of reality. Still, a can of Royal Canterlot Accent should be enough to scare this outlaw out of his mind. Quite possibly, literally!
“... nopony knows what it's like behind these eyes” the figure mourned muffled towards the ground, letting the princess stop her approach as the white sphere was sliced apart! A black rift departing the horizon like this world was about to vanish into darkness, only for the abyss to fade on the far edges while leaving the ground they were standing on untouched. Luna's gaze then shifted, starring over the stallions shoulder towards the wondrous sunset in front, causing the mares head to rise along for just a moment before coming back towards the white... yet suddenly shimmering ground she was standing on?
Glancing onto the ground and light dancing around hooves, the mare quickly realized that this wasn't part of this realm but... eyes rose to find grainy picture of some kind of basement covering what seemed the entire world! Now... this... indeed was worth mentioning. A laboratory! Yes, so he was a crazy scientist, causing an unconscious smug smile. Wires and pipes covering the ceiling, connecting chunky of puffing machinery. Flickering lights in the distance, framing a water tank holding the outlines of an earthpony!
'Oh My Stars!?' a giant something just passed by the vision sphere! Unthinkable massive... black and silver? No just silver, but smudged with black!? It turned. Was... -oh!- it was a hoof!? A hoof bigger then a tower of the royal palace!! N-no wait... this was just the perspective! Phew. Half a second the mare tensed up, imagination tricking Luna's mind to check 'monster' of the list as well. Sadly/luckily this wasn't the case however. It was just one of his... and the black burn marks caused by one, if not both, of the sisters.
Tickle... Tickle... Tickle...
Luna rose a hoof of her own. The right one, feeling a weird tickling sensation running along like goosebumps. Maybe not as much as a tickling of skin, but rather the part of her brain controlling said hoof. A need... an urge... to lift it. Turn... it. Stretch and reach out...?
Eyes going back and forth between realm and reality, the princess giving into this remote urge to follow the movement instinctively as Luna was willingly controlled by the marionette for a few seconds to come “... ah, I see...” she thought to herself, experiencing a glimpse of the power beyond those strings. Bolts, valves and pumps working in unity, controlled by nothing more then sheer will. Will which sat just about... ten meters away.
<THOMP!> the mighty hoof tore itself out of the stallions grasp, coming down with gusto!
BY THE LIGHTS!? The horse jumped up within a second and spun around even faster! Pure shock and utter confusion written all over it's face. Disbelieve slapping it left and right as a booming voice cut down to the bone letting ears flop back to soften the painful blow.
“YOU SHALL CEASE CONTROL OF THIS REALM AND SURRENDER TO OUR CURT!” the night blue mare demanded, met by a speechless pony cowering on the ground.
The surprise had been too much for brown legs to keep up, causing the stallion to fall flat onto his flank in an attempt to get distance between the both of them. A hoof pointing shivering at this madness, like the reaching hoof at the horizon. An unintentional coincidence, since all focus was drawn towards this demon standing calmly half a dozen steps away.
“H-o-wah-no....NO!” incoherent stuttering fell out of the hanging jaw. In return the princess had none of these problems, repeating her demands firmly, yet a few decibels lower in volume this time around “you shall leave this realm this instant” <thomp!> “-or I shall bring justice upon you the likes you never seen!”
“Eque...ueew...” the jaw kept clattering. Eyes wide as pancakes “yw-oue-youh!?”
Coming another step closer and barely out of hooves reach, the mare glared daggers onto the culprit to mock the lack of self control “not so brave without your puppet, ain't we?”
“Y-YOou! ItZ-” the horse's breath sped up like a humming-bird in what seemed panic at first as words got stuck in his throat “YOU- IT- EIGH” as he teared up from what Luna assumed was fear, facing his judge from face to face. Clearly an overwhelming sight like the Princess of the Night was hard to handle for most pony's, even without the shouting. A literal goddess walking among mortals! Admirable and Lofty. Simply impeccable to ponyki-
“ITSALLYOURFAULT!” he screamed from the top of his lungs in a single blow to break the knot preventing his voice from leaving his snout “I HATE YOU – I HATEEE YOUU! ITS ALLL YOUR FAULT!” the horse broke down in tears, crying heavily into his hooves.
Luna backed half a step away, having expected any reaction but this!
A uncomfortable silence took place, creating an awkward moment in which the blue Alicorn simply stood there and watched the wailing pony emptying its hearts content. Given; he was a villain, soon to be arrested, but even the Princess wasn't made out of stone. Especially if she was the one accused to be responsible for this kind of misery.
Speaking softly, a blue hoof reached out towards the criminal “We shall consider to... show mercy for your-” the princess was tackled instantly, rolling over and pushing hind-hooves against the horse above in a well trained reflex. Kicking the attacker overhead -fomp!- letting him land harsh on the back, while the blue lady stood upright once again. Unharmed.
“Graaahhh!” the horse bellowed in rage during an attempted second tackle, which the mare easily dodged by a single flaps of wings, stepping gracefully over Tenet's head and send him sliding flat along the ground as a hoof gave nothing more then a well calculated nudge on the back of the head “ughnff~!”
This time the horse didn't get up right away, giving the princess a chance to speak, gloating as she would mock any lesser combatant “You are no more a threat then a newborn foal!”
“A-as if...chhh- you coul-d take any more from me!” a hoof struck angry upon the ground, the tone was bitter like a basket of lemons, carrying a hatred deeper then the pits of Tartarus. A glare threw daggers at the princess “you keep lying – a-nd destroying... YOU GOT NO IDEA WHAT YOU DONEEEE!” it barfed tearfully towards the heartless monster.
“Fulfilling my duty. Stopping a maniac” the princess replied proudly “Protecting my subjects!?”
Grinding teeth the horse wished it could spat fire upon the mare. Burning her very words to mere ashes! Teaching another lesson like the one he had thought in Tall Tale.
“-wh-en we f-first met. I asked you for one... hour. ONE hour! All I wanted... was TIME... I wanted to face him... -makg-make things right for my frrieends... but... y-ou took em from me....” Tenets brown head pressed into his hooves “why you took em from meee” wailing even more then before, tears running like a river. Drops falling to the ground, dissolving into nothing. Just like the rest of his miserable life.
“W-we nev-” “-but I won't let you win this time!” the princess was cut short through clenched teeth. Giving a sharp glance towards the mare which was sign enough this would end in another fight. A flame of determination burning in his eyes; for this time to be different. This time he wouldn't just throw himself at the mare, but give everything... all which she hadn't taken from him at this point.
Instinctively the princess lowered her stance... hooves spread wide and wings unfold, ready to dodge anything being thrown her way.
Tenet for his part got into a similar stance, but slowly rose a hoof like a duel on sunset.
Crackling magic sparked up around the mighty horn.
The brown hoof reached towards his left ankle and gripped with all his might.
Luna's ran dozen of possible scenarios through her head, but none of which coming even close for him to do as much as lay hoof on her superior body. Within this realm one could assume that physical strength wouldn't been an issue, yet this would be only half the truth.
Luna's ran dozen of possible scenarios through her head, but none of which coming even close for him to do as much as lay hoof on her. This duel wouldn't be decided by strength or magic. Neither was it about speed or the power of flight. No, it all came down to Luna's sharp mind which knew those boundaries, even their appearance, was nothing more then a reflection for their subconsciousness. An afterimage. And a 'wake-dreamer' like Luna knew just too well how to use this to her advantage, dreaming herself as strong as she needed to be.
A concept clearly outlandish towards her opponent... or not?
“WRAAH!” the stallions battle-cry broke silence, after which senses beyond nature kicked in.
The princesses perception and movement rising to unheard levels as she dodged in two hopping sidesteps to the left, as she saw how the brown horse stroke along its left foreleg in a fast downwards motion. Fast from his perspective that is. Just like prior attempts, this attack would miss the mare by a landslide. Then a tickle arose as the right hoof pushed quickly forwards in a 'dagger throw' motion! … but... there were no daggers anywhere to be seen? If this was an attempt of a mental attack; it might very well the worst she ever witnessed! Even a colt could do as much as dream up a sword! In fact she knew a colt dreaming such things every other night and he was by far a superior duelist. Luna should know, she had trained him... (and stars forbid her sister found out).
Regardless of the actual threat it would pose, Luna decided to take this attempt not lightly: shooting a beam of blue magic in return! All of which taking place within the blink of an eye! -ZZZWOOSH!!-
“Grah!” Tenet was blown off his hooves and send flying a couple of meters “unf!” landing snout first to role another five meters before stopping on his back. Easy as pie. Even if the courage could... be considered... something?
She figured to hoof a compliment out of pity but decided against it. Grown rather tired of this nonsense “A rather embarrassing attempt and our patience has come to an end”
“Ha...ghaha... i- beat you! Hjiaahah... uieeh~” the voice cracked in sheer bliss!
“Pardon me!?” the princess huffed!
Clearly she had won this duel! He was the one on the ground and she therefore claimed victory! Yet the horse cackled manic, shattering tears of joy this time around? Was this mind so twisted he couldn't …
Luna's mind ran quickly one more through the howl engagement and noticed a detail going by almost unnoticed: the tickle!
Swinging herself around the horse stared at an (once again) extended hoof reaching out, but this time around it wasn't an attempt to grab something. No. This time around the hoof did let go of something! A projectile, thrown like a dagger across the room!
It had hit the water tank just when Luna shot a stream of magic in return. This must been why she hadn't heard it! Close as the horn was to Luna's ears, the crackling magic was all it took to cancel out the noise around. Especially since the puppet was lacking an ear, leaving it to a muffled mono-sound to gather the gurgling noise of water flooding the basement.
A bad feeling grabbed Luna's guts since this wasn't a fool's attempt. A calculated move of distraction to - free himself! Of course! This was a means of escape! He would wake himself and - “Gijahaahahaha!” roaring laughter then filled the void, for the echo to be lost in the distance. Laughter from the bottom of his heart: full and vibrant cackling, guffaw and snorting the likes of a maniac broke lose. This might be his biggest achievement yet and the irony!
This didn't quite sound like a villains laugh the princess had to admit. It wasn't mischievous. There was no big speech about his “upcoming plans” and how “foolish she was”? Which would been the evil equivalent of a 'so long princess'... and therefore rather rude to leave it out. No. What she got instead was a pony about to lose it's mind.
Turning once more towards the horizon, Luna tried to find the source of this preposterous behavior. Apparently this hadn't been a cunning means of escape. The princess should had known a spell-like this most likely could be broken by other means then a pointless duel. So... what was different?
A moment Luna thought about it might was the fact he had missed or destroyed something of value by sheer accident... but given the tools on the ground. The shards. Twisted metal all around. The pony must been on a rampage way before their meeting, leaving only the most obvious clue dead center: the broken water tank.
A liquid which seemed purple at first was trickling out, but this was only due to the blue lights all around. In fact the 'water' was red. Cherry red... and the pony inside, the blurred silhouette slowly took shape as it sunk to the bottom. A respirator mask strapped to the horse, slowly tugged the pony upwards as the water lowered due to the hose connecting it with some source of fresh air. The body's flank gently touched the ground, as the rest followed. The chest lowering in a gentle motion, while the head was still pulled up to the neck until the mask finally slipped off! Causing the head to slump into the remaining puddle with a splash and cough a bit as water was swallowed “gark garrkrk!”... but sure enough it wasn't in any risk of drowning it seemed, as the tank cleared entirely just seconds later... a hoof slipping through the hole, leaving a long scratch along the leg. Other then that the pony seemed save so far. Almost all of the shards had been washed out. There was air. And the cut wasn't serious... and...
Luna leaned forwards, trying to make out more details on this grainy picture, even squinting eyes as: the picture in fact sharpened! A short tingle running behind her eyes as this particular area was enhanced! Giving away the horses biggest secret...
“Sweet sister of mine!?”
Oh this bittersweet irony... it hadn't slipped past his last sane thought!
This project had been the one thing, which had brought him and his friends together. Creating the means of friendship, from nothing more then a scribble on a napkin. An impossible project which... by some miracle turned out to be not this crazy after all!
Every screw, every bolt and pipe was nothing short of spectacular!
A masterpiece which he never could create on his own.
This body was his friendship. All that was left was crammed inside the metal skin...
which was exactly the point where everything fell apart.
The skin, it wasn't meant to be magic resistant. He had done that.
The body, it was meant to help ponies and save life's! All he did was to destroy towns and hurt others in the process.
And he as a mechanic, a pony which should protect and value not just the friendship within, but the craftsmanship behind all of this the most... - tore it's own leg off in an last-ditch effort … dooming the only pony it was meant to save; by, as twisted as it was, granting a new life. A life in which the pony wouldn't be itself anymore. It was gone.
Muse was gone. And this too was his fault.
“Who is this mare!” Luna thundered at the mare-napper, grabbing his chest in an attempt to shake answers out “SPEAK! Who do you brought here!? Did you harm this mare!? Answer me! ANSWER ME!
No use. No reaction. Manic laughter and eyes staring into the abyss was all she got.
At least on the outside. Wishing with his very first thought the rest would follow after. Instead, he was staring at a ceiling, a wooden one for some reason. Eyes wandering around, it quickly became clear this wasn't the abandoned mine, but... a cabin? It was warmer than the mine. Tables. Chairs. A picture of a... pale blue foal with a black mane, sitting between two older ponies? The foal seemed familiar, but something else dragged attention away from it, before his tired mind could make any connections.
“-and then there was my ninth birthday; there were balloons, a lot of them! Red and green and blue and yellow. Like yellow a lot. I had cake. I mean, maybe it was my nineteenth? Not sure... I always get cake and balloons... except for last year I just had three... and...”
“Straw...berr-y...”
“Yeah, strawberry cake! How you know? … did you eat my cake!?”
Muse had made it. She had made him a cake last year.
It was way too sweet, but he had forced down two howl pieces, just to see her smile.
His stomach had hurt soon after... but it had been worth it. She had taken good care of him, bringing milk and sitting on his side till he felt better. Talking the entire time, to make sure he was distracted from the ache.
And now she was gone.
At least he could cry now... - outside his tears froze in seconds, but now they got soaked up by the pillow beneath.
There was a tired “Cut it out already” to be heard, just before a bunch of papers landed on his chest “Read”.
Tenet pulled himself together and sat up, with some help of Jack.
He read the headline ...and rolled himself out the bed; landing flat on his stomach.
His entire body hurt, his lungs burned – the throat was dry and he could barely see and yet he tried to get forwards.
The magician rolled his eyes and left the idiots alone.
Jack put him back in his bed and gave him more of his medicine, to bring down the stallions fever... and than he put him back three more times.
Weeks later Tenet was back on his hooves, he hadn't seen Sledge or Swift Move during the entire time. Jack finally let him out of his room, now since his temperature was below the boiling point. At some point Jack actually tried to heat up some mixtures on his forehead, to see if it worked... but it didn't. Not quite. Not at all. Just a bit. To bad.
“Where are the others?” now that he finally could leave the bed for more then a couple of minutes, Tenet decided to explore this place.
“Uhm... they told me it's a guestroom, but there are no guests i guess, but they got that big horse we made-" the hoof pointed into the general direction, which would turn out to be the last door on the left, holding pushed aside furniture and a big dirty horse in it's middle to be worked on.
The door smashed open and he looked how spare parts were levitated in place, while Tenet did his best to put them together. Of course not half as fast or good, as he could.
Crafting parts was one thing. Making them work, harmonize with one another, something very different.
“What do you think you are doing!?” Swift snapped like a barking dog.
Sledge looked up from his work-desk “Good you are here. I would appreciate it, if you take over. There are still some parts in the furnace – we have to modify the hull and...” he paused, when he noticed the angry and somewhat confused look on his face.
“We need you. We all read what happened. If we make this work, there is still a chance to stop it all.”
“You sit here and waste time! We got to get her quick! Do you got any idea how long it takes to put this thing together!?” the mechanic argued, looking at the mess the two had made. Apparently trying to fixing the main engine and entire left leg, which at this point was scattered over the ground like a minefield.
“I do not, but if you help us, we can shorten time significantly.”
“Than why waste time on it!? Didn't he tell you what could happen!?” he pointed towards the busy unicorn. “This egoistic son of a-”
“He did.” the pegasus cut him off, very well aware of the risks involved.
Tenet still received an angry glance from the magician. One more word would have been enough for a screwdriver to be thrown in his general direction.
The pegasus had to make him understand “-we need it, otherwise, we won't be able to get close, without ending like her!”
“There is noth-”
“We got no choice!” Sledge shouted.
He tried to gather himself with long and deep breaths for a minute “...don't think she isn't important to me. She is my wife! I love her more than my own life... and if I had known, that she would...” he cut off and hold a hoof up to his face.
He needed a moment “She did this because she wanted to help everypony.” his voice became more bitter with every word “We all didn't want any of this. We also wanted to help ponies everywhere. Ending the constant suffering, which plagued our land. This is what we wanted... but we were wrong. We chose the wrong way and now we have to make it right. We have to follow her example, or we ain't any better than... him.”
It all came down to all or nothing and odds weren't in their favor. Neither was time. The first prognoses were eight days.
They worked through day and night, asked Jack for things to push em up, whenever they felt tired... and made it in five.
“It's my finest work.” Tenet said pleased, as his hoof tapped on the side of this steel colossus.
“It got to be.” Sledge added dry.
“Ouh! Ouh! Can I test it!?” Jack asked excited, tapping his hooves together.
Sledge and Tenet exchanged a short glance.
No tests. It would work. It would get the job done.
The only question was, who would go?
“She is my wife. I will go.”
Tenet nodded approving on this - seconds before he grabbed a wrench and smacked the stallion on the back of his head, sending him harsh to the ground.
Jack immediately panicked – jumping between the two, while Swift Move just stood there and didn't seemed surprised at all.
“I will go.” the new group leader claimed “It will work, but it isn't save. We put this thing even faster together than I thought. When something goes wrong... I want her to still have an husband, to come back to”.
The unicorn scrubbed through his black mane and laughed sarcastic.
“Something wrong?”.
He shook his head unconcerned “Just get in the tank.”
“Alright.” he now gave a nod to Jack, which was looking after the injured stallion “Don't wake him up for the next few hours, alright?”
Bottle Jack shrugged sheepishly “I... ouh... don't have salt.”
Jack received and asking glance on this one.
Since when did this chemist ran out of anything?
He blinked a phew times “I ate it... accidentally... with tomato's... and egg slices...”
“You ate smelling-salt? Hahahaha...” Tenet laughed “How- how did it taste?”
“Somewhat, kinda ...awful.” it frowned displeased.
Tenet laughed now even louder than before and not even the unicorn could help to chuckled a bit.
Only the fact, that the stallion was still well and dandy, begot of his sheer talent.
Most had thrown a guy like him into an rubber cell; so he couldn't harm himself or others... but... eating smelling-salt was so immense dumb - he must had an personal guardian angel. That - or what most called common sense, was nothing more than a salt grain, stowed right next to his cutiemark.
The mechanic walked up to the all time confused chemist and rose his hoof.
Jack looked at it for a while. The hoof was empty. If he wanted to give him something... it should be full. Was this a card trick of some sort? No... that was ace's thing.
“Just grab it already.”
“Oh!” he grinned and grabbed it with both of his “Okay, I get it... shaking... we shake... -why are we shaking?”
“Farewell my friend.”
The shaking stopped and the grin vanished.
This must been one of the phew times, he actually understood something the way it was meant. At least Tenet hoped so.
He didn't bother the magician with anything like this. Only an nod was exchanged.
The spell was cast and a unbreakable bond was knit. It would take him a thousand years to realize this would be the last time he saw them.
Being trapped within a snow-globe may be the most fitting description of this realm.
There was a lot of white, the surface was transparent and given enough force it would break. This, Princess Luna managed to do. A crack spawned right beneath royal hooves to then crawl along the ground. Heading quickly for the (for the mare) unreachable horizon and shoot straight up! The snout curiously followed as the jagged line tore a deep furrow into the ceiling, through which the white of this realm began to leak like water out of a cracked globe.
The mindless 'puppeteer' didn't look any better having an identical rift running diagonally across his body, from snout to hip, while the brown of his fur leaked into the ground without having any reaction to it other than mumbling incoherent nonsense.
This wasn't at all how Luna imagined this to go! A last glance was given towards the tilted horizon and the fading picture of the unconscious mare. This couldn't be how things ended, so Luna spun around, ran straight for the puppeteer -and took a leap of faith! Vanishing in a -flash-
"What you think is happening!?" Rainbow whispered, receiving a sharp "Shh!"
"~ i just want to kn~" another sharp "Shh!" cut through air.
"~b-but!" tedious as it might was, it wouldn't stop the "Shhh!"
"OH COME ON! WE BEEN QUIET FOR AN HOUR!" a blue hoof stomped, once Rainbow jumped up “We can't just sit here and do nothing!”
The circle of ponies nearly froze upon the outcry, heads snapping for Princess Luna while holding their breaths!! … only for all of them to slowly deflate. For Rainbow's sake the alicorn's focus luckily remained intact. Resting unaware on her bed in a slumber like trance, head lowered with a fading glow surrounding the horn, projecting her astral-self into another realm.
“Rainbow! Stop being so obnoxious! You are making everypony nervous!” Rarity scolded the blue speedster “Sit down and try to be patient for once in your life!” which tried to glare the fashionista down in return, tried but didn't succeed.
“Please, we promised to be supportive in every way possible” Twilight reminded calmly “The moment Luna can tell us more, the moment we will act... and until then...”
As much Rainbow Dash would have loved to protest she knew she couldn't. Not just they had right, but being the Element of Loyalty... well, Rainbow had a word for it. A very special word, at least sometimes. Why couldn't she have laughter or generosity!? Neither of those would stop her from having fun! “Ugh...~fine!” so she would park her flank! “-but only ten more minutes!” pomf!
Wings held close to the slender body, hooves stretched away like an Olympic diver and focus kept straight ahead. Luna knew she was running on borrowed time, so she had to act fast... - this mind had fallen into madness and the realm itself was collapsing at a rapid rate. During her free fall, the mare just had to look over her shoulder to see the black border chasing after, swallowing thousands of colorful dots without as much as noise, extinguishing days, weeks, months... - soon years to come.
A sharp gust of wind spun the mare around mid-flight! Without having a moment to orientate herself Luna flailed wings instinctively in every direction but it was already too late! A white barrier rapidly approached the mare, giving just enough time for her to brace for impact annnd-BUMPF!the alicorn's body slammed painfully onto the astral ground like a meteorite, sending snow flying into every direction “-unfgg!” -which hurt the daydreaming mare more than enough for her actual body to grunt and grind teeth... which eventually began to clatter. Being suddenly dug up in a thick layer of freezing cold snow- this she hadn't seen coming.
Meanwhile, neither Luna's shacking nor the clattering of teeth had gone unnoticed, Fluttershy being the one to put a blanket onto the mare, while Pinkie rushed of to serve (everypony) a cup of hot cocoa within a literal instant. Twilight tried to find a spell, while Rarity gave a gentle massage, stimulating blood circulation... now this was the athletic Rainbows idea, but the fashionista knew much better how to apply it correctly- so much so she might manage to talk the coco zipping Applejack into a spa visit soon.
Luna felt a sudden warmth rising all over her body. Warmth and comfort like... sitting at a fireplace... holding a cup of hot cocoa... with marshmallows. While she couldn't hear or feel it directly, she was still more than aware somepony was watching over her, which made for even more warmth but this time inside her chest. This would do just fine to make it through the harshest of winters! So the mare dug herself out and shook off ice and snow to have a look at this curious world... an icy tundra. Like before, the world was mostly white, but this time the horizon went all the way around... had mountains in the distance... she could move around and actually get somewhere and there was even a place worth getting to.
A lonesome house.
While the dream-walking mare never quite knew what to expect diving into a pony's psyche, this place still seemed particular odd right away. It wasn't the house bothering her since a house like this in a place like this, it could represent a multitude of things; like solitude. Being cold-hearted. Distanced. Feeling rejection. All of which quite fitting for a filly-napper most psychiatrist would strongly agree!
No. This wasn't what was odd about this place. What struck Luna right away was anything that wasn't odd! The colors were right. The sky and the world around had context and detail. The house might hold symbolism, but this picture was blunt beyond believe, so much so it would fit into a school-play. It made no sense how much sense it all made! But there was no time to ponder about it. Darkness was close on her tail and a mare in dire need for help. Luna had to march on and find clues before time ran out.
A log cabin. The slanted roof had a thick layer of snow on top with a chimney spewing a constant trail of smoke, creating a harsh contrast of black to the mountains in the back. Light shun from the few windows which weren't covered up by wooden flaps. It made a sturdy impression like some sort of outpost, just a couple hundred meters away.
Flying would like to turn this into a hop and a skip, but Luna decided against it. Wind was harsh, constantly kept changing direction and made wings too stiff to maneuver. No. Walking was the way to go. So she shuffled forward, sinking in nearly every step on the way. Why anyone would want to live here of all places, she couldn't imagine.
It took ten minutes for the strong minded alicorn to climb half-way, a strenuous process during which she hardly could see what's ahead, shuffling about with lowered head trough piles of snow while gusts of wind kept blowing in her face. A forcefield could have helped but how much more magic could she waste for a journey she just started?
Pushing through the mare dared to peek about six or seven minutes later. She was close. Close enough to feel her cold lips form a smug smile and confidence rising when the door opened up. Luna froze. Not due to the cold, but the figure she saw standing in the double-door system. A bulky gray figure with steel-blue eyes as cold as the tundra around.
Immediately Luna threw herself to the ground, taking cover from a searching gaze which tried to orientate itself. The mechanic horse took a few wonky steps forward to leave the comfort of the house, stumbling into the sub-temperature world outside in which the princess was hiding, breathing slowly into the snow below. Apparently successfully. There was no battle cry or other sign she had been spotted. Using a drop of magic a peephole was pushed trough the snow-pile in front, confirming that the horse was heading in a simple straight line. It might get close, but unless she made noise or it changed course, there was a good chance it would miss her.
The horse stomped south... trotting a couple of steps... -fell flat onto its face. Again. And again. Like an infant, trying to walk for the first time. It tried to get into a run- managed to do so... and fell. A patter which kept repeating for quite a while. Stubborn like a mule. It just kept pushing, clearing a path dangerously close to Luna, which was partially snowed in at this point- granting additional camouflage.
Weighty steps came closer. A rustling of limbs and snow rang in Luna's ears... -huffing and gibberish curses within hooves-reach! Snow being pushed aside, falling onto the alicorn's back, which tensed up in the dire hope she wouldn't get spotted. Every instinct telling her to duck down and play dead, yet curiosity made her peek anyway! She had to see if it was the same one... -opening an eye, tilting the head and lifting it very slowly an inch from the slightly molten surface.
A gray bulky form pushed right past the jittering mare -eyes locked in the distance. A lifeless gaze. Heading straight for Equestria. This was the one. The ones in the chamber were a couple of inches taller and bulkier in stature with sharp edges around the face as if they were meant to scare ponies. This one had a particular unfinished touch to it. Like a crude marble statue, the artist didn't get to finish. Working out some details the others had, like slightly more natural ear-shapes which were more than triangles bolted to its head.
The further the equine plow moved away the more confident Luna became to make a long neck and see where it was going, making sure it wouldn't come back any time soon, so she could have a look at this lonesome outpost. Once the machine was out of sight, vanished behind a curtain of snow, Luna jumped into its trail it had left behind in order to head for the house more easily. Quite convenient, she had to admit.
The shivering mare thought about making an entry to get out of the cold but wisely decided to peek through one of the windows first. Given this blockhead was walking around it was fair to assume this place might be a military outpost and no matter how 'imaginary' all of this was, a fight with(in) a deranged subconscious wouldn't help anypony.
Hooves were put on the edge of the window and the nose slowly pulled upwards to see... a fogged window.
Using the back of the hoof, snow, a bit of ice and water were wiped away.
What she found wasn't as much a military outpost but a cozy living room of sorts. A fireplace burning on the right, table and chairs on the far left and a red armchair in it's middle, facing the window she was peeking through.
Sitting in the armchair was a white unicorn with strokes of black running trough an otherwise gray mane. There was no doubt about the mare to be old, wrinkles drawing age upon her face and purple eyes tiresome keeping guard about... what might be her son? Related or not, there was a hue-blue pony sitting on the floor, his head resting in the mare's lap. Apparently the stallion was exhausted and had a rest... and the mare was humming a soothing tune, while slowly stroking the deep black mane of his, just like a mother would. She took care of him. Made sure he could sleep of his exhaustion. Deep rings beneath eyes and slow deep breaths being signs of magic exhaustion, a detail Luna hadn't missed.
Pulling away from the sight the princess couldn't help but wonder...
It might just been a hunch but instead of sneaking around the house, trying to find or create an entry, Luna instead decided for a different approach.
Pok.Pok.Pok.
It took a moment during which the princess shook herself to get rid of the snow on her back and made sure she was standing properly. One wasn't a stray! One was a royal Princess of~ was that a snout? Sniff sniff... - a sniffling snout? Apparently there was a pony attached to it! A hue-green one with cyan mane and orange eyes. A colorful mix Rarity would describe as 'past the boundaries of good taste' at least as long it wasn't attached to somepony. Being fashionable wasn't the same as being rude!
“Hey there!” the pony smiled at the princess, quickly scanning the area for more new friends “My name is Bottle-Jack but everypony calls me Jack, which is my name so you can call me Jack if you like, just don't call me Bottle -that's my dad's name...”
“My name is... Princess Luna” the snowed in alicorn introduced herself hesitant. It wasn't so much the cold slowing the mare down (thanks to her friends), but having to fight the urge to tilt the head far to the side “... may I, come in?”
“Of course! Yes, please! It's cold outside!” meeting royalty seemingly meant little to the pony, but helping a stranger on his doorstep was written in big fat letters anyone could understand “You have to close the door or it's cold in here too and- uh-” the sitting mare weakly rose a shivering hoof up to wrinkled lips, turning his rapid blabbering into a rapid whisper “Sooorrry~”
Following a step behind the outlandish host, Luna took a moment to have a closer look at the old mare which turned her attention back towards to window ahead, the hoof slowly brushing along the sons head- down to the neck to circle once or twice and move up again. No doubt she loved her son very much, just like Luna was loved by her sister, but it wasn't just love the alicorn saw. She also saw unbearable sadness.
Now that there wasn't a foggy window separating the two anymore, Luna realized the gaze this mare sent into the distance... was going nowhere. Lost in deep thoughts she kept starring at the curtain of snow and ice, waiting for it to reveal another truth, making her dearest wish come true and free those words she was longing for so long; 'honey, i'm home... sorry, i'm late, hell of a weather out there'...
Someday. It would come true. They would meet again. All she had to do, was waiting for this day to come. Someday.
Leaving the two of them alone was the least Luna could do, not like either seems ready to talk any time soon, unlike 'Jack' which began to talk as soon the two made their way into the kitchen. Grabbing beans, a bowl and water- he forgot about the beans right away and instead went for brown powder and milk instead- both of which dumped into a pot on the oven “-you know I thought you look like a coffee type, but I do like chocolate a lot and then I thought 'who doesn't like hot chocolate!?' so you must be a chocolate type as well and I guess that makes you a licorice type too!” a hoof full of which he suddenly offered “It's crazy how much we do have in common!”
She took a licorice, if only to be polite “May I know whom I speakest with?”
“I told you, i'm Jack! - or...- ain't I?” hooves snapped up to touch his face, examine if something about this snout, color or even gender had changed the past five minutes until magic stopped his moving and brought hooves back to ground level.
“You misunderstood! I merely was wondering, why you are here-” a risen hoof stopping Jack to firmly assure “We are aware of the 'pegasi and the unicorns'! Can't or won't you tell us what you are doing here!?”
A strong feeling came in the form of a purple unicorn poofing into existence on Luna's right shoulder “It might be a subconscious attempt to remove one's sanity from this realm? One should consider to redirect attempts to other aspects of his psyche” turning head for the left shoulder, it remained empty... -21...22...23... 'Poof!' spontaneous a tiny pink earth pony materialized too “Huhhff~ sorry i'm late...” again the mare waited... 24...25... 26... “OH- riiiight! Sorryyy!” cotton candy was dropped to put on a pair of librarian-glasses “Hey! Those are mine!” only for purples complains falling on deaf ears “Nohohoooo idea what you are talking about! -and in my professional opinion- I think he is-...- fun!” two mares face-hoofed hard! Purple then vanished in a poof of smoke “Hey! - is that licorice?” to poof back into existence and take pink along- which came back too -if only to steal the piece of candy right out of the princesses hoof! “Ciaaaaau!” -poof!
-what had just happened!?
“I'm the chemist” looking up from an empty hoof with a sudden taste of licorice on the tongue, a cup of cocoa was put in its spot “Come again!?”
“I said i'm chemist! Oh- should I speak louder!? Ace's-” he suddenly ducked beneath hooves! Expecting a newspaper to strike at any moment! -peeking... carefully... yet... there was none. Nothing happened. Jack then slowly lowered hooves “... oh... okay? Uhm- she's old and can't hear that good either. My right ear, for instance, it makes this funny 'beeep' since I was about this old” showing his approximate foal height.
Purple was right. Sigh.
Luna put steaming cocoa aside, both cups, making for one sad chemist “-listen! There is simply no time for this. No time for treats. I need to know more about the metal puppet and it's creator! This is a matter of life and death- do you understand!?” for Tia's sake!
“-ohhh -you mean ourthingy! You just missed it! We put it back together and then Tenet shook my hoof and I had to take care of Sledge because he fell, but Ace-” the head jerked for the door, checking for upset unicorns “He- was very tired all of a sudden so I had to bring Tenet to bed myself -that's why I didn't have time to clean up and then you came...”
“You- and your friends, built this- thismonstrosity!?” the voice boomed loud enough for the glasses on the table to rattle. Luna would love nothing better than striking him down for what he just said! -the sheer audacity to say it like... like offering a cup of coco! It meant nothing to him! How could he act this- …
“Eep!” Jack let out a yelp! The sudden change of tone startled him very much so! He didn't like it when pony's yelled, even less so when they yelled at him! Ears fell flat right away and the rest of his body followed, making his flank hit the ground. The chemist shuffled away from the mean mare until his back hit the kitchen counter where he cowered beneath “P-please don't hit me!” he gasped, already tearing up with sulks and sniffles “I-didn't mean to!”
… innocent.
“You can get up again” following a long sight, Luna slowly let go of the bubbling anger which tried to boil up yet again, letting it ooze away into the depth it came from. Being impulsive wasn't the way to go about it and up until now, whenever she fought... somepony got hurt in the process; more often than not the wrong ones. Hurting even one more innocent- it would make her sick to the stomach.
“HmN?” Jack whimpered and kept to himself. He didn't want to talk to the mean mare, turning the head away, even if he couldn't help to peek trough hooves out of sheer curiosity... “Hnff~hnff” and the smell of cocoa suddenly rising into his nostrils? Cups of cocoa being placed right in front. A peace offering.
“I'm sorry to have startled you” slumping down against the kitchen counter the alicorn took one of the cups for a nibble... and so did Jack soon after, calming his nerves. They both just sat there drinking lukewarm cocoa, while the world around began to crumble, the snow cut out and the void couldn't be far behind. Five minutes tops and he would cease to exist.
“Jack. You don't seem like this bad of a guy, that's what I have to ask... why? Why would a pony like you, help a pony like 'Tenet' to built this m- m-achine?”
Jack for his part looked at the bottom of the empty mug. He had finished long before Luna was half done with her own. It made him feel a little better, but it wouldn't stop the bad feeling entirely. He must have done something bad, otherwise, he wouldn't feel as guilty. He knew he made mistakes, even if not everypony would tell him what he did wrong, he wasn't dumb! He could see! He just needed some more time than others to figure it out, that's all “-because... he's my friend. They all are my friends” exchanging a look there was no dishonesty in his eyes, so she gave a small nod “One is nothing without friends” for them to share a fading smile.
“I've come here because your friend did something bad and I need your help... -somepony is... hurt... and I have to know more about all of this” the hoof gestured “or I won't be able to help her. Can you tell me more about the spell you used?”
The head shook ever so slightly, while Jack's expression became a reflection of the bad news he just heard.
“-i assumed as much” him being an earth pony and he- did mention he was a chemist? “Would your invention need any kind specific- chemical... goo?” they might be able to narrow down the search to a town or... warehouse or wherever those things were kept!
“N-o you- this-” Jack got up for a refill, constantly shaking the head “-my friend isn't bad! - and he doesn't hurt ponies! And- i- I don't like you!” he sniffled.
The alicorn got up “Pardon me? We have seen it with our very eyes!” for the most part.
“My friends are good friends! T-hey are nice! Th- they don't laugh at me and- they are friendly and- Ace is- I mean, he can get mad but... that's because his mom is sad and-” the pony chocked up, trying to rush down another cup of cocoa, most of which he spilled like a drunk because of the sobbing “y-o-you- a-a-re just being mean!”
“Jack-” “-i don't-” “Calm yourself!” “Nananaana!” hooves covered ears “There is no time!” “-you see-he c-nes back n then!” “JACK!” Luna reached out to pull him away from the coco pot to face the reality of things “You see that!?” -he did, if only for curiosity sake “That's the truth out there and it's coming for us! -this realm is about to die! Do you understand!? -i'm sorry it has to be like this, but your friend made a mistake...”
Behind the window was nothing but an endless void closing in around them.
Mountains, landscape, snow and cold... gone. The house falling into nothingness.
Like a moth drawn to the light, Jack starred wide-eyed into the all-consuming void. It took a tab of the hoof to get him out of it, collapsing slowly onto his haunches “He- is not coming back... -T-enet is gone!?”
How this 'Tenet' deserved a friend like this? Luna couldn't tell. Even now that the world was falling apart and his doom was inevitable, their crumbling friendship was the one thing on his mind. Jack indeed was, a true true friend.
“I won't tell you not to worry, because it wouldn't be the truth” Luna let go off his low hanging shoulder, speaking more softly as she offered it “Still, we all fall sometimes, but a true friend... will always pick you up”
Orange and cyan eyes met, so did hooves with some hesitation. Luna gently pulled Jack up, which fell into her arms... receiving strokes along his neck until hooves passed trough the chemist, which then vanished.
“Huffff...” now Luna was out of... -there was a unicorn standing in the doorway, holding a rolled-up newspaper way to tight to channel his anger "I know where this is going. Let's get over with”
"What about-" Luna's mouth opened, only to be cut off by a deep growling “One more word and I swear I beat you with this until your wings fall off!” No doubt it, he was dead serious. His facial muscles stuck firmly in place, lacking those smooth friendly lines and round cheeks his friend had shown.
The alicorn walked up to him in silence.
Blue magic let the horn come to life when the two of them vanished.
The light. It was blinding. I couldn't close my eyes in time. It all happened so fast.
Heat followed. A first wave brushed against my coat and threw off my balance.
I couldn't come up, because I had to cover my ears. The noise was deafening.
I then felt... weightless... I couldn't tell in which direction I was falling. I'm an earth pony, i'm not used to it. I hope I never will. Not like this.
Once I felt the flames I was too taken aback to even realize the... barrier I must have hit -pressing all the air out of my lungs. I tried to gasp, when I hit another barrier and cold filled my lungs and I became weightless again.
The light above became nothing more than a blur... the world around mute and dark.
I knew I had made a mistake. I only could hope he could forgive me. Hope they all would.
- - -
Light. There was the light again. It... shun onto me. Why didn't it come closer?
… and why did I feel so cold? A shape then blocked out the light to bow above me.
Noise. Just a little. Another shape appeared. More noise was exchanged.
I felt a sting. Darkness followed.
- - -
When I was still a little filly, I once slipped on a spot of ice and broke my leg. It hurt so much I cried. I cried harder then I ever cried before or since. I cried when an adult picked me up and I cried when the nurse finished the cast. It hurt very much and even if it got easier... it took a long time to stop. After this I thought I knew what pain felt like.
Naive me. There is still so much to learn.
- - -
I can't tell how often I woke or how much time had passed, but eventually I came to the conclusion... when I can still feel, I couldn't be dead. It took all my strength, but I just had to smile.
Soothing darkness followed.
- - -
Magic and needles was what it took. It had to be done they said. I blinked twice. They began the procedure. It hurt. I knew it would, but I had worse. And I just had to hold out a little longer, so I held still.
They nearly forgot I was still awake and what I heard let the cold return into my veins.
- - -
Good enough. That's how they put it. My caretaker would disagree, but they shoved me into a wagon anyway. Bandages covered up by shackles, so I wouldn't run. I couldn't have run even without.
It took patience for us to arrive.
- - -
Wounds burned and bandages itched. My mouth was dry and my stomach growled, but i knew they wouldn't let me go this easily. Not after all the trouble I caused, but can you blame me for trying?
I wish i was as brave now as back then.
- - -
They didn't mean to show me, but what I saw... I couldn't have imagined. It pained me to see that I had been wrong yet again. We could have lived here, if only I hadn't been so stubborn. I couldn't stop my tears from flowing.
I'm sorry. Inconsolable so.
- - -
Dignity. Staying straight I couldn't, so I sat. He would try to make a show out of it, but I wouldn't bow. Not as long there was somepony watching. I came too far to stop just now. If only my knees would stop shaking.
The gate opens. Light's, guide my way.
- - -
I feel many eyes resting upon me. Most of which afraid. Do they think i'm brave? I'm stiff with fear, that's why my knees haven't forsaken me. At least I have been right once, he did make a big show out of it. Rebellion demanded a statement.
Boasting he did. I spat in his face.
- - -
I'm not a unicorn, so I can't tell if he is bluffing. Can you change a spell like this? I might find out any moment. He embraces the darkness and I feel my fur standing up. It crawls under my skin! Electric fire makes me scream! Introduces pain my mind can't comprehend! My body is turned inside out- I can't stop screaming.
Pony's turn away. They can't bear to look at me.
- - -
Pain. I can't remember anything but pain. I can't recall my name or where I am. Why I am. There is a pony on the floor. Poor thing. Whatever happened? ...and who is he? He is looking at me. Looking at... us? Is that...
He smiles. Wishes 'farewell'. Darkness follows.
- - -
Walking. I keep walking. Putting one hoof in front of another. I feel... tired. That's all I feel. My mind is blank. Walking, i know how to do, so I keep doing it. I'm nopony. I have to walk.
My punishment is eternal. Compassion, my only crime.
Water Splash!-ed when they arrived in... a fountain? Not him, but Luna, she stood knee deep in water. A marble 'Adonis' next to her kept spitting a constant stream of water from his horn onto the mares head, soaking mane and coat as well.
“For light's sake, get out of the fountain” the magician grumbled at the mare which was about to do just that. Apparently the 'Adonis' was a … king of sorts. Not Sombra, but if the golden tag beneath him was anything to go by, was this a likeness of; 'King Umbrum'? Hm... didn't ring any bells, but then again, she wasn't Starswirl the Bearded.
Stepping out the fountain Luna shook like a stray “Brrwrwrwrwrwrwww!” sending water flying everywhere, forcing the unicorn to take cover behind a shield of the weather forecast (in which sun was promised), which shortly after struck the princess – paff! “Ouch!? How- dare you!?”
The paper swung around, so Luna's magic reached out to get into a tug war, when the mare noticed the paper was merely pointing at a monumental castle less than a hundred meters away. They stood right in the middle of the royal garden or... park or whatever!? “Oh...” -upon realization she let go, before quickly going for the open area between garden and castle.
Just before Luna would pass the fence framing the gorgeous area, the blue unicorn motioned her to stop, but aside from a few chariots dropping and picking up ponies, she couldn't see the problem “-why do we stop?” eyes scanned around and... it was only then when the mare's gaze went up, curious why there wasn't any snow falling? The sky was still there and clouds too, but a flimsy shield shimmered like a soap bubble right above their heads... -and it span across the entire town! All around those gigantic walls; miles upon miles -as far the eye could see! Which astonishing display of magic. How could they possibly sustain such delicate magic, let alone on such a vast scale!? It had to be unicorn magic... - a relic she would have understood, but this? Somepony had to renew the spell constantly! And the city itself it- was an odd mixture of 'Empire' and Ponyville. Classic wooden housing blending with black crystal stones. How bizarre! Just too bad she wasn't here for sight-seeing... and speaking off-
“Over there” the unicorn pointed at a group of four, consistent of: fair Jack, mechanic Tenet, a gray pegasus she hadn't seen yet and- the white mare! Luna was about ninety percent sure it was the one she was looking for!
“Hold in Ace, we cann-WHACK!-Ouh!” “Nopony!” the flattered paper threatened until Luna tore it out of his magic grasp for good, which failed to impress the magician “-is allowed to call me that!” he growled at the alicorn, which growled right back at him~ magic sparks raining between them to the ground “-your frieeend did!” came trough clenched teeth, the answer just as tense “None of your freaking business! It's: Swift Move or nothing!”
“Gggrrmm!Pffff!” pulling back from the starring contest (but without batting an eye) the princess snorted “-bring me themare!”
If looks could kill; this would have ended i a gruesome draw!
Swift Move was the first to blink, if only so he could roll eyes and mumble more insults. The horned mule eventually shuffled for his friends, baring the weight of incompetence on his shoulders- a burden which wasn't his, but it still stuck to him like crazy-glue.
“Swift Move, a pleasure to see you” Sledge greeted well mannered and well-spoken, as always, while his wife took a more casual approach and swung hooves around his neck “It's so good to see you!” rubbing round cheeks against the grumpy frown.
Tenet gave a nod for a more dry “-better late then never” since the mage was in fact late for their hearing or at least the gathering, before the hearing. Jack for his part seemed unusual reserved since he kept his mouth shut for once, the two of them exchanging a lasting look over the mare's shoulder with the earth pony being the one to look uncomfortable, like Ace had turned into a ghosts of sorts.
Meanwhile the hug provided a welcome opportunity for the unicorn to whisper, making for one twitching ear and a hug loosing all it's comfort, to be replaced with concern in it's place. Swift move eventually pulled out of it, leaving it to Muse to spill the beans again by leaning in for her husband which did his best to retain a stoic face, despite the bad news.
“What's the matter?” Tenet asked, rising a brow at the group. Everypony had gone very quiet all of a sudden and he couldn't help to feel left with pony's looking at each other but avoiding eye contact with him “-appointment, anypony?” a hoof gestured annoyed for the palatial palace one couldn't miss!
“It looks like we have an impasse” Sledge addressed the issue “that's why we need you to go ahead and make sure we won't miss our appointment. Could you do this for us?”
Tenet looked at Sledge and the rest of the group which all looked back at him, except for Swift Move, which didn't care.
“... what?” eyebrows got together, turning the face into a frown “-if we miss our appointment we won't get a chance for another year! What's the matter!?”
“We won't miss it” Sledge assured calmly “-you can take Jack with you. The scroll will grant you entry” he said using a wing to pull it out of it pocket “Remember; you have to talk to the federal-” “Cut it out already! Either you tell me what's the matter or i'm going home! Every-freaking-time you- you think you just have to pull a straight face and lie to me! How stupid you think I am!?” he barked at the pegasus “Why i'm even trying to help you is bey-” a hoof tapped Tenet's shoulder which he pulled away before noticing it was his wife trying to get his attention “Tenet please calm down! He didn't mean it! It... it's a- a... a family matter. It's difficult, that's why we have to be alone...”
Muse face was worrisome... and sad. The small mare's body-language disarming. Shoulders hung low and so did ears like she just had been told about somepony passing away, eyes glistering a little brighter, possibly trying to be brave. Of course Sledge knew this too was a lie, but Tenet couldn't help to feel bad for yelling, letting go of his anger to take a deep breath “Alright... I, see what I can do...”
“Thank you” the females white snout brushed against his cheek, which still wouldn't light up. Perhaps he was still to angry... or simply knew that Muse too had lied to him. Either way the gap between the friends had just gotten bigger and it would only get harder to overcome. Either way, they all had reasons to feel bad about themselves, because this wasn't how friends were supposed to act.
“Muse... ”
“I didn't lie” she said firmly “He is part of the family”
Princess Luna watched the entire spectacle from afar and wouldn't know how to feel about it. Clearly those ponies knew another very well, but none of them seemed particular evil. Instead, she witnessed the group fight like any other by having an mostly reasonable argument, even if they didn't reach any conclusion... and to be fair: not every problem could be solved within twenty minutes.
Luna met the remaining three ponies half way. The pegasus. Themare. And annoyance.
“My name is-” the pegasus wing rose to signal they got the picture “We are aware of the situation. My name is Sledge. You met Swift-Move” the other wing then gestured to his side “My wife, Muse.”
“You wanted to talk to me?” it was unsettling for Muse to be starred at like this, like Luna had some kind of obsession about her, despite the fact they never met.
“I seen you before” Luna's head nodded for the dark horizon “You were trapped inside a water tank, standing in a laboratory of sorts... -why!? What does it mean? When the five of you are friends why would he trap you like this? Is this part of the magic!? To then use a metal puppet to attack us! Did you help him!? Is this how it works or are you in any danger? Speak!”
Swift Move scoffed at this nonsense “Pff- as if...”
While Muse shook her head like she had heard wrong “Attack? He... he wouldn't...”
“He would” Sledge added after some careful consideration “which is why we won't help you”
Poff! “I demand an explanation!” the baffled mare stomped!
“Sledge, we must try to help-” “No. We can not. Muse, even if what she say's is true which we can't possibly prove, we are nothing but a fabrication of a degrading mind. One I remind you; is put into this state by this mare, which leaves only one thing we must...”
Sledge took a deep breath to then let shoulders and wings hanging deep “... end”
“End!?” Luna couldn't believe she was facing three ponies which tried to show her the cold shoulder in a moment like this! When they should help another the most, instead of leaving a friend- in fact two of them- to rot! The first breaking apart like a piece of porcelain falling from the sky -the other trapped underground Faust-Knows-Where! So it didn't came to any ponies surprise the princesses voice wasn't just angry, but outright bitter “Friendship does never end! Not like this! A friend isn't helped by doing nothing!”
“Your suggestion being? Give away our secrets? Tell Tenet to trust you with my wife's life? Because I highly doubt he would put Muse in any sort of danger, while you have every reason to either prolong his suffering or punish my wife in his place instead.”
“He... he loves me... or used to...” Muse confirmed with the guilt of being unaware for so long, having hurt his feelings in the process, even if she didn't meant to “-i'm sorry.”
Luna grit teeth. There was no talking to them! Not with them being absolutely convinced that; whatever Tenet had done, he did do for areason. So this wasn't showing the cold shoulder, but being loyal towards a friend, going as far to trust him with one of their life's.
This wouldn't take away from the fact her guts told her otherwise! She knew there there was something fundamentally wrong! None of this made sense! Nopony would fight her to the teeth to then brake apart for no reason! There was a piece of the puzzle missing and it was starring her right in the face. Shooting an angry glance. Right in the angry... face... as if...
The stubborn mule. He had said something earlier. Not much, but enough to bring light in the dark, like a match could illuminate the deepest cave “When I told you about what I saw, you were not concerned for your friends... oh no, you thought I was lying... you wouldn't believe a word I said, but it wasn't what I said about your friend you didn't believe...”
Swift Move's gaze turned to Sledge which shook his head slightly, telling him without words that the mare was up to something and he shouldn't do whatever he was thinking about... most likely violence.
Luna got closer to the blue unicorn which stubbornly looked the other way, while the alicorn got closer... and closer... closeenough to breath down his neck! The snout inches from touching his face to whisper a sinister “-because... this-isn't-how-it-works-”
If looks could kill the unicorn would have dropped this moment, the cyan gaze going right trough him and the mountainside in the distance, before purple ones threw a just as devastating glare right back! “-you are an idiot”
“No, but i'm right!” the princess spat right back at the mage “-this is not how it works!”
Luna backed off. She knew she had hit home with this one. It was written all over their faces “She wasn't in this tank to help anypony but somepony put her in there. Tenet being the one to put Muse in this tank. She wasn't part of the spell but rather -preserved ….and THIS is what broke your friend!” the hoof pointed at the group, moving from pony to pony, causing their snouts heads to lower shamefully “When I forced him to free Muse, the pony he loved” Muse winced “-this was what destroyed him! He couldn't stand to see her like this! He couldn't protect her anymore! He had to give up the one thing he cared about since he clearly didn't care about anypony else at this point. Not even himself!”
A harsh left-right combination of truth and realization hit the group right in the face, giving the all of them something to chew on, if not to equal parts.
Muse for her part felt simply sick. A hoof went for the stomach, while a sickening feeling spiraled higher to the point the felt like throwing up- chocking and gagging, while a wing kept stroking her back “Just let it all out” Sledge whispered absentmindedly.
A lengthy sigh was given with hooves slowly slipping of the unicorns blue face, having to deal with an alicorn-sized hangover “For light's sake” the hoof-tip hammered against the side of his forehead like a woodpecker, representative of the mare's blabbermouth “-just get to the point!” to then be pointed at the surrounding void which used to be a town not too long ago.
“Pardon me, but one doesn't make it easy!” Luna said with snout held high, offended that her detective skills weren't given any credit... later perhaps, once she got to tell the others “My point being; if your friend” a hoof waved for the sour-mouthed mare “had a condition one could treat with medicine, wouldn't you agree he would have tried?”
Sledge nodded silently, so did Muse, slowly.
Swift Move cut to the chase “Let me guess; a curse?”
“Afraid so... and something tells me I know who did it” ccchhucchchhhh~ the growling of several ten thousand tons of stone braking apart drew the groups attention to the castle. Mighty towers leaning to the side until breaking apart, falling onto the main structure to shatter, tearing holes into the roof... or tumble harmlessly into the abyss being the first pieces to vanish. The main structure and it's foundation then turned away, simultaneously a lengthy rift shot right past the group, clawing another chunk of plaza with it.
The groups gaze watched with awe how a building the size of a small mountain was swallowed effortlessly by the dark laying beneath.
“... what was he like?” Luna asked reverently, raising her voice just enough to be heard over the shattering of stained glass windows, for Sledges chin to rise and reply proudly “I rather tell you what he wasn't; a tyrant. Sombra was more than a gifted unicorn or noble royal, he was the kind of ruler strolling trough streets to talk to us first hoof. Get to know our problems or simply tell a colorful fable. My father once found him repairing a neighbors roof... while when he got older, his focus shifted from single housings to snowed in villages. King Sombra grew... and so did our trust in his rule... that's why we brought our plans. That's why we didn't see it coming...”
“-you are saying that you don't trust me”
The spot the four were standing had shrunken to no more than the size of Fluttershy's living room.
“I'm asking what makes you different?”
A legit question knowing where he was coming from. Trusting on a fair rule for their friend would be hard enough on their own but there also was the prospect of their invention being abused yet again. Muse once gave her life to stop corruption from happening, yet it still hadn't been quite enough and now Tenet was the one giving himself up to prevent history from repeating itself. Even if she would let Muse go, it wouldn't bring back Tenet, let alone prevent Luna from abusing their work eventually.
Princess Luna also had an infamous track record of not being herself. When she was young, feelings of jealousy turned love and admiration into bitterness and hate, transforming the blue alicorn into the monstrosity Nightmare Moon. A mare just as dark as King Sombra with the goal of bringing eternal night over the land and rule it all by herself. Back then stood only one thing between day – and eternal night, Princess Celestia. She was the one to pick up the fight, wielding the mysterious Elements of Harmony to do the unthinkable; by banishing her own baby sister for a thousand years to the moon
This and a few more missteps along the way. So how could Luna possibly claim this wouldn't happen again? Proof that she was different? Be certain to do better this time?
A small smirk found it's way on the blue mare's lips. The answer was simple.
“My friends”
Friends the alicorn had every reason to be proud at.
“I know I made mistakes in the past and I have come to understand that there is still a long way ahead of me, but this path I don't have to go on my own. I can count on them to pick me up when I fall... and I too will fight for them to my last breath”
The pegasus looked over his shoulders to see what the others were thinking; while Swift Move rolled eyes and left it to him to decide, his wife was willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
A hoof was offered in friendship... but the ground gave in before Luna could touch it.
Suddenly the group was weightless, falling towards the unknown with princess Luna trying to reach for the pegasus, while the others couldn't do much more than flail about. Mere inches separating the two of them, with Luna holding the spell ready for when they managed, only to find that wings wouldn't be enough to close the distance!?
Sledge too tried to flap wings to close the distance only to find they weren't working. There was no up or down, no ground or sky and air a fading thought “ACE!” his wife cried- before being the first to fade. Magic threw the pegasus for the mare and then he too faded. Luna was caught in an embrace of wings, before she herself vanished in a flash! ... and the pegasus ceased to exist.
Meanwhile the other group of friends enjoyed life for a bit.
Pinkie Pie and Applejack were playing cards and despite the worst possible poker face, the pink mare being the one hiding behind a small stack of bits with AJ being two buckets worth of apples in depth “-ya better don't use ya Pinkie sense on me!” “AJ!? I never would cheat! Cheating is no fun... - but you know what is? A party with alllll my frieends” which was a fan of cards consistent of: Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Blueblood and a Shining Armor with a #10n on its corners “Dang it Pinkie! No fair!” “I tell you what, three buckets and I will use two of them for pies!” a peace offering was made ...and the cowgirl took it “Fair enough”
Sitting nearby was Fluttershy which kept snickering with a flying squirrel a bit “Kihi- I know Rainbow said no, but that doesn't mean never...” with Twilight reading a book on the opposing side of the room since the constant 'squeaking' broke her concentration.
Rarity for her part was busy with a little something of her own, creating a white alicorn plushie, about to lay the finishing stitches in order to attach tiny golden regalia for more authenticity.
Rainbow was the only one doing nothing, other than rubbing a blue piece of flank into the pillows they had been given, trying to outlast this ongoing boooreeedom! “Grmnmnfpft!” this is why at first nopony noticed the rumbling coming from the other blue mare in the room “Gnn... grnnnf-”
“Rainbow, why don't you take a flight around the castle?” Twilight suggested in between turning pages... licking a hoof … before considering the ramifications of using spit on ink and paper, which may or may not would damage the book in the long-run... to then use magic instead.
Rainbows reaction had quite a delay to it, her mind had been on autopilot for while a while now, not expecting anything to happen ever again! “...h-uh? W-hat? Why?”
“I was saying; i'm trying to read and would appreciate for you to take your impatience outside” the princess repeated more pronounced.
This was when Twilight shot a glance towards the opposing pegasus to find it sitting there, looking somewhat confused, but overall quiet “Arh-AHg!” -it was only now that the purple snout turned to find Luna being the one growling and gasping, as well sweating. Flickering magic gave away that the mare also had problems holding the spell together.
“ALERT!” Twilight cried out as she snapped up- causing Applejack to fling her cards into the air and Pinkie to complain “Hey- I was about to win!” showing off that she was holding only one more card.
“Oh my, the princess looks horrible” Rarity noticed right away the tousled mane and sweat dripping on wonderful silk sheets.
“Waah waeyy- wayy- eehhh”
A sharp “Shh!” was given to silence all of them except for Fluttershy, which already was the world champion in 'shh', you know?
Twilight quickly moved around the tall moon-shaped bed to listen to the mares slumber “-i think she is trying to say something?” a long purple ear closed in... “Wah...way...” “What way? A road?” Applejack suggested, but a wing waved it all off “Wayk... wayke m.eh...” “Did she just say 'wake me'?” Pinkie Pie asked, suddenly sitting diagonal atop of Luna from which she was picked away by magic, yet Fluttershy agreed from the sideline with a humble nod “-i-i think she did!”
“Oh no, this must mean something gone wrong! Perhaps it was a trap or... the spells got tangled up in one another, in which case we have to-” and then a glass of water dropped onto Luna!? -and all eyes were on Rarity all of a sudden.
“Whaaat? The sheets were ruined anyway, might as well give it a try”
“By... dumping a glass of water...?” Rainbows brow rose rather unimpressed.
“Well- if I had a bucket, I certainly would have used that, but there is none, is it!?” it gestured around the princesses noble chamber, which naturally wouldn't include some old bucket standing around.
“WAAKEEE UUPPP!!” Pinkie Pie screamed while 'milk-shaking' Luna wildly, just before being tugged away once more, letting Luna flop onto the wet bed.
Meanwhile Fluttershy had snuck outside to get a lovely birdy! “Perhaps Mortimer could try?” presenting a red bird which immediately began to sing off key “CHWUAAÄÄÄÄH! WUAÄÄÄH! CHÄääääh!” like a fork on a chalkboard, causing the groups ears to flop down and be quickly covered by hooves until the cowgirl couldn't bear it any longer! (which wasn't that long at all) “DARN TUTN- MAKE IT STOP!” Applejack demanded and Fluttershy prompted the bird to cut out, luckily.
“Shesh, and here ah thought my rooster could wake the dead...” Applejack sighed in relief, which the bird took personal and gave a last “SQUÄ!” before flying off “Oh my- such language!” Fluttershy gasped, having not expected such rudeness from either of her friends.
“Waayk-Ehhh!” the call only got louder and more urgent at that, since the unconscious alicorn was panting by now. Spending all her strength on holding the spell together.
“Everypony, please! We need a plan-” Twilight reminded “We can't just use- water, birds, shaking or... is this sniffing salt?” which Applejack pulled from under her hat “Sure is!”
“Huh, Luna might be in a quite deep trance, but I think it's worth giving a- Rainbow don't!”
PAP!!
Rainbow slapped the Lunar Princess right across the face!
“Y-you... did you just-!?” Twilight stammered, unable to comprehend what just happened and the consequences attached to it! Harming a Princess like herself (which may could forgive a friend), but then doing it to Luna of all ponies... -nothing short of a federal-crime!
Rainbow for her part didn't understand why all of her friend suddenly looked like Rarity... “Hey, why you guys are so white?” and even more color drained from them as a dark blue figure rose behind the pegasus, rubbing her right cheek which was pulsating with pain.
“GARK!”
Hooves suddenly held the speedster in a tight grasp, trying to squeeze every cubic centimeter of air out of her lungs “Princess, she did't meant to-!”
“HOWEVER SHALL WE THANK YOU; BLUE ONE!?” the night princess hugged life out of her savior which kept desperately gasping, unable to fight what felt like a hug from an overly excited BigMac -praying for the humble payment of “Gaiir-aihhrrr-Airrchh!”
Rainbows hind-legs were kicking aimlessly for now, but getting slower as the vice like grip continued for just a few moments too long, forcing Twilight to teleport the pegasus to safety where there was all the air one could ask for! “GAHHhhhhhhhhhuhhhhhhhhhh~pff...”
“Excuse us, we might underestimated our strength but the situation was dire...” a hoof rose once more to rub the mark left by the morning call, a painful sting indeed but a reminder the dream was over and... -then it dawned upon Luna “MEDIC!”
An outcry for help left everypony jump on the spot, while the palace guard did alike, since a royal voice wasn't something you could simply ignore.
“Luna, calm down! It's barely a scratch! -what's gotten into you!?” Twilight dared to reach out, but the hoof was pushed aside “No time to explain!”
The mare finally jumped off the bed and moments later the doors flung open with two guards dragging along the orange medic and his quickly put together emergency bag “Your majesty! We brought help!” the guard announced as they spread out to quickly secure the room, while the huffing medic tried to figure out who was in need of medical attention and how he could manage to keep a steady hoof despite lacking oxygen.
Looking deep into Rarity's blue eyes... Pinkies red mouth... and pulling aside Rainbows wings “Huh... perfectly fine?”
“Ksshh, could have told you that!” the wing was quickly pulled and the now utterly confused doctor couldn't tell if he had been pushed into the right room or not “Now if nopony is hurt?”
“I suppose Princess Luna got a bruise?” Fluttershy remarked to the dismay of the doctor.
Correcting his brown mane a bit and straightening his stance. The burned tail wasn't forgotten yet, but he had sworn an oath to help everypony... “Alright. I will see what I can do” the bag was opened and looked for a mild ointment, leaving some criticisms out of the bag as well “-seems a not quite like an emergency...” only to choke on his words as his gaze met the stern looks of Luna and a blue hoof got a hold of the orange “-i- didn't mean to offend... -p-please don't break it!”
“We won't break thous hoof, we... I- want to apologize for doing you wrong”
“Err...” was she having a fever?
“-but this is not all; i need your help! You have to provide us with a sedative. Now”
“-but Luna, you just woke, it's way to dangerous! Why don't you go back bef-” Twilight then was cut off by the Nightprincess strict “This is not about me!”
The medics hoof was let go and the royal one held open.
“Princess, i can not prescribe medicine without knowing the circumstances, i need to see the patient myself. I took an oath to-”
“-to help and protect ponies, yes I know, but so did I” Luna was sweaty, frizzled and the way she talked right now was tense as if a fever had gotten the best of her, which wouldn't make it any easier to convince the medicus. That's why the blue mare decided to be as blunt as she could since there was no way or time to sugar coat the situation without wasting even more precocious time “A mare will sees to exist if we don't act this instant.”
This alone made for a lot of rumbling in the room, yet again, the Princess had other concerns then trying explain it to the all of them individual “Right now she's laying unconsciousness in a basement in Hollow Shades” which was a remote town eastern of Canterlot Mountain. Seemingly an ideal place for hiding secrets given the remote location and thick forest surrounding it, when in fact, it was just a town like any other. Many ponies loved nature, so why not live somewhere you can appreciate it?
The hoof was held up once more “Doctor?”
“Y-es. Right away” hooves were stuck into the bag to quickly mix something up “-i will..” a choice is made between two vials, picking up the red... only to put it back and go for what looked like blue milk “-3 hours, it's all I can do for now, but I must see the patient as soon I can!”
“Certainly” Luna agreed while moving for the intimidated Rainbow Dash, which backed off just a little, concerned there might be some sort of payback or worse... another hug “-you shall fly ahead for you are the fastest of us. Take the medicine and fly to Hollow Shades, there you will find a building on the far side of town. Old, two chimneys. You have to head straight trough the hallway, there you will find an office-”
“Princess, how could you possible know!?” a hoof waved off Twilight's curiosity to close the speedsters briefing. The vial was corked, pushed into the hoof and windows ripped wide open “AWAY! FLY FAST AS THE WIND!” - “AYE!” Rainbow saluted and did just that! Spinning around, taking three prancing steps for the balcony and BOOFFFF! A strong gust of wind blew away the nearby friends “Eieeehhhh!” -except for the immovable mare and the tall sister, which was kind enough to catch everypony in a spark of sunlight.
Rainbow climbed height rapidly! Gaining hundreds of meters within seconds, poofing a white cloud and conquering the sky. Everything looked tiny all of a sudden, like the palace wasn't built for immortal goddess, but a filly playing with her official princess dolls(c).
A long turn was flown before the mare was pointing towards the forest and what might been Hollow Shades. Rainbow never been there, so there was only one way to find out! Doing what she was best at: 'Dashing!' - tilting the nose to the ground the pegasus raced in a long stretched bow towards earth to gather speed... faster then a racing chariot... playing catch with the speed of sound... and... and... BREAKING THE SPECTRUM OF LIGHT IN A SENSATIONAL SONIC RAINBOOM!! - a multi color circle burst off the mare, while she herself became nothing more then the fastest blue blur Equestria had ever seen, chased by rainbow-colored strokes... – admired from ponies far and wide with a lot of “Uuhhhh's” and “Aahhhh's” watching the brush stroke rapidly expand eastwards.
Like a single star peeking through the curtain of clouds in the midst of the night, Luna appeared in a fading flash of light in a sea of darkness, illuminated by nothing but her own aura.
Luna's gaze wandered through eternity, but she hadn't to look far since there wasn't much to see, expect one more aura stood out against the dark background. Sitting nearby was an all too familiar shape with head and shoulders hanging low, hooves holding a small wooden wind-up frog, the likes his parents had given him for his birthday. The one memory he wanted to hold onto when all came to an end.
Once landed, soft clattering announced the mares approach to the bulky earth pony, stopping a few steps later. It was impossible Tenet hadn't noticed the alicorn by now, instead he simply choose to ignore her, slowly turning the frog back and forth.
The toy was engulfed in a soft blue glow, the key in it's back turned clockwise, before being put back to the ground. Hop... rtlrltrlt~ hop! Rltrlt hop! It clacked and clicked, jumping purposefully forward in a straight line. Hoping and hoping... until it was gone.
Brown eyes looked up to the mare and where there had been confusion and hatred before, all Luna could find was a broken pony, unwilling to fight it's foe any longer. He simply had given up. The head then lowered back down to stare at the pitch-black ground and into nothingness.
“I've met your friends...” Luna opened calmly “and I got to understand what you were fighting for. The mare named Muse...” simply saying this name caused Tenet to twitch like static just crawling under his fur. Their eyes met once again, this time she could see the deeply rooted sadness he carried around for so long, since there was no more hatred to hide behind “-you are still trying to protect her, isn't that so? Because she's a friend of yours. Because she is more than that...”
“I... i've” he couldn't bring out more than two words before tearing up. He just couldn't take it anymore! All the abuse he had taken, all the things he had been trough... and it all was for nothing! Not just that, but he blamed himself for most of it “It's~ it's all my f-f-ault! Ieeee ammm ~hoorribblllwee” he sulked into hooves- unable to hold back any longer. How could he not? Brown eyes teared up and he couldn't hold it back any longer. A flood of tears ran down the snout~ soaking his fur, with hooves unable to stop them from flowing. He just wanted it to end! All the pain! He just wanted it to go away! He couldn't live like this any longer.
He had caused so much trouble and put up a good fight... but in the end, he was just a pony. One that was hurt. One which couldn't else to miss his friends deeply, the one's he worked with... the one he grew up with... and the ones he had fallen in love with. He just missed all of it... and if there was as much as a chance~ the smallest chance to turn back time! To make things right! He would hold onto it... ~but as things stood, he couldn't even hold onto his tears with drop after drop falling onto the ground to eventually vanish... just like them.
Luna could see that. He wasn't a villain. Not even particular evil. He simply had made a mistake. They all had. Luna had given into her rage, which was nothing more than a byproduct of the pain they felt. Hurting for many years and acting like it didn't happen. It wasn't a healthy way to deal with it. This much Luna knew. A lesson learned only recently.
“-are you the leader of your country? The North?” Luna asked, repeating herself once more to make herself heard “I asked you something. Are you the unicorn King?” “Hm~pf~ w-hat?” he was so confused “I~ n~gno?”
“And the machine? Have you built it by yourself?”
“Ah~i I built ~i was the mech~anic...” “Yes, but you didn't do it on your own. I've met the mage. The blacksmith. Your friend the chemist... ~and her”
“~b~ut I' I d~”“~ will you shut your snout!?” Luna barked, startling the stallion into silence “Who do you think you are!? -if there is one thing I have learned from all of this, it's that we have taken our selves for far too important! We haven't brought all of this upon our selves. All of us did! You~ me~ all of us! The ones that wouldn't fight back, just as much the ones which wouldn't stop by any means necessary! We all are to blame! -you and your friends ain't anything special. He would have invaded the land with or without these walking tin cans. It wasn't you which made him evil... and it was us which did you wrong!”
It was like a verbal slap to face. It came out of nowhere and hit Tenet right across the face! A call back to reality. Direct, honest and more painful than anything he had felt in quite a while. In fact, he hadn't felt anything for a while. Ever since the empire vanished, he was stuck in a lifeless body~ trapped in a realm so far from reality... it felt like standing in the room next door at any given moment. Talking to ponies through a keyhole. Unable to smell the world or taste something simple as soup and while the transition was awfully painful, he soon felt simply numb from within.
“All i~ wanted is... to help my friend” he whispered ruefully.
“All you wanted was redemption for yourself. You wanted to feel better about yourself and die before you had to deal with the consequences. You think your friend would have been helped with that!? Being left alone in a land that isn't hers!?”
Smack!
“N-no” he muttered for the princess to agree with a nod.
They finally hit bedrock by the looks of it. Just in time too.
“-I have been there myself” something Luna certainly wasn't proud off “I couldn't let go of my past mistakes for the longest time. The haunted me in my dreams. I pushed away my friends. I yelled at my sister. I was afraid... and angry... i was willing to burn it all to the ground” something Luna meant figurative and literally “... but this too I will leave behind because that's how we grew as ponies. We have to accept things we can't change and find a way to better our self's instead. My friends helped me to see into the future with confidence, instead of into the past with uncertainty... and I want to help you to do the same”
There was a blue thing in the corner of Tenet's eye, so he rose his snout to see... a hoof?
A blue hoof offered by the princess. A gesture of peace. She wanted to get him back onto his hooves. Stand tall. And for her sister's sake stop with the self-pity!
“... I think you too can try to forgive yourself, but first we have to help your friend...” “It's t-oo late for that” he sighted, but the princess wouldn't let him of the hook that easily, “~and you think we would give up this easily?” smiling confident enough to cause a short chuckle from the stallion. She could say that again! By the lights she had blown a hole right through his chest- using magic! With nothing but sheer strength of will and a skull thicker than the puppets! Quite frankly 'stubborn' should be ashamed it wasn't called Princess Luna instead!
“W-hen you took the stone, you took the only way I could... bring her back. I had to wake her up... butshe won't e-ver be h-h-erself again~” he sobbed “Sh~s~she's...”
Slap!
The third time wasn't figurative, but a helpful wing, giving just enough of a slap for the stallion to pull it together “O~uch...”
Luna's offered hoof turned around to point at his brown hind-legs, which quickly became transparent, dissolving just like the rest of the realm “It is up to you... but we are running out of time” the mare said sternly, offering the hoof one last time.
“I...” Tenet bit his lip to not spout any more nonsense and simply nodded wildly in agreement! Taking the alicorn's hoof to shake it like an overly excited fanboy “I'm so sorry~i just wan~t her to be save! Please!”
“We will do whatever we can” Luna assured, putting another hoof on top of the one given to pat it a bit “... but there is one last thing” his ears perked up~ by now he was two-thirds see trough so what possibly could be this important? “I cannot simply speak you free of your crimes -and therefor I sentence you” the patting hoof laid down on top of his, for Luna's grasp to quickly tighten around it “~to life!”
A flash of blue light shot from the mare's horn upwards, like digging herself out of a grave, piercing through several layers of the realm that already had collapsed on top of them. Simultaneously the mystical glow began to engulf the rest of the mare's body- starting at the tip of the horn to extend downwards to hooves and all the way to the end of the eternal tail, before extending along with the offered hoof and crawl along the brown horse's leg “Grnnnnff! GAHHHR!”
While Rainbow Dash had the luxury of flight on her side, most of her friends did not, so it was up to the royal guard to transport the group to their destination (at a more moderate pace).
“AIN'T THERE ANY OTHER WAY!?” Applejack screamed above the noise of the wind rushing past her snout, clinging frantically to Twilight's hind-leg as her life depended on it.
“I offered to teleport us and you said no!” the element of magic said pouty, unable to hide the fact she was still sore “~and your train would have taken far too long! The town to is too remote... so better hold on tight...” mumbling the last part since her earth-friend wasn't listening anyway “AH DON'T WANT TO BE AN ELEMENT NO MORE!”
Fluttershy and Rarity for their part shared a nice cup of tea, sitting in the flying chariot next to them with the unicorn shooting glances at those snappy pegasus-guards rears, two of which pulling their chariot “Hrm~ the view is outstanding, wouldn't you agree Fluttershy!?” it smirked at the yellow pegasus, which was oblivious to the unicorns desires, directing attention towards the lush forest beneath “It sure is wonderful! I wonder how many critters are living there!”
Pinkie Pie had a chariot of her own, providing all the space necessary to bounce around in circles if only small ones “Wuueeeeeehhh!”
Princess Luna and Celestia for their part simply flew ahead of things, gliding majestic across the land with the white unicorn smiling non-stop ever since her sisters return, with Luna being the mare with eyes on the price: the hidden village Hollow Shades.
The blue alicorn pulled wings close to the body to get into a steep dive, leading the way past most of the sleepy town to the eastern edge, followed by the group descending in a long spiral to burn off speed.
“... sow this is the accompliwcs!?” the cream-colored reporter asked with a pen stuck in his snout to take notes. THIS was the biggest story the earth-pony got its hooves on and he couldn't wait to get the facts straight and printed! This story would take FootNote to the top! No more small scale reports and boring anecdotes, but a breakthrough, hopefully the kind with a thick paycheck attached to it “Loowks like a shifty fwigure for swure!”
The police mare, a paper-white unicorn wearing a tidy uniform, couldn't help to pose a little with a sly grin “Without a doubt! I myself caught her red hoofed! My partner is securing evidence this moment!” she said proudly while pinning the cuffed pegasus punk to the ground!
“OH C'MON! ~I am A HERO you know!? That's...-GAH! I- grrn- freaking...-why does nobody know who I am!?” tightly cuffed hooves ran across Rainbows face to underline the frown “-saving the world is a team effort -got it!? MEEEee~frrieends~with... T-wilight!” as much the rainbow-maned pegasus hated to bring up her 'famous' friend to get out of trouble, being caught by some nopony-rookie was even worse! One could only hope she would get out of the cuffs before...POMF!“... annnnd there goes my dignity...” she sighed heavily, when a blue alicorn plummet to the ground, leaving hoof prints in the landing zone “~GREETINGS; CITIZENS! YOUR PRINCESS HAS ARRIVED!” -an entrance bombastic enough for the earth-pony to swallow it's pencil howl “GARK~!” and regurgitate it with a lot of drool and some of it's dignity landing in the grass besides it.
Barely thirty seconds later the rest of the convoy landed.
“Gahh~de~the~” the writer stuttered while a hoof searched the grass for the chewed-up pencil. The police mare tried to show her deepest respect, bowing several times in quick succession “~i greetest~ your majesty... majesties!” trying to find the right words.
“That's not necessary~” Twilight assured upon approaching them, but Luna liked to disagree “Why not? We shall have shown respect!” only for the big sister to tip the scale one last time “~enough of the formalities” to then give a friendly reminder “Luna?”
Luna snapped to attention and ran past and right into the house. A building reminisced of an old factory of sorts, consisting of several big loveless chunks of concrete stuck into one another with two tall chimneys on the back, one of which spewing a fading puff of smoke.
Twilight couldn't help to shake her head. It all was just too typical, especially... “Wanna tell me what happened?” magic removed the cuffs to free her pegasus friend “It seems we are running in a theme here” “What!? I TOLD THEM who I am! I told you I know you~ do you think any of them have any idea!? Of course not!” Rainbow pouted. Of course, the police mare had noticed all of this and felt rather embarrassed with flushing red cheeks “My apologies~ I wasn't aware that~ she's with you and~ perhaps this is a bad time but... may I ask for a... a...” now Twilight couldn't help to blush a little. She knew what's going on here~ picking the pen and paper from the reporter's hooves to quickly give an autograph “OH~MY~GEE!~THANK YOU SO MUCH!”
“For Celestia's s-” Rainbow began, but cut herself short quickly since Equestria's-Grace just walked past them “Never mind” following the group into the freaky house.
“You guys have to see the basement!” Rainbow shouted from the back. Pony's already followed the voices coming from below, passing through a small study with a crammed bookshelf's covering the walls with a hidden passage behind one of them.
True to Rainbow's word one had to see the basement in order to believe it. It was far bigger than the house's size would make belief and cramped to the brink with all kinds of machinery running together at a broken tube. A broken tube which until recently held a mare - the one momentary looked after by a far older police pony “Ah... Rookie. I see you brought support...” a glance was given over the shoulder, followed by a simple nod towards the princesses “As far as I can tell she's stable, but I hope you brought a medic with you?”
Twilight had read a book or two about first aid, not just because she happened to have them, but it was valuable knowledge considering the constant danger they got themselves into “Hmm~” a heard was held to the snout and chest... and hooves as well magic probed the mare on the floor “~i can't see any injuries, but we should get her checked out to be sure.”
Luna then spotted the three-legged 'puppet' laying next to a table, raising a curious brow at it “Huh... it looked bigger from the inside...” she muttered thoughtful, before stopping in front of the mare alongside her friends.
“W-who is she?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“Oh my~ she looks... ahem~ frazzled” the fashionista's keen eye couldn't help to notice more than sticky goo, but a sloppily cut on the yellow mane and a bunch of scars scattered all over the mares white body.
Cyan magic engulfed the unconscious mare, brushed aside shards and put her back into the remains of the tube “We cannot move her just yet. Not before the curse has been lifted...” Luna said, before shooting Twilight a glance which nodded in response, summoning a scroll and paper “Of course!” to scribble down a short message 'We are in position. Ready when you are... -greetings, Twilight' and sent it magically away with a 'poof' …
… to be spat out moments later by Spike the dragon “Burp~!”
“What does it say?” the pink alicorn asked, peeking over Spikes shoulder.
“~um apparently they are ready for us to start” a green brow was risen “Why does she sign it every time? We know it's coming from her...” the back of the hand slapped the scroll.
“Because that's my Twili~!” Cadance chirped happily, before magically picking up the baby-dragon to load him onto her back “~let's meet up with Shiny!”
Spike immediately reached for the candy-colored mane to hold on tight, since the Princess of Love made for a worse flier than Princess Luna and Twilight put together, but before Cadance could move a single feather, Spike uttered another concern he had on his mind “- you think we got enough?”
Looking over the shoulder and all around... at mostly empty streets, she couldn't tell “We can only hope” Cadance replied with a faltering smile, which didn't feel right to say... -they had to be positive and believe for ponies to do their best for it to work, giving a more confident “~but we will try regardless!” before shooting up into the air to race for the palace!
“This may takes a minute” Twilight pondered, letting her eyes wander in long circles all around the room, searching for … something.
“Is anything a miss, dear?” Rarity asked, raising a curious brow~ like the rest of the group “-what are we even looking for!?” “I spy with my little eye...!” “Don't you start it!” “Is it, uhm, gray?”
“I... just don't understand how this was supposed to work?” steam pipes... boxes with leavers and needles flicking back and forth... thick cables... all of which connected to one another. It looked like a crazy laboratory from Spikes comics, all that's missing was a trapdoor with crocodiles, not that she ruled that one out just yet.
“Makeshift alchemy...” Celestia put a thousand years of wisdom on display like common ponies would recall a cake recipe.
“UH~i do love cake!” Pinkie Pie said to nopony in particular.
The blue alicorn placed the missing gem into the nearby control panel, a steel cylinder reminiscent of a summoning circle at the top, adding to the collection of: red, yellow, green, blue, pink and purple. At last...
“Yes, I can see that, but that's not what I meant...” the purple alicorn stopped turning in order to face the white alicorn “-but where is the power source? The magic has to come from somewhere, but...” a wing gestured to the side onto even more 'useless' machinery “-am I missing something?”
“Friendship can be given” Luna replied rueful.
This, Twilight understood almost immediately. So did her friends eventually.
It wasn't necessary to elaborate on it. Looking at one another was all it took.
This group of friends, sitting quietly in a lonesome basement, they understood it better than anypony else. The princess of friendship and her friends. This wasn't just about saving the world but protecting the pony's they love the most, which was all the same to them.
“This is all my fault” Luna quietly continued “I was wrong- and I thought I could make it right. I told myself that 'I know what has to be done, there is no other way' -i believed in it, more than I believed in the pony's telling me that I'm wrong” the sister's eyes met momentarily “-i went too far. I didn't hold back and kept pushing, regardless of the sacrifices... to the point there was no going back. I lost track of what I was fighting for. What I tried to achieve. All I wanted was to win at any cost -and tell myself it was worth it'... but now I can see that this would never happened because I had become what I tried to destroy -and along the way, I caused just as much pain and suffering for those around me. That's why I hope, with the help of all of you, we can do what's truly right. Together!
Fluttershy was delighted to hear this! Rainbow Dash? Not so much. Rainbow would rather fight a monster than being sappy... but she would stand by her friends regardless of sap!
The group stepped up, following Luna's instruction, they formed a half-circle around the containment unit. Horns lit up. Pony's straightened out and widened their stance since this would take a lot out of them, but they were ready and had a lot to give!
A glow slowly but surely began to illuminate the room. At first, it were just the horns of unicorns and alicorn's casting the spell... but soon enough the pony's around them also began to glow brightly! Radiating in the colors of their fur, sharing their earth strength and pegasus bravery with the others. They all had friendship to share and they gave it to a pony they never have met!
Magic began to spiral, lights faded into another, creating new colors in between. A spiraling rainbow built up all around the group, slowly but surely reaching out for the mare and machinery all around them. Light-bulbs shortened out, while those rare gems began to glow and vibrate, bundling and redirecting the group's magic through pipes and cords running through the basement... around the chamber... and up through the ceiling where it lightened up a spiraled antenna which POW! Blew a big hole into the roof! Freeing magic from it's restraints of those walls around them to reach FAR -FAARRRRRR up into the sky!
A beam of pure magic -a pulsating pillar of blinding white light- reached for the stars! Higher than any mountain! Higher than any cloud! And higher any pegasus could fly! Magic reached out for eternity -to be watched in awe across the land!
Yet, pony's gaze was quickly drawn away from it, when a second pillar rose towards the sky! This one shun even brighter than the first! Powered by thousands of ponies (and an alicorn and a baby dragon) bowing their heads in the Empire to share their light for what was right! They were determined to share the light within to fight the darkness in this world~ quench another shadow which had lingered in this world for too long!
… but those weren't just pillars of light... this became apparent when they began to lean towards another like they had a will of their own. The tips touched somewhere far far above- and what had been straight pillars, now formed a long bow, spanning across the land of Equestria. This spell was the spell. The spell which had started it all.
A bridge of light.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Somewhere and nowhere.
Trapped between time and eternity.
Neither on this nor on the other side.
It was like a dream and a nightmare. A state of being from which she couldn't wake up. Shuffling through an endless landscape of white... fog whirling around hooves. No memories or thoughts crossed the pony's mind... it was simply blank.
She was nothing. Nopony, going nowhere, arriving never.
Walking was all she knew to do. All she ever did. Each step more tiresome than the last.
She felt so tired, but she had to keep going, even if she couldn't recall why.
The low hanging snout bobbed as she kept dragging herself forward... when eyes moved to the right hoof... -something had changed but she couldn't say what it is. It also... was on the other side? It... was like... dark and long and transparent? And when she moved, it moved along... -what did cause this? The snout rose instinctively to expand the search... was she causing those dark... spots? … but then there was a... -white... a white that wasn't fog... a sliver of color flickered across it's surface as the bright light cut into nothingness...
It was almost blinding, but she couldn't draw her gaze away... left hoof... right hoof... left.... right... left-right. Leftright! Why was she walking so fast? Where was she going!? She was running! Running for it! It was like this is- this was her goal! She had to reach it before it was too late! It all came back to her! She was a pony! A pony that wasn't meant to be here! This~ she had to make it! No matter what it was or where it would bring her, the urge to leave this place overtook her body and drew her in like a desperate attempt to reach the surface! With hooves scrambling to get up to speed, tripping over herself, only to bite teeth together and close the distance! Only 10 more meters! 7... 4... 1... then it all came back to her in an instant!? -but before she could sort a single thought, an irresistible force grabbed the mare and dragged her along, like the current of a whitewater. She floated and fell~ rose and spun around in every direction without any sense of up or down! -yet the one thing consistent were voices calling out for her- many many many voices- each no longer than the blink of an eye, but so very clear at the same time! Ruddering, shifting around she tried to follow the voice- find her way back~ reach the surface... -the light, she felt it fading!? It scared her! She didn't want to go back! She didn't want to forget it again! She sped up, hoping it somehow would help to speed up her return- or rather escape...
And then...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
“...did it... work?”
“We... don't know”
“Ah don't know about ya'all, but ah think a need a break if we do this again...”
“-i thought it was fun!”
“-this is serious! C'Mon we try it one more time!”
“I- I think they... uhm...”
“Let me have a... hrm yes, those are ruined!”
“...then we can only hope our...”
The voices. Colorful spots moved around. Suddenly they stopped – silence... please, keep talking! She... she hated for it to be silent... but not a word came out. She would have said it... if she could recall how!
The group almost simultaneously noticed the mare sitting up. They watched the mare lean from side to side... struggling to stay wake, swaying further~ and- … purple magic took over, preventing the fainted pony from falling to the ground.
“Woh, good catch!” Rainbow commented as Twilight picked the pony up, only for Celestia to take over. The white princess placed the unconscious mare onto her sturdy back, using those fluffy wings to keep the resting pony from slipping off it “Our mission here is done. We will leave for the closest hospital...”
Celestia leads the way with Luna half a step behind, closely watching the pony... she was pondering if- and what the mare was dreaming about? … but... she wouldn't be so rude to interrupt her rest like that. There would be time to talk. For now, she needed medical support and a lot of rest.
Leaving the place the police and guard locked up the area, while press and nearly all of the town had gathered around it. A doctor was there too and so they brought their patient quickly into the local doctor's office. It wasn't a big hospital, which had been overkill for a town of a few hundred, but it had a few empty beds and quiet.
A saline solution was connected to the mare's veins... and a first checkup followed... -testing eye reaction. Tickling a hoof. Carefully tapping joints and ribs in order to check for possible fractures. The howl list up and down. Twilight double-checked it and Luna sternly observed it all from the corner of the room, making the black unicorn rather nervous... after which the princess of the night was asked to wait outside.
“Puh! -be it so!” pamf!
Eventually, after three hours, Twilight and the doctor emerged, ready to share the results. Usually, this would be a matter of confidence between medic and patient, but since three of them were rulers of Equestria... and the rest saviors of the world (now including this mare) … with no other family member around, they were permitted to know – if only this once!
“-i have concluded my diagnosis” Dr. Tonic announced, flipping back and forth through a long list, struggling where to start “... now... first; i'd like to say my patient is not in mortal danger. My patient, JaneDoe-” “Muse...” the blue alicorn interrupted sternly “-are you s-” “We've roamed the dying memories of a fading dream to recover this information...” Luna elaborated, making it sound perfectly normal.
“Uhm... naturally. Noted” the stand-in-name was crossed out and replaced “Now, Muse, is recovering right now. I expect a near-complete recovery... yet...”
“Here it comes!” Rainbow rolled eyes, knowing to well when a doctor was about to 'but', since she too had crashed more than once after trying a new 'awesome stunt'... that failed.
“...i've found for four ribs to been broken and badly healed. Scars across legs, neck, chest, back, and forehead. Signs of operations around joints and stomach. Her muscle tissue is underdeveloped. Fur shows signs of burns” the doctor kept rattling down fact after fact while jaws began to drop, going from most to least serious, until he finally ended with “-we added vitamins to her saline bag and... she will need a few weeks rest and- possibly another operation once she recovered”.
He pushed glasses back, while waiting for questions... and Applejack beat Rainbow to it “What in tarnation!?”
The doctor double-checked the list, had he misread or left out anything? Oh, he should elaborate... “-as I've said, she is not in mortal danger. The majority of the damage is fairly old from what I can tell and some has been treated...- I'd like to know more about their origin, but I fear we will have to wait until she's awake. I will inform you as soon this is the case.”
“... uhm, when will this be?” Fluttershy asked worrisome towards the door.
“Hm. A few days... -possibly weeks? It's hard to say. Also, there is another problem” yellow eyes went for Twilight, leaving it to the princess of friendship to explain “-not just has Muse been in a coma for a long time, but also in the Empire before that, which means that any family members or friends lived a thousand years ago... she's not even a citizen ofEquestria or the Empire... -we can't even say if she will be able to communicate with us. All I can say is that she will feel alone and frightened. We need to hold guard and make sure to welcome her to this new world as careful as possible... -her mental state will be very fragile and the shock certainly hard to digest. We can't even be sure the spell worked...” Twilight sighed and for a moment she wondered if it wouldn't be for the best if she wouldn't remember all of this... but~ “This doesn't mean we can't try to do our best!”
“Yeah! Never stopped us!” “Certainly not!” “Hmnhn!” “OKIEE DOKIEE!” “Yehaa!”
“Shhh!” the doctor hushed the group, making for some embarrassment.
“Anyhow. I will have to get something. Luna, would you do me the honor of taking the first shift?”
“We will!” Luna nodded sharply and marched back inside like a soldier, sitting down next to the mare to watch her without blinking (much)... -throughout the afternoon... and into the night... and.... Zzzzzzzzz........ “gahh!? S-ister is that you!?” it was morning already!?
Twilight stood next to Luna, holding a thick book with old-ponish writing across its cover, relieving her of this duty (to sleep at a more appropriate place).
… and so they shared bedtime guard, coming whenever they had time, with the royal sisters mostly remaining at Canterlot since the land needed their rulers too. A few volunteers joined the guard: such as the CMC trying to earn their mark as nurses! Shining Armor mumbling questions, Spike reading comics, Cheerilee reading a novel to the mare, but also Doctor Horse which took great interest in the case, as well a few more friends. Pinkie Pie was even able to convince her big sister Maud! Which told all about Boulders exciting live, which took about two days to scratch the surface...
It was during Rarity's shift when Muse, which by now had received modern medical treatment, began to shift in her bed “-a trench-coat with flower stitching? How original~” the fashionista watched up from this rather questionable article of 'Cosmare Magazine' “-Hm?”
About a minute later an alarmed doctor Tonic ran down the hallway “Nurse!” the doctor called out for the orange pony “~call the Princess immediately!” making his way into the room just in time!
Two minutes later Twilight arrived with a flashy POOF! of magic, lifting the purple baby dragon of her back “You better wait here until I call for you!” making sure the dragon wouldn't spook the mare.
“What I am supposed to do!?” rolling eyes Twilight summoned two bits for the snack-machine “Alright!”
Entering slowly... Twilight found an overwhelmed fashionista next to an empty bed, trying to talk to somepony in the corner, while Tonic prepared a syringe of what the alicorn could only assume was a tranquilizer! Understandably; a pony in panic could harm itself just as much as it could harm others and this a trained medic couldn't allow to happen!
“Oh goodness, you are here! Whatever took you so long!?” Rarity exclaimed utterly relieved!
“-glad you could come, but I've asked you to stay back!” so he wouldn't peek the wrong pony by accident.
“You won't need this- ” Twilight assured and took the needle away, putting it aside.
Slowly but confidently, Twilight leaned around the bed to move into sight of the shivering white mare. Her breath was jagged and hasty, the forehead covered in sweat and blue eyes widened- constantly checking to the side like she expected some sort of ambush! The lamp from the knocked-over nightstand was held between hooves, pointing the sharp end of a broken light bulb right at the alicorn! … at least it wasn't plugged in...
“Ahem~we wir-” Twilight said slowly “-are freunde...” now it was hardly perfect but the best she could do in a few weeks.
Breathing remained on the level of a sprinter which had forgotten to reach in important papers, but at least she got most of the mare's attention, a sign she might understood?
“F-freunde!? -w-was is-t mit- mit dem da!?” it waved the lamp shortly for the bed, where Tonics gray mane could be seen, before pointing it back at Twilight “Er soll verschwinden o-oder!” she waved it one more time!
Twilight turned and looked at the doctor and... oh... ~ she could see the problem “Could you please leave the room for a moment? It's... black unicorns... those make her rather nervous...” a forced smile is given, but the doctor understood the implications, not wanting to traumatize his patient any further he left without protest. Pok! -closing the door.
One more try... “Alright, du-bist...sicha...sischer?” Twilight said in broken old-ponish, if only she had more time to practice with the librarian, but it would have to do (since he never spoken it aloud either) “-my name is 'Twilight'... und this- ist mei Freundin, 'Rarity'” it waved at the white pony which waved from behind the alicorn for a “Hello? Or is it...-what was it again?” “Hallo?” “Halo?” “Not quite...” “I- i'm not sure I can say it...-it isn't quite prench” “Rarity... focus” “Of course!”
Now... “Your...name is-t... Muse, right?”
She gave a quick check for the door, as if she expected guards to burst in... but nothing happened... before mustering the only ponies sitting with her in the room “Ja... d-as ist... das bin ich? Glaube ich...” she replied insecure, as if she couldn't tell, with eyes drifting to the ground and the hooves holding the lamp, which only now lowered a few inches...
It was a start and Twilight kept signaling with purple hooves to keep lowering the lamp step by step, keeping the translation book on standby for a slow but important conversation “Wir- muessen reden... It's. Uhm...” how to say?
Pages were flipped frantically to find the right words, quickly.
It was Twilight's duty to explain what happened to her... to her family... and friends... none of which would come easy. So she had to pick wisely while making sure to not hurt her feelings any further than that, which would have been impossible in any language.
When I was young I lived with my parents in Nordstern.
We lived there ever since. We had a convenience store and sold about everything a pony could ask for, most of which lived in town, but every now and then travelers came by to stock up for their journey. We were hardly the biggest supplier, but we managed.
My mother, Quaint, often tried to persuade them to stay in town, since going outside was rather dangerous. My father, Steadfast, on the other hoof tried to reassure them to simply come back safely. They were very different in this regard and often argued about it.
Sometimes I was left rather confused on who is right and who's wrong and why they even tried to change each other's minds after so many years but in the end, they rather let go than hurting another. This is how I learned that there often is no such thing as right and wrong, but different ways of caring for someone, which was also their way of loving one another.
It's easy to understand now than it was back then. I still was young and naive and barely saw all the town had to offer, let alone what laid past the city walls, so it's fair to say I was rather narrow-minded and... probably quite boring to talk to.
My parents had no such issues from what I could tell. My father usually worked in the back, handling heavy barrels and alike, but you could be sure if someone visited the store they would ask for him to chit-chat. It felt like my father knew the howl world! … and as for my mother; she wasn't friends with everyone, but she had no issue talking to strangers, which was important since she also worked at the checkout or took orders. Mom was (as dad put it) 'the face of the store' -and a pretty face at that! He couldn't help the flattery, which might be another reason he had to work in the back, now that I think about it.
This is where I and how I spent most of my formative years. Staying in the back, helping my parents, and drawing pictures. The ladder I started because I loved Close-Up's stories, he was a unicorn and a good friend of our family. He traveled more than anyone else and whenever he came back; we gathered and listened to hear all about his journeys. He told us about places we saw and people we never met, and suddenly our world felt so much smaller from what I knew, and I tried to imagine what it was like and... drew.
Inspiration was one of the strongest feelings I knew, that is, until Close-Up brought his friend along, Cast Iron. He was a local blacksmith which was unusual for a pegasus since you had to take care to not burn your feathers. I heard he fanned the flames with his wings... but, that's beside the point.
I know I ramble from time to time, but I couldn't simply forget any of them, they all played such a big part in my life. They all were precocious to me in their own way. Admittedly, there was one pony who was even more than that, Iron Cast's son – Sledge. He too was a pegasus, just like his father; with gray fur, a wonderful white mane, and the greenest eyes I ever saw...
He was polite, friendly, and radiated self-confidence I couldn't imagine having. He was about my age but took on so much more responsibility and already traveled with his father, meanwhile, I struggled to make friends and... leaving the house on my own was quite frankly; scary to me. My mother always warned me to be careful and when travelers came into our store they too warned about the dangers lurking outside and the rest was up to my imagination running wild with all of it. There was always this feeling that something was out to get me, that the ground would open up and simply swallow me howl. I admired him.
It took all my courage to talk to him... and I ended up acting rather awkward since I copied what I saw Close-Up doing with his friend and... jabbed his shoulder. Actually, I was so nervous that it was more of a punch than a jab. Luckily he didn't mind and I got a chance to apologize after which we talked on a near-daily basis. He also convinced me to explore more of the city... -we played in the snow and I trusted him to take care of me. Even when it was something mundane as snow falling from a tree, he did extend his wing and make sure to catch it. He helped me to better understand how my parents could be so different and still love another so much.
Time flew by and days turned into weeks and months and for a while, I thought that I finally was complete. This would be my life and- there was nothing more to it. I thought that I was free but my world was still nothing more than a snow-globe. I didn't know of the world around me, how it really was, behind the glass.
The day it changed felt just like another one. The sun got up. We had breakfast. The store opened and closed. All the while I kept one eye on the clock and couldn't wait for another date with my friend. Oddly enough he didn't show up.
At first, I thought he might run late, which would have been unusual, but possible.
I waited for about an hour but he still didn't come. I wondered what had happened?
Perhaps I remembered the wrong time? Or there was a misunderstanding? I began to worry if I said something wrong the last time we mt, but whatever came to mind it didn't feel right. I tried to understand something I couldn't until then. That the world wasn't turning around me.
Then my parents got home. When I saw their faces... my world fell apart.
I never saw them like this.
They asked me to sit down and told me what had happened. Close-Up, the unicorn who told me all those wonderful stories, he had died. I couldn't believe it. They told me that there was an avalanche and... they could only find five of his group. He wasn't one of them.
Hearing this shook me to the core. I couldn't believe it. It didn't want to.
I was still young and simply couldn't deal with the situation. Close-Up had been like a second father to me, which made me think that one day I would lose him the same way. All my thoughts ran circles around the idea of losing my parents...
They brought me to my room and made soup, tugged me in, and stood by my side till I fell asleep... once I managed to get a hold of my self that is.
I couldn't be asleep for more than a few minutes when I woke up again.
I found myself sitting upright when the realization hit me: this was why Sledge hadn't come!
Suddenly I felt so idiotic! I thought he had forgotten or didn't care for me anymore when he must have been in the same pain I was! And here I was sitting in my bed doing nothing!? The guilt made me feel sick to my stomach.
For all the times my friend had been there for me, helping to overcome my insecurity, I wasn't there when he needed me the most! Instead, I sat at home with a bowl of tomato soup next to my bed. I felt like the most useless pony there is!
I quickly went downstairs since I wanted to ask my parents if they could take me to my friend, only to find them in the kitchen, talking about ways to help Close-Up's family. His wife Iris and his son Swift-Move (or as I would later know him: Ace)
“M-om? Dad?” I asked shyly and before I could say anything else they told me “Not today, we need some time to... sort things out. Please go back upstairs” -it was like they could read my mind.
So I turned around and~ I couldn't.
When they weren't looking I snuck the other way and grabbed my jacket and opened the door and immediately was greeted with a cold wind blowing in my face. Once more I froze up. I was about to disobey my parents. Going out all alone. And what just had happened only amplified my fear about the outside~ starring at the white ground gave me a feeling of vertigo, and my hooves felt like they were glued to the ground and refused to move like I was standing in front of a white abyss.
Part of me wanted to slam the door shut and hide under my bed, while the other refused to give up this easily, if not for myself. It wasn't until I heard my father asking 'why is it so cold all of a sudden?' I wasn't sure what they would do when they found me like this so I – just closed my eyes and RAN!
I couldn't see where I was going but I felt the snow beneath my hooves when I crossed the streets and brushed past a lantern, before falling on my snout. I looked over my shoulder to see what happened and saw my dad staring at me- my mom was right behind him “Muse!?” they asked- but I already picked myself up and ran away...
I briefly several a couple of roads later, hiding in a toy store to fetch my breath, when the owner asked me if I need help (since I looked so upset). It took a moment to realize I already made it half the way, and aside from scratches and bruises, I was sure I could actually make it! “N-o thank's I'm fine!”
After leaving the store I ran the rest of the way. I stumbled. I fell. But I got back up again and... eventually, I made it! I was so proud of myself when I saw their sign. A big anvil with sparking metal on top. It was the furthest I ever went on my own!
When I lowered my sight I found Sledge. He sat on a bench right outside the store.
We looked at each other and I saw this incredible sadness in his eyes. Up until then, I thought he was the bravest pony I ever met, but he was just as scared as I.
I walked up to him and sat down on his side. He seemed somewhat surprised but didn't ask me about it. I wouldn't know what to say and... then he put his wing around me and I knew that he was simply happy that I was there. That was all that it took...
Sitting in the garden behind the hospital, Twilight and her friends were listening to Muse's life story. They had a glass of lemonade, enjoying the sun and green the garden had to offer. The mares preferred to lay on gras. All but Rarity. The grass was very comfortable and while Muse was marveled by the green, Pinkie Pie somehow managed to sneak in a few cupcakes as well, turning it into a picnic fit for a princess!
“So this is what it's all about” Twilight nodded understandingly. Until now they had nothing but fragments - chasing clue after clue in order to prevent a disaster which wasn't going to happen because... it already did. Today's events weren't precursors of evil sharpening its claws in the dark, something the princess and her friends could bravely face and save the day, but rather fallout from a long-gone time and ponies which weren't around anymore – unable to taste victory, no matter how sweet it might be.
All that was left was a lonesome pony quietly sobbing in their middle “W-we thought it was m-eant to be” Muse thinly smiled bittersweet. The memory was painful but brought just as much joy along with it “When I drew -and Jack looked at the picture he just said 'I-it looks so alive!' and-” tears rolled along the snout and fell to the ground “I~eiesalmyfauwlt!”
“There there~” Fluttershy patted the white mare and Rarity was kind enough to give another handkerchief 'pffff' for her to clean herself “Now let it all out~”
“So you and your friends built this thing to help your people” it wasn't a question. Twilight simply confirmed what she knew and watched the mare nodding “and...”
The next part she didn't say aloud but rather stopped herself from opening old wounds. While Muse's physical wounds had been treated (as good as the small hospital allowed for) the mare still wore scars no magic could hope to reach.
It was obvious it took a monster to take such a well-intentioned idea and twist it to the point there was nothing but hatred left... and Twilight only knew one pony fitting the description.
The alicorn stood up and took a look around “I think we are done for today”
“Wait-WHAT!? I -I still don't get it!” Rainbow jumped up into the air so she could wildly gesture with hooves! “I have like a bazillion questions! Helloooo!?”
“Hm~ I uhm. We can visit later- I think?” Fluttershy asks a somewhat confused over the sudden change of heart.
“I don't mind leaving, for now. Once unattended Sweetie Belle tends to 'get creative'...” pondering for a moment while tapping her chin she then mumbled “Did i- I did lock the door, didn't I?” however Applejack who felt looked at couldn't do anything but shrug sturdy shoulders “-ah wouldn't know! A door won't stop Apple Bloom which is why I hide the paint cans with the pigs!”
“Daww do we really have to go!? I got at least twelve more balloons and wasn't allowed to bring my party canon!” Pinkie Pie frowns deeply. Why the nurse wouldn't allow such a fun toy in a hospital was far beyond Pinkies understanding! Laughter is the best medicine!
One after another wished the hurting mare a farewell, promising to visit soon, before (reluctantly) leaving the room. It took some shoving to get Rainbow outside because of course, it did, but the speedster eventually left after receiving an extraordinarily stern glare from Twilight after which everypony left. All but one that is.
Twilight was the one to stay behind.
The alicorn had five lists worth of questions but the purple alicorn felt that Muse had some questions of her own. Twilight was a princess after all. Muse was a criminal.
The earth-mare found a hard time to do as much as look at Twilight who was patiently waiting to hear her thoughts. Muse for her part reached deep inside herself to find a wonderful moment to hold onto. Sledge. It gave her the strength to speak- a moment before Twilight could break the ice “What... uhm... what's going to happen?” she asks ruefully, not daring to make eye contact. The once-proud mare had lost her will to fight and simply would accept whatever punishment was given. Fighting the circumstances was what got her into trouble in the first place...
“That's up to you. I'm not going to punish you” Twilight's head shook gently “Whatever happened back then wasn't your fault - neither was anything that happened today. From what I understand you tried doing something wonderful... you tried protecting the ones you love- which is something my friends and I will always do without hesitation. You couldn't know that he... that King Sombra would do something so awful...”
Snnff! “-b-ut~ you said~” a hoof rose to stop Muse right in her tracks “I already told you, my friends would move heaven and earth if it meant to save another- myself included.I'm not saying that what he did was the right way, but after talking to Princess Luna... and listening to what you had to say, I can at least understand why he did it.”
Muse mouth opened and closed a few times and the head began to shake- unable to accept this nonsense! -before she suddenly rose onto all fours “N-no! Th-at isn't right! I DID IT! WE!!-WE WERE THE ONES!” the mare took a limping step forward to plead “WE ARE J-U-ST AS GUILdY! I LIED TO MY FWRIENDS AND- I -”
Twilight approached Muse to wrap both arms and wings around her, gently whispering “Shhh... shhh... keep breathing... that's it...” until the mare eventually would calm down enough to listen “I understand what you have been through, so whatever punishment you think I should give; you already servedmany many times over...”
“... I would like to tell you that it gets easier but... I can't. I'm not going to lie to you because it won't get any easier and I'm sorry. So – so very sorry. I wish I could change any of it...” gently swaying back and forth like a mother holding a child Twilight caressed the mare for a while before she trying to put on a brave smile “You know you have great friends?” the alicorn softly laughs and gives a little nudge “I mean it! He fought like a lion! I have never seen anything like it and- and this... I mean your invention it's quite incredible... -you said you made it with your friends? Me and my friends also done a few things none of us could do on their own... it's, well, magical” Twilight smiles, watching the corner of the mare's mouth going up ever so slightly “Hey... I still got some time! How about you tell me what was his name again? Jack? Would you like to tell me more about him!? I mean you saw PinkiePie, right!? I bet they would have gone along like peanut butter and jelly! They... ufff....” the alicorn huffed slowly. For just a moment she had to wonder if she would be the one who needed a talking to? Someday for sure... -a though she tried to push aside. Someday, but not today. Twilight was determined to enjoy every minute they had. She would treasure them like a dragon a pile of gold!
“Is there anything I can do for you?” being an alicorn Twilight was tall but that wasn't why she had to tilt her head eyes to meet. Muse too was surprisingly tall for a mare, possibly because she came from north? Were all ponies up north this tall? “If you let your head hang like this ponies won't see your pretty eyes. Applejacks are also green... her brothers too and he is also a tall guy! Is- everpony as-”
“I'd...” Muse easily interrupted Twilight's pep talk and began listening instead “-when I feel better, could- Hnf~ could I go to- to the Empire, please? I- want to see it”
“Of course. As soon as you can we will be on our way, I promise...”
Three weeks later
A cold wind blew along the sides of the wagon as the train huffed and puffed – pushing itself through ice and snow, fighting freezing winds which made snowflakes dance in front of the fogged windows.
Muse sat in one of those wagons, filled with more or less excited ponies, all of which talking with one another about their plans for when they would arrive. A few were living there on the way home. Others were sight seen. Two ponies dressed in sharp blue suits had some business selling candy-corn.
The train ride up until now had been a little shaky, but once the snow and wind died down it became smooth all of a sudden, so much so ponies held their conversations to have a look outside. The curtain of snow was pulled aside like it was trying to set the stage for the main attraction – the Crystal Empire.
Once the city came in sight, the tourists instantly 'ooo'ed' at the marvelous sight! It was seemingly impossible they hadn't seen this sparkling miracle from miles away! A bright sun shuns onto crystal buildings made of blue, green, pink, and purple gemstones, causing a spectacular sight. It was like a city of glistering lights and rainbow colors -a magical land trapped within the cold and yet surrounded by a lush green meadow that went on for miles to come! It had something of a snow-globe, if the snow was trapped outside, while the eye of the storm was calm and simply lovely. The tourists couldn't believe their eyes with some taking the liberty to open a window, causing a summerly gust to fill the wagon.
It... wasn't anything like she remembered it and she remembered every last detail.
The sky was blue, not black. The buildings shun like diamonds, not coal. The howl town was brimming with life and happiness, not despair or hopelessness. This...
“It's just like I imagined...” Muse whispered awed, not daring to open her own window. It felt like watching a sparkling soap bubble -and anything she would do, the slightest move, would cause it to burst and the dream would be over.
The train eventually stopped. A purple wing nudged the white mare who still gazed outside “I- I'm not sure I'm ready” was the nervous reply. The alicorn shrugged and went ahead. The sweating train wouldn't return for a while so there was no hurry.
Eventually, Muse followed outside. It was so warm! And everypony so happy! Smiling faces all around! 'PLAP!' “EEP!?” ~ ha! It- was just a bunch of snow slipping off the wagon. Having to smear away a tear in the corner of her eye, Muse felt... she had to laugh. She simply felt happy! 'I DID IT! I DID IT FOR YOU!' her inner voice screamed full of joy! 'I only wish you were here to see this... it's – so beautiful!'
“Did you say something?” Twilight asks the tearful mare, who smiled right back her, before smearing a hoof across her muzzle once more “N-o it's- it's …” the mare was lost for words.
“How about some sightseeing? There is a stadium. Icecream. A salon... -the fayre is next month but you can already see the flower arrangements” Twilight waited for the mare to catch up and they trotted along a shimmering road heading for the Crystal Castle which radiated love and peace throughout the land “-how about I tell you how Spike saved the Empire?”
“Spike? Your- the dragon?” ' “Hmhmn, that's him! but around here he is known as 'Spike the brave!'” Twilight replied awe-inspiring before they both began to giggle for no reason at all. It simply was a wonderful day to be alive.
