> Arvak's new home
>  by mild hotsauce
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Always running
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Prologue: Always running




Arvak was running, which was not new to him. He was just trotting along the road from Riften to Windhelm when some soldiers in brown studded armor attacked them for no reason, as to Arvak’s knowledge.

“Just keep going Arvak, just keep running, were almost there.”  Said his new rider, a Nord with blond hair in steel armor that rescued him from that demon plane known as the Soul Cairn. He did not want to go back, he knew that if his new friend died, he would be sent back to that accursed place, he did not know how he knew, but some kind of instinct said it.

Arvak prided himself in his ability to run, he never got tired, which was odd; all other horses would have passed out from exhaustion by now. He didn’t dwell on it, an arrow whizzed by, the only thought running through his head now was, ‘I have to get my friend to safety.’ A city loomed over the horizon, snow started falling slightly, a sign he was almost done with his long run.

Then, he heard another voice, this time in his head; it was frantic, and ghostly. “Run Arvak, run and don’t stop!” he glanced over his shoulder and saw something horrifying; metal bolts were heading for them. He picked up speed, ran faster and faster to escape them, but ran into another trap.

Something tripped him, and he landed on his face, while his rider flipped through the air and landed on his back. “Well, it looks like this is the end you Stormcloak bastard.” A gruff voice said. Arvak looked up and saw more of the soldiers in the brown armor, and one in metal armor, the metal one glanced at him, “I didn’t know Ulfric was handing out necromancy lessons, oh well, another dead rebel will make this job easier.”  He lifted a sword, intent on killing Arvak’s friend, but he would not have it.

Arvak got to his hooves, and charged at the imperials. He knocked the soldier back with his front hooves, and them stomped on his head, with a satisfying crunch.  A hammer then knocked him back, and then the wielder got a neck full of knife, courtesy of Arvak’s new best friend. The Nord quickly remounted Arvak, and they stormed off, leaving a small group of soldiers in their wake.

‘Almost there.’ Arvak thought, then the world slowed down, and became fuzzy, ‘no. no no no, no no no no no!’ he mentally screamed. He turned his head, and saw the Nord topple off the side of his back, with a bolt sticking out of his spine. Arvak felt a tingle throughout his body as he watched his friend fall to the floor; he tripped, and fell himself, but did not get back up. He saw the world around him distort and change from the tundra of northern Skyrim to that purple shaded hell he was in before.

He heard a familiar rattle of bones, and the last command that the Nord muttered, “Run Arvak, run!” he stood up quickly, and sprinted, the noise of rattling bones following him told him that he was being followed by monsters again. He whimpered a farewell to his friend, and resumed the never-ending loop of running that he was in before he was rescued.
----------------------------------------

Twilight twisted and turned in her sleep, obviously not having a good dream, a look into her mind revealed what she was seeing.
~~~~~~

An empty landscape, filled with destroyed buildings, dead trees, and odd stone structures. Spirits of what looked like tall monkeys without tails wandered the place, which had a strange purple hue to everything. She never knew purple could make something look so sinister. She wondered why she was dreaming of this place, she looked around and saw what looked like black bipedal skeletons chasing a pony with the intent to kill. The pony did not look like any other though; it was a skeleton with a purple flaming mane and tail, with smaller flames on the back of its hooves. Its bones were purple, and its eyes had a slight purple glow to them.

It was then that Twilight had an idea as to why she was there, to help the restless souls escape danger and find peace. She sent a bolt of magic towards the black skeletons, and hit one. It dropped and fell apart, but what was odd was that it turned into a pile of black ash when it hit the ground. The others turned to her, and she could see some differences. There were six left, one had some kind of metal armor and wielded a large axe, three were just top halves and fired bolts of frost at her, and the others were full skeletons with smaller axes. The skeletons with axes charged towards her, and she charged up more spells. She had to stop, as to not be hit by the bolts of ice from the misty top halves, then she had to turn tail and run from the skeletons with weapons, slightly cursing herself for dreaming of such a scary place… wait, that’s it! A dream, this is all a dream!

Still running, she tried to wake herself up, but did not succeed, she tried picturing herself safe, but that did not work either. A bolt of ice hit her backside and she yelped in pain, very real pain. The skeletons moved closer, and closer.

“Celestia save me!” she yelled. An axe made its way to her head, but never connected, the purple skeletal pony was looming over her, glaring daggers at the skeletons, one of which, the armored one, was a pile of ashes. The pony charged and took down two more skeletons. The misty ones finally showed up, and she heard a clicking noise, the remaining skeletons backed off and retreated, but not before glaring daggers back at them.

She was too surprised to move; she was just staring what appeared to be death in the face, but was saved by the pony she was trying to help. It lifted her up onto its back, and it trotted to some kind of stone staircase that led to some kind of swirling vortex. She could only stare at it, it had the same purple hue as the rest of the place, but it felt like there was something warm behind it, like it was a portal out of this place. As the pony passed through it with her on its back, she slowly returned to the waking world.
~~~~~~

Twilight slowly opened her eyes, and turned her head to the right, as to not look directly at the sun, and wound up staring into a pair of glowing purple eye sockets.

“AAAAAHHHHH!” The screamed and shot up.

“AAAAHHHHH!” The other pony screamed, mimicking her reaction. 

“AAAAAAHHHHH!” They screamed in unison before falling from the bed.

“What is all the commo- Twilight, what is that?” Came the groggy voice of her number one assistant.

> Ch1: Meeting Rainbow Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch1: meeting Rainbow Dash




Arvak was breathing heavily, scared out of his wits, but then it started coming back to him: he recognized this… unicorn… from the Soul Cairn. He quickly recovered from his frightened state, rushed around the bed, and pulled the now confused unicorn into a hug and saying -thank you- at a fast speed repeatedly.

The unicorn was still and silent all the time he did this, until, “um, you’re welcome?” she squeaked. Completely freaked out by something, Arvak now realized that it must be the fact that a strange pony she woke up in bed with is now hugging her and muttering like a mad man.

He backed up and rubbed the back of his head, only now realizing what he just did. He looked at his hooves, and worked them in different motions, “since when did I get so dexterous?” he gasped, “Since when can I talk!” his voice sounded like that of the spirit of his friend from the Soul Cairn.

A new voice spoke up behind him, it sounded like the children that usually run around the towns that his friends usually go into, “uh, Twilight, who and what is that?” he now had something to call his new friend.

“I think it’s the pony from the dream I had last night.” He remembered that vividly, and it was no dream.

“Um, that wasn’t a dream.” Arvak said, and then recoiled slightly, not used to hearing his own voice.

“Of course it was a dream, I went to bed last night, closed my eyes, and fell asleep, so a dream would be the only logical thing to call it.” She ranted, he then noticed that she was purple, like he was for some reason, that’s funny, last time he checked, he was a brown and white Paint horse.

“Um, no it was not.” He said back, she deadpanned back at him, and was about to repeat herself, “before you say it again, didn’t you feel pain when that mistman hit you with that ice bolt?” She looked puzzled, then she nodded her head, “were you able to wake yourself up?” she shook her head, “how about change where you were like in a lucid dream?” she shook her head again.

“But, if it wasn’t a dream, then what was it.” The fear in her eyes was gone, but he could feel some nervousness floating around her as she thought about what he said.

“Twilight, what are you two talking about?” The voice spoke again, Arvak looked around, trying to find the voice. “Hey, buddy, down here.” He looked at the little lizard next to him.

“Talking salamander, cool.” Was the only thing he said upon looking at the little creature in Twilights room.

The salamander looked completely insulted, “I am not a salamander, I am a dragon, can’t you tell by looking at me?” he said, frustration clear in his voice as clear as the differences between Tamriel and he Soul Cairn.

“If you say so.” He said back to him, then leaned close to twilight and whispered, “He’s delusional.”

“Spike isn’t delusional; he’s really a dragon, a baby dragon but still a dragon. By the way, where were we when we were in my dream?” Twilight said, still intent on believing it was all a dream.

“The Soul Cairn, and trust me, it was no dream. The only way to get in that waste of Oblivion, then you need to be either dead, or go in through a portal.” He explained.

“I guess that tells us how you got there.” Spike grumbled.

“What do you mean?” Arvak asked.

“Um, you don’t know?” Twilight looked concerned.

“I don’t know what, come on, I don’t like being left in the dark, both figuratively and literally. That place will make you scare of your own shadow if you stay too long… what were we talking about?” his thoughts wandered to other things, he had so many questions that he could not pay attention to one thing at one moment.

Twilight just floated a mirror in front of him using telekinesis. Arvak just stared at the figure in the mirror, a purple horse skeleton with a flaming purple mane and tail as well as smaller ones on his hooves, his eyes were just glowing purple sockets, why was there so much purple? His mood darkened at the reflection when he tested to see if it was really him, it became more obvious when his flames became smaller and less bright. This explained why he never tired, why he did not need to eat, or drink.

“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” Twilight said solemnly, even Spike seemed a bit sad at the way Arvak reacted to the news.

“It explains a lot that’s for sure.” He said. His flames got brighter as he thought of something. “Well, as long as I’m still alive… err… somewhat alive, I might as well make the best out of what I have.” He said brightly.

Twilight seemed relieved at the sight of his attitude improving, she had some questions about that place in her dreams, but then again, she would not see that place again, so why bother. Her stomach growled, signaling that time of day again. She was going to say something, but hesitated.

“Something troubling you friend?” Arvak asked.

Twilight was startled by the fact he saw her as a friend even though he knew nothing about her. “Um, I would invite you to breakfast, but I was thinking of how rude that would be because… um… you know.” Spike looked at Twilight with a look that said –you really were going to say that, really.-

“I don’t see why not.” Arvak chirped happily, slightly surprising Twilight. With that, they made their way downstairs towards the kitchen. “Wow, you have a lot of books, I think your collection puts the college of Winterhold to shame, or what I heard about it from my other friend anyway.” With the thought of his Nord friend, his flames slightly dimmed.

Twilight noticed this, “is there something wrong?”

“Yea, when I think of my other two friends, it’s just… I don’t feel right talking about it.” He replied.

“That’s all well and good, but can we get back to the matter of breakfast?” spike asked, causing Twilight and Arvak to let out a few giggles, Arvak’s flames brightened up in the process. Then Arvak noticed they were in some kind of room with a table, chairs, and some weird furniture, it reminded him of something those Dwarf thingies would make. Spike sat in one of the chairs, while Twilight made them something to eat.

She removed a box from a cabinet, which Arvak had no clue what was in it. She took out three bowls and a carton of…milk. Why put milk in a plastic container, it would not taste natural if you did that. She poured some small round puff things into the bowls, and then added the milk, she placed the three bowls at the table, one where spike sat, one next to him, where she sat, and one across from her, where he plopped himself down.

Since he never sat in a chair before, he fell off when he tried to sit, eliciting a laugh from both of the other patrons in the room. He himself let out a short giggle, and tried to sit down again, succeeding in setting himself upright. He looked at what was in front of him, he saw the both of them using spoons to eat their milk covered puffs with, then he looked at his hooves, not the best thing to use utensils with. He frowned slightly, thinking how good claws or a horn would be right now, when the fire on his hooves grew, engulfed his whole right hoof, and formed a fiery little claw that he could control with the ease of a practiced master. He gazed at his claw-hoof, and then noticed that Twilight and spike were staring as well.

“How are you doing that?” Twilight asked.

“Honestly, I have no idea.” He picked up the spoon with his flaming claw, and started playing with it.

“Well then, are you going to eat your cereal?” Twilight asked, derailing his previous train of thought.

Arvak nodded and used the spoon as Spike did to scoop up some of this… cereal… and put some in his skeletal mouth. What surprised him, as well as the others in the room, was that he started chewing, and while doing that, the cereal was set on fire, purple fire. He swallowed like a normal horse, the flaming bits disappeared from his mouth, and a glow started appearing in his ribcage, it tingled. He then repeated the process, and the glow in his ribcage slightly increased in intensity. He looked around and saw that Twilight and Spike opted to eat and watch at the same time, Arvak felt a bit, uncomfortable under their gazes. He finished at the same time they did, then picked up the bowl and placed it in what he thought was the sink. Spike walked back upstairs to take a nap, Arvak guessed that’s all there was for a dragon to do in a pony town.

“That was… interesting to say the least.” Twilight said. “Did you feel anything when your ribcage glowed?”

“It tingled, but that’s it. Um, can you help me put out my hoof, I don’t know how to undue this.” He tried shaking his hoof, it did not work. He tried again, same result, and then he started flailing it about until it was enveloped in a purple aura.

“Calm down, what happened when you did it?” Twilight asked.

Arvak then imagined himself without the claw-hoof, and it actually worked. “Thanks Twilight.”

“No problem. Uh, where are you going?” Twilight asked as Arvak started walking towards the door outside.

“I’m going for a walk, why?” He asked.

“Maybe you should wait on that, I don’t know how the ponies in town will react to seeing a walking skeleton, they might panic and get the royal guard sent here and that is a mess I don’t feel like dealing with.” She explained.

“Well, what am I supposed to do, I need to burn off this energy somehow.” They both put their hooves to their chins in thought. Then, something crashed through the library window, making Arvak jump a few feet in surprise, and made Twilight yelp. A cyan figure then emerged from a pile of books that fell from the bookcase that broke her crash.

“Rainbow Dash, What are you doing!” She yelled.

“Oh, hey Twilight, I was just Trying a new stunt and….” She trailed off upon looking at Arvak, their eyes locked for a few seconds.

“Uh, Dash?” Twilight asked, waving a hoof in front of Dash’s face a few times.

Dash got up, and walked up to Arvak, with a curious look on her face that he tried to mimic to the best of his skulls abilities. She tilted her head to the right, which he did at the same time as her, and then she tilted to the left, which he copied, she jumped, he did the same. Then she jumped and did a backflip, he just stood there.

“Hah! I win!” Dash yelled, but then a pair of purple flaming wings appeared on Arvak’s back, then he did a backflip just like she did, when he finished, the wings vanished. “Oh come on!” she said.

Twilight just shook her head, regaining her senses and resisting the urge tointerrogate the skeletal pony on his abilities. “Rainbow Dash, why did you Crash through my window.”

“Oh hey Twilight, what the heck is this thing?” Twilight face-hoofed at the fact that her question has just been dodged.

“Hello, I am Arvak, nice to meet you.” He said in his usual cheery and ghostly voice.

“Likewise, I’m Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in all of Equestria. Hey, how did you do that wing thing?” Rainbow inquired.

“Um, I really don’t know the fine details, but I just thought about what I wanted the flames to turn into, and they just did it.” He answered.

“Dash.”

“Yes Twilight.”

“Care to explain why you decided to crash through my window, again.”

“Oh, that, heh, heh, sorry. I was trying out a new stunt when Pinkie popped out of a cloud yelling something that threw me off course and into your window.” Twilight groaned, of course it was the library that she crashed into, it happened six times this week so far.

Just then, the top half of a pink pony emerged from a vase and then pulled Twilight and Rainbow Dash into some sort of huddle, and whispered to the. Arvak could not hear what they were talking about, but when they finished, the new pony vanished into the vase, leaving three stunned ponies staring at it. Arvak walked over, picked up the vase in his hooves, and stared into it, only succeeding in getting dirt in his eye sockets. He shook his head frantically trying to clear it out, while behind him, Rainbow Dash and Twilight were sharing a hearty laugh. 

After a good few seconds, he successfully removed the dirt from his eye sockets, but when he stopped shaking his head, he noticed how dizzy it made him. While trying to find a proper foothold on the spinning floor, he managed to trip and fall forward, eliciting another roar of laughter from the other two, Arvak joined in from his own clumsiness.

They soon recovered from their laughter, and Rainbow got up, “well, I have to go and help Pinkie with that thing. Hey Arvak, why not stop by Sugarcube Corner later, I'm sure the others would love to meet you.”

“I don’t see why not.”  Arvak shrugged.

“Cool, see you then.” Then she flew out the damaged window.

Twilight sighed, “Well, better get this cleaned up.

“I’ll help.” Arvak piped up.

“Um, you sure, you don’t have to.” She asked, not sure if a purple skeleton had any cleaning ability.

“Yeah, I mean you saved me from that waste of Oblivion. What could go wrong?”
> Ch2: Song of the spirits
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch2: Song of the spirits





There was one thing that Arvak learned that he would carry with him throughout his undead life: never ask what could go wrong. While he helped to try to clean the mess, he actually made it worse; the one pile of books that Dash made when she crashed became larger when he scared Twilight when she was using magic. He did not know how he accomplished this; all he was doing was cleaning up the dirt that fell from the flowerpot when he accidentally bumped into her from behind. The explosion of magic in turn sent him flying into the kitchen, and crashing into the fridge, in turn causing various foodstuffs to fly about the room. When she ran to check up on him, he was covered in cracked eggs, splotches on jam, and some hay that stuck to the mess that covered his bones. Upon seeing this, she could not stop herself from laughing at the mess he became, sure, he was a scary looking skeleton, but it looks a lot less intimidating when covered in eggs, hay, and jam.

“what, did I get something in my mane?” he asked. Twilight just held up another mirror for him, still giggling like a mad mare to herself, when he saw what he looked like, he too quickly burst out laughing.

“What’s going on down here!” yelled a very tired Spike as he walked down the stairs; he got halfway before tripping on a book and falling the rest of the way down. “Oh sweet Celestia this is going to be a long day.”  He thought aloud.

“Arvak, maybe you should leave the cleaning to me and Spike.” Twilight said.

“I think that would be a good idea.” Arvak agreed. A lump of hay-covered egg teetered on the edge of his snout, he used an ethereal flaming tongue to lick it into his mouth, and Twilight just stared at him in shock. “What, tastes better than you think.” 

“There is a shower upstairs, try and get cleaned up while I bring order to this chaos down here.” Twilight tried putting on a serious face, but it was obvious that she was trying to hold back giggles from looking at the still messy pony in front of them.

“Ok.” Arvak conceded. He trotted upstairs, food falling off his body as he made his way to the…shower… “I think it might have been a good idea to ask what I was looking for.” He thought aloud. He walked into a room that had white walls, a white and black tiled floor, with some sort of sink, a weird bowl with a tank, and a tub with a curtain and pipe coming out of it. The pipe reminded him of a small Dwemer water trap that his rider told him about before. He jumped into the tub, and turned the right nob.

He jumped in surprise when cold water cascaded onto his skeletal form, chilling the marrow within. He turned it off, and then tried the one on the left, only this time, it was hot water that beat against his skeletal form. This felt more comfortable, but he started to drift off to sleep, so he turned the right one on while the left one was also on. The result was a combo of cold and hot water that kept him relaxed, while also keeping him awake. He noticed that his flames danced around the droplets of water instead of extinguished by them. The pieces of food that still clung to his bones washed out and made a new home down the drain.

After another minute of rinsing, he turned off the water from both nobs, and got out of the tub. He saw a towel, and used it to dry off what he could, not even bothering going between the bones because he could not do that with hooves, he tried with claws but met with the same result. He made his way out of the room, and went downstairs, to find that the two tenets of the house work fast.

“Hey Arvak, you ready to go?” she said with a warm smile.

“Yeah, but two things. One, where did that salamander go, and two, how am I supposed to go out without being seen?” he questioned.

“Well, Spike went out without us, and it’s getting dark out, so we shouldn’t have any problems, you could also make a pair of fire wings again and fly there.”

“Good point, I’ll follow you then.” He agreed with a nod of his head.

Twilight left through the front door, and Arvak went upstairs and onto the balcony. Before him was what appeared to be a small town, it reminded him of Riverwood, but bigger. He made some fire wings and took off, leaving a purple haze in his wake. He soon located his friend Twilight through the darkness of night. He could see the stars, not as beautiful as nights in Skyrim, but impressive to say the least. Twilight rounded to the back of a building that looked like it was made out of sweets, which he could not see the reason for, surely, they knew that its scent would attract bears?

He landed and looked around, he saw nopony, which puzzled him, there would certainly be ponies out, even at this hour. He glided down next to Twilight, but then collapsed, he checked his flames, and saw that they dulled slightly.

“I see, so I can only control the flames when I have energy.” He thought aloud.

“Sure looks like it, get up, we have to get inside before someone sees you.”

He complied, but could not see what the hurry was. When he entered the building, what appeared to be colorful shredded parchment flew into his face and the pink pony from earlier started to sing when a hoof was shoved into her mouth. She still made noise, completely oblivious to the thing that was obstructing her ability to talk. 
The hoof itself belonged to a white unicorn with a fancy purple mane. “Really Pinkie, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to sing right now. I think this colt has enough on his plate already, right girls… um, girls…” she looked at her other friends, the yellow Pegasus with a pink mane was cowering behind a confused looking orange pony with blond hair and some strange hat, who stood next to a bored looking Rainbow Dash, who perked up upon seeing Arvak enter.

Rarity turned around to see what her friends were staring at, and gave a shriek, which was stopped by twilight, at the sight of Arvak. “Come on Rarity, that’s no way to treat a new pony.” Twilight said angrily, but it was unheard as Rarity fainted. “Have you ponies learned nothing from Zecora!?”

Arvak noticed the yellow pony dash behind a counter, and the orange one ran to try to comfort her. The pink pony was looking around, shocked at her friends' reactions. Then Rainbow was knocked out of the way by a big red stallion, who no doubt heard the part of the scream that escaped Rarity’s lips. He glanced around the room; saw one fainted mare, and two hiding behind a counter. Apparently, in his mind it meant: kick the flank of the thing causing this. He saw Arvak, and charged forward. Arvak made the mistake of jumping over him, and landing behind him, this action allowed the stallion to buck Arvak.

The buck felt like a giant using a stone club hit him. Arvak flew through the door in the kitchen and into a room full of ponies, who stared at him as he sailed above their heads and crashed into a wall. His skeletal bod fell apart when he hit the floor, but soon a magical fire magnetically placed the bones back into their respectable places. He stood back up, and looked at the ponies gathered in the room, he gave a sheepish wave and several females fainted. The red stallion charged again, and several others followed this time. A ghostly voice rang out in his head. ‘Run Arvak, run!’

Arvak burst through one of the windows and bounded down the street, the pony crowd following him with hatred in their eyes. They corralled him through the streets and towards a forest, which he quickly ran to use as a hiding spot, he kept running when he hit the tree line, he did not even notice the crowd of ponies stop when he reached the forest. 

He ran, and ran, never stopping, he even passed a striped pony, but in his haste, he thought it was one of the towns ponies, and out in an extra burst of frightened speed. The trail he was on wound up a mountain, he did not care, he just kept running, until he reached the top. He was at the center a large circular clearing, with what he recognized as fifteen standing stones making up the perimeter. He looked around, and saw several start lighting up…
-------------------------------	

“What is wrong with you ponies!?!?” Twilight yelled. “Have you learned nothing from that incident with Zecora?!?!” her voice dripped with frustration as she scolded the now very guilty crowd of ponies.  “I’m going to go look for him, and when I bring him back, you all better have an apology ready.” The ponies nodded their heads, and Twilight turned to head into the forest.

“Wait up Twi.” Yelled a familiar voice. she turned around and saw Applejack and the rest of her friends running up to her, Rainbow looked annoyed at what happened, Fluttershy and Rarity looked extremely sad and sorry about how they acted, and pinkie lost her usual bounce and her hair as straight. “We are all really sorry ‘bout what happened, we want to help you look for him.” Twilight nodded and walked into the forest with her friends. Twilight was worried though, when Arvak ran off, his flames looked like they were almost extinguished, she feared for his wellbeing.

As they walked through the forest, nopony talked, they all were silent from the night’s events. Twilight looked up through the canopy of trees, and saw some strange light in the distance, “hey Rainbow Dash, can you fly up and see where that light is coming from?”

“Got it.” The cyan Pegasus flew up and stared off at the light. “Hey Twilight, that light is coming from the mountain to the left, I think I see Arvak up there!” she yelled down.

When they heard this news, they all ran down the path, and chose the right directions when the path split at the crossroads.
-------------------------------

Arvak stared at the light around him; all the standing stones were lit and emitting beams of light into the sky. He felt at ease around the light, and a familiar ghost materialized in front of him. A gruff Nord in leather armor with an iron sword on his belt. His voice was spectral, but gave Arvak a feeling of peace.

“Hello Arvak, why do you look so down?”

“I’ve, had a bad day, everypony here hates me.”

“That’s not true Arvak.”

“Why not.” The Nord’s words puzzled him.

“A true Nord never bows under blows, even if they are words that cut deep. You have made friends here, remember.”

Arvak did remember, two ponies became his friends, he pondered if they were looking for him right now.

“Arvak, do you remember that song I sang to the troops before big battles?”

Arvak nodded his head, the Sovngarde song, it always raised the moral of the troops, and always made Arvak feel stronger.

“I think you need to hear it now, this is your great battle, and even though you may be a horse, you would make a great Nord, and since you can talk, maybe you want to join me.”

Arvak’s mood brightened slightly at the chance to join in the singing of his favorite song. The standing stones brightened and dimmed as the tones of the song echoed across the mountain, undoubtedly, others could hear it, but he did not care. The song started slow, and peaceful. Their ghostly voices blended as they sang together.



'From the mists of the mountains a deafening call
Bellows down over the plains
On a host of battle-worn ears it does fall
Pushing out through the thunder and rain’

Arvak could hear the sound of clopping hoofs at the edge of the circle, but he paid them no mind.

‘These men of the north they have suffered too long
The anger it swells in their veins
Of the spirited roars of lost warriors' songs
Distant echoes are all that remain’

‘And my voice is my violence
Clear the sky's frozen tears
And no more we'll be silent
With this Sovngarde song in our ears’

‘And we stand tall
Sons of the snow
We will not fall
Under these blows
For our hearts they are hardy
Our spirits are strong
And our voices are lifted into
This Sovngarde song’

They stopped, and let the melody take its course, and the part of the song that would normally pick up, stayed at the calm serene tone, reflecting the mood of the night.

‘Conquer the anger and ravenous rage!
Make it a part of your power
Pummeling down let your bloodlust engage!
Under your force they will cower’

‘Feeling the fury so pure and so bright
Breaking the bonds of surrender
Under the moon for our home we will fight
And we will die to defend her’

‘And my voice is my violence
Clear the sky's frozen tears
And no more we'll be silent
With this Sovngarde song in our ears’

‘And we stand tall
Sons of the snow
We will not fall
Under these blows
For our hearts they are hardy
Our spirits are strong
And our voices are lifted into
This Sovngarde song’

‘These perilous peaks
On the rim of the sky
I move in the midst
Of the clouds drifting by
At the top of the world 
On a white doomful day
Men of wisdom will show me the way’

‘And we stand tall
Sons of the snow
We will not fall
Under these blows
For our hearts they are hardy
Our spirits are strong
And our voices are lifted into
This Sovngarde song’
--------------------------------------------

Twilight and her friends watched as Arvak and a ghost sang a song that she never heard before. As she and her friends watched in silence, the echo of the melody and Lyrics echoed in their souls, inspiring courage, and she could hear it as it echoed throughout the mountains. As Arvak sang, she could see his flames brighten, and go back to their full blaze as his mane and tail.
--------------------------------------------

The citizens of Ponyville woke from their slumber to hear a ghostly melody echo from the mountains in the Everfree forest. Several peered from their windows to meet the sight of a glow coming from the Everfree, and beams of light that rose to the sky, making the stars shine brighter.
------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia and her sister Luna looked out from the balcony, and listened to the tune coming from the mountains in the Everfree.  They saw the lights, and saw the stars brighten, they could feel the power behind the song, and it felt like magic they have never seen in nearly two thousand years. The ghostly tune did not give them chills; in fact, it did the exact opposite. Celestia reached out with her mind’s eye, and saw Twilight and her friends at the edge of the circle with the standing stones, in the center of the circle, a ghost and a skeleton, the skeleton must have been the presence she felt earlier. She decided that she would pay her little ponies a visit tomorrow.
------------------------------------------

The melody died down, and Arvak felt a sense of calm and serenity from singing with his best friend. The lights from the stones died down, and he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Listen Arvak, time and time again you will be dealt a challenge, and like the Nord I know you are, you will succeed at them every time. Now, my time here is nearing its end, and Shor waits for me in Sovngarde, goodbye Arvak, and do me, and your other rider, proud.” With these final words, the ghost disappeared from view, and Arvak stood by himself in the circle, but he was no longer alone.  Six ponies tackled him to the ground in a vicious hug, various-I am sorry- lines bombarded his ears. He hugged back, and then the others got off him.

“Listen Arvak, we’re super-duper sorry about what happened at the party, please don’t be mad at us.” The Pinkie Pie said. He looked at the others, and saw their gloomy expressions.

“I accept your apology, and thank you for looking for me, that means a lot to me.” 

“Can we cut the sappy stuff; it’s really cold up here.” Dash said.

Arvak laughed at his companion’s statement, and soon, the others joined in. they let their position at the top of the mountain, and made their way back to the town. As they left the forest and entered Ponyville, a large group of ponies that were waiting for their return bombarded them. As Arvak slowly trotted in front of his friends, he was the subject of multiple apologies from the towns ponies, and after, they went back to the Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie restarted the party for the very special new pony.
==========================================================
A/N
i dont know how i did on this chapter,let me know how it is and i'll see if i can possibly improve on it later.
> Ch3: Visit from a princess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch3: Visit from a princess





Arvak lifted his head from its current laying position, taking in his surroundings. It was difficult; his vision flickered and slightly faded repeatedly, leaving him slightly unfocused. He then recognized the room as Twilight’s bedroom from yesterday, and then he became aware of what he was laying on, or rather whom he was laying on. He was lying on top of Twilight, in a very intimate position.

Twilight opened her eyes and screamed, throwing Arvak off her and shattering him on a nearby bookcase. The books fell on top of his bones, restricting his ability to reconstruct himself. He heard twilight gasp and then start digging him out of the books with her magic, an as the last book was removed and put back on the shelf, Arvak reassembled himself. 

“oh my gosh Arvak are you okay?” Twilight asked frantically.

“I think I am, hold up one moment.” He then proceeded to check to see if all his body parts were there, “other than flesh and blood, I think I’m all here!” he joked.

She gave a nervous laugh, and then there came a knock on the door downstairs. Arvak followed her down, curious as to who it could be, and heard Twilight gasp when a tall white horse with a horn and wings, ethereal mane and tale, and a sun on her flank. Arvak glanced back, ‘does everypony have a mark like that on their ass?’ he glanced at Twilights flank, sure enough; she had some stars on it.

“Greetings Twilight, and friend.” The newcomer said, glancing at Arvak.

He tried to smile, but remembered that he had no skin to do that with, so he just chirped in a cheery and ghostly tone, “hi there, my name is Arvak, it’s nice to meet you.” He extended a skeletal hoof and the princess did the same. He then felt magic push him in a bowing position.

“I’m sorry princess Celestia; he’s not from around here and doesn’t know how to act around royalty.” Twilight piped up, completely unaware that she just dislodged Arvak’s head with how much force she put into her magic. Celestia giggled and Twilight looked up to see what was so funny, she then looked down and her gaze met Arvak’s.

Three seconds into the stare and, “BOO!” he chirped, making Twilight yelp and jump in the air. Arvak and Celestia did not even bother to hold in their laughter when this happened. Celestia walked into the library, closed the door, and put Arvak’s head back onto his body. “Oh come on Twilight, you couldn’t have been that scared.” He said to a hyperventilating unicorn.

Twilight responded with a glare, but then shook her head and turned her attention back to the princess, “hello Celestia, not that I don’t enjoy a visit from you, but why are you here?”

She turned back to Arvak, “I’m here to meet the pony that caused that little show last night.”

“Show, what show, I didn’t see a show. What was it about and where did it take place?” he asked.

“So you don’t remember that little song you sang last night before the party?” Twilight asked.

“There was a party?” Twilight stared at him un-amused. “I’m just kidding, of course I remember, I may be brainless but I aint stupid.” He joked.

“Your song could be heard all the way in Canterlot.” The princess added.

“It was that loud huh. Well, sorry if I woke you up.” 

“Don’t worry about it, but I must say that I am most curious about you.” She said while looking at Arvak up and down.

“Well, I’m sure he’ll tell you everything you want to know. Why don’t you get comfortable while I go prepare some tea.” Twilight then dashed into the kitchen. “Spike!” she called, “now where did that dragon get off to?”

They both walked over to the table in the center of the room and sat down. “So princess, what do you want to know?” 

“Well one, how did you end up here?” she asked.

“Well, it started yesterday morning, well, maybe before that. I was galloping down the road between Riften and Windhelm…”he glanced at Celestia’s confused gaze. “I’m not exactly from here, wait, where are we exactly?”

“Equestria.” Celestia answered. Arvak giggled, “Just what is so funny?”

“Your name rhymes with the name of this place, not even wood elves do that.”

“And just where are you from exactly?”

“Tamriel!” she stared at him again. “It’s a different country obviously, actually, maybe a different dimension. Anyway, I was galloping down that before mentioned road, when me and my rider were-”

“Wait, rider, what are you talking about?” Celestia interrupted.

“Well, the horses of Nirn aren’t as sentient as they are here. The inhabitants use them as a means of transportation or to help plow the fields.” He explained. Celestia just looked like she wanted to buck something, “moving on. Continuing from where I was so rudely interrupted, I was galloping down the road with my rider, running from some guys in studded armor, I think there was a civil war going on. Anyway, one of them called my friend a traitor and tried to kill him, I intervened and we escaped, for about a mile anyway. My friend was killed, and I was sent back to the Soul Cairn.”

“Two more questions, how can somepony who only uses you be a friend, and what is this… Soul Cairn.” They heard a whistling from the kitchen, and Twilight entered with three cups and a pot of tea. She set it down on a nearby table, “Twilight dear, don’t you think it’s a bit insensitive to offer Arvak tea when he can’t drink it…” Celestia was shut up when Arvak took the cup, sipped it, and didn’t spill any on the floor, but what did happen, was that a light started glowing from within his ribcage. “I guess I stand corrected.” She then started sipping from her own cup as well.

Twilight got comfortable, “so, what did I miss?”

“The death of one of my friends.” Arvak said.

Twilights ears dropped, “oh I’m so sorry.”

“Why, you didn’t kill him, it was those guys in studded armor that shot him in the back. Anyway, to answer your question princess, those two can be answered at the same time. The Soul Cairn is a realm of Oblivion where these deadra called the ‘Ideal Masters’ reside. They take offerings from mortals and give false promises of power in some cases. Initially, one can get sent there if they were trapped in a soul gem and that were used, me, I’m not sure how I got there, I remember my first rider telling me to run before he got torn apart by monsters, I assume the same happened to me.”

“How can you tell?” Twilight asked, Celestia face-hoofed.

“Well, I used to be alive once upon a time, um… more alive than this.” He gestured to his own skeletal body. Twilight gave a sheepish grin and a nervous laugh. “Well, when I first got to the Soul Cairn, I was just running, not really paying attention until my second rider freed me. He did me a huge favor and became my best friend, I helped him maneuver through that waste of oblivion, and in turn, he allowed me to go on adventures with him in Tamriel. The Soul Cairn can be described as a wasteland with dead trees, crumbling black structures, strange rock formations, and has a purple haze that tints everything that color. Oh and there are the souls trapped there from when they were trapped in soul gems. Does that answer your questions princess?”

“Yes, it does. Now, how were you able to get your song to be heard all across Equestria?” Celestia questioned.

“well, I guess that the standing stones might have caused it, when I went there and they started glowing, that’s when I saw my friend and took part in a song sang before battle for some of his friends when he was alive.”

“Then it was the stones, I might have somepony research that in the future. Anyway, it was great to meet you Arvak, have a wonderful time in Equestria, and Twilight, next time make sure that when you drink, don’t drink too much.” The Princess said before setting down her cup and leaving.

“What? How did she… drinking… what happened last night?” she muttered to herself. She turned to Arvak for answers, but he just shrugged. “Maybe we should visit pinkie.”

“Sounds like a plan.”
> Ch4: Bad punch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: this chapter suggests sexual themes, but doesnt outright describe any. While on this topic, i will say that there might be a bit of romance between Twilight and Arvak. oh, and i just realized after finishing this that i cant properly write dialogue for Pinkie, so sorry if she seems a bit less like she does in other fics or in the show.


Ch4: Bad Punch





As Arvak and Twilight walked down the road to Sugarcube Corner, they were met with the sights of the various ponies from the night before, groggily making their way back to their respective houses. One in particular, a magenta mare with a wine glass on her flank, was snoring on top of the town hall. Arvak just stared at the sleeping mare wondering ‘how in oblivion did she get up there?’ to his amusement, she woke up, freaked out, fell from the roof, and landed face first in a hay bale that was blocking the door to the town hall. Now that he actually paid attention, random assortments of furniture and hay bales were strewn about the streets of Ponyville. Now he really wanted to know what the hay happened last night.

Twilight pulled him along with her magic, not wanting to delay receiving valuable information to last night. Again, she did not notice how hard she tugged with her magic, and pulled his front right leg off.

“For the love of Talos.” He muttered. He placed his leg back in its proper place, and trotted back to his current companion.

They passed familiar faces, with messed up manes and tails. Arvak felt that saying that most of them looked like crap would be saying it nicely. Some of the mares had their fur matted down near their rear ends… he did not dwell on the thought.

They made it to the house that looked like a giant cookie, and found out that the front door was locked. Arvak looked through one of the windows, and saw a pony shape handing upside-down by a rope. He tapped twilight on the shoulder, and pointed to the shape. She squinted trying to get a good look, sighed, and nocked three times… no response. Arvak put a hoof to the door’s keyhole, and used his fire to unlock it.

Saying it was messy was an understatement. The Cakes were passes out in the kitchen, Pinkie was hanging by a rope upside-down by her hooves on the ceiling, tables were flipped and pastries plastered the walls, and he thought he saw Rainbow Dash snoring in the actual cake. He sprouted fire wings and flew up to untie Pinkie while Twilight tried to wake up Rainbow dash, who groaned and swatted Twilight away.

He cradled Pinkie in his hooves as he tried to hover towards the ground, when she gave him a tight hug and licked his snout. This caused him to recoil in shock and drop the pink mare on her flank, which promptly woke her up.

“who-what-when-where-how-why?” she quickly asked she saw Arvak try to wipe saliva from his face with his bony limbs, but without fur, it was difficult. “Oops, sorry, I was dreaming about candy again.” She apologized in a bubbly voice, and helped him wipe her spit from his face, which she tasted. “Mmm, cherries!”

Arvak just backed away, still hovering in the air, and decided to help Twilight with Rainbow Dash, who was still out like a light. He put out his wings and poked her with a hoof, she swatted him away. He did it again, same reaction. He formed a hand with the fire and gave Twilight a look asking for permission, she giggled and nodded, He then mercilessly started tickling the cyan Pegasus. Rainbows laughs echoed loudly throughout the house, Pinkie joined in the fun by yelling “Tickle Party”, and tackling Twilight to the floor. Their laughs soon woke up the Cakes, who just stood near the door to the kitchen and giggled to themselves.

To Arvak’s surprise, Rainbow Dash kicked him with her back legs and launched him across the room, face first into a punch bowl. He took a sip, and tasted some strong alcohol in it, stronger than that Black Briar crap that he tried that one time. He noticed the purple light above him flared slightly before dimming down, still burning slightly brighter than before. He felt something latch onto his face, and he pulled himself out of the bowl. He stared cross-eyed at the toothless lizard latched onto his skull, he shook his head, did not work, tried it again, nothing. He slammed his head on the table, not his best idea, the lizard let go before his head hit the table, momentarily dazing him. He swore he saw some stars when it happened.

Much to his disappointment, the damn lizard latched onto his face again. He sighed, and waited for Pinkie to stop tickling Twilight and dislodge this reptile from the area known as his head. A cyan hoof entered his vision and tugged the reptile from his head, and placed it somewhere it would not bother him again, for a little bit anyway.

“Heh, sorry about that.” Dash said.

“No problem.” Arvak replied. He glanced at Twilight, still being assaulted by Pinkie. “Should we help them?”

“Why not?” Rainbow hovered above pinkie, and Arvak tapped Pinkie on her shoulder. She turned around, and that is when Rainbow lifted her into the air, and allowed Twilight to get revenge, using feathers from some cushions lying on the ground. After a few minutes of tickling, every pony settled down.

“So Twilight, how’d your night with Arvak go?” Pinkie asked with a wink.

“Um, that’s just it; we don’t know what happened last night. We came here to find out if you knew anything.” Twilight replied.

“Maybe it has something to do with this punch and- um, when did I get this glass?” Arvak asked, holding a glass filled with punch. He shrugged and took a sip, his flames flaring a bit as he did so. Dash and Twilight stared at him with confused expressions.

“Oh wow, we still have some punch left! Wait, no wonder my head hurts a bit, I brought out the wrong punch last night!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“I guess that explains why I woke up in a cake.” Dash said.

“Still doesn’t explain why I woke up with Arvak lying on top of me.” Twilight mumbled. Rainbow and Pinkie snickered, Twilight just glared at them.

“Well, if it helps, I may have put out the punch that the Cakes were going to bring to some kind of Party, which had some strong alcohol in it. That’s probably why you don’t remember much from last night.” Pinkie explained.

“Again, still doesn’t explain why I woke up with Arvak’s pelvis between my legs.” Twilight said a bit louder, frustrated at the fact she is not getting answers, but upon realizing what she said, she blushed and covered her mouth with her hooves. Dash cracked up and Pinkie was staring at something. “Pinkie, what are you staring at?” 

THUD!

She looked to her left and saw Arvak passed out, with at least twelve punch glasses stacked behind him. His bright purple eyes were now a bit duller, signaling that he was sleeping, but the flames that made up his mane and tail flared brightly, giving a purple hue to the room. Dash and Pinkie could not stop laughing, and Twilight face-hoofed. She looked at the kitchen door, the Cakes were nowhere to be seen, and she floated a bucket of iced water out of it, and hovered it over Arvak’s head. She dumped the water on the unsuspecting stallion, causing him to jump upwards and yelp in surprise.

“I’m awake, I wasn’t sleeping, I was just resting my eyes!”

“Arvak you don’t have eyes.” Twilight reminded him.

“Hmm, you have a point there. Oh well, what were we talking about again?”

“Pinkie, do you remember what happened last night?” Twilight asked.

“Yes!’ the party pony exclaimed.

“Are you going to tell us?”

“Sure! It happened like this: after we got back into town from having to find Arvak, we came here to have the Party that we were supposed to have. I remember after a few glasses of punch, you and Arvak started to get all wobbly, and you started flirting with him, actually, a lot of ponies were flirting last night. After a while you and Arvak left to go to the library, I don’t know why, but I think I saw you kissing him when you left.”

“What happened next?” Arvak asked, somehow holding a bag of popcorn. Twilight gave him a confused look, still blushing from what she just heard. “What?” he looked at the bag of popcorn. “Okay, this is just weird.” He threw it behind him.

Pinkie giggled and continued, “Well, I don’t know about you, but a lot of ponies started getting like you two and left in pairs. After the last pony left, I tripped, got tangled up in a rope, and somehow started hanging from the ceiling… I think Rainbow Dash passed out from laughing too hard, and I fell asleep from all the blood rushing to my head.”

“You know, I think I remember that part.” Dash said, hoof to her chin in deep thought.

“Oh my goddess, Dash is thinking, it’s the end of Equestria!” Twilight joked. Dash just gave her a playful punch to the shoulder. “Well, with that sorted out, now I just need to figure out what happened after the party…”

“Oh, that’s easy, just look through Arvak’s, memories from last night, either that or just look through your own if you can!” Pinkie suggests.

“Pinkie, that’s genius!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Really, what did I say?” she asked. Twilight and Dash face-hoofed and Arvak just laughed.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and Arvak sat in the library lobby, well, Arvak sat, and Twilight stood, getting ready to perform the spell.

“Will this hurt?” he asked.

“It shouldn’t.” Twilight replied.

“Ok then, let’s get going!” he said enthusiastically.

Twilight charged up the spell, and a light purple hue enveloped her horn and she touched it with his head. As soon as her horn connected, the world melted away…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arvak was looking through his own eyes, and watched as his body did exactly what it did the night before. ‘Hmm, so this is what it must feel like being on autopilot.’ He thought.

‘Nope, just what happens when you magically look at a memory.’ Another voice explained.

‘What in oblivion was that!’ he thought.

‘Um, me, Twilight Sparkle, the one who cast the spell, remember?’

‘Oh, yeah, sorry.’

Hush, its starting.’

With that final thought, his memory self started leaving the party with Twilight, who gave him a kiss on his bony snout when the door to the bakery closed. By the light his flames were emitting, he must have been hammered; Twilight was probably close to him in the drunk department. They wobbled down the street to the library; Twilight jumped on his back, and started playing with his mane. The two in the memory laughed.

They soon made it to the library, Twilight sent Spike to Rarity’s for the rest of the night as they walked upstairs. They got into bed and…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight shook her head as the spell ended, shocked at what the memory showed. She was even more shocked to see that Arvak had actually fallen asleep sitting up while watching the memory. He snorted in his dream and fell forward, smacking his chin on the floor, but still asleep. For some reason, Twilight did not feel tired from keeping the spell up for that long, but then saw that Arvak’s flames dulled down in brightness and intensity. She must have tapped into his magic by mistake instead of using hers.

She sighed and laid him on the couch as she walked to her desk. She took out a quill and her diary, she wrote down what she learned this morning, and even though it shocked her a bit, she was not entirely against what happened last night for some reason. When she finished, she heard something stir in the lobby. She put her diary, quill away, and walked over to see Arvak had fallen off the couch.

“Oh, hey Twilight, what’s for breakfast?” Arvak asked. Twilight sighed and levitated two apples out of the kitchen.  She floated one over to him, which he ate in one bite, causing a purple glow to emanate from his ribcage and bath the room in a light purple glow, while she just slowly chewed on hers to enjoy the flavor. This was going to be an interesting day.

> Ch5: Getting some time alone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: again, not sure how i did. leave a commen below to let me know what i can either improve on, or possibly change. 


Ch5: Getting some time off






Twilight looked at the clock on her wall, and then at her calendar. “Hmm, I seem to be late for an appointment today.” She shrugged and took a bit of her apple… which she promptly did a spit take with when her brain processed what she just said. “Sweet Celestia I’m late!”

Arvak just stared at her confused. “What could you possibly be late for that you need to worry about?” He glanced at the calendar, which had an event circle three times and underlined four times that read: ‘Visit family in Canterlot.’ “That could be important, but you don’t necessarily have to be there on time right? Their family and I’m sure they’ll under-oof!” Arvak did not finish his sentence, as a scroll decided to say ‘hi’ to the back of his head, apparently scheduling is important to this pony. 

“I’m going to start getting ready to leave, while I’m gone, can you look after the library, I’d ask spike but the last time I trusted him with that kind of responsibility he burnt the place down. Speaking of which, can you go to Rarity’s and get him please?” she asked as she went upstairs to gather her things.

“Sure, why not?” he replied with a shrug. His next thought might not have been a great idea: ‘what could go wrong.’

“Thank you Arvak, I’ll only be gone for a few days, so you won’t miss me too long.” She said without thinking.

“okay.” He said, Twilight was near some heavy hardcover books, he did not want to be hit by one of those… yet. “You sure it’s gonna be me missin you, and not the other way around?” pushing his luck.

SMACK!

“Oh sweet Celestia I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking!” she pleaded to the pile of bones that was Arvak. He pulled himself together, and then noticed something off…

“Hmm, my head actually hurts, is it okay?” he asked pointing to a spot on the back of his head.

“Um, what would you say if I said that you had a series of cracks back there?” she asked in a nervous tone.

“Then we might have ourselves a predicament.” He put a hoof to his chin. “Probly should just wait until it heals up. Does bone heal up, never seen a skeleton recover from a broken bone before. What do you think?”

“Arvak, you are full of so many surprises, that I wouldn’t doubt that you could pull it off.” she deadpanned, slightly losing her worried tone and look.

“Okay, if it doesn’t by the time you get back, then we could try a healing spell.”

“Okay, you should go get spike, its eleven o’clock, so he should be up, if not, then just carry him back.”

He gave a mock salute, and marched out. Twilight shook her head and went back upstairs to pack.
-----------------------------------------------------

The streets of Ponyville were cleaner now than when Arvak was out before, slightly less things strewn about randomly. Some tables and stalls were still flipped over, but as ponies went about their day, they fixed the problem.

“Look out below!” he heard someone yell. Which he looked down, not knowing the meaning, and an anvil hit the ground directly in front of him. He looked up and saw a grey Pegasus with a blonde mane heading towards him. “Are you alright?”

“I thought you said ‘look out below’, something like this would warrant a ‘heads up.’ don’t you think?” the Pegasus shrugged, and tried lifting the anvil. “Need help?”

“Nope, I got it.” She tried again.

“You sure?” he asked again.

She lifted the anvil off the ground for a few feet, but that progress was quickly lost when it fell back into the ground. “Maybe a little.”

Arvak flared some flame wings, and prepared some fire rope. He tied the rope to both ends of the anvil, still leaving at least two, three feet off as a tail to pick it up with. Both he and the grey Pegasus then lifted the anvil using the flame rope into the air, and towards a flying box with other furniture in it, they placed the anvil in the box, and then Arvak snuffed out the flame rope.

“Phew, thanks, I don’t think I could have gotten that done by myself.”

“No problem, just next time- oh bloody hell!” he yelled as his flame wings snuffed out on their own, causing him to fall out of the sky. He completely forgot that the only thing he ate today was one apple, and keeping up wings made of fire and a rope while pulling a heavy object into the air takes a lot of energy. His plummet to the earth was stopped just short of four feet from the ground when his new grey friend caught him. She gently placed him back on his hooves, “thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Well, I have to get back to work. My name is Ditzy by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Arvak.” He waved goodbye, but winced when she flew right into a wall.

“I’m okay!” she yelled.

He shrugged and continued walking to Rarity’s boutique.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

He made it to her front door without any other distractions or diversions, much to his disappointment. He knocked on the door, and a small unicorn filly answered it, she stared at him wide eyed.

“Who’s at the door sweetie bell?” he heard Rarity call.

“May I come in?” Arvak asked.

The filly just nodded, remembering the story her sister told her from last night, but still scared by his appearance. She rushed back into the store and up a staircase, while Arvak stood at the front door confused.

“Oh Arvak is that you, do come in and make yourself comfortable.” She says. He walks to where Rarity is, and sees several dresses on… would they be called ponyquinns?... maybe… anyway.

“What’s with the dresses?” Arvak questioned.

“Well dear, there is an event known as the Grand Galloping Gala coming up in a short time, so I made dresses for my friends for when we go.” She explained.

“Oh I see… still not seeing the importance.” 

“The Gala is a prestigious event that only certain ponies get invited to. I was fortunate enough to get a ticket for the Gala from my friend Twilight, oh, I just remembered, how was the party last night. I couldn’t stay long, lots of work to do, you know?” 

He nodded in understanding to the last part of her statement, not really understanding how this Gala could be so important. “I guess that makes sense. Well, the party went great, got hammered and woke up in bed with Twilight… why are you grinning so wide?”

“Twilight hmm, I didn’t think you two would hit it off so soon, how did your night go?” she asked with a wink.

“It went pretty well, she didn’t seem mad at all when she we figured out what happened. But what I don’t get is how that worked, I mean I’m a skeleton, how would I be able to-“

“Hey Arvak, what are you doing here?” Spike asked, interrupting Arvak’s thoughts, or rather explanation of what he was doing last night.

“I was telling Rarity how last night went.”

“Well, go on, I want to know why you made me get up in the middle of the night to go sleep over here, not that I’m complaining.”

“Well, Twilight and I were-mmff” a white hoof silenced him, more like a pair that clamped his upper and lower jaw shut.

“Spike, that is something that you don’t need to hear at you age, right Arvak?” Rarity asked.

She removed her hooves from his mouth, thinking he got the message. “What, he’s not supposed to know that Twilight and I- mmff” He was silenced again, this time, Rarity used her magic.

“Well, I guess we will get back to this another time. What were you here for, I’m sorry if I distracted you before.”

She released him once she finished her statement. “Well, Twilight is off to Canterlot for a few days, so she said I was to keep the library in order till she gets back, oh, and to also retrieve Spike from his temporary dwelling.”

“Oh do I have to go?” Spike wined.

“well, Twilight did tell me that if you didn’t wake up I could drag you back, what’s stopping me from saying you woke up halfway there…”

“Alright I’m going.” He grumbled.

“So Arvak, what are you going to do while Twilight is out of town?” Rarity asked.

“I’m not sure, ill cross that bridge when I get to it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind if I need someone to help me with any orders that may seem a tad too much. Anyway, have a nice day Arvak.” 

“You too.” He said as he left. He made his way to the library, and felt a little burning sensation in his, well, wherever the food goes when he eats, surely not his stomach, maybe something in his ribcage.  He stopped in his tracks and looked down; his ribs were burning a slight red color instead of purple… “I’m hungry.” He rationalized, and continued his trot back to the library.
-----------------------------------------------------------

He trotted through the front door and saw spike rearranging the books on the shelves, and saw a note on the table in the middle of the lobby with a bag of coins next it. He picked up the note and read it to himself: ‘Arvak, in my haste to leave for Canterlot, I forgot to go and pick up supplies for the next few days. I would like for you to go and pick up the items mentioned on the list under this note.’

He read the list, some basic foodstuffs, book deliveries to pick up, some quills and parchment. He took the bag of coins and asked a question that was bugging him since he read the note.

“Hey spike.”

“Yeah.”

“How am I supposed to hold all the stuff on this list?”

Spike scratched his chin with a claw, “you can use Twilights extra saddlebag, its right by the door.”

“Thanks.” Arvak put the saddle on and placed the bits in the right bag, and set out to get the chores done.
-----------------------------------------------------

He walked into the market, well, after about half an hour of randomly trotting around with no idea where in oblivion he was going. Anyway, he was glad that not that many ponies were freaked out by his presence; it was only the rich looking ones or the foals that did not know who he was yet. While wandering around, he managed to find most of the stuff on his list; all he needed were some apples, carrots, and quills. Regrettably, quills and sofas was out of quills, so he would have to find another way to retrieve some, but that was not important now.

“Well howdy there Arvak!” a very familiar voice blared into his ear, or whatever he used as ears. Whenever he thought about how he worked, the more it gave him a headache.

-turning of self logic analyzers in; 

3

2

1

…

“Hey Applejack.” He replied happily. “I’m here to pick up a few things for Twilight while she is away in Canterlot.”

“Well that’s mighty nice of ya, I think Twilights lucky to be going out with a stallion like you, even if you don’t have that much in the way of muscle.” She said.

He gave her a curious look, and then dropped it, still oblivious to what she said. “Well, I’m here to pick up some apples, then I have to go to Carrot Top’s stall for some carrots. Do you know of any other place to get quills, that quills and sofas place is out.” she gave him a confused look. “I know right, place that only sells two thins doesn’t have half of what it sells in stock.”

“Well, ya got me there, maybe you can go and see if they sell some of those new pen things that came around a while ago, heard they’re refillable.”

“I might check it out, anyway, I’m here for some… never heard of these before.”

“Let me see that… hmm. Ah got those, just hold up a sec… there ya go.” She said as she handed a bag of apples to Arvak. “Two bits partner.” He put two of the small gold coins on the stall and waved goodbye, which she returned. He brought out an apple and munched on it, which quelled his hunger a bit.

He walked another five steps to the carrot stall… wonder why the two are so close together.

“Hey Carrot Top.” He chirped, waking the mare from what appeared to be a good dream from the glare she gave him, but quickly softened up when she saw him.

“What can I get for you?”

“Need some carrots, well, six to be exact.”

She placed the carrots in a bag and handed it to him. “Six bits.”

“Why so cheap?”

“Think of it as an apology for what happened yesterday.”

“Oh, well, thanks. See you later.”

“You too.”

‘Hmm, I guess some ponies are still hung up on what happened yesterday. Not that the little discount is something to complain about, but the apologies that they gave me were eno-‘ 

THUD!

“Ow, dangit, my head has been through enough already.” He muttered to himself. He gazed at the offending wall in front of him… err… door.

“Who dares interrupt The Great and Powerful Trixie’s beauty sleep!?!?”

> Ch6: getting some time alone: pt2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch6: getting some time alone: part two





Two things went through Arvak’s head the moment this… Trixie… stepped out of the trailer. The first was ‘ow,’ because a firework managed to blow up in his face, and the second was ‘wow,’ because he survived the blast from said firework.

“Whoops, Trixie thought that she used up the last of the faulty pyrotechnics when she was in Trottingham.” Arvak coughed and a little puff of black smoke escaped past his teeth. “Well well well, aren’t you an interesting one.” She said, as she looked him over. Her scrutinizing gaze made Arvak feel a bit naked… wait, scratch that, he already was naked… it made him feel vulnerable. “Why don’t you introduce yourself to Trixie?”

“Um… ok, where can I find her?” he asked.

“Really?” Trixie raised an annoyed eyebrow.

“Yeah, I mean you know her right? Someone who’s great and powerful wouldn’t talk in the third person… err… pony… whatever it’s called. That would be just silly.” She stared at him with the same annoyed expression. “What? Are you telling me she does speak in- oh hello there.” He said looking at a sweetroll that wound up in his hoof, which proceeded to catch Trixie’s gaze as well.

“You wouldn’t happen to be able to pull bits out of thin air do you?”

“Nope, it just happens on its own.” He said after taking a bite of the pastry from Nirn. “Usually this happens when I’m hungry or thirsty.”

Trixie recoiled in disgust as pieces of pastry fell from his mouth when he spoke. “Trixie wishes to remind you to refrain from talking with your mouth full.”

“She does, are you two talking to each other telepathically?” Trixie face-hoofed. “What?”

“Would it help if I spoke in the first person?”

“Why would you need to do that?”

“Because I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!” another firework went off, setting the pastry on fire and knocking it onto the floor. “Seriously, Trixie thought she got rid of those.”

“If you’re Trixie, then why do you talk in the third person?”

“Force of habit, why not come to my show tonight, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

“Trixie!” a familiar voice yelled. A cyan Pegasus landed heavily next to him, knocking him off balance. “What are you doing back in Ponyville? I thought I made it clear you weren’t welcome back.” She snarled.

“Trixie is going to put on an honest to goodness show, no boasting about her abilities and putting others down.” Trixie shot back calmly.

“How can we be sure?” Rainbow asked.

“Um… Rainbow, as much as I enjoy your company, it seems you are standing on my leg.” Arvak said.

“Whoops, sorry about that. Now Trixie, back to my question.”

Trixie though for a moment, and then looked at Arvak when he stood up… the metaphorical light bulb lit up above her head. “Trixie won’t demean any other ponies because she will do the show with Arvak as her assistant.”

Arvak looked at her confused, and Rainbow stared at him in shock. “Does this mean I have to wear a ridiculous outfit?” Trixie shook her head. “Okay then.”

Rainbow thought for a moment, and then she herself shrugged. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if that’s the case… but if I see you try and outdo one pony, I’ll throw you out of Ponyville myself.” And with that, she flew off.

“Come, we must prepare!” Trixie shouted.

“Can I drop this stuff off first… groceries was the reason I went out today.”

“Sure, but hurry up, the Great and Powerful Trixie has a show to plan for… now to only figure out how to incorporate you…” she walked back into her trailer, deep in thought.

“Nice mare!” Arvak chirped. He departed towards the library to drop off the stuff he bought, and to tell Spike what he was doing.
------------------------------------------------------

Arvak trotted happily down the road back towards Trixie’s trailer. Even what Spike told him about what happened last time she was here did not really bother him. He tried to think of stuff that Trixie would possibly have him do, until he got distracted.

‘Hello… echo!... Echo!’ his thoughts went through the same loop of him yelling echo in his head and listening as the word bounced off the walls of his mind… if somepony smart were to examine this behavior, they would doubt the mental state of him… then again he was a skeleton.

His inner musings were cut short as he smacked his head on the door to Trixie’s trailer… again. Trixie answered the knock on her door, and stared at Arvak, who was currently holding his skull with a hoof.

“Did you use your head to knock on Trixie’s door?” she asked with a straight face.

He removed his hoof from his head. “Involuntarily. Well. I’m here what are we gonna do.”

“Trixie thought that you might have a few ideas.” She admitted sheepishly.

“We could pull a rabbit out of a hat.” He suggested.

“Trixie was hoping for something… bigger… besides, where are we going to get a rabbit?” 

Arvak took the starred hat from her head. “Like this silly!” he then pulled a very disgruntled looking rabbit from it.

Fluttershy poked her head from around the trailer. “Oh Angel there you are. I was looking all over for you.” The rabbit tried to make a break for it, but was grabbed in Fluttershy’s hooves and flown back to her cottage.

“Trixie wishes to know how you did that without magic.”

“You mean this isn’t a magic hat?” he asked with a confused expression.

“No, Trixie’s hat is not magic, it’s cotton.” She clarified as she took it back from him. The metaphorical light bulb went off again. “Trixie has an idea!”

“Oooh! Does it involve pie!?!?”

“Yes-what? No! Trixie wishes for you to do some basic magical tricks with me as the assistant, for some of them anyway.”

“What tricks are we doing?”

“Sawing a pony in half-“

“Wont that hurt?”

“Not if it’s you being sawed in half, and Trixie could disguise you to look like a living pony too! This might be her greatest idea yet!”

“Um… I take offense to that, since I’m somewhat alive already.” He said.

“Well, more alive than you look now. Instead of listing these things off, we should practice, well, you should. The Great and Powerful Trixie has no need for practice!” 

“Yay!”
--------------------------------------------

Ponyville gathered around the stage, waiting to see what tricks the showpony would do that they could make fun of as payback for what happened a while ago. The stage was quiet, and a purple haze started forming on it, the shadow of the show mare in her hat and cape could be clearly seen in the mist.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the show! As you know, I am your host… the Great and Powerful Trixie!!!!!!!!” a boom sounded, fireworks went off and the haze cleared. Where Trixie should have been, was nothing. The crowd looked around the stage, searching for her with confused faces. Lightning struck the middle of the stage and a ball of crackling energy expanded outward and fizzled away, revealing the Great and Powerful Trixie in the middle of it.

Some ponies were impressed by the trick, but some were not prepared for what came next.

“And now, to introduce her newest assistant… the amazing Firebolt!!!” The wind picked up next to Trixie, forming a small tornado, which grew slightly bigger. It soon caught on fire and grew even bigger, some ponies started getting concerned, but as soon as it looked like it would be an unstable disaster, a wave was sent out through the middle of it, sending the fire in a large circle, hitting everything, but setting nothing on fire. In the middle, was a blood red stallion with a flaming mane and tail, his eyes were an icy blue in color, but they didn’t give off a hard look as most stallions like him would, they seemed happy, and carefree. His cutie mark was a magic hat with various magical trinkets bouncing out.

This seemed to get the crowd excited, several even stomped hooves in applause at his appearance. The crowd settled down a bit, waiting for Trixie to announce her first trick

“For our first show of magic, we will- hey!” Trixie was cut short when her ‘assistant’ took her hat, eliciting a few giggles from the crowd.

“Sorry Miss Trixie, I think we may have a visitor.” He said in a slightly deep voice, almost as deep as big mac’s voice, as he pulled out Angel from the hat again. Out in the crowd, a Pegasus swore that the bunny was right next to her. A simple trick, but it pleased the crowd slightly. The rabbit bopped him on the head, and left the stage, again, causing a few giggles to pass through the crowd.

“Well, with that out of the way…” she put her hat back on her head, and conjured a box and a saw. “Our first Trick will be sawing a pony in half!” some ponies gasped. “Would my lovely assistant please lie down in the box?” The stallion opened the box, and laid down, head poking through one end, hind hooves out the other. “Are you ready Assistant?” he nodded.

Trixie used her magic to move the saw across the box using the serrated edge. It got halfway and it was obvious that it reached him, but he did not even seemed fazed by it. “It’s more comfortable than you think folks!” he assured. Once the box was fully cut, Trixie separated them, and opened them up. The bottom half jumped out, and walked around, the top half sat up and stared at it, the legs ran. “Hey! Get back here!” he yelled. Trixie teleported the legs back by the box and levitated them in the air. “Heh, thanks, can I have them back please?” she shoved them back on him. He jumped out of the box and tried them out… “They still work!” the crowd applauded.

“What should out next trick be Firebolt?” Trixie asked.

“Let’s check the hat again.” He suggested. When he reached inside, he was sucked into the hat. Trixie picked it up in her mouth and shook it, nothing fell out. She pointed a spotlight with her magic over the crowd, and stopped by a blue mare with an hourglass cutie mark. In the previously empty seat next to her, sat Firebolt. He winked at her, causing her to blush, before he was teleported by Trixie back on stage. They both bowed, and the crowd cheered more.

“I must say that it is great to be doing real tricks, and before Trixie leaves, she must thank one of Ponyville's newest residents.” The crowd looked around, trying to figure out whom. Some thought to look for the purple skeleton, but he was nowhere to be found. All eyes turned to the stallion on stage, he grinned. Fire covered his body, burning bright red, and then changed color slowly. It turned to a deep purple and in the place of the red earth pony stallion, was the purple skeleton. He bowed, and Trixie spoke again, “a special thanks to Arvak, who took the time to play the assistant during the show!” a roar of applause rocked the stage.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Arvak sat in the trailer with Trixie, sipping a cup of tea she made herself. “Trixie wishes to thank you again for helping her with her show.” She said walking up to him.

“No problem, it was fun. Next time you are doing a show in Ponyville, look me up, I’d be happy to help you again.”

“Trixie may as well do that again. She might also consider doing something similar in other towns. Thank you again, when Trixie gets back on her hooves money wise, she will pay you accordingly.”

“Cool, thanks. Anyway, I think you might be getting visitors soon. I bet important ponies saw that show.”

“Trixie hopes, she could use the money-“
‘
'Knock knock knock' Trixie trotted to the door, and started talking to somepony. Arvak could not hear the conversation, but he could tell Trixie was excited.

She trotted back with a big grin plastered on her face. “So, how’d it go?’

“Trixie scheduled a show next week in Canterlot!”

“Great news!” he chirped.

“But he wants you to be there as well…” she gave him the cutest puppy eyes.

“Well, I guess I can leave room on my schedule-oompf!” he was caught in a rib-crushing hug from Trixie. He could tell because some of his ribs started to crack.

“Whoops, Trixie is sorry.”

“And Arvak is still in one piece.” He said slowly trying to regain stabilization, as he started moving from side to side. “Well, I’m going back to the library for some shut eye, I’ll see you later Trixie.”

“Trixie will see you later.”
-------------------------------------------------

The walk back to the library was slightly more eventful than the walk to the trailer before the show. Ponies stopped to say hi and comment on his performance, and he even met up with the one blue pony again, who blushed as he looked at her and waved. He entered the library and laid down on the couch, the day playing in his head, he could not wait to tell Twilight about what happened… Twilight. He sighed internally. ‘I guess she was right when she said I would miss her.’ His flames dulled down and the lights that were his eyes slowly went out as he drifted off to sleep.
> Ch7: GSTA: pt3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch7: GSTA: pt3






Arvak shifted in his sleep, he was having a nightmare again. Ever since he first escaped the Soul Cairn he had dreams that reminded him of that horrid place, this one was no different. He was running down a purple tinted dirt path from what appeared a mass of black skeletons and a flying decomposing dragon. He ran down the path, but he was soon to run out of room to run, he had to find a way to escape.

A light was shining in the gloom of the dreaded place, shining brightly, giving the area in front of the portal it emanated from a life like look. A scream pierced his ears. He turned his head and saw a pony form being harassed by skeletons, and then he turned his head to the portal, which was slowly closing.

He dashed towards his target at his full speed, huffing from the effort. Time was of the essence; his target wasn’t going to last long. He quickly turned around, and delivered a mighty buck that shattered two of the skulls of the six skeletons surrounding the form. The others looked at their new prey in astonishment, no soul has resisted them so well before, well, except for the Dovahkin, but he had dragon powers. The skeletons backed off, and sunk into the ground, leaving the two alone.

Arvak turned to the prone figure that now looked exactly like Twilight Sparkle. Even though it was a dream, something was off; it felt somewhat real to him now.  He turned to see the portal closing still, soon nopony will be able to get out. He picked up the unconscious form of his best friend and trotted to the portal, which was now only big enough for one of them to pass through, on the other side, was Ponyville.

Arvak wouldn’t wish a lifetime here on anypony, and he threw her through the closing portal. Once she passed through, the portal closed abruptly, and he turned around, and took a walk around his prison, head held high, his new attitude warding off any dark souls passing his was. The dragon from before landed in front of him, anger shining in its eyes. Arvak just glared back, an act of defiance, and got ready to charge.

As the two were about to attack each other, a white light enveloped Arvak’s vision, and his dream world disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arvak awoke back in the library, only upside down hanging from a bookshelf. He shook himself from his odd sleeping perch and fell face first into the floor. ‘I really need to stop sleeping like that.’ He thought. It’s true, he would sometimes get up during the night to hang upside down like a possum, and it was more comfortable than it looked.

A light chuckle interrupted his thoughts. He tried to look at where it came from, but only saw a set of white hooves, with gold slippers. ‘I wonder where I remember that from.’ he got up on his hooves and saw a tall white alicorn… “Oh, that’s where I remember you from.” He said aloud. “You’re that princes pony… Celestia right?”

“Well nice to see you too Arvak, but may I ask, why were you hanging upside down?” she inquired.

Arvak thought for a moment, and then shrugged. “Not even I know why I do things.”

“Hmm, most curious. Well anyway, I came by to see how you are doing.”

“Great! Just yesterday I was doing a magic show!” he yelled happily.

“Really, how did it go?” she asked.

“Really well, afterwards everypony gave me compliments and Trixie even got a show scheduled in Canterlot next week!”

Now the princess was curious. “What day next week, and by whom did she get the request from?”

“She didn’t specify, but she said she would let me know… what day is today?” he asked.

“Friday.” She answered.

“Thanks, now I didn’t quite catch the pony she was talking to, but she got really excited and was smiling like I usually do after the pony left.” He said smiling, or what could pass as one for a skeleton.

“Well, I might have an idea who it was, and if it is that pony, then I don’t have to give you your own ticket to the gala on Monday.” She said.

“Really?” Celestia nodded. “Huh, how ‘bout that. Well, whoever you give it to is going to be a happy pony!” he chirped.

Celestia stared at him flatly. “You really don’t know why I'm not giving you the ticket?”

“Nope!”

“You didn’t hear the context I just left wide open for you?”

“Nope!”

Celestia just sighed. “You aren’t getting a ticket because the show you and your friend are going to be in will be in Canterlot on the same day as the Gala.” She explained.

“Oh now I get it…. wait, what am I getting?” Celestia face-hoofed. “I'm just kidding. That’s actually pretty cool, now I don’t have to stay here alone… or well, not really alone, just without the fun ponies.”

“What makes you think there are no other fun ponies here?”

“I don’t know… the girls just have that aura around them, like something interesting can happen at any mome-”

“HI ARVAK!” Pinkie yelled from behind Arvak, making him jump. Now, Arvak was never good with loud surprising noises, so when he jumped, he jumped high. Both pinkie and Celestia looked up at the pony shaped hole in the ceiling that was made when Arvak jumped in fear. Cries of joy could be heard as he came crashing through the ceiling again, landing on top of Celestia.

“How is it you could jump that high and not be a Pegasus?” she asked in a dazed state, eyes derped from being hit by a falling pony.

Arvak put a hoof to his chin in thought, “I don’t know… oh hi Pinkie!” he said with a wave.

“Hi again Arvak.” Pinkie said enthusiastically.

“What brings you to the library?”

“Oh, the Twins turn one today and I came to invite you ant Twilight… is she here right now?” she asked.

“No, she’s in Canterlot. She might be back tomorrow though, but I’ll gladly attend the party though!”

“Great, it’s at twelve, see ya then! Oh hi Princess Celestia! Do you want to go too?” she asked the princess, who was still lying prone with an amused expression, Arvak was still sitting on her back.

“No thank you Pinkie, I have some royal business to attend to in Canterlot. Oh, and Arvak, before I forget, thank you for doing that in your dream.” Arvak stared at her confused as he dismounted the princess. “In your dream, you gave up your chance to leave that horrid place to allow somepony else to go, that really shows what kind of stallion you are.”

“Oh that. Why were you in my dreams in the first place?” he asked.

“I just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t turn your back on my student, I wouldn’t let anypony make love to her you know.” She answered.

“You don’t have to worry about Arvak hurting Twilight, I read his Wiki, and nothing bad was said about him on it.” Pinkie interrupted.

Celestia looked at Pinkie confused, wondering how in Equestria she was able to procure that information, and what a ‘wiki,’ was.  “Well, this was enlightening; I think I’ll be going back to Canterlot now.” 

“Okay, bye princess.” Arvak said as she disappeared in a white flash.

“Hey Arvak, I still need to deliver a few invites to a couple ponies, could you give these out please?” Pinkie asked.

“Sure!” he chirped as he took a few invites in his mouth. “Ith Twixie invithed.” He asked.

“Let me check for a minute…” she started listing the names of ponies from the top of her head, “yep, I think I gave that on to you.”

“Whelp, I'm oth.” He said, mouth still holding the invites.

“Good luck Arvak.” She waved as he left the library.

“Tanks!”

“Where!” she yelled, ducking for cover behind a bush.

Arvak stared at her confused, but then shrugged and walked off.
-----------------------------------------------------------

He walked a bit and met a few familiar faces along the way… that’s when he remembered when he didn’t know where he was going. He looked at the invitations in his mouth, and found he couldn’t read upside down. He made some fire claws and read while walking. 

“Okay, first stop, Rari- OW!” he exclaimed as he walked face first into the door of the Carousel Boutique. “I need to stop doing that; it’s not good for my skull.”

After he said that, Rarity opened the door. “Hello Arvak, I wondered who knocked on my door.” She glanced at the indent on her door, and then at, who was holding a bony hoof to his skull. “Did you just use your head to knock on my door?”

“Yes… I guess I did. I should really stop, hitting my head never did me any good.” He chuckled.

Rarity shared his mirth for a second. “Well, I guess so. Well, what brings you here?”

He picked up the invitations he dropped when he hit his head. He handed Rarity her designated envelope. “Welp, that’s it for now, I’ll see you at the party if you go!” he chirped.

“Most definitely darling!” she called as he walked away on three legs. 

“Okay, this time pay attention. Next stop, Applejack, and then Fluttershy.” He spoke to himself.

“Howdy there pardner, what’s got you so focused?” Applejack asked.

Arvak looked to his right and saw her at a stand, selling apples to the populace of Ponyville. It took him a moment to remember what he was looking for her for, “oh!” he exclaimed as he passed an envelope to applejack. “Party is this afternoon. I’ll see you there!”

“Wouldn’t miss this one Arvak!” she said as she waved him off.

“Okay, Fluttershy and then to the party.” he said with determination.
---------------------------------------------------

*Bark Bark*

“Sweet merciful Mara help me!” Arvak screamed as he ran down the street, with a white and brown dog chasing after him. He must have taken a wrong turn, one moment he was in front of Sweet Apple Acres instead of his intended destination, and then the next some dog barrels out of the orchard after him with a hungry look in its eyes.

The dog snapped at his hind legs. “Ahhhhhh! I don’t want to die!” he yelled. The ponies in town stared at the scene, some in shock, some trying to suppress giggles, and then one who saw the scene and immediately jumped from her stall and chased after the dog.

“Consarn it Winona stop chasing Arvak this instant!” Applejack yelled.

*Bark Bark* the dog ignored her and continued chasing Arvak. 

Arvak then tripped over his own hooves and fell face first into the ground. The dog ran up to him, bit onto his left hind leg, and ran off with it. “Hey!” he called after the dog, “I was still using that!”

“Sweet Celestia Arvak! Are you okay?” Applejack asked.

Arvak looked at where his leg used to be. “I will be as soon as I get my leg back… what do dogs do with bones anyway?”

A look of horror spread across the orange mare’s muzzle. “We gotta get ya leg back soon.” She said.

“I know that, but I asked what dogs do with bones… hey wait up!” he yelled after her as he tried to hobble his way through the town on two and a half legs, one still holding Fluttershy’s invitation. “Oh, duh.” He said as he placed the enveloped in his mouth and used three legs to maneuver.
------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy was tending to her animals, humming a light tune to herself as she put feed out for the chickens. A loud barking interrupted her though, and Winona sped past her. This sudden interruption made her ‘eep’ and jump up in surprise. She slowly lowered herself down and was tackled by Applejack.

When Fluttershy regained her senses, and when the world stopped spinning, she looked up to see her friend laying on top of her in a very intimate fashion. “Applejack, we don’t have time for sex! Winona is getting away with my leg!” Arvak yelled, starting both ponies who now sat there with blushes on their faces. Winona barked again, only this time it was more distant, this put Applejack back into gear.

“Sorry ‘bout that ‘Shy, gotta catch Winona ‘fore she buries Arvak’s leg!” she ran off after saying that. Arvak tried to follow but forgot he was missing a part and fell to his side.

Fluttershy adopted a look of shock “Arvak, Winona has your leg?” 

He nodded. “Yea, and what does she mean by burying it?”

“You do know that dogs will either chew on bones or burry them, they will only burry it for safe keeping and then go back to chew on it later.” She explained.

“Hmm, well, since she didn’t spit me out of her mouth, I must taste pretty good…” Fluttershy smacked his head as he went to try and nibble on his hoof.

“Come on, we have to go and get your leg back.”
---------------------------------------------

Arvak watched in amusement as Applejack chased Winona in a circle around a tree with his leg still in her mouth. He gave a light chuckle as the dog outsmarted her pony owner and made Applejack crash into the tree. Seemingly oblivious to them, the dog ran away from Applejack and towards him and Fluttershy.

As the dog neared, Fluttershy stopped her with a hoof. “Hello Winona.” The dog gave a muffled bark in greeting. “Can I please have Arvak’s leg back?” The dog shook her head. “He really needs it… so… um… could you please give it back?” the dog shook her head again. “What if I gave you something else instead?” Winona’s ears perked up at this. “If you give Arvak his leg back, I’ll get you those treats you always like.” Winona weighed her options, and set the bone down in front of Fluttershy. “Thank you, just let Angel know and he’ll get it for you.”  Winona gave a happy bark and trotted towards Fluttershy’s house.

“And ya couldn’t have done that before?” Applejack asked walking up to them, stumbling a bit every now and again. “Would the four o’ ya stop movin around, its gettin hard ta concentrate.”  She tripped and Fluttershy caught her. “Thanks, but ah only need one o’ yalls help.”

Arvak walked over, picked up his leg, and placed it back where it belonged. “Thanks Fluttershy. Oh, before I forget…” he retrieved the envelope he wedged between his vertebrae before and handed it to the Pegasus. “It’s at twelve, so I’ll see you there.”

“Arvak, why didn’t ya tell me you had a twin?” he walked up to Applejack and snapped a fiery claw, instantly snapping her out of her dazed state. “Whoa, that’s better. Thank ya kindly.”

“Well, it will be noon in a few minutes, so we could go now.” Fluttershy said looking at the clock in town.

“Really? Well, let’s go!” Arvak said enthusiastically. They the three of them then started heading towards town.

> Ch8: GSTA: Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch8: GSTA: The Party





The walk to Sugarcube corner was uneventful, a first for Arvak. It seemed as if things were going to slow down and…

“HI ARVAK!”  Pinkie shouted.

Arvak yelped in surprise and jumped in the air, not as high as last time though. 

“Oh, hi Pinkie. We were just on the way to your party.” Arvak greeted.

“Did you deliver the invites?” she asked.

“Yep, I got AJ and Flutters with me right now… hey Applejack?”

“Yea Arvak?” The mare in question asked.

“Where’s Fluttershy?” 

Applejack looked around in confusion; the yellow Pegasus was standing next to her just a second ago. Her hat started shivering, and the Pegasus peeped her head out from underneath it.

“Is it over?” she asked quietly.

"Hey! I'm the only one who is allowed to do that!” Pinkie yelled.

“Oh… um… sorry.” Fluttershy said, dismounting Applejacks head.

“Now how did that work?” AJ asked.

Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin in thought. “I don’t know.” She replied.

“Well… that was random…” Arvak said. “Anyway, shouldn’t we get going to the party?”

“You are so right! Let’s go girls! And Arvak!” pinkie yelled as she dragged the three of them towards their destination.
--------------------------------------------------

As was told, it was a small party, a get together of close friends. AJ, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Trixie, and Arvak were there as well as the foals and the Cakes.

“Well thank you all for coming, but Pinkie I thought we told you it was only going to be us…” Ms. Cake started.

“But more ponies make for a better party!” Pinkie yelled as streamers and confetti shot out from behind her.

“Well, I guess since you’re all here, I think we will just have to go on with the party.” The blue mare conceded.

“YAY!” Pinkie cheered, scaring the twins.

They were about to cry, when they saw Arvak. They just stared at him with blank faces, or more exactly, at the flames that made up his mane and tail.

“Seems like they took a real liking to you there bud.” Mr. Cake said.

His words fell onto a deaf skull, as Arvak was sitting there, amusing the kids by making various things out of his flames.

“Doesn’t look like he will be of much use at the moment.” Trixie giggled. “Don’t show off all your moves, we need to save the best ones for the magic show in Canterlot!”

“Yall are doin a magic show in Canterlot?” Applejack asked.

“Why yes we are.” She motioned to Arvak. “Fancypants saw our performance and requested us to play at the Gala next week.” She explained.

Rarity ran up to her with a delighted expression on her face. “You were asked to perform by Fancypants!?!?” she asked in a loud and unladylike manner. Trixie just nodded, scared at the mares sudden change in attitude. “You just have to let me make you both outfits for this. If the ponies in Canterlot like the designs they will ask you where you got them from and you will refer them to me! I’ll get so much business!” she yelled with a very big grin and sparkling eyes. All eyes were on her… “I mean… what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t make you something nice for an event like the gala?”

“Me?” Arvak suggested.

“That was a rhetorical question dear.”

“Okay!” he said joyfully.

The party went on surprisingly normally. The ponies were conversing and having a wonderful time, Pinkie was popping out of random containers, offering food and scaring the stuffing out of everypony, Arvak lost the twins…

Wait, what?

“What do you mean you lost them! You had your eyes on them the whole time!” Ms. Cake yelled.

“Honeybunch, calm down. No need to panic.” Mr. Cake said soothingly to his wife.

“Well, I don’t have any eyes, and if I did, why would I give them to foals? They wouldn’t know what to do with them.” Arvak said.

Ms. Cake’s right eye just twitched.

“Not the right time I take it.” he said, the others just nodded. “Well, they couldn’t have gotten far; I mean, how much trouble could a couple foals get in-“ A loud boom echoed outside.

“Good job Arvak, you have just doomed us all.” Trixie deadpanned.

“Nope! That was the CMC trying to be chemists.” Pinkie corrected.

“Chemists…” Trixie gasped and ran off toward a smoking trailer.

“Well everypony, let’s get going!” Dash yelled before flying out the door.
-----------------------------------------------

Everyone decided it would be best to split up, this way they could cover more ground. Arvak somehow made his way to the edge of the Everfree forest, and he just stared blankly into its depths.

“Why do I feel like I'm being watched?” he muttered to himself. “Eh, probly nothing.” He shrugged and trotted into the forest.

After two minutes of trotting, he saw a blue glow, a light blue glow, off to his left. He saw the twins flying above a patch of blue flowers.

“There you two are!” he said as he trotted over to them, stepping over the flowers. The twins stared at him, both of them being surrounded by light blue glows, coming from the unicorn filly’s horn. “You know, you shouldn’t- aah… aah… aahchoo!” he sneezed, his flames flared brightly, making the twins laugh. They flew over to him and he cradled them in a cradle made of purple fire. “Let’s get you two back to Ponyville… aah… aah… aahchoo!” he sneezed again, almost dropping the twins. Unbeknownst to him, he started a small fire in the patch of flowers, and a petal flutters into his ribcage…
------------------------------------

“Found them!” Arvak cheered as he walked into Sugarcube Corner. It had gotten dark while he was looking. The mares all looked at him in relief, and Ms. Cake ran up to her foals, tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you Arvak, what can we do to thank you?” she asked.

A rumble echoed throughout the room. Everypony turned to Arvak, and laughed.

He joined in too… but then stopped. “Wait, what is everypony laughing at?”
--------------------------------------------------
It was about one in the morning when the train from Canterlot rolled into Ponyville. A tired looking Twilight disembarked from the vessel and made her way home, memories of her visit still fresh in her mind.

“Who knew alicorn foals would be such a handful.” She muttered to herself. She yawned, shrugged her shoulders, and continued home.

When she walked into the library, she was met with the sight that put a smile to her face: Arvak was lying on the couch, snoring slightly. His dull flames flickered with each breath, his ribcage gave off a calming light that practically hypnotized her. 

She forgot she left the door open, and a slight breeze came into the library, making Arvak shudder a bit where he slept on the couch.  Not really thinking, Twilight closed the door, laid down next to him, and pulled a blanket over the both of them.

> Ch9: Poison What Now?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: well, this chapter took a bit of thinking. just a forewarning, sexual content is not described, just referred to.  the poison joke Arvak was exposed to had a very peculiar effect on him, well, two effects. read on and find out. any questions you may have at the end, i will be happy to try and answer.



Ch9: Poison What Now?





Twilight awoke to something nice and warm next to her, warm and fuzzy.  She cuddled up next to it and dug her muzzle into the soft fur that she was sleeping next to. She yawned and snuggled closer to the warm body, and fell back to sleep.
------------------------------------------------

‘SMASH!’

“Twilight!” Spike yelled, jolting both Twilight, and the purple pony next to her…

They looked each other in the eyes, and then they both screamed. Their cries pierced each other’s ears, causing them both to fall backwards, Twilight on the back of the couch, and the other pony onto the floor.

Twilight took a good look at the pony she just woke up next to, and everything about him screamed purple: light purple fur, darker purple mane and tail, and purple eyes, and a cutie mark of a purple flame. His mane and tail flowed in a wavy pattern that reminded her of fire, and it never stayed in the same spot…

“Arvak?” Twilight asked.

“That’s mah name!” He chirped, his voice was a little deeper than when he was a skeleton. “What’s the matter, do I have something in my teeth?” He crossed his eyes and flicked his tongue over his teeth, searching for any intruders.

“Kind of…” Twilight said shakily, levitating a mirror in front of him…

“Cool picture Twilight, who is this… ooh magic picture!” he said joyfully, and Twilight in turn face-hoofed.

“Arvak, pay attention please.” 

“Pay attention? Why would I do that? Who is this attention pony? And why is this picture doing everything… I… do…” he stared at the mirror in disbelief for a few seconds. He pressed a hoof to his chest and felt his heartbeat, combed is hoof through his mane, and then took a deep breath…. “SWEET MERCIFUL MARA! I'M ALIVE!” and then he started freaking out.
-------------------------------------------

The other five elements, Spike, and Trixie stared at the stallion in disbelief. Could this really be Arvak?

“I don’t see what’s wrong; shouldn’t we be happy he is alive?” Trixie asked.

“Yea, ah don’t see nothin wrong ‘bout bein alive, ah like it very much.”  Applejack added.

Meanwhile, Arvak was hyperventilating into a bag, curled into a fetal position. 

“Come on girls, loosen up, this must be very traumatic for him…” Dash started.

“Alright Dash, git your eyes away from his flank.” Applejack ordered as soon as Dash’s eyes strayed to other 
areas.

“What! I can’t help it, he looks hot... did I just say that out loud?”

“Yes Dash, you did.” Trixie deadpanned.

“We should throw a party!” Pinkie yelled.

“Ah don’t think Arvak is up for a party sugarcube.” Applejack countered.

While AJ, Pinkie, and Trixie continued their conversation, Dash continued staring at Arvak with Rarity, making him uncomfortable, while Twilight and Fluttershy tried to calm him down. Spike was nowhere to be seen, probly went somewhere safe for him.

“Easy Arvak, do you know what could have happened that would have cause this?” Twilight asked.

“Um… I can’t seem to remember much, my head is throbbing and I can only remember going after the twins, and then waking up with you screaming in my face.” He answered.

“Hehe, sorry about that.” Twilight apologized sheepishly.

“Where did you go to find the twins? If you don’t mind me asking…” Fluttershy asked.

“I think I was heading to the outskirts of town, but I can’t remember which way I went…” he answered.

“Must either be slight amnesia, or maybe whatever did this, doesn’t want him remembering and turning back.” Twilight theorized.

“Who would want to do that though?” Fluttershy asked, taking a look at Arvak, “not that I'm complaining… did I just say that?” she asked, shocked at what just came out of her mouth.

“I think I might know somepony who would do this.” Twilight growled.  “Spike!”

“Yes Twilight?” spike called from upstairs.

“Get down here; I need you to send a letter!”

“Why does my nose feel all- aah… aah… aahchoo!” Arvak sneezed and a jet of flame erupted from his nostrils, leaving a burn mark on the wall. “Well, that answers that question. “

“Try retracing his steps?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sounds like a plan, go and bring him to her while I send a letter to Celestia.” Twilight agreed.
--------------------------------------------------------

Arvak and the six mares stood before the Everfree forest, the most foreboding place near Ponyville.
“Hmm” Arvak mumbled as he worked his newly acquired brain. “This seems familiar.”

“How so?” Rainbow asked.

“I remember now! I went this way to look for the kids!” he trotted into the forest.

“Take a picture girls, it’ll last longer.” Applejack said, making Rarity and Rainbow blush.

“Sorry if I can’t help myself, that was unprofessional. I’ll control myself from now on…” Rarity said.

“When were ya gonna start?” Applejack asked.

“N-now.” Rarity said, slightly startled. As they started following Arvak.

They trotted for a few minutes before Arvak made a sharp left and they appeared before a burnt field. It seemed as if it was the only thing the fire touched, as it only stayed in that area. 

“That’s weird,” Arvak said. “I could have sworn there were blue flowers here yesterday…”

The mares stared at him in shock. “Did you say blue flowers?” Rarity asked.

“Yes, they were actually pretty nice looking, but I had no time to sniff things, I had to get the Twins and go back.

“The Twins were near Poison Joke!” The four mares shouted in unison.

“What are you all scared of, nothing happened to them, right Arvak?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, they had a blue aura around them, so I think so.” He answered.

“See, told you.” Pinkie chirped.

“If it was poison joke that did this to you, we could go to the spa and get you the cure.” Rarity offered.

“Cool, this constant need to breath is starting to get annoying.” He agreed.
----------------------------------------------

“Hello! How can I help you today?” a pink pony behind the counter asked.

Twilight and Arvak stood in the main lobby of the spa, everypony else having gone about their normal business while Twilight handles this.

“Hey Aloe, my friend here stepped in poison joke and needs the treatment.” Twilight replied. “By the way, where is Lotus, you two are normally doing this together aren’t you?”

“Well, yes, but she had to take the day off and…” Aloe trailed off as her eyes met with Arvak’s.

“Um… can I help you?” he asked.

“Aloe… Aloe… snap out of it!” Twilight waved her hoof in front of the spa pony’s face, effectively snapping her out of her trance.

“S-sorry, just got distracted. I’ll get to running the bath for your friend, he is the one, isn’t he?” she asked, reverting her gaze from Arvak.

“Yep!” he chirped.

“Very well, let’s get going.”

They entered a room with a big tub, and Aloe went into a cupboard and pulled out one of six bottles with a blue flower on it.

She opened it and took a sniff, “smells sweet, I have to thank Zecora for such a mixture, she sure does know her stuff.” 

“Can I smell?” Arvak asked.

“Sure.” she said, still not meeting his gaze.

He fumbled with the bottle in his hooves before he got it into a position where he could smell it. “Your right, it does smel- aah…aah…aahchoo!” he sneezed, shooting flame from his nose, incinerating the bottle and the cabinet. “woops.” He sniffed.

“Um, I’ll pay for that.” Twilight offered.

“Is that the effect the poison joke had on him?” Aloe asked.

“No, Aloe, this is Arvak.” Twilight said while motioning to him.

Aloe stared in shock. “I just had thoughts about bedding a skeleton.” She shuddered.

“Happens to the best of us!” Arvak chirped, putting a hoof around her shoulder.

“I think I'm going to join Lotus on her day off.” she conceded.
---------------------------------------------

“Well, that was… unexpected.” Twilight said, sitting at the round table in the library with Arvak. 

“Well, I think we did good today!” Arvak chirped. “Um… Twilight?”

“Yes Arvak?” Twilight asked.

“What does it mean when I feel this weird pinching sensation between my legs?”

“It means you have to go pee.” She answered.

“Huh… how do I do that?”
-----------------------------------------------------------

“You seriously don’t remember anything from when you were alive?” Twilight asked after a rather messy bathroom break.

“Nope! Been so long since I needed to actually do any biological functions, I actually forgot how to do most of them!” he chirped happily. 

Twilight cringed at the thought of him relearning how to do everything. She sighed. “What a time for Zecora to not be home.” She mumbled.

“Za-who?” Arvak asked.

“A Zebra who specializes in herbal remedies. She lives in a hut in the Everfree forest.” Twilight explained. “Looks like I need to send a letter to the princesses anyway.” She sighed as she picked up a quill and parchment and began to write.

Arvak just sat and waited patiently for her to finish, something stirring in his head.

“Spike!” Twilight called.

“Yes Twilight?” Spike asked, walking out of the kitchen with a pink apron.

“Send this to Celestia.” Twilight said.

“Sure thing Twi. No luck eh Arvak?” Spike asked as he sent the letter with dragon fire.

“Nope.” He said.

“That stinks bro, well, good luck.” Spike said before going back into the kitchen.
------------------------------------------------------------

Spike was stirring a pot of vegetable soup when the reply was sent. His stomach growled and he burped up a letter. Some of the ashes fell into the pot, but he didn’t notice.  

“Hey Twi, letter.” Spike said as he walked into the main lobby, but Twilight and Arvak weren’t there. “Hey Twi! You here?!?” he called.

Something crashed upstairs and the unicorn he was looking for walked down the stairs.

“Wow, Twi, you look like a mess.” Spike commented, her mane and tail were frazzled, yet she had a serene grin on her face.

“Did Celestia reply spike?” she asked in a soft tone.

“No, it was Luna this time… what happened?”

“A conscious choice, anyway, what does she want?” she asked, straightening her mane and tail with a brush, keeping a small smile.

“Well, it says that she is going to come over and help your friend with his problem.” He explained.

“Hmm, does it say when?”

“It says that by the time i-gah!” Spike yelled as the letter burst into blue flames and Luna rose from its ashes.

“Greetings Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said.
-----------------------------------------------------

Luna examined the purple stallion before her, examining every detail, yet seeing nothing out of place.

“Ok, I don’t get it, what is so terribly wrong with him?” she asked.

“Well, Arvak isn’t… well… he wasn’t technically alive to begin with.” Twilight explained.

“Please elaborate.” 

“Ooh! I can do that!” Arvak chirped. Then began the lengthy explanation of how he got here, and what happened over the past few days.

“Well, that is the most peculiar thing I’ve ever heard. You say you stepped in poison joke?”  She asked.

“That’s what the girls call it, but I think this is more of a gift than a joke.  On the other hand, this constant need to breathe and go to the bathroom is starting to get annoying.” He said.

Luna stared at him for a second. “Well, I think I can find a joke in here somewhere, like how you seem to attract mares, have you noticed that?"

“Nope, but it felt different between me and twilight this time.” Arvak answered.

“How so?” Luna asked with a small smile.

“Well we-mmmph.” Arvak was stopped by a purple hoof being shoved into his mouth, one that wasn’t his.

“We shouldn’t really be talking about that.” Twilight laughed. “So Lunaaaaahh!” Twilight yelled when Arvak licked her hoof.

Luna just giggled at their antics. “Well, I don’t thing I need to hear about it anyway. So Arvak, what I can gather, you have a slight allergy to poison joke, only to the point where if you smell it or inhale it you will sneeze. And from what I’ve heard, your sneezes can be violent.”

“Anything else doc?” he asked.

“I happen to know the remedy for poison joke, but it seems you destroyed the field, and burned the supply of treatment at the spa.” Luna scolded.

“Hehe, sorry. Couldn’t stop a sneeze if I tried.” He said.

“Since you destroyed the patch of poison joke nearby, we are going to have to search for another, and that might take a while.”

Arvak started itching his side with a hoof, a small maneuver, but he started doing that before too.

“You alright Arvak?” Twilight asked.

“My side feels all tingly for some reason.” He answered.

Luna shone her horn over the spot, and they could see what was going on inside his body. Near the itchy spot, was a single blue petal?

“It seems we have enough for a bitter potion.” Luna mused.

“Cool.” Arvak said as he flexed his side muscles and watched them move with Luna’s X-ray spell.

Twilight started looking a little green. “Stop that please.” 

“Okay!” Arvak chirped.

Luna stopped her spell and put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Well, we need to find a way to get the petal without harming him.”

“You could try to teleport it out, you are unicorns right?” he asked. They both stared at him with unamused expressions. “What? Can it be done?”

“Yes, but it would require a unicorn with very powerful magic.” Luna explained.

“And how long are we going to pretend that we don’t know anyone with that exact description?” Arvak asked.

They both stared at Twilight. “Do you think I can pull of a spell with that kind of precision?” she asked.

“Other than Sheogorath, I think you are the only one I know who can pull it off.” he explained.

“Flattery will get you nowhere.” Twilight said. “Luna, if you please?” Luna did her X-ray spell again, and the petal showed through Arvak’s side. Twilight’s horn lit up and the petal glowed a purple color.

“Hahaha, that tickles.” Arvak said while laughing.

“St-stop Arvak, this requires you to be very still.” Twilight commanded.

“I got this.” Luna said as she cast a freezing spell over Arvak. He sat stock still as Twilight did her work. Her horn over glowed once, and then the petal teleported itself in front of Twilight in a flash of purple light.

“There we go!” Twilight said triumphantly. 

“Yea, no more having to pee at awkward moments in the day! Speaking of which…” Arvak said as he ran up to the bathroom.

“Quite the catch Twilight.” Luna said, Twilight blushed. “Though I don’t condone necrophilia, I think this might be 
good for you.” Twilight just stared at her in shock.

“L-Luna, whatever are you talking about?” Twilight asked nervously.

“I'm back, can’t say I’m going to miss that.” He said.

“Okay, just give me a few minutes to get the potion done.” Luna then disappeared in a flash of light.

“Well, pretty soon things will go back to-“

“WAIT!” somepony yelled, interrupting Twilight. A Rainbow blur barged through the door with several other mares in tow, Rarity and Aloe being a few among the crowd.

“Rainbow, what are you doing!?!” Twilight yelled. She looked at the door.  “What are you all doing here!”

“Getting our fair share!” Rainbow yelled, her normal magenta eyes sporting a ghostly purple haze, just like the mares in the crowd.

“Wh-what? Arvak!” Twilight called.

“Welp, that’s it for me. Looks like I'm in some deep stuff here, see you soon Twi!” Arvak yelled casually as he was being hauled off by Rainbow and Rarity.

“Sweet Celestia.” Twilight mumbled.

A bright flash signaled Luna’s arrival back. “I'm back and… did I miss anything.”

> Ch10: Back to Normal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch10: Back to Normal





“I AM NOT A TOY!” Arvak yelled as he ran from the large mob of mares. He was recently able to break free from their grasps, and is being chased by ponies with hungry looks.

“Get back here!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she dove for him. He dodged to the side, making her face plant into the ground.

“Sorry!” he yelled. Another mare jumped for him from the side, and almost got him before he swerved around a market stall, making her jump into it. “Sorry again, just running for my life!”

He ran towards a stack of crates and used them to climb on the room of a nearby building. He kicked the stack down, stopping the mares from getting up to him.

“Aha! My plan worked!” a Pegasus almost grabbed him as she swooped over his head. “I guess I forgot you could fly and… run!” he darted along the rooftops.

“Follow him! He’s bound to run out of roofs!” somepony yelled as the mob went after him from below.

“I hope Luna gets back soon, I'm running out of air…” he ducked under another pony and then jumped onto another roof. He was about to make another, but skidded to a halt. “crud.” A pair of pegasi swooped towards him. “To oblivion with this!” he shouted as he jumped off the roof, away from the mares grasps.

He sailed over the waiting hooves of the other mares as he started running again, back into town. The unicorns must have been getting desperate, either that or they just remembered they had magic, because bolts of it whizzed by him. He turned around a corner and into an alleyway. He put on a burst of speed, but stopped yet again as half the mob appeared on one side, and half on the other.

“Hmm, horny ground ponies I can’t outfight, or pegasi I can outmaneuver if I can get on the roofs again… choices choices.” The mares were getting closer. “EEP!” he yelled, wall jumping onto the roofs. “Sick!” he yelled as he dodged under another Pegasus.

“Gotcha!” rainbow yelled as she grabbed him when he wasn’t looking. “Your all mine now!” she giggled and sped away from the other ponies.

“Did I mention that I didn’t like this!” he yelled. He got cloud in his mouth and started choking on it. “Blech! Cloud does not taste like marshmallows!” he yelled.

“Oh we are going to have so much fun! This is going to be awesome!” she yelled. Her house is coming into view, and Arvak’s mind immediately went elsewhere.

“Forgive me.” he said. Rainbow looked at him confused, and he bit onto her foreleg.

“GAH!” she yelled, letting him fall towards Equestria. “Oh drat.” She cursed and flew after him.

She inched closer and closer until….

“Nope!” Luna yelled and teleported him away from Rainbow. A look of panic stretched across her face as she fell towards the ground. She splatted comically onto the earth with her legs and wings spread out.

“Oooowwww.”  She groaned.
-----------------------------------------------------------

One bright flash later and they joined Twilight at Applejacks barn. Luna had Arvak floating in her telekinesis; he looked relieved to be out of that situation.

“Hi Twilight.” He chirped, startling Luna, making her drop him. “Ow.”

“Great job Luna.” Twilight congratulated.

“Ya might wanna hurry sugarcube, ah don’t know how much longer Mac an I can hold ‘em off!” Applejack yelled.

“Right, Luna, the potion!” Twilight said.

Luna hoofed over the vial to Twilight, who with her telekinesis forced Arvak to drink every last drop.

“Blech! That’s disgusting!” he shouted.

“I hear him in here!” a voice yelled from outside.

“Move Applejack!” another sounded.

“EEP! Gotta hide!” he yelped as he jumped into a bale of hay.

The door burst open and mares poured in, prowling hungrily towards Luna and Twilight.

“This is the end isn’t it?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe for you, but I still got three lives left.” Luna replied. Twilight gulped nervously. A bright purple light flashed behind them, and then a wave of magic pulsed from behind the bushel of hay, knocking everypony out of the barn.

“Everypony okay?” Twilight asked.

“Whoa, how’d I get here?” Rainbow dash asked. “What is everypony doing lying around?” she asked while looking around.

“Amnesia. Luna, do you think we should tell them all?” Twilight asked. “Luna?” the alicorn in question was lying a few feet away in a tree.
------------------------------------------------------

“Okay, note to self, avoid flowers at all costs.” Arvak said as he got out of his hiding place. He felt better, he felt… well… dead is how he felt. He formed a flame claw in his hoof, “it’s good to be undead again.” He sighed.

He walked through the busted down barn door and saw ponies with expressions ranging from shock, confusion, and horrified. 

“Hi everypony!” he chirped as he walked next to Twilight and Luna.

“Arvak, we were just talking about you.” Twilight said.

“Yes we were, and the mares of Ponyville would like to extend a combined apology for their actions while you were afflicted by Poison Joke.” Luna added.

“Yea, what’s up with what happened, I thought it was only supposed to play one joke on me?” Arvak asked.

“Well, it seems that with one still in your system, it built up magic and afflicted the mares you met, sort of like Estrus, and the mares all only want to get off by you. It released said magic when it left your system, explaining why Rainbow had such bad timing when she took you.” she explained.

“Well… um… I don’t even know how to respond to that… what a joke to play if you ask me.” 

“Yes well, it is very good to see that you are unharmed and unmolested. If you require anything else, I shall be available during the Gala tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!?!?” Twilight yelled. “Oh my gosh I need to get ready!” she said in a Pinkie-like manner and ran off.

“Okay moving on!” Arvak said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the day was spent with Arvak listening and accepting the apologies of almost every mare in Ponyville, all except a few. Fluttershy (who was found strapped to a chair in her home), Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Luna and Twilight, who were not affected by the Poison Joke's effects.

Arvak plopped down on the couch in the library, and looked lazily to his right. He saw Twilight passed out with her head snoozing on the circular table, drooling slightly. He got up, walked over to her, and brought her to her bed upstairs. He walked back to his couch, plopped back down, and fell asleep for the night, excited for what the next day might bring.


A/N: Poison joke arc is done, and now to work on the gala. like always, tell me what you think of the chapter.
> Ch11: The Gala
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch11: the Gala





Twilight slowly opened her eyes as she left the world of dreams, and what an odd dream she had. It was similar to the one where she met Arvak, but instead she was in an Ashland with a flying jellyfish. She sighed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with her hooves. Judging by how she feels nothing next to her, or near her except for Spike, the dream was just a dream.

She looked at the position of the sun in the sky. “Almost time to go to Canterlot. Might as well wake Arvak up and get the dresses from Rarity.” She said sleepily to herself. She got out of bed and drearily walked past a sleeping baby dragon to wake up the purple undead and start her day.

-------------------------------------------

About a mile up the mountain Canterlot rests on, an odd creature awoke.  It slightly resembled an armored jellyfish as its underside glowed a pale blue. Its six tentacles hung loosely underneath its belly. Unlike jellyfish though, this one seemed to float above the ground and have what looked like a tail.

It made a confused gurgling noise as it ‘looked’ around at its surroundings. It opened its maw and yawned, but it closed it sharply as it tasted something familiar in the air. It turned towards the sent and opened its maw again, tasting the air like a snake would to track prey. It smelled something sweat, which made it stomach rumble. The floating creature happily hovered to the source of the smell, humming a low tune to itself.

----------------------------------------------

Arvak looked at Rarity like she had two heads. What was offered to him was a blatant sign of disrespect and humility, a crime against masculinity itself!

“I’m not wearing a dress.” He said sternly to the fashionista after taking his eyes off the dress. It was a lighter red than his disguised coat would be, it also had designs going around it that resembled wisps of fire.

“Well, I do apologize for this, but maybe we can come to some sort of agreement?” she asked, looking towards Trixie for help.

Trixie just smiled evil at the idea that came to her. “Trixie believes she has just the thing.”

Arvak looked at her glowing horn and then back at the dress. “Rarity, make me a vest, in the meantime, I'm going to run for my life.” And with that final word, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke; the distinct slam of a door could be heard.

“Come back here!” Trixie yelled running after him.

“This I gotta see.” Rainbow said with a mischievous smile as she followed the blue mare out the door. Four other mares joined her soon after while Rarity began to work on a vest that would go well with red.

-------------------------------------------------------

“I DON’T WANT TO DIE!” Arvak yelled as Trixie sent magic blast after magic blast at him while running after his skeletal butt.

“Trixie promises that this spell will only hurt your pride and nothing more!” she yelled back.

“Run Arvak Run!” Rainbow yelled as she, Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie watched in amusement.

Pinkie took a hoof-full of popcorn and popped it in her mouth, “Yea go Arvak!” she yelled, pieces of popcorn falling out of her mouth as she did so.

The door to the boutique opened up and Arvak rushed for it, almost getting hit a few times. He dove through the door and slammed it shut behind him.

Trixie was going too fast to slow down, and with a loud yelp, she slid face first into the waiting door.

Arvak opened the door, to which Trixie was plastered on, “Hi girls! Rarity finished the vest and said to come in to get your dresses.” He said cheerfully and then looked around. “Anyone see Trixie?”

Rainbow snickered, “Nope, but when we do we will let her know.”

“Okay then!” he went back inside, closing the door behind him. When the door clicked, Trixie fell off and onto her flank.

“Trixie is going to take a nap now.” She said shakily as she fell backwards and promptly passed out.

Rainbow and Pinkie nearly split their sides laughing at Trixie while the others ran to her aid.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The vest was simple: black with white buttons. It complimented the shade of red that Arvak’s fur was at the moment… well… black would go well with red no matter what. The more he thinks about it, the more tired he is of the combination, but that is of no importance right now.

Apparently the girls grew since last Gala, and Rarity for some reason or another, had to remake the dresses… Arvak was definitely impressed by the looks of the gowns that the six mares adorned.

“Close your mouth you simpleton, unless you want to attract flies.” Trixie stated as she noticed Arvak’s particularly long lasting gaze at Twilight.

“Oh hush Trixie; he just knows good fashion when he sees it.” Rarity said, throwing the last of her luggage on top of the carriage the girls were using.         

“Gee Rarity, seems like you packed everything but the kitchen sink.” Arvak commented.

“Really, I better check… I'm sure I packed that too…” she thought out loud as she went up to scan the suitcases she brought. The girls groaned and face-hoofed while Arvak snickered quietly to himself.

“Let’s go Arvak, don’t want to keep potential fans waiting!” Trixie exclaimed, levitating him over to her trailer and hooking him up to it.

“Why am I pulling this again?” he asked.

“Does it look like I can hire anypony else to pull this carriage?” she asked.

Arvak thought for a moment. “Yes?”

“It was a rhetorical question genius.”

“Thank you for the compliment!” Trixie slapped her hoof to her face when he said this.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The floating creature took in all the scents of what may have been a city in front of it. The air felt cool, meaning it was close to night time, and the many scents of food, which meant a party was going on. Either Sanguine decided to party with mortals, or the Dunmer were celebrating a holiday. He could also smell something… different… various flavors permeated the air, it intoxicated the beast. It hummed happily and floated down towards the party.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Twilight, I love you, but that is possibly the craziest thing I have ever heard you say.” Shining Armor said when his sister told him about Arvak. “One because skeletons are dead, therefore unable to do the various things you mentioned, and two because the pony is standing right next to you.”

Admittedly, Twilight could have thought it through when she decided to introduce Arvak to her brother. He was still in Trixie’s illusion shell, so he was fooling all the Canterlot ponies, and now definitely, her brother.

“I’ll take off his spell then.” She told Shining Armor.

“What?” was all he got out before Twilights horn lit up and showed her brother the skeleton that Arvak is. He stared at Arvak, his mind failing to process the fact that he is a living skeleton, so he did what any sane pony would do. “Okay nice trick, now change him back.”

“It’s no trick” Twilight said as she removed Arvak’s head with her magic.

“Um… Twilight, you know I need my head attached to my body to do stuff, right?” Arvak asked.

Shining Armor stared at the skeleton with a confused expression. He took the head from his sister’s magical grasp and put it back on the skeleton. He then proceeded to prod the different areas around Arvak’s body to see if this was some really complex illusion, when he confirmed that Arvak was indeed a skeleton, he turned back to his sister with a surprisingly calm look on his face.

“Not once have I ever thought that in my lifetime I would see something like this. Twilight, did you take up necromancy?” he asked.

Twilight gave him a questioning look. “No, I haven’t.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you right now sis…”

“I could tell you how he got here if you want.” she offered.

“Sure, go ahead.” He said curiously..

“Well it happened one night while I was asleep-”

“WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME IS THAT MONSTROSITY!?!?” a shrill yet somehow masculine voice rang out.

“Oh I do not need this right now.” Twilight sighed.

“You there, guard! Dispose of this refuse at once!” a familiar white coated stallion with a blond mane demanded.

“Twilight?” Shining asked, looking at his sister with a concerned look.

“Um…” Twilight was coming up blank.

“Why do you hesitate? Dispose of this… thing so the Gala can go on prop- wait… I remember you. You and your delinquent friends ruined last year’s Gala! Guard, I order you to arrest this mare and the rest of those in her group at once!” he demanded.

Arvak stepped forward. “Look Blondie-”

“My name is Prince Blueblood.”

Arvak gave the stallion a blank look. “Blondie, if you’re going to do any harm to my friends then you will have to go through me!” He taunted.

“So you wish to fight me in a duel? Then I accept your challenge! But do something about… all this… you wouldn’t want to frighten the good upstanding ponies of Canterlot with your hideous look now do you?” he laughed as he started to walk past. “We shall duel tonight at eight! Be there, and lose like a stallion, or run like a coward.”

As Blueblood trotted away, Arvak took one last look at his future opponent. “That guy’s rude you know that?”

“Arvak you do know that he challenged you at the same time you and Trixie are supposed to perform right?” Twilight said.

Arvak put a hoof to his chin in thought. “Idea~”

Twilight hit him with a newspaper. “No, never do that again!” she ordered.

“Okay.” He conceded. “But I do have an idea… where did you get that?” he asked looking at the front page. The headline was ‘Photo Finish: new line slacking in “Da Magicz.”’ “They couldn’t have thought of a better headline couldn’t they?” he asked.

“Yea… wait, we got sidetracked, you were saying?”

“Oh yea, my idea… no time Twilight, I need my disguise up pronto!” he said with a determined expression.

Twilight sighed, but did as she was asked. When Arvak was… looking like a proper pony, he ran off to who knows where.

“You do realize he doesn’t know his way around?” Shining asked.

“Oh sweet Celestia.” Twilight said before running off after Arvak. Shining just shook his head and walked back to his room in the castle, eager to relieve some stress with his wife.

------------------------------------------------------------

“That went well, if I do say so myself.” Arvak said happily as he and Twilight made it to the courtyard of the castle where the first few guests started to arrive.

“Arvak, you knocked over a bust, ran into a cake, nearly gave Luna a heart attack when you fell on top of her in the library, knocked a bust of Celestia on top of a maid, and then finally, without me even knowing how, you got stuck hanging from the chandelier in the princesses throne room from your tail!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Yea, but it was fun right?” he asked cheerfully, licking the last bit of cake from his teeth.

Twilight’s eye just twitched when he said this. “Let’s just, get you ready for when you duel Blueblood in…” she looked at the sundial Trixie’s trailer was parked next to. “Two… wait; this is a sun dial, the moons out! The duel could start any minute!” she yelled.

“Well hello Twilight and Arvak. Arvak, are you ready for the show, ponies from all over the area are coming to see you and The Great an Powerful Trixie perform!” she squealed.

“Um, about that Trixie…” Twilight started.

Arvak spoke up, “some stallion named Blueballs-”

“Blueblood.” Twilight corrected.

“Blueblood, challenged me to a duel and I need your stage for it.” he finished.

Trixie just stared at him for a moment, gears turning in her head. “When is your duel?”

“The same time as our show.” He said, still smiling.

Now it was Trixie’s turn to be slightly aggravated. “What do you expect me to do with the show then!?”

“Why not have the duel be the show?” Arvak suggested.

Both mares stared at him in shock. “Arvak… that-that’s the first thing I ever heard you say that might actually be smart…” Trixie said.

“Thank you for the compli- hey wait a minute…” both mares laughed at him.

“So how do you plan on doing this?” Trixie asked.

“Oh you know, background music, some sound effects, maybe you could set off some fireworks when one of us wins.” He replied.

“Hmm… I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can get that mare Vinyl to do something…” she continued to mutter as she went back into her trailer.

“Okay… so we have that taken care of… what now?” Arvak asked.

“Come up with a plan that doesn’t involve you getting skewered.” Twilight replied.

“I won’t get skewered, no meat, can’t make a kebab with me if you tried.” He chirped.

“You know what I meant.” She said, shoving him playfully.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The crowd gathered in front of Trixie’s trailer, waiting for the show to start like a good audience. In a puff of smoke, their hostess appeared.

“Welcome mares and gentlecolts of Canterlot.” She said in a regal tone. “You have come here to see the magic of The Great and Powerful Trixie! But I regret to inform you that I will not be performing any magic for you, as my idiot assistant has got himself in some hot water. Instead, you will be greeted by a duel, between Blueblood and the Magnificent Firebolt!”

Just then, Blueblood trotted onto stage with his head held high. The crowd stomped their hooves lightly, which made him smirk. Arvak on the other hoof chose a different approach: backstage, he disappeared in a ball of fire and then snaked around the trailer. He used thin tendrils of fire to make his way onto stage. Several of the ponies thought the stage was on fire as he brought them all together. The fire bulged off the stage and took the form of a pony, then dispersed, showing Arvak in his Firebolt disguise.

The crowd positively loved this, Blueblood however didn’t. “Are you done playing? Good, you there, peasant.”

“Who, me?” Trixie asked.

“Yes you, explain the rules to this fool.” He demanded.

“Be lucky Trixie doesn’t hurt you, Firebolt will do it himself. So assistant, the rules are simple; you will use a sword that is only sharp at the point… I think it’s called a rapier. You two will duel till one of you concedes, do be dears and humiliate each other as much as possible.”

She walked back a bit and stood next to Vinyl. “Alright you two, the rules have been explained; let’s get this started!”  Vinyl yelled into the mic as she started up some music. It had steady beats that kept the blood flowing during activities like fights. It had some guitar flow too, but it wouldn’t be this music the crowd would remember….

“Really? No matter, you will still lose.” Blueblood said as he lunged, his sword forward with his magic.

Only to find Arvak had disappeared.

“Where did you go?” he heard the crowd giggle and he turned towards them. “What’s so funny? Is there something in my ma-” he shrieked in surprise to find Arvak standing on his head, grinning like a fool.

“Hey there buddy.” He said. Blueblood swatted at him and only managed to trim his mane as Arvak deftly dodged the attack.

“Stop moving!” he yelled in frustration as he chased Arvak around the stage.

Vinyl chose this moment to use some comedic chase music. The crowd sure liked it, because they couldn’t stop laughing when Blueblood tripped and fell on his face.  While that happened, Trixie used her horn to make the sound of china breaking; sending the crowd into hysterics.

Blueblood’s previously white face was now red in anger. The silly music kept playing as he and Arvak stared each other off, but Arvak instead had a stupid smile on his face.

“Ha! Now I have you!” Blueblood swung his sword. Arvak jumped over it.

“Wrong.” He said.

“Grrr. Now I have you!” he swung again.

Arvak ducked under this one. “Wrong again.”

“Grah! I will get you this time!” he gave a heavy overhead swing.

Arvak sidestepped it. “You sure are wrong a lot.”

Blueblood growled menacingly and tried to cut and stab the red pony he was facing. Much to his annoyance, the pony just dodged each attack, until they got to the edge of the stage.

“Ha-ha! Now you’re mine!” he yelled. He stabbed forward, only to have Arvak jump on his head.

“Aren’t you tired of being wrong?” he said, and then used the royal pains head as a springboard and leapt farther onstage. This caused Blueblood to fall forward off the stage and face first into a puddle of mud.

The crowd lost it, if they were in hysterics before; they just split their sides laughing at the now muddy royal pony. He looked up from the mud, his mane in a mess and looked around at the laughing crowd in front of him. He panicked and ran off towards the castle, yelling something about the princesses and dungeons.

“How was that folks!” Vinyl yelled as she turned off the music. The crowd just cheered for the victor. Trixie took this moment to set off a few fireworks to celebrate Arvak’s victory. He struck a heroic pose as a camera flashed in the audience.

“Thank you for coming out tonight! It has been a pleasure, but sadly Trixie must pack up.” the crowd made a united noise of disappointment. “If you wish to see more, my assistant and I may be persuaded to play, we will stay around Ponyville if you require our services.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

“Yeehaw! That was some mighty fine fighten there Arvak!” Applejack yelled at Doughnut Joes café.

“He sure was wrong a lot during the duel though, makes you wonder if he is as smart as he acts.” Arvak said, putting his still disguised red hoof to his chin in thought.

“Yeah that was amazing! When we get back to Ponyville we should have a ‘Just beat a royal snob in a duel’ Party!” Pinkie yelled excitedly.

“YEAH!” Arvak agreed.

Suddenly, a giant bag of bits hit the table the six mares and one dragon were sitting at. The owner, a blue unicorn standing beside a white unicorn, both grinning widely.

“You will not believe how many bits we racked up from that duel” Trixie yelled.

“The publicity from this will make us rich!” Vinyl agreed.

“Holy hay that’s a lot of bits.” Spike said while staring wide eyed at the bag.

“How in Eq-” Twilight started.

“MONSTER!” somepony outside yelled.

Twilight sighed. “Well, no rest for the wicked as they always say.”

---------------------------------------------------------

The creature floated about the plaza as small equines ran about him, screaming for their lives. You’d think someone was running around naked brandishing a scimitar again. It contemplated on its time near Raven Rock, and remembered the first time alcohol ran along its tongue, just thinking about that pleasurable experience made him hum happily as he tried to locate the nearest alcoholic beverage.

Some white horses flew down around him brandishing spears, trying to corral it, but it had none of that. The creature used its tentacles to disarm each guard around him as it made its way to the refreshment table. It quickly ate up anything that smelled good, and picked up all their tastes in his mouth.

‘Apple, grape, some sort of cake…’ its mind kept going on until it got to some purple liquid. The guards just stared at as the creature drank up the liquid. When it finished with the bowl, it floated backwards and started to tilt to the right, and then to the left.

One of the guards became brave and flew over and poked the creature in the tail. In response, he drunkenly spun in a circle for one rotation. Seeing the floating jellyfish as no threat, the guards relaxed slightly and even laughed as it roamed around the courtyard.

Eight mares, a stallion, and a baby dragon galloped over to where the guards were watching the creature chase its tail drunkenly next to the statue of Celestia.

“What is that thing?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know, but it flew over the wall and started eating from the table. When it drank the punch it started to fly about like Razor after a few drinks.” He laughed, the before mentioned Pegasus socked him in the shoulder.

“Hey, I aint that much o’ a lightweight!” he said indignantly.

“Um, guards?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes?” they both said in unison.

“What should we-” she was cut off when the creature made a choking sound. It tilted to the sides a few times before throwing up glowing cyan blue bile onto the ground.

“EW! That stuff smells disgusting!” Rainbow yelled, and frankly, everypony else agreed with her.

“Wait, I know what that is!” Arvak yelled.

“Well… don’t keep us waiting.” Applejack said.             

“It’s a Netch! A native to the province of Morrowind! What I can’t figure out is what it’s doing here.” he said, putting a hoof to his chin in thought.

Pinkie on the other hoof, decided to do a more in depth investigation, and by that she casually trotted over to the glowing bile, picked some up with a hoof, and ate it.

“Pinkie! How disgusting.” Rarity yelled.

“What? It tastes delicious!” she chirped as she shoved another hoof full into her mouth.

Everyone but Arvak, and Rainbow recoiled in disgust. The two decided to try this mystery puke for themselves, and even though it smelled bad, it tasted heavenly.

“Oh my goddess!” Rainbow yelled. “Applejack this stuff is better than your Zap apples!”

“T’aint possible.” AJ retorted as she tried a bit for herself. Her ears drooped in shame. “Ah can't believe ahm sayin this, but you’re actually right for once sugarcube.”

Fluttershy made her way to the sick Netch. “Aw you poor thing, don’t worry, mama Fluttershy will make you feel all better.” She said while attempting to hug the armored creature.

In response, the Netch nuzzled her, a little too forcefully, knocking her flight off balance and tumbling to the floor. It quickly picked her back up with a tentacle and placed her on its back.

“Thanks big guy.” She said.

“So… anypony know how this Netch got here?” a regal voice said behind the group. Only Rarity, Twilight, Trixie, Vinyl, the guards, the Netch and Fluttershy turned to see an amused looking Celestia and Luna.

“Heh-heh-heh.” Twilight laughed shamefully.

“Twilight, is there something you wish to share with the rest of us?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, we wish to know how you are involved with this thing being here.” Luna agreed.

“Well, you see, when Arvak came here, I saw him in a dream I had. I had a similar dream with this Netch here; the only difference was that it didn’t show up in my bed this morning.” Twilight replied.

“So you’re basically a portal to another world? Awesome!” Rainbow yelled, startling the group.

“No! Not awesome! I don’t want anything else making it into Equestria through my dreams Rainbow!” Twilight yelled.

“We can fix that for you, it may take a bit, so you will have to stay in Canterlot while we work. You can meet up in Ponyville with you friends when we are done.” Luna offered.

“Or I could remove the rune from the back of her head.” Arvak mentioned.

The group just stared at him confused. He then moved Twilight's mane out of the way to reveal an imprint of the symbol of conjuration stamped on the back of her head.

“Oh yea, look at that.” Razor said.

“You can get rid of it?” Luna asked.

“Low level rune, even a Nord can get rid of something like this.” He pressed a hoof to the rune, and then removed it. To everypony’s surprise and relief, the rune was gone.

“Well, that saved us a lot of time and trouble.” Luna said.

Celestia just smiled at Arvak and Twilight as they and their friends had went to have fun the Netch. The guards, seeing as there was no real threat, went back to the castle.

“Does something amuse you sister?” Luna asked Celestia.

“Oh nothing, but I believe Twilight made the right choice in taking a liking to Arvak.”

“You realize he is undead?”

“Yes, but crazier things have happened; remember you and the timber wolf?” Celestia said playfully.

Luna gasped. “Sister, thou promised to never speak of that month again!”

“Oh lighten up Luna; I'm just saying that stranger things have happened.”

Luna sighed in defeat, but smiled as she looked at the group of ponies and their new friend. “Sister?”

“Yes Luna?”

“Who do you think put that rune on Twilight?” Luna asked, her smile turning into a slight frown.

“I don’t know, it was magic I haven’t seen before, we should be cautious from now on in case the culprit decides to reveal themselves.” Celestia answered.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Discord gave an angry sigh. His trick was found out, he was sure that he would get something useful from that spell, not an idiot and a domestic jelly.  He looked over the rest of Canterlot to find something to distract his now idle mind, and then came up with a grand idea.

“Maybe that undead snot will be of use to me after all…” He said while rubbing his paw and talon together, laughing quietly to himself.

> ch12: Surprise?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch12: surprise?






Arvak yawned deeply as he returned to the land of the awake.  He gave his pillow one last tight hug before letting go and sitting up. Twilight was nice enough to offer him her old room to stay in after the Gala; the only problem was that he was teleported to the room, meaning he never met her parents. Granted her brother took his appearance pretty well, but that might have been expected since he is captain of the royal guard, so he would he used to strange occurrences when dealing with the princesses.

The room itself was like he would expect, books everywhere! On the walls, on the ceiling, on the floor, and one under the pillow… he would have to ask her about that one. The general color scheme was purple, like her coat, and would make it difficult to find him if he decided to hide.

He thought back to last night and remembered the fun he had with Equestria’s newest addition. It seems that even when you’re having fun, you still have to be careful, and one thing he didn't know, is that Netch have a minor ability to control their stings, though it doesn't always work. Rainbow was a perfect candidate for that when she kept weaving through them like an obstacle course. Long story short, even the Netch was laughing.

His train of thought was derailed when Twilight teleported into the room. Her mane was disheveled and she gave a big yawn. She looked tired beyond belief, if the bags under her eyes were any indication.

“Hey Arvak, you awake?” she asked.

He waved a hoof in front of her eyes, only getting a slow, Gummy styled blink from her.

“You okay Twilight?” he asked.

She gave another big yawn. “I'm fine, just a little tired, but not tired enough to teleport us to the castle for breakfast.”

She started to charge up her horn, but Arvak had other ideas. He gave it a flick with his hoof, and her whole head bobbed back and forth.

“You should get some more rest. I’ll go to the kitchen and see if I can’t get you something.” He said to her.

“Do you know where the kitchen is?” she asked. “And the room I'm staying in for that matter?”

“Nope! But has that ever stopped me?” he joked.

“No, but you did leave a trail of destruction once, one I'm sure my parents can do without.” She deadpanned.

“Then what do you suggest?” he asked, laughing nervously.

“I go get breakfast.” She said, determined despite how tired she looked.

Arvak put a hoof to his chin in thought, “hmm… nope!” he chirped happily.

“Why are you so insistent, I'm-”  *yawn*  “fine.” Twilight argued.

“You just yawned, you’re tired.” Arvak insisted, poking her side.

Twilight giggled, “You have no proof.”

“I will get you breakfast.” He insisted.

Twilight just sighed, “Alright…”

“Yay!”

“But I'm going with you, this way I can calm my parents down.”

“From what?” Arvak asked, genuine confusion plastered on his skull.

Twilight just gave him her most unamused look. “You seriously just asked that?”

“What?”

“Remember Ponyville’s first reaction?”

“Nope!”

‘THUD!’

“You okay Twilight? I think you dented the wall.”

“Ow…”
----------------------------------------------------

Twilight’s parents, a blue unicorn stallion with a dark blue mane and tail with two crescent moons as a cutie mark and a grey colored unicorn mare with a purple and white striped mane and tail with three stars as her cutie mark, both sat in the kitchen at a table and drank from their respective cups of coffee. The modest kitchen they sat in had the table in the center, in the right corner, next to a counter that ran along the back wall with an oven and washing machine built in, sat the fridge. A window sat above the oven, looking over the glowing city of Canterlot, well, it was glowing from the heat of the day; it was the middle of summer.

“Honey?” the stallion asked from around his coffee.

“Yes dear?” she replied.

“Is it too early for a cold beer?”

“Not on a day like today, I’ll get two.” The mare used her magic to levitate two ‘Dos Piedras’ from the fridge. She popped the caps off and gave one to her husband, and kept one for herself.

“Thanks hun.” He said, taking a sip of the cool beverage in exchange for his coffee.

“I don’t know why we insisted on making coffee today, next thing you know we-”

“We what?” he asked, gazing at his wife’s confused face.

“Hun… are you pulling a prank on me again?” she asked.

“What?” he asked, following her gaze. “When did we get the fake skeleton?”

The bundle of bones in question walked past the two confused ponies and to the fridge, opening said machine, and withdrawing two slices of watermelon and balancing them on what appeared to be wings made of purple fire. They followed it with their eyes as it left the room and heard the clip clops of hooves on stairs.

“Twilight.” They said in unison.
---------------------------------------

“Hey Twily.” Arvak said as he walked back into Twilights bedroom.

The mare in question leaned up in her bed, a bandage around her head. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stared at the fruit he brought for her.

“How did it go with my parents?” she asked.

“Who?” he asked.

She stared at him, her left eye twitched and she sighed deeply before levitating a melon to her and taking a bite. She chewed for a bit and swallowed, then turned to the undead pony next to the bed. “Arvak, were there two ponies down in the kitchen?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see them?”

“Yes.”

“Did they talk to you or show any form of reaction to seeing you?”

Arvak went to open his mouth to talk when Twilight’s parents walked into the room and sat on either side of Arvak, both looking to Twilight for answers. Arvak blinked twice, looking between the three ponies before making his way out slowly.

“Sit.” The grey mare ordered. Arvak immediately planted his rump on the floor with 
a ‘thud’ next to her.

“Twilight,” Her father started, “what in Equestria is this?” he motioned to the skeleton.

Twilight looked over to Arvak, then back to her father. “Just Arvak being Arvak.” 
She answered.

“And how did this… Arvak show up?” her mother asked.

“Magic!” he chirped, scaring both of them.

“Sweet Celestia it talks!” the mare yelled.

“Yep, and it’s great to meet you!” He said with a smile on his bony head, extending a hoof for one of them to shake.

Twilight smacked a hoof to her face, but just as soon as she was going to respond…

“Well, I certainly didn’t expect that. My name is Dazzle.”  The mare said as she shook his hoof.

“And I'm Comet.” The Stallion continued as he in turn shook the bony hoof.

Twilight stared in shock at how easily Arvak managed to turn the situation from tense to normal, or as normal as it can get with a talking skeleton around.

“Twily dear, close your mouth, you’ll attract flies.” Dazzle giggled at Twilights expression.

“I'm going to finish my melon, then I'm going back to sleep. You three can talk somewhere that’s not here.” she said, using her magic to shoo the three out of her room.

“She always like this?” Arvak asked.

“Only when stuff doesn’t make sense.” Comet replied, chuckling to himself. Dazzle joining him.
-------------------------------------------------------------

“So you were chased around Ponyville just because of the effects of poison joke?” Comet asked.

“Yep! You should have seen what some of the mares did, especially Blossom, didn’t think a Pegasus could bend like that.” Arvak said with a shiver.

“What are you guys talking about?” Twilight asked as she entered the kitchen where Arvak and her parents were sitting, looking less tired and even got rid of the bandage on her head.

“Just our latest escapades around Ponyville.” Arvak answered.

“Twilight, you definitely make the best of friends don’t you.” Comet commented.

“Well, yes I do…” she agreed, though slightly confused. “Arvak, what did you tell them?”

“nothing.” He replied innocently.

“Oh he told us everything honey.” Dazzle said.

“Even-”

“yes.” Her father butted in.

“Sweet Celestia Arvak, what did I tell you about doing that?” she face hoofed.

“Technically, you said nothing, just interrupted me whenever I was about to.” He replied.

“But we do not tell other ponies about that!” she yelled, waving her hooves about.

“Calm down Twilight, we actually approve of this.” Dazzle put in.

“What?” Twilight asked, completely thrown for a loop. 

“With any luck, the poison joke incident may have gotten us grandfoals!” she clapped her hooves together with a big smile on her face.

“You would try to make that sound positive.” Twilight sighed.

“Twily, having foals is an amazing thing.” Dazzle said.

“Hey, Arvak.” Comet whispered.

“Yes.”

“Let’s grab some beer and head for the living room.”

“Okay…” he agreed, grabbing some alcohol from the fridge and following Comet, leaving Twilight and Dazzle to their talk.

Once situated in the rather nice living area, complete with couch, bookcase (no surprise), coffee table, and recliner. Comet sat back with the beer in hoof, and Arvak on the couch with his fire claw holding the beverage.

“So, you think she really has them?” Comet asked.

“Has what?” Arvak replied, tilting his head in confusion.

“Foals you bone head.” Comet joked.

“I hope not, I’ve seen what human kids can do, I shudder to think what chaos pony foals can unleash.” Arvak said with a shudder.

“So you don’t want a kid to carry on your bloodline?” Comet asked.

“If you’re asking if I want a couple little skeletal foals running around wreaking havoc like I somehow seem to do, then probably no.”

“Well, if what you told me about the poison joke incident is true then-”

“I’M WHAT!!!” a shrill voice boomed throughout the house that could put the Royal Canterlot Voice to shame.

“I think that’s your cue to run.” Comet said to Arvak with a somewhat scared look.

“Now why would I-” ‘poof’ he was cut off as he disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke, causing Comet to cough a few times. He sighed and finished the last few sips of his beer before taking Arvak’s barely touched bottle and downing that too.
-----------------------------------------

Arvak reappeared in Twilights bedroom with a ‘POP’ and fell on her bed. He sat up and looked around, seeing the room in the same clean state as before, but with a peeved Twilight and a grinning Dazzle in front of him.

“Did I miss something?” he asked.

“Don’t feign ignorance Arvak you-”

“Twilight, dear, I doubt he knows what feign means.” Dazzle interrupted.

“Nope!” he chirped.

“What Twilight was going to calmly say, is that she is with foal.” Dazzle continued.

“What?” he asked.

“I'm pregnant bone head!” Twilight said as she tapped his skull.

“How in the world did… oh.” He suddenly had a dawn of realization as to what could have caused this. “Wait…”

“What?” Dazzle asked.

“Doesn’t a mare need to be in heat to have foals?” Arvak questioned.

Twilight thought for a moment before remembering that herself. “Yes, and my heat isn’t until next week.” she mused.

“So then how…”

“Poison joke?” Dazzle offered.

“How is me getting pregnant funny?” Twilight asked.

“Infant shenanigans?” Arvak offered.

“If anything goes wrong, it’s your fault.” Twilight said, poking Arvak’s ribcage.

“Um… sure?” Arvak nervously replied.

“Good answer.” Dazzle congratulated with a laugh.



> Ch13: Breaking the news
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ch13: breaking the news



After about another half an hour of sharing some tender, and rather loud, time with Twilight, the two of them decided to meet up with their friends from Ponyville, but one doesn’t simply announce surprise pregnancy to their friends. So they decided to reveal the good news at lunch… which was going to be held at the palace… in front of the princesses…

“Hey Arvak?” Twilight asked on the way to the castle. They were currently winding down the lavish streets of Canterlot, passing many ornate white and gold buildings and confused looking ponies on the way.

“Ya Twi?” Arvak replied, trotting happily beside her.

“Two things, one; why are you not in disguise?” She asked.

Arvak stopped in his tracks, making Twilight do the same. He looked around him and found the other ponies staring at them with odd looks. “I don’t know, you’d think they’d be used to me.”

“They only saw you without a disguise probably once, the rest of the time they saw you was as Flare.”  She said, shaking her head as she starting walking again.

“What was the second question?” He asked while moving beside her again.

“How do you think my friends will react?” She asked with genuine concern.

“Why do you ask? I'm sure they’d be supportive.”

“Well, I don’t know…” Twilight just sighed in frustration as her thoughts escaped her.

“The only way we’ll find out is if we tell them.” Arvak said, wrapping a hoof around her shoulders.

“Since when did you start being the smart one?” Twilight joked.

“Hey I have good ideas… sometimes.” Arvak retorted with a goofy grin.

Twilight giggled as she sped up a bit on the way to the castle, forcing Arvak to try and match her speed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dining room, like the rest of the castle, was exquisite. It was like eating at a five star restaurant that put other five star restaurants to shame with its carved and polished oak table, crystal chandeliers, a fine red velvet carpet, and draperies and banners depicting both princesses’ cutie marks.  Everypony was enjoying the food brought to them, which was all salads of different kinds, or in Pinkies case, a crumb cake with some hot chocolate. Yet instead of excited chatter, it was oddly quiet. The reason wasn’t because of Twilight dropping the bombshell like she had planned, no it was the Netch’s doing. Not having seen it at all, the castle staff was unaware of what it was or why it was there, so when it had licked one of the servants after the food had been brought out…

“Oh dear, I hope she’s okay.” Fluttershy said. She was sitting on top of the Netch, the mare’s screams of terror having scared it to her side.

“Don’t worry about her; she has an episode about once a week.” Luna sighed.

“That doesn’t seem like something we should ignore, what if she needs help?” the shy mare asked.

“The castle has ponies to help with all kinds of problems; she could go to any castle doctor or counselor if something is bothering her.” Twilight replied.

“That’s good… I guess.” Fluttershy said.

“Believe it or not, the castle psychiatrists get most of their paychecks from her.” Luna explained.

The group then turned to Arvak, who was sitting idly while tapping his hooves against the tablecloth. “What?” he asked.

“Ah can see ‘er goin ta them a lot right now.” Applejack noted, to which several nods of approval were given.

“I know I should feel insulted but can’t bring myself to not agree with you.”  Arvak replied. “Anypony know when the food is going to get here?”

“Jeez Arvak, you don’t even have a stomach and yet you can eat more than Pinkie!” Dash exclaimed.

“I smell a contest!” Pinkie yelled.

“What do contests smell like?” Arvak asked.

Twilight just sighed and brought a hoof to her face, these distractions were not making things any easier. She looked around and noticed Luna giving her a quizzical look.

“What is wrong Twilight? Thou seem troubled.” She asked.

The group now focused their attention on the purple unicorn, forgetting their previous conversations.

“Yes darling, you seem rather anxious.” Rarity commented.

Twilight started sweating as her mouth went dry, “w-well… I’m…” she stammered.

“Twilight’s pregnant!” Arvak shouted, shattering the group’s concentration.

“What!” the seven mares shouted in unison. Twilight meanwhile, had her face firmly planted on the table.

“Twilight, is that true?” Fluttershy asked.

“Oh my Celestia Twilight’s going to have a baby! We need to throw her a ‘Just-got-knocked-up’ party!” Pinkie yelled.

“Congratulations darling!” Rarity said, patting Twilight on the back.

“Yeah Twi!” Rainbow cheered.

“So, who’s the lucky stallion?” Applejack asked.

Twilight just pointed to Arvak, who currently had his muzzle stuck inside a glass cup, tilting his to the side as he tried to get a better look at his predicament.

“No seriously, who knocked you up?” Applejack asked again.

“Well… do you remember that poison joke incident?” Twilight inquired.

The group’s eyes widened as the details came to light. Even the princesses couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

“What would that foal even look like?” Rainbow asked, everybody’s eyes turning to her as the words left her muzzle. “What?”

“I must say that this was quite the surprise.” Celestia commented.

“Art thou sure you can handle being a mother?” Luna asked.

“Well, I was worried at first, but I think-” Twilight was interrupted as a bony hoof tapped her shoulder. She looked to see Arvak still had the glass around his muzzle, using magic; she pried the thing off and placed it on the table.

“Thanks!” he chirped as he walked back to his seat.

“From what we see, thou may be taking care of two foals.” Luna joked.

“Yea, if you haven’t noticed, Arvak doesn’t seem to be all there most of the time.” Rainbow commented.

“Hey” The stallion shouted indignantly.

“Calm down everypony.”  Celestia said. “They have enough to worry about without all of us adding more to their plate.”

“Did the server come back around? Dang it I missed it!” Arvak yelled.

“It’s a figure of speech dear.” Rarity explained.

“Do you know what it is yet?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not yet, I am planning on going to the hospital to get a checkup though.”  Twilight replied.

“Speaking of hospitals. Did anypony see the Netch?” Pinkie asked.

The group looked around, but the large creature was nowhere in sight.

“Odd, wasn’t it here a moment ago?” Luna asked.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHH!” a mare screamed.

“I’ll get him.” Dash grumbled as she got up from her seat and flew from the table.

“Sounds like she might be asking for a vacation soon.”  Arvak noted.

“I’ll make some preparations for her absence.” Celestia sighed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well?” Twilight asked, fidgeting impatiently. She sat on a chair in a doctor’s office at Canterlot Memorial Hospital. It was a fairly typical doctor’s office, standard filing cabinets, desk, and even the certificates mounted on the wall. Her friends and Arvak were waiting outside in the lobby for her and the word from the doctor.

“I don’t know how I can easily say this, but your foal is the oddest thing I have ever witnessed.” He replied, looking over several charts.

“What?”

“That was my first thought, but it doesn’t seem to have a definite genetic code for me to determine anything. It’s a first for me, and definitely for this hospital.” He said, handing Twilight the folder of papers.

She perused the documents, documents that would make no sense to a normal pony, and came away with even more questions than before.

“In order to get a definite reading, you may have to wait.” The doctor explained.

Twilight sighed and handed the documents back to the doctor. “Thanks anyway.”

“You’re welcome.” He replied. “Now, if you would excuse me, I have other patients to attend to.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight’s friends sat in the sparsely crowded lobby, furnished with all the decorations that a hospital lobby would have, minus the pink pony bouncing around and throwing confetti everywhere.

“Miss, please have a seat, and stop chucking confetti everywhere.”  A light blue mare in a nurse’s outfit ordered.

“NoperonithisplaceismakingmyfeelallmopeyandIcan’thavethatsoIneedtobrightenitupandmakemyselandothersfeelnotsomopeyand-mmph-” Pinkies mouth and bouncing was stopped by a purple aura that kept her suspended in midair.

“I’ll take it from here.” Twilight said.

The nurse sighed in relief and went back to her desk, paging a janitor to come and clean up.

“Did ya find out anythin’ Twi?” Applejack asked.

“The doctor said he couldn’t tell anything at the moment.” She replied.

“That’s odd; can’t they use magic to find out?” Rarity asked.

“He said it was something he has never seen before, and frankly, the only time I’ve ever heard of something like this happening is back when magic wasn’t as medically advanced.” She explained.

“I'm not really surprised.” Arvak said. The group looked at him questioningly. “What? It happens on Nirn all the time.”

“What’s Nirn?” Twilight asked.

“Oh yeah, I still haven’t told you guys much about where I was from.” Arvak noted.

“Well I think it would help if you would tell us darling.” Rarity said.

“Whelp, get some notepads ready because I think there’s some stuff for everyone in this story.” He said, getting himself comfortable.

“Can we wait until we’re back somewhere that’s not here?” Twilight asked.

Arvak looked around to see other ponies looking at them strangely. “Sure.”
----------------------------------------------------------------

“That could explain quite a bit.” Twilight mused as Arvak finished his story.

The girls had gone to the library in the castle itself to take notes on Arvak’s old home. Each pony sitting comfortably at a large round table in the center of the library, surrounded by shelves stacked way over their heads with books. Sparsely spaced chandeliers dotted the ceiling and several candles lit up the space for the group. Nopony was uninterested in the conversation as Arvak told them of tales he heard in his travels and the places he had seen while running with his two late friends.

“Ah agree, if what he says ‘s true, then that fancy magic from Nirn may have mixed with yours.” Applejack observed after she digested the information.  The other girls looked at her oddly for making that guess. “What? Ah can be smart sometimes.”

“We weren’t implying you were dumb dear, we just didn’t think you could form a hypothesis.” Rarity said.

“Well, it does make sense.” Twilight reiterated. “If the way animals work on Nirn is any indication, then it should be the reason why the foal in me is acting differently from other recently recorded conceptions.”

“Twilight, I don’t know how to say this, but some of us are not that smart.” Arvak said, putting a hoof on Twilights Shoulder.

“In simpler terms, it is the reason why my foal isn’t normal.” She said, poking his ribcage.

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.” he chirped.

“Well, some ponies aren’t used to change.” Fluttershy added. “Twilight could just not be used to something that hasn’t happened since ancient times…. Um… if you want to look at it that way.”

“It’s like if something goes against her carefully planned schedule.” Pinkie chirped, bouncing around the group.

“I guess at the rate things are going; only time will tell what we will end up with.” Twilight said. She looked over to a nearby clock and saw the time. “Well, I guess it’s time we all go out and get something to eat.”

“Yea, missing lunch is messing with my system.” Dash agreed.

“Doing anything you don’t usually do messes with your system dear.” Rarity joked.

The group laughed a bit before leaving the library, the news out, and Twilight’s shoulders feeling a bit lighter, even if there were more questions.
==========================================

Discord floated listlessly on a bright pink cloud over the mountain Canterlot clung to. He munched on Popcorn as he waited for the reply of a very important being. The cloud he was on buzzed and he picked up a bit and allowed it to float in front of him as a shadow encompassed a screen like face on the cloud bit.

“Discord.” It said.

“Speaking.” The spirit of chaos replied, producing a bag of popcorn and a soda.

“Why did you contact us?”

“Why old friend, I just need to spread some chaos.” The Draconequus replied, sipping some of the soda.

“I am not your friend; the ideal masters wouldn’t even have considered replying had you not sent what you did. So spit it out.”

“My my you are so serious. Very well, I need some spell tomes from you, you know, the ones for those skeleton thingies.” He finished his soda and started on the popcorn, throwing the empty cup over his shoulder.

“And what do we get in return?” The specter inquired.

“Come now, a few spell tomes isn’t really anything important.”

“You have plans, if it involves something of ours, we want a cut.”

“Very well. I have six pests I could send your way, they just so happen to be tied with the most powerful artifacts known to my world.”

“Just six?”

“For three spell books?  Come on, I’ll even send a treat, something that managed to escape you a few times.” He replied, finishing his popcorn and placing the bag on a passing cloud and letting it drift off.

The being was silent for a few moments, “Fine, you will have your tomes.”

The cloud went back to its pink color and then was added back to the rest of Discord’s perch. He picked up a newspaper and placed an oak pipe in his mouth, bubbles blowing out the end as he read.

“Princess’ student pregnant, how scandalous.” He chuckled. “Oh I have a delightfully chaotic idea now.” He laughed as he looked at the castle with a mischievous smile.